LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 284: I Am the Impossible.
Not long after sweeping the Hawks, the Cavaliers prepared to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat had also swept their opponent, the Nets, in the second round.
The Nets, plagued by Deron Williams' injuries, had seen their competitiveness decline over the years. However, even a weakened Nets team was still stronger than the Hawks.
Yet despite their playoff experience, the Nets couldn't win a single game against the Heat.
The Heat's average margin of victory across the first two rounds was an astonishing 15+ points per game, a clear sign that they were playing at a higher level than any other team.
Their success wasn't just about roster fit. It was fueled by an intense hunger for a championship.
With Goran Dragić and Nikola Vučević both in contract years, this season represented their best chance to win a title. And for this group, there wouldn't be a better opportunity.
The win-or-bust mentality they displayed was reminiscent of the 2011 Mavericks, who overcame the odds to win a championship.
...
Before the Conference Finals tipped off, the NBA announced the All-NBA Teams.
Han Sen was named to both the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team, completing a clean sweep of major individual honors for the season—MVP, DPOY, and now First-Team selections.
With the awards announced, the league ramped up promotion for the two highly anticipated matchups in the Conference Finals:
Cavaliers vs. Heat in the East. Warriors vs. Lakers in the West.
The Warriors eliminated the Spurs 4-2, while the Lakers took down the Grizzlies by the same margin.
The Grizzlies remained tough and scrappy, but without Han Sen's presence in clutch moments, they ultimately fell short.
Interestingly, both matchups turned into a direct battle between UA and Nike-sponsored teams, driving media narratives to a fever pitch.
...
Predictions and Opinions: The TNT Roundtable
The Inside the NBA crew kicked off their predictions segment with Ernie Johnson leading the discussion.
"Alright, fellas. We've got two big matchups coming up in the Conference Finals. In the East, it's Cavs vs. Heat. In the West, it's Warriors vs. Lakers. Let's start with the West. Who's got the edge?"
Barkley leaned back in his chair with his signature smirk.
"Lakers. Easy. Look, the Warriors are a great team. They shoot the ball well, they've got that splashy offense, but this ain't the regular season. Playoff basketball is a whole different beast."
Shaq nodded in agreement. "Preach."
"Man, Kobe and LeBron—those two have been through wars, alright? They know what it takes. The Warriors? They're like kids at the grown-ups' table. They just got here."
Ernie jumped in. "So you're saying experience wins out?"
Barkley chuckled. "Exactly. Kobe and LeBron have been eatin' steaks at this table for years. The Warriors? They're still sippin' on juice boxes."
Shaq, always ready to stir the pot, cut in.
"Chuck, you gotta stop hatin' on these young dudes. The Warriors are no joke. I mean, you saw what they did to the Spurs."
Barkley waved him off. "Shaq, come on now. The Spurs were old. Tim Duncan out there lookin' like me tryin' to run a fast break."
Kenny laughed. "Chuck, you couldn't run a fast break if your life depended on it."
The studio erupted in laughter.
"Okay, okay," Shaq said, cutting through the noise. "Let me tell you why the Lakers are winning this series. Defense wins championships. Period. The Warriors? They live and die by the jump shot."
Barkley nodded. "Exactly! Jump-shooting teams don't win titles. How many times I gotta say it? You need a strong post presence to win it all."
Kenny finally chimed in, always the more measured voice.
"Listen, I hear what y'all are saying, but the Warriors are different. This ain't just a jump-shooting team. They've got the best defense in the league, and they've got depth."
He pulled up his stat sheet.
"Look at this. Second in offensive efficiency. First in defensive efficiency. The last team to do that? The '96 Bulls. And we all know what happened that season."
Shaq leaned in. "So what's your call, Kenny?"
"Warriors in 7. They've got youth, depth, and health on their side. The Lakers? They're gonna have to grind for every bucket."
Ernie redirected the conversation to the East.
"Alright, what about the East? Cavs vs. Heat."
Barkley didn't hesitate.
"Heat in 5. Look, I love Han. Y'all know that. He's a beast. But the Heat? They're on a mission. They've been steamrolling everyone. And the Cavs? They ain't got Kyrie."
Shaq nodded in agreement.
"Heat in 6. But I'm giving Cleveland a little more respect. Han Sen can steal a game or two, but the Heat are too complete."
Ernie glanced at Kenny. "What do you think?"
Kenny sighed.
"I gotta go with the Heat too. Their offensive efficiency is off the charts, and the Cavs' defense ranks ninth. That's not good enough against a team like Miami."
Barkley leaned forward, looking straight into the camera.
"Lemme say this. If the Cavs beat the Heat, I'll get out there and race Kenny on a fast break."
Shaq burst out laughing. "Chuck, you'd lose to a tortoise."
The studio erupted in laughter again, but the consensus was clear—the Heat and Lakers were the favorites.
...
The day before the series began, the Cavaliers prepared to fly to Miami.
However, at the airport, Kyrie Irving showed up unexpectedly.
The original plan had been for Kyrie to stay in Cleveland and return for Game 3 once fully recovered.
But Kyrie had other ideas.
"If you're not going to let me play, trade me," he said, with an unusually firm tone.
Han was a little taken aback by Kyrie's insistence.
Kyrie was typically self-focused, and Han had expected him to prioritize his health.
In most cases, players returning early from injury did so because of fan pressure, accused of not being tough enough.
But Kyrie's resolve was real.
Given the Heat's strength, Han didn't argue. Even with Kyrie, beating the Heat would be difficult.
Still, Han warned Kyrie of the risks:
"If you come back too soon, you're at risk of re-injury or something worse."
But Kyrie remained steadfast. "If we lose because of me, I can't stay in Cleveland."
Kyrie wasn't exaggerating.
His subpar first-round performance, combined with his absence in the second round, had already put him under intense scrutiny.
If the Cavaliers lost the Conference Finals, Kyrie would take the blame.
Management might even consider trading him for a Pippen-like player, allowing Han to focus solely on scoring, much like his time with the Grizzlies.
After listening to Kyrie, Han smiled.
"Do you know what inscription I'm planning to put on my statue in Memphis?" Han asked.
Kyrie looked at him curiously.
Han continued: "I Am the Impossible."
No one believed the Grizzlies could win a championship, and even fewer believed they could build a dynasty.
But Han proved them wrong.
That inscription perfectly captured what he had achieved in Memphis.
Hearing those words, Kyrie's eyes lit up with excitement.
Turning the impossible into reality—what could be more worthwhile?
...
After arriving in Miami, the Cavaliers held an open practice.
Despite being overwhelming underdogs, the team's morale was high.
This wasn't surprising.
The Cavaliers hadn't been favored all season, yet they had made it to the Conference Finals.
When they tied the series against the Bulls at 1-1, many thought they'd lose in the first round. Yet here they were, still standing.
For many players on the roster, this was their first time in the Conference Finals.
Even veterans like Mo Williams and old Cavaliers players were motivated.
They had reached this stage during LeBron's first stint but never made it to the Finals.
They still carried the sting of those losses, particularly the infamous "8-on-5" series against Dwight Howard's Magic.
This time, though, there was no LeBron to carry them into history's hall of shame.
Most importantly, Han Sen wasn't injured this time like 5 years ago.
This time, they were ready to fight their way to the NBA Finals.
...
At the Cavaliers' open practice session, a surprising visitor showed up.
When Han Sen saw Shaquille O'Neal walk into the gym, he was visibly caught off guard, but quickly broke into a smile and walked over.
"You're a big ol' fish now, Shaq," Han teased.
Shaq grinned and pulled Han into a bear hug so tight it could've crushed a smaller man.
"Yeah, well, give it time. You're gonna blow up faster than me once you retire."
Han laughed, but Shaq's playful jab wasn't done.
"Man, I'm tellin' you, I wanna come back and play right now!" Shaq said, eyeing the Cavaliers players warming up. He couldn't help but clench his fists. That competitive fire never really left him.
"I can call David Griffin," Han joked, "and see if we can make you security captain at the arena. That's close enough, right?"
Shaq erupted in laughter. "You know I always wanted to be a cop."
After a bit more playful banter, the two sat down on the sidelines. Shaq quickly got serious, his gaze shifting toward the court.
"So... you ready for the Heat tomorrow night?" he asked.
Han shook his head. "Man, they're strong. And after getting Dragic? Ridiculous."
Shaq nodded slowly. He knew the odds weren't in the Cavaliers' favor. That's why most analysts, including himself and Barkley, hadn't given Cleveland a chance.
"They're saying y'all can't even win a game," Shaq reminded him.
Han smirked.
"I just want to win one."
"And then?"
"Win two."
"And after that?"
"Win three."
Shaq paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, clapping Han on the shoulder. He got the message—Han wasn't thinking about the whole series at once. He was taking it one game at a time.
Shaq's tone shifted again, this time more reflective.
"I heard about that thing with KD," he said, his face suddenly serious.
Han raised an eyebrow. "You're not offended by that comparison, are you?"
Shaq snorted. "Man, KD ain't even close to me. But that's not the point. The point is... I've been where the Heat are right now."
Han looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Shaq leaned back, arms crossed.
"Back in '95, when we beat Michael Jordan's Bulls, we thought we were unstoppable. We'd just taken down the GOAT. And who'd we face in the Finals? The Houston Rockets."
Shaq's expression turned somber.
"We thought we were gonna sweep them. The media thought so too. Hell, everyone thought so."
Han nodded. He knew what came next.
Shaq sighed. "And then? They swept us. We walked in thinkin' we were invincible, but anything can happen."
His voice softened. "That's what I'm sayin', Han. Don't listen to the noise. Don't let the odds fool you. Anything can happen."
Han understood. Shaq had come to encourage him.
"Thanks, Shaq," Han said sincerely, looking at the big man with genuine gratitude.
"I'll win this series for you."
...
As the Cavaliers wrapped up practice and headed out, they crossed paths with the Heat players arriving at the gym.
Seeing Dwyane Wade, Han couldn't help but call out, "Hey, DW! Who's guarding me tomorrow?"
Wade grinned. "Who else? You think they're gonna put Dragic on you?"
Han laughed. "Fair enough."
Wade, ever the considerate teammate, asked, "How's Kyrie doing?"
Han shook his head with a fake look of concern.
"Not great. He probably won't play tomorrow."
Wade nodded sympathetically. "Tell him to take his time. One game won't decide the series."
Han smirked, his tone turning playful. "You be careful, too. Don't get hurt again. People still say I only beat you last time because of your injury."
Wade burst out laughing. "Man, you never change." He gave Han a friendly pat on the shoulder before joining his teammates in the gym.
...
The next night, American Airlines Arena was packed to capacity.
Heat fans were buzzing with excitement, ready to witness what they believed would be a dominant series victory.
In the regular season, the two teams had played three times, with Miami winning two out of three. The only loss? A game where Han Sen dropped a 60-point triple-double.
But this was the playoffs, and no one expected Han to replicate such a feat—especially after the Heat acquired Goran Dragic at the trade deadline.
This series felt like a victory lap for Miami fans.
Even Pat Riley was in attendance, sitting courtside with his arms crossed, looking calm and confident.
As warmups ended, both teams prepared for the opening ceremony.
The Cavaliers, as the visiting team, were introduced first: Irving, JR Smith, Han Sen, PJ Tucker, Tristan Thompson.
Coach Malone's decision to start with the Death Lineup wasn't surprising—it was a go-big-or-go-home move.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn't flinch.
He knew the Cavaliers needed to take risks to have a chance.
But when Wade saw Kyrie Irving starting, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait, wasn't he supposed to be out?"
The Heat's starting five followed: Dragic, Wade, Durant, Luol Deng, Pau Gasol.
Spoelstra had no choice but to stick Wade on Han Sen, as neither Dragic nor Durant could handle that assignment.
Wade had meant it when he told Han he'd be the one guarding him.
...
Just before the final preparations, Kevin Durant walked toward the court—and noticed a woman in the stands. She caught his eye immediately.
Durant couldn't resist. He threw a playful look her way, raising an eyebrow.
The arena's LED screen caught the moment, displaying it for the whole crowd to see.
The woman looked confused, but the crowd went wild, cheering loudly.
In the TNT studio, Barkley couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, looks like KD's ready for the win tonight!"
----
All-NBA Teams
First Team: Stephen Curry, Han Sen, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Second Team: Chris Paul, James Harden, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol
Third Team: Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, Klay Thompson, Tim Duncan, Joakim Noah
All-Defensive First Team: Chris Paul, Han Sen, Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Anthony Davis
All-Defensive Second Team: John Wall, Jimmy Butler, Tim Duncan, Andrew Bogut, Marc Gasol
-End of Chapter-
Translator's note: One of you asked about the increased number of bold text I've been using in recent chapters. It was something new I was trying out. They were meant to emphasize key phrases, but looking back I realise that I was kinda overdoing it.
I'll now use them to highlight key dramatic moments only, like I used to before. Sorry about the last couple chapters, I'll try and revise them later when I have the chance.
Also, I wrote the entire TNT segment. The raws just mentioned their predictions. Let me know what you guys think.
Do you want me to weave other media personalities into the story, too? Think Skip Bayless stirring the pot, Stephen A. Smith going off, or Bill Simmons dropping deep-cut NBA analogies...