Early the next morning after Ga 1, Han was jolted awake by the sound of... a goat.
At first, he thought he was imagining things.
But when he saw Anjali looking just as confused as he was, he realized it wasn't a dream.
He got out of bed, walked over to the window, and looked outside—only to see a goat tied up in the yard.
Still half-asleep, he threw on so clothes and headed downstairs.
In the living room, JR was lounging on the couch, casually scrolling through his phone.
Hearing Han's footsteps, JR quickly put his phone away and stood up.
"You brought that here?" Han asked, nodding toward the goat.
JR grinned and nodded.
"I figured with the bonfire coming up, we'd need sothing good. This is an authentic Boer goat. Nikola says it's the best kind for kebabs."
Then, as if realizing sothing, he quickly shook his head.
"I an—uh—my mom told that!"
He even scratched his head awkwardly at the end.
Han imdiately understood.
This was Jokić's idea.
And JR? He was just the delivery guy.
Why would JR be bringing Han gifts?
Easy—gratitude.
Han's postga defense of JR had shielded him from being crucified by the dia.
If not for Han, even after a win, JR would've been the scapegoat.
So this was JR's way of saying thank you.
But gift-giving was an art.
Especially when the recipient was Han Sen—a man who had everything.
And this?
This was symbolism at its finest.
A goat.
The GOAT.
It was a statent.
A premature, but not unwarranted, coronation.
Han was walking the final steps toward surpassing Jordan.
And JR—well, Nikola—was making sure he knew it.
Of course, the real genius was in the excuse JR gave.
Because Han really did hold bonfire parties every Finals.
And Boer goats were genuinely the best for kebabs.
Jokić was too damn smart.
Han smirked.
"Appreciate it. While you're at it, let everyone know—we're having the bonfire after Ga 2."
He wasn't just in a good mood because of the goat.
Jokić had changed.
He was watching out for teammates.
Handling things behind the scenes.
Acting like a leader.
And that?
That ant more than anything.
---
That afternoon, practice felt... different.
Han's energy was locked in.
Everything he said postga? That wasn't just talk.
Beating New Orleans in tight gas wouldn't work.
A close ga ant trouble.
Ga 1 had been too much of a fight.
And even though they lost, it only fueled the Pelicans' belief.
Going into the Finals, the narrative had been simple:
"Han owns LeBron. Cavs in 4."
But Ga 1 changed that.
New Orleans wasn't just LeBron.
They were the No. 1 defense in the NBA.
To break them, Cleveland had to crush their confidence.
That ant Ga 2 was critical.
Han didn't need to tell Malone any of this.
Malone had heard Han's press conference.
He saw how serious Han was.
And so, after practice, Malone did sothing unusual.
He took the floor.
No speeches from Ty Lue.
This ti, it was Malone himself.
"From the mont this season started, we knew they didn't want us to win this title.
They've tried everything.
They ignored our tiout.
They're terrified of us winning.
But the more they fear us? The more we'll make them suffer.
We are going to win this championship.
We are going to carve Cleveland's dynasty into NBA history."
Malone wasn't the most polished speaker.
But this wasn't about delivery.
It was about conviction.
---
Ga 2.
Sold-out crowd.
Cleveland on fire.
Han's $100K fine had only done one thing—ignite the city.
Cavs fans weren't analysts.
They didn't care about business or narratives.
All they saw was blatant disrespect.
And their anger boiled over.
So when Ga 2 tipped off?
The Pelicans weren't just facing the Cavs.
They were facing 20,000 pissed-off fans.
The boos? Deafening.
New Orleans had fought hard in Ga 1.
They should've earned respect.
But guilt by association is a bitch.
The NBA was against Cleveland.
So now?
Cleveland was against them.
Right from tipoff, Cleveland set the tone.
Even Jokić—usually calm—was banging inside, bodying Davis.
Davis had elite defense.
But he was still a power forward.
Physically?
Jokić had the edge.
But the real ga-breaker?
Han.
On defense?
LeBron couldn't breathe.
On offense?
Han went straight at him.
He wasn't just playing.
He was hunting.
And LeBron?
LeBron folded.
Aggression turned into passivity.
Intensity turned into frustration.
And before long?
LeBron was back to his greatest hits.
- Hands on his hips.
- Complaining to refs.
- Shoving teammates.
Cavs fans had seen it too many tis.
And New Orleans?
They felt it.
---
Davis was battling Jokić.
Then he looked up—and saw Han.
Just like Draymond last year...
Davis was fighting two wars at once.
But unlike Draymond...
He didn't snap.
He suffered in silence.
Davis could guard anyone.
But he couldn't guard everyone.
And without him?
The Pelicans' defense collapsed.
By halfti?
New Orleans was still alive.
By the third quarter?
Davis picked up his fourth foul.
And then?
The floodgates opened.
---
Final score: 114-89.
Cavs up 2-0.
Ga 1 was a fight.
Ga 2? A massacre.
After Ga 1, people thought this series had real suspense.
Now?
That illusion was shattered.
Fans even dug up an old stat—
Most Finals sweeps in NBA history?
LeBron is No. 1 on the list.
But Cleveland?
They weren't celebrating yet.
They knew what was coming.
2006.
Miami vs. Dallas.
The most rigged Finals in history.
And if the league wanted New Orleans to win?
They wouldn't hold back.
So the Cavs had one mission.
Do it again.
Crush them in Ga 3.
Even if the refs tried to stop it.
---
After Ga 2, the team gathered at Han's estate for their annual Finals bonfire party.
But this ti, it felt different.
With the series potentially ending on the road, this wasn't just a celebration.
It was a send-off before battle.
And JR's Boer goat?
A massive hit.
Han even made sure to publicly credit JR for the gift, giving the veteran guard a deep sense of satisfaction.
At that mont, JR might as well have been Han's most loyal knight.
But as the food and drinks started winding down, Han called everyone together.
And then—he dropped the bombshell.
"I'm leaving Cleveland this sumr."
The reaction was instant.
Stunned silence.
JR let out a nervous laugh.
"Nah, man. You're joking."
Han didn't smile.
"It's not a joke."
"I didn't tell you earlier because I didn't want it to be a distraction.
But now, I need you all to give everything you've got.
Let's win this championship—so I can end this journey the right way."
And just like that, reality hit.
The questions were obvious, but no one asked.
Why? Where?
JR looked like he was about to—but Jokić pulled him back.
He understood.
If Han wanted to explain, he would.
If not? Pressing him would only make things awkward.
Han didn't say anything else.
After letting it sink in, he simply gestured for the party to go on.
But a few minutes later, JR found him.
His voice was filled with guilt.
"Is it... because of ?"
Han blinked. "What?"
"I told Nikola not to bring a goat! I told him goats were a bad sign! He said you'd love it, but—"
Han burst out laughing.
Even after all these years, JR was honest to a fault.
"If I told you I planned this before even coming to Cleveland, would you believe ?"
JR hesitated.
Han sighed and simplified it.
"This was always part of my career plan.
Cleveland wasn't my first choice.
But that didn't stop from giving it everything.
Do you get it now?"
JR understood.
But understanding didn't an accepting it.
Han had changed his life.
Without Han?
He had no idea what would happen to him.
Han saw the hesitation in his eyes.
So, he gave him a simple mission.
"If you really want to thank , forget the goat.
I want that trophy."
JR's uncertainty vanished.
His face hardened with determination.
He nodded. Hard.
Han smiled.
"Oh, and one more thing—keep this secret."
Because if JR was good at anything, it was keeping his mouth shut when it mattered.
---
One by one, teammates approached Han.
So, like JR, asked why.
So tried to convince him to stay.
Others... simply said goodbye.
But the most conflicted?
Jokić.
To him, Han was everything.
Without Han, he wouldn't be here.
And suddenly, all those "leadership" talks made sense.
Han wasn't just ntoring him.
He was preparing him.
Jokić wanted to say a thousand things.
But in the end, he only asked one.
"Han... can I visit China this sumr? Can you be my guide?"
Han chuckled.
"This sumr might be tough.
But next year? Absolutely.
We'll both be at the World Cup. I'll take you to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City—hell, anywhere you want to go."
Jokić smiled.
"Thank you, Han."
It was all he could say.
Because no words felt big enough.
---
By the next morning, the secret was no longer a secret.
"Han Sen leaving Cleveland" was the top headline across the country—and the world.
It was a hurricane.
Debates. Theories. Speculation.
Why? Where next?
But one question stood out.
"Why announce this now? The Finals aren't even over!"
And when Han landed in New Orleans for Ga 3?
He refused all dia interviews.
Which only made everything more mysterious.
But once the ga started?
The answer beca clear.
Cleveland played like their lives depended on it.
Every move, every shot, every defensive stand—
It wasn't just for a championship.
It was for Han.
And the refs?
The officiating wasn't as bad as before.
There were still calls favoring New Orleans, but the blatant bias?
Dialed back.
Because there was no longer a reason to stop Han.
Han leaving Cleveland ant one thing:
The storm was over.
The league wouldn't need to fight him anymore.
The era of Han dominating the East?
It was ending.
And with that, the resistance crumbled.
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