Returning to Cleveland with a 3-1 lead, the Cavaliers just needed to win at ho, not only to achieve revenge but also to complete a sweep of their opponents.
The unpredictability of the series was evident here, as the Celtics initially clearly had a stronger team than the Cavaliers, but after losing one or two key gas, they were already in a desperate situation.
There were two days of rest in between, and it was during this ti that Hansen’s popularity skyrocketed.
Although his Ga 4 performance showed only 7 successful shots out of 17 attempts and 21 points, far less dazzling than in Ga 1, his ga-winning shot combined with the technical foul was overwhelmingly powerful.
Especially when Carrell placed Hansen on the technical bench, and the scene with fans cursing and throwing bottles was published in the world-renowned magazine, the effect was explosive.
This wave earned Hansen a huge amount of bad press, with the negative fan value in the system accumulating over 300,000.
At the sa ti, his personal social dia also gained a significant amount of new followers.
Or more accurately, since the All-Star Ga, his social dia followers had been increasing, and now it was just exploding.
So, his social dia was buzzing every day, with his fans and detractors battling it out fiercely.
The downside was that these detractors were all old hat, unable to contribute new negative fan value; otherwise, he would indeed be winning effortlessly.
On ga day, Hansen, as usual, arrived at the gym an hour early to train.
However, he did not see Jas.
After finishing his training and returning to the training court, there was still no sign of Jas.
Until Brown arrived at the gym.
"An unfortunate piece of news,"
Before official practice began, Brown solemnly announced: Jas would miss Ga 5 due to a worsening injury.
"He will be back, he’s a warrior, he just needs so rest."
Watching Brown’s lodramatic explanation, Hansen couldn’t help but scoff.
What a sneaky move.
In the last ga, Hansen had not only hit a three-point buzzer-beater but had also made a scene at the technical station, completely overshadowing Jas’s previous coback as king.
At this point, attempting to reclaim the spotlight by fighting for the ball on the court would be too obvious for Jas.
But without doing so, it would be hard for him to restrain his performance.
So, he simply took a break due to injury, setting the stage for the Cavaliers to lose to the Celtics, and then making a coback in the next ga, which would be hailed as yet another return of the king.
Moreover, doing so couldn’t really be considered targeted; it was just Jas being a clever player.
Yet, just after the last press conference where Brown declared that Jas wouldn’t be a deserter, didn’t it sound incredibly ironic now?
After training, O’Neal pulled Hansen aside to a secluded corner to chat.
"Should we get ’injured’ too?"
O’Neal’s words imdiately made Hansen burst into laughter.
You old guy, even you know what a convenient injury is!
Although it’s indeed a tactic—why can’t we do what you can? Might as well go all out!
Yet after the laughter, Hansen shook his head.
He had just made quite the impression, brother, losing face this quickly would be too embarrassing.
And to be honest, he was genuinely worried about being targeted if they went back to Boston.
After all, only a short ti had passed, and the hostilities hadn’t cooled; it was entirely possible for people to act irrationally in the heat of the mont.
But what was even more important was,
"This is our opportunity."
"Opportunity?" O’Neal seed puzzled.
"Yes, we have the chance to tell everyone..." Hansen said as he gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window, looking far into the distance as if he could see sothing afar,
"Cleveland doesn’t really need any so-called king."
...
Two days later, Ga 5 of the Cavaliers versus Celtics series continued at the Cavaliers’ ho court.
Quicken Loans Arena was still a full house.
However, the mood on the fans’ faces wasn’t as exhilarated as in the previous two gas, with Jas’s absence undoubtedly casting a shadow over the Cavaliers’ prospects for tonight’s ga.
Though injured, Jas still arrived at the venue in a suit and leather shoes to support his teammates.
This also gave the photographers a reason to focus on him during the warm-up before the ga.
He really knew how to attract the spotlight.
After the pre-ga warm-up, the arena moved into the opening ceremony.
Hansen’s entrance was different from before; he was the last one to co out.
Strictly speaking, Hansen’s role in the Cavaliers should be the fourth leader, at most on par with Williams as the third leader.
But in this round of the series, he scored 33, 11, 14, and 21 points respectively in four gas, averaging 19.75 points, a solid performance as the second leader.
With Jas absent and unable to play, naturally, it was Hansen’s turn to take the spotlight.
"2009 16th draft pick, from Barry University, 6 feet 6 inches, Han~sen!!"
When Hansen stood up at the DJ’s call, pulling at his jersey as he entered, the stadium erupted in deafening cheers.
Just as it appeared on social dia, Hansen was drawing imnse support in this round of the series.
You could definitely say that tonight, he was the hope of the entire Cleve-town!
At this mont, Jas slightly furrowed his brows, feeling for an instant that his absence due to injury was benefiting Hansen.
But soon he relaxed again, as O’Neal couldn’t possibly replicate his performance from the previous ga, and tonight’s ga was a lost cause for the Cavaliers anyhow.
When he makes his kingly return next ga, whatever happens tonight will no longer matter.
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