Previously, Hansen spoke of Jas and still left him so face, but this ti he didn’t hold back at all.
Hansen’s remarks were quickly reported by the dia before the ga.
This also sparked another round of debate on social dia.
"Even though he has won two championships, Han’s mouth is still as big as ever, not at all like a superstar should be."
(So what should a superstar be like? Swept in the Finals consecutively and getting traded twice in three years?)
"What do you an shut down? Can you really prevent a player who averages 30 points per ga from scoring?"
(Six points are still possible.)
"Do you believe the Grizzlies will lose tonight? Without Little Gasol, the Grizzlies’ interior defense is just not working, even Parker blew past them."
(What kind of team are the Spurs, and what’s your team? Parker has four championships, how many do you have?)
...
That night at Madison Square Garden, the stadium was packed.
New York and Los Angeles have no trouble selling tickets, as long as the team’s performance isn’t too terrible, fans are always willing to spend money on tickets.
Because of the Grizzlies’ championship status and because of Hansen’s pre-ga comnts, the atmosphere in the stadium tonight was particularly lively, fans holding various KT boards.
"Beat the Grizzlies," "mphis will never be a Dynasty," "Fuck Hansen"...
Hansen initially didn’t care much, but he was sowhat unable to hold back when he saw "Fuck Hansen."
What, do you New Yorkers lack a mayor just like Holy City?
However, that was nothing, when the opening ceremony finished and the starting players were about to take the stage, Hansen saw a shocking scene.
Jas, who last season in Oklahoma City said, "I won’t be throwing chalk powder anymore," was now heading to the scorer’s table to pick up the chalk powder and started it again!
He’s slipped into old Jas mode already, has he started forgetting?
Both teams’ starters ca onto the field successively, Grizzlies: Conley, Hansen, Guy, Randolph, Faried;
New York Knicks: Nash, Shumpert, Jas, Stadeyer, Bargnani.
When Hansen officially stepped onto the familiar court, his mood changed.
Not just because he needed to wear that mask, but more importantly, because Madison Square Garden has always been known as the cca of basketball, a sacred place.
Players pride themselves in performing well here.
Even the scoreboards of the arena are updated and recorded by the dia.
Faried pushed the ball back to the halfway line, and the ga officially started.
Little Gasol’s absence not only impacted the Grizzlies’ defense, but his role in the offense in creating space, and being a pivot, ant a significant reduction in the tactical options for the Grizzlies.
And since Faried lacks space abilities, he could only sink to the weak side, making it easy for the Grizzlies to face interior defense when breaking through to the basket.
The Grizzlies’ opening strategy was Hansen and Randolph’s Poison Pick and Roll.
During his peak, Stadeyer’s athletic ability was strong, his explosiveness remarkable, and his pick and rolls with Nash particularly legendary, being the player who most power slamd the ball.
But he began to suffer from knee injuries during his ti with the Suns, and last season he even had to go through another left knee surgery, nearly losing all his athletic ability, which resulted in his decreased lateral movent.
His ability to defend picks was not much better than Randolph’s.
Randolph’s pick stopped Shumpert, and Hansen’s mid-range shot smoothly opened the scoring for the Grizzlies.
The basket didn’t stir much reaction from the crowd, with Hansen’s current abilities, not making it would have been the surprise.
However, when both teams switched from offense to defense, the crowd started to get restless.
Because Hansen was truly guarding Jas!
He was about to make good on the tough talk he had before the ga!
Jas’ response was... to stretch out his hand, asking for the ball directly.
This mont triggered a surge of cheers from the New York fans.
The ga started with a direct clash between the two MVP players.
Hansen was sowhat surprised, as Jas typically would smartly give up on offense in such situations, so why had he changed after coming to New York?
What Hansen didn’t know was, although Nike was still tirelessly promoting Jas in New York, continuous failures had subtly changed their attitude towards him.
Jas needed to put forth so convincing performances to secure a renewal contract next sumr.
And by then, Bargnani was sinking deep on the strong side, with Shumpert and Nash also outside the three-point line on the weak side, there was a lot of offensive space on the court.
If Jas could break through, it would surely be an easy two points.
Of course, being so smart, he naturally wouldn’t choose to forcefully play against Hansen.
After starting with the ball, he signaled Stadeyer to co and set a pick.
Although Stadeyer’s athletic ability had declined, his skills in setting picks were still sharp.
Last season, his and Nash’s picks had treated New York fans to classic plays, and this season, his picks for Jas were a guarantee for the Knicks’ performance.
However, his pick soon failed because Hansen was too quick!
Stadeyer set his pick on Hansen’s trail, but Hansen just sidestepped swiftly past it.
This not only surprised him, but Jas was completely unprepared.
Just as Jas was picking up speed thinking he would use the screen, he found Hansen sticking close to him.
Before he could even adjust his dribble.
"Snap!"
Hansen’s quick hands made Jas perform an embarrassing misstep, known as "laying an egg."
After the steal, Hansen didn’t give Jas a chance to foul him, imdiately passing the ball to Conley who had already broken away, and he soared for a layup to score.
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