Today was ga day, and generally tactical training isn’t scheduled on such days, but today was an exception.
Because the team needed to run through so tactics designed for Hansen.
This was the highest level of training Hansen had received since arriving in Cleveland.
How do I describe this feeling? It’s like hitting overti, exhilarating to the max.
He even kind of understood Jas now—the constant feeling of having the ball on the court, that’s what enjoying the ga is all about.
Today’s training was semi-open; it was behind closed doors when they were running tactics, but once they started shooting practice, the reporters were allowed in.
After training ended, the reporters imdiately surrounded Hansen.
The outside world was unaware of everything that had happened with the Cavaliers over the past three days, and as far as they knew, Hansen was on the trading block.
"There are a lot of rumors about you being traded," a reporter asked, "what do you think about that?"
So naturally, the reporters first question was related to that.
"I’m watching it standing up," Hansen chuckled, "sitting down is much more comfortable."
"Just kidding, don’t be so serious, I’m just playing basketball," he added after seeing the reporter stunned.
When soone’s in a good mood, humor cos naturally.
"I heard that the Grizzlies are trying really hard to get you," the reporter continued, "they’re even willing to trade OJ ao for you, what do you think about that?"
Still similar questions, clearly Hansen’s joke wasn’t enough to satisfy the reporters.
Hansen was slightly surprised; he thought of Wallace and his good relationship with Ferry.
"Your information might not be very reliable; real trade rumors aren’t usually leaked in advance," Hansen continued to joke with the reporters.
After all, he couldn’t confirm that he wouldn’t be traded, that had to be clarified by Ferry himself.
"Paul Pierce said in an interview with NBC Sports Boston that they won’t make the sa mistake again and he’ll teach you a morable lesson, do you have any comnts?" the reporter changed the subject.
"Did he really say that?" No wonder his hate tric had inexplicably surged in the last few days. It turned out Pierce was working for him remotely.
It seed like his trash talk last ti had hit the mark.
After seeing the reporter nod in confirmation, a sudden idea struck Hansen.
If he could find a player who liked to trash talk and could stir up the fans, and max out their hate tric, wouldn’t it an when the teams encountered each other next ti, like this ti, he wouldn’t have to lift a finger and the hate tric would increase on its own?
Even if the hate tric was full enough and he cultivated the opposing player into the leader of his haters, wouldn’t he also have a high hate tric when not playing a ga?
Well, let’s call it the "Remote Farming Plan"!
Of course, Pierce was not the most suitable candidate for this plan; Draymond Green (with his Golden State accent) was.
But Green was still playing at Michigan State University, and he’d have to complete four years of college before entering the NBA.
"Tell that trash-talking guy, he doesn’t deserve that nickna; I’m the true ’Truth’," Hansen said fiercely, his smile disappearing.
The nickna ’Truth’ had significant aning for Pierce.
It can be said that if not for that nickna, Pierce would have just been an ordinary all-star without any morable monts before forming The Big Three in Boston.
...
That night, at the Quicken Loans Arena, the arena was packed.
Although Cleveland’s fans were not as malicious as Boston’s, in their eyes, if the Celtics hadn’t ford The Big Three, the Cavaliers would have won the championship two years ago.
So every clash between these two teams, no matter the venue, was the center of attention.
During the pre-ga warm-up, Hansen shot for a while, sinking consecutive threes, indicating he was feeling good from the periter.
After the on-site warm-up finished, they proceeded to the opening ceremony.
Hansen was the first to be introduced, and his entry was simple; as the announcer called out "77," he grabbed his jersey and swung it towards the cara.
"Ever since that shocking statent he made when he first joined the league, you might not know Hansen if you ntion him, but when you ntion number 77, you know exactly who you’re talking about."
After the opening ceremony, the starting players from both teams made their entrances.
When Hansen took the court, he found himself not matched up against Ray Allen, but against Pierce.
It seed his trash talk before the ga had had an effect.
"I hear you’re not happy in Cleveland, how about you co to Boston and hang with ?" Pierce started with his "concern."
"I think that’s possible, why don’t you go talk to him?" Hansen glanced over at Jas on the other side of the court.
"I an well. LeBron can’t lead you to a championship; he’s been defeated by ."
Hansen couldn’t help but laugh at this.
While he was not a fan of Jas, where did Pierce get off saying that Jas was defeated by him?
"Thanks for the concern, but I don’t rely on others when it cos to championships," Hansen said, shifting his attention to Garnett, who was ready for the tip-off.
"You!" Pierce was imdiately frustrated.
In the 2008 Finals, Pierce averaged 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, while Garnett averaged 18.2 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists.
By the numbers, they were quite even, but in terms of impact on the team, Garnett was streets ahead of Pierce.
Imagine replacing Pierce with another all-star—Celtics might still win a championship. But how many could replace Garnett?
Essentially, Garnett was a foundational piece, just like Duncan.
That was why the common opinion was that Pierce won the championship because of Garnett.
That hit a nerve.
Seeing Pierce agitated, Hansen knew his provocation had successfully started.
The whistle blew on the court, and O’Neal tapped the ball back to the half-court, and the Cavaliers took the offense.
Pierce’s focus was sowhat scattered now, Hansen’s words having breached his defense; he was pondering how to teach Hansen a lesson on the offensive end.
As for defense, he was well aware of Hansen’s tactical role in the Cavaliers—he was there to space the floor from the corner.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have told him to "take a break" during their last encounter.
Moreover, Hansen was currently in the midst of trade rumors. If it weren’t to showcase him to others, he likely would have been removed from the starting lineup.
In fact, that was exactly the case. The Cavaliers’ tactic looked no different than before, Hansen was pulling up the space on the weak side, and Jas was preparing to attack on the strong side.
But just as he gathered his scattered attention, he suddenly realized Hansen was gone!
On a closer look, Hansen had already moved to a 45-degree angle, and Conningham had set up a screen.
As Hansen ran up, Jas’s pass arrived perfectly.
Garnett displayed his defensive prowess, quickly bypassing Conningham’s screen to confront him.
But then, Hansen executed a move like the one he had used in an inter-squad ga—a maneuver we’ll call "The Conningham Screen."
He changed direction, moving the ball to the other side of the screen, and with Conningham in the way, Garnett was too late to react.
Before Pierce could get back in defense, Hansen decisively shot a three-pointer from the outside.
"Swish!"
The basketball went straight through the net.
Accompanied by the cheers of the ho crowd, Hansen scored the first points for the Cavaliers.
Pierce had only just caught up to Hansen.
"I forgot to tell you sothing," Hansen looked at Pierce,
"I’m different now."
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