Chapter 101: The Summer of 2010.
As Han Sen had previously analyzed, the Memphis Grizzlies' playstyle was a perfect counter to LeBron James. To put it more bluntly, their style countered the entire Miami Heat Big Three.
If James actually joined the Heat and Memphis met them in the Finals, it would be like a father disciplining his child—Memphis would crush them.
With a bit of optimism, a three-peat championship wasn't out of the question. However, this all depended on the Grizzlies getting past the brutal Western Conference, where even 50 wins could only land a team in eighth place. This wasn't the Eastern Conference.
Han Sen, who initially wanted to stir the pot and attract haters by predicting a Grizzlies dynasty, decided to play it safe after a word from Wallace, who'd cautioned him ahead of time.
While Han Sen intended to hold back, the press and the public exploded at his claims. The Grizzlies winning a championship?! A team that had never even made it to the Western Conference Finals?!
Wallace face-palmed, realizing he should have briefed Han Sen on the team's realistic goals for the upcoming season. Now, with Han Sen's bold statements making headlines, the Grizzlies would likely become the league's laughingstock.
Nevertheless, Han Sen wasn't done. As the room began to calm, he took the mic again to explain: "Although we missed the playoffs last season, we improved by 16 wins from the previous year. That shows we're on the right track. Many of our games were lost due to weak perimeter defense and key plays in the final moments, areas where I specialize. That's why they brought me here at a significant cost. In reality, since my arrival, we're already a playoff-caliber team. So, our goal isn't just the playoffs; we're aiming for a championship after we gel as a team. And I believe we can achieve it."
His reasoning was solid, but the reporters were still buzzing with his earlier championship comment, already drafting headlines.
Wallace, too, began to see that while Han Sen's words were ambitious, they weren't without merit. Han Sen had thrived in Cleveland under terrible conditions; his success was no accident. And Jerry West's judgment in acquiring him was as sharp as ever.
After the press conference, Wallace pulled Han Sen aside, asking about his knee, still his main concern given the injury history that had almost prevented the trade in the first place.
Han Sen assured him his knee was fine, promising he'd continue to work on his physical fitness over the summer. Wallace smiled, feeling reassured that his gamble on Han Sen was paying off.