CHAPTER 570: CHAPTER 280: NOAH IS GOING CRAZY

After Hansen made that throw, the Cavaliers led the score for the first time tonight.

When the rest of the Cavaliers were off their offensive game, even facing Thibodeau’s "Jordan Rules", Hansen still took charge of the team’s first 10 points.

And when he stepped up to the free throw line, MVP chants erupted in the arena.

This wasn’t Hansen’s first time back in Cleveland, but it was the first time in five years that such chants filled the Quicken Loans Arena during the playoffs.

"The Bulls are strong this year, but they are still no match for the Cavaliers," commented O’Neal, emotionally from the booth.

Five years ago, at this time, he and Hansen were both on the Cavaliers, facing the Bulls in the first round.

However, back then, both were injured and could only sit courtside, dressed in suits and chewing gum.

As time went by, Hansen was still wearing a Cavaliers jersey, and he was still sitting courtside, only now from the bench to the commentary booth.

Hansen made the free throw, bringing the score to 8-11.

Defensive chants continued to ring throughout the Quicken Loans Arena; the Cleveland fans had endless enthusiasm tonight.

The Bulls’ field attack remained ineffective.

Turning back, Hansen continued to signal for Garnett to step up and screen with one hand holding the ball in the frontcourt.

This move once again drew cheers from the crowd.

From the second quarter, this was Hansen’s sixth consecutive time leading the offense!

Hansen’s physical exertion must have been immense by now, but his actions conveyed his determination.

Just like what that Cleveland fan said: Destroy you, what does that have to do with you!

When Hansen broke through with Garnett’s screen again, "Han’s gravity" erupted, drawing the entire Bulls’ defense towards him.

It was then that Hansen made a spectacular pass.

While still breaking through, he lightly flicked the ball backward with his left hand, sending it directly to the weak side at a 45° angle to the three-point line.

Only when Irving caught the ball did the Bulls’ players realize, but it was clearly too late.

Irving got an even better wide-open three-point opportunity than before.

He adjusted and then shot.

"Swish!"

With a crisp sound, someone other than Hansen finally scored for the Cavaliers!

After the shot, Irving, uncharacteristically, roared towards the sidelines, venting the pressure within.

8-14.

The Cavaliers had just launched an attack wave of 14-2 in the past five minutes!

The game momentum had now shifted towards the Cavaliers.

The Bulls finally played some splendid cooperation in their positional battle, but Covington’s three-point shot from the corner still missed.

After the situation turned, it was now the Bulls’ turn to feel the pressure of the game!

Hansen was resting on the weak side while Irving led the offense.

With Garnett’s screen, Irving broke through Noah straight to the basket.

That three-point shot had boosted his confidence, but after his dash, he was surrounded by several players.

The Bulls’ offense might have been lacking, but their defense was still on point.

Irving, lacking Hansen’s ball-handling ability, could only manage a difficult under-the-arm shot while fending off the defense.

Thanks to his excellent ball-handling skills, he successfully managed the shot, but the ball bounced off the rim.

Noah reached out to grab the defensive rebound.

But just as he was about to touch the ball, a hand quickly tapped it before him.

The ball seemed as if it was redirected, falling straight towards the center of the basket.

Noah turned to see the rebounder and his face showed a look of horror.

How was it Hansen again?

Doesn’t Hansen need to rest?

Is Hansen omnipresent?!

8-16, the lead was starting to approach double digits.

Thibodeau called a timeout.

As the players came off, he lashed out at Butler, clearly dissatisfied with his no-ball defense just now.

"The Bulls are strong; honestly, I don’t think Noah’s pre-game comments were boastful or arrogant. They are a top-five defensive team in the league this season. They truly are strong," O’Neal reaffirmed the Bulls.

"But they can’t stop Han; Han can do anything he wants." Maybe it was because this Cavaliers team gave O’Neal enough to empathize with, he seemed even more excited tonight than Barkley.

After the timeout, Ross and Noah played a pick and roll, and Ross stopped abruptly for a mid-range shot, hitting it.

Irving tried to respond, passing Ross and choosing the same abrupt mid-range shot.

But under Gibson’s block, his shot ended up off target.

The data on Irving displayed on the arena’s LED board.

out of 1, 3 points, 1 error—Irving’s performance tonight had been disastrous so far.

Noah secured the defensive rebound, and the Bulls pushed a defensive counterattack.

In the fast break, Ross received a pass from Noah, then cut in attracting a double-team and passed the ball to Butler on the sideline, who hit the Bulls’ first three-pointer of the night.

After Ross became MVP, many people, including Thibodeau, had advised him to adjust his playing style.

But people tend to cling to the spotlight, and if Ross changed his style, he wouldn’t be that MVP anymore; he never took the advice.

After years of battling injuries, he finally became prudent, learning to play at a slower pace.

The Windy City Rose was no more, but Ross had been reborn.

13-16.