The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 151 - 110 Daddy Doesn’t Love Me Anymore

After the preseason had ended, Mark Stan released the second edition of the team rankings based on the preseason performances.

The Lakers still topped the chart, while the Heat, due to their poor preseason performance, dropped directly to fourth place.

However, the Grizzlies, having defeated the Mavericks, moved up 4 spots to 16th place.

Naturally, this sparked another round of controversy.

Some fans argued that Stan lacked professionalism, using preseason performances to judge team strengths, which they found laughable.

This time, however, Stan did not write an explanatory article because the regular season games between the Heat and the Grizzlies were about to start, and that would speak for itself.

The League promoted this opening game extensively.

The Heat’s official promotions even used a comic with the slogan "Heat Burns Grizzlies."

Regardless of whose playing style dominates, the Heat are championship contenders, whereas the Grizzlies aren’t even considered a playoff team, making the gap in team strength obvious.

On the day before the game, the Grizzlies took a flight to Miami.

Hansen was seated in the forward section next to Conley.

They were discussing tomorrow’s game.

This was their chance, but there was also a high probability they’d become just a backdrop for the Heat’s Three Giants.

"They’re weaker than you think," said Hansen, a transmigrator. Since this Heat team hadn’t changed from what he knew, he had a clearer idea of their strength.

He knew the Heat struggled initially in the season with team cohesion, resorting to all sorts of private and in-flight meetings.

"That’s just the preseason," Conley reminded him; evaluating opponents based on preseason seemed a bit too dismissive.

Hansen then realized others didn’t see it as he did, but...

"Teams that perform well in preseason don’t always do well in the season, but poor performances indicate they definitely have some issues."

The classic example was the Lakers’ new F4—Nash, Kobe, Gasol, and Howard—who lost all their preseason games and then went out in the first round of the playoffs.

Conley nodded, admitting there was some sense in Hansen’s words.

Just then, Guy suddenly joined them and gestured for Conley to make space.

Hansen looked puzzled; he and Conley were having a good conversation, why did this guy suddenly butt in?

Unexpectedly, Guy leaned in mysteriously.

"When I face LeBron, should I hold back?"

Hansen gave him an O’Neal-like puzzled look.

Are you not going to crush him; how could you even think of coming to me after that?!

Unexpectedly, Guy handed over his phone to him. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Hansen looked at the phone skeptically, but then his expression froze when he saw the content.

It was an interview, one LeBron had done earlier during practice in Miami.

The reporter asked LeBron how he viewed the matchup with the Grizzlies and competing against Hansen.

The interview question was fine—after all, everyone knew he and James were at odds.

It was LeBron’s response that posed the issue.

"You know, Hansen is a good brother of mine; we’ve fought side by side and defeated many opponents together, just a step away from the championship. I know he’s chosen a team he wanted, and I wish him all the best in Memphis."

What, had LeBron turned into a masochist, like Carter?

Moreover, this statement was completely unreasonable; James was bitter rivals with him, so how could he say such things?

"This is fake news."

"Fake, huh?" Guy scratched his head—it looked like genuine news from ESPN’s official site?

"It’s definitely fake; whether we can win tomorrow all depends on your defense, so don’t you dare hold back," Hansen looked earnestly at Guy.

Guy paused for a moment but, after seeing Hansen’s expression, nodded vigorously.

After Guy left, Hansen took out his phone to search.

The darn news was actually true!

That’s when he slapped his forehead, realizing he had forgotten something crucial.

During the free agency, to acquire "Steel Bones," he had posted supportive statuses about James, earning a bunch of backlash.

Imagine, when you’re being cursed by everyone, and suddenly someone stands by you, especially someone who previously was your enemy, how would you feel?

In times of trouble, true friendships are revealed, brother!

Although James likely wouldn’t see it that way.

But for his public image, he might pretend that was his thinking.

So these words might actually be quite reasonable.

"Actually, I think if you hadn’t gotten injured, the Cavaliers really could have won the championship last season," Conley sat back down.

Judging by his look, he seemed to have talked with Guy.

Hansen didn’t wish to explain; if Conley had gone through what he had with the Cavaliers, he wouldn’t think so either.

He turned his head toward the window.

After a while, he turned back and picked up the conversation with Conley they hadn’t finished.

In that moment of turning his head, he had come up with a new idea.

The environment in the Grizzlies was much better than the previous Cavaliers team, but one thing was inferior—external attention.

Nike heavily promoted LeBron, so his inherent star power attracted attention, regardless of Cleveland being a small market.

Thus, earning negative attention was easier before, but in Memphis, it would become difficult.

His previous bold claim to bring a championship to the Grizzlies was one of his few opportunities.

Now with James saying those words, wasn’t he just creating an opportunity for him?