Conley from the Grizzlies scored 15 points with 10 assists, Little Gasol had 12 points and 13 rebounds with 3 blocks, and Battier added 8 points.
Hansen was on fire, hitting 15 out of 22 shots and racking up 36 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 turnovers, 3 steals, and 1 block, delivering an MVP-level performance.
"He did it on purpose, his actions were criminal, he should be thrown in jail, he’s a murderer!"
The away team’s press conference was first. Popovich was visibly agitated when he talked about Manu Ginobili being injured by Hansen.
He had just received the news that Ginobili was severely injured, out for the season, and it could even threaten his career.
That was his favorite player, you know. Among all the Spurs players, even Duncan had to play within his system, but Ginobili was the only exception.
After the away team’s press conference concluded, it was the home team’s turn at the venue.
Hansen and Conley attended together.
"After Randolph was ejected from the game, how did you manage to lead the team to victory?" Hansen was naturally the focus of the reporters’ questions.
"It wasn’t me, it was us. Mike (Conley) organized the team. Mark (Gasol) anchored our defense, and I just happened to make those shots. We played the ultimate team basketball." Hansen wasn’t just being polite. Without Conley and Little Gasol tonight, the Grizzlies couldn’t have put up their defensive counterattacks.
"Tonight the fans chanted MVP for you during the game; how did that make you feel?"
"It was special and touching. I think we’re enjoying a honeymoon period." Hansen’s metaphors were always so apt.
"Now that you’re leading 3 to 1 against the Spurs, I’d bet not many people thought you could make it this far. Have you thought about that?"
"I have, because I said before ’this is exactly the matchup I wanted’."
"Are you worried the team might go through the kind of situation you had in the first round again?" the reporter pressed on.
"No, I’ve got to pay my respects to KD and the Thunders. They taught us how to handle that kind of situation."
At that moment, Durant sneezed violently while fishing at Hefner Lake.
"Do you have anything to say about the mishap that happened during the game?" Finally, it was the turn of the reporter from San Antonio, who couldn’t wait to dig into the incident involving Ginobili’s injury.
All the reporters’ eyes turned to Hansen. Compared to the game’s outcome, the series of events that unfolded in the first quarter were more eye-catching.
Especially since right before, in the same seat where Hansen was sitting, Popovich had shown such intense emotion.
"I have reason to believe it was no accident." Hansen’s response sent shockwaves through the room.
They didn’t catch on immediately.
"We were leading 2-0, beat them by 25 points in the second game, and the whole world knew they were no match for us. They knew they had to do something or go home, and then you saw, they tried to provoke and injure Zack, just like they did to the people from Phoenix back in the day."
It was only when Hansen continued that they realized he was talking about the near injury Randolph had almost suffered. Fınd the newest release on 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝
"But Randolph wasn’t injured," the reporter countered.
"Do you know what ’attempted crime’ means?" Hansen scoffed.
An attempted crime isn’t a crime?
You should go get a legal education from Xiao Bing Xin.
"But you hurt Manu. According to the information we have, he’s out for the season with a back injury."
Is that so? That’s really great news.
"It was an accident. I just didn’t control my body as well as James Anderson did when guarding Rudy (Guy). I’m just clumsy."
Hansen threw back at the reporter the same excuse Spurs fans had used when Anderson injured Guy.
"Isn’t this because Manu hurt Randolph, and then you retaliated against him?" the reporter cut through Hansen’s narrative, knowing that Hansen was the type to go down and tell Popovich "I did it on purpose."
"What did you just say?" Hansen actually found it amusing.
"I mean, Manu didn’t mean it, but you think he did, so you deliberately took revenge on him," the reporter quickly clarified.
"Are you familiar with Aaron Brooks?" Hansen suddenly asked.
"When Manu undercut Brooks, you say it was unintentional; when Manu tried to hurt Zack, you also say it was unintentional. What, is he a pure white lotus in your hearts, untainted despite wrongdoing?" Hansen didn’t wait for a response, instead laughing with sarcasm.
"If the standard is ’if it hurts the Spurs, it’s intentional; if it hurts others, it’s unintentional’, then yes, I did it on purpose. I purposely hit Popovich, and I purposely took out Manu. Yes, that’s right."
① "I think injuries happen all the time in games, things like stepping on someone’s foot are common. And just recently, Jefferson from the Nets stepped on O’Neal’s foot, and Josh Howard (Mavericks) stepped on Petruus’s foot causing a sprain. Why didn’t the League warn O’Neal and Petruus but chased down Bowen relentlessly? Is Bowen supposed to be the scapegoat? Is he really causing injuries more frequently than others?" — Excerpt from Popovich defending Bowen.