Chapter Summaries

Cuban tried to revive the Mavericks’ spirits by bringing the 2011 Championship Trophy to practice, and the team entered Game 4 determined to avoid a sweep. The Mavericks surged ahead in the first quarter, leaving Stevens concerned that the series might return to New Orleans.

• Cuban visited the Mavericks’ closed-door practice, gave the players laptops, and brought out the 2011 Championship Trophy to inspire them.
• Butler stayed late to train, then tried playing 2K on his new laptop, found it overheated and lagged, and put it away.
• The Pelicans and Mavericks began Game 4 in a packed American Airlines Arena, where Carlisle started Jennings instead of Deron.
• The Mavericks opened with renewed intensity, and Nowitzki, Harris, and Butler helped give them a 32-26 lead after the first quarter.
• Stevens watched the Mavericks’ unexpectedly strong performance and worried that the series might return to New Orleans.

Tang Tian shifted the Pelicans’ attack inside to exploit Embiid’s foul trouble and the Mavericks’ weak interior bench, turning a tied game into a decisive lead. The Pelicans beat the Mavericks 104-91 to complete a 4-0 sweep.

• The Mavericks held a six-point lead in the second quarter, but the teams were tied 55-55 at halftime.
• Tang Tian reassured Stevens before leading the Pelicans’ second-half attack toward the basket and drawing fouls on Butler and Embiid.
• Embiid picked up his fourth foul and left the game as the Pelicans extended their lead to 85-75 by the end of the third quarter.
• Embiid returned in the fourth quarter but soon received his fifth foul, while Butler led the Mavericks’ attempt to close the gap.
• Tang Tian scored five straight points and assisted Holiday on a three-pointer during an 8-0 run that pushed the Pelicans’ lead into double digits.
• The Pelicans defeated the Mavericks 104-91, completing a 4-0 series sweep and making Stevens smile about having been fooled.

Tang Tian recorded a triple-double as the Pelicans swept the Mavericks, then won Defensive Player of the Year despite controversy. Player testimony backed his defense, while the Thunder took a 3-1 lead over the Spurs and the first round reached its closing stage.

• Tang Tian posted 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, then embraced Butler and praised the Mavericks after the Pelicans completed their sweep.
• Butler tagged Nowitzki in a post calling to start training, and Westbrook led the Thunder to a 103-94 win that gave them a 3-1 series lead over the Spurs.
• The league announced Russell as Rookie of the Month, ahead of Towns and Porzingis.
• Tang Tian won Defensive Player of the Year with 33% of the vote, ahead of Leonard and Green, provoking criticism from fans.
• Stevens told reporters to ask players who had faced Tang Tian, and stars including James and Durant praised Tang's defense.

The Pelicans prepared for a tough series against the Rockets, but Mike D'Antoni's defensive plan backfired in Game 1 and New Orleans won 123-100. Tang Tian and Stevens were left surprised by how easily the game unfolded.

• Stevens and Tang Tian focused the Pelicans' preparation on their bench advantage and the Rockets' limited rotation.
• The Rockets eliminated the Trail Blazers, and D'Antoni told reporters he was confident his team could handle the Pelicans and Tang Tian.
• Tang Tian received the Defensive Player of the Year award before the Western Conference Semifinals opener in New Orleans.
• The Rockets repeatedly double-teamed Tang Tian, but the Pelicans moved the ball quickly and took a 60-45 halftime lead.
• The Pelicans extended their lead to 22 after three quarters, then Jokic led the bench on a 12-2 run as New Orleans won 123-100.

The Pelicans prepared a defense to exploit Harden’s weaknesses, and it helped them seize an early lead in Game 2 against the Rockets. The chapter ended with Buzdrik explaining how the Pelicans had trapped Harden into uncomfortable choices.

• After the Rockets’ Game 1 loss, Tang Tian and Stevens studied how to contain Harden and devised a defensive system.
• The Thunder eliminated the Spurs 4-2, making the Warriors their opponent in the Western Conference Semifinals and ending Tang Tian’s time playing alongside Duncan.
• In Game 2, Ariza forced Harden toward his right while Jokic and Davis protected the paint, disrupting Harden’s drives and shots.
• The Pelicans turned Harden’s mistakes into fast-break scores and opened the game with an 8-0 run, prompting D’Antoni to call timeout.
• Buzdrik explained to Harden that the Pelicans were exploiting his left-handed drives, guarded step-back threes, and vulnerable mid-range game.

The Pelicans' defense shut down James Harden as they dominated the Rockets in Game 2. Houston lost 101-80, leaving New Orleans with a 2-0 series lead and Harden with a record-setting 0-for-15 shooting performance.

• The Pelicans jumped ahead early as Davis stole Cousins' pass and Tang Tian assisted Ariza on a fast-break dunk.
• Harden went 0 for 7 in the first quarter, and the Pelicans took a 28-18 lead before stretching it to 55-35 by halftime.
• D'Antoni replaced Morris with Batum after halftime, but Davis attacked the resulting matchup while Biyombo blocked Harden's shot.
• Harden continued missing and finished the third quarter 0 for 15 as the Pelicans built a lead approaching 30 points.
• The Pelicans beat the Rockets 101-80 to take a 2-0 series lead, while Harden broke Jordan's record for consecutive missed field goals in a playoff game.

The Rockets held Yao Ming’s jersey retirement ceremony before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, hoping the legendary center would inspire them after their two losses to the Pelicans. Yao Ming’s speech and encouragement lifted the Rockets, and Tang Tian prepared for a fierce road game.

• Tang Tian said the Pelicans’ success had made fans rethink their strength as the team prepared to travel to Houston with a 2-0 lead.
• Woj reported that the Rockets had moved up Yao Ming’s jersey retirement ceremony to take place before Game 3.
• Tang Tian greeted Yao Ming in Houston, and Yao invited him to dinner after the game.
• Yao Ming joked about his former teammates and shared stories about McGrady and celebrating Spring Festival in America during his retirement speech.
• The Rockets unveiled Yao Ming’s No. 11 jersey, and Yao encouraged Cousins to be patient, control his emotions, and believe he could defeat anyone.
• Tang Tian pulled himself away from the emotional ceremony and braced for a fierce Game 3.

Inspired by Yao Ming’s jersey retirement ceremony, DeMarcus Cousins dominated the paint and helped the Rockets take a 60-56 halftime lead over the Pelicans. The chapter left Houston playing its best half of the series, while Tang Tian kept New Orleans close.

• Cousins opened the game with a tip-off win and scored on the Rockets’ first two possessions, including a high-arcing hook over Davis.
• Cousins evaded Davis for a two-handed dunk, then looked toward Yao Ming, whose ceremony had inspired his strong start.
• Morris sank a corner three after Harden drew the Pelicans’ defense, and Cousins followed with an alley-oop dunk as Houston scored on its first four possessions.
• Tang Tian answered the Rockets’ surge with a difficult three-pointer and continued scoring to keep the Pelicans within reach.
• Cousins overwhelmed Jokic and the Pelicans’ defense, finishing the half with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists as Houston led 60-56.
• The crowd sang the Song of Yao during halftime while the Rockets celebrated their first halftime lead of the series.

Tang Tian and Stevens devised a second-half strategy to attack the basket and draw fouls on Cousins. The Pelicans overcame a halftime deficit to beat the Rockets 125-115 and take a 3-0 series lead.

• Tang Tian told Stevens to focus on getting Cousins off the court, and they settled on an attacking strategy for the second half.
• Tang Tian drew two shooting fouls on Cousins, giving him three fouls as the Pelicans repeatedly attacked the basket.
• Davis and the Pelicans kept scoring against Cousins, took the lead, and forced him to the bench with his fourth foul.
• Ariza, Dinwiddie, and Jokic helped the Pelicans extend their lead to double digits during the bench minutes.
• Cousins fouled out with three minutes remaining, and the Pelicans completed their comeback with a 125-115 win over the Rockets to lead the series 3-0.

After the Pelicans defeated the Rockets, Tang Tian met Yao Ming to discuss China’s plans for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Yao Ming agreed to Tang Tian’s roster and coaching requests, and Tang Tian agreed to wear Yao Ming’s Number 13 jersey as China pursued an Olympic medal.

• Fans praised Stevens for outcoaching D'Antoni as Tang Tian left the arena after the Pelicans’ win.
• Tang Tian met Yao Ming at Yao Restaurant and discussed the game, basketball development, and the upcoming Rio Olympics.
• Tang Tian asked Yao Ming to select three-point shooters and young players, including Guo Ailun, for the Olympic roster.
• Tang Tian requested a say in the coaching staff and a coach who would follow his instructions, and Yao Ming agreed.
• Yao Ming asked Tang Tian to wear the Number 13 jersey at the Olympics, and Tang Tian accepted.

The Rockets avoided a sweep by beating the Pelicans 110-101 in Game 4, while the Thunder moved to a 3-1 lead over the Warriors. On the flight back to New Orleans, Tang Tian proposed guarding James Harden himself as the Pelicans prepared for their next game.

• Stevens warned that the Rockets would fight hard to avoid a sweep, and Houston opened Game 4 with tactical changes that helped its offense and defense.
• Chris Paul scored over 30 points, while Harden and Cousins also played well, leading the Rockets to a 110-101 win and their first victory of the series.
• D'Antoni declared that the Rockets could win the series one game at a time after they cut the Pelicans' lead to 3-1.
• The Thunder beat the Warriors 108-106 to take a 3-1 series lead, prompting Barkley, Kenny Smith, and O'Neal to debate both Western Conference series on TNT.
• On the flight back to New Orleans, Tang Tian suggested that he guard Harden directly, and he and Stevens discussed adjusting the Pelicans' tactics.

The Pelicans changed their lineup and had Tang Tian guard Harden while repeatedly attacking him in isolation. The adjustment put the Rockets under pressure early, and Harden struggled against Tang Tian as the chapter ended.

• Stevens moved Jokic to the bench and started Biyombo as the Pelicans prepared to attack Harden one-on-one.
• Tang Tian scored against Harden on the Pelicans’ opening possession, then kept targeting him as Paul and Cousins struggled against the Pelicans’ defense.
• Tang Tian assisted Biyombo on a dunk, and the Pelicans surged to a 20-8 lead in less than half a quarter.
• Harden tried to score against Tang Tian but missed an airball, then drove and had his shot blocked out of bounds by Tang Tian.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans to a 119-98 win over the Rockets, eliminating them 4-1 and sending New Orleans to the Western Conference Finals. The Pelicans traveled to Oklahoma City to scout their next opponent and watched the Warriors beat the Thunder to force a Game 7.

• Tang Tian scored 40 points through three quarters as the Pelicans built a commanding lead and beat the Rockets 119-98, advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year.
• Tang Tian told reporters that the Pelicans had turned their attention to their next opponent after finishing the series.
• The Warriors beat the Thunder in Game 5 to cut their series deficit to 3-2, and the Pelicans trained in New Orleans before traveling to Oklahoma City to scout Game 6.
• The entire Pelicans team and coaching staff watched Game 6, where Durant helped the Thunder erase the Warriors' halftime lead and take a six-point advantage in the fourth quarter.
• Curry entered Sun God Mode after a timeout, and the Warriors finished with a 22-8 run to win 115-108 and tie the series at 3-3.

Tang Tian won the 2015-16 Regular Season MVP by a landslide as the Warriors defeated the Thunder in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. The Pelicans watched the Warriors celebrate, ready to face them and pursue revenge for last season’s defeat.

• The league announced Tang Tian as MVP, awarding him 62% of the votes and 100 first-place votes, while Curry received 26%.
• Green called Curry the only MVP in the Warriors’ hearts and predicted they would let the championship speak for itself.
• Durant scored 18 points in the first quarter as the Thunder built a 15-point halftime lead over the Warriors in Game 7.
• Cole sent out the Warriors’ Small Ball Lineup, and they outscored the Thunder 43-18 in the third quarter to take a 10-point lead.
• Curry and the Warriors kept extending their lead, then won Game 7 to eliminate the Thunder 4-3 and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
• Tang Tian and the Pelicans watched the Warriors celebrate and welcomed the chance to avenge their loss to them from the previous year.

The Pelicans and Warriors began their Western Conference Finals rematch amid rising trash talk and anticipation. The Warriors opened with a small-ball lineup, and Tang Tian saw an opportunity in their effort to contain Jokic as the first game got underway.

• The Warriors completed a comeback against the Thunder to reach the Western Conference Finals, while Bogut and Green expressed confidence in their chances against the Pelicans.
• Stephenson traded insults with Green before the series, and the Cavaliers opened the Eastern Conference Finals by crushing the Knicks.
• Tang Tian performed dunks during warm-ups to excite the New Orleans crowd before the teams took the court.
• Cole started the Warriors with a small-ball lineup, and Davis won the opening tip for the Pelicans.
• Tang Tian directed Jokic to post up, but Green denied him while Barnes prepared to help, prompting Tang Tian to spot an opportunity.

Tang Tian dominated the opening stretch against the Warriors, scoring 11 straight points despite their targeted defensive schemes. The Warriors answered with Curry’s three-pointers, but Tang’s personal scoring run left the game in his hands.

• Tang Tian used changes of direction to beat Thompson and began scoring against the Warriors’ defense.
• The Pelicans switched against the Warriors’ cuts, while Davis collected a rebound after Thompson missed a three-pointer.
• Tang Tian evaded Iguodala’s help defense and made difficult jumpers and a layup over Green’s help defense.
• Curry scored a layup and later made a three-pointer, but the Pelicans disrupted his other perimeter attempt.
• Tang Tian drove through the Warriors’ transition defense for another difficult basket, then hit a pull-up three over Thompson to reach 11 straight points.

Tang Tian and Stephen Curry traded historic scoring bursts as the Pelicans and Warriors opened the game with a high-scoring duel. Tang Tian finished the first half with a playoff-record 40 points, and the Pelicans led 70–57.

• Curry scored the Warriors' first five points, while Tang Tian scored the Pelicans' first eleven and forced the Warriors to use a five-man zone defense.
• Tang Tian and Curry exchanged three-pointers as they each broke their playoff single-quarter scoring records, and the Pelicans led 41–35 after the first quarter.
• After both stars returned in the second quarter, Tang Tian drew fouls and stole the ball from Thompson for a fast-break layup while Curry's shots stopped falling.
• Tang Tian scored 40 first-half points, breaking Floyd's playoff half-scoring record and Barkley's first-half playoff record, as the Pelicans took a 70–57 lead.

Tang Tian and Curry traded scoring bursts as the Pelicans held off the Warriors, and Tang Tian broke the Playoff single-game scoring record. The Pelicans remained ahead as Tang Tian's record-setting night electrified the arena.

• At halftime, Stevens warned the Pelicans not to relax despite Tang Tian's record-setting 40-point first half and their 13-point lead.
• Curry opened the third quarter with five straight points, but Tang Tian answered with a fadeaway 2+1 as both stars continued their scoring duel.
• Tang Tian reached 58 points by the end of the third quarter, with the Pelicans leading 100-85 and the record within reach.
• McGee scored five straight points early in the fourth quarter, then Thompson led a Warriors run that kept the game close enough for Tang Tian to return.
• Tang Tian scored his 60th point, then hit a three-pointer through a foul and made the free throw to finish with 64 points and break the Playoff single-game scoring record.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans to a 128-106 Game 1 win over the Warriors with a 66-point performance that broke Michael Jordan’s playoff single-game scoring record. Jordan bristled at the media’s comparisons, while James watched the praise from Cleveland and prepared to prove himself.

• Tang Tian’s record-breaking performance rattled the Warriors, and Holiday helped the Pelicans extend their lead before the reserves finished a 128-106 victory.
• The media and fans celebrated Tang Tian’s 66 points, joked that Jordan would come back to reclaim the record, and praised Tang’s rise toward Jordan’s standing.
• Jordan read the coverage in Las Vegas, grew angry at being treated as a stepping stone, and wondered how far Tang Tian could go.
• James saw the praise for Tang Tian in Cleveland and hoped the Pelicans would reach the Finals so he could prove himself and pursue a championship.

The Pelicans beat the Warriors 106-88 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 Western Conference Finals lead, while Green and Stephenson traded taunts before Game 3. The Warriors started Bogut at home in Oakland, but the Pelicans quickly took control again.

• The Pelicans led throughout Game 2 and defeated the Warriors 106-88, taking a 2-0 series lead.
• Green declared that the Warriors would win the series 4-2, and Stephenson answered with taunts of his own.
• Cole put Bogut back in the starting lineup for Game 3 at Oracle Arena, where Curry opened with a deep three-pointer.
• Tang Tian stole the ball from Thompson and dunked, then helped set up Jokic's layup as the Pelicans exploited the Warriors' slower defense.
• Davis blocked Barnes, and Tang Tian's no-look pass led to Davis's one-handed dunk, giving the Pelicans the initiative despite the close score.