After finishing their series against the Nets, the Cavaliers returned to Cleveland the next day.
To be fair, while Cleveland wasn't the most glamorous city, it was ideal for playoff preparations—free from distractions and entertainment, keeping the players focused on the games.
On April 28, while the Cavaliers were playing the Nets, other games included the Bucks defeating the Bulls 94-88 and the Blazers edging out the Grizzlies 99-92.
The Bucks' win also meant the Cavaliers gained a few extra days of rest.
Tyronn Lue adjusted the team's training schedule and intensity to prevent his players from burning out before they even hit the court.
On April 29, the Cavaliers' coaching staff gave the team the day off. Jay spent the day at home, relaxing and watching that day's two playoff games.
On May 1, in Game 6 of the Bulls-Bucks series, the Bulls finally closed it out, dominating 120-66 to advance to the next round.
While Jay was eagerly anticipating the Cavaliers' second-round matchup against the Bulls, news broke about the Rookie of the Year award.
On May 1, the NBA officially announced Jay Sun as the 2014-15 Rookie of the Year.
In his rookie season, Jay averaged 20.2 points, 6.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game.
In comparison, Andrew Wiggins averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
Jay's edge was undeniable.
In the voting, Jay received 110 of the 130 first-place votes, totaling 604 points.
Jay became the first player from China to win Rookie of the Year, a milestone that was widely reported across media outlets in China and beyond.
"The NBA's First Chinese Rookie of the Year!!!"
"He Did What Yao Ming Never Did!!!"
"Shocking! He's Dominating in the USA!!"
"The Next Leader of Chinese Basketball Is Here!"
Jay also received an invitation from Zhang Weiping to participate in a special interview in China, which they scheduled for the offseason.
To keep the focus on playoff preparation, the Cavaliers held a brief press conference to celebrate Jay's achievement.
During the event, Jay answered just two simple questions before being ushered out by the team's management, who wanted to avoid the risk of media distractions.
"David, it's fine," Jay said, smiling wryly at GM David Griffin's concern.
But Griffin remained serious.
"Jay, these reporters can be ruthless. Who knows what kind of tricky questions they might ask?"
Griffin added, "Also, remember to stay safe during the playoffs. This is America—you know how 'free' it can be."
Jay couldn't help but laugh. "Got it. Freedom in America, right?"
Still, Jay wondered if all this was really necessary. It's just basketball. Why all the fuss? It's not the World Cup or anything.
As the Cavaliers waited and trained for their next matchup, time passed quickly.
By May 4, the Hawks had already lost Game 1 of their second-round series to the Wizards, 104-98. The Warriors had also defeated the Grizzlies 101-86.
The Cavaliers' much-anticipated second-round matchup with the Bulls was fast approaching.
May 5, Quicken Loans Arena
Jay's long-awaited second-round playoff series had finally arrived.
It was also his first chance to face his self-proclaimed rival, Derrick Rose.
With the opening whistle, the game began.
Thanks to avoiding the Celtics in the first round, Kevin Love was still healthy and in the lineup, so the Cavaliers stuck with their usual starting five.
The Bulls started with Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol, and Joakim Noah.
On the opening tip, Mozgov secured the ball, and Kyrie Irving pushed it up the floor.
Rose's defense was decent and his effort was strong, while Kyrie didn't seem overly eager to go one-on-one.
Calling for a pick-and-roll with Love, Kyrie used the screen to drive into the paint.
The Bulls' defense, one of the best in the league, disrupted Kyrie's attempt at the rim, and he missed the layup.
Noah grabbed the rebound and passed to Rose.
Rose advanced the ball up the court, with Kyrie picking him up defensively.
Without hesitation, Rose attacked.
His burst of speed left Kyrie trailing behind, and Rose drove straight into the heart of the Cavaliers' defense.
Mozgov and Love quickly collapsed into the paint, setting up a wall to block Rose's path.
Undeterred, Rose gathered the ball and leaped into the air.
Twisting mid-air, Rose executed a stunning reverse layup, scoring off the glass.
The move left the crowd at Quicken Loans Arena in awe, their murmurs of amazement filling the arena.
Although home fans typically refrained from cheering for opposing players (except in New York), Rose's play was undeniably spectacular.
Jay, watching from the perimeter, couldn't help but be stunned. Man, that was incredible.
Rose, as stoic as ever, didn't celebrate. He simply jogged back on defense with his team.
On the Cavaliers' next possession, Kyrie handed the ball off to LeBron James.
LeBron, working from the wing, faced off against Dunleavy.
Dunleavy's frame was no match for LeBron's physicality, and he couldn't stop LeBron from driving into the paint.
Drawing Noah's help defense, LeBron dished the ball to Mozgov, who converted the close-range shot.
Both teams played at a high level, and the outcome was far from certain—at least while the Bulls' starters had fresh legs.
For the Cavaliers, their opportunity would come later in the game, during the critical moments when stamina became a factor.
The first quarter primarily featured LeBron and Kyrie taking turns creating plays, while Jay quietly filled his role as a 3-and-D player.
Kyrie spent most of the quarter guarding Rose, which left him visibly fatigued.
Meanwhile, Jay found himself matched up against Jimmy Butler.
Although Butler wasn't yet in his prime, he was still a formidable player, making him a challenging assignment for Jay.
At the same time, Butler struggled to gain much ground against Jay, whose Clamps defensive badge gave him an edge.
At the end of the first quarter, the Bulls led 27-25.
Jay had recorded 5 points and 1 rebound in the period.
In the second quarter, Lue rested Kyrie and opted to rotate defenders on Rose to wear him down.
The Bulls, however, kept their starters on the floor.
This meant Jay would finally have his chance to match up directly against Rose.
On the first play, Rose attempted to use his speed to blow by Jay.
Jay stayed tight on him, activating his Clamps badge.
Even so, Rose managed to gain half a step and drove toward the paint.
Jay refused to back down, sticking with Rose and maintaining just enough of a presence to contest his shot.
The two battled all the way to the rim, where Rose went up for the finish.
Anticipating Rose's signature reverse or acrobatic layup, Jay delayed his jump by a split second.
But Rose read the situation perfectly. Instead of pulling out a flashy move, he simply went straight up for a basic layup.
Bang... Swish!
The ball banked in.
Landing back on the floor, Jay turned to look at Rose.
So this is an MVP?
And not just any MVP—one who'd come back from serious injuries?