The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 312 Teacher
The game had completely fallen into the Blazers' rhythm, and Fitch was horrified to discover that he was running out of cards.

Three wins have essentially exhausted all of Fitch's options, and the team's tactics and rotations have now proven to be the most suitable and effective strategies for securing victories.

Now that it's Game 6 and they're playing at home, the Rockets should go all out and defeat the Trail Blazers. The Rockets should score 42 points, and the Trail Blazers should score 25.

But Fitch didn't expect that Jack Ramsey had an Ace hidden in his hand, and that the Trail Blazers could still play the kind of fluid, back-cutting, running offense that they had in the 70s.

Unlike in the 70s, they no longer rely on speed. In slow, half-court games, they can constantly attack the Rockets' defense with passing and movement—because they have Forrest Gump.

Forrest Gump is probably the best finisher in the paint right now. He rarely misses when he gets an offensive opportunity under the basket and always manages to get the ball into the hoop.

In fact, when Gan Guoyang first joined the Trail Blazers, Ramsey positioned him as an excellent scorer on offense, as he was quite strong in the final shot.

However, Gan Guoyang's one-on-one ability became more and more outstanding, and he gradually transformed from a finisher into a complete playmaker, an offensive initiator and finisher.

In the early part of the night, Gan Guoyang returned to the role of finisher, handing over the offensive initiation to Walton, Drexler, Porter, and Vandeweghe, greatly reducing his own low-post offense.

Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson immediately lost their defensive focus. Circling around Gan Guoyang would be a waste of resources, but if they didn't circle around him, what if he had an outburst?
Fitch had no other choice, so he changed his defensive strategy again, requiring Olajuwon to guard Gan Guoyang one-on-one the entire time, while Sampson had to take Walton and the others seriously.

"Akim, we can only win the series if we beat Forrest Gump."

Bill Fitch no longer said, "It's not about beating Forrest Gump, just winning the game is enough."

If they want to win tonight, they must deal with Gan Guoyang. Double-teaming and surrounding him won't work anymore; they have to let their best player deal with the opponent's best player.

This is the NBA; defensive rules and basketball culture dictate that games will always turn into heroic duels in the end.

Meanwhile, on the Trail Blazers' bench.

“Everyone played very well tonight. Your creativity surprised me, but we’re not even halfway through the game yet. We can’t relax just because we’re leading. A gap of more than ten points can be wiped out very quickly. Everyone needs to stay focused.”

Ramsey changed his previous criticisms and focused on encouraging the players.

Everyone played very well in this game; their defense was flawless, and their offense was extremely fluid.

For a few rounds, he felt like he was back in 1977, when they also played a brilliant game under immense pressure and turned the series around.

Pressure can be overwhelming, but if you can get through it, it can elevate the team and bring about a true transformation.

Previously, the Trail Blazers were very strong, and Gan Guoyang was very strong, but the performance of the others could only be described as adequate, with occasional flashes of brilliance.

Under immense pressure from the Rockets, every Trail Blazers player who stepped onto the court shone brightly.

"Forrest Gump, how do you feel about this fighting style? Isn't it easy yet sharp?" Ramsey asked Gan Guoyang.

They haven't had any direct communication about basketball for over a year, with Ramsey always using Adelman as a go-between.

The two felt that having this buffer was good, and they were already used to it. This time, Ramsey did not use Adelman as an intermediary during the pause.

Gan Guoyang nodded and said, "Yes, it's easy yet sharp. If I keep playing like this, I can get 70 points."

Gan Guoyang finally understood why Ramsey had always been such a proponent of traditional team basketball.

Because playing traditional team basketball is truly exhilarating, you become part of the team, and everyone in the team is fully involved in the game. That sense of cohesion is exhilarating.

"Okay, then you can keep playing. You won't have any rest time in this game. When Walton goes to the bench, you have to carry the offense."

"..."

It turned out the old man had dug a pit here waiting for Gan Guoyang. Gan Guoyang had no choice but to fight!
It's already Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. Let's treat ourselves like slaves on a plantation and pluck them to our hearts' content.

The timeout ended, Gan Guoyang remained on the court, Walton was to leave the court for a rest, and Thompson entered the game.

Vandeweghe was substituted off for a rest, and Ramsey did not bring on Paxson, but instead substituted Jerome Kossie.

Kossi is strong, physically gifted, and plays an aggressive style that allows him to withstand the Rockets' savage attacks on both offense and defense.

On the perimeter, Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler remained on the court, and their backcourt duo was very solid tonight.

Ramsey is not planning to use Cortés, knowing that even two possessions of inconsistent ball control could give the Rockets an opportunity to turn the game around.

This is the playoffs; there's no room for error. Any oversight in the details can lead to defeat.

If you can play well, then please play until the very end. The reason we give you so much rest and rotation time during the regular season is to make up for it in the crucial playoff games.

For the Rockets, Sampson went to the bench to rest, and Fitch replaced him with Mitchell Wiggins and Peterson. Like Gan Guoyang, Olajuwon remained on the court to continue fighting. With Walton out to cool off, Gan Guoyang once again became the offensive focal point, and he and Olajuwon resumed their one-on-one duel.

"Fitch has given up on double-teaming me? He's sent you here alone to die again."

"Stop talking nonsense, Sonny."

By the sixth match, the two had shown no mercy to each other.

Hakeem Olajuwon hit a jump shot over Gan Guoyang.

On the return, Gan Guoyang received the ball, turned and overpowered Olajuwon, then scored with a left-handed hook shot.

Gan Guoyang's rare left-handed hook shot shows he's in excellent form tonight.

In a half-court battle between centers, Hakeem Olajuwon drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul from Gan Guoyang.

Made both free throws.

After Gan Guoyang and Porter executed a pick-and-roll, Gan Guoyang received the ball and made a mid-range jump shot.

In pick-and-roll situations, Gan Guoyang is much better than Olajuwon.

Hakeem Olajuwon disliked pick-and-rolls and screens, as they hindered his rebounding.

Peterson missed his shot, and Olajuwon grabbed the offensive rebound.

Gan Guoyang dared not foul again, allowing Olajuwon to dunk with both hands.

After another pick-and-roll, Gan Guoyang received the ball in the middle, faked out Olajuwon, and drove to the basket for a one-handed dunk!
This play also drew a foul from Hakeem Olajuwon, and Gan Guoyang made the free throw.

CBS commentator Dick Stockton exclaimed, "This is the most exciting center matchup I've seen all year. The number one and number two picks of 1984, amazing big men, amazing young men, this is a clash between heroes and giants."

In their repeated confrontations, Hakeem Olajuwon gradually figured out the tricks of the trade, and his offensive skills were also being improved.

He knew he couldn't match Forrest Gump's strength, so he focused on improving his footwork. He came from a background in handball and soccer, and had excellent hand-foot coordination.

He can do a bicycle kick near the center line and kick the basketball into the hoop, something Gan Guoyang can't do; he doesn't have that kind of footwork.

Hakeem Olajuwon received the ball in the low post again. He dribbled and turned around, then suddenly stopped, turned back, shifted Gan Guoyang's weight, and then turned inside again. He then crossed the baseline and scored with a reverse layup!

Gan Guoyang didn't expect this play; it was indeed beautiful. The continuous spinning feints were very realistic, fast, and the footwork was clean, without any traveling.

"Beautiful footwork, Akim, truly remarkable." Gan Guoyang didn't hold back in praising his opponent.

On the offensive end, Gan Guoyang received the ball and made the same move, the difference being that Gan Guoyang did not dribble. So on the third turn, he used his explosiveness and strength to squeeze through the gap created by the fake move, drove to the basket and scored with a layup!
"Akim, wasn't that a good shot?"

Hakeem Olajuwon knew he couldn't win an argument with Gan Guoyang, so whether it was praise or provocation, keeping quiet was the best course of action.

In the latter part of the second quarter, the game turned into a one-on-one show between the two, captivating the fans in the arena and viewers at home.

Both players were completely focused, even transcending the outcome of the game itself, engaging in a pure contest of basketball offensive and defensive skills.

At halftime, the score was 63-50, with the Trail Blazers still leading the Rockets by 13 points.

Gan Guoyang has scored 31 points, and Olajuwon has scored 20 points, with the two dominating the game.

Hakeem Olajuwon, who was previously considered the next Moses Malone, showed people in this game that he has many qualities that Moses Malone did not possess.

A soft shooting touch, excellent footwork, and superb coordination.

Back in the locker room, Sampson asked Olajuwon, "How did you use those footwork moves?"

Hakeem Olajuwon shook his head and said, "I don't know either. I've never practiced. I just... wanted to get away from Forrest Gump's defense."

Hakeem Olajuwon didn't practice these footwork techniques diligently; it was purely under immense pressure that his talent and genius exploded, allowing him to perform many moves he wouldn't normally make.

That's a true genius.

Meanwhile, in the Trail Blazers' locker room, Adelman asked Gan Guoyang, "Gan, those footwork steps are pretty good. When did you learn them?"

Gan Guoyang wiped his sweat and said, "I just learned it. Akim is my teacher."

(End of this chapter)