The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 313 Transformation
The fateful duel between Hakeem Olajuwon and Gan Guoyang reached a new climax in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

During halftime, Bill Fitch redefined his strategy, as the full-court press and immediate counter-pressing that had been effective in the three wins were no longer working.

Ramsey doesn't seem to be planning to substitute Terry Porter and Drexler, both of whom are fast, strong, and physically gifted.

Especially Terry Porter, whose presence made Drexler's glider much more stable.

Because Jim Paxson is essentially a shooting guard, and a traditional shooting guard who moves around and cuts to the basket.

Drexler was under too much pressure to control the ball; he couldn't keep up.

Although Porter was a rookie, he was a standard point guard.

Moreover, he was calm and composed with excellent mental fortitude, and completed the control and transportation tasks very well.

His backcourt partnership with Drexler provided the Trail Blazers with a reliable first pass.

"We will still use full-court defense, but we will not press too hard. We will just put pressure on the opponent. We need to put pressure not only on the ball, but more importantly on the players. We are marking the ball too much."

The Rockets focused on the ball on defense, but ended up being led by the nose by the Trail Blazers' fast passing and teamwork.

Fitch had no choice but to revert to regular full-court man-to-man defense. As for how to close the 13-point gap, it mainly depends on the players' performance on the offensive end.

A coach's intervention in a game is limited; ultimately, it depends on the players' performance.

The second half continued, and the Trail Blazers continued to start Walton and Gan Guoyang together in the frontcourt.

The presence of two of the greatest centers in Trail Blazers history on the court together truly showcased what real talent is.

Ramsey sighed inwardly, wishing Walton were healthier.

Walton is only 33 years old this year, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is still at his peak at that age.

During halftime, the team doctor kept treating Walton's knees and ankles to make him more comfortable.

Walton played 17 minutes in the first half, which was the limit for his personal halftime playing time.

Before inbounding the ball, the Trail Blazers players huddled together again, not to pray for blessings, but to discuss their strategy for the second half.

"We'll stick to our first-half offensive strategy, but I think the Rockets will definitely change their defensive strategy. Sonny, let's do more high-low post plays. You can let some of the low post players come out for me, and you can go to the high post. Can you cut to the basket?"

"I can do it; if I don't know how, I'll learn it on the spot."

"It seems a bit late to start learning now, Sonny."

"It's not too late, I'm a genius!"

Everyone laughed, and then encouraged each other, determined to win this battle.

Although the Trail Blazers played team basketball in the first half, Gan Guoyang remained the absolute core player.

So-called team basketball is actually about the whole team serving his offense, and his individual score is close to half of the team's total.

Gan Guoyang has a very high success rate in scoring, and he has good stamina. Anyway, it doesn't matter who scores, I'm just doing well.

Like the Trail Blazers, after six games, Hakeem Olajuwon was identified as the better player.

Gan Guoyang single-handedly turned the Rockets' twin-tower strategy into a single-tower one, with Sampson frequently appearing in the high post to shoot his preferred mid-range jumpers.

With half the interior space allocated to Olajuwon and the other half to players like Reed and McGrady, the Rockets' offense could still compete with the Trail Blazers.

At the start of the third quarter, McGrady drove to the basket and made a close-range floater.

The Rockets' style of play is becoming increasingly simple and brutal; whoever gets the ball and has an opportunity drives inside.

On defense, they used man-to-man defense throughout the game, putting pressure on the Trail Blazers players from start to finish.

Throughout the first half, Terry Porter did not commit a single turnover, while Drexler only committed two.

Porter has only scored 5 points so far tonight, including a 3-pointer at the start of the first quarter and a mid-range jumper.

But if the Rockets dare to leave him open, Porter will punish them with his scoring ability.

Walton moved to the low post, and Gan Guoyang moved to the high post, and the Rockets' defense suddenly fell apart again.

Hakeem Olajuwon was once again pulled to the vicinity of the free-throw line, and Porter used a screen to suddenly break free and drive to the basket.

Walton delivered a classic bounce pass to Porter, who caught the ball and made a layup with his left hand, avoiding Sampson's block and scoring two points!

After scoring, Porter yelled at Sampson, who glared at him. Porter didn't back down and glared back.

Sampson was a little angry, and then he took the ball and tried to attack Walton on offense, but his turnaround shot was blocked by Gan Guoyang who came over to help defend! He finally experienced what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar felt in the semifinals, being blocked by someone who was guarding him and then being blocked by someone who came over to help defend.

Walton, who had the ball, made a long pass to Porter, who was running down the court. Porter drove into the three-point line and, facing Rockets guards who were all taller than him, he bravely attacked the basket, drawing a foul from Reed.

With both free throws made, the Trail Blazers further solidified their advantage.

The Rockets still need Hakeem Olajuwon, who caught the ball, turned, and hooked it in.

This time, Gan Guoyang was in a low position, and his baseline turn was blocked by Olajuwon.

The ball is passed to the outside, Drexler breaks through, then passes to Walton in the middle, who suddenly passes it straight to the basket.

Gan Guoyang received the ball and scored two points with a hook shot.

The Trail Blazers' teamwork became increasingly fluid, flowing like water, and without any fixed patterns.

It's possible for Wharton to be at a high position and Gan Guoyang at a low position, or vice versa.

Surrounding these two giants on the central axis, other players can move around freely, screen, cut, and then receive the ball and shoot.

When tactics fail to solve the problem, Gan Guoyang will step up and solve it from the low post and 45-degree angle on the flank.

If Gan Guoyang is not up to the task, or if he gets double-teamed, then pass the ball to Vandeweghe, Drexler, or Porter, who can all initiate their own attacks.

This highly flexible and unpredictable offensive style emerged under the pressure of the Rockets' defense, like a high-speed machine entering Houston.

The Rockets' defensive pressure is increasing, and they are gradually starting to lose their way on defense.

They knew how to defend beforehand: the twin towers would cover Gan Guoyang, while the others would press the backcourt, and Vandeweghe and Paxson would let them shoot; if they made the shot, it was in.

But now, we don't know how to defend against it, we lack a specific strategy, and we don't know who to target.

Forrest scored nearly half of the Trail Blazers' points, but your attacks on him were ineffective.

Even Bill Fitch had never experienced such a bizarre situation, and he was completely bewildered.

This experienced coach, who has seen it all, can only say: I've never seen anything like this before.

Especially when Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post and suddenly bounced it to Walton, who cut into the middle, Walton slammed it home.

Fitch thought to himself, "Isn't this our Rockets' twin-tower strategy? We beat Rambis and Lucas against the Lakers in the semifinals, how come you guys know how to use it too?"
As the point difference widened, the matchup between Olajuwon and Gan Guoyang became meaningless, because Olajuwon alone could not withstand the Trail Blazers' efficient offense.

Fitch didn't call a timeout. Even if he did, he wouldn't know how to strategize. He did everything he could say and do, but tonight they just couldn't beat the Trail Blazers.

This is no longer the Trail Blazers of the previous five games; this is a new Trail Blazers team that has undergone pressure and setbacks and has been transformed.

Although the lineup remained unchanged, the different combinations, along with the fusion of new ideas and old traditions, created an unexpected chemical reaction under high pressure.

The Trail Blazers continued to fight hard, widening the gap to 20 points. Just as Fitch was about to call a timeout, chaos suddenly broke out on the court.

Ralph Sampson suddenly punched Terry Porter during a defensive play, interrupting the match. Upon seeing this, Gan Guoyang immediately charged towards Sampson.

Hakeem Olajuwon grabbed Gan Guoyang, who, having received wrestling training, immediately gripped Olajuwon's arm. If Olajuwon were to make a move, Gan would have to execute an over-the-shoulder throw.

"Let go of Sonny! I just don't want any conflict!" Hakeem Olajuwon shouted, his arm aching terribly.

Gan Guoyang then let go; his large hand was like an iron clamp, even Olajuwon couldn't withstand it.

Meanwhile, Porter and Sampson were already grappling.

He didn't back down after taking a punch; he grabbed Sampson and the two started fighting.

Everyone else rushed in to break up the fight, and the scene became extremely chaotic.

The referee's whistle was piercing, and the previously frustrated fans at the Summit Arena screamed loudly.

Anyway, I probably can't win this match, so it might as well watch a fight.

With the intervention of the referee and both teams, the situation was brought under control.

Sampson was sent off, while Porter took a punch to the cheek and swelled up.

"Are you alright, Potter? I was stopped by Akim just now, otherwise I would have smashed him to pieces."

“It’s okay, Sonny. He took a punch from me too. I’m not afraid of him at all.”

Potter said with a determined look in his eyes, "This little guy has a lot of energy inside him."

(End of this chapter)