The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 624 A Hero's Twilight
The score was 60-66 at halftime, with the Trail Blazers leading the Celtics by 6 points at home.

The Trail Blazers dominated the Celtics overall, and the aging Celtics were struggling in the first half.

Thanks to Larry Bird's versatile playmaking and Kevin McHale's seasoned low-post game, the Celtics kept the score close.

The third quarter will undoubtedly be more difficult for them, and the intensity of the second half will further increase.

Gan Guoyang could clearly sense that the Celtics this season were "overweight and bloated".

During the regular season, under normal intensity, their fighting power is quite strong.

With a core of veterans who have worked together for 10 years, complemented by two fresh and powerful players, and some suitable role players, the Celtics are showing signs of a phoenix rising from the ashes.

But skin and fur are still skin and fur. The two muscles are flexible but not strong. Most importantly, the skeletal structure is really old, real old bones, and can no longer support the high intensity of the season and series.

Celtics head coach Chris Ford understands this, and this season, Bird's playing time has been reduced to 38 minutes, allowing him to conserve more energy for crucial moments.

Last season, the 33-year-old Bird still played 39.3 minutes per game, and his physical fitness and willpower were truly top-notch among players.

At the start of the third quarter, the Trail Blazers intensified their efforts on both offense and defense, raising the level of competition on the court to a new level.

Jerome Cauchy was like a wild boar, relentlessly attacking Bird on both ends of the court.

There was always a rivalry between Bird and Cauchy, even though they were not on the same level.

But every time Kossy faced Bird, he would put on an outstanding performance, becoming incredibly aggressive on both offense and defense.

Bird was hampered by a back injury and struggled against Korsey's attacks, especially on defense, with Parish and Divac frequently coming out to assist him in the paint.

This gave the Trail Blazers' interior players more opportunities. Gan Guoyang and Sabonis acted like guides in the high post, constantly passing the ball to the cutting Caesars and Lewis to attack the Celtics' paint.

After half a season of adjustment, the Trail Blazers are becoming increasingly adept at using the Princeton offense.

Starting in the third quarter, the Trail Blazers made extensive use of the "chin series" tactical routine.

The key feature of this strategy is that all five players are positioned completely outside the three-point line, leaving the area under the basket wide open and allowing the forwards to make cuts and run backdoors.

Even if there are no opportunities inside, the ball can be moved around the perimeter to create space for outside shots. This wide range of movement is the essence of the "chin series".

The reason it's called the "Chin Series" is because when Princeton University players used this tactic, the code word was to constantly touch their chin.

Bobby Bellman's purpose in using this tactic in the third quarter was clear: to take advantage of the Celtics' many veteran players and their poor mobility on the defensive end.

By using wide-ranging movement, they aimed to wear down the Celtics' players, especially by targeting Bird's defense and suppressing his offense.

Bird was an experienced player, and being exploited as a defensive liability was a problem he faced throughout his career, so it was a piece of cake for him.

Soon after, Bird drew an offensive foul on Kocy on defense, then backed down Kocy in the low post and easily made a turnaround jump shot.

Then he cleverly intercepted the ball, causing Kossie to make a mistake on his drive, and the Celtics launched a counterattack. Bird passed the ball to Hornacek.

Hornacek scored with a pull-up jumper, marking his first field goal of the night.

The Celtics regained their composure, keeping the point difference around 8 points and preventing it from widening to 10.

To conserve the veteran's energy, Chris Ford started the rotation midway through the third quarter.

Gamble and Kevin McHale came on to replace Bird and Parish, and the two old men needed a good rest to conserve their energy for the fourth quarter.

Seeing Chris Ford make his move, Bellman also made a substitution, replacing Jerome Kossie, who had already committed three fouls, with Cliff Robinson.

Robinson's playing time has also increased this season, and this versatile player is also favored by Berman.

Bellman and Celtics coach Chris Ford were high school classmates, both graduating from Absheken Holy Spirit High School in New Jersey and being members of the school's basketball team.

Berman played point guard for the team, while Chris Ford played shooting guard. He was a white player with explosive scoring ability and later earned the nickname "Mad Bomber".

After graduating from high school, Bellman went to the University of Notre Dame, while Chris Ford, who was more talented, was recruited by Villanova University and entered the NBA through the draft in 1972.

He played for the Detroit Pistons in his early years, then joined the Celtics in 1978 and played there until his retirement in 1982, where he remained as an assistant coach.

After serving as an assistant to KC Jones and Jim Rodgers for several years, he officially took over as the Celtics' head coach in 1990.

This aligns with the Celtics' consistent personnel strategy: using players who have worked for the team since their playing days and nurturing them step by step, rather than trusting outsiders.

Ford had a solid playing career, reaching his peak in 1979 when he averaged 15 points per game and won the championship with his team in 1981.

One of Ford's achievements is that he was the first player in NBA history to make a three-pointer.

As a classmate, Berman knew Ford quite well. Ford was a passionate and energetic coach who had worked for the Celtics for many years and was a teammate and senior of veteran players such as Bird and McHale. Therefore, he had a strong control over the Celtics and was quite successful in transforming the team.

Ford was surprised to see Bellman become an NBA head coach, and even more surprised that he could quickly win Coach of the Year and an NBA championship.

The situation changed after both sides made substitutions.

After Bird left the game, the Celtics' offense became more focused on the inside.

Divac and Kevin McHale engaged in a series of low-post plays.

Divac has also improved this year, with his low-post offense becoming much stronger.

Another advantage he has is his excellent positioning under the basket; he always seems to be in the right place.

He and Sabonis engaged in a full-scale battle in the high and low post, and because of his defense, the Trail Blazers' Princeton offense faltered.

Both positional battles ended with forced attacks from the outside, which is not the right way to attack.

On the offensive end, Divac delivered a beautiful behind-the-back no-look pass, assisting Gamble to cut to the basket and score a layup.

Then, Divac and Kevin McHale executed a high-low post play, with McHale receiving the ball, turning around, and shooting a jump shot, dodging Agan's block and scoring two points.

The score was once close to 74-76, with the Trail Blazers leading by only 2 points.

Then, Hornacek made another steal on defense, his second steal against Porter tonight.

During the counterattack, Hornacek did not hesitate any longer, accelerated with the dribble, and once again pulled up for a jump shot that went in.

The Celtics tied the game midway through the third quarter.

However, this tie only lasted for one round.

Turning around, Gan Guoyang forcefully attacked McHale from a low position.

He relied on pure strength to press down to the basket, turned around and slammed it home with a powerful one-handed dunk!
McHale's height and wingspan are comparable to Gan Guoyang's, but the difference in strength is too great.

Gan Guoyang doesn't play games with you; he just uses overwhelming strength, dunking with one hand and sending you out of bounds.

McHale tried to return the favor, but this time Gan Guoyang positioned himself aggressively under the basket, denying McHale the chance to receive the ball.

Finally, the ball was passed to Divac, who took a close-range shot but missed. Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound with one hand.

After receiving the ball, Gan Guoyang dribbled the entire length of the court, reaching the three-point line, where no defender could threaten him.

Accelerate, head straight for the three-second zone in the middle lane.

Once a center like that gets going, there's no way to stop him.

Hornacek reached out to steal the ball, but Gan Guoyang shielded it and jumped for another powerful one-handed dunk!
Two consecutive dunks seemed to be telling the Celtics, "You can catch up, I just didn't put in the effort."

I've put in the effort, and I can turn the situation around at any time.

After scoring those two goals, Gan Guoyang calmed down and created opportunities for his teammates.

Porter's attempt to force his way through Hornacek for a layup was disrupted and missed.

The Celtics launched a counterattack, and Hornacek received a pass from Brian Shaw and hit a three-pointer!
The Celtics narrowed the gap to 1 point again, demonstrating the terrifying power of their deadly flare.

Hornacek played much better in the second half than in the first half.

Hornacek's performance has improved since joining the Celtics.

Chris Ford really liked this white guard who had a precise shot and played a low-key yet tough style of basketball.

Compared to Divac's inexperience, Hornacek is already a fairly mature near-All-Star player.

After joining the Celtics, his shot attempts increased significantly, so his scoring average soared from around 13 points during his time with the Trail Blazers to 18 points.

He is very popular with Boston fans, gets along very well with veterans like Bird and McHale, and remains as low-key as ever.

Upon his return to Portland, fans displayed signs that read, "We miss you, Jeff," highlighting his continued popularity in the city.

During halftime, the Trail Blazers held a small championship ring presentation ceremony for Hornacek and Divac.

Divac was only there for a year; he was just participating as a side event, and it would seem petty not to invite him.

The main character is actually Hornacek, who came to the Trail Blazers as a second-round pick in 1986. At that time, he was not even sure if he could survive in the NBA.

As a result, he passed the grueling training at Gan Guoyang's rookie bootcamp, gradually improving himself and finding his place among the Trail Blazers, a team full of talented perimeter players.

Four seasons, neither long nor short, saw him win three championship rings, showcasing his brilliance in the regular season, playoffs, and even the finals.

Hornacek thought he would spend his entire career in Portland, winning many more championship rings there, and supporting Forrest Gump alongside Terry Porter until retirement...

But the NBA is very realistic and cruel. Hornacek's performance in the 1990 Finals was below expectations, and Jerry West predicted that he could not match up against Michael Jordan. In addition, due to the racial issues of Petrovic and Divac, he was added to the trade list.

However, there was still warmth between the fans and the players. The Portland fans, grateful for Hornacek's contributions over the past four seasons, gave him the warmest applause.

Hornacek was in tears as he waved to the fans.

However, despite the heartwarming moments, Hornacek's performance rebounded in the second half.

After hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one point, Porter immediately responded, receiving a pass from Sabonis, setting a high screen, and launching a three-pointer that also went in!

Both sides launched an offensive.

Towards the end of the third quarter, the Trail Blazers entered their rotation. At this point, Chris Ford brought Bird back into the game to capitalize on the time difference.

Berman made substitutions at the last minute, bringing on Petrovic and Davis.

The Trail Blazers have gone from dominating the Celtics to being evenly matched.

The Trail Blazers' defense was actually fine; there were no obvious weaknesses.

But the Celtics found their rhythm in the second half, with Hornacek and others hitting consecutive three-pointers.

For the Trail Blazers, Petrovic and Reggie Lewis once again dominated the team's offense.

The two sides entered into a chaotic battle, with both teams running and shooting wildly, switching between offense and defense at a rapid pace.

In this situation, a seasoned veteran like Bird is best at taking advantage of the chaos.

In the final moments of the third quarter, Bird received a pass from Hornacek and launched a three-pointer from beyond the arc, which went in at the buzzer!
This shot brought the score to 91-92, with the Trail Blazers leading the Celtics by only one point.

Tonight's game was clearly an offensive battle, with both sides scoring over 90 points by the end of the third quarter.

These days, some games don't even score 90 points, so this one was definitely a high-scoring match.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Bird rested on the bench again, as Chris Ford was saving all of the veteran's energy for the final moments.

Gan Guoyang was also sitting on the sidelines, with the Trail Blazers' offensive burden falling on Petrovic and Reggie Lewis.

With the arrival of Reggie Lewis and the increasing importance of Petrovic, the pairing of the two became more and more common.

Terry Porter has gradually returned to the role of a traditional point guard, moving away from his previous "aggressive point guard" style.

When he partnered with Drexler, Porter often had to take on the role of a sharpshooting shooting guard, which honed his accurate pull-up jump shot from the outside.

Now, with the excellent shooting ability and powerful offense of Lewis and Petrovic, Porter began to slow down and organize the offense more.

During the offensive play, Porter directed the play in the middle, and Petrovic used a screen to get rid of the defense, cut inside, and received a pass from Porter to break through to the basket.

The Celtics collapsed their defense, and Petrovic passed the ball back to Porter. Porter received the ball and, without hesitation, passed it directly to Lewis on the baseline without looking.

Lewis caught the ball and made a jump shot, which went in easily.

The attack was fluid and swift.

Porter is the core of the Trail Blazers' perimeter game and the team's third brain.

Tonight's game was a rollercoaster ride. The Trail Blazers had the advantage, the Celtics tried to catch up, the Trail Blazers slowly regained the lead, and then the Celtics came from behind to win.

After several rounds of back and forth, the crucial moment of the final battle has finally arrived.

The Trail Blazers lead by 3 points, 96-99.

Bird struggled to his feet from the sidelines, took off his sports jacket, and returned to the court.

Many people are unaware of just how severe Bird's back injury had become.

The pain was almost endless; he felt pain no matter how he stood, sat, lay down, or leaned forward.

Bird only felt slightly better when he was lying down in the locker room or on the sidelines.

Sometimes, without a proper warm-up, he can't even bend down to pick up the ball.

The problem was in his spine; his L4 vertebra was twisted and pressing against his L5 vertebra, with a nerve sandwiched in between.

The physical therapist will treat him every day to temporarily remove the bone from the nerve, making him feel a little more comfortable.

But over time, as soon as you stand up, train, or play ball, gravity will make the situation worse again.

However, Bird was a player with a very strong will. Although even simple movements like bending over became difficult, as long as he stood on the court and started running, Bird could forget about his pain and put on a brilliant performance that his opponents could not ignore.

Bird was on fire tonight. As soon as he returned to the court, he received a pass from Divac on the perimeter and hit a three-pointer over Lewis!

It's a tie! 99:99, the score is tied again.

The Celtics' league-leading status wasn't just a fluke; even if they're overweight, they're still strong enough to dominate.

Gan Guoyang also returned to the court. Petrovic accelerated his breakthrough from the outside, but his jump shot missed.

Gan Guoyang fought hard to grab the offensive rebound, turned and passed it to Sabonis, who dribbled once and then passed it to Petrovic.

Petrovic didn't waste the opportunity this time, and made the mid-range shot!
The two inside players attracted the most defensive attention, giving the outside players plenty of opportunities.

However, Bird received the pass at the top of the arc and launched another three-pointer without hesitation.

Another hit!

The entire memorial stadium fell silent.

The Celtics have taken the lead!
102-101, this is the Celtics' first lead of the game.

Bird is no longer the player with the highest three-point production in the league; he has never taken many three-pointers.

But no one can ignore his accuracy, especially his accuracy in crucial moments.

Gan Guoyang knew he had to step up; this was the time for core players to compete on raw skill, not on passing.

Gan Guoyang called for the ball in the low post, and the Celtics were watching closely. Once he received the ball, they would definitely double-team him.

Petrovic passes the ball to Sabonis, who then passes it high to Gan Guoyang.

The Celtics' defense swarmed towards Gan Guoyang like hungry wolves.

With an open space on the outside, Gan Guoyang can pass the ball to his teammate.

But he didn't do that; he knew that was the Celtics' strategy.

It's better to let role players take open shots than to let Forrest score directly.

There might be better opportunities on the outside, but the pressure to take the shot at that point is immense.

Even an open space carries risks, so Gan Guoyang needs to keep the ball in his possession.

He turned and used his explosive power to push past the defense, then launched a difficult left-handed hook shot over Parish!
The ball flew very straight, and Gan Guoyang's shooting posture was somewhat distorted and forced under the pressure of multiple opponents.

But the ball still flew steadily into the net, and it went in! 102-103, the Trail Blazers regained the lead.

The fans in the stadium breathed a sigh of relief, but when the ball was passed to Bird, everyone's hearts were still in their throats.

At this point, Gan Guoyang would no longer send Lewis or Cauchy to defend Bird; he would do it himself!

The two faced each other again, and it felt like time had turned back to 1986, the peak of Bird's career.

Even at his peak, he still found it difficult to defeat the young Forrest Gump in a one-on-one fight; the two were stylistically restrained.

Now, with a severe back injury and his glory days gone, Bird showed no fear when facing Forrest Gump in his prime.

Bird received the ball, turned sideways to Agan, slowly dribbled towards the basket, then accelerated and turned to try to use the time difference to shake off Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang was very close to Bird, and Bird finally chose to finish the attack with a difficult one-legged fadeaway jumper near the free-throw line!
The ball flew in a high arc, then fell early and landed in the three-second zone—the ball was grazed by Gan Guoyang's finger when he released it.

Sabonis intercepted the ball and flicked it out, and Gan Guoyang charged towards the front like a tiger.

Bird, suffering from back pain, kept chasing, but he really couldn't catch up. Gan Guoyang received the ball and easily dunked it!

Bird ran to the baseline and quickly served the ball. He was not at all immersed in the frustration of failing to score one-on-one and being hit by a fast break. Instead, he seized the time to score the next point.

Bird used his positioning to run to the left corner, receive a pass from Divac, and take a mid-range jump shot.

A classic mortar shot, not particularly fast, but with a high arc.

But Gan Guoyang stuck to him like glue, forcing Bird to gather the ball, abandon his shot attempt, and force his way to the baseline for a drive.

Young Bird could have done a baseline reverse layup, but 34-year-old Bird tried to do the same again, only to be caught off guard by Gan Guoyang, who gently tapped the ball away.

Possession returned to the Trail Blazers, who launched a fast break. Petrovic drove to the basket and passed the ball to Gan Guoyang, who jumped up and dunked the ball over McHale again!

McHale didn't dare to block at all; he dodged to the side. Blocking would be a foul, blocking would mean getting hit by a truck, blocking would mean flying out of bounds.

102:107, two single-handed defenses and two counter-attacks, Gan Guoyang's efforts gradually eliminated the suspense of the game.

Bird did not lose his fighting spirit; he continued to try to attack, try to help his teammates score, and try to defend.

But he was really done for. Injuries were taking their toll on his body. He was panting heavily, and his body parts were not responding as well.

When McHale missed a mid-range shot, Reggie Lewis easily broke through and scored on the fast break, effectively ending the game prematurely.

Ford called a timeout, and Bird looked a little dejected as he left the court. He played well tonight, but not quite.

Lian Po was old, a hero in his twilight years; time had ultimately taken away all his glory and pride.

At the end of the game, the score was 104-112. The Trail Blazers and Celtics were locked in a tight battle for most of the game, but the Trail Blazers pulled away in the final moments to secure the victory.

Gan Guoyang and Bird embraced on the court, which is likely their last matchup this season – not counting the All-Star Game.

The two didn't say much, Gan Guoyang simply said, "See you next season, Larry."

Bird said, "Goodbye, Larry."

Gan Guoyang stared blankly at Bird, watching him leave through the passage.

I thought to myself, he must have said that to me.

(End of this chapter)