The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 660 Man in Mirror
Gan Guoyang spent the entire morning at home with his wife and children.

Wang Fuxi is two months pregnant, and her pregnancy symptoms are getting worse.

During his week in Chicago, Wang Fuxi only watched the third and fourth games; he couldn't handle the fifth one.

After returning to Portland, I vomited incessantly and lay in bed feeling drowsy. My mother-in-law took care of everything at home.

My son, Gan Wenshan, can already talk, but he doesn't seem to have any interest in basketball. Instead, he's very fond of football.

Not long after she could walk, she was already kicking a ball around the house, enjoying it immensely.

Gan Guoyang doesn't force his child to like basketball. If he can contribute to Chinese football in the future, it would be a good deed and bring honor to his ancestors.

Gan Guoyang ate a lot for lunch. His appetite has always been astonishing. His inexhaustible energy doesn't come from nowhere.

The fact that he can eat and burn energy indicates that his body is a highly efficient machine for energy conversion, storage, and release.

After lunch and a short rest, we went out around 1 p.m. On the way, Gan Guoyang suddenly told Quentin to speed up and drive to the maximum speed allowed.

"Sonny, you don't like me driving fast."

"I know, I want you to drive faster now, as fast as you can."

As he spoke, Gan Guoyang reached out and grabbed the handle on the car door, signaling him to get ready.

Quentin stepped on the gas, and the car's speed increased instantly. The powerful push made Gan Guoyang's breathing quicken and his heart race. He gripped the handlebars tightly.

Quentin slammed on the gas pedal while glancing in the rearview mirror and asked, "Sonny, is this speed okay?"

Gan Guoyang bit his lip, and after a long pause, he finally managed to say, "No problem."

Quentin continued to accelerate, speeding along the Portland elevated highway.

Quentin has been working with Gan Guoyang for several years, and he cherishes and values ​​this job.

Gan Guoyang also treated him like family. As a driver and bodyguard, Quentin's driving skills and marksmanship were top-notch.

Quentin was also very familiar with Portland's road traffic and police duty schedules, and he sped toward Memorial Stadium as fast as he could without being caught by the police.

There were quite a few cars on the road, but Quentin's superb driving skills allowed him to weave through the traffic, and his repeated deceleration and acceleration made Gan Guoyang, who was behind him, dizzy.

As they exited the highway and entered the city, the car finally slowed down. At that moment, Quentin heard a "bang" from behind. Gan Guoyang had actually pulled the handle down.

"Sonny, are you alright?"

"You should ask if the car is okay. I'm fine, just... a little dizzy, drive slowly."

"Why are you doing this to yourself, boss..."

Quentin shook his head. He knew that Gan Guoyang was fearless, except for this kind of acceleration.

Roller coasters and express trains are nightmares for Gan Guoyang, but today he's determined to experience one.

When Gan Guoyang got off the car at the memorial stadium, he breathed a sigh of relief as his feet touched solid ground.

"Quentin, I just wanted to challenge my fear and clear my head. But let me tell you, if I ever ask you for something like that again, you absolutely must refuse, no matter what I say, okay?"

Quentin shrugged and muttered, "I knew it..."

Gan Guoyang was the first player to arrive at the Memorial Stadium, where a large number of reporters had been lying in wait outside the players' tunnel.

They snapped photos of Gan Guoyang, flashes and microphones surrounding the soon-to-be-crowned superstar as he moved forward.

Forrest Gump's fifth championship is practically guaranteed, if not 100%, and the momentum in the Finals is completely in the Trail Blazers' favor.

The Bulls exuded a kingly aura, but they still appeared quite inexperienced compared to the more experienced Portland Trail Blazers.

Only after entering the locker room and closing the door did Gan Guoyang have his own private space to change into his sportswear, relax, watch game footage, and prepare for tonight's big battle.

“I thought coming here early would give me some peace and quiet, but I was wrong. It’s not 1986 anymore,” Gan Guoyang said to Rick Adelman, who also arrived early.

In today's NBA, the media is everywhere.

In the past, even for some major competitions, if Gan Guoyang arrived early, the stadium would be completely empty.

Back then, Gan Guoyang would choose someone to run around on the court and shoot some hoops to get a feel for the game atmosphere beforehand.

When he is quiet, he will use visual training to imagine the game in his mind and make some mental and tactical preparations.

That's not possible now. There are people everywhere, cameras everywhere, and flashes everywhere.

Aside from the tiny changing room and the small car, once you step out of your home, there is no more private space; everything is exposed to the scrutiny of public opinion.

Adelman said, "It's different now, but the same thing is that we will win the championship."

After saying that, the two of them laughed, and an air of confidence filled the Trail Blazers' locker room.

Adelman knew where this confidence came from: it came from Forrest Gump.

When he arrived at the Trail Blazers, he brought with him this vibrant energy and confidence.

He still remembers Game 5 of the 1986 Finals, the most crucial game of the series.

Despite the adversity, Gan Guoyang delivered a super individual performance to secure the victory and lay the foundation for the series.

From that moment on, Forrest Gump never let the people of Portland down.

They will lose, no one wins all the time, but he doesn't disappoint.

Failure and disappointment are two different things.

Jordan did not disappoint either; he played exceptionally well in all five games, regardless of whether he won or lost.

He surpassed Forrest Gump in both points and assists per game, making him the MVP of the game.

No game was lost by the Bulls because Jordan underperformed; rather, it was because the Bulls as a whole couldn't beat the Trail Blazers.

Jordan tried to single-handedly save the day, but Forrest Gump's contributions on both ends of the court were enough to negate his efforts.

The Bulls' most disappointing aspect was their interior defense. Cartwright, Grant, and Williams—such a luxurious frontcourt lineup—was torn apart by Forrest alone.

In contrast, the Trail Blazers maintained their perimeter strength, and Petrovic delivered a game-winning performance in crucial matches.

Apart from Pippen, no other Bulls player had that kind of game-changing, crucial performance; they were just average.

Being suppressed in the paint is undoubtedly fatal; the Bulls' offense and defense can only rely on one leg.

Unless Jordan scores 50 points in every game, they have no chance in this series.

Even if Jordan scores 50 points, Forrest Gump on the other side is capable of responding with 50 points.

At this stage of the series, it's no longer a simple contest of tactics, form, and lineup.

It's more about psychological factors, morale, and the clash of wills and desires.

The Bulls still have a chance; if they show a do-or-die mentality, winning two games in Portland is not out of the question.

When we are united, miracles are possible.

Unfortunately, the Bulls' locker room was deathly silent before the game started.

No one stepped forward to mobilize the troops, no one stood up and said, "We must fight hard and win."

The fourth loss was a huge blow to the team, and even Phil Jackson was at a loss as to how to motivate the players.

Let them read books? Cast spells on them? Or... who knows, Jackson had no idea.

Jordan said that in Game 4, Forrest Gump got beaten up by his teammates, and then their morale was restored.

Jackson said, "Why don't you let Pippen and Grant beat you up too?"

Jordan shook his head. He didn't dare to take the risk because he knew how he felt about his relationships with his teammates.

Don't let it become an opportunity for everyone to vent their personal grievances and beat him up, crippling him would be terrible.

This is also the difference between Jordan and Forrest Gump. Jordan's teammates respected him more for his skills, but they didn't really approve of him as a person.

Of Jordan's current teammates, Pippen and Grant have played with him for the longest time, having entered the league in 1987 and playing with him for less than four seasons.

Unfortunately, these two "original shareholders" didn't get along with Jordan. One was openly and secretly opposing him, while the other simply didn't interact with him off the court and openly disliked him.

Gan Guoyang is different. Kexi was a rookie in the same year as Agan, Porter followed closely behind, Thompson stayed with the Trail Blazers the whole time, and so did Curry.

They were Forrest Gump's closest comrades-in-arms. They admired Forrest Gump and loved him. They had an unbreakable bond.

Before Game 6 began, Gan Guoyang gave a rare speech in the locker room, saying, "Seven years later, we've returned here, and the moment of triumph is almost here. We've never lost in the last four games. But I want to say, forget them, forget past achievements, forget past successes. Not because the past wasn't good enough, but because we have a better present and future! The Portland Trail Blazers will never fail! God, Allah, Buddha, Mazu, and the Eternal Heaven are all on our side! Let's win the championship and give this stadium the most perfect ending!"

After saying that, the entire Trail Blazers team was in high spirits, and the Portlanders had already won by 70%.

Americans love to give locker room speeches to motivate players and help them win.

However, motivational speeches are not a panacea. They cannot magically turn the tide and save everyone from adversity by having a coach or player say something.

A speech is essentially an emotion amplifier; it does not generate emotions, but rather guides and releases existing emotions.

If everyone in a team has a strong will and a desire to defy fate, and someone steps forward to raise their voice and express what everyone wants to say and the emotions they want to convey, they will receive a response from the crowd, and the team will unite as one.

If a team's morale has already collapsed, forcing some encouraging words will only backfire; no one will respond, and the mood will only get worse.

The most important qualities of an excellent speaker are not rhetoric, eloquence, or amazing knowledge, but the ability to sense the emotions of the audience and guide or even incite them.

Gan Guoyang undoubtedly has this talent. Most of the time, he doesn't like to ramble on and instead uses his actions on the field to turn the tide.

But once he senses that morale and emotions have reached a critical point, he will decisively step forward and use words to inspire even greater spiritual strength.

Just like his ability to seize opportunities on the field, this man with a keen sense of smell will always find a chance to deliver a fatal blow to his opponents.

Tonight is the best opportunity.

Just like last year, the Memorial Stadium was packed with cheers, while the sidelines were adorned with stars.

Pop icon Michael Jackson once again attended the game.

Also present were team owner Tang Jianguo and heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. It's fair to say that anyone who isn't at the very top of their field is unlikely to become Gan Guoyang's friend or rival.

Jordan's feelings were complicated when he stepped onto the court.

He desperately wanted to win and defy fate.

But at this moment he couldn't calm down; he couldn't get himself into a state of focused concentration.

The more anxious I felt, the less I could calm down, and my heart started pounding wildly.

He looked at Agan, whose face remained as calm as ever, but whose heart was filled with turmoil.

Jordan was eager to know what Gan Guoyang was thinking and how he was feeling.

Whether he was nervous, happy, or proud, it was impossible to tell.

In fact, when you start to analyze your opponent, it often means that you have already fallen into a passive position.

Gan Guoyang didn't think about what Jordan was feeling at all; instead, he came over and chatted with Jordan.

"Michael, I sped here at noon today, I'm not afraid of taking a fast car anymore."

"I do not believe."

Believe it or not, it's up to you. Anyway, I'm not afraid anymore. Don't try to scare me again.

"Try it next time."

"Do not."

This was the last exchange between the two before the start of the match.

The sixth game between the Trail Blazers and the Bulls was just as intense as the first.

No matter how frustrated the Bulls players were, the moment they stepped onto the court, none of them didn't want to win.

It was like two lions fighting to the death, one of which was almost dead.

However, if the other lion reveals a weakness and exposes its vital parts, the dying lion can still deliver a fatal blow and reverse the situation.

Such situations occur almost every day in nature; in a life-or-death struggle, how can there be any room for relaxation?
From the first quarter onwards, Gan Guoyang launched a strong attack, and Jordan was not to be outdone, so the two fought a battle that was almost like a physical brawl.

In the first quarter, the score was tied at 25-25, and the outcome of the game remained uncertain.

In the second quarter, both Gan Guoyang and Jordan rested for three minutes, and the second unit was still evenly matched.

At halftime, the Bulls and Trail Blazers were tied 47-47, with the two teams evenly matched.

In the crucial third quarter, Gan Guoyang's two attacks under the basket were blocked.

The Bulls capitalized on a fast break to take the lead, extending it to 5 points – their biggest lead of the game.

The fans in the arena held their breath, and everyone couldn't help but worry: was the Bulls going to force a Game 7?
Bobby Bellman called a timeout and rearranged the tactics.

After the timeout ended and he returned to the court, Gan Guoyang received a pass from Porter on the outside.

He observed his teammates' positioning, then suddenly took a shot and made a three-pointer.

A bold, unexpected shot that wasn't in Bobby Bellman's plans.

The bullet hit the bull, and it also hit Behrman's heart, nearly knocking him unconscious.

Two possessions later, Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc and launched another three-pointer, which went in again.

On the second three-pointer, Berman was already holding his head when Gan Guoyang took the shot, and after the ball went in, he hurriedly said "Good shot, good shot".

Unlike a Zen master who can sit calmly on the fishing platform, he was pacing back and forth on the sidelines, secretly calling him "Ancestor Agan" in his heart.

This guy is a real troublemaker. When it comes to the crucial moments of a key game, he dares to disobey and even take action.

In another possession, Gan Guoyang and Porter set a pick and roll, cut back to the outside, received the ball at the top of the arc and took a third three-pointer, and it went in!

At this moment, Berman, like the fans in the stadium, raised his arms and cheered.

The Bulls had absolutely no idea how to defend Gan Guoyang's three-pointers.

Ultimately, it all came down to the Bulls' defense collapsing.

In the first game, Gan Guoyang didn't make a single three-pointer, so he didn't even attempt a shot.

Because the Bulls provide excellent protection beyond the three-point line, have a very flexible formation, and effectively disrupt Forrest Gump's perimeter play.

However, by the sixth game, the Bulls' defense had been broken down by the Trail Blazers' well-coordinated passing, and the players no longer had the same drive as in the first game.

Even Jordan looked helpless; he had tried his best to help defend, but Forrest Gump could still make the shot.

The Trail Blazers have regained the lead, but that's not all.

The Bulls missed a jump shot from beyond the arc, and the Trail Blazers retaliated.

Reggie Lewis advanced through the middle and passed the ball to Gan Guoyang on the wing.

Instead of playing conservatively and stopping to organize the offense, Gan Guoyang received the ball and launched another three-pointer!

Once Gan Guoyang gets into a rhythm, his three-point shooting is terrifying.

Another three-pointer! The fourth three-pointer! The Memorial Stadium erupted in madness.

The entire Bulls team was stunned. How were they supposed to play against this? How were they supposed to defend against this?
Centers shooting three-pointers—this didn't happen in the previous few games, so why is it suddenly happening now?

Phil Jackson called a timeout, but at that point he had no idea how to respond.

It was completely unplanned.

But superstars can provide unexpected surprises.

When Gan Guoyang received a pass from Porter late in the third quarter, faced a double team from the Bulls, and forced a three-pointer from just outside the arc, the entire Memorial Arena went wild.

Gan Guoyang then made that gesture of waving his arms like an egg beater, as a tribute to Bill Walton, the team's great center in history—Walton is commentating on the game tonight.

"We are witnessing a miracle, witnessing a feast, another night belonging to Portland, belonging to Forrest Gump! I declare that Forrest Gump is the god of basketball! The true god of basketball!"

"The golden age of Forrest Gump has arrived!"

Gan Guoyang used unconventional methods that were out of step with the times to defeat the Chicago Bulls in the third quarter.

At this stage of the finals, unexpected events and on-the-spot performances can become decisive factors.

The Bulls, who fought hard in the first half and even turned the tide in the third quarter, finally gave up after a series of three-pointers.

Their defense has reached a breaking point, and they need to focus their efforts on defending Forrest Gump.

If a player on the perimeter has a high running board and can pass the ball effectively, having several players double-team him will only create opportunities for the inside players to cut inside.

Without a structured defensive system, a team is most likely to collapse under such circumstances, and the Bulls were no exception.

The Trail Blazers are playing better and better, and victory and the championship are within reach. With their experience, they will not let such an opportunity slip by!

The point difference went from 5 points to 10 points, then to 15 points... The game lost its suspense, and fans and Trail Blazers players began to celebrate prematurely.

With one minute left in the game, the Trail Blazers led the Bulls by 12 points. Bellman called a timeout and substituted Gan Guoyang.

The entire stadium rose to their feet and cheered, while Gan Guoyang simply smiled and waved to the crowd before calmly returning to his seat on the bench.

Sitting next to Gan Guoyang was Jerry West, who also looked calm, but his hand was tightly gripping Gan Guoyang's sleeve.

“Am I dreaming?” West asked loudly.

"No, this is better than a dream."

"That's right, so I want to experience it again and again."

"Yes, it's really addictive."

The last minute felt both fast and long.

As the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the match, the red plastic sheet tilted down.

Wearing a red jersey, Michael Jordan left the court with his head down in the red rain and returned to the locker room.

The Bulls players all left. It wasn't that they were being impolite; it's just that Portland fans had already flooded the arena, and there was no space for them.

Back in the locker room, Jordan sat on the bench without saying a word, and the others remained silent, mechanically performing the actions of taking off and changing clothes.

Jordan scored 29 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists in the game, making it his most mediocre performance in the series.

Forrest Gump made 6 of 7 three-pointers, setting an NBA Finals record for three-pointers, and scored 41 points, making him the undisputed Finals MVP.

Jordan was tormented by feelings of defeat, and he couldn't find a way out.

Pippen came in, and Jordan suddenly grabbed him and said, "Scottie, punch me."

Pippen was stunned. "What?" he asked.

"I said, hit me, hit me."

Pippen punched Jordan in the shoulder.

"No, hit me harder! Hit me!"

Jordan, like an enraged bull, intimidated and inspired Pippen.

Thinking about everything that had happened over the years, Pippen clenched his fist and punched Jordan!
The punch landed squarely on Jordan's face, causing his left eye to swell up like an egg.

Jordan ultimately did not attend the post-game press conference and hurriedly left the court to return to his hotel.

Gan Guoyang forgot to tell Michael that he shouldn't slap him in the face.

(End of Volume 8, "Man in Mirror".)
(End of this chapter)