The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 826 Back View
O'Neal's long-range hook shot at the start of the game had an element of luck, but he certainly didn't just throw it randomly without any confidence.

Shaquille O'Neal may love to have fun, but he also spends a lot of time improving his skills on the training court.

After joining the Lakers, O'Neal further improved his physical attributes and focused on developing and refining his offensive skills.

He can't be as versatile as Forrest Gump, but he can be like Karl Malone, mastering a few moves and then making a living off them.

Among them, the hook shot became a key technical target for O'Neal to work on, because O'Neal knew that he could not get to the basket to dunk or lay up every time.

If you don't have much shooting talent, the hook shot is the best option.

However, O'Neal's hook shot is different from the traditional hook shot of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Gan Guoyang, as well as the modified hook shot of Olajuwon and Duncan.

His hook shot is less of a hook shot and more of a throw, or a combination of a throw and a hook.

You can tell from O'Neal's positioning that a typical hook shot involves turning sideways and keeping the arm away from the defender to avoid interference and blocks.

O'Neal, however, preferred to turn around and face the defender and the basket, using his thick arms and huge hands to throw the small ball in his hand toward the basket.

Because his hands were so big, O'Neal's shots lacked any softness; the ball wasn't flicked away, but thrown.

The ball's trajectory is often very straight, and its speed is fast, but the accuracy is quite good, which must be due to a lot of hard work.

In that last play, O'Neal received the ball and turned around. It was a right turn. If it were Gan Guoyang, he would have used his left hand to hook the ball after the right turn. If he used his right hand, it wouldn't have been a hook shot but a strong shot from the front.

O'Neal doesn't use a left-handed hook shot; he faces the basket directly and shoots with his right hand, a half-hook, half-shot technique that Gan Guoyang finds a bit strange, but it's actually quite effective.

Moreover, this distance, close to the free-throw line, is not common for O'Neal, but it is the maximum distance he can reach in his daily training.

He had hit hook shots from around this distance in previous games, so it wasn't entirely a fluke.

"Good hook, Shaq, your skills have improved."

When they crossed halfway, Gan Guoyang praised O'Neal.

Gan Guoyang has always been generous in praising inside players who train hard and improve their skills.

And O'Neal's shot was quite interesting.

O'Neal remained serious and said coldly, "Of course, this is my secret weapon."

"Secret weapon? You're using that too early, and I don't think there's anything secret about it."

As they were talking, the Trail Blazers had already set up their formation. Gan Guoyang went to the high post to receive the ball and signaled to his teammates to pass it to him.

Near the free-throw line, Brellock understood perfectly and passed the ball to Mullin, who then lobbed it to Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang received the ball, turned to the right, faced O'Neal, and launched a hook shot!

It wasn't a left-handed shot, nor was it Gan Guoyang's famous moon hook; it was a half-hook, half-shot technique learned from Shaquille O'Neal.

That's equivalent to a one-handed free throw.

Gan Guoyang's soft touch, combined with the abundant power in his lower body and coordinated force, sent the ball smoothly flying towards the basket.

O'Neal didn't even have time to interfere; the ball, spinning intensely, swished into the net!
Gan Guoyang responded quickly, using the same method as O'Neal, which suggests that this move is not difficult to learn.

"Shaq, did I steal your secret weapon? It doesn't seem that secret," Gan Guoyang asked as he returned to defense.

O'Neal blinked twice and said, "Uh... I guess you've learned something. Shouldn't you call me master?"

This fatso has a thick skin; Gan Guoyang was caught off guard by this psychological victory tactic and didn't know how to respond.

As you get older, it's sometimes really hard to swallow your pride when faced with these shameless young people.

Gan Guoyang didn't have time to banter with O'Neal anymore; the pace of the game was very fast, and Gan Guoyang had to be fully focused.

The Lakers' tactics this year are not much different from last year, with Del Harris basically following Bellman's approach.

With O'Neal and Kidd as the core, coupled with forwards who can shoot and drive, it is an offense-oriented team.

The difference is that the Lakers under Del Harris have a faster pace, more rigorous tactics, more mature players, and stronger fighting spirit.

Kidd dribbled past half-court and, seeing that O'Neal had little chance, immediately passed the ball to Thorpe, who was cutting to the basket.

Thorpe used his footwork to get past Sabonis and cut to the basket, receiving a precise pass from Kidd and dunking with one hand.

Subsequently, the Trail Blazers countered with a fast-paced offense. Gan Guoyang made a quick inbound pass from the backcourt, sending a long pass to the frontcourt. Mullin received the ball, paused, and then immediately took a three-pointer.

The ball went in perfectly; Mullin's left hand lived up to its reputation as a god. Such a direct three-pointer during a fast break was truly rare in the NBA at that time.

Larry Bird knew that for a player like Mullin, a fast break shot was more effective than driving to the basket.

Both teams scored very quickly, making it 5-4, with the Trail Blazers leading by 1 point.

The Lakers then slowed down the pace slightly, and O'Neal established position in the low post.

Gan Guoyang didn't use any underhanded tactics, didn't steal the ball, didn't remove the bench, and didn't go around the front of the defense, allowing O'Neal to comfortably receive the ball in the low post.

"Hey kid, didn't you eat enough tonight? Why is your 'board' so wobbly?"

Gan Guoyang's presence against O'Neal made it very difficult for Shaq, because O'Neal was not used to having someone who could match his strength.

This is a major reason why O'Neal's character was somewhat lacking: he never competed against players stronger than himself.

He was always taller and stronger than everyone else, and by a lot more. On the field, he was always the most terrifyingly heavy one.

In theory, every ball is a favorable ball for him; no one can stop him. He doesn't need to struggle in adversity or think about "winning with fewer troops or overcoming the strong with the weak"—that's something others have to consider.

Therefore, O'Neal lacked resilience on the court and became more dissolute and mischievous off the court. This, coupled with some of the inferiority complex of a giant, often led to very emotional results when amplified.

The last person similar to O'Neal was Wilt Chamberlain, who was also born with superhuman strength and was a Leviathan on the court whose size and power far surpassed others.

Chamberlain lacked resilience in his personality. He was a clean freak on the court, unwilling to foul or do dirty work for fear of getting injured, and he would chicken out in crucial moments.

Outside the basketball court, he was busy with all sorts of sports, trying everything from volleyball and boxing to playing with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.

Therefore, when O'Neal faced defenders like Forrest Gump or Karl Malone who were equally strong, he often seemed very uncomfortable.

Gan Guoyang made it clear that he wouldn't use underhanded tactics; he would confront him head-on. "Come on, if you dare!"

O'Neal held his breath, using his weight and inside spin to force his way past Gan Guoyang and try to drive to the basket.

As a result, after turning around, he was unable to squeeze any further in. Gan Guoyang stood firm, motionless under the basket.

O'Neal tried to get up and dunk, but Gan Guoyang forcefully pushed him down, causing him to fall to the ground.

The ball didn't slip out of his hands. Gan Guoyang bent down to contest it, and the referee raised both thumbs and blew a contest.

"Why are you thinking about dunking? Aren't you going to use your secret weapon?" Gan Guoyang asked O'Neal.

"Because it's a secret weapon, it can't be used casually," O'Neal said stubbornly.

During the jump ball at the free-throw circle, Gan Guoyang touched the ball and passed it to Sabonis.

The moment Sabonis received the ball, he flicked it forward, where Mullin received it and then passed it to Riedle, who was cutting in from the center.

Riddell was about to dunk when McGrady leaped high behind him and knocked the ball out of bounds.

A beautiful pass, and also a beautiful defense.

The first and second place teams in the West played an exceptionally exciting and intense game right at the start of the first quarter.

It seems unlikely that the Trail Blazers will easily defeat the Lakers tonight.

They also need to fight a tough battle and grit their teeth by biting down on the hard bones.

McGrady's spectacular block made Kobe, sitting on the sidelines, eager to follow suit.

Kobe couldn't wait to get on the court and face off against McGrady; the competitive spirit among young people is very strong.

Gan Guoyang set a screen for Mu Lin, who then made a mid-range shot from the baseline. Mu Lin is in good form tonight.

On the Lakers' side, O'Neal received the ball in a shallow position, no longer daring to force the shot, and passed the ball to Horry.

Holly held off Mullin's defense and hit a three-pointer!
Last year in the playoffs, when the Rockets faced the Trail Blazers, Horry's strong three-point shooting caused the Trail Blazers some trouble.

The score was tied, and in the following rounds, both teams had a high shooting percentage.

Gan Guoyang hit a mid-range shot from the top of the arc, while O'Neal seized the opportunity to grab an offensive rebound and dunk.

Shaquille O'Neal is still a smart guy, and he's very calm right now. Despite his fear, he's made the right choices.

I start with long-range hook shots. If I can't break through in the low post, I stop shooting and set screens for my teammates so I can drive in, grab offensive rebounds, and then attack.

I can't take the initiative and attack directly against Forrest Gump, but I can at least pick off the leftovers, right? I can fight from the shadows, right?
This was the first time Jerry West had seen Shaquille O'Neal play so rationally, so calmly, and with such team spirit in a game. For a moment, West felt quite gratified, thinking that Shaq had indeed matured and grown, and now knew how to play against the formidable Forrest Gump.

Little did we know he was just a bit of a coward.

The game was a fast-paced exchange of blows, with both sides scoring quickly.

At the mid-game timeout, the Trail Blazers led the Lakers 19-18 by one point.

During the lineup rotation period, both teams began making substitutions.

Bird always gives players plenty of playing time during the regular season.

Kobe replaced Chris Mullin instead of Riddell, as Bird believed the team needed some height and athleticism at the shooting guard and small forward positions to counter the Lakers' young frontcourt.

The combination of Horry and McGrady, two players around 6 feet 7 inches tall, is indeed a significant threat on both offense and defense.

The data alone may not be obvious, but watching the game reveals that they can fast break, shoot, and handle a lot of possessions.

In defense, their height and wingspan are comparable to some inside players, allowing them to help defend and disrupt, greatly compensating for O'Neal's defensive coverage issues.

Horry can play the power forward position, and McGrady can also defend the power forward position—Jerry West chose them, frankly speaking, to prepare for Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers.

Of course, right now, Holly and McGrady are unlikely to pose a threat to Forrest Gump on offense and defense, but what about in two years or five years?
West had personally experienced Forrest Gump's power and even raised a monster who won four consecutive championships.

Now, to defeat this monster, his greatest weapon is not O'Neal, nor McGrady, nor Horry, but patience.

He believes that the Lakers will eventually rise again when Forrest Gump declines.

After Kobe Bryant replaced Mullin, the Trail Blazers' backcourt became much more dynamic, and their offensive X-factor became more abundant.

Kobe immediately executed a pick-and-roll with Gan Guoyang, twisting his body to drive to the basket and then launching a floater over O'Neal, which went in.

Then, on the defensive end, he switched to guard Kidd one-on-one and almost stole the ball, but it went out of bounds and the Lakers still had possession.

Seeing Portland's number 8 playing so well, Del Harris turned to the bench and said to his own number 8, "Hu, get ready to come on later."

Hu Weidong immediately took off his coat and sat down on the sidelines to wait for the next dead ball to come out.

Like Kobe, Hu Weidong was also looking forward to taking the court, but he showed no emotion on his face.

Last year, he had a tough summer.

Amidst the hesitation and struggle between returning home and staying, he ultimately chose to stay, drawn by a powerful force.

Staying means higher risks, a harsher environment, and greater unknowns and uncertainties.

But Hu Weidong stayed, recuperating from his injury, resuming training, gaining weight, practicing shooting like crazy, and participating in various summer leagues.

In a foreign land, Hu Weidong truly devoted himself wholeheartedly to basketball.

He stopped playing mahjong, gave up smoking and drinking, and gave up many of life's pleasures.

He spent nearly half a year like an ascetic.

During this time, he would occasionally call Gan Guoyang, who would always encourage him to persevere and that he would definitely be rewarded.

Ultimately, he got the Lakers, especially Jerry West, who signed him to a new contract.

After the team traded Ceballos at the start of the new season, Hu Weidong competed with others for a backup backcourt spot.

In the Lakers' offensive-oriented system, Hu Weidong fully utilized his shooting advantage and continuously improved his three-point shooting.

He would shoot three-pointers until very late every day, relying entirely on his instincts despite his nearsightedness.

He also improved his shooting technique, making his shots faster, less susceptible to interference, and better suited to the pace of the NBA.

So, in the new season, after being sidelined for a short period, Hu Weidong was brought back into the game against the Suns.

Hu Weidong seized the opportunity, making 3 of 4 three-pointers throughout the game, contributing his share to the victory.

On the defensive end, Hu Weidong knew that he was not as good as American players in terms of lateral movement and explosiveness, so he chose to increase his strength and physicality.

Of course, the most important thing is attitude. Without the right attitude on the defensive end, your physical strength and skills cannot be fully utilized, which is equivalent to nothing.

Domestically, Hu Weidong is undoubtedly the core player and a superstar in Jiangsu.

With the Lakers and in the United States, Hu Weidong adopted a more relaxed mindset, maximizing his strengths and minimizing his weaknesses.

By 1998, Hu Weidong had become an important substitute on the bench, capable of playing as the ninth or tenth player.

Harris brought Hu Weidong on the court mainly to create more space and give Kidd and O'Neal more opportunities.

It seems like McGrady is trying to compete with Kobe.

McGrady is very talented, and Jerry West values ​​him highly.

But Del Harris doesn't really like high school players.

They lack tactical awareness, rely too much on physical talent when playing, and are prone to getting carried away and playing recklessly.

So, seeing that the two high schoolers were about to have a one-on-one match, Harris decided to make a substitution.

Replace them with team players who are of average talent, older, but have excellent shooting skills.

However, this substitution came a little late; McGrady and Kobe were already locked in a fierce battle on the perimeter.

The two players were positioned at a 45-degree angle on the left, one-on-one. McGrady faced the basket, head down, attempting to force his way through with his speed.

But Kobe's defense was flawless, McGrady's driving skills were still immature and he was at a loss when it came to finishing.

Sabonis panicked when he came over to help defend and almost made a mistake, so he could only pass the ball back to Kidd, who then made a through pass to the inside.

Thorpe went for a layup, but Gan Guoyang came over to help and blocked it. O'Neal picked up the loose ball, but Gan Guoyang turned around and blocked it again!
That was a foul. O'Neal is too big and tall; it's really not easy to block him head-on.

O'Neal achieved his goal, drawing a foul from Gan Guoyang! He felt smug.

But missing both free throws made things worse.

At this point, Hu Weidong had replaced McGrady and entered the game to match up against Kobe.

Kobe looked at Hu Weidong and muttered, "Chinese, Forrest Gump's fellow countryman, can you guard me?"

Hu Weidong ignored him. He was not talkative in life, and he would only focus on playing the game on the court.

Hu Weidong never says trash talk, which is something Americans like, and he pretends not to hear it either.

Kobe asked Blake for the ball, but Blake didn't pass it to him; instead, he passed it to Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang pulled O'Neal out from the high post, and Kobe immediately understood and rushed to the basket.

Gan Guoyang made a long pass to the inside, and O'Neal couldn't get back.

Kobe leaped high and slammed home an alley-oop dunk.

Beautiful flight attendant!
After scoring, Kobe, in a rather cheeky manner, shook his head at Hu Weidong.

Kobe Bryant really has a personality that's quite annoying.

To put it nicely, it's called being fearless and passionate; to put it bluntly, it's being arrogant and disdainful of others.

If he were to team up with O'Neal, they would inevitably be criticizing and disliking each other off the court, as their personalities are too different.

Hu Weidong remained composed and actively moved around the court on offense, receiving a pass from Kidd in the left corner and sinking a three-pointer!

His positioning was precise, and his shot was swift; even Gan Guoyang praised the play after he scored.

Kobe was unhappy and said, "I just dunked and you didn't even praise me."

"Get back to defense," Gan Guoyang yelled.

The two most offensively potent teams in the league traded blows in the first quarter, making for a very exciting game.

The intensity was moderate, and there were many goals, making for a very exciting game with a high score of 38-37, with the Trail Blazers leading by one point.

This score might be the score of the first half for some teams.

During the break, when Hu Weidong was leaving the court, Gan Guoyang stopped him and said, "You played well, keep it up."

Hu Weidong nodded without saying much, but as he looked at Gan Guoyang's broad back after he turned around, his heart was filled with gratitude.

(End of this chapter)