The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 849 The True Trailblazers' Playstyle

When the body secretes a large amount of adrenaline, the muscles enter a state of high tension.

At this time, the body will tremble slightly, breathing will become rapid, the head will feel congested, the throat will feel itchy, and the attention will be highly focused.

Some people may even experience enhanced vision and extremely focused eyes, as the enhanced neural response makes things appear to "slow down."

This is the body's instinctive reaction when a person enters a dangerous or tense moment. It is the hormonal boost that ancient human ancestors used to give their bodies when facing wild beasts and fighting in the wild.

Of course, sometimes an excessive surge of adrenaline can have the opposite effect, causing people to become overly nervous and do some inexplicable things.

For example, when Kobe first appeared on the NBA court, he ran to the wrong basket, and his first career shot almost became an own goal.

He had too much adrenaline at the time, got overly nervous, and his mind went blank, leading to a huge blunder.

However, for veterans like Gan Guoyang, most matches no longer excite him or cause him to secrete large amounts of hormones.

No matter how much he loves basketball, the long and drawn-out games of the regular season are a job for him.

He dedicates himself to his work every night, finding enjoyment in it while entertaining the audience—that is his duty.

Only in the playoffs, with their brutal elimination and fierce battles, can Gan Guoyang find more enjoyment and a touch of excitement.

But this year's playoffs have been too smooth for the Trail Blazers. From the first round to the Western Conference Finals, the Trail Blazers have encountered no obstacles.

With just a little effort, their opponents would collapse under their strain. Even the formidable Utah Jazz were powerless to retaliate due to the clash between their lineup and playing style.

This made Gan Guoyang's revenge seem rather dull; indeed, the team's strength was too great, and the victory seemed to lack much of the fun.

In Gan Guoyang's memory of the championship, 1986 and 1992 hold irreplaceable and profound memories.

1986 was their first championship, and it was won with great difficulty. They were pushed to the brink in the Western Conference Finals, and the Finals were also extremely tough.

1992 was the second hard-fought three-peat, with the team defeating Jordan for the second time in the Finals thanks to a personal breakout and a bit of luck.

In comparison, games like shooting at the Bullets in 1988 and against the Pistons in 1990 have fewer memorable moments on the court.

Playing against the Pistons left more of an impression of fighting than of playing basketball.

Before the finals, everyone overwhelmingly favored the Trail Blazers.

After all, the Trail Blazers' overall strength was truly overwhelming. Even many years later, basketball professionals were still seriously studying the 1998 Trail Blazers, drawing lessons from them to improve their own offensive systems.

They left behind so much that is worth reflecting on and learning from.

In this respect, the Trail Blazers are at least twenty years ahead of other teams.

In contrast, the Chicago Bulls' triangle offense was rendered obsolete more than a decade later.

Of course, many of its ideas and structures have been incorporated into many positional offensive systems.

However, the Trail Blazers' style of play is more in line with Dr. Naismith's vision of "ultimate basketball," which is to be able to launch an attack from anywhere on the basketball court.

In comparison, the triangle offense is still too conventional.

The superior lineup and tactical system made the outcome of the match seem less suspenseful.

But Gan Guoyang knew in his heart that as long as Michael Jordan was there, there could be no relaxation.

Moreover, Gan Guoyang hopes to use this series to provide a definitive conclusion on "who is the better basketball player".

He not only wanted to win, but to win beautifully. He didn't want to give future generations an excuse to say, "Jordan won in terms of statistics and performance on the court, but lost the championship."

No, that's not the case. It's a win-win situation. Michael will definitely perform very well, but I will definitely perform better.

This intense thought excited and trembled Gan Guoyang. He had little interest in defeating Karl Malone, that crybaby.

Jordan shared the same idea as Gan Guoyang; he mobilized all the energy in his body, and his heart was already pounding.

Luke Longley and Domantas Sabonis jump the ball at center circle, and Bill Walton once again joined his longtime partner to commentate on this highly anticipated match from the sidelines.

The ball was tipped back and forth between the two white centers during the jump ball, and finally it was poked into Chris Mullin's hands.

Mullin immediately dribbled across half-court and charged towards the paint, attempting a left-handed layup, but Pippen interfered and he missed.

But Gan Guoyang followed up from behind to put the ball in. He pushed Kukoc aside with his left hand, jumped high, and dunked the ball into the basket with his right hand!
The Rose Garden Arena erupted with the first roar of the night as the Trail Blazers scored very quickly at the start of the game.

The Bulls clearly weren't quite used to it, because throughout the entire Eastern Conference playoffs, no team started the game at a fast pace.

The prevailing style of playoff games at that time was to grind out the opponent's position, slowly cross half-court, pass the ball cautiously, and play slowly once they were in position.

Most strong playoff teams follow a strategy of "building a strong defense and fighting a protracted battle," first consolidating their defense and then pressing the offensive end to around 20 seconds before taking a shot.

The Trail Blazers are an exception; they employ an offensive style of basketball from the regular season to the playoffs, making them a breath of fresh air and a blazing flame in the league.

Instead of engaging in a fast-paced offense with the Trail Blazers, the Bulls slowed down the pace, with Harper gradually dribbling the ball across half-court, and their triangle offense began to operate.

Unlike against other teams, the Bulls' triangle offense was particularly wide against the Trail Blazers' defense because the players were spaced far apart.

Phil Jackson knew he absolutely couldn't get caught in the Trail Blazers' tight defense, and he couldn't let Forrest Gump camp near the paint protecting the rim; he had to move him around a lot.

Jordan ran to the rarely used left corner, a position for role players, while Toni Kukoc held the ball on the strong side, drawing Gan Guoyang's defense.

He broke through, then jumped and made a long pass to Jordan in the corner. Jordan easily faked out Riddell with a shooting fake, stopped and shot at a 45-degree angle, and made it!
The two main players scored points quickly at the start, indicating that they were in excellent form and highly focused.

In the next possession for the Trail Blazers, Gan Guoyang and Brellock set a pick-and-roll, Gan Guoyang cut to the outside, received the ball, and made a long two-pointer from just outside the three-point line.

Without any hesitation or delay, they went straight in and threw it!
Gan Guoyang's long-range shots possess a unique power and beautiful arc.

The high arc, like a ballistic missile, pierced the very center of the basket, and it hit the target.

After scoring, Gan Guoyang pointed at Jordan but didn't say anything.

But Jordan knew that the war between the two had already begun!

The battle between Gan and Qiao is always like this; the first few rounds of the first quarter are always a high-scoring affair.

Otherwise, falling behind by one step will lead to falling behind by the next. Both players are highly efficient offensive players and have great stamina. Once they take the lead in the first quarter, they can snowball their advantage and make it harder to win later on.

Therefore, their crucial battles always went from the first quarter all the way to the very last moment.

In the 1991 NBA Finals, Jordan was unprepared for his first Finals appearance and was overwhelmed by Gan Guoyang, losing his rhythm and breath. He eventually left the game early in the third quarter due to exhaustion.

As a result, Gan Guoyang seized the brief opening and swept through the Bulls, winning the first game of the series.

Jordan's physical abilities are not what they used to be, but with three championships to his name, his skills and mastery of the game far surpass what they once were.

The Bulls launched a fast break, and Jordan used his baseline run to the sideline to receive a pass from Harper and shoot from C&S, which went in again!
The score was 4-4, with the two players accounting for all of the opening goals, and this was just the beginning.

Gan Guoyang then made no attempt to create opportunities for his teammates. He decisively moved to the low post and single-handedly defeated Kukoc.

Kukoc's back-to-the-basket defense against Gan Guoyang was a complete waste, and Pippen immediately came over to help defend, giving Mullin an open shot on the perimeter.

But Gan Guoyang didn't pass the ball. Instead, he turned inside to dodge two defenders, turned and jumped to shoot, and made the shot!
"Give me the ball, hurry up!"

Jordan yelled at Pippen, telling him to pass the ball to him.

Jordan received the ball and quickly crossed half-court, using simple dribbling and crossovers to get past the defender.

Then, he used a change of speed to rush into the three-second zone from the ribs. Gan Guoyang came over to help defend, and the two faced off for the first time!
Jordan dodged in mid-air, slid to the side and released the ball, which grazed Gan Guoyang's fingertips, hit the backboard and bounced into the basket.

Goal! 6-6!

Both players started the game with excellent form, showing no signs of rustiness or coldness.

If the Finals were Bulls vs. Jazz, or Trail Blazers vs. Pacers, the start would definitely not have been like this.

In that case, the Bulls would slowly grind out the set and apply pressure defense, while the Trail Blazers would use their smooth passing to score from all sides.

The Bulls vs. the Trail Blazers: a completely different story.

Larry Bird and Phil Jackson stood courtside, their feelings a mix of emotions. Because during the pre-game tactical discussions, this wasn't how it was supposed to be done at all!

Bird hopes to start by getting the ball moving from the outside, especially Chris Mullin and Blaylock finding their shooting touch.

Gan Guoyang's role is to draw the Bulls' defense and, together with Sabonis, disrupt the Bulls' aggressive, high-pressure defense.

Jackson's strategy was to have Pippen and Kukoc score more points, while Jordan's role was to connect the offense, draw defensive attention, and disrupt the Trail Blazers' defensive formation.

Good heavens, these two either didn't listen at all, or they listened but didn't want to carry it out.

They also tacitly agreed not to communicate with the coach, they just took the ball and went for it, and the key point is that they even scored!
The fans at the stadium and the viewers in front of their TVs didn't care; most of them actually couldn't understand the tactics, rhythm, or strategy.

They can understand goals, intense competition, spectacular dunks, and accurate jump shots.

They understand better what a hero is.

The two, entangled for over a decade, began another round of mutual plunder and killing.

比分从6：6，慢慢打到了11：12，开拓者领先公牛1分。

Jordan scored 10 points, and another point came from Luke Longley making one of two free throws.

Gan Guoyang also scored 10 points, and Sabonis added 2 points with a putback.

Neither Bird nor Jackson called a timeout; the game was going smoothly, and there was no reason to call a timeout.

Although they were all furious, what could they do?

Both players have high shooting percentages, and their one-on-one offensive efficiency is higher than their team offensive efficiency.

Let's see how long these two keep bickering, and when they'll remember they have teammates and that they're not the only two playing together.

At the official timeout, the score remained 11-12. Both players missed a shot, and with the ball dead, the TV station was about to broadcast commercials.

Needless to say, the primetime advertising rates for the NBC Finals tonight are going to skyrocket.

It is estimated that tonight's final will likely break viewership records—the record previously held by the two in the 1992 final.

On the Bulls' bench, Jackson questioned Jordan: "Michael, you come in like this, can your body handle it? You've disrupted our tactical plan."

Jordan, sipping his water, said, "Given Forrest Gump's situation, could I have played any differently? We were down after the first quarter, do you think we still had a chance?"

Jackson couldn't refute it. The Bulls were at a huge disadvantage in terms of strength. If Jordan hadn't stepped up and held on early with his individual ability, it would have been very difficult for them to catch up later.

With no other option, Jackson had to accept Jordan's style of play, while demanding that the whole team strengthen their defense and implement a more rigorous defense against Forrest Gump.

On the other side, on the Trail Blazers' bench, Bird was expressionless. He instructed Carlisle and Dick Hart to give him tactical instructions, then sat down next to Gan Guoyang and said, "Fuck you, Sonny. You've taken matters into your own hands again. What are you trying to do?"

"Of course we're going to win, Larry. What else? I know this doesn't fit your plan, but it's my plan. Don't worry, we'll definitely win this one. I feel fantastic."

Gan Guoyang didn't just blindly attack at the start; his many attacks were tests of his feel and form.

If he feels bad about missing a series of shots, he won't insist on doing it himself.

Unfortunately, he was in great form tonight, so he wouldn't waste a single moment of it.

"I hope your feeling is right," Bird said helplessly.

Bird was never the kind of controlling coach who insisted that players play according to his ideas.

Besides, no coach can make a player like Forrest Gump completely follow the coach's ideas.

Bird knew that Gan Guoyang had been suppressing his emotions all season, and in all the previous games he had been a perfect team player.

He creates opportunities for his teammates, setting numerous screens, picks and rolls, and passing the ball around in every game. He also helps his teammates grab rebounds and push for fast breaks, while contributing a lot of help defense and rim protection on the defensive end.

Of course, sometimes he would go to the small forward position to watch the game with his hands on his hips and wait for the next quick pick-up, but overall, Gan Guoyang did a lot of work to support his teammates in the 1998 season, more than in any previous season.

Therefore, it's understandable that they would go all out when facing their arch-rivals in the finals.

The timeout ended, and both teams returned to the court.

Before taking the court, Gan Guoyang asked Bird, "When you faced Magic in the Finals, why didn't you score like crazy and kill him?"

"I don't have that ability, okay?" Bird urged Gan Guoyang to take the stage with a heavy "OK?" and a big eye roll.

He's already answering questions before anyone else.

The intensity of the duel between the two knights cooled down slightly as the match progressed.

For the Bulls, Toni Kukoc tried to score using his individual skills, but Gan Guoyang's defense was too difficult to overcome.

The ball is easily cut off the moment it is received; Gan Guoyang's attack is extremely fast, and even Ma Long cannot catch it securely.

Kukoc attempted two attacks but missed both.

The Trail Blazers played relatively smoothly, but the Bulls started with very tough defense and a lot of physical contact.

Sabonis made a mistake under Longley's defense, and the Bulls launched a counterattack, with Blaylock intercepting the ball in midfield and scoring.

Mullin received the pass and made the first three-pointer of the game!

The Trail Blazers' rapid ball movement and numerous accurate three-pointers are what set them apart.

Phil Jackson was very annoyed when Mullin hit the three-pointer.

Phil Jackson's most hated coaching career was playing against teams with accurate three-point shooting.

The Bulls' efficient three-point shooting and ability to create space often left their tight, pressuring defense helpless.

Because the Bulls' interior defense relies heavily on help defense from perimeter players like Pippen, Jordan, and Harper.

If the spacing is too wide, the Bulls' paint area can easily become empty.

In order to make choices, Jackson often adopted a strategy of collapsing the defense and allowing opponents to shoot three-pointers while blocking the paint.

This tactic often works wonders, leaving opponents bewildered by the clanging sound of missed three-pointers.

But it's useless against teams that are accurate from three-point range; isn't that just giving away points?
The Bulls encountered such trouble in the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Pacers shot a remarkable 39% from three-point range, making 39 of 99 attempts – a truly outstanding performance in the 1998 season.

The Trail Blazers' three-point shooting is far more formidable than the Pacers'. In their series against the Jazz, they shot a remarkable 46% from three-point range, making 33 of their 70 attempts.

Keep in mind that the Trail Blazers have only played four games against the Jazz, yet their three-point shooting total is already almost the same as the Pacers' total after a Game 7.

Against the Trail Blazers, Jackson didn't want them to have multiple outside shots coming off the line; this team could really shoot you to death.

All five starters can shoot three-pointers, and they all shoot quite accurately. Who can handle that?
After Mullin hit a three-pointer, the Bulls still had to rely on Jordan. He received the ball, backed down Liddell, turned and faded, and made a jump shot.

If the Trail Blazers have any weaknesses, it's that their one-on-one defense at the two and three positions is still unsatisfactory, and they have no way to deal with Jordan's one-on-one attacks.

In response, Gan Guoyang immediately received the ball in the low post, quickly turned and hooked the ball to score two points, maintaining a 4-point lead.

Both sides have clearly fallen into the trap of relying on superstars. There's no way around it, since these two big men take the lead from the start, and the others can't really contribute.

But the audience didn't care. In the first quarter, cheers rose and fell throughout the Rose Garden Arena as Jordan and Gan Guoyang unveiled a corner of their epic confrontation.

Gan Guoyang scored 16 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in the first quarter, while Jordan scored 14 points, 2 assists and 1 steal in the first quarter.

The Trail Blazers lead the Bulls 22-18, holding a 4-point advantage in the score, but the Bulls control the tempo.

The game was dragged into the Bulls' familiar defensive, slow-paced, and isolation-focused style, and the Trail Blazers' offensive advantages were not fully displayed.

During the break, Bird said to Gan Guoyang, "Sonny, you play very well by playing like this, but this is not the true way of the Trail Blazers."

Gan Guoyang took a big gulp of water and said, "You're wrong, Larry. This is the real Trail Blazers style of play. Just wait and see, Michael can't beat me."

(End of this chapter)