The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 862 The Forum
After the game, Gan Guoyang returned to the locker room and soaked his legs in an ice bucket to quickly lower the temperature of his muscles and joints, reducing swelling, pain, and inflammation.

The physiotherapist will give him a full-body massage to relax his muscles and help him recover faster, as the next match is coming soon.

In his youth, Gan Guoyang spent very little time on physical therapy and rehabilitation. He was exceptionally talented; after high-intensity training and competitions every day, a good meal and deep sleep would make him feel refreshed and ready to go.

That's no longer the case. His training time and intensity are strictly controlled and kept at a low to medium intensity. More time is spent on recovery, maintaining his health and fitness, and reducing the risk of injury.

Injuries and pain have always been major threats to professional athletes. The high-intensity schedule of the NBA is a complete devastation to the health of ordinary people. Only those with extremely strong physical abilities can work and survive here.

In the 70s and 80s, many players used cocaine not only for fun and to seek mental pleasure, but also largely to relieve pain.

The high-intensity competitions and training every day make muscles and joints very prone to pain.

With the NBA's strict anti-drug measures, cocaine has gradually disappeared, but painkillers have never disappeared from the league.

Especially older players, some of them will take a lot of painkillers to enable themselves to perform well.

Especially in contract years, relatively mediocre mid-to-lower tier players in the league will do their best to perform and put up good numbers in hopes of getting a longer and larger contract.

Once a player's contract year is over, their performance may decline significantly. In addition to changes in mentality, the excessive use of painkillers can also lead to physical exhaustion.

This situation became increasingly frequent in the mid-to-late 90s as NBA salaries and contracts grew larger.

Gan Guoyang, as the chairman of the players' union, was fully aware of this situation, but there was nothing he could do about it; everyone needed to eat.

Karl Malone, for example, has a strong, muscular physique and spends most of his time in the gym, but according to Stockton, this guy takes painkillers like food.

And then there's Alonzo Mourning. Their kidneys and livers are under high strain, but in order to be more competitive, they have to push their bodies to their limits.

Gan Guoyang sometimes even wants to take a painkiller. The battles inside are much more intense than those outside. Every night there are constant collisions and squeezing, and his body is already covered in injuries.

Since the start of this season, every morning when Gan Guoyang wakes up, he feels soreness and swelling in certain parts of his body, and he needs to lie in bed for a while before he can get up.

It was another night of intense competition. Gan Guoyang's legs were soaked in the ice bucket for a long time, and no one bothered him. This was his moment.

He recalled that during the 1986 season, Bill Walton would often sit alone in the ice tub after practice and games, occasionally with Jones, and the two veterans would sit there for a long time.

Now it's his turn.

After everything was settled and the brief interview concluded, Gan Guoyang and his teammates left the Great Western Forum arena, it was already close to midnight.

But for many NBA players, the nightlife is just beginning at this time. Even during the playoffs, players will still find ways to have fun, especially in a city like Los Angeles, where it's hard to miss the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Every time he goes to Los Angeles, many people invite Gan Guoyang to participate in events or private banquets. He usually refuses, but he will show up for some that he really can't refuse.

California has a large Chinese and Asian population, and he also has the most politicians, businessmen, and social groups supporting him.

Gan Guoyang is full of energy and can handle all kinds of social engagements.

But this time when he returned to the hotel, he didn't want to leave at all. He just wanted to rest and get some sleep to prepare for the competition the day after tomorrow.

He reminded himself that he was no longer Superman and that he should think about how to be a normal person both on and off the field.

I called my wife, Wang Fuxi, to ask about my father and children. Before I knew it, we had been married for 10 years.

Wang Fuxi asked jokingly over the phone, "How's your home in Los Angeles?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? This is your home. I don't have time to visit my parents, so let them come to the forum arena to see me. I've prepared tickets for them."

“They prefer watching TV at home; it’s too noisy in person. Seriously, why don’t you have another home in another city to share some of my stress?”

When an elderly married couple chats, the sweet nothings are gone; instead, they become more spontaneous and wild, saying whatever comes to mind, even the most outrageous things.

Being a celebrity's wife is not easy, and being Gan Guoyang's wife is even more difficult; taking care of the family is only the simplest part.

There are still huge industries to maintain and a vast network of relationships to manage. Gan Guoyang doesn't have many people around him he can completely trust.

Especially after Larry Fleischer's death, Gan Guoyang lost his biggest support in the white community in the United States.

Over the past 10 years, in managing his business and personal brand, he has trusted only his wife and cousin the most.

Gan Guohui is only of average ability; he's already doing a good job with his current tasks. You can't count on him to expand his territory or be successful in all aspects.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang's true right-hand man off the field was his wife, Wang Fuxi, who happened to be very capable, intelligent, and energetic.

Moreover, a woman who is wholeheartedly devoted to her husband and children is absolutely ruthless in her actions and deeds, much more ruthless than the average man.

“If I really had another family outside, I might make the big news, and you would become the next Simpson.”

"I can't bear to part with you. For over ten years, I've struggled and shattered the hopes of so many. Yet, those who love you continue to flock to you like a never-ending stream. I've come to terms with it; someone as great and outstanding as you shouldn't be monopolized by one woman, but should be shared by the whole world, so that other women can also enjoy it, and hopefully leave behind some genes to improve the genetic quality of our nation~"

Gan Guoyang had heard these most basic, lewd words countless times. If he believed them, he would be a scoundrel for life.

The two exchanged a few more jokes, then Wang Fuxi suddenly said seriously, "We received a call from Washington today, saying that there might be policies and reports that are unfavorable to relations with China coming out soon, and that we need to make some preparations."

"The situation will definitely get worse, and I'm mentally prepared for that. But there's no need to worry too much. For a long time, the two sides of the Pacific will both cooperate and compete. Trust me, everything will be alright."

Since the incident on May 7, Gan Guoyang's public opinion situation in the United States has become increasingly delicate, especially after his 74-point performance against the Spurs, which made Americans suddenly see the elephant in the room: as a basketball nation, their best and greatest player is a foreigner.

“I know. I’m fully prepared. We have friends in the media, with brands, and in Congress. But I’m worried… what if the president turns his back on us?”

"Your worries are unnecessary. A falling out is inevitable. But it's just a play, so just do your best. Americans love to watch and perform plays, so just put on a show for them."

The two didn't discuss anything further on the phone, as they were using a satellite-encrypted phone.

Gan Guoyang is certain that after May 7, he had been monitored or wiretapped by the FBI or other US intelligence agencies.

Therefore, one must be careful when making phone calls and chatting casually, lest one give the American secret police or secret police a clue.

After a day of rest, the Trail Blazers and Lakers quickly resumed their battle in Game 4, a game that would undoubtedly determine the course of the series.

If the Lakers can win this game, the two teams will travel to Portland for Game 5. If the Lakers lose, this game will likely be their last NBA game at the Great Western Forum.

Regardless of the outcome, the initiative remains in the hands of the Trail Blazers. If they win, they can go back and prepare for a gentlemanly sweep of the Lakers; if they lose, they can go back to their home court to fight for a match point. Things can't get any worse.

The Trail Blazers, playing with a lighter load, gained an advantage from the start. Before the game, Gan Guoyang once again set a "normal plan" for himself, requiring him to score more points in the first quarter and try to widen the gap as much as possible when he was in good physical condition.

Reduce shot attempts in the second and third quarters to create opportunities for teammates and focus on defense, then unleash your full potential in the final quarter.

By controlling the pace of the game at the beginning and end, they can influence the course of the match.

The Lakers' defense was somewhat lacking in focus, and they weren't aggressive enough in double-teaming Gan Guoyang at the start.

As a result, Gan Guoyang made consecutive hook shots, scoring 15 points in the first quarter and helping the Trail Blazers lead the Lakers 27-22 by 5 points.

In the second quarter, the Lakers made adjustments, with Del Harris initiating a comprehensive offensive strategy, repeatedly driving to the basket from the perimeter and attacking the Trail Blazers' interior.

O'Neal mainly focused on following up, scoring in the paint or grabbing offensive rebounds for second-chance opportunities, which had some effect, but not significant.

After all, the Trail Blazers' rim defense, with Gan Guoyang, Sabonis, and O'Neal, was impenetrable. Even with O'Neal on the Lakers' side, it would be difficult to shake the Trail Blazers' solid rim defense.

It was clear that by the fourth game, both sides were approaching their original form in terms of playing style and strategy – relying on individual ability and inside play.

This is the case for most series, with Game 4 as the dividing line. The first three games are all about tactics, rotations, surprise attacks, and taking things by surprise.

Starting from the fourth game, the teams have fewer cards to play and fewer strategies available to the coaches. At this point, the true strength of both sides, the individual abilities of the players, and their performance on the day become more apparent.

However, this does not mean that the coach is no longer useful; on the contrary, the coach's role may be even more significant.

As the series enters deeper waters, coaches must pay attention to things beyond tactics and strategy, such as player psychology, morale building, and controlling on- and off-court media.

Great coaches are masters of this skill; Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Chuck Daly, and others all possess the ability to decide a game without relying on a whiteboard.

Del Harris clearly lacks this ability. During his seasons with the Lakers, he consistently performed well in the regular season, but tended to lose his composure in the cutthroat playoffs. He lacked Phil Jackson's ability to manage players' emotions and Pat Riley's ruthless and decisive nature.

On the Trail Blazers' side, Larry Bird is sitting on his own two feet. His advantage is that, as a former superstar, he has an extraordinary intuition about the game.

Bird's weakness is insufficient computing power, which can lead to incorrect judgments at certain critical junctures, but Gan Guoyang's presence effectively compensates for this deficiency.

The Lakers' comeback strategy in the second quarter wasn't wrong, but it was a bit too hasty. Their outside shooting became increasingly chaotic, and the running tactics system centered around Kidd began to collapse.

Without effective support from outside firepower, the Lakers gradually fell into a tough battle. Although the score was close, the game was painful and lacked fluidity.

The Lakers finally made it to the end of the first half, but they were still down by 6 points to the Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers looked much more relaxed and were on the right track.

The Lakers played disorganizedly, and the pressure to turn the tide in the third quarter fell entirely on O'Neal.

He conserved his energy and reduced one-on-one plays in the first half in order to save his strength for the third quarter and strive for a comeback.

Before entering the game in the second half, O'Neal took a deep breath, eager to turn the tide in this quarter.

But right at the start of the third quarter, O'Neal's worst fears came true: the Trail Blazers changed their defensive matchups, and Gan Guoyang came over to guard O'Neal.

O'Neal's heart sank. He wondered if the Trail Blazers had anticipated the team's plans.
Dude, you took three shots in the first half. Everyone knows you're going to step up your game in the second half!
Once O'Neal faced Gan Guoyang in the low post, his legs went weak, and he didn't dare to push inside when he received the ball.

Either pass the ball outwards, or show off your skills by going mid-lane and using mid-range straight hook shots to avoid Gan Guoyang's attacks.

This was exactly what Gan Guoyang wanted. He didn't want to go head-to-head with O'Neal anyway, after all, he wasn't young anymore.

Putting everything else aside, this fat guy's sheer amount of fat makes you feel exhausted just by leaning against him without doing anything.

It seems the seed of doubt planted in O'Neal's fragile little mind has had an effect.

In fact, the gap in strength between O'Neal and Gan Guoyang this season is the smallest ever.

If O'Neal goes all out and goes crazy to fight Gan Guoyang, the 35-year-old Gan Guoyang won't be able to escape unscathed so easily.

But in O'Neal's mind, Forrest Gump was still the Superman in the three-second zone who could easily dominate him, beat him up, and knock him unconscious with a single punch.

No matter how strong he becomes, how hard he trains, or how dominant he is against other opponents in the playoffs, he is still automatically inferior to Forrest Gump.

When O'Neal scores, Gan Guoyang can't completely stop him. The problem is that O'Neal's playing style seems too weak, lacking any offensive power and failing to disrupt the Trail Blazers' defensive formation.

The two teams were evenly matched, with the Lakers scoring and the Trail Blazers also scoring, maintaining a score difference of around 5 points as time ticked away.

During a timeout, when Del Harris criticized O'Neal for not playing aggressively enough, O'Neal retorted, "I've already scored 10 points over Forrest Gump! 10 points, who the hell can do that in one quarter?"

"But you didn't draw a single foul from him, not even once."

"So what if I commit a foul? I can't make the free throw..."

Del Harris was so angry at O'Neal that he was speechless for a moment.

But upon closer reflection, it seems to make sense; since the penalty won't go in anyway, it's better not to commit the foul.

O'Neal scored 12 points in the third quarter, but the Trail Blazers still entered the fourth quarter with a 6-point lead.

Gan Guoyang only scored 4 points in the second and third quarters combined, clearly no longer using the playing style of the "King of the Third Quarter".

Because he knew that his physical strength and explosiveness were not as good as before, he needed to postpone the decisive battle.

Otherwise, if they exert too much effort in the third quarter, their stamina will decline in the fourth quarter, making them prone to collapse when facing younger teams.

Of course, postponing the decisive moment will lead to a decrease in control of the game and a smaller margin for error.

These are all signs of aging, things that data cannot reflect, and only Gan Guoyang himself knows the truth.

Fortunately, the Trail Blazers maintained their lead instead of falling behind going into the fourth quarter and having to catch up, which would have made the game more unpredictable.

Gan Guoyang asked Bird not to substitute him at the start of the fourth quarter, but to stay and continue playing, joining Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal on the court.

Gan Guoyang first set a screen with Kobe, then faked a shot after receiving the ball, drove to the basket, and scored two points with a move-hook.

Then, on the fast break, he received a pass from Kobe and took a three-pointer from the right 45-degree angle, which went in again, easily scoring 5 points in a row and forcing the Lakers to call a timeout.

Del Harris knew that Agan and the Trail Blazers were about to close out the series, and he had to hold on. Otherwise, if they lost this game and fell behind 1-3, the series would be over.

Not only is the series over, but Del Harris's coaching career with the Lakers is also coming to an end.

But what problem can a pause solve?

When it came down to the most crucial moment, no one on the Lakers could step up and break the deadlock.

Kidd won't do, McGrady is West's choice, but he's a sophomore and that won't work either.

Holly, Fisher, and others are all supporting characters and do not play a decisive role.

As for O'Neal, getting the ball to him in the fourth quarter was a problem.

Even if they give it to him, the Trail Blazers are very likely to use fouling tactics against him, and the Lakers will be in trouble.

Jerry West, watching the game from the bench, looked serious.

He watched as the Trail Blazers continued to extend their lead, with Kobe and Forrest playing seamlessly together.

Kobe, in particular, had an exceptionally strong playmaker ability, which was truly enviable.

West couldn't help but think how great it would have been if Kobe hadn't been snatched up by the Trail Blazers and had come to the Lakers.

It's all just hypothetical now. The Trail Blazers played better and better in the fourth quarter, and after a timeout, they went on an 11-4 run.

The point difference was quickly widened to 15 points. The Lakers held on for three quarters, but the Trail Blazers finally came out strong and collapsed.

The game gradually lost its suspense, and the Trail Blazers won 106-93 on the road, taking a 13-point lead and securing a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.

With the next game scheduled to be played in Portland, it's highly likely that this will be the last NBA game held at the Great Western Forum.

Therefore, even though the outcome of the match was decided early on, the fans at the stadium were still unwilling to leave before the match was completely over.

They stayed behind and gave a warm round of applause before the crowd dispersed, bidding farewell to the venue that had witnessed so many great matches.

Although Gan Guoyang is not a Lakers player, many important and classic games in his basketball career were played here.

He has a deeper connection to the Great Western Forum than any current Lakers player.

As he left the arena, Gan Guoyang kissed the floor of the Great Western Forum stadium, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from the fans.

This is a gesture of respect and recognition for the Lakers' biggest nemesis.

Subsequently, the stadium management removed the rule sign hanging in the player tunnel that prohibited Gan Guoyang from coming to the stadium for training in the morning and gave it to Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang held up the plaque and posed for a photo with the stadium management staff, many of whom had worked there since the 80s and had witnessed Gan Guoyang's glory and victory there.

When a player is this strong, even his enemies will respect and admire him.

To be his formidable opponent is an honor in itself.

After taking a precious group photo, Gan Guoyang and his teammates left the venue.

Accompanied by many fond memories, it all set with the sun.

(End of this chapter)