The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 883 was already annoying
Riley looks much older.

The once handsome and dashing man has developed many wrinkles on his face over the years since he came to Miami.

For the Heat, he exploited his players while also exploiting himself.

After a brief slump following the breakup of the Big Three, the Heat have bounced back.

This year, the Heat moved out of their previous cramped Miami Arena and moved their home court to the newly built American Airlines Arena.

Riley and the Heat players personally visited the construction site of the arena to witness the rise of this brand-new, modern stadium.

The original home arena, Miami Arena, could only accommodate 15200 people, while the new American Airlines Arena will increase the capacity to more than 19000. Including standing room and extra seats, the capacity will reach 21146 people, which will greatly increase ticket revenue for home games.

In addition to the new arena, Riley always has ways to find new talented players to join him through trades and free agent signings.

Let's look at the Heat's starting lineup tonight: Tim Hardaway, Mashburn, PJ Brown, Rasheed Wallace, and Dan Mallley.

Which of them were drafted and developed by the Heat themselves? No, not a single one. They were all obtained through deception, trades, or theft.

This is Riley's business philosophy: since the league has allowed players to sign freely, why should I take the chance to develop rookies?
If someone else has trained a good player, I'll find a way to sign them. This way, we can quickly assemble a team with low risk, which is the best way to achieve rapid success.

Since the 1988 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) removed restrictions on free agents, the years since, including the new CBA in 1998, have all encouraged the free movement of players.

Many teams that carefully nurture high draft picks often face the risk of losing talent once their rookies' contracts expire. Small clubs can easily become training grounds for big-city teams, supplying them with star players.

Although the smaller teams had many complaints, they dared not say anything in the face of David Stern's authority and the money they had already received.

For the Trail Blazers, Sabonis was injured and absent. Before the game, Carlisle confirmed the team's starting lineup, with Jermaine O'Neal taking over the power forward position and Gan Guoyang remaining at center.

The small forward position should still be filled by the young Alan Henderson, shooting guard Kobe, and point guard Blake.

This lineup is indeed very suitable as a starting lineup; it is balanced, stable, and unlikely to make any major mistakes.

Hart and Spoelstra suggested starting Ben Wallace and Jermaine O'Neal in the frontcourt, moving Agan to the small forward position, and replacing Alan Henderson.

The combination of Ben Wallace and Jermaine O'Neal has proven their strong defensive capabilities, and Gan Guoyang can also revitalize the offense by playing the small forward position.

However, from the perspective of the head coach, Carlisle carefully considered Gan Guoyang's words about "combining orthodox and unorthodox tactics" and believed that it was still not advisable to use a too aggressive and unfamiliar lineup.

At the start of the game, we still need Gan Guoyang to take charge of the inside game and stabilize the situation. Otherwise, if we let him put his hands on his hips at the beginning of the game, what if the two young players commit too many fouls in the inside game, or if they are not in good form and get blown out?
Also, Alan Henderson is a young and very talented player, but he is not yet fully adapted to the Trail Blazers' tactical system.

Removing him from the starting lineup too early would not only be detrimental to his development, but also a slap in the face to Bird, who was the one who pushed for this trade.

Taking all factors into consideration, Carlisle decided to start only Jermaine O'Neal in place of Sabonis, pairing him with Gan Guoyang in the frontcourt, with no other changes.

As for Charles Barkley, Carlisle never considered him a starter; his age and condition meant he was less effective as a sixth man than a starter.

In fact, many veterans in the NBA who are 35 or 36 years old are no longer suitable for starting in terms of physical fitness and intensity. They are actually better for the team's fighting power when they are on the bench. However, the coach has no choice but to let the veterans continue to start because of their former status and face. As a result, the intensity of the team's starters cannot keep up, and they dig a hole and fall behind from the start.

Carlisle withstood the pressure from Barkley and directly rejected Barkley's request to start, which was no easy feat.

Just like in the workplace, coaches are often at a disadvantage when facing star players. Many coaches, when faced with the dilemma of choosing between star players and tactics, mostly choose to compromise with the star players.

Carlisle established his uncompromising attitude in his first season as manager, which will have a profound impact on his future coaching career.

Of course, Carlisle had his reasons for being confident, because he knew that with Forrest Gump in the Trail Blazers' locker room, Barkley wouldn't dare to cause trouble, and the Trail Blazers wouldn't fall into chaos.

As the game was about to start, Barkley sat patiently on the bench, waiting for his chance to play.

Young players like Jermaine O'Neal stood at center circle and jumped for the ball with PJ Brown.

Both sides started the game at a slow pace, with the Heat consistently employing a defensive style of play over the years.

Slow-paced, high-intensity competition that pushes both the player and their opponent to their limits; the playing style is characterized by ferocity.

The Heat acquired the aggressive Rasheed Wallace, and they have been playing very strongly since the start of the new season.

The two teams quickly engaged in a fierce battle in the paint, with Tim Hardaway attempting to drive to the basket twice, but both attempts were blocked by Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang's strong attack under the basket was also double-teamed by Wallace and PJ Brown. Brown cleverly drew an offensive foul on Gan Guoyang.

This kid is becoming more and more mature under the basket. Having studied with Gan Guoyang for many years, he is quite familiar with Gan Guoyang's playing style.

Gan Guoyang, who was being targeted, immediately made adjustments. He first opened up the game with step-back shots and hook shots, and then instructed Jermaine O'Neal to help defend more on the defensive end.

He knew the Heat would attack even more fiercely once he had a foul, so he had to be careful not to get into trouble with two fouls too early.

Both sides had low shooting percentages, and the score remained 4-2 for about two minutes. Clearly, the players' offensive touch hadn't been established and they needed time to get going.

Kobe broke the deadlock first, hitting a mid-range jump shot from the outside. The Heat's shot still missed, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound. On the counterattack, Kobe once again attacked the basket and scored a layup.

With the score at 8-2, the Trail Blazers took the lead, and Riley called a timeout to make adjustments.

After the timeout, Rasheed Wallace outposted Jermaine O'Neal in the low post and made a turnaround layup.

Rasheed Wallace, like Jermaine O'Neal, was listed as 6'11", but in reality, Wallace was slightly taller and had a better wingspan.

With this slight advantage and the high release point of his straight-arm shot, Wallace was able to make shots without being affected by Jermaine O'Neal's defense.

In response, Gan Guoyang facilitated from the high post, setting up Jermaine O'Neal for a one-on-one against Rasheed Wallace.

As a result, Jermaine O'Neal's left-handed layup after turning around missed, and Wallace grabbed the rebound.

The Heat's counterattack failed, and Gan Guoyang was under the basket, making it difficult for Tim Hardaway to penetrate.

He turned around and passed the ball to Wallace at the top of the arc. Wallace received the ball and took a three-pointer, which went in!
8-7, Rashid Wallace scored 5 consecutive points, narrowing the gap to 1 point.

Rasheed Wallace is one of the few big men in the league who can attempt three-pointers multiple times.

During his rookie season, he averaged 1.6 three-point attempts per game with a 32% success rate.

Later, the three-point line was lengthened, and the overall number of three-point attempts in the league declined, but Wallace, influenced by Gan Guoyang, still used the three-pointer as a regular weapon.

After joining the Heat, he averaged three three-point attempts per game in his first few games and made them every time. The defenders had to be careful of his three-point shooting.

Jermaine O'Neal suffered two consecutive losses against Rasheed Wallace, and Gan Guoyang came over and asked, "How about I guard him and you go deal with PJ?"

O'Neal quickly shook his head and said, "No, I can handle him."

"Then you'd better get him sorted out for me right now."

Gan Guoyang received the ball at the high post again to facilitate the play, and Jermaine O'Neal once again positioned himself under the basket to receive the ball.

Jermaine O'Neal was extremely aggressive in positioning this time, engaging in a fierce battle with Rasheed Wallace for the three-second shot.

Gan Guoyang delivered the ball to Jermaine O'Neal with timely precision. O'Neal caught the ball, turned around, and left Wallace behind. He then faked out Wallace and slammed the ball down with one hand!
After scoring, Jermaine O'Neal and Gan Guoyang high-fived, his skills under the basket becoming increasingly refined.

In terms of age, Jermaine O'Neal is a bit younger than Kobe, and over the years he has had to follow in Kobe's footsteps, taking one step at a time.

He trained the same way Kobe trained. Kobe learned from Forrest Gump, and Jermaine O'Neal learned from Forrest Gump.

Outside of the arena, how to handle one's endorsements and contracts is a common topic. Jermaine O'Neal also started doing endorsements and accepting advertisements.

Of course, Jermaine O'Neal didn't learn everything. He didn't buy a team when Kobe bought one because he didn't have enough money.

Subsequently, Jermaine O'Neal and Kobe Bryant teamed up to double-team Marley on the perimeter, and Marley passed the ball to Rasheed Wallace.

Wallace received the ball and drove straight down the middle, attempting to drive to the basket, but his dunk attempt was blocked head-on by Gan Guoyang!

PJ Brown got the ball and tried to make a layup, but Gan Guoyang blocked it again. Mashburn got the ball on the perimeter and tried to drive, but was blocked again!
With three consecutive blocks, Gan Guoyang proved that he is still the best rim protector in the league and the undisputed king of the three-second zone defense.

Riley, furious, spat and cursed from the sidelines, "Why do these idiots still want to challenge Forrest Gump?"

The young players were too arrogant, trying to pin a curse on the aging god, only to be met with a merciless rejection.

However, Wallace and Mashburn would definitely curse if they heard Riley's words. Damn it, you were the one who said before the game that we should attack the paint and give Forrest Gump a hard time. How come you're blaming us for challenging Forrest Gump now?

With Gan Guoyang providing high-quality rim protection under the basket, the Trail Blazers gradually gained the upper hand.

Of course, they were unable to widen the score gap because the Heat's defense was also quite excellent, and their timely transitions prevented the Trail Blazers from launching efficient counterattacks.

During the half-court press, the Heat's powerful double-teams and disciplined rotations forced the Trail Blazers into more one-on-one isolation plays.

Kobe, Jermaine O'Neal, and Blake Blake took turns going one-on-one, but their shooting percentages weren't high. Meanwhile, the Heat relied on their solid defense to launch counterattacks.

Even though Gan Guoyang's defense under the basket was excellent, the Heat quickly responded with accurate three-pointers and mid-range shots, and the score became very close.

Especially Mashburn, a Kentucky alumnus of Riley, has a very comprehensive offensive skill set. He is proficient in shooting, driving, back-to-the-basket moves, and crossovers, and has a good three-point shot with a 40% success rate and a good volume of three-pointers.

He was doing well with the Mavericks, but was soon lured away by Riley and tricked into going to Miami.

Riley, as a senior Kentucky alumnus, was very fond of using the nepotism of the prestigious Kentucky University to recruit the school's talented players to Miami.

With Tim Hardaway struggling and being harassed by Blaylock, and Rasheed Wallace and other interior players gradually being suppressed, Mashburn stepped up in the latter part of the first quarter to take over the Heat's offense.

Alan Henderson's one-on-one defense couldn't contain Mashburn, and the Heat quickly scored, catching up and even about to take the lead.

Carlisle called a timeout in time, and in the final stages of the first quarter, he substituted Charles Barkley for Jermaine O'Neal, hoping to use Barkley's offensive explosiveness to close out the first quarter.

As a result, the moment Barkley entered the game, he received the ball on the perimeter and immediately attempted a three-pointer! It missed!

Gan Guoyang fought hard for the offensive rebound but failed, and Tim Hardaway grabbed the ball and charged forward.

Barkley chased after him and committed a foul on defense, sending Tim Hardaway to the free-throw line.

The Trail Blazers, who were leading the Heat 19-18 by one point, were overtaken by the Heat after a timeout.

It was Barkley's careless shot that gave the Heat a chance to counterattack, and then Barkley fouled, giving Hardaway free throws.

Hardaway had a poor shooting night in the first quarter and was completely shut down by Blaylock's defense. Ironically, this free throw gave Hardaway his first chance to score.

"Are you fucking a pig? Who told you to play like that?" Gan Guoyang finally couldn't help but curse Barkley during the free throws.

This guy got used to being reckless when he played for the Suns and Heat, having unlimited shooting rights and playing however he wanted.

Returning to Miami this time, facing Riley and the city's fans, he was determined to prove himself.

The result was that not only did they miss the three-pointer, but the Trail Blazers were also overtaken.

Faced with Gan Guoyang's anger, Barkley took the initiative to admit defeat, saying, "Yes, I'm a pig."

Barkley's words silenced Gan Guoyang, who was so angry he couldn't speak.

Subsequently, Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post, turned and overpowered PJ Brown, but was then double-teamed fiercely by the Heat.

Gan Guoyang dribbled out in time and suddenly made an inside pass to Henderson, who cut to the basket. Henderson caught the ball and dunked it with both hands!

This is Henderson's usual way of playing; he needs some space and needs to be closer to the basket.

Gan Guoyang did not dribble the ball extensively under the basket in the first quarter, but instead gave his teammates plenty of opportunities.

On the one hand, it motivates the whole team; on the other hand, it conserves enough energy for the upcoming matches.

This is the new competition model that Gan Guoyang has set for himself. The 48-minute all-out effort by Gan Guoyang is now history.

At the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers led 23-22 by one point, with the two teams essentially evenly matched.

In the second quarter, Charles Barkley remained on the court.

At the same time, Ben Wallace replaced Gan Guoyang in the paint, which made the Trail Blazers' interior defense much shorter.

Ben Wallace and Barkley are both small centers, so Riley cleverly substituted in the 7-foot center, Dunn Coswell.

Hopefully, Coswell's height and wingspan will allow him to dominate the Trail Blazers' interior defense. In basketball, height is often decisive; falling behind on fundamentals like rebounding can make the game very difficult.

They can't grab offensive rebounds, they can't hold defensive rebounds, and their basket is constantly being breached by through balls. After just a few possessions, the Trail Blazers will suffer a huge loss.

But Riley made the same mistake as Phil Jackson, underestimating Ben Wallace's defensive threat under the basket and his ability to protect the boards.

When the Heat tried to pass the ball to Coswell for a strong drive to the basket, he was blocked by Ben Wallace and sent flying far away.

During the counterattack, Charles Barkley charged towards the basket like a wild boar, scoring a layup and drawing a foul from the defender.

Amid boos from the American Airlines Center crowd, Barkley made the free throw and then flexed his muscles toward Riley on the sidelines.

Riley pretended not to see it. The two had a very unpleasant falling out the season before last. Barkley, that big mouth, was not polite to Riley and would seize any opportunity to speak ill of Riley, making Riley lose face.

Riley's plan to use his height to suppress the Trail Blazers failed, and the Trail Blazers launched an even faster offensive attack with their second unit.

Barkley became the absolute core of the second unit, and without hesitation, he would receive the ball and attack, always driving towards the basket.

Since he only gets 15 or 20 minutes of playing time per game, why not make the most of his firepower and save it for venting after the game?
Fueled by resentment towards the Heat and Riley, Barkley unleashed his full potential at the start of the second quarter, scoring 8 consecutive points under the basket and forcing the Heat to call a timeout.

Barkley was matched up against another undersized center, Riley's new signing this year, Witherspoon.

When Witherspoon first entered the league, he was called "Little Barkley" because of his similar undersized stature and his small but powerful presence under the basket.

However, Witherspoon's talent is far inferior to Barkley's. Barkley is a historical superstar, while Witherspoon is just a role player.

In some games, Witherspoon can still perform well, but tonight, facing the real Barkley, his momentum immediately fell behind.

Neither offense nor defense could stop the furious Barkley, and he was quickly devoured by the Jazz under the basket in the second quarter, forcing Riley to call a timeout.

With Barkley single-handedly igniting the Trail Blazers' offensive rhythm in the second unit, the Blazers built a 5-point lead throughout the first half.

At halftime, the score was 48-43. Neither team had scored much, indicating a very intense defensive battle.

Barkley scored 10 points in the first half, while Gan Guoyang had 5 points and 7 rebounds. He clearly wanted to save his energy for the second half and the third quarter.

For the Trail Blazers, the team is gradually developing a new game pattern and rhythm. The days of dominating the game are over; they need to be more refined.

During halftime, Gan Guoyang apologized to Barkley, saying he shouldn't have called Barkley a pig.

Barkley shrugged and said nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter. I was a pig until I won a championship."

Clearly, Barkley's mindset has improved since joining the Trail Blazers, and knowing this is his last season, he's willing to do anything for a championship.

Carlisle also came over to Barkley and said, "I know you have the ability to start, but you'd be a better option for the team as a substitute. When needed, you'll still be the team's starting choice."

Barkley accepted and respected Carlisle's choice, and the Trail Blazers' locker room atmosphere remained perfect.

In the third quarter, both sides began to exert their strength. Gan Guoyang, who had not taken the initiative to attack much in the first half, started to launch attacks from the 45-degree angle.

To give players like Jermaine O'Neal, Henderson, and Barkley more space under the basket, Gan Guoyang reduced his low-post attacks and focused more on attacking from the top of the key, the mid-range at 45 degrees, and the three-point line.

This allows him to attack the basket directly, pass inside, and set high and wing screens for his teammates.

Playing like this will cause Gan Guoyang's scoring to decline, and his offensive success rate and efficiency will not be comparable to his peak.

But playing like this is better for the team, as it creates more opportunities for teammates. While the assist numbers won't be as noticeable as when playing in the low post, there will be more tactical opportunities, and the impact beyond the statistics will be greater.

The Heat were eager to catch up, so they increased the intensity of their defense to the maximum, making it extremely difficult for the Trail Blazers to operate on the perimeter.

At the same time, all five of the Heat's starting lineups are capable of scoring one-on-one on offense. Riley's teams have always had a simple and direct offensive style, relying on straightforward thinking.

Mashburn continued his efficient play, while Tim Hardaway gradually found his offensive rhythm, scoring with skillful dribbling and pull-up jump shots.

The two players skillfully avoided Gan Guoyang's defense. Of course, Gan Guoyang also stayed under the basket and didn't come out, not easily letting the Heat into the paint.

Faced with the Heat's fierce comeback, Gan Guoyang began to exert his strength, hitting consecutive mid-range jump shots from the 45-degree angle, leaving PJ Brown shaking his head in disbelief.

Riley called a timeout to make adjustments, and Rasheed Wallace volunteered to guard Gan Guoyang one-on-one and lock him down!

Riley thought to himself, "It's been a long time since I've seen a player this fierce. Whose subordinate is this?" "Oh, this is my subordinate."

Therefore, at the end of the third quarter, Rasheed Wallace took the initiative to match up against Gan Guoyang, attempting to shut down Gan Guoyang's offense.

Gan Guoyang, who didn't take much initiative in the first half, found his rhythm in the third quarter. At this point, it wouldn't really matter who came on to replace him.

Rasheed Wallace graduated from North Carolina. He is tall and has a long wingspan, with a solid defensive foundation. At the same time, he has a fiery temper and is very aggressive.

Wallace didn't need his teammates' help for the first two shots, and he backed down Gan Guoyang. As a result, Gan Guoyang made a hook shot after a spin move inside, and made a baseline spin move and lean forward shot, which also drew a foul from Wallace, sending Gan Guoyang to the free throw line.

Wallace was very unhappy with the referee's call and yelled at the referee, "I didn't foul him, he bumped into me! He bumped into my arm!"

Gan Guoyang's turnaround jump shot is unique in the entire league. Even if you study it carefully, you can't stop him. Besides, you can't gain any experience from other players.

"Shut up and focus on the game!" Gan Guoyang made the free throw and took the opportunity to teach Wallace a lesson.

Wallace retorted, not to be outdone, "You're the one who should shut up! Shut up, shut up!"

Wallace couldn't say anything offensive, he just kept yelling "shut up".

PJ Brown quickly came over and pulled Wallace away, telling him to shut up, or he'd have a death wish.

As a result, Rasheed Wallace was called for a technical foul, giving the Trail Blazers another point.

Gan Guoyang grinned, thinking it had been a long time since he had met such a genuine young man.

If we don't have a good match with him, wouldn't it be a waste of his great passion for basketball?

Therefore, Gan Guoyang assigned Jermaine O'Neal to guard PJ Brown and protect the paint, while O'Neal was tasked with defending Wallace one-on-one.

"You're dead, Rashid, you're dead."

Teammate Tim Hardaway reminded Wallace.

Wallace entered the league in 1995, by which time Gan Guoyang had already retired.

Gan Guoyang returned to the team in the 1996-1997 season, while Wallace played in Washington.

The two teams meet twice a season, so the chances of them playing each other are not many.

In the past two years, Gan Guoyang's temper on the field has become better and his personality more gentle, especially towards young players.

Some young players have forgotten, or don't even know, how terrifying Gan Guoyang used to be on the field.

Gan Guoyang was already feeling annoyed. In December, he had to go to New York for a hearing, and the back-and-forth travel was affecting his training and matches.

Various worries both on and off the field prevented him from focusing on himself. He had to act as both a father and a mother, as well as help Carlisle coach and lead the coaching staff forward.

The two children in the family are getting older. The son is as naughty as ever, while the daughter has a strong sense of self and has more ideas than anyone else.

The wife was handling a lot of things and sometimes had a bad temper, while the father's Alzheimer's was getting worse.

Recently, the old man has been forgetful, which worries Gan Guoyang a lot. But sometimes he feels that the old man is faking it, because every time there is a dispute at home, he becomes a stranger as if he doesn't know anyone.

In short, this is destined to be a troublesome season.

On the field, if anyone angers Gan Guoyang, he can explode at any moment.

Damn it, I'm already annoyed. I'm just playing a game, win or lose, why are you arguing with me? Who are you yelling at so loudly for?
Rasheed Wallace ran right into the line of fire, and Gan Guoyang immediately stepped up his defense, poking the ball out of his hands.

"If you're this slow, what are you doing in the NBA?"

After making the steal, Gan Guoyang told Wallace that during the counterattack, Gan Guoyang cut into the middle, received a pass from Barkley, and drove hard to the basket for a layup.

He scored two points and drew a foul from Rasheed Wallace, completing a 2+1 play and a three-pointer, as the Trail Blazers continued to widen the gap.

Wallace was furious. He yelled at his teammates to pass him the ball, but when he received it and turned around, it was as if he had run into a wall.

The straight-armed expert's fadeaway shot was completely unreliable; his strength and physicality were too poor, and he lost his balance, failing to even touch the rim.

Fortunately, PJ Brown grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on a second-chance opportunity, salvaging some pride for Wallace.

Jermaine O'Neal was slightly less effective than the experienced PJ Brown in the paint.

But Gan Guoyang didn't care. He immediately received the ball at the top of the arc and, having found his rhythm, he opened his hand and made a three-pointer!
A classic high arc, and the ball hits the target accurately! The King of the Third Quarter certainly came alive in the third quarter, scoring 18 points in that quarter alone.

Rasheed Wallace fell silent after being thrown, no longer shouting or yelling. If he shouted or yelled again, the beating would become even more brutal.

The Trail Blazers, who led by 5 points at halftime, extended their lead to 10 points by the end of the third quarter.

The score was 76-66, a very dangerous situation for the Heat.

If it were the Trail Blazers from last season or the season before, the Heat would have surrendered at this point.

They will definitely not be able to turn things around in the fourth quarter; it will be a suffocating defeat.

However, the Trail Blazers are not as consistent this season.

After Gan Guoyang went to the bench for a rest, Riley seized the opportunity and launched a counterattack at the start of the fourth quarter.

When Ben Wallace came on, his rim protection was indeed very good, but his height disadvantage was something he couldn't make up for.

PJ Brown and Witherspoon secured consecutive offensive rebounds under the basket, scoring on second-chance opportunities.

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, the Heat boldly left Ben Wallace open and double-teamed Barkley, forcing Barkley to pass or commit turnovers.

If Ben Wallace receives the ball under the basket and attacks, foul him to give him free throws, or slightly interfere with his shot; Wallace's offense is indeed ineffective.

With a 10-3 run, the Heat pulled the score back, highlighting the Trail Blazers' offensive slump this season.

At this moment, Kobe stepped up. Without waiting for Carlisle to call a timeout, Kobe used his personal skills to score consecutively, once making a layup and once drawing a foul and making free throws.

The Trail Blazers regained their advantage, and when Gan Guoyang returned to the court, they maintained a 5-point lead, suppressing the Heat's comeback.

In the decisive moment, the Heat raised their defensive intensity to the highest level, to the point of being brutal, and American Airlines Arena was in a scorching state.

In the suffocating atmosphere of offense and defense, talent becomes the key to standing out.

Gan Guoyang drew the defense at a 45-degree angle and passed the ball to Kobe. Kobe received the ball and made a layup under the basket, scoring two points.

Tim Hardaway hit a three-pointer, and Gan Guoyang set a screen for Kobe at the high post. Gan Guoyang cut to the outside, and Kobe accelerated to the basket and dunked!

Kobe, who had been relatively quiet in the earlier games, finally showed his true heroism in the most crucial moments of the fourth quarter.

With the Heat heavily guarding Gan Guoyang, he pierced through the Heat's interior like a sharp bayonet.

When Kobe Bryant matures, how to deal with Gan Guoyang will become the biggest challenge for all teams.

Because of Kobe's brilliant performance in the final moments, the Trail Blazers suppressed the Heat's final comeback attempt.

Ultimately, the Trail Blazers defeated the Heat 101-94 on the road, getting off to a good start on their Eastern Conference journey.

Gan Guoyang scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Kobe Bryant added 19 points and 4 assists. A system centered around these two players is gradually taking shape.

However, after the game, back in the locker room, Kobe, who had played exceptionally well tonight, didn't seem particularly happy.

He hurriedly ended the interview and went inside to shower and change clothes, looking preoccupied.

When a reporter asked Gan Guoyang what was wrong with Kobe, Gan shrugged and said, "Maybe he's in a relationship, young man..."

(End of this chapter)