The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 888 Profound Memories

Gan Guoyang was hit by the same bullet he had fired before.

In 1993, Gan Guoyang was present to watch Kobe play in one of his high school games.

Kobe scored 47 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists, but his Lower Merion High School still lost the game.

After the game, Gan Guoyang asked Kobe if he knew where he had played poorly.

Kobe said he wondered if he was too selfish, not passing the ball to his teammates, and that he wasn't a good team player.

Gan Guoyang shook his head and said it wasn't that you were too selfish, but that you scored too few points.

"If you can get 60 points today, will you win?"

Even today, almost seven years later, Kobe still remembers those words vividly.

To a certain extent, this statement shaped Kobe. No matter what kind of basketball education and training he received later, he always believed that he could change the fate of the team and win the game on his own.

He has always trained himself toward this goal, regardless of what others say or what his coach teaches him; he is convinced that this path is the right one for him.

In the four years since entering the league, Kobe has matured a lot, has a more comprehensive view of issues, and understands that basketball is a team game.

But he never gave up his dream of heroism. In fact, he believed that the whole meaning of basketball lay in the moment when he stood out and became a hero.

That's what he thought, and that's what Forrest Gump did, and he accomplished it all perfectly.

Now, during the time he was injured, he saw that Forrest Gump was holding back.

Rationally, he knew that Forrest Gump was conserving his strength for the playoffs.

Emotionally, Kobe felt that this was not the hero he admired.

Especially since this might be his last season, he should have been more spectacular and brilliant.

As a longtime Forrest Gump fan, Kobe wished Forrest would have the best performance of his career in his last season.

That's obviously unrealistic, but that doesn't stop Kobe from mocking Forrest Gump and letting him taste the flavor of a boomerang.

Gan Guoyang has been shot more than once or twice in the past two years, and he laughed when he heard Kobe's words.

After warming up and returning to the bench, Gan Guoyang asked Kobe, "Kobe, are you going to come off the bench tonight?"

Kobe nodded: "Yes, I'm coming off the bench tonight. The coach said he'll let me play depending on the situation."

Gan Guoyang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Then you probably won't be able to play tonight. Get some rest off the court."

Kobe didn't quite understand Gan Guoyang's meaning, but Rick Carlisle chimed in, "Sonny, I've studied this carefully, and I think our current perimeter defense has problems. But the fundamental problem is still our offense. We might not be able to make up for the defense in the short term, but if we can further improve our offensive firepower, I think it might alleviate our defensive difficulties."

Gan Guoyang nodded and said, "I understand. Everyone wants me to score more points. I think that makes a lot of sense. All the difficulties stem from insufficient firepower. So tonight I'll focus more on offense and less on defense. What do you guys think?"

Everyone naturally agreed without objection.

Basketball is essentially a game of who scores the most points.

Therefore, theoretically speaking, the root of all problems is insufficient firepower.

Even defensive teams, why should they prioritize defense?
To put it bluntly, they lack firepower and offensive talent, so they can only focus on defense.

Offensive resources are always scarcer than defensive resources; those who score a lot can become stars, while those who defend well are often role players.

In recent games, Gan Guoyang has also realized some problems; his efforts in defense have not yielded good results.

When he devoted a lot of time and energy to guarding the paint and making the three-second zone impenetrable, opponents became very adept at avoiding his defense and attacking the Trail Blazers' weak points from other areas.

In games like those against the Suns and Nuggets, both teams utilized their forwards to launch attacks from the three-point line and mid-range.

Despite the Trail Blazers' lack of defensive intensity and pressure on the perimeter, they achieved a high shooting percentage.

Even if Gan Guoyang extends his defense outwards, without the cooperation of his teammates, he is prone to leaving the paint open and losing rebounds.

Therefore, the Trail Blazers urgently need Kobe's return, and on the other hand, Gan Guoyang should perhaps adjust his defensive and offensive input ratio.

With one's energy declining and physical stamina no longer unlimited, one should transfer more energy to the offensive end.

No wonder Larry Bird put Gan Guoyang at the small forward position, allowing him to stand with his hands on his hips, play defense with his eyes, and steal fast breaks; it was all prescient.

After several wins and losses in a row, Gan Guoyang realized this.

Just tonight Kobe said something like, "You only lose if you can't score 50 or 60 points," so let's see if I can still score 50 or 60 points.

Even at this age, Gan Guoyang still gets excited when faced with challenges; otherwise, the competition would be meaningless.

Carlisle had the same idea. He also wanted Agan to score more points. What were the dog-eight tactics and the flowing attack? They all led to goals. Why not let the best player on his team score more points?
If we score six or seven more points in each game, wouldn't we win the game?
Carlyle finished reading "The Sun Rises in the West" these past two days, and the more he read, the more he felt that what Behrman said made sense.

Why is it not a strategy or tactic when I pass the ball to the best player on the team?

Larry, that guy, coached for three years, how many crucial moments did Forrest Gump turn the tide?

Why do I have to think so much when it comes to me? Carlyle felt really stupid and naive.

Carlisle was indeed somewhat naive. During his time as an assistant coach, he focused on developing offensive tactics and failed to realize that as an NBA head coach, tactics are secondary; the key is how to use people, how to make the best use of their talents, and how to make the most of resources.

He hasn't truly stepped out of his assistant coach role, and hasn't completed the shift in his mindset.

Once you've figured things out, things do indeed become simpler.

However, Carlisle was more tactful. He used Kobe to slightly provoke Forrest Gump, and then went along with it.

This move was a bit clumsy, and Gan Guoyang could see that, but he didn't care, since their ideas coincided anyway.

Despite the return of two key players, the Trail Blazers maintained their original starting lineup.

However, Carlisle specifically instructed Alan Henderson to devote more energy to defense.

Henderson often played power forward when he was with the Hawks, and his interior defense ability was adequate.

Henderson realized that Forrest was going to go on a scoring spree tonight, and that he needed to hand over possession of the ball to Forrest.

On the other hand, the Utah Jazz remained the same as always, inevitably beginning to decline after reaching a peak in 1997 and 1998.

Malone is 36, Stockton is 37, and Hornacek is 36; all are entering the twilight of their careers.

However, all three players maintained a very good level of performance, with only a very small decline.

Malone remains an All-Star caliber player this season, averaging 25+9 per game, which is quite consistent.

Thanks to his consistent fitness routine and healthy lifestyle, his competitive level is significantly higher than that of Charles Barkley, Ewing, Olajuwon, David Robinson, and other big men who were drafted earlier and had higher talent than him, making him the second-best veteran big man of this era after Forrest Gump.

It has to be said that time is a terrifying yet lovely thing. It is so fair that it records everything you put in, how much you squander, and how much you waste, leaving nothing out.

Stockton and Hornacek, two white perimeter players who don't rely heavily on athleticism, also maintained excellent form on the court.

Stockton was even better than in 1998, when he was plagued by injuries and didn't perform well.

This season, he has maintained a near-All-Star level of 12+8, and at his current form, playing for several more seasons is not a problem at all.

Hornacek is also getting better with age, with his outside shooting becoming more and more accurate. This season, his free throw percentage has reached an astonishing 95%, and his three-point shooting percentage has reached 47.8%.

When Hornacek first entered the league, he was a traditional white guard who couldn't shoot three-pointers. During the Trail Blazers' rookie camp, Gan Guoyang forced Hornacek to practice three-pointers, and that practice became a lifelong habit.

Towards the end of his career, he reached the pinnacle of his skills, with extremely accurate shooting. Relying on his three-pointers and mid-range shots, he could average 12 points per game, showcasing his scoring explosiveness in some crucial games.

What's most commendable is that the three veterans are in excellent health, have a very high attendance rate, and almost never miss a match, performing each game diligently as if they were clocking in for work.

This made them a respected figure in the NBA in the late 90s, a unique benchmark in the NBA, and a rare example of old-school basketball perseverance in a glamorous commercial league.

Unfortunately, Salt Lake City is simply too remote, and any star player with talent and ability is unwilling to play there.

The Jazz can only use these dedicated veterans to their fullest potential, until they can no longer run or play.

Gan Guoyang was delighted to see his old friends Stockton and Hornacek on the court. For him, every match with his two old friends was one less he could play.

Hornacek, in particular, is very likely to retire at the end of this season, and Gan Guoyang is also very likely to leave the NBA after this season.

Once Hornacek and Gan Guoyang retire, Stockton will be left to fight for the championship alone on the court.

“I’m different from you two; I don’t have a championship ring yet,” Stockton said with a smile to Gan Guoyang and Hornacek.

Before the competition officially started, the three of them got together and chatted.

"If you had come to the Trail Blazers sooner, you would have won a championship," Gan Guoyang said to Stockton, still unwilling to give up.

“I’m not like Charles either,” Stockton said, glancing at Barkley, who was staring blankly on the bench.

The three exchanged a few more pleasantries, bumped fists, and prepared to begin the match.

Karl Malone watched the three people talking from the side, naturally unable to get a word in edgewise.

Although he was teammates with Stockton and Hornacek and had a good relationship with them, he couldn't compare to Forrest Gump in terms of the depth of their bond.

Malone has always held a grudge about this, because Stockton, Hornacek, and Forrest all won championships together, including the NCAA championship and the NBA championship, which are very, very important honors.

Malone and Stockton won an Olympic gold medal together, but that belonged to the entire Dream Team, not the product of their collaboration.

Therefore, their bonds will always be weaker, and their relationships will always be shallower, because they lack the unique memories of being champions.

In addition, Gan Guoyang and Ma Long have never gotten along, and they are always competing against each other on and off the court. Ma Long can't beat Gan Guoyang, so he naturally feels frustrated.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang slowly walked to Malone's side and handed over the jump ball to Jermaine O'Neal, who did not need to jump the ball.

"50 points." Gan Guoyang suddenly said to Ma Long without turning his head, just moving his mouth and his voice came out through his teeth.

Everything happened so suddenly, without any warning. Malone couldn't believe his ears. "Forrest Gump, what did you say?"
Fifty points? What fifty points? My muscles are worth fifty points?

No, fifty points! This guy said he's going to get fifty points tonight!
Malone quickly realized that this was Forrest Gump's classic pre-race declaration.

He would often suddenly say to his opponent before a game, "50 points, 60 points," and then the game was almost certainly going to be a high-scoring massacre.

Ma Long doesn't understand. This doesn't make sense. First of all, I didn't provoke you. Secondly, I didn't do anything!

Finally, bro, you're 36 already, can you please stop being so stimulating?
Why don't we all finish the game peacefully, then go back to the locker room to shower and rest?
They're not young anymore. Just go through the motions in the regular season; we'll talk about the playoffs later.

How come it's going to take 50 points all of a sudden?
“Sonny…” Malone wanted to say something.

"55."

Okay, okay, I'm not going to say anymore, or I'll get 60 points.

Fine, fine, I guess I'm just unlucky. It'll be 55 it is. I refuse to believe that you can just say it's 55 and expect me to.

Malone was also momentarily roused to a fighting spirit; Forrest Gump had gone too far.

You were having a nice chat with your two old friends, in a good mood, and then you came to me and started asking for fifty points right away. What did I do to you?

However, Gan Guoyang had been bullying people like this for a long time, and Ma Long was already used to it. He was prepared to confront and fight back.

When it comes to stopping Forrest Gump, Malone never thought he could do it.

But getting a high score of 55 on my head is by no means easy!

The Jazz have been in pretty good form this season, and they haven't faltered in the face of a host of rising Western Conference contenders.

The Jazz displayed formidable fighting spirit when facing the Lakers, SuperSonics, Suns, and Kings.

The three veterans are in stable condition, the team's system is well-developed and highly skilled, and they are definitely not easy opponents. Ma Long is confident in this.

However, just three minutes into the match, Ma Long began to lose confidence.

Gan Guoyang received the ball at the start of the game and hit a three-pointer from the outside, it seems he's in good form tonight.

Then, the Jazz made a jump shot from the outside, but the Trail Blazers quickly inbounded the ball, and Gan Guoyang made a fast break layup.

The Jazz had communication problems on defense. Who would chase down the fast break's "Forrest Gump"? Malone? Or Brian Russell?
The Jazz were still able to score, with Stockton hitting a jump shot after a pick-and-roll, but Gan Guoyang immediately caught the ball at the top of the arc and hit a mid-range jump shot.

In just three rounds, Gan Guoyang has already scored 7 points with a combination of drives and shots. What's even more impressive is that he's clearly in excellent form tonight.

Everyone knows that if players like Jordan and Forrest Gump have a hot hand from the start, tonight is destined to be their night.

Malone broke out in a cold sweat. If it were any other opponent, he would have already started using some dirty tricks on the defensive end.

Elbow strikes, pushes, physical contact, tripping, etc., are all used to disrupt the opponent's offensive rhythm.

This tactic has worked repeatedly in the NBA. Offensively, it feels like a glass cup—beautiful, crystal clear, but also easily broken.

A player's ability to resist interference and maintain offensive rhythm can often distinguish whether he is an ordinary player, a star, or a superstar.

But Malone wouldn't dare use those moves on Forrest Gump. Hadn't he already taken enough beatings? Besides, those moves wouldn't work anyway.

At the same time, Malone quickly realized that the Trail Blazers were adopting an offensive approach against the Jazz tonight, and their defense was relatively lax.

So Ma Long also started to engage in offense, trying to contain Gan Guoyang in the back-and-forth, but his mid-range shot missed.

Henderson grabbed the rebound and obediently passed the ball to Gan Guoyang, who then accelerated from the backcourt and launched an attack!

To score 55 points, you must take advantage of the weak defense at the start to score as many points as possible, and at the same time find your offensive rhythm.

Another long-range attack; Gan Guoyang's style of play is very difficult for the Jazz to adapt to, and their defense has been breached once again.

Gan Guoyang drove directly to the basket, forcefully attacking despite the Jazz's double-team defense inside, drawing a foul and going to the free-throw line.

Gan Guoyang made both free throws, bringing his total to 9 points. Seeing the situation was not good, Jerry Sloan immediately called a timeout.

Something's not right. Forrest Gump has been playing pretty laid-back lately, so why is he playing so aggressively against the Jazz tonight?
This isn't a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals, there's no need for this. Did Malone provoke Forrest Gump?
Since Laimbeer and Thomas retired, Malone has been one of the players in the league with the worst relationship with Gan Guoyang.

During the timeout, Sloan asked Malone, "What's going on, Carl? Did you say something to Forrest Gump?"

Malone shrugged and said, "What did I say? I didn't say anything. What am I supposed to say? He was standing next to me, and he just opened his mouth and said 50 points. I really didn't say a word."

Sloan then asked Stockton and Hornacek, both of whom shook their heads, saying that Forrest Gump was in good spirits and they were catching up, knowing that every game they played was one less to play.

Stockton then said, "Perhaps... Forrest Gump wanted to leave Carl with some lasting memories."

(End of this chapter)