The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 923 My Sun
In the fifth game, Bobby Bellman finally unleashed his gambler's instincts.

He changed the team's starting lineup, placing Ilgauskas on the bench.

Cliff Robinson started at power forward, moving Tim Duncan to center.

This is a more offensively oriented lineup; the Celtics are going all out for a final, desperate attack.

Bellman was once a gambling expert who had his own set of methods for gambling.

At first, he was always very cautious. For example, if he entered the market with $10,000, he would carefully test different venues and use his experience and calculation skills to slowly accumulate gambling capital.

If he keeps winning, or wins more than he loses, Bellman can continue to play cautiously like this, slowly snowballing his winnings, eventually accumulating small wins into a big victory, and steadily making a fortune.

However, once his luck turns sour and his betting capital gradually dwindles, falling back to or below 10,000 yuan, Bellman will not choose to cut his losses and leave the game immediately. Instead, he will try every means to make a big bet.

Put all your $10,000 into one project and aim for a return of double or several times over.

At this moment, his gambling nature will be fully exposed; to put it bluntly, he's desperate after losing so much.

The result is often a complete loss, with only occasional lucky moments of doubling or even multiplying the returns.

This is a flaw in Behrman's character, and also the source of his contradictions.

Only under Forrest Gump's protection can his flaws become his strengths.

Unlike gambling, when you bet everything on Forrest Gump, you can actually win.

And they won a lot.

In the fifth match, Bellman used his final move: an all-out offensive lineup.

This is clearly telling the enemy that we are going to fight to the death and no longer engage in pointless battles.

Tonight, the Celtics are the enemy of the whole world. I wonder if they are prepared to be enemies with the whole world.

For the Trail Blazers, everything was normal, with Gan Guoyang, Sabonis, O'Neal, Kobe, and Blake Blake starting.

This lineup stabilized after the start of the playoffs, and the Trail Blazers played the same way no matter who their opponent was.

Gan Guoyang can freely switch between positions three, four, and five, and occasionally he can also control the ball and play point guard.

Rick Carlisle gave Gan Guoyang the greatest freedom, making him a true free agent on the court.

Seeing the Celtics field an all-out offensive lineup, Gan Guoyang knew that Bellman was going all out.

Gan Guoyang didn't think too much about it. He knew that fighting was the right thing to do. If you fight, I'll fight too. At this point, there's no point in hiding when it comes to fighting tooth and nail.

At the center court jump ball, Duncan jumped faster than Sabonis, the Celtics went on offense, and the highly anticipated Game 5 began.

On the sidelines, Gan Guoyang's former coach, now a television commentator Jack Ramsey, partnered with his star pupil Bill Walton to commentate on this special match.

"The Celtics started Cliff Robinson, and it's clear that Bobby is determined to go all out."

“I can see that Bobby is taking a gamble. He’s a really good coach. He’s got everything, but he’s always proving himself.”

Compared to when they retired more than 10 years ago, both of them have aged a lot, but they look very healthy. They were both very excited to be invited back to Portland to commentate on the game.

It can be said that tonight's stadium was filled with Gan Guoyang's old friends, both on and off the field. Even the opposing coach and starting striker were once close comrades-in-arms.

The Celtics started the game with a very aggressive offense. Duncan scored on his first possession against Sabonis, and after a series of spin moves, he used his footwork to create a hook shot, showcasing his skillful post-up game and shooting touch.

In the Finals, Duncan's performance actually improved with each game.

Although the Celtics lost the last game, it wasn't their fault; Duncan's performance was impeccable.

He has gradually overcome his fear of Forrest Gump and is able to have a direct conversation with him.

Sure enough, Duncan delivered an outstanding performance in the subsequent offensive and defensive plays.

He blocked Kobe's layup on defense and made a mid-range jump shot from the top of the arc on offense.

Then, during defense, they disrupted Gan Guoyang's hook shot, grabbed the rebound, and launched a fast break.

Duncan dribbled the ball across half-court and passed it to Fox on the wing, who then passed it to Robinson in the corner.

Robinson hit a three-pointer, and the Celtics started with a 7-0 run against the Trail Blazers, gaining an early advantage and cooling down the heated atmosphere at the Rose Garden Arena.

Carlisle immediately called a timeout to make some quick adjustments, allowing the players to shake off their off-field excitement and get back into the game as soon as possible.

"No matter the outcome, it's still a basketball game. We need to score more points and limit our opponents' points. That's something we can never forget!"

Carlisle shared the same thought as Gan Guoyang: no matter how significant it was, it was ultimately a basketball game, and you had to play it like a basketball game and stay focused.

There were no tactical changes; the timeout was just to reassure everyone. Soon both sides returned to the court, and Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post.

The fans in the arena cheered as Tim Duncan faced off in the low post.

Duncan's low-post defense is excellent, especially against back-to-the-basket situations. Gan Guoyang even admitted that playing against Duncan is quite troublesome.

However, Duncan's ability to defend against face-up shots is quite average, and his technical skills are far less impressive than when he defends against post-up plays.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang would increase his face-up attacks every time he faced the Celtics and Duncan.

You can tell from Duncan's defensive footwork that every time he moves laterally, his footwork is wrong and he's a beat too slow.

This single shot led to Duncan being repeatedly exploited by powerful inside players like Gan Guoyang and Barkley, who could penetrate the paint with ease.

Of course, apart from these two, it would be difficult for other power forwards in the league to do this, because their basic static requirements are not met.

After Gan Guoyang turned to face the basket with a step-back move, he used a simple triple threat to initiate a baseline drive, which penetrated Duncan's defense.

Usually, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is the last line of defense, but tonight he didn't start, and Gan Guoyang scored the Trail Blazers' first point with a two-handed dunk!
After that basket, Gan Guoyang scored two more baskets against Duncan from the same spot, both from the baseline and using the same moves.

Gan Guoyang made a reverse layup and drew a foul from Duncan, going to the free-throw line and making both shots. He was clearly in great form tonight.

Bill Walton, a top fan of Tim, commented, "Tim gets hit by the same trick repeatedly; the Celtics need some changes."

Jack Ramsey, who was standing nearby, said, "It's no use. If you change, Forrest will change too. He'll always be one step ahead of you. So it's better not to change, and to remain unchanged in the face of all changes."

"Jack, have you stopped watching basketball and started reading military strategy lately?"

"I started reading military strategy a long time ago; it was Forrest Gump who got me started."

Thanks to Forrest Gump's promotion, Sun Tzu's Art of War, which was already very popular in the United States, is now even more popular.

Even if it's impossible to have a copy for everyone, many Americans know the sentences in it and can use one or two of them.

From this perspective, Sun Tzu's status in the United States is equivalent to that of Lu Xun in China; everyone knows his quotes and can quote them.

Not only did Duncan remain unchanged, but the Celtics as a whole also kept their strategy the same: relentless attack to gain an advantage on offense.

Even though Gan Guoyang scored consecutive baskets, the Celtics' offensive efficiency was still good, and they led the Trail Blazers by 5 points at the end of the first quarter, 27-22.

Both sides entered a relatively relaxed offensive and defensive state, and the Celtics continued to perform well in the second quarter.

Duncan, Nash, and Paul Pierce all scored consecutively using their individual abilities, demonstrating their formidable offensive prowess.

Pierce was known for his all-around skills and excellent shooting, while Nash's shooting was quite accurate, and although he looked thin, he was actually very strong.

Standing at 190cm, with average explosiveness but excellent speed and strength, he dared to outmaneuver the taller Gan Guoyang under the basket, which is not only commendable in terms of courage but also based on his ability.

In the first three games, Blaylock was able to repeatedly outmaneuver Nash using his experience and steals. However, by the fifth game, he had few options against Nash.

Talented players often make significant progress after playing just a few games, and the higher the level of the game, the faster they learn and improve.

Of course, for a prodigy like Forrest Gump, who can make significant progress after just a few rounds, there's no reasoning with him.

In this game, the Celtics completely let loose and attacked freely, not caring about anything else, just showcasing their scoring and offensive talents.

Since we lost this game today and won't have another chance to showcase our skills this season, everyone has let go of their burdens and played with abandon.

What do Michael Jackson, Forrest Gump's last battle, and the setting sun in Portland have to do with us?
If you're going to be the villain, then strive to be the best villain, drag the series back to Boston, and let Forrest Gump enjoy the cheers and applause of Boston fans.

With this belief, the Celtics continued to dominate the Trail Blazers in the second quarter, while the Trail Blazers remained calm and followed the Celtics' rhythm, keeping the score close.

Berman pulled out all the stops, breaking the seven-man rotation from the previous game and bringing on some fringe players during the transition phase.

For example, they brought in rookie Adrian Griffin and used young player Tony Battie in the paint. The Celtics are very young and don't have any particularly old veterans.

Most of them were young men in their early twenties. Bellman let them play partly hoping for a surprise effect, but more importantly, he wanted to give the young players a chance to experience the game. Even if they couldn't win the championship in the finals, gaining some experience would be good; the young men needed to prepare for the future.

The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on the Celtics' rotation opportunities to launch a counterattack, instead continuing to follow the lead without much fanfare.

It seems everyone understands that the veterans will exert their strength in the more meaningful second half, rather than wasting their energy in the less certain first half.

In 1983, the Philadelphia 76ers, the strongest team in the league, often trailed in the first half but then suddenly surged in the second half to take the game away from their opponents.

In a game against the New York Knicks, they were down by 18 points in the first half, with the largest deficit reaching 20 points, but they turned the tide with a 24-9 run in the third quarter.

In the Finals, they faced the Lakers in four games. They were behind in the first half of each game, but then rallied in the second half to win each game, sweeping the series 4-0 to claim the championship.

After their comebacks in the second and fourth games, the entire Portland team is confident that no matter how the first half goes, they can turn things around.

The second quarter was perhaps the most relaxed and chaotic of the entire finals. Both teams made substitutions, seemingly believing that this was the final battle and that everyone, regardless of their role, should be on the field.

Everyone just goes through the motions, makes an appearance in the Finals, so that when they're old they can brag to their grandchildren that they played in the Finals and fought alongside Forrest Gump, Duncan, Kobe, and others.

At halftime, the score was 60-54, with the Celtics leading the Trail Blazers by 6 points. The defensive intensity of both teams was not particularly high, but their offense was quite sharp.

For fans who have been watching defensive battles all the time in recent years, watching the Trail Blazers vs. Celtics game, even without considering the outcome, is a very entertaining game and definitely won't leave you feeling constipated.

During halftime, when Gan Guoyang returned to the locker room, he went to the commentary box on the sidelines and hugged and greeted veteran coach Jack Ramsey. Ramsey also holds an irreplaceable place in Gan Guoyang's heart.

He was Gan Guoyang's true mentor after he entered the NBA. Compared to Bellman, who was still being guided by Gan Guoyang, Jack really taught him a lot of valuable knowledge and helped him develop many good habits.

Of course, Gan Guoyang also profoundly changed Jackson Ramsey's basketball philosophy and destiny. The two embraced tightly, and Ramsey's eyes were no longer stern, but full of kindness.

"Jack, do you feel like you retired too early and missed out on a lot of championships?"

"I won far fewer championships, but I lived many more years, Sonny, hahaha."

The two joked with each other, and Ramsey was indeed in very good spirits, with vigorous blood and a rosy complexion. It must be said that retiring at the height of his career was a good idea.

Otherwise, if he continues coaching, given the intensity and pressure of playing against the Bulls in the 1990s, it's not impossible that he could die in office at an advanced age.

Fifteen minutes later, the third quarter began, and the Celtics went on a 4-0 run against the Trail Blazers at the start of the third quarter, extending their lead to 10 points.

Just as Portland fans were starting to worry, the Trail Blazers sounded the horn for a comeback. Kobe drove to the basket for a layup, drew a foul from Cliff Robinson, and made the free throw.

Next, the Trail Blazers began a full-court press, continuing to aggressively pressure Nash to disrupt his playmaking and passing.

The Celtics' strategy was to involve Paul Pierce in organizing the ball handling, but this time, Gan Guoyang suddenly attacked and stole the ball.

Gan Guoyang made a long pass to the frontcourt, Brelock received the ball, and scored on a fast break layup, bringing the score to two points.

The Celtics didn't call a timeout and continued their offense. Tim Duncan received the ball and went one-on-one, but the Trail Blazers double-teamed him.

Kobe came over to double-team, leaving Pierce open for a shot. Pierce received the ball at the top of the arc and missed the jump shot.

Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound, Kobe launched a fast break, an extremely tight offensive, Gan Guoyang cut to the basket and drew the defense.

Kobe passed the ball to the wing, where Jermaine O'Neal received it unguarded and made a mid-range jump shot.

Jermaine O'Neal's shooting accuracy was very good tonight, which means the entire Trail Blazers team was in good form, they just weren't pushing their limits.

The Celtics were starting to falter. While the Trail Blazers were starting to wind themselves up, the Celtics players just couldn't seem to get their spring in.

Berman called a timeout, but it didn't improve the situation. Although Duncan continued to draw fouls under the basket, he missed both free throws.

Sabonis grabbed the defensive rebound, and the Trail Blazers launched another counterattack. Kobe drove straight to the basket through the middle, drawing the defense before passing the ball to the baseline.

Blaylock passed the ball to Jermaine O'Neal at the 45-degree angle, who then passed it to Gan Guoyang at the top of the arc. Gan Guoyang received the ball and immediately launched a three-pointer.

However, after a fake shot, the ball was still passed inside, and Sabonis cut to the basket, received the ball, and easily made a layup, scoring two points!

One fast break and four passes completely dismantled the Celtics' already weak defense, leaving it disorganized and without any focus.

The ball went in, and the whole arena cheered. The momentum had shifted back to the Trail Blazers, but the game had to continue.

After a 4-0 start, the Celtics suddenly went cold scoring, and their players became somewhat stiff when dribbling and moving on the court.

Nash, facing Blaylock's close defense, tried to drive hard from the sideline, but the two collided, the ball fell, and the referee did not blow the whistle.

Duncan and Fox, who were not far from the ball, did not move and watched the ball, thinking that the ball would be called for a blocking foul by Blaylock.

But the referee didn't, and Gan Guoyang immediately reacted, picked up the ball and ran, sprinting towards the frontcourt, with only Paul Pierce keeping up.

But what good was Pierce? He could only dodge to the side to avoid being hit and killed, and then watch helplessly as Gan Guoyang suddenly sprang up and dunked the ball with both hands!

After being down 4-0, the Trail Blazers responded with an 11-0 run! In just a few minutes, they successfully turned the game around and took the lead!
The Celtics squandered the advantage they built in the first half in just a few minutes—a pattern that has repeated itself throughout this Finals series.

Such a situation is a huge blow to a player's mentality, because it means that you are completely under control, and your opponent can gain an advantage with just a little effort.

The previous close contest seemed like a drama, a performance for everyone to see, but in the end the outcome remained unchanged, which hurt Duncan, Nash, Pierce and others.

In their future experiences and autobiographies, they will mention the profound lessons and valuable experiences that this finals brought them.

Of course, that's all in the future. At this point, the Celtics still wanted to struggle, but they were really out of options, as the Trail Blazers were clearly playing exceptionally well.

This offensive style has been a signature of the Trail Blazers for many years, with perfectly coordinated passing that easily penetrates the opponent's defense.

The tactic that Gan Guoyang used to receive the ball high up and pass it straight to the basket was designed by Bellman when he was with the Trail Blazers, and they still use it with such skill.

The situation began to crumble. The Celtics, who had held on for half the game, were gradually losing their fighting spirit and were finding it increasingly difficult to mount a strong defense and counterattack.

On the other hand, the Trail Blazers unleashed their peak-era fluid team offense, with Sabonis-Gan Guoyang as the core, constantly moving, screening, and cutting to attack the Celtics' weak points.

Goal after goal, goal after goal! The Trail Blazers' offensive efficiency gradually surpassed that of the Celtics, and their lead continued to widen. The atmosphere at the Rose Garden Arena grew increasingly heated.

For the Celtics, only Duncan, Nash, and Pierce could put up a fight; the role players were essentially useless, and they were in a semi-give-up state, so they really couldn't win.

In the third quarter, the Trail Blazers responded with a 30-22 run against the Celtics, reversing the score. By the fourth quarter, the entire audience had started standing to watch the game.

Gan Guoyang, who had been cooperating with his teammates, started to step up and reap the rewards. He first scored against Duncan and then hit a shot in front of the basket. This time, he changed his tactics and chose to go to the middle, hitting a jump shot after a sudden stop.

Then, he and Sabonis combined to block Ilgauskas's attack under the basket, grabbed the defensive rebound, dribbled the ball all the way down the court, easily got past Nash who was trying to draw a foul with a crossover, and then pushed past Duncan to score with a left-handed layup!

Next, Gan Guoyang successfully blocked Paul Pierce's drive on defense, forcing Pierce to commit a turnover, and the Trail Blazers launched another counterattack.

Kobe crossed half-court and passed the ball to Blake, who then passed it to Gan Guoyang, who was on the baseline. Gan Guoyang received the ball with his back to the basket, made a light turn, walked to the middle, and received his signature move-hook, scoring another two points!
After scoring 6 points in a row, the fans cheered, but Gan Guoyang seemed unfazed. He simply looked up at the score and the remaining time.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang was completely immersed in the world of basketball, oblivious to everything around him. He unleashed all his energy, illuminating the court on both offense and defense.

At this moment, the fans at the stadium, the citizens outside the stadium, and the viewers in front of the TV seemed to see Gan Guoyang at his peak, still full of energy, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

Under the sun, the Celtics crumbled, losing confidence and fighting spirit as the game progressed. They were simply stalling for time, waiting for the game to end and their game to be over.

With Gan Guoyang receiving a pass from his teammate on offense, he hit a three-pointer from the top of the arc, bringing the score to 100-88. The Trail Blazers now lead the Celtics by 12 points!
Gan Guoyang raised his arms high, his clothes and hair soaked with sweat. He had a smile on his face, not because victory was in sight, but because he had made a beautiful long shot!

The DJ at the scene began playing Pavarotti's famous opera music "O Sole Mio," and the melodious violin sounds resonated throughout the stadium ceiling.

At NBA games, DJs mostly play upbeat Black music or live music to create a lively atmosphere.

Only at the Rose Garden Arena will symphonies and operas be played, because only such grand and solemn music can match Gan Guoyang's magnificent basketball career and superb skills.

At that moment, Behrman knew there was no point in resisting anymore. It was over. He was no match for Forrest Gump. Let him make a brilliant exit and let the sun set with its glory.

Berman called a timeout, and with just over two minutes left, he substituted his key players, effectively surrendering the game and declaring victory for the Trail Blazers and Gan Guoyang.

Seeing this, Rick Carlisle pointed at Gan Guoyang and said, "Sonny, it's time for you to get off the court. It's over. We won! We won!"

The bright smile on Gan Guoyang's face slowly disappeared. The crowd cheered and applauded continuously, but Gan Guoyang stood on the sidelines with his hands on his hips, never crossing the sideline back to the bench. Instead, he remained on the field.

He looked up and around. In the high stands, there was a sea of ​​people, and above them, ten championship banners hung high. The lights were dazzling, and Pavarotti's powerful singing voice pierced through the noise and surrounded his ears.

As night falls and the sun sets, sorrow envelops me.

I wait quietly for you by the window. When night falls and the sun sets, that is the brightest sun.

Ah, my sun! It is your face! Ah, my sun!

Gan Guoyang closed his eyes, took that step, crossed the sideline, and walked off the field.

(End of this chapter)