The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 957, please proceed at a slower pace.

Arriving in Seattle wasn't a great experience, as always. In December, it started raining again.

Las Vegas has a very comfortable dry climate. Although it can be very hot in the summer, the shade and air-conditioned rooms make it feel much better.

Autumn and winter are peak tourist seasons in Vegas, when a large number of tourists arrive.

Although Glorious's performance fluctuated in November, their home games consistently sold out.

Ticket prices have been rising again and again. There's no way around it; there are just too many people queuing up, and some tourists and fans would rather pay more for their tickets.

Anyway, you only get to watch one game a season. There are only 41 games in a year during the regular season, so money isn't an issue.

Gan Guoyang, now middle-aged, spent some time in Las Vegas and found it quite comfortable, especially the dry air, which was beneficial for recovering from injuries.

Due to weather conditions, the plane had to circle in the air for more than an hour before finally landing at Seattle Airport.

Looking out the porthole at the drizzling rain instead of sunshine, Gan Guoyang couldn't help but complain, "This damn rain, this terrible weather, it's really a headache."

Sitting to the side, Potter muttered, "After sunbathing in the desert for a few days, he's forgotten where he came from."

Gan Guoyang ignored Potter; for some reason, he was just in a bad mood.

The rain, the dark clouds, the damp air—after getting off the plane, looking at the gray sky, everything felt oppressive. Bad weather truly matches a bad mood.

"The people of Seattle have hated me for a long time, no wonder I feel so uncomfortable here. Besides, Michael is in this godforsaken place too, I'll teach them a lesson tomorrow night."

Gan Guoyang explained to himself that when he arrived at the hotel with the team, he saw many fans holding signs and banners that read "Welcome back, Agan," welcoming and waiting for him at the entrance.

A significant portion of them were Chinese fans. After getting off the bus, Gan Guoyang went over to sign autographs for them and express his gratitude.

However, after signing his name, Gan Guoyang's mood did not improve, but he had to overturn the conclusion that "Seattle people hate me".

Something else must be bothering him; he figured it was probably the weather.

That evening, Gan Guoyang accepted Jordan's invitation to visit his home, where he had bought a small villa north of Lincoln Park.

As close friends, Jordan didn't invite anyone else, only Payton and Ewing.

A few old friends gathered at home to chat and reminisce, and Jordan had someone get a lot of fine wine for them to enjoy.

As soon as Gan Guoyang arrived, he saw Payton and asked, "Gary, what are you doing here? Are you 35 yet? Were you selected in the 80s? Do you even deserve to sit here?"

This season, Gan Guoyang and Jordan, along with other players from the 84 draft class, are already the most senior players in the entire league.

因为1984年之前参加选秀的球员已经全部退役，1983年的戴尔-埃利斯和马克-韦斯特，以及1982年的特里-康明斯都在1999-2000赛季结束后离开了联盟。

Besides Gan Guoyang and Jordan, the 1984 golden generation also included Kevin Willis, Stockton, and Olajuwon.

Last season, Sam Perkins, Thorpe, and Jerome Kersey also retired.

Gan Guoyang originally wanted to bring Kexi to Vegas, but Kexi said he really couldn't play anymore and didn't want to hold the team back, so having Porter with you was enough.

Gary Payton, who entered the draft in 1990, is now 33 years old.

"Come on, boss, I just want to see you. Give me some face."

Gan Guoyang smiled, patted Payton on the shoulder, and told him he was just joking.

Meeting with friends helped Gan Guoyang feel a little better, as he had been feeling down for a while.

The group had a few drinks and then played golf in the villa's backyard.

Gan Guoyang asked Jordan, "Didn't you bring your wife and children with you?"

Jordan gave a wry smile and said, "Wife? I guess she won't be for long."

It turns out that Jordan and his wife Juanita have separated, and their relationship has come to an end.

It is estimated that Juanita will file for divorce from Jordan soon after handling the relevant matters and finding a lawyer.

"Shit, you're single again?"

"What are you saying? Why do you sound so happy?"

Aren't you happy?

"I will have half of my fortune taken away!"

"So what? You can always earn more money. Air Jordan gives you so much dividends every year."

"It's easy for you to talk when you're not in the same boat. Try getting a divorce and taking half of what you want."

"So what if you take it? I can earn even more. Besides, I have 10 championships. Even if I take half, I'll still earn more than you."

The two almost turned their golf game into a kendo duel, but Ewing and Payton intervened and the two old guys didn't fight.

On the evening of the second game day, before the game, at KeyArena, Jordan said angrily at the press conference: "Beating Forrest Gump is my biggest motivation for coming back. Whether it's the regular season or the playoffs, I want to win more."

When people reach this age, they stop hiding their true feelings.

Everyone knows the long-standing feud between Jordan and Forrest Gump.

It is a fact that Jordan could not beat Gan Guoyang on the court. He did not shy away from this fact, but faced his bleak life head-on and was determined to fight and struggle.

So there's no need for those bureaucratic platitudes and empty pleasantries; my comeback is all about taking you down.

However, Gan Guoyang's mind was not on the game. His pre-match interview was somewhat dazed and incoherent.

He kept changing his tune, saying Seattle was a great place, then he said he didn't feel comfortable here, then he said he would do his best tonight, then he changed his mind again, saying that we should give young people more opportunities.

After both sides finished warming up, before the match began, Tomjanovich asked Gan Guoyang, "Hey Sonny, how are you feeling? You're not very focused? What are you thinking about?"

"I wasn't thinking anything, I was just thinking... this arena is fucking shabby, it needs to be replaced."

"That's not your concern. Focus on the game, the game! Remember our tactics for tonight!"

"I see!"

Although KeyArena is run-down, the noise level at the stadium is extremely high.

This is another battle between Gan and Qiao, although people are getting tired of this concept after it has been hyped up so many times.

But this is the first time since the 1997-1998 season that Gan vs. Joe has faced off against these two old guys. There aren't many matches like this anymore.

The TV cameras focused on the two men: Gan Guoyang, wearing a gold and red jersey, and Michael Jordan, wearing a white and green jersey.

It's no longer the classic black-and-red rivalry that people remember; time has truly taken away and changed many things.

No one could have imagined that Jordan would one day wear a SuperSonics jersey, and Gan Guoyang simply built a new team.

Besides Jordan and Gan Guoyang, the SuperSonics also have Payton and Ewing on their roster. In terms of roster strength, the SuperSonics are clearly superior.

Currently, the SuperSonics hold a solid fourth-place record in the Western Conference, and are second only to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Northwest Division.

As long as they remain healthy overall, they will definitely be a very strong force in the playoffs.

The SuperSonics' head coach is Nate McMillan, a former SuperSonics player and teammate of Payton and Ewing.

He is a typical traditional coach who values ​​defense and mid-range and long-range shooting. He lacks the madness of George Karl and has more composure.

He inherited and improved upon Coach Cloppenburg's SOS defensive system, appropriately reducing the system's oppressiveness. Because the SuperSonics' roster was no longer young and their overly aggressive pressure had resulted in the team's rebounding problem remaining unresolved, leading to repeated setbacks in the playoffs due to rebounding issues.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, the Supersonics brought out the full potential of their slow-paced, positional warfare tactics.

Jordan, Ewing, and Payton are all experienced veterans. Ewing has become a role player, but he still has a good midrange shot.

After a three-year hiatus, Jordan returned to the court and, following a short period of intensive training, returned to excellent form, consistently proving himself a 20+ point scorer. Many expected a conflict between Jordan and Payton, but surprisingly, despite their arguments, their on-court chemistry remained strong.

As the saying goes, days filled with bickering often last longer, while seemingly harmonious relationships may break down at any moment.

The two players are incredibly effective on defense in the backcourt, remaining quiet during regular time but shutting down the opponent's outside offense in crucial moments.

So the SuperSonics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening game, and in the final moments, it was Jordan and Payton's combined double-team that stifled Kobe's crucial shot and helped the SuperSonics win by a narrow margin.

Logically speaking, Gan Guoyang should really enjoy this slow-paced competition, since all three of them are his defeated opponents. He has the advantage psychologically and tactically.

However, during the match, Gan Guoyang started off poorly, missing both of his shots.

This was the third time Gan Guoyang drew a foul and got a free throw opportunity, and he made one of two free throws, which is quite rare for him.

When Gan Guoyang missed the second free throw, he shook his head repeatedly. Jordan ran over and said, "Sonny, you missed the free throw right at the start of the game, you're done for tonight!"

In the past, when Jordan faced off against Gan Guoyang, the moment Gan Guoyang stepped to the free-throw line, Jordan would tacitly agree that two or three points were out of the question.

No need to even think about it, and there's no need to fight for rebounds either. This guy is too accurate, and he's even more accurate in important games.

In his memory, the two had played so many games together, and Gan Guoyang had missed no more than three free throws, but he missed one at the start of tonight's game.

In the first quarter, Gan Guoyang scored only 3 points, including 1 of 5 field goals and 1 of 2 free throws, along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

His overall performance was mediocre; he could only be said to have basically completed the task, but for him personally, it was a very poor performance.

During the break, Potter asked Gan Guoyang, "Sonny, Ugly Duckling Night?"

Only Porter and Gan Guoyang on the team can understand this word now; it was invented by Kenny Carr.

Gan Guoyang took a sip of water and said, "Maybe, I'm not in the right state of mind."

"Can't Michael get you into the zone anymore? You're tired of him."

"Fuck, what are you saying?"

"That's right, you must have been thinking about going to Portland tonight, right?"

Gan Guoyang didn't reply; he just looked up at the score. The Glory team was already down by 6 points in the first quarter.

Playing against a team like the SuperSonics, being down by 6 points in the first quarter is not a good sign, given their slow pace.

After Gan Guoyang returned to the court in the second quarter, he reminded the players to pick up the pace and not to linger in the half-court for too long.

The current Glory team has borrowed from the Celtics of the 80s in their playing style, and Gan Guoyang really thinks he's Bird.

The team requires speed without chaos. When the first shot is taken, the team should not linger and should take the shot as soon as possible if there is an opportunity.

Everyone needs to be able to pass the ball and shoot, reduce one-on-one battles, and use basic tactics more often.

Gan Guoyang and Brad Miller's high-post ball-handling and playmaking abilities have been gradually developed, becoming the cornerstone of the team's operation.

On the defensive end, zone defense is currently a key focus of the Glory team's training and games, and it is also the team's secret weapon.

They rarely use zone defense, but often at key moments, they suddenly switch from man-to-man defense to zone defense to strike at the opponent.

This is a secret weapon prepared for major games and the playoffs, and the Glorious team uses it very cautiously.

Another important point is that we must reduce mistakes, which is something Gan Guoyang has always emphasized.

In the latter part of the second quarter, the Glory team gradually regained their rhythm and tried to increase their speed to compete with the Supersonics' sluggish pace.

Arenas gradually found his offensive rhythm against Gary Payton. Undeterred by his youthful arrogance, he used his powerful shooting ability and upper body strength to confront Payton head-on.

Arenas trains very hard every day. In just over a month, the muscles in his arms have visibly increased, and his shoulders have become wider and thicker.

Payton is a player who still retains the shadow of an old-school point guard. He dribbles with his back to the basket, has almost no three-point shot, and likes to back down and drive to the basket to score with floaters and layups.

His cooperation with Jordan was quite good; the two had great chemistry. They would pass to each other repeatedly. Anyway, they were getting old, and they couldn't do the kind of crossovers, layups, and other moves that young people were doing now. So they needed something more practical.

The two teams were tied at halftime. In the third quarter, Jordan and Payton began to play a series of back-to-the-basket moves, constantly attacking the Glory's low post with their backs to the basket, scoring while drawing fouls and slowing down the pace of the game.

The Glory team was suppressed, and it was Gan Guoyang's turn to step up again, but he still couldn't find his shooting accuracy in the third quarter.

A slightly reckless three-point attempt from the outside missed. In the past, if this shot had gone in, it would have been a crucial shot for closing the gap. Now, missing it was simply reckless.

Ewing grabbed the rebound, Payton led the fast break and made a long pass to Lewis in the frontcourt, who scored with a fast break dunk!
If they want to play fast counter-attacks, the SuperSonics are capable; they also have young players with great attacking potential.

After the third quarter, the SuperSonics were already leading the Radiant by 10 points, making the game very difficult for the Radiant.

Throughout the game, their three-point shooting was non-existent, a trait they inherited from the former Trail Blazers: they can't play well if their three-pointers aren't falling.

Ultimately, the Glory team failed to capitalize on Gan Guoyang's explosive performance in the fourth quarter, losing the game by a margin of 7 points, 87-94.

They continued their game-changing pattern of winning one game and then losing another, giving Jordan an early advantage in the new Gan-Jordan showdown.

When the two shook hands and hugged after the game, Jordan didn't look happy. Instead, he asked Gan Guoyang, "What the hell is wrong with you, Sonny? Am I not important to you anymore? You didn't even give it your all."

Gan Guoyang said, "That really hurts your feelings. I've never gone all out when I beat you."

“Oh, you beach boy, you fucking… oh, I see.”

"What do you know that you know?"

"You're going to play Portland the day after tomorrow, and you're getting all worked up about it!"

Gan Guoyang was somewhat embarrassed and angry, and said, "Won't you have any thoughts about going back to Chicago?"

"I have no idea whatsoever. I don't owe them anything, and the thought of that fat Klaus makes me want to throw up. But Portland is definitely different for you, Sonny, so enjoy it."

Jordan punched Gan Guoyang in the chest and left, satisfied.

Gan Guoyang left Seattle with a defeat and a rare sense of bewilderment, taking a flight overnight to Portland.

The direct flight between the two places only takes an hour. It's pitch black with no light at all. You can only occasionally see some twinkling lights in the dark clouds, which are the signal lights for take-off and landing, and the occasional glimpse of stars.

The rain was still falling, and raindrops smeared the portholes. Gan Guoyang looked out for a short while, then drew the curtains. The cabin was dark and quiet. After losing the game, everyone was silent, with only the roar of the engines remaining.

Soon, the plane landed at Portland Airport, and the rain intensified, with lightning flashing across the sky.

Ah, this familiar rain! Gan Guoyang felt a tightness in his chest; that's how the air pressure is on rainy days.

The group hurriedly entered the lobby through the passageway, went to the baggage claim area to wait, collected their luggage, went to the parking lot, and took a bus from the airport to the hotel.

It was already past midnight, and there weren't many people left at the airport. The airport staff and security personnel recognized Gan Guoyang and said softly, "Hello, Mr. Gan."

Gan Guoyang nodded, quickened his pace, and walked to the parking lot, where the bus was already waiting.

The driver got out of the car to help load the luggage. As Gan Guoyang was about to get on, the driver said to him, "Sunny, could you sit in the front?"

"why?"

"You'll find out later."

The driver drove away from the parking lot. Gan Guoyang sat in the front row. Soon he saw that the square and roadsides outside the airport were full of cars and people. People were holding umbrellas, wearing raincoats, and holding signs, standing in the rain for who knows how long.

Another bolt of lightning flashed, illuminating the night sky and tearing through the darkness, revealing a vast expanse of people and vehicles, with police cars interspersed among them.

The signs read: "Welcome home, Forrest Gump."

Gan Guoyang tried hard to control his emotions, gripping the handrail tightly, and said to the driver, "Drive slower, even slower."

(End of this chapter)