The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 979 The Unpredictable Team
With their excellent outside shooting percentage, Glorious dominated the Lakers at the start of the game.

The 11-point lead left the Lakers fans in the arena somewhat bewildered, wondering who was truly the top team in the West.
However, the game is still long, and the shooting percentage will indeed drop. There will also be many changes as both sides make dynamic adjustments in offense and defense.

Gan Guoyang is very confident about tonight's game; he knows he has found his rhythm.

Now his question is how to maintain this form until the very last moment of the game.

In the past, he never had to consider this issue; once he was in top form, his opponent was almost certainly doomed.

Now he has become more cautious and meticulous, managing his energy wisely and maintaining his offensive rhythm.

Old Tang's playing time allocation is one approach, and through experimentation during the regular season, he has adapted to this arrangement.

Each match should be kept to around 35 minutes, with the first half covering the transition between the beginning and end, and the middle portion cut off.

They should exert themselves in the third quarter, but not excessively, and conserve some energy for the final moments of the fourth quarter.

If you're having a blast, that's another story. But once you're in your zone, the worse your physical condition, the more accurate your shots will be.

This situation is documented in the manga "Slam Dunk"—the manga ended when Gan Guoyang retired for the first time, and Takehiko Inoue said, "This is dedicated to the greatest basketball player."

Inoue's "Vagabond" has been serialized for many years now, and I never thought that the greatest basketball player is still playing!
After the Lakers' timeout, the two teams entered a back-and-forth battle, with the Lakers noticeably tightening their defense, especially in responding to the Lakers' fast breaks.

Lindsay Hunter replaced the somewhat slow Fisher; he was very quick to get back on defense and was very aggressive.

During a fast break by the Radiant team, he successfully blocked Arenas's layup attempt.

Meanwhile, O'Neal returned to the court, but he was subjected to fierce double-teaming by the Radiant team under the basket, something that didn't happen in the first quarter.

A layup attempt missed and was blocked by Gan Guoyang. The Lakers regained possession on the perimeter and passed the ball to O'Neal for another shot.

This time, O'Neal faked a move, dribbled to the other side, and slammed it home! 40:31.

The shark was releasing his inner energy. He cared a lot about this series and was very nervous. In short, his feelings were extremely complicated.

Honestly, seeing Gan Guoyang hit consecutive three-pointers from beyond the arc really made him nervous.

Fortunately, Agan seemed to tone down his scoring afterward and stopped making shots. The Lakers' defense did indeed improve, making it harder for Glorious to move the ball around.

The Lakers allowed Glory to score 34 points in the first quarter and 40 points early in the second quarter, which is indeed too many. The Lakers need to pay more attention to the defensive end.

Arenas tripped and fell while dribbling, and Hunter pounced on him. The two wrestled on the ground, and the referee called a jump ball.

This is what the playoffs are like; the atmosphere in the arena gradually heats up, and the fans get more and more excited.

Arenas used his excellent jumping ability and wingspan to deflect the ball, and Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc.

Gan Guoyang's dribble drive drew a foul from Pippen, and the ball went in from the sideline. Gan Guoyang received the ball with his back to the basket and passed it to Miller in the middle, but Miller's shot missed.

The Lakers' rebounding and the high-intensity competition caused Guanghui's shooting percentage to drop.

However, the Glorious team's defense was equally strenuous, with three players double-teaming O'Neal under the basket, forcing him to pass the ball.

Arenas and Bell on the perimeter relentlessly chased the ball and players, denying the Lakers easy opportunities to shoot from beyond the arc.

Arenas and Lindsey Hunter are locked in a battle again, the two are really going head-to-head.

The ball went out of bounds, but the Lakers still had possession. A sideline inbound pass, Pippen caught the ball, and finally made a mid-range shot. 40:33.

Arenas immediately countered, driving hard past Lindsey Hunter to the basket and launching a floater, which went in! 42:33.

"Well done!" Gan Guoyang praised Arenas.

Arenas received special attention from the Lakers during this period.

Because the point guard is the primary initiator of the team's offense.

Regardless of whether Arenas is the brain or not, as the primary ball handler, if he is interfered with, and his process of crossing half-court and passing the ball is not smooth, Glory's offense will be affected.

Since he was a rookie, Jackson cunningly sent veteran Hunter to attack Arenas, disrupt Arenas' rhythm, and incidentally make the Glory's offense less smooth.

Arenas withstood the pressure, stabilizing himself and the situation with goals and hard-fought tackling.

After a fierce battle, the game entered a period of calm.

At this point, the Lakers would always spread out and give the ball to O'Neal, letting him attack a few times in the low post.

This is very Lakers-esque; they come at you suddenly with a few attacks, defensive scrimmages, fast breaks, and disrupting the game.

Then everyone got a little tired from the drive, so they took a break. The Lakers started letting O'Neal play efficient isolation plays while the others rested.

O'Neal received the ball, turned and attacked Willis, scoring a layup and drawing a foul from Willis.

Willis needs to rest, Brad Miller returns to the court, O'Neal makes the free throw and completes a 2+1 play, 42-36, the score is getting closer.

The Glorious team's three-point shooting percentage did indeed decline, Arenas missed a three-point attempt, and O'Neal grabbed the rebound.

Then, under the basket, O'Neal received the ball and launched another hook shot, scoring two points! 42:38.

The Lakers have narrowed the gap to just 4 points, putting the pressure back on the Glory.

Gan Guoyang also moved to the low position, knowing that the game had reached a critical juncture.

Call for the ball in a shallower position to avoid being double-teamed by the Lakers.

After receiving the ball, observe Samaki Walker's defense and get a feel for the defense by being bumped.

Without being double-teamed, he suddenly exerted force, turned around and walked to the baseline, adjusted his footwork, dribbled, and launched a big hook shot!

Many young Los Angeles fans at the scene would never have imagined that they would see Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 2002 playoffs.

It's a pity it wasn't from a Lakers player.

With the same elegant form as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the ball arced high, and the two points went in.

The ball went in, and the fans in the stadium erupted in applause, as if they had returned to the days of the Great Western Forum.

44:38. This basket relieved the Radiant team's temporary crisis. The two sides went back and forth several times, but neither could score.

The referee was blowing his whistle frequently; this was the first game of the playoffs, and it was time to set the tone for the game.

Referees always hope that the game can be intense, but not too brutal, especially when there's a dangerous person like Forrest Gump around.

Although Gan Guoyang hasn't been in a fight for many years, his reputation still lives on among the referees.

Especially with these three young referees who have just over ten years of experience tonight, if something really goes wrong, I'm afraid we won't be able to cover it up.

The Lakers struggled offensively tonight. O'Neal dominated inside, but couldn't find his rhythm from the outside.

Without the firepower of outside shooting, O'Neal was left to fend for himself, and his efficient inside scoring failed to translate into greater value.

This is certainly related to the brilliant defense. Gan Guoyang did not keep an eye on O'Neal. When O'Neal was on the court, he paid close attention to interfering with the Lakers' passing lanes and harassing the outside shots in his own area.

Any pitcher's shot will be affected when facing Gan Guoyang's close-range defense.

After a scoring drought, Gan Guoyang knew he would soon be off the court to rest; time was running out.

O'Neal finally grabbed the rebound in the paint and dunked, but Gan Guoyang immediately made a handoff pass with Arenas at the top of the arc, received the ball, and launched another three-pointer, which went in!
The ball pierced the Lakers' net like a sharp sword, making it 47-40, with the score difference remaining at 7 points.

Phil Jackson was having a headache. It was only the first half. Was Forrest Gump really that hot?

What should we do in the second half?
The Glory team then committed a foul during defense, and Gan Guoyang was substituted off the court for a rest.

Gan Guoyang, who was on fire, was substituted, and Van Exel came on. Meanwhile, McGrady returned to the court and immediately scored on a layup, drawing a foul and giving the Lakers a much-needed boost.

The free throw was made, making it 47-43, further narrowing the gap.

But two rounds later, Van Exel once again used his ghostly footwork to drive to the basket, make a layup, and draw a foul from Horry.

They responded with a 2+1.

Van Exel is an unconventional guy; he likes to stand further away when taking free throws.

Everyone else was standing right next to the free-throw line; the closer you are, the more accurate you are, right?

This guy kept standing further and further away, quite like Wilt Chamberlain back in the day.

Chamberlain's free throw problem was even more serious than O'Neal's.

He tried every possible method to solve the free throw problem back then.

This includes techniques such as using a chamber pot as a gesture, one-handed free throws, and scooping the moon from the bottom of the sea.

Legend has it that he even used dunking to shoot free throws in high school, which led to the NCAA and NBA banning dunking free throws.

However, this rumor is controversial. Some people involved said they saw it with their own eyes, but most people think it is just a rumor. It is impossible for someone to dunk from the free throw line without a running start.

Just like the story of the goat's double-dunk, it has become a legend passed down by word of mouth.

However, standing further away to shoot free throws was indeed one of the methods Chamberlain tried, and he did it after joining the Lakers.

Van Exel's free throws were far superior to Chamberlain's, and he made the extra free throw, allowing the Radiant team to maintain their lead.

Van Exel became a major headache for the Lakers in this game; his offensive firepower was too strong.

50:43, with half the second quarter still remaining, Glorious has already scored 50 points.

Although they also lost 43 points, their scoring efficiency was terrifying. Jackson wondered if the Glory players had been taking some kind of super-potent drug these past few days.

They played exceptionally well, shooting accurately, making few mistakes, responding promptly, and playing a very tenacious defense.

Jackson was patient, patiently waiting for the Radiant Team to make a mistake.

In the first half, O'Neal was as steady as a mountain, easily getting the ball.

He received the ball in the low post, turned, and launched a hook shot over Miller, which went in.

Next, Gerald Wallace drew a defensive foul from McGrady on offense.

But he missed both free throws, so he didn't have many shooting opportunities tonight, and his hands were naturally cold.

The Lakers seized the opportunity. Richmond's three-pointer from the corner missed, but O'Neal grabbed the offensive rebound and dunked it in!
At 50:47, the Lakers were only 3 points behind. Coach Tom checked the number of timeouts but decided against calling a timeout.

As a result, another mistake occurred on offense, the Lakers slowed down, and the ball was passed to O'Neal again.

O'Neal received the ball, hooked it in, and scored again! He continued scoring, closing the gap to just one point.

Staples Center erupted in cheers. Old Tom continued to hold back. Van Exel's drive was blocked by O'Neal. Now it was Shaq time.

However, O'Neal got too carried away and was called for a traveling violation.

Jackson was furious. This was a chance to take the lead, and the referee just blew it away.

Great, after receiving a technical foul, Van Exel made the free throw, and Glory breathed a sigh of relief.

Then both teams missed several shots in a row, but the Glory players stayed focused. Even when their offense wasn't going well, they didn't let up on defense, kept fighting and persevering.

Until one of the balls went out of bounds, the score remained 52-50.

Old Tang called a timeout to give everyone a breather, as the game was entering a tough phase.

On the bench, he continued to encourage the players, saying that it wasn't that they were playing poorly, but that we were entering a difficult period, and everyone had to hold on.

It was the veterans' turn to step up. Terry Porter came on, replacing Bell, and Gan Guoyang came on, replacing Brad Miller.

Tomjanovich believes that no matter how much the defense is improved, that's about it.

Unless you send Forrest Gump to go head-to-head with Shaquille O'Neal, you can't hold him off in the paint no matter what.

Forrest Gump needs to focus his energy on more important things, so for now, offense is the priority.

Actually, you played quite well just now, but you missed a few opportunities.

Young man, you played too intensely and were too nervous, you didn't adjust your mindset properly, and you missed several free throws tonight.

Physical fitness, energy, and mentality – the playoffs are a test and a trial for young players.

Porter is a seasoned veteran, and when he forms a back two with Van Exel, their attack will be faster and more flexible.

As for defense, Porter can hold off McGrady for a short period of time without much problem.

Before going on the court, Gan Guoyang told the young players, "The real tough time is yet to come. The second half, and the next game, are yet to come. Get ready, guys, and watch how I play."

Gan Guoyang and Potter make their appearance; these two old buddies are the most cunning of the cunning.

The two immediately set a screen, and Gan Guoyang received the ball and cut to the basket, drawing a defensive foul from O'Neal.

O'Neal had only one thought in his mind: I fouled, should I go to the bench to rest now, coach!

I was in such good shape when Forrest Gump wasn't around. Now that Forrest Gump is on the court, I should probably take a break, Coach.

But Jackson didn't give him a chance to slow down. What time is it to slow down now?

Gan Guoyang made both free throws, widening the gap back to 4 points. In the latter part of the second quarter, the scoring efficiency of both teams declined.

The Lakers haven't had a second player besides O'Neal score for a long time.

With three minutes left in the game, Devin George made a shot, finally someone else scored.

Gan Guoyang missed his shot, and the Lakers launched a counterattack. O'Neal made a strong attack under the basket, but Gan Guoyang came over to help defend and knocked the ball away.

Shaquille O'Neal gets annoyed whenever he sees Forrest Gump. He thought, "I was playing so well when Forrest wasn't around, but now that Forrest is on the court, I get targeted."

The Glory team launched a counterattack, and Gan Guoyang showed no mercy. In the final moments of the second quarter, he accelerated, drove the ball all the way to the basket, and made a quick layup with his left hand and foot, scoring two points.

Glorious maintained a 4-point lead.

McGrady hit a mid-range jumper from the top of the arc, and Porter immediately responded with a mid-range jumper of his own from the top of the arc.

Led by veterans, Glorious managed to firmly suppress the Lakers.

The match was exciting and entertaining, with both sides giving their all, and this was just the beginning.

Jackson and Tomjanovich sat on the bench with serious expressions, neither of them knowing what would happen next.

The Lakers players were somewhat annoyed, realizing they shouldn't have been so confident, thinking they could win easily and that playing against the Glorious with the top seed in the West was nothing special.

In fact, many experts had analyzed before the game that the Lakers' playing style was quite effective against them. The Lakers have always been afraid of teams with inconsistent performances, and O'Neal is easy for Forrest Gump to target. Avoiding the Lakers would make defending the title easier.

They were careless; after only half the game, the Lakers knew this was a tough nut to crack.

And in the end, it's really uncertain who will take advantage of whom.

(End of this chapter)