The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 328 A Pure White World

On the night of June 10, 1986, Memorial Stadium was packed with people. Nightlife in Portland and even Oregon came to a standstill as everyone’s attention was focused on Game 6 of the Finals.

According to Nielsen later statistics, Game 5 of the Finals achieved an astonishing 97% viewership rating in Oregon, surpassing the 95% viewership record of Game 6 of the 1977 Finals.

Gan Guoyang, the king of ratings, has added another jewel to his crown.

Memorial Stadium has a much longer history than the Trail Blazers, and it has witnessed many remarkable social events.

In 1965, the globally popular Beatles crossed the ocean to the United States to spread rock and roll. In August, they held two concerts at Memorial Stadium, nicknamed the Glass Palace.

John Lennon kissed the ground in Portland as he disembarked from the plane. Both concerts were sold out, and Allen Ginsburg, the famous American poet of the 60s who wrote "Howl," was among the audience.

After the concert, he wrote a poem titled "Portland Stadium," in which he wrote:

"A million children, a thousand worlds, leaped for joy in their chairs, embracing each other excitedly, clutching their thighs in ecstasy. And here it comes again, the screams and applause, we've all come together as one wild beast in this grand theater of the new world..."

Tonight, the scene at Memorial Stadium was just like the poem described: before the game even started, people were already cheering and jumping for joy, cheering for the Trail Blazers.

The crowd kept screaming and shouting, creating wave after wave of people. No matter the outcome of the competition, the revelry would never stop.

As the match was about to begin, both teams' players finished warming up. From the opening ceremony to the players' official entrance, Gan Guoyang spent most of the time sitting on the bench.

He lowered his head, breathing steadily, trying to calm his mind in the restless, frenzied glass palace.

The cheers of the home fans always gave him strength, but tonight was different; that strength wasn't enough to help the team win the game.

He needs to perform better.

The Celtics are very strong, especially after Game 4. Gan Guoyang can understand Jack Ramsey's concerns.

Neither Terry Porter nor Clyde Drexler had fully matured, and Porter was clearly outmatched in Game 4.

He could handle Danny Ainge, but against the Johnson duo, the young player struggled too much and couldn't keep up.

In terms of experience, physical attributes, and court skills, the two Johnsons are beyond Porter's current reach.

Drexler was already struggling to handle one opponent, and when he also had to match up against Bird, he was even more overwhelmed.

At certain moments during the game, Gan Guoyang himself felt a bit desperate. He could sense that the Celtics' new lineup was getting better and better, and it was difficult to defend against.

The good news is that, out of respect for tradition and due to the team's seniority system, the Celtics didn't field this five-star lineup until the fourth game.

This lineup has some issues with cohesion and chemistry; Bird, Dennis, and Ainge have a much better understanding and synergy.

Marquez Johnson is somewhat detached from the Celtics' system, especially since his role overlaps with Bird's.

When Marquez was on the court, Bird didn't play as comfortably as when Ainge was there; Marquez would sometimes steal Bird's spotlight.

His birth in Los Angeles and his past as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks (he was part of the Bucks that eliminated the Celtics in 1983) made it somewhat difficult for him to integrate into the Celtics.

It wasn't until they were down 1-2 that KC Jones started giving Marquez a chance, and Larry Bird no longer minded having his spotlight stolen. Together, they won the crucial battle.

Whether they can cooperate as seamlessly in the fifth game as they did in the fourth game, with all three players delivering outstanding performances, remains to be seen.

Gan Guoyang knew that whether they could win the game tonight depended not on the Celtics' performance, but on the Trail Blazers' and his own performance.

To win any competition, you must focus on yourself. Hoping that your opponent will underperform or fail to play at a high level is just wishful thinking.

He tried his best to clear his mind and block out all the noise and distractions. Starting this morning, he refused to answer any phone calls and did not communicate with any reporters, friends, or classmates.

Wang Fuxi understood Gan Guoyang's feelings. She helped him decline all requests for concern and interviews, and personally drove him to the Memorial Stadium. Now she is sitting in the back seat of the bench with Bellman, Fitz and others, anxiously waiting for the game to start.

She recalled the spring of 1984 in Seattle, the NCAA Final Four, and felt just as nervous now as she did then.

She lost her commemorative Water Clock team hat that day, it was knocked off by the crowd, but she later got another one and is wearing it to watch the game today.

She asked Gan Guoyang what it felt like when he made the game-winning shot that day.

Gan Guoyang frowned and thought for a while before replying, "It seems...it seems like I've entered a tranquil, pure white world."

"A pure white world? A snowy field?"

"No, it's not snow, but something... I don't know how to describe it, like being on a thin plateau. It's not a color, it's just a feeling."

Wang Fuxi played basketball and was once a member of the women's basketball team, but her skill level was far inferior to Gan Guoyang's.

She couldn't understand what kind of feeling Gan Guoyang was referring to as the pure white world.

At this point, with the start of the game approaching, the noise in the Memorial Stadium had become so loud that it was quite irritating.

Wang Fuxi looked at Gan Guoyang sitting on the bench, his broad back as calm as a mountain. She remembered the sense of security and reliability he gave her when they were together.

Wang Fuxi's childhood environment was not stable. Her father did some unknown work, and her mother was a nurse with a cold personality and some eccentricities. She often wondered how these two people got together and had her, since they seemed so mismatched.

Inglewood is one of the most chaotic areas in Los Angeles, where violent crime is common. Wang Fuxi once witnessed a passerby being robbed and shot on the street, and she had nightmares about it for a long time.

After being with Agan, Wang Fuxi's heart was like a safe, never exposed to the elements again. Wang Fuxi's originally somewhat impatient temper was tempered into gentle calmness.

At that moment, Wang Fuxi suddenly understood what a "pure white world" meant; it must be a kind of confidence, a state that gives everyone a sense of security. After the opening ceremony, the players from both sides took to the field, with Gan Guoyang being the last to enter. The decibel level in the stadium reached its highest point.

"The Portland Trail Blazers changed their starting lineup tonight, with Bill Walton replacing Vandeweghe and Jack Ramsey fielding a three-tall formation, a lineup often used in the decisive moments of a game. It looks like the Blazers are going all out from the start tonight!"

Bill Shawnley began his passionate commentary, signaling the start of this crucial game.

The Celtics' starting lineup remains a five-star roster, and KC Jones has tasted success with it; this lineup is indeed incredibly powerful.

Gan Guoyang and Parish jumped for the ball in the center circle. Parish frowned, looking slightly pained—he had been tormented by Gan Guoyang for four games.

In the four games, he only scored in double figures in the last game, with 15 points, because Gan Guoyang had to divert his energy to deal with Marquez Johnson.

The jump ball was initiated, and Gan Guoyang touched the ball first. Amid cheers from tens of thousands of spectators, the two teams officially began their match.

Terry Porter orchestrated the offense, and immediately passed the ball to Gan Guoyang, who came out to receive it, after crossing the mid-court line. Porter then drove inside.

Gan Guoyang then passes the ball to Bill Walton at the top of the arc, or perhaps to Drexler; this is the basic starting move for a three-tall lineup.

Next, Gan Guoyang can go down to the low post, or go to play screens with Thompson to match up with the big men – the latter is unlikely to be effective against the Celtics, whose frontcourt is too tall.

Gan Guoyang chose to go to the low post, and Larry Bird stayed in the three-second zone. As soon as Gan Guoyang received the ball, Larry Bird would come over to help defend.

Meanwhile, with Marquez Johnson on the weak side, scoring becomes significantly more difficult for Porter and Drexler.

Walton was pondering his next move when Gan Guoyang suddenly shouted, "Pass the ball to me! Don't hesitate!"

Walton immediately delivered a precise lob pass to Gan Guoyang. Bird immediately went to double-team him, but Gan Guoyang received the ball, turned around, and without even looking at the defender, took a jump shot.

22-year-old Gan Guoyang's legs are full of elasticity, and his heel turns are very quick. Parish, who had been tormented for four games, could not keep up with Gan Guoyang's turning speed. The ball was released and went into the net cleanly.

A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the crowd, but the Celtic players were not in the mood to savor the goal, nor did they realize what it meant.

Parish simply made a quick inbound pass to Bird, who immediately accelerated and made a long pass to Marquese Johnson, who had already crossed half-court.

The Trail Blazers got back on defense quickly, and the Celtics moved the ball around very fast on offense. Marquez passed the ball to Dennis, who then passed it to McHale under the basket.

McHale spun around, shook off Thompson, and then hit a hook shot with his right hand, scoring two points.

McHale's performance in the Finals was equally mediocre. Last year, he averaged 26 points per game in the Finals, but this time his average dropped to 17 points per game.

It can be described as a precipitous decline. He averaged more than 25 points per game in both the regular season and the Eastern Conference playoffs, and his efficiency was extremely high.

However, his effectiveness in the low post was greatly reduced when he encountered Mitchell Thompson and Gan Guoyang, forcing KC Jones to shift his offensive focus to the backcourt.

The Trail Blazers weren't in a hurry. Porter slowly dribbled the ball across half-court, and Gan Guoyang positioned himself in the same spot with his back to the basket. According to the rules, no one could double-team him until he got the ball.

Walton passed the ball to Gan Guoyang again, and Gan Guoyang turned and shot in the same direction, avoiding Bird's double-team by going along the baseline, and made the shot again.

The second ball was played without any fancy moves or tactics, and the Celtics continued their fast break by inbounding the ball quickly, which disrupted their attack.

The three big men provided tight defense in the paint. Dennis Johnson missed a shot from the outside, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound.

The Trail Blazers weren't in a rush to launch a fast break. Gan Guoyang was in the low post for the third time, this time he moved to the right side, and Porter passed the ball.

Whether to receive the ball or walk along the baseline, Parish jumped early this time, but Gan Guoyang didn't shoot. He faked out Parish, drove into the basket, and dunked with one hand!
Bird and McHale gave up on helping on defense; going up to block the shot at that moment would just be giving away free throws.

Bird had a bad feeling. He inbounded the ball to Dennis Johnson and said, "Pass it to me."

Bird was in the low post, backing down Gan Guoyang, and he knew he had to respond.

Dennis passed the ball to Bird, but Gan Guoyang suddenly rushed in to intercept, and Bird was pushed and stumbled, missing the ball.

Gan Guoyang intercepted the ball, and Bird questioned the referee, believing that the play was a foul, but the referee did not blow the whistle.

This is one advantage of playing at home. At the start of the finals, the referees won't call fouls on the home team's star player unnecessarily. If Gan Guoyang commits a foul, it will have a huge impact on the rest of the game.

Moreover, the play was relatively clean, and it was a call that could have been made or not. The referee let it slide, and Gan Guoyang intercepted the ball and made a long pass to Drexler.

Drexler glides into the air and finishes with a fast break dunk!

The Trail Blazers got off to a good start, trailing 2-8.

The Celtics called a timeout, and Bird was still arguing with the referee.

If Gan Guoyang had been called for a foul, the situation would have been completely different.

Dennis pulled Bird aside and said, "Hey, let's keep playing. This is Portland."

Dennis Johnson sensed that Bird was a bit agitated and not as calm as usual.

"That should have been a foul, that kid... we can't let him play like that!"

Back on the bench, Bird was still agonizing over the foul, which seemed a bit unusual.

However, the Celtics players soon realized that Bird wasn't acting strangely; he was just too perceptive and had sensed danger.

(End of this chapter)