The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 444 Keep Fighting

As seen in the live broadcast from CBS, the Silver Top Center was packed to capacity, with enthusiastic Detroit fans waving at the camera and chanting wildly for the Pistons.

Tonight, CBS has sent former championship coach Billy Cunningham and renowned commentator Dick Stockton to provide commentary.

When discussing the first two games, Cunningham said that the Pistons' tactics and strategies were actually fine, but their morale suffered a major blow.

Instead of recovering from the unexpected incident, they fell into a slump and were easily defeated by the Trail Blazers. Hopefully, they can find their rhythm when they return to their home court this time.

Dick Stockton asked Cunningham, "How should the Pistons deal with Forrest Gump?"

Cunningham paused for five seconds before saying, "If I had known, I wouldn't be sitting here commentating on the game; I should be being offered a coaching position by a team."

The two laughed heartily, and Cunningham continued, "How to deal with Forrest Gump has always been a global problem. His all-around skills, his superb physical abilities, and his overlooked basketball IQ all make him unstoppable. Sometimes you can only do your best and leave the rest to God. There's no other way."

Gan Guoyang has indeed become a world-class problem this season, and this situation has become more and more obvious as the playoffs approach.

During the regular season, Gan Guoyang would sometimes slack off, but in the playoffs, he really went all out.

In the final game of the regular season, Gan Guoyang scored 81 points, showcasing just how versatile he is and how many basketball skills he possesses, both known and unknown.

In the playoffs, Gan Guoyang focused on a simple and efficient approach, avoiding anything fancy.

In particular, Gan Guoyang's mid-range shot has become a very important scoring method for him in this playoffs.

In the playoffs of 85 and 86, Gan Guoyang scored a very high percentage of points under the basket, and also had many offensive rebounds and second-chance points.

This season, Gan Guoyang's offensive rebounding numbers have further decreased. He only grabs offensive rebounds in crucial moments, and otherwise retreats to defense.

His mid-range and long-range shots have become more frequent on offense, and this percentage increases as the season progresses.

One important reason is that teams are increasingly using pseudo-zone defense.

The Lakers, Pistons, and SuperSonics are all very good at fake zone defense, deploying a large number of players near the paint.

The Trail Blazers' isolation plays were somewhat curbed, so the Trail Blazers coaching staff made adjustments.

Move the isolation play position away from the three-second zone and move it about two steps inside the three-point line.

At the same time, switching from back-to-basket to front-to-basket can effectively avoid double-teaming, allowing Gan Guoyang to attack the defender with the front-to-basket.

Facing the basket allows Gan Guoyang to utilize his mid-range shooting and ball-handling skills, while also providing opportunities for some cuts and passes.

When playing against teams like the Lakers and Pistons, who primarily defend very tall players, Gan Guoyang will be more comfortable facing the basket.

If the defense is close, take a step along the baseline to drive to the basket; if they are two steps away, pull up for a mid-range shot.

"Forrest Gump's mid-range shot this season has reached a terrifying level. No other interior player has ever been able to match his level of mid-range shooting. When he takes the shot, there's nothing you can do but pray."

Dick Stockton commented on Gan Guoyang's mid-range shooting.

This is a highly efficient weapon that Gan Guoyang has honed through years of arduous training.

The match officially began with a jump ball between Gan Guoyang and Donaldson.

The referee called a jump ball violation on Donaldson, and the Trail Blazers gained possession.

The Trail Blazers' first offensive play involved having Gan Guoyang receive the ball two steps inside the three-point line at a 45-degree angle on the wing, facing the basket and attacking Donaldson.

Everyone else spread out, and Donaldson focused intently on Gan Guoyang, who was holding the ball, his eyes darting around, seemingly observing something.

After only a one-second pause, Gan Guoyang made his decision and pulled up for a mid-range shot. Donaldson tried his best to block it, but he was too late.

The ball, spinning intensely, traced a high arc, bounced off the rim, and finally fell into the net – a successful shot.

Gan Guoyang rubbed his hands together, thinking that his shooting touch wasn't very good at the start of the game; he hadn't hit any swivels and had instead hit the basket.

The Trail Blazers can isolate and attack, and so can the Pistons. The Pistons quickly inbounded the ball across half-court and passed it to Dantley.

Dantley backed down Mitchell Thompson, who was 10 centimeters taller than him, and then turned and drove to the basket for a left-handed layup!
Both sides used the safest scoring method to take the first point.

Porter immediately responded with a mid-range pull-up jumper, while Dantley then once again isolated Mitchell Thompson, forcefully squeezing into the paint and making a right-handed floater.

Dantley's performance in the first two matches was only mediocre. When Gan Guoyang was dominating, Dantley failed to step up and provide a sufficient response.

Dantley started the game well tonight, but Gan Guoyang was also in excellent form, immediately receiving a pass from Drexler on a fast break and making a mid-range jumper from the top of the arc.

Contrary to expectations, the Detroit Pistons did not start the game with aggressive physical play, retaliating against Gan Guoyang's collision with Daly using brute force and fouls.

Conversely, the Pistons sped up the game, actively increasing their pace and finding their offensive rhythm early on, engaging in an offensive battle with the Trail Blazers. This was Daly's requirement; he didn't want the Pistons to get bogged down in physical play and contact, but rather to focus on basketball first.

When the focus is on basketball, confrontation and provocation can be the icing on the cake, not the end of the story.

Daly was very clear about this, so he wouldn't allow Rodman to seek "revenge" from Gan Guoyang.

The Pistons play the same way in other games; they don't start by using dirty tricks, but they always surprise you at certain key moments and get you mentally thrown off balance.

The Pistons started the game with a very strong, fast, and fierce offense, and they also increased their offensive rebounding efforts.

After Dumars missed his shot, Laimbeer surprisingly rushed to the basket, jumped lightly, and tipped the ball into the hoop.

Gan Guoyang went to the perimeter to help defend, giving Laimbeer an opportunity in the paint.

Dantley's performance at the start was decisive, and the Pistons turned the tables on him.

Don't you Trail Blazers like to isolate and play one-on-one? We also have one-on-one masters, and we'll see if we can play one-on-four against you.

Dantley spread out, faced Mitchell Thompson, used his footwork to drive to the basket, and made a floater!
Dantley, who is only 6 feet 5 inches tall, has no problem one-on-one against power forwards who are half a head taller than him.

He could have one-on-one against Kevin McHale in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Of course, he couldn't defeat Gan Guoyang alone, and the Trail Blazers didn't assign Gan Guoyang to guard him.

Ramsey's main concern is that Dantley will draw fouls, which would be counterproductive for the Trail Blazers.

The Pistons took an 8-12 lead early on, and their offensive strategy was correct.

Establishing an early lead in the score allows you to leverage physical confrontations to expand your psychological advantage.

At this moment, Thompson came to the low post and overpowered Laimbeer, and the Pistons habitually double-teamed him.

Thompson passed the ball to Gan Guoyang in the middle, and Gan Guoyang pretended to shoot, but the Pistons players all rushed over.

Gan Guoyang easily passed the ball to the wing, and Vandeweghe received it and made a three-pointer!

Vandeweghe has been in much better form in this year's playoffs than last season, becoming the team's key second-leading scorer.

Without hesitation, the Pistons launched a counterattack, but Dantley's layup attempt was blocked by Gan Guoyang.

Laimbeer grabbed another offensive rebound, but his layup was blocked by Gan Guoyang!

"Shit..."

Daly stood on the sidelines, cursing under his breath.

At this time, his nose was still wrapped in gauze, and it still hurt a lot to speak.

Daly realized that Forrest Gump's abilities on the court were far superior to everyone else's.

You can tell from his blocks; sometimes he blocks you in the paint like he's blocking a high school student.

Excellent explosiveness, extremely fast reaction speed, and domineering strength—blocking shots is purely a matter of talent, and it's very difficult to train later in life.

If the Pistons want to win tonight, they might really have to find a way to get Forrest out of the game.

But Daly was worried that if Forrest Gump went crazy and bumped into him again, what would happen?
His nose can't withstand further damage.

Daly hesitated on the sidelines.

The Trail Blazers launched a counterattack, with Drexler leading the charge into the paint.

The Pistons collapsed their defense, and Drexler passed the ball to the outside, where Gan Guoyang received it and took a mid-range shot from the top of the arc, making it again!

The Trail Blazers have taken the lead at 13:12.

However, Thomas immediately stepped up and launched a fast counterattack, driving into the paint and facing Gan Guoyang's defense, executing an in-flight reverse layup.

The ball bounced off the backboard and went into the basket! What a fantastic goal!
Both sides traded baskets in the first quarter, maintaining a fast pace and a high success rate in their attacks.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 32-31, with the Pistons leading the Trail Blazers by one point.

During the break, Gan Guoyang said to Daley on the sidelines, "You guys played well, you played pretty well!"

Daly gave an awkward laugh, but at that moment he made up his mind to beat Forrest Gump down!

(End of this chapter)