The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 514 Anger

Gan Guoyang scored 28 points in the first half, and he was aiming for 50 points in this game.

Of course, if the game is blown out in three quarters, Gan Guoyang won't need to score 50 points; 40 points or so will be enough to end the game.

At halftime, the Trail Blazers were showing signs of finishing the game in three quarters.

Besides Gan Guoyang, Jerome Kersey was the best player for the Trail Blazers.

He scored 8 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, blocked 2 shots, and made 2 steals in two quarters, performing exceptionally well on both ends of the court.

This season, Kossi replaced Vandeweghe and became a reliable defensive anchor for the Trail Blazers on the perimeter.

His improvement and performance plugged the loophole in the Trail Blazers' small forward defense.

The Trail Blazers' roster this year is actually more balanced than last season, precisely because of Korsey's rise to prominence.

However, the team's cohesion, defensive focus, and offensive consistency and explosiveness were not as good as in 1987.

According to Jack Ramsey, Kossie's role in the playoffs was no less important than Drexler's, and in some games, it was even more crucial.

One of Ke Xi's important roles was to reduce the number of times Gan Guoyang had to fill in at the small forward position, allowing Gan Guoyang to focus more on his primary job.

The Trail Blazers' lead in the first half put them in a good mood, with Korsey especially excited.

He was very successful in defending Bernard King, limiting King to only 7 points in the first half and cutting off the Bullets' firepower.

The Bullets were only down by 12 points thanks to Moses' offensive rebound and Moncrief's incredible drive to the basket.

Just as the Trail Blazers players were about to go back on the court at halftime, a black man walked up to Jerome Cahill and greeted him, "Hey, Cahill, it's me."

Jerome Koch paused for a moment, looking at the rather tall black man. From his eyes, it was clear that Koch didn't recognize him.

Gan Guoyang noticed this person and was about to call security to send him away, but he immediately noticed that the guy looked a bit like Kexi.

No, it's not just somewhat similar, it's extremely similar.

Gan Guoyang stepped forward and asked, "Who are you? Please leave, we need to start the competition."

The black man said to Gan Guoyang, "Hello, Forrest Gump, I am... I am Jerome's father, I am Hargrove."

Kosi's father actually came looking for him during the game. Gan Guoyang looked at Kosi, whose expression was very complicated.

This person was clearly Cauchy's father, otherwise Cauchy wouldn't have had that expression.

Gan Guoyang said to Hargrove, "If you really are Kosi's father, please come to him after the match. He needs to focus on the match right now."

"I've been waiting for this day for so long..."

"Can't you wait until the second half of the game?"

"I'm sorry, I..."

"Calp! Take this gentleman away and bring him back after the match."

Kalp came over and led Hargrove away, but he kept looking back at Cauchy.

Kossie, who was excitedly saying in the locker room that he would beat the bullets in the second half, now looks like he's about to cry.

In a Portland Trail Blazers team where most players have fathers, Jerome Kossie was an exception. His father abandoned him and his mother at a young age and went to Philadelphia to work as a Greyhound bus driver.

Until one day, Hargrove heard Jerome Koch's name on the radio during a Trail Blazers game.

He realized that his son had made it in the NBA, become famous, and become a millionaire.

Hargrove had a girlfriend at the time, and he told her that "Jerome Koch is my son."

His girlfriend somehow managed to contact the Trail Blazers and hoped to arrange a meeting, but was refused.

Later, through some unknown channel, he obtained Cauchy's mailing address and wrote him a letter.

In the players' tunnel, Gan Guoyang asked Ke Xi, "Do you know he's your father?"

Kossie nodded, then shook his head, and said, "I don't recognize him anymore. But before the Finals, his girlfriend wrote to me saying he would come to Washington to watch my game."

Ke Xi's expression was very unpleasant, while Gan Guoyang was practically bursting with anger.

This guy looks exactly like Charles Barkley's father.

They ignore their child during his childhood, but once the son grows up, becomes famous, and earns money in the sports world, they try every means to come and acknowledge him as their relative.

If you want to admit it, then admit it. You have plenty of time to spend with your family during the off-season, but you have to put on this show of a long-awaited reunion on game day, in the locker room, in front of everyone.

To put it bluntly, it's a public display of moral blackmail, making it impossible for the young people to refuse. Once the family reunion is successful, they can naturally reap the benefits. After all, NBA players are genuinely wealthy compared to ordinary people; even a small amount slipping through their fingers is enough for these older black men to live a life of luxury for quite some time.

Before the start of the second half, Kossi looked terrible; his face was very pale.

Jack Ramsey asked what had happened and who the person who had just come looking for Kossie was.

Gan Guoyang said, "It's none of your business. It's okay, it won't affect the game."

However, it was clear that Kossi's performance was greatly affected in the second half.

At the start of the third quarter, Bernard King received the ball on the wing and went one-on-one against Korsey.

Kossie was clearly a step too slow on defense, allowing Bernard King to get past him and easily score two points.

Then, during the attack, Kessie became disoriented and indecisive, stopping the ball as soon as it reached his hands.

The Trail Blazers missed their shot and the Bullets capitalized on the fast break. Bernard King received the ball on the fast break, evaded Gan Guoyang's defense, and made the shot!
Kim scored consecutive points in the third quarter, narrowing the gap between the two teams to single digits.

Ramsey is in a dilemma: if he replaces Kossy, who should he use instead?
Vandeweghe's performance declined sharply after returning from injury, and he was basically benched for the playoffs.

If Hornacek plays, then Drexler should play small forward to counter Bernard King.

This is the team's second-string lineup selection. If they use the second-string lineup so early, what will they do later?

If Kossie doesn't get enough playing time, Forrest will face a lot of pressure in the paint.

After much deliberation and discussion with Bellman, Ramsey decided to trust that Cauchy could adjust.

Adjustments take time, and Bullets seized the opportunity in the third quarter to score consecutively and put up a fierce defensive battle.

Gan Guoyang, who made consecutive mid-range shots in the first half, was double-teamed by Moncrief.

The Bullets made it clear: let Drexler shoot, and stick to guarding Forrest Gump.

As the third quarter progressed, the Bullets quickly realized that it was better to let Cauchy in than to let Drexler in.

Kossie was clearly out of sorts in the third quarter. Bernard King left him wide open and let him shoot, but he went 0-for-3.

During a timeout in the third quarter, Kossie asked Ramsey to substitute him, and Gan Guoyang, who was sitting next to him, immediately elbowed Kossie.

"Fuck, what are you saying? You're going to back down because of this? For someone who abandoned you? Cheer up!"

Kexi remained silent, his expression still grim.

Ramsey had a rough idea of ​​what had happened, so he substituted Kossie to calm him down.

At this moment, the situation on the court changed dramatically, and the score became 66-64, with the Bullets trailing by only 2 points.

Gan Guoyang remained on the field; anger shattered his composure but did not detract from his excellent form.

Anger burned in Gan Guoyang's chest.

He was not angry about the sudden visit of Cauchy's father.

Instead, he realized that someone was definitely up to no good behind the Trail Blazers.

From the leak of news about selling the team to the exposure of Jack Ramsey's impending retirement.

Then today, halfway through the finals, Kossie's father suddenly visited, disrupting Kossie's emotions. Who would believe there wasn't a mole inside?

This mole, or rather, the mastermind, might be watching the game right now in some corner of the Capital Stadium, gloating over his scheme.

Gan Guoyang clenched his fists as he entered the arena. He chewed his gum with increased force, causing the bones in his jaw to protrude.

Gan Guoyang came to the left side to receive the ball, which is a position he really likes to receive the ball in the playoffs because it can minimize double-team interference.

After receiving the ball and facing Moses Malone, Gan Guoyang faked a shot, shook off Malone's balance, and then drove to the baseline with his left hand to break through, driving into the paint and slamming a one-handed dunk over Charles Barkley!
Barkley tried to block the shot, but was sent flying out of bounds by Gan Guoyang's powerful force.

Next, Gan Guoyang went to the perimeter to help defend and blocked Bernard King's shot.

After stealing the ball, he dribbled across half-court, turned past Cort, and drove to the basket for a layup.

It also resulted in a foul on Cortés, which was a complete gift of points.

Gan Guoyang's scoring spree helped the Trail Blazers widen the gap again.

As he took the free throw, Gan Guoyang glanced at the densely packed stands, wondering who that person was and where he was.

(End of this chapter)