The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 593 The Butcher in the Rainy Night
When Mason learned that he was about to get a chance to play, he tensed up.

Throughout the 1990 season, Mason's playing time was extremely limited, mostly appearing during garbage time.

The Trail Blazers' roster is too complete, with three giants in the paint, plus the experienced Thompson, and the strong but short Mason, who has no chance to play at all.

Moreover, in terms of the order of appearance, Mark Bryant is ahead of Mason.

However, when the 12-man playoff roster was finalized, Mason was fortunate enough to make the playoffs with the team because of Mark Bryant's ankle injury.

A 12th man like Mason is unlikely to get playing time in the intense playoffs.

Unless the point difference is extremely large, resulting in complete garbage time, such situations rarely occur in the playoffs.

For example, if the point difference is as large as 58 points, Mason will definitely get a chance to play.

Although the Trail Blazers swept through the Western Conference playoffs, they rarely had games that went into garbage time early, and some of their victories were narrow ones.

So Mason has been sitting on the bench. He knows in his heart that if the Trail Blazers win the championship, he will most likely pick up a championship as well.

If the team loses, it doesn't seem like there's too much to be sad about.

Unable to get playing time during the season, he spent most of his time in the gym.

He spent a lot of time working out with Forrest Gump and learning techniques. Because he played fewer games, he didn't burn as much energy, so Mason's muscles grew very quickly over the course of a season, and he became very strong.

He had a fascination with muscles and strength, and he was particularly obsessed with Forrest Gump's perfect physique, believing that Forrest Gump's body and muscles were even more perfect than David Robinson's.

Although Robinson is taller and has better muscle definition, his physique is too long and his waist is too thin; he is more suited to be a bodybuilder than a strongman.

Forrest Gump was a true strongman, strong but not bulky. He was the true powerhouse of the NBA, and Heracles in Anthony Mason's eyes.

Mason knew that Bobby Bellman put him on the court to help and protect Forrest Gump.

The Pistons' brutal tactics suited Mason's taste perfectly. He might not be good at playing basketball, but when it came to fighting? Small tricks? Dirty moves? Mason was an expert.

Moreover, Mason knew perfectly well that when it came to these low-level tricks, Forrest Gump was extremely skilled; he just didn't bother using them in official matches.

When Forrest Gump started using underhanded tactics, those scoundrels from the Pistons were finished!
Thinking of this, Mason was so excited he could hardly contain himself, and his big butt was already too loose to sit still on the bench.

The first player to suffer for the Pistons was Rick Mahorn, who was elbowed while defending Forrest Gump and suffered excruciating pain in his left rib area.

Then, while grabbing a rebound, he was knocked over by a small movement of his lower body and fell heavily to the ground.

Gan Guoyang received the first foul of the game, and he immediately raised his hand to acknowledge the foul.

Mahon took a hard fall and was completely disoriented. He kept thinking, "Fuck, I knew I could outmaneuver Forrest Gump! He was waiting for me to jump, fuck..."

The Pistons players all gathered around, further intensifying the atmosphere on the court.

Isaiah Thomas came over and said, "Sonny, you went a bit too far."

It's ironic to hear those words from Thomas.

Gan Guoyang smiled and said softly, "You'll see in a moment that this is not an exaggeration at all."

Thomas felt a chill run down his spine. Was Forrest Gump really going to do this?
However, after experiencing the Silver Top Massacre, Thomas was no longer afraid; he was no longer afraid of Forrest Gump.

If you're so capable, kill me. If you can't, I'll keep attacking you—or I'll command my teammates to attack you.

Mahone got up with the help of his teammates, and the Pistons regained possession of the ball.

Gan Guoyang was right; he had shown leniency towards Ma Hong.

Mahone was a good friend of Barkley when he was in Washington, D.C., and also had a relationship with Gan Guoyang.

Mahon generally respected Forrest Gump, so Forrest Gump only used Mahon as an appetizer and a practice run.

Where did Gan Guoyang first grow up? On the fierce and tough streets of San Francisco.

Strictly speaking, he is a player from the streets, a fact that is easily overlooked.

After all, in people's minds, only black players come from the streets.

Chinese? Maybe he came from a library background, even if he is Forrest Gump.

Gan Guoyang was proficient in all sorts of subtle tricks; he didn't use them, but he had to guard against them.

The game continued, and the Pistons did not reduce their intensity. In retaliation, Laimbeer tripped Sabonis during a contest under the basket.

The move wasn't too big, and the referee didn't call a foul, but Strom warned Laimbeer to tone it down a bit.

Strom had already sensed danger; it was only the second quarter, and the atmosphere of the game was becoming increasingly tense.

Thomas orchestrated the offense, passing to Aguirre for a low-post isolation play. The Trail Blazers double-teamed him, and Aguirre passed the ball to the wing.

The ball was passed to the basket, and Mahone had a chance to shoot, but he was a little afraid of Agan and avoided shooting, which was blocked by Agan.

"You're afraid of Rick! That won't do."

The Trail Blazers launched a counterattack, but the Pistons retreated very quickly on defense.

Porter slowed down and dribbled outside the three-point line, waiting for his teammates.

At that moment, Sabonis set a screen for Forrest Gump on the outside.

Porter bounced a pass to Gan Guoyang, who was cutting in from the middle.

Gan Guoyang received the ball and charged forward, with Laimbeer under the basket!

In their first head-to-head confrontation tonight, Laimbeer was trying to draw an offensive foul from Gan Guoyang.

This requires immense courage.

Gan Guoyang charged forward, showing no intention of avoiding Lambiel.

Two giants weighing over 250 pounds collided, and Gan Guoyang secretly kneed Lambiel in the stomach.

Not only was Lambir knocked over, but he also took a severe hit to the stomach, causing him to roll on the ground in excruciating pain.

That was quite a blow. When Lambiel was helped up, his face was flushed, and he was bent over, gagging slightly.

Gan Guoyang scoffed, "Bill, pregnant women shouldn't play basketball. Go back and protect your pregnancy."

The Pistons players were furious and rushed forward, but Gan Guoyang didn't back down at all, glaring angrily at everyone, and as a result, none of them dared to actually go up.

It took Laimbeer a while to recover. Strom called an offensive foul on Gan Guoyang, his second foul.

"Hey Sonny, tone it down, this isn't good for you."

"What's wrong with that? It's just something they do all the time. Why can't I do it?"

"The president is watching from the sidelines."

"Then you should kick him out."

Stromb shook his head; he had a premonition of an impending storm.

Forrest Gump is definitely going to pull off something big tonight; people might even die.

Gan Guoyang's knee strike was quite powerful, and Lambiel couldn't withstand it.

Chuck Daly wanted to substitute Laimbeer off the court, but Laimbeer refused.

"It's not time yet!"

"This is the coach's order, leave it to me," Tpin, who was being substituted, advised Lambiel.

Lambiel had no choice but to leave the field clutching his stomach, his heart filled with both anger and fear.

Lambiel was no coward; no matter how many times he was beaten, he never backed down.

On the other hand, he knew that Forrest Gump was different tonight; this guy was serious.

Meanwhile, Rodman came on, replacing Mark Aguirre; the Pistons only needed one low-post player on the court.

In the backcourt, Joe Dumars returned and replaced Ricky Green. Green's task was complete; he couldn't help with the fight.

Seeing this, Bobby Bellman pointed at Mason and said, "Anthony, come on!"

Mason sprang up from the bench like a spring, replacing Jerome Kossie.

The Trail Blazers used a lineup with three big men and even used a 12th man, their purpose was obvious.

Pistons, you want to increase your strength? We're ready to compete. Let's see who can match you.

The atmosphere in the stadium grew increasingly tense, and the fans could almost smell the tension.

The audience's hormones and primal instincts were aroused, and the cheers grew louder and more frenzied.

Trail Blazers assistant coach Adelman was a little worried and asked Bellman, "Bobby, is this okay?"

Bellman shook his head and said, "I don't know, I'm a little worried too, but... there's nothing we can do, it's war."

Bellman's move was indeed very risky. Who plays the 12th man in the second quarter of the Finals? It was clearly an attempt to create pressure.

Of course, Mason isn't stupid; he won't just go in and start hitting people, because that would make it even harder for the Trail Blazers to catch up.

When Gan Guoyang saw Mason enter the game, he said to Mason, "Anthony, keep an eye on that bug. I'll handle the others. Your job is to go up against him, grab rebounds, and keep a close eye on him."

Gan Guoyang assigned Mason the task of dealing with Rodman.

Rodman is usually the one marking others, but tonight was the first time he was being marked.

Seeing Mason, who was younger than him and hadn't played many games all season, suddenly emerge, Rodman revealed a disdainful smile.

During the offensive play, Rodman would stand with his hands on his hips outside the three-point line, while Mason would just stare at Rodman and do nothing, leaving the others to play four-on-four.

As a result, Teping's strong drive to the basket was blocked by Agan! Gan Guoyang's adrenaline had surged to its peak, and his explosiveness was astonishing.

Gan Guoyang delivered a rare volleyball-style block, as the ball was heading straight for Mason.

Rodman stopped putting his hands on his hips and pushed Mason aside to try and steal the ball. How could Mason let him go?

Mason didn't even try to grab Rodman; he simply used his broad shoulders and huge buttocks to hold him back.

Rodman almost got into a fight with Mason, but Mason remained unmoved and still managed to catch the ball in his arms.

As Mason turned to dribble forward, Rodman grabbed him from behind, preventing the Trail Blazers from launching a fast break.

Mason was as strong as a wild boar. Even though Rodman was the one pulling him, Rodman ended up being dragged around in the air.

The referee blew his whistle to call a foul on Rodman, but Mason wasn't about to let the opportunity slip by. He turned around and headbutted Rodman with his chest.

“Fuck you, you bug!” Mason said bluntly, starting with a curse.

"Who are you? Who the hell knows you?" Rodman replied with a laugh.

The two were about to start fighting when the referee quickly came over and separated them.

Surprisingly, not a single teammate from either side came to intervene; they all just stood by and watched.

Even when everyone's attention was on Mason and Rodman, Melvin Tppin and Agan were exchanging insults under the basket.

Teping does seem to have "turned over a new leaf" this year, but that doesn't mean he's become weak.

He used to be slow-witted, but now he's thinner, his ball skills have improved, he's quieter, and he's become stronger.

Forrest Gump was his goal and role model, the goal he was to emulate. Through the trials of time, he became an outstanding low-post scorer in the league.

He was once thrown to the ground by Forrest Gump and was completely dazed. He will never forget that fall. Born in 1960, he is now 30 years old.

The inferiority complex and vulnerability of my teenage years have long been forgotten with the championship in 1989 and the experiences of the past few years.

His college days of binge eating and womanizing are now a thing of the past (he was once stabbed in the butt by his girlfriend for messing around). Last year, he got married and started a family, becoming a real man.

Turpin has been transformed, becoming an important part of the Detroit Iron Legion, a true fighter.

Like his teammate Sam Bowie, he knew he wasn't as good as Forrest Gump, but he wasn't afraid or apprehensive.

The two exchanged trash talk, keeping the referee busy. After dealing with Rodman and Mason, Strom immediately went to Agan to put out the fire.

It's fair to say that the battle has ignited in every part of the stadium, and it looks like it won't be long before it spreads to the bench.

Because Bobby Bellman is about to lose control of his eating habits.

The chaos subsided temporarily, but the game was progressing slowly due to the constant interruptions.

The Trail Blazers' offensive strategy is becoming increasingly simple: just give the ball to Forrest Gump, and he'll handle it.

The Pistons began their siege of Gan Guoyang—Teppin, Sally, and Laimbeer took turns double-teaming him, and their methods became increasingly ruthless.

Rodman tried to join the fray, but he was constantly entangled by Mason, who relentlessly pursued Rodman regardless of whether he was on offense or defense.

Sabonis gradually realized that this Lithuanian giant was not someone to be trifled with. When he was fighting for a rebound with Sali under the basket, he slapped Sali's nose until it bled.

Laimbeer came over to demand an explanation, but Gan Guoyang delivered another sneaky elbow strike. Several burly men gathered under the basket, ready to fight.

Is this still a basketball game? There's physical altercations in almost every possession.

Earl Strom yelled, "Do you guys even want to play the second half?! If you keep this up, I'll send you all off in the first half!"

In the following minutes, the referee became very strict in his calls, and the players' actions slowed down, allowing the game to flow smoothly for a while.

The Trail Blazers gradually closed the gap, and in this close battle, Gan Guoyang maintained a high scoring efficiency.

Both teams were caught up in one-on-one battles, and teamwork was out of the question. They had no time to coordinate and were focused on the individual fights.

Mason stayed on the field for a while, and surprisingly, he performed quite well.

Although he didn't score, Mason did a great job on rebounds and defense; he played very hard.

Moreover, he was not at a disadvantage in the confrontation, keeping the agile and disruptive Dennis Rodman firmly under his control.

This prevented Rodman from fully utilizing his abilities in chaotic play, disruptive play, and rebounding.

Mason's biggest problem in defense is his slow footwork; he can't keep up with the speed of his opponents' breakthroughs.

However, his playing time is limited anyway, and if he falls behind, he will commit a vicious foul.

With a little over a minute left in the second quarter, Daly brought on Aguirre, and Rodman was somehow contained by Mason during that time.

He couldn't push him away, and it seemed like he couldn't win by hitting him. It turned out that Mason's move was a surprising one.

However, Aguirre Mason couldn't stop him, and Porter missed a three-pointer, allowing the Pistons to launch a fast break.

Isaiah Thomas passed the ball to Aguirre, who cut in from the wing. Aguirre received the ball, accelerated past Mason, and, seeing he couldn't defend him, shoved Aguirre hard from behind. As Aguirre lost his balance, he tried to throw the ball towards the basket for a 2+1 play.

However, a truck came rushing from behind, and Forrest Gump, like a football player, crossed his arms and slammed into Aguirre, who lost his balance and was sent flying out of bounds, tumbling head over heels into the stands!

Those familiar with the subject know that this is Bill Laimbeer's signature move.

He just loves to knock smaller players flying like that on defense.

The Pistons' bench couldn't hold back any longer and all rushed forward.

The Trail Blazers were prepared, with Sabonis standing like a wall in front of Forrest Gump.

Tensions were high between the two sides, and a conflict could erupt at any moment. Even the usually polite Portland fans went wild.

Just then, Mark Aguirre scrambled to his feet from the stands and charged at Forrest Gump like a wild boar.

Upon seeing this, Mason immediately rushed up from the side, grabbed Aguirre, and the two wrestled together, falling to the ground together.

Mason had been waiting for this moment for a long time! He came up here to take a bullet for Forrest Gump!

The two burly men started fighting, and the scene was chaotic.

Fortunately, the situation was still under control. Players and staff from both sides worked together to finally separate them.

The second quarter was originally 12 minutes long, but due to various conflicts, it dragged on for more than half an hour.

On the sidelines, David Stern looked ashen-faced. Was this the 1990 NBA Finals?
You have a players' union president and a vice president on the field. What do you take me for?

Is it a mascot? Or a marble sculpture?

Ultimately, Mason was ejected from the game, and Mark Aguirre was called for a common foul.

When Mason left the field, the entire stadium erupted in enthusiastic applause.

In just half a quarter, Mason proved himself with his performance; he is a rough gem worth polishing.

Bellman originally thought of him as a suicide squad member, someone who would go up and fight a couple of times and then come down.

Unexpectedly, he played quite well, so he stayed on the field until his "glorious sacrifice".

Gan Guoyang also committed his third foul, which was still a regular foul.

The entire Pistons team protested, and Chuck Daly poured out his grievances to Strom.

Strom casually remarked, "You guys used to call these kinds of fouls too."

Daly was speechless for a moment. What goes around comes around.

At halftime, the score was 45-46, with the Trail Blazers taking a one-point lead.

The intensity of the match between the two sides is evident; tonight, the ratings are sure to explode.

This might be the only reason David Stern could tolerate it; fans just love watching this.

Portland fans went absolutely wild tonight, turning Memorial Stadium into the Colosseum.

In addition to the stadium, a large number of fans also gathered outside the stadium, and the Portland Police Department is deploying officers to the scene to maintain order.

However, during halftime, a sudden downpour in Portland dispersed the fans outside the stadium, which relieved the police of their security burden.

Portland's frequent rains did nothing to dampen the fans' enthusiasm or the tension in the stadium.

During halftime in the locker room, Gan Guoyang sat on a bench without saying a word, and no one dared to disturb him.

He exuded a strong murderous aura, and although everyone supported him, this unusual murderous aura was frightening.

Only Behrman, who had been coaching Gan Guoyang since high school, dared to step forward, squat down in front of Gan, and say, "You still need to control yourself."

Gan Guoyang nodded and said, "I understand."

Meanwhile, in the Pistons' locker room, Chuck Daly was furious.

It's like the saying goes, "He who hunts geese all day long gets pecked in the eye." The Pistons were actually contained by the Trail Blazers' physical play in the first half.

The players were hesitant on both offense and defense, and Dennis Rodman made no impact in the second quarter.

"What the hell are you guys playing? When you face the Trail Blazers, when you face Forrest Gump, you all turn into kittens?"

"We have always been on the defensive and have been constantly attacked. Wasn't the attack in 1987 enough?"

Thinking about the 1987 Finals, Daley would think of the punch he received from Jack Ramsey.

Now Ramsey has gone to Florida to retire, what a lucky break for that bald guy.

"Stay alert! This is war; it's either you or me!"

Daley, who always pays great attention to his appearance, only reveals his brutal side in the locker room.

This is the bestiality brought about by years of poverty and disappointment. He hides it well, but he will stop at nothing to succeed.

However, Daly underestimated Gan Guoyang's determination, the true meaning of the word "war," and the price that would have to be paid.

In the locker room during halftime, Bill Laimbeer remained silent, while Isaiah Thomas, just like in 1989, yelled, "Nobody wants to get into our paint! Let's take them down!"

Last year, after the Trail Blazers were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals, Thomas declared that the Pistons were a shoo-in for the championship because nobody wanted to risk ruining their career by entering the Pistons' paint.

Thomas was just that blatant and arrogant, and after winning the championship in 89, he became even more confident.

He still revered Forrest Gump, but in his view, even if he couldn't beat Forrest Gump, the Pistons would still win.

This is the NBA, not a boxing match.

Lambiel clearly knew Forrest Gump better; he had more experience taking beatings.

Before the start of the third quarter, Laimbeer reminded Thomas: "Isaiah, Forrest is serious tonight, be careful not to provoke him."

Thomas mocked Lambiel, saying, "My God, Bill, how could you say such a thing? Is this really you? Are you really pregnant?"

"Fuck you, I'm telling the truth, listen to me or not."

Thomas was in excellent form tonight, scoring 16 points in the first half, almost matching his average score in the series against the Bulls.

The Trail Blazers' perimeter defense lacked aggression, and Thomas used his agile dribbling and accurate jump shots to repeatedly score over Porter's head.

Porter couldn't stop Thomas.

During halftime, CBS described the first half of tonight's Finals as a veritable fighting arena.

"We anticipated this situation, but the intensity of the competition far exceeded our expectations."

Dick Stockton said this should be his last series and his last Finals appearance on CBS.

At the end of this season, CBS will end its partnership with the NBA, and Dick will move to the NFL or MLB commentary studio.

After 15 minutes of calm following the start of the third quarter, the intense atmosphere between the two sides eased slightly.

Porter missed a three-pointer, Gan Guoyang tipped the ball to the outside, and Hornacek received the ball and made a mid-range jump shot.

Thomas repeatedly set screens and picks with Turpin on the left side, feeding the ball to the inside, where Turpin's layup drew a foul from Sabonis.

He made both free throws.

Gan Guoyang received a pass on the baseline, went one-on-one with Tepin, and made a mid-range shot.

After Thomas set a screen, he found an opening in the middle and made a mid-range shot.

The two sides looked much calmer, as if the fierce battle of the first half was over.

However, beneath the calm lies a tremendous power that can erupt.

The Pistons made the first move, and Porter was violently pulled down from behind by Laimbeer during a fast break.

Although Lambiel knew that a storm was brewing, he thought about it and wondered, what was there to be afraid of?

This guy is a daredevil; he actually played very well tonight, causing the Trail Blazers a lot of trouble under the basket.

After committing the foul, Lambiel looked at Forrest, wary that the guy might try something underhanded.

However, Gan Guoyang didn't seem very interested in Laimbeer. Porter went to the free-throw line and made one of two shots.

The second shot missed, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the offensive rebound and went for a layup, but was brutally knocked down from behind by Isaiah Thomas!

Thomas committed a vicious foul, hitting Gan Guoyang on the arm and head. After the foul, Thomas immediately walked away, avoiding a direct confrontation with Gan.

Gan Guoyang glared at Thomas, said nothing and did nothing, and made both free throws.

Halfway through the third quarter, the Trail Blazers led by 2 points, 61-63.

The rain outside is getting heavier and heavier.

Thomas has already scored 22 points; he's on fire.

Porter couldn't keep up with Thomas's pace, and often a change of speed or direction would expose a weakness in Porter.

With Agan being entangled by Tping, a forward with strong defensive support is needed to cover Thomas.

This is precisely the Trail Blazers' weakness; Cauchy is too clumsy, he's not Pippen.

In 1987, the Trail Blazers had many tall guards and forwards, but now they are a new team.

Thomas once again shook off Porter and made a pull-up jumper, tying the game at 63-63.

After scoring, Thomas made a throat-slitting gesture at Forrest Gump, which was a provocation.

In response, Gan Guoyang and Porter completed a pick-and-roll, with Gan cutting to the outside to receive the ball and making a mid-range jump shot.

The Pistons quickly inbounded the ball from the backcourt, Thomas advanced quickly, and with a screen from Laimbeer at the high post, he accelerated past Porter and drove straight to the basket.

Sabonis was moved to the outside, and Gan Guoyang was not in the three-second zone. Teping ran to the wing to open up space inside.

Thomas accelerated toward the basket, and Gan Guoyang rushed over and jumped to block the shot.

His steel-like elbow slammed into Thomas's face with a thud, right in the face!
Everyone present heard the cracking sound, as crisp as a soda cracker snapping.

Thomas fell downwards like a kite with a broken string, lying motionless and limp on the ground.

The players on the field were stunned, not knowing what had happened.

The first to react was Thomas's friend Mark Aguirre; he knew it was over, Thomas might be dying!

As a friend, he rushed towards Gan Guoyang without hesitation. This time, Mason did not stop him, and Gan Guoyang did not retreat or dodge. He went up to meet him and threw a punch at Aguirre's face!
Gan Guoyang's punches were accurate and ruthless; the huge impact knocked Aguirre down as well.

The situation completely exploded after two Pistons players went down. Chuck Daly went berserk, rushing onto the court and yelling at the referee and Agan!

The assistant coach held him back tightly, but Gan Guoyang ran straight toward Daly. The Trail Blazers players blocked all the Pistons players who wanted to rush forward.

Strom was checking on Thomas, the other two referees were calming the others, and Gan Guoyang just rushed straight up to Daly.

Daley was stunned for a moment. Gan Guoyang looked at Daley, reached out and slapped Daley across the face, making Daley dizzy and disoriented.

When Dennis Rodman saw his father being beaten, he flew into a rage, broke through the obstacles, and threw a punch at Forrest Gump.

Gan Guoyang was as calm as a killing machine, and dodged Rodman's rough punch by tilting his head.

This time, he skipped the wrestling protection and punched Rodman right in the face! Sending him to sleep!

Gan Guoyang's boxing skills are also top-notch; he has great power, fast punches, and amazing accuracy.

To improve his fighting ability, boxing is a must-training activity for him in the summer. Don King even wanted to sign Forrest Gump to fight in professional boxing matches.

The scene was completely chaotic. Only Forrest Gump was as ruthless as a butcher. After knocking out three Pistons players, he knew he was going to be ejected.

In the chaotic crowd, he spotted Lambiel again. Lambiel, caught up in the moment, knew he couldn't escape.

So he rushed over early, yelling "Fuck you, Sonny!"

Another punch landed squarely on his chin, quick and accurate, and he fell asleep again.

At this point, should the Pistons players calm down and rush in to their deaths?
And this is Portland, with tens of thousands of fans. If they all rush up here, how can they leave?

Forrest Gump is a god here.

Tepin shouted, "Look at Isaiah! Stop hitting him! He might die! Doctor! Doctor!"

Thomas had a bloody gash between his eyebrows, from which blood was gushing out, and he had completely lost consciousness.

Everyone's hearts began to tremble. Forrest Gump, who had crossed the line, was terrifying, like a serial killer.

The Pistons have finally paid the price for their long-standing abuse of force.

David Stern broke with protocol and ran onto the court to check on Thomas.

Fortunately, he was still breathing and hadn't died, but his condition was bad; his wounds were large.

Medical workers quickly arrived, lifted Thomas onto a stretcher, and took him to the hospital.

Laimbeer, Rodman, and Aguirre were all sound asleep, and the Pistons were instantly reduced by half.

Stern ran up to Forrest Gump and said, "Sonny, you've messed up! What are you doing? What are you doing!"

The TV station must have caught Stern and Forrest on camera, so Stern was trying his best to control his emotions.

Gan Guoyang replied, "This is the price the Pistons have to pay, and it's also the price you pay for condoning violence."

"That's right, condoning violence, and the greatest violence I've condoned is you!"

"I was just retaliating against David! Portland and I never intentionally attacked our opponents; we're all basketball players! But the league allows teams like Detroit to exist, making everyone feel insecure! As long as our opponents play well, we're the cleanest team in the league! We have the fewest technical fouls!"

David Stern had nothing to say. The league did indeed seem to have been lenient with the Pistons for the past two years, with the aim of boosting ratings and generating buzz.

Gan Guoyang was also tolerated, but when the opponents played well, the Trail Blazers were indeed a very clean team.

Aside from some unavoidable conflicts, they never resort to dirty tricks or underhanded tactics, and their number of technical fouls has consistently been among the lowest in the league.

Finally, David Stern could only say, "Pray that Thomas doesn't have any serious problems, otherwise... you're finished."

Gan Guoyang replied, "No, I won't be finished. If I am, the NBA will be finished too. As for Thomas, God bless him."

After speaking, Gan Guoyang left the chaotic stadium. The fans were a little stunned, but then they gave him a warm round of applause and cheers.

David Stern listened to the applause and cheers, looked around, and fell into a daze.

(End of this chapter)