The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 653 The Hero's Game
Jordan inevitably fell into a state of impatience.

"Son of a bitch."

After hearing what Forrest Gump said, Jordan cursed inwardly.

Because of the tight schedule, he didn't even have time to reply before Gan Guoyang left.

Jordan could only return to the bench and sit there sulking.

This was the first thing Forrest Gump said to him since the playoffs began.

Welcome to the finals, f*** you, what do you take me for?

Although Jordan knew perfectly well that Forrest Gump was engaging in psychological warfare against him, which was one of his usual tactics.

But upon closer reflection, what Forrest Gump said does make sense; Phil Jackson's strategy might indeed have been flawed.

In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, and against other teams, Jackson always asked Jordan to be a team player first, to integrate into the collective triangle offense, and to let his teammates make their moves first.

In the first quarter or first half, Jordan would usually try his hand at scoring around 10 points to maintain his hot hand.

In the more crucial third and fourth quarters, Jordan would take the ball more often to attack and decide the course of the game.

At this point, Jordan's shooting touch is on fire, and his teammates are also in good form, creating a positive synergy.

Through this resonance and harmony, Jackson successfully eased the conflict between Jordan and his teammates, allowing the Bulls to play with more rhythm. Coupled with their consistently strong defense, they were naturally invincible in the Eastern Conference.

But the Trail Blazers are not the Detroit Pistons, and Forrest Gump is not any other star player.

Looking back at past regular season games between the Bulls and the Trail Blazers, every game was an extremely fierce battle.

When everyone else was exhausted, it became a battle between Gan and Qiao, and the two always managed to score high marks.

After Jackson took over, the Bulls' strategy changed, and Jordan and Forrest played more as a team and were no longer so "selfish".

"But Phil seems to have forgotten that this was the regular season. Forrest Gump is a super scorer in the playoffs who can single-handedly sink opponents. This kid's stamina is even more exaggerated than mine, and his scoring explosiveness is even stronger than mine when he gets hot."

"My biggest advantage is that I'm an outside player, and I have more autonomy on offense. But now Phil has taken away that autonomy from me, thinking that I can slowly let Cartwright, Paxson and the others find their rhythm, while Forrest Gump is firing on all cylinders!"

"Shet!"

Jordan is not a very patient person.

The only thing that kept him patient was the excellent performance of his teammates, who were able to take the lead and win.

Otherwise, Jordan would immediately become irritable. He can't stand seeing people make mistakes, and he can't stand seeing his teammates make some stupid mistakes—although this is often unavoidable.

He was particularly impatient with Bill Cartwright and Horace Grant, with whom he had a poor relationship and whose playing style Jordan disliked.

Cartwright's low-post offensive shots always felt awkward, and Grant was never considered as good as Buck Williams in Jordan's eyes.

In fact, judging from his performance in the playoffs, Grant is surpassing Buck, especially in terms of his versatility, which is unmatched by old-school players like Buck. It's just that Jordan didn't realize this correctly.

"Michael, Michael! You need to be more actively involved in the offense, understand?"

Jordan was pulled from his thoughts by Jackson's voice. He hadn't heard a word Jackson said; he was too busy mentally arguing with Forrest Gump.

"What? I'm actively participating in the attack? Is it finally my turn to launch an attack?"

"No, didn't you hear me? I mean you need to participate in the team's offense, move more actively, pass the ball, and put pressure on Forrest Gump!"

"Apply pressure? Are you suggesting I guard Forrest Gump one-on-one? That's not my job!"

The stadium was very noisy; players and coaches had to shout to communicate, as if everyone was arguing.

Jackson sensed Jordan's dissatisfaction in his tone, but he still advised Jordan to be more patient, as the game was still long.

Jordan avoided Jackson's gaze, pursed his lips, and remained silent. He had made his decision; he couldn't sit idly by and had to keep up with Forrest Gump and the Trail Blazers.

On the other hand, the situation was more harmonious on the Trail Blazers' bench.

Gan Guoyang repeatedly reminded Sabonis to do a good job in assisting the inside and on defense.

"Pick and screen, screen, screen, once the ball is passed out, the defensive rotation is up to you, I need to focus more on one-on-one offense."

"We need to control the pace of the game and the whole series! We're doing well now, but we're bound to run into trouble later, so be prepared, guys."

"Michael will most likely start attacking. Reggie, you need to be careful, control your fouls, don't provoke Michael, stay calm, and I'll help you if you get into big trouble. Remember to stay calm, stay calm, and maintain your resilience. The game is going to be long."

Entering the finals, Gan Guoyang was no longer just a player, but a true commander.

He had anticipated that after his attack, Jordan would definitely change his rhythm, thereby disrupting the Bulls' tactical plan.

The Bulls' offense and defense will gradually fall into chaos, and the Trail Blazers will have a greater advantage.

Bobby Bellman squatted to the side, silently doodling on the tactics board with a paintbrush; he knew this wasn't his time.

Having worked with Gan Guoyang for so many years, Behrman knew perfectly well that Gan was an absolute control freak.

Control the field, control your teammates, control the coach, control the referee, and influence the course of the game in every way.

However, his gentle nature, impeccable behavior, loyalty, exemplary conduct, and Asian features make it easy for people to underestimate his twisted side.

Behrman had followed Forrest Gump all along and knew very well the devilish side of Forrest Gump.

As the head coach, his job is to step up and take control of the situation when the devil tries to harm his teammates and himself.

Behrman was always worried that Forrest Gump was too strong and had too many victories, and that one day he would be burdened by arrogance.

Arrogance could be Forrest Gump's biggest weakness, so Behrman was always carefully reminding him of it.

After the timeout ended and it was time for Gan Guoyang to go back on the court, Berman pulled Gan aside and said, "Sonny, I know you're putting pressure on Jordan, you're better than him. But you also need to understand that the transition between strength and weakness can often happen in an instant, you need to stay calm."

"Also, you must know that in the end, the competition comes down to hard skills and willpower. Don't get caught up in the game."

Gan Guoyang understood what Bellman was talking about. He nodded and said, "I understand, Bobby."

Of all the opponents Gan Guoyang has faced, Jordan is indeed the most difficult to control and the most likely to defeat Gan.

The reason is simple: this guy is really strong, extremely strong, and his skills are far superior to everyone else in the league.

The good news is that this guy is a bit slow in some ways, not a perfect genius like Bird.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang can often lead him by the nose.

The bad news is that fools often win in the end because courage is more valuable than wisdom.

Back in the game, Jordan indeed lost patience with his teammates and began to attack more directly with the ball.

He first drove straight down the middle with the ball, dodging the defenses of Gan Guoyang and Lewis in mid-air, and scored with a layup after a change of hands.

He then actively double-teamed Gan Guoyang on defense. After Gan Guoyang passed the ball, he immediately went to the middle to block him and successfully intercepted the pass.

On the counterattack, Jordan passed the ball to Pippen, creating a two-on-one opportunity in the frontcourt. Jordan couldn't let it pass, so he drove to the basket, received the ball, and dunked successfully.

With a series of quick points, the Bulls gradually stabilized their situation.

Jordan noticeably increased his pace and rhythm, while forcing his teammates to handle the ball faster—meaning to pass the ball to Jordan whenever possible, because there was no time for them to hesitate and take the ball themselves.

On the other hand, Gan Guoyang slowed down the pace slightly for the Trail Blazers, increased his passing, and assisted Sabonis and Jerome Cahill to score in the paint.

Bill Cartwright and Buck Williams are an excellent defensive duo in the league, but they were not enough against Agan and Sabonis, as those two were too versatile in their playing style.

Buck Williams' 6'8" height limited his effectiveness, so halfway through the first quarter, Phil Jackson substituted him with Horace Grant.

However, Grant made a passing error on his first offensive possession after entering the game. His pass to Pippen was too casual and was intercepted by Jerome Koch.

Lewis made a fast break and this time he scored with a fast break dunk over Jordan's defense!
The Trail Blazers have re-established a lead of more than 5 points.

Although the Bulls, led by Jordan, gradually regained their offensive rhythm, the overall situation was still firmly suppressed by the Trail Blazers.

Grant's passing error infuriated Jordan, who directly reprimanded Grant: "If you're not ready, don't step onto the court!"

Grant was about to retort when Pippen stopped him, telling him to focus on the game and concentrate on the court. He explained that Michael was just that kind of person, and that it wasn't the first time he'd known him.

Jordan was furious, and Gan Guoyang was not calm either. Jerome Cahill made a series of mistakes on defense, once failing to help in time and once leaving Pippen open, which led to gaps in the defense.

"Focus, kid! Look me in the eyes! You need to give it your all from the first quarter, that's how you win, understand?"

Ke Xi glanced into Gan Guoyang's eyes and immediately lowered his head. The burning desire to win in Gan's eyes stung him.

Jordan and Gan Guoyang, two heaters, rapidly increased the temperature of the game.

"The most exciting thing about the Michael vs. Forrest Gump matchup is that they quickly escalate the game to a scorching, intense level, forcing everyone to be fully engaged in the competition, leaving no room for distraction or complacency. I'm sure the pressure on their teammates will be immense when they meet in the Finals."

NBC commentator Marvin Albert, watching the first quarter of the Finals already heating up, explained why the games between Forrest Gump and Jordan are always so captivating.

They force opponents and teammates to quickly reach 100%, or even 150%, making the game incredibly intense.

Jordan indeed changed the Bulls' offensive and defensive plans, scoring 15 points in the first quarter and helping the Bulls close the gap in the final stages of the quarter.

This included a successful double-team on Gan Guoyang, where Jordan stole the ball from Gan Guoyang's hands and, on the counterattack, charged forward, sticking out his tongue as he dunked the ball into the basket!
After he scored that beautiful fast break, the Bulls and Trail Blazers were tied at 29-30, trailing by only one point. Jordan's score accounted for more than half of the team's total points.

However, Phil Jackson was not satisfied with Jordan's performance. He took too many shots in the first quarter, disrupting the team's offensive plan.

However, Jackson did not criticize Jordan during the break, knowing that now was not the time and that Jordan's lack of patience was understandable.

Agan scored 12 points and had 4 assists in the first quarter. His explosive start was truly worrying. Would he turn the game around in one quarter?

Jackson didn't think so. He felt that Forrest Gump was setting a trap for Jordan, but given Forrest Gump's scoring ability, it was indeed possible.

In short, after weighing the options, Jackson let Jordan off the hook and instead asked the others to increase their defensive intensity and effort.

"Don't let them move the ball, disrupt every single one of their passes! Scottie, you need to double-team Forrest relentlessly, keep harassing him, don't stop."

Jackson emphasized defense, and then carefully planned the second unit's tactical choices, as the performance of the substitutes was also crucial to the outcome.

One major reason for the Pistons' crushing 0-4 defeat to the Bulls was their weak bench; with the starters exhausted, too few players could step up and keep the team afloat.

The Trail Blazers are different; they have a lot of elite players, and the Bulls must be careful. Jackson wants to see what tricks the Trail Blazers will use in their second unit.

The Trail Blazers' second unit has always been led by Sabonis and Reggie Lewis, but the real driving force is Petrovic, whose rapid ball-handling offense allows the Trail Blazers to score quickly.

Tonight, Petrovic's parents, siblings and other family members came to the stadium to watch him play. When Petrovic came on, he glanced at the stands and was reassured to see his family.

The situation in Croatia is becoming increasingly volatile. According to friends in China, Croatia is likely to declare independence in June, at which time civil war will break out.

If his family were still in Croatia at that time, Petrovic would definitely have flown back to be with them.

Through embassy connections, Agan brought Petrovic's family over, putting his mind at ease. However, Petrovic remained worried about Croatia and hoped to deliver an outstanding performance in the finals to inspire his countrymen.

He knew that many people in Croatia were watching the Finals, and in Croatia, he was the Jordan in the eyes of the fans.

After the start of the second quarter, Petrovic indeed took control of the game, constantly using screens from Sabonis and Mitchell Thompson to fire shots from the outside.

Facing the Bulls' intense perimeter defense, Petrovic made decisive shots without hesitation, demonstrating his absolute confidence.

Under Bobby Bellman's careful guidance, he has become the Trail Blazers' best sixth man, a scoring machine on the court, capable of scoring as soon as he steps onto the court.

A similar role for the Bulls was Horace Grant, who always played exceptionally well when Forrest Gump was off the court.

He made several cuts to the basket, using his speed to shake off Sabonis and Thompson, and scored.

He can also hit mid-range jump shots from the outside and assist Armstrong and Hodges in hitting long-range shots.

In the 1991 season, the Portland Trail Blazers made the most three-point attempts and had the highest accuracy rate.

The team with the second-highest field goal percentage is the Chicago Bulls—even with Jordan dragging them down.

Armstrong, Hodges, and Paxson were all excellent strikers, and Klaus was right about that; in this era, you need good defenders and strikers to create space.

Players like Walter Davis, whom Jordan admired, are finding it increasingly difficult to contribute their value in high-level games due to the changing playing styles of the era.

The game did not become dull because Jordan and Gan Guoyang were off the court; on the contrary, the two sides went back and forth, and the game was extremely intense.

Phil Jackson, who is usually very composed, was unusually restless and stood on the sidelines directing Armstrong to slow down the pace.

"Shit, the pace is too fast, this is not what we like."

Phil Jackson watched the score climb rapidly, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart.

Although the score was close, the game was completely under the control of the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers under Bellman's leadership were not a fast-break team, but they were an offensive team, good at back-and-forth play, and liked a smooth game pace.

The Bulls are not an offensively-minded defensive team either, but they are generally more defensively oriented. They prefer to disrupt their opponents with tough defense and wear them down through fast breaks and outside attacks.

This is determined by the roster structure of both teams. The Trail Blazers have a better interior player, and they can play steadily around the interior. If both teams go toe-to-toe, the Trail Blazers have the advantage because their base is very stable.

The Bulls are a perimeter-oriented team, and defense is their weapon. If we're talking about pure half-court offense efficiency, they're excellent, second in the league—but unfortunately, the first is the Trail Blazers.

Jackson was eager to drag the game into a chaotic free-for-all, preventing Agan from getting into a better half-court game. Ideally, he wanted to give the Trail Blazers offensive control to the perimeter, and then the Bulls would use their perimeter pressure to put them in a difficult position.

However, Jordan's "unauthorized actions" in the first quarter disrupted the rhythm, and Jackson felt he was losing control of the game.

Moreover, even bigger trouble awaits the Chicago Bulls in the second half.

Petrovic scored 7 consecutive points, and the Trail Blazers' bench players held off the Bulls.

This forced Jordan to become even more headstrong, and when he returned to the game in the second quarter, his offensive desire intensified.

Gan Guoyang responded continuously in both offense and defense, and in one-on-one situations, both of them were unstoppable.

The Trail Blazers used a triple-team of Lewis, Cauchy, and Porter to constantly push Jordan toward the sideline and toward Forrest Gump.

The Bulls had Pippen, Jordan, Grant, Buck Williams, and Bill Cartwright, with three of them always revolving around Forrest Gump.

Forrest Gump doesn't always pass the ball; sometimes, even when triple-teamed, he'll force a shot and make some.

Jordan started passing the ball, but then he stopped. Three people, so what?

Jordan was in top form. In the second quarter, when facing a triple team, he dribbled backward to avoid them, then made a simple crossover dribble and drove in again, using his speed to rush into the paint, push past Agan, and dunked with one hand!
A super dunk like a helicopter!

The speed was too fast and the burst of power was too strong, so Gan Guoyang could only dodge.

After scoring, Jordan shook his head at Gan Guoyang and said, "This is how I welcome you, Sonny!"

Jordan is quite vengeful.

Gan Guoyang will definitely take his revenge on the spot.

He deliberately received the ball in the low post on the right side and waited slowly for Jordan to come and help defend.

As soon as Jordan arrived, he immediately dribbled back, and Jordan and Buck Williams separated. At this moment, Lewis was cutting inside.

Buck Williams could only go over to defend Lewis, leaving the right side clear and turning it into a one-on-one situation between Forrest Gump and Jordan.

Gan Guoyang protected the ball, while Jordan, like a black panther, kept a close watch on Gan. If Gan Guoyang showed any opening, Jordan would definitely steal the ball.

Gan Guoyang made a brief adjustment, dribbled with his left hand, and suddenly forced his way to the basket!

There was no change of direction, no turn, no feint; it was just a bulldozer pushing the ball straight in!

Jordan's size and strength could hold off many big men, but he couldn't stop Forrest Gump.

Gan Guoyang charged all the way to the basket from a 45-degree angle, right up against Jordan, and with Jordan on his back, he put the ball in the hoop!
The referee blew his whistle, calling a defensive foul on Jordan. The two points were valid, and he was awarded a free throw.

The Memorial Stadium erupted in cheers as Forrest Gump, like Hercules, carried Jordan while still managing to score.

Jordan stood under the basket with his hands on his hips, chewing gum, looking somewhat helpless.

Forrest Gump, that beast, is still so strong.

If a slightly more cunning player had been on that ball, they would have fallen to the ground and drawn an offensive foul.

But Jordan wouldn't do that; he wanted to go head-to-head with Forrest Gump, and naturally, he couldn't win.

Gan Guoyang made the free throw, and the contest between the two players became fierce in the first half.

At that moment, Phil Jackson called a timeout, and Jordan sat on the sidelines drinking water.

Jackson finally couldn't help but say to Jordan, "Michael, you've overexerted yourself! This is definitely not good, and we'll be in trouble in the second half."

Jordan took a breath and realized that Jackson might be right. He was really exhausted. The high intensity of his participation on both offense and defense gave him a bad feeling.

His physical fitness is not the problem. The problem is that this is the finals. A slight lack of physical fitness will lead to a drop in shooting percentage and a decline in defense in the later stages, which will be fatal.

At this point, all Jordan could say was, "The Portlanders are also exhausted... It's fucking hot here."

Jackson shook his head. He knew that Forrest Gump's stamina far surpassed that of others. Jordan was already a stamina monster, but Forrest Gump was a monster among monsters.

"Michael, you have to realize that you can't beat Forrest Gump and his Trail Blazers on your own. You have to rely on your teammates and the strength of the whole team."

Jackson kept these thoughts to himself and didn't tell Jordan. He felt it wasn't the right time to say them, as nothing was certain and anything could happen during the game.

But the situation is indeed getting worse. The Trail Blazers are full of energy, Forrest Gump is in excellent form, and the Trail Blazers' bench has no obvious weaknesses, even surpassing the Bulls.

On the Trail Blazers' bench, Agan and Bellman are still optimistic, but they also have a problem – a foul crisis. Kersey, Lewis, and Sabonis all have two fouls each.

Jordan was very offensively potent, and as an outside player, his agility gave the Trail Blazers a lot of headaches.

Apart from Reggie Lewis, the Trail Blazers' other perimeter players couldn't match up against Jordan and were simply feeding him kills.

On the Bulls' side, Buck, Grant, and Cartwright could at least put up a fight against Forrest Gump.

Moreover, it is easier to double-team the inside players than the outside players, as the inside players have a limited range of movement.

Gan Guoyang hasn't hit a three-pointer tonight, nor has he made any mid-range shots, because the Bulls have been very effective at blocking his shooting sweet spots at the top of the key, three-pointers, and 45 degrees.

This would result in Gan Guoyang's offense being one-dimensional and lacking in depth, and his defensive efforts against the Bulls being insufficient.

Bellman tried to get Sabonis to attack in the low post a few times to create some space for Gan Guoyang on the perimeter.

Sabonis made two mistakes under the Bulls' fierce double-teaming, forcing him to temporarily abandon this strategy.

The game is unpredictable, giving neither side any time to think. At this moment, it tests the players' muscle memory and reaction ability.

Any unfamiliar technical moves or uncoordinated playing style will be exploited by the opponent to launch a relentless attack.

In the latter part of the second quarter, the Trail Blazers and the Bulls were already playing like they were in the fourth quarter, with a hint of tension.

Pippen and Jerome Kossie had a physical altercation, but Pippen just smiled and took it all in stride.

But Pippen was then blocked twice by Gan Guoyang under the basket, and he couldn't laugh anymore.

Gan Guoyang's rare volleyball block sent the ball flying out of bounds, indicating that he was aiming for Pippen.

The Bulls still had possession of the ball. After a fake move, Jordan chose to drive hard from the baseline to the basket, trying to dunk the ball over Forrest Gump.

Kossi came from the side and knocked Jordan out of bounds. The referee called a foul, and Jordan landed steadily, glaring at Kossi.

Gan Guoyang stepped between the two, staring at Jordan with eyes that seemed to be spitting fire.

At this moment, they were no longer friends, but utter enemies.

They won't be like Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas, who pretended to kiss each other on the cheek in the first two games, but then ignored each other when the game got really intense.

The two quickly became hostile to each other, as they had been preparing for this battle for far too long.

At halftime, the Bulls trailed the Trail Blazers 54-58.

Jordan scored 26 points in the first half, almost half of the team's total points.

Gan Guoyang had 18 points, 11 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 4 assists in the first half.

The players were exhausted, and even the fans in the stadium felt tired. They were highly focused and kept shouting non-stop. Many fans took advantage of the halftime break to go outside for some fresh air, otherwise they would have fainted.

Bill Shawnley even went outside for a drink of water and some fresh air. He told his assistant, "This is only the first half of Game 1. I bet this Finals will shorten the life of my voice."

The game was not only intense, but also featured a constant stream of spectacular goals, steals, dunks, and blocks.

Gan Guoyang contributed 4 dunks in the first half, Jordan contributed 5 dunks, Pippen contributed 3 dunks, Sabonis contributed 2 dunks, and Cahill, Lewis and Grant all contributed dunks.

Everyone prefers to dunk rather than lay up, not only to ensure the shot goes in, but also to boost morale and dampen the opponent's spirits. It's rare to see a dunk like that in a game.

Gan Guoyang created a no-fly zone under the basket, with 6 blocks and numerous successful rim protections. If you want to score under the Trail Blazers' basket, you simply can't do it without some fancy moves.

Jordan and Pippen twisted their bodies, switching hands in mid-air for layups, and even John Paxson tried to use fakes to evade the defense.

To successfully dribble the ball across half-court, the Trail Blazers players had to unleash their dribbling skills to the fullest, otherwise they risked being shut down and stripped by Jordan and Pippen.

During halftime, Phil Jackson admitted that perhaps Jordan was right; with such intensity and ferocity, his own plan might have been too naive.

In a competition like this, only the brave can survive to the end.

(End of this chapter)