The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 659 The Champion's Morning

With one quarter remaining in the fourth game, the Trail Blazers trailed the Bulls by one point.

A one-point lead is still a lead, but the Bulls' mental defenses have been completely breached.

During the break between the third and fourth quarters, a deathly silence made the Bulls' bench as quiet as a graveyard in the noisy Chicago arena.

At this moment, no matter how hard Phil Jackson roared, his voice sounded like the creaking of bones in a coffin, lacking any vitality except to frighten people.

Even Jordan, who usually gets angry and yells at his teammates when they play poorly, was silent. At this moment, he didn't know what to say or what he could say.

Jordan could clearly sense the negative emotions spreading within the team, just like in Game 7 of last year's Eastern Conference Finals, where everyone's hands and feet were locked up, their minds were frozen, and they no longer knew how to play.

The Bulls are like the Trail Blazers in the first half; in the second half, the two teams are completely reversed.

At this moment, Jordan really wanted to know how the Trail Blazers managed to regain their form during halftime.

Did Forrest Gump give an inspiring speech, or did he beat up his teammates?
Jordan had no idea; he was completely clueless, and the game wouldn't give him time to think about how to boost morale.

The short two-minute break was just enough for everyone to catch their breath before returning to the game, holding onto that one-point lead and trying their best to hold on until the end of the match.

In contrast to the Bulls, the Trail Blazers' bench was like a volcano that had been suppressed for a long time and finally erupted. Everyone was in high spirits and stood on the sidelines watching the game.

When Gan Guoyang left the court, everyone came over to give him a high-five. He took a towel from Antonio Davis and wiped his sweat.

Bobby Bellman said, "Sonny, you rest at the start of the fourth quarter and come back in after at least four minutes."

"Why? I can play the full game."

"No, you need to rest. Trust your teammates. Save your energy for the final moment."

Berman's tone was firm; in the previous three games, Gan Guoyang had played the entire second half.

But tonight, at a crucial moment when they were down by one point and about to take the lead, Bellman benched Gan Guoyang.

This may seem like a risky decision, but Berman was confident enough that he believed in every player he had, not just Forrest Gump.

He believes the players have found their form and that they can turn things around and hold the line whether Forrest Gump is on the court or not, while waiting for him to rest.

Gan Guoyang hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

So, when the fourth quarter started, Jordan remained on the court, while Gan Guoyang rested on the bench for the Trail Blazers.

Veteran Mitchell Thompson will replace Gan Guoyang in the final series of his career.

After a season of dormancy, Thompson played his due role in the playoffs. Although his stats were not outstanding, his rich experience made him the second most reliable anchor on the court after Forrest Gump.

Under the basket, whether facing Cartwright, Grant, or Williams, he was never at a disadvantage, effectively protecting the rim and securing rebounds, allowing Sabonis to focus more on defending Jordan and facilitating the offense.

With Petrovic, Lewis, and Dell Curry forming a backcourt trio, Petrovic was like a sharp knife, constantly cutting through the Bulls' solid perimeter defense.

On the first offensive possession of the fourth quarter, Petrovic overpowered Armstrong one-on-one and hit a pull-up jumper, scoring two crucial points – the Trail Blazers took the lead!

Although Jordan immediately broke through and scored a layup to regain the lead, the Trail Blazers' first lead had already broken their dull performance throughout the game.

The Bulls were struggling to stay afloat thanks to Jordan, while the other players had degenerated from professional players to college or high school students, their movements becoming distorted under pressure.

Horace Grant was easily faked out by veteran Thompson under the basket, and Thompson drew a foul on Grant while making a layup. Thompson made both free throws, regaining the lead.

After that, Grant committed a traveling violation on offense. He was too hasty, and the turnover made the situation worse for the Bulls.

This isn't a matter of skill, tactics, or ability; it's purely a matter of mentality.

A young player, making his first appearance in the finals, led by 19 points at halftime, only to be stunned by the opponent's incredible comeback in just one quarter.

Petrovic drove to the basket again, drawing the defense before passing to Curry on the perimeter. Curry's three-point attempt missed.

Sabonis passed the ball out, and it returned to Lewis's hands in the frontcourt. Lewis once again broke through and drove to the basket, scoring with a one-handed dunk!

With the Trail Blazers leading by 3 points, the Chicago arena grew increasingly quiet, while Bulls fans were growing increasingly anxious.

The 3-point deficit isn't significant; the Bulls have plenty of time.

But a 3-point deficit seems so big, especially considering they once led by 19 points.

Armstrong attempted a three-pointer, but missed, and Grant grabbed the offensive rebound.

After a series of feints, he took a strong shot. The ball spun around the rim once, but luckily it went in.

Everyone's mindset and muscles were extremely tense, and their shooting motions were extremely cautious.

Jordan nearly stole the ball from Petrovic, but failed, giving Petrovic another chance to attack the basket.

He made a half-shot, half-pass to Sabonis, who turned and drove to the basket. Sabonis leaped high and slammed the ball home with both hands for a two-handed dunk!

Phil Jackson couldn't sit still any longer and yelled from the sidelines, "Where's your defense? Defense! Focus, the game isn't over yet!"

The Bulls' defense started making some basic mistakes, such as lack of concentration, leaving their man open, focusing on the ball but not on their man, and not being decisive in double-teaming.

These are all psychological factors; it's only natural that the Bulls players' fighting spirit began to crumble.

They weathered the Detroit Pistons and the brutality of the Palace of Auburn Hills, but for the first time, they felt the Portland Trail Blazers' collective strength and unwavering resolve.

Jordan continued to try to carry the team on his shoulders, but at this moment, he also had a heavy burden on his mind: Forrest Gump was still sitting on the bench, not yet on the court.

Driving into the paint and making a layup over the defender—Jordan's drives were unparalleled, but he wasn't always successful.

This time, Sabonis and Lewis worked together to block the shot, causing it to go over the rim but not in, while Thompson firmly controlled the ball under the basket.

The ball was passed to Petrovic again. At this moment, in the eyes of the Bulls fans in the Chicago arena, Petrovic with the ball was even more terrifying than Forrest Gump with the ball.

Petrovich is fully in form; with Forrest Gump gone, he can unleash his genius and imagination even more.

He had waited so long for this moment that he had forgotten he was waiting for it, forgotten why he had trained so hard every day, building muscle, practicing shooting, and honing his skills.

His girlfriend left him, and many women admired him, but the once womanizing Petrovic devoted himself to the basketball court, training day and night.

His homeland was in turmoil and chaos. He wanted to go back, but he couldn't. Every day he would turn on CNN to watch the news, and then go to the basketball court with a heart full of worries to continue training.

And so, Petrovic played better and better. Of course, he had long since given up on dreaming of surpassing Forrest Gump or Jordan; he only wanted to break through his own limits.

opportunity.

At this moment, Petrovic saw nothing but flaws and weaknesses in the Bulls' defense.

Sabonis called for the ball in the low post, and Grant and Armstrong were focused on the Lithuanian.

The cutting routes and space were completely exposed, and no one cared about them; their attention was focused on the ball and the players.

This shows that the players' defensive instincts are blocked; they can only see what they can see, but cannot anticipate what is to come.

After Sabonis received the ball, Grant and Armstrong both came over to double-team him, leaving the area under the basket open. Petrovic used the screen to slip into the paint, received a pass from Sabonis, and easily made a layup.

A simple and clever backdoor play pierced through the Bulls' defense. Phil Jackson could no longer tolerate the team's defense in this state and had no choice but to call a timeout.

The Trail Blazers took a 5-point lead. Gan Guoyang high-fived Petrovic, Sabonis, and others, and exclaimed, "I have amazing teammates. Victory will definitely be ours."

These words inspired the whole team once again. At this moment, Gan Guoyang put on his gear and was fully charged, both physically and mentally, reaching a state of high excitement.

As soon as he returned to the court, Gan Guoyang delivered a huge block to Pippen. Pippen tried to fake his way through the game, but in the end, he couldn't escape being blocked.

This block signaled the failure of the Bulls' strategic move to disrupt Forrest Gump using Scottie-Pippen-Scottie.

In fact, the Bulls were already very successful in using this strategy to win one game and almost take the second.

What truly held Forrest Gump back wasn't Pippen, but rather the Bulls' system, which included Jordan, Grant, Williams, Cartwright, and others behind Pippen.

Pippen was the most suitable one to stand out because he was well-rounded, physically strong, and possessed both motivation and skill.

But once the Bulls' system collapses, Pippen will be all alone against Forrest Gump. Asking him to use one-on-one attacks to deal with Forrest Gump would be like trying to find a sword by marking the boat where it fell into the water.

Gan Guoyang, who had control of the ball, was not in a hurry. He passed the ball to Petrovic, and the two set a screen at the high post. Petrovic then sprinted towards the basket again.

At this moment, no one on the Bulls could stop Petrovic's charge. It wasn't that they couldn't, but they were stunned. Everyone hesitated, their legs feeling like lead.

The Bulls collapsed their defense, Petrovic passed the ball back to Gan Guoyang, who received it at the top of the key. Jordan came over to help defend from the wing, and Gan Guoyang immediately passed the ball to Curry in the corner.

Curry received the ball, did not hesitate, and did not back down because of the previous missed three-pointer. He took another three-pointer and it went in!
A clutch three-pointer – Dell Curry always manages to hit those game-winning threes, which is why the Trail Blazers have kept him on the court and why the coach is willing to put him on the court in crucial moments.

After the goal, the Trail Blazers' morale soared, while the Bulls were utterly dejected.

Even if Jordan made a quick pull-up jump shot, it couldn't dispel the negative emotions within the team.

The Trail Blazers completely controlled the game. Gan Guoyang easily received the ball in the low post, turned inside and cut to the basket, dunking with one hand! He also drew a foul from Grant.

Grant shrugged, not complaining to the referee about his foul, but to his teammates: "Why am I the one guarding Forrest Gump? Where are the double teams? Where is the help defense?"
It's all gone, all gone.

It's chaos, everything is chaos.

Gan Guoyang made the free throw, and the Trail Blazers were now leading by 9 points.

From trailing by 19 points to leading by 9 points, a 28-point margin, the Trail Blazers did it.

In the final minutes, the Bulls' struggles were futile, and the fans in the arena couldn't wait for the game to end.

Phil Jackson was sitting courtside, unusually, with his head down and his face covered by his hands, refusing to watch the game. It was a nightmare, a complete nightmare.

In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Bulls played like they were sleepwalking, not at all like a Finals team.

Defensive lapses, offensive turnovers, passing errors, traveling violations – this is even worse than Game 7 of last year's Eastern Conference Finals.

The collapse came so suddenly; the bubble burst in an instant. The higher you fly, the harder you fall.

Even Michael Jordan, who was determined to rise again after suffering a major setback last year, had a look of despair and helplessness in his eyes.

When the score difference reached 11 points, Phil Jackson called a timeout to make a final push, while Jordan sat on the bench with no expression on his face.

Even his former anger had vanished, replaced by a profound sense of loss that chilled him to the bone, leaving him feeling icy cold all over.

They lost, just like that, there was no turning back. All the efforts of the entire season went down the drain, swallowed by darkness just as dawn was about to break.

Previously, Jordan had experienced many failures, each one painful and agonizing.

Last year's Game 7 loss to the Pistons was a heartbreaking defeat, and Jordan secretly vowed never to experience such a loss again.

But just one year later, they overcame the Pistons, took revenge on the Pistons, and suffered their most crushing defeat against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jordan looked forward to the showdown with Forrest Gump, but he was also mentally prepared for defeat. He knew Forrest's strength and the Trail Blazers' energy.

Given this situation and circumstances, losing at home couldn't be worse, could it?
After Jackson's timeout, Jordan, Pippen, and Cartwright all made shots, but it was too late.

The outcome of the game was no longer in doubt; the Trail Blazers simply stalled for time to secure the victory.

They were very steady, made no mistakes, and didn't give the Bulls a chance to create a miracle. The Bulls also lost the will to create a miracle.

The miracle has already happened tonight, so it won't happen again.

The final score was 108-102. The Trail Blazers, trailing by 19 points at halftime, ultimately defeated the Bulls by 6 points to win the fourth game.

The series score went from a 2-2 tie in Chicago to a 3-1 deficit, a dramatic change that made a comeback by the Bulls virtually impossible.

They need to win all three remaining games, including two consecutive away games in Portland.

It's obvious to anyone with a brain that the Trail Blazers won't let any home court opportunity slip by, and they'll likely be aiming to lift the trophy in Chicago in their next game.

Chicago fans left disappointed, with only a few loyal supporters staying until the very last moment to leave with the Bulls players.

Jordan's lips were tightly pressed together. Tonight, he scored 34 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds—an impeccable performance once again. But the Bulls crumbled, while the Trail Blazers' second-half performance was nothing short of perfect, their most spectacular team play in any Finals game to date.

In critical moments, they did not make mistakes, did not give up, focused their attention, and unleashed their full potential. They did not rely on any star player, but instead relied on the strength of the team to turn the tide.

Compared to their crushing victory over the Detroit Pistons last year, the Trail Blazers actually performed better and played more exciting games this year.

At the end of the game, Gan Guoyang and Jordan shook hands at halftime. They didn't hug. Jordan couldn't help but ask, "Sonny, what did you do during halftime to encourage your teammates?"

Gan Guoyang was very honest and said, "I had everyone beat me up."

Jordan frowned and said, "What? Beat you up? Didn't you beat them up?"

"Of course not. As a leader, when the team is not performing well, you should allow your teammates to kick your ass instead of always blaming them. This is how everyone can unite."

Jordan was skeptical, so Gan Guoyang deliberately pulled his shirt open a little to show Jordan. Sure enough, there were bruises, which didn't look like they were from a game.

“You’re insane, Sonny, even crazier than I imagined.”

"It's worth going crazy for victory."

Jordan shook his head; it was indeed difficult for him to be like Forrest Gump.

He dominated Isaiah Thomas in last year's Finals, but this time his teammates dominated him in the Finals.

What kind of player is this guy?
Jordan once thought he knew Forrest Gump very well; they had many similarities and got along very well.

It wasn't until they met in the Finals that Jordan truly realized the gap between himself and Forrest Gump, and the difference between them.

Indeed, only in intense competition can you see your opponents clearly, and at the same time, see yourself clearly.

The news of the Trail Blazers' incredible comeback from a 19-point deficit quickly spread throughout the United States and then throughout the global sports world.

A commentary in The New York Times reads as follows:

"God created day and night on the first day;"
The next day, air and sky were created;
On the third day, the earth, sea, mountains, plains, and so on were created.
On the fourth day, God...

On the fifth day, God...

On the sixth day, God created man;
On the seventh day, God rested.

On the eighth day, God watched the Trail Blazers' comeback victory against the Bulls and was so excited that he jumped out of bed and couldn't sleep.

Because the pioneers created a miracle that even God was astonished.

This article sparked controversy because it made sarcastic remarks about God, drawing protests from religious conservatives.

However, this game between the Trail Blazers and the Bulls happened to take place on the eighth day of the Finals cycle, hence it was called the "Miracle of the Eighth Day," leaving another significant mark on NBA history.

This victory solidified the Trail Blazers' advantage in the series, giving them three championship points: a back-to-back title, Forrest Gump's fifth championship, and the sixth championship in franchise history.

Reporters crowded the Trail Blazers' locker room. Gan Guoyang, who usually likes to take off his jersey and wear a vest for interviews after the game, was uncharacteristically dressed in a sports jacket and answered reporters' questions in the stuffy, cramped and shabby visiting team's locker room.

He didn't want reporters to see the bruises on his body; who knows what they would say about them? It was best to cover them up.

Reporters kept asking what happened at halftime, why the team was able to turn the tide in the third quarter, and how they did it.

Gan Guoyang didn't go into details, saying, "That's how it happened. Many people underestimated our desire for the championship, even though we've already won several. But we never let up. When we focus on the game itself, everything falls into place naturally. Once you get distracted and start thinking about other things, things get worse and worse. Fortunately, we pulled through, we were lucky."

When asked to comment on Jordan, Gan Guoyang said, "Let's wait until the Finals are over. Now is not a good time to comment."

Back at the hotel, the Trail Blazers players' phones were ringing off the hook with well wishes and greetings from all over the country and even the world.

Although they haven't won the championship yet, this great comeback is undoubtedly more exciting than winning the title. The exciting process is often more touching than the result.

Gan Guoyang even received a call from his father, who refused to come to Chicago to watch the game and insisted on going back to San Francisco to cook, saying that watching two games was enough and that watching too many was pointless.

But it's so late, Gan Youwei was obviously staying up all night watching the live stream. How could he really not watch his son's game?
He just didn't want to travel too far back and forth to other cities and cause trouble for his son.

"I heard you got beaten up." Gan Youwei didn't care about victory or a comeback; he only cared that his son had been beaten.

"Who told you that? I've been playing matches the whole time, how could I have been attacked?"

"Guohui said that you two got into a fight in the locker room during halftime. How could someone hit you?"

Gan Guohui somehow got inside information, and when he got home, it turned out like this.

If this gets out, won't it turn into a chaotic brawl in the Trail Blazers' locker room during halftime of Game 4?
"No, that's not true. If we really fought, how could we possibly win the second half? Don't worry, Dad, no one dares to hit me."

"Don't hit people. Last year you beat someone so badly they were disfigured. That's not good, it's too pitiful."

"I know, I know, I haven't hit anyone this year, have I? Don't worry about these trivial things..."

Besides Gan Youwei, classmates and friends also called to congratulate him, and everyone had a busy night.

The victory relieved everyone of the pressure on their shoulders. They no longer had to play a pivotal game on the road, and the atmosphere in the entire Trail Blazers team became relaxed and cheerful.

Although Bobby Bellman reminded everyone to try and crush the Bulls in Game 5 to win the championship, lest things get complicated.

But everyone still hopes to win the championship back in Portland, as the joyous celebrations of last year's home victory are still fresh in their minds.

Most importantly, this will be the last Grand Finals at Memorial Arena, which will be replaced by a new arena next year.

If we could celebrate another championship at Memorial Arena, this season would be absolutely perfect.

After a two-day break, the two teams played their fifth game at the Chicago Arena on June 12.

Because the Bulls were down 1-3, ticket prices for Game 5 plummeted, as the Trail Blazers could very well win the championship in this game.

Chicago fans don't want to see another Rossoneri team ascend to the throne at home. Even if they win, the Bulls will only have a 2-3 record, and they'll still have to go to Portland.

Before the game started, the Larry O'Brien Trophy was brought to the sidelines. If the Trail Blazers win, the trophy will belong to them.

When Jordan entered the game, he walked past the championship trophy, glanced at it, and then passed by.

He endured the two most agonizing days of his life, struggling painfully with self-doubt.

In the end, he rallied and knew that life and competition had to go on, regardless of winning or losing.

Jordan remained confident that as long as the Bulls didn't lose completely, they had a chance to create a miracle.

A comeback from a 1-3 deficit is not unheard of in history; the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 and the Boston Celtics in 1981 both accomplished this in the conference finals.

No team has ever done it in the Finals, but history is made.

After a nightmarish fourth game, the entire Bulls team was hurt, but they also grew.

Only by experiencing and emerging from the darkest moments can an individual, a player, or a team have their spirit rebuilt.

The beauty of competitive sports lies in the fact that it gives you a second chance; it's up to you whether you seize it or choose to give up.

In Game 5, under immense pressure and driven by the need to correct mistakes, the Bulls once again delivered a spectacular first half.

Their defense and offense regained their intensity, and Phil Jackson began to use Clive Livingston more often, putting him into the regular rotation.

Accordingly, reduce the playing time of Armstrong and Hodges.

Livingston is 6 feet 8 inches tall and is a very energetic and experienced forward.

Jackson has discovered that stacking forwards is important in the battle against Forrest Gump.

Especially versatile small forwards, their energy, rebounding, and outside shooting will increase the defensive burden on Agan.

If he were a guard, Forrest Gump could ignore it and leave the job entirely to the perimeter defender.

If it's an inside player, a big center, a power forward, in terms of strength, height, skill, etc., Forrest Gump isn't afraid of anything.

When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it. This is the kind of job he's always been in.

Only small forwards, those guys who can play inside and outside, can give Forrest some trouble and problems.

The Bulls lacked a strong interior presence, and Jackson preferred to have small forwards like Pippen and Livingston fill the void in the paint and do some of the interior work.

Of course, Livingston has another significant advantage: he has excellent physical fitness.

As a substitute in the regular season, he played an average of 13 minutes per game, and his playing time was even less in the playoffs.

By the time the finals came, everyone was exhausted, especially after the first four games, which were extremely intense.

Apart from monsters like Forrest Gump and Michael Jordan, everyone else was dragging their heavy steps while persevering.

At this point, having fresh players on the bench would be a great boost to the team's strength.

Livingston played a crucial role during the transition of the second quarter, contributing valuable offensive rebounds and second-chance points, and hitting a mid-range jumper at the end of the second quarter to help the Bulls establish a 9-point lead.

In the third quarter, Jordan, who had suffered a loss in the previous game, was like an angry bull, tense and never relaxed for a moment, cautiously and bravely taking possession of the ball and launching attacks.

Jordan was on fire in this game, scoring 17 points in the first half and 15 points in the third quarter alone, and the Bulls once extended their lead to 14 points.

The Trail Blazers, however, seemed used to being behind and remained calm, launching a desperate counterattack in the latter part of the third quarter.

Petrovic and Agan combined for a 13-3 run, helping the Trail Blazers narrow the gap to 4 points.

The Bulls couldn't contain Petrovic; his boldness, decisiveness, and European style of play made the Bulls very uncomfortable.

Most importantly, Petrovic has regained his confidence. The Bulls defended many of his long-range shots very well, but he just kept making them. What can you do about it?

In the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers grew stronger and stronger, constantly closing the gap in the score. The pressure returned to the Bulls, and they seemed to lose their way again.

Clearly, the shadow of the fourth game cannot be erased with just two days of rest.

At this most critical moment, Jordan stepped up and stabilized the situation by drawing fouls and making mid-range shots.

Gan Guoyang's performance tonight was mediocre. He missed two crucial mid-range shots and failed to respond.

The Bulls' repeated harassment and defense had some effect, but the players' performance was indeed inconsistent; even robots have off days.

Jordan finally faced off against Forrest Gump in Game 5 and won 97-101. Jordan scored 37 points, and he scored more than 30 points in each of the five games.

Gan Guoyang only scored 25 points in this game, with a shooting percentage of only 46%, which is a failing performance for him.

However, this loss did not discourage the Trail Blazers players; on the contrary, they were full of anticipation and enthusiasm.

Because next they will return to Portland, back to Memorial Stadium, back to their glass palace.

Moreover, although the Bulls lost this game, they clearly had the momentum to win big at home, but unexpectedly they panicked again in the second half of the game and were caught up by the Trail Blazers.

This actually indicates that the Bulls were weak; they only won because of home-court advantage, some preferential treatment from the referees, Jordan's determination, and the Trail Blazers' slight lapse in concentration.

The Trail Blazers have made it clear that they'll win if they can, and if the chances aren't great, they won't bother and will save their energy to go back to Portland.

They couldn't wait, so after the game, they immediately boarded a bus to the airport and took a private plane back to Oregon.

A day earlier, Tang Jianguo had already sent a private plane to take the players' families back to Portland. Clearly, the owner was also looking forward to winning the championship in his own city.

The sixth battle was scheduled for June 14th. When Forrest Gump opened his eyes, it was 6:6 a.m. on June 14th, and the sky was just beginning to lighten.

He opened the window, breathed in the fresh air, and reminisced about the mornings when he won every championship.

He had a feeling that this was another champion's morning.

"Another beautiful day is about to begin," he thought.

(End of this chapter)