The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 729 The Most Powerful Challenger

In the 1992-1993 season, I came to Miami.

This is very difficult for me; I've been in Houston for 12 years.

That's my second hometown.

My college years and my basketball career both started there.

The decision to leave was not easy, but it wasn't entirely because of me.

After evaluation, the Houston Rockets concluded that I was no longer capable of leading the team to a breakthrough.

They lost faith in me and in the championship.

Especially those who don't believe I can beat the Trail Blazers and Forrest Gump.

I need a team that is willing to trust me.

I suffered too much unfair treatment and judgment in Houston.

Terms like "ball possession black hole" and "teammate killer" are biased.

In that case, breaking up would be the best option for both parties.

Everyone was shocked when the transaction took place.

Houston fans hate me; they think I betrayed the city.

I received some threatening phone calls, but I also received support and encouragement from others.

Coach Lewis said he believes players are free to choose where they play.

I did not betray Houston.

The Heat welcomed me very warmly.

Everything in Miami is wonderful: the ocean, the coconut trees, and the beautiful weather.

Of course, the best part is that there is a group of people here who are truly fighting for the championship.

I joined them and quickly became one of them.

The passion of the Miami fans was incredible.

Just like their team name, they are incredibly popular.

What excites me most is, of course, joining forces with Drexler.

It felt like we were back in college, back to the time we spent working hard together at Cougar.

He already has three rings, but he still needs to prove himself.

This proves that he can still win a championship after leaving Portland.

Pat Riley is a strict, charismatic head coach.

He also has multiple championship rings and is equally eager to prove himself.

He had a glorious period with the Lakers, but he has been unable to win a championship since 1985.

He came to Miami and built everything here.

During training camp, Riley told me, "You're the last crew member, Hakim, the most important one."

Yes, we are about to set sail.

Riley made it clear to me that he would make me the team's number one core player, the absolute core player.

All our tactics will begin with passing the ball to the big man in the paint, and then to me.

All the right things start here.

Any big man who needs to be double or triple-teamed should be the first choice.

We also have other tactics and other combinations.

But when these tactics fail, the ball will return to the big man's hands.

I know I have a great responsibility, but I like this arrangement.

I can take on this task.

This summer I experienced an unprecedented improvement.

I didn't participate in the Olympics, but I underwent very systematic training.

I improved my muscle mass, increased my strength and explosiveness, and recovered from my injuries.

I feel great, very good.

The Miami Heat's roster is also exceptionally strong.

There are excellent players in every position, and they are a great fit for me.

We have Anthony Mason at the power forward position; he's as wide as a door.

During training, he often clashed with me in the low post.

He can cause me trouble; his defense is excellent.

We have Cliff Robinson at the small forward position, and he's the same height as me.

But he is very well-rounded; he can shoot three-pointers and drive to the basket.

We have Clyde at the shooting guard position; he's the best shooting guard in the East.

Yes, in my opinion he is better than Jordan.

Clyde underwent surgery in the summer and missed some games.

But we still have Steve Smith.

His back-to-the-basket offense is no worse than mine; he's a skilled one-on-one player.

John Starks, the point guard, was like a fighting dog.

Full of aggression.

On the first day of training camp, he tried to dunk on me.

I used a series of blocks to show him who the leader of this team really is.

I quickly established myself as a key player for the Heat.

I don't rely on threats, tough tactics, or taking advantage of the head coach.

The key is to become a role model for everyone and earn everyone's respect.

Train hard, be strict with yourself, and take on the most responsibility in the competition.

Take care of your teammates and respect every staff member around you.

Starting this season, I will no longer fight.

When I was young, I got into a lot of fights; I clashed with people in almost every one of them.

My faith changed me, and I approached the game with a completely new mindset.

The NBA-Fantastic program is frequently broadcast on television.

The program will include close-up shots of details to give viewers a better understanding of the NBA.

In the footage, some players grab rebounds or dunk powerfully over opposing players, then shout trash talk at their opponents.

Or step over an opponent when they fall to the ground.

I think this is a low-level mentality.

Players who make these moves feel insecure when they enter the league.

I've experienced that mindset, seeing everyone as a threat.

They weren't playing for victory or enjoyment, but for showing off.

Now I won't. I'll let the competition speak for itself.

Not the words you say or the fist you throw.

Even the strongest boxer in the league never throws a punch first.

What truly instills fear in your opponents is your technique and your playing style.

For example, if you are good at blocking shots, you will make everyone who enters the three-second zone suffer.

So when an opponent tries to shoot over you, he'll think, "This guy always blocks shots, I need to be careful."

He'll make his shot arc higher, which will lower his shooting percentage.

Or they might simply pass the ball, missing a good scoring opportunity.

Basketball is a game about timing and opportunity selection, just like life.

Sometimes you grab someone when they're at their most vulnerable, and when they lose their balance, you suddenly push yourself up a step.

You are in a strong position, while your opponent is in a weak position. You have the upper hand and can try to use your advantage to defeat your opponent.

Of course, you can't always be in a dominant position; basketball is a game of wins and losses.

The opponent might have the upper hand in the next round, and you'll have to deal with their attacks.

In the league, it's common to see players dunking over each other's heads during games.

I'll get one pinned to my head, and then someone else will pin it on me.

Ultimately, winning or losing depends on whether you can seize every opportunity.

Embrace your period of strength and try to avoid your weaknesses as much as possible.

In the 1992-1993 season, we were very strong, and I was very strong too.

We started the season with a 10-game winning streak without Drexler.

We've created the best start in franchise history—of course, the Heat's history is very short, and we're creating historic bests almost every day.

I won the league's Player of the Month award for November, which I hadn't received in a long time.

In December, we defeated the New York Knicks, the Chicago Bulls, and crushed the Phoenix Suns in the Christmas Day game.

At that time, we welcomed Drexler's return, and we were in very good form.

Our defense was outstanding, and I carried the team's offense.

My average points per game reached a career high of 26.8.

I know in my heart that my team and I have entered a strong phase.

This phase must be made good use of, for both a player and a team.

Because this phase is often very short, you never know when it will suddenly end.

An injury, a trade, a conflict, or an accident can all bring everything to an end.

Just like in 1986, we all thought it was a good start.

My twin towers with Sampson are eye-catching and full of imagination.

No one expected it to end so soon.

Injuries and drugs brought it all to an end.

I'm almost 30 now, and I need to hurry up.

Everyone's talking about the gap between me and Forrest Gump.

He has climbed to the summit six times, looking down on everyone like a god from the top of the mountain.

Even Michael Jordan couldn't beat him.

People who look back at the 1984 draft generally agree that Houston made the wrong choice.

The Portlanders hit the jackpot and made a killing.

This second overall pick is just like how the Celtics used their second overall pick to draft Bill Russell.

Forrest Gump might be Russell, or even better.

But I am not Sid Green (the number one pick in 1956).

In recent years, the only topic in the NBA seems to be:
Who can beat Forrest Gump and the Portland Trail Blazers?
When I came to the Heat in 1992-1993, I was certain that person would be me.

—Excerpt from Hakeem Olajuwon's autobiography, *Living The Dream*, published in 1996.

"Did you know that when someone starts publishing an autobiography, it basically means that they are unlikely to make any breakthroughs in their field? They have to stop, look back on their relatively successful first half of life, and before they get Alzheimer's, write something to earn some money and prepare for the second half of their life?"

"You've been a bit harsh on Sonny lately. Let me guess what you're reading. A biography of Winston Churchill?"

"No, it's Bill Russell's first biography. The 1966 edition. He's an exception; he won two more championships after 1966. But I think he must have had some kind of feeling about it; he published the book after winning eight consecutive championships in 1966, and then lost to Chamberlain in 1967. It seems that publishing an autobiography wasn't a good idea."

Have any publishers contacted you about publishing a book?

"We've been in constant contact, never stopped. But I won't do that until I'm sure I can't win the championship."

On the flight from Charlotte to Miami, Gan Guoyang was reading Bill Russell's first autobiography, "Go up for Glory," published in 1966.

At that time, Russell had just completed his eighth consecutive championship, creating a legend in the history of American professional sports.

Even if there are only a handful of teams in the league, it is no small feat to win the championship for eight consecutive years and keep superstars like West, Baylor, Chamberlain, and Robertson in the dust.

At that time, Bill Russell was invincible, and all that remained of him was his loneliness.

Auerbach retired from his position as head coach.

Russell became the first Black head coach in history.

He is also a player and coach, embarking on a new challenge.

More than 20 years have passed, and only Gan Guoyang can understand Russell's feelings.

In this era, winning three consecutive championships is extremely difficult.

A four-peat is roughly comparable to an eight-peat.

Because the number of series to win is roughly the same as eight championships.

"Would you like to watch some footage of Hakeem Olajuwon playing for the Heat?"

“Hakim? Oh, no, I know him too well.”

"Hakim is quite different this season."

“I know he’s stronger and more difficult to deal with. I was prepared.”

Compared to his meticulous preparations before facing O'Neal, Gan Guoyang was much more relaxed when facing Olajuwon.

He and Hakeem Olajuwon have been rivals for many years, starting in the NCAA.

They were quite familiar with each other.

He watched some of Hakeem Olajuwon's videos from this season.

The dream is indeed reaching its peak.

Their offensive moves became increasingly unpredictable.

The passing choices are more tricky and unexpected.

His fadeaway jump shot has been mastered to perfection, with a remarkably high accuracy rate.

Dealing with him will definitely be much more difficult than before.

Gan Guoyang's lack of preparation does not mean he does not value Hakeem Olajuwon.

He just knew that he couldn't "humiliate" Olajuwon like he had with O'Neal.

Everyone knows each other well, so there's no need to delve into the technical details.

Rest, adjust your mindset, and strive to play at your best are more important. For the Trail Blazers, stamina is a major issue.

The game against the Miami Heat was the second game of a back-to-back road game.

Although the Trail Blazers won big against both the Magic and the Hornets, they didn't expend too much energy.

But in the end, the game was played, and the journey took its toll.

Out of consideration for the players, Berman put Sabonis on the injury list.

For Gan Guoyang, he had to face the Heat's formidable frontcourt alone.

Everyone on the Heat is very familiar with Gan Guoyang.

From coaches to starters, to management, and even strength and conditioning coaches.

Because these people all used to work in Portland.

On the evening of the 14th, before the game between the Trail Blazers and the Heat.

Gan Guoyang looked at the Heat's roster, then at the management sitting behind the bench.

Goodness, at least a third of them were poached from the Trail Blazers.

Among the players, Drexler, Cliff Robinson, and Mason were all poached through hard-hitting tactics.

These three players would be key members of any team, and one of them is even an All-Star.

The management team includes Stu-Inman and Spoelstra, both seasoned managers.

With them on the team, the Heat were able to build a high-level squad in a very short time.

From player recruitment, team management, season marketing, and logistical support, everything has matured rapidly.

In the commentary booth, there was also the legendary coach Jack Ramsey, who occasionally offered tactical advice to the team.

The Heat truly deserve their nickname as the "Little Trail Blazers of the East".

As usual, Gan Guoyang hugged Dr. Ramsey.

Seeing that Jack had lost even more hair, Gan Guoyang felt inexplicably sad.

“Jack, you’ve gotten another year older, and your hair is thinning even more,” Gan Guoyang said.

“You’re not the kind of person who gets sentimental, Sonny. I’m far from dead. You’re in trouble tonight,” Ramsey warned Gan Guoyang.

At the same time, he noticed that Gan Guoyang's tone contained some subtle emotions.

Ramsey knows Gan Guoyang and also knows the Miami Heat this season.

The Heat's entire roster was designed to target Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers.

The powerful defensive combination of Hakeem Olajuwon and Anthony Mason in the paint.

One is good at both offense and defense, while the other has a rock-solid lower body.

Mason was Hakeem Olajuwon's bodyguard with a sword.

Moreover, having played for the Trail Blazers for a year, he understands Forrest Gump.

The Heat have strong one-on-one skills on every perimeter.

There are many talented players in low post, fast break, shooting, and driving.

They used a tight and tough defense to strangle every opponent.

On the offensive end, they rely on the talent of players like Hakeem Olajuwon.

They are very united and very tough.

Many teams have already suffered losses against them this season.

In the past, most teams came to Florida with a tourist mentality.

Have fun at Disney in Orlando, and enjoy parties and beaches in Miami.

Times have changed. Whether it's the Magic or the Heat, they can give their opponents a run for their money.

"Thanks for reminding me, Jack. This is perfect opportunity for me to experience just how big of a problem this is."

For Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers, the outcome of this game is not too important.

The primary task is to understand the Heat's strengths and weaknesses and get a feel for the capabilities of the "Little Trail Blazers".

Among the Trail Blazers coaching staff's hypothetical opponents in the Finals, the Heat are now on par with the Bulls.

Furthermore, judging from the matchups between the Heat and the Bulls in the first half of the season, the Bulls would have a hard time against teams with a superstar center.

The game started promptly at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Before the jump ball, both Gan Guoyang and Olajuwon looked very calm.

Both of them had smiles on their faces and hugged each other in greeting.

It's completely different from the tense atmosphere of our youth.

Gan Guoyang stopped using any psychological tactics.

He knew it wouldn't work on Olajuwon.

They have all grown up and come to understand each other.

Some of the tricks used to deal with Ewing, Mourning, or O'Neal still work today.

It's no longer good for Hakeem Olajuwon; he has indeed changed a lot.

Calm and composed, unhurried.

Even Hakeem Olajuwon's facial features changed.

He used to have a fierce face and a menacing look in his eyes.

Now, however, she smiles broadly and has a kind and gentle face.

This signifies a significant improvement in his mindset and level of understanding.

He gained a more comprehensive and profound understanding of basketball and life.

Once a person understands who they are, what they want to do, and why they do it.

Then he'll be close to maturity, and it will be extremely difficult to interfere with him.

The contest between Hakeem Olajuwon and Gan Guoyang became a pure contest of strength.

No one should take chances or try to rely on this or that.

Only by relying on oneself and leading teammates to victory over the opponent.

Drexler stood aside watching his two friends jump the ball.

This guy who wanted to be a star understood that he was destined to be a supporting character.

Drexler has been hampered by injuries this season and has not reached his best form.

He became Hakeem Olajuwon's right-hand man, just like he had been with Forrest Gump.

Hakeem Olajuwon has been playing exceptionally well this season.

But if Drexler were to evaluate it, it still wouldn't be as good as Forrest's worst season.

However, in this game, Hakeem Olajuwon showed excellent form from the start.

He had been preparing for this battle for a long time.

It can be said that it is comprehensive in every aspect.

Hakeem Olajuwon scored repeatedly in the low post.

He was very determined when he received the ball and attacked, even when facing Forrest Gump.

He used his agile footwork and excellent back sense to deal with Forrest Gump's defense.

Turn forward and then hook shot; turn back and then fadeaway jump shot.

Concise and clear, crisp and clean, the ball went in with a crisp, clean finish.

Gan Guoyang immediately responded with mid-range shots from the top of the arc and the baseline.

Gan Guoyang's idea was clear: he wanted to bring out Olajuwon and create opportunities for his teammates.

With Sabonis out tonight, Gan Guoyang will need to play further out to the perimeter without any outside support or playmaking options.

Hakeem Olajuwon, on the other hand, clearly positioned himself in the low post and would immediately pass the ball once double-teamed.

The two sides traded blows, and the fight was evenly matched, with back-and-forth exchanges.

As their bodies and form gradually heated up, the Heat began to show their fangs.

Under Riley's direction, the Heat's defense tightened like a hunter's net.

Riley's defense has two notable characteristics: one is his relentless double-teaming and pressure on the ball handler.

Riley demanded that any player who drove into the three-point line be double-teamed aggressively.

As the foundation for double-teaming and preventing players from leaving any open, the Heat also have a defensive rotation strategy that spares no effort.

Secondly, there is extremely intense physical contact in the paint.

Riley demanded that the defense not give the opponent any easy layup opportunities.

Especially during intense phases, you must be willing to physically engage.

During offense, even if you can't get the offensive rebound, you should try to grab it on the spot.

Never let the opponent easily get the ball and launch a counterattack; make them suffer, suffer, and suffer some more.

This strategy is reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons, the Bad Boys.

Unlike the Bad Boys, the Heat are taller and stronger.

Furthermore, they possess superior offensive talent both inside and outside the paint.

The Pistons used a turtle-shell defense, while the Heat's defense was more aggressive.

The Trail Blazers quickly found themselves in a tough battle, engaging in physical contests with the Heat in the latter part of the first quarter and the second quarter.

During one attack, Gan Guoyang cut into the middle with the ball and was surrounded by three players.

He passed the ball to Porter, who was cutting inside, and Porter could get an open layup.

As a result, Mason turned around and knocked Porter down, and the referee called a foul.

Porter immediately stood up and confronted Mason, who simply raised his hand to indicate that he had been fouled.

Mason also spent a season in Portland, where he won the championship.

Now they are each serving their own masters, and Mason is Riley's number one henchman.

The tension between the two sides escalated, but Hakeem Olajuwon, the center, remained calm throughout.

He provided consistent output on both offense and defense, putting pressure on Gan Guoyang.

The entire Trail Blazers team was exhausted, and Gan Guoyang quickly found himself fighting alone.

Without Sabonis's support in the paint, and with Olajuwon, Mason, and others surrounding him, Gan Guoyang's efficiency declined.

If the outside players can coordinate effectively at this point, the Trail Blazers can withstand the pressure.

But both Petrovic and Porter missed their shots.

John Starks was tearing at Porter throughout the entire game.

This short player, who didn't come out of the draft, has a fearless spirit.

He dared to challenge everything, and even wanted to compete with Forrest Gump in a few rounds.

In the end, they were stopped by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler working together.

They all wanted to compete well and didn't want things to get out of control.

The Heat are in control.

The Trail Blazers' offense was weak and listless, unable to break through the Heat's defensive siege.

On both offense and defense, Gan Guoyang must devote enough energy to Hakeem Olajuwon.

Hakeem Olajuwon had an exceptionally good shooting night, hitting multiple jump shots despite tight defense.

Furthermore, Hakeem Olajuwon has mastered a new special skill:

When he's halfway through an attack and still in the air, he can suddenly change his posture and pass the ball to a teammate.

Just as Jordan paused in mid-air to shoot, Olajuwon could also pause to pass the ball.

Often, it's because Gan Guoyang defends too tightly, or the Trail Blazers double-team, that's when Olajuwon can do that.

The transmissions weren't very aesthetically pleasing, and sometimes they were a bit awkward, but the effect was good.

It can provide teammates with opportunities to attack and score points.

It's clear that Hakeem Olajuwon was in top form tonight.

On the contrary, Drexler was the biggest drag on the team, performing poorly.

His shooting form is inconsistent; he hasn't fully recovered from his injury.

Gan Guoyang was entangled by Olajuwon on both offense and defense, and the confrontation between the two was exceptionally exciting.

But tonight, Gan Guoyang was unable to motivate his teammates, and his passes were difficult to convert into assists.

While teammates' poor form was one factor, the Heat's successful defense was the most important reason.

The Trail Blazers' Princeton offense needs space, backdoors, and plenty of movement.

The Heat blocked the Trail Blazers' space by packing the strong side and used high-speed wheels to convert passes.

If Sabonis were on the court, having an additional playmaker would make the Trail Blazers' offense much more comfortable.

With Sabonis absent, the Trail Blazers were forced into individual play in the final stages of the game.

Gan Guoyang's shooting percentage dropped to below 50%, a rare occurrence, when facing the Heat's strong defense.

Riley dared not be careless from beginning to end, constantly deploying troops and generals.

The team continuously reinforced and rotated its inside players, wearing down Gan Guoyang, clearly employing a strategy of attrition warfare.

Under this repeated attrition, the Heat finally established a solid lead in the fourth quarter.

The exhausted Trail Blazers were unable to launch a final counterattack.

Ultimately, the Heat defeated the Trail Blazers 83-78 at home, a 5-point advantage.

His 78 points set a new low for the Trail Blazers in a single regular season game.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Gan Guoyang had 31 points and 16 rebounds.

Both players recorded 5 blocks, making it a block feast, but the Trail Blazers ultimately suffered.

They're becoming less and less adept at playing these kinds of defensive battles.

After securing the victory, Hakeem Olajuwon did not celebrate.

He simply raised his arm and shook hands with Forrest Gump.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he silently turned and went back to the locker room.

Hakeem Olajuwon played perfectly tonight; he did his best.

At that moment, Gan Guoyang realized that the Heat and Olajuwon were indeed the most formidable challengers this season.

[I'll write some reflections on the Dongzi-Davis trade later in a separate chapter.]

(End of this chapter)