The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 737 Champion Gene
"From the time I met Michael Jackson, we were friends because we were the same kind of people."

We all had lonely childhoods, preferring to hide in our burrows like gophers, viewing the world with unease.

But Michael is very different from me in one way: when I came out of that hole, I used my reason and strength to protect myself and keep the people I respected by my side.

I've always believed that love is something very private, fragile, and in need of protection. The more you love, the more you need to cherish it. You have to be cunning and strong, like a fox or a lion.

Michael was different. He chose to embrace this dangerous and unfamiliar world, being too kind to many people, even crossing the line, and thus getting into many dangerous relationships, being taken advantage of by some bad people, and being hurt by the evil in human nature.

So Michael is an idiot. A lot of the time I had to act as his 'guardian,' telling him who he could be friends with, who he should stay away from, what he could say, and what he shouldn't do.

Most of the time Michael would nod in agreement with me, but once we parted ways, he would go his own way, making some random vampire friends and ignoring some rumors.

I help him solve his problems, and then he creates more, one problem after another. When I get angry, I complain to him, and he always says, "How about we dance to relax?"

The thing I'm most afraid of in my life is dancing—the second most afraid is riding a roller coaster.

Then one day I suddenly realized that this is Michael, this is who he is, this is his philosophy of life. He would collapse if he didn't do this, he wouldn't be Michael Jackson if he didn't do this.

Many people hurt him, but even more people loved him. He gained so much that I never had. He was more popular and greater than me. That's who he was.

He deserves it.

—Excerpt from "Forrest Gump," a biography of Gan Guoyang written by Wu Zhixiong and published in 2025.

On May 6th, the Trail Blazers and Lakers played their fourth game.

The Trail Blazers, having lost a game to the Lakers, didn't want to give their opponents another chance.

The Lakers played with confidence in Game 3, with six players scoring in double figures.

The Trail Blazers' defense clearly has significant weaknesses, especially on the perimeter.

In the playoffs, defense is decisive and a key indicator that distinguishes strong teams from mid-table teams.

Because offense is easily affected by various factors, while defense is much more stable.

In every unpredictable night in the NBA, a solid defense is the greatest source of confidence.

Therefore, in Game 4, the Trail Blazers made adjustments to their defense – Gan Guoyang was moved to the power forward position.

In the past few seasons, Gan Guoyang has been switching between the center and power forward positions.

Last season, Gan Guoyang played center most of the time, allowing Sabonis to play power forward.

Gan Guoyang's solid defense in the paint and his powerful rim protection are undeniable advantages.

Despite his massive size, Sabonis was very mobile and performed the task of filling in the gaps very well.

This season, the situation has changed significantly.

Forrest Gump is still Forrest Gump, but Sabonis's mobility has declined due to injuries.

An interior defender's defensive efficiency will drop significantly when facing perimeter players once his mobility decreases.

Furthermore, in the past, Sabonis did not single-handedly fulfill the defensive duties on the perimeter when playing the power forward position.

Those who worked with him in the hunt included Jerome Cauchy, Lewis, and Cliff Robinson.

They are all tall, long-armed, and physically strong small forwards, so their defensive effectiveness is naturally very good.

However, this season, Jerome Cahill has been plagued by injuries and off-court incidents since signing a big contract, resulting in a significant decline in his performance.

Cliff Robinson was poached and replaced by Mario Elie.

Ellie is well-rounded in all aspects, but at 6 feet 5 inches tall, she is a bit short.

He is slightly less effective at helping the inside defense.

Furthermore, Lewis has a heavier workload on both offense and defense, and he has to devote less energy to defense.

Porter is getting old, Petrovic's defense was already poor, and they were counting on Lewis to help them out.

Therefore, the Trail Blazers' once-strong frontcourt defense began to show signs of leaks and problems.

The Trail Blazers managed to hold on during the regular season, with Bellman insisting on playing Forrest Gump at center.

By protecting the most important areas under the basket and the defensive rebounds, the remaining way to win is to overpower the opponent with offense.

But the situation is different in the highly targeted playoffs, where opponents will relentlessly attack your weaknesses.

The Lakers' forwards and guards used a variety of offensive methods to launch attacks from the low post, mid-range, and top of the key.

In Game 3, multiple Lakers players scored over 15 points, contributing from all directions and putting significant defensive pressure on the Trail Blazers.

In the second half of the season, Lakers coach Find moved James Worthy to the bench and made him the sixth man.

At 31, Worthy is one of the few old-school forwards in the league, with a poor long-range shot but excellent low-post skills.

His average points per game dropped to 15 during the regular season, but he performed much better in the playoffs.

Worthy has always been a key player in the playoffs, and he performs even better in important games.

This is also related to his inside-oriented playing style.

In Game 3, Worthy, coming off the bench, scored 21 points and was a key figure in the Lakers' victory over the Trail Blazers.

In Game 4, the Trail Blazers made a major adjustment to their lineup.

Agan has moved to the power forward position to sweep up mid-range shots and put pressure on the Lakers' frontcourt.

When Sabonis, not Forrest Gump, took the jump ball at center court, the Lakers players sensed something was wrong.

In the first quarter, the Trail Blazers dominated on both offense and defense, scoring repeatedly and widening the gap to 11 points.

Gan Guoyang contributed 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals in the first quarter, using his agile movement and super-fast reaction speed to shut down the Lakers' frontcourt offense.

Once their offensive firepower on the wing falters, the Lakers, whose roster is clearly a level below the Trail Blazers, struggle.

The Trail Blazers showed no mercy after that, quickly closing the gap and maintaining a lead of more than 15 points.

They won the game 112-94, a 18-point advantage, eliminating the Lakers 3-1 in the series and advancing to the semifinals.

Gan Guoyang has been a professional player for 9 years, and he has only lost two games in the first round of the playoffs, demonstrating a very consistent ability to dominate weaker opponents.

He scored 33 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, blocked 4 shots, and made 5 steals, showcasing his excellent offensive and defensive performance.

After this game, the Los Angeles media can shut up.

The Los Angeles Times commented, "Forrest Gump's dominance remains unmatched."

Gan Guoyang's outstanding performance is key to the Trail Blazers' progress and even their championship win.

When he can play at a high level, even dominantly, the Trail Blazers are strong contenders for the championship.

Judging from the playoff games, Gan Guoyang is putting in more and more effort on both offense and defense.

On the defensive end, they provide a lot of help, filling in gaps for the perimeter players and frequently pulling out to defend the ball handler.

He handles both offense and scoring, switching between inside and outside shots, and is often seen running all over the court.

In a post-game interview, head coach Berman said frankly, "It's hard to imagine that Forrest Gump has already done so much, but he's doing even more now. Maybe one day he'll even do my job."

Hearing what Bellman said, Gan Guoyang leaned over and shouted, "It's not like I haven't done it before, Bobby! You were supposed to give me a share of your salary anyway!"

Berman smiled and pushed Gan Guoyang away. The small setback in the first round was not a bad thing for the Trail Blazers; on the contrary, it was beneficial for the team to get into form.

After the first round, people's expectations for the Trail Blazers to win the championship increased a lot because everyone realized that Forrest Gump is still Forrest Gump.

Teams like the Phoenix Suns had a stellar regular season, playing a beautiful offense.

As a result, in the playoffs, they were dragged to a fifth game in the first round against the Denver Nuggets.

In their first home game, the Nuggets seized the initiative, with Mutombo dominating the paint.

He blocked 7 shots from the Suns in a single game, causing the Suns' offense to struggle to penetrate the paint and significantly reducing their efficiency.

After trading away Sam Bowie and acquiring John Sally, the Suns became more agile and faster.

However, the Suns looked quite helpless when they faced the Nuggets, who had a heavy and tall center, in the playoffs.

In the second game, the Suns regained their composure and tied the series 1-1.

Upon arriving at the Denver plateau, the Suns suffered another defeat in their third game!
The Suns, who were ranked first in the league with 62 wins, were now on the verge of being eliminated in the first round.

In the crucial fourth game, the Suns finally woke up.

Charles Barkley doesn't want to bear the shame of being upset by the eighth seed.

He delivered a performance of 41 points and 22 rebounds, bringing the final outcome of the series back to Phoenix.

At this time, Gan Guoyang was already resting in Portland, preparing for the semi-finals.

Their opponent in the semifinals was indeed the Seattle SuperSonics.

The SuperSonics easily defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 3-0 in the first round.

This young team showed tremendous energy in the playoffs.

George Karl's eccentric temperament is a perfect fit for this team.

At the pre-series meeting, Jerry West specifically reminded the coaching staff and players:
"The SuperSonics are a young but tough opponent, and they are even more difficult to deal with than last year. We need to do our best in every detail, not only on the court but also off the court. We must do everything we can to help the team win the championship."

In the playoffs, the Trail Blazers displayed a different attitude than they did in the regular season.

During the regular season, the entire team was filled with a sense of lethargy, giving the impression that they were on their last legs.

Once that momentum dissipates, and the Trail Blazers lose a series in the playoffs, their championship hopes will be dashed.

But Gan Guoyang's consistent performance has kept the Trail Blazers hanging on.

With him there, the Trail Blazers have spirit, and the whole team retains the confidence to compete for the championship.

When the playoffs came, they easily won the first round and advanced to the semifinals, and the Trail Blazers' stamina slowly dissipated.

The players gradually focused their attention, and the staff began to work harder to provide services so that the players could concentrate on playing.

The coaching staff held a meeting overnight, repeatedly watching videos of their main opponents and writing down a lot of notes and tactical notes.

Even Donald Trump, who had been completely indifferent to basketball matters all season and spent all his time on TV shows to gain exposure, has returned to Portland.

He organized a rally for Trail Blazers fans outside the Rose Garden Arena to strongly support the Blazers' pursuit of a fourth consecutive championship.

Old Tang is a very eloquent speaker. During the rally, he shouted the team's slogan, "Championship DNA!"

He stated that the Trail Blazers possess a championship gene, saying, "Once we embark on the road to the championship, we will consciously head towards the finish line, and no team can stop us."

"In the past eight seasons, the only thing that could truly stop us was ourselves. As long as we do our best, we will definitely reach the finish line and achieve a great four-peat!"

"At the start of the playoffs, nobody believed we could go all the way, but now I bet the Los Angeles fans do!"

Old Tang's speech was very effective and greatly boosted the confidence of Portland fans.

On May 9th, the Rose Garden Arena hosted the Trail Blazers and the SuperSonics in the first game of the semifinals.

That evening, tickets sold out again, and more than two hundred seats were temporarily added to the venue.

The Portland fans' fervor provided strong psychological support for the Trail Blazers players.

Many fans said during the regular season, "It doesn't matter whether we win the championship or not, as long as we can watch Forrest Gump play."

When it comes to the playoffs, where it's a fierce battle and every move counts, no one will refuse victory and the championship.

The same applies to supersonic speeds.

After more than two years of reconstruction, the basic framework of the supersonic system has been completed.

Their wild and energetic playing style is unique in the entire league, giving many strong teams a headache.

Kemp, Payton, Rice, McMillan—the core members of the SuperSonics are all very young.

They can run all over the court, tirelessly switching defenses, double-teaming, and launching fast breaks, causing the opponent to collapse in chaos.

Last year, they stole a victory from Portland in the first game of the semifinals thanks to their amazing defense.

Their SOS defensive system is already very mature; what they lacked last season was their players.

Ultimately, the experienced and seasoned pioneers broke through the defenses with patient positional attacks.

They then lost four consecutive matches, suffering a 1-4 defeat and being eliminated.

This season, the SuperSonics players have become more mature.

They have the best steals in the league on the defensive end—11.5 steals per game.

Correspondingly, they have the best turnover-making ability in the entire league—opponents average 18.5 turnovers per game.

These statistics are enough to demonstrate their ferocity and aggressiveness on the defensive end.

The SuperSonics are the team that uses mismatches the most on the defensive end, switching on defense in a large number of possessions.

The goal is to maintain a solid defensive formation, even if the opponent is smaller or larger than the smaller one.

Payton, McMillan, Kemp, and others often had to engage in mismatch defense.

It was common for the small to guard against the big, and the big to guard against the small; George Karl liked this chaos and disorder.

This is where Karl and Larry Brown are completely different.

It is said that when Brown was training defense, he would use a ruler to measure the distance between the players to make them maintain precise positioning.

Karl often doesn't practice defense but only physical conditioning. In the game, he can just switch players when he encounters them and not overthink it.

The current Trail Blazers are not afraid of Brown's rigid style; the Princeton offense is designed for precise positioning.

The more focused the Trail Blazers are on the integrity and precision of their formation, the more effectively they can break down the defense with their passing.

Especially with a versatile player like Gan Guoyang, Larry Brown's tight formation simply couldn't find a way to counter it.

On the contrary, the Trail Blazers will have to rack their brains and even encounter big trouble when facing a supersonic, neurotic, manic patient.

Princeton, and similar passing and cutting systems, rely on screens, positioning, and backdoor runs to create space.

A high pick-and-roll, a screen on the wing, a handoff pass in the low post—all these utilize screens to create space for movement, cutting, and shooting.

The Supersonics' defense targets this kind of space, using a lot of switching to block all the gaps at the cost of physical exertion and defensive mismatches.

At the same time, the SuperSonics will do everything in their power to harass and even destroy any ball handler on the perimeter, regardless of their height, weight, or build.

The two teams faced off four times during the regular season, ending in a 2-2 tie.

Although the Trail Blazers gave up early in the final game, handing the SuperSonics a victory.

However, the SuperSonics won one game in a head-to-head match at the Rose Garden Arena.

This is enough to show that the supersonics have the ability to challenge the Trail Blazers.

George Karl has a strong confidence in the team's system and personnel—this guy has always been confident.

In a pre-game interview, he said, "We are underestimated by many people. We are very good. In terms of strength, we are no less than the Trail Blazers, and we will definitely do our best to win."

Compared to the past, Carl is much more low-key, speaking calmly and steadily, without trying to provoke Forrest Gump with words.

He had already suffered once in the 80s; one must learn from one's mistakes.

He focused more on pre-match planning.

Supersonic is also well-prepared, determined to dethrone the current champion.

The game between the Trail Blazers and the SuperSonics started half an hour later than the game between the Suns and the Nuggets.

Just before going on the court, Gan Guoyang glanced at the TV and saw that the Suns were trailing the Nuggets by 5 points at the start of Game 5.

He thought it would be embarrassing for Barkley to lose Game 5 tonight.

The first team in history to be upset by an eighth seed will be laughed at for the rest of their lives.

With no time to worry about Barkley, Gan Guoyang and his teammates threw themselves into the first game of the semifinals.

The Trail Blazers' starting lineup remained unchanged, with Gan Guoyang still playing the power forward position.

Sabonis is standing in the center circle for the jump ball.

The Supersonics employed a lineup without a center forward.

The player jumping for the ball with Sabonis in the center circle was the team's power forward, Kemp.

Their center is Sam Perkins, who also started as a power forward.

Midway through the season, the SuperSonics finally couldn't tolerate Bennett Benjamin anymore.

They traded him to the Lakers in exchange for Sam Perkins.

This was a great trade; Perkins brought experience and offense to the SuperSonics' frontcourt. After acquiring Perkins, the SuperSonics immediately went on a 10-game winning streak.

Ultimately, they secured third place in the Western Conference regular season standings.

Of course, once the playoffs started, the SuperSonics actually wanted to stay in fourth place.

This way, we can face the Trail Blazers later, increasing our chances of reaching the Western Conference Finals.

George Karl was quite bold, saying that since they were determined to defeat the Trail Blazers, they might as well meet them sooner!

The first game started quickly, and after gaining possession of the ball, the Trail Blazers launched their first offensive attack.

They adopted a double-sided stance, with Gan Guoyang and Sabonis positioned on the left and right sides, respectively, blocking them in a low position.

This is to take advantage of the center's height and strength to overpower the supersonic center.

The ball was passed to Sabonis in the low post, and the SuperSonics immediately came to double-team him at high speed.

Sabonis headed the ball behind Porter, who was cutting inside, and Payton was marking him closely.

Porter had no chance and could only pass the ball to Agan on the other side, but Payton intercepted it!

The Trail Blazers' first offensive possession was disrupted by the SuperSonics' defense.

"This is illegal defense!"

Gan Guoyang shouted at the referee, putting pressure on him.

The supersonic speed clearly indicates an intention to preemptively encircle and sandwich the target.

Especially in the middle lane, Derrick McGee almost ignored his own defender, keeping an eye on Sabonis and Gan Guoyang, ready to double-team them at any time.

McGee has an excellent wingspan and is a great threat on the defensive end, averaging 1.4 steals per game in the regular season.

It was clear from their first attack that the Supersonics had put in a lot of effort to prepare.

However, Gan Guoyang immediately delivered a big block to McGee on the defensive end.

Lewis deliberately left the middle lane open for McGee to drive, but McGee's floater was blocked by Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang's mobility and superb defensive anticipation mean that the SuperSonics' forwards will definitely not have an easy time tonight.

Compared to last season, the SuperSonics players have indeed matured a lot.

While they were aggressive on the defensive end, they reduced a lot of reckless moves.

Despite some of the Trail Blazers' cunning tactical deceptions, the SuperSonics stuck to their defensive strategy.

Gary Payton remains a loyal fan and friend of Gan Guoyang, but he refused to speak with Gan Guoyang before the game.

At the same time, he pulled away the silly Camp, not allowing him to talk to Forrest Gump.

"If you want to win, don't talk to this guy. Win the series first."

Payton knew all too well how terrifying Gan Guoyang's psychological attacks were, and he was determined not to fall into the trap.

Gan Guoyang didn't intend to put psychological pressure on them, as the series hadn't progressed to that level yet.

Both sides had low offensive success rates at the start of the first quarter, and their defenses were solid and cautious.

During the passing and playmaking process, both teams tried their best to harass the opponent.

The supersonic speed of switching defenses and double-teaming puts immense pressure on the player with the ball.

The Trail Blazers' main strategy is to create a ball-handler trap, drawing players towards Forrest Gump.

Relax the pressure on the ball handler in the middle and frequently let them bring the ball into the three-second zone.

As a result, when he tried to shoot at the basket, Forrest Gump swam over like a ghost and delivered a huge block.

In the first four minutes, the score was tied at 2-2, with both teams scoring from free throws.

"Both teams played very cautiously and intensely, with a level of focus on defense far exceeding that of the regular season. Let's see if Agan can break the deadlock on offense."

Trail Blazers commentator Bill Shawnley felt the tension of the playoffs, which is completely different from the regular season.

The Trail Blazers often have defensive lapses in the regular season, but tonight they started the game with a watertight defense. It's just a question of how long they can keep it up.

Despite being blocked multiple times, the SuperSonics did not opt ​​to shoot from the outside or give up on their attempts to penetrate the paint.

George Karl made the strategy clear before the game: the offense must attack the paint and not choose to shoot from the outside because of fear of the twin towers.

"When you see your opponent's strengths and deliberately avoid them, you've already lost half the game!"

Carl's strategy was correct.

The Supersonics did not back down despite the strength of the Trail Blazers' twin towers.

Kemp received a pass from Perkins on the perimeter and had a chance to shoot a mid-range jumper.

But he didn't do that. Instead, he faked a shot and then drove hard down the middle to the basket, challenging Sabonis's rim protection.

Kemp's powerful drive, combined with his speed and mid-air feints, led to a layup and two points.

Beautiful offense. Kemp, a high school player, is improving every season.

For the Trail Blazers, Petrovic missed a three-pointer, and the SuperSonics launched a counterattack.

Ricky Pierce received the ball and drove to the basket, making a layup over Forrest Gump's block attempt.

The ball slipped from his fingertips, spun around the rim, and fell into the net.

The SuperSonics took a 6-2 lead early on, and the Trail Blazers needed to score.

Having gained the upper hand, the Supersonics pressed their advantage relentlessly, double-teaming and pressuring Porter.

Payton then switched to guarding Reggie Lewis, while McGee put up a one-on-one high-pressure defense against Porter.

This is a consistent defensive characteristic of the SuperSonics this season: using big men to pressure smaller ball handlers and disrupt the opponent's playmaking.

Gan Guoyang quickly came out to approach, and after receiving the ball outside the three-point line, he made a sudden inside pass to Lewis who was cutting to the basket.

Lewis received the ball, shook off Payton, drove to the basket and scored a layup. Payton had no chance in the paint.

Even a full-force jump couldn't block Lewis's layup.

The two teams were evenly matched in the first quarter.

The Supersonics maintained a lead of about 4 points throughout.

The Trail Blazers played at a leisurely pace, with Gan Guoyang maintaining a steady rhythm.

When formulating strategies, the coaching staff hoped the team would reduce its mistakes against the SuperSonics.

Don't get impatient just because the Supersonics are playing aggressive defense. If you make too many mistakes, you'll give the Supersonics too many opportunities to counterattack.

However, the Supersonics also seemed to be playing very steadily, without the erratic play they showed last year.

Payton and Kemp both displayed great composure, playing with confidence on both ends of the court against the six-time champions.

During an offensive play midway through the first quarter, Kemp attempted to challenge Forrest Gump's defense in the low post.

Before he could even receive the ball, Gan Guoyang snatched it from behind, knocked it away, and successfully intercepted it.

After testing the water depth, Camp knew it was best not to push himself too hard.

Make good use of your speed and explosiveness, and coordinate with your teammates.

A low-post one-on-one fight against Forrest Gump is not a good choice.

A player who can correctly understand himself and position himself can also play a good game.

Gan Guoyang didn't score until the seventh minute of the first quarter.

He received a pass from Lewis at the free-throw line and made a mid-range jump shot.

The score was 14-12, with the SuperSonics leading the Trail Blazers by 2 points.

Payton, with his backside sticking out, pushed Porter into the vicinity of the three-second zone, turned, and shot, making the basket.

Porter is considered one of the larger and stronger point guards.

But Payton is bigger and stronger than Porter.

Unlike most point guards who are accurate shooters, Payton's shooting has always been a problem.

When KC Jones was the head coach, he always hoped that Payton would act like a normal point guard and do what a point guard should do.

Organize the offense, hit mid-to-long-range shots from the outside, and occasionally penetrate to the basket to punish opponents.

Just like Stockton, he is the ideal point guard in the eyes of most coaches.

But Payton is different; he often likes to do things that point guards shouldn't do.

For example, play aggressive defense and relentlessly target the opponent's shooting guard and small forward.

Gamble on steals, fight for rebounds under the basket, contest inbound passes, screen for teammates on offense, and create difficult passes.

During the regular season, Payton would deliberately make a difficult pass to create exciting goal-scoring moments.

Scoring a goal is certainly exciting, but missing one is a mistake, and that's a disaster.

George Karl allowed all of this, as he liked Payton's style of play.

Although he sometimes criticizes Payton's crazy choices, the two would exchange trash talk on the sidelines.

But they appreciate each other and are a good fit; no one is a better fit for Payton's head coach than George Carr.

In the first quarter, the SuperSonics played exceptionally well, keeping pace with the Trail Blazers and leading them 24-20 by 4 points.

Their defense looked very effective, making it quite difficult for the Trail Blazers.

There are many balls that can be passed out relatively easily when facing other teams' defense.

Then run the tactics, and finally create an opportunity.

But when facing the Supersonics' defense, the passer has to jump or shift the space.

The person receiving the ball needs to be extra careful, otherwise they could be intercepted by a SuperSonics player.

The Trail Blazers fans in the arena were on tenterhooks, constantly worried that a mistake was imminent.

Gan Guoyang was closely guarded in the first quarter, with Kemp, Perkins, McGee, and Payton taking turns to defend him.

Regardless of whether Gan Guoyang is inside or outside the three-point line, the SuperSonics always keep at least two players near him.

To defend the ball handler on the perimeter, the SuperSonics' defensive formation will be either very spread out or very flattened.

What if the opponent makes a wide pass?
The solution for supersonic speed is simple and brutal: just run back as fast as you can to cover the defense.

With their relentless running and constant switching on defense, the Trail Blazers' offense was lifeless in the first quarter.

They couldn't achieve a comprehensive approach, nor did they have any coherence; their piecemeal attacks failed to pose a sufficient threat.

Karl was satisfied with the team's performance in the first quarter, and during the break, he repeatedly emphasized the need to keep an eye on Forrest Gump.

"Keep an eye on him! Keep an eye on him! Put pressure on him. Our strategy is correct; no one can win all the time! We're on the right track; stick to this defense!"

Karl kept motivating the players, telling them that the Trail Blazers and Forrest Gump were not invincible and that they had a great chance this year.

However, it seems like he was saying this to himself, not to the players.

Payton picked at his ear, not wanting to hear any more of Carl's nonsense.

"You talk too much, George. You can't win a game just by shouting slogans."

“Keep staring at Forrest Gump like that will take a lot of energy out of you, it’s not necessarily a good idea.”

"And what about the others? Are we counting on the rest of the Trail Blazers not having a breakout performance?"

"Petrovic and Lewis are both tricky guys, you'd better use your brain."

Payton is very realistic; he has the brains of a point guard, but he's a bit of a jerk.

Within the team, he was always rude to George Karl, often putting him in an awkward position.

The break was short, and Karl didn't have time to say much before the game continued.

From the second quarter onwards, the Supersonics maintained their defensive intensity and resilience.

On offense, they resolutely attack the paint, and no matter how many blocks they get, they rarely take outside shots.

This style of play is very aggressive and puts tremendous pressure on the Trail Blazers' interior defense.

Soon after, Sabonis picked up his third foul in the second quarter and had to leave the game.

Davis replaced Sabonis in the game, and Gan Guoyang returned to the center position.

In order to conserve energy and reduce fouls, Gan Guoyang had to relax his protection of the rim.

Even when his opponent seemed certain of scoring, he had to let the ball go.

Unlike the SuperSonics, the Trail Blazers are a team that relies heavily on outside shooting.

With the SuperSonics relentlessly disrupting their shooting, the Trail Blazers' three-point shooting percentage was mediocre tonight.

However, their Princeton offense still manages to find some opportunities to score near the basket.

The reason they don't appear often is that their offensive efficiency can't keep up.

Starting from the second quarter, the Supersonics gradually built a lead of more than 5 points.

Gan Guoyang consistently faced the Supersonics' extremely tight defense—two players when there was no ball, and three when there was.

Some of their plays were constantly on the verge of illegal defense, and even after the referee blew the whistle, the SuperSonics didn't change course.

Under such tight surveillance, Gan Guoyang only scored 6 points in the entire first half.

That was his lowest score in a half during the playoffs.

In addition, he made three mistakes, all of which affected his offense.

He focused most of his energy on playmaking, defense, and rebounding.

But basketball is ultimately a game of scoring, and the Trail Blazers consistently lagged behind the SuperSonics.

The Supersonics' defensive strategy seemed to be very successful, managing to limit Forrest Gump.

At halftime, the score was 47-43, with the SuperSonics leading going into the second half.

The Trail Blazers' 43 points were clearly an underperformance; their own form was one factor, but the SuperSonics' defense was indeed excellent.

However, Gan Guoyang seemed completely unfazed. He had seen many big games, and the Supersonics' defense wouldn't really bother him.

During halftime, he also had time to check on the Suns vs. Nuggets game on the other court.

The third quarter has ended, and in the fourth quarter, the Suns and Nuggets are still locked in a tight battle.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Nuggets and Suns were tied when Mutombo grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback.

If they continue playing like this, the Suns and Nuggets will definitely have to decide the winner in the crucial moments, and may even have to go into overtime.

Gan Guoyang watched the television screen and saw Charles Barkley looking solemn and panting heavily. He thought to himself, "Charles is so useless. How could he let the game turn out like this?"

"No matter what, we have to decide the winner in the fourth quarter. It would be really embarrassing to be pushed to the brink by the eighth seed in the West."

After turning off the television, Gan Guoyang calmed himself down and adjusted his breathing and physical state.

He knew the Supersonics' defense tonight was very targeted, and indeed, they defended very well.

So he patiently waited for the right moment, waiting for the instant when the supersonic speed would give way.

Before the game, when the Trail Blazers were developing their strategy, Bellman and Gan Guoyang discussed it.

Gan Guoyang said, "The SuperSonics are in high spirits. That madman George will definitely target me relentlessly in the first game, just like last year. We should avoid their sharp edge in the first game. I will try to organize more, provide more support, and solidify the defense. When they are tired and exhausted, we will give them a fatal blow."

"The idea is good, but are you sure it will be a fatal blow?" Bellman said. "What if you don't feel like it when the time comes and you miss the shot? It would be embarrassing if you messed up."

"Are you kidding me, Bobby? Is this the first day you've met me?"

"Haha, I was just asking, it's just a formality."

The two men sat in the dark video room, exchanging their opinions while watching the supersonic race on television.

"Are you sure everything's okay?"

"Quit your job, Bobby, give me the money and I'll do it."

(End of this chapter)