The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 743 Unbreakable Sweetness
This season, Charles Barkley has come close to Forrest Gump in terms of willpower and determination.

In terms of skill and ability, he is not as good as Forrest Gump, but in basketball, all you need to do is score.

Skill is a means, not an end; Barkley is competent at getting the ball into the basket.

However, Barkley differs greatly from Gan Guoyang in one aspect, which is also the root cause of the gap between many superstars and Gan Guoyang:
Physical fitness.

Many commentators have mentioned that Forrest Gump's physical abilities were a major reason why he surpassed others.

To use a martial arts novel analogy, Forrest Gump, as a top-notch master, not only possesses exquisite moves but also extremely profound internal energy, which can be described as inexhaustible.

Other masters can fight Forrest Gump to a standstill for a period of time, but as time goes on, they can't keep up with his internal energy and can't hold on any longer.

Barkley is already a fat monster with excellent physical qualities and amazing stamina, and he can play a full 48 minutes in a game without any problem.

However, in the high-intensity Western Conference Finals, maintaining high efficiency in the fourth quarter is extremely difficult.

In particular, he also has to face Forrest Gump, who is full of energy and became the king of blocks on the defensive end tonight.

In the final stages of the third quarter, Barkley scored a basket in the low post, but his two one-on-one attempts were blocked by Gan Guoyang.

But there was nothing they could do; apart from Barkley, no one else on the Suns dared to drive inside.

At the end of the third quarter, the Trail Blazers led the Suns 92-79, a 13-point advantage.

Gan Guoyang got more and more excited as the game progressed. By the fourth quarter, he had delivered 10 big blocks, and he was feeling incredibly refreshed.

During the break, assistant coach John Weitzer said to Gan Guoyang, "Gan, if you can get two more assists, you'll have a quadruple-double tonight."

"Really? A quadruple-double, will the league give me an award?"

"No, but it will just be another insignificant addition to your list of honors."

Four pairs of trophies is indeed a trivial honor for Gan Guoyang.

But looking at NBA history, Scorpion is unique, because no player has been able to achieve such a performance in the playoffs.

Chamberlain and Bill Russell may have done it in the regular season and playoffs, but there were no block statistics at that time, so it cannot be verified.

Gan Guoyang didn't take the data too seriously. He stayed on the court after the start of the fourth quarter and didn't plan to rest.

Charles Barkley also remained on the court in the fourth quarter.

Paul Westphal actually wanted Barkley to rest more, even if they lost this game.

Barkley insisted on playing, saying that he had to win every game against Forrest Gump, otherwise he wouldn't be able to win the series.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Barkley received the ball under the basket again, and Gan Guoyang guarded him one-on-one.

Barkley made a clever pass to Mallley, who found himself open at the top of the key after a screen.

Mali received the ball and made a three-pointer!
The crucial three-pointer helped the Suns close the gap to 10 points.

Gan Guoyang then received the ball in the same spot, quickly turned around and made a jump shot!

He was being guarded by Oliver Miller, who had already lunged at Gan Guoyang's face with all his might.

But it was no use; Gan Guoyang's touch had fully kicked in, and his hands were burning hot.

Moreover, his physical condition was almost unaffected; his jump height and turning speed were the same as in the first period.

Because his body was completely warmed up, his shooting speed was even faster.

Barkley exploited a defensive lapse by cutting to the basket, receiving a pass, and scoring a layup.

Gan Guoyang missed a hook shot, his first missed shot in just over half a quarter.

Barkley immediately seized the opportunity to launch a fast break, grabbed the defensive rebound, pushed the ball up the court himself, passed it, received the ball again, and drove into the middle to score a layup!
94-86! The Suns have closed the gap to 8 points.

The Suns' defensive focus was entirely on Gan Guoyang.

It's another ball receiving position in the horns. Gan Guoyang receives the ball, dribbles, and jumps.

He drew three defenders, then suddenly changed his shot into a pass, finding Wayne Cooper under the basket.

Old Cooper caught the ball and slammed it into the basket!
Cooper and Bernard King, those two old guys, really went all out tonight.

Since Antonio Davis already has a ring, PJ Brown has many more opportunities ahead.

They don't have any more chances; this year is their last.

He played cautiously throughout the regular season to conserve his energy, and cheered on his teammates from the sidelines, waving towels.

In the playoffs, they will have ample energy to participate in short, intense competitions.

Gan Guoyang has now dished out 9 assists, bringing the point difference back to 10 points.

The Suns' offensive pace has slowed down, and now the first thing they do when they cross half-court is to get the ball to Barkley.

Barkley received the ball on the right side, turned his back and arched inwards without moving, the continuous attacks made Barkley need to catch his breath.

The ball is passed out to Marley, who then passes it from the right to the left, finally to Oliver Miller in the low post.

Miller turned and tried to overpower veteran Cooper, but his layup after pushing past Cooper was blocked by Cooper!
A crucial block; the Trail Blazers regained possession and took their time, playing at their own pace.

The veteran taught the newcomer a lesson: although Cooper is 36 years old, his physical attributes will not change with age.

Cooper was also a long-armed player, a reliable rim protector who averaged 2.9 blocks per game during his prime.

The Trail Blazers passed the ball to Gan Guoyang, but the Suns double-teamed him and passed the ball to the outside, where Porter's three-pointer missed.

The Suns passed the ball to Barkley again, but the Trail Blazers intensified their harassment of Barkley, with Gan Guoyang even pushing Barkley out of the paint.

In terms of strength, Barkley couldn't beat Forrest Gump; he could only receive the ball beyond the three-point line and launch his attack facing the basket.

A direct breakthrough, unable to shake off the defense due to speed, ultimately resulted in a one-handed floater.

It was clearly too short, hitting the front of the rim. Barkley was tired, and he knew it wouldn't go through once he took the shot.

He tried to drive to the basket for an offensive rebound, but Agan held him off, and the rebound fell into Gan Guoyang's hands.

"Shet!"

Barkley cursed inwardly, thinking he just couldn't stand up to this son of a bitch.

Gan Guoyang, after securing the rebound, turned around and launched a fast break, like a tireless machine.

Barkley gave chase, but couldn't catch up; Gan Guoyang swept across the halfway point like a gust of wind.

He drove into the three-point line, faced with a double team, and passed the ball to Cooper, who, facing an unguarded basket, slammed it home with both hands!

This was Gan Guoyang's 10th assist, and he achieved an unprecedented playoff quadruple-double with 10 blocks.

The TV station reported this astonishing statistic, and keep in mind the game wasn't even over yet.

Westphal immediately called a timeout to let Barkley rest for a while.

“Charles, you should take a rest.”

“No need, I’ll have plenty of time to rest after I die,” Barkley said.

"But this is only the second game, the series is still long!" Westphal advised.

Barkley had no choice but to leave the game and be replaced by John Sally.

On the other hand, Gan Guoyang had no intention of resting at all. There was still plenty of time in the fourth quarter, and a 12-point lead was not secure.

After the timeout, Danny Ainge hit a crucial three-pointer; the guy is incredibly tenacious.

During his time with the Celtics, he was a tough, aggressive white player.

After joining the Suns, as he got older, he gradually transitioned from a primary outside scorer to a role player.

But when it comes to stepping up and scoring, Ainge is more reliable than Kevin Johnson, aside from Barkley.

Johnson has been completely shut down by Gan Guoyang tonight, losing all confidence in attacking the paint, and his outside shooting touch is also off.

The gap narrowed to 9 points, but immediately, Petrovic and Gan Guoyang executed a pick-and-roll, and Petrovic hit a pull-up jumper, bringing the score to 11 points.

Oliver Miller received the ball, drove to the basket, and scored a layup, bringing his total to 9 points. The Suns refused to give up, waiting for Barkley to return.

Gan Guoyang received the ball, and was surrounded by three Suns players. Gan Guoyang passed the ball to Petrovic, who drove into the basket and made a layup!
Petrovic launched himself into the air and was knocked away by a defender, but the referee hadn't blown the whistle yet.

There was no time to complain. The Suns quickly inbounded the ball and launched a counterattack, forcing Petrovic to get up and chase back on defense.

John Sally received the ball and went for a layup, but Gan Guoyang flew over and blocked his shot, slamming it onto the backboard!

Gan Guoyang's 11th block of the game left the Suns players in despair. How could they possibly win?
The inside game was completely shut down; so many sure-fire shots were swatted away, and there was simply no way to catch up.

The two teams engaged in a chaotic battle, lacking tactics and complex teamwork; it was all about feeling and individual ability.

The Trail Blazers withstood the Suns' furious comeback, maintaining a lead of over 10 points throughout the game.

When Barkley returned to the court, with five minutes remaining, the score was 103-91, still a 12-point difference.

The Suns played tenaciously, and the Trail Blazers had many weaknesses on both ends of the court, but they couldn't break through Forrest Gump's defense.

After being substituted, Oliver Miller sat on the bench, panting heavily; he was exhausted.

He couldn't help but complain to the coach, "That guy Forrest Gump...that guy...doesn't he get tired?"

Westphal shook his head, resting his chin on his hand as he continued to watch the game unfold.

In Westphal's mind, the Suns had already lost this game, or rather, they could give up.

Anyway, it's 1-1, we just need to get another away win in Portland.

Westphal couldn't quite understand why Barkley was so obsessed with winning the second game.

Winning is of course the best outcome, but at the beginning of a series, it's wise to conserve energy by foregoing some time – a strategy that can be considered for the long term.

With home-court advantage in the Suns' hands, Westphal didn't expect to sweep or beat the Trail Blazers 4-1.

We'll learn from this loss and readjust for the next game.

Paul Westphal didn't believe that Forrest Gump could put up such a super performance as a quadruple-double.

If Argan experiences some fluctuations, the Suns will have a chance to defeat the Trail Blazers in Portland and regain the lead in the series.

However, Barkley didn't think so. Despite having had a full rest, he had no intention of relaxing and launched a final assault after returning to the court.

He first attacked the basket, drawing a foul from Sabonis, and made both free throws.

Petrovic then missed a shot, Barkley grabbed the rebound, and launched a fast break.

Unable to attack head-on anymore, he chose to back down near the three-point line, then turn and cut to the basket from the baseline for a reverse layup!

They scored 4 points in a row, but Gan Guoyang immediately responded, receiving the ball in the left corner and pulling up for a mid-range jump shot!

This is Gan Guoyang's sweet spot. Once he receives the ball here to attack, it will be difficult for the opponent to double-team him, and it will be inevitable that he will lose points.

Kevin Johnson once again attempted to challenge the three-second zone guarded by Forrest Gump, but his shot was blocked.

However, in an attempt to avoid Forrest Gump's block, Johnson's layup went too far off course, bouncing off the backboard and failing to even touch the rim.

Charles Barkley fought hard to grab the offensive rebound, but when he tried to make a layup, Gan Guoyang slapped the ball away!

Possession returned to the Trail Blazers, and Gan Guoyang maintained firm control of the ball, showing no signs of urgency.

They have the game under control, and time is running out for the Suns.

In the 90s, players' three-point shooting was generally mediocre, and falling behind by more than ten points in the last few minutes was an insurmountable obstacle.

But Barkley refused to give up, directing his teammates to defend the Trail Blazers' offense and launch another counterattack.

Barkley took the lead, received the ball, and drove hard to the basket for a layup!
As a result, Lewis poked the ball away from behind!

Barkley signaled to the referee that the ball had hit the hand and was a foul.

But the referee didn't call a foul, and instead the Trail Blazers launched a counterattack.

Gan Guoyang cuts into the middle and receives a pass from Sabonis.

He slammed home a two-handed dunk!

With this goal, Gan Guoyang scored his 46th point of the game.

At this point, his stats were 46 points, 22 rebounds, 12 assists, and 11 blocks.

Data that is all-powerful, and performance that is all-powerful.

This shot essentially destroyed the Suns' hopes of a comeback.

Barkley stood with his hands on his hips, sweat pouring down his face.

He looked up at the time; there were only two minutes left.

Barkley didn't give up and took a three-pointer, but he missed.

With declining physical fitness, such gambling-style shooting is entirely based on luck.

Suns fans were finally discouraged, as they lost the second game as well.

Charles Barkley's performance deserved his MVP trophy.

But MVP is just the threshold for challenging Forrest Gump.

The sun gave up the fight, and the two teams wore down the remaining time.

The final score was 110-101, with the Trail Blazers winning by 9 points on the road and pulling one back.

Gan Guoyang achieved the first quadruple-double in NBA playoff history.

As he himself has said, he is in the prime of his career.

Charles Barkley was quite frustrated after losing the game. Back in the locker room, he did not speak to reporters but instead locked himself in the physiotherapy room to cool down his burning knees.

Barkley had an amazing performance tonight with 42 points, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks and 7 assists, but he was still a step behind Forrest Gump.

Whether it's statistics, efficiency, or on-court performance, he qualified as a challenger, but not as a winner. The game was very intense and exciting, but Barkley knew that throughout the entire game, the Suns never truly came close to the Trail Blazers.

Their best chance to turn the game around was when Gan Guoyang had a poor shooting night in the third quarter, but they missed it.

The Suns' lack of sharpness was one issue, but they also genuinely lacked a way to break through the Trail Blazers' defense and launch a decisive attack.

Forrest Gump may not have been shooting well, but look at his blocks and defense tonight – it's no exaggeration to say he was flawless.

Eleven blocks—is that something a human can do? Is that a statistic that a human could achieve?
Barkley lowered his head, pondering a series of questions: details, techniques, physical condition, and so on.

He was so focused on reviewing the game that he didn't realize Paul Westphal had come in.

“Charles!” Westphal called out, and Barkley snapped back to reality. “The ice is melting.”

Barkley looked down at the ice in the ice bucket; it was indeed almost all gone, he had been soaking for quite a while.

"Relax, Charles. You played brilliantly tonight. We're tied, 1-1, back to square one. We'll win the road game in Portland and keep going until we win the series."

Paul Westphal comforted Barkley and told him to look ahead.

Theoretically speaking, Westphal is right; the series has only just begun.

Based on their performance in the first two games, the Suns have earned the right to compete with the Trail Blazers.

With the Suns having home-court advantage, the outcome is still uncertain, so Barkley shouldn't be discouraged.

Barkley nodded; he neither denied Westphal's words nor agreed with them.

He was silent for a moment, then said to Westphal, "When playing against Forrest Gump, you have to fight for every game. Don't expect to win the next one, and don't think you can definitely win in Portland. I know him, he... he won't give up."

Westphal pondered Barkley's words; Barkley wasn't the kind of person who would back down after losing a game.

But what does he mean by saying that? Will Forrest Gump continue to get quadruple-doubles? Will the later games be even more difficult?

Westphal disagreed, believing that the Trail Blazers had already struggled in the second game.

Barkley didn't say anything more. He composed himself and went outside to be interviewed by reporters.

When discussing his and Gan Guoyang's amazing performance tonight, Barkley joked, "I'm the best basketball player on Earth. Forrest Gump? Forrest Gump is from Mars, otherwise how could he get a quadruple-double? Is that even a human statistic?"

It's not uncommon for players to achieve quadruple-doubles in the NBA. Forrest Gump's mentor, Nate Thurmond, and Hakeem Olajuwon both achieved quadruple-doubles in blocks.

Alvin Robertson also achieved a quadruple-double with steals, but that was all in the regular season. In the intensity and competition of the playoffs, Gan Guoyang is the first player to achieve a quadruple-double.

The Western Conference Finals are now tied 1-1, with the Trail Blazers and Suns back on equal footing and the Suns regaining home-court advantage.

On the other side, the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat, everyone thought the Bulls would tie the series like the Trail Blazers.

Unexpectedly, the Miami Heat won another game at home, taking a 2-0 lead over the Bulls!
这一战迈克尔-乔丹轰下了36分，可是哈基姆-奥拉朱旺用30分16个篮板4次盖帽3次抢断的表现，率领热火98：94，4分的优势主场击败了公牛。

The Heat have gained a significant advantage in the series and firmly hold onto home-court advantage.

As a result, the situation in the East-West Finals changed, and many people realized that Forrest Gump was still Forrest Gump.

And what about Michael? Michael might still be the same Michael, but this time he's facing Hakeem Olajuwon and the Heat.

In 1984, the most outstanding talents of the golden generation engaged in an unprecedented battle for the century, making tickets to the finals so difficult and precious.

At this moment, Charles Barkley envied Hakeem Olajuwon. He was in the East, and he had taken a 2-0 lead. This psychological advantage was unparalleled.

On May 29th, in Portland, the Suns faced off in Game 5 of the series, hoping to win and regain home-court advantage and control of the series.

During the regular season, the Suns had the best away record in the league, and they even won at the Rose Garden.

On the plane to Portland, Westphal appeared relaxed, focusing intently on developing his game plan.

He made a decision to use a rotation strategy against Forrest Gump, with Barkley and Marley joining in the defense against him.

According to Westphal, this would disrupt Forrest Gump's offensive rhythm because he would have to adapt to different defensive strategies each time he faced a different defender.

Barkley's assessment of this was: "Wishful thinking."

However, Westphal still maintains that Forrest Gump cannot play like he did in Game 2 in Game 3.

However, the game did not go as Paul Westphal had planned, and Forrest Gump did not falter in the third game.

On the contrary, Gan Guoyang really got into form after the second game, and he had a big breakout game when he returned to his home turf in Portland in the third game.

Paul Westphal, in his first stint as head coach, possessed drive and imagination, but his imagination may have stemmed partly from his ignorance.

The Suns were evenly matched with the Trail Blazers in the first quarter, but at the start of the second quarter, Gan Guoyang became unstoppable in the low post and at the top of the key, scoring continuously.

He scored 27 points in the first half, slightly less than in the previous game, but seamlessly transitioned from the second quarter in the third, continuing his unstoppable mid-range jump shot and low-post hook shot, switching back and forth between the small forward and center roles.

The king of the third quarter scored 21 points in that quarter alone, bringing his total to 48 points after three quarters, and the Suns were completely overwhelmed.

Charles Barkley, who put up a strong fight in the second game, lost his shooting touch in this game, which is a normal fluctuation in form.

He scored 42 points in the last game and felt great, but it's inevitable that his performance will decline in this game in Portland.

At this point, the Suns should have someone else step up to respond, or rely on the strength of the team to fight back.

But your opponent is Gan Guoyang, who's on fire and getting better with each game.

Gan Guoyang scored a whopping 54 points in the game, crushing the Suns in three and a half quarters. The Trail Blazers won 119-98 at home, a 21-point victory over the Suns.

Gan Guoyang didn't have a quadruple-double tonight; he just focused on scoring, with 54 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks, which was enough.

Basketball is ultimately a game of scoring. Rebounds, blocks, and assists only have meaning if they are counted towards points; otherwise, they are invalid statistics.

So why not just score directly, overwhelm the opponent, break their will to resist, and make them unable to keep up with your pace?

This year should theoretically be the weakest year for the Trail Blazers overall, but considering the 50-point sweep by the SuperSonics and the 21-point victory over the Suns, the Trail Blazers actually seem to have won by large margins more often.

The reason is simple: the Trail Blazers could no longer overwhelm their opponents with sheer force and simply crushed them.

Gan Guoyang must step forward and pierce through his opponent like a sharp spear, the harder the better.

We must strike at the opponent's morale to the greatest extent possible and weaken them.

In addition, the Trail Blazers' playing style this year is more offensive, and offensive teams are prone to creating massacres.

After this game, Paul Westphal began to understand what Barkley meant.

By the time the fourth battle was over, Westphal had come to a complete understanding.

The fourth game will also be held in Portland.

Paul Westphal thought to himself that the team should bounce back in this game.

And what about Forrest Gump? Can he maintain that high scoring efficiency?

Westphal was unsure of himself, but he adjusted the starting lineup, moving Barkley to the small forward position.

The frontcourt pairing consisted of John Salley and Mark West, a tactic used by Suns coach Fitzsimmons in 1991.

It's clear that Westphal has run out of ideas; he can't just watch Forrest Gump continue to do whatever he wants.

This tactic didn't work, for a simple reason: Forrest Gump was no longer the Forrest Gump of 1991.

He is no longer a pure inside player, nor a pure outside player; he can launch an attack from any position.

Putting two inside players up there isn't very effective, even though John Sally is a very agile and tall player.

However, he couldn't handle Forrest Gump when he was with the Detroit Pistons, and even after joining the Suns, without the support of the Pistons system, he still couldn't manage him.

The good news for the Suns is that Terry Porter will miss the game, possibly even Game 5, due to a recurring calf injury.

The bad news is that Forrest Gump can control the ball more on the perimeter, push the fast break, and attack any defender on the court like a bulldozer.

From the first quarter onwards, Gan Guoyang made full use of mismatch tactics, frequently creating mismatches and one-on-one opportunities against Suns players on the perimeter.

Marley, Barkley, and even Kevin Johnson were repeatedly rotated to Gan Guoyang's position and then easily outplayed.

The Suns' lackluster defense gave the Trail Blazers an opening.

Although the Suns' defense was very intense and their movements were rough, they almost came to blows with the Trail Blazers players on some possessions.

However, tactical efforts cannot mask strategic flaws, much less compensate for systemic problems.

Short stature, a fatal flaw on the basketball court, was still brutally torn apart by the Trail Blazers, or rather, by Forrest Gump, even as the Suns relentlessly tried to compensate with power and speed.

The Suns put up a tough fight, but their lack of offensive and defensive rebounds kept them firmly under pressure.

The Trail Blazers didn't repeat the mistakes they made in Game 1, letting the Suns dictate the game. Instead, they used their height, rebounding, and mismatch advantages to firmly control the situation.

In terms of "control" alone, no one in the history of the league can compare to Forrest Gump.

This master of control, wielding the strings, slowly bound the Suns, this unrestrained and passionate team together.

Paul Westphal thought he could secure a victory on the road and regain home advantage.

The reality is that after losing the second game, the Suns have fallen into Forrest Gump's web and are finding it hard to escape.

In the second battle, Charles Barkley struggled because he realized Forrest Gump was spinning a web.

Playing at home, with the added boost of morale and home-court advantage, such as drawing a foul and taking half a quarter down, could lead to a 2-0 lead and a completely different situation.

Even if they lose both away games, they still have the opportunity to readjust and return to Phoenix to play the pivotal Game 5.

Just like playing chess, one wrong move can lead to a series of setbacks, gradually plunging you into a quagmire from which it becomes difficult to extricate yourself.

Barkley played at a high level again in Game 4, but the Trail Blazers and Agan, who exploited the Suns' weaknesses, launched a fierce attack.

Gan Guoyang and Sabonis dominated the paint, with Sabonis scoring a playoff-high 31 points.

Half of the points came from Gan Guoyang's passing assists, as he consistently fed the ball to Sabonis after attracting sufficient defensive attention.

Gan Guoyang scored 33 points, 11 assists, and 15 rebounds, repeatedly leaping between the inside and outside lines, and the twin towers firmly grasped the Suns' Achilles' heel.

Whenever the Suns were about to gain momentum, Gan Guoyang would step up, using his mismatch advantage to score or assist, steadily suppressing the Suns.

This rendered Barkley's 37 points futile, as he remained submerged and miserable from start to finish.

The player who disappointed Suns fans the most was still Kevin Johnson, who only played one good game, which was the first game.

The second game was a feast, the third game was a crushing defeat, and the statistics were meaningless. The fourth game was still hampered by the Trail Blazers' big men.

For a point guard, lacking height and the ability to shoot from outside is a fatal flaw.

It's okay against teams of similar strength, or relatively weak teams with obvious weaknesses.

After all, Kevin Johnson is also a super scorer who can break through defenses and, when he's on a hot streak, can be deadly.

However, when facing a top-tier team that is well-rounded in all aspects, a small player like Johnson will suffer a great loss.

From Game 1 to Game 4, Kevin Johnson scored at the basket very few and far between.

If you come in, you either get a hat or you can't see the basket and just throw it away; whether you get in or not is up to fate.

Unfortunately, whenever Barkley is exhausted in crucial moments, only Kevin Johnson has the ability to solve tough problems.

What can the Suns do? If he doesn't play, no one else can score, and they can't control the ball possession, so they have no choice but to play.

At this point, he was not as good as Petrovic, who, despite his knee injury, still had the advantage of height.

He scored more points under the Suns' basket than Kevin Johnson, yet he had fewer touches on the ball than Johnson.

In Game 4, the Trail Blazers won 95-101 at home, extending their winning streak to three games after losing one.

The series has been completely turned around, with the Trail Blazers leading 3-1 and just one win away from reaching the Finals for the fourth consecutive year!
After the game, Charles Barkley looked unusually serious, lowered his head, and left the court to return to the locker room.

However, he wasn't as down as he seemed. When he lost the match and was down 1-3, he actually felt somewhat relieved.

Because he felt that everything was as expected; Forrest Gump was too strong, and sure enough, after losing the second battle, he wouldn't be able to hold on.

Westphal still doesn't understand Forrest Gump, and doesn't know how to play a series against the Portlanders.

When playing against the Trail Blazers, whether it's a single game or a series, you have to take the lead.

Take the lead first, secure the victory first, and you'll have a chance to maintain your lead. Otherwise, you'll just be waiting to be controlled by Forrest Gump.

In an interview, Barkley sincerely said, "This year's Trail Blazers may not be the best, but they are definitely the best Forrest Gump."

When Gan Guoyang was about to leave Portland, he found Barkley and gave him a heavy box.

Barkley, holding the box, said, "What is this? Hawkman's head?"

"His brain isn't that heavy, and he's not suitable as a gift for an MVP. Let's open it again when we get back."

Gan Guoyang specially commissioned a gift to commemorate Barkley's MVP award.

However, it wouldn't be appropriate to give him a gift before the two teams have started playing each other; we'll give him a gift after the two away games are over.

Barkley ignored it and secretly opened it for a peek, finding it inside to be glittering gold!

"Gold?! Good stuff, but... you should keep it for now and give it to me when I take Portland back."

Are you sure the series will return to Portland?

"I'm sure, I haven't had enough yet. Are you already scared?"

Gan Guoyang gave Barkley a bright smile. This kid is already down 1-3, and he's still not convinced.

However, Barkley wouldn't be convinced if he were.

Gan Guoyang put the box away and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you to come back to Portland. If you don't come back, I'll take this back."

Barkley hesitated for a moment, then snatched the box and said, "The series will be back in Portland, but gifts are gifts, and that's a different matter."

In terms of on-court performance alone, Barkley has been truly outstanding this year. His performance in the series was so impressive that it even inspired Gan Guoyang, who felt compelled to give his all.

But to defeat Forrest Gump, you need strength, hard work, the right time and place, and luck.

Only those with exceptional luck can withstand such sweetness.

(End of this chapter)