The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 744 Iron Curtain
Barkley returned to Phoenix, finally able to catch his breath at home.

On the plane, Barkley opened the gift Gan Guoyang had given him, the heavy box.

Inside was a gleaming golden pizza, indeed made of gold.

It's smaller than a regular pizza and is placed on a tray that can stand upright.

The pizza is made of gold, and the ham, mushrooms, and vegetables on top are made of rubies, diamonds, and emeralds.

Barkley loved the golden pizza, which slightly relieved his frustration caused by the consecutive losses.

Unlike most professional athletes, Barkley has never shied away from his love of junk food.

Hamburgers, fried chicken, cola, pizza, and donuts are his favorites.

And he has never agreed with the notion that these foods are junk food.

He said, "These foods contain bread, cheese, vegetables, and meat. If they were cooked separately and served on different plates, people would say it's a hearty and nutritious dinner. Why does putting them together to make a delicious meal turn it into junk food? I think it's a conspiracy."

Of all these so-called junk foods, Barkley's favorite isn't a hamburger, but a pizza.

He thinks pizza is the most delicious food and can provide him with enough nutrition and energy.

When he arrived in Phoenix and was trying to gain weight, his main food in the kitchen was pizza and donuts.

He plans to participate in pizza-eating contests after retiring, and he is confident that he can win one or two championships with his eating capacity.

As for the NBA championship? To be honest, after the fourth game, his confidence wasn't as strong anymore.

Of course he wants to win, and he will give it his all in the upcoming matches.

But the reality of being down 1-3 told him that they were one step away from death.

I need to mentally prepare myself for going home to fish, so that when the end actually comes, I'll feel better.

Gan Guoyang's golden pizza was said to be a gift to Barkley as an MVP, but it also seemed like a consolation prize from Barkley after his loss.

Thinking about this, Barkley got angry again, thinking, "I won't go easy on you in Game 5 just because you gave me a golden pizza!"

But what good is showing no mercy? We can't beat them, we really can't beat them.

Once confidence begins to waver, it is often irreversible.

Whether intentional or not, Gan Guoyang's golden pizza weakened Barkley's will to resist.

Let's consider it as part of Gan Guoyang's psychological warfare in this playoffs.

Of course, Gan Guoyang had prepared this golden pizza long ago.

Regardless of whether Barkley wins or loses the game, the MVP award will still be given to him.

This is a testament to their ten-year friendship; Black people, you know, just love shiny, gold things.

After returning to Phoenix, Barkley spent half his time figuring out what to give as a return gift.

Forrest Gump loved his golden pizza so much that he put it in a prominent place when he got home.

Later, whenever he had free time, he would sit on a stool in front of it and enjoy the view for a long time.

She kept saying, "My precious pizza~"

By the time Charles Barkley accepted the golden pizza, the Suns' 0.1% chance of pulling off a miracle had vanished.

This cannot be blamed on Barkley; their best chance in Game 2 has already slipped away unnoticed.

Of course, in Game 5, Barkley and the Suns put up a tenacious and effective resistance.

Back in Phoenix, they regrouped and put on a spectacular offensive performance in front of their Phoenix fans.

The Suns unleashed a hot shooting streak from beyond the arc, with Barkley, Danny Ainge, and Mali hitting consecutive three-pointers in the first quarter.

Terry Porter missed this game and did not travel with the team to Phoenix, but stayed in Portland for treatment and rest.

Porter is very important to the Trail Blazers, and his shots in Game 2 were crucial.

The Trail Blazers really can't afford to be short-handed at the backcourt right now, so Game 5 is a game where they can relax a bit.

In the first quarter, Phoenix quickly took the lead and maintained their dominance over the Trail Blazers throughout the first half.

Gan Guoyang led his team in a comeback in the third quarter, once tying the score and even taking the lead.

But the Suns were surprisingly good on offense tonight, with their three-point shooting being incredibly accurate.

The Suns made 9 of 15 three-point attempts throughout the game. With such a high three-point shooting percentage, the Trail Blazers' already leaky perimeter defense became even more unbearable.

In the 90s, in most playoff games, a team rarely attempted more than 10 three-pointers in a single game, and 15 was even rarer.

The Trail Blazers used to be the biggest three-point shooters, but with Porter injured and Cahill partially sidelined, they have taken fewer three-point attempts than before.

Even so, the Trail Blazers still battled the Suns to the very end. Gan Guoyang said to Barkley, "Since you've accepted the gifts, you don't need to go back to Portland, right?"

In the final minute of the game, Gan Guoyang hit a three-pointer to tie the score, and then stole the ball from Barkley on the defensive end.

But the referee blew his whistle, calling a foul on Gan Guoyang for hitting his hand, and sending Barkley to the free-throw line.

Gan Guoyang has already committed five fouls. This play is in the category of whether or not it can be called, but since it's in Phoenix, it should be called.

Moreover, the referee tonight is Baveta, and Gan Guoyang doesn't want to argue with this old man; it's not worth getting a technical foul.

Barkley made both free throws, and Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post. Facing a triple-team defense, he turned and made a jump shot, tying the score once again.

Barkley received the ball in the final moments, drove hard to the basket, and made a layup, drawing a foul from Gan Guoyang for the second time.

Gan Guoyang fouled out. After being called for a foul, he stood in front of Bavita with his hands on his hips and didn't say a word, which made Bavita very nervous.

"Get off the field, Sonny, get off the field," Bavita said to Gan Guoyang in as gentle a tone as possible.

The fans at the scene fueled the fire, booing incessantly and chanting, "Hit him! Hit him!"

When Gan Guoyang was at his worst, he elbowed Bavita, sending him to the hospital, because Bavita tried to cause trouble with the whistle.

Now that the player has been sent off, Bavita is scared, worried he might end up in the hospital again.

Gan Guoyang simply shook his head, patted Bavita on the shoulder, said nothing, and left the stadium to return to the locker room.

Firstly, Gan Guoyang rarely takes action now. The purpose of fighting in the first place was to avoid fighting in the first place, because the enemy can't keep multiplying.

Secondly, the series is not over yet. If someone really gets into a fight and is suspended, it will definitely be dragged into a Game 7.

If it goes to a Game 7 and we have to go back to Phoenix, the situation will be completely different.

This situation must absolutely not happen.

Ultimately, the Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 114-112 thanks to Barkley's last four free throws.

The score is now 2-3, and the Trail Blazers have a match point at home.

The Suns won tonight, but Paul Westphal didn't have much of a smile on his face.

With a hot hand from three-point range, home-court advantage, and the help of the referees, they ultimately won by 2 points.

Westphal is increasingly able to understand why Barkley played so incredibly hard in Game 2.

If they win the second game, then in the fifth game, which will be crucial, they will have the home advantage and the referee's favor, and they will be the ones to take the match point.

They will then have one foot in the Finals, and even if they lose Game 6, they can still go back to Phoenix for a Game 7.

Indeed, Barkley's understanding of the series, or rather, his understanding of Forrest Gump, is very profound.

When playing against teams like Forrest Gump and the Trail Blazers, you need to seize the initiative and take advantage of every little opportunity.

Because Forrest Gump rarely makes mistakes, and he has such strong self-control, he always gets better and better in the series.

If you can't gain an early advantage and seize the initiative, and the Trail Blazers control the game, you're basically doomed.

This is what makes the two three-peats and six-time league champions truly terrifying: their stability and solidity, like a mountain.

Otherwise, how could one achieve so many victories year after year, with wave after wave of opponents, ever-changing environments, and fluctuating personal performance?

They are the new Boston Celtics, even stronger than the original Boston Celtics, because the NBA today is no longer the NBA of the 60s.

The sixth game was played back in Portland, and the Trail Blazers wouldn't give the Suns another chance.

After a day of rest, Terry Porter's calf injury has eased.

Barkley developed fluid buildup in his right elbow after playing Game 5.

He wore a thick white elbow brace for the first five games, and now the fluid buildup is severe.

On the way to Portland, the team doctor drained the fluid from his elbow to make him more comfortable.

After arriving in Portland, Gan Guoyang invited Barkley to play golf at Oswick Lake Hills Park.

Logically speaking, Barkley shouldn't have played golf with an elbow injury, and besides, Forrest Gump isn't Jordan; he's not a golf fan.

Whether it was because he was itching to play golf, or because he had accepted Forrest Gump's golden pizza and felt indebted to him, Barkley still agreed to play.

The two had a great time on the golf course. Gan Guoyang continued his powerful and unpredictable style of play, while Barkley carefully reduced the force he used with his elbows.

After playing golf, the two went to listen to a stand-up comedy show and gambled a few rounds. Finally, they had dinner at Gan Guoyang's house, where Gan Youwei personally cooked Barkley's favorite hamburgers and pizzas.

After having a good time eating and drinking, Gan Guoyang escorted Barkley back to his hotel. As they parted, Barkley said, "Sonny, don't even think about bribing me with these tricks. I'll do my best to win tomorrow's game."

Gan Guoyang smiled and said, "On the field is on the field, and off the field is off the field. I've always kept that distinction very clear. Besides, you don't have a chance anymore, Charles. I can sense that."

"What do you feel?"

"I sense it... but I can't tell you. You know it in your heart."

"Stop pretending to be a ghost."

"You've already missed your best chance."

Barkley was silent for a moment, realizing that Forrest Gump had hit the nail on the head.

But he responded, "The best opportunity is always the next one, always in the future."

Gan Guoyang remained noncommittal. When Barkley left, he didn't look back, but simply waved.

Gan Guoyang also reached out and waved goodbye gently, behind Barkley's back.

The next day, it was June, and summer was gradually approaching.

Gan Guoyang's seventh Grand Finals appearance in his professional career is just around the corner, only one victory away.

That night, tickets for the Rose Garden were as hard to come by as usual, with Portland’s important holiday just around the corner.

After lunch, Wang Fuxi began preparations, tidying up the children and having Quentin prepare the vehicle.

The whole family is going to the arena to watch the Trail Blazers play the Suns.

My son, Gan Wenshan, is four years old and can communicate with his father very fluently.

He speaks with a slight lisp and often mixes Chinese and English.

After getting in the car, he asked, "Daddy, are we going to have a race with that fat uncle today?"

"Yes, with that fat uncle. You should either speak English or Chinese, don't mix them."

Gan Guoyang had reminded him more than once, but Gan Wenshan always acted as if he were deaf and ignored him.

"Can he lose to Fat Uncle? Grandpa said Fat Uncle will definitely lose, he will, uh, sad."

Gan Guoyang shook his head: "If Dad loses, I'll be sad too. Aren't you afraid Dad will be sad?"

"Don't be afraid. Mom and I can comfort you if you're sad. It's okay."

“Uncle Fatty also has a wife and children, and they will comfort him.”

"He has a Wife too? Oh..."

Gan Wenshan didn't finish his sentence, but his face clearly showed disbelief.

Gan Guoyang thought to himself, "Poor Barkley, even your kids don't believe you can find a wife."

The other child is still small and can babble a little, but it is clearly not as clear and fluent as his older brother's.

After arriving at the stadium in the evening and saying goodbye to his family, Gan Guoyang went into the locker room to prepare for the game.

Terry Porter made a successful comeback tonight, and his condition looks great after a period of rest and treatment.

In fact, if Porter can perform at a high level, the Suns will have a much harder time.

Because Kevin Johnson is at a disadvantage defensively against Porter.

Porter can dominate John Stockton, and he can also have a breakout game that dominates Kevin Johnson.

If Porter is healthy in Game 5, the Trail Blazers will likely win and end the series in Phoenix.

Of course, ending the series in Portland in Game 6 and winning the Western Conference championship is also a very good result.

There were a large number of reporters and media personnel present tonight, and almost all the important figures in Portland were there.

Although it's not the finals yet, reaching the finals for the fourth consecutive year is still a remarkable achievement.

Once they reach the finals, a four-peat will be within reach. As a prelude, this Western Conference Finals championship game is also highly anticipated.

Before the competition started, Gan Guoyang warmed up while blowing bubbles.

On the other side, Barkley was equally relaxed, looking much more at ease than in the first and second games.

Magic Johnson appeared at the Rose Garden Arena as a special guest on NBC.

He left the court, but couldn't completely leave. Like Barry and Russell, he chose a job as a commentator. This former Western Conference Finals king, watching the new Western Conference Finals king register, was filled with mixed emotions and had many things to say.

It's worth noting that Gan Guoyang's two losses in the Western Conference Finals were both due to Magic Johnson.

It can be said that Johnson is an absolute man of great luck.

The number one draft pick, the chosen one, the victor of the NCAA's historic battle.

He joined the Lakers, a powerhouse team, in his first year of his career. The Lakers, who were playing in the Western Conference Finals last season, were the first overall pick in his draft.

A poor boy from Michigan suddenly finds himself in the dazzling, star-studded city of Los Angeles, California.

Upon entering the league, he was favored by Jerry Buss and signed a 25-year super contract. In his rookie season, he teamed up with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win the championship.

With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar absent from Game 6, Johnson bravely stepped up and delivered a legendary performance, defeating the 76ers and leading his team to the championship.

Because the TV stations didn't want to miss the Finals MVP award ceremony during their broadcasts, the league decided to award the Finals MVP to Magic Johnson.

He never missed a playoff game after that, and was basically guaranteed a spot in the Western Conference Finals. If this isn't a lucky person, then what is?

Magic Johnson's winning streak was broken when Forrest Gump appeared, and he never won a championship again after 1985.

Even so, he defeated Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers twice, seizing the opportunity firmly, both times 4-2.

Two deep seals are left on Gan Guoyang's glorious record of honors.

Perhaps it was precisely because his luck was so strong that, on the other hand, God had to take something away from him.

“Beating Forrest Gump is no easy feat. You have to be completely focused, you have to give it your all, and you can’t afford to relax even for a second. Even back in 1985, when he was still a rookie, he was already incredibly difficult to beat. By 1986, he was terrifying, and you couldn’t beat him anymore!”

Johnson, holding the microphone, spared no praise for Gan Guoyang.

Although Johnson also has his own pride, he is very different from Jordan and Bird.

He's the kind of person who's easygoing with words, rarely harsh, and very happy to flatter others in public.

He is especially respectful of those who truly defeat him; he is not the kind of person who thinks, "I can't beat you, but I just won't accept it."

"1989 was the worst time for Portland, even worse than now. But they were still very competitive in the West. Forrest was in trouble then, and Fleischer suddenly passed away. Fleischer was a very important person to Forrest, almost as much as his father, as far as I know. The grief affected his performance, and Drexler had left Portland. Sabonis and Petrovic hadn't arrived yet, and both the Trail Blazers and Forrest were very weak."

"Even with such a weakened state, we still fought with all our might to beat the Trail Blazers. Honestly, when we won the game, I hugged Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and jumped wildly, just like when I played my first NBA game in 1979 and Kareem made the game-winning shot. I never thought I would be so excited, it was so exciting, even more exciting than winning the championship."

"Later, perhaps we got too excited and lost to Detroit in the Finals. We never made it to the Finals again. But in my opinion, beating Forrest Gump in the Western Conference Finals is still a great achievement in my basketball career. It seems that I may be the only one. The Phoenix Suns and Charles Barkley need to step up their game. They need some luck."

Magic Johnson spoke eloquently, and he certainly has the qualifications.

Moreover, judging from his expression and demeanor, Johnson was quite excited.

Because he was the one who stood on this very ground and fought with Forrest Gump, the fighting spirit flows in his blood.

After the Olympics, Johnson considered making a comeback. That summer he resumed training and participated in several preseason games.

However, before the start of the regular season, his return was opposed by some active players who were worried about the transmissibility of HIV.

Johnson had no choice but to announce that he would not return and began living the life of a retired player.

Publish books, shoot commercials, participate in social activities, and appear as a commentator on television, etc.

Now standing on the heated Western Conference Finals court, still facing the Portland Trail Blazers, his old rivals and old friends, how could he not be excited and expectant?

Unfortunately, this arena no longer belongs to him.

After the exciting opening ceremony, the Trail Blazers, dressed in white jerseys, stood on the court.

Another disheartening fact is that since the Trail Blazers' championship season in 1990, they have only lost one game at home.

Apart from their unexpected loss to the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 1 of the semifinals last season, other Western Conference teams have struggled to conquer Memorial Arena and Rose Garden.

The fans here have a strong sense of confidence. Before the game starts, their screams and cheers look so elegant and composed, unlike the frenzy in other cities.

Gan Guoyang regained possession of the ball in a scramble, and the Trail Blazers launched their first offensive play of the game.

Lewis may have relaxed too much, as he caught the ball and took a mid-range shot that missed completely.

Barkley's three-point attempt missed, and the situation was indeed different from Game 5.

In Game 5, Barkley and the Suns got hot in the first quarter and continued to shoot better and better.

Gan Guoyang also tried a jump shot, but it missed as well. Barkley grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball across half-court to launch an attack.

Barkley backed down Sabonis and pushed him inside, Lewis came over to double-team him, and Barkley took a step back to pass the ball.

After receiving the ball in the middle, Richard Dumars immediately passed it to Mark West under the basket.

West dunked, giving the Suns their first point of the game.

The Trail Blazers started the game cautiously, even somewhat restrained.

When a series is about to reach its final stage, it's inevitable to be a little more cautious.

After three unsuccessful attacks, Terry Porter finally received a long pass from Lewis at the left corner.

Porter caught the ball and quickly hit a three-pointer! The Trail Blazers got going.

On the Suns' side, Dan Mali also made a layup and drew a foul from Sabonis.

In the first quarter, the Suns made a significant change to their strategy: Paul Westphal essentially abandoned Kevin Johnson on offense.

It's not that Kevin Johnson isn't allowed to receive the ball, but rather that he's treated like a traditional point guard, dribbling, passing, and organizing the offense.

Then the task of leading the offense on the perimeter was handed over to Dan Marley and Richard Dumars.

Because Westphal discovered that having Kevin Johnson as an offensive player resulted in him simply providing Forrest Gump with blocks.

In this situation, the more Kevin Johnson attacks, the more damage he does to the team because his efficiency is too low.

Logically, if Porter is out of form, Johnson could dominate, but with the paint too tightly controlled, he can only rely on his inconsistent shooting.

Without a sharp breakthrough, the power of the once-powerful purple lightning has been greatly diminished, and Kevin still hasn't escaped the shadow of his high school days.

Once Kevin Johnson becomes a playmaker and passer, it means that Paul Westphal's transformation of the Suns' offense throughout the season has been ineffective.

This seems to be no different from the Suns before. The so-called multi-core offense has become empty talk, and by Game 6 of the series, it had all vanished.

In the first quarter, Marley, Barkley, and Richard Dumars repeatedly attacked the paint, achieving good results.

Gan Guoyang didn't have a big feast tonight; 10 blocks in a single game isn't something that happens every night.

The Suns' defense was also quite effective, preventing Gan Guoyang from receiving the ball and hoping to cut off the Trail Blazers' most efficient scoring point at the source.

With a score of 28-24, the Suns got off to a good start, making their sixth game look less bad.

As the game progressed, the Trail Blazers became increasingly patient, with Gan Guoyang being particularly patient, constantly creating opportunities for his teammates.

His goal wasn't just to win; he also wanted to get his teammates in top form before the finals began.

Porter scored 8 points in the first quarter, the highest on the team, and felt great after the rest.

In the second quarter, the competition between the two sides became increasingly fierce, with more and more aggressive moves, and physical conflicts began to emerge.

The Suns are trying to muddy the waters and create some trouble in Game 6, hoping to bring about some unexpected situations.

This was Paul Westphal's strategy before the game; he believed that things had come to this point and some measures were needed.

Gan Guoyang showed great restraint; he did not hit anyone.

He pointed his finger at Dan Mali twice and yelled at him, and he pushed Mark West away twice.

Charles Barkley remained calm and came over several times to mediate, telling Forrest Gump not to get angry.

Barkley knows Forrest Gump very well; if it really came down to a fight, no one on the Suns could beat him.

If this guy goes all out, half of the Suns' starters might miss Game 7.

Besides, if they dragged it into a Game 7 using this method, Barkley would feel it was an unfair victory.

The referee stepped in to mediate and even called a technical foul on the Suns.

In the Rose Garden, the referee will intervene and offer advice, but will not call a technical foul on Gan Guoyang.

The Suns players weren't so reckless as to rush in and trade one for one with Forrest Gump, and they gradually calmed down.

Gan Guoyang, however, did not let the sun off the hook. He angrily berated Westphal for trying to outsmart him.

"Paul! You'll never win a championship by playing tricks, never! Looks like you haven't learned your lesson at all. I'll teach you another lesson tonight!"

Westphal appeared embarrassed after being exposed and made no response.

At the end of the second quarter, Gan Guoyang led the Trail Blazers on a counterattack, going on a 7-2 run to tie the score.

The score was tied at 47-47 going into halftime. The Trail Blazers were playing better and better, while the Suns seemed to be losing momentum.

Sure enough, the momentum shifted in the third quarter, with Porter hitting two consecutive three-pointers at the start of the second half.

One was a three-pointer after a pick-and-roll with Gan Guoyang, and the other was a pull-up three-pointer during a fast break; both were Porter's signature offensive moves.

With those two three-pointers, the atmosphere at the Rose Garden ignited, and people witnessed the return of champions Portland.

All the way to Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the Trail Blazers, who had swept through the competition, finally seemed to be making a comeback.

Before that, it wasn't the real Trail Blazers, but Forrest Gump leading his teammates in playing basketball.

Those two three-pointers seemed to awaken the Trail Blazers' offensive rhythm.

Petrovic then hit a pull-up jumper.

Lewis and Forrest both scored with jump shots after a pick-and-roll.

Gan Guoyang became the best screener and the best defensive drawer on the court.

The Suns didn't collapse; they put up an extremely tenacious fight.

After the Trail Blazers extended their lead to 10 points, Westphal called a timeout.

After returning, the Suns played steadily, continuing to attack the paint while also distributing the ball to the two corners in a timely manner.

Mali and Ainge both contributed three-pointers, keeping the score close.

Barkley didn't force his way past Forrest's defense, but instead, like in Game 1, combined playmaking with one-on-one attacks.

They are all experienced players who know how to utilize different rhythms and styles to maximize their team's chances of winning.

Both teams shot well from beyond the arc, and the scoring went back and forth in the third quarter, with the Trail Blazers scoring 34 points and the Suns scoring 30.

With the score at 77-81, the Suns tenaciously narrowed the gap to 4 points before entering the fourth quarter, and their hopes were not completely extinguished.

As the final quarter began, the Suns launched a strong counterattack, with Barkley showing his energy and hitting consecutive mid-range jump shots.

At this point, Porter and Sabonis responded with mid-range shots, and the two teams went for the ball one after another, like in a shooting contest.

The hit rate is very high.

However, Magic Johnson, who was providing commentary, could spot some differences:
"The Trail Blazers' offense is simpler and easier. Sabonis takes shots from the high post, and the Suns have almost no answer; they can only pray he doesn't make them."

"The Suns' offense will be much more difficult; they need to play very well together. The Trail Blazers' two big men are too formidable on the defensive end."

"With them on the court, the opponent's offense is naturally much more complicated than usual, which is a big advantage for the Trail Blazers."

Outside of Portland natives, no one understands the Portland Trail Blazers better than Magic Johnson.

The game reached its most intense moment, with the Trail Blazers maintaining a lead of around 4 points throughout the fourth quarter.

The Suns showed amazing resilience, never giving up even in a completely unfavorable situation.

Whenever the Trail Blazers executed a beautiful offensive play, the Suns were able to respond, determined not to let the game fall apart.

Besides Barkley, Marley, Dumars, Ainge, and Sally all gave it their all.

This also meant that the Trail Blazers players were giving it their all, hoping that hitting a few three-pointers would force the opponent to surrender. But that kind of game is impossible here.

The two teams battled fiercely until the very end of the game. Less than a minute later, the score was 103-107, with the Trail Blazers still leading by 4 points.

The Suns have possession. Kevin Johnson receives the ball and initiates the offense, feigning a drive to the middle before passing to Mallley on the wing.

Marley received the ball and attempted a three-pointer, but missed. Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound under the basket, but Barkley didn't give up, and the two scrambled for it.

If this shot goes in, the Suns still have a chance to win; if they miss, the game is basically over.

Barkley was unwilling to give up, so he fought hard to earn a chance to contest the ball.

The two stood at the free-throw circle for a jump ball. Barkley knew he couldn't outjump Forrest Gump, so he quietly made a hand gesture to Johnson.

Johnson understood perfectly, and Barkley didn't go all out during the jump ball, allowing Gan Guoyang to leap up and tip the ball to Porter.

However, Kevin Johnson suddenly appeared from the side and snatched the ball from Porter's hands!
After getting the ball, he turned and drove to the basket. Barkley also walked in, and Kevin Johnson made a high lob pass to Barkley for an alley-oop!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. At the crucial moment, Barkley used a clever trick, and their tactical plan was about to succeed.

However, Gan Guoyang stood like an impenetrable iron curtain between Johnson and Barkley.

In mid-air, Gan Guoyang intercepted the pass; Johnson's pass was slightly too low.

After getting the ball, Gan Guoyang landed heavily on both feet, his hands holding the ball firmly like clamps.

Barkley landed at the same time, and in that instant he knew his 1992-1993 season was over.

But Barkley, as if on instinct, charged toward the ball that Forrest Gump was holding tightly, without any hesitation.

(End of this chapter)