The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 745 The Finish Line

[In Game 6 of the 1993 Western Conference Finals, I felt a little resentful towards my parents for the first time, wondering why they didn't make me taller!]
I also resent Charles's parents. If they were taller, I wouldn't have passed the ball so low, and it wouldn't have been intercepted by Forrest Gump.

Of course, this resentment was very short-lived, just like that defeat; the pain came quickly and went quickly.

At that time, I thought there would always be opportunities in the future, and we would make a comeback.

—Excerpt from an interview conducted by Kevin Johnson in 2017 after he finished his term as mayor of Sacramento.

In the 1993 Western Conference Finals, Charles Barkley fought to the very last moment.

He rushed toward Gan Guoyang, who had grabbed the rebound, trying to steal the ball or create another chance to win the ball.

But it was all too late, all in vain. Gan Guoyang firmly controlled the ball, turned around and blocked Barkley.

Barkley had no choice but to foul, sending Gan Guoyang to the free-throw line, widening the gap to 6 points.

Time was running out, and Westphal called one last timeout as a final act of resistance.

Then, with Mallley missing a tough three-pointer, the Suns' spectacular 1993 season came to an end.

Charles Barkley achieved the highest individual honor of his career, winning the MVP award in 1993, a season in which the golden generation exploded.

But he ultimately couldn't overcome the formidable obstacle, and the Trail Blazers narrowly defeated their opponents 4-2, advancing to the Finals for the fourth consecutive year.

As Gan Guoyang lifted the silver trophy for the Western Conference championship for the seventh time, the Rose Garden Arena echoed with chants of "Fourth time, fourth time!"

In NBA basketball arenas, fans rarely chant slogans or do the wave in unison like European football or basketball fans.

This is a major difference between the NBA and European professional football and basketball leagues.

European football and basketball are club-based sports, and fans are considered members of the club in a broad sense.

The community residents are connected by football and basketball. For victory and honor, everyone unites to cheer for the team.

The NBA is a super caravan, with dozens of teams that seem to be rivals, but in theory they are all one family.

However, for the purpose of performances, players are scattered to various cities to provide exciting matches for fans, and they can freely join and leave the city.

City fans naturally support their own teams, but the fan base is not as loyal, united, and passionate as that of European clubs.

Especially after entering the 90s, Stern gradually transformed the NBA into a paradise suitable for middle-class families to bring their children to experience wonderful sports life on weekends, and the rivalry and tension in NBA games gradually faded.

Of course, Americans have their own basketball spirit homeland, not in the NBA, but in college, where communities and families truly unite.

But in Portland, it's different. Blazermania isn't just an empty phrase; this team is the spiritual backbone of all Portlanders.

When the Trail Blazers first settled in Portland, a small city in the Northwest, in the 1970s, while other teams were racking their brains and begging for cheers to sell a single ticket, the Trail Blazers had already sold out every game at Memorial Arena, with no empty seats—for 23 years since 70, their arena has never had any leftover tickets.

Fans in other cities often struggle to decide whether to watch baseball, football, or hockey, but basketball is the only option for Portlanders.

Every year during the playoffs, some elementary and middle schools in Portland organize a "Write a letter to your favorite team" activity.

Basically, tens of thousands of letters are written to the pioneers, and the letters received each year could fill the entire memorial stadium.

These students, when they grow up and become adults, will be die-hard Trail Blazers fans, cheering for the team alongside their families.

Gan Guoyang's arrival undoubtedly strengthened this loyalty. Many of those 17- and 18-year-old college students who enjoyed the championship celebration in 1986 had become working and married adults by 1993.

They have stronger spending power and have become the backbone of the Trail Blazers' fan base, cheering for every glorious achievement of the Trail Blazers.

Those who are older or younger have become the most loyal fans through victory after victory and championship after championship.

The Western Conference Finals ended, but a large number of fans lingered long after the awards ceremony, standing in the stands chanting "Fourth time" in unison.

Gan Guoyang wanted to leave the stadium and go back to the locker room, but found that it seemed impossible; the fans' enthusiasm made it impossible for him to leave.

He could only take the microphone and say a few words to the fans before the stadium finally quieted down.

Gan Guoyang thanked the Portland fans for their long-term support and said that a four-peat is the team's only goal. They have come all the way and will never back down.

"Finally, I think the necessary condition for winning a four-peat is to let the players go back and get some rest. We don't know our opponent in the Finals yet. The series might be in Portland, but it could also go to Miami. If that happens, we'll have to prepare early."

After Gan Guoyang's speech, the fans' enthusiasm finally cooled down, and everyone knew that no matter what, they had to go home and sleep.

Moreover, the magnificent 1993 season is not over yet, and it remains to be seen who is the strongest member of the 84 golden generation this season.

The thrilling Western Conference Finals between the Suns and the Trail Blazers set a new viewership record, and the epic showdown between Gan Guoyang and Barkley has fueled anticipation for the NBA Finals.

In the East, another matchup was equally thrilling, with the other two members of the golden generation, Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, having already pushed the series to a Game 7.

The Heat won two games at home, but the Bulls, back in Chicago, won two more at home.

Jordan scored 44 points in one game and 41 points in another, showing Drexler who is the best shooting guard in the NBA today.

The two sides have reached the crucial fifth game, the match point game.

Hakeem Olajuwon said after losing Game 4 to the Bulls: "To win the playoffs, you have to win on the road, you have to."

This reflects the Heat's dissatisfaction and frustration after losing two away games, but it also serves as a spur to the team.

Hakeem Olajuwon has done very little this season. Unlike Charles Barkley, he talks very little but does a lot.

The situation changed in the playoffs, and Hakeem Olajuwon knew he had to step up and turn things around.

Back on their home turf, they seemed able to catch their breath, win the fifth game, and reach match point.

But from 2-0 to 2-2, the Bulls had gained the upper hand, and Jordan was unstoppable.

In Game 5 in Miami, the Bulls once again displayed their suffocating super defense.

The Heat's score was held to 92 points, and the Bulls managed to stop Olajuwon's layup after a series of fakes with their defense in the final moments.

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Heat 96-92, winning their third straight game and taking a 3-0 lead in the series.

Just when everyone thought the Bulls would make it to the Finals for the third consecutive year and meet up with the Trail Blazers, Hakeem Olajuwon exploded in Game 6.

Trailing 2-3, Hakeem Olajuwon broke through the Bulls' defense in Chicago, scoring a whopping 46 points in red-hot form.

Drexler also scored 23 points and 9 assists, and the two combined to secure a victory in Chicago, dragging the Eastern Conference Finals back to Miami.

After winning Game 6, Miami media immediately published an article stating that "Hakeem Olajuwon deserves an MVP trophy more than Charles Barkley."

Although the Suns have been eliminated, Phoenix media outlets are not to be outdone, publishing a commentary titled "Because Olajuwon faced Jordan, while Barkley faced Forrest Gump."

The old rivals, the Trail Blazers and the Bulls, are back to normal; these two teams, who are unlikely to meet in the Finals, are now going head-to-head with each other.

This became a perfect prelude to the decisive Game 7, especially since the Trail Blazers were already poised for the Finals.

If the Heat win, the Trail Blazers will travel to Miami; if the Bulls win, they will stay in Portland to prepare.

Gan Guoyang wasn't particularly interested in who would win the Eastern Conference Finals and become his opponent in the Finals, since they were all his former opponents, including one of his former underlings.

His focus is now more on the Trail Blazers, himself, and his family.

After Game 6, the team got a full rest, and the Heat and Bulls played a Game 7, which delayed the start of the Finals.

This is great news for the Trail Blazers, who have been plagued by injuries. They can take a good rest and allow their tired and tormented bodies to recover as much as possible before the final sprint.

Berman gave the team two days off; he didn't want to torture his players like Pat Riley did.

Berman himself was on the verge of collapse after being tormented by five consecutive games from November to June. By the fifth and sixth games of the Western Conference Finals, he was no longer coaching much.

After continuous high-pressure, high-intensity work, my brain is numb, my reactions are sluggish, and I can only rely on my feelings and pre-planned actions. I can't come up with any ideas on the spot.

Anyway, Forrest Gump would handle everything on and off the field. He just needed to focus on rotation and pre-game tactical execution, and leave the rest to fate. In the end, they still won.

Now they've entered the finals again. Berman is both happy and worried. He's happy that they're taking another step closer to legend, but worried that the finals will undoubtedly be the ultimate torture for the head coach.

Players can rest, but coaches' minds can't stop for a moment. After the Western Conference Finals, Berman started worrying about the NBA Finals.

He had to keep a close eye on the Bulls and Heat games. Forrest Gump could ignore who he was playing in the Finals against, but Berman couldn't.

Once the opponent is identified, the video footage must be watched and edited endlessly, and meetings must be held constantly to discuss tactics and strategies.

In a playoff series, the coach plays a particularly important role in the first two games. How the coaching staff arranges their lineup, whether to use unconventional tactics, and what countermeasures they have will all have a profound impact on the outcome of the game.

As the series progresses, the players become increasingly decisive in the game. If it reaches the fifth, sixth, or even seventh game, it's basically a duel between the players.

The coach has exhausted all strategies and tried every trick in the book; it's now a head-on battle.

That's why the head coach has a lot of work to do before the series starts.

In contrast, Gan Guoyang was much more relaxed. After the Western Conference Finals, he slept soundly for a whole day and didn't let anyone disturb him.

On the day of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he took a nice bath to relax, then went to the basement media room, turned on the huge 100-inch rear-projection TV, and prepared to watch the showdown between Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan.

By the 90s, rear projection technology was quite mature, and rear projection televisions could be made very large, up to 100 inches.

Moreover, rear-projection TVs are often equipped with very good audio equipment, and for middle-class and above American families with home theaters, a large rear-projection TV is a standard feature in their homes.

After getting this large rear-projection TV at home, Gan Guoyang often watches movies here for entertainment and spends a lot of time bringing back game recordings to study them carefully, as the big screen makes everything clear.

In the quiet, enclosed basement, Gan Guoyang likes to observe and think about every detail of the game by watching a lot of videos, to see things that he can't see on the field.

This extensive and meticulous reading of matches, coupled with persistent visualization training, has given Gan Guoyang a very high level of spatial imagination and acuity on the field.

Why did Charles Barkley intercept the ball that Kevin Johnson passed to him?
The reason is his extremely fast reaction speed, the reason is Johnson and Barkley's relatively short height, and the reason is also Gan Guoyang's good on-court imagination and anticipation ability.

The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

Gan Guoyang prepared half an hour in advance, asking the housekeeper to prepare a lot of delicious food and drinks.

He and his wife, Wang Fuxi, will watch the game together that evening, leaving their two children with their aunt and grandfather.

Since having a child, their time together has become increasingly limited, with little spies lurking everywhere.

Moreover, Gan Guoyang is extremely busy with his daily work, and he often flies to away games during the season, just like an office worker on business trips.

During the off-season, while ordinary players can take time off to spend with their families, Gan Guoyang is greeted with a massive amount of commercial and social activities.

The private time left for the two of them is like a sponge that has been squeezed dry, rough and full of holes.

Being able to sit side-by-side on a comfortable sofa in an underground cinema to watch movies and sports, and eat some junk food and carbonated drinks is already a great enjoyment.

Wang Fuxi took a few bottles of beer from the cellar, put them in an iron bucket filled with ice, and, lifting her skirt, skipped happily all the way to the underground cinema.

Gan Guoyang took the iron bucket. The two of them liked to drink cheap, chilled beer in private, but they were already tired of the various red wines and cocktails at parties.

With everything ready, Gan Guoyang asked, "Are the children alright? They didn't sneak over here, did they?"

"No, my brother went to Curry's house to play, and my sister went out for a walk with my mom. They won't be back before dinner."

"That's good. I hope the first and second games of the Finals can be played in Portland, otherwise we'll have to leave for Miami tomorrow."

"I can come along."

“I know, but flying around is tiring, and taking care of two children is even more troublesome.”

Gan Guoyang hugged his wife tightly. Although there were many housekeepers and bodyguards at home, and his mother-in-law had also come to help take care of the children.

However, as a mother, Wang Fuxi still devoted herself to taking care of her child. At the same time, she also had to take care of many off-site affairs for Gan Guoyang, and her life was no easier than Gan Guoyang's.

She has long since shed the naivety of her student days and no longer resembles Joey Wong. Her braids are styled high, and she wears a white, fitted short top. Her skin is still as white as snow, but she has become more voluptuous.

The two snuggled together and whispered sweet nothings for a while. Suddenly, Wang Fuxi asked Gan Guoyang in a low voice, "Hey, have you noticed that Dad's been acting a little strange lately?"

"Which dad?"

"Of course it's your dad, my dad isn't here."

Upon hearing Wang Fuxi's words, Gan Guoyang fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

"You know what, ever since my great-uncle passed away, Dad seems like a different person. Look, he came to Portland to live with us, but he stopped cooking and closed the restaurant. He doesn't study recipes anymore; instead, he's studying basketball tactics. He watches games every day and even discusses them with me. It's really quite abnormal. But I think it's because my great-uncle passed away. He's come to terms with many things and wants to spend more time with his son and grandson, which is actually quite good."

“What you said is all quite normal. It’s good to spend more time with family. I’d also like my dad to move to Portland. But recently, Dad has had some issues. When you weren’t home, I went upstairs twice and found him using the phone upstairs. I thought he was calling my uncle’s family in San Francisco, but when he saw me, he hung up and looked a little flustered.”

This was the first time Gan Guoyang had heard of this. After thinking about it, he concluded, "Could my dad be in a relationship?! Is he trying to find me a mother, to give me a complete family?"

Wang Fuxi pinched Gan Guoyang's arm hard and said, "Sometimes you just like to talk nonsense. Dad is not that kind of person. He doesn't have that kind of intention. I'm worried that Dad might be deceived, or that someone might use something against him to threaten him."

“Handbook? What handbook could my dad possibly have?”

“Fool, your dad’s weakness is you! He’ll do anything for you. If someone threatens you with anything, Dad will inevitably be controlled by them.”

Wang Fuxi was no innocent girl next door; her father had seen it for himself.

American society is a mixed bag, with all sorts of strange and eccentric people.

Wang Fuxi helped Gan Guoyang handle off-site affairs, and it could be said that he received threatening, intimidating, and extortionate messages almost every day.

There were phone calls, letters, packages, and even people coming to the door; the flow of visitors was endless.

The vast majority of these are done by pranksters, extortionists, or people with mental problems.

In very rare cases, if not handled carefully, it can lead to unexpected and serious consequences.

Fortunately, Quentin's security team was very effective, and Wang Fuxi was ruthless and resourceful. She usually treated reporters with courtesy, but she would never be polite to those with malicious intentions.

After hearing his wife's words, Gan Guoyang thought it made sense and asked, "Have you checked who Dad called?"

“I had Quentin check it out yesterday. The call was to a bar owner in Portland… a woman. I’m still investigating her background, but based on the information we have, the bar seems clean and doesn’t do anything illegal.”

"My dad does have a drink occasionally, but most of the time he drinks at home and rarely goes out. When I'm away competing, does Dad go out often? Could he really be dating the bar owner? How old is she? What does she look like? Is she about my age?"

Wang Fuxi shook his head and said, "When you go to play away games, he basically doesn't go out. He just stays upstairs watching TV and occasionally cooks for the family. Dad is a very traditional person. That female boss is probably in her forties. Oh, by the way, I've noticed recently that Dad has been spending money rather extravagantly. He bought Wenshan a lot of toys and also bought things for you. How much pocket money do you give Dad?"

“My dad doesn’t want my money; he’s saved quite a bit from running his restaurant. But he’s always been very careful with his money… What did he buy for me? How come I don’t know?”

Wang Fuxi rolled his eyes at Gan Guoyang and said, "All you know is playing basketball. Dad bought you a lot of supplements to improve your health, as well as some custom-made clothes and shoes. The basketball shoes you wear for training were bought by Dad, not by me. Oh, by the way, he also bought himself a few pairs of Air Jordans. I think he likes Jordan more than you."

Gan Guoyang got angry when this was mentioned. He curled his lip and said, "What does he know? He watches basketball and studies tactics every day, and he even likes Jordan more than his son. I think he's wasting his time."

The topic returned to basketball, and the couple decided to observe Gan Youwei's "abnormal" behavior for a while longer.

As long as the other person is healthy, it's normal for people to have some secrets as they get older, so there's no need to interfere excessively.

On a giant rear-projection television screen, NBC began broadcasting the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Who will make it to the Finals and who will be the Portland Trail Blazers' final opponent on their path to a fourth consecutive championship? The answer will be revealed soon.

On the fiery red floor of Miami Arena, both teams, with a solemn and weary air before the decisive battle, maintained maximum silence amidst the boisterous opening ceremony.

This was a heart-wrenching series, even more despairing than the Western Conference Finals. Pat Riley prepared a defensive grinder for the Chicago Bulls, but at the cost of them having to jump into it themselves.

In all six games, his shooting percentage was very low.

The numerous fouls, physical battles, and struggles under the basket felt like a return to the Detroit Bad Boys of the late 1980s. The Heat weren't as dirty as the Pistons, but they were more talented and tougher, facing an equally talented and tough Chicago Bulls team.

After years of being tormented by the Bad Boys, Jordan was indestructible; ordinary tough defense had little effect on him.

But if the person on the other side is Hakeem Olajuwon, the situation is different.

When Hakeem Olajuwon appeared during the DJ's introduction, the entire Miami Arena erupted in cheers.

As Hakeem Olajuwon said at the start of the season, "I will bring championships here, not in the future, but now."

Although the championship is not yet in their grasp and there is still a long way to go, at least they have not been eliminated and have dragged the decisive battle to Miami.

All of this was because the team had Hakeem Olajuwon, who carried the team forward in the 1993 season, creating a series of records in the Heat's short history.

His name is etched in records for highest single-game score, highest average score, highest single-game block, highest average block, highest average rebounds, and more.

In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Heat did not encounter any significant resistance, easily sweeping the Indiana Pacers 3-0 in the first round.

In the second round, facing the Hornets, Hakeem Olajuwon taught Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson a lesson, easily advancing with a 4-1 victory.

It wasn't until the Eastern Conference Finals against Jordan that they faced a real challenge.

Pat Riley looked as glamorous as ever, and tonight he specially chose a black and blue suit to make himself look particularly dignified.

His hair was slicked back and meticulously combed, and his chiseled face bore the marks of time, bearing little resemblance to the youthful exuberance he had during his Los Angeles days.

Time has taken away many things, but it has also left some behind. Pat Riley has devoted himself to the Heat for many years, and now he has finally reached the final stage.

In fact, after losing Game 5, Riley was almost in despair. He went crazy in the tactical office in the locker room, almost smashing the glass with his fists just like he did with the Lakers.

But Hakeem Olajuwon stepped in to stop him, telling Riley with a strong hand and a determined look, "The series isn't over yet, and I don't want it to end like this. We can go back to Miami."

Hakeem Olajuwon's words calmed Riley down. Then, before Game 6, Riley and the whole team gathered together for careful pre-game preparation and motivation. Just as Olajuwon said, they had to win on the road to have the qualifications to compete for the championship.

Hakeem Olajuwon kept his word, and Clyde Drexler didn't falter. On the contrary, the Bulls were careless, and their morale had been completely depleted.

Whether it was Game 6 or the more crucial Game 7, Phil Jackson could no longer unite and motivate the players with words or inspirational books.

The Bulls are on the verge of collapse. The conflict between Jordan and Horace Grant is deepening, and the two haven't spoken to each other for a long time. They probably haven't exchanged more than a few words this season.

Scottie Pippen, who was once very close to Grant, completely sided with his mentor Jordan, and his rookie friendship with Grant came to an end, never to return to what it once was.

These three were the Bulls' undisputed iron triangle. When their relationship cracked, not to mention the others, without a championship, the team was on the verge of breaking up.

Bill Cartwright grew increasingly disgusted with Jordan's domineering ways, while Jordan was determined to trade Cartwright away, believing that the guy was no match for Forrest Gump.

In both Finals against the Trail Blazers, he was completely dominated by Forrest Gump, practically invisible.

In the summer of 1992, Jordan threatened Jerry Krause that if the team did not acquire a tough enough center, he would request a trade.

Jerry Krause recalled jokingly saying he would bring Hakeem Olajuwon to the Bulls, and the Heat actually did it.

Krause also pursued Hakeem Olajuwon with great enthusiasm, hoping to use Scottie Pippen as a trade asset to form an inside-outside combination with Jordan Olajuwon to counter Forrest Gump.

Hakeem Olajuwon didn't want to come to Chicago to team up with Michael Jordan. He preferred to go to Miami to reunite with his old friend Clyde Drexler and reign supreme in the Heat, a place with little history.

Klaus then set his sights on Melvin Tppin, but Tppin's out-of-control weight made him hesitate.

Ultimately, Krause only acquired veteran McGrady in free agency because good centers were too scarce and too expensive.

Forrest Gump single-handedly raised the value of centers in the league to a whole new level.

During the season, Krause tried to trade Buck Williams to several teams, but ultimately nothing came of it.

Veterans like Buck are only wanted by championship contenders, but which championship contender would be willing to trade with the Bulls?
Aside from not being able to handle players like Forrest Gump and Hakeem Olajuwon, Williams is actually a very useful veteran.

His position and function overlapped with Horace Grant's. Seeing that Grant had a bad relationship with Jordan and Pippen, Krause still kept Williams as a counterbalance.

As it turned out, the Bulls were facing Forrest Gump and Hakeem Olajuwon at the very end of the season, and Jordan's resentment towards the management naturally grew.

After being dragged into a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals, Krause was already considering that if they lost, he would definitely try to keep Jordan in the summer.

Moreover, apart from Jordan and Pippen, everyone else will be replaced, and even Pippen is not guaranteed to stay.

He can also be used as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table when necessary.

Jerry Krause is right to think this way. A general manager needs to plan ahead, always look forward, and make plans for the future.

But Krause shouldn't have been thinking about an escape route while the series was still going on and the team was still playing a Game 7, and he even let the players realize it.

Klaus, who always kept things secret, somehow let slip some clues, and the news eventually became known to everyone.

Suddenly, the Bulls' locker room was filled with tension; everyone was thinking about their own future, not about winning Game 7.

Michael Jordan was powerless to turn the tide, and he was furious, having a huge argument with Jerry Krause before Game 7.

Finally, after being persuaded by Phil Jackson, Jordan calmed down and refocused on preparing for Game 7.

However, Phil Jackson also had a disagreement with Jerry Krause afterward, and the two had a very unpleasant experience.

Jerry Krause was Jackson's mentor, the one who introduced him to the Bulls, trusted him, and put him in charge of coaching.

Jackson has great respect for Krause, but this time he had to stand on the players' side and try his best to appease them.

As Phil Jackson stood exhausted in front of the bench at the Miami Arena, awaiting the start of the game, he was already pessimistic about the outcome.

The team's only hope now is Jordan. Only if Jordan has a breakout performance and scores enough points can they turn the tide.

Before the game started, he specifically sought out Jordan and said to him, "Forrest Gump is waiting for you in the Finals. We must defeat him, or we will die with regrets."

Jordan said nothing, but chewed his gum and gave Jackson a deep look, the meaning of which Jackson could not fathom.

As the game drew near, Jackson kept reflecting on Jordan's gaze. Was it confidence, optimism, and determination, or a lack of confidence, pessimism, and confusion? Jackson couldn't figure it out.

It was this uncertainty that made Jackson waver. He lacked confidence in tonight's Game 7 and tried to get something from Jordan, but he couldn't get it no matter what he did.

On the other side, Hakeem Olajuwon, who had been sitting on the bench with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and got up to enter the field.

Pat Riley patted him on the shoulder and shouted at him to go and destroy the Chicago Bulls and win Game 7.

Hakeem Olajuwon shook his head and said, "It's not about destruction. Our victory is not built on destruction, but on discovering ourselves, on the deepest part of ourselves."

Riley could only nod and mutter his agreement, but in his heart he was thinking that this guy was getting more and more eccentric. Where did the once invincible Hakeem Olajuwon go?

For Riley, there was always an insurmountable barrier between him and Hakeem Olajuwon; they were incompatible on some of the most fundamental values.

Fortunately, this did not affect their cooperation on the field. Hakeem Olajuwon was Riley's ideal player in terms of both offense and defense—second only to Forrest Gump.

In front of the television, Wang Fuxi asked Gan Guoyang, "Honey, who do you think will win this match?"

Gan Guoyang looked at the close-ups of Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, and others on TV, shook his head, and said, "I don't know."

"You didn't know? Aren't you always known for your strong predictive abilities?"

"The seventh game is always unpredictable. Even if I were to play a Game 7, I wouldn't be absolutely certain. In a game where there's no turning back, even a small change can lead to a big shift and ultimately determine the course of the game. So, I won't leave a series to a Game 7; the risk is too high."

Gan Guoyang played two Game 7s in his career: the 1986 Western Conference Finals against the Rockets and the 1989 Western Conference Semifinals against the Suns.

He won both tiebreakers, but even so, recalling them still sends chills down Gan Guoyang's spine, and he never wants to play another tiebreaker.

In 86, they faced Hakeem Olajuwon and, after leading 2-0, were swept by the Rockets in three straight games, almost suffering a defeat in Houston.

That was the most dangerous moment of Gan Guoyang's basketball career, and a crossroads in his destiny, where winning or losing would lead to two completely different paths.

If they had lost that Western Conference Finals and the Rockets had made it to the NBA Finals, Gan Guoyang's career might have been missing more than just one championship trophy.

Therefore, whenever Gan Guoyang recalls the Game 7 battles he fought in his youth due to a lack of experience, he shakes his head repeatedly, never wanting to play a Game 7.

The game started on time with the jump ball. Gan Guoyang grabbed a bag of potato chips and started munching on them. Today was his day of indulgence.

Both sides played extremely cautiously at the start, and their defensive intensity was astonishingly high. For more than two minutes, neither side was able to score.

Hakeem Olajuwon blocked two Bulls drives to the basket, and the Bulls also forced the Heat to miss several shots, making tonight's game destined to be very difficult to watch.

It may not be the most exciting game, but it was incredibly intense. The two teams were constantly battling physically, fighting for every ball and every inch of ground.

While drinking cola and beer and eating potato chips and fried chicken, Gan Guoyang pointed and gestured at the situation on the field.

"Hey, Hakeem, what kind of shot was that? You can't even make that. You lean forward to draw a foul, why are you leaning back like that?"

"Why are Michael's legs so weak tonight? How many blocks did he get? I think the Bulls are doomed. If Michael's legs go weak, they're finished."

"Michael, you need to drive! Drive! Keep shooting? You're just giving the opponent rebounds! You have to drive, what are you afraid of?"

“Clyde… never mind, that’s all you are.”

Wang Fuxi leaned on her husband's shoulder. She ate very little, but drank quite a bit of beer.

As Gan Guoyang gave his comments, she laughed heartily. She enjoyed listening to Gan's commentary and how he criticized those usually high-and-mighty star players, making them seem utterly worthless.

Because in the eyes of her lover, they were truly worthless.

At halftime, the Heat and Bulls were tied 39-43, with the Bulls only managing 39 points in the first half.

The intensity of the battle between the two sides was evident; the Miami Arena had become a battleground, making scoring incredibly difficult.

Jordan scored 21 points for the Bulls alone, more than all the other players combined.

It can be said that Jordan single-handedly carried the Bulls, but they couldn't compete with the Heat, whose entire team performed well.

Hakeem Olajuwon became a shot blocker under the basket, recording 5 blocks in the first half, including two big blocks on Michael Jordan.

The Bulls' outside shooting went completely cold, going 0-for-6 from three-point range and failing to capitalize on open looks.

At this point, Gan Guoyang had already noticed something amiss. He said, "The Bulls are starting to falter, but... let's see what Michael does."

Like everyone else who believed in Gan Guoyang, Gan Guoyang also believed in Jordan, believing that he could create miracles.

Jordan completely took over the Bulls' offense in the second half, and it was very difficult for anyone else on the Bulls to score.

On the Heat's side, former Trail Blazers players like Cliff Robinson and Mason are all contributing, showing they aren't afraid of Jordan.

Hakeem Olajuwon continued his consistent performance on both offense and defense, always managing to score and stabilize the situation when the Bulls were closing the gap.

But Jordan was still more efficient, helping the team slowly catch up in the third quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Jordan suddenly launched a three-pointer and made it, tying the score!

The score was tied at 62-62, and the Heat called a timeout. Riley was extremely anxious.

At this point, Riley gave instructions, demanding that Starks take possession of the ball and attack.

However, Hakeem Olajuwon said, "You should give me the ball."

“Passing the ball inside is prone to errors.” Riley believed it was risky.

The Bulls disrupted the Heat's passes to Hakeem Olajuwon multiple times tonight.

Furthermore, in the Heat's system, Riley likes to use guards to dominate the game in the final moments.

Starks, in particular, who went undrafted, gained a lot of Riley's trust.

Riley admired Starks's ruthlessness and liked his challenging spirit.

Of course, at a deeper level, Riley wanted to use Starks to moderately counterbalance Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, both Houston alumni.

If Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were to unite and become too powerful, Riley's authority would be challenged.

This is the Heat, not the Lakers. With the Lakers, Riley started out as a sidekick to Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Because he was just an unknown commentator and trainer from the beginning.

It's different with the Heat. He's a minority owner of the team, owns shares, and needs absolute control over the team.

Therefore, in terms of personnel management, he promoted "lackeys" like Starks and achieved a balance with foreign superstars like Olajuwon and Drexler.

The Heat's players were never truly "pure" in origin; the players they drafted were weak, while the Trail Blazers' players were powerful.

Riley was very worried that if he kept undermining his own home, he would end up destroying it and turning it into someone else's.

Therefore, Riley harbored some personal biases when it came to key tactics.

Hakeem Olajuwon, who usually wouldn't interfere, stepped forward at this moment.

“No, give me the ball. I’ll receive it on the outside and attack. Give it to me.” Hakeem Olajuwon was very determined.

Riley wavered, recalling the Western Conference Finals where Kevin Johnson was repeatedly blocked by Forrest Gump and Sabonis.

"Okay, let Olajuwon handle this ball." Riley made the right decision.

After the timeout, the Heat indeed gave possession to Hakeem Olajuwon, who received the ball in a very far-out position.

After receiving the ball, he launched an attack from behind the basket, using a crossover dribble to get past Grant, and then drove into the paint for a powerful two-handed dunk!

Although his movements weren't as smooth and effortless as Gan Guoyang's, they were skilled enough for a tall person.

Even compared to Gan Guoyang, his movements were more elegant.

Subsequently, Olajuwon repeatedly received the ball on the outside and made mid-range shots.

After a frontal crossover, he took a step back and fadeaway jump shot, and it went in!
With silky smooth footwork and a supple touch, Hakeem Olajuwon used his dance moves to help his team regain the upper hand.

Gan Guoyang cheered and applauded Olajuwon's goal, saying it was crucial and he dared to take the shot.

Jordan's mid-range response faltered, and by the fourth quarter he was quite exhausted, hitting the front of the rim several times, clearly lacking energy.

No one on the Bulls could step up and help, not a single one. Pippen was practically sleepwalking in the fourth quarter.

He was dribbling past half-court when Drexler stole the ball, and Drexler launched a fast break and glided down with a dunk!
With a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Heat led the Bulls 78-70, an 8-point advantage, and the momentum had shifted in the Heat's favor!
The entire Miami Arena seemed to be ablaze. Jackson called a timeout, and the Bulls launched a counterattack, but the Heat's defense was as solid as an impenetrable wall.

Anthony Mason blocked Grant's layup attempt on defense, and the referee called a jump ball.

During the jump ball, Mason tipped the ball, and Drexler dribbled quickly across half-court, breaking through the Bulls' defense before passing to Olajuwon who was following up.

Hakeem Olajuwon dodged Jordan's block from behind in mid-air and slammed the ball into the basket with both hands!
The referee blew his whistle, calling a foul on Jordan and awarding him a free throw, sending the entire arena into a frenzy.

Gan Guoyang calmed down and looked at the close-up shot of Jordan with his hands on his hips and a helpless expression. He felt a pang of sadness.

He nudged Wang Fuxi and said, "Wife, pack your things tonight, we're going to Miami."

Gan Guoyang's journey to four consecutive championships, the fourth time, has its finish line set in Miami.

(End of this chapter)