The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 747 The Long Season (2)

After a series of elaborate opening ceremonies, the first battle of the finals is finally about to begin.

The players from both sides got ready to take to the field, and there were more fans in the stadium than an hour earlier.

But the seats weren't full; there were still some empty seats, suggesting that some people were destined to be late.

Gan Guoyang straightened his black Trail Blazers jersey, ran to the vicinity of the commentary booth, and kissed Jack Ramsey's bald head.

Wish me luck, Jack!

Ramsey took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his forehead.

"I believe in you, Sonny, I support Miami, but I bet you'll win! And I'm warning you, this is how you blew up my hair, so watch out!"

Both of them smiled, and it was clear that Gan Guoyang was very relaxed about the finals.

Although the Heat defeated the Bulls, Gan Guoyang is not worried about the combination of Olajuwon and Drexler.

Gan Guoyang is not afraid of the Heat's physical defense style, because the lower the score and the more intense the game, the more his role will be highlighted.

His high efficiency stands out when everyone else is inefficient, especially his physical advantages.

On the contrary, the Lakers' all-around talent and exceptional talent in the 80s twice overshadowed Gan Guoyang's individual role.

In contrast to Gan Guoyang's confidence, Berman was worried and paced back and forth on the sidelines.

This final was the one where Bellman had the fewest chips; he really didn't have many cards left to play.

Moreover, he knew in his heart that Pat Riley had been tirelessly poaching players from the Trail Blazers for years, and the Heat even had the nickname "South Beach Little Trail Blazers".

The Heat, from top to bottom—from management to coaching staff to players—know the Trail Blazers very well.

When developing his strategy, Bellman was always worried that "if I do this, Riley will definitely see through it and he will have anticipated it."

Until the start of the game, Bellman was still unsure whether Agan should play center or return to power forward.

This determined the Trail Blazers' rotation and tactical style. Finally, Adelman stepped up and said, "At the center position, without a doubt, Agan will face off against Olajuwon!"

Gan Guoyang stood in the center circle to contest the ball with Olajuwon. At this moment, the gentle calm in Olajuwon's eyes had disappeared, and a hidden ferocity was faintly shining.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, it was Hakeem Olajuwon's decisive performance in Game 6 that changed everything. The 1984 number one draft pick defeated the third pick and met the second pick in the NBA Finals.

This was indeed Hakeem Olajuwon's best year. His talent and abilities were fully utilized, and his experience and willpower reached their peak.

Facing Forrest Gump this time, he felt no fear and only wanted to defeat his opponent and win the championship.

During the jump ball, both players touched the ball at the same time, but Hakeem Olajuwon gained the upper hand and passed the ball to his teammate.

The match officially started, and fans were still entering the stadium, gradually filling the empty seats in the stands.

On the Heat's first offensive possession, Olajuwon attempted a one-on-one against Agam in the low post, but received a pass from Drexler.

Hakeem Olajuwon was agile and versatile in the low post. He was good at using his footwork to create space and then using soft hook shots and jump shots to put the ball into the basket.

In 1986, Hakeem Olajuwon's style was more similar to Moses Malone's, using his abundant energy and physical attributes to grab offensive rebounds and penetrate the paint.

Just like his personality, it has changed a lot over the years.

The Trail Blazers didn't double-team, and Olajuwon turned and walked to the middle, feinting a move.

Gan Guoyang didn't falter; he stood up and held off Olajuwon, who pushed Gan aside to create a little space.

He then used a rare left-handed hook shot, and Gan Guoyang reacted with lightning speed to jump and block it.

The ball still grazed Gan Guoyang's fingertips, bounced twice on the rim, and fell into the net.

Hakeem Olajuwon quickly scored the first point of the finals, facing off against Gan Guoyang.

Pat Riley clenched his fist secretly. If Hakeem Olajuwon could score on a one-on-one against Forrest Gump, the Heat would have a great chance of winning.

Looking at the league's interior, only Hakeem Olajuwon can score relatively efficiently in one-on-one situations over Gan Guoyang.

Other players would be much less effective against Gan Guoyang in one-on-one situations, and would even become clowns to highlight Gan's defensive skills.

Gan Guoyang felt the pressure from Olajuwon. He had defended very well, but Olajuwon still managed to score with a left-handed hook shot in a tight space.

“Your luck won’t last forever, Hakim,” Gan Guoyang said.

“That’s a word of advice for you, Sonny. Your good luck won’t last forever,” Hakeem Olajuwon retorted.

During the Trail Blazers' offensive possession, the battle near the three-second zone was exceptionally intense.

Under Riley's tutelage, the Heat's defense was like a meat grinder, making it extremely difficult for opponents to set up their plays and make passes.

Unlike the SuperSonics' switch-everything defense and their strategy of targeting the ball handler, Riley prefers to engage in tearing and entanglement against players without the ball.

Before the opponent even gets the ball, they are exhausted by the Heat's physical contact, making every catch and shot difficult.

Tonight, the Heat's starting power forward is Anthony Mason, whose task is to front Gan Guoyang and prevent him from receiving the ball.

After being poached by the Trail Blazers and then transferred to the Heat, Mason has been heavily relied upon by Riley.

In particular, Mason had played alongside Gan Guoyang and knew the details of Gan's game.

Compared to a few years ago, Mason has become much more muscular, even bordering on abnormally so.

His large, unnatural-looking muscles and hips give him exceptional ability to compete in the paint.

People once suspected that Mason had used performance-enhancing drugs after joining the Heat, otherwise how could he be so muscular?

This robust build was exactly what Gan Guoyang needed, and the two engaged in a close fight at a low position.

After some back and forth, Gan Guoyang managed to pin Mason down and raised his hand to ask for the ball.

Lewis threw the ball to the basket, Olajuwon came over to help defend, and Cliff Robinson also came over.

However, after receiving the ball, Gan Guoyang still leaped up and dunked the ball into the basket over Olajuwon!

The referee blew his whistle and called a blocking foul on Hakeem Olajuwon.

"Why was a foul called? This is normal competition!"

Riley's suppressed emotions were partially released by a foul.

He yelled at the referee, his face flushed red, knowing the foul was significant.

In just one possession in the first quarter, the key inside player committed a foul, which was very fatal.

The referee tonight is Hugh Evans, a very experienced veteran referee.

He officiated Game 2 of the Finals in 1986, when he was Earl Strom's assistant.

"Calm down, Pat, that was definitely a foul. There's no going back on it, stay calm."

"Then you can't call fouls on Hakim again later!"

"That's not something I can decide; it depends on the player's performance."

Riley is putting pressure on the referees; if Olajuwon fouls out in the first quarter, the Heat may not be able to hold on.

He knew that if the Trail Blazers exploited his captain's fouls, Forrest would unleash his full potential and widen the gap.

Gan Guoyang stepped up to the free-throw line and made the free throw. Hakeem Olajuwon took a breath, but his expression remained calm.

The Heat continued to pass the ball to Olajuwon in the low post. Porter came over to interfere, and Olajuwon immediately passed the ball to the outside.

John Starks received the ball and immediately launched a three-pointer, which went in!
Starks hit a tough three-pointer, and the Heat's offense was very simple.

They attack in, attack out, make small passes, and act decisively; they don't want their offense to be too complicated.

This is different from the Suns; the Heat's offense revolves entirely around Hakeem Olajuwon, and partly around Clyde Drexler.

That's why Riley cared so much about a single foul call; Hakeem Olajuwon was just too important.

The Trail Blazers are in a similar situation. Forrest Gump is equally important; even without the ball in his hands, he has already attracted the attention of at least three Heat players.

The ball wasn't passed to Gan Guoyang, but to Sabonis. He received the ball, turned and cut to the basket, and scored with a hook shot, tying the game.

Gan Guoyang's defensive presence gave his teammates plenty of space.

Sabonis is also a force to be reckoned with, especially with his overwhelming height at the power forward position.

His and Gan Guoyang's dominance at the power forward and center positions is the cornerstone of the Trail Blazers' stability.

When Hakeem Olajuwon saw Domantas Sabonis, he was reminded of the Rockets' twin towers and the years he spent working with Ralph Sampson in Houston.

But it was no use. Back then, any twin-tower lineup would be destroyed by Agan. The mismatch in resources and his technical characteristics made Agan a twin-tower killer.

The Heat's third offensive possession was initiated by Drexler, who again called for the ball on the left low post, and Olajuwon came to the high post to draw away Agan's defense.

Drexler received the ball, backed down Reggie Lewis, turned and drove along the baseline, shook off Lewis's defense, and scored with a left-handed layup!
Drexler rarely made this kind of play during his time with the Trail Blazers, but he made significant progress with the Heat as well.

With improved shooting, refined low-post footwork, and smarter shot selection, Drexler is getting better.

This is his fifth year with the Heat, the same length of time he's spent with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Portland imprint on him is fading. People only know that he was one of the first three champions, and all other memories are left to Forrest Gump.

Before the fight, Drexler ignored Forrest Gump and didn't say a word. It wasn't because he had any personal grudges, but because he didn't want to be disturbed or controlled by Forrest Gump; that guy was too scary.

Subsequently, Sabonis missed a shot from the top of the arc, but Gan Guoyang grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on the putback. Both sides traded baskets at the start, with both teams displaying high efficiency on offense.

7:7 tie.

But soon the two teams entered into a quagmire of intense fighting.

The Miami Arena is filling up with more and more fans, and there are fewer and fewer empty seats.

The atmosphere in the stadium gradually heated up, and the competition between the two teams on the field intensified.

Gan Guoyang used clever positioning to cut to the basket and receive the ball for a layup, but Anthony Mason pulled Gan Guoyang down hard from behind.

Even as Gan Guoyang was falling backward, he still managed to throw the ball towards the basket, scoring two points and earning a free throw!
Sabonis came over and helped Gan Guoyang up, glaring at Mason and saying angrily, "Watch your moves, Anthony!"

Mason wore a disdainful smile, but when he met Gan Guoyang's gaze, he chickened out.

"I'm sorry, Sonny, I didn't mean to."

"No, you did it on purpose, but you couldn't help it, it's your duty, and I won't blame you. But if I hurt you because of my duty, don't blame me either."

Mason's smile vanished; he knew what Forrest Gump was capable of.

Before the match, Riley asked Mason to go all out, and Mason agreed.

But when he actually faced Forrest Gump in the game, that innate aura still made him timid.

Gan Guoyang taught Mason a lot of his strength training. During his year in Portland, Gan Guoyang took good care of him.

It's a favor.

Furthermore, no one knows better than Mason how ruthless Forrest Gump was in dealing with brutal basketball.

The massacre in the 1990 Finals is still fresh in everyone's mind, and Mason doesn't want to be the next Isaiah Thomas.

This is rational.

Mason toned down his movements, but the confrontation between the two sides remained very intense.

The game was so intense that both sides momentarily forgot whether they were playing basketball or wrestling.

During the first timeout, Lewis said from the bench, "Is this fucking a basketball game? They keep grabbing my waist and trying to trip me."

"You can also put your arm around their waist and trip them," Bellman said.

"That's what I did, but I almost forgot how to shoot."

Excessive physical contact can dampen the offensive rhythm, which is exactly the kind of game the Heat want.

On the Heat's bench, Riley squatted on one leg, constantly drawing plays on the whiteboard.

He was red-faced and his neck was bulging; he wished he could personally go on the court and have a big battle with the Trail Blazers players.

"Stop them, stop them! We need to gain the upper hand from the very beginning and set the tone for the whole event!"

Riley made a choking gesture, which meant he was controlling both the Trail Blazers' offense and the Trail Blazers' players.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat dealt with Jordan in this way, wearing him down and eventually defeating the Bulls.

He's going to use the same methods against the Trail Blazers, or rather, to torment them; this is just the beginning.

Riley has his own basketball theory. He believes that in intense games, the most important thing is not skills and tactics, but physical fitness.

When a team is exhausted at a crucial moment in a game, their teamwork and mental strength will disappear.

He believes that basketball, especially under the NBA format, is a game that tests endurance and the ability to resist fatigue.

By the 40th minute of the game, fatigue will affect everyone, and tactics, game patterns, and teamwork will all collapse.

When all of this collapses, individual players must have sufficient judgment to react on the spot; without physical fitness, they cannot make the right judgment.

Therefore, Riley particularly likes to conduct fatigue training, allowing players to continue high-intensity simulated confrontation practice when they are exhausted.

"Fatigue makes us all cowards!"

This is what Riley says most often to his players: the Heat's training has always been the toughest in the league.

It is now, and it will be for a very, very long time to come; the source is Pat Riley.

So while Riley may seem to play show-time offensive basketball with the Lakers and extreme defense with the Heat, their core philosophies are actually the same.

Use a frenzied attack or defense to exhaust your opponent's energy, make them tired, make mistakes, and ultimately lose the game.

Riley's approach was very successful in the West until he met Gan Guoyang, an unprecedented physical monster.

In Riley's memory, Forrest Gump only showed signs of fatigue once, during the 1985 Western Conference Finals.

He shouldered too much, and ultimately the Trail Blazers lost to the Lakers, who won the championship that year.

After that, this guy was like a nuclear-powered donkey, never showing any signs of fatigue, always full of passion, playing the fourth quarter as easily and effortlessly as the first.

That's why Riley both hated Forrest Gump and admired and wanted him. Was there any player who fit his basketball philosophy better than Forrest Gump?
After the timeout, the Heat's momentum became even stronger.

Riley made a substitution, replacing Drexler with Steve Smith.

This is his usual playoff substitution strategy: taking Drexler out early and then having him lead the second unit at the end of the first quarter.

Smith is also a guard who excels at low-post back-to-the-basket offense, and the Heat's offense is quite simple and even somewhat rigid.

The three-pronged approach: low post, inside to outside, outside to inside, repeating this over and over again, aiming to score in a simple way, then rolling back to defend desperately.

In such intense physical confrontations, the game became quite ugly, and the score didn't reach double digits until more than halfway through the first quarter.

At this moment, the Miami Arena was finally full, and Heat fans began waving towels wildly, cheering loudly to encourage their team.

"This is how we compete. Well done! Well done!"

The Heat gradually gained the upper hand in the first quarter, but only led the Trail Blazers by 3 points.

With the score at 17:20, both teams scored very low, with Olajuwon and Forrest trading baskets in the first quarter.

The Trail Blazers were generally in a passive position, and they often found themselves on the back foot early in this playoff run.

So far, they have only played adequately, lacking highlights and failing to find any clear weaknesses in their opponents.

Gan Guoyang did not rush to attack repeatedly in the low position; it was not the right time yet, and he needed to be patient.

Hakeem Olajuwon is no longer the same Olajuwon he was nine years ago. He is now intelligent, strong, highly skilled, and possesses unwavering will and determination.

But Gan Guoyang is no longer the Gan Guoyang of nine years ago. He has become extremely powerful and cunning, experienced, and patient, and countless prey have fallen at his feet.

Hakeem Olajuwon knew that Forrest Gump was far more cunning and terrifying than Jordan, and he had made ample preparations.

During the break, Bellman's mind gradually cleared, and he realized the Heat's tactical intentions.

Therefore, at the start of the second quarter, he substituted Gan Guoyang with young players like PJ Brown and Davis to compete with the Heat.

The offensive focus shifted to Petrovic on the perimeter—like Drexler, he rested midway through the first quarter and started the second quarter with the second unit.

Just before he went on the court, Berman pulled Petrovic aside and said, "Your job is to score, to drag out the second unit's time on the court as long as possible, score, and score some more, understand?"

Petrovich nodded; he knew his time had come.

In the first quarter, the Trail Blazers scored almost nothing from the outside; all their points came from inside.

The Heat's intense physical play affected the players' shooting touch.

But now, Petrovich has adapted, and he's adjusting very well.

At the start of the second quarter, Petrovic received the ball in the middle and set a screen before accelerating to break through.

He took a quick stop and shot from the edge of the three-second zone, and the two points went in!
Petrovic quickly stole a goal at the start of the second quarter.

For the Heat, Drexler cut out to receive the ball, accelerated his dribble to break through, and then made a fingertip layup that went in high off the backboard!
His movements are still elegant and beautiful, and even more refined and mature than during his time with the Trail Blazers, and he has less hair.

This season, Drexler is completely bald; he's become bald, and he's become stronger.

Not to be outdone, Petrovic, now sporting a shorter haircut, also made a strong drive down the middle and hit a floater after a sudden stop!
Petrovic moves very quickly, his attacks are decisive and efficient, full of courage and boldness.

The two engaged in a battle on the perimeter. When Drexler missed a three-pointer, Petrovic said, "You still can't learn to shoot?"

Drexler was furious and fouled Petrovic on defense, a vicious block that sent Petrovic tumbling out of bounds.

Drexler rarely does this, even though that's the Heat's style; such things are mostly done by players like Mason and Smith.

He is a rather humble person both on and off the court, but he couldn't tolerate the Trail Blazers and became more sensitive.

Jerome Kossy came over and helped Petrovic up, then said to Drexler, "Clyde, watch your moves!"

"Watch your words, Jerome. This is the finals. I won't be lenient with you."

"Very good, very good, let's see who's better at doing these things!"

Two former champions and friends off the field are now forced to attack each other.

Petrovich pulled Kossi back and said, "It's alright, I'll respond, don't worry."

Petrovic responded as expected, faking out Drexler on the wing and sinking a three-pointer!

A crucial three-pointer tied the score.

Riley realized that Bellman was trying to stall for time with the second unit.

Taking advantage of a dead ball situation, Riley brought in Olajuwon, forcing the Trail Blazers to also bring in Forrest Gump.

However, instead of bringing on Gan Guoyang, Berman first substituted Sabonis to match up against Olajuwon.

Sabonis was the primary defender, and the wing players came over to help defend. The effect wasn't bad, but it gave the Heat more opportunities to shoot from the outside.

As a result, the pace of the game was gradually shifted from a fierce defensive battle to a shooting battle.

Riley yelled from the sidelines, but the course of the game isn't something you can change at will; it follows certain patterns.

After a strong defensive push, there will inevitably be a period of relaxation, leading to a counter-offensive phase, followed by another back-and-forth battle.

Until the crucial moment, strategies and patterns disappear as physical strength is exhausted, and it becomes a purely improvisational game.

With Petrovic hitting another three-pointer on the fast break, the Trail Blazers completed a comeback, bringing the score to 30-27. Riley had no choice but to call a timeout to readjust the game. At this point, Gan Guoyang took off his tracksuit and entered the game, having had enough rest.

Leigh used Brian Shaw to replace Starks, and his introduction was intended to better pass the ball to Olajuwon.

As soon as the timeout ended, Hakeem Olajuwon immediately called for the ball in the low post, but he was pushed to a very far-out position by Forrest Gump.

But after receiving the ball, he immediately turned and leaned back to shoot a jump shot, and Gan Guoyang's hand almost blocked the ball.

The ball swished through the net, and Hakeem Olajuwon scored his 12th point of the game with a beautiful fadeaway jumper.

"Do you still think I'm spineless, Sonny?" Olajuwon asked after scoring the goal.

Forrest Gump's line, "You're not such a coward, Hakim," left a deep impression on Hakeem Olajuwon.

He still remembers it well and reminds himself of it every time he practices a fadeaway jump shot, imagining the defender as Forrest Gump.

"Hakim, I've always wanted to ask you, was it you who punched me back then?"

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post, preparing to back down Olajuwon.

"No, that punch was actually delivered by Clyde."

Gan Guoyang was taken aback when Hakeem Olajuwon suddenly made a steal, knocking the ball out of Gan Guoyang's hand.

The Heat got a chance to counterattack. Drexler charged forward, received the ball, took off, and dunked!
The Heat regained control of the game, and few centers were able to steal the ball from Gan Guoyang.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang did not force himself to go head-to-head with Olajuwon, but instead took the initiative to move to the high position to set up his teammates.

One significant problem with the Heat's roster is that without Hakeem Olajuwon, their rim protection ability at the power forward position is mediocre.

Mason and Grant Long are not shot blockers; they are of average height, while Cliff Robinson is more of an outside shooter.

Therefore, the Heat's defense focuses on ground confrontations, and their aerial interception relies heavily on Hakeem Olajuwon. Once Olajuwon leaves the paint, their ability to protect the rim will drop significantly.

At this point, if Gan Guoyang pulls to the outside and Olajuwon pulls out to the basket, the Heat's interior defense will be vulnerable.

The Trail Blazers' Princeton offense came into play, with Petrovic and Reggie Lewis repeatedly driving to the basket and attacking the rim.

Cliff Robinson and Grant Long committed two consecutive fouls, sending Trail Blazers players to the free-throw line, and the Trail Blazers gradually caught up again.

In this back-and-forth rhythm, the score was 42-43 at halftime, with the Heat leading by one point going into the break.

Gan Guoyang made 4 of 10 shots in the first half, scoring 9 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and adding 4 assists, but also committing two turnovers.

This was already a poor performance for him.

Jack Ramsey said at halftime: "I have to admit, Hakim did a better job than Forrest in the halftime battle. Forrest was unusually dominated. And he forced two turnovers from Forrest, which is incredible."

"Forrest Gump rarely made mistakes, right?"

"That's right, I once wished that for every mistake Forrest Gump made, a hair would grow. Now look at my head. I should have said that for every mistake Forrest Gump made, a hair would fall out."

Since retiring from coaching, Dr. Jack's sense of humor has multiplied.

So before the game started, Ramsey pulled Bellman aside and said, "You look much older, Bobby."

Bellman said, "I really envy you. Remember to save me a seat next to you."

"Coaching Forrest Gump is not an easy task. He always wins, so the pressure is enormous. Moreover, he often understands things better than you do. It's easy to fall into self-doubt, constantly overturning yourself and rebuilding. This process is extremely painful."

"But facing Forrest Gump would be even more painful, and I think Riley knows that best."

Jack Ramsey, who coached Gan Guoyang for his first three-peat, has vivid memories of the past.

He misses that time, but he never wants to go back to be the Trail Blazers' head coach.

During halftime, in the Heat's locker room, Riley was very dissatisfied with the players' performance.

The reason is simple: the team didn't put enough strain on Gan Guoyang, and he finished the first two quarters quite easily.

"We're exhausted, exhausted. We haven't even drawn a single foul from Forrest Gump, not even once!"

"They were leading by 2 points at halftime, but what about the third quarter? What about the fourth quarter? Are you going to let him save all his energy for the final moments?"

Are you confident you can outmaneuver Forrest Gump in the final moments?

The Heat's locker room was completely silent. In fact, everyone played well in the first half, but they didn't receive any encouragement from the coach.

Someone spoke up; it was Hakeem Olajuwon. He said in a deep voice, "I have faith in the coach. Actually, we're playing very well. We have our own rhythm, and we don't need to follow Forrest Gump's ideas. He's an extremely cunning man, and following him will only lead us into a trap. Only by playing our own game can we win."

Hakeem Olajuwon and Pat Riley differed in many ways of thinking.

Hakeem Olajuwon often retorted to Pat Riley in the locker room with a calm and composed tone, which made Riley somewhat embarrassed.

However, in order to achieve victory and overcome a common enemy, both sides often take a step back and reach a compromise and consensus.

Riley suppressed his dissatisfaction, chewed his gum even harder, and said, "You're right, Hakim. I believe you. Let's keep to our pace, keep to our pace!"

As he was about to go on the court, Hakeem Olajuwon patted Pat Riley on the shoulder and said, "Coach, I want revenge even more than you do. I've been waiting for this for much longer."

Riley said, "Then I hope you won't let hatred blind you."

"You too, Coach."

The two encouraged each other and teased each other.

They are contradictory; sometimes they can unleash power, and sometimes they can descend into chaos.

Whether it will be a contest of strength or chaos depends on the situation and circumstances on the field.

As the third quarter began, Gan Guoyang indeed started to exert his strength, attacking Olajuwon repeatedly in the low post.

"Low post, relying on strength, a turnaround jump shot, and it's in! Beautiful!"

"Still in the low post, quickly move to the middle lane, hook shot and hit!"

"A well-timed step-back jumper, third shot, and it's in!"

Gan Guoyang scored three consecutive goals after the start of the second half, all of which were one-on-one against Hakeem Olajuwon.

Hakeem Olajuwon attempted to retaliate, but his three attacks were thwarted once and the ball was passed once, resulting in only one goal.

At this point, the difference in efficiency between the two began to emerge, with Gan Guoyang's singles skills being unparalleled.

In all-out head-on confrontations, Hakeem Olajuwon is still at a disadvantage.

Riley became anxious upon seeing this situation and hurriedly called a short pause, requesting that Forrest Gump be surrounded.

Hakeem Olajuwon, however, felt it was the wrong time and a wasted timeout, which was completely unnecessary.

"Coach, you're too hasty."

"But the situation is urgent, and we need to take action."

“I can stop Forrest Gump, I can make him stop.”

"No, we can't take that risk. We need to change our strategy!"

Hakeem Olajuwon shook his head repeatedly, believing that Riley was being too hasty.

Forrest Gump's presence interfered with his judgment; the game was far from the point where he needed to resort to drastic measures.

Sure enough, when the Heat started double-teaming, the Trail Blazers went into overdrive with their shooting.

Gan Guoyang drew the defense, and the Trail Blazers moved the ball around the perimeter repeatedly, allowing Petrovic to hit consecutive three-pointers!

Without Porter tonight, Petrovic has already hit four three-pointers, making the Heat's outside shooters' scalps tingle.

Drexler was trying his best to defend, as his height and wingspan covered Petrovic, but Petrovic was fast, ruthless, and accurate.

Petrovic posed a greater threat from the outside than Gan Guoyang tonight; in fact, Gan Guoyang was more of a decoy for most of the time.

"Stop double-teaming Forrest Gump, switch back to one-on-one man-to-man defense. I'll get in front of him to stop him from receiving the ball!" Hakeem Olajuwon instructed his teammates to change their defensive posture.

Hakeem Olajuwon's judgment was correct. Initially, Riley was blinded by greed, and his long-term revenge had made him too obsessed with personal gain and loss.

After Hakeem Olajuwon received the ball, he turned and cut to the basket, drawing a foul on Gan Guoyang with his back against him. He made both free throws, which slightly stabilized the Heat's situation.

However, upon checking the score, the Heat were already down by 8 points to the Trail Blazers. Early decision-making errors put the Heat in a very passive position.

This became a turning point in the game.

Riley realized his mistake and substituted Brian Shaw to solidify the team's backcourt defense, allowing Starks to rest and prepare for the subsequent offensive surge.

Bellman also rested Petrovic and brought in Mario Elie to strengthen the defense while leading and trade blows with the Heat.

The two teams engaged in another fierce physical battle in the latter part of the third quarter, with Hakeem Olajuwon and Gan Guoyang almost coming to blows under the basket.

As the game progressed, the calm and gentle look in Olajuwon's eyes diminished, replaced by a growing murderous intent.

The two seemed to have returned to their rookie days, when they were the league's fighting kings, having a minor fight every three days and a major fight every five days.

Gan Guoyang used his strength advantage to control the game through rebounding. With both sides playing intense defense and having low shooting percentages, rebounding became his lifeline.

During one offensive possession, Gan Guoyang grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds. Hakeem Olajuwon, unable to tolerate it any longer, shoved Gan Guoyang hard as he went for a layup.

Gan Guoyang stumbled and fell, and in the blink of an eye he was about to rush towards Olajuwon, when Sabonis quickly came over and sandwiched between the two.

"Calm down, Sonny, calm down!" Sabonis shouted to Gan Guoyang, who immediately calmed down. This was the finals.

The murderous intent in Olajuwon's eyes gradually faded. He waved to Gan Guoyang to express his apology, while praying for God's forgiveness in his heart.

After this push, Olajuwon had committed his third foul, and Riley needed to substitute him off the court for protection.

Hakeem Olajuwon refused to leave the field, saying, "Are you crazy? If I leave the field now, we'll lose this game!"

Riley wasn't crazy, he was just confused. After realizing what had happened, he canceled the substitution, but at the same time, he was extremely anxious.

With Gan Guoyang making both free throws, the Trail Blazers extended their lead to 10 points, leaving Heat fans equally anxious. Were the Trail Blazers really that invincible?

Actually, the Trail Blazers' performance so far has only been average, but some Heat players have been underperforming.

For example, Cliff Robinson, who played an important role in the Eastern Conference Finals, was almost invisible in this game.

Facing his familiar former team, Cliff Robinson seemed lost, unsure whether to play inside or outside.

He missed all of his outside shots and was even blocked in the low post. Despite having the height of a center, he couldn't contribute enough in rebounding and defense.

Riley signed him because of his versatility and utility; he played a very efficient game against the Bulls.

However, when facing his former mentor, Portland's twin towers in the paint, he was clearly at a loss, which put immense pressure on the Heat's offense.

Gan Guoyang repeatedly switched onto Robinson's defense and forced his way through, completely disrupting Robinson's shooting touch.

When the fourth quarter began, Robinson finally received the ball on the perimeter and hit his first mid-range shot of the game.

The score was 75-67, with the Heat trailing the Trail Blazers by 8 points. Time was running out, and the situation was becoming increasingly difficult.

Riley was constantly worried that Forrest would explode in the fourth quarter and overwhelm the Heat with a series of offensive plays.

However, this did not happen. Gan Guoyang remained on the court in the fourth quarter, constantly setting screens for his teammates at the top of the arc.

He constantly used the Heat's defensive focus on him to pass the ball to his teammates, and Petrovic and Lewis were in exceptionally good form tonight.

After Cliff Robinson made his first mid-range shot, Petrovic received an assist from Gan Guoyang and hit his sixth three-pointer of the game!

A deadly three-pointer from the left 45-degree angle. Riley, who was crouching on the sidelines, saw the ball and angrily turned around and slammed the clipboard in his hand to the ground.

Even in the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers' outside shooting still had plenty of energy to hit long-range shots, which Riley saw as a harbinger of defeat.

He started pacing back and forth on the sidelines, loudly instructing his players to defend desperately, to run and move around, and to wear down the opponent.

But the Heat were trailing and the Trail Blazers were leading. At this point, the Heat players were actually more exhausted, and they began to rely heavily on Olajuwon and Drexler.

Drexler receives the ball, forces his way through the middle, and is about to dunk over Forrest Gump's defense!
In the direct aerial confrontation, Gan Guoyang's timing of the jump was perfect, intercepting Drexler!

The glider was shot down and crashed heavily to the ground. Gan Guoyang got the ball and made a long pass to the frontcourt. Reggie Lewis made a fast break dunk!
Riley immediately called a timeout. The point difference had reached 13 points, with 5 minutes left in the game.

After the timeout and back on the bench, Riley didn't say anything at first, but the words caught in his throat.

The revenge match I've been looking forward to for so long, the finals I've been preparing for for so many years, is this how the first battle is going to end?

What seemed like a disjointed Finals series with constant commercials and timeouts to fans and viewers was, in Riley's mind, a fleeting moment.

I was full of anticipation before the game started, but I lost focus for a moment and looked up to find that we were already down by 13 points and the game was about to end.

Just as Riley was lost in thought, Drexler nudged him and said, "Coach, the game isn't over yet. Why did you call a timeout? To give us commercials?"

Riley glared at Drexler. Ever since Olajuwon came to the Heat, Drexler seemed to have found a backer and sometimes even argued with the coach.

But at this point, it's good that someone is willing to speak up. John Starks said, "Coach, what should we do? The game isn't over yet."

Riley calmed down and rearranged the defense, while taking an adventurous approach on offense; they needed to catch up quickly.

With five minutes left, a 13-point deficit was not an insurmountable barrier.

As soon as the Heat called a timeout, Drexler received the ball on the perimeter and made a three-pointer.

The Heat narrowed the gap to 92-82, closing the gap to 10 points.

Porter made a mistake with his pass, and Drexler intercepted the ball.

On the counterattack, Drexler passed the ball to Starks, who then dunked successfully!
92-84, the Heat scored 5 consecutive points, narrowing the gap to 8 points.

By this time, the two sides had been locked in combat for over 40 minutes, and Riley's strategy was not entirely ineffective.

Terry Porter's calves were hampered by injuries and physical limitations, leaving him feeling exhausted.

Possession was given to Petrovic, whose knee was also hurting. He broke through and passed the ball to Agam, but Agam also made a mistake.

The steal came from Hakeem Olajuwon, who is the best stealer among centers, and this was his third steal of the night.

The Heat launched another fast break, and Drexler once again took off headfirst, received a pass, jumped just inside the free-throw line, and dunked it in!

92:86, the score difference has reached 6 points.

By scoring 7 straight points, the Heat pulled themselves back from the brink of defeat. Now it's the Trail Blazers' turn to be careful.

Berman stood up to call a timeout, but Gan Guoyang received the ball from the backcourt, clearly intending to attack himself.

After quickly dribbling past half-court, Gan Guoyang suddenly accelerated near the center line and cut directly into the middle.

Hakeem Olajuwon closely guarded Gan Guoyang, who used his explosiveness and strength to break through Mason and jump directly for a powerful one-handed dunk!
Hakeem Olajuwon had been following up with his defense with all his might, trying to jump and block the shot, but he was a step too slow and could only watch helplessly as Gan Guoyang scored.

With the game about to end, Gan Guoyang's stamina was at its peak!
Riley's fears came true; Hakeem Olajuwon then scored with a powerful turnaround layup under the basket.

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the backfield again, dodged Drexler's tackle, and once again broke into the field from the right side.

As the Heat players all rushed to intercept him at the basket, he quickly pulled up and launched a jump shot from the right baseline – a Bernard King-style jump shot.

Two points were scored easily, making it 96-88, still an 8-point difference, and the situation became increasingly difficult for the Heat.

Starks hit another three-pointer! In the final stages, the Heat's offensive efficiency became extremely high.

With the score at 96-91, they still have a chance to turn the tide.

In fact, the Trail Blazers' perimeter defense did indeed loosen up, and fatigue was taking its toll on everyone.

Except for Forrest Gump.

He brought the ball across half-court for the third time.

The Heat's defensive attention was completely drawn to him, and they came over to surround him.

Gan Guoyang jumped up and made a long pass to Sabonis at the top of the arc, who then passed the ball directly to the basket.

The Heat's paint was completely open, and Reggie Lewis caught the ball and easily dunked it!
98-91, this was a very crucial shot, the Trail Blazers players showed great teamwork and experience.

Starks attempted another three-pointer, but missed this time, and Olajuwon tried to grab the rebound.

But Gan Guoyang judged the position correctly, jumped up and grabbed the ball, and the Heat's hopes of winning were basically dashed with this loss of the rebound.

With just over a minute remaining, the Trail Blazers, leading by 7 points, only need to run out of time.

At this point, empty seats began to appear again in the Miami Arena, and some fans were leaving early!

Arrive late, leave early, rainy days, no traffic jams.

Miami fans are just that unrestrained, unburdened by winning or losing.

The Heat made a final struggle and attempt, but the extremely experienced Trail Blazers remained exceptionally steady.

They played flawlessly in the final stages, giving the Heat no chance whatsoever.

Ultimately, the score was 100-93, with the Trail Blazers defeating the Heat by 7 points in Game 1 of the Finals, taking a 1-0 lead in the series!

By the time the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the match, most of the fans had already left, leaving only a small number of die-hard supporters to share the players' disappointment.

Gan Guoyang and his teammates breathed a sigh of relief, having secured another victory without any major incident, while the rain in Miami continued.

Riley said nothing after the game and went straight back to the locker room, needing a private space to process his chaotic emotions.

Hakeem Olajuwon politely shook hands and hugged Gan Guoyang. He played very well tonight, scoring 27 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 4 assists.

In his confrontation with Gan Guoyang, he once had the upper hand.

However, Gan Guoyang's performance of 31 points, 22 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 8 assists proved that he is still a cut above Olajuwon.

In addition, Petrovic scored 24 points efficiently, Reggie Lewis had 18 points, and Sabonis had 15 points; they were the core of the Trail Blazers.

The Heat truly provided enough support for Olajuwon; the only player who performed well was Drexler, with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Just when people thought the Heat would bounce back and deliver a heavy blow to the Trail Blazers in the second game two days later, things took another unexpected turn.

On June 12th, during the second game between the two teams, it rained again in Miami. Porter's calf was still aching, Petrovic felt discomfort in his knee, Reggie Lewis had chest tightness, Sabonis had a swollen ankle, Mario Elie had an upset stomach, Dell Curry's son got sick from being caught in the rain, and it was worrying. Bellman was reportedly in a bad mood after arguing with his wife. Even Michael Jackson was in trouble, with people still suing and defaming him. The matter escalated during the Finals.

With the determination to win, the Heat launched a powerful offensive in the first quarter of Game 4, and their suffocating defense kept the Trail Blazers scoreless for four minutes.

Their biggest lead ever reached 12 points, and at the start of the second quarter, the score was 19-31. They were full of passion and a desire for victory and revenge.

Miami fans arrived early for this game, filling the stands before the game even started, because the Heat had issued a statement encouraging fans to come and support the team.

Heat fans did stay until the very end, not leaving the arena until the final buzzer, but the Heat still lost the game.

Gan Guoyang scored a crazy 60 points, marking his breakout day as he single-handedly reversed the situation and swept aside all opponents.

The second 60 points in the Finals, the second 60 points after Elgin Baylor, came in the 1993 Finals.

With 17 of 24 two-pointers, 7 of 11 three-pointers, and 5 of 6 free throws, the unstoppable killing machine single-handedly annihilated his opponents.

The Trail Blazers left Miami with a 2-0 lead in the series and two home-court advantage.

As the plane took off, the rain in Miami stopped, and the bright sunshine returned to the city.

Portland's fourth consecutive championship is just around the corner.

Forrest Gump's reputation reached its peak because of this battle.

In his long career, this 60-point performance cut him in two like a knife.

The first part belongs to Heaven, the second part belongs to himself.

(End of this chapter)