The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 784 Answer
The 18th Battle of Gamchao ended in a highly dramatic fashion.

The Bulls led for the entire game; they played better and had more control. In the end, Jordan hit a game-winning shot that almost sealed the victory.

The only downside was that he gave Forrest Gump three seconds. Three seconds is enough to change everything on a basketball court.

Once again witnessing Gan Guoyang's miraculous performance snatch the victory, Jordan stood on the sidelines with his hands on his hips, chewing gum and helplessly looking up at the scoreboard.

With no seconds left, the Chicago Bulls lost. In fact, the moment Gan Guoyang received the pass, Jordan sensed that a game-winning shot was likely to be played.

If it were any other player, a sixty-foot shot would be a casual throw with a negligible chance of making it, and the Bulls would have already secured the victory.

But that was Forrest Gump. Jordan recalled Forrest Gump's game-winning shot in Game 5 of the 1992 NBA Finals, a shot he couldn't stop and which handed the championship to Forrest Gump.

"What a fucking game, fucking Forrest Gump, fuck..."

Jordan muttered under his breath, venting his negative emotions about the defeat with a string of profanities.

He looked at that number 8, Kobe Bryant, and like a fool, he hugged Forrest Gump, laughing and jumping.

It was just like how rookie Magic Johnson celebrated wildly with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after his game-winning shot in 1979.

Forrest Gump's expression was as calm as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's, as if everything was under his control.

Jordan hated seeing Gan Guoyang like this; the guy always seemed to have everything under control.

In his dreams, the most beautiful moment Jordan could dream of was seeing Forrest Gump break down after losing the Finals.

It wasn't the kind of glorious defeat we felt after losing the Olympic final in 1992, but rather the shattering feeling after everything collapsed.

How he wished he could see Forrest Gump like that, instead of him acting as if he didn't care about winning at all.

"That bastard, the thing is, I fucking don't hate him at all, fuck you!"

After venting his negative emotions, Jordan pursed his lips, trying to give himself a rational explanation.

How can we avoid losing this game?

For example, he should hold back the time and make his move at the last second.

Yes, it was a tie, we could have easily kept it close until the last second, why rush it?

However, at that time, the rhythm was right and the movements were so smooth that we didn't consider keeping the time short.

Also, when Forrest Gump passed the ball to Kobe, he shouldn't have chased after Kobe; he should have kept his eyes on Forrest.

Even if Kobe had the opportunity, he could only shoot from near midcourt, and he would most likely miss.

Unlike Forrest Gump, this guy is like a catapult, extremely powerful and with a long range.

I was careless after all.

Jordan thought all these things through, let out a long sigh, and left the court with his teammates, returning to the locker room.

They quickly showered, cleaned themselves up, boarded the bus, and left this place of sorrow; the Rose Garden Arena had never been a lucky place for them.

Portland fans are destined to celebrate tonight, and Trail Blazers fans are set for another joyous night.

The Bulls, as always, will continue their pursuit of victory after losing a game.

Phil Jackson asked Jordan in the car, "Michael, are you disappointed?"

Looking out at the Portland night view, Jordan said, "Who are you talking about? Myself and the team?"

"For this game, and for myself and the team."

"No, not disappointed. It was as wonderful as ever, even though we were just background characters."

“We don’t want to be background figures anymore, especially not Forrest Gump.”

"Of course, this is the regular season, and luck was on his side. I accept that, I have to accept it. But I will still beat him and win the championship, and that has never wavered."

Jordan spoke with conviction. Over the years, he had been suppressed by Gan Guoyang, but his resolve had never wavered, nor had he ever doubted himself.

Unlike many stars who were defeated by Gan Guoyang, such as Barkley, Olajuwon, Drexler, David Robinson, and Isiah Thomas, Jordan was beaten to the point of questioning his life by Gan Guoyang.

Jordan never wavered. No matter how difficult the situation or how regrettable the loss, he firmly believed that he would one day reach the other side of victory.

What if he can't reach it? Then so be it. He's not bound by his obsession with the other shore; he already has the answer in his heart.

His idea was direct and simple: if you can't win, find a way to keep fighting until you win.

Jackson nodded and said, "That's what I think too. We'll beat him and win the championship."

Although the defeat was regrettable, Jordan and Gan Guoyang both became stronger through their losses.

They will regroup and continue charging toward their goal until they are completely unable to continue and withdraw from the battlefield.

On the other side, in the Trail Blazers' locker room, joy filled every corner.

Gan Guoyang high-fived each of his teammates, tonight was a wonderful victory.

Gan Guoyang's game-winning goal was certainly spectacular, but the other players also played important roles.

Van Exel can be considered the second most important contributor; without his incredibly accurate three-pointers, the Trail Blazers would have been finished tonight.

Tonight, Van Exel played a key role as the second option on many occasions, contributing significantly with his 5-for-8 three-point shooting.

Other players like Riddell, Kobe, and PJ Brown all played crucial roles, laying the foundation for the game-winning shot.

Kobe, in particular, made a steal and a layup in the final moments, tying the score and changing the course of the game.

And that final, precise pass—if he had hesitated for even a fraction of a second, the Trail Blazers would have undoubtedly lost.

Larry Bird could tell from Kobe's performance in the last minute that Kobe was definitely a clutch player.

Putting him on the field in the final moments was the right decision.

For Kobe, this thrilling battle was a turning point in his rookie season.

From being injured and unable to play at the beginning of the season, to making mistakes and embarrassing himself in his first appearance, and then to his inconsistent performance in later games.

On January 4th, against the Bulls, Kobe finally began to make his mark in the NBA with his performance.

His steals, layups, and final passes were repeatedly shown on television programs.

As discussion about him increased, Sports Illustrated wrote a short article specifically about Kobe's achievements so far in his rookie season.

Advertisers and publishers were excited and put Kobe's promotion and packaging on the agenda.

Kobe's parents were also pleased with his performance, and that night they experienced a heart-pounding moment in the rose garden.

It is foreseeable that he will have more and more opportunities to play in future matches.

It was this game that solidified Kobe's confidence in making a name for himself in the NBA.

He believed he could do many things: attack, defend, and decide the outcome of the game.

Besides Kobe, this game also affected the fates of many other people.

Not long after the match ended, Gan Guoyang received a call from Hu Weidong.

The two talked on the phone, and Hu Weidong said he had made up his mind to stay in the NBA.

He wants to recover from his injury first, and then get back into training and games, hoping to establish himself with the Lakers.

"I'm also number 8, and I feel like I'll play well."

Hu Weidong's words have always been simple and unpretentious, without any grand pronouncements.

A simple sentence, yet it conveys his unwavering determination.

Gan Guoyang encouraged Lao Hu to make sure he recovered from his injury and not forget to improve himself while he was recovering.

Upper body strength needs to be trained, shooting feel needs to be maintained, and game videos need to be watched more often.

Hu Weidong kept all of this in mind and would call from time to time to ask for advice and report on the situation.

On one occasion, Gan Guoyang asked Hu Weidong if he had contacted Zhang Weiping. Hu Weidong replied, "Old Zhang has returned to China. He doesn't sell beer anymore; he went back to do commentary."

"You really aren't selling beer, and you're really going back to doing commentary?"

"Of course it's true. We had a meal together before he left, and he said he still loves basketball and can't live without it. He also said that having a favorite basketball player gives him motivation to watch games."

"Really? That star player isn't me, is he?"

"I wouldn't know then. If you were going to like someone, you would have liked them a long time ago."

Once a person finds and accepts what they truly love, they will devote themselves to it wholeheartedly.

Hu Weidong and Zhang Weiping both found their answers in basketball.

The Trail Blazers' victory was just a starting point; the final answer lies within their own hearts. And another major event was Michael Jackson.

On January 4th, at a concert in Hawaii, Jackson announced that he would be getting married.

This news shocked the entire United States even more than Gan Guoyang's 60-foot game-winning shot against the Bulls.

Immediately, some die-hard fans chose to commit suicide, causing a huge uproar in public opinion.

Especially since the public knew that Jackson's wife was an ordinary white nurse, rumors spread like wildfire.

But Jackson didn't care; he simply made his own choice and accepted the consequences.
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Entering 1997, the Trail Blazers' schedule became a bit easier.

Throughout January, the vast majority of their matches were played at home.

This includes five consecutive home games, giving the Trail Blazers ample time to adjust.

After the match, the players don't have to immediately board the bus to the airport to rush to the next city for another match.

They can take a nice, relaxing shower and then go home or to a nightclub or bar to unwind.

As long as they can arrive at the training hall on time at 7:30 the next morning to begin today's training.

Larry Bird is becoming increasingly adept at his role as head coach.

In the game against the Bulls, he actually won his matchup against Phil Jackson.

His three crucial timeouts in the second half all proved highly effective, leading to a dramatic turnaround in the score.

The final shot was no longer under the coach's control; even if it didn't go in, Bird had done his best.

In particular, his insistence on not calling a timeout in the third quarter made Rick Carlisle and Dick Hart realize where the gap was between them and Larry Bird.

Bird possessed extraordinary composure and a precise intuition about the game's situation. He sensed that they would reach a crucial moment, at which point timeouts would be extremely valuable.

He withstood the pressure from the assistant coach and the situation on the court, believing that his players could handle the situation and saving the timeout for the most crucial moment.

Many professional coaches fail to use and control timeouts effectively, and many victories have been lost due to their misuse.

Especially in the high-pressure playoffs, using timeouts too early or too quickly, or using them in a timely manner, can have disastrous consequences.

Knowing exactly when and how to call a timeout reflects a coach's understanding of the game and their ability to handle pressure.

Therefore, after this game, Carlisle and Hart admired Bird even more, and they worked even harder as assistant coaches.

Of course, some people will disagree, such as Gan Guoyang.

He and Bird argued for three days about not calling a timeout in the third quarter.

"I bet you've been watching the game so much that you've forgotten you're a coach, not a spectator."

"Bullshit, I deliberately didn't call a timeout. I was aware of the situation at the time, and my timeout worked at the last moment."

"Oh, come on Larry, you're talking nonsense, I don't believe you. I could have made the shot even without a timeout, the last basket is proof! No timeout, a 60-foot game-winner!"

"You're the one who's shit. That last shot was pure luck. Everyone was stunned when you made it, completely bewildered. You used up the best luck you've ever had, all for a regular season game! You should be thinking more about the playoffs."

The two engaged in endless trash talk during training.

While others might get more and more carried away and emotionally charged as they argue, these two only became more and more energetic as they argued.

Bird even took off his polo shirt again during practice and wore a vest to train with the players.

Of course, Gan Guoyang was pinned to the sidelines as always, and Bird even hung the whistle around his neck.

"You're the referee, so do a good job off the table, kid."

Gan Guoyang had to act as a referee to supervise and observe the players' training.

Overall, Gan Guoyang is quite fair, except for his tendency to praise Bird's traveling.

"Fuck you, Sonny! I didn't even dribble, and you're calling me traveling?"

After being called for three traveling violations, Bird finally snapped.

For a traditional forward like him with very solid fundamentals who doesn't like dribbling and breaking through, traveling is a rare violation in his career.

"I called a traveling violation because you didn't dribble. Are you out of your mind, Larry?"

Despite Gan Guoyang's repeated attempts to entice him, Larry Bird ultimately did not fall for it and agreed to a one-on-one fight with Gan Guoyang.

He knew it was Forrest Gump's trap, and Bird wouldn't fall for it; he didn't want to lose any more money.

The Trail Blazers' training took place in this positive atmosphere, and they continued to win games.

They won all four of their subsequent home games.

This includes a head-to-head matchup against the Seattle SuperSonics.

Kobe got more playing time, and although his stats were still not outstanding, his presence on the court became stronger.

Whenever he steps onto the court, his energetic defense immediately transforms the Trail Blazers' perimeter game, something that Riddell and Van Exel lack.

On offense, Kobe was confident, decisive, and imaginative.

His imagination is reflected in his unique understanding of tactics.

Rick Carlisle has been building a fluid offense, and the playmaking patterns are not obvious in the Trail Blazers' offense.

Kobe often seizes fleeting opportunities, using his speed and crossover dribbling to cut into the paint and disrupt the opponent's defensive setup.

Such a breakthrough often feels refreshing, because in the 1996-1997 season, the NBA offense was in a slump.

The league's average points per game have dropped to 96. Although the games are very intense and the physical battles in the crucial moments are exciting, scoring has become very difficult.

Especially in positional warfare, it's difficult to have a continuous and smooth offense. Often, both sides are in a state of stagnation, and then they rely on counterattacks and hot shooting to score a few points, and then they continue to stagnate, relying on free throws to score.

At this moment, if a player can suddenly break through the opponent's defense, dribble past several players, and drive to the basket for a beautiful layup or even a dunk, it will definitely leave a deep impression on the fans in a game with more than 80 or 90 points.

Such shots are not only beautiful, but they are also valuable and play an important role in low-scoring games.

If two teams score 110 or 120 points in a game, it might make people think, "This kind of game is too exhausting and not worth it."

Kobe is showing his talent in this area; he often delivers such eye-catching performances.

Although limited by experience and vision, such beautiful dribbling breakthroughs sometimes fail to translate into points.

But fans have started to enjoy watching Kobe play, and some are even paying for his games.

This made Kobe very happy; he felt he was on the right track.

He's appearing on TV more often, and on every game day, he manages to contribute one or two spectacular layups or dunks.

This was a small goal Kobe set for himself: to have one highlight-reel play in every game that could be featured on television. He hoped to be the best among this year's rookies.

Just as Kobe was becoming more and more outstanding, on January 14th, 10 days after the Trail Blazers' game-winning shot against the Bulls, Kobe's steal and layup were gradually being forgotten by fans.

A small player from Philadelphia, wearing number 3, used a beautiful crossover to get past Jordan during a game against the Chicago Bulls and made a mid-range jump shot.

This scene was repeatedly broadcast on television and became a popular topic of conversation.

He scored 37 points in this game, and although the team lost, his scoring ability was amazing.

In his rookie season debut, he scored 30 points with an astonishing 67% field goal percentage.

He is only 6 feet tall, and many people say he is less than 6 feet tall, only 5 feet 11 inches.

His name is Allen Iverson, the number one overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. With him on the team, this year's Rookie of the Year is already a foregone conclusion.

The Trail Blazers' first stop on their road trip was Philadelphia, where Kobe Bryant grew up, but the hero there was not Kobe.

Kobe had hoped the Philadelphia 76ers would draft him, but the 76ers obviously wouldn't use their number one pick to select a high school guard.

They got that little guy, and Kobe heard his name all summer long, and now his reputation is growing louder and louder.

If Kobe was just beginning to emerge, then Allen Iverson was already a number one figure in the league, a big shot.

As the Trail Blazers took off and flew toward the East Coast, Kobe sat in his seat, constantly looking at information related to Allen Iverson.

The image of Iverson blowing past Jordan and hitting a mid-range shot kept flashing through his mind, and he asked himself, "Can I do that?"

The answer seems to be yes.

He asked himself again, "Can I defend against it?"

The answer seems to be no.

But he would have to find the real answer himself in Philadelphia.

(End of this chapter)