The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 789 Passed unanimously
Kobe and Riddell were suspended due to a conflict that broke out during practice.

However, the Trail Blazers announced that Riddell and Kobe were both injured and placed on the observation list.

On the evening of the 4th, the Trail Blazers faced the Chicago Bulls on the road. With two key rotation players missing, the Trail Blazers were at a disadvantage.

In the last Gan-Qiao showdown, the Bulls suffered a miraculous buzzer-beater from Gan Guoyang in Portland, and the whole team was determined to avenge that defeat.

With this game taking place at the United Center in Chicago, the Bulls have no reason to let this victory slip away.

Surprisingly, the Trail Blazers, missing two key players, started strong, leading the Bulls 31-25 in the first quarter.

Van Exel delivered another outstanding three-point performance against the Bulls, hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter, which greatly annoyed Phil Jackson.

The Bulls lost to the Trail Blazers in their last game, which ultimately came down to the Trail Blazers' three-point shooting.

The Bulls are better than the Trail Blazers in every other aspect, but the Trail Blazers make more three-pointers and have a natural advantage in scoring efficiency.

Adding to that, Gan Guoyang's miraculous final shot sealed the Bulls' worst defeat of the season.

After that loss to the Trail Blazers, the Bulls immediately went on an 11-game winning streak, demonstrating their strong dominance.

The first quarter's disadvantage made Jackson very worried that a situation like that of 1992 would occur—when the Portland Trail Blazers gained a psychological advantage in the regular season.

This is what the Bulls are most worried about: if the two teams meet again in the Finals this year, will the psychological gap become a decisive factor?

So at the start of the second quarter, the Bulls began to apply aggressive defense early, with Jordan and Pippen both joining in the effort to contain Van Exel.

As a result, Gan Guoyang took the lead in the center, receiving and directing the offense, and seizing the slight loopholes in the Bulls' defense to continuously assist his teammates in scoring.

Gan Guoyang himself repeatedly scored at crucial moments, helping the Trail Blazers extend their lead to 61-49 at halftime, a 12-point advantage.

This was something no one expected, not even Gan Guoyang himself. Could it be that the Trail Blazers' tactical style was so effective against the Bulls?
If they can make it to the Finals this year, can they upset the Bulls and immediately win back the championship they lost?
Gan Guoyang, who had been somewhat anxious, began to imagine the wonderful scene of defeating the Bulls in the finals and returning to the top.

But in the third quarter, the Chicago Bulls began to show why they were able to win 72 games last season; they are a historically great team.

The 15-minute halftime break allowed the entire Bulls team to calm down. Jordan told everyone in the locker room, "I will not allow us to lose to the Trail Blazers again, or to Forrest Gump again."

The Bulls have changed their previous approach of relying too much on defense when facing the Trail Blazers, always thinking of "defense first, then counterattack" in a passive way.

They began to actively seek breakthroughs on offense because, for the Trail Blazers, defense was actually their real weakness.

That's how basketball games are; both sides are in a dynamic state, constantly switching between defense and offense. Maintaining the balance between them is an art.

The Bulls did not immediately turn the tide in the third quarter, as Gan Guoyang seemed to have divine assistance, continuously hitting mid-range jump shots.

But the Bulls are gradually closing the gap and regaining control of the game.

Forrest Gump, you need to rest eventually, right? In the regular season, you always have to sit on the bench for a while at the beginning of the fourth quarter, right?

The absence of Riddell and Kobe led to a shorter rotation for the Trail Blazers, and the players' stamina was affected in the fourth quarter.

The Trail Blazers' winning streak finally crumbled. During the three minutes that Gan Guoyang was resting on the bench, the Bulls went on an 8-0 run to take the lead.

Bird called a timeout, but it had no effect. The Bulls had gained momentum, their offense was becoming increasingly smooth, the triangle offense had created space and created gaps, and everyone's tactical creativity was being unleashed.

At this point, it was too late for Gan Guoyang to return to the court; he couldn't possibly defend against five opponents by himself.

If he covers the strong side, there will inevitably be gaps on the weak side.

He moves to the weak side to protect, which creates opportunities for one-on-one plays on the strong side.

Individual strength has its limits, and the Trail Blazers have struggled against strong offensive teams this season.

For example, he lost both of his matches against the Jazz decisively.

Gan Guoyang used to play for the Jazz, and with Sabonis and Petrovic assisting him, he could easily dominate.

With the Trail Blazers' defense declining and teams like the Jazz having well-developed offenses, Gan Guoyang is likely to be overwhelmed.

Once the defense fails, Gan Guoyang can only intensify his offensive efforts, but time is already running out.

Ultimately, the Bulls completed a comeback in the fourth quarter, bringing the final score to 100-107.

The Bulls scored 58 points in the second half, while the Trail Blazers only managed 39. Jordan successfully avenged his loss to a buzzer-beater in the previous game.

Van Exel gradually lost his touch against the Bulls' tall, strong, and agile forwards and guards.

首节三分球3中3的他，最后三分球的成果是10中4，剩下的6次出只命中1个。

Harper, Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman formed the most flexible and aggressive defensive lineup in NBA history.

Even so, the Bulls still couldn't contain Forrest on the defensive end, as he still managed to score 33 points, grab 17 rebounds, and dish out 10 assists.

Phil Jackson admitted after the game, "Forrest Gump is the player we worry about the most. We can limit any offensive player in the league, but not Forrest Gump. He's not entirely an inside player, nor is he entirely an outside player. Dealing with him is the most difficult thing in the world. Fortunately, basketball is a team sport. We have a team, and we're not fighting alone."

What truly defeated the Trail Blazers tonight was the Bulls' offense. Their defense couldn't contain Gan Guoyang, but their offense certainly left Gan Guoyang overwhelmed.

When the two shook hands and hugged after the game, Gan Guoyang praised Jordan, saying, "Michael, tonight's game, I felt that your offensive level was close to 90% of my peak. You are amazing."

Jordan rolled his eyes at Gan Guoyang and said, "Shut up, Sonny. Get out of Chicago right now. I don't want to hear you talk anymore."

Gan Guoyang said, "I'm sincere! Okay, I'll add a little more, ninety-five percent, that's the most I can do, you'll always be five percent behind me."

Jordan got excited and said, "You're talking nonsense, Sonny. Tell me where I'm always five percent behind you."

"It's very simple, two aspects: first, your three-point shooting, and second, your stamina. These two are the decisive factors. However, your rhythm and participation are getting better and better than in your earlier years. You are involved in every aspect of the offense, making you really difficult to deal with."

Jordan disliked Gan Guoyang's condescending and instructive manner towards him, like a senior.

Every time Forrest Gump did that, Jordan felt an urge to beat him up.

But firstly, you can't beat them, and secondly, if you think about it carefully, you'll find that Forrest Gump's words make sense.

Gan Guoyang's skill in three-point shooting is indeed far superior to others, and his foresight is astonishing.

Jordan was a step behind in this regard; if he had developed the three-pointer earlier in the 80s, the outcome of those two NBA Finals might have been different.

Against other players, Jordan didn't need three-pointers, but against Forrest Gump, the efficiency difference caused by three-pointers was part of that 5%.

As for physical fitness, Jordan admitted that Forrest Gump was the ceiling of league history, a perpetual motion machine on the court.

It wasn't just one game that made Forrest Gump feel exhausted; it was the wear and tear of an entire season that caused him to slip once.

Forrest Gump's words struck a chord with Jordan once again, making him realize that Forrest Gump was still the person who understood him best in the world.

Although their relationship is no longer as close as it was in their youth, their mutual understanding and respect still maintain a subtle bond.

Gan Guoyang is right. Jordan's offensive efforts were actually more, more consistent, and more meticulous than in the 80s.

Although he scored fewer points and his scoring spree was less frequent, his offensive involvement was higher than before.

His judgment of timing, his choice between passing and shooting, and his assessment of the situation have all reached a higher level.

When a viewer is watching a video of Jordan playing in the 80s, he can quickly identify who Jordan is on the court; this guy is so recognizable.

He's a frame faster than everyone else, and the range between motion and stillness is huge, so viewers will quickly notice this unique guy.

However, when we move on to the 90s, especially after 1994, NBA broadcasts had higher resolution and more close-up shots.

However, viewers didn't find Jordan so easily. If they were watching a low-resolution videotape, they might not be able to spot Jordan even after watching for a while.

One reason is that Jordan's explosiveness and speed declined slightly, but even after that decline, he was still the fastest and most explosive Black Panther in the league.

The real reason is that he is a scoring core with outstanding individual ability, yet he can also perfectly integrate into the team's offense.

His integration did not come at the cost of sacrificing his own shot attempts, but rather ensured that every shot he took was in sync with the team's offensive rhythm.

This is something that most one-on-one players in the NBA cannot do; for many one-on-one players, when they start scoring, it is when the team's offense falls apart.

Forrest Gump was able to say such things not only because he understood Jordan, but also because he had already reached that level long ago.

Jordan looked at Gan Guoyang and said, "Sonny, tell me, have you ever been to higher places?"

Gan Guoyang shrugged and said, "Of course. But not now. I almost fell to your level, which makes me very anxious."

"..."

Jordan wasn't going to continue the conversation with Forrest Gump, saying, "See you at the All-Star Game. And I'll get to even higher places, climbing over your heads."

The two old friends patted each other on the backside, ending their regular season match.

If the two are to continue their on-court battle this season, they will have to wait until the Finals.

Of course, before that, there was the 1997 All-Star Game, where they could represent the East and West teams in an All-Star exhibition game.

The 1997 All-Star Game was held in Cleveland. The last time Cleveland hosted the All-Star Game was in 1981, the era when Dr. J and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated the court, before Forrest Gump and Michael Jordan entered the league.

Now, 15 years later, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the NBA, a significant milestone, the All-Star Game returns to this city that has been cursed in the history of professional sports.

After leaving Chicago and returning to Portland, Gan Guoyang took two days off to rest and recuperate. On February 7th, he and his family traveled to Cleveland to participate in his 11th All-Star Game.

Before setting off, Wang Fuxi kept changing her jewelry and outfits in front of her dressing table, trying her best to look beautiful and eye-catching, but not too overpowering.

She also needs to choose two suitable outfits that also meet the above requirements.

Just as the highest praise for desserts in China is "not too sweet", Wang Fuxi is trying to find a balance. As the wife of the All-Star vote leader, she can't embarrass her husband when she returns to the All-Star stage, but at the same time, she can't steal the spotlight too much.

Being a celebrity's wife is really not easy.

Gan Guoyang appeared very patient, holding his 5-year-old daughter and waiting quietly at the door.

Eight-year-old Gan Wenshan was like a wound-up toy, rolling around, spinning, and playing wildly in the living room, muttering incoherently, probably related to the cartoons he'd been watching lately. "Dad, hurry up! We should leave, or we'll be late and the alien army will attack!"

"I can't wait any longer," Gan Wenshan urged impatiently.

"Mom is putting on makeup and picking out clothes."

"Alright, I'll go and repel the alien army!"

After saying that, he ran to the garden to fight the imagined alien army.

The thing that made Gan Guoyang most gratified about returning to Portland was that his son was much happier.

Here he has many good friends he has known since childhood. Thompson and Love’s children visit each other almost every week.

Gan Wenshan inherited some of his father's traits; he was born to be the leader and head of this group of children.

However, between basketball and football, Gan Wenshan currently prefers football, saying that the football field is larger and running is more enjoyable.

Undoubtedly, he inherited his father's physical abilities, running endlessly in the garden like a perpetual motion machine.

My 5-year-old daughter is very quiet; she's not like most little kids who like to follow their older siblings around like a little shadow.

She likes to be alone, reading books, doing crafts, rarely making noise, and doesn't really need friends to accompany her.

Of course, she also caused Gan Guoyang a lot of worry. On her first day of kindergarten, she made the same mistake as her brother: she pushed over a little girl who was trying to take her toy.

However, after Gan Guoyang went to the kindergarten, she did not continue to push other children like her brother.

During the midterm exams, Gan Guoyang heard from the teacher that his daughter had bribed all her classmates by giving them toys, including the one who had stolen her toys.

Gan Guoyang asked her, "Why do you do this? It's hard to make real friends by giving gifts; you have to rely on shared interests."

The daughter said, "I don't want to make friends, and I don't want them to bother me."

Gan Guoyang was surprised by his daughter's idea, and he was a little worried that she might be too precocious.

However, in daily life, she can still sense her daughter's innocence and naivety; she hasn't grown up at all.

Perhaps finding one's place in a group and fighting for it is a human nature and instinct, regardless of age.

Just like this NBA 50th anniversary celebration, a selection of the 50 greatest players was held. Apart from those who were guaranteed to be selected without any suspense, such as Gan Guoyang, Jordan, Russell, Bird, and Magic Johnson, the remaining players ranked lower were more or less due to personal relationships, the league's consideration for balance, and the result of the struggles between the various teams.

For example, Detroit Pistons star Dave Bing, who was selected as one of the 50 greatest players, has the following major honors in terms of career achievements: Rookie of the Year, two All-NBA First Team selections, one All-NBA Second Team selection, and one scoring title. Apart from that, he has no championships, no conference finals appearances, and has only made the playoffs three times. His overall achievements are quite weak among star players.

In contrast, Bob McAdoo, from the same era, had three scoring titles, one All-NBA First Team selection, one All-NBA Second Team selection, and an NBA championship. Most importantly, McAdoo possessed a prestigious regular season MVP award.

The regular season MVP award is an honor reserved for superstars. In this selection of the 50 greatest players, McAdoo is the only player who has this honor but was not selected.

Similarly, Dennis Johnson, who had three championship trophies, won Finals MVP, and was one of the toughest guards in the league at the time, was also not selected.

The main reason for this is considerations outside of basketball.

Dave Bing represents the Detroit Pistons, one of the most successful teams in the late 80s and early 90s, and one of the oldest teams in the league, wielding significant influence.

Bob McAdoo rose to fame with the Clippers, a fringe team in the league. He later won a championship with the Lakers as a role player. The Lakers wouldn't speak up for a role player, so McAdoo had "no one in power."

Moreover, after retiring, Dave Bing pursued business and politics, wielding considerable influence in Michigan, and is likely to enter politics in the future.

In the later stages of his career, McAdoo played for various teams, and when he couldn't make it in the NBA, he went to play in Italy. He didn't leave the basketball court until 1993 at the age of 42.

In the eyes of fans, he is a person who loves basketball.

In the eyes of his boss and media personalities, he was just a "lousy basketball player".

A business tycoon, a future political figure, or a terrible basketball player—the media and the league know which to choose.

In short, this 50th anniversary celebration and the selection of the 50 greatest stars were full of controversy.

Of course, Gan Guoyang's selection was uncontroversial; he was even the leading figure at this celebration.

On the afternoon of the 7th, Gan Guoyang and his family arrived in Cleveland by plane and went to the Hilton Hotel where the stars were staying.

Here, Gan Guoyang met many "old" friends, including Nate Thurmond, Wilt Chamberlain, and Rick Barry...

Gan Guoyang and Thurmond embraced warmly. The two have known each other for more than ten years. Thurmond still can't believe that the young Chinese man who delivered food back then would one day grow into the league's number one superstar.

“You haven’t come to my place for Christmas in ages,” Thurmond complained.

"Sorry Nate, I've been too busy. I miss your barbecue."

"Haha, I was just kidding. I know you can't come right now, you have to be with your family, and you have so many things to do and take care of. It's amazing, like a dream, you're incredible, and you're back."

Thurmond was like a kind old man; he sincerely admired and marveled at every achievement Forrest Gump made.

Chamberlain and Barry were different. Even though Gan Guoyang's achievements were unparalleled in history, in their eyes he was still a "junior with no prospects".

When asked by reporters for his opinion on the current league, Chamberlain shamelessly stated:
"The league is now a women's game. Forrest Gump, you are the last man left. It's good that you came back. You should bring some intensity to this league! Look at these young people, they earn so much money, but they are soft on the court. Everyone is overrated."

Chamberlain was like a nagging old man in the park, finding fault with everything he saw.

NBA games in the 60s were indeed more brutal, but the players' skills were far inferior to those of today.

"Come on, Wilt, back in high school, I was good at arm wrestling..." Gan Guoyang chimed in to retort.

"Shh! Shh! Shh!" Before Gan Guoyang could finish speaking, Chamberlain came over and covered Gan Guoyang's mouth.

"Don't mention Sonny, please! We had an agreement that this matter couldn't be discussed in public!"

"What's the big deal? It's already been reported in the media."

"I've already debunked this in the book, so you should also remain silent about this, right?"

"Alright, alright, then stop pointing fingers at the younger generation all the time."

"I support you, I'm on your side! Give me some face, okay?"

Gan Guoyang nodded. He knew that the veteran players' careers were over and they would not be making any more appearances.

All the data and information are stored there; how they are interpreted depends entirely on the perspective and value that future generations use.

It also depends on whether you have supporters, believers, and influence.

Dave Bing has the financial resources, and the Detroit Pistons have the influence, so he can be selected as one of the 50 greatest players.

McAdoo's lack of financial resources, his team's journeyman status, and his MVP's poor performance from his original team prevented him from being selected.

Wilt was a shrewd businessman; he knew that if Forrest Gump, the undisputed greatest of all time, supported him, his status could rise even higher.

For example, when he published his autobiography in 1992, there was a lot of content related to Forrest Gump, which gave him a lot of endorsement. Gan Guoyang did not come out to deny it, which was equivalent to admitting it, after all, the two had a good relationship.

Chamberlain was well aware that, as a center, having a younger, arguably greatest center in history to support him would bring considerable prestige and recognition.

Chamberlain, who was unmarried and childless, relied on his reputation to get by in society, and Forrest Gump was his biggest backer.

However, the disdain of players from the previous era for players from the new era will never disappear. This is a common phenomenon not only in the NBA, but in every country, every society, and every era.

Each generation is confined to its own era.

The next day, Saturday, the first day of All-Star Weekend, the league hosted a star-studded luncheon at the hotel.

Some of the most influential and top-tier players in league history, such as Chamberlain, Russell, and Dr. J, attended the banquet.

Jordan, Gan Guoyang, Olajuwon and other current superstars were also invited, and they sat together to eat and discuss various topics.

Gan Guoyang told Stern that he would be a little late because he was taking his child to buy toys, which resulted in a heated argument at the dinner table.

The central figures in the debate were Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, and the topic of the debate was who was the greatest scorer in NBA history.

Chamberlain holds the record for most points, while Jordan has the most scoring titles. The two quickly went from arguing to mocking each other.

The argument escalated to a point where everyone worried the two might come to blows, forcing David Stern to intervene.

“We come together to share, not to argue. These topics are for the experts to comment on.”

"Experts? Experts know nothing!" Chamberlain scorned the experts, and of course, he also scorned Stern.

When he was playing in the league, Stern hadn't even started working for the NBA yet, so he wasn't afraid of Stern.

Jordan, at least, had to show some respect for Stern, so he shut up and said nothing more, but Chamberlain wouldn't let it go.

"Michael, you need to remember, when I played, the league changed the rules to make it harder for me to score. But when you play, the league changes the rules to make it easier for you! For example, regarding traveling, don't say you didn't benefit!"

Jordan shook his head and smiled, clearly disagreeing with Chamberlain's statement. But seeing David Stern's look, Jordan decided to stop arguing and let the old man win.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang hurriedly entered the hall and found the restaurant unusually quiet, as if something was wrong.

He sat down next to Jordan and asked, "What happened? Why isn't anyone saying anything? You guys aren't talking about me behind my back, are you?"

Jordan said, "Wilt said he is the greatest scorer in history, and the league changed the rules to make it harder for him to score, and changed the rules to make it easier for us to score."

“Oh! Wilt, you mean Bushette! When I was in high school…”

"Sidney! Sidney! Sonny, you are the greatest scorer of all time, it's you, it's you, OK?"

"That's more like it, I agree with that assessment! Does anyone object?"

Gan Guoyang glanced around the room; no one objected, and it passed unanimously.

(End of this chapter)