The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 793 Only He Is Flying

Jump ball from both sides.

Although Gan Guoyang got to the ball first, Van Exel failed to catch it securely.

The ball bounced off his leg and was intercepted by Stockton, giving the Jazz their first offensive possession.

This season, the Jazz changed their team logo and jerseys, replacing the classic musical note logo with a snow-capped mountain jersey that is more characteristic of Salt Lake City.

The jerseys feature sharply defined, cold, and majestic snow-capped mountains, symbolizing the Jazz's cool and disciplined team offense.

In the opening basket, the Jazz used continuous ball movement and perimeter runs, eventually relying on Malone's high post pass to Ostertag, who received the ball, pushed past PJ Brown, and scored a layup.

The Trail Blazers stuck to one-on-one defense, with Gan Guoyang directly marking and boxing out Malone. They weren't planning on using too many tricks on defense.

Gan Guoyang immediately served from the baseline and made a gesture towards Van Exel, indicating that he wanted to make some targeted moves on the offensive end.

Without a pick-and-roll or a move to the low post, Gan Guoyang opted to drive directly to the baseline, and Van Exel delivered a high lob pass inside.

Ostertag was caught off guard and hit on the back of the head by Gan Guoyang, but Gan Guoyang was not satisfied with scoring directly with a layup. He paused after receiving the ball.

Ostertag instinctively went to defend, but before Stockton could warn him, the two collided in mid-air.

Gan Guoyang leaned against the strong Ostertag and made a layup. The referee blew his whistle and called a foul on Ostertag, awarding him a penalty.

"Shit, you can't foul Forrest right away. It's dangerous, very dangerous. If you let him score, you can't completely stop him from scoring. Also, he might be targeting you. Be careful."

Stockton warned Ostertag that giving away 2+1 in the first round was a dangerous sign.

Greg Ostertag was the 28th overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft. He graduated from the University of Kansas and is 7 feet 2 inches tall, a typical big white center.

The Jazz drafted him in the hope that he could fill the defensive void in the paint left by Mark Eaton's retirement.

While Ostertag may not be as talented as Mark Eaton in terms of shot-blocking and defense, he is equally tall and strong and has adequate rim protection.

Importantly, Ostertag is younger and has much better mobility than the aging Eaton, so he won't be a major liability in attack.

In the final years of Eaton's career, his offensive burden on the team became very serious; when he was on the court, the Jazz's offense was essentially a four-on-five situation.

Ostertag was certainly not a great center. In his rookie season, he had limited playing time and averaged a lackluster 3 points and 3 rebounds per game.

This season, Ostertag has improved rapidly, quickly becoming the team's starting center, with his stats rising to 7 points and 7 rebounds, along with a valuable 2.1 blocks per game – which is what he gets in 23 minutes of playing time per game.

This made him one of the most efficient rim protectors in the league, and an important protector of the paint alongside Karl Malone.

He is very important to the Jazz's defense, so Gan Guoyang started by targeting this second-year rookie.

He made the free throw, completing a 2+1 play. On the defensive end, Gan Guoyang continued to closely guard Karl Malone.

Malone didn't get any shot attempts, and the Jazz unusually didn't give him any low-post isolation plays—were they just giving him turnovers?

Stockton used a simple screen to drive to the basket, shook off Van Exel, and scored with a left-handed layup.

The Trail Blazers were unconcerned about the points they conceded and quickly inbounded the ball from the backcourt. Gan Guoyang came to the low post and boxed out Ostertag.

He caught the ball, turned, faked, and drew a foul—all in one fluid motion, giving number 00, the Big White Bear, no chance to react.

Ostertag committed his second foul in just one minute into the game, which angered Jerry Sloan.

He complained to the referee, and the fans in the stadium booed him, but both fouls were too obvious for the referee to ignore.

Jerry Sloan was forced to substitute backup center Greg Foster early, clearly indicating that Sloan's preparation for the regular season was somewhat inadequate.

With Ostertag off the court, the Jazz's rim protection dropped a level, and Riddell immediately received a pass from Gan Guoyang and scored with a layup off the backboard.

The Trail Blazers were determined to engage in an offensive battle with the Jazz, competing on offensive efficiency and scoring consistency.

Gan Guoyang focused his defensive efforts on Malone, which gave Stockton and Hornacek plenty of space to move around.

Stockton immediately hit a mid-range jump shot from the top of the arc, then stole the ball on defense, initiated a fast break, and assisted Russell for a layup.

The Jazz score very quickly, with Stockton and Hornacek, and the ball rarely stops in their hands.

The Jazz's offense is divided into two parts: one is the Stockton-Hornacek core, which includes perimeter screens and movement, interior cuts and positioning, and fast break initiation.

This section emphasizes movement and utilizing the playmaking and individual offensive capabilities of the two white guards.

Another aspect is the low-post-inside-outside system centered around Karl Malone. When the team needs to adjust the rhythm or launch a strong attack, the ball is passed to Malone, allowing him to play against four opponents.

This season, Karl Malone has reached a level of mastery in one-on-one ball handling, finally achieving about 65% of Forrest Gump's peak level.

The claim that he only achieved 65% is not only due to his overall lower efficiency, but also mainly because his offensive techniques were not comprehensive enough. At his peak, Gan Guoyang was unpredictable and powerful, combining internal and external strengths.

Malone is no good. He can't shoot three-pointers, he can't dribble and drive to the basket, he doesn't have agile and varied footwork, his turning speed isn't fast enough, and he can use the step-back step-up a little but isn't proficient in it. These things require talent, which Malone can't learn.

But for more than a decade, he has honed his muscles and the skills he can use: corner jump shot, arc jump shot, turnaround jump shot, hook shot, fast break layup.

Everything about him is predictable. Often, his attacks follow certain predetermined paths, repeated again and again, like dumbbells and machines being lifted and lowered repeatedly in a gym.

This season, despite taking on a lot of one-on-one situations, Karl Malone has improved his two-point field goal percentage to 55%, the second-highest in his career—very close to Forrest Gump's rookie season.

While his 27.4 points per game isn't the highest of his career, his offensive efficiency and contribution are actually the highest of his career.

Because he gave up a lot of fast breaks and easy balls that were assisted, many of his shots were one-on-one isolation plays to take possession of the ball and finish plays when tactics failed.

By organically combining these two elements, the Jazz's offense is rhythmic and well-paced, allowing them to maintain control of the game every time.

Ostertag's departure had some impact on the Jazz's defense, but not fundamentally, as the Jazz started the game very well offensively.

Stockton figured that Forrest wouldn't let Malone score tonight, so he simply abandoned Malone and focused all his efforts on a perimeter offensive system centered around Stockton-Hornacek to tear apart the Trail Blazers' weak perimeter defense.

Soon after the Trail Blazers missed two shots, the Jazz launched a series of counterattacks, bringing the score to 7-12, with the Trail Blazers trailing by 5 points.

If the offense fails again, Bird will definitely call a timeout. Not long after the game started, Bird was pacing on the sidelines.

Bird was very uncomfortable because the Triangle Center was too noisy, with fans behind him shouting like madmen.

Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc and suddenly unleashed a three-pointer, which went in! 10-12, the Trail Blazers kept the score close.

The Jazz were on offense, and Gan Guoyang and Malone engaged in a physical battle under the left basket. Stockton cleverly lobbed the ball into the paint.

Malone turned to receive the ball, but Gan Guoyang turned around and poked it away. PJ Brown grabbed the ball, proving that the Trail Blazers' interior defense was absolutely no problem.

They countered, but Riddle's drive was met with a foul from Hornacek, that guy is really cunning.

The Jazz's three core players, Malone, Stockton, and Hornacek, are 33, 34, and 34 years old respectively, all in the late stages of their careers.

Their performance has not declined; on the contrary, they have become even more formidable with age, reaching the peak of their experience on the field. You have to be extra careful when playing against them.

So far this season, the Jazz's three veterans have had a 100% attendance rate, with none of them missing a single game, and they are all in excellent health.

Of course, this is also related to the league's playing style in 1997, which was generally slower, with fewer rounds, and did not require as much running and jumping ability, which were advantages for young players.

Conversely, players in their 30s may not be as fast or jumpy as they used to be, but their strength is often at its peak, giving them an advantage in slow-paced, high-intensity games.

It was still the Jazz's offense. Stockton faced Van Exel's defense and used his footwork and back-to-the-basket skills to force his way in, resulting in a foul from Van Exel.

After the foul, both sides entered their first official timeout. Although the Trail Blazers were not far behind at the start, they relied on Gan Guoyang's individual ability, while the others played as disgustingly as ever.

“I want to punch him in the nose,” Van Exel complained to his teammates as he returned to the bench, referring, of course, to Stockton.

“If possible, I support you in doing so,” Gan Guoyang said. Playing against Stockton was indeed like swallowing flies.

In the 1992 Olympics, the turning point of the game was Stockton's appearance. He stabilized the Dream Team's offense and then gradually pressured the Chinese team, until Gan Guoyang was powerless to turn the tide.

Van Exel is ultimately young, and most importantly, he is at a disadvantage in terms of height and strength.

Unlike Porter, who had a physical advantage over Stockton, the two were evenly matched in terms of experience.

Van Exel is a bit inexperienced; his unpredictable style of play doesn't offer much of an advantage against Stockton, and he's prone to getting impatient and losing his composure.

The timeout ended and the game resumed. Malone came out to receive the ball and tried a mid-range jump shot, but missed.

The Trail Blazers rallied, but this time they slowed down because they had already committed three turnovers within the first few minutes of the first quarter.

The Trail Blazers showed no signs of resolving their turnover problem even after the All-Star break, and could only try to control it as much as possible.

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post again, and facing Greg Foster, the Jazz did not hesitate to triple-team him.

Stockton and Hornacek both rushed over, Gan Guoyang passed the ball to the outside, Van Exel took a three-pointer, but missed.

But Gan Guoyang grabbed the offensive rebound and made a floater, scoring 2 more points and tying the game for the Trail Blazers.

With a little over five minutes left in the first quarter, the Jazz suddenly made a personnel change, with Stockton going to the bench for a rest.

Howard Eisley, number 10, replaced Stockton in the starting lineup.

An odd substitution strategy; it seems Jerry Sloan wanted to conserve Stockton's energy.

Or perhaps Sloan decides to trust Karl Malone and, with Stockton out, let Malone take on Forrest Gump single-handedly.

Stockton draped a towel over himself as he left the field, puzzled. "Was I too early to leave? If Forrest had stayed on, he would have exploited every opening. He had a strong will to survive tonight."

Sloan said, "I know, let him be, give Karl some room to maneuver. Besides, it's just the regular season, we can't use every trick in the book."

"That's true, but I really want to win this game. Winning would give us a 3-0 record this season, and we hope to sweep the Trail Blazers."

"This is only the first section, don't rush John."

“I’m a little anxious. Forrest Gump said he wants to get 60 points.”

"Really? Oh... well... why don't you have some water and then go back later."

"..."

On the court, the Jazz scored again in the ensuing scramble, with Brian Russell hitting an open three-pointer.

PJ Brown had blocked Eisley's drive, but the Trail Blazers' perimeter players couldn't control the ball.

In the ensuing chaos, Brian Russell was wide open, but AC Green failed to cover in time, allowing the opponent to hit a three-pointer.

Then Gan Guoyang missed a mid-range shot, the Jazz countered, Malone facilitated from the high post, passed the ball to the inside, Russell received the ball and made a layup.

The Trail Blazers' man-to-man defense was riddled with holes against the Jazz's skillful and coordinated off-ball movement offense.

Gan Guoyang insisted on marking Ma Long one-on-one, but Ma Long cleverly didn't try to fight back directly, instead choosing to provide support from a high position.

"Sonny, this is a tactic you used to use against other big men, it really works." Malone said with a hint of pride after the assist.

"You've been secretly watching my videotapes every day, have you paid your tuition yet?"

“I paid it. Haven’t I paid enough, Sonny?”

Malone's biggest improvement this season is not his scoring, but his assists.

His assists per game reached a career high of 4.5 – almost half of Forrest Gump's average.

From a pure scoring forward with virtually no assists or playmaking ability in his early days, Malone has now become a skilled playmaker in both the high and low posts.

At his peak, Karl Malone played 65% of his game, which was enough to propel him into the most glorious phase of his career.

Then, Hornacek hit a mid-range jumper on the fast break. He didn't even attempt a drive, opting instead for a pull-up jumper. He knew that driving would only give Agan a block, so a jump shot was a safer bet, securing the two points.

Seeing that Malone and Hornacek had held the line, Stockton was able to rest on the sidelines in peace, preparing to come on later and create a mismatch.

Towards the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers trailed the Jazz 18-26, an 8-point deficit that was widening.

Gan Guoyang has already scored 10 points and 2 assists, but the team as a whole is struggling against the Jazz, as Van Gundy is consistently unable to find his rhythm.

Bird substituted Kobe at the end of the first quarter, letting Gan Guoyang rest, and asked, "Do we need to make any adjustments?"

Gan Guoyang shook his head and said, "No, there's no need to adjust. Just stick to our strategy, and things will get better later."

Bird nodded. He knew that the situation on the court couldn't be changed by adjustments. The Jazz's lineup and playing style were a perfect counter to the Trail Blazers.

When your style is countered, all you can do is stick to an optimal strategy, wait for your players to get into form, and rely on your individual abilities to turn the tide.

Gan Guoyang performed as expected in the first quarter. His early elimination of Ostertag was a well-calculated move, but the Jazz held on.

After Kobe entered the game, the situation did not improve. The Trail Blazers' outside shooting percentage was very poor at the start, and everyone seemed to be out of sorts.

Stockton quickly returned to the court and finished the first quarter. At the start of the second quarter, he led the Jazz's second unit in a fierce battle on the court.

At 22:32, the Jazz had once extended their lead to 10 points. Stockton orchestrated the offense like a general, managing the team's offense very well.

Stockton's assists have declined significantly this season compared to previous seasons, not because of poor form, but because he has adjusted his role and playing style.

He reduced his ball-handling time and handed over some of the playmaking and playmaking responsibilities to Malone and Hornacek, making the Jazz less reliant on his passes.

Stockton knows his weaknesses; his ball-handling and attacking abilities are not strong. If a player who is not strong at ball-handling and attacking has too much possession of the ball, it is actually detrimental to the team's offense, especially in crucial moments.

Maintaining a proper ratio between passing and shooting will give the opponent enough options to make things difficult for them.

A defender who lacks offensive firepower but controls a lot of possession is easily targeted by the opponent in crucial moments.

This would cause the team's offense to falter after losing his ball control, which would be very disadvantageous in high-level games.

Stockton's stats have declined across the board this season, but the Jazz's overall fighting power has reached its peak.

When the point difference reached 10 points, Bird called a timeout, and Gan Guoyang took off his jacket and returned to the court.

When PJ Brown went to the bench for a rest, Bird didn't bring in Dudley or Jermaine O'Neal. Instead, he surprisingly brought in Ben Wallace and Gan Guoyang to play together.

By this time, Ostertag had returned to the game, and Ben Wallace, who was just over 2 meters tall, looked quite petite next to Ostertag.

However, Bird had his reasons for bringing on Ben Wallace; he valued Wallace's agility and defensive coverage.

Wallace is young, but when he stands on the court, his physical strength and build are not much inferior to Karl Malone's; he has trained himself to be very strong.

After all, he was already 22 years old, a man on the path to maturity, unlike Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal, who still looked immature.

He works hard on defense, acts quickly, and has a strong desire for rebounds, which is similar to Dennis Rodman.

Wallace's contribution to the statistics is negligible. He averages about 1 point, a few rebounds, and the occasional block or steal per game, and that's about it.

But Bird knew that when playing against a team like the Jazz, you can't focus on stats; you need results and on-court impact.

Jermaine O'Neal is more talented, but against the Jazz, a rougher, more practical young man who hasn't played before might be a better choice.

The Jazz didn't pay attention to Wallace; their focus was entirely on Forrest Gump, and Karl Malone returned to the game.

After Gan Guoyang returned, he received the ball at the corner and, facing Ostertag, made a mid-range jump shot.

With a precise and steady shot, the ball's arc resembled a gleaming scimitar, accurately piercing the basket.

Stockton orchestrated the offense with a classic pick-and-roll with Malone at the high post, and the Trail Blazers didn't switch on defense.

Stockton drove straight to the basket for another layup, but Ben Wallace came rushing over from the side and blocked Stockton's shot with a big block!
Although the referee called a foul, Wallace's reaction speed was extremely fast. Gan Guoyang went up and patted Wallace on the shoulder, indicating that he did a good job.

Stockton made both free throws, maintaining a 10-point lead. Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc, faced Ostertag, and made another mid-range jump shot!

After two consecutive mid-range shots, the Jazz players sensed something was wrong. Hornacek shouted from the sidelines, "Don't let him shoot anymore! Danger, danger!"

Hornacek and Gan Guoyang were teammates for many years, and Hornacek knew best what it was like when Gan got into a hot hand.

Especially the mid-range jump shot, from the top of the key or the corners, not only is it easy to get the shot off, but it's also quick and easy to score, making you question your existence with a series of easy baskets.

Stockton was well aware of this, so he stabilized the pace, slowed down the offensive speed, and started dribbling the ball past half-court, trying to run out of time and disrupt Forrest Gump's shooting rhythm.

Stockton didn't attempt a three-pointer until the last few seconds of the 24-second shot clock, after a pick-and-roll, but he missed.

Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound and handed it to Kobe, telling him not to rush. Kobe, however, charged straight ahead without thinking.

"I'm so angry..."

Gan Guoyang could only chase after him, but Kobe drove the length of the court to the basket and missed the layup.

Gan Guoyang was blocked and failed to get the offensive rebound, but Ben Wallace suddenly appeared out of nowhere and passed the ball to Winfield.

Winfield obediently passed the ball to Gan Guoyang, who made a triple threat at the 45-degree angle on the wing and immediately pulled up for a mid-range shot.

Hit again!

After scoring three consecutive goals, Jerry Sloan sensed trouble and immediately called a timeout.

"Why the hell didn't you listen to instructions and just rushed in with the ball on your own?"

On the bench, Gan Guoyang scolded Kobe, who almost ruined the comeback rhythm because of his recklessness.

"I think this is a good opportunity," Kobe argued.

"A good opportunity is one where you're 100% guaranteed to get in!" Gan Guoyang said angrily.

"There's no 100% chance," Kobe muttered.

Kobe maintained his arrogance when facing Gan Guoyang.

He was never a compliant player, which is very different from Jermaine O'Neal.

Jermaine O'Neal listened to Forrest Gump's advice, and his skills and experience on the court steadily improved.

Kobe seemed to be constantly searching for a way to achieve a breakthrough in one fell swoop.

He often overlooked the steady and fierce side of Forrest Gump.

In many games, Gan Guoyang plays very steadily. Against ordinary opponents, once the Trail Blazers take the lead, they have absolutely no chance of a comeback.

Kobe always said, "This is the job of the inside players. Jermaine, you should learn from him."

What attracted Kobe the most was that small, uncontrollable, and imaginative aspect of Gan Guoyang.

For example, his long-range three-pointer against the Bulls, and his strong shot against the Knicks despite being double-teamed.

This fascinated Kobe, who loved seeing Forrest Gump put the ball in the basket in unexpected ways when he was in trouble and desperate situations.

For example, in a certain play, Malone receives a long pass from Stockton to the frontcourt, runs too deep, and cannot directly attack the basket. The opponent's defense also catches up. Malone will choose to stop and wait for his teammates to catch up before reorganizing the offense.

In the same situation, Forrest would use a crossover followed by a behind-the-back dribble to get past the defender, slip from the baseline to behind the basket, and then score with a reverse layup or dunk.

He could easily finish with a moon hook or a step-back close-range shot, both of which are highly successful offensive techniques.

Malone doesn't have that ability, and he wouldn't do it; he's part of the system.

Forrest Gump has the ability, and at the same time, he doesn't adhere to any system because he is the system.

Kobe hoped to reach that level, to be someone who integrates into the system, transcends the system, and ultimately becomes part of the system.

"If you run off on your own again, I'll shove your head up your ass and kick you back to Portland," Gan Guoyang warned Kobe.

Kobe took a sip of water with a pained expression, and Bird substituted him off the court, replacing him with Riddle.

“Sometimes you need to calm down. Forrest has given you enough guidance. He really wants to win tonight, so don’t disrupt his rhythm,” Bird said, sitting next to Kobe.

“I know, but… I thought I could score, I wanted to help him.”

"No, you don't want to help him; you want to steal the spotlight yourself."

Bird easily saw through Kobe's thoughts, which made the young Kobe somewhat embarrassed.

“But it’s okay. Sometimes having someone who can steal his thunder isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I find it annoying to see him trying to steal the spotlight,” Bird added, laughing as he spoke.

"He actually needs a teammate who can occasionally steal his thunder," Bird said, sounding much more serious.

Kobe's expression improved; he thought he would become that person.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang scored again, and Sloan's timeout was useless.

Gan Guoyang hit his fourth consecutive mid-range shot from the top of the arc.

The Jazz responded immediately, and Malone also made a mid-range shot.

Poor Malone, this is his first point of the night. It's so hard for him to score against Forrest Gump.

The Jazz maintained a 6-point lead, but signs of Gan Guoyang's scoring spree were beginning to emerge.

A tense and somber atmosphere gradually enveloped the center of the triangle.

The Jazz couldn't stand Gan Guoyang's fifth attempt, and Hornacek went up and pulled Gan Guoyang down by the hand.

A foul! Gan Guoyang is sent to the free throw line.

"Jeff, are you letting me get back into the swing of things?"

"I have to do this, I'm going to break down if you come any closer."

While Hornacek's words may have been a bit of a compliment, Gan Guoyang's string of goals did indeed leave the Jazz players feeling hopeless.

It's only the second quarter, there's still the second half, the third quarter, and the fourth quarter. Is this guy really going to score 60 points?

Standing at the free-throw line, Gan Guoyang imitated Hornacek by touching his face, and made the first free throw.

Hornasek laughed, went up and patted Gan Guoyang's butt, then shook his head helplessly.

For the second free throw, Gan Guoyang touched his face again, and as a result, the ball went straight for the rim.

The ball bounced off the rim and traveled a great distance. Gan Guoyang charged straight for the basket and, before anyone else could react, leaped high and slammed the ball into the hoop with both hands!

After scoring, Gan Guoyang roared, "This goal is equivalent to a 2+1!"

Off the court, Kobe excitedly waved a towel, which was exactly the quality he admired most.

That kind of imagination that surpasses everyone else on the field; while everyone else is running, he's flying.

"I must become that kind of player, I definitely will."

Kobe told himself this for the 3,800th time.

(End of this chapter)