The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 815 Father of the Sharks
Before the 1997 NBA Draft, scout Kevin Larchance released a scouting report on Tim Duncan, summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of this top prospect and comparing him to other historically great centers:

"Duncan has the potential to be a dominant center, but I think he might be better suited to show his talent at the power forward position, depending on which team he goes to."

"When comparing him to other players, people often mention David Robinson and Brad Daugherty, but I think Hakeem Olajuwon is a relatively close comparison. Of course, Forrest Gump is the most frequently mentioned, and Duncan is considered the young center who is closest to Forrest Gump."

"Duncan is very mobile. He can block opponents repeatedly on the court. He has a long wingspan and his timing for blocking is very good. His footwork on defense is also constantly improving."

"Duncan has a complete offensive ability and he has a variety of ways to score. He can use various moves to shake off his opponents in the low post. He is good at bank shots and also has a certain mid-range and long-range shooting ability."

"For Duncan's height and position, his passing ability is incredible, and his assist numbers are far ahead of the Wake Forest. Duncan's ball-handling is better than most guards."

"He is also an excellent pick-and-roll player. He is a perfect team player who can get his teammates involved in the offense. He realized early on that you can't win a game by yourself."

"Duncan's greatest strength is his defense. He averaged nearly 15 rebounds per game in his last three years in college, and he is also the all-time leading shot blocker in NCAA history. His interior defense will bring a fundamental change to a team."

"Despite his overall excellent performance, there are still some areas he needs to improve. He urgently needs to increase his weight and strength to adapt to the physical environment of the NBA. Also, his free throw percentage is too low, only 64%, which is too low for a top-tier center. Hakeem Olajuwon's free throw percentage is over 75%, not to mention Duncan's role model, Forrest Gump, whose free throw percentage is a terrifying 90% or more..."

"If Tim Duncan isn't the first overall pick in the draft, then the general manager in charge of the draft will be recommended to the best psychologist within a 50-mile radius, and he'll also need to hire a security team to protect his personal safety."

Aside from concerns about his strength and free throw shooting, the scouting report was full of praise, describing Duncan as almost perfect.

After Duncan entered the league and started playing, fans quickly realized that the scouting reports were quite accurate.

Duncan's performance in the previous games proved that he deserved to be the number one draft pick, and no one among the 1997 rookies could compare to him.

But what if his comparison is to Forrest Gump? Are their differences only in free throws and strength?

In the first few rounds of the first quarter, Duncan did not gain any advantage over Forrest Gump.

Before the game, Duncan wasn't particularly interested in the media hype surrounding "Duncan vs. Forrest Gump".

Duncan knew of Forrest Gump's greatness and the story between Bobby Bellman and Forrest, but Duncan never heard Bellman say a single word about "Forrest Gump's past..."

He focuses on basketball and what he loves, just like swimming. You have to pay attention to the opponents in the lanes next to you, but more importantly, you have to focus on your own lane.

Aside from training, games, and participating in some Celtics community events, Duncan prefers to spend his remaining time quietly at home watching movies and playing video games.

He's a pro at Mortal Kombat 3, and no one on the Celtics can beat him, including those self-proclaimed gaming experts.

This doesn't mean Duncan looked down on Forrest Gump. On the contrary, he took this matchup very seriously, focusing 100% on it and watching a lot of Forrest Gump's game footage.

He eliminated all external distractions, especially the noise from the media and fans, because he wanted to personally experience the true strength of this greatest player in history, the "Terror King of Portland," during the game.

Bellman told Duncan not to talk to Forrest Gump, and Duncan listened, but Forrest Gump did not resort to verbal abuse or psychological attacks.

He simply played defense silently, lingering around Duncan, a subtle chill gradually spreading.

Midway through the first quarter, the Celtics called their first timeout, with the score at 4-11, the Trail Blazers leading by 7 points.

The Celtics' defense wasn't a major problem, but their offense faltered, failing to penetrate the paint.

Duncan's consecutive missed shots and turnovers caused the Celtics' rhythm to fall apart.

Bellman identified the problem and called a timeout, asking Duncan to stop dribbling and playing one-on-one and to create more opportunities for the perimeter.

"Don't try to fight Forrest Gump one-on-one anymore. That guy is petty and will definitely target you tonight."

Duncan nodded. He didn't ask why, nor did he insist on "I must make it." He followed the coach's instructions.

After outlining the tactics, Bellman pulled Duncan aside and asked, "Did Forrest Gump say anything to you?"

Duncan shook his head and said, "No, he didn't say anything."

"That's good..." Behrman was relieved.

Berman is not worried that Gan Guoyang's performance will surpass Duncan's.

It's normal that you can't beat Forrest Gump; you're just not as skilled. Come back and practice more.

He was afraid that Gan Guoyang would use this as an excuse to launch a psychological attack.

The game continued, and Berman substituted Cliff Robinson for Ilgauskas.

The Celtics used pick-and-roll tactics and ball movement on the perimeter to find an open shot for Fox in the right corner.

With the ball arriving precisely at the corner, Nash delivered a pinpoint pass to Fox, who drained a three-pointer.

On the defensive end, Robinson was matched up against Forrest Gump. The former Portland teammate clung to Gan Guoyang, muttering, "Big brother, Bobby told me to clung to you, don't mind."

"Bobby wants you dead, doesn't he?"

"I don't want to die, Sonny."

The two reminisced in this way, but Gan Guoyang did not attack Robinson.

After receiving the ball, he also coordinated with his teammates to create scoring opportunities for Mullin, Ridl, or Sabonis.

Last season, Gan Guoyang averaged over 30 points per game, winning another scoring title in his career.

After playing for a month this season, Gan Guoyang's average score has dropped to 26 points, 1.5 points lower than his rookie season's 27.5 points, reaching the lowest point of his career.

It's not that Gan Guoyang's offensive power has declined, but rather that he has reduced his own shot attempts, giving more opportunities to his teammates, while focusing on difficult and crucial shots.

Gan Guoyang's rebounding has also declined, from an astonishing 15 rebounds per game to a more normal 13 rebounds.

It's not because of a decline in ability, but rather because he helps his teammates grab rebounds more often, especially backcourt players like Kobe and Mullin who can directly initiate fast breaks, thus speeding up the counterattack.

Like in 1992 and 1993, the number of times I grabbed a rebound and drove to the basket on my own decreased significantly, and it only happened occasionally.

Gan Guoyang has become more of a team player, and the Trail Blazers have become even more formidable as a result.

A high-post assist led to Riddell receiving the ball and attempting a layup, but he was hampered by Duncan and missed.

But Gan Guoyang cut to the basket and grabbed the offensive rebound, Sabonis received the ball at the high post and made a mid-range jump shot.

The Trail Blazers continued their high-efficiency offense, while the Celtics struggled to catch up, and fans wondered: when will Duncan score on Forrest Gump?

In the following minutes, both teams played very well as a team, and the game was very exciting, with a lot of passing and screening, and the players handled the ball cleanly and efficiently.

The Celtics were faster but a bit rusty, while the Trail Blazers were more comfortable and experienced, playing steadily and methodically.

However, the Celtics' defense didn't collapse because of Duncan's presence. The Trail Blazers penetrated the defense multiple times, but Duncan was always able to cover the gaps effectively.

When the Trail Blazers had to resort to outside shots to finish several of their offensive possessions, their offensive efficiency naturally declined, giving the Celtics an opportunity to close the gap.

Steve Nash launched an attack like the wind, scoring two consecutive baskets. Cliff Robinson cut to the basket, received a pass from Nash, and made a layup.

The Celtics capitalized on the mismatch between Robinson and Sabonis, using their speed to exploit the Trail Blazers' pursuit, and the point difference gradually narrowed.

Seeing this, Bird called a timeout to make adjustments and substitutions, replacing Sabonis with Jermaine O'Neal and Riddle with Kobe.

Kobe had been waiting on the sidelines for a long time. As soon as he came on the court, he went over and patted Duncan on the butt, saying, "Why haven't you scored yet, big man? Your scoring stats are the same as mine."

The two met during an Adidas commercial shoot in the summer. Kobe was younger than Duncan but entered the league earlier. He was a chatterbox in front of the usually quiet Duncan.

Duncan would often look at Kobe with a look of disbelief, then lower his head and chuckle to himself, his thoughts unknown.

“It doesn’t matter, Kobe,” Duncan said.

"No, that's important. You have to score against Forrest Gump. I bet he's going to shut you out tonight," Kobe said.

After saying that, Kobe threw himself into the offense, and as soon as he received the ball, he drove to the basket, pulled up for a jump shot, and missed!
Duncan got the rebound, and perhaps Kobe's words had provoked him, as he dribbled the ball and tried to launch a fast break.

In the NCAA, and even after coming to the NBA, Duncan would dribble the ball from the backcourt to the frontcourt and attack directly once or twice per game.

He has the ability, and he's not a rigid player either. He knows that occasionally changing his attacking style can put more pressure on the opponent.

Duncan's dribbling is excellent. He has a high center of gravity but long arms, and his dribbling footwork is agile and quick, small steps that can be adjusted at any time to avoid the defense.

He used a beautiful crossover dribble to get past Jermaine O'Neal, who was trying to block him, and the fans in the arena cheered, hoping to see Duncan drive to the basket and dunk.

However, facing the last line of defense, Gan Guoyang, who was already standing under the basket, struck like a foil when Duncan tried to change direction again. Gan Guoyang's quick hand struck the ball in Duncan's hand.

That was too fast! The key was that the timing was perfect, and the ball was stolen from Duncan's hands again!

They fell to the ground, scrambling for the ball, and in the end, the referee ruled that it was a contest for the ball.

Duncan remained expressionless, but his resolve was already wavering.

Why did he act so quickly? Why was my dribbling, which I was so confident of, so easily intercepted?

In fact, when a person starts to think about this kind of question, it already means that he has begun to hesitate.

Hesitation will only lead to more and more mistakes.

Having been intercepted multiple times before, Duncan was already somewhat hesitant when facing Forrest Gump.

If he hesitates, and Gan Guoyang targets him again, it will naturally be easy for him to expose a flaw.

In the jump ball, Gan Guoyang won again, using his strength to overpower Duncan.

Duncan's strength was outstanding; after entering the NBA, most interior players were no match for him.

But his clash with Gan Guoyang made Duncan realize that there are always people better than him, and that he is a true "King of Strength".

The Trail Blazers, having won possession, launched a fast break, with Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal executing a handoff pass.

Kobe drove straight to the basket, shook off Duncan, and slammed home a one-handed dunk!
The Celtics still have some problems with their guard defense. Even with Bellman's coaching, Nash's defense is still terrible.

Nash was mismatched against Kobe, and Kobe seized the opportunity, easily getting past him with a handoff screen.

However, Nash immediately demonstrated his value on the offensive end, using his skillful ball handling to shake off the defender when facing Blaylock, who was known for his steal ability.

In the middle, he used rhythmic dribbling and observation to cut to the basket, then suddenly took a shot, using his height advantage to calmly shoot and score two points.

As a white guard, Nash's absolute speed and explosiveness weren't particularly fast or strong, but his ball handling and reaction speed were astonishing.

His attacks are decisive and fast-paced, and he is adept at passing the ball out from tight spaces, making him an excellent commander and attacker on the field.

When Mullin missed a three-pointer, Duncan grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Nash, who launched a fast break.

He capitalized on Blaylock's impatience, dribbled and turned past the defense, drove into the middle, and through the open three-second zone, passed the ball to Fox in the corner.

Fox's second three-point attempt from the zero-degree angle went in! The Celtics scored 5 straight points, bringing the score to within 1 point as the first quarter was about to end.

At this point, everyone knew that Gan Guoyang was going to take a one-on-one shot. The post was passed to Gan Guoyang, and Cliff Robinson was originally supposed to defend him, but Duncan took the initiative to take on the one-on-one defense task.

On the sidelines, Berman saw the defensive matchup and his heart tightened. He cursed inwardly, "Damn it, why is Tim being switched to defend him?"

Duncan's defensive skills are absolutely flawless. His anticipation and long arms make it extremely difficult for any low-post player to score against him.

But he was facing Forrest Gump.

In low-post one-on-one situations, Gan Guoyang is very good at adapting his tactics to the opponent rather than relying on a single trick.

Against a skilled and predictive NCAA college center like Duncan, Gan Guoyang is adept at using raw, unadulterated techniques to dismantle them.

In a shallow position, Hickma turns to face the basket, lowers his head, lowers his center of gravity, and after a triple threat, suddenly starts a strong drive to the basket!
With Ilgauskas gone from the Celtics' interior, the paint was empty. Duncan was tackled by Gan Guoyang's incredible strength and felt like he had completely lost his balance and his feet had left his feet.

Then, Gan Guoyang slashed through the paint like a hot knife through butter and scored with a powerful one-handed dunk!

Duncan couldn't even get a chance to foul, he was completely pushed aside, and could only watch helplessly as the basket was breached.

As Duncan inbounded the ball from the baseline, he realized that there was a reason why Bellman had told him to avoid guarding Forrest.

The scouting report also makes sense; the difference in strength is so great that defensive techniques are completely ineffective.

Nash then hit another jump shot, and Gan Guoyang followed with a mid-range jumper.

Ultimately, the Celtics trailed the Trail Blazers 23-26 after the first quarter, a close contest between the two teams.

Duncan scored no points in the first quarter, was repeatedly intercepted, and didn't even have a single decent shot attempt.

At the start of the second quarter, the second units of both teams battled it out on the court, and the Trail Blazers' advantage was once again on display.

Their second unit is young, energetic, and experienced from last season.

The Celtics' second unit was somewhat weak, and the Trail Blazers quickly extended their lead to 9 points.

Berman called another timeout to readjust the team's defensive and offensive strategies, but the effect was not very noticeable.

Bellman realized that this year's Trail Blazers were indeed very strong, and their 15-game winning streak was not a freebie.

The most striking feature is their offensive continuity; they almost never lose their rhythm.

Just like the Trail Blazers in 1990 and 1991, there's always someone who can step up and briefly take over the game.

You don't know who that person will be, the opponent doesn't know, the defender doesn't know, and even the Trail Blazers themselves don't know.

This is a disaster for the defending side. You can't make predictions, you can't force the attacking side to make choices, and the defending side is completely on the defensive.

In response, Bellman did not simply take the beating, but actively adjusted his offense and engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the Trail Blazers.

Try your best to keep the score close and not let the gap widen to more than 10 points.

Nash played exceptionally well tonight, effectively mobilizing the Celtics' perimeter offense.

Fox, Brown, and others all contributed points from beyond the arc, thanks to Nash's playmaking. However, the Celtics struggled to score inside, and Duncan didn't even score, leaving them severely hampered.

If the inside players can't score and can't coordinate with the outside players, the offense will inevitably collapse at some point in the second half.

Right now, they're just hanging on by a thread thanks to Nash's good form. When that thread breaks and no one comes to take over, a collapse will occur.

When Duncan returned to the court in the second quarter, Bellman asked him to try scoring inside, but his subsequent low-post attack was blocked by Gan Guoyang. Bellman had already realized Gan's plan for the night.

Because Gan Guoyang almost gave up chasing others and protecting the rim on the defensive end, he treated himself as a blue-collar defender targeting a specific point of the opponent.

"This madman, he wants to shut out Tim!" Berman paced back and forth on the sidelines, pondering a countermeasure.

On the one hand, he was a little worried. Forrest Gump had promised not to use verbal attacks, and he hadn't. It turned out he was directly using defensive tactics.

On the other hand, he was also looking forward to it, because he wanted to see if Duncan could break through Forrest Gump's targeting and limitations.

On the other side, Larry Bird also realized what Gan Guoyang was trying to do: he wanted to completely shut down Duncan.

Just like Gan Guoyang did to himself back in Boston Garden.

"If Duncan is smart enough, he won't try to go toe-to-toe with Forrest Gump, but instead use passing and playmaking to break through his defense. That way, the Celtics might be able to catch up. Otherwise..."

Bird recalled the suffocating time he spent being harassed and defended by Gan Guoyang.

Fortunately, basketball is a team sport, and by making good use of the connection with teammates, you can break through this kind of defense.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas was Duncan's good partner in the paint. When Duncan was unable to break through Gan Guoyang's defense in the low post twice in a row, he chose to pass the ball inside to Ilgauskas to create an opportunity.

Ilgauskas made two layups after cutting inside, and Sabonis's legs were indeed a bit slow, being fooled by the Lithuanian guy's footwork.

At the same time, the Trail Blazers lack a defensive wing player at the small forward position who can play both inside and outside, which is their only major weakness in their roster.

Duncan astutely seized this opportunity, assisting his teammates when he was unable to score himself, thus alleviating the team's crisis.

However, the Trail Blazers maintained a lead of around 10 points thanks to their higher offensive efficiency, preventing the Celtics from turning the tide.

Whenever the Celtics narrowed the gap to around 5 points, Gan Guoyang would step up, using his isolation plays and drawing fouls to disrupt the Celtics' rhythm and re-establish their advantage.

The back-and-forth battle made this the most difficult first half of the season for the Trail Blazers.

In some games, when the Trail Blazers get into a rhythm offensively, they often finish the game in two quarters, leading by more than 15 points at halftime, and by 20 points in the third quarter, the outcome is no longer in doubt in the fourth quarter.

The Celtics, with Duncan and Bellman's careful coaching, lived up to their reputation, putting the Trail Blazers on par in many possessions.

Although Duncan still didn't score, he delivered 4 assists in the first half. Ilgauskas and Duncan combined for 11 points and 3 rebounds.

The twin towers came in handy at this point; if one tower failed to light up, the other could be lit up in coordination, providing mutual support.

Bellman has a lot of experience in this area, because the Trail Blazers also had this kind of setup.

Duncan and Ilgauskas are practically a younger version of Forrest Gump and Sabonis.

However, many people may have forgotten, including Bellman, that Gan Guoyang had a nickname when he was young: Twin Towers Buster.

Any team with two big men in the paint will be overwhelmed by Agan's offense and defense, and because resources are concentrated in the paint, the team will eventually collapse.

Gan Guoyang hasn't played against the twin towers in a long time.

At halftime, the score was 59-52, with the Trail Blazers leading by 7 points.

At halftime, the Trail Blazers players went back to the locker room, but Bird stayed on the sidelines.

Because Robert Parish's jersey retirement ceremony will take place during halftime.

This veteran chief fought until he was 43 years old, and in the final year of his career, he won a championship with the Chicago Bulls, which can be described as a perfect ending.

The three former inseparable teammates reunited and were all smiles.

As Bird's career with the Trail Blazers progressed more smoothly, his resentment towards the Celtics diminished.

His relationship with Kevin McHale also eased with each exchange and clash.

The two are much closer than they were when they were players; they have truly become friends.

At the end of the ceremony, Robert Parish raised his number 00 jersey to the ceiling of the arena.

There aren't many jersey numbers left for future Celtics players.

The second half of the game restarted, and the TV station provided statistics on the key players of both teams.

Duncan's "0 points" was particularly glaring; he didn't score a single point in the entire first half.

He did a near-perfect job in playmaking and defense, preventing the Celtics' defense from collapsing.

But as the core player, especially in the paint, how can you win if you don't score a single point on offense?

Duncan said he didn't care, but his anxiety was actually increasing little by little.

Like the water droplets dripping on your nose during waterboarding, it won't suffocate you, but it will gradually make you experience the fear of suffocation.

Clearly, Forrest Gump is creating a terror unique to Duncan:
It's not the kind of sudden, frightening, violent shadow.

Rather, it is a threat lurking underwater, unknown and whose arrival time is uncertain.

At the start of the third quarter, Gan Guoyang turned his attention to the offensive end.

He began to exploit the Twin Towers' weakness: launching a fierce attack on Ilgeskas.

Bird wasn't in the locker room, so Gan Guoyang picked up a tactical sketchpad and started giving instructions directly on the whiteboard, asking people to pass the ball to him more often in the third quarter.

Anyway, the Trail Blazers played pretty well when Bird wasn't around, and now that he's not here, everyone's actually getting used to it.

Facing the towering Ilgeskas, Gan Guoyang began to launch an attack using his footwork.

With a back turn and a series of steps, combined with his strong physique and skillful technique, Ilgauskas was immediately outmaneuvered three times and committed two fouls.

Seeing the situation was not good, Berman asked Fox to double-team Gan Guoyang, but the double-team was obviously not enough. Duncan came over to help defend and barely managed to stop it once.

However, when Duncan received the ball at the 45-degree angle and tried to pass it to Ilgauskas again, Gan Guoyang turned around and blocked Ilgauskas' layup with a behind-the-back block!

On the counterattack, Mullin made a bounce pass to Riddle, who grabbed the rebound with a high lob, and Gan Guoyang followed up with a powerful two-handed dunk!
The king scored 8 points in the third quarter.

The pick-and-roll between Duncan and Nash shows Nash trying to set up Duncan.

The bounce pass was beautiful, but Duncan's final step on the drive to the basket after receiving the ball missed!
With a layup so close, Gan Guoyang only needed to make a slight interference from behind; it was a dunk opportunity.

Sabonis grabbed the rebound, and it was another Trail Blazers counterattack, another half-court game.

Gan Guoyang once again overpowered Ilgauskas in the low post, this time choosing to forcefully break through with his strength.

He drove into the paint and faced off against Duncan, who was helping on defense. Duncan had no choice but to foul and stop Gan Guoyang.

Standing at the free-throw line, Gan Guoyang easily made both free throws, scoring 10 points in a row, prompting Berman to call a timeout.

At this point, the disadvantages of the twin towers are obvious. Your resources and ball possession are concentrated in the inside, but the two of you can't break through one Forrest Gump and are even tormented by Forrest Gump on both offense and defense. How can you play this game?
What worries Bellman even more is that Duncan's mentality has begun to waver.

You could tell from that layup just now that he was in a hurry.

A layup that seemed certain to go in was missed due to anxiety.

Bellman called a timeout to give Duncan a break and remind him not to get distracted.

Duncan showed no emotion on his face; he simply nodded.

Nash shouted from the sidelines, "I'll pass you the ball more often!"

Duncan glanced at Nash silently, wanting to say thank you.

"Pass more to Steve on the perimeter! For three-pointers, we need to spread out more and avoid Agan's strong point!"

Duncan took a deep breath. He was still in a good mood. He figured that since he couldn't get the ball to his teammates through strong attacks, he would just pass the ball to them more and facilitate the play.

However, the situation was not as simple as he thought. Gan Guoyang was not going to let it go so easily; he would just suppress him for a while and that would be the end of it.

He smelled blood and was already in hunting mode.

The timeout ended and the game resumed, but Duncan's situation became increasingly difficult.

Although he claimed to have a max-level account as soon as he entered the league, his skills and mentality were impeccable.

But now he is facing the league's number one devil, Forrest Gump, who has been tormenting everyone in the league for more than ten years.

Duncan, who had only played a dozen or so NBA games, ultimately lacked experience and had never encountered a monster like Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang's defensive intensity was stronger than in the first half. He didn't simply try to outmaneuver you like Rodman or Mason, but instead used entanglement tactics to annoy you.

He is good at using ghost defense; when you think you have a chance, he is actually watching you intently, and as soon as you receive the ball, he immediately starts attacking.

His strength, explosiveness, and reaction speed make it difficult for defenders to escape, and they are prone to making mistakes under relentless pressure.

This kind of predatory defense, with Jordan on the perimeter and Forrest Gump in the paint, is difficult for anyone else to imitate.

Because of his role as an inside player, Gan Guoyang often doesn't defend like that, because he has to protect the rim and consider more things.

Tonight was different. He didn't protect the rim at all, nor did he double-team or help defend. He just stared at Duncan like a shark eyeing its prey.

Duncan could see the shark fins swimming on the surface of the sea, but he didn't know when it would attack or when it would suddenly open its blood-red mouth and rush over.

This unpredictability on offense, coupled with his inferior experience and skills in one-on-one matchups, made Duncan extremely uncomfortable.

He even had difficulty receiving and passing the ball properly. Later, he realized that his best job was to screen for his teammates and never receive the ball.

This resulted in the Celtics' offense relying entirely on Nash's ball-handling, and Nash was ultimately a second-year rookie whose experience and skills were not yet fully developed.

Blaylock also harassed Nash in the third quarter, making two steals – the Trail Blazers' steals will soon reach double digits tonight.

The score gradually widened, and in the final stages of the third quarter, the score reached 89-75, with the Trail Blazers leading by 14 points, and Duncan still hadn't scored!

In the third quarter, he only took one shot. Kobe, who came off the bench, complained to him, "What are you afraid of, Tim? Shoot! As long as you shoot, it's either in or it won't. There will always be an opportunity. If you don't dare to shoot, you will never score!"

Duncan was unsure whether Kobe was right or wrong.

Yes, it's either go in or not go in, isn't that a fifty percent chance?

There was no time to think; Duncan received the ball at the high post and had an opportunity.

Gan Guoyang didn't come close; he kept a certain distance. Was he letting him make his move?
But Duncan lacked confidence in his mid-range game, and he knew Forrest Gump would catch up quickly.

Or dribble past them? If there's an opportunity in front, you could draw a foul.

But I've tried it myself; it's almost impossible to drive straight at Forrest Gump, and I'll get the ball stolen.

After some hesitation, Duncan passed the ball to Bowen, who was running on the wing.

However, his pass was anticipated, and Gan Guoyang actually intercepted the ball halfway through!
This play was unbelievable. Clearly, Duncan's hesitation led to his passing intentions being read and his passing technique being flawed.

Gan Guoyang, who successfully stole the ball, dribbled the length of the court, drove to the basket, and slammed home a powerful dunk with his left hand, adding two more points!

Duncan could only follow behind to the baseline to inbound the ball. He slammed the ball hard on the floor when he received it, and at that moment he was quite disappointed in himself.

His hesitation stemmed from fear; he knew he was afraid when facing Forrest Gump and didn't know what to do next.

They thought passing the ball would work, but now it doesn't; the ball gets stolen.

How many balls were intercepted tonight? It's a disgrace! Can't they even hold onto the ball anymore?

Duncan is by no means lacking in competitiveness; on the contrary, he is extremely competitive, but he hides it behind his expressionless face.

If you can win, who would want to lose?

However, after serving, when he ran to the frontcourt and saw Forrest Gump not far away, a subconscious fear welled up in his heart.

He worked hard to overcome the challenge, and on the last offensive possession of the third quarter, he ran to the low post to call for the ball.

Smooth ball reception, dribbling and squeezing in – countless days and nights of hard practice in the gymnasium have ingrained muscle memory in the footwork and movements.

Sensing the defense from behind, adjusting, turning, and bursting out in an instant to create space and gap, shooting from a very small opening, using excellent touch to throw the ball into the basket!

But before the ball could be released, it was stopped by a stronger hand, its trajectory changed, and it slammed down onto the floor.

Duncan fought hard to regain control of the ball and put it in the basket.

But after a chaotic scramble, the final whistle blew for the end of the third quarter.

Duncan had the ball and was making an upward motion, but everything came to an abrupt halt.

Gan Guoyang suddenly stopped his intense movements, relaxed, gently patted Duncan, and went off the court to rest.

Duncan was the last to put down the ball, head down, wiping his sweat, and returned to the bench.

The score remains zero.

(End of this chapter)