[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-golden-age-of-basketball":3,"chapter-the-golden-age-of-basketball-the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1159":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Golden Age of Basketball",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1444684,1896,"Chapter 1159 - 19: Difference in Levels (3)","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1159",1159,"\u003Cp>Sabonis’ perimeter sweeping ability has been affected due to knee problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang has firmly guarded the inside this season, ignoring anything outside the Three Second Zone as much as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a strategy formulated by Beelman; they only need to maintain a standard level of defensive efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then on the offensive end, they can outscore the opponent with firepower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Playing a game is like losing weight; the key to losing weight is to control your diet and exercise more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Controlling your diet is defense, reducing intake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exercising is offense, increasing expenditure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as expenditure exceeds intake, weight will drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key purpose is to create a calorie deficit between the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers are currently exercising diligently with powerful firepower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they can afford not to control their diet, eating what they want.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, as long as expenditure exceeds intake, it’s fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bulls’ situation is similar to the Trail Blazers’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past two seasons, they could rely on their strong defense to overwhelm opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This season, they are also relying more on offense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their offensive efficiency ranks third in the league, just behind the Trail Blazers and Suns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their defense has fallen to middle of the league, and the players aren’t as desperate as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bill Cartwright’s legs are nearing their limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buck-Williams is playing fewer and fewer minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Role players are more focused on improving their offensive stats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defense is difficult to show in stat sheets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And their next contract is often determined by these statistics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, some managers really don’t watch game footage, just the stat sheet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, this regular-season battle was destined from the start to be an offensive showdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bulls’ starting lineup is Jordan, Pippen, Purdue, Grant, and BJ Armstrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armstrong has replaced the aging John Paxson as the reliable point guard and spot-up shooter beside Jordan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Purdue, the big white center, replaces the even older Cartwright, who is absent due to injury tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This may not be bad news for the Bulls, because whenever Cartwright faces Ah Gan, he’s basically invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So whether he’s injured or not, it makes no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game is about to start, and Jordan seems in a good mood, all smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang has helped him solve Richard’s problem, lifting a heavy burden from his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Playing against Ah Gan again today, although losing hurts, the process always excites him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, every time before playing Ah Gan, Jordan is confident he can win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang saw Jordan flashing his white teeth and said, \"Do you know what’s going to happen tonight? You still have the mood to smile?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s going to happen? I’m going to kick your ass, and I’m thrilled about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Michael, your mouth is getting tougher. Come over to my house for dinner after the game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh no, forget it, I have a flight to catch back to Chicago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can leave tomorrow, you’re resting when you go back anyway. My old man is fixing a late-night snack at home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that Gan Guoyang’s father was home, Jordan hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Mr. Gan’s culinary skills were amazing; every time Barkley would rave about Ah Gan’s dad’s unparalleled burgers at parties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can consider it. If I’m in a good mood after the game, I’ll go. I hope I won’t disturb him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s watching the game live. Unbelievable, he’s actually a fan of yours. He didn’t even know your name a while ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing left Gan Guoyang quite annoyed, as Gan Youwei only started watching basketball games over the past year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, his biggest supporter is his son, Gan Guoyang, but the star he admires most is Jordan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asked why, Gan Youwei gave a simple reason: \"He plays with flair and style.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not stylish, I’m not pretty?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re too tall and strong, it affects the aesthetics.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Youwei’s honesty stung Gan Guoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to fulfill his dad’s wish as a basketball fan, he still invited Jordan over for dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jordan, hearing that Mr. Gan was his fan, smiled even more happily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether I go for the meal or not, after the game, I must sign an autograph and take a picture with him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He really has good taste, I admire him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two chewed gum and chatted for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight’s Gan-Jordan battle lacked its usual tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way the two reminisced before the game looked like they were going to play a friendly match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was merely superficial banter among old rivals, with undercurrents beneath the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game had just begun, and Gan Guoyang intended to take the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the jump ball, he elbowed Purdue, tipping the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee didn’t blow the whistle, and Purdue suffered in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers initiated their first attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petrović held the ball at the top of the arc, facing Jordan’s defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang cut into the basket from the baseline, entering the Bulls’ defensive encirclement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petrović passed the ball to the approaching Sabonis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sabonis immediately made a straight pass to the basket, where Gan Guoyang got the ball amidst three Bulls players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Protecting the ball, he spun and pushed out the defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still stunned from the elbow during the jump ball, Purdue failed to exert his strength, letting Gan Guoyang score easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an aggressive start as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After scoring, Gan Guoyang patted Purdue, \"That elbow wasn’t intentional, I was careless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Otherwise, you’d be benched tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Purdue remained silent, heading to the baseline for the throw-in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cursed inwardly, convinced that Cartwright was feigning injury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he was fine the last game, so why is he injured and absent just against the Trail Blazers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be his fear of facing Ah Gan in the regular season, his Gan-phobia acting up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With old Cartwright out, only I, Purdue, have to suffer and bear the brunt.\u003C\u002Fp>",973,"2026-06-06T01:41:51.304Z",1,"novelbin.me","8bdf2e79f81f96f3e7e3e2f2867ee67c62c500dd4840685ce639e9b55206dc5d","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1309","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1308",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]