[{"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-1199":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},1444751,1896,"Chapter 1199 - 7: My Suns_3","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1199",1199,"\u003Cp>The Suns’ third offensive play indeed did not pass through Barkley and Johnson, but instead, Dumars cut through the middle and made a floater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball went over Ah Gan’s fingertips, hit the board high, and scored, showing that the Suns players were in good form tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang tried to pass the ball to Lewis on the wing for an attack, but Lewis made a turnover when he spun around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball was snatched by Dumars, the Suns counterattacked, Kevin Johnson received the ball and advanced, then passed to Dumars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumars dashed into the paint for a slam dunk, scoring another 2 points, quickly tying the game at 6:6.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Richard Dumars was drafted by the Suns at the 46th pick in 1991, but was suspended in his first season for violating the drug policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, this season is Dumars’ rookie season, and his performance of averaging 15.6 points and 4.6 rebounds allowed him to successfully secure a starting small forward position on the team, becoming a member of the all-rookie second team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He possesses many qualities needed at the small forward position—full of energy on both offense and defense, doesn’t require much ball possession, and can do various tasks, excelling inside and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when he tried to follow Guoyang on defense to interfere with his catch and shoot, he found it to be extremely futile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang moved to the right-side perimeter, received a pass from Porter and took a mid-range jump shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers initiated their offense quickly and simply, with Dumars mismatched against Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His outstretched hand was of no use as he watched the ball go cleanly through the hoop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang scored all the Trail Blazers’ 8 points at the start, a warning signal for the Suns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, Paul Westphal was not preparing to make any adjustments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, the Suns are an offensive-minded team; if you score a lot, I’ll try to score even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin Johnson got trapped on the wing but managed to pass the ball out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marley Dumors West, and finally passed to the weak side Barkley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A series of smooth passes, Barkley got a chance under the basket, forced a layup after pushing Sabonis aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This resulted in Sabonis’ foul, and after making both free throws, the score was still tied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Petrović stepped up to share the pressure with Ah Gan, driving to the basket after a pick-and-roll with Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This led to a foul by Mark West, and he also made both free throws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the free throws, Gan Guoyang didn’t forget to check on Petrović’s knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does your knee hurt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It hurts, but it’s not affecting me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Break less, shoot more, buddy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can’t shoot accurately, so I have to drive inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knee pain affects the shooting force, reducing the shooting percentage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Petrović must charge inside, closer to the basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers’ players indeed weren’t in top form for various reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their fighting spirit never wavered, and might even become stronger in adversity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both teams started scoring, with high offensive efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Richard Dumars then received a pass from Barkley under the basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used a fading shot to avoid the defense and scored two points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two teams played like tennis players in a long rally, going back and forth, waiting to see who would make a mistake, hit the net, or go out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang consistently set screens for Terry Porter at the top of the arc, once, twice, but Porter couldn’t find a chance to shoot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has slowed down, and though the Suns didn’t apply targeted defense, their players still defended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time it’s the Western Conference Finals, every player is fighting hard on defense; the defensive attitude won’t be lacking, even if the skills aren’t perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Porter found no opportunity and finally passed the ball to Gan Guoyang for a high-position one-on-one, took a step inside, then stopped suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball didn’t go in, but Gan Guoyang rushed under the basket and got the offensive rebound, scoring with a putback!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>points, five minutes into the first quarter, Gan Guoyang already scored 10 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nonetheless, the Suns wasted no time, quickly initiated a fast break from the backcourt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ah Gan just scored and couldn’t retreat to the basket in time, Kevin Johnson received the ball and drove furiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossover dribble, breakthrough into the paint, and scored with a layup!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timing of this play was impeccable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were a bit slower, allowing Gan Guoyang to return to the paint, Johnson wouldn’t have been able to break through for a layup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Suns were fast, and so were the Trail Blazers. Petrović endured knee pain and made a fast break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing the ball to Lewis, who was also on a fast break, Lewis received the ball, made a quick stop jump shot, and scored!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Suns, too, were caught off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like there was a phantom chasing both teams, making them play faster and faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The score reached 14:12, which marked the first turning point of the opening quarter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers suddenly changed their defensive rhythm, switching from man-to-man defense to a collapsed defense, closing in on the paint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gave the Suns a great open shot opportunity from the outside, Kevin Johnson received Barkley’s pass, aimed, and shot a three!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it went in, the Suns would have taken the lead; more importantly, it would boost the Suns’ morale and confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it didn’t score and bounced off the rim, and Gan Guoyang got the rebound—having Ah Gan made offensive rebounds extremely difficult for the Suns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a massive yet subtle contribution by Gan Guoyang on defense, significantly reducing the opponent’s second-chance opportunities and lowering their offensive efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another benefit of a stable defensive rebound is that wing players can launch fast breaks with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reggie Lewis was already sprinting, Gan Guoyang made a long-range pass from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lewis received the ball and charged to the basket, Richard Dumars closely followed, trying to intercept this play!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lewis jumped high, made a double-handed slam dunk, and even forced a defensive foul on Richard Dumars.\u003C\u002Fp>",1025,"2026-06-06T01:41:51.304Z",1,"novelbin.me","282cc11d4002b9cab4ec74cfc627efef9ab0767554524315b07844950aa0e4ea","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1336","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1198",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]