[{"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-1215":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},1444832,1896,"Chapter 1215 - 30: Iron Curtain (Part 5)","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1215",1215,"\u003Cp>If this guy gets tough, half of the Suns’ starters might not appear in Game Seven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, if they use this method to drag it to Game Seven, Barkley would feel it’s an unworthy victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee promptly stepped in to mediate, and the Suns were called for a technical foul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Rose Garden, the referees would prevent persuasion and wouldn’t call Gan Guoyang for a technical foul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Suns players weren’t rash enough to rush in for a one-on-one with Ah Gan; they gradually calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gan Guoyang didn’t let the Suns off easily; he angrily shouted at Westphal for trying to be clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Paul! Clever tricks will never win you a championship, never! It seems the lesson hasn’t sunk in for you; tonight I’ll teach you again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Westphal looked awkward after being exposed and didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the second quarter, Gan Guoyang led the Trail Blazers in a counterattack, with a wave of 7:2 to tie the score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teams were tied at 47:47 going into halftime, with the Trail Blazers looking better and the Suns appearing a bit downcast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, in the third quarter, things reversed. Porter started the second half with two consecutive three-pointers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was a three-pointer after a pick-and-roll with Gan Guoyang, the other an abrupt stop three-pointer on the break—both signature offensive moves by Porter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these two threes made, the atmosphere at the Rose Garden heated up, as people witnessed the return of champion Portland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having fought to the sixth game of the Western Conference finals, the Trail Blazers, who swept across the land, finally seemed to be coming back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, that wasn’t the real Trail Blazers; it was Ah Gan playing ball with his teammates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two threes seemed to awaken the entire Trail Blazers’ offensive spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petrović then made a stop-and-pop jump shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lewis also scored after a pick-and-roll with Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang became the best screen on the court and the best defensive attractor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Suns didn’t collapse; they put up a very strong resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Trail Blazers extended the lead to 10 points, Westphal called a timeout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning, the Suns played steadily, continued to attack inside, and timely spaced the ball to both corners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marley and An Ji both made three-pointers, holding on tightly to the score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barkley faced Ah Gan’s defense without forcing shots, instead combining organization with individual play like in game one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all experienced players, understanding how to use different rhythms and styles to best help the team win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both teams shot well from outside, with the third-quarter scores alternating up, Trail Blazers scoring 34 points in the quarter, Suns scoring 30 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>77:81, before entering the fourth quarter, the Suns tenaciously narrowed the gap to 4 points, keeping their hope alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final quarter began, and the Suns launched a strong counterattack, with Barkley coming to life and scoring consecutive mid-range jumpers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Porter and Sabonis each responded with mid-range shots, as both teams shot like in a shooting contest, one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shooting percentages were very high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, commentator Magic Johnson could spot some differences:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Trail Blazers’ offense is simpler and more effortless. With Sabonis shooting from high post, the Suns have hardly any options, only hoping he misses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whereas the Suns’ offense requires much effort and good coordination to succeed; the Trail Blazers’ two inside players are formidable on defense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With them, opponents’ offenses naturally become much more complicated than usual, which is a big advantage for the Trail Blazers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides Portland locals, no one understands the Portland Trail Blazers better than Magic Johnson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game reached its most intense moment as the Trail Blazers maintained about a 4-point lead throughout the fourth quarter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Suns showcased their incredible resilience, refusing to give up in absolutely unfavorable situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever the Trail Blazers executed a flawless offense, the Suns had an answer, ensuring the game didn’t slip away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides Barkley, Marley, Dumars, An Ji, and Salley all gave it their all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This forced the Trail Blazers players to exert full effort, as hoping for a few three-pointers to cause the opponents to surrender was not going to happen here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teams battled all the way to the end; under a minute remained with the score at 103:107, the Trail Blazers still leading by 4 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suns with ball possession, Kevin Johnson received the ball to organize an offense, feigned a central drive and passed to Marley on the wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marley caught the ball for a three-pointer, but missed; Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound but Barkley didn’t relent, scrambling with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this basket goes, the Suns still have a chance; if it misses, the game is essentially over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barkley obviously didn’t want to give up; he fought hard and secured a jump ball opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stood in the free throw circle for the jump ball, and Barkley knew he couldn’t beat Ah Gan, so he subtly signaled to Johnson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Johnson understood, and during the jump ball, Barkley didn’t exert fully, allowing Gan Guoyang to leap up and tip the ball to Porter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Kevin Johnson burst in from the side and stripped the ball from Porter’s hand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seizing the ball, he turned and charged the basket, and as Barkley also moved inside, Kevin Johnson aimed a high pass for Barkley to perform an alley-oop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything happened in the blink of an eye, and at the critical moment, Barkley used a clever trick; their tactical play was about to succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Gan Guoyang stood like an impenetrable iron curtain between Johnson and Barkley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the air, Gan Guoyang intercepted the pass, which was slightly low from Johnson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After securing the ball, Gan Guoyang landed heavily on both feet, gripping the ball tightly like a vice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barkley landed at the same time; at this instant, he knew his 1992-1993 season was over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Barkley instinctively charged at Ah Gan hands clutching tightly onto the ball without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>",999,"2026-06-06T01:41:51.875Z",1,"novelbin.me","804d69bad5a009ce81eff9c463cc3472317eeb91b9d7a5d0c5dcfa077d1c67f8","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1216","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1214",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]