[{"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-1228":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},1444845,1896,"Chapter 1228 - 33: The Long Season (Part 2)","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1228",1228,"\u003Cp>The massive and unnatural muscles and hips gave him exceptionally strong abilities in under-the-basket confrontations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People once speculated whether Mason was using drugs after joining the Heat, otherwise how could he be so robust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This robustness was precisely prepared for Gan Guoyang, as the two engaged in a struggle in the low post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a round of entanglement, Gan Guoyang still managed to overpower Mason, raising his hand for the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lewis threw the ball to the basket, Olajuwon came over to help defend, and Cliff Robinson also surrounded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after receiving the ball, Gan Guoyang suddenly jumped up, dunking the ball into the basket over Olajuwon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee blew the whistle, calling Olajuwon for a defensive blocking foul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why call a foul? That was normal confrontation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley’s long-suppressed emotions were partially released due to a foul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He yelled at the referee, his face turning red. He knew this foul was significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one possession into the first quarter, the main inside player getting a foul could be fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight’s lead referee was Hugh Evans, a seasoned old-school referee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1986, he officiated the second game of the finals when he was still an assistant to Earl Strom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calm down, Pat, that was indeed a foul. It can’t be changed, stay calm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you better not call Hakeem for a foul later!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not up to me, it depends on the players’ performance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley was putting pressure on the referee; if Olajuwon got two fouls in the first quarter and had to sit out, the Heat might not withstand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood that facing the Trail Blazers, if the main player got caught in foul trouble, Ah Gan would definitely go all out to widen the gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang stepped up to the free-throw line and made the additional free throw, Olajuwon adjusted his breathing, his expression remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heat still passed the ball to Olajuwon in the low post, Porter came over to disrupt, Olajuwon immediately passed the ball to the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John Starks received the ball and immediately shot a three-pointer, scoring!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starks made a tough three-pointer, the Heat played very simply offensively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Score in, score out, small coordination, decisive shots, they didn’t want the offense to be too complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was different from the Suns; the Heat’s offense revolved completely around Olajuwon, partially around Drexler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Riley was so concerned about a foul call, Olajuwon was too important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers’ situation was similar, Ah Gan was equally crucial, even without the ball in hand, he attracted at least three Heat players’ attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball wasn’t given to Gan Guoyang but to Sabonis, who received the ball, turned in the middle, cut to the basket, and made a hook shot, scoring, the teams were tied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang’s defensive allure provided his teammates with plenty of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sabonis was also an undeniable force, especially with his overwhelming height at the four position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Gan Guoyang’s dominance at the four and five positions was the Trail Blazers’ stable cornerstone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sabonis, Olajuwon thought of the former Houston Twin Towers, his shared years in Houston with Ralph Sampson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was no use; back then, any Twin Towers lineup would be detonated by Ah Gan; resource misalignment and technical characteristics made Ah Gan the Twin Tower Killer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heat’s third attack was initiated by Drexler; he also called for the ball on the left low post, Olajuwon moved to the high post to draw away Ah Gan’s defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drexler received the ball, back turned, aggressively eating away at Reggie Lewis, spinning back to the baseline, shaking off Lewis’s defense, then scored a left-handed layup!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drexler rarely had a chance to play such a ball during his time with the Trail Blazers; he had made great strides with the Heat as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More outstanding shooting, exquisite low post footwork, and smart choices, the Glider has become better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his fifth year with the Heat, the same length of time he spent with the Portland Trail Blazers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Portland imprint on him was fading; people only remembered he was part of the first three championships, leaving other memories to Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the game, Drexler ignored Ah Gan, not saying a word, not out of personal grievance, but to avoid being distracted and controlled by Ah Gan; that guy was too terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Sabonis missed a shot at the top of the arc, Gan Guoyang grabbed the offensive rebound and made a putback, both teams started with efficient offenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>7:7 tie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, the two teams began to descend into a brick fight of attrition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fans in the Miami Arena were increasing, empty seats diminishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the venue was heating up, the confrontation on the court escalating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang used clever positioning to cut to the basket for a pass up for a layup, Anthony Mason harshly pulled Gan Guoyang down from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gan Guoyang fell backward, he still threw the ball towards the hoop, scoring two points and earning a free throw!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sabonis came over, helped Gan Guoyang up, and glared angrily at Mason: \"Watch your moves, Anthony!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mason showed a disdainful smile, but when he met Gan Guoyang’s gaze, he still felt intimidated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry Sonny, it wasn’t intentional.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you did it intentionally, but you can’t help it; it’s your duty. I won’t blame you. But if I harm you because of my duty, don’t blame me either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mason’s smile disappeared; he knew Ah Gan’s tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the game, Riley asked Mason to play hard, Mason nodded and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when faced with Ah Gan in the game, the innate pressure still made him feel fearful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of Mason’s strength training routines were taught by Gan Guoyang; in his year in Portland, Gan Guoyang took care of him.\u003C\u002Fp>",967,"2026-06-06T01:41:51.875Z",1,"novelbin.me","3a08deab4b8f599aac9580fca203f5ac811f05775a6f39b63f5c7f0ae88347bd","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1229","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1227",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]