[{"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-1541":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},1445058,1896,"Chapter 1541 - 20: The Future Belongs to the Lakers","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1541",1541,"\u003Cp>But Gan Guoyang insisted on personally matching up against O’Neal, going head-to-head with the core of the opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guarding O’Neal one-on-one is indeed taxing, consuming a lot of energy and affecting stats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Gan Guoyang knew that under such great pressure, and in such a significant milestone game, he absolutely couldn’t just pick an easy task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During warm-ups, Gan Guoyang issued a challenge to O’Neal, and having \"battled\" with Ah Gan before, O’Neal nonchalantly accepted the challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he had matured, able to handle pressure and bravely face the strongest opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, O’Neal was merely pretending to be calm; inwardly, he was already crying out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t Sabonis doing fine defending me? Why do you have to match up with me personally?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is bad. During offense, I have to face Ah Gan’s defense, during defense, I have to face Ah Gan’s offense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thorpe definitely won’t help me; he’s thick as thieves with Ah Gan, and even West wants me to match up with Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, why am I always so unlucky when playing against the Trail Blazers? Can’t someone come out and block for me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal longed for a defensive player to come out and help, so at least he wouldn’t have to face Ah Gan head-on, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ah Gan never understands this logic, insisting on a direct confrontation with the opponent’s trump card, which doesn’t look good for the stats, my dear Lao Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inwardly lamenting, O’Neal, branded with the label \"overcoming mental barriers,\" had no choice but to feign composure and prepare for the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the opening ceremony, as he stood face-to-face with Ah Gan in the center circle, O’Neal maintained a cold expression, even a hint of harshness in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang thought, Bobby letting O’Neal take a punch at him was correct; sometimes facing fear directly is the best way to overcome it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers maintained their usual starters: Gan Guoyang, Sabonis, Mu Lin, Riddle, and Brellock—a lineup that may not seem particularly strong individually but is ridiculously strong together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Lakers’ lineup was one that, at a glance, seemed extremely talented, with center O’Neal, power forward Thorpe, small forward Robert Horry, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Jason Kidd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, Robert Horry was just acquired by West from the Rockets over the summer, with the Lakers trading away forward Sibaros to get Horry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was another of Jerry West’s classic maneuvers. Although Sibaros had outstanding offensive stats, the Rockets wanted to bring him in to enhance their perimeter ball-handling attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>West, however, recognized the championship puzzle piece attribute of Robert Horry. His physique, shooting, comprehensive abilities, and his importance to the Lakers—especially to a Shaquille O’Neal-centered tactical system—was significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Lakers assembled a frontline-heavy, exceptionally tall backcourt lineup, reminiscent of the Portland frontline pack wolves of yesteryears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jerry West’s target was naturally the Portland Trail Blazers. Youth, vitality, and height—these were the things the Trail Blazers somewhat lacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>West believed that even if they were not yet the Trail Blazers’ opponents, currently with this lineup—26-year-old O’Neal, 19-year-old McGrady, 27-year-old Horry, 24-year-old Kidd—the future was surely going to be theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jump ball, the game began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal leapt with all his might, winning the jump ball, McGrady got the ball, and the Lakers had possession, the game was underway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lakers indeed executed the strategy laid out by Del Harris, starting by feeding the ball to O’Neal in the low post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when Kidd brought the ball past half-court, he didn’t see O’Neal in the low post—where the hell was this guy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coach had just instructed that the opening play was for O’Neal to post up on the left or right low post, so where did you run off to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kidd glanced around; instead of going to the strong-side low post, O’Neal had run to the weak-side baseline to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s up? Are you planning to shoot a corner three?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kidd yelled hurriedly, instructing O’Neal to come over to the strong side to receive the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctantly, O’Neal ran to a position far out, almost at the free-throw line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kidd, looking on, wondered what the hell is this guy thinking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doesn’t matter, the head coach said to pass it to you for the play, so here it is. You take a mid-range jumper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang kept an eye on O’Neal, while also paying attention to the basket behind him; he thought the Lakers would let O’Neal draw the defense to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal received the ball near the free-throw line, which was not his attack zone, so Gan Guoyang didn’t close in on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, from this distance, O’Neal suddenly turned sideways, made a quick dribble, and shot a hook!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hook shot was from quite far out, with a line as flat as a bullet trajectory, and Gan Guoyang didn’t fully jump to block it because he wasn’t expecting it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They watched as the ball went \"thud\" against the inside of the rim and then fell into the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It actually went in!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal, opening the game with a distant hook shot, scored!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang paused, went to the baseline to inbound the ball, thinking that this guy O’Neal had some skills; that unexpected move was well played.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, retreating on defense, O’Neal kept his face impassive, though inside he was overjoyed; he couldn’t believe that his toss actually went in!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kidd came over, patted O’Neal on the back, and said, \"Nice hook, Shaq, but why didn’t you go ask for the ball in the low post?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal said, \"What do you know? This is called striking east and hitting west, catching them off-guard! Go defend, dummy; you have plenty to learn from my moves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal’s confidence suddenly surged; he was in good shape tonight and was determined to fully immerse himself in the matchup.\u003C\u002Fp>",973,"2026-06-06T01:42:01.245Z",1,"novelbin.me","93c5a4722eba37182eaa5022872d6e14bee13d5fcf3ba4c558336e84a79ebff6","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1542","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1540",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]