[{"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-702":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},1444269,1896,"Chapter 702 - 70: The Season of Harvest","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-702",702,"\u003Cp>The Portland people left no room for fantasy for the Suns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May 13th, the fourth game in the series saw the Trail Blazers throw another straight punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang scored 31 points and grabbed 24 rebounds, exploding the Suns’ weak interior. Leading his team to a 115:107 victory, they easily defeated the Suns with an 8-point lead, sweeping the series 4:0.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last season, the two sides fought to a Game 7, but this year Guoyang proved with strength that we are simply not on the same level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason we reached Game 7 was just that last year I was in a bad mood, coupled with your good luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the game, Gan Guoyang hugged Kevin Johnson and Kurt Rambis, expressing recognition for Johnson’s abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A key reason for the Suns’ utter defeat in this series was that Kevin Johnson was completely shut down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang + Terry Porter + Mike Sanders, the Trail Blazers used their best three defensive players on the inside and outside to take turns double-teaming and blocking Johnson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Johnson only had a breakout in the second game, and afterward, his performances in the third and fourth games were mediocre and couldn’t support the Suns’ ball-handling needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such a defeat, Kevin Johnson had no choice but to accept it and think about fighting again next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, due to Kevin Johnson’s somewhat \"soft\" performance in this series, which resulted in arguments and conflicts with Danny Ainge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainge performed decently in the semifinals, being the most stable point on the Suns’ outside line, but mainly because the Trail Blazers didn’t specifically target him on defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Ah Gan’s words, \"Defending him or not, it’s all the same. Do you think he can explode for 40 points in the playoffs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Ainge could not, but Kevin Johnson really could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Ainge didn’t think so; he believed he could assume a higher leadership role on the team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the game, he attempted to cozy up to Gan Guoyang, but Gan did not give this guy the time of day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainge himself is an Oregonian and holds a certain status in Oregon sports history. He had the idea of joining the Trail Blazers, knowing he was popular in Oregon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Trail Blazers weren’t very interested in this impetuous and ambitious guy; the boss doesn’t like such subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Rambis, after this series, his fear of Ah Gan disappeared, and he could face the gap and defeat calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Rambis, at 31 years old, he is not as obsessed with championships and victories anymore; his experience with the Lakers’ championships is enough for him to savor for a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, getting a decent contract and continuing to survive in the league is what he needs to consider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the face of Rambis, Gan Guoyang, who won the series, also became compassionate and was no longer the cold poison snake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the semifinals, Gan Guoyang averaged 32 points and 19 rebounds per game, such exaggerated stats, yet after watching the games, the fans felt that Ah Gan didn’t even exert his full strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, except for the first game where Gan Guoyang went all out on offense and defense, focusing on suppressing the Suns with the game revolving around him, in the following three games he played a role of a super-assistant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large number of rebounds, excellent sweeping defense, and increased assist rate on offense all reduced his one-on-one play, leaving more shooting opportunities to the guards and substitutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang used the first game to set the tone for the series and to test the Suns’ strength, realizing they were just so-so; sending in the underlings was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the last three games, Terry Porter became the team’s second-leading scorer, the backcourt’s offensive engine, the three-point king, the pioneer of stop-and-pop jumpers from the outside, and a fast break enthusiast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was thanks to Ah Gan’s protection and the tacit cooperation the two developed over many years of playing together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tactically speaking, Terry Porter is currently the second man on this Trail Blazers team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just that the lead man of the Trail Blazers is too strong and too brilliant, causing the so-called second man to seem inconspicuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Porter, whether in terms of playing style or temperament, is the kind that acts low-key and doesn’t show off, hardly reminiscent of the second-in-command or a star player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, Porter’s combat effectiveness should not be underestimated. He is no longer the mere sidekick he was next to Drexler, but one of the best point guards in the league.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One admirable point is that Porter’s playoff performance is better than the regular season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He averaged 17 points and 8 assists in the regular season, but his average score rose to 21 points in the playoffs, with assists increasing to 9.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to that, Hornacek seemed a bit underwhelming this year, with his performance in the playoffs not as good as in the regular season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially against the Suns, Hornacek was at a disadvantage in his matchup with Danny Ainge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Bobby Berman gave Petrović quite a few opportunities in the semi-finals, allowing him to shine in the sixth man role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, the Trail Blazers’ guard line had ample experience in the semi-finals, demonstrating strong offensive power and avoiding their defensive weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team smoothly made it into the Western Conference Finals, their sixth consecutive appearance since 1985, and Gan Guoyang has never missed the Western Finals since joining the league.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the flight back to Portland, everyone was playing cards for leisure and relaxation while discussing the next round of opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other matchup in the Western semi-finals was the Los Angeles Lakers versus the San Antonio Spurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on regular-season performance and roster strength, the Lakers held the advantage, but the Spurs were no easy foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lakers had dominated the Western Conference for years, with formidable strength and experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spurs, on the other hand, were rising suddenly, and it looked difficult for David Robinson to challenge the Lakers in his first season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers players were all hoping for a Lakers’ victory, for a simple reason: they wanted revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lost to the Lakers in last year’s Western Finals and were determined to settle scores this year, no matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Trail Blazers had a 4:1 record against the Lakers this year, and they had thoroughly figured out the Lakers’ setup and tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against the Lakers, the Trail Blazers had the most preparations and the greatest confidence; Ah Gan had already prepared nine ways to take down the people of Los Angeles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grudge between the Lakers and Trail Blazers had lasted for years, and it seemed it might continue indefinitely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, the Lakers and Spurs were tied 2:2 in the first four games, each defending their home court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow, the Lakers and Spurs will play the crucial Game 5 in Los Angeles, and the outcome will determine the series’ trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers, victorious, did not relax but held a three-hour joint practice session on the 14th to maintain their condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lakers and Spurs series would, at the earliest, have a result by the 16th, and if it goes to a Game 7, even later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beelman didn’t want the players to rest too much and desired the team to stay tight throughout the playoffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they want to rest, they can do so during the off-season when there will be plenty of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training was scheduled for the afternoon, and after finishing at four o’clock, Gan Guoyang invited the entire team to a nearby Mexican restaurant for a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the meal, everyone returned to the training center’s video room, turned on the TV, and waited for the Lakers and Spurs game to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, two hours later, the San Antonio Spurs managed to take away a victory at the Great Western Forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David Robinson, with 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks, destroyed Kevin Duckworth and James Edwards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Magic Johnson scored 41 points, when the Lakers needed him to score high points, it indicated they were out of options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, in San Antonio, the Spurs didn’t give the Lakers a chance. At the last moment, Byron Scott’s potential game-winning shot was disrupted by David Robinson, and the Spurs narrowly beat the Lakers at home by 1 point, eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers with a series score of 4:2 and returning to the Western Conference Finals after 7 years to face the Portland Trail Blazers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David Robinson, with averages of 22.7 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks in the series, became the most outstanding rookie center in the playoffs after Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of San Antonio felt renewed hope and were set to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the playoffs once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After both rounds of the Western semi-finals were concluded, the NBA officially announced that Gan Guoyang had won the 1989-1990 season NBA Regular Season MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Western Conference Finals, David Stern would present him with these two prestigious trophies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the season of harvest for Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>",1526,"2026-06-06T01:41:37.192Z",1,"novelbin.me","91751112b69a9b862f337de858aa5a9c476f5f356bca3276c917ffc3d72f3cd8","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-703","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-701",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]