Chapter 906 - 58: Don’t Slap the Face

The signing location for Pippen’s new contract is finally set at the Chicago Bulls’ office.

The 0:2 deficit makes Jerry Krause have to give the team’s second-in-command a morale boost, hoping he can make an impact in the third game.

On the plane back to Chicago, the Bulls were unprecedentedly gloomy this season. They were as happy a week ago when they defeated the Detroit Pistons as they are dejected at this moment.

Unlike after the first game, Jordan did not restrain his temper again. After the game, he was furious and scolded everyone in the locker room.

Of course, he also criticized himself, saying he played like a piece of dog shit. He was the main culprit for the team’s loss.

In the second game, Jordan only scored 31 points. The Trail Blazers’ multi-layered defense and Sabonis’s timely blocking of breakthrough routes prevented Jordan from performing at his best.

At the same time, Jordan was swinging and struggling in the game, constantly wondering whether to attack himself or pass the ball. He hesitated throughout the game.

Hesitation only leads to defeat.

Most of the time, Jordan wouldn’t be like this, but the Trail Blazers shook his belief.

Especially Gan Guoyang, the giant standing in the three-second zone, made everyone feel terrified.

He was as solid as a rock, making even the bravest players wonder: Should I challenge him?

After the Eastern Conference finals, Krause, who was dancing on the bus and plane, stopped shaking his butt and fell into thoughts.

Upon learning that Pippen was unwilling to exploit Gan Guoyang’s position, Krause decided to hold a formal signing ceremony for Pippen.

At the headquarters office, Pippen finally signed his name on the much-anticipated 7-year contract.

This means his income will be secured for many years to come, with an average salary of 3 million US dollars a year.

After taxes and insurance deductions, he should get a couple of million US dollars in hand, which, for Pippen, who grew up in poverty, is a substantial and reassuring income.

After the official signing, Pippen went to Bennigan’s to order two cheeseburgers, celebrating a little that his future was secured.

However, the Bulls must regroup. Being 0:2 behind is indeed terrible but not a real dead end.

There are historical instances where teams have come back from a 0:2 deficit, and that team was the Portland Trail Blazers.

The key to such a comeback is returning to the home court, making adjustments, playing with renewed vigor, and turning the tide of the series.

This time, Phil Jackson took Bach’s advice and adjusted the strategy against Gan Guoyang—they couldn’t just double-team him but had to fully consume and distract him on both offense and defense.

Pippen, with his new contract, became the head of the charge.

In his rookie year, when Pippen first faced Gan Guoyang, he showed his defensive threat.

Long-limbed and tall, although an outside player, he had excellent inside defensive skills, including shot-blocking, help defense, and harassment.

Every time they faced the Bulls afterward, Pippen was the vanguard against Gan Guoyang. Although sometimes he got badly beaten, his defensive efforts were the best.

Now, Jackson not only requires Pippen to defend but also demands Pippen to attack Gan Guoyang more in both low and high positions and outplay him whenever a mismatch occurs. Pippen must resolutely attack whenever Gan Guoyang switches defense.

"Whether it’s breaking through, posting up, or going for mid-range shots, Scottie, you must show enough aggressiveness to keep Gan Guoyang from focusing on others and have to deal with you exclusively."

During pre-game training, the atmosphere within the Bulls was very serious, even slightly oppressive.

But Pippen smiled after hearing Jackson’s words, a bitter smile, "If I’m worth Gan Guoyang focusing on... I should be making 10 million a year."

Pippen realized this issue too late. He felt he was only worth 3 million, but one day he would find even 10 million was too little.

Of course, the Bulls wouldn’t be stupid enough to let Pippen attack Gan Guoyang suicidally. Jordan would certainly provide help from behind.

Meanwhile, Buck-Williams and Bill Cartwright were asked to give up autonomous attacks, focusing on rolling towards the basket for pick-and-roll opportunities and offensive rebounds.

Simply put, it means increasing Pippen’s ball-handling offensive role, exploiting mismatches to attack Gan Guoyang more and divert his defensive attention, thereby creating scoring chances for the Bulls’ inside players.

As for Jordan, he had quite a few attempts on Gan Guoyang in the first two games, but Gan Guoyang consciously controlled contact to ensure there were no fouls.

Especially in the second game, when Sabonis focused on Jordan, Gan Guoyang became the final line of defense, making it difficult for Jordan to target Gan Guoyang.

The so-called "kings don’t meet," everyone prefers not to have their aces slug it out on the court but rather to use the second, or even third and fourth, players to handle the ace, executing a more cost-effective approach.

Before the third game started, the Bulls conducted more than two hours of tactical training, specifically simulating various mismatch tactics.

Pippen was also required to increase his one-on-one defense against Gan Guoyang, and the rotation battle was inevitable. Pippen was ready.

"What if I get knocked out by Gan Guoyang?" Pippen asked Phil Jackson after training.

"Oh, that would be great. That would mean Gan Guoyang would be out of the game."

Jackson’s words saddened Pippen, making him feel like he was definitely the expendable material this time.

Chicago welcomed the city’s first-ever NBA Finals.

Even if they are 0:2 behind and in a precarious situation, the fans still burst with immense enthusiasm.