The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 1778 - 54: Don’t Go to Eagle County

Hill's injury ended the suspense in the series between the Suns and the Trail Blazers.

Although the Suns still have Antoine Walker, Anfernee Hardaway, and there's still some gas in Kevin Johnson's tank.

But Grant Hill's efficient 25 points per game is a gap hard to fill, and they, already at a disadvantage, couldn't compete with the Trail Blazers.

In the second game in Portland, Anfernee Hardaway scored a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, but still lost in a shootout 104-110 to the high-powered Portland Trail Blazers.

Gan Guoyang and Kobe combined for 75 points in the game, accounting for more than two-thirds of the team's points.

The Suns could previously contend with the Trail Blazers due to multiple scoring threats and exceptional talent, without any advantage in system or tactics.

Losing Hill meant losing significant firepower and talent, and no matter how much Hardaway and Johnson gave their all, it was to no avail.

On May 11, the series shifted to Phoenix for a crucial Game 3 for the Suns, with Grant Hill watching from the sidelines in a suit.

He wore a relaxed expression tinged with some melancholy, knowing he could rest now, as this long and arduous season was over for him.

But watching his teammates battle on the court, giving their all for a win, to extend the season's life, while he could only watch, was a hard feeling to endure.

The fans in Phoenix hoped the Suns, back on their home court, could bounce back, and at least win one game to avoid a humiliating series loss.

But the game turned out unexpectedly, as the Suns, with no room for error, faced the Trail Blazers' explosive shooting from the outside.

Kobe, Brellock, Mu Lin, and Dell Curry hit three-pointers one after another.

In the first half, the Trail Blazers hit 10 of 15 three-pointers, gaining an extra 10 points compared to two-point plays.

With three-pointers opening up, the Suns' fast-break rhythm was lost, and their defense was stretched thin, getting penetrated by the Trail Blazers' fluid offense.

The key to the Trail Blazers' decline this season was their lack of accuracy from three, much worse than in '98 and '99.

But as they say, a camel that has shrunk is still bigger than a horse; these players are still there, just older and declining, not dead.

Whenever they hit a good streak, the Trail Blazers could relive 1998 and make the opposition flee in disarray.

This kind of performance appeared about every 10 games, and once the opponent encountered it, there was no solution, only defeat or injury.

That's the so-called "championship pedigree," no matter how far one falls, the strong genes once flowing in the blood still play a role.

So far in the playoffs, the Trail Blazers' games were all hard-fought, including the four games against the Timberwolves, none being a blowout win.

Tonight in Phoenix, it was truly the Suns' misfortune, but also the right timing.

Not only were they without Grant Hill, but they also faced the Trail Blazers' "dying flash" outburst.

By halftime, the Trail Blazers scored 67 points, leading the Suns by 15 at 67-52, basically declaring the Suns' demise in this game and the series.

The Suns showed no improvement in the second half, and the gap widened to 20 points at one point. By the end of the third quarter, eight Trail Blazers scored in double figures, with six players making three-pointers.

For the Trail Blazers, this was definitely a good thing. Early in the fourth quarter, trailing by 22 points, the Suns conceded, with the coach pulling out the starters.

Rick Carlisle also substituted his starters, allowing the veterans more rest, as resting 10 minutes per game is ideal for preserving them.

Ultimately, the Trail Blazers easily defeated the Suns 110-87, winning by 23 points, and rewriting the semifinals' big score to 3-0.

A sweep was imminent, and facing the chance of a sweep, the Trail Blazers would certainly not hold back.

Two days later, at the Phoenix US Airways Center, the Trail Blazers won again over the Suns by 5 points, 97-92.

Gan Guoyang scored 27 points, while Kobe had a team-high 30 points, along with 8 rebounds and 8 assists, showcasing his versatility.

With Grant Hill out, the Trail Blazers had no suspense in sweeping the Suns 4-0 and advancing to the Western Conference Finals.

As the buzzer sounded at the end of Game 4, Rick Carlisle let out a sigh of relief; they won, and the team advanced.

Gan Guoyang's 14 complete NBA seasons, all advancing to the Western Conference Finals without missing a single one, making him the undisputed king of the West Finals.

Carlisle could relieve the heavy burden on his shoulders, no longer worried about becoming the first coach of Ah Gan not to make the West Finals.

After the game, Gan Guoyang hugged Grant Hill again, wishing him a speedy recovery and a healthy professional career.

This was crucial for Hill because Gan Guoyang is not only the king of the West Finals but also the king of health, a man never plagued by major injuries throughout his career.

The last player with such an iron body was Irving Hayes, an iron man with a 16-year career uninjured, missing only 9 games, and both happened to wear the number 11 jersey.

Meanwhile, the Lakers were in a tough battle with the Seattle SuperSonics, with the two teams tied at 2-2 after four games, heading into a pivotal Game 5, giving the Trail Blazers plenty of rest.