The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 352 - 87: Metamorphosis

The fated showdown between Olajuwon and Gan Guoyang reached a new climax in the sixth game of the Western Conference Finals.

During halftime, Bill Fitch redefined the strategy as the three victories of full-court press and immediate counter-stealing had become ineffective.

Ramsay did not seem ready to sub out Terry Porter and Drexler. Both of them were fast, strong, with excellent physical condition.

Especially Terry Porter, when he assisted Drexler, the Glider became much more stable.

Because Jim Paxson was essentially a shooting guard, that traditional type who moves without the ball and cuts to the basket.

The pressure of handling the ball was too much for Drexler, and he could not keep up.

Although Porter was a rookie, he was a standard point guard.

Moreover, he was calm, with excellent mental quality, and he did a good job of managing the play.

His backcourt partnership with Drexler provided the Trail Blazers with a stable initial pass.

"We still have to employ the full-court defense, but let’s not press too tightly, just applying enough pressure. We must not only pressure the ball, but more importantly, pressure the person. We are focusing too much on the ball," Fitch said.

While on defense, the Rockets focused too much on the ball, consequently being led around by the nose by the Trail Blazers’ quick passes and coordination.

Fitch had no choice but to revert to a typical full-court man-to-man defense, and as for how to recover the 13-point deficit, it mainly depended on the players’ performance on the offensive end.

A coach’s intervention in a game is limited, ultimately it’s the players’ performance that counts.

The second half of the game continued, and the Trail Blazers still started Walton and Gan Guoyang on the inside lineup.

The two greatest centers in the history of the Trail Blazers standing together on the court gave people a sense of what real talent was.

Ramsay inwardly sighed, wishing Walton could be a little healthier.

Walton was only 33 years old this year, and Jabbar was still at his peak at this age.

During halftime, the team doctor kept treating Walton’s knees and ankles to make him more comfortable.

Walton had played 17 minutes in the first half, which was already the limit for him for half a game.

Before the ball was inbounded, the Trail Blazers’ players huddled together not to pray for divine blessing but to discuss the strategy for the second half.

"We’ll stick to the offensive strategy of the first half, but I think the Rockets will definitely change their defensive tactics. Sonny, let’s do some more high-low combinations, you can move to the high post and let me have the low post. Can you cut to the basket?"

"I can. If not, I’ll learn on the spot," Sonny said.

"It seems a bit late to learn now, Sonny," someone remarked.

"Not at all, I’m a genius!" Sonny replied confidently.

Everyone laughed, and then the team rallied each other with high spirits, vowing to secure the victory.

Although the Trail Blazers had been playing as a team in the first half, Gan Guoyang was still the absolute core.

So-called team basketball was essentially the entire team servicing his scoring, with his points nearing half of the team’s total.

Gan Guoyang’s efficiency in finishing plays was very high, his stamina was great, and after all, scoring is scoring, so why not let him get the points?

The situation for the Rockets was similar to the Trail Blazers. After six games of trial, Olajuwon was determined to be the better one.

Gan Guoyang had forcefully shifted the Rockets from a Twin Towers strategy to a single tower one, with Sampson frequently appearing at the high post taking his favorite mid-range shots.

Half the inside space was given to Olajuwon, the other half to Reed, McGrady, and others. The Rockets’ offense was still able to arm-wrestle with the Trail Blazers.

As the third quarter began, McGrady immediately attacked the basket for a close-range floater that scored.

The Rockets’ style became increasingly direct and forceful, anyone with the ball and an opportunity would drive inside.

On defense, they maintained full-court man-to-man and pressed the Trail Blazers’ players from start to finish.

Throughout the first half, Terry Porter did not commit a single turnover, and Drexler had only two.

So far tonight, Porter had scored just a three-pointer at the start of the first quarter and a mid-range shot, totaling 5 points.

But if the Rockets dared leave him open, Porter would punish them with his scoring ability.

Walton moved to the low post and Gan Guoyang to the high post, confusing the Rockets’ defense once again.

Olajuwon was again drawn out near the free-throw line as Porter shook off his defender with the help of a screen and dashed to the basket.

Walton delivered a classic bounce pass to Porter, who caught the ball and finished with a left-handed layup, avoiding Sampson’s block attempt and scoring two points!

After scoring, an impassioned Porter roared at Sampson, who glared back at Porter. Porter didn’t back down, staring right back.

Ralph Sampson was a bit angry and then tried to power through Walton on the offensive end, but his turnaround shot was blocked by the defensive help from Gan Guoyang!

He finally understood what Jabbar went through in the semifinals, being backed down and then having his shot blocked by the helping defender.

Walton, who had grabbed the ball, threw a long pass to the fast-breaking Porter, who drove inside the three-point line. Facing the guards from the Rockets who were taller than him, he bravely attacked the basket and drew a foul from Reed.

He made both free throws, further solidifying the Trail Blazers’ advantage.

The Rockets had to rely on Olajuwon, who received the ball, turned around, and hooked it in.

This time it was Guoyang’s turn on the low block, where his baseline turn was smothered by Olajuwon.

He passed the ball out to the perimeter, Drexler drove in, then dished the ball out again. Walton received the ball in the middle and suddenly made a direct pass under the basket.

Gan Guoyang caught the ball and scored with a little hook shot, picking up two points.

The Trail Blazers’ teamwork became more and more fluid, like clouds flowing smoothly through the sky, and they didn’t stick to any set plays.

Sometimes it was Walton at the high post and Guoyang on the low block, other times Walton was on the low block and Guoyang at the high post.

Around these two towering figures on the center line, the other players were free to move, screen, cut to the basket, and then take their shots.

When tactics couldn’t solve the problem, Guoyang would stand out, taking care of business at the low post or from the 45-degree wing.

If Guoyang couldn’t make it work, or if he was double-teamed, he could pass to Vandeweghe, Drexler, or Porter, any of whom could initiate their own offense.

This highly flexible and unpredictable attacking pattern burst forth under the Rockets’ pressure defense, entering Houston like a high-speed machine.

The defensive pressure on the Rockets became greater and greater, and they started to lose track of how to defend.

Previously, they knew how to defend, with the Twin Towers taking care of Guoyang and others pressing in the backcourt, allowing Vandeweghe and Parkson to shoot, conceding if they scored.

But now, not knowing how to defend, lacking a specific target, they were at a loss.

Ah Gan scored nearly half of the Trail Blazers’ points, but targeting him was useless.

This miraculous situation was something even Bill Fitch had never experienced; he was at a loss.

This seasoned coach, who you could say had been through it all, could only think to himself at this moment: I’ve truly never seen anything like this.

Especially when Guoyang on the low block suddenly bounced a pass to the cutting Walton through the middle, who then slammed it in.

Fitch thought, isn’t this our Rockets’ Twin Towers play? We used it to beat the Lakers, to blow past Rambis and Lucas in the semifinals, how do you guys know how to use it?

The point gap grew wider, and the matchup between Olajuwon vs. Guoyang lost its significance because Olajuwon alone couldn’t withstand the Trail Blazers’ efficient offense.

Fitch did not call for a timeout, since he knew that even if he did, he wouldn’t know what adjustments to make. Everything that could be said and done had already been tried; tonight, they were simply no match for the Trail Blazers.

This was no longer the team from the first five games; this was a New Trail Blazers, transformed under pressure and hardship.

Although their lineup hadn’t changed, different combinations and the integration of new ideas with old traditions had sparked an unexpected chemical reaction under the high-pressure crucible.

The Trail Blazers fought increasingly valiantly, widening the gap to 20 points again. Just as Fitch could no longer bear it and was about to call a timeout, chaos erupted on the court.

Ralph Sampson suddenly threw a punch at Terry Porter during defense, bringing the game to an abrupt halt. Seeing the commotion, Gan Guoyang took off towards Sampson.

Hakeem grabbed Guoyang in an attempt to restrain him, but Guoyang, experienced in wrestling, immediately got a lock on Hakeem’s arm. If Hakeam tried anything, he was going to get thrown over Guoyang’s shoulder.

"Let go, Sonny! I just don’t want any conflict!" Hakeem yelled, his arm in extreme pain.

Guoyang then let go, his grip strong as a vise, too much even for Hakeam to bear.

Meanwhile, Porter and Sampson were already tussling with each other.

Despite taking a punch, Porter didn’t back down; he grabbed hold of Sampson, and the two of them scuffled together.

The rest of the players rushed to break it up, and the scene was extremely chaotic.

The referees’ whistles were shrill, and the disheartened fans at the Summit Arena screamed loudly.

Since the game was likely lost anyway, they might as well enjoy a fight.

With the intervention of the referees and the players from both teams, the situation was brought under control.

Sampson was ejected from the game, while Porter’s cheek swelled up from taking a punch.

"Are you okay, Porter? I was held back by Hakeem just now, or else I would’ve definitely smashed him," said Sonny.

"It’s fine, Sonny, he took one of my punches too. I’m not afraid of him at all," Porter said with determined eyes. This little guy was packed with substantial energy.