After the fourth game of the finals ended, the 2:2 score was within many people’s expectations.
Because it was very difficult for the Bulls to win 3:0 against the Trail Blazers, or even 3:1.
The likelihood was that both teams would return to the same starting point and fight for a championship point in the fifth game.
But what was unexpected was the process of the games; in the third and fourth games, the Trail Blazers won too easily.
It wasn’t that the Bulls were in poor form, or that the Trail Blazers had a divine performance, but that the Trail Blazers tactically suppressed the Bulls.
Once there was a "generation gap" in the tactical systems, where the Bulls couldn’t find a response, the game became one-sided.
Plus, playing at home, with the arena, referees, and fans all favoring the home team, the players’ shooting felt great, leading to two landslide victories for the Trail Blazers, overturning the series downturn.
Post-game, sports magazines and programs across All-America were enthusiastically discussing Gan’s "evolution." No one expected that Gan would suddenly transform into a perimeter, face-the-basket, attacking player.
Sports commentators said this might represent the future direction of players, but at present, it seems that no one else but Gan can do these things.
A basic dribbling skill test blocks all tall center players. Without talent and hard work, it’s impossible.
While the media was merely onlookers, coaches from other NBA teams and universities saw the inner workings. Some had already sniffed out the scent of change.
In private, Bob Knight, Newell, Tarkanian, Coach K, among others, called Bobby Berman after the games to inquire about the details of this tactical system.
Beelman answered truthfully, "I don’t know."
"I didn’t design it; I’m learning too."
"I don’t understand the details at all; I’m just following Gan’s lead."
"I really don’t know; my main function now is calling timeouts."
Beelman was helpless, and no one believed him, thinking he was holding back.
In truth, he really didn’t know. He studied more seriously than anyone else in recent days.
After the third game ended, the team organized training early the next morning.
Everyone communicated with Gan during training, outlining the basic points of the system and gradually refining the details.
Beelman had directed many games, fully participating in NCAA finals and NBA finals, so he should have had a wealth of experience.
But in this finals, learning and applying tactics on the spot was unprecedented for him, and the stuff in the tactical book was learned on the spot.
And it was from the players on the team he learned. Who would believe that?
But that was the reality. This championship team of the Trail Blazers, which had been getting together for many years, had abruptly come up with a new strategy in a short time.
In the fourth game, as the Bulls still couldn’t find a reasonable countermeasures, they again breached the Bulls’ defense with ease.
In the Bulls’ past defensive system, if a power forward had the ball at the left 45-degree angle, in most cases, they wouldn’t be guarded, just stay within the three-point line to maintain formation.
Now, if Gan were to get an open shot in this position, it would basically mean conceding points, and it’s a three-pointer.
Of course, the Bulls wouldn’t leave Gan undefended—they had closely guarded Gan’s three-pointers throughout last year’s finals.
But this year, the Trail Blazers adopted a new starting lineup where all five players had mid-to-long range shots, stretching the space more.
With the space opened up, the Bulls’ one-on-one defense could keep up, but the middle became open. Gan Guoyang started aggressively attacking, instead of the slower, post-play requiring hand-off passing.
At this point, the Bulls couldn’t keep up with the rotation. Their dense mid-court defense and precise, strong perimeter help defense were scattered. This frustrated the Bulls the most.
Once the defense system collapsed, the Bulls could only rely on Jordan’s one-on-one play, hoping he would score 40 or 50 points to support the team’s offense and defense.
But you’re facing the Trail Blazers, who also have an Ah Gan capable of scoring 40 or 50 points. Counteracting each other leaves the Bulls at a disadvantage.
After the fourth game, the mood within the Bulls was quite low.
Losing wasn’t a big deal, and it was normal for the score to be tied. What was genuinely worrisome was not finding a solution.
Having no direction—that’s the scariest.
The fifth game would still take place in the Rose Garden.
The Trail Blazers would definitely continue their strategies from the third and fourth games.
If the Bulls can’t find a way to break through and stick to their previous defensive formation, being broken through is highly likely.
A less likely scenario is the Trail Blazers’ perimeter losing their shooting touch and players underperforming, allowing the Bulls to rebound and snatch a crucial victory.
The problem is, Phil Jackson absolutely couldn’t place the hope of victory on the opponent underperforming.
This was a passive competitive mindset, akin to hoping the opponent’s commander suddenly falls ill during a war. Historically, such incidents have happened, but if your hope for victory lies in such an event, then you’re very close to failure.
Before the fifth game, the entire Bulls team trained at the University of Portland’s gym, spending three hours entirely on defense.
Jackson and his defensive coaching team watched videos all night, repeatedly studying the details of Gan’s new playstyle.
In the end, the decision was made that the Bulls would fight to the death with full-court defense.
Specifically, the person guarding Gan Guoyang changed from Pippen to Jordan, with Grant responsible for helping on defense.
This was the most effective defensive strategy Jackson and his coaching team could think of.
By having Jordan guard, they could most actively disrupt Gan Guoyang’s dribbling, as he had a lower center of gravity and posed a greater threat of steals against big players.