On December 1st, the Trail Blazers face the New York Knicks in an away game.
The two teams meet again in a short time.
This time Gan Guoyang won’t let Ewing and the Knicks off the hook.
At Madison Square Garden, Gan Guoyang dominated the Knicks with a triple-double of 37 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Throughout the game, he guarded Ewing one-on-one, causing Ewing to shoot 3 for 13, scoring only 9 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, missing even a double-double.
In the final stages of the game, when Ewing shot an air ball on a mid-range jumper against Gan Guoyang’s defense, boos erupted from the stands.
Ewing has been in New York for eight years now, and his career has been disappointing so far.
When Dave DeBusschere won the lottery pick in 1985, there was so much excitement, but now the New York fans and media are deeply frustrated.
Ewing has never completely fulfilled his potential, though he’s excellent and undoubtedly the core of the Knicks.
But people’s expectations for him were to be a Russell, an Ah Gan, yet the Knicks haven’t even reached the Finals once.
Now in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls still maintain their dominance, and the Heat have risen under Riley’s management.
Ewing, the once-glorious college genius, is now revealing more and more flaws.
The toughness Georgetown stamped on him has become synonymous with rigidity.
In the super city of New York, his silent and uninteresting nature makes him out of place.
Along with his juniors Mourning and Mutombo, they’ve all taken on the stale odor of John-Thompson.
What was the NBA like in the 1990s?
Colorful, dazzling, even the teams’ uniforms and logos are becoming more vibrant and flamboyant.
The cold and hard Ewing is like a rusted iron sculpture among flowers, making people want to move him away.
But when the Heat and Warriors really tried to pry him away, the Knicks were unwilling.
Mainly because the offer wasn’t attractive enough; the Knicks need a better deal.
Tonight, Gan Guoyang’s usual dazzling performance once again eclipsed Ewing.
Having gone through the Olympic turmoil over the summer, Ewing’s knee is more swollen and painful.
With thick knee pads on, he was slow like an old tree in front of Ah Gan.
In fact, when facing other centers, Ewing is very fast and full of energy.
This season, his condition is great; his rebounding has finally reached the peak of his career.
However, Ah Gan is too fast, too energetic, and Ewing has always been afraid of him.
In the whole league, the only center who isn’t afraid to confront Ah Gan head-on is Olajuwon.
Faced with the boos, anger flashed in Ewing’s eyes, but he said nothing.
He sat on the bench in the substitutes’ seat, head down, quietly rethinking the agony of defeat.
Gan Guoyang, as a friend, did not go to comfort him; he knew it wasn’t the right time.
However, at the post-game press conference, Gan Guoyang bluntly stated that New York fans were being very unfair to Ewing.
"Patrick just won a game in Portland, he beat me, and the Portland fans didn’t boo me for it."
"Tonight I made a comeback in New York, which is quite normal, and Pat underperformed, which is also quite normal."
"You should have seen the wonderful performances Pat has given over the past seven seasons; he is, without a doubt, New York’s best basketball player."
"If New Yorkers don’t cherish Pat, they will never know when a player better than Pat will come."
"Perhaps never."
Ewing called Gan Guoyang the next day to thank him for speaking out.
Gan Guoyang said to Ewing on the phone, "Patrick, you don’t have to tie yourself down in New York; give yourself some freedom. Look at Hakeem, that guy is living well on the South Coast, goddammit..."
Gan Guoyang was right; Olajuwon, after being traded to the Heat, is having the best season of his career.
In November, the Heat posted an 11-1 record, topping the league rankings.
With Drexler undergoing surgery and starting the season in average form, Olajuwon became the primary core of the Heat.
With his incredible offensive and defensive performances, he took the Player of the Month award for November and surpassed Jordan and Gan Guoyang in the MVP race, ranking first.
The entire Heat’s tactical system revolves entirely around Olajuwon.
Olajuwon’s condition is also finely tuned.
Having not participated in the Olympics, he made significant progress over the summer.
This year, it is visibly apparent that the Heat will achieve great things.
Back then, it was a remark from Gan Guoyang that planted a seed in Olajuwon’s heart.
Now, the same restlessness stirs in Ewing’s heart.
Why hang on to one tree?
While still young, one should go out and explore.
Especially faced with New York’s mean-spirited media and fans.
When you play well, no one praises you; when you don’t play well, you get criticized every day.
Of course, Ewing has his own problems too.
As the team’s core, he holds the biggest contract but isn’t someone who dares to take responsibility.
Whenever someone in the team needs to step up, it’s often Oakley, not Ewing, who stands out.
Ewing lacks leadership qualities and is overly arrogant in social interactions.
Perhaps it’s the "anger" from his Georgetown days that influenced him.
In the team, he always seems to be one step above, requiring teammates to flatter and support him.
He is indeed the highest-ranking person in the team, but rank is earned, not given.
Flatteries often lead to insincere pretenses, falling apart at crucial moments.