At this moment, Ah Gan stood there, at the center circle ready to jump ball with Mark West.
He was still so tall, still so handsome, as always calm and composed, full of confidence without arrogance.
His eyes were as focused as they were 10 years ago, completely untainted by fame and fortune, his love for basketball had never extinguished.
Barkley was determined to defeat him, to defeat the figure who had always been his idol and his true Sun in his heart.
Both for the championship, for basketball, and more for the values he believed in.
The referee tossed the ball into the air, Gan Guoyang and Mark West jumped simultaneously, the game had started.
The ball was tapped to Terry Porter, Porter hesitated slightly and organized the Trail Blazers’ first attack.
In the past, Porter would find ways to attack quickly, but in this series, Porter’s primary task was stability.
His calf was constantly hurting, the muscles tense, making it difficult for him to exert force, lacking burst and speed, half of his attack was missing.
Before the game, Beelman had informed Porter to try to let Gan handle the ball more, Gan would be holding the ball and organizing more.
Porter’s primary task was not organizing but making those crucial shots.
In the first game, Porter only scored 8 points, missed all three-point attempts, unable to provide firepower when the team needed it.
Indeed, Gan came out to assist, the Suns adopted a steadfast man-to-man defense, Paul Westphal wasn’t interested in illegal defense or early double teams.
For the Suns, as long as their defense wasn’t too bad, maintaining basic stability and baseline was enough, double teams at crucial moments were the extreme of their means.
They are an offensive team, the focus isn’t to let the opponent score less than them, but to score as much as possible, to drown the opponents with a flood of offense.
Gan Guoyang held the ball at the top of the arc, facing Mark West one-on-one, attempted a shot which didn’t make, Barkley grabbed the rebound inside.
The Suns immediately launched a counterattack, Kevin Johnson received Barkley’s pass and quickly dribbled past half-court, driving in from the center.
But Ah Gan chased from behind and stole the ball from Johnson’s hands, Johnson fell to the ground but the referee did not blow the whistle.
Filled with confrontation and unexpected steals, Lewis took the ball and launched a counterattack, he rushed under the basket but did not attack the rim directly.
There were three Suns players under the basket, he turned back and passed the ball to the trailing Gan Guoyang, Gan Guoyang received the ball and shot a mid-range jumper.
Accurately scored, an unremarkable mid-range shot, seemingly sending some signals to the Suns.
Barkley received the ball at the high post, his defender had become Sabonis—Beelman didn’t want Gan to waste too much energy guarding the Suns’ main player.
Now the Trail Blazers’ defensive resources were very tight, Gan still needed to return to the position with the greatest impact, the task-heavy five position.
Barkley broke through the center, without a good chance, passed to the wing’s Kevin Johnson.
Johnson took the ball strongly and drove to the basket, wanting to complete a dunk!
But was blocked by Gan Guoyang.
Johnson played high in the last game, scoring the team’s highest score.
Now Ah Gan guarded the Three Second Zone, breaking through to score was not as easy.
The Trail Blazers launched another counterattack, this time it was Petrović, breaking through the center.
The Suns contracted beneath the basket, Petrović passed to the moving Gan on the ground.
Gan Guoyang received the ball and shot a mid-range jumper again, scored again!
After missing the opening attempt, Gan Guoyang quickly adjusted his aim and scored consecutively.
The Suns felt the pressure, Charles Barkley began to attack holding the ball.
Facing Sabonis at the top of the arc, Barkley made a probing step then squeezed in through the center.
At this time, if Gan Guoyang came up to assist, Barkley would pass to the trailing Mark West.
West directly attacked the rim or performed an alley-oop dunk.
If Gan Guoyang didn’t come up, Barkley would choose to jump shot.
Gan Guoyang didn’t come up, Barkley took one step inside the free-throw line, a leaning shot.
Avoiding Sabonis’ interference, scored off the board for two points!
The Meixi Arena began to come alive, everyone realized that this game would likely be a showdown between Ah Gan and Barkley.
Former MVP, defending champion, and this season’s new MVP clashing.
Gan Guoyang appeared extensively on the top of the arc during the offense, rather than the low post, making the Suns’ inner line empty.
Gan Guoyang suddenly made a surprise lob to the inside, Sabonis leapt high, slammed it with both hands in an alley-oop!
This is the tacit understanding developed over years, the Suns’ defense tonight would face major challenges.
Paul Westphal paced back and forth on the sideline, he had already sensed the Trail Blazers’ tactical goal for this game.
They wanted to duel with the Suns!
Ah Gan would unleash full firepower, tonight is about who has higher attacking efficiency, who scores more points.
Westphal was not too worried because he had confidence in the Suns.
He knew that the heavy burden of the Trail Blazers’ offense was likely to fall on Gan alone.
The Suns were different, Barkley, Johnson were the core, other players could also shoulder a lot.
This playoffs, the state of the other Suns players was much better than that of the Trail Blazers.
From Sebalos to Dumars, Marley, An Ji, this year was the most united and powerful year for the Suns.
Last game Dumars was temporarily absent due to injury, Sebalos replaced him as a starter, they still won the game.
Richard Dumars returned this game, the lineup of the Suns became more complete and deeper, Westphal’s confidence came from this.