This season, Charles Barkley has reached Ah Gan in terms of willpower and determination.
In terms of skills and abilities, he’s not as good as Ah Gan, but in basketball, it’s enough to get the ball in.
Skills are a means, not an end. When it comes to getting the ball into the basket, Barkley is qualified.
However, Barkley has one aspect that falls short compared to Gan Guoyang, which is also the reason many stars fall short compared to Gan Guoyang:
Stamina.
Many commentators have mentioned that Ah Gan’s stamina is a crucial reason for his superiority over others.
To use a martial arts novel analogy, Ah Gan, as a top master, not only has exquisite moves but also extremely deep inner strength, which flows like an inexhaustible source.
Other masters can match Ah Gan for a while, evenly matched, but over time, they can’t keep up with his stamina.
Barkley is already superb in terms of physical fitness, a phenomenal fat beast that can play 48 minutes a game without issue.
But in the high-intensity Western Conference Finals, maintaining high efficiency in the fourth quarter is quite difficult.
Especially since he has to face the fully energized Ah Gan, who’s been a block king on the defense tonight.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Barkley scored a basket from the low post and was defended twice one-on-one by Gan Guoyang.
But there’s no way around it; besides Barkley, no one else on the Suns dares to drive inside.
The third quarter ends with the Trail Blazers leading the Suns 92-79, a 13-point advantage.
Gan Guoyang is getting more and more excited as he plays, delivering 10 big blocks into the fourth quarter, feeling completely refreshed.
During the break, assistant coach John Wetzell said to Gan Guoyang, "Ah Gan, two more assists and you’ll have a quadruple-double tonight."
"Really? A quadruple-double, will the league give me a prize for that?"
"No, but it adds another insignificant note to your list of honors."
A quadruple-double is indeed a trivial honor for Gan Guoyang.
But looking at NBA history, it’s as unique as scorpion dung, because no player has ever achieved such a performance in the playoffs.
Chamberlain and Bill Russell might have done it in the regular season and playoffs, but there were no block stats back then, so it’s unverifiable.
Gan Guoyang didn’t pay much attention to these stats. As the fourth quarter begins, he continues to stay on the court, not planning to rest.
Charles Barkley does the same, staying on the court in the fourth quarter.
Actually, Paul Westphal wanted Barkley to rest more; losing this game wouldn’t be a big deal.
But Barkley insisted on playing. He said facing Ah Gan, he must fight for wins in every game, or he won’t win the series.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Barkley receives the ball under the basket, with Gan Guoyang defending one-on-one.
Barkley makes a smart assist pass to Marley at the top of the arc, who finds an open spot using a screen.
Marley catches the ball and shoots a three-pointer, scoring!
A critical three-pointer that helps the Suns chase back within 10 points.
Gan Guoyang immediately catches the ball at the same spot, quickly spins and shoots a turnaround jumper, scoring!
Defending him is Oliver Miller, who has already rushed up to Gan Guoyang’s face.
But it’s useless; Gan Guoyang’s touch is completely on fire, burning hot.
Moreover, his stamina is virtually unaffected; his jump height and spin speed are as they were in the first quarter.
Even with his body fully warmed up, his shooting speed is faster.
Barkley exploits a defensive loophole in the Trail Blazers, cutting into the basket, receiving a pass, and laying it in.
Gan Guoyang misses a hook shot; it’s his first missed shot after more than half a quarter.
Barkley immediately seizes the opportunity to counterattack, grabbing the defensive rebound and pushing the ball himself, distributing it, receiving it again, and driving through the middle to score a layup!
94-86! The Suns have chased back to within 8 points.
The Suns’ defensive focus is all on Gan Guoyang.
Once again at the horn position, Gan Guoyang catches the ball, dribbles, and jumps.
Drawing triple coverage, suddenly changing his shot to a pass, delivering it to Wayne Cooper at the basket.
Old Cooper catches the ball and slams it into the basket with all his might!
Tonight, Cooper and Bernard King, these two old guys, are indeed giving their all.
Because Antonio Davis already has a ring, and PJ Brown will have more opportunities in the future.
They don’t have more chances; this year is the last opportunity.
Playing conservatively in the regular season to preserve energy, cheering for teammates from the sidelines with towels waving.
In the playoffs, they have sufficient stamina to engage in short bursts of intense competition.
Gan Guoyang already has 9 assists, restoring the lead to 10 points.
The Suns’ offensive rhythm slows down; the first thing in half-court is to give the ball to Barkley.
Barkley catches the ball on the right side, backs inside but can’t move; continuous attacks make Barkley need to catch his breath.
Shifting the ball out to Marley, Marley passes again, transferring from right to left, finally giving it to Oliver Miller in the low post.
Miller turns and tries to overpower the veteran Cooper, but after bumping off Cooper, his layup gets blocked by Cooper!
A very crucial block, the Trail Blazers control the ball, taking their time with the next play.
An old-timer teaching a lesson to the newcomer, Cooper, at 36 years old, doesn’t let age change his physical abilities.
Cooper is similarly a long-armed freak, a reliable rim protector averaging 2.9 blocks at his peak.
The Trail Blazers give the ball to Gan Guoyang, Suns quickly double-team, he distributes to the outside, Porter’s three-point shot doesn’t go in.
The Suns send the ball back to Barkley, but the Trail Blazers intensify their harassment, Gan Guoyang even pushes Barkley out of the Three Second Zone.