The massive and unnatural muscles and hips gave him exceptionally strong abilities in under-the-basket confrontations.
People once speculated whether Mason was using drugs after joining the Heat, otherwise how could he be so robust.
This robustness was precisely prepared for Gan Guoyang, as the two engaged in a struggle in the low post.
After a round of entanglement, Gan Guoyang still managed to overpower Mason, raising his hand for the ball.
Lewis threw the ball to the basket, Olajuwon came over to help defend, and Cliff Robinson also surrounded him.
However, after receiving the ball, Gan Guoyang suddenly jumped up, dunking the ball into the basket over Olajuwon!
The referee blew the whistle, calling Olajuwon for a defensive blocking foul.
"Why call a foul? That was normal confrontation!"
Riley’s long-suppressed emotions were partially released due to a foul.
He yelled at the referee, his face turning red. He knew this foul was significant.
Only one possession into the first quarter, the main inside player getting a foul could be fatal.
Tonight’s lead referee was Hugh Evans, a seasoned old-school referee.
In 1986, he officiated the second game of the finals when he was still an assistant to Earl Strom.
"Calm down, Pat, that was indeed a foul. It can’t be changed, stay calm."
"Then you better not call Hakeem for a foul later!"
"That’s not up to me, it depends on the players’ performance."
Riley was putting pressure on the referee; if Olajuwon got two fouls in the first quarter and had to sit out, the Heat might not withstand it.
He understood that facing the Trail Blazers, if the main player got caught in foul trouble, Ah Gan would definitely go all out to widen the gap.
Gan Guoyang stepped up to the free-throw line and made the additional free throw, Olajuwon adjusted his breathing, his expression remained calm.
The Heat still passed the ball to Olajuwon in the low post, Porter came over to disrupt, Olajuwon immediately passed the ball to the outside.
John Starks received the ball and immediately shot a three-pointer, scoring!
Starks made a tough three-pointer, the Heat played very simply offensively.
Score in, score out, small coordination, decisive shots, they didn’t want the offense to be too complicated.
This was different from the Suns; the Heat’s offense revolved completely around Olajuwon, partially around Drexler.
That’s why Riley was so concerned about a foul call, Olajuwon was too important.
The Trail Blazers’ situation was similar, Ah Gan was equally crucial, even without the ball in hand, he attracted at least three Heat players’ attention.
The ball wasn’t given to Gan Guoyang but to Sabonis, who received the ball, turned in the middle, cut to the basket, and made a hook shot, scoring, the teams were tied.
Gan Guoyang’s defensive allure provided his teammates with plenty of space.
Sabonis was also an undeniable force, especially with his overwhelming height at the four position.
He and Gan Guoyang’s dominance at the four and five positions was the Trail Blazers’ stable cornerstone.
Seeing Sabonis, Olajuwon thought of the former Houston Twin Towers, his shared years in Houston with Ralph Sampson.
But it was no use; back then, any Twin Towers lineup would be detonated by Ah Gan; resource misalignment and technical characteristics made Ah Gan the Twin Tower Killer.
The Heat’s third attack was initiated by Drexler; he also called for the ball on the left low post, Olajuwon moved to the high post to draw away Ah Gan’s defense.
Drexler received the ball, back turned, aggressively eating away at Reggie Lewis, spinning back to the baseline, shaking off Lewis’s defense, then scored a left-handed layup!
Drexler rarely had a chance to play such a ball during his time with the Trail Blazers; he had made great strides with the Heat as well.
More outstanding shooting, exquisite low post footwork, and smart choices, the Glider has become better.
This was his fifth year with the Heat, the same length of time he spent with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Portland imprint on him was fading; people only remembered he was part of the first three championships, leaving other memories to Ah Gan.
Before the game, Drexler ignored Ah Gan, not saying a word, not out of personal grievance, but to avoid being distracted and controlled by Ah Gan; that guy was too terrifying.
Then, Sabonis missed a shot at the top of the arc, Gan Guoyang grabbed the offensive rebound and made a putback, both teams started with efficient offenses.
7:7 tie.
But soon, the two teams began to descend into a brick fight of attrition.
The fans in the Miami Arena were increasing, empty seats diminishing.
The atmosphere in the venue was heating up, the confrontation on the court escalating.
Gan Guoyang used clever positioning to cut to the basket for a pass up for a layup, Anthony Mason harshly pulled Gan Guoyang down from behind.
As Gan Guoyang fell backward, he still threw the ball towards the hoop, scoring two points and earning a free throw!
Sabonis came over, helped Gan Guoyang up, and glared angrily at Mason: "Watch your moves, Anthony!"
Mason showed a disdainful smile, but when he met Gan Guoyang’s gaze, he still felt intimidated.
"Sorry Sonny, it wasn’t intentional."
"No, you did it intentionally, but you can’t help it; it’s your duty. I won’t blame you. But if I harm you because of my duty, don’t blame me either."
Mason’s smile disappeared; he knew Ah Gan’s tactics.
Before the game, Riley asked Mason to play hard, Mason nodded and agreed.
But when faced with Ah Gan in the game, the innate pressure still made him feel fearful.
Many of Mason’s strength training routines were taught by Gan Guoyang; in his year in Portland, Gan Guoyang took care of him.