Many Portland fans are hoping the Trail Blazers can turn the tide and bring home the championship trophy.
People made banners that read "Win this championship for Reggie and Dražen."
The latest issue of Sports Illustrated features Petrović and Lewis on the cover and poses the question: Can the Portland people still create miracles?
"The passing of the two not only brought immense sorrow but also meant losing two very important core roles, a loss that’s multifaceted, combining psychological and physical impacts, bringing about devastating destruction. The Trail Blazers’ chances of winning the championship might be below 1%."
"However, maybe a 1% chance is too harsh; they still have hope, not only because they won two away games but also because they have Ah Gan."
There are various reasons for people not being optimistic about the Trail Blazers and feeling regret and pity for them.
But there’s only one reason to still believe in the Trail Blazers: they have Gan Guoyang.
However, on the day of the game on June 26th, when Gan Guoyang woke up early from bed, he still felt like he was dreaming.
Every morning during past finals, when he woke from his dreams, he always had a strong conviction: a new day, new hope, we will win.
But lately, this conviction has become blurry, his mind is chaotic, and he lies in bed dazed for a while, confirming that Lewis and Petrović are gone, time cannot flow backward, before he can get up.
In the morning, he went to the sports center at Portland Community College for training; the team’s condition looked somewhat better than the last game.
Bobby Berman gradually returned to normal from his excitement and anxious talking. He was working hard to encourage everyone, hiding his own sadness.
Jerry West always stayed with the team, and after seeing the team’s situation, he shook his head to himself, murmuring, "Time is still too short, too short."
West doesn’t hold too much hope for victory, especially as he notices the unwavering determination in Gan Guoyang’s eyes is no longer there; it’s their only reliance.
However, he absolutely cannot blame Ah Gan; no one can blame him, demand from him.
"Perhaps he’s too strong, and that’s why God is so cruel, stripping him of his left and right arms."
At noon, Gan Guoyang went home for a meal; he planned to rest a bit and go to Memorial Coliseum for a warm-up in the afternoon.
As soon as he got home, he saw Wang Fuxi rushing out of the house with an anxious look, which made Gan Guoyang’s heart tighten.
He’s been hit too hard, too heavy lately, and can’t endure any more blows. He’s reached the point of being fearful, responding to any windfall as a sign of danger.
Wang Fuxi grabbed Gan Guoyang and said, "Honey, something’s happened, Dad is missing!"
Gan Guoyang’s mind roared for just a moment, then turned incredibly sharp, every pore on his body opened, adrenaline shot to its peak.
"Dad is missing? What do you mean by missing!"
"In the morning, you went for training, Dad said he was going out to buy something to make lunch for you, but hasn’t come back."
"He went out to buy things, wasn’t there someone following him?"
"Peiyu followed, said he went into the supermarket and never came out for a long time. Went inside to look and found no one."
Gan Youwei, despite being old, was sharp-minded and moved freely. He usually went out by himself without requiring a bodyguard.
Recently, due to a series of events, Gan Guoyang had Feng Peiyu accompany Gan Youwei to ensure his safety.
But to buy things at the supermarket, Gan Youwei insisted on going by himself; he wasn’t a celebrity, unaccustomed to having a follower.
"Where is Feng Peiyu now?"
"Looking for the person, we’ve reported to the police, and are checking the supermarket’s CCTV."
"Stay home with the kids, I’ll go out searching. Remember, don’t leak any information outside. Considering the situation now..."
After calming down, an infinite sense of helplessness engulfed Gan Guoyang.
Though he wasn’t sure what had happened to Gan Youwei yet if his father met with an incident, Gan Guoyang didn’t know how to face everything.
Does God really exist in this world, and what does He want to do, is He trying to kill me?
If you want me dead, might as well have a meteor fall from the sky and crush me, why torture me like this?
How important is Gan Youwei to Gan Guoyang?
Before this, Gan Guoyang himself couldn’t explain clearly.
But at this moment, he was clear: if anything happens to Gan Youwei, he will never touch basketball again in his life.
Gan Guoyang’s mind was extremely chaotic, he was unable to think, and had no time for the evening game.
At this moment, Wang Fuxi firmly requested to join Gan Guoyang in searching for Gan Youwei as the children at home were being cared for by their mother.
She knew Gan Guoyang couldn’t do without someone by his side right now, she had to be with her husband.
The two got into a car, Quentin asked, "Where are we going?"
Gan Guoyang was stunned, indeed, where to go, where to search?
Wang Fuxi recalled something, saying, "To that bar! The one Dad called before!"
Gan Guoyang realized immediately and told Quentin to drive to the bar run by the female owner.
They arrived at the bar named "Eastern Star," which hadn’t opened in the afternoon yet, and there was no one inside.
Chairs were placed on the tables, the interior was dark, with only a small amount of light shining through.
Gan Guoyang met the female owner who had been in touch with Gan Youwei on the phone; she was Chinese.
Upon seeing Gan Guoyang, she showed an expression of surprise, and upon learning the old man talking with her was his father, she was even more surprised.
"Oh, he’s... he’s your father? My god."