Gan Guoyang’s ability to disrupt is still too strong. He jumps for the second time, tips the ball up, jumps again, and tips again!
Rodman and Kukoc tried to grab the rebound, but Gan Guoyang controlled the ball like a seal with a ball.
A crucial defense—if Jordan scores again, the situation would be dire.
Gan Guoyang, having grabbed the rebound, is about to start, and Jordan can only foul him to stop him.
The pressing in the frontcourt and the final layup effort narrowly missed, an almost successful switch-hand layup just falling short.
"Damn it," Jordan cursed to himself. If it hadn’t been for Ah Gan’s interference from behind, that shot would have gone in for sure.
Jordan had to admit that he was indeed getting older, slower, and less agile than when he was young.
Although Ah Gan was also slowing down, getting older, a center has the advantage of static attributes on defense.
The Trail Blazers called for substitutions, taking out the underperforming Chris Mullin and putting in Old Porter, a three-guard lineup to secure possession.
Gan Guoyang was tasked with the sideline throw-in, eyes fixed on Porter, but passed to Kobe with a fake.
Kobe dribbled quickly past half-court, wisely passing the ball to Sabonis at the top of the arc, forcing the Bulls to come up and challenge.
Sabonis, with his excellent vision and tall physique, flicked his wrist and passed to Porter, who was cutting to the basket.
Porter didn’t go for the layup. Instead, he dribbled out, took the Bulls players for a loop, and suddenly made a concealed pass to the other side to Gan Guoyang.
Left baseline, Gan Guoyang’s sweet spot. Defending Gan Guoyang was none other than Jordan, who had switched onto him after multiple rotations.
The Bulls’ defensive formation had already become disorganized. Jordan could only rush to him as Gan Guoyang made a probing step, then directly jumped for a shot.
Jordan leaped high, trying to block, stretching his arm and fingers to the limit, feeling he was almost touching the ball in Gan Guoyang’s hand.
But Gan Guoyang leaned back slightly in the air and released the ball just before Jordan’s hand could touch it.
A high arc, the ball spinning rapidly, landed securely in the net.
This shot increased the difference back over 10 points, with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
As Jordan was caught in a trap and passed to Cole, Cole missed a three-pointer. Gan Guoyang once again controlled the rebound, and the Bulls lost hope of a comeback.
The Trail Blazers used up the full 24 seconds on offense, and Jordan managed a tough basket drive for two points, filled with his own frustration.
The final five minutes, the Ah Gan vs. Jordan showdown, flashed by fiercely but all too briefly.
No more bloody battles of the past, no adrenaline-pumping shootouts.
Not because the two had grown old; their hearts had never aged. It was just that this year’s Trail Blazers were too strong.
The Bulls played very well tonight, showing strength in all positions even without Pippen.
But they still couldn’t lift their heads against the Overpowering Trail Blazers, leading for not a single minute of the entire game.
This is 1997, not 1987, not the Chicago Bulls that was useless without Jordan.
This was the Bulls, who could still be among the top in the Eastern Conference without Pippen, who had won three championships, and had once achieved 72 wins.
Yet Jordan felt as if time had reversed 10 years, or perhaps even worse than 10 years ago.
Ten years ago, at least Ah Gan would fight him fiercely; they would wreak havoc on the court, with the sky and earth turning dark.
Now? Ah Gan only bared his fangs briefly at the end, then disappeared into the dark player tunnel with victory, along with his teammates.
The score froze at 110 to 97, with the Trail Blazers casually scoring 110 points against the Bulls.
Fans left the United Center disappointed on Christmas Eve, even more so because they saw no hope of defeating the Trail Blazers.
Jordan still valiantly scored 41 points, but to no avail. He couldn’t stop the tidal wave of offense from the Trail Blazers.
On the way back to the locker room, Pippen followed Jordan, saying he’d be back in two weeks.
Regarding Pippen’s "drama," Jordan supported him, thinking Krause had gone too far.
While Pippen was absent, Jordan diligently carried the team on his own without any complaints.
But now, faced with the damage Pippen’s absence had caused, realizing they were no match for the Trail Blazers without him, Jordan couldn’t help but sarcastically remark:
"What’s the use of you coming back? Can you handle Ah Gan?"
Pippen’s face flushed red, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I’ll do my best, you know I always try my best."
"I told you long ago to sign a short contract, a short contract, and you never listened to me!"
Jordan knew everything stemmed from that terrible low-paying contract—he had already advised Pippen, but Pippen didn’t listen.
Everything today was the fruit of that seed planted by that contract.
Pippen didn’t expect Jordan to bring up something so long ago. He knew Jordan had surely gone mad after losing.
"You must be crazy, Michael. That was ages ago. We should think about the future, not be caught up in the past!"
They were now in the locker room, still ignoring Jerry Krause, having completely severed their ties.
Pippen pulled Jordan aside and said, "Michael, maybe we should leave here together. I feel like throwing up every time I see Jerry Krause’s face."
Pippen kept talking about the future, while Jordan looked him up and down, as if to say, "Are you serious?"
And Pippen, with his eyes, indicated he was serious. Whether for money or for a championship, Chicago was no longer worth staying for.
"We should be thinking more about the present. No matter what, this season, we have to go all the way, no matter how strong Ah Gan is, no matter how many victories he secures."
Jordan said to Pippen with a firm tone. Pippen didn’t say anything else, but knowing Jordan well, he saw a hint of uncertainty in Jordan’s eyes.
Yes, who wouldn’t waver when facing such a Portland Trail Blazers?