Their reliance on three-point shots led to only 4 successful hits out of 16 attempts in the entire game, a rate that makes winning tough.
And Gan Guoyang’s performance of 28 points and 15 rebounds for the whole game wasn’t enough to turn the tide in the final stage.
If Gan Guoyang had managed 35 points and grabbed two more offensive rebounds, they could have won the game.
But it was not to be, and by the end of the game, Gan Guoyang felt a tinge of disappointment in himself.
Things that used to be done easily seem to be getting difficult, and it’s an unpleasant feeling.
Since the end of the finals, Gan Guoyang has not undergone complete, systematic, and targeted training.
During the game, it became evident that his control over his body was declining; where his mind, body, and hand once worked in synergy, now his mind arrives, and his body lags behind.
"Indeed, everything goes out of control, beginning with losing control over yourself first."
The sense of losing control is becoming increasingly apparent for Gan Guoyang, both on and off the court.
To cope with the negative impacts of the spy scandal, Gan Guoyang had to sell nearly half of his assets, ensuring he has enough cash to maintain an exit strategy, while also managing relationships.
After the game, his good friend Stockton came over to comfort Gan Guoyang, knowing that he was burdened by these troubles and played nothing like himself tonight.
"Everything will get better. In fact, I think the league should arrange a retirement tour for you; no one is more deserving of this honor than you."
"I never said I would definitely retire; besides, with the current situation, Stern wouldn’t do that. What if I really am a spy?"
"I don’t believe that; it’s complete persecution. Even if you were a spy, you haven’t harmed America; instead, you’ve protected your country’s people. What’s wrong with that? You’ve contributed so much without harming this country. How is that being a spy? Some of those sitting in high positions profess patriotism while continuously harming the citizens; they are worse than spies."
"Let’s not talk about it, this shouldn’t be said..."
Gan Guoyang quickly told Stockton to stop, because he was being monitored all the time and didn’t want to drag his friend into trouble.
After losing to the Jazz, on November 6th, the Trail Blazers shifted their battle to Seattle to meet old rival Supersonics.
Patrick Ewing is also facing the countdown to his career; at 37, he is a year older than Gan Guoyang.
If he had a championship ring in hand, he might have retired after this season, but empty-handed, he has to keep fighting.
After firing George Karl, Supersonics hired former Suns coach Paul Westphal, hoping he can lead them to regain their former glory.
During the summer, the Supersonics strengthened their lineup by signing strong players like Horace Grant, Brent Barry, and Vernon Maxwell, determined to give it another shot.
Although Ewing is aging, Gary Payton is only 31, right at a point guard’s peak. Seeing the Trail Blazers seem on the verge of collapse, they might have an opportunity.
This battle at KeyArena had enthusiastic Supersonics fans seeing a glimmer of hope as the Trail Blazers underperformed, losing on the road 94-100.
Seattle and Portland have had decades of grudges, and the people of Seattle won’t miss any chance to gloat.
During the game, they continually booed Gan Guoyang, and after winning, they celebrated extravagantly, as if they’d won the championship.
Losing to strong Western Conference teams in consecutive games, the Trail Blazers failed to score over 100 points in either game.
This greatly contrasts with the highly offensive Trail Blazers from the past two seasons, almost appearing like a different team.
Their three-point shooting percentage has dropped severely, and the mistakes in fast breaks have noticeably increased.
The success rate in set offenses and points per hundred possessions have also greatly decreased, all contributing to the team’s losses.
Since Charles Barkley returned to the bench as a substitute, his effectiveness isn’t as good as when he started.
Barkley, already a veteran, needs game time to find his form, especially as an offensive-oriented short inside player.
His shooting consistency is unpredictable, and the decline in athletic ability means he can’t pull off explosive quick attacks.
Previously, the Trail Blazers’ second lineup was young-player-based, coming out like a whirlwind, sometimes more aggressive than the starters, overwhelming many opponents.
Now? With Kobe moved to the starting lineup, Riddle gone, Alan Henderson not being an impact player, Porter aging another year, and Little O’Neal and Ben Wallace stronger on defense than offense.
The one left is Charles Barkley. Relying on him to drive a rapid attack in the second lineup? That’s clearly unrealistic.
How to utilize Barkley has become a significant headache for Rick Carlisle.
Postgame, Barkley even came up with a highly imaginative and creative suggestion: "Let me start, have Ah Gan come off the bench!"
Indeed imaginative and creative, but was immediately denied, as Gan Guoyang could not be benched.
There was little time for the Trail Blazers’ coaching staff to make adjustments. They immediately left Seattle, returned to Portland, and were about to face their next Western Conference challenger: the Los Angeles Lakers at home.
Unlike the 2-2 Trail Blazers in their first four games, the Lakers won all four of their first matches of the season, clearly gearing up to go all out for the championship this season.
The biggest change for the Lakers this season is bringing in the former Bulls head coach Phil Jackson, who promises to bring championship experience and the Triangle Offense to the Lakers.