In basketball, Gan Guoyang was someone who "found his path" early on.
In his early 20s, at an NBA coaching conference in Los Angeles, he grasped the ultimate basketball dictum of Dr. Naismith: "The ultimate game is to attack wherever the ball is, starting from the place you receive the ball."
That time, Coach John Wooden asked Gan Guoyang if Dr. Naismith’s words really represented the ultimate in basketball.
Gan Guoyang asked Wooden in return, what does "ultimate" mean.
Wooden said it’s a perfect system that can be invincible.
Gan Guoyang shook his head in rejection, saying that Dr. Naismith didn’t mean that.
He said at the time: "If one day basketball comes to have an ultimate play style that all teams use, it means the sport is nearing extinction. Everything converges, there’s no diversity, and basketball loses its charm. Dr. Naismith wasn’t saying there is an ultimate tactic for invincibility, but rather reminding people of the basic principle of playing, consistently remembering to attack and getting everyone involved. It’s not the end of basketball, but the beginning."
This interpretation earned significant admiration from Wooden.
In the years following, Gan Guoyang continued to practice this philosophy.
He was the sharpest spear, while leading his teammates to conquer fortifications, bringing offense to its peak during the great defense era.
With a style beyond his time, his philosophy, ability, and physical skills weren’t matched by other players.
He could act with impunity, commanding both offense and defense, dominating and controlling everyone, even the referees couldn’t escape his grasp.
But as time went by, Gan Guoyang aged, while times advanced, and the generational gap narrowed.
After losing the high vantage point, what is seen changes.
Practicing the same philosophy becomes more difficult and complex than before, but also more interesting.
Sitting on the bench during a timeout, Gan Guoyang asked Barkley, "Charles, how does it feel to play inside at 6-foot-6?"
Barkley didn’t understand what Gan Guoyang meant, replying, "Great! I just turn and I can see your breasts."
Gan Guoyang thought it over and decided it wasn’t worth sounding out a person deaf to wisdom, avoiding to waste more words with this fat man.
"Sonny, when can I go on?" Barkley was more concerned about his playing time.
"I’m not the coach, why are you asking me?"
"?? Didn’t you say I’m the back-up team, the secret weapon?"
"Yeah, the secret weapon has to remain secret, why the rush?"
Watching the Trail Blazers turn the tide, Barkley was itching with impatience.
Actually, barely three minutes into the third quarter, it’s too early for rotations.
The Lakers quickly made adjustments, Phil Jackson immediately subbed out the offensively weak Rodman, putting in Robert Horry.
Back in the 97-98 season, Rodman was already a pseudo-starter, often rested after twenty-some minutes, giving more time to Toni Kukoc.
In some games, Rodman simply sat on the bench, with Kukoc starting at power forward to support the Bulls’ offense.
This year, Rodman was already 37, nearing the end of his career, but his rebounding skills were still dominant, averaging 14 rebounds per game.
However, his offense had completely regressed, in the Bulls he occasionally had sparks, now even those had vanished.
If not for the league’s illegal defense rules preventing early double teaming and zone defense, Rodman could be left open every play.
Jackson’s true ace on the line was still Robert Horry, the big-hearted, versatile forward.
Once on the court he immediately contributed, receiving a beautiful bounce pass from Jide, cutting in and laying it up, helping the Lakers stop the bleeding.
Then, defensively, Horry more effectively disrupted Sabonis, sticking to him early and keeping active, preventing him from getting the ball smoothly at the high post.
The Trail Blazers ran out of moves, Gan Guoyang came out to set a pick for Brellock, but after rolling Brellock’s pass was intercepted by Jide.
Lakers’ counterattack, Ron Harper received a pass from Jide at the perimeter, shot a three-pointer and scored!
Scoring 5 points in quick succession, the Lakers suppressed the Trail Blazers’ fierce counterattack, indeed veteran players stabilize the situation.
Phil Jackson recruited these veterans specifically to help the Lakers hold the line at crucial moments.
Right away, Gan Guoyang attacked from the low post, drawing a foul, the layup connected after a spin, and created a defensive foul on Horry.
Standing at the free throw line, he easily hit the bonus, quickly responding to Harper’s three-pointer.
In the third quarter, when it really counted, Gan Guoyang was still trusted, and the Lakers struggled to find a reasonable way to suppress Gan Guoyang’s scoring inside.
However, Jackson wasn’t worried, he knew Ah Gan now finds it difficult to single-handedly defeat a team, if the Trail Blazers can’t continue high-quality performance either offensively or defensively, the leading Lakers could keep them down and strangle them.
The next two possessions saw neither side scoring, the game entering a stalemate, with the Lakers maintaining an 8-point lead, comfortably in control.
As Trail Blazers’ fans grew anxious, a dead ball opportunity came, and Carl adjusted the lineup.
He substituted Sabonis and Dell Curry, bringing in Ben Wallace and Little O’Neal.
With the third quarter nearing its end, theoretically, it wasn’t rotation time yet.
But Carl strictly followed Gan Guoyang’s plan; trailing by 8 points, it was time to send in the fresh forces.