The earlier games didn't really take a toll on him.
Bald-headed Crawford brought the ball over, asking the two players if they were ready.
The two nodded, the ball was tossed, and the game began.
Even though O'Neal had a larger frame and outstanding height and wingspan, Gan Guoyang still managed to tip the ball first.
The Trail Blazers launched their first attack, the West Finals Game 7 had begun.
When Gan Guoyang returned to his most familiar center position, the Trail Blazers' half-court offense became very simple and clear.
Passing around the perimeter, looking for passing opportunities, weak side squats ready to catch and shoot threes.
This has been the most stable, ace system since the Trail Blazers acquired Gan Guoyang in 1985.
This system doesn't need the coach to teach; the players don't even need to practice much, any player can do it, it's really simple.
In these two seasons, it's used less because the Trail Blazers pursue a more efficient playstyle that maximizes Gan Guoyang's value, reducing his consumption.
However, in the Game 7 of the West Finals, the so-called efficiency, low consumption, flexibility, and comprehensiveness no longer matter; they want to win, steadily win.
Gan Guoyang first faked a post-up on the right, then swapped with Little O'Neal, moving to the left to receive the ball.
Sabonis delivered a precise pass to Gan Guoyang; Gan Guoyang received the ball and spun inside, with Thorpe coming over to double-team.
Gan Guoyang passed the ball out, Sabonis caught it, passed again, and this time Gan Guoyang caught it and spun the other way, heading to the baseline, with a high-difficulty left-handed sky hook!
A beautiful arc, a beautiful sky hook, the ball went in precisely, scoring the first point of the game.
The TV camera thoughtfully showed Jabbar sitting courtside, his face solemn; in fact, shots like just now are quite difficult for Jabbar to hook in.
His hooking strength lies in his right hand, and once forced to the left, he mostly opts to pass or turn and shoot, rather than a less certain left-hand hook.
Ah Gan is different; his left-hand hook is as precise as his right, indicative of his talent and effort behind the scenes.
Moreover, by the 2000 season, hooking was not a common attack method for Gan Guoyang, yet he confidently pulled it out for you, and it was effective.
The Trail Blazers' opening defense was risky, extremely shrinking, leaving the Lakers open at two 45-degree angles, letting Jide and Tracy McGrady shoot.
After repeatedly passing the ball, the Lakers found no opportunity to feed O'Neal the ball—Gan Guoyang's front defense kept O'Neal unable to break free.
Finally, Jide stepped up from the top of the arc, took a mid-range jumper, and scored two points.
Jide has always been bold with three-point shots, but even at tonight's start, he didn't dare to casually try.
"The Trail Blazers, or rather, Ah Gan, seem more relaxed."
David Stern was at the game tonight; just one play and he sensed Gan Guoyang appeared very relaxed.
Relaxed and natural Ah Gan is not underestimating, it means he could quickly get into the zone.
Gan Guoyang's second point came quickly, still from the left, low-post positioning against O'Neal for the catch.
In the current league, besides Gan Guoyang, you probably won't find a second center daring to go one-on-one in the low post against O'Neal continuously.
O'Neal tried pushing Gan Guoyang out; Gan Guoyang did take a step out, but once he caught the ball, his footwork instantly initiated.
Another spin move, this time he avoided Thorpe's double-team, charging down the middle, and shot a moving hook!
Another high-difficulty maneuver, yet the ball traced a high arc, swishing in! Two more points.
Sidelined, Rick Carlisle's heart was pounding, was it necessary to open with such high-difficulty shots?
Near the free-throw line, facing a double-team both front and back, using a hook shot?
Even though Gan Guoyang assured him, Carlisle's heart was still pounding.
Shortly after, Tracy McGrady responded with a three-pointer on offense, and the crowd went wild.
The Lakers' opening wasn't lacking, coming back, Little O'Neal's driving layup met a resounding block from behind by Tracy McGrady.
The Lakers got a fast break chance, Jide passed it to Robert Horry at the corner, Holi shot from mid-range and made it!
7:4, the Lakers' start was beautiful, even with O'Neal being marked firmly by Gan Guoyang, they played a beautiful team offense.
However, in the next three minutes, both sides entered a very chaotic phase of offense and defense.
The Lakers also double-teamed Gan Guoyang; Kobe's drive for a layup from the perimeter didn't succeed.
The Lakers countered, passed to O'Neal, Gan Guoyang stood his ground low against O'Neal, Sabonis came over to help defend.
O'Neal passed to Thorpe cutting down the middle, but Thorpe's layout was blocked by the recovering Gan Guoyang.
Trail Blazers counter-attack, steady down, passed to Gan Guoyang low, before the double-team comes, spun and hooked again.
A steady two-point, by now Carlisle no longer feels anxious about Gan Guoyang's hooks but reassured.
A sense of security only a super center can provide a coach, give him the ball, he'll work it into the basket for you.
7:6, the Trail Blazers trailed by 1 point.
Yet the Lakers faced the Trail Blazers' extreme shrinking defense, lost their aim on the perimeter.
Tracy McGrady put up a short mid-range shot, Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound, calmly and steadily countering.
Gave it to Kobe, Kobe drove, passed off to Gan Guoyang at the 45-degree angle, a no-frills mid-range shot, hit.
7:8, the Trail Blazers took the lead, all 8 points came from Gan Guoyang.
Phil Jackson didn't call a timeout, with a 1-point difference, allowing the players some problem-solving opportunities.
Where did the problem lie? Is it poor shooting feel? Or too impulsive, or perhaps facing the extreme shrinkage they hesitated.
All of the above, in short, the Lakers players weren't relaxed enough.
In fact, besides Ah Gan, the Trail Blazers also weren't that relaxed.
Only this old hand, who didn't even do shooting practice all day, watched movies and made phone calls instead, was truly relaxed.
Because he's already reached a certain level, pressures, tension, have long been insulated from him.
Game 7 is his stage, just like Jackie Chan in a furniture store, that's his kingdom.
Jide tried another mid-range but missed again, Gan Guoyang grabbed another defensive rebound.
When he appears in the game as a center, the Lakers might as well not think about offensive rebounds.
Still, slow and steady half-court play, Gan Guoyang positioned far out at a 45-degree angle to prevent double-teams.
The moment he caught the ball, he spun and moved down, to the right baseline, dispatched O'Neal, and performed a graceful zero angle sky hook.
Is this a shot a normal person can make? Seriously, this is Game 7!
But Gan Guoyang can do it, the ball flew precisely over O'Neal's head, towards the hoop, through the net, scored two!
10:7, the Trail Blazers lead by 3 points; Gan Guoyang 5 out of 5, accounting for all the scores, forcing a Lakers timeout.
Referee Joe Crawford had run nearly half a quarter with both teams, only blew a scramble foul, the rest, he had no room to play.
With Gan Guoyang in this state, how do you call anything? Do you fault him for his relaxed posture, not being serious enough?
Back at the bench, a slightly sweaty Gan Guoyang plopped down, drank some water, and said, "Watch closely guys, this is just the beginning. Play good defense, refrain from fouls, stay on the court and watch, it'll be more exciting."
After Gan Guoyang said this, the teammates felt even better, a few veterans knew well that tonight was going to be Ah Gan's night.