"Oh, Bobby, aren’t you more familiar with Gan than I am?"
After retiring, Stockton is enjoying a comfortable life in Spokane and has yet to decide what to do next.
He naturally keeps an eye on the playoffs, especially the intense battle between the Radiance and the Celtics, something that the entire league is very concerned about.
"I just wanted to exchange some ideas with you, just casually chatting."
"Well... if I have to say something, you should always make Gan make choices on defense and seize the initiative. Responding passively will leave you at Gan’s mercy."
"That’s very right, very good, thank you, John, your words are really enlightening!"
"Also, the point guard position must score more."
This sentence gave Beelman greater insight; he recalled the 1997 playoffs where the Jazz eliminated the Trail Blazers.
John Stockton put on a strong scoring performance during the series, which was crucial for the Jazz’s advancement.
In this series, Nash’s performance often decides the game’s outcome.
If Nash plays well, the Celtics can at least compete evenly or win.
Once Nash attacks poorly, there’s no point for the Celtics to continue, they might as well quit.
Thinking of this, Beelman silently jotted down the key points in his notebook.
He kept working until he was too tired to continue and finally fell asleep; early the next morning, he got up to attend team practice.
He needs to be fully prepared to deliver a deadly blow to the Radiance and Gan at the decisive game.
On the other side, Radiance’s pre-game prep wasn’t very thorough, and Tomjanovich was communicating with the coaching staff via phone.
However, phone communications can never be as effective as face-to-face discussions, and Old Tang’s weak health prevented him from saying much.
Ultimately, Porter and the two assistant coaches had to make the decisions.
Porter has a keen sense for the game, but pre-game preparation isn’t his strength.
The two assistant coaches could handle some partial tasks, but the overall coordination demanded the head coach’s involvement.
Old Tang went back to the hospital; nobody wanted to stress him any further. He could return for Game 6, but no one wanted to exhaust him completely.
In the end, the task of preparing tactics and managing rotations fell on Porter’s shoulders.
After checking into the hotel, Porter kept himself busy and didn’t rest at all; he was doing his best to prepare the team for victory.
Thus, after a day of rest, both teams soon entered the crucial Game 5 battle.
On May 26, at 7 p.m., the Boston Fleet Center witnessed the resumption of the fierce contest.
Similar to Game 1, both teams started on an even footing; after four games of intense competition, both teams had significant shifts in mindset.
The veteran players on the Radiance completely abandoned their underestimation of Celtics; no matter how formidable the duo might be, the Green Army is genuinely a championship-level team and not taking them seriously could lead to dire consequences.
On the other hand, the young Celtics players remain confident but have moved away from the mindset of achieving major accomplishments.
They understand it’s not that easy; it’s really not that easy—they shouldn’t think of legacy when they need to survive and keep fighting on the court. The duo isn’t to be underestimated.
Boston’s fans remained as enthusiastic as ever, with Auerbach seated in his usual spot, carrying a cigar prepared for the night.
ABC TV Station’s host Mitchell Tefuya provided live coverage, and the deafening sound forced her to raise her volume to the maximum.
"The incredibly fierce Eastern Conference Finals, with both teams delivering unparalleled performances in the last game, makes everyone anticipate tonight’s situation. The Celtics are younger, while the Las Vegas Radiance, with the magical combination of Gan and Jordan, are historically best. Whether they can make it to the finals, this game will be decisive!"
The TV ratings for this matchup have been continuously climbing, undoubtedly peaking with this game, while advertising fees kept skyrocketing.
The Western Conference Finals between the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks had their own highlights, with Kobe and Dirk Nowitzki’s intense duels and the Trail Blazers and Mavericks’ ultimate clash of spear and shield.
But in comparison, they received significantly less attention.
The allure of Gan and Jordan’s matchup is unparalleled, and the Celtics are equally worthy opponents of their full efforts.
The starting lineups of both teams remained unchanged from the last game, with adjustments in tactical details rather than the lineup.
Yao Ming tapped the ball to Jordan during the jump ball, and the game officially began.
Radiance’s opening offensive strategy remained Princeton-based, with Gan Guoyang holding the ball at the high post and Yao Ming positioned low.
The Celtics didn’t change their matchups; Duncan still had to defend Gan Guoyang. After probing high post positions, Gan Guoyang suddenly made a mid-range shot and scored two points!
Originally intending to pass it inside to Yao Ming, he realized Big Z was fronting Yao, while Bowen lurked on the wing, prompting Gan Guoyang to recognize it as a trap and opt for a jump shot.
The shot went in, but Radiance’s tactics didn’t materialize, contradicting pre-game arrangements.
Old Tang hoped to exploit Yao Ming’s offensive potential to relieve Gan Guoyang’s scoring pressure inside.
The idea was correct, but the Celtics seemed to be aware and significantly strengthened Yao Ming’s defense.
On the offensive end, a pick-and-roll between Nash and Duncan led to a breakthrough, but passing the ball to the wing, Bowen missed a three-pointer.
Bowen’s corner three-point shooting percentage has declined steadily over the last two games, with Gerald Wallace contributing to his exhaustion.
The pick-and-roll between Jordan and Gan Guoyang continued, with Jordan driving to the basket and passing to the wing Gan Guoyang, who hit another mid-range shot!
Opening with two consecutive hits made Celtics fans sweat nervously on-site.
Could Gan’s night mirror the last game, resulting in another 45, or perhaps even 50-point performance?
In fans’ minds, such feats seem effortless for Gan.
Yet Gan Guoyang knew in his heart he couldn’t peak so early now.
He scored 45 points in the previous game after hitting his stride in the latter part of the second quarter, maintaining it until the end.
Starting aggressively would leave him exhausted by the third and fourth quarters.
"Increase your offensive, Da Yao."
On defense, Gan Guoyang instructed Yao Ming.
Yao Ming nodded and then Duncan, attacking from the low post, turned from the baseline and scored with a bank shot.
After adjusting during Games 3 and 4, Duncan no longer feared Yao Ming’s defense, having found some tips.
Utilize footwork, approach from the baseline, and shoot from mid-range near the free-throw line—these responses tested Yao Ming’s defense.
The series allowed players to study each other, engage in offensive and defensive duels with dynamic strategies.
Duncan is smart; Yao Ming, equally smart, lacks experience.
When he received Gan Guoyang’s pass and turned to attack, Bowen’s interference during a double-teaming caused a turnover.
The Celtics counterattacked, with Nash running furiously towards the frontcourt.
Instead of passing, Nash took a coast-to-coast drive to score a layup!
Gan Guoyang and Jordan intended to block Nash’s passing lanes but hadn’t anticipated his direct approach.
The score was tied at 4:4, with both teams keeping it there for about two minutes, exhibiting aggressive defensive actions without holding back in an opener that wasn’t merely probing—they had long tested the waters and were now fighting for survival.
Consistently double-teamed and fronted, Yao Ming found himself pressured by Celtics into assuming the burden of interior offense from the get-go.
Duncan’s efficient defense blocked Gan Guoyang’s hook attempts.
Duncan’s low post offensive faced similar disruptions, Gerald Wallace’s breakthrough was blocked by Big Z, and Pierce grabbed the board.
Pierce’s counterattack was hindered by Jordan’s interception, but Bowen swiftly sidestepped Jordan, leading to a midfield contention.
The referee called a jump ball, with Jordan tapping the ball to Gan, who seized the chance to sling a direct pass to Miller, but Nash managed to swat the ball out from Miller’s hands, sending it out of bounds.
Radiance retained possession yet missed a clean scoring opportunity.
It seemed tonight no one would have an easy time scoring.