Chapter 1175: Chapter 23: Champion Genes
Ah Gan came to sweep the mid-range at the power forward position, aiming to pressure the Lakers’ front line.
When it was not Ah Gan but Sabonis standing for the jump ball at the center circle, the Lakers players felt something was amiss.
In the first quarter, the Trail Blazers showed dominance on both offense and defense, pulling ahead by 11 points through continuous attacking and defending.
Gan Guoyang contributed 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in the first quarter, using his agile mobility and quick reaction to shut down the Lakers’ frontline offense.
Once the front line offense was obstructed, the Lakers, visibly a tier lower than the Trail Blazers in terms of lineup, fell into a struggle.
Subsequently, the Trail Blazers showed no mercy, swiftly cutting through the chaos, and maintained a lead of over 15 points throughout.
With a full game score of 112:94, they won with an 18-point advantage, eliminating the Lakers with a series score of 3:1 and advancing to the semifinals.
Gan Guoyang, in his 9-year career, has lost only two games in the first round of the playoffs, showing a highly stable ability to dominate weaker teams.
A full game of 33 points, 17 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 5 steals showcased his excellent offensive and defensive state.
With this game over, the Los Angeles media can now be silent.
The Los Angeles Times even commented: "Ah Gan’s dominance is as unstoppable as ever."
Gan Guoyang’s exceptional form is the key to the Trail Blazers’ advancement and even championship pursuit.
When he can deliver high-level, even dominating performances, the Trail Blazers become strong contenders for the championship.
From the playoff performances, it is clear that Gan Guoyang is contributing more and more on both ends.
A lot of filling in on defense, covering for the perimeter, often coming out to guard the ball handler.
On offense, he takes charge of organizing and scoring, switching between inside and outside, often running around the court.
In the post-game interview after the fourth match, Beelman bluntly stated, "It’s hard to imagine, Ah Gan has already done enough in the past, but now he’s doing even more. Who knows, maybe one day, he might even take over my job."
Gan Guoyang, hearing Beelman’s words, came over and loudly said, "It’s not like I haven’t done it before, Bobby! Your salary should originally include a share for me!"
Beelman laughed and shoved Gan Guoyang away, feeling that the small hiccup in the first round was not a bad thing for the Trail Blazers, but rather beneficial for getting the team into form.
After the first round ended, people’s expectations for the Trail Blazers to win the championship increased significantly because everyone realized Ah Gan was still the same Ah Gan.
Like the Phoenix Suns, who had an outstanding regular season with impressive offense.
Yet, in the playoffs’ first round, facing the Denver Nuggets, they were dragged to a fifth game.
In their first home game, the Nuggets seized the initiative, and Mutombo displayed remarkable prowess inside.
Blocking 7 shots against the Suns in a single game hindered their scoring at the rim, significantly lowering their efficiency.
After trading Sam Bowie and acquiring John Salley, the Suns became lighter and faster.
However, encountering the Denver Nuggets with heavy and tall insides in the playoffs, the Suns appeared quite awkward.
In the second game, the Suns regained their footing, tying the series at 1:1.
Come the Denver Plateau, the Suns lost the third game again!
The league’s top team, with 62 wins, found themselves on the verge of elimination in the first round.
In the crucial fourth game, the Suns finally woke up.
Charles Barkley did not want to bear the shame of being the victim of a "black eight" upset.
With a performance of 41 points and 22 rebounds, he brought the series back to Phoenix for the deciding game.
Meanwhile, Gan Guoyang was already resting in Portland, preparing for the semifinals.
Their opponent in the semifinals turned out to be the Seattle SuperSonics.
The SuperSonics easily defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 3:0 in the first round.
This young team showed immense vitality in the playoffs.
George Karl’s eccentric temperament matched this team perfectly.
In the preparatory meeting before the series began, Jerry West specifically reminded the coaching staff and players:
"The SuperSonics are a young but tough opponent, more difficult to deal with than last year. We must do our best in every detail, not just on the court but also off it. We must fully support the team in pursuing the championship."
Heading into the playoffs, the Trail Blazers displayed a different temperament compared to the regular season.
During the regular season, the entire team seemed lethargic, feeling like they were just hanging in there.
If this spirit dispersed, with a series loss in the playoffs, the Trail Blazers’ championship run would be over.
However, Gan Guoyang kept this spirit alive with his consistent performance, maintaining the team’s confidence in pursuing the championship.
With him present, the Trail Blazers had breath left, keeping the team confident in their championship chase.
Once in the playoffs, breezing through the first round to the semifinals, the Trail Blazers slowly found their rhythm.
The players gradually focused, the staff worked harder to provide services, enabling the players to concentrate on playing.
The coaching team held all-night meetings, repeatedly reviewing the major opponents’ videos, jotting down notes and tactical memos.
Even Old Tang, who hadn’t cared about basketball affairs the entire season and spent days increasing his exposure on programs, returned to Portland.
He organized Trail Blazers fans to hold rallies at the entrance of the Rose Garden Arena, strongly supporting the Trail Blazers’ quest for a fourth consecutive championship.
Old Tang was eloquent, shouting the team’s slogan during the rally, "Champion Gene!"
He stated that the Trail Blazers have the champion gene, "Once we embark on the road to the championship, we will naturally head towards the end, and no team can stop us."
"In the past eight seasons, the only real obstacle was ourselves. As long as we take care of ourselves, we will definitely reach the end and achieve a great four-time championship!"
