Chapter 685: Chapter 58 Teammates_3
Jordan is simply outclassed by Guoyang in terms of height, power, and wingspan. They are completely different players. How can Jordan defend against him?
After scoring, Guoyang taunted Jordan, "Are you guys dumb? You’re defending me on the perimeter, but I have long legs, I can run to the inside!"
Jordan shook his head, thinking that indeed it was foolish. How could they fall for the Trail Blazers’ tactics?
On the sidelines, Phil Jackson quickly realized how silly it was to have Jordan defending Guoyang.
Guoyang wasn’t foolish. Facing Jordan’s defense, he wouldn’t show off his perimeter skills like people expected, getting caught up in a fight with Jordan—though he might have done that in the past, but now he wanted to win and wouldn’t do so.
The Trail Blazers possessed the best perimeter ball movement system in the League, along with excellent inside-out play cooperation and superb feeding chemistry among players.
With a simple three-passes-two-leads, Guoyang was able to change roles quickly, swiftly moving from the small forward to the low post position; by that time, Jordan would be powerless to stop him.
The scores were still even.
Jordan back to the free-throw line, powerfully backing down Hornacek.
Using skilled back-to-the-basket moves combined with feints, turning around to take the middle lane, ending with a left-handed layup.
Jordan’s legs seemed to have springs installed; a seemingly normal layup ended with his release point higher than the basket.
This shouldn’t be called a layup but rather a "down-basket" as the ball dropped into the basket from above.
Of course, he did this to avoid Guoyang’s block.
Guoyang once again handled the ball outside, and Jordan again defended him.
When Guoyang passed the ball to Hornacek, Jordan immediately switched with Pippen.
But at the moment of the switch, Guoyang cut inside again, and Hornacek lobbed the ball to him under the basket.
Guoyang jumped to catch the ball, attempted a layup but missed due to Pippen’s interference, grabbed the rebound, went up again, and was interfered with by Grant.
Still, Guoyang secured the ball, Jordan swatted the ball out of Guoyang’s hand amidst the chaos, but Guoyang still maintained control.
On the third attempt, he put the ball in the basket and drew a foul from Bill Cartwright, earning an extra free throw.
A Moses Malone style of rough play, one against four, getting the ball into the basket and hurting the opposition.
Jordan was unhappy with the play, berated Bill Cartwright, who was displeased.
The two had a verbal altercation, and seeing this, Jackson substituted Cartwright for Will Purdue.
Bobby Beelman also made personnel adjustments, substituting Divac for Sabonis, continuing to maintain the pressure with three towers.
Guoyang made the extra free throw, continuing to score and helping the Trail Blazers regain a one-point lead.
Then, over several more possessions, the Bulls continued to miss.
On the Trail Blazers’ side, Guoyang, utilizing his drawing power and passing skills, launched another beautiful set offence.
Facing Jordan’s mid-range shot, Guoyang said to Jordan: "Michael, what the hell have you guys been doing in the second half? Where’s your drive and passion? Why are you defending me? Where are your rotations? Where’s your counterattack? Where’s your fast break? Waiting to be overtaken by me?"
Jackson whistled from the sideline, signaling a strategy change, to not have Jordan guard Ah Gan any longer.
For this game, Jackson wanted too much; he was too greedy.
He wanted to win, to train players, to build a psychological advantage, to toughen up Jordan.
He wanted to use sage to dispel impurity, Zen thought to calm the players, the zeal of Christianity to unite them, and the unrestrained vibe of hippies to gel with the players...
In short, his coaching philosophy and his life were a mix of many contradictory, yet internally harmonious elements.
But all of that seemed somewhat illusory in face of absolute basketball skills. Ah Gan was like a sharp blade, capable of cutting through everything.
Jordan no longer foolishly defended Ah Gan directly; Guoyang’s words awoke him significantly.
He realized that his battle with Ah Gan, which started back in 1985, had never changed.
It’s always been that simple, pure, like two unarmed boxers, punching each other blow after blow until one falls.
Facing Ah Gan, the only way forward was to press on.
With that understanding, Jordan cast aside all the over-complicated thoughts and engaged fully for the 12th time in the grand battle with Ah Gan.
As the third quarter ended and the fourth quarter began, the intensity of the clash between the two heated up.
Jackson and Bobby Beelman abandoned their tactical setups, letting the two players go at it.
Jordan’s mid-range shots were impeccable tonight; his off-the-ball movements and quick shootings left Hornacek unable to defend.
Meanwhile, Guoyang made full use of his deceptive capability between the small forward and power forward positions, continuously confusing the Bulls and shaking off their frustrating triple-team.
Once again, the game became a stage for the two performers, with the atmosphere at the Chicago Stadium growing more tense as the game progressed.
Each time Jordan made a shot, the crowd erupted in a loud cheer.
But soon, the cheers were drowned out by the successful shots made by Ah Gan.
The game moved into a critical phase in the fourth quarter, Jordan held the ball outside the left three-point line, facing Petrović.
After a series of subtle but lifelike feints, Jordan made a beautiful back-turned dribble from the baseline into the basket.
Before Guoyang’s hand could block him, Jordan leapt up and slammed the ball in with one hand!
