Chapter 892: Chapter 54: The Brave’s Game_2
It’s just that his mild temperament, measured behavior, loyal nature, exemplary conduct, and an Asian face make it easy for people to underestimate his extreme side.
Beelman had been with Ah Gan all along and was well aware of the devilish side of Gan.
As a head coach, his job was to step in and take control when the devil threatened to harm his teammates and himself.
Beelman was always worried about one thing: Ah Gan was too strong, won too much, and one day might be burdened by arrogance.
Arrogance could become Gan’s fatal flaw, so Beelman was always cautiously reminding him on the side.
When the timeout ended and they were about to take the court, Beelman grabbed Gan Guoyang and said, "Sonny, I know you’re putting pressure on Jordan, and you’re stronger than him. But you must also understand that the switch between strength and weakness often happens in an instant. You need to stay steady."
"Also, you need to be crystal clear—when the game reaches the end, what truly matters are raw strength and willpower. Don’t get stuck in the game of tactics."
Gan Guoyang understood what Beelman was saying. He nodded and replied, "I got it, Bobby."
Among all the opponents Gan Guoyang had faced, Jordan was indeed the most uncontrollable and the one most likely to break Ah Gan.
The reason was simple: because that guy was truly strong—extraordinarily strong, far better than anyone else in the league.
The good news was that the guy was somewhat dumb in certain areas, not like Bird, who was a perfectionist genius with no weaknesses.
Because of this, Gan Guoyang could often lead him by the nose.
The bad news was that, in this world, idiots often could achieve final victory because courage outweighed intelligence.
Back in the game, sure enough, Jordan started losing patience with his teammates and began attacking more directly with the ball himself.
First, he drove straight down the middle, maneuvered in the air to dodge the defense of Gan Guoyang and Lewis, and finished a switching layup.
Then, on defense, he aggressively double-teamed Gan Guoyang. After Gan passed the ball, Jordan immediately went to block the lane, successfully stealing the ball.
On the fast break, Jordan passed it to Pippen. With a two-on-one opportunity in the frontcourt, Jordan wasn’t going to let it slip. He dashed into the paint, caught the ball, and slammed it in.
With a string of quick scores, the Bulls gradually stabilized the situation.
Jordan clearly sped up his movements and rhythm, forcing his teammates to process the ball more quickly—which essentially meant passing to Jordan as fast as possible, as there was no time for hesitation.
On the other hand, on the Trail Blazers’ side, Gan Guoyang slightly slowed down the pace and increased his passing, delivering successive assists to Sabonis and Jerome Kossie, who scored in the three-second zone.
Bill Cartwright and Buck-Williams were one of the league’s most formidable defensive duos, but against Ah Gan and Sabonis, they appeared insufficient. These two were too versatile in their playstyles.
Buck-Williams’s 6’8" height limited his effectiveness, so midway through the first quarter, Phil Jackson substituted Horace Grant in for Buck-Williams.
However, on Grant’s first offensive play after coming on, he made a passing error. His pass to Pippen was too casual and was intercepted by Jerome Kossie.
Lewis raced down the court and scored a fast-break dunk against Jordan’s defense!
The Trail Blazers reestablished a lead of more than five points.
Though the Bulls, led by Jordan, were gradually regaining their offensive rhythm, the overall situation was still firmly under the Trail Blazers’ control.
Grant’s passing mistake infuriated Jordan, who directly berated Grant: "If you’re not ready, then don’t step on the court!"
Grant wanted to talk back, but Pippen stepped in to stop him and urged him to focus on the game. "That’s just Michael for you; you’ve known him long enough."
While Jordan was fuming, Gan Guoyang was far from calm himself. Jerome Kossie made consecutive defensive errors—one late rotation and another leaving Pippen wide open—leading to crucial breakdowns in their defense.
"Focus, kid, focus! Look into my eyes! You have to give it your all starting from the first quarter. That’s the only way to win. Got it?!"
Kossie glanced at Gan Guoyang’s eyes and immediately lowered his head. The burning desire to win in Ah Gan’s gaze made him feel a sharp sting.
Jordan and Gan Guoyang, the two accelerants, were quickly increasing the intensity of the game.
"The most spectacular thing about Michael and Ah Gan facing off is how swiftly they elevate the match to a searing, intense level, forcing everyone to give their all in the confrontation. There’s no room for even a moment of distraction or complacency. Meeting in the Finals, I’m certain their teammates must be feeling a tremendous, overwhelming amount of pressure," NBC commentator Marvin Albert remarked, watching the Finals as the first quarter was already heating up, explaining why games between Ah Gan and Jordan were always so mesmerizing.
They forced both opponents and teammates alike to instantly reach 100%, or even 150%, of their potential. It’s no wonder these games were so intense.
True to form, Jordan adjusted the Bulls’ offensive and defensive strategies, scoring 15 points in the first quarter and helping the Bulls narrow the gap in the final moments of the quarter.
This included a successful double-team on Gan Guoyang, stripping the ball right out of his hands. On the fast break, Jordan charged ahead without hesitation, tongue out, and dunked the ball into the basket!
After that flashy counterattack, the Bulls and the Trail Blazers were locked at 29:30, trailing by just one point. Jordan’s points accounted for over half of the team’s total.
Yet Phil Jackson was not satisfied with Jordan’s performance. His excessive shot attempts in the first quarter disrupted the team’s offensive strategies.
However, during the break, Jackson refrained from criticizing Jordan, knowing the timing wasn’t right. Jordan’s impatience at this stage was understandable.
