A person can withstand the praise, the more slander it can withstand.

For Gan Guoyang, from June 3 to the finals, he experienced a gap from heaven to hell in public opinion. When the Western Conference Finals just ended, he was the hottest superstar in the United States. His skin color and nationality were all ignored. His performance in the Western Conference Finals was like a god-like performance in the Western Conference Finals, creating historical playoffs with 65 points in a single game, regular season MVP, historical record, best defensive player, rebounding king, one halo after another layer on him, and his glory was beyond words in the basketball world, just like Larry Bird in 1986 and Moses Malone in 1983.

However, everything changed completely in one night. Gan Guoyang was interviewed after training and answered reporters' questions silently and shaking his head. The scene was broadcast on major TV stations, and criticism also came one after another.

Now, many evening TV shows are discussing this incident and criticizing Gan Guoyang's behavior, which not only reminds people of the entire sports world's criticism of the Smiling Assassin after Thomas agreed with Rodman's statement that "Bird was just an ordinary player if he was not a white man."

In the United States, there are two very sensitive issues: one is race and the other is freedom. Thomas's approval is in people's opinion to agree with racial opposition, while Gan Guoyang's "negation" is to deny the freedom of the people - even if this people are not the American people.

"Eight years in the United States did not seem to have changed the inner genes of this Chinese. In this free country, he did not sympathize with his compatriots. I have to doubt the personality of this player and his original intention of insisting on not being added to American nationality." This is one of all criticisms of Gan Guoyang. It is a vicious, seemingly plain, helpless tone, but it is a heart-wrenching theory.

There are countless criticisms like this. Even on June 5th, the day when the finals are about to begin, Gan Guoyang can just turn on the TV and open the newspaper and see the discussion of him - a week ago, about basketball, and a week later, about politics.

As early as the start of the playoffs, Gan Guoyang was involved in a similar storm. The recording incident made the entire Trail Blazers' morale shake, but unlike the last time, Gan Guoyang was the victim and everyone stood on Gan Guoyang's side. What Gan Guoyang needs to solve is internal problems and the issue of the unity of the Trail Blazers.

This time it was different, almost everyone stood on their own opposite side.

However, Gan Guoyang was quite calm. Even though he suddenly lost his voice at the moment of being interviewed, Gan Guoyang was not panicked. He already understood that all he could do to deal with this matter was to do nothing.

Everything Thomas experienced in 1987 is still vivid in his mind. At the press conference, Thomas's stubbornness and Bird's sleeves left. On the TV show, Thomas was full of helplessness and depression. At that time, he was almost an enemy of the world.

Thomas won the championship in 1988 and scored 25 points in a single quarter with a wounded leg. He became a hero in the American basketball world again. Gan Guoyang, who came from later generations, also knew that as time passed, a person called a "hero" would become more and more brilliant, and his stains would become less and less; and the guy who was considered a bad guy would really be like a broken rotten egg, becoming more and more smelly, and some dirty water that did not belong to him would also be poured on him.

What's more, Gan Guoyang actually did nothing. He just offended some people in the media industry, and some people also saw him unhappy. In addition, most people watched the fun without much trouble, so he got involved in the whirlpool of the storm.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang clearly realized that the best way to shut up those guys is to win the championship, and there will always be defense lawyers.

When his cousin Qian Hui called and asked Gan Guoyang if he wanted to hold a press conference to clarify, Gan Guoyang refused her. He said, "Some questions can't be explained clearly. Only when I win the championship can I get the right to speak. And now everyone is in a hurry and everything I say will be wrong."

So, after two chaotic and terrible days, Gan Guoyang finally prepared to start their second finals journey in the 1980s. In this eventful playoff journey, they have overcome all obstacles and come to the throne with their sharp swords. Now, all they have to do is to kill the opponent's team, wear the crown, and reach the highest throne of the league.

"Good evening, everyone's situation seems not so good tonight?" When Gan Guoyang came to the locker room of the Memorial Stadium, he could see that everyone's expressions were a little strange.

"Gan, we have heard about the news outside. Those damn reporters like to make some messy news. I don't know what to say. Is it that serious to shake my head gently?" Jerome Cauchy has always spoken quickly. In the past two days, he has been mentioned related issues by reporters, but he has no interest in politics at all.

"To some people's eyes, I just wanted to refuse to answer his question at that time." Gan Guoyang said with a smile.

"Then we should make it clear to those guys! Look, look, the national champions are looking forward to the investigation. Only Oregon and California in the United States want us to win the championship, and all the others support Detroit! It's incredible. Are we worse than those bad guys?" Cauchy held a newspaper in his hand to investigate. After June 3, only Oregon, where Portland is located, and Californians in the United States, who once lived, supported the Trail Blazers, and others would rather support the Pistons than support the Trail Blazers.

"If some things can be explained clearly, there will be no war in this world." Drexler said as he looked at the book. Before major games, this guy always likes to read the book in the locker room.

"Our gliders are almost philosophers! Haha, but Clyde is right. Some things don't need to be explained. They came to interview each other every day, but they were actually here to find fault. We want to win the championship and let all those guys get out of here!" Buck Williams said loudly, his thoughts were exactly the same as Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang suddenly felt a little moved. Perhaps basketball players are indeed simple, and they will get angry and slacken when they are discriminated against, but their teammates are bullied, especially when the boss is criticized by the media, everyone will automatically stand on Gan Guoyang's side, with no reason and no political stance.

"Ok, then let's kick our opponent's ass tonight!"

……………………

On the evening of June 5, 1989, the NBA Finals kicked off. After 82 regular season games and three rounds of elimination in the playoffs, the two best teams of the season - the Portland Trail Blazers and the Detroit Pistons - finally stood on the highest stage and fought to the highest honor.

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls led by Jordan 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals and reached the Finals for the second consecutive year, just one step away from defending their title.

Of course, the Pistons' Eastern Conference Finals were also very difficult. In the first game, the Chicago Bulls, who had a dark horse on the back for two consecutive rounds, defeated the Pistons 94:88 at Auburn Hill Palace. Michael Jordan's performance of 32 points and 11 rebounds was overwhelmingly, leading the Bulls to the top.

Then the Pistons naturally had no choice but to lose the second home court, and they easily won 100:91. However, in the third game, when they came to Chicago, Michael Jordan, who came to earth, scored 46 points in a single game, defeated the Pistons at home, and led 2:1, instantly allowing the Chicagoans to see hope of entering the finals.

However, the Pistons had completely come back to their senses at this time. In the following three games, they completely locked Jordan and did not give No. 23 another chance to save the world. The Pistons won three consecutive games and sent the Bulls to fish.

Now, the opportunity to defend the title is before them, and of course they don’t want to miss the opportunity to establish a dynasty.

The Pistons players came to the Memorial Stadium early and began to adapt to the warm-up training of the venue. All the Pistons players looked full of confidence. The experience of winning the championship, the mighty regular season, the smooth playoffs and the good atmosphere in the team made the Pistons players not afraid of this most terrible home court in the league, not to mention that the core players of the opponent are now in a bad political storm.

These bad boys even imagined that Gan Guoyang was booed by the audience after he came to the gymnasium, and then lost confidence under this blow and gave up the champion.

In fact, Gan Guoyang also has similar concerns. He may not care about the criticism of the media, nor does he care about the fans in other states not supporting him, but he cannot ignore the attitude of the fans of Portland. If the Portlanders do not support him, then what is he still struggling for this city and this team?

However, when Gan Guoyang walked out of the player channel with trepidation, accompanied by the dazzling lights, extremely warm applause and huge cheers sounded in his ears. Many fans of the fans at the scene raised huge placards when they saw Gan Guoyang coming out, some said "We are with you", some said "Let all conspiracies get out", and some said "Please stay away from sports".

The feelings he has been with for the past five years, the joy, surprise and touch that Gan Guoyang has brought to the Portlanders over the past five years, the honor he has brought to this team and this city over the past five years, and the contributions he has made to all Portlanders and Oregonians in sports are not something that can be erased by a so-called "political mistake".

Even though Gan Guoyang was unwilling to accept American nationality or become an honorary citizen of Portland, he had become a part of the city. The scene of Gan Guoyang running on Portland Street in the misty morning has become a symbol of this city.

In fact, many Americans’ political enthusiasm is not as high as they seem, and what Gan Guoyang wants to say is also correct, "The Chinese should judge and make decisions about Chinese people themselves, and there is no need for foreigners to point fingers."

They just wanted to watch Gan Guoyang play basketball and bring them a championship.
Chapter completed!