Phil Jackson couldn't sit still anymore and shouted from the sidelines: "Where's your defense? Defense! Stay focused, the game's not over yet!"
The Bulls' defense began to show some basic errors—losing track of players, focusing on the ball instead of guarding their man, hesitating on traps, and so forth.
All of these were tied to their mentality. The Bulls' players were starting to lose their fighting spirit, and understandably so.
They had endured the Detroit Pistons, survived the brutality of The Palace of Auburn Hills, but for the first time they faced Portland Trail Blazers' tireless teamwork, and for the first time they felt the Blazers' unwavering resolve.
Jordan continued to try to carry the team forward on his shoulders, but there was a heavy weight in his heart: Gan Guoyang was still sitting on the bench, not yet on the court.
Driving into the paint, braving the defense for a layup—Jordan's drive was unparalleled, but it couldn't succeed every time.
