Chapter 22 Security

The Trail Blazers entered the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, 85:75.

A 10-point lead was not absolutely safe, but with David Robinson forced to sit out due to foul trouble, it became very difficult for the Spurs to turn the game around.

Robinson sat resting on the sideline, and Larry-Brown substituted him with backup center Frank Brickowski.

Last season, without a reliable center, Brickowski was one of the few options for the Spurs' frontcourt, averaging 13.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

It was with the Spurs that his performance significantly improved because there were no other centers available.

In '87, Brickowski had played a season with the Lakers, when West had intended to use him as a substitute for Kurt Rambis.

Of course, the result was the same; he was sent flying by Gan Guoyang.

As a white player in the frontcourt, Brickowski was pretty shifty.

Right after the fourth quarter started, he drew an offensive foul from Gan Guoyang in the paint.