Not sure you even read what I wrote... Not that I really expected you to. Still, it makes countering easier.
was the time-period I specified. Gaara is no longer even attempting to counter Lee, rather to keep himself alive during Lee's assault.
If the Extreme Lotus had lasted just a little bit longer (say, if Lee had skipped the Initial Lotus and gone straight for the more powerful attack, preserving his stamina) Gaara would have taken a Fourth Gate punch to the face with no protection. He himself notes that the Armor is crumbling.
Gaara had never in his life been pressured as hard as he was during that battle. He took a blow to the face, leaving a scratch, something he never recieved on any mission. He was forced to use the Sand Armor, a rare and taxing jutsu, according to Kankuro. And he was forced to use a MUCH MORE CONCENTRATED version of the same technique, which leaves him unable to stand for a short while, even having the prodigious reserves of a Jinchuuriki.
Gaara won by the skin of his teeth.