The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 119 Big Victory, Small Victory
After Ramsey unleashed a barrage of attacks, the game continued. Wearing plaid trousers, he knelt on one knee on the sidelines, observing and directing the match.

He kept shouting, "Run, run, run! Don't fall behind!" urging the players to intensify their attack, use constant running to find scoring opportunities, and use points to eliminate the opponent's momentum.

However, Ramsey has not yet made a real decision about what tactical system the team will implement in the new season.

His observations during the preseason were insufficient to give him a definitive assessment of this team with many rookies, who are among the youngest teams in the league this year.

Their oldest players are Mitchell Thompson and Tom Schaeffler, both only 30 years old, while the rest are all young men in their twenties.

Seven of them are under 25 years old, and four of them are rookies who just entered the NBA this year. They are really too young.

Youth is not a problem; the Trail Blazers team that won the championship in 1977 was even younger than the current team, making them the youngest champions in history.

However, the two teams have very different personnel compositions, and the rules and style of the NBA are also undergoing dramatic changes.

Ramsey himself often wonders whether some of his ideas and concepts can keep up with the rapidly changing times.
The trend of fast-paced offense is growing in the NBA. The Showtime fast break pioneered by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference has driven the entire league to increase its offensive speed, attracting fans to watch games live.

After the addition of the three-point line, although fewer people shoot three-pointers, the viewing experience of NBA games is getting further and further away from that of the NCAA, and players' individual offensive abilities are becoming more and more prominent.

Teams like the Celtics, Lakers, and 76ers all have two or three top players, two or three near-All-Stars. Unprecedented superstars like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird have changed the philosophy of the NBA, and the team-oriented thinking of the 70s seems to be no longer viable.

From 1978 to today, after six or seven years of collapse and chaos, Ramsey increasingly feels that the miraculous championship run in 1977 was a grand fireworks display before his death.

It was like when he was serving in the navy in 1945, preparing to participate in the landing operation on the Japanese mainland, when the atomic bombs were dropped, creating two mushroom clouds, and his dreams of battle and glory came to an end.

Even after 40 years, he still often wakes up in his dreams shouting, "Hurry! Don't fall behind!" It was the roar of his instructor during swimming training, which is etched into his genes and cannot be erased.

Since his debut as a professional coach and manager with the 76ers, he has been battling various troubles, especially those related to centers.

In 68, when he took over the 76ers, Wilt Chamberlain said he wanted to be a player-coach, and then said he was tired of playing in Philadelphia and wanted to go to the West Coast, to Los Angeles. The strong-willed Ramsey did not compromise and immediately sent Chamberlain to Los Angeles.

After breaking with Walton in 78, and with the arrival of another talented big man this year, Ramsey has finally softened his stance and given up on his obsession with reforming the guy.

Ramsey was surprised that he had no idea how to use or position him.

He is "Dr. Jack," not just a nickname like J-Dr., but someone who actually holds a doctoral degree.

He is the encyclopedia of the league; he is knowledgeable and respected by many, and is a mentor and friend to many young people.

He simply couldn't figure out this number 11, whether it was his personality or his playing style.

A few days ago, he even called Johns Hopkins University coach Bobby Bellman to ask him how he used Johns Hopkins.

That brat from Notre Dame just said, "I don't know, you should ask him how he uses mine."

What a word!

Ramsey sorted out his thoughts while keeping an eye on the progress of the game.

After the timeout, the Trail Blazers' offense returned to form, and Vandeweghe was in great form tonight.

He and Gan executed a handoff screen on the left low post, and Vandeweghe received the ball, accelerated from the baseline to the basket, and slammed it home with a left-handed dunk!

This shot was spectacular; not only did it go in, but it also drew a foul from the opponent, resulting in an additional penalty.

Vandeweghe is equally adept with both hands, and he has a habit of using his right hand to shoot, but prefers to use his left hand for layups and dunks.

Even when attempting a layup from the right side, Vandeweghe will switch to a left-handed reverse layup, a habit that often makes it difficult for defenders to adapt.

Gan Guoyang silently memorized Van de Wesley's habit, noting that the balance and alternation of his left and right hands could indeed greatly disrupt the defender.

When learning offensive skills, Gan Guoyang tends to learn from small forwards rather than centers. Whether it's Bernard King or Vandeweghe, their details have given Gan Guoyang a lot of inspiration.

After that, the game almost became an offensive showcase for Vandeweghe, with his teammates feeding him the ball whenever he was in good form.

In his first appearance for the Trail Blazers, Vandeweghe showed no mercy, showcasing his all-around offensive skills with floaters, mid-range shots, corner long shots, and fast break layups.

Of course, he was practically nonexistent on the defensive end; opponents could get past him in a single step, which put considerable pressure on Gan Guoyang's interior defense.

Gan Guoyang held on, delivering two more blocks in the third quarter and bringing his total rebounds to 14.

In terms of scoring, Gan Guoyang grabbed two offensive rebounds under the basket. This time, he wasn't so generous, scoring with a hook shot after a turnaround and a reverse layup. His score has now reached 15 points, just three points away from Jordan's 18.

Near the end of the third quarter, the Trail Blazers led the Kings 101-87, a 14-point advantage.

Gan Guoyang received a pass from Valentine on the outside, and with no one guarding him at the top of the arc, he took another three-pointer without hesitation!

This time the three-pointer missed, and Ramsey was about to get a red card on the sidelines again. However, Gan Guoyang anticipated that his shot would be too short, so he rushed to the basket, grabbed the offensive rebound, and quickly jumped up for a layup!
As Ramsey passed the bench on the sidelines on defense, he was about to yell at Gan Guoyang, "Why did you shoot again..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gan Guoyang snapped, "I don't have time to explain to you!"

He suddenly darted out from the flank and joined forces with Vandeweghe to double-team Eddie Johnson on the baseline.

Eddie Johnson jumped to pass the ball while being double-teamed, but Gan Guoyang jumped up and intercepted it from mid-air.

Gan Guoyang, who stole the ball, dribbled it with his head down and charged from the backcourt to the frontcourt like a bulldozer. He jumped up one step inside the free throw line and glided in with one hand to dunk!

The fans at the scene began to cheer for Gan Guoyang. What could be more shocking than a 6-foot-10 giant stealing the ball, making a fast break, and gliding down to dunk?
The rim was trembling, and Ramsey was trembling a little too. He looked down and rubbed his forehead, trying to comfort himself. Even a stiff monster like Bill Russell could dribble and break through on the fast break. Gan's dribbling was quite smooth, and the Kings had no defense, so he might as well attack one of them.

At this moment, he looked up and saw Gan Guoyang running back with his arms raised high, his arms swinging like an egg beater, and his teammates rushing towards him and hugging him as if they were bewitched—the third quarter was not over yet, there were still a few seconds left.

"Defense! Defense!" Ramsey shouted, but the scene looked so familiar to him.

During Walton's best years with the Trail Blazers, when he got excited, he would raise his arms and wave them like this; it was his signature move.

Whenever he makes this mysterious move, his teammates seem to be summoned and swirl around him. Then, after a brilliant play, he receives the pass and goes for an open layup or dunk, bringing the atmosphere of the entire Memorial Stadium to a climax.

Fragments of memory came and went, and Ramsey felt a surge of tears welling up in his eyes, but he tried to hold them back.

The third quarter ended quickly, and the Kansas City Kings' final attack missed.

After Gan Guoyang left the field, Ramsey shouted at him, "Playing like that will hurt people's self-esteem. This is an away game, you need to consider the fans' feelings."

Gan Guoyang was speechless, not knowing what to say. He was panting heavily and could only say, "I...I'll be more restrained next time."

Ramsey thought to himself, "Let him play however he wants. Let's see how he grows. I have plenty of time to wait patiently."

By the fourth quarter, Gan Guoyang, who had already scored 19 points, had no interest in further increasing his score in his professional debut.

On the contrary, Vandeweghe and Jim Paxson went completely on fire in the fourth quarter.

After building up his shooting touch throughout the game, Vandeweghe, who had already scored 27 points in the first three quarters, exploded in the fourth quarter.

He showcased his offensive arsenal to his new teammates and coaching staff, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter and leading the Trail Blazers to 40 points in the fourth quarter along with Paxson.

The Kings completely collapsed under the Trail Blazers' offensive onslaught. Eddie Johnson's pull-up jumper was completely unable to stop the Trail Blazers' backcourt duo's accurate attacks, while Reggie Therth, who was acquired from the Bulls in the summer, was out of form, going 2-for-10 and providing no offensive support for Johnson.

However, Audis Thorpe provided Johnson with a lot of support under the basket, scoring 17 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

The game was no longer in doubt, and the Trail Blazers started their 1984-1985 season with a resounding 145-115 victory.

甘国阳生涯首战19分17个篮板球4次封盖2次抢断，全面且轻松，证明20岁的他可以适应NBA的比赛——虽然国王这个对手确实太弱了些。

The Trail Blazers' brightest star tonight was Vandeweghe, who scored a whopping 47 points in his first game for his new team. Even though his other stats were meager (1 assist and 2 rebounds), scoring is the most important stat in basketball, and all other stats ultimately come down to scoring.

Victory is sweet. Back in the locker room, everyone had a quick celebration, high-fiving and fist bumping each other. It was a good start.

Back at the hotel, the players had to stay overnight because they couldn't get tickets for a late-night flight and would leave the next morning.

The first thing Gan Guoyang did upon arriving at his room was to call Jordan's apartment. He called three times but no one answered, so he persisted and called a fourth time.

The call connected instantly, and Jordan's voice came through: "Okay, okay! I know you won! You only beat me by one point, so what! What team did you play on, and what team did I play on? I didn't have a teammate who scored 47 points!"

Gan Guoyang laughed and said, "Michael, you should know that you got 18 points because you could only get 18 points, while I got 19 points because I only wanted to get 19 points."

The Trail Blazers defeated the Kings by a large margin, while Gan Guoyang narrowly defeated Jordan.

(End of this chapter)