The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 187 Speed ​​and Power

During the break, Adelman asked Gan Guoyang, "Gan, why did you foul Bird on that play just now?"

Gan Guoyang wiped his sweat, thinking to himself that it was still quite hot in the stadium in January, and the ventilation was really bad.

"I don't want to let the Celtics get going and disrupt their fast break."

"But you wasted a foul."

"What does it matter? I committed a foul in the first quarter."

"Perhaps this is not necessary."

"No, it's necessary. The Celtics have been trying to play fast breaks and score easily, but I won't allow that. We have to slow the game down. Can't you see that from the sidelines?"

Adelman didn't answer; he genuinely hadn't noticed it, as it wasn't mentioned in the pre-match strategy.

The Trail Blazers' strategy against the Celtics in the past mainly relied on offense. In 1982, they won at Boston Garden thanks to the high shooting percentage of guards Kevin Lansey and Billy Ray Bates, who scored 59 points on 60% shooting and overwhelmed the Celtics.

However, such a breakout performance is rare, so winning at the Garden Arena is not easy.

Gan Guoyang shook his head and said, "The Celtics don't like playing slowly; they'll be very uncomfortable in a slow-paced game. This is Boston Garden, their home court, and we can't let them play at a comfortable pace."

Adelman asked, "How do you know that the Celtics have the best half-court offense in the league? They have the most diverse tactics and the best passing."

Gan Guoyang said, "I watched the video and relied on my intuition. I felt it after playing just one quarter of the game."

Ramsey then said to Gan Guoyang, "How about the coach makes it for you?"

Gan Guoyang replied, "Give me your salary and I'll do it!"

After playing in the NBA for more than two months, Gan Guoyang discovered that being a coach doesn't seem to be that difficult.

It doesn't require brilliant strategies or high intelligence; it's not like we're building chips or rockets.

Most importantly, you need to manage your players well, have a bit of on-field intuition, plenty of energy, and the mental fortitude to handle pressure.

In the 60s and 70s, there were many players who also served as coaches. On the one hand, some players had the ability to do so, and on the other hand, the teams could save money.

Players like Bill Russell, Lenny Wilkens, and Dave DeBusschel all coached while playing basketball later in their careers.

After the league established the salary cap system, such situations were no longer allowed to occur, in order to prevent some teams from taking advantage of loopholes to reduce their expenditures.

The break was short, and the game continued with both teams' second-string lineups taking the field.

Gan Guoyang and Bird were both resting on the bench. For the Trail Blazers, Mitchell Thompson went off the court and was replaced by Kenny Karl.

With McHale still on the field and his senior teammate absent, McHale finally began to shine, using his footwork to outmaneuver Karl and score a goal.

McHale wasn't particularly strong, but he had long arms, broad shoulders, and excellent low-post footwork, making him unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

Kenny Carr is a muscular beast, but he is only 6 feet 7 inches tall, which puts him at a significant disadvantage when defending long-armed monsters like McHale.

This is a major weakness in the Trail Blazers' roster right now; they lack a tall backup center, which puts them at a disadvantage when facing teams with strong frontcourts like the Celtics and Lakers.

In the regular season, it's not a big problem for substitutes to fill in temporarily, but in the playoffs where the competition is fierce, they will definitely suffer.

The Trail Blazers had two young and strong players, Drexler and Korsey, who started to speed up the pace of the game, using their speed and strength to repeatedly attack the Celtics' basket.

Bird and Gan Guoyang were both sitting on the sidelines watching the game. Bird saw Drexler and Kossie speeding up the pace of the game and was convinced that slowing down the pace in the first quarter was definitely Gan Guoyang's idea.

It seems he has his own ideas about the game, independent of the coach and the team.

Most of the time this is a bad thing, because it undermines team cohesion and leads to individualistic play.

A few times it's a good thing, because a flash of genius can often save the team.

Bird himself belonged to the latter category; he wouldn't necessarily follow the coach's predetermined strategy during a game.

He observes and thinks, and makes adjustments based on the changes in the opponent and his own team's situation.

Gan Guoyang, observing Drexler and Cauchy's playing style, did not believe that their approach was wrong.

This is their advantage; even if the pace of the game is picked up, the Trail Blazers may not necessarily lose.

After the incident at the training facility in the morning and the more than one session of competition in the evening, Gan Guoyang didn't think the Celtics were as scary as people said; their toughness had been overestimated.

Of course, the Celtics are definitely very strong. In the first quarter, Gan Guoyang clearly felt that he had to use his brain more in defense because the Celtics' teamwork was very smooth.

Aside from the block that disrupted Bird's shot, which was Bird's own lapse in judgment, the Celtics' other offensive choices were quite reasonable and were all considered "good shots."

It's hard to find fault with a team like this. The Celtics, a team that relies heavily on fast breaks and long passes, have one of the lowest turnover rates in the league.

The Trail Blazers rank among the league's best at forcing turnovers. They are also quite aggressive on defense. Gan Guoyang's blocks, steals, and wide-ranging pressure help defense will put a lot of pressure on the opponent. Drexler, Korsey, and Valentine are all good at steals and fast breaks.

Gan Guoyang's intuition told him that he needed to slow down the game and drag it into a slower pace. This would disrupt the Celtics' fluidity and create a rhythm that wouldn't be comfortable for them.

Of course, once the pace slows down, the Trail Blazers' offensive rhythm will also be affected, at which point it will come down to the players' one-on-one abilities and their control of the rebounds.

These are the strengths of Vandeweghe and Gan Guoyang, and they can also bring out the power of Drexler and Cauchy—the Celtics are not a team with particularly outstanding physical attributes.

In the second quarter, the score went back and forth, with the Trail Blazers maintaining a lead of about 4 points. Drexler was in good form tonight, repeatedly driving to the basket and scoring, and hitting a jump shot when the Celtics chose to leave him open.

When Drexler starts making mid-range shots, the Trail Blazers become a force to be reckoned with.

When Bird was about to return to the court, the score was 40-35, with the Trail Blazers leading by 5 points. "Coach, it's time for you to go on the court," Ramsey reminded Gan Guoyang, urging him to stop watching the game and get to play.

Gan Guoyang quickly took off his jacket and reappeared on the field. He was indeed quite engrossed in watching the game, and his mind was filled with many thoughts.

Playing against a team like the Celtics is a completely different experience than playing against a team like the Rockets.

Playing against the Rockets' twin towers is all about recklessness, just shooting at each other with shotguns. But against the Celtics, you need to use your brain more.

As for playing against the Lakers, it mainly comes down to talent and on-court performance, plus a little bit of strategy.

In summary, Gan Guoyang still thinks the Lakers are the toughest team to beat, because talent is the most crucial factor in basketball.

Under Ramsey's leadership, the Trail Blazers have consistently demonstrated excellent strategic thinking and tactical awareness, resulting in a respectable record against the Celtics, with each game going back and forth every year.

Playing against the Lakers is different. In five or six games a season, we often only manage to win one game with a burst of form, and the rest are big losses. This year, with Agan on the team, winning two games has already exceeded expectations.

However, after the substitution, Bird's offensive style changed drastically. He circled out, used a screen, received the ball, and fired a three-pointer from the right side of the three-point line, which he then made.

Then, he backed down on the left baseline, suddenly shook off his defender Vandeweghe, ran to the corner, received a pass from Dennis Johnson, and made a mid-range jump shot.

Bird scored 5 consecutive points, instantly erasing the score difference and demonstrating his MVP-level scoring explosiveness to Gan Guoyang.

While back in the backcourt on defense, Bird said to Gan Guoyang, "I can beat you guys all by myself without relying on my teammates, do you believe me?"

Bird has climbed out of Gan Guoyang's linguistic trap. Although there are still some small shadows deep in his heart, at least now he has quickly returned to being the confident bird he once was.

I'm Rookie of the Year, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, and a Grand Slam champion. Do you think I'm afraid of a little yellow-skinned, black-haired thing like you?

In terms of talent and scoring, Bird was in no way inferior to other superstars.

Gan Guoyang knew that Bird had realized what was going on and said, "Your attitude is correct. That's what I think too."

After saying that, Gan Guoyang received the pass from Drexler at a 45-degree angle to avoid being double-teamed. Then, he quickly turned around with a Hikma step, accelerated past Parish with a front-facing probing step, and then hooked the ball with his right hand.

Gan Guoyang's first singles match tonight, from 10 feet, he hit the ball steadily, it seems he's in good form tonight.

Bird immediately responded in kind, facing Vandeweghe in the same spot, driving to the basket, and then using a hook shot to score two points!

"What kind of bullshit moves do you have? You can learn them in no time!" Bird wouldn't miss any opportunity to mock Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang sets a screen with his teammate at the top of the key, then retreats to the outside. Drexler drives to the basket and passes the ball back to Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc and launched a three-pointer, which also went in!

This time, when Gan Guoyang hit the three-pointer, Ramsey's expression wasn't as pained.

The Celtics fans at the stadium were quite surprised; this center could indeed shoot three-pointers, and his release was smooth and extremely accurate.

"Larry, if the NBA ever holds a three-point contest, I think you can reserve second place!" Gan Guoyang shouted at Bird.

Bird suppressed his anger and didn't attempt a three-pointer in the subsequent attack. Instead, he unleashed his fury on Vandeweghe, hitting consecutive shots.

Gan Guoyang showed Robert Parish what real power is under the basket.

Parish's height and weight allow him to overpower most centers in the league, but his lower body is not strong enough.

Gan Guoyang drove past Parish to the basket twice in a row, forcing Parish to foul him or watch Gan Guoyang lay up the ball.

The rugged and resilient chieftain was panting heavily. He couldn't believe that this newcomer, who was shorter than him, possessed such astonishing strength and explosive power.

It's actually quite normal. Gan Guoyang has a natural talent for maximum strength, and with his consistent strength training, he has already dominated the league.

Moreover, the Celtics team does not do strength training. Bird, McHale, and Parish all look rather thin and lack muscle mass.

They still adhere to the old basketball philosophy that strength training affects agility and shooting touch.

However, a new power monster has arrived in the League and is growing rapidly.

Gan Guoyang's consistent free throws and Rock the Baby dunks also prove that strength does not affect feel and agility.

Led by Bird, the Celtics quickly gained points, but Gan Guoyang made timely responses, allowing the Trail Blazers to maintain their lead.

The only thing that made Gan Guoyang uneasy was that Bird had unknowingly steered the game into a fast pace.

He is indeed very well-rounded; his passing, tackling, and defense all influence the game in many ways.

He intentionally increased the pace, including having his teammates quickly take throw-ins and making some extremely bold and risky passes during counter-attacks, all to get the game moving into a fast track.

Even with increased mistakes, Bird still wanted to make speed the main theme of the game, rather than getting bogged down in power struggles.

At halftime, Bird had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The score was now 61-58, with the Celtics trailing by three points.

Gan Guoyang alone was powerless to stop this change in rhythm. In this situation, he could only keep up with the pace and attack back to maintain the score advantage.

Gan Guoyang had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, while Vandeweghe had 12 points. During halftime, Gan Guoyang reminded his teammates not to accelerate too much.

“Once an eagle slows down, it will fall from the sky and lose its power,” Gan Guoyang said.

The battle of speed and power will continue in the second half.

(End of this chapter)