The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 216 Coach Mo's Great Idea

On April 30, two days after the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Western Conference semifinals began in Portland.

According to media reports, more than half of Portland households turned on their televisions tonight to watch the game begin.

Tickets for the Memorial Stadium were sold out long ago, and by 4:30 p.m., most of the fans had arrived and filled the stands to capacity.

In the front row of the audience, Gan Guoyang's relatives and friends came to support him, and Wang Fuxi and her three college roommates got good seats thanks to them.

Beside them were the Gonzaga University basketball coaching staff: Fitz, Coach Deron, and Bobby Bellman, who was dressed particularly formally tonight.

Fitz sarcastically remarked to Bellman, "What's up, Bobby? Did you come to Portland for a blind date or a job interview? We're all dressed casually, and you're in a suit. Are you planning to sit on the Trail Blazers' bench and watch the game?"

After the NCAA national championships, the Gonzaga basketball team began a new round of player selection and team building.

Fitz could sense that Bobby Bellman intended to leave Gonzaga, as he had consistently refused to renew his contract with the school.

Fitz guessed that Bellman was planning to defect and try to get into the NBA by clinging to Gan Guoyang's coattails. After all, Gan Guoyang was a once-in-a-century talent, and it would be a waste of his luck not to cling to him a few more times.

Fitz could understand Bellman and knew that Bellman had made contributions to Gonzaga University after his arrival. However, the thought that this kid would betray the university again after only three years, and that he would have to choose a new head coach and rebuild the system, made him feel extremely annoyed and frustrated.

So before the match started, they mocked Bellman.

Berman didn't mind, saying, "I just wanted to be more dignified in front of my disciple; this is his first time playing in the Western Conference semifinals."

"No matter what game he's playing, it's his first time! He's still a rookie, damn it. I should have knelt down and begged him to play another year in Gonzaga. That way, the NCAA championship would definitely still be ours, and you son of a bitch probably wouldn't want to leave so soon."

"Letting Gan play another year in the NCAA would be a waste of his talent. I even think he shouldn't have gone to college at all. He should have gone straight to the NBA like Moses. He might have been drafted by the Lakers in 1982, and he'd be wearing a ring by now... Hey Sonny! Sonny!"

While rambling incoherently, Berman saw Gan Guoyang warming up on the field and walking towards him, so he stood up and waved to him.

Gan Guoyang walked over and kissed Wang Fuxi on the cheek, greeted her three infatuated roommates, and then came over to talk to Bellman, Fitz, and others.

Fitz was very proud to see Gan Guoyang, whose team, along with Stockton's team, had both made it to the Western Conference semifinals this year.

Just yesterday, the Utah Jazz unexpectedly defeated the Houston Rockets in the decisive game, sending their seemingly invincible twin towers home and advancing to the semifinals to face the Lakers.

Although it's almost a pipe dream for the Jazz to beat the Lakers, there's always a glimmer of hope before a series begins. Fitz said he hopes to see Stockton and Gan Guoyang meet in the Western Conference Finals.

Coach Delong didn't say much, but he squeezed Gan Guoyang's arm and said, "You're still getting stronger."

Gan Guoyang's arm circumference has not increased. Long-term high-intensity competitions and hard training have kept his weight at a standard level, but his muscle definition is becoming more and more obvious.

Bellman then pulled Gan Guoyang aside and told him that the Nuggets' defense was stronger than it appeared.

"According to my calculations, although the Denver Nuggets allow the most points per game in the league, if you calculate it per 100 possessions, the Nuggets' points allowed is in the middle of the league. It's not that they don't defend, they just defend selectively."

Gan Guoyang looked at Bellman in his suit and asked the same question as Fitz, "Are you here for an interview?"

"What are you talking about! I came to watch your game and just wanted to give you a heads-up. The Nuggets aren't as easy to beat as you think; they're a tough opponent."

Gan Guoyang agreed with this statement; he never underestimated any opponent.

Moreover, the Trail Blazers didn't play well against the Nuggets in the regular season; they won with great difficulty and lost decisively.

Gan Guoyang's biggest takeaway from the game against the Nuggets was that he couldn't fully utilize his strengths. The Nuggets' playing style meant that some of Gan Guoyang's significant advantages were difficult to leverage when facing them.

For example, Gan Guoyang has top-notch rim protection and low-post defense in the entire league, but the Nuggets are probably the team with the fewest drives to the basket, and they rarely play low-post offensive tactics.

Most of the Nuggets' points under the basket come from off-ball cuts, backdoor runs, and fast breaks.

In typical half-court games, the Nuggets mostly finish with jump shots from the perimeter. Their ball movement is extremely fast; the ball stays in a player's hands for no more than two seconds before being passed out. Moreover, they don't have any system or routine; everyone relies entirely on tacit understanding and basic tactical positioning principles to move around the court without any rules. Whoever finds an opportunity will shoot and score.

Despite having the highest number of offensive possessions and points in the league, the Nuggets have a lower-than-average number of turnovers, demonstrating how fluid their offense and how concise their passing are.

This unpredictable and fluid style of play is a waste for a defensive anchor like Gan Guoyang. No Nuggets player is worth Gan Guoyang's all-out one-on-one defense; he has to guard everyone.

Veteran center Dan Issel needs to be guarded; his mid-range and long-range shooting is really accurate.

English is going to try and disrupt him; the top scorer can beat Vandeweghe to a pulp.

Calvin Knight is going to head the ball; he's a giant under the basket, with unparalleled strength.

He has to guard Wayne Cooper; he's a big man who can shoot, and his mid-range shot is very accurate.

Even Fat Lefgan has to keep an eye on him, because this small point guard sometimes becomes the Nuggets' leading rebounder in the backcourt.

This is the Nuggets' style: fluid like water, capable of initiating attacks and taking shots from any position.

When a mismatch occurs, if the defender then goes to find their matchup and they switch positions, the defensive gap will widen, allowing the Nuggets to seize the opportunity to score.

Moreover, Doug Mo often used a bewildering four-guard lineup in games, which, while drawing criticism from conservatives, led the Nuggets to victory after victory.

It can be said that as early as the late 70s and early 80s, the Nuggets had already set off a small-ball trend in the league.

Not only Gan Guoyang, but every player on the Trail Blazers needs to be prepared to be exploited by the Nuggets' mismatch offense. This is undoubtedly a huge problem for the Trail Blazers, who rely on Gan Guoyang as their absolute defensive core, and their defensive traps will not be very effective.

The only team in the entire Western Conference that can consistently outperform the Nuggets is the Los Angeles Lakers, because the Lakers have enough talent and ability at every position and are not afraid of the Nuggets' mismatch offense.

Even without Bellman's reminder, Gan Guoyang was fully prepared to face the Nuggets' challenge.

As the game was about to start, Bellman returned to his seat, and Fitz said, "You're really overstepping your bounds. Forrest Gump never needs your guidance. He knows everything, more than many coaches."

"I know, I'm just... just worried about him," Bellman said. "The Trail Blazers were stupid. They let go of Fat, Knight, and Cooper in the summer, giving away three starters to the Nuggets in exchange for just one Vandeweghe. It would have been better if they had gotten Larry Bird."

Fitz agreed, saying, "Without this trade, the Trail Blazers might have been contenders for the championship this year. Inman, that idiot. Are you sure you want to work for an idiot like that?"

"Inman isn't completely stupid. After all, he won over Forrest Gump, which is the smartest thing he could do."

At that moment, Stu Inman and owner Larry Weinberg were also watching the game from their VIP box at Memorial Arena.

Inman was extremely conflicted and nervous. He had indeed been the one who pushed for the summer trade, believing that Vandeweghe could become a superstar.

As a result, Vandeweghe's performance in the new season was only mediocre, while players like Fatliff, who did not perform well in the 84 playoffs, were revitalized when they joined the Nuggets.

Calvin Knight became an All-Star forward with 23+7+3, Fat Leaf became a more reliable point guard than Valentine, and Wayne Cooper reached career highs in points, rebounds, blocks (2.5), assists, and steals.

Inman suspected that these three guys were just playing dead with the Trail Blazers, or that Doug Moe of the Nuggets had some kind of magic that could turn players into gold and bring out their full potential.

Or, as many media outlets have criticized, Doug Mo simply turned the Nuggets into an undisciplined, stat-padding team.

Regardless, the outcome of this series will decide everything.

Inman could feel the pressure from Larry Weinberg before the match started.

As Fitz said, without this trade, the Trail Blazers with Agan could challenge the Lakers. Now Inman just hopes Agan can crush the Nuggets and prove that players like Fat Lever are just good at putting on stats.

At 7:30 p.m., the match started on time. Before the match began, Doug Mo and Ramsey shook hands.

Doug Mo wanted to play a little joke on Ramsey, but Jack didn't linger and turned back to the bench.

Doug Mo shrugged. Tonight he was wearing a very understated black suit with an equally understated and conservative blue shirt underneath.

Starting in the 80s, coaches' clothing was no longer as flashy as it was in the 70s. Bell-bottoms and floral shirts disappeared, and solid-colored suits became popular, thanks to Pat Riley's influence.

However, Doug Mo is a perennial winner of the worst-dressed award on the sidelines. He is often unkempt, not wearing a suit or tie, with messy hair like a bird's nest, and yelling at the players on the sidelines, like a middle-aged man who has just lost his job.

He often makes strange and controversial remarks before matches, leaving people wondering whether he's trying to confuse his opponents or if he's just a weirdo.

But this time in Portland he was very quiet, dressed formally, and didn't say a word before the game. He quietly brought the Nuggets and quietly started the game.

Even the Nuggets' offense in the first quarter unfolded quietly: quick running, passing, shooting, getting back on defense, quick inbounding, running, passing, shooting, and getting back on defense again...

The five-game series against the Spurs did not affect the Nuggets players' stamina. Doug Mo used a 9-10 man rotation in the playoffs to ensure that the players had enough energy to run.

During the regular season, the Nuggets had a very strong ability to grab offensive rebounds, with Knight, Cooper, and Issel all trying their best to fight for offensive rebounds.

But tonight, the Nuggets completely abandoned their offensive rebounding efforts at the start, quickly retreating on defense after each shot, regardless of whether it went in or not, not giving the Trail Blazers any chance to launch fast breaks.

Doug Mo knew that having Forrest Gump trying to grab offensive rebounds was somewhat futile, so he simply gave up, got back on defense, and gambled on his own offensive success rate.

Doug Mo's strategy had an unexpectedly good effect. The Nuggets' offense had a high success rate. They released their shots very quickly, passed the ball very well, and didn't hesitate much. They would shoot whenever they had the chance.

Knight and Cooper don't go to the low post, but they will repeatedly make back cuts and use the back door, forcing Gan Guoyang to follow them inside and guard the basket.

English, Leaf, and others took turns shooting, and the Trail Blazers were hit before they could even establish a foothold.

This isn't the most fatal flaw for the Trail Blazers. The most fatal flaw is that they rested too much, and their outside shooting was absolutely terrible.

Gan Guoyang was the only one who seemed normal. He realized something was wrong near the end of the first quarter, as the game had completely fallen into the Nuggets' rhythm.

The Nuggets are one of the few teams in the league that have scored more points in the playoffs than in the regular season, and they are faster than they were in the regular season.

The Nuggets were like a high-speed machine, getting faster and faster in the back, taking bolder and bolder shots on offense, and their defense didn't falter.

The Nuggets had the highest number of steals in the league during the regular season, and their ability to force turnovers was also the best in the league. This is because almost every team that plays against the Nuggets will be drawn into a high-speed game and will easily make mistakes.

The Trail Blazers tried to get back on track in the second and third quarters, but it didn't work. The Trail Blazers' slow pace resulted in lower scoring efficiency. If they could get back into a running, high-scoring game and regain their touch, they might still have a fighting chance.

Gan Guoyang felt like he was back in the regular season, remembering that game that went down to the wire and that away game where he scored 44 points and grabbed 33 rebounds. Although they won, it was a huge struggle.

The Nuggets, however, played better and better, leading by 5 points in the first quarter and by 10 points at halftime. In the third quarter, Gan Guoyang scored continuously, but the Nuggets also scored continuously.

The Nuggets just shoot. Dan Issel shoots, English shoots, Knight shoots, Cooper shoots. Nobody drives to the basket in the low post.

However, if the defense is even slightly lax, Knight, Cooper, or Issel will cut to the basket, run back to receive the ball, and steal a point.

Danny Schayes, son of legendary player Dolph Schayes, is one of the few players who, after coming off the bench, will receive the ball in the low post and play a few games.

But after being blocked twice and stolen by Gan Guoyang, he completely abandoned that idea and understood why Doug Mo told everyone not to play one-on-one in the low post.

Only when there is a mismatch on the fast break, such as when a guard is guarding a center, will the Nuggets use clumsy back-to-the-basket moves to score and solidify their advantage.

This light cavalry-like style of play meant that even when Gan Guoyang led the Trail Blazers in a furious chase in the third quarter, they were still unable to turn the tide.

The Trail Blazers took a risk in the fourth quarter by using a half-court press, which forced several turnovers from the Nuggets. However, the Nuggets showed tenacity on the defensive end, and their two fast breaks were thwarted by the Nuggets' interior defense.

The screams from the Memorial Arena were deafening, and the audience's hearts were in their throats, but the Trail Blazers were unable to tie the score.

Until the final stages of the game, the score reached 145-139, a high score for the two teams in the playoffs without overtime.

In the end, the Nuggets, playing on the road, won 145-141 in this offensive battle, taking a 1-0 lead in the series and leaving all the Trail Blazers fans in Memorial Arena disappointed.

Although Gan Guoyang scored 31 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, those 31 points were diluted by the total score of 286 points for both sides.

In a game with over 100 players, 31 points would undoubtedly have a huge impact. However, with more possessions, a faster pace, and more shots, Gan Guoyang's role becomes relatively smaller.

Doug Mo is indeed a genius; he came up with this method to deal with the Trail Blazers, who had a single core and were not yet mature, and made the Trail Blazers suffer a setback in their first game.

The Trail Blazers couldn't afford to lose the second game. After a hard-fought battle that went into two overtime periods, the Trail Blazers ultimately won 124-128 at home, tying the series 1-1.

However, the Nuggets have already secured home-court advantage, and there is a fatal flaw in going to Denver at high altitude: it will be a huge test of the players' physical fitness.

Doug Mo clearly realized that running at high altitudes is difficult, so the game against the Nuggets was the most physically demanding and tiring in the league, with many teams being worn down by the Colorado high altitude.

Denver capitalized on this, achieving an outstanding home record of 34 wins and 7 losses in the regular season, while their away record was only 16 wins and 25 losses, a huge difference in winning percentage.

This demonstrates just how much of an advantage the Denver Nuggets have at home in high altitude.

Gan Guoyang had already suffered a setback in the Gonzaga University road trip race, and his only loss was at the University of Colorado, where he was simply too exhausted.

On May 4th, the Nuggets faced the visiting Trail Blazers at McNichols Center. Gan Guoyang, who had previously scored 44 points and grabbed 33 rebounds at this venue, dealt a heavy blow to the Nuggets, handing them a home defeat.

But tonight the Nuggets' morale and form were at their peak. Doug Mo took off his black suit, wore a white shirt, and a haphazardly tied striped tie. His hair was a mess on the sidelines, as if he had just woken up, and he started yelling at the players—this was the Doug Mo that people were familiar with.

In Portland, Doug Mo was merely a figurehead; he restrained himself, remained calm, stole a victory, and then came to Denver, ready to destroy the Portlanders.

The Nuggets won a decisive 114-133 victory at home, taking a 2-1 lead in the series, with the next game to be played in Denver.

After winning the game, Doug Mo raised his arms and shouted amidst the wild cheers of the fans. In the post-game interview, Doug Mo said a lot, wanting to say things he hadn't said before.

He pointed out that Jack Ramsey doesn't seem like an academic coach at all now. "The Nuggets are more like a team. Although English scored 40 points in Game 3, he was still part of the team's offense. And the Trail Blazers are more like a one-man team, a team chasing after new stars."

"Jack let it go and let it continue, which I think is a good thing. Dr. Jack should make some changes. But the playoffs are tough. Forrest Gump is a very good player. If he were on the Nuggets, I would have him average 40 points per game."

"However, it seems that for the Portlanders to win the game, Forrest needs to score 60 points, which probably doesn't align with Dr. Jack's basketball philosophy."

Ramsey's "indulgence" of Gan Guoyang surprised many coaches in the league. They didn't understand what had happened to the Trail Blazers or what had happened between Gan Guoyang and Ramsey.

Gan Guoyang did play like a miracle, but Doug Mo believes that Dr. Jack violated his past principles, principles that were once used to criticize player-type coaches like himself, such as allowing George Gervin to attack extensively, and now he is doing the same thing.

Ramsey made no response. Dr. Jack has been quieter this season than ever before. He seems to have come to a realization at the age of 60 and has become much calmer.

Gan Guoyang only responded to Doug Mo's words with one sentence: "Coach Mo is indeed a great coach. He gave me a good idea."

(End of this chapter)