The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 219 Not Enough

Gan Guoyang's opening three-pointer failed to alert the Nuggets players and fans to the impending danger.

For a team like the Nuggets, it doesn't matter how many goals or points the opponent scores; all I need to do is score more points than them.

After joining the Denver Nuggets from the Portland Trail Blazers, Fat Leaf deeply experienced and became immersed in this team culture.

He worked with Knight and Cooper for two years with the Trail Blazers, meticulously performing his duties under Jack Ramsey's system.

1984 was the Trail Blazers' best year since the Walton debacle, with 48 wins in the regular season, second in the Western Conference, and a strong team with one or two capable players in each position.

Although they lack an absolute core player, under Jack Ramsey's tactical system, they each fulfill their roles and achieved the sixth-highest scoring average in the league with average defensive points allowed. Overall, they are a strong team with both offense and defense.

However, despite leading the Phoenix Suns 4-2 in the regular season, they suffered an upset in the playoffs, which overturned the Trail Blazers' three-year rebuilding efforts.

The Trail Blazers' management believed they needed a superstar outside player, and having acquired the Pacers' second overall pick in a trade, the Blazers decided to break down their existing structure and rebuild.

So, Fat-Lee and his two companions arrived in the Nuggets, entering a completely different world of basketball.

Here, they can shoot from the outside at any time, even if there is a defender in front of them, as long as there is even the slightest opening or opportunity.

Training only lasts for one hour each day. There's no need to run or memorize any tactical routines; just follow some basic tactical principles.

Instead of each person having their own specific role, everyone is expected to do everything they are good at. Everyone has to shoot, everyone has to grab rebounds, and everyone has to pass and assist.

The only thing that hasn't changed since his time with the Trail Blazers is Doug Mo's loud shouts from the sidelines, which are even louder than Jack Ramsey's.

All the Nuggets players feared Doug Mo's yelling and cursing; his temper was as unpredictable as his offensive system.

This may be the key factor in his success: the Suns' former coach tried to learn from Doug Mo's system, but the team's performance was terrible, and he had to return to the norm because he could not be as crazy as Doug Mo and make the players tense to meet his requirements.

Only a madman can pull off some crazy tactics and ideas.

The game had just begun, and Doug Mo hadn't yet gone berserk.

Gan Guoyang's three-pointer was nothing more than an accident to him; he simply yelled at Fat Lef, "Faster, faster!"

Leaf is the Nuggets' only point guard, which is exactly what makes Doug Mo's madness: a team that revolves around passing and offense, yet only has one point guard.

Moreover, Doug Mo often complained that Leaf wasn't fast enough. When he was with the Trail Blazers, Leaf often felt that he was too fast and would disrupt Ramsey's tactics, so he had to slow down slightly.

It's different with the Nuggets; he has to be fast, even faster. Not only does he need to be fast in running, but he also needs to be fast in passing and shooting.

He received the ball in the backcourt and quickly launched an attack, passing the ball to English, who then cut to the left side, and the Nuggets' circular offense began to operate.

The passes were quick and concise, and Leaf caught the ball on the right side and made a jump shot, scoring two points. Everything seemed normal.

Leaf got back on defense, and five seconds later, before he could even get into a head-to-head matchup with Valentine, Valentine passed the ball to Agan at the 45-degree angle.

Gan Guoyang received the ball, feinted, broke through on the left side, reached the baseline, and unleashed a rare left-handed moon hook shot, which Cooper couldn't interfere with at all, and the ball went in.

Leaf received the ball again and launched an attack. English received the ball and took a shot, but missed. Thompson grabbed the defensive rebound, and the Trail Blazers launched a very fast counterattack.

Vandeweghe rushed to the frontcourt and broke through with his left hand, but his layup was interfered with by Calvin Knight and missed. Gan Guoyang followed up with a putback and scored, making it 7-2.

A slight unease crept into Leaf's mind. He knew this wasn't Ramsey's style of play, nor was it like Forrest Gump's style in the first three games—he had protected the rebounds very well in the first three games and wouldn't have been so aggressive on the fast break.

Doug Mo didn't seem to care and continued yelling from the sidelines, "Hurry up!"

In his first year with the Nuggets, Leaf hadn't fully shaken off the Trail Blazers' tactical mindset.

After all, he played under Ramsey during his rookie season, and the influence of one's first coach is always profound.

Moreover, Ramsey is a renowned coach, and many of his instructions are correct and beneficial, which has shaped Leaf.

He felt radical with Ramsey, and conservative with Doug Mo.

Therefore, in his first season with the Nuggets, Leaf often oscillated between being aggressive and conservative.

At this moment, Life felt that he should perhaps play it safe, as Forrest's start tonight was clearly too aggressive.

Doug Mo should have called a timeout; that wouldn't have been right. He should have known how terrible Forrest Gump was.

That game, with 44 points and 33 rebounds, was a terrible memory for all Nuggets players for a period of time.

But Doug Mo showed no sign of pausing, so Leaf could only continue to accelerate, pass, and make runs.

Cooper had an opportunity under the basket, and his layup was blocked from behind by Gan Guoyang.

The ball bounced off the backboard, and Gan Guoyang grabbed it. Without passing, he dribbled the ball across half-court.

Leaf blocked his path, ready to steal the ball. He shot, but Gan Guoyang dodged it with a behind-the-back dribble.

Leaf completely missed, then turned to see Forrest Gump charging into the paint like a truck—no one could stop him. He jumped, caught the ball with one hand, and delivered a Statue of Liberty-style dunk, sending the powerful Calvin Knight flying like a tricycle.

The referee blew the whistle, calling a blocking foul on Knight. Gan Guoyang stepped to the free-throw line and made the free throw, making it 10-2. In just two minutes, the Trail Blazers had already taken an 8-point lead.

Gan Guoyang scored 10 points in a row at the start, leaving the entire McNichols Arena in a daze. It seemed like there was something wrong with the opening script.

Doug Moe finally couldn't sit still any longer and called a timeout. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he felt a bit hot. He loosened his tie and said to the players, "Attack! Your offense! Put the ball in the basket! It's okay, 8 points, one in 15 seconds, we'll be back in a minute! Fat, you need to be faster, faster! Try to make one in 10 seconds, we'll be back in half a minute!"

The team didn't care about the coach's unusual time calculation method; they knew Doug Moe was reminding them to be faster and score more points.

During the timeout, Doug Mo was relatively friendly; he didn't start swearing or making sarcastic remarks, and his emotions remained stable.

Nobody wants to see Doug Moe swear, not because his swearing is particularly fierce or offensive. Almost no coach in the NBA doesn't swear, and no one can match Bill Fitch in his ability to deliver sarcastic remarks.

People dislike Doug Mo's swearing because Doug is usually a very friendly and warm person. He is very kind to everyone and doesn't allow anyone to praise him. He hates being praised because it makes him very embarrassed. He would rather be ridiculed because he thinks it's a sign of respect.

In this respect, he is different from Bill Fitch, who is consistent both on and off the court and unwavering in his swearing.

So when Doug Moe started going crazy on the court, everyone knew things were getting worse, they were playing terribly, things were in trouble, and even the mild-mannered, friendly Doug was starting to burn.

This is perhaps the part that Kiki Vandeweghe finds most unacceptable. Vandeweghe is a gentle, polite, and even slightly timid person both on and off the court, while Doug Mo's sudden change of expression can easily leave a shadow on people's hearts.

After the timeout, Fat Leaf tried to stabilize the situation by driving to the basket after two screens, aiming to score.

But this was undoubtedly a mistake. Lif underestimated Gan Guoyang's agility and mental focus tonight. He was like a hungry wolf, and no one could escape his pursuit.

After 36 hours of rest, he was unusually energetic and powerful. Leaf's layup was blocked by a big block and stuck on the backboard, and he grabbed the ball again.

This time, he made a long pass to the frontcourt, and Vandeweghe accelerated past the defender on the left side, drove to the basket, and dunked with his left hand.

The Trail Blazers finally have a second player score.

The score is now 12-2, a 10-point difference, and the Nuggets are in a very bad situation.

English hit a mid-range jumper, breaking a two-minute scoring drought.

But the Trail Blazers, having taken the lead, played more freely and aggressively.

Gan Guoyang quickly drove to the basket, received the ball with his back to the basket, and turned around rapidly.

A leaning shot went in, a lightning-fast score.

The Trail Blazers haven't missed a single shot on offense since the start of the season.

Fat-Lee felt his palms getting slightly sweaty, and he heard Doug Moe's "Run!" again.

He sped up to cross half-court, passed the ball, ran, received it, and passed it again, giving Calvin Knight a chance in the corner.

A mid-range shot, and it went in! Life was slightly relieved.

But the Trail Blazers were also incredibly fast; he had never seen a center run so fast across half-court.

Valentine and Gan Guoyang's high pick-and-roll, be careful of Gan's shot from the top of the key.

Valentine didn't pass the ball; instead, he drove into the paint from the middle and suddenly threw a pass backward.

This wasn't a good pass. Gan Guoyang couldn't shake off the defense, Cooper was sticking to him tightly, and Leaf had a chance to intercept the ball.

But he still managed to catch it, and with difficulty, he managed to make a jump shot amidst the double-team of two opponents—a graceful and smooth motion.

The ball's arc was as smooth as silk, landing steadily in the center of the basket, another two points.

16:6, still a 10-point lead, things were starting to look increasingly bad.

Leaf glanced at Coach Doug Mo on the sidelines and noticed that Doug had taken off his suit jacket.

He was wearing a pajama-like shirt, his tie was loose, and his hair was slightly disheveled—signs that things were getting chaotic.

Just then, Gan Guoyang suddenly rushed out and joined Valentine in double-teaming Leaf. Leaf was caught off guard, and Valentine knocked the ball away.

Gan Guoyang quickly ran to the frontcourt, received a pass from Valentine, and easily dunked the ball with both hands.

Doug Mo had to call another timeout. Gan Guoyang said to Leaf, who was passing by, "I'm already in such a bad state, how can you still be distracted?"

"Looks like it's not enough," Gan Guoyang added softly.

A chilling fear that ran down to the back of his spine swept through Life's mind. Wasn't that enough?

(End of this chapter)