The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 349 The Difficulty of Defending the Title

The unique characteristic of training with Gan Guoyang is that you'll always feel like you didn't arrive early enough, didn't train hard enough, and didn't eat enough.

During the week-long newcomer training camp, Gan Guoyang trained diligently for seven days, leaving everyone complaining about how tough it was.

Those fringe players, third-round and fourth-round draft picks, all think, "I really can't make it in the NBA, because I just can't handle it."

Dell Curry and Hornacek, who found accounting jobs at the company, persevered and became increasingly adaptable as their training progressed.

Hornacek, in particular, went from being so tired on the first day that he couldn't straighten his back, to being able to keep up with the pace on the second day, and by the time the training camp was about to end, he was already able to consistently miss three-pointers during the 3:30 p.m. three-point practice.

Although the throws were still not good, at least there weren't a lot of air balloons.

In addition to leading everyone in rigorous training, Gan Guoyang also ensured everyone ate well together.

He provided a basketball recipe and a Portland healthy eating map, inviting everyone to eat together and maintain good eating habits.

Drexler reportedly also provided newlyweds with a "Portland Strip Club Guide," as Portland is Oregon's famous sex capital with a plethora of strip clubs and adult bookstores.

In short, after a week of training camp, the newcomers felt a little reluctant to leave, even though they had trained very hard.

They could tell from the team leader's attitude towards basketball and life that this was an excellent team.

Unfortunately, most of them were not good enough to meet the Trail Blazers' signing requirements, and in the end only Hornacek and Dell Curry stayed.

Dell Curry performed better in training camp; after all, he was a first-round pick and had national recognition during his college years.

While Hornacek was relatively unknown, at the post-rookie camp debriefing, Bielman and Adelman said, "Hornacek has more comprehensive potential. He plays with great vision and is very intelligent. Dale is better in terms of skills, especially shooting; he is more pure."

This week, Berman really got to experience being an NBA coach. He led the entire training camp while Adelman observed and gave instructions.

In terms of ability, Bellman is certainly not a problem; what he lacks is seniority, but Gan Guoyang's presence makes up for this deficiency.

If Gan Guoyang could follow his orders, no one else had any reason to disobey. Therefore, Berman was very relaxed during the training camp. He was very grateful to Gan Guoyang, who knew how to get along with people.

However, in front of Dr. Jack, Forrest Gump still had to be criticized!
Adelman agreed with Berman's assessment, but he still pointed out: "Neither of them is yet ready for rotation; they need to train harder to earn playing time. The defense is our weak point, and we need to focus on their development."

The arrival of Dell Curry and Hornacek signifies that the Trail Blazers are heading down a new path in their tactical system.

Jack Ramsey's traditional frontcourt system can no longer survive well in today's NBA. Starting last season, Ramsey has given a lot of power to the backcourt players Drexler, Porter, and Paxson.

The Trail Blazers' playing style is vastly different from that of the 70s; only when Bill Walton is on the court can one occasionally see some resemblance to the past.

If the Trail Blazers continue to use Ramsey's system to draft rookies, they should select more forwards.

Ultimately, the Trail Blazers' focus on developing two guards indicates that Ramsey's system is gradually fading within the team and being replaced by newer elements.

Although Ramsey remains the undisputed head coach and one of the team's key figures, his actual influence on the team is steadily diminishing.

Time flies, and it's already the end of September. More than half of the long offseason has passed, players have returned to their positions, and all teams are ready for their preseason training camps.

Every season brings in new players, and naturally, some leave; the cycle of change continues.

Tom McMillan, the Washington Bullets' "white-haired man" and rival of Bill Walton, decided to retire this summer, ending his basketball career. However, his political career has officially begun, as he will become a congressman representing the Maryland region, becoming part of the American ruling class.

Jamal Wilkes, a former Lakers legend, decided to retire after a disastrous season with the Clippers. He was only 32 years old when he retired.

This is another major blow to the Clippers, who have criticized Wilkes for his lack of contribution to the team, and the death of Len Bias makes the Clippers look even more miserable.

Donald Sterling should really reconsider the team's development. Why do excellent players decline in performance when they come here, and why are they unwilling to play for this team?

Another legendary player who left the fans' sight was George Gervin. After playing one season with the Chicago Bulls, he officially announced his retirement from the court. From then on, the NBA could no longer see the Iceman's elegant "Finger-roll," and Gervin had to devote himself to the fight against drugs.

For the Trail Blazers, Bill Walton is also hesitant and wavering between retiring or continuing to play for another year.

In the summer, he underwent his 36th career surgery to repair the already shattered bone structure of his ankle.

The injection during the finals aggravated his old injury, and doctors had to use an electric saw to cut open part of the connection between his ankle and leg bones, and then use an electric drill and steel nails to reconnect the part.

Walton had a thick cast on his leg all summer. By the time preseason training camp started, he could walk with the help of crutches, but it would be at least a few more months before he could return to training and play.

Jack Ramsey advised Walton to stay home and rest, preferably somewhere warm and dry, but Walton remained in Portland and attended the team's first training camp of the new season.

“I can’t stay alone forever. I need some life, some vitality to nourish me. There’s nothing better than watching Forrest Gump train,” Walton told Ramsey. Ramsey agreed to let him watch from the sidelines. The two sat on the sidelines, and Ramsey handed over the training work to Adelman and Bellman.

"The new coach, Bobby, is Forrest Gump's former high school and college coach. He's a Notre Dame brat, very energetic and passionate."

“You used to be the most energetic and passionate person, Jack. I feel like you don’t look as energetic as you did last year. Are you too tired?”

“There’s something… I’m 61 years old now, and lately I’ve been having trouble sleeping, having bad dreams, and getting up at night. I need to get back into shape.”

Winning the championship is a huge drain on a person's physical and mental energy. Ramsey was getting old, and the success of the 1986 season left him exhausted, which was different from 1977, after all, his age was a factor.

When he arrived in Portland in 1977, he was only 52 years old, the prime of a coach's career, and full of ambition and desire for success.

After nine years of setbacks, he reconciled with his prized student, achieved new glories, and finally fulfilled his wish. He has no regrets in his coaching career.

So Ramsey was kind of tanking this training camp, leaving most of the details to Adelman and the new assistant coach, while he took charge of the overall work.

"I'm considering whether to retire. Is it even worth continuing for another year? I have no regrets." Walton's voice also carried a pessimistic tone.

"No, there's still a regret. We should have won a consecutive championship and established a dynasty."

“We were young back then, but things are different now. In my case, I can only play for another year at most.”

Wharton recalled the pain he felt when he woke up on the operating table, feeling as if he were in a painful cycle that he wanted to break free from.

Ramsey now understands Walton's pain, but he still said, "Our core is healthy right now, and I think it's a little too healthy."

Gan Guoyang is beyond healthy. In Ramsey's words, if you put him in a frying pan, he'll go back to sleep and wake up feeling much better.

On the first day of the preseason training camp, Gan Guoyang looked to be in the best condition.

He maintains a very good physique, keeping his weight at around 250 pounds and having no plans to gain or lose any more.

He felt that the physique of the scoring champion, who combined agility and strength last season, was a good fit.

Apart from Gan Guoyang, everyone else has their own situation.

Terry Porter looks stronger, and despite winning a championship in his rookie season, Porter didn't slack off on improving himself during the summer.

For a rookie like him, a championship is just icing on the cake; survival in this league still depends on individual ability.

He had a consistent performance in the playoffs, but it was clearly not enough. He was completely outmatched by Dennis Johnson in the Finals, which shows that he still has a lot of room for improvement.

Another person who looks to be in great shape is Vandeweghe. He used to be a bit thin, but he has become much stronger over the summer.

Standing at 6 feet 8 inches, his weight has increased from 220 pounds to 230 pounds, which is a huge improvement. Only by gaining muscle can one improve their defensive level.

He, who rarely trained strength in the past, spent most of the summer in the gym and made greater progress than last season.

The championship undoubtedly inspired him.

One player whose form seemed to have declined was Drexler. Perhaps he was too obsessed with women during the summer, because he looked limp on the first day of training camp.

Another one is Jerome Kossie, who spent the offseason eating, drinking, and having fun, and bought himself a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. He looks like he's gained a lot of weight.

After his rookie season ended with a one-year contract, the Trail Blazers offered Kossie a new three-year guaranteed contract, which gave him confidence.

Gan Guoyang looked at Kexi's belly in the locker room, patted it, and said, "Are you planning to switch to sumo wrestling?"

Ke Xi was a little embarrassed, and Gan Guoyang warned him, "You'd better lose that belly fat before the new season starts. You're only a sophomore, don't think you can rest easy just because you got a new contract."

Jim Paxson spent the summer recovering from his leg injury, and a decline in his performance was inevitable, but for him, being a substitute was not unacceptable.

Veteran Mitchell Thompson maintained his physique during the summer, and his hard work continues to make him Gan Guoyang's most reliable partner in the paint.

Several teams inquired about Thompson during the offseason, especially Eastern Conference teams and the Lakers, but the Trail Blazers rejected them all. Gan Guoyang clearly stated that Thompson is the most important partner in the paint.

Overall, compared to the start of last season, the Trail Blazers lacked the drive and ambition, as complacency is inevitable after winning the championship.

This is precisely where the difficulty of defending a title lies: often, it is not the opponent who defeats the champion, but the champion himself.

(End of this chapter)