The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 529 Sunrise
The opening match took place promptly at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time, with the opponent being the Sacramento Kings.

Before the game officially started, fans and players from both sides observed a minute's silence in memory of Sacramento Kings player Rick Bailey, who committed suicide in August of this year.

Bailey was the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 1988 NBA draft and graduated from San Jose State University.

He is 6 feet 8 inches tall and averaged 11 points per game in his rookie season with a 40.6% three-point shooting percentage.

Regardless of his height, physique, or playing style, Pelé was a new type of forward at the turn of the 80s and 90s, and he could have shone brightly in the NBA.

However, due to family problems, discord with his parents, arguments with his wife, and mortgage pressure, he ultimately took his own life and committed suicide at home with a gun.

For the Sacramento Kings, who were already in turmoil, struggling to achieve results, and lingering at the bottom of the NBA, Pelé's suicide was undoubtedly adding insult to injury.

In the 1988 season, the Sacramento Kings attempted to instill championship DNA in the team with Bill Russell, but after only half a season together, it was proven that Russell's coaching and management style was not suitable for the current NBA.

He's a fighter, a winner, but not a good coach or manager.

People often take it for granted that a winner in one field can succeed in another, especially if the two fields are very similar or related.

For example, playing on the court and coaching on the sidelines, or coaching on the sidelines and managing off the court.

Although these all revolve around basketball, they actually represent different fields of work and have different requirements for people.

Few teams can be proficient in all three areas, and the Kings have suffered greatly in this regard, as have many other teams.

After ending his partnership with Russell, Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jerry Reynolds became the team's head coach.

Jerry Reynolds is a veteran of the Kings. He served as a scout for the team when they were still in Kansas City and later became an assistant coach.

Compared to the league's top coaches, Jerry Reynolds is not good enough in terms of coaching ability. The reason he was able to become the Kings' coach is twofold: first, he is highly respected within the Kings team, and second, the Kings simply couldn't find anyone else to take over.

Russell left, Phil Johnson left, the owner wanted to hire Don Booth, but Don Booth was happy raising horses at home, he didn't even take the Bulls' offer to be an assistant coach, and he was even less interested in the Kings.

In the end, they had no choice but to force the issue and appoint an old man who was better suited for logistics and off-field work as head coach, so naturally the team's performance didn't improve.

Pelé's suicide triggered a series of chain reactions, casting a shadow over the entire team and causing morale to collapse.

In September, the Kings traded center Jim Peterson for Ralph Sampson.

Peterson was originally acquired by the Kings in 88 when they traded Audis Thorpe to the Rockets. Now he has been traded to the Warriors in exchange for his former Rockets teammate, Sampson.

The Rockets' once young lineup of twin towers plus Peterson fell apart and was tossed about by Sampson's injury.

In October, training camp, crucial for the new season, began. Pavis Ellison, the Kings' number one pick in the 1989 draft, Weyman Tisdale, acquired from the Pacers, and Ralph Sampson, who had just been acquired, all refused to report to training camp.

Some were due to injuries, some were traumatized by Pelé's suicide, and some simply didn't want to play for the Kings.

In addition, the team's rookie Negro was injured during training camp, and starting guard Kenny Smith missed all preseason games due to injury.

The Kings placed their training camp on the island of Hawaii, hoping that the beautiful island scenery and pleasant climate would allow the players to achieve the best training results, but the result was a mess.

A bad preseason training camp inevitably foreshadows a bad season.

When they faced the formidable Portland Trail Blazers in their first game, the spirit and energy on both sides were completely different.

After the moment of silence, the stadium immediately came back to life, and the players began their entrance ceremony.

The away team's lineup is always simple; the Kings' starting lineup consists of Ralph Sampson, Weyman Tisdale, Rodney McGrady, Kenny Smith, and Negro.

Bobby Bellman glanced at the Kings' starting lineup and immediately realized that the team was really short of players.

With Negro starting, the Kings' only available guard off the bench is Steve Kerr.

Steve Kerr was traded from the Suns to the Kings in a three-way trade involving Danny Ainge and Eddie Johnson during the 88 season.

The Kings' number one draft pick, Pavis Ellison, hasn't played a single game before suffering a knee injury and being sidelined.

This might not be a bad thing for Ellison. If he plays, his first game will be against the NBA's strongest center, which would definitely be a huge blow to his confidence.

After the Kings' starting lineup ceremony ended, the lights in the arena went out.

The memorial stadium was pitch black, with only a little moonlight and city lights shining through the glass curtain wall, making the atmosphere dark and mysterious.

Everyone was startled, wondering if there was a power outage.

Just then, music started playing from the speakers in the stadium.

The newly installed laser beam on the ceiling projected the Portland Trail Blazers logo into the center of the court floor.

The DJ at the scene switched to a high-pitched voice and began introducing the Trail Blazers' starting players with a drawn-out tone.

Everyone immediately realized that this was the Trail Blazers' new home team player entrance ceremony for the new season.

This was the idea of ​​team owner Tang Jianguo, who felt that the previous entrance ceremony was too bland and lacked any dramatic effect.

It's the same whether it's the home team or the away team, it's boring. We must make sure the home team players appear to create a sense of mystery and ceremony.

So, turning off the lights, playing music, and flashing lasers became the standard way the Trail Blazers appeared on the court in the new season.

The background music is the introduction to Richard Strauss's famous symphonic work, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," titled "Sunrise."

The deep drumbeats, combined with the soaring horn and violin sounds, brought the atmosphere to a climax.

"Sunny Gump, a 6-foot-10 center from Gonzaga University!!"

As the DJ introduced the last player, the music reached its climax, as if a fiery sun were bursting forth from the horizon.

Many fans at the scene were moved to tears as they experienced this brand-new entrance ceremony for the first time, bringing the atmosphere in the stadium to its peak and the Trail Blazers' morale to its highest point.

The Kings looked even more demoralized; the game hadn't even started yet, and they already seemed to be down by 10 points.

Gan Guoyang and Ralf Sampson stood in the center circle for the jump ball. The two talented players, born in 83 and 84, have had vastly different fates in just a few years.

Sampson had visibly gained weight, and thick blue knee braces were wrapped around his knees.

Judging from his static attributes alone, he still has the potential to be a super center.

He has a huge height, an incredibly long wingspan, and looks even stronger.

But those who watched his matches know that he can never go back to the way he was.

Rick Adelman knows this best: in the NBA, especially in the paint, physical attributes are crucial.

Slower speed and reduced explosiveness will make you lose competitiveness in matches, turning you from a star into an ordinary player, or even a fringe player who is ignored and eventually eliminated.

The knee injury was devastating for Sampson, preventing him from playing as high and powerfully as he used to.

During the jump ball between Sampson and Gan Guoyang, Sampson clearly had a significant height advantage, but Gan Guoyang, with his greater explosiveness, managed to tip the ball first, and the Trail Blazers began their attack.

In the first offensive possession of the season, Gan Guoyang called for the ball in the low post, immediately drawing the attention of three Kings players.

Hornacek circled around the baseline and used the screen to find an opportunity on the right side of the arc. Gan Guoyang made a natural pass to Hornacek.

Hornacek caught the ball and made a jump shot, scoring the first point of the game.

In the 88-89 season, Drexler's departure gave Hornacek and Curry more room to grow.

Both players' off-ball cuts and catch-and-shoot abilities have been greatly improved. Bellman designed many off-ball movement tactics for Hornacek and Curry, taking advantage of Gan Guoyang's ball-handling appeal.

These running tactics are the Trail Blazers' basic scoring methods in regular time, and were also key to their ability to maintain their record last season.

With a second scoring option missing, Berman distributed the scoring burden to these highly capable guards.

The team continued its overall strategy of "two reductions and one increase" since the 88 season, relying more on positional attacks after Drexler's departure.

The Trail Blazers have one of the best half-court offensive efficiency in the league, the most three-point attempts, and a slower pace of play.

If we're talking about weaknesses, without Drexler, the Trail Blazers' perimeter height, physical attributes, defensive intensity, and steal ability have all dropped a level, and their counter-attack ability has also declined significantly.

The Trail Blazers lost not only Drexler, but also Vandeweghe, Jim Paxson, Kenny Carr, and a group of other tall and strong forwards and guards.

Their ability to suddenly increase defensive intensity in waves, like they did in 1986 and 1987, has basically disappeared.

The team's steals have fallen from first in the league in 86 and 87 to the middle of the league.

The team's offensive rebounding has also gradually moved from the top of the league to the middle.

The team firmly holds the top spot in the league in both three-point attempts and makes.

The Trail Blazers have gradually transformed from a sharp and fierce cavalry-style team into a steady and efficient infantry-style team.

Therefore, the Trail Blazers' game looked more lukewarm, with less aggressive drives and dunks, and more passing and cutting on the perimeter and mid-range and long-range shots.

The Kings started the game with a haphazard offense, lacking a true focal point. Initially, they tried to have Sampson isolate against Gan Guoyang.

But Sampson couldn't beat Gan Guoyang even in his prime, so how could he possibly be a match for Gan Guoyang now?

Gan Guoyang bumped into him from behind, and with a quick touch, he knew Sampson had regressed drastically; he had completely lost his speed and explosiveness. Gan Guoyang slammed the ball away, stealing it and initiating a Trail Blazers counterattack.

Without Drexler, the Trail Blazers' counterattacks weren't as swift, but Porter was still decisive.

He pulled up and hit a three-pointer. He and Hornacek, these two outside shooters, are the Trail Blazers' second and third leading scorers.

It seems the Trail Blazers' guards aren't going to give Gan Guoyang any face. You say you want to score 50 points? We'll blow the game out of the first half, we won't give you that chance.

Negro then missed a three-pointer, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound, allowing the Trail Blazers to establish a half-court offense.

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post and backed down Sampson. As he pushed the ball in, Sampson was pushed away and lost his position as if he were wearing roller skates.

Gan Guoyang easily dribbled to the basket and finished with a simple one-handed dunk, scoring his first point of the new season.

In the opening attack and defense, Gan Guoyang sensed Sampson's weakness; injuries had completely destroyed this talented player.

He injured his knee, so despite being heavier and stronger, his ability to fight was actually reduced because he couldn't generate power from his legs.

Five minutes into the game, the score quickly reached 6-16, with the Trail Blazers leading by 10 points, prompting the Kings to call a timeout.

Sampson sat on the bench, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face. In five minutes, he hadn't scored a single point, only managing to grab one rebound.

He defended Gan Guoyang, allowing Gan Guoyang to easily score 8 points and 2 assists. The only way he could stop Gan Guoyang was to foul him and send him to the free-throw line.

Sampson didn't want to report to the Kings in the summer due to his personal wishes, which caused him to miss the Kings' preseason training camp.

He didn't rejoin the team until just before the season started, only had one practice session together, and then went to Portland to play, even starting the game.

He can still score a few points and grab a few rebounds against any other opponent, relying on his past glory to perform well.

Meeting Forrest Gump was truly a nightmare.

The good news is that Gan Guoyang's playing style is not as aggressive as it was in 86 and 87.

Turnaround jumpers and mid-range shots have become Gan Guoyang's main offensive weapons. He no longer fights in the paint like he did against the Rockets in the past, and it almost comes to blows.

If he fought like that, Forrest would make Sampson look bad.

The Kings had no good way to defend Gan Guoyang, sending him to the free-throw line multiple times in the first quarter.

Gan Guoyang scored 11 points in the first quarter with free throws and got his shooting touch back on track.

With a 12-point lead after the first quarter, the Trail Blazers brought in Petrovic and Sabonis in the second quarter.

The two European stars made their NBA debut, drawing enthusiastic applause and cheers from the crowd.

Although they are newcomers, the two are the same age as Gan Guoyang, both 25 years old, and have played in European professional competitions for many years, so they have a lot of competition experience.

Given the Kings' relatively weak performance, they quickly scored their first point in the NBA – Petrovic made a mid-range jumper after a crossover dribble and a stop-and-go.

Sabonis grabbed the offensive rebound under the basket and scored on the putback.

This game was so unfair to the Kings because who was their backup center when Ralph Sampson was resting?

It's Randy Allen, a 6-foot-8 player who originally played small forward, but now he has to play center to face the 7-foot-3 Sabonis.

Aside from Allen, the Kings' bench really doesn't have a single interior player who can actually play a decent game; the number one draft pick got injured before even playing a single game.

In one play, Allen was backing down Sabonis, and Sabonis received a pass from Curry and went for a low post isolation play. Kings head coach Jerry Reynolds, who was standing on the sidelines, looked over and wondered why no one was guarding Sabonis.
He yelled, "Who's guarding Sabonis! Where's the guy guarding him?!"

When Sabonis turned around and hooked his shot towards the basket, Reynolds realized that Allen was behind Sabonis...

He was too short and thin compared to Sabonis; his body was completely obscured, making him impossible to see.

Sabonis easily made his hook shot, and Allen couldn't even manage to block it.

Sabonis scored his first one-on-one point in the NBA, almost getting caught out by the Kings' head coach with no one guarding him.

There's another Eastern European big man like Sabonis sitting on the Trail Blazers' bench.

Jerry Reynolds sighed. If we're only talking about the starting lineup, the Kings aren't great, but at least they can put together a decent five-man roster, with players capable of playing at every position.

But aside from the starters, the Kings' bench is truly disappointing.

Apart from Negro and Kerr, who have some potential, the rest are just mediocre players who can't find NBA jobs without the Kings.

The Kings simply couldn't sign any players, and their own draft picks were no good, so they gave these players a chance.

Relying on a starting five to play in a series or a short tournament, and giving them a boost, can improve their performance.

Playing 82 games, spanning half a year of regular season, and with so much long-distance travel, injuries and fatigue are inevitable, so there must be enough substitutes.

Even so, the Kings showed good fighting spirit and did not give up the game at halftime.

Sabonis and Petrovic scored some points, but their defensive weaknesses also became apparent.

In FIBA ​​games, zone defense is the main theme, and defense is a team effort where everyone helps each other.

In the NBA, one-on-one defense is highly valued, and techniques like pseudo-zone defense are commonly used in crucial games and the playoffs.

In a regular season game, man-to-man defense is the main method most of the time, and coaches don't have that much free time to create defensive traps every day.

Hornacek's one-on-one defense on the perimeter is already considered relatively poor, but Petrovic is even worse than Hornacek.

In the second quarter, the Kings' scoring began to rise, with Negro, McGrady, and Kenny Smith all trying to keep Petrovic under control.

Petrovic underwent surgery in the summer, and during the preseason training camp, he overexerted himself by insisting on keeping up with Gan Guoyang's training pace, which prevented him from recovering to his best physical condition.

A few minutes into the second quarter, although there were some goals, the defense was constantly being breached by the opponent.

Sabonis was a dominant force in the paint, and his ligaments and knees received good rest and treatment.

Sabonis's problem is fouls; he hasn't mastered the NBA's call-based scoring, committing two fouls early in the second quarter.

Bobby Bellman substituted him off the court, and Gan Guoyang returned to the game. He gave Sabonis a high-five, indicating that he had played well.

With 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block, Sabonis demonstrated his dominance in the paint.

Petrovic also scored 4 points, but his weakness on the defensive end will be a big problem.

After Gan Guoyang returned to the court, Berman tried pairing him with Mike Sanders again.

Sanders, a guard who excels at perimeter defense, immediately plugged the gaps in the perimeter defense.

Gan Guoyang hit three consecutive pull-up mid-range shots, his releases clean and crisp, the high arcs of the shots going in without even touching the rim, just a "swish" sound, as steady as an old pine tree.

Gan Guoyang easily scored 21 points in the first half, with the score at 39-58, the Trail Blazers leading by 19 points.

By the third quarter, the game was no longer in doubt, and the point difference quickly approached 30 points.

Gan Guoyang boasted before the game that he would score 50 points, but the Kings were simply not up to par and lost their fighting spirit early on.

After scoring 30 points, Gan Guoyang lost the motivation to continue scoring.

He usually scores high points when the game is intense and his teammates are not in good form, so he steps up and scores like crazy to win the game.

In games where the opponent surrenders early and is completely out of form, Gan Guoyang won't hog his shot attempts to collect stats.

He prefers to let his teammates get the stats and let newcomers get more playing time and experience.

Divac got his chance to play in the second half of the third quarter, replacing Gan Guoyang.

Cliff Robinson also came on for a turn, and both players performed well, quickly scoring points on the court.

All I can say is that the Kings are a great practice partner; they have a very long way to go before they become a strong team.

In the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers, with a 30-point lead, fielded an all-bench lineup, and as Gan Guoyang said, all 12 players on the roster got playing time.

Mason did not get a chance to play because he was not activated.

The final score was 90-121, with the Trail Blazers winning by a margin of 31 points in their first game. Ten players scored, six of whom scored in double figures, and all twelve players saw action, giving the team a great start to the new season.

Gan Guoyang's stats were unremarkable: 30 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, and he didn't seem to break a sweat.

At the end of the game, Gan Guoyang went on the court and hugged Ralph Sampson, who only scored 5 points and grabbed 4 rebounds tonight.

Whether facing Gan Guoyang or Sabonis, the once-promising star seemed powerless, and he has officially retired from the ranks of NBA interior stars.

It's even a question of how long he can survive in this league; at only 29 years old, he's already entered the final countdown of his professional career.

That's how cruel the NBA is. Sunrise and sunset, people come and go, and even the most glorious sun will eventually set.

However, Gan Guoyang's sun is still rising and has not yet reached its zenith.

(End of this chapter)