The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 676 Idol
After defeating the Rockets in Houston, the Trail Blazers boarded a plane and headed southeast, their next destinations being Charlotte, Miami, and Orlando in the south.

For the Trail Blazers, each trip to the Southeast is less of an away game and more of a sunny journey. Playing against these new teams in the warm south is a great way to adjust and relax.

The addition of four new teams made the overall schedule of the NBA in the 90s less difficult, especially for the Eastern Conference teams. Imagine having six or seven games each season in sunny beaches, theme park cities, and against weaker teams, winning while relaxing – it was a real treat during the long season.

Of course, by the 1991-1992 season, these new teams had developed and grown, and winning here was no longer as easy as in previous seasons.

Teams like the Magic and Timberwolves remain bottom-tier, and both are heading straight for the number one draft pick.

As for the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat, they are gradually getting back on track.

The Trail Blazers' first game on their Eastern Tour was in Charlotte, Jordan's hometown.

Charlotte is an old city, founded in 1750 and named after Princess Charlotte Sofia, the fiancée of King George III.

During the War of Independence, the citizens of Charlotte caused immense damage to the British army, and British General Charles Cornwallis likened the city to "a hornet's nest."

Therefore, when the NBA established a team in Charlotte in 1988, the citizens chose the name Hornets as a symbol of the old revolutionary area.

After two poor seasons, the Charlotte Hornets won the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft and selected UNLV's short power forward Larry Johnson.

Larry Johnson was a legendary player and the hottest center in the United States in 1990 and 1991, but he also caused a lot of controversy.

The controversy stems from the fact that after graduating from high school, he initially promised to play basketball at Southern Methodist University, but after some conflicts arose due to academic issues, he switched to the University of Texas at Odessa.

He played his freshman and sophomore years in Odessa, averaging 22.3 and 29 points per game, respectively. He was a very strong and talented scorer.

In his junior year, Johnson transferred to UNLV, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and became the coach of the famous coach Jerry Takamanian ("Shaq Tucker" who liked to squat on the sidelines and bite a towel).

Larry Johnson's arrival completely transformed UNLV, turning them from a "national powerhouse" into a championship-caliber team.

In the 1990 NCAA Tournament, they fought their way through the competition to win the national championship, with Larry Johnson and Jerry Takanan reaching the pinnacle of their careers.

However, in the 1990-1991 season, the NCAA intervened and investigated, believing that Larry Johnson's transfer to UNLV involved irregular recruitment practices, and the committee began a full investigation.

Over the next nine months, NCAA investigators visited UNLV 11 times, and 10 different players from the team were suspended for various academic and rule violations, most commonly for unbilled phone calls and hotel miscellaneous expenses during road trips.

In fact, ever since Takanien took a position at Long Beach University in 1968, the NCAA has never stopped investigating and punishing him. The two sides seem to have a grudge against each other, and they have been entangled with each other repeatedly.

Takanien was found guilty of dozens of violations, suspended multiple times, and his school was suspended from competitions several times. Takanien continued to fight back, appealing to the court and persisting for 11 years until he finally filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court.

One important reason for this is that Takanien likes to take in and tolerate talented players who have poor character, bad grades, and terrible upbringing.

These players are good at playing basketball but also good at getting into trouble. To clean up their messes, Takanien has to do some illegal things to protect them—Takanien's bottom line is no drugs, but he can handle everything else for the players as much as possible.

In 1987, Lloyd Daniels, a talented player recruited by Takanien, was arrested for buying cocaine from an undercover police officer (American police often use sting operations). Takanien announced that the team was firing Lloyd Daniels, as he would not use players with drug addictions.

But the matter did not end there. Daniels’ introducer, Richard Perry, was investigated by the NCAA. He was a notorious gambler.

The investigation into him implicated UNLV and Takanien, and its effects continued into 1991, leading to a turbulent start to the 1991 season for the defending champions, UNLV.

Sports media across the United States are digging into UNLV's dirty laundry, including players' history of misconduct, chaotic private lives, and their playing style has also been criticized.

NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers is known to dislike UNLV and Takanien. He describes UNLV as "slum basketball" because Takanien's teams like to run around, fast break, and attack the basket. They don't have any nice half-court plays or solid defense, which is why he prefers to use fast-paced, athletic black players.

This series of investigations and attacks put the entire UNLV basketball team in a state of depression and anger. Throughout the 1991 season, they were at odds with the whole world.

At the start of the 1991 season, the NCAA gave Takanien an ultimatum, allowing him to coach for one last NCAA season before being kicked out of college coaching, and UNLV did not spare this accomplished coach.

This will be Takanien's last season, and also Larry Johnson's last season in college.

UNLV almost created a miracle that year, winning from the very first game onwards.

They maintained a perfect record in the regional regular season and invitational tournaments, fought their way into the national competition, and then easily advanced to the final four.

Under Larry Johnson's leadership, the UNLV, who were at odds with the world, achieved a 34-game winning streak this season. If the 1990 season is included, the UNLV has achieved a 45-game winning streak.

Before the 1991 NBA Finals showdown between Gan and Joe, the fate of UNLV was the biggest concern for basketball fans across the United States.

In the semifinals, they faced Duke, their Finals opponent from the previous year. Coach K led Duke, which included Laettner and Grant Hill, and they were determined to get revenge.

In the previous year's finals, UNLV swept Duke by 30 points, but this time Duke came prepared.

The two sides engaged in an epic battle, with Laettner making both of his final free throws to give Duke a two-point lead.

Larry Johnson had a chance to win the game, but he chose to pass the ball to Anderson Hunter on the three-point line in front of Laettner's defense.

Hunter missed a three-pointer, UNLV lost the game, and their legendary season came to an end.

They almost became the third team to have a perfect season, following Bob Knight's Indiana State University and Bobby Bellman's Gonzaga University.

If they succeed, they will win the NCAA championship for the second consecutive year, a feat that neither Indiana State nor Gonzaga could achieve.

After losing the match, Takanien left UNLV and the university arena in disappointment. In fact, he had predicted that UNLV would lose before the match.

Having coached for many years, he had a premonition that UNLV's momentum in reaching the final four was already at its limit, and their miraculous journey had come to an end.

After leaving UNLV, Takanion is expected to coach in the NBA, and several teams have expressed interest in him.

Larry Johnson entered the NBA with a huge aura, becoming the Hornets' hope, and signed with Converse right after graduation, shooting commercials with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

In the advertisement, Larry Johnson dressed as a middle-aged woman, creating a stark contrast by playing an older woman.

The advertisement was very effective, and the idea was used repeatedly over the next five years, generating a significant impact.

Larry Johnson's arrival transformed the Charlotte Hornets from a bottom-feeder into a team on the verge of making the playoffs.

They have become a distinctive and vital force in the league.

In the backcourt, they have Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player they acquired in a trade from the Washington Bullets.

In the paint, they have a power forward named Larry Johnson, who is only 6 feet 6 inches tall, similar to Jordan, but weighs 250 pounds and is as strong as an ox.

In addition to their distinctive roster and playing style, the Hornets also have beautifully colored jerseys, a cartoon-style logo, and the most enthusiastic fans in the entire league.

This season, the Charlotte Arena, the Hornets' home arena, boasts the highest attendance in the league, surpassing both the Bulls and the Trail Blazers, demonstrating the fervor of Charlotte fans.

Larry Johnson is undoubtedly the core of this emerging team, and the arrival of this superstar forward has given Charlotte fans enough motivation to buy tickets.

Larry Johnson is extremely strong; in terms of shoulder width and muscle mass alone, he is even more robust than Charles Barkley, who is also a short center.

However, this burly, broad-shouldered man, who looked like a bull, acted like a little fanboy when he saw Gan Guoyang during the pre-game warm-up. He brought over a basketball and asked Gan Guoyang to sign it.

The reason is simple: Gan Guoyang is Larry Johnson's idol. When asked for an autograph, Johnson said shyly, "When I was in college, my dorm room was covered with your posters... You are my goal. We almost won last year."

Larry Johnson's biggest regret was losing to Duke last year and failing to win the championship with a perfect record. He paid tribute to his idol, Forrest Gump.

Gan Guoyang's experiences in high school and college are an enduring legend in the hearts of many young players born in the 60s and 70s. The ratings frenzy and the invincible image of Gan Guoyang are firmly imprinted in the hearts of many basketball fans.

Today, they are entering the NBA in droves, one after another, eager to become rivals to their idols on the court.

Gan Guoyang carefully signed his name on the basketball and handed it to Johnson, then asked earnestly, "Larry, I heard you're pretty good at boxing, want to have a match?"

Larry Johnson is a boxing enthusiast, and you can tell from his shoulders and arms that he's good at boxing.

He regularly trains his fighting ability and footwork agility through boxing, and Larry Johnson is very confident in his punches.

Upon hearing Gan Guoyang's words, Johnson quickly lowered his head, waved his hand, and said, "Oh no, no, no, I can't, I'm just an amateur..."

Gan Guoyang laughed and said, "I'm not a professional either. Besides, this isn't boxing on the ring, it's off the ring, so there's a chance to have a few rounds."

Upon hearing this, Johnson nodded repeatedly. Being able to compete and box alongside his idol was something he had always dreamed of. Larry Johnson had had a few opportunities to interact with Gan Guoyang before, such as at the All-Star game, but Johnson was too shy, and Gan Guoyang was always surrounded by too many people, so he never had the chance.

Tonight, the Trail Blazers and Hornets faced off for the first time, finally giving the two players a chance to interact and compete up close.

Although Larry Johnson is as strong as an ox, he is not a rough guy without skills.

On the contrary, he has refined skills, a very good shot, and even a three-point shot.

This seemingly contrasting playing style is all influenced by Gan Guoyang, who has set a good example for young people.

Currently, both the NCAA and some young centers who have recently entered the NBA place great emphasis on strength training and long-range shooting practice.

Traditional, cumbersome, low-post centers are becoming less common, while versatile centers who can both shoot and hold their own are becoming more common.

This is the power of role models.

The game was very intense, with the Hornets playing at home in high spirits; they are a very energetic team.

Rookie Larry Johnson is already the team's core player, averaging 19 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season.

However, tonight, Gan Guoyang spent most of the time guarding Larry Johnson and taught the number one draft pick a lesson.

Larry Johnson's strengths lie in his power and speed; despite not having a height advantage, his strength and weight are truly astonishing.

At the same time, he is also agile and can shoot from the outside. In most cases, the person defending him is either taller than him but not as fast, or faster than him but not as strong. There is always a weakness that Johnson can exploit.

Unfortunately, Forrest Gump didn't have any of these problems. He was taller, stronger, and faster than Johnson.

Gan Guoyang has always been the nemesis of this type of short, stocky, and fast inside player; once you get involved with him, you'll be in deep trouble.

In the first round of their fight, Larry Johnson tried to use his strength to push Gan Guoyang away, but was bounced back. He knew then that he was in deep trouble that night.

With their offensive efforts proving ineffective, Johnson had no choice but to pass the ball out, and the team reorganized their attack. Gan Guoyang then delivered his ultimate taunt:
"Larry, didn't you eat dinner tonight?"

Larry Johnson didn't want to make a bad impression on his idol, so he pulled out all the stops in hopes of gaining an advantage and launching a counterattack.

One of Johnson's signature moves is to receive the ball on the wing facing the basket, then drive straight to the basket, using his broad shoulders to push past the defender, followed by a back turn to get close to the basket. While the opponent is off balance after being pushed aside, he attacks the rim with a hook shot, floater, or layup.

This tactic is effective most of the time because those who defend Larry Johnson generally can't withstand his drives.

In addition, he has a very solid low-post back-to-the-basket game. His finishing moves are usually a fadeaway jump shot or a hook shot after a turnaround. He has a very fast turnaround speed and his shooting and hook shots are very accurate.

But tonight, facing Gan Guoyang, Johnson quickly faced his first problem: he couldn't get into position inside.

In the fierce battle for position in the paint, Larry Johnson felt helpless for the first time, unable to move at all.

He had never fought Gan Guoyang before, but he had heard that Gan Guoyang was incredibly strong and his position was as solid as a rock.

Larry Johnson has always been confident in his strength. After entering the NBA, even as a rookie, most ordinary big men were no match for him.

Tonight he finally met his match. His idol lived up to his reputation, not only with strong positioning ability but also with excellent positioning technique. Larry Johnson could hardly expect to receive the ball comfortably.

For an inside scorer, if he can't receive the ball comfortably in a comfortable position, half of his offensive rhythm is ruined tonight, and his scoring won't be good.

Conversely, Gan Guoyang can always easily find a good position in the low post, then easily receive the ball, turn around and launch an attack, leaving the Hornets' interior defense helpless.

Therefore, the game was very intense, but the Hornets fell behind from the first quarter. The Trail Blazers exerted a little effort on both the defensive and offensive ends, and the Hornets couldn't keep up.

Once the score difference widens to around 10 points, the Trail Blazers will relax a bit, and the two sides will go back and forth scoring, with the score difference remaining in double digits.

Larry Johnson wasn't very hopeful of winning. The Trail Blazers were strong, the season was nearing its end, and the Hornets weren't aiming for the playoffs, so the team didn't have a strong desire to win.

Therefore, Johnson wanted to compete with his idol, at least to score more points against him, learn some techniques, and gain some experience.

Gan Guoyang was happy to share, and while playing the game, he would also give Larry Johnson a few pointers.

According to Gan Guoyang, Johnson has great talent and solid technique, but his attention to detail is lacking.

At the highest level in the NBA, there's no skill that top players can't do. The key is whether you're good enough at the details and whether you can use them in important games and crucial moments.

Larry Johnson has not yet reached the highest level in the league. He relies more on his physicality and talent to make wide and powerful shots, and many of his shots are made by using his body, strength and speed to force his way in.

Once he encounters someone who is superior to him in every aspect of physical ability, he will inevitably suffer a setback.

In the third quarter, the Trail Blazers firmly controlled the pace of the game, and Gan Guoyang began to provide on-site instruction.

First comes positioning, how to use feints to gain position, then comes the choice of action after receiving the ball, which is incredibly fast.

When it was the Hornets' turn to attack, Gan Guoyang deliberately left an opening, allowing Larry Johnson to receive the ball on the wing and attack him.

"Attack, turn, too slow, I need to steal the ball!"

As Gan Guoyang spoke, he indeed snatched the ball from Johnson's hands after he turned around.

He then passed the ball to the frontcourt, and the Trail Blazers completed a fast break.

Johnson was frustrated; this was the third time tonight that Gan Guoyang had taken the ball from him.

He was already consciously trying to protect the ball, but the more he tried to protect it, the slower his movements became.

"Intention, use your intention, not your thinking, to perform actions."

"idea?"

"If you don't have the subconscious actions you practiced hundreds of times, it means you haven't practiced enough."

Two rounds later, Johnson attacked again, but still missed. His turnaround shot was blocked by Gan Guoyang.

After securing the rebound, Gan Guoyang turned around and hit a three-pointer on offense, catching the Hornets completely off guard; they couldn't stop this man.

"I mean intention, not anger, not a certain emotion. Again, feel, don't think."

Larry Johnson seemed to have a sudden realization, and he finally received a pass from Muggsy Bogues at the top of the arc and hit a mid-range shot.

When facing Gan Guoyang's defense, he did not hesitate, nor did he make any useless feints to disrupt the rhythm.

He received the ball, adjusted his position, and successfully shot it; the ball went in.

"That was a great shot. How did it feel?"

"It feels, uh..."

While Larry Johnson was still pondering the answer, Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc, made a smooth breakthrough into the paint, and then scored with a beautiful move hook shot.

It was incredibly fast, flowing smoothly without any hesitation or stagnation.

"Don't use your brain to think, use your feeling. It's like the ball has left your hand; it's no longer under your control, but you still believe it will go in."

"When a player comes to the court, he is already a basketball that has been shot. Many things cannot be changed, but you are confident that it will go in."

"You're spinning, a beautiful arc... I'm going to steal it!"

Larry Johnson was completely confused by Gan Guoyang's explanation and ended up making a mistake.

Gan Guoyang stole the ball and launched a counterattack. The Trail Blazers scored on another fast break, unleashing a wave of offensive momentum against the Hornets and forcing them to call a timeout.

Larry Johnson then realized whether his idol was lecturing him or just trying to hypnotize him.
Why am I getting more and more confused?

(End of this chapter)