The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 728, Section Three of Teaching
Before the All-Star Game, Gan Guoyang was gradually entering his best form in history.

In the game against the Magic, Gan Guoyang scored a whopping 57 points on the road, leaving the young Shaquille O'Neal speechless.

This shows how formidable Gan Guoyang can be when he is meticulously prepared and giving it his all—in fact, he is not even giving it his all.

When Gan Guoyang is truly giving his all, he doesn't show off his skills; instead, he uses the simplest and most efficient methods to repeatedly score points.

Keep fighting until the opponent is completely broken.

He reached an unprecedented level of skill, experience, and mental state.

Therefore, he didn't care about the Trail Blazers' injuries, public opinion problems, teammates' and staff's laxity, fans' low expectations, etc.

It doesn't matter to him anymore. He doesn't care what you think or how you play.

He prepared to dance alone on the mountaintop.

Those who stand in my way, and those who hold me back, it doesn't matter.

Whether you're friend or foe, come at me all at once.

Only Gan Guoyang himself can understand this state of mind and condition.

This is quite different from the occasional confusion and bewilderment that occurred at the end of last season.

He has embarked on his own path to success, far ahead of the competition.

Bobby Bellman was able to detect these things.

He knew that Gan Guoyang was now playing basketball mostly for fun.

He fully immersed himself in the game, approaching it with a playful mindset.

He will finish a basketball game in the way he wants to.

Winning in the regular season is no longer the only goal; having fun is equally important.

He controlled everyone on the field like a chess player, including teammates, opponents, spectators, and even the referee.

Despite the team facing numerous difficulties and immense pressure to defend their title, he remained as relaxed as a teenager.

He didn't scold his teammates, put pressure on management, demand a trade, or complain after the loss.

He simply played with unwavering focus and seriousness, treating his opponents brutally, gradually building confidence for the team.

After the game against the Orlando Magic, Gan Guoyang sat in the locker room and gave an interview.

He scored 57 points in a single game, completely dominating O'Neal, and everyone went crazy for him.

The reporters had already prepared all sorts of press releases and stand-up comedy routines.

Fans are eager to buy tomorrow's sports newspapers and magazines to read the analysis of this match.

Look at the pre- and post-game comments from Forrest Gump, Shaquille O'Neal, and others.

This is a joyous occasion, a beautiful world where only O'Neal is injured.

The crowd surrounded Gan Guoyang, who was sitting on a long bench.

Gan Guoyang took off his jersey, revealing his bare upper body; his muscles were perfectly sculpted.

He braced himself with his hands behind his back, facing the crowd in a relaxed and natural posture.

An empty circle automatically formed around him, separating him from others.

No one approached him from a distance, as if he were surrounded by an invisible shield.

Reporters were hoping that Forrest Gump would mock O'Neal and add more drama to the massacre.

But faced with the reporters' praise and the resounding victory, Gan Guoyang instead kept praising O'Neal.

"He is incredibly talented; he is a unique monster."

"His physique is unparalleled; I was no match for him in terms of physicality during my rookie season."

"If he puts all his energy into basketball, he can surpass me in some aspects."

"I'm sure he'll be a great basketball player. He has a great personality and deserves more encouragement."

Reporters said that this was Forrest Gump being modest and just saying what was polite.

Gan Guoyang said very seriously, "No, I'm serious, this isn't just empty talk."

"O'Neal is excellent, as long as he's on the right track."

"He still has plenty of time; everyone needs to be patient."

Gan Guoyang's words significantly lessened the media's ridicule of O'Neal the following day.

O'Neal was grateful for this, but the shadow left by Forrest Gump still lingered greatly in his heart.

Unlike Sam Bowie, Melvin Thurpin and others.

Bowie and Terry, facing the shadow left by Forrest Gump, only need to admit, "I'm just an ordinary person. I'll do my best and not try to be like Forrest Gump."

At that moment, they can let go of their worries, immerse themselves in the competition, and honestly show their true selves.

O'Neal can't do it; he has to be on par with Forrest Gump.

Especially after Forrest Gump praised him.

These accolades will also become his curse.

These marks were etched firmly onto O'Neal's chest along with this battle.

When he falls into depravity and ruin, they will turn red and hot.

It compels him to keep moving forward, to keep climbing, and to constantly remind him.

After the noisy interview ended, on the way to the airport from the stadium.

The team's next stop is Charlotte. After defeating Shaquille O'Neal, the number one pick in 92, the next target is Alonzo Mourning, the number two pick.

On the bus, everyone did their own thing, and most people took the time to rest and sleep.

Bellman sat down next to Gan Guoyang and said, "Sunny, I watched you being interviewed in the locker room today, and guess what I saw?"

"What did you see? You've discovered a traitor?"

"..."

"I'm being serious with you. I've recently been reading some Buddhist stories and scriptures."

"What? Why are you watching these things like Phil Jackson? Oh... I see, because you're married."

“Don’t change the subject, Sunny. I’m standing at the door looking at you, and it’s as if I’m seeing Buddha preaching to his followers under the Bodhi tree. You radiate a kind of light that makes people want to get close, but dare not touch you.”

"Bobby, I warned you a long time ago not to get married so easily. Look at you, you're even having delusions."

Bellman shook his head. Although Gan Guoyang was interrupting and joking, he knew his gut feeling was correct.

Since the 1992 NBA Finals and the summer Olympics, Forrest Gump has reached an unparalleled pinnacle in basketball.

Physical condition, technique, experience, playing style, and other aspects are all approaching the limits of human potential.

It took him 10 years to reach this level.

Bellman witnessed the whole thing.

It all started with that phone call in 1981.

Every step Forrest Gump took and every achievement he made was so clear and solid.

Behrman felt very lucky; he considered himself a follower of Buddha.

They were among the first to follow him and witnessed the process of transformation from man to god.

How exciting, yet so peaceful and serene.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang was looking out the window.

Car headlights flashed past my eyes on the highway.

Forrest Gump's face flickered in and out of focus, reflected on the glass window.

The virtual and the real are symmetrical, as if two Forrest Gumps are gazing at each other.

The Buddhist saying "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" came to Behrman's mind.

As the car stopped at the airport and everyone prepared to get out,

"Sonny, I really think you're the god of basketball," Bellman said.

Gan Guoyang didn't understand why Bellman would suddenly resort to such flattery.

His first thought was, "Is this guy going to betray us again?"
But he immediately realized that probably wasn't the case; Bellman was serious.

Gan Guoyang also said seriously, "Bobby, that's all an illusion. I'm not a god, I'm just a person."

Even if you're not, you're the closest, very, very close.

"That was just a metaphor, nothing more, Bobby. Anyway, I'm perfectly content. You know what that means?"

"what?"

"When you feel satisfied with everything, it also means you are vulnerable."

There were some things Gan Guoyang wanted to say, but he didn't.

He knew Behrman would understand, but he didn't want to talk about it or think about it further.

After boarding the plane, Gan Guoyang put on an eye mask and went to sleep, conserving his energy for the next battle.

But Bellman couldn't fall asleep no matter what he did; he tossed and turned in the comfortable sofa chair.

Unable to sleep, he got up and went to the conference cabin to begin tactical preparations for the battle with the Hornets.

This is also the first time the two teams have faced off this season.

Compared to the Magic, the Hornets, a new team, have made great progress this season.

Because their roster is much more complete than the Magic's.

Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson formed a small twin towers in the paint.

Both players are relatively short in height, making them both inside players.

In addition, the point guard is Muggsy Bogues, the shortest point guard in the entire league.

Therefore, the Hornets are a team that emphasizes speed, physicality, and agility.

They have a great chance to make the playoffs this season. However, they were at a significant disadvantage against the Trail Blazers in the regular season.

Because the Trail Blazers have a true twin towers in the paint.

Whether it's Mourning or Johnson, they would be at a huge disadvantage in terms of physical attributes alone when facing the combination of Forrest Gump and Sabonis.

As for the forward and guard positions, the Trail Blazers have an even more obvious advantage.

Of course, NBA games cannot be judged solely on paper; on-court performance and tactics are also very important.

Orlando and Charlotte are very close; a plane can get there in no time.

During the brief flight, Bellman formulated a basic tactical plan.

He also wrote down several key tactics on cards and stuffed them into his pocket as contingency plans.

This has been his habit for many years; pre-match preparation is extremely important.

So-called on-the-spot command and flashes of inspiration all stem from repeated daily accumulation.

This is similar to a player's game-winning shot or brilliant move.

After completing the preparations, the plane arrived in Charlotte, where it was raining.

The Trail Blazers players are used to rain; they're even used to rainy days.

The rain did not dampen Charlotte's passion for basketball.

When Forrest Gump scored 57 points in Orlando, humiliating number one draft pick Shaquille O'Neal.

Next, everyone's attention turned to the second overall pick, Alonzo Mourning.

Both are centers, both are 6 feet 10 inches tall, and both have strong physiques.

Mourning gives the impression of being more like Forrest Gump, at least on the surface.

Southern media outlets are predicting how many points Agam can score against Mourning in this game.

Faced with such speculation, and amidst the instigation and questions from all sides, Mourning gave a strong answer in her pre-match interview:

"I won't let Forrest Gump score too many points over me."

"How much is too much? 50 points? 40 points?"

The reporters persisted; they needed precise figures.

"30 points, we won't let him get more than 30 points."

Mourning's answer surprised everyone.

30 points? You want to keep Forrest Gump below 30 points?
This guy is really bold, incredibly bold.

This year's rookies are really interesting.

As expected, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger; little did they know how terrifying Forrest Gump was.

Gan Guoyang learned of this news during pre-match training.

He said, "Oh, I see, I know what I'm doing."

How many points will you score against Mourning?

The reporter is still doing good things.

"You'll know when the game is over. Basketball is fun, not a bad one. No matter how many points I score, I respect every player I'm matched up against."

“Except for Lambiel,” Gan Guoyang added.

That year, Bill Laimbeer was already on the verge of retirement.

But this guy still caused trouble, getting into fights and resorting to dirty tricks with other players quite a bit.

However, his days of wreaking havoc in the NBA are numbered, as the Pistons are on the verge of rebuilding.

On the evening of February 13th, at Charlotte Arena, the Trail Blazers played their second game of their Southeastern tour.

Mourning looked nervous before the jump ball.

He kept pacing around the center circle, trying to calm himself down.

Gan Guoyang stood in the center circle, motionless, quietly watching Mo Ning adjust himself.

When Mourning stood in the center circle facing Forrest Gump, he found his heart pounding.

In fact, just like O'Neal, Mourning also regarded Forrest Gump as his idol.

Mourning's first sport was rugby—the same as O'Neal's.

Later, he realized that he was not suited for the sport, so his teacher introduced him to the boxing club.

The problem is that Mourning's peers are unwilling to box with him.

This guy is so tall, strong, energetic, and fierce.

Ultimately, the coach recommended him to play basketball on the basketball court.

The father did this mainly to exhaust Mo Ning's inexhaustible energy.

Just like a husky, if you don't let it run in the snow, its boundless energy will cause it to destroy the house.

Mourning was 8 years old when he started playing basketball and became a local legend.

However, when he was 10 years old, something happened that would affect his entire life.

This was Mourning's own choice: at the age of 10, he decided to leave his constantly arguing parents and, through an application, went to a boys' home for boarding.

His parents visit him at the boy's home every week, and he lives in a group with a group of children his age.

His parents divorced when he was 12 years old. He did not stay with either parent, but was instead adopted by a well-off family through a court ruling.

In short, at a very young age, many children struggle with hardship and family conflicts because they have no choice in their parents and families.

Alonzo Mourning has paved a wider path for his life through his choices and planning.

In this respect, he is a rational and precocious person, far more shrewd than his wild and reckless appearance suggests.

Therefore, when he told reporters, "I won't let Forrest Gump score 30 points," it was a well-thought-out decision.

He needs to project a tough image; he can't back down at a time like this.

Besides, would it even be useful to back down?
It is actually useful, but Mourning cannot do that.

In Georgetown, John Thompson taught him the same way he taught Ewing.

Let him arm himself with ruthlessness and toughness.

Generally speaking, the thicker the armor, the softer the inside.

Seeing the tension in Mo Ning's eyes, Gan Guoyang smiled again.

Another Georgetown kid all bark and no bite. John Thompson really likes to train these kinds of "tough guys."

Soon, in the first few exchanges, Mourning was at a disadvantage.

He was shorter than O'Neal, but he wasn't as fast as O'Neal.

Gan Guoyang found it easier to deal with him than he did with O'Neal.

Receive the ball in the low post, turn your back to the basket, and then hook the ball in.

With this one move, Gan Guoyang scored consecutive points over Mo Ning.

The difference in skill between Mourning and Gan Guoyang was obvious to the naked eye.

In Gan Guoyang's eyes, every move and every technique was half a beat too slow.

In particular, he exudes the rigidity of Georgetown.

Both their offense and defense are rigid and lack imagination.

His main scoring method is to find opportunities to launch surprise shots from the top of the key.

If you go up against Forrest Gump under the basket, you'll most likely get blocked.

After repeatedly failing in their inside battles, the Hornets quickly fell into a disadvantageous position.

The Trail Blazers, with their powerful offense, played smoothly tonight, shooting exceptionally well both inside and outside.

They spread out, constantly utilizing their height advantage and employing the Princeton offense to find open shots.

The Trail Blazers quickly extended their lead to 21 points by halftime, and then unleashed a barrage of three-pointers in the third quarter to overwhelm the Hornets.

The point difference reached a maximum of 33 points, at which point Gan Guoyang hit a three-pointer, bringing his score to 31 points.

One point more than 30.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang raised his hand toward the sidelines, signaling to Berman to substitute him off the field.

Bellman understood immediately and called a timeout, replacing Forrest Gump with PJ Brown.

Exactly 31 points, with more than a quarter left in the game.

Gan Guoyang officially finished his shift, while Mo Ning sat on the sidelines, his face stiff.

In fact, by the second quarter, the Hornets had already switched Larry Johnson to guard Forrest Gump.

Johnson was unhappy about this, saying, "Alonzo himself said he wanted to guard Forrest Gump, and now that he can't stop him, he wants me to play?"

The coach reminded him that they were teammates and that defense was everyone's responsibility.

Mourning remained silent, his face ashen, but he was already harboring resentment towards Johnson.

This sowed the seeds of conflict between the two, which would later bear bitter fruit.

As for Gan Guoyang, he left the court early to rest and told Berman, "Three lessons are enough to deal with the second overall pick."

"Don't forget," Bellman said. "You were second in line too."

"What do you mean by second pick? What do you mean by second pick?"

Ultimately, the Trail Blazers easily defeated the Hornets, leaving with a resounding victory.

As for Mourning's tough words before the match, they were nothing but nonsense, and were forgotten after being ridiculed.

Everyone's attention quickly shifted to the third game of the Trail Blazers' Southeast tour, which was also the game that Gan Guoyang really cared about.

Miami Heat, Hakeem Olajuwon.

(End of this chapter)