The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 761 Defend Well Against Young People

Like Bird, Gan Guoyang disliked people who were late for training camp.

The fact that everyone arrives at the training ground on time is the most basic manifestation of a team's unity.

He also recalled that when he first joined the Trail Blazers in 1984, Drexler was late on his first day of formal training.

Drexler was often late during his rookie season, much to the displeasure of head coach Jack Ramsey.

Gan Guoyang immediately gave Drexler a hard time in the scrimmage, and in the end he hit a game-winning hook shot from mid-range to defeat the starting team.

Gan Guoyang explicitly told Adelman that he was targeting Drexler because Drexler was late, and that he would continue to target him because Drexler was always late.

From then on, Drexler would not arrive too early, but he would no longer be late; he was genuinely afraid of Forrest Gump.

Gan Guoyang always had different ways of dealing with different people, using coercion and bribery, appealing to their emotions and reasoning with them, and even offering them official positions and empty promises.

His goal is often very simple: to get everyone together and play well. It's not for his personal gain, which makes his strategies always effective.

Because eventually, teammates will realize that playing well with Forrest Gump really pays off and can actually lead to wins.

Larry Bird was surprised that everyone arrived on time on the first day of training camp, and he had a feeling that Bobby Bellman's words might be true.

Everyone is caught in Forrest Gump's web, but you can hardly realize it; you will unknowingly fall into his control.

However, Bird instinctively didn't want to believe it, thinking that his personal charm was definitely one of the reasons why everyone arrived on time.

Training starts at 7:30, which is really early. According to the Trail Blazers' usual training model, they practice for three consecutive hours and the training session ends at 10:30 in the morning.

This also means that players have more time to manage themselves. From 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., they can do strength training or extra training on their own before lunch.

You can choose to rest in the afternoon or continue to improve yourself in the training hall. In short, moving the training time forward will allow you to have more time to allocate.

"From now on, our training sessions will all start at 7:30 AM, earlier than most teams, which also means we'll have more training sessions than most teams. Don't tell me there are 24 hours in a day. You all know that the amount of time you can dedicate to work is different depending on whether you get up early or late. I don't believe most of you would choose to train instead of going to a bar for a drink when you're feeling down in the evening... Kobe, don't raise your hand. I'm saying most. Sonny, put your hand down too, you're not human."

In his opening speech, Bird made it clear that there was no lateness and that training would begin at 7:30 every day, which was the most important discipline he emphasized.

Bird wasn't the type to go on and on, neither as a player nor as a coach; he preferred to get straight to the point.

He wouldn't say a single thing like "Welcome back to the Trail Blazers," or "Welcome the two high school rookies to the Trail Blazers for training and ask everyone to take good care of them."

"The second thing, besides being late, is that you guys need to run more in practice, keep running, to improve your stamina. I know this isn't a high school training camp, so the importance of stamina doesn't need to be emphasized. But I want to point out that in the 1995-1996 season, the Trail Blazers lost many games in the fourth quarter. According to the data, they could often keep the score close in the first three quarters, or even take the lead, but in the fourth quarter, the team's performance would decline, they would be reversed, overtaken, and finally overturned. There were at least six or seven games like that, and those were games that...we could have won."

Bird originally meant to say "you guys," referring to the Trail Blazers from last season, who had no connection to him.

But then he thought again, and decided that he should still call us "us," since we are all one now.

"If I remember correctly, the Portland Trail Blazers used to be one of the best-fitting teams in the league, able to wear down opponents with their superior stamina. Maintaining competitiveness in the toughest, most intense games is the foundation of their seven championships. I never expected that stamina would become a problem for the team. It's the most basic thing, so I'm telling you, in my training camp, you will be running and running. Whether it's defensive drills or offensive drills, give it your all and develop your cardiovascular system to the fullest."

After saying all that, Bird didn't ramble on. He knew that few basketball players liked listening to long speeches from their coaches; they had to get moving.

The difference between a coach who has played professional basketball and a purely academic coach lies in identifying and solving problems during training and matches, and then guiding the players.

Just like in the rookie training camp, the first training session on the first day was a physical training session, where the players began various physical training exercises under the direction of the whistle.

"Correct your running posture and run back and forth with all your might! At first, you might feel some discomfort in your groin, that's okay, overcome it. When the pain becomes unbearable, try running faster, and you'll adapt and get into the zone. Next, we'll do other things: running, jumping, and shuttle runs. Everyone should ideally eliminate groin discomfort within three days, because the training volume will increase and the content will become more varied, and each training exercise will be linked to your physical fitness!"

Bird got into the game quickly, and the Trail Blazers players also got into the game quickly, running back and forth on the court, the squeaking of their shoes on the floor filling the air.

This sound was all too familiar to Gan Guoyang, and it excited him greatly. He had finally begun serious NBA training, and the familiar feeling flowed through his entire body.

Gan Guoyang wouldn't experience any groin discomfort at all. He had been running all summer, and for a physical monster like him, Bird's training volume was negligible.

While Bird was observing the players, the players were also observing Bird. Gan Guoyang appreciated Bird's composure, calmness, and confidence.

None of the Trail Blazers' coaches were flashy or attention-seeking individuals who liked to give long-winded speeches.

Even Carlesimo, the worst of the three, was just a bit temperamental and his abilities didn't match his ambitions; overall, he was a pragmatic guy.

When Gan Guoyang faced off against Bird during his playing days, he could feel Bird's humility and down-to-earth nature, and how everything he did was for the sake of victory.

Therefore, when Tang Jianguo called Gan Guoyang and said he wanted to invite Bird to be the head coach, Gan Guoyang finally decided to make a comeback.

If Lao Tang suggested hiring Magic Johnson as a coach, Gan Guoyang would definitely disagree. Magic is a good person, but he's simply not suited to be a coach.

In the morning, the team trained for three hours, including one and a half hours of physical training and one and a half hours of defensive training.

Dick Hart was in charge of the team's defense. When the team had defensive practice sessions, Bird would sit on the sidelines without saying a word, leaving everything to Hart.

This is different from Carlesimo, who only treated Hart as an advisor when he coached, consulting him for his opinions, but still doing the training himself.

Bird didn't concern himself with the specific content and methods of training; he was responsible for the overall direction and observation. If he noticed any bad signs in the players, he would step in to stop them.

But what puzzled Bird was that the Trail Blazers players were very obedient from beginning to end, working diligently in training without any complaints.

Bird knew this was abnormal because no player would truly enjoy defensive drills, including Bird himself.

Even if they don't say it, they will definitely resist the tedious and exhausting process of refining defensive details.

But the Trail Blazers players all seemed normal today. No one talked back during defensive practice, no one deliberately threw the game, and no one ignored Hart.

Hart had reminded Bird that during previous defensive drills, there were some troublemakers who were careless, lazy, and unserious, and the coaches couldn't do anything about them.

Bird knew who it was without Hart saying it; it was definitely Van Exel.

Van Exel is known for his poor defense, which is why many teams are reluctant to draft him in a forward position.

He is indeed full of talent and imagination in attack, and his shooting skills are amazing, but his defensive weaknesses will cause big trouble for the team.

His carefree attitude during training is well-known; he argued with George Karl during a tryout with the Supersonics and deliberately slacked off during tests.

Karl had him run 300 yards, hoping he could finish in 50-55 seconds, which is an essential quality for an excellent guard.

Van Exel ran a time of 1 minute and 08 seconds, and after Carl gave him a second chance, he ran a time of 1 minute and 20 seconds.

He was just playing around, deliberately slacking off, and didn't want the Supersonics to pick him.

Karl had a lot of connections in the league, and he informed other coaches about Van Exel's poor situation.

NBA coaches operate in a small circle, and player reputations spread by word of mouth. Coaches know which teams are effective and which players are scoundrels.

Gan Guoyang has long been ranked number one on coaches' dream list, so whoever gets to coach him is incredibly lucky.

Even a rookie coach like Carlesimo, with that lousy roster, managed to reach the Western Conference Finals. 50 wins in the regular season, the Western Conference Finals in the playoffs is Gan Guoyang's bottom line.

Players like Van Exel and Riedle are on the coach's blacklist, but since the team signed them, the coach had no choice but to use them reluctantly.

Bird was prepared for Riddell's lateness and Van Exel's blunders, intending to give them a taste of Coach Larry's authority.

As a result, nothing happened.

The Trail Blazers' first three-hour practice of the new season was a great success. The objectives were achieved, everyone was drenched in sweat, and the training effect was basically achieved.

But for Bird, the training didn't seem to have been effective. He sat on the sidelines, chin in hand, pondering what was going on.

Am I being paranoid, or have I misunderstood Van Exel and Riedle? In fact, they are both professional players with good qualities.

After all, it's common for the media to exaggerate negative news about players. Perhaps I should really reflect on this and not view players with prejudice.

Or perhaps it's because today is the first day of training camp, and the players are still pretending. After three days of training, their true colors will be revealed, and then it will be their turn to have a headache.

Another possibility is that everyone in the league knows Larry Bird's reputation, and these rookies all turn into obedient children when they meet me.

Bird considered this possibility to be the greatest, and for a moment he became somewhat arrogant, believing that becoming a coach was the right choice.

Of course, there was another possibility, but Bird refused to believe it, even though he had a vague feeling that it was Forrest Gump's fault.

The successful completion of the first training session greatly boosted Bird's confidence as a coach. He realized that as long as you can make good use of your assistant coaches, being a head coach doesn't seem too difficult.

The technical work was left to Rick and Dick; Rick was in charge of offense, Dick was in charge of defense, and Bird was in charge of physical conditioning and discipline.

As for his relationship with the players, Bird didn't need to introduce himself to anyone; his reputation was widespread, and everyone in the basketball world knew him.

The troublemakers they had initially thought were actually training diligently, and what they did in their spare time was neither my concern nor my business.

On the third day of the training camp, not a single person was late or arrived at the training hall after 7:30.

Although Riddell was always the last to arrive, he would always make sure to step into the Willamette University gymnasium before 7:30.

For someone with such a bad track record as Riddle, it's already a miracle that he managed to find the location; we can't ask for more from him.

On the fourth day of training camp, the first one to falter and cause problems was actually Kobe, whom Bird had always admired.

That morning, Bird arrived at the training facility and, as usual, saw Forrest Gump, Jermaine O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant.

The three of them had an extraordinary passion for basketball.

But this time Bird noticed that Kobe wasn't playing on the court; instead, he was standing on the sidelines, lost in thought.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that his left hand was wrapped in bandages and a cast; the kid was injured.

"What happened to your hand?" Bird asked.

"Um... something went wrong..."

"What's going on? Just tell me, kid."

"It's a fracture."

"A fracture? Did you masturbate too much?"

"Oh no, no, Coach, I... I went to play pickup basketball..."

Kobe's tone was slightly self-reproachful, but his eyes were unwavering, clearly indicating that he didn't think he had done anything too wrong.

In fact, his parents had already scolded him half to death because of this, and Buckwalt shook his head repeatedly.

The new season is about to begin, and the Trail Blazers will play their first preseason game of the season the day after tomorrow against the Phoenix Suns.

After Kobe finished his practice yesterday, he encountered a group of people playing pickup basketball in the park on his way home. The guys on the street recognized him and asked him if he wanted to join.

Professional players generally don't play casual streetball with people; the skill gap is too large, it's not fun, and the risk of injury outweighs the benefits.

But Kobe couldn't control himself and actually agreed to join in. Then, after a dunk, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He braced himself with his hand and suffered a minor fracture in his hand.

The injury wasn't serious, but the fracture would take at least a month to heal, meaning Kobe would miss the entire preseason and a small portion of the regular season.

If he were a veteran, that would be one thing, but he's a rookie, a seedling that desperately needs to grow, needs training, games, and experience.

It's really not worth the trouble to make such a fuss over a pickup game and a dunk, not to mention that his commercial value is also affected.

Kobe Bryant did not choose to sign with Avia, the company of his idol Forrest Gump, nor with Nike, but instead signed a contract with Adidas.

Kobe admired Forrest Gump and many people said he would become the next Michael Jordan, but Kobe only wanted to be the first version of himself and wanted to walk his own path.

Bird wasn't angry. He just patted Kobe on the shoulder and said, "It's no big deal. Look at my finger. I injured it in my rookie season too. It was the same situation, right before the season started. But it didn't affect my shooting accuracy at all. It's no big deal. Just remember to protect yourself next time."

Bird's right index finger was not straight, but twisted in a sickly way, as if an extra piece had grown out.

This was a fracture he suffered in 1979 when he was hit by a softball during a game. The condition was quite serious, and he underwent two surgeries but did not recover to normal. There was always a cyst-like mass accompanying him, which prevented Bird from even making a fist with his right hand.

This was his shooting hand, but Bird was not affected. He practiced shooting again with his partially disabled hand and became one of the best shooters in league history.

Kobe nodded and said, "I will protect myself, so I use my left hand to brace myself."

Gan Guoyang walked over at this moment and said, "Don't learn from this idiot. He got into a fight during the 1985 finals and injured his hand. Otherwise, he could have won one more championship."

Bird rolled his eyes at Gan Guoyang and said, "You're the one I should hit the most. Keeping you around is just a way to ruin this alliance."

"Oh, come on Larry, if you hit me, your career is over."

The two old rivals joked with each other; Gan Guoyang is now a true veteran in the league.

This marks his 12th year in the league, starting in 1984.

However, due to his retirement and rest period, Gan Guoyang is very excited about the upcoming games. In contrast, although Kobe doesn't think he's wrong, he's still very frustrated and can only watch from the sidelines during training.

Missing all the preseason games and having to sit on the bench for a period of time during the regular season is a huge ordeal for him.

Gan Guoyang did not comfort Kobe, as comfort would be meaningless to someone like Kobe. Instead, he encouraged Kobe not to slack off.

Your hand is injured, but your leg and right hand are not. You should train your lower body strength at the gym to maintain your physical endurance.

Kobe took Gan Guoyang's advice and spent more time in the gym. While others practiced shooting, he honed his floater technique with one hand.

The fourth day of training has ended. The team will have a day off tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow they will play a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Memorial Arena.

Although Memorial Arena is no longer used as the Trail Blazers' official arena, it can still serve as a backup arena for some Summer League and preseason games.

Bird summarized the first phase of training, which mainly focused on physical conditioning, defense, and shooting.

These are all very simple yet very important things; they can be said to be the three most basic elements that constitute a game.

Bird specifically thanked the players for their cooperation, saying, "I thought that as a rookie coach, I would encounter some difficulties and troubles. But everything went unexpectedly smoothly, which surprised and moved me. Perhaps I misjudged most of you before. In fact, you are all well-behaved and academically excellent kids, just misunderstood in the past. Very good, very good, I hope you can continue to maintain this. Rest tomorrow, preseason game the day after tomorrow, everyone get ready. That concludes today's practice. Um... you, come to my office for a moment."

Bird pointed to Ruben Embard, signaling him to step forward.

Embard immediately sensed something was wrong; his intuition told him that something bad might happen.

Sure enough, when he arrived at the office, Bird cut to the chase and told Embard, "I'm sorry, Ruben, you've been laid off."

It took Embard a while to react. He said incredulously, "I...I signed a guarantee contract!"

“I knew that, so you would get a severance package, but you were still laid off.”

"Did I do anything wrong? I think I performed well, and I can continue training!"

Embard kept explaining to Bird that he really wanted to seize the opportunity to play for the Trail Blazers, and that he had persevered through the rookie training camp.

Bird shook his head and said, "It's not that you're not working hard enough, it's that we need a small forward even more. Now that Kobe is injured, our need for a small forward is even stronger."

The Trail Blazers were already lacking at the small forward position, and Kobe's height and playing style allowed him to fill that role, but now Kobe has been sidelined for some time due to an unexpected injury.

The Trail Blazers need to add a small forward. Embard is a point guard and obviously can't do it. The other three players on non-guaranteed contracts don't meet Bird's requirements either, and they will all be waived.

This is the NBA. The elimination rate for ordinary players is very high. Yesterday you were training hard and dreaming of stepping onto the NBA court, but the next day you could be packing your bags and leaving.

Of course, Embard, who has a guaranteed contract, will receive a good compensation, enough to cover his expenses while he looks for his next contract.

But Embard wasn't going to give up easily. He pestered Bird in the office, begging him for a chance; he was practically pleading.

Embard knew that at this point in time, it would be difficult for any team to want a small guard like him if he were cut.

Embard also knows that playing alongside Forrest Gump with the Portland Trail Blazers is a completely different experience than playing anywhere else.

Faced with Embard's insistence, Bird became somewhat annoyed. He raised his voice and said, "A decision is a decision. I'm not discussing Ruben with you; I'm informing you of the result! This is the NBA, this is how the NBA works! If you want to stay in the NBA, the first thing you need to learn is to accept failure and being let go, then go back, pack your bags, and start over!"

Embard is 24 years old, a rookie who has just entered the world of the NBA and is trying hard to establish himself here.

But for players who lack sufficient talent, getting this far is already incredibly difficult, requiring them to exert all their strength.

To survive and make a name for yourself, hard work alone is definitely not enough; you also need a lot of luck.

Embard was clearly unlucky. Kobe's injury and the Trail Blazers' roster deficiencies meant that even though he already had a contract, he couldn't avoid leaving.

Faced with Bird's reprimand, Embard's eyes reddened and he was about to cry. Seeing him like this, Bird felt bad. This must have been the most difficult part of his time as head coach.

Embard remained in the office, refusing to leave. Bird put aside his sympathy and opened the office door to ask him to leave.

Gan Guoyang happened to be passing by and saw Bird's angry face and Embard crying. He exclaimed, "Coach, are you sexually harassing Ruben?"

Bird wished he could pick up a trash can from the ground and smash it over Gan Guoyang's head, or just fire the guy!

"Please respect my aesthetic sense, Sonny! Also, Ruben is leaving the team, but he doesn't seem to be able to accept this reality."

Gan Guoyang immediately understood what was going on. He had seen this kind of situation many times before; it was perfectly normal for NBA teams to come and go.

Gan Guoyang pulled Enbad to the side of the corridor, turned his back to him, and said a few words to him. Enbad quickly stopped crying.

The two exchanged a few more words, and Embard actually smiled. He then thanked them several times before going back to the locker room to pack his things.

Bird watched all this in surprise. After Enbad left, he stopped Gan Guoyang and asked, "What did you say to him? Does that mean he doesn't have to leave?"

Gan Guoyang said, "Of course not. I respect the decision of the coaching staff and management. We do need a small forward."

"So what did you say to him?"

“I told him I would expose Bird’s bullying of you and make him pay you a lot of money.”

"Damn it, stop talking nonsense and share your brilliant trick. Maybe I can use it too."

Gan Guoyang shrugged and said, "Since you want to make someone lose their job, the best way to stop them from being sad and complaining is of course to introduce them to another job."

“I recently heard that the Utah Jazz are looking for a point guard, Stockton told me, so I suggested he try out for Utah. I'll put in a good word with them. Also, if he can't make it in the NBA, I've pointed him in another direction. He can play in the CBA in China, where they really need a small, offensive guard like him. I have some connections that can help him find playing opportunities in China, and the pay won't be low, it's that simple.”

Bird scrutinized Gan Guoyang and said, "You're really something else. Is this how you control the players?"

"Control? What do you mean by control? If you make a player lose his job, he will resent you, but I help him find a job and eliminate his resentment. How is that control?"

"Okay, I guess I misused the word. It's not control, it's... management? Leadership? Or, putting everyone on the web you've woven."

Gan Guoyang smiled and said, "Larry, these are just some of my principles and methods for dealing with people, nothing more. You're overthinking it. Hey, how about a game of Horse later, bet $20?"

Bird gave an OK sign and said, "No problem. Remember, you already owe me 20."

More than four hours later, it was already dark. When Bird left the arena, he owed Gan Guoyang $200.

Bird's shooting ability is undeniable, but the problem is that Gan Guoyang's shooting motions are often too imaginative and cunning.

Furthermore, Bird forgot one thing: Forrest Gump was a two-time champion in both the three-point and dunk contests. Even if dunking were banned, Bird couldn't replicate many of his aerial maneuvers.

After realizing he had no way to end the game, Bird exclaimed that he had been tricked and had been careless.
What's worse, Bird hasn't done any high-intensity exercise in a long time, and his back and waist aren't fully recovered.

This ordeal almost caused his old injury to flare up again, but luckily he didn't have to train the next day and could rest at home.

Bird got angrier and angrier. If it weren't for Forrest Gump's good basketball skills, he would have cut him.

He even imagined the look of surprise on Forrest Gump's face after he cut him off, and how satisfying that would be.

However, after spending some time together, Bird gradually understood why Forrest Gump was able to win so many championships; his leadership was truly exceptional.

He subtly influences everyone around him, and his positive influence is as unstoppable as mountains and tsunamis.

Therefore, deep down, Bird's love for Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers has only grown stronger. Even though the team currently appears to have a thin roster, an unbalanced age structure, and a lack of young talent, the future is sure to be bright.

The following day, the Trail Blazers played their first preseason game, marking Gan Guoyang's return to the Portland court after two years.

Moreover, the memorial stadium, filled with memories of the past, made the otherwise insignificant preseason game a complete sell-out.

As the players were introduced, the familiar tune of "Sunrise" played as Gan Guoyang entered the field, eliciting enthusiastic applause from the fans.

The applause was thunderous and prolonged. Tang Jianguo, as the team owner, attended this ordinary preseason game and joined the Portland fans in applauding.

The match was temporarily unable to start due to the incessant applause, and Gan Guoyang eventually had to step in to interrupt the fans' enthusiasm.

In addition to expressing his gratitude to the fans, he also expressed his excitement and his desire to fight alongside the Portland fans.

"My passion has never faded. Now I'm back, and I will lead the team to reclaim what is rightfully ours."

Applause erupted again, and Tang Jianguo led the way in standing up and clapping. The magnificent scene of tens of thousands of people applauding was unforgettable and left a deep impression on everyone.

The game was thus delayed by fifteen minutes before the two sides officially started playing, and the fans once again witnessed Gan Guoyang's playing style.

Compared to before his retirement, he looks even stronger, and the rebuilding Suns have no idea how to resist this behemoth in the paint.

Gan Guoyang did not go all out, but he would never hold back. Instead, he tried his best in every match and played seriously.

During the game, Gan Guoyang didn't show many new things. He kept many new tactics and skills to himself and continued to attack the basket and protect the rim like an ordinary center.

Even with Gan Guoyang's performance, it was enough to help the Trail Blazers gain an advantage on the court, but it was merely an advantage; the Trail Blazers did not destroy the Suns.

The Trail Blazers exposed many problems during the game. Their offensive coordination was very poor, and a large number of turnovers occurred during the transition between possessions.

There was a clear disconnect between the team's inside and outside game. The ball couldn't be passed to the basket from the outside, and the ball couldn't be passed to the three-point line from the inside. There was a lack of connection between the inside and outside game, and everyone gradually started playing their own game.

On the positive side, the team's defense is solid. With Gan Guoyang anchoring the paint, the team's rim protection and rebounding are guaranteed, making it difficult for opponents to launch consecutive fast breaks.

Although the Suns lost Charles Barkley, they suddenly gained several key players such as Mason, Robinson, and Smith, so their strength is definitely not weak.

However, like the Trail Blazers, the Suns players lacked chemistry in their new teams and systems, and since it was the preseason, they were all playing individually.

Mason was as strong as a black bear, and his buttocks were so big they looked like they had two landmines hanging from them.

Cliff Robinson is an excellent small forward who can play both inside and outside, and he is tall enough to play center.

Smith's low post skills are among the best of today's guards, and his turnaround is very aggressive.

However, the Suns seem to lack a player who can control the backcourt and connect these strong players.

Kevin Johnson can still dish out around 10 assists per game, but his experience over the years has shown that Kevin is an offensive guard.

His assists are built on his strong offensive and defensive appeal; once his offensive power is limited, his playmaking ability will decline significantly.

Paul Westphal led the Suns to several successful seasons, during which Johnson consistently appeared on the court as an offensive weapon.

In the summer of 96, after a series of failures, Charles Barkley chose to leave, bringing Paul Westphal's coaching career with the Suns to an end.

The Suns collapsed in 1987 due to a drug scandal, and began rebuilding after nearly 10 years of championship contention, which ended in 1996.

Fiz Simmons took over as interim head coach of the Suns again, though he knew he wouldn't be in this position for long.

When Kevin Johnson left the court, an unassuming, small, white guard wearing jersey number 13 entered the game and began to orchestrate the team's offense.

Steve Nash, the Canadian guard selected by the Suns in the 1996 NBA draft, was a player who didn't leave much of an impression.

At this point, Gan Guoyang was still on the court, and Bird refused to substitute him, saying that in order to make the Portland fans' ticket price worthwhile, he should play a little longer.

The players played very relaxed because it was a preseason game, so winning or losing wasn't very important. The important thing was to focus on performing well and finding their form.

Kobe sat on the sidelines with a look of helplessness in his eyes, while Jermaine O'Neal appeared clumsy and made many mistakes in his first relatively formal game.

On the contrary, Nash appeared calm and confident when he came on the court. While most coaches require guards to pass the ball with both hands, Nash always preferred to pass with one hand.

The key is that he passes well, and once you start paying attention to his passing, he can immediately show you with a precise shot that he can do more than just pass.

After dishing out two consecutive assists and hitting a mid-range jumper, Nash had already helped the Suns score 6 points, eroding the Trail Blazers' lead.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang exerted his strength for the first time in the game. He personally dribbled the ball across half-court and made an unstoppable breakthrough to the basket for a layup.

In defense, he anticipated Nash's passing route, stole the ball, and made a long pass to assist Aaron McGee for a layup.

Then Nash drove to the basket and attempted a reverse layup through the gap, but it was spotted again, and Gan Guoyang blocked it to regain possession.

Gan Guoyang didn't rush to launch a fast break, but instead dribbled the ball slowly across half-court, where he was matched up against Nash.

Facing Nash, who was inferior to him in height, weight, and speed, Gan Guoyang did not try to force his way through.

Instead, he used his dribbling rhythm to create a mismatch, lowering his center of gravity and dribbling between his legs repeatedly on the perimeter, moving laterally, and then pulling up for a long-range three-pointer, which went in!

The entire Memorial Stadium erupted in cheers. Forrest Gump, who had returned from his comeback, had indeed come back with new skills, and he might even be stronger than before.

After scoring, Gan Guoyang made a three-pointer gesture to Nash and said, "You need to improve your defense, kid."

Nash shook his head in frustration, thinking to himself, "No matter how much I improve, I can't stop a guy like you who cheats on the court!"

(End of this chapter)