The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 837 Watching a Show
Until the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers only lost two games, entering the All-Star Weekend break with a record of 46 wins and 2 losses.

Besides losing to the Spurs, the Trail Blazers also defeated the Bulls 99-98 by one point at the Rose Garden Arena on February 5th.

With a full roster, the Bulls finally handed the Trail Blazers their second loss of the season, giving the team some confidence: they still have a chance to beat the Trail Blazers and win the championship.

Like Gan Guoyang, when the team's overall performance is unstable and fluctuates, Jordan will step up and use his performance to help the team win.

In a game against the Bucks in January, Jordan scored 44 points, and then against the New York Knicks, he scored another 44 points at Madison Square Garden.

Then came 32, 40, and 45 points. Jordan used high-scoring games to drag the tired and chaotic Chicago team forward, ensuring that the team would not fall out of the top group of championship contenders in the regular season.

The Western Conference Trail Blazers are far ahead of the pack. Their lead in roster and playing style is despair-inducing, and with Agan's dominance, it seems there's no way to beat them.

The Pacers and Celtics have successfully joined the championship contenders in the East, and both teams have held their own against the Bulls. It remains to be seen whether the Bulls can even make it out of the East this season.

The internal conflicts that began with the Bulls last summer have continued to this day without any sign of being resolved; on the contrary, they have intensified over time.

The conflict between Phil Jackson and the management is common knowledge. No matter where the Bulls play, reporters always ask him, "Will you continue to coach the Bulls next season?"

At first, Phil Jackson was reluctant to answer, saying, "Let everything happen normally, we're focused on the present." But when he got tired of being asked so many questions, he simply said, "I only have one year left on my contract with the Bulls."

Although not explicitly stated, it has been indicated that this will be his last season with the Chicago Bulls.

Jackson's career was in jeopardy, and his personal life was also affected.

Jackson married his first wife in 1967, and the two divorced in 1972.

Jackson married his second wife, Joan, in 1974, but by 1998 their relationship was on the verge of collapse.

After winning the championship, Jackson's fame grew, and like many successful people, he also had a lover in the world of fame and fortune that is the NBA.

Everyone knew the truth but turned a blind eye. But Jackson must have been too busy with work and had too many bad things to do this season. He lost his mind when sending a gift to his lover and filled in the wrong address.

It wouldn't have been a big deal if the gift had been written incorrectly and returned to Jackson's office. However, his assistant, thinking it was a gift for his wife Joan, took it upon himself to send the gift to Jackson's home.

That was it. The affair was exposed, and the relationship between the two was completely broken. Jackson was kicked out of the house, and for the rest of the season, he would either stay in hotels during away games or in hotels in Chicago. In any case, he would never be able to go home.

Fortunately, the players all supported Jackson and stood closely around him, especially Michael Jordan who strongly supported him.

Jordan stated more than once that if Jackson didn't work for the Bulls, he wouldn't play for the Bulls either, which threatened Jerry Krause and Reinsdorf.

Krause and Reinsdorf showed no signs of backing down; on the contrary, they were fed up with Jordan's domineering and condescending attitude in Chicago.

Not only did the management have no intention of renewing Phil Jackson's contract, but Krause was also thinking of trading Scottie Pippen before the trade deadline in exchange for young, high-quality assets to prepare for the post-Jordan era.

Krause contacted the Lakers multiple times, wanting to trade Pippen for McGrady, but Jerry West consistently refused.

West knows that Pippen joining the Lakers would be a huge boost, but the problem is that even with that boost, they still can't beat the Trail Blazers.

It's better to wait patiently, until Forrest Gump gets old, and until young players like McGrady grow up. Pippen, though strong, is eventually declining.

Krause's persistent attempts to trade Pippen greatly displeased Jordan, who knew that keeping Pippen was essential for the Bulls to win a three-peat.

Even though he missed most of the season, Pippen was still the best small forward in the league—if Forrest Gump hadn't played the three.

After working together for so many years, Pippen is Jordan's best partner. If he is traded, the Bulls' last hope will be quickly extinguished.

From their argument on the team bus during last year's Finals until now, the relationship between Jordan and Krause has deteriorated to the point of no return.

The two are fighting more and more childishly, which shows that they have already broken off all pretense and no longer want to pretend.

For example, Jordan would go to the bathroom before each game as a way for him to relieve stress and relax, which would allow him to perform better.

Then Jerry Krause would always go to the bathroom at the same time, disturbing Jordan, which made Jordan very angry, but there was nothing he could do about Krause.

In retaliation, Jordan routinely ignored Krause in the locker room and made sarcastic remarks about his physique and weight, almost to the point of being malicious.

Despite the escalating internal conflicts, growing disunity within the Bulls, and the combination of internal and external troubles, Jordan still managed to stabilize the situation with his outstanding performance on the court.

2月5号对阵开拓者的这一战，客场，乔丹拿下了31分11个篮板14次助攻的三双数据，同时在防守端还有2次封盖和3次抢断。

Jordan truly gave it his all, influencing the game on both offense and defense, perfecting every detail, and with Pippen's help, finally managed to suppress the Trail Blazers.

With Mullin's mid-range jumper missing in the final moments, the Bulls won the game, ending the Trail Blazers' five-game winning streak and handing them their second loss of the season.

When the game ended, Jordan could finally gloat over Gan Guoyang, saying, "Tonight belonged to me, Sonny. Your performance was terrible. The small forward position isn't always right for you."

While boasting about himself, Jordan also offered his friend some advice.

In recent games, Gan Guoyang has been appearing more and more often in the small forward position.

It worked very well in previous games; whenever the Trail Blazers used their three big men, their opponents struggled to cope.

However, this strategy was not very effective against the Bulls, as the Bulls were not particularly afraid of Agan playing the small forward position.

Pippen and Jordan were more willing to double-team Forrest Gump, which severely hampered the Trail Blazers' ability to penetrate the Bulls' interior.

Moreover, Gan Guoyang's shooting touch was average tonight, and he was unable to penetrate the Bulls' defense from the outside. The team also suffered on the boards, allowing Rodman to take advantage of the situation and grab a lot of offensive rebounds.

The entire game was dragged into a defensive quagmire, turning into the kind of grinding, back-and-forth battle the Bulls were used to, until finally the Trail Blazers had to pin their hopes on a game-winning shot.

Gan Guoyang was double-teamed relentlessly, and Mullin's shooting touch was off throughout the game, so it was understandable that he missed the game-winning shot. The Trail Blazers had to swallow their second defeat.

"You're right, Michael, I do need to improve my playing style at the small forward position."

Gan Guoyang carefully accepted Jordan's advice, and his performance at the small forward position tonight was indeed mediocre.

Their defensive impact wasn't as significant as that of the inside players. On offense, they tried to launch more fast breaks, but the Bulls effectively shut down the first pass, preventing them from executing many fast breaks.

Faced with the Bulls' strong double-teaming, he found it difficult to shake them off with explosive power like he did in the 1992 Finals, and had to use more skills.

Once he gets bogged down in technical skill, the fluidity of his attack suffers, and his passes after being double-teamed lack the imagination and penetrating power to break through defenses.

After the game, back in the locker room, Bird criticized Gan Guoyang: "The bad news is, your passing is worse than mine! Even though you've won the assist title. The good news is, it means you still have room for improvement."

Gan Guoyang asked, "Larry, are you serious? Can I still improve?"

Bird said, “It’s not impossible. I’m trying to do it for you right now, but whether it works or not depends on your own resolve.”

Gan Guoyang smiled, took off his clothes, and went to the shower. He was still very unhappy about losing the game.

Rick Carlisle came over and asked, "Larry, can Forrest still improve? He's 34, not 24."

Bird said, "I don't know, I just wanted to give him some encouragement. I was afraid he'd find NBA games too boring. We've won too many this year, and it might not be a good thing if we kept winning until the Finals. An occasional loss can inspire reflection and motivation, while also improving resilience. Some setbacks have nothing to do with ability, but with luck. A championship team needs good luck, but also the ability to withstand bad luck." Carlisle seemed thoughtful, but he wasn't thinking about Bird's words; he was wondering if Forrest Gump could actually improve further.
Can he make passes as imaginative as Bird's? Probably not. That's talent, something you can't train.

Just like Bird couldn't acquire Forrest Gump's shot-blocking ability through training.

But Carlisle was thinking more about what role Forrest Gump should play in a fluid offensive game.

Center, power forward, or small forward – which position is best suited for him?

In the future, when Forrest Gump's physical abilities decline and his stamina decreases, how can he fight to maximize his effectiveness?

You can't really just stand with your hands on your hips and play aggressively down the court, can you?
That would make the stats look good, but whether the team can win or lose is another matter.

"What the hell are you thinking about? Pack your things and get ready to go home," Bird reminded Carlisle when he saw him lost in thought.

"Oh, nothing, just thinking about some tactical things."

"Are you trying to replace me as head coach?"

"No! Don't say that about Larry, no..."

"It's okay if you have one. I'll only be a coach for three years, and then I'll let you do it."

Bird joked with Carlisle, making Carlisle quite embarrassed and unsure how to respond.

But while Bird seemed to be joking, he had actually already secretly regarded Carlisle as his successor.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Buck Walter will retire, and Bird will take over as general manager of the Trail Blazers.

When Bird resigns as head coach, the position will undoubtedly fall to Carlisle.

The Trail Blazers have always been a team with a well-established tradition and internal stability.

Thanks to Gan Guoyang's stabilizing presence, the Pioneers have never experienced any major turmoil.

Even though Pat Riley almost emptied the Trail Blazers out of the team, the skeleton was still there, and the flesh and blood slowly filled in.

When Bird signed with the Trail Blazers, he made it clear that he would only coach for three years and would leave after that, regardless of the results.

Now in his second year, Bird began to intentionally groom Carlisle as his successor.

Therefore, in every match, he would have Carlisle devise offensive tactics.

In the post-game debriefing in the locker room, Bird would also give Carlisle more opportunities to speak.

During training, Carlisle should communicate more with the players, arrange training plans, and increase his authority.

All of this is paving the way for the succession.

From this perspective, the struggles within the Trail Blazers' management and coaching staff were much more moderate and stable than those with the Bulls.

Therefore, although the Trail Blazers suffered a loss, it was just a regular season game.

In the long run, the Trail Blazers still maintain a clear advantage and will continue to be competitive in the future.

As for the Bulls? With internal strife intensifying and management unwilling to renew Pippen's contract, the disintegration of this powerful team is a foregone conclusion.

On February 8, 1998, the All-Star Game of this season kicked off at Madison Square Garden.

This marks the first time in 30 years since 1968 that the All-Star Game has returned to Madison Square Garden in New York.

This All-Star Game had a strong sense of generational change, with veteran stars continuing to be selected, but some, like Drexler, no longer enjoying the same popularity as fans.

Some new stars arrive at Madison with huge popularity to begin their star journey, such as Kobe Bryant.

Kobe's popularity among new fans is incredible; he surpassed a number of veteran players in the Western Conference All-Star voting to become the starting point guard for the All-Star Game.

In terms of performance and statistics, Kobe may not be stronger than rising stars like Iverson, but Kobe is very popular and is loved by young fans.

In the fan vote, his votes surpassed those of stars such as Richmond, Jason Kidd, and Eddie Jones, exceeding one-quarter of Gan Guoyang's votes and one-third of Jordan's votes.

This popularity generated a huge advertising effect, but also sparked a huge controversy. People believed that Kobe's high popularity was only due to the influence of Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers.

Adidas didn't care about any of that. They quickly placed advertisements and large-scale feature posters for Kobe in major newspapers, and the KB8 shoes on Kobe's feet immediately brought huge market sales to the company.

Near Madison Square Garden, where the All-Star Game is held, Kobe's portrait is everywhere. Advertisers believe that Forrest Gump and Jordan no longer need promotion, and they need new hot figures.

This greatly displeased Karl Malone and other veteran stars. "We've worked hard to accumulate over a decade of honors and popularity, and you can't even compare to a second-year kid?"
If you were like Forrest Gump, winning the championship in your second year, taking the MVP and sweeping the league, that would be one thing. But right now you're just a substitute for the Trail Blazers, Forrest Gump's sidekick. What right do you have to have such a big show?
However, this was the state of the American sports market around the turn of the millennium. On-field performance was not the most important factor; fan appeal was paramount, especially the preferences of young fans, which determined the overall direction.

During the pre-match media day, players and coaches were taken to a huge ballroom in a hotel.

Each person sat at a table, waiting to be surrounded by hundreds or thousands of reporters and media professionals who would ask them all sorts of questions.

The table in front of Gan Guoyang, Jordan, and Kobe was the most crowded, with everyone trying to squeeze next to them and grab a tape recorder to jot down a few words.

Compared to seasoned veterans like Gan Guoyang and Jordan, Kobe was much more nervous; his heart was pounding in his chest.

He has always been good at dealing with the media, but today's scene was really too big, making his heart pound.

However, after answering a few questions, Kobe recovered and his responses became more fluent and natural.

When asked, "What similarities do you have with Michael Jordan, and are you trying to become the next Jordan?" Kobe shook his head.

He said, "We have nothing in common, except that we're both 6'6", both play shooting guard, and both have great athleticism, that's all. He's Michael, great, but... he's not my target."

Everyone asked Kobe who his target was, but Kobe just smiled and remained silent, offering no further response.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang, who was at the next table, ran up to Jordan, patted him on the shoulder, and whispered, "I told you, Kobe doesn't even look at you."

Jordan's eyes flashed with anger, and he said, "Is that so? Then I'll see how different he really is from me during the game tonight."

While Jordan was annoyed by the claim that "Kobe is the next Jordan," he was even more annoyed when Kobe denied that he was like Jordan and that Jordan was not his role model.

Gan Guoyang skillfully channeled this emotion, further fueling the rivalry between Kobe and Jordan.

As for why they did this, was it to train and hone Kobe's skills, to let him continue to experience the intensity of Jordan's game?

Let Kobe experience what it's like to face Jordan head-on against the Cavaliers without the protection of the system.
No, Gan Guoyang just wanted to watch the show, that's all.

(End of this chapter)