The Golden Age of Basketball

() When the final buzzer sounded, there were few people in the stands at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Center.

This is a game without any suspense and highlights. The only point of interest is Wharton vs. Gan, and because of the early opening of the score, and Gan Guoyang sitting on the bench for a long time, it has become lifeless.

Gan Guoyang watched the sparse spectators start to leave, and couldn't help thinking, is this the NBA?

After four games, the Blazers won all of them, three of which were big victories without any suspense, but Gan Guoyang didn't feel particularly happy and excited.

The level of confrontation in the game was not as fierce as he imagined, perhaps because these teams were relatively weak, or Gan Guoyang's own strength was too strong, and the center forwards who played against him all felt the strength of this Chinese player. Pretty amazing.

Gan Guoyang now misses the days of NCAA a little bit, the kind of knockout match where the winner is determined by one game, he either wins or goes home, he really struggles every minute.

Here, what Ramsey said is not wrong. This is a long long-distance run. It is more important for the team to run at a steady and labor-saving speed, and wait until the sprint stage before starting to exert force.

"Hello, Gan." At this moment, someone greeted Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang saw that it was Bill Wharton. After the game, both sides shook hands to greet each other.

"Hi Mr. Walton, Coach Ramsey often mentions you, saying that you are a role model for me to learn from." Gan Guoyang complimented. In fact, Walton's performance tonight was very average, scoring only 12 points.

"No, no, you are great, you can be yourself; if you stayed at UCLA and let Mr. Wooden guide you, then you can at least win two more championships for UCLA." Wharton mentioned his alma mater.

"I feel very sorry that I didn't meet Mr. Wooden, and I don't like that Farmer very much. I heard that he is out of class this year." Gan Guoyang got the news from Chalmers. The record is mediocre, and he was the "culprit" of UCLA's loss of Gan Guoyang, who was fired by the team this year.

"Sometimes, you shouldn't look at a coach with likes or dislikes, but with whether he can help you. I think Ramsey should be the kind of person who can help you." Wharton said meaningfully Said to Gan Guoyang, and then the two went back to the team's locker room.

"We played very well tonight, with a high shooting percentage. The opponent has nothing to do with us. But we still have problems with rebound protection. If this continues, I am not optimistic about the next game." Ramsey concluded in the locker room.

Ramsey is a typical good thing and only half a sentence. The Blazers players have now adapted to listening to the content behind his "but (but)", that is, where the team is not playing well.

In the game against the Clippers, Gan Guoyang didn't get much playing time, mainly using Sampson as a center, Vandeweghe as a guest power forward, and then Drexler as a small forward.

The offensive rhythm of the entire team was brought up quickly, and the team shot 53 percent. Vandeweghe and Sampson both scored 31 points, and Drexler also scored 17 points.

It's just that limited by height, the team's defensive rebounds are not very good, giving the Clippers many opportunities for second offense, which makes Ramsey very dissatisfied.

"That's right, so you should send me more." Gan Guoyang interjected.

In the Blazers, only Gan Guoyang dared to interrupt when Ramsey was speaking. Although he was still a rookie, he had always been "lawless".

"If you play well enough, then I will keep you on the court until you are exhausted." Ramsey is also used to Gan Guoyang's bad words, and will always counter him in due course.

"That's so fucking great. I wish I could be on the field for 48 minutes." Gan Guoyang said indifferently after changing his clothes.

"Okay, I will talk about the specific arrangements tonight. Gan, Kiki, I'm ready for an interview." After the game, the locker room and press conference interviews are indispensable, although this kind of link is more important than having Gan Guoyang run [-] rounds. uncomfortable.

"Okay, these annoying reporters can make up a fucking book with [-] whys after asking questions in a year."

………………

In the early morning of November 11th, the Great Western Forum Arena in the Inglewood area of ​​Los Angeles.

Magic Johnson showed up in the arena parking lot in his Lincoln, wearing a gorgeous fur coat.

Last night was another romantic night for him, and he couldn't refuse those beautiful girls who offered to come to his door.

But one thing, he never stays with a woman overnight, nor with a woman, because every morning he is the first one to go to the gym to practice.

Although his private life is often criticized, including being mixed up with the team owner-Gan Guoyang has only met the team owner once so far, but the magician's attitude towards basketball is 120% correct. Desire exceeds the imagination of most people.

In the 1984 Finals, the Lakers lost to the Celtics in the last game. In Boston, they witnessed their old enemy's ascent to the top. That experience gave Johnson the pain he will never forget. He didn't sleep for three days and three nights. Reflect on your own problems.

In the summer of this year, the entire Lakers were pulled to Palm Springs by Riley and started hell-style training.

Every ball in the training was full of gunpowder, the confrontation was fierce and even reached the level of the finals, and continuous high-intensity practice, Riley just wanted to torture his players and let them complete a sublimation.

Just after the start of the season, the Lakers did not get off to an ideal start. The trip to Texas in San Antonio and Dallas cost them two consecutive defeats.

Finally won the first victory against the underdog Golden State Warriors, followed by a 2-point loss to the Sonics, which caused the entire Lakers to be criticized, including the media in Los Angeles. lesson.

This made the arrogant magician very angry, but he knew that only by using his performance and record on the court can those noisy guys shut up.

Back in Los Angeles, they will have three consecutive home games. After winning the Spurs in the first game, the second game will have to deal with the Portland Trail Blazers who have been in the limelight recently and have never lost a game.

Johnson came to the locker room with ease, changed into training clothes, picked up the basketball and prepared for the shooting training that would be carried out every morning.

"Hey magic, you are the second one today." An old man in charge of security in the arena said to Johnson after seeing him.

Johnson was taken aback for a moment. Is there anyone else on the team earlier than him?Is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?Or Michael Cooper.

When he approached the court, he didn't hear the sound of the basketball being hit, and he didn't see anyone training on the court. Could it be that person went to the gym?

"Good morning, magic!" A voice of greeting suddenly came from the empty arena, which startled Johnson.

The sound came from the stands. Johnson looked back, only to realize that there was someone running on the aisle of the stands.

It was Gan Guoyang, who was running down the narrow aisle sweating profusely, with earphones on his ears.

"How did you get in?" Johnson asked aloud.

"I will always find a way, just like I can always score on the court!" Gan Guoyang said without stopping, and continued to run.

"Then I bet it's not so easy for you to score tonight." Johnson looked a bit arrogant to this guy who once broke into the Lakers training camp and clashed with Bob McAdoo, but he was not too annoying. , was impressed.

In Gan Guoyang, the magician can see his own shadow, the kind of self-confidence and courage without timidity are exactly the same as him, but he seems to be able to perceive the taste of his old enemy in him, which comes from his arrogance and quiet perfection combined.

"How difficult is it? Is it harder than running here?" Gan Guoyang said loudly, but there was no expression on his face. He seemed to be completely immersed in running.

Last night, he barely slept because the thought of playing the Lakers on the court made him uncontrollably excited.

Especially Ramsey told him, "Whoever can beat the Lakers will be the new king of the West."

That's right, the Lakers are now the kings of the Western Conference. In the five years from 1980 to 1984, they entered the finals four times and won two NBA championship trophies.

Even if the Rockets eliminated the Lakers in an upset in 81, it was only a flash in the pan. With Malone leaving the Rockets and Riley taking control of the Lakers, the West is still a world.

This phenomenon will continue until the early 90s, and the West will break away from the rule of the Magicians and the Lakers. Of course, that is "once" history.

Now, whether this period of history can be changed depends on Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang, who couldn't sleep well, simply got up early, ran to the Great Western Forum Arena, exchanged a piece of his own autograph for the accommodation of the management staff, and ran to the stands to calm himself down with running and singing.

Gan Guoyang himself couldn't remember how many laps he ran in the stands. He felt that he would never tire.

However, he still remembered the Lakers training in Palm Springs. At the end of the training, everyone was too tired to speak. Gan Guoyang didn't even say goodbye to Jabbar, because he could see that Jabbar Barr was too tired.

In the past, when Gan Guoyang was not a professional player, Gan Guoyang thought that the Lakers were a team that relied on fast breaks and simple goals to save energy.

From that training session, Gan Guoyang knew that the Lakers are definitely a team that can't run to death, while other teams are definitely led to run to death by the Lakers.

"Gan, I'm looking forward to your performance at night, but if you keep running like this, I'm afraid you won't have the strength to play at night."

"No, if I don't continue to run, I'm afraid that if I try too hard at night, I will blow you up."

………………

"Good evening friends, I'm Zeke Hearn, I don't know if you are ready to enjoy the Los Angeles Lakers show at the Great Western Forum again, but I think the Portland Trail Blazers opposite them must be alright."

Radio stations in the Los Angeles area heard Zeke Hearn's steady and fast-paced voice.

Since 1961, he has been serving as a play-by-play commentary at the Lakers' home court, and is responsible for transmitting the situation on the spot to the radio of every house through the airwaves.

Although there is already a TV broadcast now, and the TV station will also be equipped with its own commentator and guest commentator, fans in the Los Angeles area still like to turn on the TV and turn off the sound, then turn on the radio, and watch the TV broadcast while listening to Zeke. En's explanation.

The Trail Blazers were indeed ready, at least Gan Guoyang, the long-distance running in the morning did not make him tired, on the contrary, he was full of energy at this time.

"Keep your attention from the first minute, just like you did in college, and play this game as a final." This is what Ramsey said to Gan Guoyang before the game.

Ramsey attaches great importance to this game. Although the Blazers won all the previous four games and most of them were easily won, it is precisely because of this that a fierce battle is needed to verify the success of the Blazers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are undoubtedly the best opponents, and they will be the goal that the Blazers have been chasing.

"Relax little guy, if you keep jumping around like this, I think you're going to burst your blood vessels and die." Mitchell Sampson said to Gan Guoyang before the entrance ceremony, and Gan Guoyang had been bouncing on the sidelines for a long time .

"I just want to consume part of my energy, otherwise I am afraid that I will commit six fouls in the first quarter." Judging from Gan Guoyang's current situation, he might really end up committing six fouls in the first quarter.

"This is a long season, and this game will also be a long game. Learn to relax young people." Sampson has always been displeased with Gan Guoyang, but Gan Guoyang's performance is really good, which also makes Samp Sen slowly became convinced.

The tedious opening ceremony is over, the entrance introduction has never been simpler for the away team, and Gan Guoyang can't wait to play.

In the Great Western Forum Arena, he had watched the 1982 Finals, where he had a bloody battle with Georgetown. He was used to this place, but today he wanted to conquer this kingly place as an enemy.

"Jabbar is already in place, standing opposite him is this year's No. [-] pick, a Chinese, Gan. He looks as if he is not as tall as a magician. Seeing a yellow face on the basketball court is younger than finding a yellow face on the Pacific Ocean. I hope he can cherish these few hours at the Great Western Forum, I believe he will have a lot to learn, such as learning to wear stockings." Zeke Hearn said Said sarcastically.

The players at that time were all wearing shorts, which was enough to make Gan Guoyang uncomfortable, but most of them also wore white stockings, which made Gan Guoyang even more incomprehensible, this is not playing football!

So Gan Guoyang never wears stockings, and most of the Lakers players wear long white socks.

Gan Guoyang didn't have time to think about socks at this time. Standing in front of him was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. From UCLA to training in Palm Springs, Gan Guoyang had played against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar many times, but he was always at a disadvantage.

It's just that those are all training. This game will be the first time that the two who are both teachers and friends will meet in an official game.

"I will not show mercy to Gan." This is what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said when shaking hands with Gan Guoyang before the game.

"I don't know how to take care of the elderly either." Gan Guoyang thought to himself.

The referee has already thrown the ball into the air, and the battle is imminent.