The Golden Age of Basketball

On the morning of May 5th, when Gan Guoyang saw Ramsey in the training hall, the old man had already had two dark circles under his eyes like a giant panda. This was the first time Gan Guoyang saw the old man like this. He also played in the Western Conference last season. In the finals, I didn't see Ramsey staying up all night like this. It seems that Ramsey has a strong desire to win this series.

In a private conversation a few days ago, Gan Guoyang also learned that Mrs. Ramsay's condition is relatively stable and even showing signs of improvement. This also allows Ramsay to devote more energy to his work. Currently So far, only Gan Guoyang and the Blazers' management know about it, and the other players don't know about it.

The evening game will be held at the Memorial Stadium at 7 o'clock. As the team with the second record in the league and the first record in the Western Conference, the Blazers have home court advantage in all series except for the Celtics.

Before the game, Gan Guoyang was notified that in the first game, the league will present Gan Guoyang with the best defensive player award of the season at home. In the voting, Gan Guoyang defeated last year's best defensive player, shot blocker Mark Eaton, and the Spurs The team's player, steals king Alvin Robertson, successfully won the first honor trophy in his career.

This trophy is not easy for Gan Guoyang. You must know that unlike the NBA's best defensive team with a long history, the best defensive player is voted by non-professional basketball reporters. This is why it is now and in the future In the NBA's best defensive player poll, the players who get the most votes are often those players with excellent block or steal data, such as Eaton and Robertson, because such data is the most intuitive.

Compared with last season, Gan Guoyang's blocking data has actually declined, but his performance on defensive rebounds is historical, which is also an important reason why he can be favored by reporters.

However, this does not mean that Gan Guoyang is a defensive vase that is fancy but not useful, because in the newly released NBA All-Defensive Team, Gan Guoyang successfully overwhelmed Mark Eaton and became the center of the first defensive team.

You must know that the votes for the best defensive team are cast by all NBA coaches. As front-line workers on the court, no one knows the value of a player on the defensive end better than them. The embarrassment of being the best defensive player but not making the best defensive team.

At least, nothing like this happened to Gan Guoyang. His best defensive player deserves his name. With his efforts, the Blazers' defense has been directly upgraded to a new level. They have the most stable backcourt rebounds in the league. Protection, there is also the best mid-lane blocking machine, and a unique double-team trap, all of which are based on the presence of Gan Guoyang.

After Gan Guoyang received the notice, he was still very excited. In any case, this is a very important award, although in his mind, he wants another more important honor - regular season mvp.

After the league decided the ownership of the best defensive player, the regular season mvp also had his candidate. Larry Bird was elected as the regular season mvp for the third consecutive year, becoming Bill Russell in 1963 and Bill Russell in 1968. Since Wilt Chamberlain, the third regular season mvp three consecutive victories.

At this time, it is not the 60s. There are only one team in one league. The 80snba has entered the peak period of competition. There are more than 23 players in 300 teams. It is absolutely great that Bird can achieve this feat.

In 1986, the Celtics had a record of 67 wins and 15 losses, and their record of 40 wins and 1 loss at home can also leave a heavy mark in the history of the league. In comparison, even if Gan Guoyang led the Blazers to break through 60 wins for the first time, A brilliant individual performance in the second season of his career was not enough to overshadow Bird's limelight.

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"Good evening, everyone. The Portland Trail Blazers welcome you all to the Memorial Coliseum. Before tonight's game, we will present a major award to one of the players. Let us invite you from the Portland Trail Blazers. Center, sunny~~~~gump!"

Amid the elongated shouts of the DJ at the scene, Gan Guoyang appeared on the stage in the sportswear of the Portland Trail Blazers. This is the Best Defensive Player Awards Ceremony specially held for him at the scene.

For the awards ceremony, different teams and different players will choose different ways, some will present the awards directly in the press conference hall of the arena, while some will be more grand, and the awards will be presented on-site before the playoffs .

Blazers owner Larry Weinberg felt that it was not easy for Gan Guoyang to win this award, so he asked for it to be more grand, so Gan Guoyang accepted Stern's award amid the cheers and applause of more than 2 fans at the memorial stadium. The Defensive Player of the Year trophy was handed over and held high.

This is Gan Guoyang's first monument on his road to superstardom. It is not the last, nor is it the most important, but it is a beginning.

After the brief awards ceremony, Gan Guoyang and Stern hugged, and then returned to his teammates, ready to start tonight's game, to face the opponent he had to face.

When Gan Guoyang received the trophy, Olajuwon, who was standing on the bench of the visiting team on the other side, looked at Gan Guoyang's back and clenched his fist.

For Olajuwon, it seems that he is one step worse than Gan Guoyang in everything. He is second in the NCAA and third in the best rookie. Gan Guoyang is in front of him; It was only done in the season, and now Gan Guoyang has won the best defensive player one step ahead of him.

Fortunately, he will face Gan Guoyang in the regional finals. As long as he defeats him, he will be able to enter the finals one step ahead of Gan Guoyang.

After the Rockets defeated the Lakers 4:1, it can be said that their confidence has soared. The cohesion and self-confidence of the entire team have improved by more than one level. There is no doubt that defeating the former overlord in the playoffs is the best Leveling method.

Stepping on the corpse of a king is a shortcut to the throne.

This can be seen from the relaxed appearance of the Rockets players during the warm-up. Gan Guoyang still remembers that when they played in the conference finals last year, he said that he was not nervous, but he was still a little scared in the Great Western Forum. The massacre set the tone for the series.

Now, on the one hand, the Rockets, who are stepping on the Lakers' high confidence, and on the other hand, the Blazers, who have the advantage of home court and have reached the conference finals for the second consecutive year, a battle between dragons and tigers has begun.

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"5, 4, 3, 2... Vandeweghe hits, hits! Vandeweghe hits a three! Before the 24 seconds are up, Vandeweghe makes a three-pointer from beyond the arc."

As soon as the first quarter started, Seanley couldn't help shouting "rip-city". Vandeweghe almost conceded the ball under the pressure of McGregor. At the same time, the offensive time was about to end. He forced a three-point shot one step outside the line, but the ball went hollow into the net, a three-pointer.

Vandeweghe also smiled after scoring the goal. He had been forced into a desperate situation, but he survived a desperate situation. He was caught in a three-pointer. It was not only luck, but also due to strength. Vandeweghe was also a ball The team's three-pointer.

Head coach Ramsey looked at the team's first goal like this, and he was a little worried. It can be seen from the attack and defense just now that the Rockets' oppressive defense from the outside made the Blazers players feel uncomfortable. The defensive line of McGregor, Lloyd, Reid and others is much stronger than the Nuggets' perimeter defense supported by only Dunn.

"Olajuwon, turn around and shoot a jumper after catching the ball! The ball is scored, and he turned around quickly. His move caused the Lakers enough suffering in the last round."

In a blink of an eye, the Rockets also scored the first goal. Olajuwon asked for the ball from the low post on the left. After receiving the ball, he turned inside and made a jumper. This move is almost undefendable, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Rambis can't keep up with his turn.

Gan Guoyang has already hit his face, but Olajuwon still hits with a soft touch, after all, it is too close to the basket.

"You are lucky."

"I'll tell you that I'm not lucky." Gan Guoyang and Olajuwon have already started a war of words.

But soon, the Blazers fell into a dilemma. The inexperienced Colter was unable to organize the team's offense under the high wall of the Rockets' three outsiders. The five starters of the Blazers were divided into five independent Parts fight on their own.

When the Blazers can't play an efficient offense, the Rockets can play a quick counterattack. The Rockets are tall and tall, and their speed is not slow. Even the Twin Towers are fast-playing masters.

"McGregor got the rebound, Sampson dribbled it up, passed it to Olajuwon, Olajuwon layup ... oh, got blocked by Gan, but Reed came from behind and made it. This is the third time the Rockets have succeeded in a fast break, and the Blazers' retreat has a problem."

At 12:7, Ramsey immediately called a timeout. The Blazers did not make any preparations made by Ramsey in the opening game. The offense was opened up and the combination of inside and outside was crushed by the Rockets' oppressive defense. The defense is done, but the impact of the Rockets is too strong. Each of their five starting players can play the forward position. No matter how good the defense is, Gan Guoyang alone cannot withstand the impact of a group of forward players.

Faced with this situation, Ramsey made a decisive decision and immediately used his second plan.

"Cort, you rest off the court, Cauchy is on the court, Vandeweghe, you change the position of shooting guard, give up the low post, and focus on shooting near the three-point line. Cauchy should also be properly outside when defending, retreat in time, pay attention to and Germany Rexler together to delay the Rockets' advance. Clyde, you go to the [-]st position and revitalize the team's offense. Gan, your task is a little heavier, and you will do your best to ensure the rebounds in the backcourt. Mitchell, give Ralph Lesson learned, I think he's having too much fun out there."