The Golden Age of Basketball

Gan Guoyang, who couldn't wait, was still restraining his strength on the field. Obviously, a preseason game was not worth doing his best, but at least there were many spectators at the scene, so the two sides fought in a decent manner.

For the main players, the preseason is a warm-up match, but for the substitutes, especially the rookies who have just entered the team, a preseason exercise is also very precious.

Sabonis sat on the bench from the beginning of the game and did not dare to relax and watch the changes on the court. In his opinion, even in the preseason, the level of confrontation in the NBA is a level higher than that of European games.

The coaches on both sides did not arrange any targeted tactics. The players played with tacit understanding on the court. The semi-open offense of the Blazers is very easy to be out of state in this low-intensity game; and the new Phoenix Suns, their new The Iron Triangle seems to be relatively unfamiliar, and Kevin Johnson is still afraid of Gan Guoyang in his heart. The phrase "wooden floors do not conduct electricity" in high school left a deep shadow in Johnson's heart.

After entering the NBA, in the first season, Kevin Johnson encountered the Blazers led by Gan Guoyang, who had just come back, twice in the Cavaliers. He didn't play much time and his position was different. Johnson didn't have many opportunities to have a direct dialogue with Gan Guoyang.

But Gan Guoyang still used two blocks and one steal to let Johnson understand how big the gap is between him and the No. 11 now.

It’s hard to die, Johnson thought he was in the Cavaliers like this, and he only met the Blazers twice a year, but he was traded to Phoenix all of a sudden. Now in the 1988 season, not only will he meet the Blazers a few more times, but every time he They have to play five games with the Trail Blazers this season, and they may even meet in the playoffs.

However, this also inspired Kevin Johnson's fighting spirit. In the summer of the offseason, he also trained hard to improve himself in all aspects. This preseason game is also a game to initially test the results.

However, Johnson is best at breaking through, and when he meets Gan Guoyang, he will be suffocated. Even in the preseason, Gan Guoyang doesn't want to save face for his old friend at all, and he defends Johnson several times.

In terms of speed, Kevin Johnson at this time can not rely on his teammates to pick and roll, but he does not have enough control over the rhythm. Gan Guoyang's four-year polishing and two best defensive player experiences allow him to always judge Kai in advance. Wen Johnson's route either caused Johnson to foul or forced him to slow down, so he couldn't rush at all.

"Beep!" During a breakthrough, Kevin Johnson "knocked down" Gan Guoyang, and the referee's whistle blew. This was Kevin Johnson's second offensive foul in the first quarter, and it was on Gan Guoyang again. .

"Be careful next time, Kevin, I won't be bumped." Gan Guoyang said to Johnson who was a little frustrated after getting up from the ground.

"You liar." Johnson said dissatisfied with Gan Guoyang. Gan Guoyang's ball was obviously a flop, and Kevin Johnson's small body could not hit Gan Guoyang.

Now Gan Guoyang, together with Bill Lambiel, has become a well-known inside diving master in the league. Lambiel has no choice but to become a diving master. It is really difficult for him to block opponents with his bouncing speed; It is to rely on this method to play tricks and save energy on the defensive end.

After this foul, Kevin Johnson was substituted, and Adelman on the sidelines also pointed to Sabonis who was concentrating on watching the game on the bench, reminding him to get ready to play and let him replace Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang played 7 minutes in the first quarter, scored 4 points on 4 of 8 shots, and was replaced by Sabonis.

"Come on, Avidas, there is nothing to be afraid of inside the Suns." Gan Guoyang said to Sabonis when he high-fived Sabonis at the end of the court.

The inside of the Suns is really nothing to be afraid of, but that is for Gan Guoyang. The Suns traded away Larry Nance while acquiring Mark West from the Cavaliers, a 6-foot-10 center with a strong body. Big forward swingman.

Since Tom Chambers is a projection-type power forward, a black and tough guy like Mark West has become the best inside partner, but obviously, he is not enough for Gan Guoyang in the Memorial Stadium, and he is repeatedly poured by Gan Guoyang four balls.

Therefore, when Sabonis was on the court, West was still on the court. He wanted to give Sabonis a little color, so that he could vent his anger on the rookie.

Sabonis' appearance made the Memorial Stadium fans cheer, and some fans gave him a standing ovation. This was the first time Sabonis appeared in an official game for the Trail Blazers.

"This guy is almost as popular as me." Gan Guoyang said, sitting on the sidelines, and Drexler, who was taking a break with him.

"It's far worse than you. When you came, the team gave you a fan welcome party." Drexler still remembers when Gan Guoyang arrived in Portland, although the reporters who interviewed at the airport chatted , but the fans were very enthusiastic. At the newcomer meeting, tens of thousands of people crowded the square of the Memorial Stadium.

In contrast, Drexler was selected that year, but there was no welcoming ceremony.

After Sabonis came on the court, he didn't seem particularly nervous. After all, he is not a pure rookie. It's just that after a few offenses and defenses, everyone can see that he doesn't seem to be able to keep up with the rhythm of the game. The two sides are too fast. Now, Sabonis looked like a big bear who fell into the horses, not knowing what to do.

This made him seem a bit slow in everything he did. On the defensive end, Mark West missed twice and put the ball into the basket before Sabonis blocked the block. Obviously, Gan Guoyang felt a lot easier after he left the field, and Sabonis still has problems with his defensive positioning, and his defensive skills and speed are even worse.

"Like me before, I can't keep up with the rhythm and don't know what to do on the court. I hope he can adapt quickly. There is not much time in the first quarter." Gan Guoyang remembered his first official game. At that time, he used Adjust the strength in halftime.

"Give him the ball! Catch the ball!" Gan Guoyang yelled at the court, knowing that it was a very stupid thing to let a 7-foot-2 big man do a back and forth on the court.

Danny Young, who came off the bench, obviously forgot all the cooperation in training and only cared about his personal performance. At this time, he remembered that there was Sabonis, so he threw the ball to Sabonis after halftime .

This is a bad pass, Sabonis is still outside the three-point line, just after halftime, Danny Young handed the ball to the center just after halftime, this is the rhythm of treating the center as a guard .

If it is an ordinary inside line, you will be surprised when you first catch the ball, and then [-]% of the time you will pass the ball back to the point guard to reorganize.

However, Sabonis watched the ball coming, and caught the ball sideways with one hand. Suddenly he flicked his hand, and before his body was right, the ball flew directly to the three-second zone.

At this time, it was Buck Williams passing in the three-second zone.

Buck Williams didn't expect Sabonis to pass the ball at all. He passed the bottom line from the left and circled to the right. The only pass through, not incut.

Unexpectedly, Sabonis's ball was just passed in like a cannonball. Williams, who was unprepared, froze for a moment, and the ball slipped past his hand.

Out of bounds.

The audience on the sidelines sighed, and the Blazers' bench also hugged their heads in regret. If this magical stroke succeeds, it will definitely be the best goal of the game.

"Sorry big man, I didn't pay attention. You should have notified me in advance that you were going to pass the ball like this so that I could catch it." Buck Williams and Sabonis said after the mistake, half apologetic and half joking.

Sabonis also smiled. Not only did the ball not affect the morale of the Blazers, but it made Williams focus. In fact, this veteran has no interest in the preseason.

Adelman on the sidelines carefully observed the players in the rotation, Sabonis, after being lost for a while, after the failed pass, began to integrate better and better into the game.

On the defensive end, he has learned a lesson and no longer follows the ball or people. Instead, he moves in a circle around the basket, stepping on the edge of the zone defense to defend the basket.

On the offensive end, he opened up more and more, running, covering, passing, and rebounding. Assists, but it can open up space and allow teammates to have better choices.

The first quarter of the game ended quickly. In 5 minutes, Sabonis scored 2 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. He was very present. Of course, he also got two fouls. Not very comfortable.

"Avedas did a great job. It was unexpected. Although it was worse than mine, you have done a great job." Gan Guoyang said after Sabonis left the field.

"Don't brag, Gan, I know what you did in the first quarter of the first game." Drexler "reminded" Gan Guoyang from the side.

"It was the regular season for me! What is the intensity of the regular season? Besides, I will soon return to normal." Gan Guoyang argued.

"Two rebounds, one assist, two fouls, I remember exactly what you did in the first quarter, and then the whole first half, you came up in the first quarter, poor Gan." Jim Parker Sen made a timely supplement from the side, and he still remembered Gan Guoyang's performance in the first quarter of the first game.

"How much money do I owe you Jim, do you even remember this? Then do you remember that I scored 12 points in the second half and gave the opponent 3 blocks?" Gan Guoyang immediately pointed out his outstanding performance in the second half Come.

"Remember, and then you were scolded by Mr Ramsay."

At this time, the atmosphere in the Trail Blazers team can be described as harmonious. The players have a clear division of labor and clear positioning, and have the same goal. There is no more friction and intrigue in the past. This is a real team.