The Golden Age of Basketball

On May 1989, 5, a torrential rain hit Los Angeles, and the whole city was shrouded in majestic torrential rain. The entire Portland Trail Blazers team stayed in the hotel. In such weather, no one wanted to go out to find fun.

Several core players gathered in Gan Guoyang's room to discuss countermeasures for tomorrow's game.

In the last game, everything that happened at the end of the third quarter made the Blazers players feel unreal. Looking back, it was undoubtedly a conspiracy by Riley and the Lakers. The main player of the Blazers not only won the third game, but also made the Blazers have a disorganized lineup in the fourth game.

Among the 7 main players participating in the rotation, three of them were unable to play, which caused a heavy loss to the Blazers, and the lost Drexler was still the team's second leader and outside core. Fortunately, there is no bone fracture, but there is some swelling. I will definitely not be able to participate in tomorrow's game. The fifth game is also very uncertain. It is possible to come back in the sixth game. Judging from the current situation, it is really possible to play to game six.

The Blazers also protested to the league, arguing that the behavior of the Lakers was a premeditated attack. Cauchy and Williams were legitimate responses and should not be suspended.

However, the league finally made a decision to suspend the game. Williams, Cosey and Campbell were punished together. This has also happened in the past few seasons. For example, in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Pistons were at home. Bill knocked down Larry Bird viciously in defense, and Bird punched Lambir in anger. As a result, Bird was sent off and the Celtics lost the game; but then returned to the Celtics home court, Robert -Parrish knocked down Laimbeer with two punches in the rebound, which was regarded as revenge for Bird, and the referee did not call Parish off the game.

Throughout the series, punches and kicks from both sides were frequent, but suspensions have never occurred, so the Blazers are also extremely dissatisfied with such penalties. For example, Gan Guoyang once punched Lambir (this guy is always beaten) and was also punished. When it came to suspension, Irving and Bird fought in the same year, but both were exempted from punishment, but that was already in 1984.

With the continuous promotion of nba and the gradual expansion of its influence, David Stern has begun to establish stricter punishment regulations. The barbarian basketball represented is gradually gaining the upper hand, and Stern also feels that it is time to kill this trend.

And the Trail Blazers hit the gun in this way, and was slapped by Riley in the crucial Western Conference Finals. Of course, the Trail Blazers were relatively lucky, because the guy who likes to hit people the most in their team, in the first Time ran to see the wounded, so escaped the gang fight and escaped punishment.

If Gan Guoyang hadn't gone to see Drexler first, Campbell might have been sent to the hospital. Gan Guoyang has been in the league for five years, not only can he talk trash, but also the number of times he has fought against those big black men in the game Absolutely no less than Olajuwon and Lambir. In fact, on the basketball court, people are prone to irascibility. Even a gentle and gentle person like Dr. J can't help but fight Bird, not to mention being extremely competitive. What about Gan Guoyang, who dared to punch Lambir when he was a rookie?

Therefore, Riley's conspiracy was only half successful. His biggest target was actually Gan Guoyang. If Gan Guoyang became the protagonist of the conflict and was suspended for waving his fist during the game, the Blazers would suffer a great loss. Without the support of Gan Guoyang inside, the Trail Blazers, who were already at a disadvantage outside, lost their inside advantage, and they played away games.

If the Lakers win the fourth game and tie the score of the two sides to 2:2, it will be a very serious blow to the Blazers. The scales were on their side.

Therefore, this foul by Campbell is likely to change the entire series or even the entire season. Gan Guoyang has also truly realized what it means to "a plan can endanger the country, and a word can disrupt the country." Riley's plan is true. It's too poisonous, the key is that they don't have any evidence to prove that Campbell was instructed by Riley to commit this rule.

All the players stayed in the room, thinking about tomorrow's game and the situation of the series, they were a little worried. Drexler had flown back to Portland at this time. He needed the best treatment from the doctor, and he was guaranteed to recover as soon as possible. Get back on the field.

And the first problem Adelman faces now is how to line up tomorrow's starting lineup. Three rotation players are missing at once, two starters and one substitute.

The inside problem is still relatively easy to solve. The Blazers are a bit overflowing at the power forward position. The problem is mainly on the outside and the sixth man. After Cauchy's suspension, the team has only one backup small forward, and that is Ann. Dere - Blans, but Blanks' performance this season is quite mediocre. During the absence of Jim Paxson, his performance as the main small forward substitute is not satisfactory.

Now that Drexler is also injured, Jim Paxson must replace Drexler as the starting shooting guard, so the small forward's loophole can only be made up by Andre Blans.

Adelman and Bellman repeatedly discussed after the game whether to let Brandes play the starting game against the Lakers. Small forwards are very important, not only because the Lakers have James Worthy, but more importantly, Magic Johnson. Often have to rely on small forward players to defend. If you play a short lineup with three guards, it is certain that the outside line will be exploded.

The two discussed together for a long time but could not come up with a reasonable solution. None of the power forwards on the bench could be used. Several players sat in the room and looked at each other, not knowing how to help the head coach.

At this time, Gan Guoyang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up: "Why don't you let me play small forward? Anyway, I have to deal with Worthy on the defensive end. It is not a problem for me to deal with Magician."

Everyone turned their heads and looked at Gan Guoyang in a daze. Gan Guoyang saw the meaning of "Are you an idiot" in everyone's eyes, and Gan Guoyang immediately added: "I act as a small forward on the defensive end, but on the offensive end I am still an insider." , of course, if Riley used Worthy on me, I wouldn't mind beating him up."

When Gan Guoyang said this, Adelman and Behrman discussed it in a low voice, and felt that this idea was indeed feasible. In the first two games, when Gan Guoyang was defending Worthy, Worthy's post-up singles efficiency dropped significantly. The Lakers, who have reliable scoring points inside, will fall into a disadvantage at once.

"What Gan said makes sense, then we can let Duckworth play center and Sabonis back on the bench as a substitute, so the problem of the sixth man is also solved, Sabonis is more suitable for the sixth man than Duckworth .” Bellman added on the side.

That's right, after Sabonis was absent in the semifinals, the starting effect of Duckworth and Gan Guoyang's partner is still good. Tomorrow's game, because of the lack of three main players, the Blazers will definitely defend against the Lakers and replace Duckworth The team's defensive quality will be higher, and Sabonis' diverse and flexible style of play also allows him to play well in the sixth man position.

Adelman thought for a while, and temporarily agreed with this opinion, but they still need to think carefully about the details.

In this way, the only remaining problem is to start the power forward. If Gan Guoyang plays a small forward on defense, he needs a power forward to assist Duckworth in the interior. Although Blans can also start, he can play small forward on offense. Defensively plays big forward, but Adelman can't be trusted with his ability to fill the paint on defense.

However, if there is no Blanks but a power forward, then there will be a strange lineup of three inside and two outside on the offensive end. Was dragged to death by the Lakers show-time.

Adelman opened the player roster in his hand, looked at the names on it and thought for a long time, but he didn't have an accurate answer in his mind. He was indeed unprepared for the current situation. He didn't know that Riley, who was old and cunning, would use it so cunningly. The tricks made the Blazers so passive.

"Richard Anderson may also be a good choice. He is a veteran player with rich experience and greater adaptability. It may be good to let him play." Jerome Cosey and Adelman said, Suspended, he is very depressed now, and can only make moves for the team.

Richard Anderson is a 6-foot-10 power forward. He was a rookie in 1982. He played in the Italian league for two years. veteran.

But this time, Buck Williams, who was also suspended, had a different opinion. He said: "Anderson is really good, but he is more suitable as a substitute. I think we must be aggressive in tomorrow's game and put pressure on the Lakers from the beginning. , we need a young guy, and I think Mark Bryant is a good little guy."

Everyone was a little surprised to hear the person recommended by Williams, because Mark Bryant was just a rookie. He was 6 feet 9 and was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 21st overall pick in the first round. The quality is good, he is a very energetic guy.

"I agree with Buck. Maybe Mark is a good choice. This guy has a lot of ideas." At this time, Gan Guoyang also spoke. With his hairstyle, he is just like Takenori Akagi in "Slam Dunk".

Faced with the opinions of the players, Adelman's head was also a bit big. In the end, he asked the players to take a good rest, and left the matter of the lineup to him to solve by himself.

In fact, Adelman knew in his heart that no matter what kind of lineup was sent tomorrow, the Blazers would definitely be at a disadvantage, and whether they could win the game would depend on Gan Guoyang who escaped the plot.