The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 397 - 16 Utilization of Rules
The first quarter saw both teams locked in a fierce battle. πππππ°π²π―π»ππππΉ.ππ¨π
After a timeout, the Supersonics adjusted their offensive and defensive strategies, beginning to front and double-team Gan Guoyang on defense.
They would front him when he didnβt have the ball, and start a decisive double-team when he did.
When Gan Guoyang chose to pass the ball, the Supersonics would engage in high-speed defensive rotation.
The key players executing the double-teaming and rotation were none other than McDaniel, who had abundant energy and a highly strategic approach to help defense.
As soon as they succeeded on defense, the Supersonics would immediately launch a fast breakβnot like the one Gus Williams used to lead, but a full-team fast break. Any player who got the ball could push forward, and anyone could be the spearhead attacking the basket.
This made the Supersonicsβ fast break very quick, especially when Dale Ellis came onto the floor. They also aggressively pursued offensive rebounds, creating opportunities for the teamβs offense.
They quickly tied the game and engaged in a tug-of-war with the Trail Blazers.
The teams ended the first quarter with a score of 28:31, with the Trail Blazers leading the Supersonics by 3 points.
Gan Guoyang felt the changes in the Supersonics compared to the past, the team had completely moved on from Lenny Wilkensβ shadow.
Without Jack Sikma, the Supersonics played faster and fiercer, with frontcourt defense that was incredibly aggressive.
Bickerstaffβs substitutions were highly active, with Ellis, Lucas, and Danny Young taking turns to maintain the vitality in the guard and forward positions.
Of course, the most crucial performance came from Xavier McDaniel, whose proactivity on both ends of the court made it tough for Gan Guoyang.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Gan Guoyang sat down to rest, and the Trail Blazers maintained their suppression of the Supersonicsβthanks to Vandewegheβs outside shooting.
Vandeweghe seized the opportunity in the second quarter, hitting a three-pointer and then scoring consecutive layups through breakthroughsβhis speed had slowed down, yet his strength made him more lethal in the paint.
He led the Trail Blazersβ offense, frequently going to the free-throw line and helping the Trail Blazers establish an 8-point lead again.
But facing the defending champions, the Supersonics played tenaciously. After a timeout by Bickerstaff, Ellis and Chambers scored consecutively, narrowing the gap to just 2 points.
Ramsay criticized his players for lacking intensity during the timeout, accusing them of being too loose, "This is a new season. Weβve been rewarded for our championship. In the new season, the championship team wonβt get any bonuses, but instead, we will face targeted opposition from teams. We have to find our rhythm again!"
Jack Ramsay said this, but he knew that even he hadnβt found the rhythm of the game.
When he kneeled beside the court as usual, to direct the game, he distinctly felt his knee pain. Although he had a towel underneath, getting up had become much more difficult than before.
Gan Guoyang returned to the court and used his attacking prowess in the low post to draw fouls, going to the free-throw line to help his team score.
McDaniel, due to his fierce double-teaming, was called for defensive fouls twice, and clearly disagreed, complaining to the referee and earning a technical foul.
Gan Guoyang went to the free-throw line for the extra shot and made it, while McDaniel sneered from the side, "So youβre getting protective calls from the referees now, huh? Itβs different with an MVP title, isnβt it?"
Gan Guoyang was slowly provoked by McDaniel. On one hand, this guy was arrogant, constantly pestering and roughhousing, with incessant trash-talk.
On the other hand, he was dissatisfied with his teammatesβ performance; everyone indeed seemed too relaxed, unlike last season, when they started exceptionally tight and steamrolled over every opponent.
"I suggest you shut up, and if you canβt do that, I can help you," Gan Guoyang said to McDaniel, calmly.
Inside, McDaniel didnβt accept this but at that moment, he surprisingly didnβt dare to retort to Gan Guoyang.
As the game continued, he regretted his moment of weakness. Why had he backed down just now?
Was he really afraid?
McDaniel hadnβt always been this bold and fierce.
Like many who seem bold and fierce on the outside, McDaniel also had timid teenage years.
Born in South Carolina, McDaniel was frequently playing streetball at the age of 14, often facing off against kids aged seventeen or eighteen.
Because of the age gap, he was often blocked, so he developed a turnaround fadeaway jumper to avoid the defendersβ blocks.
Back then, he was afraid of confrontation, timid, until at the age of 16 he grew to 6 feet 6 inches and became taller and stronger. He defeated those who once blocked him one by one, and vented his past fears through aggressive plays.
When facing Ah Gan, there was a moment when he felt like he was back to being 14, with opponents who seemed taller and stronger, and he was helpless, only able to escape by shooting fadeaways.
"Damn it, Iβm not 14 anymore," McDaniel thought to himself, throwing himself aggressively back into the offense.
He received Ellisβs pass, drove hard to the basket for a layup, but it was blocked by Gan Guoyang.
A beautiful block, McDaniel tried a hasty layup without finding an open shot, naturally unable to break through Guoyangβs ten-finger defense.
Gaining possession, the Trail Blazers launched a counterattack. Guoyang made a long pass to the frontcourt, Drexler bowed his head and took off, only for the fast break to be disrupted by the Supersonics.
"Clyde, you need to get your speed and impact back. Did you rush into foolishness over the summer?"
Gan Guoyang seldom criticized his teammates, but Drexlerβs performance was quite poor tonight.
He wasted many good counterattack opportunities and played a soft offensive game, repeatedly hitting a wall against the Supersonicsβ tight and tough defense.
Drexler hung his head in silence, his form definitely off tonight. During the summer, he had been traveling between several cities, spending the most time in Houston.
In Houston, he was a real superstar. Even after so long since leaving the University of Houston, he still enjoyed tremendous popularity there.
With the championshipβs halo added to his rΓ©sumΓ©, virtually everywhere he went someone recognized him, asking for autographs, photos, and when he would return to Houston.
Drexler always responded with a smile, which gave him great satisfaction. "The Rockets didnβt want me at the draft, and now you want me back?" he thought.
Drexler wasnβt without thoughts of playing in Houston again, but as he was thriving with the Trail Blazers, there was no reason to leave.
He even followed Guoyangβs advice to visit his daughter. He was happy and content, but he didnβt want to spend too much time with the mother of his child, fearing she would cling to him.
Houston, like Portland, was filled with numerous strip clubs. Other than training and seeing his daughter, Drexler spent his remaining time indulging in these erotic bars.
Dating female celebrities in Los Angeles and New York, and visiting strip clubs in Portland and Houston β this was how Drexler spent his monotonous and simple summer after winning the championship.
He trained diligently, but it was not his body that the excessive partying drained; it was his mental sharpness and motivation that were sapped, and tonight, the Glider didnβt take off even once.
At halftime, the Trail Blazers were up 55:61, still leading the Supersonics by six pointsβthe defending champions still had their foundation.
Gan Guoyang and Vandeweghe held up the Trail Blazersβ offense.
During the halftime break, Gan Guoyang didnβt lose his temper in the locker room; he bided his time.
If he raged during the first game of the season, subsequent outbursts would lose their effect.
Even so, the atmosphere in the locker room was still gloomy, the joy and happiness of the awards ceremony long gone.
The players all knew that they hadnβt played well tonight; if it hadnβt been for some leniency from the referees, they would have struggled to be ahead.
Through the first halfβs contest, the Supersonics gained confidence, realizing that the Trail Blazers lacked intensity in both offense and defense tonight.
As the third quarter began, the Supersonics further stepped up their intensity. They began to aggressively contract their defense and double-team the offense.
It was obvious to the discerning eye that, although the Supersonics were man-to-man, there was a strong hint of zone defense. Now, almost every strong defensive team did this.
It looked like man-to-man, but once play started, and the ball carrier attacked the basket, the double-teams came quickly, on par with zone defenses.
During the offseason, the Supersonics clearly made thorough preparations; when the teamβs defense fell into position, in fact, they were playing a 2-3 zone defense.
Players seemed to be watching their individual assignments, but as soon as the key offensive playerβlike Guoyang receiving the ball in the low postβemerged, the double-team was quick to close in.
Guoyang passed the ball out, the Supersonics players split apart, Drexler received the ball outside, and as he drove in, the double-team closed in again.
McDanielβs lateral speed was very fast, making his double-teams as effective as a zone defense, sealing off penetration routes in time.
Drexler had no choice but to pass again, and eventually, Terry Porterβs shot from outside did not go in.
This situation occurred several times in the third quarter, with frequent fronting and double-teaming in the paint, denying Guoyang any opportunity to attack the basket.
Each time their defense held, the Supersonics immediately pushed forward with a fast break, repeatedly attacking the basket and the offensive rebound.
They executed a 9:2 scoring run in the third quarter, taking the lead with a surge.
Jack Ramsay called a timeout, facing the Supersonicsβ defense mixed with a heavy dose of illegal defense. He was at a loss for what to do.
He asked Bobby Berman, "Bobby, whatβs with the Supersonicsβ defense?"
Beelman replied, "They are exploiting the rules."
"So what do we do about it?"
"We need to make good use of the rules as well."
