The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 608 - 12 The New Season Begins_4

Even Gan Guoyang couldn’t escape the all-encompassing firepower; when he made mistakes in tactical training, he would still be scolded, "You were even better in high school, at least back then you still had room for improvement!"

Beelman squeezed the potential out of the players with his harsh training, not intending to become a coach beloved by his players.

He knew that with Ah Gan around, locker room issues could be handed over to him; as a coach, his job was to whip the players into pursuing victory.

By playing the villain appropriately, he actually facilitated strengthening Gan Guoyang’s authority in the locker room, unifying the team even more.

Ah Gan was a mature leader; he didn’t need a life coach to instruct him on how to wield power—a stark difference from the dynamics observed between Gan Guoyang and Jordan, Beelman and Jackson, the Trail Blazers and the Bulls.

After enduring a preseason training camp akin to purgatory and returning from Europe, Beelman threw away his whip, loosening the bindings on everyone.

Two days before the regular season started, Bobby Beelman gave everyone a holiday, taking the group to the edge of the Oregon Forest for a hiking trip, camping by the lake where everyone could bring their wives, girlfriends, or even children for a relaxing time.

Gan Guoyang’s child was too young and had to stay at home; he lifted Dell Curry’s eighteen-month-old son, Stephen Curry, high up like Simba from "The Lion King," and Stephen was not afraid at all, but instead laughed happily.

Thompson’s wife was pregnant with their second child, due in February of the next year. Thompson said if it was a boy, he would name him Klay.

Sabonis made a call home to his wife, thinking he might stay with the Trail Blazers, wanting to buy a house by Lake Oswego.

After a few days of relaxation and adjustment, the players’ physical and mental state had recovered wonderfully.

Entering November, on November 3, the season’s opening game, the Trail Blazers welcomed the Sacramento Kings at home.

Tickets at the Memorial Coliseum were sold out as usual, with great anticipation for the new season’s Trail Blazers.

The entire team also felt quite pressured. Players like Petrović and Sabonis might make their NBA debuts in the first game.

In the first game, Bobby Beelman wouldn’t let the Eastern European trio start; he still used last season’s starting lineup—Gan Guoyang, Thompson, Kossie, Porter, and Hornacek.

Just from the starting lineup, the Trail Blazers hadn’t improved compared to the last season; they had even slightly regressed.

Because Mychal Thompson was a year older, now 35 and nearing the end of his career, he could play at most two more seasons.

The only players who had been with Gan Guoyang continuously from the ’84-’85 season were Thompson and Kossie.

But Thompson’s condition was still quite good. Having children settled his family life, and he was even more focused than during the 1988 season.

While Porter, Hornacek, and Kossie were all reaching their peaks, these three low-pick rookies had climbed to a high position through perseverance, hard work, and team training despite not being notably talented.

Still, outsiders continued to worry that their talent set their limits; unable to reach the heights of Drexler, they couldn’t fill the gap left by Glider.

Gan Guoyang was the most reassuring, yet also the most easily overlooked.

For superstars like these, ordinary fans assume they will maintain a constant level at their peak.

In reality, each season could bring significant changes; their tactical focuses were constantly adjusted.

Before the season truly kicked off, no one knew what kind of performance they would deliver—not even the head coach.

As the game approached, the atmosphere in the Trail Blazers’ locker room was slightly tense, and there wasn’t much conversation.

Beelman, head down, was making notes on tactical cards.

Jerry West and Rick Adelman were discussing something.

Hornacek and Curry were tying their shoelaces.

Kossie, Porter were listening to music, Sabonis and Divac were chatting softly.

Petrović held a piece of paper and a pen, writing something.

Just then, the door was kicked open with a bang, and Gan Guoyang strode in.

He had just finished an interview, constantly bothered by reporters, which irritated him.

Actually, it wasn’t irritation but excitement because the new season was about to begin.

As soon as Gan Guoyang came in, it was as if the air flowed much better, immediately adding some lively elements.

Gan Guoyang glanced around the locker room and said, "Today’s the first game of the new season, and we have many newcomers. Tonight I’ll score 50 points, break the game in three quarters, and let everyone get a chance to shine in the fourth. Be mentally prepared! Everyone perk up, take a good look in the mirror, there will be close-ups on the TV broadcast!"

Everyone laughed, and the locker room was filled with a jovial atmosphere; the new season was really about to start.