The Golden Age of Basketball

"What do you think of the performance of the young players in this game? Several rookies played well in this game, and the second-year student Colter contributed the final lore, and his performance in this game is also very, very good. "

"Oh, that's right, the young people in our team have their own characteristics. Although their talents are not top-notch—except for our center forward of course, they have distinctive characteristics and the spirit of daring to fight on the field. That’s something that makes me feel invaluable.”

"Will they get more chances to play after this game?"

"It's possible, I still have to see their follow-up performance, but I believe they will grow into outstanding players soon, and I won't be surprised if some of them become the main force of the team."

"Okay, thank you Mr. Ramsay, thank you for accepting our interview..."

After the game between the Trail Blazers and the Eagles, Ramsey was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines. In this game, Ramsey decisively used new substitutes under the poor performance of the main players to stabilize the situation on the court.

In the end, although Colter's goal was an unpredictable stroke, and Ramsey replaced Colter because Valentine was sent off, but this cannot conceal Ramsey's strategizing in this game.

When Ramsey was being interviewed, the Blazers players had already surrounded Colter, who had succeeded in the lore, and went back to the locker room to take a shower.

Along the way, Gan Guoyang also took the lead in shouting "great-steve" (great Steve). In the player tunnel, they sent Colter into the locker room like a king.

The Blazers' locker room hasn't been this lively for a long time. It has to be said that victory is the best catalyst for a team. As long as they can win, especially in this way of winning, all kinds of conflicts will be temporarily eliminated.

"Hey, great-steve, how do you feel after the lore is successful? Would you like to thank your father and mother?" Gan Guoyang ran to the locker room, took out a magazine rolled into the shape of a microphone, and began to simulate a reporter Interview with Colter changing clothes.

Seeing Gan Guoyang like this, Colter kept grinning, and said to Gan Guoyang's rolled-up microphone: "I want to thank my mother for raising me, allowing me to receive education and embark on this path I would also like to thank Kam for getting me back on the right track."

"Steve! Is Gan your father?" Jerome Cauchy yelled after hearing what Colter said. Colter didn't mention his father because, like most black players, Colter was born into a single-parent family.

"If I were Colter's father, then you should call me grandpa!" Gan Guoyang replied to Ke Xi.

It is really not easy to win six consecutive victories after six consecutive losses, and at the same time obtain two consecutive away games.

After the Blazers experienced a period of chaos, due to Gan Guoyang's support and the return of Ramsey, the team finally slowly returned to the right track.

Gan Guoyang fully experienced the joy after victory, and it was because this joy was so charming that he hated failure so much.

........................

At night, before leaving Atlanta for the next game, the Blazers team went to a famous local wine and nightclub to relax, but three people still stayed in the hotel and did not go out.

Gan Guoyang still doesn't like going to nightclubs to drink, especially for black people. No matter how famous Gan Guoyang is, he still doesn't fit in in the black cultural circle.

The other two are Vandeweghe and Drexler, both of whom stayed in the hotel for treatment due to injuries.

Drexler returned against Atlanta, though he only played 23 minutes and scored 10 points.

At present, his injury has improved, and he will get more playing time in the next game.

Vandeweghe's situation was worse. In the game at night, he played well at critical moments, but he felt something wrong with his ankle after the game. After the examination by Dr. Cook, it was initially determined that it was an ankle joint injury. , It may take about two weeks for a truce, and the specific situation will not be determined until returning to Portland.

The three of them were idle and ignored, plus Ramsay, who was even more unlikely to go out, the four of them could just make a mahjong table.

Gan Guoyang originally wanted to teach his teammates how to play mahjong, but he found that this thing was too playful, so he didn't pass on China's national skills.

So, the four played poker in the room where Ramsay lived.

This is also the first time that several of the most important players of the team have really sat together this season, and all the topics that have not been touched in the past are naturally brought to the table.

Ramsey was the first to bring up the topic. He said: "This will be my last season in the Trail Blazers. I wonder what your plans are?"

This is the first time that Ramsey has really said that he will leave the Trail Blazers next season, although everyone has already known it.

The three of them didn't know what to say for a while, but after a while, Vandeweghe spoke.

"Maybe, me too, or even earlier."

Now everyone has talked about it, and both Ramsey and Vandeweghe think this will be their last season in the Trail Blazers.

"I still remember when I first arrived in the Trail Blazers, that is, last season, I thought that Coach Ramsey would be the most suitable coach for me. If he was going to leave, I think I would go too." Vandeweghe added, I don't know if what he said is true or not.

Of course Gan Guoyang didn’t believe it. He still remembered what Vandeweghe said to him during extra practice after training. Gan Guoyang smiled and responded, “Come on kiki, are you going to another team with Coach Ramsey? It is said that Mr. Ramsey Ready to go back to college and coach -- still women's basketball."

"Shut your mouth, Gan, if the Blazers are willing to give me an average annual contract of 150 million, I will stay here." Vandeweghe looked a little annoyed.

"An average of 150 million per year... Oh my God, has this 150 million made our elegant fast-shooter Kiki lose his demeanor? And I don't think that cunning fellow Inman will give me 150 million." Gan Guoyang knew that Vandeweghe He came to the Trail Blazers with a contract signed with the Nuggets, and his contract expires this season.

However, the Blazers never renewed their contract with Vandeweghe. Using Inman's reasoning, the Blazers wanted to save the money and give Gan Guoyang a big cake.

Of course, due to various reasons, Gan Guoyang rejected Inman's long-term contract proposal in the first negotiation, and the number negotiated at that time was not 150 million. I don't know how it became this number when it came to Vandeweghe.

"150 million...God, Bird is only 180 million." Drexler was still a little speechless when he heard this figure. His salary this year is only 42.

"Don't listen to his nonsense, even if Yinman offers me a contract with an annual salary of 150 million, I don't want to sign it. I will save him to sign the contract with Kiki." Gan Guoyang played a card and said.

"Don't be kidding Gan, no one has trouble with money. And I think you are worth the price. I don't want to share a piece of the pie with you. Everyone in this league relies on their own ability to eat. If the Blazers are not willing to give me Make a big contract, then I can work for other teams, it’s okay, the business league, we are all wage earners. Only when you stand on the court and hit the lore, you will feel that you are a hero, and once the game It's over, then you are an employee of the boss, and your duty is to put on a reality show with other employees in various theaters every night, that's all." Vandeweghe said and played a card.

Gan Guoyang knew that Vandeweghe's words were indeed reasonable, and the longer he stayed in the NBA, the stronger this feeling became.

"But I still want to chase some spiritual things with my employees and friends ... I can give up some material things for this."

"Oh, no, no, don't look like a saint who doesn't eat fireworks. You're not as good as a dirty-mouthed trash kid like that. Remember, don't make trouble with money." Vandeweghe said after hearing Gan Guoyang's words.

Gan Guoyang just smiled. Of course he would not be troubled by money, but at present, this little money is not in his eyes. He still has higher and greater pursuits. At that time, money will not be a problem at all.

"Okay, I'm done playing cards! I've won, and I'll invite you to dinner in Boston tomorrow."

While Gan Guoyang and Vandeweghe were chattering, Coach Ramsey silently finished all the hands and won the game, and their chips were tomorrow's lunch.

........................

The third leg of the Trail Blazers' four-game road trip is also the most difficult one. It is to fly to Boston on the northeast coast to challenge the mighty Boston Celtics.

Losing the finals last season and then losing the championship, especially after losing to the Lakers for the first time in the finals, the Celtics are bound to make a comeback this season.

The Celtics players started hard training early in the offseason. As soon as the finals ended, Larry Bird returned to his hometown of scorching Indiana and started the "death run" in the suffocating heat. This kind of inhuman torture to punish himself for his poor performance in the finals.

And the Celtics' management also brought in the former superstar Bill Walton to further fill their frontcourt and make the team stronger.

After the start of the season, they only lost two games in 19 games, and they lost to the Pacers and Cavaliers because of carelessness.

In the games they won, almost every game was a big victory, and there was often no suspense in the fourth quarter of the game, which was enough to prove their strength.

Before the Blazers visited Boston, the invincible Green Corps had won nine consecutive victories. Against the Portland Trail Blazers, who had won six consecutive victories, it was destined to be an earth-shattering battle!