The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 548 Minor Flaws

The argument between Divac and Petrovic did not end after the Trail Blazers finished their game against the Nuggets.

They acknowledged Forrest Gump's talent, but still believed that Coach Bellman's system and strategy had a specific focus.

They didn't ask Bellman directly because, given the coach's personality, he would definitely say, "Both are important."

During their flight from Denver to Florida, the two men confronted Gan Guoyang, arguing and hoping for an answer.

Gan Guoyang didn't try to smooth things over, nor did he shamelessly say, "I am the core."

He calmed down and thought about the problem seriously, recalling the time he spent in college memorizing tactics manuals with John Stockton.

Back then, the two of them would study tactics, train, and discuss things together, and they would often have disagreements.

Later, Berman told the two to forget all their tactics and focus on the game, and they stopped arguing.

This does not mean that Bellman's system was without focus.

During his college years, the core of the Bellman system was defense and rebounding.

With his meticulous defensive setup, the team was able to make it to the national championships even without Forrest Gump.

In the NBA, zone defense is not allowed, which restricts the team's defense more.

Moreover, the NBA is a commercial league. While focusing too much on defense can yield results, it won't limit one's potential.

As Dr. Naismith, the inventor of basketball, said, "The ultimate game is to start the offense wherever you have the ball, no matter where it is."

Since becoming an assistant coach for the Trail Blazers, Berman has been committed to inheriting, improving and developing Jack Ramsey's tactical system, constantly adding his own understanding and thinking, and enriching and elevating Ramsey's coaching achievements.

For example, the utilization of space, the emphasis on the strong and weak sides, the development of three-pointers, and a new understanding of fast breaks, etc.

Gan Guoyang saw all of this. He knew how much Bellman had sacrificed for basketball, and that he was working hard to build his own basketball philosophy.

After thinking for a while, Gan Guoyang said to Petrovic and Divac, "Passing and shooting are just means; they are not the core of Mr. Bellman's system. Since college, what Bellman has truly pursued on the court is one thing: efficiency. Whether it's defense or offense, that's why Mr. Bellman values ​​statistics so much. He wants to use statistics to reflect your efficiency, to show how much you can contribute per unit of time on the court. Do you understand?"

Petrovic and Divac seemed thoughtful. Divac said, "That Mr. Bellman is a real capitalist on the basketball court. He's exploiting us and making us work very efficiently."

Gan Guoyang shrugged and said, "That's actually correct. Every coach does it this way, but Mr. Bellman grasped the core. Dr. Jack once said that coaches in the past were artists in an agricultural society, while Bobby was a factory owner in an industrial society."

"We should overthrow the capitalists."

"That's right, to achieve socialism."

"But the market is also very important."

The conversation between the three players, all from socialist countries, started to veer off-topic.

As Bellman passed by the three of them, he overheard them talking about "capital," "society," and "exploitation," and wondered what these guys were up to.

Why are you neglecting your basketball studies and getting involved in political activities?

After a long flight, the Trail Blazers players arrived in Orlando, Florida, in the early hours of December 3.

Arriving on the South Coast from the cold of Portland and Denver, the players still felt a touch of warmth even after getting off the plane at night.

In December, Portland was blanketed in snow and freezing cold outside, while in southern Florida, the average temperature remained around 20 degrees Celsius, and most of the time you could wear just a light jacket.

For those who are sensitive to the cold, Florida's climate is truly pleasant, no wonder people are willing to come here; the living environment is comfortable.

Therefore, Florida is a well-known retirement destination in the United States. After retiring, most elderly people with some money will come here to enjoy their later years. According to statistics, about one-fifth of the elderly over 65 years old live in Florida.

Not only seniors, but also children love to come to Florida, especially Orlando, naturally because of Orlando's famous Disney World.

Disneyland in Orlando opened in 1955. When Khrushchev visited the United States in 1959, one of his requests was to visit Disneyland. However, the request was ultimately cancelled due to safety concerns, which angered Khrushchev.

Many cities around the world have since built Disney parks, but none can compare to Orlando's "Disney World." The combined area of ​​all other Disney parks doesn't even reach a quarter of Orlando's Disney World. When an NBA team joined Orlando, it meant that NBA players could visit Disney World during their away games and relive their childhood joys.

On the morning of the 3rd, the entire Trail Blazers team took advantage of the away game to charter a bus to Disney World and have a great time for half a day.

Disneyland opened the Fantasyland theme park in 1982 and developed the MGM-Disney theme park in 1989, so it is suitable for both children and adults.

The arrival of the Trail Blazers players quickly attracted a large crowd of tourists, many of whom asked Gan Guoyang for his autograph.

Disney has opened a VIP channel for pioneers, allowing them to quickly experience attractions and thus promote the park.

Due to their physical limitations, the players can't participate in some activities, but roller coasters are still no problem.

The most famous roller coaster at Disney World in Orlando is "SPACE-Mountain," which opened in 1975.

The exterior of this building looks like a spaceship, while the interior structure resembles a roller coaster ride from a heavy industrial plant such as a steel mill or coal mine, reflecting a Cold War-era aesthetic.

Compared to many famous thrilling roller coasters (especially wooden roller coasters), Disney's Space Mountain is geared towards teenagers and children, so it's a very gentle ride, perfect for kids.

Even so, there was still one team member who dared not do it, and that person was Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang's reason for not daring to ride roller coasters is simple: he has a heart condition and definitely cannot participate in such thrilling activities.

Although my heart is fine now, some of my habits remain, and my heart still races when I see a roller coaster.

At first, Gan Guoyang reluctantly went inside with everyone, but when he was told to get on the bus, he began to resist.

I was breathing rapidly, my heart was racing, and I was sweating profusely.

At this point, someone noticed something amiss: Jerome Cauchy was with Gan Guoyang.

He yelled, "Woh! Sonny, are you shaking? Are you afraid of roller coasters!"

"You're talking nonsense, I'm just a little tired."

Gan Guoyang said he was tired? Who would believe that?

With this level of physical activity today, it won't even last one quarter of a game.

Cauchy seemed to have discovered a shocking secret, and when he shouted it out through his megaphone, everyone knew.

Gan Guoyang has always been fearless, and he has always been a perfect presence in the Trail Blazers team.

This time, everyone suddenly noticed a small flaw on the statue. This kid is afraid of riding roller coasters!
Guys like Thompson, Porter, and Hornacek were incredibly excited, like they'd discovered a new continent.

"Shut up, all of you! I'm not afraid at all!" Gan Guoyang still stubbornly insisted.

The problem is that he told everyone to shut up, but he himself was already sitting in the car with his eyes closed, and it hadn't even started moving yet.

When the machine was actually started, Gan Guoyang's desperate screams echoed throughout Space-mountain.

This incident was later reported in the Orlando Sentinel, and Gan Guoyang was laughed at by Jordan for half a month.

Many experts joked that if they want to beat the Trail Blazers next time, they should build their home arena on top of a roller coaster stadium.

The funniest news from the 89-90 season was that Forrest Gump was afraid of roller coasters and screamed like he'd stepped on a cat's tail during the ride.

Disney's Space Mountain is a ride for kids, but I can fall asleep on it.

Later, I suggested that Forrest Gump experience a fighter jet experience with me, but he flatly refused and completely ignored me.

—Excerpt from John Stockton's 2012 autobiography, Assisted.

(End of this chapter)