The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 882 Your Goal
Defeating the Lakers was a crucial victory for the Trail Blazers at the start of the season.

They not only ended their losing streak but also avoided the embarrassment of a three-game losing streak.

More importantly, the team is developing new chemistry and a new playing style.

The super offensive system they built during the Bird era, relying on running, fluidity, three-pointers, fast breaks, smooth teamwork, and rich experience, is collapsing.

Every system goes through a process of establishment, prosperity, and collapse, and pioneers are no exception.

During the collapse, the inertia can cause discomfort and confusion for the players.

This method used to be very effective for me, but it doesn't work now.

In the past, when I ran like this, I could have created opportunities, but now my opponents are able to capitalize on them.

I used to be able to easily make long-range shots, but now the rim seems to have a cover on it, and I can't make any shots no matter what I do.

The more successful one is in the past, the stronger and greater the discomfort and confusion will be when problems arise.

Fortunately, the Trail Blazers had a backup plan; fortunately, their tradition of "rotting and reborn" has been passed down; and fortunately, Forrest Gump still has the level of Barkley at his peak.

In the post-game tactical meeting, the coaching staff conducted a detailed summary, and Spoelstra recorded Gan Guoyang's instructions during halftime and carefully studied them.

While participating in training, Gan Guoyang also gave lectures to Carlisle and Spoelstra at coaching staff meetings, analyzing the current situation of the Trail Blazers and how to rationally allocate the team's human resources.

Gan Guoyang gave each of them a copy of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, saying, "The Chinese classic 'The Art of War' says that in all battles, one engages with the opponent using the orthodox and wins with the unorthodox. The team's overall strength is not as good as it was in the previous two seasons. Simply relying on playing at our own pace is no longer enough to overwhelm the opponent. Moreover, the overall strength of the league has been increasing in the past two years, and the new players are growing rapidly. It's no longer like '96 and '97 when there were so many weak teams. The games will be very difficult. The team must combine orthodox and unorthodox tactics, build on the existing foundation, and make good use of the new generation of talent."

The book "The Art of War" has a great influence in the United States. Gan Guoyang had heard of this before and thought it was just some people bragging and trying to glorify their ancestors.

But after living in the United States for so many years, he discovered that "The Art of War" is everywhere. In the basketball world alone, there are many well-known coaches who believe in the strategies and philosophy of "The Art of War".

The most famous example is Bobby Knight, who not only read it himself and applied it to team building, team management, and on-field command, but also bought a deluxe edition to give to his good friend Stu Inman.

Unfortunately, Inman doesn't read military strategy books and leaves them gathering dust in his office. Luckily, he chose Gan Guoyang, so he didn't bother reading them.

Nowadays, some coaches in the league like to quote from "The Art of War" when giving speeches and instructing players.

For example, a saying often quoted by coaches is, "Every battle is won before it is ever fought."

The saying "Victorious armies first secure victory and then seek battle, while defeated armies first engage in battle and then seek victory" means that victorious armies always make thorough preparations before seeking opportunities to fight, while defeated armies often rush into battle without proper preparation and hope to win by chance.

This statement later became a golden rule for American sports teams, telling every coach and every team to fight a battle they are prepared for.

These seemingly simple truths are easy for everyone to understand when they are spoken, but it is obviously very difficult to put them into practice.

Let alone a team of dozens of people who need to be coordinated, trained and prepared, how many people can be fully prepared when they are involved in various affairs on a daily basis, instead of cramming at the last minute and trying to find a solution when the time comes?

Gan Guoyang's "combination of orthodox and unorthodox" is similar. It is easy to say, but you can use one orthodox and one unorthodox method flexibly.

But what is orthodox and what is unorthodox, when to use orthodox and when to use unorthodox, are all questions that coaches should explore in detail.

Through the game against the Lakers, Carlisle at least realized that his previous idea of ​​boldly using young players like Ben Wallace and Jermaine O'Neal was the right one.

However, Gan Guoyang's handling of the lineup, including still starting veterans, letting veterans play in more comfortable offensive positions, using familiar combinations to help veterans find their rhythm, and how to use troublemakers like Charles Barkley, all gave Carlisle a deeper understanding and insight into the "combination of orthodox and unorthodox tactics".

Carlisle thought about his predecessors: Ramsey and Bobby Bellman relied on meticulous tactical preparation and innovative on-court thinking, Bird relied on beast-like intuition and outstanding personal charisma, and Forrest Gump almost combined all of these coaches' strengths. He was not only the most powerful player, but also the most brilliant commander.

If the league hadn't banned players from also serving as coaches, Carlisle would have wanted to hand over the head coach position to Gan Guoyang and just be an offensive coach and help out.

Being a head coach is too stressful. Being an assistant coach is essentially being a strategist. You can offer any advice you want, and whether the head coach accepts it or not is his business.

Regardless of whether the idea is good or bad, once the head coach uses it, he is responsible for any problems that arise. Assistant coaches do not have to take responsibility for the results, performance on the field, or be subject to public criticism.

Being a head coach is different. Faced with a chaotic situation and various strategies, you have to make the final decision and bear all the consequences.

Even if your strategy and ideas are correct, if the players don't execute them well and miss the shot, the media and fans will blame the coach first, not the players.

In just two weeks since the start of the new season, Carlisle has looked much more haggard, and his once thick hair is now showing signs of falling out.

The Lakers stopped the bleeding in that game, but in the following games, one after another, Carlisle will continue to suffer until he finds a suitable model and coaching style.

After playing the Lakers, the Trail Blazers traveled to Denver to challenge the Nuggets, a relatively easy game for them.

Since trading away Mutombo, the Nuggets have been struggling in the mire for years, never finding the right direction for building their team.

Dan Issel, Gan Guoyang's old rival from the Nuggets in the 80s, became the team's coach. The Nuggets wanted to build a system with McDyess and LaFrentz as the core of the inside game.

Since the Trail Blazers swept the league with the combination of Forrest Gump and a high center who could pass the ball, many teams have followed suit, trying to build a similar frontcourt combination to compete for the championship, including the Boston Celtics' Duncan and Ilgauskas.

However, no team has truly achieved a similar effect, because no team can match Gan Guoyang's level, especially his versatility and endurance.

He could have succeeded with other combinations, such as Forrest Gump and a superstar point guard, but the Trail Blazers just happened to have Walton and chose Sabonis.

Last season, the Nuggets brought in offensive-minded coach Mike D'Antoni in hopes of replicating their once fluid and beautiful offense.

As it turned out, in the mid-to-late 90s, only the Portland Trail Blazers could play offensive basketball. Other teams didn't have the talent or ability for it, so they had to stick to defense to achieve results.

Ultimately, D'Antoni led the team to a dismal 23 wins and left after one season.

Of course, this mustachioed coach did not change his coaching philosophy because of this; he was looking for and waiting for new opportunities and his era.

At the start of the season, the Nuggets were in a worse situation than the Trail Blazers, with the team completely lost and Dan Isell still experimenting with different lineups.

The Trail Blazers seized the opportunity in this game, making up for their poor three-point shooting against the Lakers, hitting 9 shots in the first half and leading the Nuggets by as many as 19 points.

After taking the lead, Carlisle seized the opportunity in the second half to give more playing time to young players, including Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal, Henderson, and Kobe, to hone their on-court chemistry.

The Nuggets played haphazardly and without any strategy, completely disorganized at home, and were ultimately slaughtered by the Trail Blazers 123-85, a 38-point margin.

Carlisle breathed a huge sigh of relief. A resounding victory relieved the heavy pressure on him, boosted the players' confidence, and gave young players the opportunity to gain experience. The team had taken another solid step forward.

The Trail Blazers' big win shows that they still have a significant advantage when facing weaker teams. Their offensive foundation, once they get into a hot hand and are in good form, can easily turn the game into a massacre.

After their campaign in Denver, the Trail Blazers returned to Portland for their final home game in November.

After this home game, they will embark on a long road trip to the East, not returning until December. Clearly, this year's schedule is not favorable for them.

It's unlikely that we'll see a repeat of the situation where we play all home games in November. The early away trip will be a big challenge for both our performance and our physical condition.

The last home game in November will be against the Atlanta Hawks. This game has attracted widespread attention both at home and abroad because it will be Wang Zhizhi's first time facing off against his senior in the NBA.

Currently, there are three Chinese players in the NBA: Gan Guoyang, Wang Zhizhi, and Hu Weidong.

Hu Weidong left Los Angeles this summer after playing for the Lakers for three seasons.

Phil Jackson did not appreciate Hu Weidong, a perimeter shooter who lacked defense.

Hu Weidong had to try out for new contracts everywhere during the summer.

Finally, before the start of the season, the Boston Celtics gave Hu Weidong a short-term contract, which would be converted to a permanent contract after the season started to guarantee the contract.

Hu Weidong also moved from sunny California to Boston in the Northeast to continue his NBA basketball dream.

Of course, Gan Guoyang's help was indispensable, as was his friendship with Bobby Berman, who liked backcourt players with long-range shooting ability.

However, with the powerful Celtics, Hu Weidong's role is destined to be more marginalized, relegated to the 10th or 11th position on the team.

Wang Zhizhi, who was selected in the first round to join the Hawks, received more attention and became the hope of fans in Atlanta.

The Hawks' management and coaching staff also had high hopes for him. The rebuilding Hawks had a lot of young players, and Wang Zhizhi was quickly promoted to the starting position.

However, Wang Zhizhi's performance in the first few games of the season was inconsistent, with both good and bad moments.

On the positive side, he has a great offensive talent, a very good mid-range shot, and a soft touch.

As a tactical finisher, he is good at putting the ball into the basket in low-intensity game situations.

Moreover, in some rounds, his offensive footwork was brilliant, outmaneuvering defenders and drawing cheers from the home fans.

Soon, Wang Zhizhi gained considerable popularity in Atlanta, and his jerseys sold well, making him more successful than Hu Weidong in this respect.

On the downside, his weaknesses in defense and physical confrontations are evident. His individual and help defenses are both poor, which puts more pressure on the rest of the Hawks' defense.

On the other hand, even though he worked hard to train and strengthen his muscles in the summer, his ability to compete remained at a lower-middle level for a short period of time.

This is a significant disadvantage in the increasingly competitive NBA, where muscular centers are everywhere.

This also led to Wang Zhizhi being unable to keep up with the intensity as the competition progressed and the intensity increased, especially at crucial moments in the game.

Moreover, in terms of age, Wang Zhizhi, born in 1977, was already 22 years old when he entered the league, which is considered an older rookie, and there wasn't much potential that could be tapped from him.

Therefore, Wang Zhizhi faces great pressure to be evaluated, and if his performance in his rookie season fails to meet the team's requirements, it is very likely that he will be dropped.

After all, not many of the rookies selected around 20th in the first round actually succeed; quite a few are discarded within a year or two. That's just how high the NBA's dropout rate is.

For Wang Zhizhi, coming to Portland to play is both a source of pressure and a chance to relax and confide in his senior teammates.

Of course, Wang Zhizhi knew that Gan Guoyang had experienced much more pressure and difficulties this year than he had.

So during his time in Atlanta, no matter what difficulties he encountered, he did not easily call Gan Guoyang.

He only called Gan Guoyang after his career debut to report on the situation, without saying much else.

Gan Guoyang knew that Wang Zhizhi, like Hu Weidong, was relatively quiet and introverted, not good at communicating or expressing himself.

This was a common characteristic of athletes from that generation of sports teams: they focused solely on playing and training, knowing little about or wanting to learn about anything outside of basketball.

After the Hawks settled in Portland, Gan Guoyang invited Wang Zhizhi to his home for a meal. After the meal, the two went to the Glass Pyramid Arena to practice and chat.

Wang Zhizhi, who was originally a bit introverted and shy, brightened up after eating some delicious Chinese food and started talking non-stop about the various inconveniences he had experienced since coming to the United States.

Wang Zhizhi participated in the draft in June and was subsequently recalled to China by the national team. He did not return to the United States to begin training and playing until the Hawks' training camp opened in October.

So far, Wang Zhizhi has only been in the United States for a little over a month. During this time, his biggest takeaway is: "You really have to rely on yourself for everything when you're abroad."

Athletes like Wang Zhizhi, who grew up in domestic sports teams, entered local youth training systems at a very young age due to their exceptional talent and began living a collective life.

The players have eaten and trained together since they were young, and they have dedicated coaches or team leaders to take care of them in their daily lives.

Before coming to the NBA, Wang Zhizhi would wake up to the sound of the team leader or assistant coach knocking on the door, and he would even be notified before going to the cafeteria for meals.

But after arriving in the NBA, Wang Zhizhi discovered that the days when he didn't have to use his brain in life and could focus solely on playing basketball were gone forever.

“Nobody cares about anything outside of playing basketball. You are responsible for everything yourself. It is your duty to train on time. If you are late, you will be fined $1000. I have already been fined $2000.”

Wang Zhizhi acted like an immature child in front of Gan Guoyang, complaining and expressing his frustration at being fined $2000.

Gan Guoyang thought to himself that he had never been late for training in his nearly 20-year basketball career. He had only ever arrived early and left late, never been late or left early.

Wang Zhizhi is still too childish. It's something a person should realize from a very young age that they need to be responsible for their own life and work.

Players like Barkley, who grew up in poverty, had to juggle playing basketball, studying, and working part-time to make a living during junior and senior high school. When they entered the NBA, they had to rely on themselves to make a living.

Wang Zhizhi was already 22 years old, and it took him a month in the United States to understand this principle, which was indeed a bit late.

Gan Guoyang didn't lecture Wang Zhizhi; he simply shared his own experiences of training and competing when he was young.

Wang Zhizhi immediately understood that Gan Guoyang had been so diligent and arrived early every day, so he couldn't be late for training anymore.

Then, on the court, Gan Guoyang observed Wang Zhizhi's physical strength and skills, and gave him some pointers. Gan Guoyang found that Wang Zhizhi's skills were quite proficient, his body coordination was excellent, and his flexibility was also good.

Strength was indeed a major weakness, but Gan Guoyang did not suggest that he gain weight or force himself to train for strength.

He said, "If you want to become a top superstar, you generally can't have any obvious weaknesses. You need to fill in the gaps and be good at everything. But if you want to survive in the NBA, first of all, hard training is a must, and secondly, it's even more important to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses and find your own way to survive."

With Wang Zhizhi's talent, becoming a top superstar is indeed a bit difficult, but it's entirely possible for him to secure a place in the NBA.

Even before the draft, Gan Guoyang had planned a training route for Wang Zhizhi, telling him to spend more time on offense, especially mid-range and long-range shooting.

Just work on your defense and strength, and don't let them drag you down too much.

This time, Gan Guoyang gave more detailed advice, telling Wang Zhizhi to do more exercises to improve his physical flexibility and coordination.

For example, spider crawling, yoga poses, skipping rope, etc., can maximize his advantages of agile footwork and many offensive skills.

"Never listen to your coach or trainer and try to build yourself into a muscle-bound guy. Some of them don't care about your long-term development; they just want you to be able to rebound and protect the rim temporarily. But you need to know that offensive talent will allow you to survive longer and better in the league."

Gan Guoyang gave important advice that influenced Wang Zhizhi's entire career.

In Atlanta, many people did suggest that Wang Zhizhi should gain weight, train more strength, and improve his ability to compete.

In the Hawks' workout area, after each practice session, players are lifting weights, and Wang Zhizhi is no exception.

However, Gan Guoyang, the strongest player in NBA history and ranked number one in physical strength, advised Wang Zhizhi not to focus too much on strength training.

"Too much strength training will ruin your agility, flexibility, and shooting touch, turning you into just an average interior role player. Offensive ability is the most scarce resource in the NBA. If you have this talent, you should make the most of it and hone it to its fullest potential."

Gan Guoyang explained, and then executed a beautiful step-back jump shot in front of Wang Zhizhi.

"Boss, how do you manage to be so strong, have such a good offense, and still be so agile without it being affected at all?"

"I'm a cyborg, how can you compare to me? Just do what you're supposed to do."

Later, Wang Zhizhi didn't have many opportunities to visit Gan Guoyang's home, as not just anyone could go there.

Gan Guoyang's advice deeply influenced Wang Zhizhi. As Gan Guoyang said, if he could build himself into a muscular player, he might be able to achieve better results in the league in a short period of time.

But once he loses his offensive talent, he will be quickly eliminated from the NBA, because the NBA has no shortage of muscle-bound guys who can dominate the paint.

Conversely, if Wang Zhizhi can develop his offensive potential and become a reliable scorer in the regular season, then as long as he stays healthy, he will have a long-term career in the NBA.

Even if he can't become a star or a piece of the championship puzzle, it's enough for him to play in the NBA for a few more years and have a better and longer career.

The next day, in the game between the Trail Blazers and the Hawks, Wang Zhizhi was thoroughly outplayed by Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers' forwards in his limited playing time.

They lack strength and easily stumble under pressure. Their defense is riddled with holes, with too many problems in rebounding and rim protection, leaving the head coach shaking his head in dismay.

Even so, Wang Zhizhi still showed unique talent on the offensive end. His catch-and-shoot fadeaway jumper, three-pointer, and back-to-the-basket footwork allowed him to score 8 points in the paint, and each basket was quite amazing, making the audience and head coach feel his talent.

Ultimately, the Hawks, with their abundance of young players, were no match for the Trail Blazers, losing 97-107 at the Rose Garden.

The Trail Blazers have won three straight games, stabilizing the situation with two relatively easy victories, and will begin their long road trip in the Eastern Conference.

Before leaving Portland, the Trail Blazers encountered a problem when their starting center suffered knee soreness during the game against the Hawks.

After a thorough examination, the team doctor concluded that Sabonis should stay in Portland to rest and alleviate the pain in his knee.

Thanks to Gan Guoyang, the Trail Blazers' medical system has maintained a high standard over the years, and they are exceptionally cautious and meticulous in dealing with player injuries.

Therefore, since the 1985 season, no key player on the Trail Blazers has suffered a major injury—except for the deaths of two players.

This is key to the Trail Blazers' continued dominance; healthy players are essential for their fighting spirit.

Of course, Gan Guoyang, as the pioneer of welfare, did not enjoy any of the benefits.

From 1985 to the present, let alone a devastating injury, Gan Guoyang has never even had a minor injury that requires observation.

He truly prioritizes the benefit of others over his own. Back then, he even negotiated with Inman because he was worried about the Trail Blazers' poor medical environment, which led to the entire Portland media criticizing Gan Guoyang.

Looking back, Gan Guoyang's worries were unfounded, but his efforts were not in vain and actually helped him.

It's certainly a bad thing that Sabonis can't travel with the team for away games, but given the current situation of emerging new talents in the Trail Blazers, it might not be such a bad thing.

Sabonis has always been Gan Guoyang's most important shadow warrior. After 1990, Gan Guoyang was unable to win a championship without Sabonis.

However, Sabonis' performance has declined significantly this season due to age and injuries.

He used to relieve some of the pressure on Gan Guoyang on the defensive end, but now Gan Guoyang has to clean up his mess.

Sabonis struggled to provide elite-level defense under the basket, both due to his difficulty defending O'Neal one-on-one and his slower footwork in help defense.

On the offensive end, Sabonis' performance has dropped significantly, with his hook shot and field goal percentage both reaching career lows.

His main role has become supporting from high up the pitch, feeding Gan Guoyang through balls; he has regressed in other aspects.

Like Terry Porter, Sabonis had already considered retiring. If it weren't for Forrest Gump and his son, he would have retired contentedly after winning his sixth championship in 99.

Since the team needs to rest, he should rest properly and give the young players a chance to perform.

On the flight to Miami, Carlisle and the coaching staff discussed the team's starting lineup and rotation rules in the absence of Sabonis.

Charles Barkley jumped in and volunteered, "Coach, if Arvidas isn't playing, then I should be the starting power forward! Let Forrest play center!"

Barkley, relying on his seniority, always voiced his opinions to the coaching staff and frequently demanded to be a starter.

Carlisle understands the confidence of a superstar like Barkley and his obsession with starting positions, as starting is a symbol of status for a player.

Especially for a former MVP-caliber superstar like Charles Barkley, it's quite shameful to be a substitute at the end of his career.

Carlisle disagreed, arguing that if Barkley and Agan teamed up in the paint, Gan Guoyang would face immense defensive pressure.

Moreover, Barkley currently has enough fuel in the tank, so letting him play as a substitute and make a strong impact for 15-20 minutes is the most suitable option.

However, Carlisle didn't dare to directly refuse Barkley. He knew Barkley's temper and personality; no one but Forrest Gump could control him.

Faced with Barkley's "coup," Carlisle couldn't help but glance sideways at Gan Guoyang, hoping to get help.

As a result, Gan Guoyang sat in his seat, engrossed in reading the newspaper, completely ignoring the commotion.

Carlisle understood that Forrest was ultimately a player, while he was the coach; who started and who came off the bench was his decision.

Taking a deep breath, Carlisle solemnly said to Barkley, "Charles, your suggestion is good, but the coaching staff will study and decide on the starting lineup for the game. You will know the result."

Barkley, however, refused to budge, pressing him further: "The game is tomorrow, why don't you just tell me now? I can start, I'm ready, I'll focus on rebounding and defense."

Faced with Barkley's relentless pressure, Carlisle finally mustered his courage and said bluntly, "Then I'll tell you the result, Charles. I won't put you in the starting lineup. I think your current form and ability are more suited to the bench. You would be a great backup offensive leader and bring significant value to the team. But you're no longer suitable to be a starter, that's it."

Carlisle spoke so loudly that everyone in the cabin could hear him, which made Barkley a little embarrassed.

But Barkley didn't get angry at Carlisle, nor did he complain; he just muttered, "I'm not deaf..."

After saying that, Barkley went to his seat to rest and listen to music, while Carlisle let out a long sigh of relief.

My heart was pounding. In the past, as an assistant coach, he only needed to offer advice and suggestions without making decisions, and he was less likely to have arguments or conflicts with the players.

Back then, Larry Bird would use his authority to get everything done; now Carlisle needs to build his own authority and become a true head coach.

It starts today.
-

The first stop on the Eastern Conference tour was Miami, where Pat Riley quickly assembled a new team after the Heat's star duo disbanded.

It has to be said that Riley is a very persuasive person. No wonder that in addition to coaching and managing a team, he is also a famous speaker who gives motivational speeches at various events during the offseason and earns a lot of money.

Riley has a deep understanding of business management and has thoroughly explored the success stories of many famous American companies, which is why he is very good at giving motivational speeches.

In the NBA, a sports league mainly composed of Black players with little formal education, Riley's mind is exceptional. Most people can't resist his persuasive words and are ready to give their all for the Miami Heat.

"That son of a bitch Riley, all talk and no action! I believed his lies and went to play for the Heat, but I didn't win a championship and almost ended my career prematurely!"

In the locker room before the game, Barkley seemed to have already forgotten the embarrassing incident on the plane when Carlisle didn't give him a starting spot, and started loudly complaining about Riley, calling him a bitch.

Gan Guoyang lay to the side while the trainer bandaged his ankle. He replied, "Riley does like to talk a good game, but he still won a championship. You just missed out on a good time, Charles."

"97 was still my best time! But besides constantly motivating us to keep going, Riley didn't offer any good plans. In his eyes, we were just expendable resources; once this batch was squeezed dry, there would be another batch! Damn it."

Barkley was right, and Gan Guoyang agreed. This was also why Gan Guoyang had never been interested in Riley's offer.

If we compare coaching a team to leading an army, Riley is similar to Yang Su in ancient times. He was extremely strict in disciplining his troops, killing people to establish his authority before the battle and instilling his men to fight to the death.

The vanguard suicide squads sent out either died in battle or were executed for retreating. There was no other outcome unless they won, so the soldiers dared not fight.

The reason why the soldiers were still willing to fight with Yang Su was that when they won, they would be rewarded according to their merits, and even the smallest merit would be reported.

Soldiers eager to make a name for themselves naturally wanted to follow Yang Su, gain military merit, and change their fate.

In this respect, Riley is not as good as Yang Su. He ruthlessly exploited the players, and after winning championships and honors, he discarded those aging heroes like worn-out shoes, refusing to give them big retirement contracts in order to avoid taking up the team's salary space and affecting operational flexibility.

Hakeem Olajuwon left early to sign a big contract in New Jersey.

Drexler retired directly, no longer expecting a retirement contract from Riley.

John Starks was released and traded to the more talented Tim Hardaway.

Charles Barkley didn't get any credit either. He was paid the least amount of money, did the most work, and was told to leave if he couldn't do the work, without any attempt to keep him.

Even so, Riley and the Heat remained attractive to many players because of their strict discipline and the Heat's rapid rise in performance.

Moreover, Riley is quite generous with contracts when you are capable, but once you sign the contract, you have to demonstrate 100% value.

In training and matches, Riley will make the best use of resources and talents, maximizing the team's potential.

In the summer of 1999, the Heat had saved up enough contract cap space to lure Wizards power forward Rasheed Wallace into the free agent market.

A contract brought Wallace from Washington to Miami, and Riley began to dream of winning championships again.

With PJ Brown and Wallace in the frontcourt, and Jamal Mashburn acquired in a trade, plus Hardaway anchoring the backcourt, it's another very strong lineup.

Furthermore, with Tim Hardaway's gradual decline, Riley is looking for a replacement to complete the team's renewal in order to achieve results in the post-Gan Guoyang era.

From this perspective, Riley was undeniably shrewd. He pioneered a unique team-building model where "stars are basically snatched up, and role players are fully exploited," which allowed the Heat to quickly establish themselves on the South Beach from a newly formed team in 1988, win the championship in the shortest time, and establish a winning culture. This is truly admirable.

Compared to teams like the Raptors, Timberwolves, Hornets, and Grizzlies, some of whom haven't even figured out where the playoffs are, and whose ticket sales and survival are both problems, Riley's drastic measures are indeed quite powerful.

He was not only an excellent head coach and a management genius, but also a ruthless white elite.

Compared to him, Carlisle still has a considerable gap to close.

Before the match, Gan Guoyang told Carlisle, "Riley is not your role model, but he will be your goal."

Carlisle nodded to indicate that he understood; the Trail Blazers' first game on their Eastern Tour would undoubtedly be a tough nut to crack.

"Who is Riley's target?" Carlisle asked curiously.

“Railley’s target is me. But he won’t have a chance,” Gan Guoyang said.

(End of this chapter)