The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 912 It’s great to be young
The Trail Blazers were accommodated at the Hilton on Boston's North Shore during the Finals. The luxury hotel has strict security measures to ensure the players' rest and safety.

Gan Guoyang was once again assigned a single room, marking his return to Boston in June to play in the Finals after 14 years.

Fourteen years have passed in the blink of an eye. In 1986, Gan Guoyang embarked on his journey to conquer the NBA from this city with the most championships.

No one could have predicted that it would not only be a miracle of an Asian player defeating a white city to win the championship, but also the beginning of a great dynasty.

In 1986, the Trail Blazers also had their first two away games in Boston. Gan Guoyang remembers that when they left Portland for the East Coast, a large number of fans went to the airport to see them off, which almost caused the team to miss their flight.

When they returned from Boston with a victory, thousands of fans lined the airport to welcome them. The vibrant atmosphere of the public's enthusiastic welcome is still vivid in my mind.

Just over a decade later, Gan Guoyang and the Pioneers returned to where they started. History seems to come full circle. After conquering all his opponents, Gan Guoyang returned to where he began, as if it were an arrangement of fate.

There could be no more dramatic or memorable script.

The biggest question now is whether Gan Guoyang can end his professional career with a championship and bring everything to a perfect close.

Because right after Gan Guoyang arrived in Boston, he suddenly held a brief press conference and said that he would retire after the finals.

The press conference was small; Gan Guoyang only invited a few small local media outlets in Boston, as well as media from Portland and a Chinese media outlet that was with the team.

Without any warning, everyone thought Gan Guoyang was going to make some pre-match comments, but unexpectedly it turned out to be such a major news.

Similar to Gan Guoyang's first retirement, he held a brief press conference before Christmas to announce his decision, answer two questions, and then left the competition.

Sure enough, the smaller the news story, the bigger the news story becomes.

One stone stirs up a thousand waves: Forrest Gump has finally decided to retire!

This event is even more attention-grabbing than the finals themselves.

Because of this news, the Nasdaq index plummeted the following day.

Since the Nasdaq peaked in March 2000, it has been declining steadily.

Gan Guoyang's retirement news originally had nothing to do with finance or the economy.

However, at this moment, the US stock market, especially internet technology stocks, has reached a point of extreme anxiety.

Even when news of a sports star's retirement breaks, they will drop their heads in respect.

Of course, this sports star is no ordinary sports star; he is the greatest, most legendary, and most controversial superstar of this era, a being as radiant as the sun.

Gan Guoyang's simple press conference announcement changed the entire political climate in Boston.

Prior to this, Boston media had portrayed Gan Guoyang as the Celtics' final boss on their road to the championship.

Because of the espionage case, regardless of the outcome, Gan Guoyang is both praised and criticized, especially in the traditionally blue-blooded New England region.

Newspapers, radio, television and other media were filled with criticism and satire of Gan Guoyang, believing that the Trail Blazers who won Game 7 against the Lakers were exhausted and would not be a match for the young and energetic Celtics.

Gan Guoyang's image has been parodied by many fans. Some fans even drew a mustache on the philtrum of Gan Guoyang's portrait to indicate that he is the biggest villain.

But on the day of the game, June 6th, a huge banner was hung in the square in front of the Fleet Center, with Gan Guoyang's jersey number 11 printed on it, and the words "Goodbye, Forrest Gump" written on it.

Although there was some "malice" involved, there was more blessing, regret and remembrance.

This was evident from the opening ceremony. When Gan Guoyang appeared, the entire stadium erupted in cheers and applause, rather than booing.

The applause was thunderous and the cheers from the away fans were the highest tribute to this greatest player, a basketball emperor who dominated the entire league.

Gan Guoyang didn't hold back either, waving to the Celtics fans. Although they would turn into spitting demons for the next two hours, it didn't diminish the warmth of this moment.

Bobby Bellman stepped forward to shake hands and hug Gan Guoyang, and the mentor and student finally met on the stage of the finals.

After the Trail Blazers won Game 7 and advanced to the NBA Finals, Bellman and Gan Guoyang stopped contacting each other privately; they were now rivals.

At this moment, Behrman held Gan Guoyang's hand, his heart filled with emotion, and said, "Sonny..."

Behrman choked up, his eyes reddened, and he couldn't speak.

He knew that Gan Guoyang might retire, but when this news was released so suddenly, and before the finals, he had reason to suspect that it was a psychological tactic by Agan.

He had originally planned to mock Gan Guoyang, saying, "So you're finally going to run away, Sonny."

But when he actually stood in front of Gan Guoyang, he couldn't say such things at all. The deep feelings between the two, their friendship on basketball, couldn't be explained in just a few words.

Gan Guoyang comforted Bellman, patting him and saying, "Bobby, I'm just retiring, not dying. Don't be like this."

Bellman controlled his emotions, thinking that the finals hadn't even started yet, and he knew how cunning Forrest Gump was, so he shouldn't be soft-hearted.

"Sonny, this is your last chance to experience losing the Finals, so you have to make the most of it."

"Haha, Bobby, you know me, I won't lose." Gan Guoyang was as confident as ever.

The two parted ways, ending their brief moment of tender nostalgia. What followed was a ruthless battle, a life-or-death struggle for the championship.

To be honest, when it comes to the will to win, Bellman and his Celtics had a stronger one than the Trail Blazers.

After arriving at the Celtics in 1997, Bellman took full control and made a series of moves to build the team around Duncan, leading to the Celtics' rapid rise.

In the 1998 and 1999 seasons, the Celtics had a chance to reach the NBA Finals, but their strength and timing were not yet ripe.

This season marks Duncan's third season in the NBA, and the Celtics' roster structure is nearing completion, allowing them to stride confidently toward the championship.

During the Celtics' entrance ceremony, Tim Duncan was the last to appear, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd for the superstar power forward.

In the regular season MVP voting, Duncan finished second behind O'Neal, but he went further than O'Neal in the playoffs.

In the three-round series in the East, Duncan was not as devastating in scoring as O'Neal, but he also didn't completely shut down in crucial games like O'Neal.

Throughout the game, he remained expressionless, using his calm and steady performance to help the Celtics secure victory after victory.

He is indeed very similar to Forrest Gump. Although his offensive explosiveness is far inferior and his defensive acumen is slightly lacking, a Forrest Gump of more than 70 percent is enough for him to become the cornerstone of a championship team.

Around Duncan, Bellman meticulously built a young elite team that would keep the Celtics competitive for many years to come.

The Celtics' starting lineup tonight is: center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, power forward Tim Duncan, small forward Rick Fox, shooting guard Paul Pierce, and point guard Steve Nash.

The oldest player in the starting lineup, Rick Fox, is only 30 years old, while the rest are under 25. This Celtics team is very young and very talented, and none of them have reached their peak yet.

This young team, without Michael Jordan in the East, had no rivals.

They swept their opponents in the first and second rounds, only encountering some resistance in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, which they won 4-2. However, anyone who watched all six games would know that the Pacers had no hope of advancing against the Celtics.

With complete dominance on both offense and defense, the Pacers could only steal two victories by relying on their momentum after returning to their home court, home-court advantage, and intense competition.

Once the series went deep and the Pacers lost momentum back in Boston, they had no chance to fight back.

In fact, the Pacers are quite strong overall this season. They are stronger and more mature than they were in 1998 and 1999.

However, they were easily eliminated by the Celtics, whose starting lineup had an average age of less than 25. It's no wonder that the Boston media were so arrogant, believing that the Trail Blazers would not be a match for the Celtics.

Being young is wonderful, being young is truly wonderful.

In this match, Gan Guoyang returned to the starting small forward position.

Jermaine O'Neal and Domantas Sabonis continued to anchor the paint, while Kobe Bryant and Eric Blake partnered in the backcourt.

The match began in a tense yet relaxed atmosphere, as it was the first game and everyone was testing the waters.

Whether you win or lose, the final outcome of the series is hard to predict, and there are always opportunities for adjustments and changes.

This is the characteristic of NBA series; it will never be like the Olympics, the World Championships, or the NCAA, where every game is an elimination tournament and every game is intense.

Just like watching a movie, you can't miss a single scene or line of dialogue, because everything will be revealed in 90 minutes.

The NBA series is more like an American TV series with many episodes. The first episode has just begun. You can grab a soda and popcorn, find a comfortable spot on the sofa, and take out your phone to check your messages, because there will be commercials at the beginning and in the middle. The early episodes are just setup, and the climax is in the later episodes.

Therefore, both teams started the game calmly and cautiously on both offense and defense.

Gan Guoyang had just made 21 of 21 shots in Game 7 of the previous series, which was like a god descending to earth, but it also took a lot of energy.

He's 36 years old after all, and the cooldown time for his ultimate skill is getting longer and longer. He himself doesn't know when he'll be able to get back to this state again.

Or perhaps, with the promise to retire after the finals, he will never come back?
Actually, Gan Guoyang's decision to hold a press conference to announce his retirement before the competition was a spur-of-the-moment thing; he had only discussed it with his wife over the phone.

The reason for making this decision was indeed related to coming to Boston; memories of my time here flooded back.

His first championship, in 1986 at the Boston Garden, including breaking the rim in the first game, which caused the game to be paused for him to get a rest, and so on.

In fact, since the offseason last summer, Gan Guoyang has been avoiding getting caught up in the past, because once a person starts reminiscing, it means that he is getting old.

Driven by his desire for a tenth championship, by his love for Charles Barkley, and by his desire to prove himself, he poured his passion and unwavering determination into the 2000 season.

But he persisted until the Finals in Boston, and the emotions he felt were overwhelming. Coupled with everything that had happened that year, he knew he didn't need to hesitate any longer.

So, he called Wang Fuxi, whose wife expressed her support for all his decisions. Gan Guoyang then held an impromptu press conference to announce his decision.

This is his style, and also the most contradictory aspect of his personality. On the one hand, he is an omnipresent control freak, planning every aspect in terrifying detail. On the other hand, he is as casual as a child when it comes to certain major life-changing issues, such as marriage and retirement.

After an initial probing phase, the score was tied at 7-7, leading to the first official timeout.

Gan Guoyang made a mid-range jumper for two points, Kobe scored 4 points, and Sabonis scored 1 point from the free throw line.

After the official pause, the match resumed, and the intensity of the game increased slightly. At this point, Gan Guoyang's performance was not ideal.

Perhaps because he shot too accurately in the previous game, according to the law of conservation of shooting touch, Gan Guoyang missed several shots in the following games.

Moreover, his shots were too casual, and it was clear that his good form from the previous game did not carry over to Boston, after all, this is Los Angeles.

Conversely, Celtic were in high spirits at home, with legends like Auerbach and Cousy in attendance, giving them a clear home advantage.

They capitalized on the Trail Blazers' offensive struggles, launching consecutive fast breaks. Pierce hit a three-pointer to start the game, followed by Steve Nash's mid-range jumper.

Tim Duncan grabbed an offensive rebound on a fast break and made a hook shot off the backboard, giving the Celtics a 6-0 run and extending their lead to 13-7.

The youth team is getting into the swing of things, but they are not overly excited or quickening their pace; instead, they continue to maintain a steady rhythm.

Berman's coaching has undoubtedly played a crucial role. This season, the Celtics have maintained a balanced offense and defense, made very few mistakes, and demonstrated first-class control over the game.

These are the strengths of Gan Guoyang and the peak pioneers back then: they were good at silently crushing their opponents, leaving them with no power to resist.

Bellman incorporated it into the Celtics' overall style, which made it quite difficult for the Trail Blazers at the start—because they felt like they were playing against their former selves.

Especially with veterans like Gan Guoyang, Sabonis, Porter, and Curry, it's very obvious that this Celtics team has a strong Trail Blazers influence.

Their interior defense is exceptionally solid. The combination of Duncan and Ilgauskas is tall, strong, and has outstanding defense. Most importantly, they are young.

Even for Gan Guoyang, his shooting percentage drops when he's surrounded by two players under the basket, let alone tonight when he's in a mediocre state.

The Celtics held onto the six-point lead, battling the Trail Blazers bit by bit in the details. As the game progressed, the Trail Blazers' veterans began to feel the pressure.

Unlike the series against the Lakers, the Lakers didn't do well in the details. However, they had outstanding talent and an open and aggressive style, so the final result was also unpredictable, with each game showing a different outcome.

Although the Celtics are younger, their core players are all mature beyond their years. From Duncan to Nash to Pierce to Ilgauskas, they show no signs of youthful immaturity. Their playing style and demeanor already exude the air of veterans and seasoned pros.

Pierce hit two three-pointers in the first quarter, but he didn't even raise his arms in celebration. Instead, he quickly retreated to defend.

If he was even a little slow in retreating, Behrman's profanities would relentlessly hound Pierce like bullets from a machine gun, keeping him on his toes.

Berman was a strict disciplinarian who trained his young players exceptionally well; they were an outstanding team.

In contrast, the Trail Blazers, with their many veteran players and a young coaching staff lacking control, appear much more chaotic.

After a Game 7 against the Lakers, the veterans were somewhat fatigued, and their performance tonight was noticeably inferior to that of the Celtics, especially in certain details.

Too many mistakes, not aggressive enough in rebounding, and a disastrous three-point shooting percentage. I wonder when they'll pull off a miracle comeback.

The Trail Blazers' current situation is like opening a blind box, full of uncertainty; even the players themselves don't know when they'll have a breakout performance.

These two contrasting teams played increasingly intensely in the first two quarters, with the Celtics maintaining their dominance and keeping a lead of more than 5 points.

And they would occasionally accelerate, forcing the Trail Blazers to fight hard to catch up, then give up and rest in the following period, allowing the Blazers to fall behind and start catching up again.

The Celtics controlled the pace of the game. The young players ran steadily ahead, while the older players tried their best to catch up, and even had to consider whether they needed oxygen or a wheelchair.

At halftime, the Celtics led the Trail Blazers 56-49, a 7-point advantage, and the two teams went into halftime.

As Gan Guoyang watched the outstanding Celtics players gather around Duncan in a circle, encouraging each other before leaving the court to rest, he couldn't help but sigh again: It's so good to be young.

However, the best thing about being young is that you can learn a lot of lessons from them.

(End of this chapter)