The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 914 Changes in the situation
For Larry Bird, returning to Boston to play in the NBA Finals was a very special experience.

The city where Bird devoted his life and all his athletic youth has changed over the years, but also retained some of its unchanging aspects.

The changes are obvious. Boston Garden is now a thing of the past, having been demolished by explosives in 1998. This stadium, full of history and memories, has since disappeared from the map of Boston.

The disappearance of the Garden signifies the complete departure of a part of Boston Celtics history and Larry Bird's life, never to return.

Every time Larry Bird came to Boston to play against the Trail Blazers, the game venue, Fleet Center, left him feeling somewhat disheartened. Compared to Boston Garden, although it was newer and prettier, it was undoubtedly too boring.

Of course, in the eyes of younger fans, the current Fleet Center and the Boston Celtics are more popular and more interesting.

After Bobby Bellman arrived, he not only transformed the team's roster but also became involved in the team's operations.

The Celtics have their own sexy cheerleading squad, a mascot, a dedicated ticket sales team, and a brand-new marketing team, creating a completely new Celtics team culture and historical brand.

So far this season, the Celtics have become one of the most profitable and successful teams in the entire league.

Not content with that, Bellman spread the Celtics' influence all over the world, radiating charm in a completely new way and attracting the attention of young fans.

This is something the traditional, outdated Celtics management could not achieve. Their antiquated thinking and marketing model doomed the Celtics to live in the past, with their influence limited to the New England region and the word-of-mouth of old fans.

Larry Bird is pleased with the Celtics' current state. Regardless, he has a deep affection for the Celtics and wants them to do well.

On the other hand, the Celtics also have their own strengths. After the first game, Bird could feel that the team's style, from top to bottom, has the flavor of the old Celtics.

This is certainly related to the temperament of their on-court leader, Tim Duncan, a guy who is always expressionless and is a perfect fit for the Celtics in every way.

Another factor is the guidance from Bellman, who emphasized teamwork, balanced offense and defense, and created a positive winning atmosphere. Bird had to admire him; Bellman did a great job.

He was even a little jealous of Bellman because he got the opportunities that Bird never had. He believed he could do just as well if Bird had those opportunities and Tim Duncan had them.

In short, Bird still had feelings for the Celtics. Even though they were the opponents in the Finals, and even though he hoped the Trail Blazers could defeat the Celtics and win a three-peat, deep down he didn't have that much hatred for the Celtics.

So, after talking with Gan Guoyang after the game, Bird was worried that Gan might be up to no good with the Celtics.

If it were any other team, Bird wouldn't care; to win, a few tricks are nothing.

Like Kevin McHale's clothes rack incident with Kurt Rambis in 1984, who would say anything?

No, their opponent is the Los Angeles Lakers. McHale can do whatever he wants.

But now the opponent is the Celtics, and Bird still hopes that Forrest Gump and the Trail Blazers can defeat their opponent honorably.

But Bird's identity made him unwilling to tell Gan Guoyang directly, lest he be labeled a "traitor" by Gan.

Forrest Gump is quite the character when it comes to labeling people.

Bird was restless until just before the start of the second game.

On the night of June 9th, the atmosphere at the Fleet Center was frenzied; winning the first battle had driven the entire city of Boston into a frenzy.

Bostonians saw a glimmer of hope in overthrowing the Trail Blazers dynasty and establishing a new one, and ticket prices for this game doubled compared to the previous one.

The Celtics legends were present again, with Auerbach sitting in his usual spot, wearing dark glasses and looking relaxed.

The victory in the first game gave hope to the Celtics, and even to teams across the league; the time had come to bury the Rossoneri dynasty.

After the warm-up, the players from both sides took to the field. This time, Gan Guoyang's appearance was met not with cheers and applause, but with boos and curses.

The heartwarming tribute to Gan Guoyang's retirement in the last game is over. In the next few games, Agan will be the enemy, the complete enemy.

Celtics fans never talk about "friendship first" or worry about angering Trail Blazers players. Once inside the Fleet Center, they drop all manners and party hard.

As Bird listened to the fierce shouts and curses from in front of and behind him, his worries grew. "You're just fueling Forrest Gump's anger and causing trouble for the home team."

However, if Forrest Gump really does make a move, he will definitely be ejected or even suspended, which would be a loss for the Trail Blazers.

Bird hoped that Forrest could calm down and focus on the game, rather than fighting against the Celtics players.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang's face remained expressionless as always, as cold and stern as the towering Hude Mountain.

The Trail Blazers made no changes to their roster, sticking with the starting lineup of Sabonis, O'Neal, Gan Guoyang, Kobe, and Blake Leigh.

Rick Carlisle really wanted to change the starting lineup, but Gan Guoyang vetoed it. Young coaches are always like this, always pinning their hopes on changes in lineup and tactics.

Experienced players like Gan Guoyang know that in the finals, lineup and tactics are not as decisive; the key is how players fight and how they play.

Of course, in some games, a surprise player is needed, but it's also something that can't be forced. Barkley failed to be a surprise player in the last game, so this game will depend on whether anyone on the Trail Blazers' bench can step up.

The game started promptly at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. This second game of the Finals will have a decisive impact on the series.

If the Trail Blazers win, they will regain home-court advantage; if they lose, the situation will become extremely difficult.

During its live broadcast, NBC presented data showing that in the previous nine NBA Finals, the Trail Blazers were down 0-2 only in the 1992 Finals against the peak Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls' championship aspirations were at an all-time high that season, and their strength was unmatched in the league. Under such circumstances, Gan Guoyang was still able to defy fate with his individual ability, single-handedly reverse the series' decline, and with a bit of luck, win the championship.

Gan Guoyang is 36 years old now. Can he still do it in his last season?

Everyone was watching with bated breath, and as the game progressed, the Celtics maintained the style they displayed in their first match.

They built strongholds and fought a protracted war, waiting for the pioneers to make moves and change their tactics, and then they would respond accordingly.

Bellman watched the game intently from the sidelines, hoping to spot any changes in the Trail Blazers and make timely adjustments.

To his surprise, in the first five minutes of the game, the Trail Blazers' playing style and strategy were virtually unchanged from the previous game.

The Celts fortified their camp, while the Trail Blazers continued to attack the Celts' fortifications from the outside, launching assaults and long-range shots wave after wave.

The Trail Blazers' shooting percentage improved slightly compared to the previous game, but not significantly. After Gan Guoyang hit a three-pointer, Kobe and Blake's three-point attempts both failed.

Even when the perimeter wasn't very open, they still gave the ball to the low post, where Gan Guoyang backed down hard, and Sabonis provided support from the top of the key. It was the same old routine over and over again.

Bellman couldn't believe it. Was this all the adjustments the Trail Blazers made after two days of rest? Was this all Rick Carlisle had up his sleeve?
To defeat the Trail Blazers, Bellman has nine more variations in his pocket, nine variations, just waiting to counter each move. Why does the Trail Blazers seem to be tanking?
Bellman was puzzled. He thought that maybe the Trail Blazers and Forrest Gump were really getting old, and no other team had as many veterans as they did.

Among the young players, Kobe can carry the team, Jermaine O'Neal can play a role, and Ben Wallace can be effective in specific lineups and games.

In high-quality competition, Ben Wallace's weaknesses on offense will be magnified. In the Western Conference Finals, Ben Wallace's playing time was greatly reduced, and Sabonis mainly carried the team.

Looking at the Celtics, their core players are all young men under 25. Under the guidance of Berman, they have accumulated experience through a lot of playing time in the regular season, learned from their mistakes in the playoffs, and improved their skills. Now, they are all promising young talents who can stand on their own.

Sure enough, the growth of saplings is always somewhat affected when they are shaded by big trees.

After the official timeout in the first quarter, Bellman arranged his lineup according to the plan from the previous game.

The Celtics used an eight-man rotation, with Cliff Robinson, Bruce Bowen, and Dee Brown as reserves.

The three players represent an inside player, a forward, and a guard, making Bellman's personnel arrangement very well-organized.

Robinson is tall and can play center, power forward, and small forward. He can also shoot from the outside.

Bruce Bowen was a defensive player that Berman focused on developing and cultivating. His role was to assist Duncan and help Nash on defense, which was the same as Rick Fox's.

Dee Brown is currently the most senior player on the Celtics roster. This number 7 was drafted by the Celtics in 1990 and has played for them for 10 years, and the team management has never moved him.

Such a veteran, as a point guard, can effectively control the situation and maintain stability. When Nash is off his game or not in good form, Dee Brown can step up and do a great job of organizing the offense.

It can be said that the team constructed by Berman is quite perfect on paper, and it is also quite perfect in terms of its performance in the games so far.

While their strengths might not be particularly outstanding, their opponents couldn't find any weaknesses, and the Celtics could only gradually gain an advantage through attrition warfare.

Their attention to detail was just as outstanding as in the last game. They made very few mistakes, retreated in time, and rarely misplaced or left gaps in defense. After conceding a goal, they immediately launched an attack, and after scoring a goal, they immediately went back to defend properly.

It's hard to imagine that this is such a young team. They are like a disciplined army, and they even seem to have little emotion, but they are just going forward for victory.

However, unlike the previous game, the Trail Blazers played more compactly and the competition was more intense. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 22-23, with the Celtics leading by one point.

甘国阳首节中规中矩的8分3个篮板球1次封盖，打得很正常，邓肯5分4个篮板2次封盖，在防守端贡献更多。

In the second quarter, the Trail Blazers' rotation appeared much more disorganized compared to the Celtics' disciplined approach. Rick Carlisle seemed to have run out of ideas, putting in just anyone.

With the series down 0-1 in the Finals, he surprisingly used a 10-man rotation, giving playing time to Dell Curry, A.C. Green, Ben Wallace, Terry Porter Jr., and even Henderson, who had previously been benched.

As a result, the Trail Blazers were hit with an 8-0 run by the Celtics in the second quarter, widening the gap to 9 points.

Seeing this, Bellman knew their chance to win had come. When the Trail Blazers called a timeout, Bellman asked his players to continue playing steadily and maintain their advantage.

Having learned from their previous victory, the Celtics players knew how to win, so they continued to advance steadily at a leisurely pace.

The Trail Blazers, with their key players back, weren't in a hurry. Gan Guoyang even sat on the bench until the middle of the second quarter before returning to the court, where he helped the Trail Blazers close the gap with a three-pointer and a fast break.

For the Celtics, Duncan continued to avoid attacking Gan Guoyang, and the two didn't match up tonight. Duncan focused on attacking Jermaine O'Neal, using a 45-degree bank shot against O'Neal and driving to the basket against Sabonis, either along the baseline or in the middle. Duncan's mid-range and long-range shooting touch is average, but his finishing ability near the rim is extremely strong. No matter how off-balance or contorted his body, he can still manage to dribble the ball into the basket.

This is a talent that allows Duncan to step up and score in crucial moments of high-intensity competition, helping the Celtics gain an advantage in the game.

Throughout the second quarter, Duncan's scoring kept the Celtics leading by more than 5 points—a feat Paul Pierce had accomplished in the last game.

Tonight, Pierce was closely guarded by Kobe, and the two were constantly entangled near the three-point line, ignoring everything else and entering into a battle where they seemed oblivious to the world around them.

For several possessions, the Trail Blazers and Celtics played 4-on-4, battling it out on the sidelines. After each possession, neither player touched the ball, and they probably didn't even look at the basket, but they were already exhausted.

This was Bellman's strategy. He instructed Paul Pierce to tirelessly harass Kobe on both ends of the court, wearing him down so that the Trail Blazers' most important offensive and defensive weapon on the perimeter wouldn't have time to fully commit to the game.

Although Pierce's performance will be greatly affected, the Celtics have plenty of offensive resources, including Duncan, Nash, and Cliff Robinson.

At halftime, the Celtics led by 6 points again, with the score at 51-57.

This situation has led many to believe that the Celtics' strength has truly surpassed that of the Trail Blazers this year.

Forrest Gump's mediocre performance in the first half made people feel that a hero's twilight was truly over, and that Forrest Gump's era was really coming to an end.

Bird was worried about the team's performance, but his pre-game fears that Gan Guoyang would resort to dirty tricks did not materialize.

During halftime in the locker room, the atmosphere among the Trail Blazers was as usual. Being down by 6 points didn't seem to frustrate these veterans.

Bird came over and asked Gan Guoyang, "Sonny, is this the 'fight' you were talking about?"

Gan Guoyang wiped his sweat and replied, "It's not time yet, why are you in such a hurry? You won't betray us and side with the Celts, will you?"

"I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

"I find you very suspicious! And Rick, you both have Celtic backgrounds, I think you're both traitors!"

The locker room erupted in laughter; everyone was in a very relaxed mood. Bird didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Bird didn't ask too many questions about the coaching staff's arrangements before the game, as he didn't want to interfere with Carlisle's plans.

Although it seemed that Carlisle's arrangements and formations in the first half were a mess, especially the rotation that gave the substitutes too much playing time.

Bird remained silent, waiting for the second half to begin.
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The atmosphere at the Fleet Center had become completely frenzied. Leading at halftime and dominating the game gave Boston fans tremendous confidence.

This young team is indeed very strong, and people can already see the shadow of a new dynasty rising. Duncan is about to take over the mantle from Forrest Gump and dominate the NBA. The Celtics will once again stand at the top of the world.

Could there be a better future than this? Even Auerbach's face was full of smiles, and during halftime he said to Bob Cousy next to him, "I see the weakness of the Portlanders."

Indeed, the Trail Blazers seemed weak in the first half, playing without any specific strategy or variation, simply increasing the intensity. They must have been exhausted from chasing a three-peat.

Of course, the Celtics did not let their guard down, especially Bellman, who vowed that he would not relax until the series was won and the buzzer sounded.

Especially in the third quarter, he knew that Forrest Gump and the Trail Blazers were very good at turning the tide in the third quarter, using a wave of high-quality defense and offense to overwhelm their opponents and regain control of the game.

Before the start of the third quarter, Bellman kept emphasizing defense. He put his arm around Nash's shoulder and warned him to control his speed, not to rush around recklessly, not to make mistakes, and not to give the opponent any opportunities.

Nash was traded to the Celtics in 1997. In the 98 and 99 seasons, he struggled considerably, with his shooting percentage declining, his defense being inadequate, and his performance fluctuating greatly, drawing a lot of criticism.

Bobby Bellman was a firm believer in Nash, personally guiding him, imparting various skills and experience, and most importantly, stabilizing Nash's mentality.

Although Nash's style is very different from Stockton's, the two share the same composure and control, making them the best controllers of the game's rhythm. Moreover, compared to Stockton, Nash's stronger self-aggrandizement gives him more potential for development.

In the third quarter, Nash carefully controlled the pace of the game, holding onto the ball but not letting the team's offense stagnate, and launching fast breaks from time to time, like a cavalryman scrambling out of the camp to raid.

If things don't look good, if your own shooting touch is off, or if the opponent's defense is tight, change your strategy, slow down, play half-court sets, move around, disrupt the Trail Blazers' defense, and create opportunities for your teammates.

Under this rhythm, the Celtics played quite comfortably, and the players were all playing smoothly. The point difference between the two sides not only did not narrow, but actually widened in the second half of the third quarter—because the Trail Blazers substituted their starters with their reserves.

After Charles Barkley came on as a substitute for Gan Guoyang, he made a series of mistakes on the defensive end, allowing Nash to score one goal and provide an assist.

With the point difference reaching 10 points, the situation looked very favorable for the Celtics. At the start of the fourth quarter, when Nash hit a three-pointer over Terry Porter's defense, the point difference reached 14 points.

Nash raised his arms in celebration, finally revealing a hint of youthful arrogance after a long period of silence.

The largest point difference in this game caused jubilation throughout the entire fleet center, with victory in the second game seemingly within reach!

If we win this match, we'll lead 2-0, and we can say that we've practically secured the championship. Is a new era truly about to begin?

The Trail Blazers called a timeout with nine minutes remaining in the game. Gan Guoyang and Kobe Bryant returned to the court.

As a key player, Gan Guoyang rested for 12 minutes on the sidelines tonight, which is more than enough rest.

He took out two new packs of chewing gum from his pocket, peeled off the wrappers, stuffed them into his mouth, and began to chew them heartily.

Gan Guoyang nudged Kobe's shoulder and said, "Take care of that fat Los Angeles kid, you hear me?"

Kobe rolled his eyes and said, "I know, I will. You should deal with Duncan first."

Gan Guoyang smiled and said, "Kobe, have you forgotten that I'm the Twin Towers Killer?"

Whether Kobe forgot or not is unknown, but Bellman may have indeed forgotten a bit.

After the timeout, the Trail Blazers' veterans returned to the court after getting plenty of rest.

Despite facing a 14-point deficit, the veterans showed no tension or fear in their eyes; they had been through so much.

The more critical the moment, the steadyer their hands become; experience is not something that is accumulated for nothing.

On the first possession after the return, Gan Guoyang received the ball at the high post, Sabonis helped him push aside the defender, and he launched a three-pointer without any warning.

The ball swished through the center of the net and went in, sounding the horn for the Trail Blazers' comeback.

The Celtics continued to dribble steadily and play half-court offense. At this point, Gan Guoyang finally began to defend Duncan one-on-one.

Duncan called for the ball in the low post, and Nash hesitated whether to pass it to Duncan. This hesitation cost them the initiative.

In the final three passes and two assists, Ilgauskas missed a high-post jump shot, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound and launched a counterattack.

Gan Guoyang and Brellock executed a high pick-and-roll, with Gan cutting down into the paint. Facing Duncan's block, Gan Guoyang stopped backing down and passing the ball, instead facing the basket and driving hard to the rim. Despite Ilgauskas' help defense, he slammed the ball into the hoop!

The referee blew the whistle, a foul, and an additional penalty!

Gan Guoyang, who scored the goal, showed off his biceps to Berman, and then converted the penalty.

They scored 6 points in a row! In just one minute, the gap was narrowed to 8 points.

Bellman immediately called a timeout to regroup, realizing that Forrest Gump was about to launch a counterattack.

But how should he deal with it? Bellman racked his brains, but for a moment he was completely confused and couldn't think of anything!

The timeout ended quickly, and Bellman couldn't explain why; he was a little confused.

As a result, after the timeout, Gan Guoyang suddenly double-teamed Nash with Kobe during defense.

Nash made a turnover, the Trail Blazers launched a counterattack, Kobe received the ball, made a beautiful crossover to get past Pierce, and made a successful layup.

With the score difference down to only 6 points, the Trail Blazers suddenly raised the intensity by two levels.

The Celtics built a strong fortified position and played a stalemate, but the Trail Blazers suddenly switched to heavy artillery to bombard them.

Duncan attempted a strong drive inside, but his shot was blocked by Gan Guoyang, marking a defeat in a head-on confrontation.

The Trail Blazers launched another counterattack. Sabonis pivoted in the middle and made a no-look pass to the basket, where Kobe caught the ball and scored again!

With the score difference reaching 4 points, the atmosphere in the Fleet Center suddenly became tense within two minutes, and the expressions of the originally joyful fans gradually turned serious.

The Celtics showed signs of disarray; they clearly lacked experience. Pierce attempted a hero shot, but his jump shot against Kobe missed.

Gan Guoyang once again firmly controlled the rebound and launched a counterattack. At this point, he would no longer hold back or conserve his energy, dribbling all the way to the basket. Ilgauskas and Duncan were simply unable to get back on defense in time.

Finally, Nash ran back to the three-second zone to defend, and Gan Guoyang didn't even look at him. He rushed up and dunked over Nash, sending him flying far away. The referee even called a blocking foul on Nash, and he had to get a free throw!

Berman was pacing anxiously on the sidelines. Why did you even try to block that ball? You couldn't stop it at all, and you couldn't draw a foul. In the end, you could only give Gan Guoyang a 2+1 opportunity.

Having had a good rest, Gan Guoyang certainly wouldn't miss the chance to close the gap with free throws. He made the free throw, and in just three minutes, the Trail Blazers went on a 13-0 run, narrowing the gap to just one point!
The situation on the court was completely different. The veterans, full of energy, launched a high-intensity offensive and defensive offensive, leaving the young Celtics completely bewildered.

With no other option, Berman had to call another timeout. His mind finally cleared up a bit. The ups and downs of the game were truly thrilling.

As Gan Guoyang left the court, he shouted at Berman, "Bobby, stop using the twin towers! Don't you understand this simplest of principles?"

(End of this chapter)