The Golden Age of Basketball

Things like no need to worry about repeat customers, no need to develop markets, all have great reviews, little pressure on performance, etc.

The funeral company Gan Guoyang and Natt collaborated on has already expanded its business to the entire West Coast.

The Great Lakes Region has not yet been touched, and it's America's old industrial area.

The aging population is becoming prominent, and it's definitely going to be a promising market in the future.

Thomas was so tempted by Gan Guoyang's words that he wanted to invest immediately and experience it.

The two chatted about topics completely unrelated to basketball before the game.

Gan Guoyang knows in his heart that Thomas is not far from retirement.

If not this season, then next season.

His mind is no longer on basketball, his fighting spirit has vanished.

On the other hand, Gan Guoyang's other rival, Bill Lambier, is still the same.

During the jump ball, he greeted Gan Guoyang: "Fack you, Sonny."

Gan Guoyang glared at Lambier, but Lambier did not fear.

With a look like, "I know I can't beat you, but I'm not giving up."

Lambier has also declined significantly over the past two years.

The most critical issue is the decline in his rebounding from the backcourt.

He was once the best backcourt rebound protector in the League.

In these two years, his backcourt rebounds have dropped to 3 or 4 per game.

Rodman's rise is one reason, but the major problem is the decline in physical condition.

But Lambier has a soft body but a sharp tongue, never wins fights, but never admits defeat.

Looking across today's League, the player Gan Guoyang fought the most is Lambier.

Yet Lambier is the only one who still dares to challenge Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang is already too lazy to bother with this fearless guy.

He is different from Thomas, who lost his fighting spirit, turning from a fighter to an actor.

While Lambier has always been an actor from the start.

A spoiled rich kid with nothing better to do, running to the NBA to play ball games with a group of bottom-line players.

He always maintained a calm mind, knew what he was doing, remained clear-headed, and had firm beliefs.

He hopes Ah Gan can fight with him again tonight.

But Gan Guoyang understood his routine and no longer bothered with him.

Furthermore, in one-on-one matchups, Lambier couldn't completely guard Gan Guoyang.

A simple spin easily bypassed, cleanly cutting in for a successful two-handed dunk.

If pulled to the outside, Gan Guoyang could drive strong with one facing the basket, easily bypassing him again.

Lambier could only helplessly place his hands on his waist and scream futilely, with no other solution.

Why bother fighting him?

When the Pistons replaced him with Melvin Turpin, Gan Guoyang couldn't believe his eyes.

"Melvin, what's with you? Did you steal Barkley's recipe?"

Turpin transformed from previously muscular to completely round now.

During the summer training camp, he claimed his weight was 280 pounds.

He said he gained weight to confront the newly entered League player, O'Neal.

But in reality, his weight exceeded 300 pounds, and it's all fat.

After a period of training and weight control, he dropped to 290 pounds.

Even too heavy for his height, with his jersey stretched tight.

Turpin felt a bit embarrassed facing Gan Guoyang's questioning.

"I... I just wanted to improve my resistance."

"But can you still keep up with your footwork?"

After asking, a couple of rounds later, Gan Guoyang got his answer with a baseline breakout.

Turpin's footwork was even slower than Lambier.

His main role on the court wasn't defense but still had some offensive capabilities in the low post.

Turpin only held up a bit at the end of the first quarter.

Soon he was replaced, sitting off the court holding his chin in a daze.

Turpin was once called a fighter, fighting on the frontline against Gan.

He was also part of the golden generation of 1984, contributing to the Pistons' championship.

But even fighters have a day when they lose their fighting spirit and become obese.

Both sides were fighting intensely in the first half because of the solid Pistons foundation.

Also, the team tried to remain competitive through trades and signing free agents.

They acquired Woodrich and traded for Alvin Robertson.

Joe Dumars entered the peak of his career, averaging 23 points per game, the team's top scorer.

But lacking defense and morale, they were quickly crushed by the Trail Blazers in the third quarter.

Gan Guoyang led the team with a 16:2 run, rapidly expanding the gap between the two parties.

The Trail Blazers are currently the League's best at generating runs on offense.

Continuous high-efficiency scoring, suppressing defense, constantly successful counterattacks.

They relied on that surge in the third quarter to win regular-season games.

The Pistons tried to hold on, but at the latter part of the fourth quarter, they were crushed, entering garbage time.

Bernard King got to play again, showcasing his remaining energy.

To speak of Ah Gan, he is trustworthy to friends.

If he promises to blow out the game to give you playtime, he will stick to it.

Bernard King is also very grateful; his most glorious career performance was against the Pistons.

In the first round of the 1984 playoffs against the Detroit Pistons, he averaged 42.6 points over five games, leading the team to eliminate the Pistons 3-2 and advance to the semifinals.

Immediately afterward, he battled the eventual champion Celtics in seven games in the semifinals, averaging 29 points.

Back then, he was so powerful, the king of New York, a scoring machine.

Now, he is a mere worker, striving hard for a bit of playing time.

He even needed his friend to blow out the game to get his chance.

King felt somewhat ashamed, diligently trying to showcase himself within limited playtime.

Not only scoring but actively participating in defense, integrating into the Trail Blazers' offensive and defensive systems.

The Trail Blazers comfortably took a victory in Detroit; their next stop was Milwaukee.

After the game in the locker room, Bernard King said to Gan Guoyang: "Ah Gan, that's enough. I've found some form. You don't need to desperately blow out the games for me anymore. Just play normally."

"I will strive for playing time with my own efforts, I promise."

Hearing King say this, Gan Guoyang didn't hold back or hesitate, saying: "I believe in you."

Afterward, the Trail Blazers consecutively defeated the Bucks and Timberwolves, both weak teams in the League.

The favorable schedule arrangement allowed the Trail Blazers to not suffer much from Petrović's injury impact.

However, the subsequent streak of interchanging home and away games in the Western Conference caused the Trail Blazers some difficulty.

They lost to the Suns, lost to the Supersonics, and lost to the Nuggets.

Seeing the team keep losing, Petrović was anxious to return but was stopped by Jerry West.

Until late March, when the Trail Blazers hosted the Chicago Bulls.

Petrović's knee injury finally improved, ready to return to face the strong opponent.

Last time, Gan Guoyang missed the Gan Qiao clash due to his uncle's death.

This time, both didn't miss, fully committed and prepared for this showdown.

For some reason, Gan Guoyang always has this illusion before the game that if he doesn't play now, there will be no chance in the future.

Gan Guoyang thought to himself: "Could it be, will Michael die? It doesn't make sense, I remember it shouldn't..."