Chapter 764 - 12 Borrowing Your Auspicious Words_3

After three tugs, Petrović had a clear front, and he decisively took a three-point shot after receiving the ball, and the ball went through the net - it’s a three-pointer!

Memorial Coliseum erupted in joy, with a splendid team offense, smooth passing, and cannon-like three-pointers.

This Trail Blazers team indeed has something new, as reigning champions, they have not ceased to reinvent themselves.

Not only did this three-pointer reestablish a 5-point lead, but it also greatly dampened the Rockets’ momentum to catch up.

Olajuwon didn’t give up, scoring a two-pointer with a difficult fadeaway jumper even as Ah Gan almost blocked his view.

In the most crucial offense, the Trail Blazers still chose to trust their ace.

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post, and the Rockets’ defense hesitated, to double-team or not?

After a moment’s hesitation, Gan Guoyang feinted with a fake move, turned swiftly and, with his body leaning forward, shot a jumper.

The shot went in, and it even drew a defensive foul from Olajuwon, plus a free throw!

Memorial Coliseum reached the climax of the opening game, as Gan Guoyang clenched his fist after scoring.

Gan Guoyang’s unique move of a rapid heel spin to a forward-leaning jumper often leaves defenders caught off guard.

Not only is the shot made, but it also draws a foul and puts Gan on the free-throw line.

Apart from Bernard King and Ah Gan, no one else in the League heavily utilizes the forward-leaning jumper nowadays, preferring the fadeaway jumper instead.

The forward-leaning shot requires quick release and is easily disrupted, sometimes missing the chance of drawing a foul and getting blocked by opponents instead.

The technical details are not studied and mastered by many players, as the fadeaway jumper seems more stylish.

Olajuwon had already committed 5 fouls, and with Gan Guoyang’s free throw in, it’s 84:90, Trail Blazers lead by 6 points.

There are just the last 30 seconds left in the game, the Rockets still have hope if they can defend this ball, but a three-pointer would signify the game’s escape from their grasp.

Don Chaney called a symbolic timeout, but as Kenny Smith’s forced three-pointer missed, Gan Guoyang secured the rebound and the game ended.

84:90, the Trail Blazers won their opening game, which is also their first victory of the 1990-1991 season.

The game process was full of twists and turns, and the Trail Blazers used their Princeton Offense, with both good and bad results.

They created many beautiful plays, but also committed many turnovers, and when the offense wasn’t clicking, wasted many scoring opportunities.

Ultimately, it was Gan Guoyang’s strong final plays that secured the victory.

Gan Guoyang finished the game with 28 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocked shots.

Olajuwon had 22 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocked shots, and 2 assists.

Gan Guoyang still firmly suppressed Olajuwon, for whom Ah Gan was always like an insurmountable mountain.

Reggie Lewis had a good debut, scoring 18 points, the second-highest for the Trail Blazers, and Petrović scored 12 points.

In the post-game interview, when asked how the new tactic system of the Trail Blazers has affected his play, Gan Guoyang admitted: "The new system has strengthened the connection with my teammates, giving me more options at crucial moments of the game. Even if I can score on my own, sharing and being part of the whole is a remarkable thing. I believe we are getting stronger; the road might be winding, but the future is definitely bright."

The winding road leads to a bright future.

Gan Guoyang’s words aptly summarized the Trail Blazers’ situation at the start of the new season.

After taking down the Rockets in the first game, the Trail Blazers immediately went to Sacramento to play a back-to-back game.

What seemed to be an unsurprising game turned out to be fought fiercely by the home team, the Kings.

And the Trail Blazers, affected by consecutive battles and travel fatigue, were generally in a mediocre state.

It was another low-scoring, slow-paced defensive battle, with the scores of the two teams intertwined throughout and all the way into overtime.

The Trail Blazers’ Princeton Offense remained effective, but in the post-game analysis, Beelman discovered through data that these tactical plays were not necessarily more efficient than isolation plays coupled with perimeter three-pointers.

Sometimes they were even less efficient, especially when the players’ coordination was not tacit enough.

In overtime, Gan Guoyang dominated the game again, scoring 7 consecutive points with his ample stamina, helping the Trail Blazers to win the game and secure two consecutive victories.

However, the Trail Blazers only won this game by three points in the end.

In the third game, early in the season, the Trail Blazers once again faced their old rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers had strengthened their squad with Sam Perkins in the summer, greatly improving their strength.

For the Trail Blazers, it was another tough game, once more stretching into overtime.

Both sides were still evenly matched in the overtime, and in the final moments, Petrović received a pass from Ah Gan and hit another crucial three-pointer.

This three-pointer changed the dynamics on the court, followed by Porter’s steal, the Trail Blazers counterattacked, and Reggie Lewis scored on a layup.

The Trail Blazers won 127:124 with a three-point advantage.

All three games won, but each victory was hard-fought and perilous.

And in this game, the Trail Blazers also suffered a significant loss.

Jerome Kossie, while playing, collided with a teammate during a layup, and fell head down hard onto the floor.

Kossie took a serious fall, but fortunately, he was robust, especially in the neck, so his spine wasn’t injured, otherwise, he could have been paralyzed.

Kossie was carried off the court then and didn’t return for the rest of the game; after the game, he was diagnosed with a concussion and a shoulder strain, missing at least three weeks.