Chapter 826 - 32 Be Your Own Support_2

Because success is destined for the few, and failure is the main theme, in the NBA with more than 20 teams, there is only one winner each season.

Many teams are doomed to experience a season of failure from the start.

Even a winner like Gan Guoyang is inevitably faced with failure and searches for solutions amidst pain.

Of course, whether Barkley has really matured is still uncertain at this point; he still has many challenges to face.

Confronting Ah Gan and the Trail Blazers at home tonight is like a midterm exam.

The Suns, playing at home, are in high spirits. Unexpectedly losing to the New Jersey Nets may have ended their winning streak but also provided the team with a chance to regroup.

With Barkley returning from suspension, the entire Suns team is holding their breath, eager to put on a good display in tonight’s game against the Trail Blazers.

From the start of the first quarter, the Suns displayed aggressive offense, as Kevin Johnson rapidly dictated the pace of the attack.

To avoid the Trail Blazers’ double-teaming defense as much as possible, Kevin Johnson was decisive in both passing and shooting, starting the game with a hot hand.

Sam Bowie and West built a solid defensive line inside for the Suns, turning what used to be a leaky three-second zone with just West and Barkley into something more formidable.

Bowie looked in good shape; he still has the capability of averaging 15+10. His body is noticeably bulkier, and his defense under the basket feels as outstanding as ever.

He is one of the big men in the league with the most experience and insight in defending against Ah Gan, having adhered to a strategy of half double-team, half man-to-man since his Mavericks days and executing it strictly.

Bowie once said, "When facing Ah Gan, you can’t have the slightest emotional fluctuation. You must remain as cool as ice and as strict as a machine in implementing the set strategies and procedures. Defend, call for help, devote a portion of your energy to help defense in the three-second zone, never jump to block, never go for the offensive rebound, always keep your hands up, and then leave the rest to luck."

"When he scores consecutively, don’t get discouraged; when he misses, don’t be proud and think it’s your good defense. Leave it to fate, and you’ll likely get the best outcome."

Bowie has been shattered by Gan Guoyang before, both physically and mentally, from NCAA to NBA, totally outmatched.

But he persisted, and grew stronger after each battle, and because of Ah Gan’s presence, he found a target and motivation for his efforts.

He wasn’t as outstanding as people expected, but he perfected himself and found direction again after coming to the Suns.

In the first quarter, Gan Guoyang was actually restrained by the triple-team defense of the Suns.

The Suns’ defensive strategy was for Sam Bowie to hold the back, Barkley to harass, and West to come over at any time to form a triple team.

Although Gan Guoyang could pass to his teammates, Bowie was always able to turn back and protect the three-second zone, rendering the Trail Blazers’ cuts and counter-runs ineffective.

Eventually, the Trail Blazers could only resort to long- and mid-range shots from outside, and, unfortunately, in away games, everyone’s shooting was off.

Bobby Berman complained to the referees, "The ball is too hard tonight! And I suspect there’s something wrong with their baskets!"

Before the game, Beelman had checked the air pressure of the ball, which was clearly above normal, the purpose being to make shots likely to bounce off the rim.

Once the Suns got the long rebounds, they could quickly launch counters, allowing them to quickly gain the upper hand.

The referee responded to Beelman, "Don’t you also soften the balls at Portland?"

Beelman had nothing to say, as the Trail Blazers would slightly lower the air pressure during home games to make the ball more likely to go into the basket and to ease grabbing offensive rebounds, slowing down the pace of the game.

In the NBA, such minor tricks are endless, and everyone uses them. Winning away games is certainly more difficult and challenging for visiting teams.

Throughout the first half, the Suns suppressed the Trail Blazers on both offense and defense. They led by 7 points in the first quarter and won by another 6 in the second.

At half-time, the score stood at 51:64, with the Suns leading the Trail Blazers by 13 points — the largest half-time deficit for the Trail Blazers this season.

Scoring only 51 points was far too few, and allowing the opponent to score 64 was far too many. Beelman was furious in the dressing room, criticizing the players for their terrible performance.

"Although away games are tough and troublesome, that’s no excuse for playing so poorly. We’ve already lost several consecutive games!"

After the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers had lost two out of four games, and it was clear that everyone had relaxed a bit, halting the momentum they had before the break.

During this break, apart from Gan Guoyang and Sabonis who went to Charlotte, other players vacationed, healed injuries, or rested. In short, they all stayed away from basketball.

To Beelman’s knowledge, Petrović was the only one who insisted on training at the gym during the holiday.

Faced with criticism, everyone remained silent. Without Ah Gan speaking, no one dared to say anything.

Gan Guoyang agreed with Beelman, admitting that everyone indeed had relaxed after the All-Star game.

The overwhelming momentum of the 1990 season was likely lost for good.

Revenge only comes once. After success, ordinary life must go on.

For NBA players, finding passion in the ordinary and monotonous regular season is as challenging as a married man seeking fun, a tough problem to solve.

In the past, Mychal Thompson often made bets with Kenny-Carl, and Vandeweghe and Drexler would drink coffee in the locker room, among other things, all to make work not so dull.