Chapter 929 - 4 Bump into a Wall

The victory over the Chicago Bulls at the end of November marked a minor turning point for the Portland Trail Blazers this season.

Heading into December, their form improved significantly. Most importantly, the younger players gradually found their rhythm in the game.

Antonio Davis and Cliff Robinson began to adapt to their roles, repeatedly making vital contributions during matches.

Davis improved quickly under Gan Guoyang’s guidance. When Jerry West initially drafted this young player, the hope was for him to replace Anthony Mason as the team’s aggressor.

However, Bobby Berman quickly realized that Davis’s physical build was superior to Mason’s, and he possessed greater on-court potential waiting to be unlocked.

Thus, during last season’s regular games, Davis received substantial playing time and valuable training.

This season, with Sabonis sidelined due to injury, Davis earned starting privileges in certain games.

He recognized this as his opportunity to shine, which he cherished deeply, making immense efforts defensively.

Compared to Sabonis, Davis was considerably smaller, which granted him more agility.

However, offensively, Davis was far inferior to Sabonis and couldn’t replicate Sabonis’s significance on the court.

This heavily impacted the Trail Blazers’ offense in November. Their Princeton system was missing a critical piece, and its operations became noticeably less fluid.

Davis attempted to integrate into the Princeton system, trying to screen and pass, but the results were poor. Ultimately, focusing on defense and rebounding suited him better.

Berman gradually shifted his approach. As the head coach, he discerned the shifting trends in the league. After analyzing the offensive data from various teams in November, he discovered a general decline in scoring.

Defense was becoming increasingly important and mainstream. Despite being an offensive-oriented team, the Trail Blazers couldn’t afford to slack on defense.

Thus, starting in late November, Berman began emphasizing the importance of defense more and more. During timeouts, he would repeatedly focus on defense rather than offense.

Offense, in his view, could be left to veteran players to figure out on the court. If they couldn’t, then just give the ball to Gan Guoyang—he would find a solution.

Defense, however, was different. It required the coach’s constant reminders and continuous motivation, especially for the younger players.

Berman again showcased his meticulous skill in coaching defense, reminiscent of his days at Gonzaga University, carefully refining the team’s defensive details bit by bit.

Finally, by the end of November, the Trail Blazers relied on Gan Guoyang’s 50+30 performance at home to defeat the Chicago Bulls.

Gan Guoyang’s performance was undeniably outstanding, but the Trail Blazers didn’t depend solely on Ah Gan.

The Bulls played exceptionally well in this game, but even so, the Trail Blazers managed to suppress their eagerness for revenge through staunch defense.

In the final moments of overtime, Jordan passed to Grant in the paint, giving Grant a chance for a game-winning shot.

It was Gan Guoyang, Antonio Davis, and Lewis who combined forces to block all three of Grant’s layup attempts.

The morale boost from this defensive victory was immense. Everyone on the Trail Blazers realized that, regardless of who was missing, they were a team of champions.

Entering December, the Trail Blazers embarked on a series of away games, facing an increasingly challenging schedule.

In such circumstances, they fought with even greater vigor, achieving four straight wins during their five-game Eastern road trip.

Against Western Conference powerhouses like the Suns, Spurs, and Rockets, the Trail Blazers secured victories on the road.

Gan Guoyang delivered MVP-level performances throughout this streak, proving to fans just how terrifying he could be when unleashing his full firepower.

On December 3 against the Miami Heat, Gan Guoyang scored 44 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, single-handedly dismantling the Heat’s carefully constructed frontcourt lineup.

On December 7 against the Orlando Magic, he scored 39 points and grabbed 22 rebounds—stats amassed within three and a half quarters—once again destroying the Magic’s three-second zone.

On December 10 against the Houston Rockets, he scored 41 points, grabbed 24 rebounds, and recorded five blocks, directly overpowering a freshly recovered Hakeem Olajuwon.

After the game, Olajuwon admitted, "I clearly feel that Gan is unstoppable this year. While he always was in the past, this season... it’s hard, really hard."

On December 11, during a back-to-back road game against the Phoenix Suns, Gan Guoyang collected 33 points and 32 rebounds in Phoenix—marking his second 30-rebound game this season.

His obsession and greed for rebounds reached a staggering degree, while his dominance under the basket left all opponents in awe—this guy seemed even harder to deal with.

One significant reason for this was Gan Guoyang’s added weight. At 270 pounds, his strength advantage became more apparent.

Despite being of average height, Gan Guoyang relied on his weight and wingspan to achieve near-total control in the three-second zone.

His offensive rebound numbers reached new highs since his rookie season, delivering countless second-chance points that crushed opponents’ defensive confidence.

In an increasingly slower-paced, lower-scoring NBA, offensive rebound points inflict substantial psychological blows on opponents.

After spending tremendous effort to defend successfully, only to lose the rebound and watch the opponent score easily—that’s a whole new level of frustration.

Gan Guoyang’s strategy wasn’t rudimentary. It aligned with Berman’s defensive emphasis, simplifying offense and allowing teammates to devote more energy to defense.

Heading into Christmas, Gan Guoyang maintained this unstoppable form, earning back-to-back Player of the Week honors and effectively securing December’s Player of the Month title ahead of time.