[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-golden-age-of-basketball":3,"chapter-the-golden-age-of-basketball-the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-929":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Golden Age of Basketball",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1444346,1896,"Chapter 929 - 4 Bump into a Wall","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-929",929,"\u003Cp>The victory over the Chicago Bulls at the end of November marked a minor turning point for the Portland Trail Blazers this season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heading into December, their form improved significantly. Most importantly, the younger players gradually found their rhythm in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Antonio Davis and Cliff Robinson began to adapt to their roles, repeatedly making vital contributions during matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, during last season’s regular games, Davis received substantial playing time and valuable training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This season, with Sabonis sidelined due to injury, Davis earned starting privileges in certain games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized this as his opportunity to shine, which he cherished deeply, making immense efforts defensively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Sabonis, Davis was considerably smaller, which granted him more agility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, offensively, Davis was far inferior to Sabonis and couldn’t replicate Sabonis’s significance on the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This heavily impacted the Trail Blazers’ offense in November. Their Princeton system was missing a critical piece, and its operations became noticeably less fluid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defense was becoming increasingly important and mainstream. Despite being an offensive-oriented team, the Trail Blazers couldn’t afford to slack on defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defense, however, was different. It required the coach’s constant reminders and continuous motivation, especially for the younger players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, by the end of November, the Trail Blazers relied on Gan Guoyang’s 50+30 performance at home to defeat the Chicago Bulls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang’s performance was undeniably outstanding, but the Trail Blazers didn’t depend solely on Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bulls played exceptionally well in this game, but even so, the Trail Blazers managed to suppress their eagerness for revenge through staunch defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the final moments of overtime, Jordan passed to Grant in the paint, giving Grant a chance for a game-winning shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Gan Guoyang, Antonio Davis, and Lewis who combined forces to block all three of Grant’s layup attempts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering December, the Trail Blazers embarked on a series of away games, facing an increasingly challenging schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such circumstances, they fought with even greater vigor, achieving four straight wins during their five-game Eastern road trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against Western Conference powerhouses like the Suns, Spurs, and Rockets, the Trail Blazers secured victories on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang delivered MVP-level performances throughout this streak, proving to fans just how terrifying he could be when unleashing his full firepower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One significant reason for this was Gan Guoyang’s added weight. At 270 pounds, his strength advantage became more apparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite being of average height, Gan Guoyang relied on his weight and wingspan to achieve near-total control in the three-second zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His offensive rebound numbers reached new highs since his rookie season, delivering countless second-chance points that crushed opponents’ defensive confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an increasingly slower-paced, lower-scoring NBA, offensive rebound points inflict substantial psychological blows on opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>",903,"2026-06-06T01:41:39.741Z",1,"novelbin.me","871485dfbd8a03fe17f60564b35641821369deabd2abc42f81fcb854d56205cb","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-930","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-928",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]