On the morning of May 10, when Gan Guoyang saw Ramsey in the training hall, the old man had already had two dark circles like a giant panda. This was the first time Gan Guoyang saw the old man like this. He also played in the Western Conference Finals last season, and he didn't see Ramsey staying up late and staying up like this. It seems that he has a strong desire to win this series.

During the private conversation a few days ago, Gan Guoyang also learned that Mrs. Ramsey's condition is currently relatively stable and there are even signs of improvement, which also allows Ramsey to devote more energy to his work. So far, only Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers' management know about this, and other players are not aware of it.

The evening game will be held at the Memorial Stadium at 7 o'clock. As the second-largest team in the league and the first-largest record in the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers have a home advantage in all series, except facing the Celtics.

Before the game, Gan Guoyang received a notice that the league will award Gan Guoyang the best defensive player of the season at home. In the vote, Gan Guoyang defeated last year's best defensive player, Mark Eaton, and Spurs players, steal King Alvin Robertson, and successfully won the first honorary trophy in his career.

This trophy is not easy for Gan Guoyang. You should know that unlike the historical NBA best defensive team, the best defensive player is a voted by non-professional basketball reporters. This is why in the current and future NBA best defensive player votes, the ones who get the most votes are often those who block or steal data, such as Eaton and Robertson, because such data is the most intuitive.

Compared with last season, Gan Guoyang's block data actually declined, but his performance on defensive rebounds is historical, which is also an important reason why he can be favored by reporters.

However, this does not mean that Gan Guoyang is a defensive vase that is not useful, because in the newly released NBA best defensive lineup, Gan Guoyang successfully defeated Mark Eaton and became the center of the first defensive lineup.

You should know that the votes for the best defensive team were cast by coaches from all NBAs. As front-line workers on the court, no one knows the value of a player on the defensive end better than them. At the same time, this also leads to the possibility of the best defensive player but not entering the best defensive team.

At least, such a thing has not happened to Gan Guoyang. His best defensive player deserves his reputation. With his efforts, the Trail Blazers' defense has been directly upgraded to a higher level. They have the most stable backcourt rebound protection in the league, the best mid-blocking machine, and a unique double-team trap. These are all based on Gan Guoyang's presence.

Gan Guoyang was still very excited after receiving the notice. In any case, this was a very substantial award, although in his mind, he wanted another more substantial honor - the regular season MVP.

After the league decided to be the best defensive player, the regular season MVP also had his candidate. Larry Bird was elected as the regular season MVP for the third consecutive year, becoming the third regular season MVP since Bill Russell in 1963 and Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.

It was not the 1960s. There were only eighty or nine teams in one league. In the 1980s, the NBA had entered the peak of competition. There were more than 300 players on 23 teams. It was definitely great that Bird could do this feat.

The Celtics' record of 67 wins and 15 losses in 1986, with a record of 40 wins and 1 loss at home, can leave a lot of money in the history of the league. In comparison, even if Gan Guoyang led the Trail Blazers to break through 60 wins for the first time and played a brilliant solo performance in the second season of his career, it was not enough to overshadow Bird's limelight.

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"Good evening, everyone, the Portland Trail Blazers welcome you to the Memorial Stadium. Before tonight's game, we will present an important award to a player. Let's invite the center from the Portland Trail Blazers, Sunny~~~~Gump!"

Amid the DJ's elongated shouts on the spot, Gan Guoyang appeared in the Portland Trail Blazers' sportswear, which was specially held for the Best Defensive Player Award Ceremony.

For award ceremony, different teams and players will choose different ways. Some will present awards directly in the press room of the stadium, while others will be more grand and will present awards on site before the playoffs.

The owner of the Trail Blazers, Larry Weinberg, felt that it was not easy for Gan Guoyang to win this award, so he asked for it to be more grand. So Gan Guoyang took over the Best Defensive Player Trophy handed over by Stern by himself and held it high amid the cheers and applause of more than 20,000 fans at the Memorial Stadium.

This is the first monument of Gan Guoyang on his superstar road. It is not the last or the most important one, but it is the beginning.

After the brief award ceremony, Gan Guoyang and Stern hugged each other and returned to their teammates, preparing to start tonight's game to face the opponent he is going to face.

Just as Gan Guoyang took over the trophy, Olajuwang, who was standing on the bench of the visiting team on the other side, looked at Gan Guoyang's back and clenched his fists.

For Olajuwon, it seems that everything about him is one step worse than Gan Guoyang, second in the NCAA and third in the best rookie. Gan Guoyang entered the division finals with the team in the rookie season, and he only did this season. Now Gan Guoyang won the best defensive player ahead of him.

Fortunately, he has to face Gan Guoyang in the division final. As long as he defeats him, he will be able to enter the finals one step ahead of Gan Guoyang.

After the Rockets defeated the Lakers 4:1, it can be said that their confidence has increased greatly. The cohesion and self-confidence of the entire team have increased by more than one level. There is no doubt that defeating the former overlord in the playoffs is the best way to level up.

Stepping on the corpse of a king is a shortcut to ascending the throne.

This can be seen from the relaxed appearance of Rockets players when they warmed up. Gan Guoyang still remembers that they were not nervous when they played in the division final last year, but they were still a little afraid at the Grand Western Forum Arena. As a result, they were slaughtered by the Lakers in the first game, setting the tone of the series.

Now, on the one hand, the Rockets, who are confident in the Lakers' top position, and on the other hand, they are the Trail Blazers who have the advantage of home games and have reached the division finals for the second consecutive year. A battle of dragons and tigers has begun.

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"5,4,3,2... Van dervich took a shot and hit! Van dervich hit a three-pointer! Before the end of 24 seconds, Van dervich made a three-pointer from the three-point line."

As the first quarter began, Seanley couldn't help but shout "Rip-City". Van derwich almost conceded the ball under McGrey's press, and the attack time was about to end. Before the bell rang, Van derwich forced a three-pointer to make a three-pointer from the top of the arc, and the ball was hollowed into the net and a three-pointer.

Van dervich also smiled after scoring the goal. He was already forced into a desperate situation, but he survived the opportunity and scored a three-pointer by him. It was both luck and strength. Van dervich was also the team's three-pointer.

Head coach Ramsey was worried when he saw the team's first goal coming in this way. He could see that the offense and defense just now, the Rockets' oppressive defense on the outside made the Trail Blazers players obviously feel uncomfortable. McGray, Loyd, Reed and others' defenses are much stronger than the Nuggets' outside defense, which is supported by only Dunn.

"Olajuwon, after receiving the ball, he turned around and jumped! The ball entered and turned around quickly. His move caused the Lakers to suffer enough in the last round."

In a blink of an eye, the Rockets also scored the first goal. Olajuwon asked for the ball from the low post on the left. After receiving the ball, he turned around and made a jump shot. As Seanley said, in the last round of the Lakers, Olajuwon's move was almost undefensive, and Jabbar or Lambis could not keep up with his turn.

Gan Guoyang had already appeared on his face, but Olajuwon still hit the ball with his soft touch, after all, it was too close to the basket.

"You're lucky."

"I will tell you that I'm not lucky." Gan Guoyang and Olajuwon have already started talking.

But soon, the Trail Blazers fell into trouble. The inexperienced Cort was unable to organize the team's offense under the high wall of the Rockets' three-man outside. The five starting players of the Trail Blazers were divided into five independent parts to fight each other.

When the Trail Blazers cannot make efficient attacks, the Rockets can launch a fast counterattack. The Rockets are tall and not slow at all, even the two towers are all masters who can get off quickly.

"McGrey got the rebound, Sampson dribbled forward, passed the ball to Olajuwon, and Olajuwon made a layup... Oh, it was blocked by Gan, but Reid followed up with a tip-in from behind. This was the Rockets' third fast break, and there was a problem with the Trail Blazers' retreat."

12:7, Ramsey immediately called a timeout. At the beginning, Ramsey made preparations for the Trail Blazers did not play. The attack was opened and transmitted, and the internal and external combination was crushed by the Rockets' oppressive defense. The rapid retreat in defense was done, but the Rockets' impact was too strong. Each of the five players they started could play in the forward position. No matter how good Gan Guoyang defended alone, he could not withstand the impact of a group of forward players.

Faced with this situation, Ramsey made a quick decision and immediately used his own No. 2 plan.
Chapter completed!