Under his wife’s suggestion, Gan Guoyang hired a higher-level training team to develop a more reasonable and long-term training plan for his body using modern technology.
Before making the plan, the trainer and medical technology staff will create a training model specifically for Gan Guoyang based on his playing habits and physical condition.
Teams from the University of Portland and UCLA also designed some unique training methods for him to further hone his finishing details and skills.
Although after a session of seemingly advanced training, Gan Guoyang felt that his improvement was limited, in top-level competitive sports, improvement is very difficult.
In events like sprinting, despite all efforts and use of various technological methods, even resorting to medication, performance improvement could be just 0.01 seconds, yet this 0.01 second marks the difference between champion and runner-up.
Gan Guoyang has also reached such a state; the further you progress, the harder it is to improve, especially as age advances, and the body declines year by year.
For him, the painstaking training and improvement might just mean scoring one more basket per game, grabbing one more rebound, or successfully defending one more time.
And this one more time is enough to change the outcome of a game, or even a series.
With new players joining and veterans returning, the Trail Blazers’ on-paper strength expanded again.
But Gan Guoyang did not become inflated because of this, assuming that maintaining the status quo while leading the Trail Blazers would definitely secure a championship in the new season.
The stronger the lineup, the more internal conflicts there might be, higher external expectations, and greater championship pressure.
Moreover, on-paper strength does not represent actual strength; all three new players are over 30, entering the mid-to-late stages of their careers.
Sabonis has been plagued by injuries, while Mu Lin and Brellock are both facing a major issue: alcoholism.
If the team lacks unity and fails to generate enough chemistry, the situation could become even worse than last season.
At this time, Gan Guoyang must become stronger, at the very least, not regress as he ages.
In rookie training camp, Gan Guoyang and others were playing on a completely different level, and Carlisle didn’t allow him to participate in the confrontation, instead giving him the whistle to act as a referee.
"Larry said, having you as a referee can give you a brand-new perspective to observe the game; you’re neither on your side, nor an opponent, not even an outside fan, but someone within the field who must remain fair and independent. This will give you new insights and understandings of the game."
Carlisle said this to Gan Guoyang.
"Rick, if you want to slack off, just do it. Why make up such a reason to fool me?"
Rick Carlisle smiled without a word. Besides training and coaching, he focused most of his energy on building his flow offense.
He hoped that with Chris Mullin and Sabonis, the Trail Blazers’ offense could reach a very, very high level.
Instead of relying on Ah Gan alone at the end, like in the 1996-1997 season, which was very difficult in the playoffs.
The week-long rookie training camp ended with no doubt this batch being labeled as the "worst batch".
In fact, the Trail Blazers went home empty-handed during this year’s draft; their first-round and second-round picks were already traded away.
The Trail Blazers also lacked the resources to cultivate newcomers; the 1997-1998 season is their harvest season.
Before the new season begins, the Trail Blazers still have a number of issues to deal with.
First, Bird suffered a heart attack this summer; in fact, he had arrhythmia problems during his athletic career.
Like Reggie Lewis, it’s inherited from his mother, coupled with his large stature and excessive exercise, put a heavy load on his heart.
One day in September, his heart rhythm suddenly became irregular in his Indiana home, and the condition didn’t improve even as training camp started.
Bird didn’t delay and immediately reported to the Trail Blazers management, and Buckwalter immediately called the best doctors to Bird’s home for a consultation to understand Bird’s condition.
Bird returned to Portland before the training camp and underwent a comprehensive examination at Portland Hospital, confirming that his heart indeed had congenital issues.
After an expert consultation, they decided to perform an electric shock treatment on Bird, using electrical currents to restore his heart to a normal rhythm state.
Bird took sedatives and lay down on the bed, then received defibrillator electrodes on his chest to restore his heart to normal.
The doctor prescribed medication for Bird, requiring him to take it daily, to rest, and avoid intense work during this time.
This made Bird very troubled; he doesn’t like taking medicine daily as it makes him feel like an old man afflicted with a serious illness.
Additionally, missing the pre-season training camp was a significant loss for him, as he was eager to lead the Trail Blazers to vindication.
The Trail Blazers’ new season lineup thrilled him, and it was very likely to accomplish a great season like the 1996 Bulls.
As a result, heart disease?
But the Trail Blazers have learned from past experience; Reggie Lewis died of heart illness on the court.
They absolutely do not wish for another heart disease-related incident involving the coach on the basketball court.
Gan Guoyang was very concerned when he learned about Bird’s heart problem.
He advised Bird to rest well and to come back in December, without worrying about any issues.
"When you return, you’ll find that it makes no difference whether you’re here or not!" Gan Guoyang comforted Bird this way.
For health and safety, Bird had no choice but to miss the pre-season training camp in October, leaving Rick Carlisle and Dick Hart, the two assistant coaches, to organize the training.