For Larry Bird, returning to Boston for the Finals is a very special experience.
This city, to which Bird devoted his life's blood and entire sporting youth, has both changed and remained steadfast after so many years.
The changes are obvious; the Boston Garden has become a thing of the past, demolished by explosives in 1998, with this historic and memory-filled arena disappearing from Boston's map.
The disappearance of the Garden Arena means that a part of Boston Celtics history and Larry Bird's life is completely gone, never to return.
Every time the Trail Blazers come to Boston for a game, the fact that the game is at the Fleet Center makes Larry Bird feel a bit uninterested; compared to Boston Garden, while it's newer and prettier, it undoubtedly seems too dull.
Of course, in the eyes of young fans, the Fleet Center and the Boston Celtics are now more popular and more interesting.
Since Bobby Berman arrived, he has not only reshaped the team's roster but also got involved in the team's operations.
The Celtics now have their own sexy cheerleaders, a mascot, a specialized ticket sales team, a new marketing squad, creating a brand new Celtics team culture and historical brand.
So far this season, the Celtics have become one of the most profitable and successful teams in the entire league.
Berman is not satisfied with this; the Celtics' influence has spread worldwide, exuding charm in a fresh manner, attracting the attention of young fans.
This is something the old, traditional Celtics management could never achieve; their outdated thinking and marketing methods destined the Celtics to live in the past, with their influence limited to the New England Region and passed down only by word of mouth among old fans.
Today's Celtics comfort Larry Bird; no matter what, he has deep feelings for the Celtics, and he hopes for their success.
On the other hand, the Celtics also have their steadfast qualities, as Bird could feel after the first game; the team's style, from top to bottom, carries the old Celtics flavor.
This is certainly related to the temperament of their court leader Tim Duncan, who always maintains a poker face, fitting the Celtics in every aspect.
Also, it's inseparable from Berman's coaching, emphasizing teamwork, balance in offense and defense, cultivating a good winning atmosphere; Bird can't help but admire Berman's excellent work.
Bird is even a bit jealous of Berman because he has gotten the opportunity that Bird never had; if Bird had such an opportunity with Tim Duncan, he imagines he could do just as well.
In short, Bird is still full of emotion for the Celtics, even as Finals opponents; even if he wants a hundred times for the Trail Blazers to beat the Celtics for a three-peat, deep down he doesn't harbor that intense hostility toward the Celtics.
So, after the game and the talk with Gan Guoyang, Bird keeps worrying whether Ah Gan will play dirty against the Celtics?
If it were another team, Bird wouldn't care; doing a few tricks to win is no big deal.
Like in 1984, when Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis, who said anything?
No one did; the opponent was the Los Angeles Lakers, and McHale could do nothing wrong.
But now the opponent is the Celtics; Bird still hopes Ah Gan and the Trail Blazers can openly and honestly defeat the opponent.
But Bird's position keeps him from directly speaking to Gan Guoyang; being labeled a "traitor" by Ah Gan would be awkward.
Ah Gan is good at throwing labels.
Even until just before the second game, Bird is restless.
On the night of June 9th, the atmosphere at the Fleet Center is frenzied; winning the first game has driven all of Boston crazy.
Bostonians see the dawn of overthrowing the Trail Blazers dynasty and establishing a new dynasty; the ticket prices for this game have doubled compared to the last.
Celtics legends return to the scene; Auerbach sits in his usual place, wearing dark sunglasses, with a relaxed expression on his face.
The first game's victory gave hope to the Celtics and even the entire league's teams; the time to bury the red-black dynasty has arrived.
After warm-ups, both teams take the field; this time, Gan Guoyang's appearance doesn't receive cheers and applause, just boos and curse words.
The warm tribute to Gan Guoyang's retirement in the last game is over; for the next few games, Ah Gan is purely the enemy.
Celtics fans never talk about "friendship first," nor do they worry about angering the Blazers players—once inside the Fleet Center, they discard all propriety and revel away.
Bird listens to the fierce curses from in front and behind him, and his worries continue to grow. You're just increasing Ah Gan's anger, causing trouble for the home team.
But if Ah Gan really acts out, he'll certainly be punished, maybe even suspended; for the Trail Blazers, that would be a significant loss.
Bird hopes Ah Gan can stay calm, focus on fighting in the game, rather than fighting with the Celtics players.
At that moment, Gan Guoyang's face is still expressionless as always, as cold and towering as Mount Hood.
The Trail Blazers also haven't made any lineup adjustments, still starting Sabonis, Little O'Neal, Gan Guoyang, Kobe, and Brellock.