Another assistant coach, Larry Brown, was assigned by the Basketball Association to Carlisle as a stabilizing force, due to his seniority and commanding presence, which could keep things under control.
However, facing the chaotic atmosphere in the locker room and an embarrassed head coach Carlisle, Larry Brown simply watched coldly from the sidelines, without saying a word to stop the commotion or help the head coach restore order.
Clearly, as the veteran coach of the team, Larry Brown wasn't impressed with Carlisle, and his day-to-day work was also filled with subtle resistance, verbally agreeing to cooperate but not putting in much effort.
Coaching Gan Guoyang often posed a problem for head coaches: Ah Gan controlled the locker room so well that they didn't have much experience in securing control themselves.
Even Bobby Bellman, after spending some bleak years with the Lakers, only truly found his stride with the Boston Celtics.
Carlisle had been coaching the Trail Blazers for just a year, believing he had accumulated a lot of experience, but little did he know that despite gaining various experiences, he lacked the most crucial management skills.
He watched as the players chaotically discussed for ages, and as the clamor gradually subsided, Carlisle finally spoke, making some arrangements as per the pre-game plan.
The bunch of players poked ears, chewed gum, and how much they truly listened was known only to them.
For these star players, they still preferred relying on their own strength to determine the course of the game, which is the basketball mindset of the NBA.
When the time came, both teams appeared on the court for warm-ups, and Gan Guoyang went over to greet the Team USA players, shaking hands and hugging each one, with no one daring to ignore him.
After all, if Ah Gan found a reason to get angry and vent, tonight's game would turn disastrous.
Gan Guoyang finally approached Rick Carlisle, seeing him full of worry, more troubled than when coaching the Trail Blazers.
"How's it going, Rick? Not a pleasant experience coaching the Dream Team, huh?"
"A nightmare," Carlisle admitted bluntly.
"But we'll still win," Carlisle added.
Gan Guoyang didn't say much more; he didn't want to further provoke Carlisle.
Their relationship had always been good, and Gan Guoyang heard some rumors that many within the Dream Team were excluding him.
Carlisle is a straightforward person, and coaching a star-studded team like the Dream Team requires emotional intelligence and management skills more than tactical prowess.
He initially strongly advised against Carlisle taking on the Dream Team head coach role, but due to his position, he couldn't say it out loud, only watching as Carlisle took a precarious seat.
Hart lacks authority, and Larry Brown, that old schemer, might be up to some tricks behind the scenes, making this year's Dream Team journey anything but smooth.
Conversely, the China Team might have less individual strength compared to Team USA, but after a month of training and another month of warm-ups, they're internally very united.
Gan Guoyang took his basketball teammates to participate in various activities, play around, and witness the spectacular crowds, all to inspire them and unite everyone around him.
The game quickly began, with Team USA's starting lineup featuring Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Vince Carter, and Kevin Garnett.
Meanwhile, China's starting lineup included Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Gan Guoyang, Hu Weidong, and Li Xiaoyong, with three players boasting NBA experience, plus a historically prominent figure, making them a formidable force.
Gan Guoyang glanced at Team USA's starting lineup, thinking what the hell kind of abstract lineup is this, lacking perimeter shooting and height on the wings, such a lineup would struggle against strong European teams.
The real secret weapon of America definitely lies in the full court and half-court press defense passed down since the Bobby Knight era, something that remains unchanged regardless of who coaches the Dream Team.
Thus, before the jump ball, Gan Guoyang pulled Li Xiaoyong aside and said, "Handle the ball, if you're double-teamed, just pass it to me, don't worry about turnovers."
Li Xiaoyong nodded, feeling significantly relieved.