NBA is like this, before you join the League, there are all sorts of restrictions and reasons to keep you out.
Once they can’t stop you and you’re in, then we’re all in this together, and there’s no limit to making money and creating buzz.
By the way, the other opening game in the Western Conference is Portland Trail Blazers against Seattle SuperSonics, Kobe vs. Jordan.
Since they’re in the same season with the Lakers, and Vegas is very close to Los Angeles, the first two preseason games for the Glory Team are scheduled in Los Angeles.
The first game is at Staples against the Lakers, the second at Staples against the Clippers, then head to San Francisco, before moving north to play the Kings, then go to Utah, Phoenix, finish off against the Jazz and Suns, and the preseason is all over.
They train while playing, their training camp will also conclude, officially starting the 2001-2002 season.
On October 13th, the Glory Team arrived in Los Angeles on a charter flight, greeted enthusiastically by the Los Angeles media.
A large number of reporters staked out in advance, waiting at the airport for the plane to land, then immediately headed to the luggage area to wait, grabbing everyone for interviews.
This is the kind of treatment no expanded team in the NBA has ever received, because new teams used to mean obscurity.
No stars, only rookies and leftovers, and the team’s salary cap was restricted, preventing them from signing even slightly notable free agents.
But with Gan Guoyang’s comeback and joining, the Glory Team suddenly became enveloped in a sacred halo.
On the way to the parking lot, reporters surrounded Gan Guoyang with one question after another.
Gan Guoyang responded uniformly: "I love Los Angeles, I like it here, and I’m so happy that the first relatively formal game can take place here. This is where my basketball dream began, and I met the most important person in my life here. Every time I come here, I have new feelings. Thank you, thank you everyone."
However, when they got to the parking lot, the Glory players were a bit dumbfounded; the people arrived on time, but the cars did not.
This was the Glory Team’s first away trip, and the logistical department clearly hadn’t done a thorough job, with the cars not arranged in advance.
They were delayed by a whole half-hour before arriving at the airport, claiming traffic jams had delayed them.
Luckily, nothing too bizarre happened later, and the players arrived on time at the hotel to rest and sleep.
On the next morning, the Glory Team had a training session at the Great Western Forum Arena next to the Staples Center.
Tomjanovich seized every opportunity to practice together, striving to bring the team to fighting strength quickly.
The team’s defensive system is still being developed, and there are still debates in the coaching staff about whether to position Ah Gan at the three or the four.
These debates require preseason experimentation to resolve.
Ah Gan can undoubtedly play both the three and four positions, leaning towards offense when playing the three, and defense when playing the four.
At the center position, Tomjanovich is definitely not going to let Ah Gan play there anymore.
Unless it’s a critical moment or a crucial playoff game, Gan Guoyang could return to his natural position at the five.
By the afternoon before the game started, the Lakers suddenly issued a message through their media department, announcing Shaquille O’Neal and Scottie Pippen would miss the preseason opener.
O’Neal is missing because his big toe injury hasn’t fully recovered, requiring time to rest.
Pippen’s knee discomfort also sees him skipping the action; the veteran doesn’t want to exert himself in preseason.
Everyone was stunned by this announcement, already avoiding battle in the preseason? O’Neal, aren’t you too timid?
Then, just before the game started in the evening, O’Neal actually appeared in the locker room wearing slippers, his big toe wrapped in bandages.
He proved to the reporters that his big toe is suffering from arthritis, painful and swollen, and he wasn’t skipping the game out of fear of facing Ah Gan.
"I am very happy for Ah Gan’s return, which means I have another chance to defeat him in the game. Beating his team and then winning the championship has always been my dream. I thought the opportunity to achieve this dream was gone, but his comeback has given hope to many young players."
"Defeating him is the goal of many of us; we are actually happy for his return."
O’Neal spoke with a calm yet firm tone, though there was a hint of sheepishness in his eyes.
Numerous people have said they wanted to defeat Ah Gan, but ended up being cut down by him.
Of course, Ah Gan hasn’t always been unbeaten; when the team strength is lacking, even celestial powers can’t save them.
Just as the Glory Team is in its current state, the possibility of defeating them is quite high.
So, O’Neal boldly spoke up, but won’t play in the preseason, saving it for the regular season opener.
He now wants to conserve energy, avoiding an encounter with Ah Gan in the preseason which could lead to nightmares and affect his form later.
As for Pippen, he truly is aged, avoiding preseason games if he can, with Phil Jackson allowing him to rest.
Last season when he joined the Lakers and helped O’Neal win his fourth Championship Ring, Pippen was certainly pleased.
Because he now has one more ring than Jordan, and got it after leaving Jordan and the Bulls, proving he could succeed without Jordan, which is important to Pippen.
Supposedly, Jordan’s comeback this time has partly been triggered by Pippen’s four rings; this guy has more rings than me?
On the night of the game, because of Gan Guoyang’s return, the preseason matchup was set up similarly to a regular season game, with all seats filled.