In the midst of these big troubles absent but small troubles persistent, Gan Guoyang and Jordan maintained their health.
Even though their health isn’t absolutely perfect, both have various minor ailments.
Jordan’s knee is persistently inflamed, while Gan Guoyang is troubled by pain, opting not to take painkillers but to alleviate it through massage and willpower.
In this situation, neither of them has missed a single game, nor do they plan to miss any.
Most of the time, they can deliver high-level performances, occasionally faltering in one or two games within an acceptable range.
Facing formidable Eastern opponents like the Celtics and Nets, both put on spectacular performances on the court, leading the team to victory.
Glory Team’s championship aspirations are continually rising, and the cooperation between the two on the court is improving, even to an unfathomable level.
Sometimes, when they play on the court, even they don’t know what their next move might be, it’s all on the spur of the moment, making subconscious decisions based on the opponent’s defense.
Many things have been deeply engraved in their muscle memory, requiring neither extensive thought nor communication, just a glance, a gesture, even the position of their feet when holding the ball can predict the next move.
Though this is their first year as teammates, they’ve been opponents for many years, and sometimes, opponents understand you better than anyone else.
Thus, as long as Glory Team can hold up in front, in the final stages, the two unfold their pick-and-roll plays, indiscriminately breaking down every team’s defense, achieving high-efficiency offense for consecutive scoring, securing victories.
Coaches from other teams gradually realized that the only way to crack their pick-and-roll play is by finding two individuals who can limit them one-on-one, complemented by a strong-moving, defensively potent inside player, for a three-person team to adapt and limit them.
But where in the league can you find such people? The Celtics and Trail Blazers are the teams closest to having such configurations, yet the Trail Blazers got dismantled, and in the Fleet Center, the Celtics still succumbed in the fourth quarter to a 15:2 reversing wave.
If these two teams are defeated in this manner, what hope do other teams have to restrain Glory?
Another way is attrition; after all, age is catching up with them, their stamina is somewhat lacking.
If it’s a series, through considerable attrition, indeed there’s a chance to drain them out, causing them to make mistakes.
This has been the method to handle Ah Gan in the past, don’t aim for a single game against him, but exhaust him throughout the season for wins.
Glory Team is aware that all teams aim to drain out Ah Gan and Jordan, so they control both players’ playing time, most of the time holding back, letting go of some matches without striving desperately.
Through the entire January of 2003, Glory achieved a record of 11 wins and 4 losses, excellently maintaining their first place in the Eastern Conference and first in the league.
Gan Guoyang performed outstandingly this month, averaging 29 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks, earning the player of the month.
With Ewing and Ross injured and Yao Ming fatigued, he single-handedly propped up the inside line, continuing to deliver dominant performances on both offense and defense.
However, as soon as February began, a big trouble approached Glory Team.
On the morning of February 1st, Gan Guoyang woke up early, left home, and went for a jog with his bodyguard and double Porter.
Having arrived at Las Vegas, he never let go of his habit of morning jogging, no matter the distance, he insisted on jogging.
In Gan Guoyang’s words, a day is best begun in the morning, starting each day with a jog fills the heart with hope.
But even though Gan Guoyang says so, Porter has been running with him for over a year, feeling increasingly hopeless with no sight of retirement.
The match tonight is against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Arenas and Brad Miller will visit Las Vegas, and the team has prepared some surprises for them.
Midway through the run, Quentin drove alongside them and honked the horn, signaling for them to stop, then got out to inform Gan Guoyang about an important phone call.
Gan Guoyang asked, "Whose call?"
"It’s Rudy, he says it’s something important."
Rudy Tomjanovich? The coach?
Gan Guoyang took the phone and heard Tomjanovich’s slightly fatigued and weak voice: "Sorry Sonny, for calling you so early, but I have to inform you of this immediately; I can’t wait."
Gan Guoyang had a bad premonition and asked: "What happened, Rudy, tell me."
"I got the results of the pathology check at the hospital yesterday, I got a call in the morning, I... have bladder cancer."
Due to long-duration flights, recently, Tomjanovich has felt some discomfort when urinating and is somewhat weak.
After just finishing an Eastern away game trip, he returned to Las Vegas and went for a comprehensive hospital check-up.
The result turned out to be cancer. Though bladder cancer is one of the less aggressive types among cancers, with a good cure rate, it’s cancer nonetheless.
Gan Guoyang fell silent for a while, trying his best to comfort Tomjanovich, who informed Gan Guoyang that apart from his family, he was the first to know.
"Thank you for your trust, Rudy. Believe me, you’ll surely be alright, we’ll seek the best experts for diagnosis and treatment. The cure rate for bladder cancer is high; trust in modern medicine."
"I know, I just... I’m worried about the team, we’re doing so well right now, we’re aiming for the championship."
"Don’t worry, Rudy, you’ll always be with us, I believe you’ll be back, truly."
After hanging up the phone, Gan Guoyang informed Porter of the situation, who was also shocked that their coach had cancer.
By the afternoon when the team gathered for warm-up training, everyone was aware of the news and felt sad for Old Tang.
Sadness aside, matches still continue, the season must proceed, the championship is to be pursued, without the coach, a new one must be found.
In fact, with the current state of Glory, Jordan and Gan Guoyang together are stronger than any coach; with them in the locker room, it won’t be chaotic.
Assistant Coach Dean Cooper temporarily took over Tomjanovich’s position, assuming the role of interim head coach.
Danny Ainge informed everyone in the locker room that if Old Tang’s treatment goes smoothly, he might return for the playoffs.
"However, he’ll find it difficult to perform high-intensity work again; everyone needs to unleash more of their potential and learn how to play."
Glory Team doesn’t plan to hire an external coach for now since Old Tang has the possibility of returning and the team’s good locker room atmosphere is at risk of being disrupted by a new coach regardless of their skill level.
Since the team’s record is good and the state is strong, with those two Sea-Calming Needles anchoring, there’s no need to find a new coach; just let the assistant coach substitute.
That night, Dean Cooper stood nervously at the court’s side, holding the tactical board to command the match, and effectively only called timeouts and made substitutions.
Cooper has college coaching experience, serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Aquinas College, from 1995 to 1997.
Afterward, he ascended to the NCAA Division I league, joining the University of Buffalo, and eventually working under Tomjanovich at the Rockets.
Cooper is a typical school-of-thought technical coach, suitable solely for an assistant’s role, providing strategies for head coaches, lacking the courage and authority to be the head coach.
Jordan and Gan Guoyang both comforted Cooper: "Don’t be nervous, just focus on the rotations; we’ll help you win the game."
Sure enough, in that evening’s match, Arenas and Brad Miller returned to Las Vegas, receiving an enthusiastic reception from the fans.
Yet, Glory Team crushed the Cavaliers by halftime, with Gan Guoyang and Jordan showing no mercy, scoring 40 and 41 points respectively, amassing a total of 81 points, helping Dean Cooper secure his first win as head coach.
Arenas, although scoring 27 points, paled in comparison to the beastly performances of these two.
Throughout this season, Arenas averages 20 points per game; his personal offensive level has significantly progressed, and his playing style has earned the favor of Cavaliers fans.
But the Cavaliers persist in tanking, crippling the team’s prospects for performance breakthroughs.
After the match, Gan Guoyang embraced Arenas and asked him: "How do you feel in Cleveland?"
Arenas shook his head and said: "Tanking, always tanking. Though I’m playing well, the team doesn’t want to win games at all."
Gan Guoyang patted him and said: "Hang in there. By next year, someone will come to assist you."