This season, after Glory came to the East District, the Celtics have been suppressing Glory’s record. They ended the regular season 3-1, so psychologically, there shouldn’t be any fear.
But Beelman knows that the playoffs and the regular season with Ah Gan are two completely different things. Moreover, looking at the first two rounds, Glory has been effortlessly taking down opponents, seemingly without even using half their strength.
The regular season was hectic, with heavy tasks, so Beelman didn’t have time to meet with Gan Guoyang and chat. He felt it was necessary to meet, so he could have a better understanding.
He called, and Gan Guoyang agreed. They will have dinner together at the Marriott Hotel where Gan is staying; indeed, the two haven’t had a meal together for a long time.
"Oh, you son of a bitch, meeting me before the game. Did you deliberate for days only to think you can’t win, and come to me to see if there are any flaws or inspiration?"
Upon meeting, Gan Guoyang immediately pierced through Beelman’s mind, making Beelman regret asking Ah Gan out.
This dog-like behavior isn’t clear enough? He’ll certainly find ways to suppress him, gain a psychological advantage; it’s his usual trick.
However, Beelman steadied his mood and said honestly, "That’s right, my mentality got messed up again, so I had to ask you to help, Sonny."
The best way to deal with Ah Gan is sincerity, don’t play tricks with him, it doesn’t work.
Gan Guoyang did help Beelman a lot, including his move to the Celtics, taking this path, with Gan’s encouragement and advisement behind it.
"How can I help you? I can’t deliberately lose to you, right? Besides, you’re too lacking in confidence. I’m old, and not as dominant as before, you have a chance."
Gan guoyang’s rare humility made Beelman dubious, this guy being so humble? Saying he’s old, not good?
Smoke screen, definitely a smoke screen, Beelman nonchalantly said, "If you’re really old, you’d choose to retire. Your performance on the court doesn’t look like you’re old."
"I haven’t scored 50 points in the playoffs this year, you don’t think I’ve aged?"
Upon hearing this, Beelman’s hair stood on end. What does this mean?
You haven’t scored 50 points, so against the Celtics, are you aiming for 50 points?
Beelman regretted meeting Ah Gan even more, he should have stayed home, watched TV, and relaxed.
Isn’t this psychological warfare? Better not talk about basketball, reminisce, eat something, and go home early.
So, they talked about family situations, Beelman’s daughter is married with children and has a happy life.
Beelman has always been single, occasionally dating, having some evening romances, focused on work otherwise.
Sweeping out dissent within the Celtics, fighting remaining old forces, to create a new, modern team.
In this aspect, they indeed had many topics in common because Gan Guoyang was also managing a new team, encountering many issues.
Some issues, Beelman had experience, gave advice to Gan Guoyang, Wang Fuxi, and as they talked, they couldn’t stop.
The initial tension and desire to probe something from Gan Guoyang disappeared.
After eating for more than an hour, when Beelman left, he felt better, but still wasn’t sure how to approach tomorrow’s game.
Jordan, Ah Gan, how did these two come together?
In the regular season, Duncan dealt with Ah Gan, Pierce faced Jordan, it was just that simple, and it worked well.
But in the playoffs, can they still play like this? Who should they focus on? Beelman started to worry again.
On the other side, after dinner, Gan Guoyang immediately gathered the coaching staff and players in his room for a meeting.
"I’m sure, in the first game, the Celtics’ defensive focus will initially be on me! Bobby is scared of me; he came to have dinner with me, and I saw through him. Bobby knows me well, but I also know him, after hesitating repeatedly, he’ll definitely double-team me. So, at the start of the first game, we’ll focus the offense on me, the true sharp edge is Michael. Also, Andre at this point, we must seize Nash’s defensive loopholes to attack, break through from the outside, and gain the upper hand!"
Beelman wouldn’t have expected that his psychological flaws would be seized by Gan Guoyang, providing a basis for Glory’s tactics.
Over the years, Beelman couldn’t shake off the influence Gan Guoyang left on him, and as time passed, this influence grew stronger.
Eventually, Beelman would realize that, on the basketball path, Ah Gan was his mentor, not the other way around.
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Gan Guoyang and Glory are making thorough preparations mainly because the Celtics are really strong, very strong.
In the regular season, the Celtics were the only team that made Glory feel extremely difficult and suffer losses.
A 1-3 record can’t be explained by not trying hard enough in the regular season; who doesn’t want to win games, who doesn’t want to secure home advantage?
Glory faced two main issues with the Celtics, first is age; the Celtics are a team of young and strong players, Glory is an old team.
Punches fear youth, and wild swings can defeat the master; in sports competitions, youth and strength are always advantages.
Second, in terms of tactics and lineup configuration, the Celtics have strong positional targeting.
Glory’s dominant positions, second position, fourth position, fifth position, the Celtics can match them.
Fifth position, Ilgauskas under the basket doesn’t fear Yao Ming; both are over 220 cm giants. Ilgauskas is more experienced and has stronger shooting ability.
Fourth position, Duncan is in his peak period; this season’s regular season MVP will likely belong to Duncan.
Some tease Duncan saying he hasn’t improved since his rookie season, as he debuted at his peak.
Actually, Duncan has changed; he’s more comprehensive, steady, technically improving constantly, defense and offense reached top levels.
Most importantly, it’s the mentality; Gan Guoyang couldn’t shut Duncan down like in the 1997-1998 season.
Second position, Paul Pierce isn’t afraid of Jordan, he always boasts before the game that he’s better than Jordan.
Though Pierce is arrogant and has been taught a lesson by Jordan, he indeed has the strength and has made Jordan suffer losses.
Jordan is also old, especially defensively, can’t grip Pierce all game; Pierce’s offensive skills are indeed comprehensive.
Besides the core positional standoff, the Celtics’ wings are their powerful weapon, the defense force kept by Beelman.
Bruce Bowen, Cliff-Robinson, Rick Fox; these three core figures have remained with the Celtics, later supplemented by Eric Williams, Vin Baker.
Under Beelman’s coaching, they’re a group of fierce defenders that can support core players offensively.
This is Beelman’s military strategy; the core players stay pure, Duncan, Nash, Pierce absolutely won’t do dirty work.
All these tasks are handed to players like Bowen and Fox, forming a good barrier.
At the Trail Blazers, Beelman didn’t have this wisdom; back then, Gan Guoyang was both the head coach and the enforcer.
One man played from the first position to the fifth, then from the fifth to ref position, played all, unbeaten in the league.
Now, Beelman realizes the importance of protecting core players; not everyone can play as fiercely as Ah Gan.
In comparison, Glory’s wings fall short; Jerald Wallace is in his second year, with very positive performance, much improved from rookie year.
But compared to this group of veterans, he surely lags behind, as well as in the paint with Ross; ultimately, can he withstand the Celtics’ wing’s tear; must see on the court.
On the night of May 18, at the Boston Fleet Center, the 2002-2003 Eastern Conference Finals’ first game began, a full house, crazy Celtics fans were buzzing like Irish fairies in the arena.
Jordan, Ah Gan, these two titans of the league were to be sacrificed by Bostonians for their dynasty dreams.
The cheerleaders on site wore gray stockings plus white bubble socks, looking slimmer and longer compared to other teams’ cheerleaders.
"Bobby’s aesthetic taste is actually good, heard he personally picked these socks, this old rascal. Let’s have another go, Bobby, hopefully, you don’t have to fear me so much. I really hope you can beat me."
Gan Guoyang glanced at the young cheerleaders and thought to himself.