Chapter 687: Chapter 59: Collecting the Coffin
After the game, the Trail Blazers’ locker room was filled with jubilation.
When reporters flooded the room and surrounded Ah Gan, Gan Guoyang pointed to Petrović sitting in the corner and said, "He contributed the game-winning shot tonight, his first career buzzer-beater. You should interview him."
Gan Guoyang was happy to give the spotlight to his teammate, although he was the key to the team’s comeback victory tonight, the killing blow was after all contributed by Petrović.
Petrović’s recent form and performance have been getting better and more stable.
In this game, at a critical moment, Beelman did not play Hornacek but used Petrović, which affirmed his role.
Although his defensive skills and physical confrontation still have many flaws, his offense and passing are not stable enough, but he has a big heart and a killer instinct.
In this game, he not only contributed a buzzer-beating layup but also scored efficiently with 14 points including two critical three-point shots from 6 out of 10 shooting.
He is one of the few guards in the League who dares to face Jordan without fear, knowing that he is not the opponent but still bravely moves forward; a guard who does not easily concede.
He deserves to make the headlines and get an exclusive interview.
Faced with the approaching reporters, Petrović remained composed, showing no embarrassment or panic, and was able to answer the journalists’ questions methodically.
In Europe, he was a star among stars, used to such scenes, he even felt that this moment came too late.
When asked by a reporter why his performance has been improving, Petrović said, "Thanks to the coach’s trust, and thanks to Ah Gan’s patience and help. He is the most incredible player and leader I have ever met. He is truly incomparable. I initially entered the league aiming to surpass him, but now I just want to get close to him."
Petrović has weathered difficult times in the NBA, and he is finding his own path in the league.
As the season progresses, the Trail Blazers’ Eastern European trio has become more stable in their performance; they are all Slavic geniuses with a unique understanding and talent for basketball.
Petrović is an important bench player for the team. Although his overall ability is less than Porter and Hornacek, his scoring explosiveness, aggressiveness, and leadership qualities often catch opponents off guard.
Sabonis has not become the second Bill Walton as people idealized, but his tall and strong physique, skillful hands, and sharp basketball IQ make him an excellent offensive and defensive assistant beside Ah Gan.
He and Ah Gan are not complementary; rather, they can substitute for each other.
Sabonis could be considered a diluted version of Ah Gan in all aspects except height and weight.
On the contrary, Divac is the one who complements Ah Gan, as their styles are completely different, with different tactical emphases.
Yet, whether with Divac or Sabonis, Gan Guoyang can partner very well with them, showing increasingly seamless coordination on the court.
After defeating the Chicago Bulls, the Portland Trail Blazers entered the fast track.
On February 17th, the Trail Blazers traveled to Detroit to face off against the Eastern first Detroit Pistons.
This season, the Pistons moved to the newly built The Palace of Auburn Hills, leaving the Silverdome that held championship memories.
Pistons’ owner Bill Davidson increased his investments in the team following its success.
The league’s first private jet, a luxurious lineup, and this modern comprehensive sports venue that accommodates over 22,000 fans.
For this arena, Davidson spent $90 million out of his own pocket.
It’s worth noting that such comprehensive sports venues are usually funded by municipal public finance, where owners often lead, borrowing money from banks and other financial institutions, or collecting funds from the public, with minimal out-of-pocket expenses.
For instance, Tang Jianguo, aiming to build a new arena for the Trail Blazers, had the highest media presence, seen everywhere in the news; however, he was nearly bankrupt, unable to contribute financially, relying on municipal and bank funds, then selling Trail Blazers’ season tickets for the next 5 years to gather funds from fans, eventually accumulating the construction costs.
From this perspective, Bill Davidson is much more generous. Since purchasing the Detroit Pistons in 1974, Davidson has invested a lot of passion into this team.
Initially, the Pistons’ home ground at Cobo Arena could only accommodate 10,000 fans, but unsatisfied, Davidson moved the home ground to the vast Silverdome.
Davidson also provided the best training facilities for the Pistons players, the most advanced logistical management systems, and brought in the earliest private jet and the modern The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers players felt a clear difference upon entering The Palace of Auburn Hills, different from many of the old NBA arenas.
It’s not only new but also modernly decorated with facilities, and the venue provides 180 luxury suites located on top of the spectator stands.
Once these luxury suites were launched, their season tickets immediately sold out, with some wealthy fans even spending money for long-term leases, with yearly rents over $350,000.
The price is indeed high, but there are plenty of wealthy people, and the wealthy indeed need such luxury suites for privacy when watching games.
Since The Palace of Auburn Hills, this type of luxury suite quickly became a standard fixture in North American professional sports venues, with 90s newly built various comprehensive sports venues equipped with luxury suites similar in structure and design to The Palace of Auburn Hills.
