Chapter 845: Chapter 38: Flames of War Ignite_3
"What? Why? I never said I was going to the Olympics."
"Give it up, Michael, you’re definitely going, and so am I. Remember, don’t let Thomas go, let John go."
Jordan hesitated on the phone for a while and said, "Well, even if you didn’t say so, I wouldn’t want to be on the same Olympic team as Thomas. But whether John Stockton can go is not for me to decide, it’s up to the organizing committee."
"If Thomas can’t go, the committee will surely let John go, everyone sees that."
"Seriously Sonny, I’m really looking forward to meeting you at the Olympics."
"You better look forward to meeting me in the finals."
"No no, I’m looking forward more to the Olympics, really, Sonny."
Jordan’s words had a deep meaning, leaving Gan Guoyang feeling a chill down his spine.
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Talking about the Olympics in 1991 was a bit premature, and soon everyone’s focus returned to the regular season.
As March arrived, the schedule seemed to accelerate suddenly, teams began to shorten their rotations, set their tactics, and prepare for the playoffs.
The Trail Blazers were no exception; after finishing a round of away games, they returned to Portland for some rest and recovery.
The team doctor checked Reggie Lewis’s heart and several specialists stated that there were some issues, but they were not serious.
This result was no different from his examination in Boston, so Lewis quickly rejoined the team, continuing training and participation in games.
For the Trail Blazers, Lewis was extremely important. During his absence, the team’s perimeter defense significantly deteriorated, increasing the pressure on Gan Guoyang in the interior.
The return of Lewis greatly relieved the team’s rotation pressure, allowing the Blazers’ gameplay to get back on track.
In terms of interior rotation, Mychal Thompson, who had rested for half a season, gradually increased his playing time.
This veteran was warming up for the playoffs, where he would continue to be an important part of the Blazers’ interior rotation.
Davis was being prepared for the future, while Mark Bryant and Pinkney were just regular season options.
The core rotation of the Blazers was essentially set: Gan Guoyang, Sabonis, Thompson, Jerome Kossie, Lewis, Porter, Petrović, Cliff-Robinson, Dell Curry, and Mike-Sanders.
Having a strong ten-man rotation was both a resource and a challenge for Bobby Beelman.
Just like a general leading troops in battle, not every general can be Han Xin, who thrives with more soldiers.
Some coaches only know short rotations, relying heavily on starters plus a sixth man, using just six players for the entire game.
Beelman was different; throughout the regular season, he experimented with various lineups and rotations, getting to know each player’s strengths.
He endeavored to ensure that whenever a player came on the court, they could play a unique role—if all else failed, just pass the ball to Ah Gan.
As a man who devoted everything to basketball, Bobby Beelman’s professionalism was beyond question.
By mid-March, the standings in the Eastern and Western Conferences became clear, with the Trail Blazers leading in the Western and the Bulls leading in the Eastern Conference, both began competing for the league’s top spot.
Early in the season, the Bulls lagged behind, but as February and March arrived, the Bulls began to win consecutively.
In February, they had a streak of 11 consecutive wins, and after losing to the Indiana Pacers, the Bulls picked up a 14-game winning streak in March!
Such streaking put the Blazers’ position as the league leader in jeopardy, with the gap in wins between them and the Bulls narrowing.
After going through injuries and unstable performance, the Blazers also gradually found their form in late March.
With a full roster, they won consistently into April, securing the league’s top spot with a 15-1 record.
On April 1st, the entire NBA took a day off to welcome the 1991 NCAA finals.
The two teams entering the finals were Duke University and the University of Kansas, both storied powerhouses.
Duke boasted a dazzling roster with formidable strength, featuring All-America center Christian Laetner and superstar small forward Grant Hill.
Eventually, Duke University defeated the University of Kansas 72:65 to win the 1991 NCAA Championship.
Duke, once trampled by Ah Gan, gradually climbed step by step and finally won the first NCAA championship trophy in the history of the school.
As college basketball drew to a close, it meant the NBA’s battle for the championship was about to ignite.
