On May 27, 1989, heavy rains hit Los Angeles, and the entire city was shrouded in the heavy rain. The entire Portland Trail Blazers team stayed in the hotel. In such weather, no one had the heart to go out for fun.

Several core players gathered in Gan Guoyang's room to discuss countermeasures for tomorrow's game.

In the last game, everything that happened at the end of the third quarter made the Trail Blazers players feel that it was not very real. Looking back, this was undoubtedly a conspiracy between Riley and the Lakers. He used an unknown pawn at the end of the bench to exchange the Trail Blazers' main player, not only won the third game, but also made the Trail Blazers' lineup in the fourth game.

Among the seven main players involved in the rotation, three of them were unable to play, which caused the Trail Blazers to suffer heavy losses. Moreover, Drexler lost was the second leader of the team and the core of the outside line. Now the diagnosis has come out that his tailbone has been contusioned. Fortunately, there is no bone fracture or other situations. It is just a little swollen. I will definitely not be able to participate in tomorrow's game. The fifth game is also very sluggish. It is possible to return in the sixth game. Judging from the current situation, it is really possible to play until the sixth game.

The Trail Blazers also protested to the league, believing that the Lakers' behavior was a premeditated attack, and that Cauchy and Williams were legitimate reactions and should not be suspended.

However, the league finally made a decision to suspend the game. Williams, Cauchy and Campbell were punished together. This has also happened in the past few seasons. For example, in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Pistons were at home. Bill Lanbill maliciously knocked down Larry Bird in defense. Bird furiously hit Lanbill. Bird was sent out and the Celtics lost the game. But then returned to the Celtics' home court, Robert Parish knocked down Lanbill two times in the rebound to avenge Bird, and the referee did not call Parish.

In the entire series, both sides were often punched and kicked, but they were banned, so the Trail Blazers were extremely dissatisfied with such a penalty. For example, Gan Guoyang used to punch Lan Bill (this guy was always beaten) and was also banned. In the same year, Irving and Bird fought, but both of them were exempted from punishment, but that was already in 1984.

With the continuous promotion of the NBA and the impact gradually expanding, David Stern has begun to establish stricter penalties, especially now that the confrontation between league players is becoming more and more intense, and various violent incidents on the court are emerging one after another. The savage basketball represented by the Detroit Pistons is gradually gaining the upper hand. Stern also feels it is time to destroy this trend.

The Trail Blazers hit the gun like this and were hit by Riley in the critical Western Conference Finals. Of course, the Trail Blazers were relatively lucky because the guy who liked to hit people the most in their team ran to see the injured at the first time, so they avoided the group fight and were exempted from punishment.

If Gan Guoyang hadn't had gone to see Drexler first, Campbell might have been sent to the hospital. Gan Guoyang had been in the league for five years, but he was not only squirting trash words. He had fought with those black men in the game no less than Olajuwon and Lan Bill. In fact, on the basketball court, people were prone to irritability. Even gentle people like Dr. J would not help but fight Bird, let alone Gan Guoyang, who was very competitive and dared to punch Ran Bill when he was a rookie?

Therefore, Riley's conspiracy was only half successful. His biggest goal was actually Gan Guoyang. If Gan Guoyang became the protagonist of the conflict and was suspended in the game, the Trail Blazers would have great losses. Without Gan Guoyang's support in the inside, the Trail Blazers, who were originally at a disadvantage on the outside, had no advantage in the inside and were in the away game, and the fourth game would be in danger.

If the Lakers win the fourth game and tie the score between the two sides to 2:2, it will be a very important blow to the Trail Blazers. Not only will both sides return to the same starting line, but the Lakers will also reverse the situation in the series and break the victory balance to their side.

Therefore, Campbell's foul is likely to change the entire series and even the entire season. Gan Guoyang also truly realized what it means to "a plan can jeopardize the country, and a single word can chaotic the country." Riley's plan is really too poisonous. The key is that they have no evidence to prove that Campbell was instructed by Riley to violate this rule.

All the players were in the room, thinking about tomorrow's game and the situation of the series, and they were a little frowning. Drexler had already flew back to Portland at this time. He needed the best treatment from a doctor to ensure that he could recover as soon as possible and return to the field.

The first problem Adelman faces now is how to line up tomorrow's starting lineup. There are three rotation players missing, two starters and one substitute, and anyone else will be in trouble.

The problems in the inside are relatively easy to solve. The Trail Blazers have some overflows in the power forward position. The main problems are on the outside and the sixth man. After Cauchy was suspended, the team had only one substitute small forward, that is Andre Brans. However, Brans' performance this season is quite average. During the period when Jim Paxson was absent, his performance as the main small forward substitute was not satisfactory.

Now Drexler is also injured, Jim Paxson will definitely play as the starting shooting guard instead of Drexler, so the small forward's loophole can only be made up for Andre Brans.

After the game, Adelman and Bellman repeatedly discussed whether to let Brans play the starting lineup and play against the Lakers. The small forward is very important, not only because the Lakers have James Worthy, but more importantly, the Magic Johnson often relies on small forward players to defend. If the short lineup of the three defenders is on the side, it is certain that the outside is exposed.

The two discussed together for a long time but couldn't come up with a reasonable solution. None of the power forwards on the bench could be used, and several players were also looking at each other in the room, not knowing how to help the head coach.

At this time, Gan Guoyang, who had not spoken much, suddenly spoke: "If you don't let me play as a small forward, I will also deal with Worthy on the defensive end. It's not a problem to let me deal with the Magician."

Everyone turned their heads and looked at Gan Guoyang blankly. Gan Guoyang saw the meaning of "Are you an idiot" in everyone's eyes. Gan Guoyang immediately added: "I act as a small forward on the defensive end, and I am still an inside line on the offensive end. Of course, if Lai uses Woxi to defend me, I don't mind making him into meat."

After Gan Guoyang said this, Adelman and Bellman discussed it in a low voice, feeling that this idea is indeed feasible. In the first two games, when Gan Guoyang was defending Wosi, Wosi's back-to-back singles efficiency decreased significantly. The Lakers, who had no reliable scoring points in the inside, would fall into a disadvantage.

"Gan said something makes sense, and then we can let Duckworth play center, and Sabonis returns to the bench as a substitute, so the problem of the sixth man is also solved. Sabonis is more suitable for the sixth man than Duckworth." Bellman added.

That's right, after Sabonis missed the semi-finals, Darkworth and Gan Guoyang's starting performance was still good. Tomorrow's game, because there are three main players missing, the Trail Blazers will definitely fight the Lakers to defend the Lakers. The defense quality of the team replaced with Darkworth will be higher. At the same time, Sabonis's diverse and flexible playing styles also allow him to perform well in the sixth man position.

Adelman thought about it and agreed to this opinion temporarily, but they still need to think carefully about it.

In this way, the only problem left is the starting power forward. If Gan Guoyang plays a small forward in defense, he needs a power forward to assist Duckworth in the interior. Although Brans can also start and play small fronts in the offense, Adelman cannot trust his ability to fill the inside in defense.

However, if you don't go to Brans and the previous power forward, then there will be a strange formation with three inside and two outside lines on the offensive end. Such a lineup's counterattack ability is really poor, and it is not possible to return to defense. It is very likely that it will be dragged to death by the Lakers' Show-time.

Adelman opened the roster of players in his hand, looked at the name on it for a long time, but he didn't have an accurate answer in his heart. He was indeed lacking in preparation for the current situation. How could he know that the cunning Riley would use such a weird trick that made the Trail Blazers so passive?

"Richard Anderson may be a good choice. He is a veteran, with rich experience and stronger adaptability. It may be good to let him play." Jerome Cauchy and Adelman said that he was banned and was very depressed now and could only give the team a move.

Richard Anderson is a 6-foot-10 power forward, a rookie in 1982. He played in the Italian league for two years. He is an old football player and can play a role when he comes on the court. Adelman also has some inclination to this veteran.

But this is, Buck Williams, who was also suspended, had a different opinion. He said: "Anderson is really good, but he is more suitable to play as a substitute. I think we must have motivation in tomorrow's game. We put pressure on the Lakers from the beginning. We need a young man. I think this little guy, Mark Bryant, is good."

Everyone was surprised to hear Williams' recommendation because Mark Bryant was just a rookie. He was 6-foot-9 and was selected by the Trail Blazers in the 21st pick in the first round. He had a mediocre talent, but his physical fitness was good. He was a very energetic guy.

"I agree with Buck's opinion. Maybe Mark is a good choice. This guy has a lot of ideas for playing basketball." At this time, Gan Guoyang also spoke. Gan Guoyang still had a deep impression of Mark Bryant, because with his hairstyle, he was simply Takaki Akagi in "Slam Dunk".

Faced with the players' opinions, Adelman's head was also a little big. In the end, he asked the players to have a good rest and leave the lineup to him to solve.
Chapter completed!