Chapter 33 Do Not Let Your Guard Down

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The Lakers' strength this year is evident to all.

Magic Johnson's maturity and improvement have been one of the hallmarks, leading the team in an offensive surge from the beginning of the game through the third quarter, with Johnson's expression remaining calm throughout.

Gone was the rookie excitement of witnessing game-winning shots, and absent were the tears of frustration after losing to the Celtics; he now seemed indifferent to joy or anger.

Before the game, he shook hands with Gan Guoyang, hugged, and exchanged pleasantries without the deliberate estrangement and coldness of '86 or the sincere enthusiasm and affection of '85.

He had come to regard Gan Guoyang as a formidable opponent, and correspondingly, for Gan Guoyang, Johnson had also become a fearsome adversary.

On the Lakers' bench, Morris Lucas was naturally swept out the door, Rambis left, Cooper retired, McGee left, and Larry Spriggs went to Real Madrid in Spain.