Pippen laughed in frustration, thinking to himself, "I couldn’t stop him last year, and you’re trying again this year?"
Before the finals began, the Bulls clearly established a strategy of collective defense.
Control the pace, learn from the Supersonics’ experience, and cut off the connection between the Trail Blazers’ backcourt and Ah Gan.
In particular, focus on suppressing Porter and Petrovic, forming a positive encirclement that proved very effective.
At the same time, don’t let Ah Gan boost the team’s morale; only Jordan can offset Ah Gan’s offense.
Pippen played very well in the first two games, excelling in scoring, rebounds, and assists, a very comprehensive performance.
Now it’s happening again, making him a scapegoat, sitting on the bench in the first quarter with his butt hurting.
In the second quarter, Gan Guoyang was resting off the court, while Kossie, Cliff Robinson, and Curry led the second lineup.
With Mychal Thompson retired, Mike Sanders gone, and Antonio Davis still inexperienced, the Trail Blazers were maintaining an eight-man rotation throughout the finals.
The Bulls seized this opportunity to catch up, while Gan Guoyang was gulping down water on the sideline, saying to Beelman, "Sub me back in during the next dead ball; I can’t rest too long."
Beelman responded, "Sonny, what are you playing at? Who taught you to play like this?"
"I invented it myself."
Beelman nodded, "Alright, alright, you can invent your own playing style now, impressive, you’re something."
But he was already used to it; back in high school and college, Ah Gan often invented various playing styles and strategies by himself.
Beelman’s guidance was sometimes followed and sometimes not; the coach on the sidelines was often just there for good luck.
Now Beelman knew that Ah Gan had definitely made significant progress in basketball skills and thinking.
That’s why tonight he’s playing so unrestrained, like an antelope hanging by its horns, elusive, leaving both the opponents and teammates bewildered.
Whether or not they understand doesn’t matter; what’s important is that they must win tonight.
Gan Guoyang rested for only three minutes in the second quarter and came back in after a sideline inbound, replacing Sabonis.
The Trail Blazers were on the court with a quick lineup: Gan Guoyang, Robinson, Curry, Kossie, and Petrovic.
Gan Guoyang gathered everyone together, saying, "Pete and Dale, stay on the wings and shoot threes if you have the chance, don’t hesitate. I’ll create opportunities for you. Jerome, Cliff, set more screens for me."
Robinson and Kossie looked puzzled, "Us setting screens for you?"
Isn’t it usually you setting screens, then cutting out to receive the ball?
"You can also set screens; I’ll handle the ball. Rest assured, my ball protection is good, as you’ve all seen."
They certainly saw it; in the first quarter, Gan Guoyang’s dribbling was even better than Porter’s.
Porter would fumble against the Bulls’ perimeter defense and make mistakes.
Gan Guoyang didn’t make a single turnover. Of course, his control was brief and quick, initiating attacks rapidly without giving the Bulls a chance to encircle him.
In the second quarter, the Bulls were bound to step up their marking on him, perhaps assigning someone to shadow him constantly, which was when Gan Guoyang needed screens.
Sure enough, as soon as Gan Guoyang stepped onto the court, Pippen stuck to him, tasked with keeping a close watch on Ah Gan.
"Phil sent you to die again," Gan Guoyang said to Pippen.
The "again" word captured the essence, leaving Pippen’s face long and morose.
Off the ball, Pippen began entangling with Gan Guoyang.
Gan Guoyang started roaming in the half-court during the offense.
He could attack from anywhere.
After crossing the midline, he could receive the ball and launch an assault, so they had to watch him.
From beyond the three-point line, he could break through or shoot threes; they had to watch him.
The wings and low post were even stronger areas for him.
From 1984-1986, Gan Guoyang’s sweet spot was a line down the middle.
From 1986 to 1988, Gan Guoyang began spreading to both wings.
From 1988-1992, the low post, wings, and top of the key had become Gan’s territory, akin to a thick "I" shape.
In the 1992 Finals, Gan Guoyang attempted to extend his range across the whole half-court.
After a few rounds, Pippen was on the verge of collapse.
It wasn’t the running and exhaustion that was breaking him; the fatigue was expected since finals were always grueling.
What made him collapse was the futility—running all that, tiring himself out, yet he still couldn’t stop him.
From midcourt to the three-point line, Kossie and Robinson would come to provide screens.
Pippen found it absurd; shouldn’t the center provide screens instead of being screened?
But in basketball games, other than not traveling or using your feet to kick the ball, there are no hard limits.
Once screened, the middle would have openings, allowing Ah Gan to launch a powerful assault.
If collapsed, he’d pass to the wings, letting Curry and Petrovic shoot threes or fake and attack the basket.
If not collapsed, he’d take big strides to the basket, either scoring or drawing fouls.
Ah Gan could also shoot threes; early in the second quarter, he made two in a row, forcing the Bulls to defend outward.
With the defense stretched outward, Kossie and Robinson started cutting inside; there was always a backup plan waiting for them.
Contrary to expectations, the feared back-to-the-basket post-ups or mid-range shots from the foul line or baseline didn’t appear.
The reason was simple; while these attacks were highly efficient for Gan Guoyang, they weren’t efficient enough for the Trail Blazers as a whole.
Against other teams, it would’ve been more than enough, but against this year’s Bulls, it was a bit of a struggle, so Gan Guoyang needed to rally the whole team.
At this time, the Bulls were becoming extremely passive on defense, with their formations and strategy failing, relying solely on individual defensive skills and luck.
The point gap quickly widened to 15 points, too quickly, as the Trail Blazers hit three three-pointers, making the score climb swiftly.