Phil Jackson substituted Jordan in, but unfortunately, Jordan’s shooting touch wasn’t great tonight.
Continuous missed mid-range shots, Gan Guoyang dribbled to counter-attack, and Jordan and Pippen started to double-team Ah Gan before reaching half-court.
Only then did the Bulls barely slow down the Trail Blazers’ counter-attack speed, resulting in Pippen and Jordan being greatly exhausted on the defensive end.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers relaxed with their 15-point lead, making good use of their interior advantage to compete with the Bulls.
"Sabonis scores with a turnaround hook shot!"
"Cliff Robinson’s low post turnaround missed, but he grabbed the offensive rebound and got a foul, free throw."
"Curry’s three-point did not go in, long rebound, Ah Gan grabs the rebound, passes to Petrović, drives in for a layup but misses again, but Sabonis tips it in!"
"Jordan’s drive, switching hands for the layup didn’t score, tonight Michael’s offensive feel is really bad, the Trail Blazers are counter-attacking."
"Porter, shoots a direct three-pointer, scores! Woh! This is the Trail Blazers’ fifth three-pointer tonight!"
In a counter-attack towards the end of the second quarter, Porter received a pass from Gan Guoyang and quickly took a three-point shot.
Scoring, expanding the lead to 21 points, 49:70, a massacre starting to take shape.
The Rose Garden Arena is in a jubilant mood, Tang Jianguo stood up and started dancing the Cha-Cha on his seat.
Scoring 70 points by halftime against the Bulls, the offensive firepower is jaw-dropping.
Gan Guoyang’s performance was even more brilliant, with an astonishing display that left the Bulls dazed and confused.
Even at halftime, back in the locker room, Jordan still looked baffled, repeatedly saying: "What the fack..."
In every past Gan Qiao battle, although Jordan lost more than he won, he always believed he didn’t underperform compared to Ah Gan.
Indeed, both have always been like comets colliding, and in the first two games, he even had the upper hand over Ah Gan.
So in the face of failure and a formidable opponent, Jordan has always been composed.
Victory is satisfying, but defeat is also accepted gladly.
Even if they lose this game, they still lead the series, the advantage is with us.
Moreover, this loss was originally planned, wanting a 3:0 against the Trail Blazers is nearly impossible.
But tonight, after playing just a half, a slight fear grew in Jordan’s heart.
Because he realized, he might never catch up to Ah Gan.
The entire first half, Ah Gan didn’t score once from the low post.
Yet he tallied 22 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals.
And, statistics only show a small part of what he did, he is changing the offensive and defensive structure on the court.
Is this something a human being can do in a series?
No one would play the most important game in a way they are unfamiliar with.
"This guy, has he been hiding and disguising himself all along? Now, he’s finally not pretending?"
Jordan had to reasonably suspect this, that Ah Gan has been suppressing his strength all along.
Because Jordan himself does this, in regular seasons and some playoff games, he plays conservatively.
But not to the extent of Ah Gan, does that guy suppress himself that terrifyingly?
"Michael, Michael!"
Jackson’s voice interrupted Jordan’s thoughts.
"Focus Michael, Sonny did some extraordinary things in the first half, but we still have control over the series. In the second half, we must execute some countermeasures, and they need to be effective!"
Jackson said a lot, but Jordan didn’t take in a word.
His mind was full of what Gan Guoyang told him in the first half, "Michael, you understand me less and less."
Indeed, he understands him less and less, we clearly started together, I’m gradually catching up to you.
Seeing that I was about to catch up, I suddenly realized, I was just catching your shadow, you are still further away.
Jordan really wanted to grab Gan Guoyang and ask him clearly, but the break was over, the second half was about to start.
Forget it, let’s feel it in the game, feel this non-human game, there’s no better communication than that.