Just like Sabonis, Petrović’s three years with the Trail Blazers were not in vain.
Three championships – they weren’t won by clapping from the bench but by making significant contributions.
Petrović transformed from the weak, slightly hunched-over, defensively poor, fragile European white point guard in 1990 into today’s super sixth man capable of handling things on his own.
He’s become sturdier, with much stronger thighs, and his slightly hunched posture has straightened out, perhaps even too straight, making him look a bit stiff while dribbling.
Now he’s undeniably the core player of Croatia, and the only one on their side who can face off against the Dream Team without making the match look too bad.
Facing Jordan’s tough one-on-one defense, Petrović can dribble with ease, hold the ball and break through normally, tangle with Jordan near the three-point line, while Jordan cannot afford to be careless at all, as any laxity or mistake would give Petrović an opportunity.
Compared to Petrović, other players on the Croatia Team are clearly inferior in terms of confrontation and focus.
When facing other teams, they can pass, position, and showcase their offensive talents comfortably.
But against Team USA, they couldn’t adapt to the ever-intensifying defense, leading to numerous errors.
However, scoring against Croatia is no easy task for Team USA either.
Croatian players are all very tall; apart from Petrović, all are over 2 meters, even exceeding 206 cm.
Their center, number 11 Stojko Frančović, is 218 cm tall, possessing an impressive wingspan, blocking shots from Jordan, Pippen, and David Robinson in succession in the lane.
Blocking shots from these three head-on isn’t only about height and wingspan; anticipation and confrontation are surely on point.
Clearly, this group of Croatian players has tremendous talent, but lacks quality training and high-level competitive polishing.
Players like Kukoc and Frančović are like unpolished gems; looking at their slender builds and muscle-deficient arms, one can tell there’s been too little strength training.
This was a common issue among European players at the time; now, European training standards and concepts are similar to NBA’s late 70s and early 80s, behind by about 10 years.
At this point, Magic Johnson started making efforts on the offensive end; first drawing a foul from Petrović, then executing a classic coast-to-coast break with a no-look pass to Pippen for a successful layup.
It’s evident that Team USA started to get serious on both ends, with genuinely tight defense, and on offense, utilizing tactics and cooperation rather than relying solely on individual skills.
For Croatia, aside from Petrović being able to control the ball and initiate offense, others couldn’t hold onto the ball at all; once they handled the ball, they were about to lose it.
Another turnover – Team USA took the ball and pushed for a fast break, forcing Croatia to foul, causing a dead ball, leading the Croatian coach to call a timeout.
At this rate, Team USA will have double-digit steals in the first half, and Croatia will have double-digit turnovers.
Sitting courtside watching the game, Gan Guoyang angrily swore at the Croatian coach, calling him an idiot.
"Pete is the only player able to confront Team USA, and also a point guard; why not let Pete control the ball and play? Instead, sticking dogmatically to some textbook teamwork, you can’t even pass well, can’t even hold onto the ball, what team play are you trying to do!"
"Coach Jiang, don’t you think this Croatian coach is inflexible? Look at their teamwork and passes, committing errors three or four times in a row, yet still passing slow and soft, aren’t they just asking to get beaten?"
"Just now, when Petrović singled out Jordan then distributed for an assist, it was beautifully executed, invigorating the offense by himself; yet later he couldn’t even receive the ball, what kind of team offense is that! Players coming out of Portland won’t get exhausted."
"If I were their coach, from the first offensive play, I’d let Petrović hold the ball and attack – if he can’t make the shot, then break through and distribute. He should always be the first option, the ball must pass through his hands; only then will it minimize turnovers and consistently pose a threat to Team USA. Coach Jiang, do you think I’m making sense?"
Croatia’s head coach is Zeviclov Lejuboyevic, a once household name in Yugoslavia, a scoring champion on European courts, a renowned coach.
Listening to Gan Guoyang’s complaints, Jiang Xingquan’s expression was complex, unsure how to respond, feeling as if Ah Gan was implying something.
According to Jiang Xingquan’s traditional basketball education, no player should be above the team and coach; team basketball is the consensus among the majority of coaches in China and Europe.
Yet Jiang Xingquan really didn’t know how to refute, particularly after witnessing the Lithuania game, as Gan Guoyang was almost at a War God level.
Besides, facing America, aside from giving the ball to the strongest player, there really doesn’t seem to be any better option.
Croatia is already very strong, yet their so-called team offense, with passing getting a bit excessive, quickly leads to turnovers.
Once a turnover occurs, it’s either a foul or a chance to gift the opponent a fast break; Team USA’s ability to counterattack practically gives them away points.
If it were China Team playing, also relying on team offense, with passes going back and forth at half-court, each player getting a touch, they’d definitely do worse than Croatia.