At halftime, in the locker room, Beelman couldn’t help but ask, "Sonny, aren’t you being a bit too aggressive?"
Beelman felt that Gan Guoyang might be being too harsh.
The second quarter was full of solo plays, all attacking the basket.
Clearly targeting O’Neal, showing that he doesn’t need to use mid-range shots to punish him.
He’s challenging his strong points, testing his pride in his physical strength.
Proving who is the league’s top power king.
Of course, every seemingly reckless charge was actually full of nuances.
Choosing footwork facing the basket, attacking direction when back facing, all meticulously planned.
O’Neal had never faced such fast, precise footwork from a center before.
While still matching his impact, the young man clearly got overwhelmed afterwards.
Trail Blazers teammates joked, "Sonny’s petty, seeing Shaq’s popularity, beats him to death."
"Sonny, you’re bullying the newcomer! Just for the All-Star votes leader."
"To protect his top center position, the boss strikes mercilessly!"
The locker room was full of cheerful ambiance.
In the NBA, veterans battering rookies, disciplining newcomers is a scene everyone loves to watch.
Like veterans in the troops training new soldiers, new soldiers become veterans, then train the next batch.
Gan Guoyang smiled and said it’s all slander.
"I admire Shaq, he’s very talented."
"Played like this in the first half, it’s not Shaq’s problem, it’s the Magic’s issue."
"Their setup and tactical literacy need improvement, shouldn’t expose Shaq like this, should protect him well."
Gan Guoyang was speaking the truth.
In the second quarter, when O’Neal was repeatedly scored against, the Magic should have made adjustments.
Even if still unable to defend, they should have pulled O’Neal from the front line against Ah Gan.
Let other inside players take on, outside players actively double team, utilizing team defense effectively.
It’s essential to protect the core center who shoulders the team’s offensive and defensive duties.
Like a powerful, all-round aircraft carrier, it must have a fleet to escort.
Past Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar, now Ewing, Olajuwon, all have protective bodyguards.
A power forward who can withstand, hold, and play, a substitute big guy who can play fifteen to twenty minutes, are standard.
Gan Guoyang, as the league’s top figure, physical monster, the Trail Blazers continually search for power forwards and backup centers.
In comparison, O’Neal’s defensive power is currently too weak.
Power forward Tom Terbert at only 6 feet 7, it’s tough enough for him to go against Sabonis.
Sending him to guard Ah Gan is simply asking for trouble.
O’Neal’s backup center is former Celtics mascot, Greg Kite.
In the 80s, his main role in the Celtics was attacking and wearing down Jabbar.
He faced Gan Guoyang during the 86 finals.
Gan Guoyang had forgotten about this guy, no threat.
Besides, the only usable inside player on the Magic’s bench is Jeff Turner.
Also a white forward, member of the 1984 American Olympic Basketball delegation.
He trained alongside Gan Guoyang and was left till the end.
But on the NBA court, he was just mediocre, ordinary.
In the increasingly intense 90s, the Magic’s three rotating inside players are all white.
In the mid-to-late 80s, big white inside players began lagging behind the league’s pace.
The days when a roughly 7-foot big white center could squeeze into the top ten draft picks with just height and some shooting, defense is long gone.
Moreover, these three white inside players of the Magic don’t even have the height advantage.
In the situation of O’Neal being repeatedly attacked, no one from the Magic stepped up to shield O’Neal.
If it were the Knicks, if Ewing were being beaten like this by Gan Guoyang, Oakley would definitely step up to face the challenge.
Besides, the Knicks defense wouldn’t let Gan Guoyang repeatedly focus on low positions.
In this aspect, the Magic seemed too young, lacking the morale and experience to respond.
In the Magic’s locker room, O’Neal seemed very dejected.
He sat in front of the locker, letting sweat drop continuously.
Coach Guokas comforted O’Neal, but O’Neal was silent.
His mind was blank, it was the first time he was beaten so embarrassingly.
In the first half, he scored only 6 points, while Ah Gan got 27 points.
Those 27 points were mostly scored against O’Neal.
Every point was a result of O’Neal’s defensive failure.
O’Neal didn’t realize it wasn’t his fault.
It was mainly because the team wasn’t adequately prepared.
Guokas had no cards to play.
He also realized that making O’Neal compete directly with Ah Gan in the first half was a mistake.
When arranging second-half tactics, Guokas asked other players to actively double-team Ah Gan.
"Double team, every ball needs to be double-teamed, three or even four players if necessary."
"You all need to help Shaq, give Shaq enough support!"
"Offense needs to be more flexible, utilize spatial advantages, be decisive with three-point shots."
Guokas finally realized he should provide enough support to O’Neal.
O’Neal is the Magic’s top card, but he’s not quite the true leader yet.
Teammates don’t have the instinct to protect him, this needs cultivating.
O’Neal slowly recovered from the first half’s dejection.
Guokas reminded him of defensive key points.
"Don’t let Ah Gan easily move you to the outside, let him shoot."
"Hold the baseline, one step is enough, you can do it."