Once Sabonis, standing 7 feet 2 inches tall, grabbed the ball under the basket, the Magic simply couldn’t defend.
Unless they let O’Neal leave Gan Guoyang and go defend Sabonis.
Guokas had suggested this, letting O’Neal stop matching up with Ah Gan.
But the proud O’Neal wouldn’t agree; he’d rather be beaten to death than miss the matchup with Ah Gan.
After being repeatedly toyed with by Gan Guoyang’s excellent passing, O’Neal was somewhat furiously helpless.
"Are you really afraid to attack me, Sonny?" O’Neal continued to talk tough.
Gan Guoyang didn’t reply, he started to sink down to the low post asking for the ball.
Another intense physical confrontation, Gan Guoyang firmly positioned himself on the right side under the basket.
His right foot suddenly moved inside, then he quickly turned after catching the ball.
A strong pivot move pushed O’Neal behind him, followed by a powerful left-handed dunk!
O’Neal couldn’t react in time and was dunked on solidly.
"How’s that, Shaq?" Gan Guoyang asked after scoring.
O’Neal wanted to return the favor, but the sly Gan Guoyang dodged his move simply.
Inexperienced and unprepared, O’Neal was called for traveling.
Immediately after, Gan Guoyang again set up in the low post asking for the ball.
This time O’Neal got smart and blocked the baseline.
Gan Guoyang quickly pivoted on his heel, leaned forward into a shot and scored.
Other players’ fadeaway jumpers, O’Neal could still manage to block.
Gan Guoyang’s quick turn into a lean, was just too fast.
The ball went in, O’Neal couldn’t even jump in time.
In the second half, Gan Guoyang began showcasing his skills and shooting.
O’Neal’s real nightmare began.
This was no longer about physical endurance and confrontation, but truly unattainable.
Gan Guoyang along with Porter and Petrović continuously executed pick and rolls at the top.
Screens away, followed by mid-range jump shots.
Screens away, and three-point shots.
Catching the ball at the corner followed by mid-range shots.
Quick turn around jump shots.
Fast breaks driving to the basket for layups.
Dribbling past the defenders concluding with a step-back jump shot.
O’Neal felt like an idiot, a big fool.
The Magic coach’s half-time setup on double-teaming and team defense was useless.
In fact, everyone didn’t want to help O’Neal.
After coming to Orlando, this guy stole all the spotlight.
Saying people didn’t want to see him embarrassed was impossible.
By the fourth quarter, the game had turned into Ah Gan’s shark military training show.
Outside, Gan Guoyang caught the ball, just waiting for O’Neal to come defend.
Are you coming? If you don’t come, no teammate will, leaving him unguarded.
If you come, then be prepared to be showcased by Gan Guoyang’s exceptional offensive skills.
O’Neal was talented; if he fully committed to defense, it wasn’t impossible to restrict Ah Gan.
The problem was his defensive habits had always been poor.
From high school to college, he never tried to defend and bite on someone.
Because others were always biting on him, how could he lower himself to be a scrappy player?
Gan Guoyang attacked and defended, fully targeting O’Neal, with teammates’ assistance.
O’Neal made consecutive errors in the second half and was intercepted by Gan Guoyang three times.
Total throughout the game, he was intercepted by Gan Guoyang six times, gradually becoming disoriented.
He appeared to be in a dream on the court, no longer knowing how to play.
Whenever Gan Guoyang caught the ball, he’d reflexively try to defend, but didn’t know how.
How to defend? Guard against the drive? The shot? Or pay attention to his pass?
Too many changes, O’Neal was even too lazy to think about it.
He completely accepted the status of lying flat and slacking off.
Play your game; knock me down if you need.
About fouling? It was useless.
Gan Guoyang’s free throws—foul him and it’s just giving away points.
Finally, in the last stages of the fourth quarter, O’Neal helplessly committed his sixth foul with a hand foul.
Expelled by the referee, disgracefully returned to the locker room.
The score on the court was 121:102, the Trail Blazers already leading by 19 points.
Later on, the Trail Blazers were no longer playing full defense.
O’Neal managed to get a few shots in.
But on the opposing side, Gan Guoyang had already racked up 55 points.
O’Neal had only scored 12 points, a huge difference of 43 points.
Leaving through the player tunnel, O’Neal felt like crying.
He lifted his jersey to cover his face.
Under the constant gaze of the camera, he silently entered the locker room and closed the door.
Meanwhile, after making his free throws, Gan Guoyang finished with 57 points, and was subbed out by Beelman.
Watching O’Neal leave in dismay, he also wondered if he had gone too far.
As he got into the rhythm, he couldn’t stop himself.
He still wanted to tell O’Neal, "The future is yours."
This kid just fouled out with six fouls.
I’ll say it next time, there will be plenty of chances.