Sabonis’ perimeter sweeping ability has been affected due to knee problems.
Gan Guoyang has firmly guarded the inside this season, ignoring anything outside the Three Second Zone as much as possible.
This is a strategy formulated by Beelman; they only need to maintain a standard level of defensive efficiency.
Then on the offensive end, they can outscore the opponent with firepower.
Playing a game is like losing weight; the key to losing weight is to control your diet and exercise more.
Controlling your diet is defense, reducing intake.
Exercising is offense, increasing expenditure.
As long as expenditure exceeds intake, weight will drop.
The key purpose is to create a calorie deficit between the two.
The Trail Blazers are currently exercising diligently with powerful firepower.
So they can afford not to control their diet, eating what they want.
Ultimately, as long as expenditure exceeds intake, it’s fine.
The Bulls’ situation is similar to the Trail Blazers’.
In the past two seasons, they could rely on their strong defense to overwhelm opponents.
This season, they are also relying more on offense.
Their offensive efficiency ranks third in the league, just behind the Trail Blazers and Suns.
Their defense has fallen to middle of the league, and the players aren’t as desperate as before.
Bill Cartwright’s legs are nearing their limit.
Buck-Williams is playing fewer and fewer minutes.
Role players are more focused on improving their offensive stats.
Defense is difficult to show in stat sheets.
And their next contract is often determined by these statistics.
After all, some managers really don’t watch game footage, just the stat sheet.
Therefore, this regular-season battle was destined from the start to be an offensive showdown.
The Bulls’ starting lineup is Jordan, Pippen, Purdue, Grant, and BJ Armstrong.
Armstrong has replaced the aging John Paxson as the reliable point guard and spot-up shooter beside Jordan.
And Purdue, the big white center, replaces the even older Cartwright, who is absent due to injury tonight.
This may not be bad news for the Bulls, because whenever Cartwright faces Ah Gan, he’s basically invisible.
So whether he’s injured or not, it makes no difference.
The game is about to start, and Jordan seems in a good mood, all smiles.
Gan Guoyang has helped him solve Richard’s problem, lifting a heavy burden from his heart.
Playing against Ah Gan again today, although losing hurts, the process always excites him.
Besides, every time before playing Ah Gan, Jordan is confident he can win.
Gan Guoyang saw Jordan flashing his white teeth and said, "Do you know what’s going to happen tonight? You still have the mood to smile?"
"What’s going to happen? I’m going to kick your ass, and I’m thrilled about it."
"Michael, your mouth is getting tougher. Come over to my house for dinner after the game."
"Oh no, forget it, I have a flight to catch back to Chicago."
"You can leave tomorrow, you’re resting when you go back anyway. My old man is fixing a late-night snack at home."
"Oh?"
Hearing that Gan Guoyang’s father was home, Jordan hesitated.
He knew Mr. Gan’s culinary skills were amazing; every time Barkley would rave about Ah Gan’s dad’s unparalleled burgers at parties.
"I can consider it. If I’m in a good mood after the game, I’ll go. I hope I won’t disturb him."
"He’s watching the game live. Unbelievable, he’s actually a fan of yours. He didn’t even know your name a while ago."
This thing left Gan Guoyang quite annoyed, as Gan Youwei only started watching basketball games over the past year.
Of course, his biggest supporter is his son, Gan Guoyang, but the star he admires most is Jordan.
Asked why, Gan Youwei gave a simple reason: "He plays with flair and style."
"I’m not stylish, I’m not pretty?"
"You’re too tall and strong, it affects the aesthetics."
Gan Youwei’s honesty stung Gan Guoyang.
But to fulfill his dad’s wish as a basketball fan, he still invited Jordan over for dinner.
Jordan, hearing that Mr. Gan was his fan, smiled even more happily.
"Whether I go for the meal or not, after the game, I must sign an autograph and take a picture with him!"
"He really has good taste, I admire him."
The two chewed gum and chatted for a while.
Tonight’s Gan-Jordan battle lacked its usual tension.
The way the two reminisced before the game looked like they were going to play a friendly match.
But it was merely superficial banter among old rivals, with undercurrents beneath the surface.
The game had just begun, and Gan Guoyang intended to take the lead.
During the jump ball, he elbowed Purdue, tipping the ball.
The referee didn’t blow the whistle, and Purdue suffered in silence.
The Trail Blazers initiated their first attack.
Petrović held the ball at the top of the arc, facing Jordan’s defense.
Gan Guoyang cut into the basket from the baseline, entering the Bulls’ defensive encirclement.
Petrović passed the ball to the approaching Sabonis.
Sabonis immediately made a straight pass to the basket, where Gan Guoyang got the ball amidst three Bulls players.
Protecting the ball, he spun and pushed out the defense.
Still stunned from the elbow during the jump ball, Purdue failed to exert his strength, letting Gan Guoyang score easily.
It was an aggressive start as usual.
After scoring, Gan Guoyang patted Purdue, "That elbow wasn’t intentional, I was careless."
"Otherwise, you’d be benched tonight."
Purdue remained silent, heading to the baseline for the throw-in.
He cursed inwardly, convinced that Cartwright was feigning injury.
Otherwise, he was fine the last game, so why is he injured and absent just against the Trail Blazers?
It must be his fear of facing Ah Gan in the regular season, his Gan-phobia acting up.
With old Cartwright out, only I, Purdue, have to suffer and bear the brunt.