When he was at his peak of speed and explosiveness, the opponent’s defense was often unable to react, and Gan Guoyang would already be scoring, getting to the basket as easily as reaching into his pocket.
But now, not only has the opponent’s defense improved, but the defensive rules have also changed. His own explosiveness and speed aren’t what they used to be, and his teammates have weakened. Multiple factors combined have led to a decrease in his efficiency.
However, Gan Guoyang quickly found a way to cope. He reduced his low-post back-to-the-basket attacks and instead started facing the basket from the wings to attack the opponent.
Despite trailing the Pacers by 8 points at halftime, Gan Guoyang used three-pointers and step-back mid-range jumpers in the third quarter to consecutively score, catching up 10 points and turning the score around!
With his low-post attack and high-post coordination blocked, Gan Guoyang decisively picked up new weapons to initiate his offense, playing increasingly unlike a center in the attacking end.
During a timeout called by the Pacers, Bird commented admiringly, "If I had your ball-handling skills back then, I should have won two more championships."
Ball-handling was always Bird’s weakness because he was trained as a power forward early on and continued with the low-post + catch-and-shoot route after transitioning to small forward.
Gan Guoyang’s style of finding rhythm on the outside with the ball, unafraid of double-teams and defenses, guarding the ball while being able to drive or shoot, had never appeared in NBA history until now.
Gan Guoyang wiped his sweat and said, "I don’t want to play like this, this kind of play is exhausting. At most, I can score 15 more points in a row before I need a break."
If anyone else said this, they would be thought to be showing off, but Gan Guoyang was just being honest.
The previous method of positioning, receiving, turning and attacking was indeed more energy-efficient.
With that kind of one-on-one play, he could continue from the first quarter to the fourth and score 60 points easily.
There was a year when he played like this against the Bucks in an away game and practically forced Don Nelson to concede.
But when you have the ball on the outside, without any tactical cooperation, using purely dribbling and penetration to shake off opponents expends much more energy.
This type of ball-handling attack requires him to play for a while, rest, and then start again, unlike the endless machine of the low-post.
Of course, most stars can’t even handle playing this style for four or five possessions in a row, needing a break before continuing to heavily attack and score.
Gan Guoyang is confident he can play ten consecutive possessions without needing easy baskets, free throws, or any transitional scoring. This is the confidence he brings to the team.
However, after the timeout and returning to the court, the Pacers began strictly controlling Gan Guoyang’s ball reception, preferring to be called for illegal defense than letting him freely iso with the ball.
Moreover, once Reggie Miller returned, he regained the lead with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer. Miller had already scored 21 points.
The defense against Miller was entrusted to Kobe, who voluntarily matched up against him as a substitute. Watching the ball go through the net cleanly, Kobe’s face looked very grim.
Kobe, who was confident before the game, ended up questioning his abilities when matched against Miller—Miller was taller and liked to run endlessly.
This constant movement made Kobe uncomfortable, preventing him from harnessing his tenacious defensive skills or covering them like he did against Brandon.
Additionally, Miller used trash talk constantly to attack Kobe, telling him, "The whole league is watching you, so get ready, rookie."
When the Trail Blazers couldn’t get the ball to Gan Guoyang on offense, Kobe tried to stand out, hoping his offense could help the team.
But his attempt to shoot off a jump stop against the dense Pacers defense ended in an airball... Watching Ah Gan score looked easy, so why was it so tough for him?
The Pacers took advantage of this opportunity to counterattack, with Miller running upfront, receiving Mark Jackson’s long assist for a fast break, while Kobe chased desperately behind.
Miller glanced back at Kobe, slowed down, waited for Kobe to catch up, and then performed a fake at the basket, making Kobe fly out...
As he flew, both his arms waved like an egg beater, as if paying homage to Ah Gan and Bill Walton.
Reggie Miller gently made a bank shot for two points, regaining the Pacers’ lead.
This time, Kobe had rushed into the stands and was helped back by the fans.
Miller, having made the shot, didn’t hurry to defense but waited for Kobe to get up before taunting, "Welcome to the NBA, rookie!"
Kobe’s eyes were filled with uncovered anger, and he desired a counterattack in the offense, getting entangled with Miller outside.
Gan Guoyang finally got the ball on the outside—Bird needed to teach a special class on how to deliver the ball to Ah Gan from the perimeter.
Seeing Kobe and Miller locked in confrontation, he intended to give Kobe a chance. But Kobe, enraged by Miller’s defense, directly swung an elbow into Miller’s chest!
Miller clutched his chest and fell back, the referee blew the whistle, marking a technical foul on Kobe, worsening the Trail Blazers’ situation.
The crowd booed, and now the big screen in the arena can endlessly replay the slow-motion close-up of Kobe’s angry elbow hit on Miller.
The elbow wasn’t even hard, but Miller acted like he was seriously hurt, sitting on the floor for a long time without getting up.
Gan Guoyang walked over and said, "Reggie, do you want me to give you an elbow so you can rest longer?"
Hearing what Ah Gan said, Miller quickly got up and said, "I was just kidding, Sonny."
Miller merrily took advantage with the technical foul free throw, continuing to build on the lead.
The Pacers were clearly a more disciplined and organized team than the Trail Blazers.
Their entire squad pulled together, divided responsibilities clearly, knowing what to do at every moment.
Whereas the Trail Blazers’ rhythm was disrupted, Kobe was pressed back to the bench by Bird for being too impulsive just now.
Bird told Kobe, "Either you fully elbow Miller out of the game, or don’t move your elbows at all, understand?"
Kobe stared at Bird, his eyes filled with doubt, as if asking, are you serious, coach?
Kobe was surprised when Gan Guoyang said the same thing to him during a timeout.
Either don’t elbow, or if you do elbow, make sure he’s out—get off the court.
Kobe seemed to understand something, yet not understand enough.
Miller continued his excellent performance, hitting another three-pointer from the perimeter, giving the Pacers a larger lead again.
Gan Guoyang could defend Bird, could defend Johnson, and even in special moments could defend Jordan.
Except for the likes of Miller, those running positional guards, he really couldn’t manage.
His trouble wasn’t due to lacking stamina or speed, but being physically large and easily blocked.
Once Gan Guoyang began following Miller, Pacers’ offense would have already succeeded.
Because Miller didn’t have the ball, a player without the ball occupying the Trail Blazers’ strongest defense is undoubtedly a huge success.
Backcourt rebounds, three-second zone defense, and perimeter pressure would all vanish, Miller not needing the ball at all.
Therefore Gan Guoyang couldn’t guard Miller, leaving it to Kobe, Alon Magee, or others to chase.
Alon Magee’s issue is his height, whereas Miller’s height and wingspan have always stood out among shooting guards.
Both sides fought until the very last moment of the match; in the fourth quarter, Gan Guoyang still led the counterattack tide, and in the last 6 seconds, hit a three-pointer to equalize the score!
Adelman called two consecutive timeouts, with the Pacers running a beautiful play, Miller receiving at the right corner for a mid-range buzzer-beater!
The score froze at 91:93, as the Pacers edged the Trail Blazers by 2 points at home, ending the Trail Blazers’ three-game winning streak.
Gan Guoyang ended the match with 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, but couldn’t withstand Miller’s 31 points and the final buzzer-beater.
Adelman also deserves credit for this play, emphasizing using every bit of the 6 seconds, leaving no time, not even 0.1 seconds.
Even if they missed, ensuring no time remained for the Trail Blazers.
Because any left time allows the Trail Blazers a chance at a buzzer re-answer, potentially pushing the game to overtime or even seizing the win.
Having worked with the Trail Blazers for years, Adelman knew Ah Gan’s fearsome ability all too well.
The buzzer-beater left Gan Guoyang feeling helpless, as Adelman, Ali, Davis, and other former teammates came over to console him.
"Welcome back, Ah Gan!"