So Gan Guoyang is in a sage period, with average excitement for the game tonight, focusing more on passing and assisting, giving young players more opportunities to perform.
As for Garnett? He temporarily isn’t qualified to be a serious matchup for Gan Guoyang.
This guy is really too skinny, although he gained weight to 240 pounds after a season, his height still makes this weight seem lean.
Garnett is one of the few who reported himself shorter in the draft, a fact clearly seen when compared to Jermaine O’Neal.
No matter the occasion, photo, or angle, they both claim to be 6 feet 11 inches, yet Garnett always appears much taller than Little O’Neal.
Gan Guoyang only needed a glance to realize this guy is definitely 7 feet tall; he looks not much different from Shaquille O’Neal.
But because he’s too skinny, he visually appears a size smaller. Tonight the two did not directly matchup at the start.
Defending Gan Guoyang is the Timberwolves’ starting center, Dean Garrett, another player they fished from overseas leagues.
Many times, the Timberwolves just have no choice, as any player with some fame in the free market doesn’t want to play here.
They can only rely on drafts and overseas finds, piecing their roster with those who haven’t achieved success.
Geniuses like Garnett and Marbury are rare encounters for the Timberwolves.
Garrett has broad shoulders, good wingspan, and decent physical conditions, resembling Kevin McHale.
The highlight of his basketball career was in college; in 1987, he represented Indiana University and won the NCAA national championship.
However, such a championship member went without a role in the NBA, roamed in Europe for eight years, before being recruited by the Timberwolves.
It can be said that the expansion of the NBA offered many players chances to play and work, but it also indicates that the overall level of NBA players is declining.
Garrett had no way to deal with Gan Guoyang during defense; as soon as the game began, Gan Guoyang scored three consecutive low post plays against Garrett, forcing the Timberwolves to start double-teaming.
Once double-teamed, Gan Guoyang began passing, initiating the team’s offensive movement, creating more and better opportunities for teammates.
After half a quarter, the Trail Blazers led the Timberwolves by 18:10, with Philip Saunders calling a timeout for defensive adjustments.
Garrett sat on the bench panting heavily, drinking water incessantly.
Though he is a veteran from the 1987 draft, this year is his actual first year playing in the NBA.
So like Kevin Garnett, Garrett was also facing Ah Gan for the first time in the game.
Gan Guoyang is a typical American center blended with the style of a European center.
Garrett, having played in Europe for eight years, had never encountered such a strong, solid interior player.
He prided himself on having decent defensive skills in the low post, but after five minutes, Garrett told himself, "No way, I can’t guard him at all."
The gap in strength often induces the most desperation, especially being easily pushed inward in the low post, unable to jump, watching the ball being scored.
This is more damaging than being dunked on or having someone make a direct pull-up shot; you realize there’s nothing you can do afterward.
"Coach, I can’t handle Ah Gan alone," Garrett was straightforward; he didn’t want to pretend to be a hero.
Seeing this situation, Saunders looked at Garnett, not yet asking, when Garnett shouted, "I’ll handle him!"
The NBA hasn’t had someone this brave in a long time.
But Saunders remained calm and said, "You can’t handle him alone, but you can help on defense. Pay attention to double-teaming Ah Gan, don’t let him play one-on-one or pass easily."
Garnett nodded, his hand shaking as he held the water bottle.
The timeout ended, and back in the game, Kobe was substituted by Bird, replacing AC Green.
Garnett greeted Kobe, who asked, "How about it, confident in guarding Ah Gan?"
Garnett replied, "I’ll handle it."
"Remember to call the code if you can’t handle it."
"No need! I don’t need that kind of thing at all!"
Gan Guoyang had no idea what these two little guys were chatting about.
Although he wasn’t taking this game to heart, the moment it started, he was still focused and put in full effort.
This is a good habit, like someone with OCD; he doesn’t allow anything unclean.
The Trail Blazers were in the lead, so Bird didn’t make any adjustments.
Bird firmly believed if a method works, it should continue to be used until it no longer works.
For example, Ah Gan was very effective in the low post at the start, so he would continue to initiate attacks from there until the opponent made adjustments.
Even after the opponent adjusted, he would still play the same way, if they could affect him, making it hard for him to play well, he would adjust too.
But if the opponent’s adjustment had no effect, and his play remained effective, he would keep playing the same way.
So the ball was still given to Gan Guoyang, and Kevin Garnett came over to assist on defense.
He is a tall, long-armed interior player quick with his hands, sometimes playing the small forward position on the team.
Gan Guoyang, with his rich experience in dealing with double teams, immediately dribbled outwards to create space and distance.
PJ Brown had an opportunity under the basket; Gan Guoyang made an immediate pass down low, PJ Brown caught it and went up strong for a layup!
However, Garnett actually rotated back to guard, disrupting Brown’s layup, defending the ball down.
"Great defense!" shouted Saunders from the sideline.
The Timberwolves’ counterattack, with Garnett leading the way, charging ahead.
Stephon Marbury initiated the fast break, making a beautiful bounce pass to Garnett.