Malone can’t do it, he won’t shoot threes, can’t change direction while dribbling to face the basket for a breakthrough, doesn’t have nimble and varied footwork, his turnaround speed isn’t fast enough, his step-back can be used occasionally but isn’t skilled, these things require talent, Malone can’t learn them.
But day in and day out, he has honed his muscles and the skills he can use: corner jump shot, top of the arc jump shot, turnaround fadeaway shot, hook shot, fast break catch and lay-up.
Everything he does follows patterns, often his offense adheres to certain predetermined tracks, repeating over and over, much like the dumbbells and equipment repeatedly lifted and lowered in the gym.
This season, while undertaking a lot of one-on-one isolations, Karl Malone has raised his two-point shooting percentage to the second-highest of his career at 55%—very close to Ah Gan’s rookie season.
Averaging 27.4 points, although not a career-high, his offensive efficiency and contribution value are at the highest in his career.
Because he abandoned many fast breaks and assisted easy-balls, many of his shots are one-on-one isolations, absorbing ball possessions, and finishing when tactics fail.
Relying on these two parts’ organic combination, the Jazz team’s offense is rhythmic, with a measured pace, always able to grasp the initiative on the court.
Ostertag’s departure had some impact on the Jazz’s defense, but it wasn’t fundamental, the Jazz’s opening offense was exceptionally good.
Stockton saw that tonight Ah Gan wouldn’t let Malone score, so he simply discarded Malone’s part and focused entirely on Stockton-Hornsek as the center, executing an outside offensive system to tear into the Trail Blazers’ weak outer defense.
Soon, after two missed shots by the Trail Blazers, they were consecutively counterattacked by the Jazz team, the score reached 7:12, the Trail Blazers fell 5 points behind.
If the offense continues to miss, Bird will certainly call a timeout, the game hasn’t started long before Bird is pacing by the court.
Because the Triangle Center is extremely noisy, the fans behind are screaming like mad, making Bird very uncomfortable.
Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc, suddenly unleashed a cold arrow three-pointer, it went in! 10:12, the Trail Blazers clung to the score.
Jazz team’s offense, Gan Guoyang and Malone were engaging in a melee under the left basket, Stockton cleverly lobbed the ball inside.
Malone turned to catch the ball, but Gan Guoyang turned back and poked it out, PJ Brown grabbed the ball, the Trail Blazers’ inside defense was absolutely fine.
Counterattack, but Riddle’s breakthrough was fouled by Hornsek, this guy is really crafty.
Jazz’s three core players, Malone, Stockton, Hornsek, are already aged 33, 34, 34, entering the late stages of their careers.
Their state not only hasn’t declined but instead grown increasingly cunning as they reach a peak in arena experience, one must be extra cautious when competing against them.
This season, up until now, the Jazz trio’s attendance rate is 100%, none have missed any games, they are very healthy.
Of course, this also correlates with the 1997 league’s playing style, generally slower, fewer rounds, less demand for running and jumping, these are young people’s advantages.
Conversely, for players in their 30s, running and jumping capacity isn’t as good as before, but strength qualities often achieve career best, in slow-paced high-intensity confrontational games they have the advantage.
It’s still the Jazz team’s offense, Stockton facing Van Exel’s defense, utilizing footwork and back technique to forcefully eat inward, resulting in Van Exel’s foul.
After the foul, both sides entered the first official timeout, the Trail Blazers started although not trailing much, relying entirely on Gan Guoyang’s personal capability, the others played as disgustingly as usual.
"I want to punch him in the nose." Van Exel returned to the bench, complaining to teammates, he was certainly talking about Stockton.
"If possible, I support you doing that." Gan Guoyang said, opposing Stockton indeed feels like swallowing flies.
In 1992 at the Olympics, the game’s turning point was Stockton’s appearance, he stabilized the Dream Team’s offense, then gradually pressed China Team, ultimately Gan Guoyang was powerless to turn the tide.
Van Exel is after all young, most importantly he lacks height and strength advantages.
Unlike Porter, Porter’s physical qualities entirely dominate Stockton, in experience both are equally matched.
Van Exel is a bit young, his streaky shooting style against Stockton doesn’t have much of an advantage, instead easily gets agitated and loses composure.
After the timeout ends, the game continues, Malone steps out to receive the ball, attempts a mid-range jump shot but misses.
The Trail Blazers counterattack, but this time they slowed down, because although the first quarter has played only a few minutes, they’ve already made three turnovers.
The turnover issue for the Trail Blazers shows no signs of resolution post All-Star game, can only try to control.
Gan Guoyang again receives the ball in the low post, facing Greg Anderson, the Jazz decisively triple team.
Stockton and Hornsek both moved in, Gan Guoyang passed the ball to the outside, Van Exel shoots a three-pointer, misses.
Yet Gan Guoyang grabbed the offensive rebound, toss shot made, scores another 2 points, the Trail Blazers equalized the score.
With more than 5 minutes left in the first quarter, the Jazz team suddenly adjusted personnel, Stockton went off to rest.
Replacing Stockton was number 10 Howard Eisley.
A curious substitution strategy, Jerry Sloan looks like he’s trying to conserve Stockton’s stamina.
Or perhaps Sloan decided to trust Karl Malone, letting Malone singlehandedly resist Ah Gan in Stockton’s absence.