Stockton’s defense has completely disrupted Van Exel’s shooting rhythm tonight.
The rebound bounced far away, Hornersek grabbed the ball and pushed for a fast break, once again giving it to Stockton.
Stockton again flawlessly passed the ball to Malone under the basket. Malone went up for the layup, only to have it blocked by Gan Guoyang following up.
Malone couldn’t understand why his shot got blocked; he clearly had made space and position for himself.
Ostertag grabbed the offensive rebound, went up again, and Gan Guoyang turned and blocked him again, making it two consecutive blocks, but the ball was still in the Jazz’s hands.
"Get the ball, control the ball!" Gan Guoyang shouted while he stood inside to protect.
The ball ended up in Stockton’s hands, and with swift accuracy, he took a shot and made it.
The Jazz’s shooting accuracy tonight is surprisingly high, especially against the Trail Blazers’ tight defense, their perimeter shooting rhythm is exceptionally well adjusted.
This undoubtedly owes much to Stockton’s passing and control of pace, allowing his teammates very comfortable shot opportunities, and his own shooting form is excellent too.
The point gap extends from 1 point to 6 in an instant, Gan Guoyang receives the ball in the low post, the Jazz double-team him, Gan Guoyang turns against three defenders and misses the shot.
But he swiftly cuts into the basket, lightly tips the ball before Malone can secure the rebound, and scores two points while adding a rebound to his tally.
Malone resentfully pounded the ball, sometimes he just couldn’t comprehend why Ah Gan always seemed to be elusive, if not as both offensive and defensive player.
His movements are truly baffling; even watching the footage it’s hard to decipher how he makes his early movement judgments.
On this point, the Trail Blazers’ coach Bird understands Gan Guoyang better, as he too plays the game with the same elusive style.
It’s all about anticipation; the brain perceives the game’s scenario, utilizes accumulated experiences, adds a bit of inspiration as catalyst, and in a very short time bursts forth an impulse, commanding the body to run to certain spots awaiting specific game events to unfold.
This feeling is quite wondrous; many people can accumulate experiences, but that catalyst of inspiration is extremely rare; nobody can manufacture it if they don’t possess it.
This kind of situation occurs in many sports, such as chess.
In chess, calculating power is naturally essential, but what people often refer to as "chess sense" often forms the dividing line between a master and a grandmaster.
Because calculating power ultimately has its limit, in the chaotic section which calculating power cannot reach, ’chess sense’ comes as a beacon light to guide direction.
For instance, at the start of a chess game, a seemingly purposeless and seemingly useless move turns out to be pivotal during the endgame.
It’s because, at the beginning, can the chess player calculation reach the point of such consequences? Not necessarily; with various twists happening during the lengthy game, it is almost impossible to foresee.
But the brain’s experience and chess sense will analyze and guide, leading him to lay a move which perceives to have a positive influence on the overall game situation, ultimately proving his judgment right.
The same applies to basketball games, where certain players can always appear in unbelievable positions at particular moments, make unexpected choices, thereby altering the situation on the court.
Bird, Ah Gan, Jordan, these players at the summit of basketball sports have that ability, whereas Malone lacks just that tiny bit of inspiration.
Returning to the offensive end, Malone performed his coordinating duties methodically, just like in the first half, handing control of the game back to Stockton.
Stockton indeed has that inspiration, what limits him is his physical quality and personal ability; encountering Ah Gan often sparks his inspiration.
He dribbled continuously between the three-second zone and three-point line, suddenly with a bizarre cut-through breakthrough, attracting the Trail Blazers’ defense, and used a rare behind-the-back pass to find Ostertag.
Ostertag caught the ball and went for the dunk, only to be fouled disruptively by PJ Brown, sent to the free-throw line.
The pass was extremely stealthy and bizarre, forcing Brown into committing the foul.
Ostertag made one of two free throws, Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound, and Stockton came to disrupt and deny Gan Guoyang from launching a quick counterattack.
Gan Guoyang protected the ball, returning to a positional battle, performing a high pick-and-roll, Van Exel held the ball for breakthrough, but Stockton poked it away from behind!
An exquisite steal, the Jazz team counterattacked, with Stockton delivering a long pass upfront, Brian Russell caught it and dunked successfully!
Van Exel is almost hammered both offensively and defensively by Stockton tonight, growing increasingly restless as he seeks a comeback.
Yet Gan Guoyang calls for low post positioning, reminding him to stay calm, Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post, executing a give-and-go cut with Van Exel.
Van Exel finally cut into the basket, scored 2 points with a layup, slightly calming his irritation.
The confrontation level in the third quarter between the two teams has risen a notch compared to the first half, not much trash talking, no outside techniques, both teams immersed deeply in the basketball battle.
At the first official timeout, both teams were locked at 74:79, Jazz leading by 5 points.
Both teams have been scoring rapidly, hitting over a hundred points for the whole game is definite.
During the timeout, Stockton didn’t stop his instructions, telling his teammates: "Ah Gan is definitely going to attack fiercely next, withstand it, make sure to withstand it."
Stockton understands his old friend too well, he senses Ah Gan is about to enter scoring mode.
Stockton also realizes, knowing the attack is coming won’t help, there is no way to halt Ah Gan’s scoring.