Before the 1997 NBA draft, scout Kevin LaChans gave a scouting report on Tim Duncan, summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of this top draft pick and comparing him to those legendary inside players:
"Duncan has the potential to become a dominant center, but I believe he might be better suited to showcase his talents as a power forward, depending on which team he joins."
"In comparisons with other players, people often mention David Robinson and Brad Daugherty, but I think Hakeem Olajuwon is a relatively closer comparison. Of course, most frequently mentioned is Ah Gan; Duncan is considered the young inside player closest to Ah Gan."
"Duncan has strong mobility, allowing him to continuously block opponents on the court. His wingspan is long, and he has a great sense of timing in blocking, and his defensive footwork is continuously improving and refining."
"Duncan possesses a comprehensive offensive ability, with a variety of scoring methods. He can use various moves in the low post to outmaneuver opponents, has a knack for bank shots, and has a certain mid- to long-range shooting ability."
"For Duncan’s height and position, his passing ability is incredible, leading the Wake Forest Team in assists by a wide margin. Duncan’s ball-handling is better than most guard players."
"He is also an excellent pick-and-roll player, a perfect team player who can involve teammates in the offense. He realized long ago that relying on one person cannot win games."
"Duncan’s greatest advantage is his defense. In his last three years of college, he averaged nearly 15 rebounds per game and is also the block king in NCAA history. His inside defensive ability will fundamentally change a team’s performance."
"Despite his outstanding overall performance, there are still areas he needs to improve. He urgently needs to increase his weight and strength to adapt to the NBA’s physical confrontations. And his free-throw percentage is too low, only 64%, which is too low for a top inside player. Olajuwon’s free-throw percentage can reach over 75%, not to mention Duncan’s target, Ah Gan, whose free-throw percentage is a terrifying 90% or more..."
"If Tim Duncan is not the first pick of the draft, the general manager responsible for the draft should be recommended to the best psychologist within a fifty-mile radius, and additionally, he should hire a security team to protect his safety."
Apart from concerns about strength and free-throw deficiencies, the scouting report is overwhelmingly complimentary, describing Duncan quite perfectly.
After Duncan entered the league and started playing, fans quickly realized that the description in the scouting report was very fair.
Duncan’s performance in the early games proved that he deserved the title of top pick, and no one in the 1997 rookie class could compare to him.
But what if his comparison is Ah Gan? Is the gap merely in free throws and strength?
In the first few plays of the first quarter, Duncan didn’t gain any advantage against Ah Gan.
Before the game, Duncan wasn’t very interested in the media hype of "Duncan vs. Ah Gan."
Duncan knows Ah Gan’s greatness and has heard stories between Bobby Berman and Ah Gan, but Duncan never heard Berman say, "Ah Gan once did..."
He focused on basketball and his interests, like swimming, where you pay attention to opponents in adjacent lanes, but it’s more important to focus on your own lane.
Apart from training, playing games, and participating in some Celtics community activities, Duncan preferred to quietly nest at home watching movies or playing games in his spare time.
He excelled at "Mortal Kombat 3," and no one on the Celtics was his match, including those self-proclaimed gaming masters.
That doesn’t mean Duncan looked down on Ah Gan; on the contrary, he valued this matchup highly and was 100% focused, watching a lot of Ah Gan’s game footage.
He eliminated all external distractions, especially the noise from the media and fans, wanting to personally experience the real strength of this historical great, the "Portland Horror Demon King," during the game.
Bobby Berman advised Duncan not to chat with Ah Gan, which Duncan heeded, yet Ah Gan didn’t engage in any purported verbal taunts or psychological attacks.
He merely defended silently, hovering around Duncan, as a subtle chill began to spread.
Halfway through the first quarter, the Celtics called their first timeout, with the score being 4:11, the Trail Blazers leading by 7 points.
The Celtics’ defense wasn’t a major issue, but their offense stalled, unable to break through inside.
Duncan’s consecutive missed shots and turnovers led to the Celtics’ disjointed rhythm.
Bobby Berman identified the problem, called a timeout, and instructed Duncan to stop isolated post plays and instead create opportunities for outside shooters.
"Don’t go one-on-one against Ah Gan; this guy is petty, and he will definitely target you tonight."
Duncan nodded, not asking why, nor fixated on "I must score," but listened to the coach’s arrangements.
After laying out the tactics, Bobby Berman pulled Duncan aside, asking, "Did Ah Gan say anything to you?"
Duncan shook his head, saying, "No, he didn’t say anything."
"That’s good..." Bobby Berman was relieved.
Bobby Berman wasn’t worried about Gan Guoyang outperforming Duncan.
Losing to Ah Gan is normal, they’re not on the same level; come back and train harder next time.
He just feared Gan Guoyang would take the opportunity to employ psychological tactics.
As the game resumed, Berman subbed in Cliff-Robinson, taking out Ilgauskas.