The Celtics used their perimeter pick-and-roll strategy and ball movement to find Fox open in the right corner.
As soon as the ball arrived, Nash’s pass precisely found the corner, and Fox took the three-point shot and scored.
On the defensive end, Robinson matched up against Ah Gan, this former Portland underling stuck close to Gan Guoyang, muttering, "Big brother, Bobby told me to stick to you, don’t mind."
"Bobby wants you dead, doesn’t he?"
"I don’t want to die, Sonny."
The two reminisced in this manner, but Gan Guoyang did not attack Robinson.
After receiving the ball, he also worked with his teammates in a team offensive play, giving scoring opportunities to Mu Lin, Reed, or Sabonis.
Last season, Gan Guoyang’s average scoring broke 30 points, earning him his second scoring title of his career.
This season, after a month, Gan Guoyang’s average scoring dropped to 26 points, 1.5 points lower than his rookie season’s 27.5 points, reaching the lowest of his career.
It’s not that Gan Guoyang’s attacking power declined, but that he reduced his shots, giving more opportunities to his teammates, while he focused on difficult and crucial shots.
Gan Guoyang’s rebounds also declined, from a terrifying 15 per game to a more normal 13 rebounds.
Similarly, it’s not because of a decline in ability, but because he helped teammates box out more, especially for players like Kobe and Mu Lin, who can initiate fast breaks directly, thus speeding up the counterattack.
Like in 1992 and 1993, self-driving rebounds down to the basket have decreased significantly, only occasionally seen.
Gan Guoyang became more team-oriented, and the Trail Blazers also became more formidable because of it.
High-position assist, Reed got the ball and went for a layup under the basket, but it was interfered by Duncan and missed.
But Gan Guoyang cut to the basket and tipped out the offensive rebound, Sabonis received the ball at the high post and took a mid-range shot, scoring.
The Trail Blazers continued to maintain their high-efficiency offense, while the Celtics struggled to catch up, with fans concerned about when Duncan would score over Ah Gan.
In the following minutes, both teams played quite team-oriented basketball, and the game was visually appealing, with plenty of passing, screens, and clean ball handling by the players.
The Celtics were faster, but slightly unrefined, while the Trail Blazers were more adept, with seasoned players playing steadily.
However, due to Duncan’s presence, the Celtics’ defense didn’t collapse, and the Trail Blazers’ multiple penetrations were well patched by Duncan.
When the Trail Blazers had to end their attacks with outside shots several times, the offensive efficiency naturally declined, giving the Celtics a chance to catch up.
Steve Nash launched the attack like the wind, scoring consecutively, Cliff-Robinson cut to the basket, received Nash’s pass, and scored a layup.
The Celtics took advantage of the mismatch between Robinson and Sabonis, using speed to catch up with the Trail Blazers, gradually narrowing the point difference.
Seeing this, Bird called a timeout for adjustments and substitutions, replacing Sabonis with Jermaine O’Neal, and Reid with Kobe.
Kobe had been waiting on the sidelines for a long time. As soon as he got on court, he went over and patted Duncan on the butt, saying, "Why haven’t you scored yet, big guy? Your scoring stats are the same as mine."
The two met during Adidas’s ad shoot in the summer, Kobe is younger than Duncan, but entered the league earlier, and in front of the silent Duncan, he jabbered on like a chatterbox.
Duncan often looked at Kobe with a gaze of looking at an idiot, then lowered his head to snicker, not knowing what he was thinking.
"That’s not important, Kobe," Duncan replied.
"No, it is important. You have to score over Ah Gan. I bet tonight he wants to shut you out," Kobe said.
After speaking, Kobe threw himself into the offense, immediately breaking through with a stop-and-jump shot as soon as he got the ball, angrily missing a shot!
Duncan grabbed the rebound, and who knows if Kobe’s words provoked him, he dribbled himself to try and launch a counterattack.
In the NCAA, and even after coming to the NBA, Duncan always had one or two plays per game where he dribbled from the backcourt to the frontcourt and directly attacked.
He has that ability, and he is not a rigid player, he knows that occasionally changing up his offensive approach can exert greater pressure on the opponent.
Duncan’s dribbling was quite outstanding, his center of gravity was high, but he had long arms, and his dribbling steps were nimble little steps, always ready to adjust and dodge the defense.
He used a beautiful between-the-legs dribble to bypass the attempting defender, Little O’Neal. The audience was elated, expecting to see Duncan dunk in the paint.
However, facing the last line of defense, already standing in the basket, Gan Guoyang, as Duncan attempted another crossover, Gan Guoyang swiftly poked the ball with the swiftness of a fencing sword.
It was too fast, the key was that the timing was perfect, and Duncan’s ball was stolen again!
Both players scrambled onto the floor, tussling for possession, and finally, the referee called a jump ball.
Duncan remained expressionless, but inside he was already wavering.
Why is his steal so fast? Why is my sure-handed dribble so easily intercepted?
In fact, when someone starts to ponder such questions, it already indicates hesitation inside.
Once hesitant, mistakes will only increase.
Having been intercepted multiple times, Duncan was already hesitant facing Ah Gan.
With hesitation, when Gan Guoyang targeted him again, it naturally exposed openings.
Jump ball, Gan Guoyang got the first jump, using strength to press over Duncan.
Duncan’s strength is quite outstanding, after entering the NBA, the vast majority of interior players aren’t his match.