In terms of pure strength, the acquisition of Sabonis, Brellock, and Mu Lin last summer was only above average, not the kind of sudden addition of a top-tier All-Star.
But the arrival of the three triggered a magical chemical reaction, achieving unbelievable accomplishments, and as the journey nears its end, Carl doesn’t want everything to fall apart.
Although there’s enough tolerance for error in the finals, who wants to falter at home in the high-profile first game?
Gan Guoyang drank water without arguing with Carl. Carl was still young and couldn’t understand his intentions, but Gan Guoyang didn’t blame him.
After the timeout, the players returned to the court. Bird patted Carl and said, "Trust Ah Gan. He is well-prepared, and his heart is steadfast. He’s not just trying to show off or simply win a game."
"Then what’s it for?"
"To destroy Jordan, to destroy the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won’t just lose this game, this series, they will also disband."
Bird saw through everything, while Carl, engrossed in tactics, didn’t quite understand the psychological and emotional aspects.
The game continued, with the Bulls relentlessly chasing back, but after checking the scoreboard, they were still 5 points behind.
With Jordan’s style of play, his stamina consumption was significant. Jordan was slightly panting, occasionally resting with his hands on his knees.
Looking at Gan Guoyang on the other side, this kid was chewing gum as if nothing had happened, his endurance was astonishing, it seemed he hadn’t even broken a sweat.
"Damn guy, how is his stamina so good? Resting for two seasons really preserves your body. If I had known, I would have retired to rest for two years too. Ah Gan is so sly."
Jordan thought to himself, believing that Gan Guoyang’s two-year retirement was actually recuperation, reducing wear and prolonging his career lifespan.
Jordan had been playing continuously since 1984, and after the 1986 season, he hadn’t suffered a major injury. Not taking rest days, he played a lot of games.
Since 1990, the Bulls had reached the Eastern Conference finals for nine consecutive seasons, except for 1995 when he was hindered by knee inflammation, playing about 100 games each season. By 1998, at 35 years old, being able to perform at an MVP level was already a miracle of human physical structure.
However, Ah Gan seemed to have cheats, playing more games in the conference finals than Jordan, yet having a better physical condition.
After the timeout, Gan Guoyang began appearing frequently in the low post, which was his best fallback skill. Jackson expected this.
Lang Li, Rodman, Pippen, and Kukoc took turns, along with Jordan and Harper’s double-teaming, applying the tightest defense on Gan Guoyang.
Gan Guoyang’s response was not passing or relying on teammates for team tactics but speeding up his shot.
Positioning, receiving the ball, turning to attack without any observation or pause, like a ruthless low-post offensive machine, bombarding the Bulls’ basket.
"Ah Gan catches the ball in the low post, immediately turns, bypasses Lang Li, and dunks! Dunk after the timeout, his speed is like a hunting crocodile!"
"Ah Gan is still in the low post, on the left, turns, and hook shot! It’s in again, a beautiful hook shot, the reason I keep watching Ah Gan’s games. You can see this almost lost skill that brings me back to the beautiful 80s."
"Right low post, the double team comes, turn-around shot, it’s in! And draws a foul from Kukoc, a beautiful forward-leaning shot. Currently, no one in the league uses this shooting style, full of aggression. He ensures he isn’t blocked while causing significant damage."
Bill Walton passionately commentated on Gan Guoyang’s low post offensive skills.
After adjustments at the start of the third quarter, Gan Guoyang’s touch returned.
Anyone who has played knows that a touch often comes in waves. For a period, a player makes consecutive shots, hard to defend against.
The best countermeasure isn’t double-teaming but for the coach to call a timeout to disrupt the player’s rhythm and shooting touch.
After the timeout, back on the court, the player is likely to lose their touch. If they insist on continuing to shoot, even without defense, they might miss.
This is a characteristic of basketball. A player’s shooting percentage graph shows regular fluctuations. Excellent players keep the peaks quick and the valleys short.
Ordinary players might have one peak per game and then remain down; as a coach, utilizing the player’s good touch by letting him play more is the greatest contribution to the team.
Gan Guoyang is clearly more than an excellent player. Once his touch comes, it’s long-lasting, with frequent bursts, and extremely lethal.
Furthermore, Gan Guoyang’s offensive methods are unique. Outside, he shoots threes, considered beyond his time, with precise three-pointers.
Inside, he’s a retro enthusiast, using the almost extinct hook and turn-around forward-leaning jump shot technique, puzzling defenders who don’t adapt quickly.
The hook shot doesn’t need mentioning. The Jabbar-style skyhook, currently, besides Gan Guoyang, no player extensively uses it.
Furthermore, the quick turn-around forward-leaning jump shot technique inherited from Bernard King has also been "eliminated."
Because if not mastered well, the forward-leaning shot is a gift for the opponent’s block.