The Trail Blazers once developed some pick-and-roll tactics around Gan Guoyang, but due to efficiency issues, they generally appeared as a change-up.
Gan Guoyang has many pick-and-roll cooperation routines with Petrović, Vandeweghe, Terry Porter, and others, but their appearance frequency in games can only be said to be average.
Malone and Stockton are known as the perfect pick-and-roll duo, with many pick-and-roll combinations in games. However, in truly critical moments, their pick-and-rolls are relatively few, as Malone prefers more isolation plays.
Brellock’s defense against Stockton is very fierce; he joined the Trail Blazers in the 1998 season specifically to deal with Stockton.
As Stockton’s form declined, his personal offense became quite weak when facing Brellock, and he could mostly only make passes at the high post, with minimal threat from the top of the arc and beyond the three-point line.
At this point, Malone had to step up to bear the shooting load; otherwise, the Jazz’s offense would completely collapse.
Fortunately, tonight Gan Guoyang didn’t stubbornly defend against Malone. Instead, he allowed Malone mid-range shots, preventing him from attacking the basket.
Malone, if you can score then score, but in terms of shooting, I am better than you. Trying to hit the basket is definitely impossible. This is the final hurdle, and no matter what, there can be no relaxation.
Malone’s mid-range is indeed exceptionally skilled, having formed deep muscle memory. No matter the distance or defense, his shooting stance and feeling remain the same.
Tonight, facing Gan Guoyang’s lenient defense, Malone’s touch was good, scoring consecutively and allowing the Jazz to breathe a sigh of relief.
Subsequently, Malone assisted Olden Polynice, making a dunk under the basket, briefly closing the gap to 7 points.
Gan Guoyang was double-teamed on the outside and passed to Mu Lin, who missed a three-point shot, giving the Jazz a rare counterattack opportunity.
Stockton initiated a fast break, with Malone sprinting ahead like a football running back, catching and laying up without dribbling.
However, Gan Guoyang chased down from behind, delivering a solid flying block to send Malone’s shot out!
The following up Alan Henderson grabbed the ball, while Gan Guoyang was already sprinting to the frontcourt to initiate a fast counterattack.
Cutting through the middle, Barkley received the ball, making a ground pass to Gan Guoyang, who received it with a crossover step to bypass Polynice trying to draw an offensive foul and scored with a one-handed hammer dunk!
A beautiful block and a spectacular dunk, the energy-saving Gan Guoyang was not without defense but saved it for key moments.
If Malone had scored on that counterattack, the situation would have been quite different. Now, not only did the Jazz miss, but they also conceded two more points.
After scoring, Gan Guoyang and Barkley high-fived, this time their cooperation was very impressive, showing great mutual understanding.
Once the Jazz lost their rhythm, their subsequent offense stalled, and Gan Guoyang quickly launched a 7:0 offensive peak.
Gan Guoyang first received the ball low and scored strongly, then broke through causing a foul and made both free throws. Again drawing a foul for a 2+1, the on-site fans were booing continuously.
But there was nothing wrong with these calls; the Jazz couldn’t help it, as they already committed quite a few defensive fouls.
Being a veteran team, the Jazz often engage in tactical fouls to slow down their opponents’ offense and disrupt their rhythm.
In their peak years of 97-98, the Jazz’s foul count was among the highest in the league, and if possessions were counted, they committed the most fouls in the league.
The gap suddenly widened to 16 points, with Gan Guoyang scoring 34 points in the half, showing high efficiency, leaving the Jazz somewhat dazed.
At halftime, the score was 62:47, with the Trail Blazers leading by 15 points. Just as the buzzer sounded, Gan Guoyang attempted an ultra-long three-pointer.
The ball hit the rim and bounced out, causing the crowd and Jazz players to break out in a cold sweat. If it had gone in, it would’ve gotten even worse.
Both sides returned to the locker room, and Kobe had not received a minute of playing time for the whole half; obviously, the deficit couldn’t shrink to under 5 points.
Gan Guoyang’s flexible and varied playing style, excellent outside shooting touch, and his determined scoring mentality would not give the Jazz any chance.
So, back in the locker room, Kobe proactively said, "I’m not playing tonight; I’ll start the next game and return directly."
Gan Guoyang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Correct choice; your task in this game is to sit and enjoy well. The third quarter is when I perform."
Gan Guoyang was right; in the third quarter, with a significant lead, he could indeed start showing off.
At the start of the third quarter, Gan Guoyang received the ball outside, dribbled continuously, and made a step-back three, hitting the target!
When Gan Guoyang uses a step-back three, it’s either because he has a large lead and is starting to show his arsenal or it’s during a crucial point in the game, unexpectedly taking down the opponent.
The Jazz undoubtedly faced the former; such shots cannot be defended by Malone or Russell, only hoping Gan Guoyang’s touch won’t be good.
But tonight is clearly a record-setting night; the Jazz team, though strong, suffers from an aging lineup and lack of athleticism, collapsing under sudden impacts.
Gan Guoyang, this time, is not using a sledgehammer, but has become a sophisticated shooter, shooting arrow after arrow at the Jazz with skill and marksmanship.
After breaking with a directional dribble, he follows with a move-hook, continuous dribble, fake moves, then a spin followed by a leaning floater.
There’s even a mid-range hook shot facing Brian Russell’s defense after a sudden sideway dribble.
Gan Guoyang combined all his skills seamlessly, able to arrange them at will, catching the defenders off guard.
Once the touch is slightly off, he holds the ball and rushes in. Feeling confident, he completely ignores on defense, watching Stockton’s layup with hands on hips, then receives and counters with a direct pull-up three, piercing the center of the Jazz’s basket!
With this shot, Gan Guoyang has already scored 23 points in the third quarter, having totaled 57 points in three quarters, making the present Jazz fans in the stands hold their heads and shout to the heavens.
Jerry Sloan desperately calls for a timeout, with Gan Guoyang stepping down and high-fiving his jubilant teammates; the Trail Blazers have already led by 25 points, securing the win.
Barkley excitedly flailed his arms, almost kneeling down to Gan Guoyang in admiration.
Carl asked Gan Guoyang: "Sonny, do you want to keep playing?"
With more than 3 minutes left in the third quarter, Gan Guoyang could continue to increase his score if he continued playing.
Gan Guoyang shook his head and said, "No, it was agreed to be 55 points, and 57 is already over, so there’s no need to play more."
Gan Guoyang is a very trustworthy person, having told Malone 55 points, it means 55 points, and the extra two are an added bonus.
Kobe found such performance from Gan Guoyang unbelievable, feeling eager in his heart with no chance to play.
He asked, "Sonny, you should continue playing, maybe you could break your 81-point record."
Gan Guoyang smiled and replied, "Scoring 57 points in three quarters is also a record. But records, well, should be left for future generations to break; being too greedy doesn’t look good."
Actually, Gan Guoyang’s primary consideration was saving energy, being 36 years old, he saved as much as he could.
And Kobe silently told himself that someday he too could achieve it, surely he would.