But also because of the technicality and vastness of mid-range, once you fully master this skill, you’ve got the key to killing the game.
In the past, Gan Guoyang considered mid-range as an important trump card, but now he relies on mid-range for increased production, requiring greater control of rhythm and positioning.
He still remembers when he learned the secrets of close-range turnaround shooting from Bernard King, who revealed the best attack techniques for every position near the hoop to Gan Guoyang.
This gave Gan Guoyang unparalleled speed in catching and attacking under the basket. From the moment he grabbed the ball, he had already calculated how to launch an attack, with fixed sets of reaction programs etched in his mind, promptly making choices.
Gan Guoyang and Jordan are both players who react extremely quickly in offense; once they decide to attack, they won’t hold the ball, resolving the issue in three seconds, decisively and efficiently.
Now, Gan Guoyang strives to expand this secret to the entire area within the three-point line, making every spot within the three-point line his best attack zone, able to immediately react for optimal mid-range shooting.
This is a big project; in the past, Gan Guoyang had a vague sense of this. Accumulated experience reached a certain level, and he had a general idea of how to play at different spots.
But he systematically started training from this season because Gan Guoyang elevated mid-range to the most important position. Relying on his mid-range, he can open up a new world.
Especially facing the current League’s forward line strategy against Gan Guoyang, he needs to shift his offensive resources toward the forwards, specifically targeting those forward defenders.
In this aspect, Gan Guoyang is indeed the first in history; others avoid him in resource allocation, while he finds ways to target the best parts of others’ resources, crushing and breaking through them, naturally leading to the opponents’ failure.
Instead of attacking the opponent’s weak areas when seeing thick resources elsewhere, allowing quality resources to perform well, or dumping them to teammates to handle, then the game becomes challenging.
Now, Gan Guoyang aims to target those swingmen on the forward line, using mid-range to smash them, requiring careful preparation and diligent training.
Barkley gobbled up 11 McDonald’s Big Mac burgers, barely filling his stomach, while Gan Guoyang completed his mid-range training, advancing training alongside competition as planned.
The next day, the entire team headed to the second stop of their away journey, Minnesota.
Here, the Trail Blazers scored another easy victory. Kevin Garnett faced a significant disadvantage against Ah Gan, causing the Timberwolves’ system to fail completely.
This also led to Kevin Garnett receiving criticism from the local media after the game, suggesting he doesn’t deserve such a large contract—which actually was smaller than expected.
You could say Gan Guoyang has forcibly lowered the contract amounts of a batch of players, indirectly maintaining NBA stability.
What David Stern said, "With you here, the NBA is more stable and prosperous," truly wasn’t a compliment.
After the game, Kevin Garnett started additional training in mid-range and long-range shooting at Target Center.
That night, he was overwhelmed by Gan Guoyang’s combination of mid-range and breakthroughs, completely unable to defend.
He repeatedly missed shots from the outside, Gan Guoyang even let him shoot, but Garnett failed to score.
The outside skills that could be freely displayed on the training ground couldn’t be used at all in the game.
Especially facing Ah Gan, his direction changes and breakthroughs awkwardly resembled a beginner, completely unable to penetrate the defense.
Only a few opportunities for mid-to-long-range shots offered scoring chances for Garnett, but sadly he couldn’t grasp them.
Conversely, Gan Guoyang was accurate in mid-range; currently, he’s the only one in the NBA who can combine straight-arm shooting with high arc ballistics.
This makes Gan Guoyang’s shots very aesthetic, with small release scope, large arc trajectory, straight posture, perfect rhythm, and absolutely no sluggishness in movements.
Even the sound of the ball brushing through the net was exceptionally crisp and strong, leaving Kevin Garnett desperate enough to shake his head when shot over; single defense wasn’t possible.
If you press up, he’ll break through; if you don’t, his decisive shot is a clean hit. Minnesota was already cold, and these hits made the heart even colder.
Therefore, Garnett needs to train, frantically, ensuring his mid-range shooting can reach or closely approach this level, truly adapting to high-level defense and intensity.
After the game, Gan Guoyang told Garnett, "Enhance your shooting, Kevin; first practice your free throws to 80%. It’s your fifth season, kid; my fifth season, I’ve already won three consecutive championships."
These words deeply stimulated Garnett; in his fifth season, he hasn’t even broken through the first round of the playoffs yet.
Actually, Garnett’s performance this season is already at an All-Star level, averaging 22.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
Free-throw percentage is 76%, improved from last season’s 73%, indicating his shooting is improving.
But in Gan Guoyang’s view, if free-throw percentage doesn’t reach 80%, mid-range shots are not qualified, unable to handle high-intensity offense and defense.
In his rookie season, his free-throw percentage was nearly 90%, remaining stable at about 90% thereafter, the best among inside players.
Leaving Minnesota, the Trail Blazers headed south, starting their Southeastern road trip, including battles against the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets.