Gan Guoyang set a small goal for himself today: to make 15 mid-range jump shots.
This goal is quite challenging because relying entirely on one method to score in a game makes it very easy for a player to be targeted by defenders.
Moreover, mid-range shooting has low offensive efficiency and limited impact, with little follow-up for secondary offense, making it not a very effective way to score.
Some of the famous high-scoring players in NBA history, such as Rick Barry and Bob Pettit, have mentioned in their autobiographies how they scored high in each game.
The most important thing is not technique, feel, or tactics, but planning.
Barry mentioned that at the beginning of the game, one must have a plan, scoring quickly with some simple shots.
Fast breaks, layups after cuts, attacking the basket in transition, off-ball movement catching for a jump shot, and occasionally getting to the free-throw line.
In this way, your score can quickly reach double digits, and with these points as a base, tonight’s score should not be very low.
As the game progresses, some solid skills are needed; during critical moments, make a few difficult shots and seize opportunities in transition.
Additionally, one must seize free throw opportunities, ensuring a base score of over 20 points.
If you’re in good form and the opponent’s defense is lax, you can take more shots to score higher. If not, you’ve still got 20 points.
When the game is no longer in suspense, picking up a ball or two can make the score look better.
By planning scoring methods for each stage and managing your energy well, and controlling the ratio of easy balls to difficult ones, you can consistently perform well throughout the long regular season.
In short, following this process makes it easy to become a regular season scoring expert.
A very important point in this planning process is that offensive methods must be rich and varied.
Especially under the basket, you must make good use of fast break layups, cut layups, and close-range shooting, which are the easiest ways to score.
In mid-range shooting, catch-and-shoot is relatively easy, but for tough shots, iso mid-range is the least efficient.
As age progresses and form declines, and playing time is reduced, Gan Guoyang also plans his scoring.
But his planning is different from others; he still focuses on strong offensive plays, supplemented by tactical plays.
Gan Guoyang’s assisted scoring rate has always been low, and a large number of his points are resolved through personal ability.
Therefore, his offensive destructiveness is substantial, and his passing threat is significant.
Recently, Gan Guoyang has relaxed his defense, increased his outside attacks, and with more mid-range shots, his assists have also improved.
His combination of mid-range and face-up breakthroughs makes his offense more unpredictable and poses new challenges for opponents’ defenses.
This challenge in front of Nowitzki is indeed very difficult.
Even if Gan Guoyang straightforwardly says he’s going to take a mid-range shot, Nowitzki still can’t defend it.
Because if you stick closely, Gan Guoyang will drive, and even when driving, he won’t lay up; he’ll pull up for a jump shot, still considered a mid-range!
Although doing this reduces the impact under the basket, and some shots miss, giving the Dallas Mavericks opportunities.
But the psychological damage caused by Gan Guoyang hitting mid-range shots over Nowitzki’s head repeatedly is significant.
However, Nowitzki did not give up or collapse. During the halftime break, Nielsen asked, "Do you need to adjust the defensive matchup?"
Nowitzki shook his head and said, "It’s okay, I can’t handle him, but I can learn and improve."
Nowitzki has a strong ability to learn and received unique basketball training in Germany.
The coach had him learn the saxophone, engage with music, believing that music contains a beauty of rhythm, and all music follows a beat.
Basketball is the same; if you don’t have super speed, strength, and explosiveness, it’s okay, you must have a good rhythm.
Nowitzki knew he couldn’t stop Gan Guoyang, but in Gan Guoyang’s continuous attacks, he felt the beauty of rhythmic cadence.
After the third quarter started, Gan Guoyang still faced Nowitzki with a "smile," not bullying Nowitzki with his strength and explosive advantage, but instead using rhythm and skill to toy with him.
Moreover, each time the Mavericks had the strongest counterattack momentum, Gan Guoyang would use an iso play to widen the gap again.
Mike Finley and Eddie Jones were in good form tonight; the Trail Blazers’ perimeter defense was quite mediocre, and Kobe’s defense on Finley was unsuccessful.
They once reduced the gap to 5 points, and Gan Guoyang missed two mid-range shots.
But at this moment, Gan Guoyang still dared to shoot; at the free throw line, after a series of fakes, he dribbled, turned, and quickly shot for two, finally making it!
Then, the Trail Blazers suddenly increased the defensive intensity on the Mavericks’ ball handlers, trapping and rotating, causing a turnover in the Mavericks’ passing.
On the counterattack, Gan Guoyang received a pass from Kobe, a wing 45-degree mid-range pull-up jump shot, again scored!
Many players prefer to bank shot from 45 degrees in mid-range, which increases accuracy and success rate.
But since high school, under Bernard King’s guidance, Gan Guoyang insisted on no more banking shots, every shot must be a swish.
This makes Gan Guoyang’s shooting exceptionally decisive and quick, with no hesitation, the ball cleanly and crisply goes in, never messy.
"The shot must be decisive; when you decide to attack, you must be fully focused, with no distractions."