At this moment, the Timberwolves are very puzzled, uncertain if Gan Guoyang is out of form or deliberately creating a smokescreen.
Sanders reiterated the team's defensive strategy, instructing Kevin Garnett to continue focusing on the other players.
"Especially Charles Barkley, don't give him easy scoring opportunities under the basket, it's terrible."
Sanders knows that Ah Gan is like a poison, often forcing you into a dilemma, choosing between the poison and the white silk.
Whether you live or die depends on whether your body can tolerate the poison or if your lung capacity is greater.
Based on the experience from the first three games, Sanders believes Gan Guoyang's solo plays are no longer as lethal as they once were.
Furthermore, his defensive influence is declining, so they must cut off Gan Guoyang's connection with his teammates and play faster offensively.
On this basis, it depends on the players' performance and their status during the game.
Sanders's idea is correct, the tactical direction is perfectly right; they played out the optimal solution against the Trail Blazers in the first game.
In the end, victory or defeat depends entirely on the players' performance, a battle of personal ability and will to win, in which the Timberwolves fall short compared to the Trail Blazers.
But which young team hasn't grown through this trial of blood and fire?
As the game resumes, the Timberwolves' set offense still lacks effective solutions.
Brellock and Kobe double-team Marbury, who passes the ball to Siri.
Siri dribbles inside but hesitates to shoot against the not-too-far-off Ah Gan.
Finally, he passes to Garnett, who shoots a mid-range from the left, stepping on the three-point line.
It still doesn't go in! The site is filled with sighs, Garnett bites his teeth and shakes his head.
Garnett continually lacks a punch on the offensive end, his technique isn't up to par.
In the regular season, Garnett seems proficient in all skills, especially having good exterior dribbling for a tall insider.
But that performance comes under regular-season intensity; in the high-intensity playoff confrontations, Garnett's offensive performance falls short.
Little O'Neal grabs the defensive rebound and passes the ball to Gan Guoyang, who takes the court as a full-fledged small forward.
After running back several times, Gan Guoyang's body is slowly warming up, he observes the Timberwolves' defense and first gives the ball to Kobe.
Then Gan Guoyang goes low, back to the basket, receiving the ball, facing Wally Szczerbiak one-on-one.
This point-scoring Spaniard by origin white small forward mismatched in defending Gan Guoyang has no other option for them.
Pulis Saunders doesn't want Garnett's defense tolled on Gan Guoyang; it's an endless pit.
Gan Guoyang backs in, there's no way Szczerbiak can hold him, Gan Guoyang swiftly turns around and attempts a leaning shot.
Szczerbiak stretches to block, hitting Gan Guoyang's arm, the referee whistles for a foul, sending Gan Guoyang to the free-throw line.
Szczerbiak apparently lacks experience guarding Gan Guoyang, having no way to handle such a quick spin and leaning shot, easily committing a foul.
This was precisely what Gan Guoyang wanted; he needed the free throws to adjust his feel for shooting.
Both free throws are successful, giving Gan Guoyang his first points of the game.
The scoring makes him feel comfortable, muscle memory for shooting awakens, his body lightly sweating warm.
The deficit is down to just 3 points, and then the Timberwolves finally make a basket.
It's still Stephon Marbury, hitting a high-jump stop shot from the high post, quenching the team's thirst.
Kobe immediately counters with a jump shot from the high point, while Gan Guoyang attracts defensive attention under the basket.
Now Kevin Garnett hesitates over whether to help defend Ah Gan.
Since Gan Guoyang's return, seemingly scoring just one basket, but the visible changes in the situation are significant.
Of course, the truly lethal blow still relies on solid scoring.
Garnett attempts a strong attack in the paint but his layup is thwarted by Little O'Neal's defensive interference.
Gan Guoyang grabs the rebound and passes the ball to Charles Barkley.
Just when the Timberwolves think the Trail Blazers will maintain a slow pace, Barkley operates like a full-throttle tractor charging forward.
After breaking into the three-point line, Barkley suddenly executes a signature flashy behind-the-back pass to the trailing Gan Guoyang.
Gan Guoyang doesn't drive to the basket but suddenly pulls up for a stop-and-pop jumper from the elbow after receiving the ball.
This catches the retreating Timberwolves players off guard, watching helplessly as Gan Guoyang easily scores two points.
1 point, the deficit is down to 1 point!
With over two minutes left in the third quarter.
The atmosphere at the Target Center grows tense.
Philip Saunders calls another timeout, as the Timberwolves urgently need to address their offensive issues.
But the team's leading figure can't score on solo plays, the Timberwolves' biggest challenge.
Garnett sits on the bench, covering his head with a towel, looking dejected and angry.
"Why did we suddenly act like we can't play once Ah Gan came back? What happened to our momentum? Our speed? Where did they go?"
Sanders criticizes his teammates for being intimidated by Ah Gan, lacking spirit, while in reality, Ah Gan isn't that terrifying.
At this moment, Garnett suddenly says, "Coach, let me guard Ah Gan one-on-one later."
Sanders says, "What? No, that's not our strategy, you know your assignment, Kevin."