Gan Guoyang has always been the nemesis of Twin Towers, both on and off the court.
Every time he faces a team with Twin Towers, Gan Guoyang gets excited, knowing it's his time to shine.
No matter the level of the opponent's Twin Towers, it's certain they allocate more resources inside.
Gan Guoyang relishes the feeling of dismantling the opponent's heavily defended areas, leveraging his versatility to switch between the four and five positions with unpredictable offensive tactics and outstanding physical fitness, ultimately crushing the opponent's team.
Of course, times have changed, and with age and weight loss, this ability of Gan Guoyang is declining.
However, Tomjanovich still followed Gan Guoyang's suggestion to position him at the five, especially since Brad Miller can also play the four with his mid-to-long-range shooting skills.
On the other side, Popovich is well aware of Gan's power against the Twin Towers, but he can't cripple his own strengths by leaving Robinson and Pau Gasol out of the game.
In such matches, Gasol must play. In fact, before the game began, younger international players like Pau Gasol and Ginobili were trembling with excitement and nerves.
Indeed, who wouldn't be excited facing Gan?
Especially international players, they regard him as a basketball deity.
In soccer nations like Spain and Argentina, only basketball players like Gan Guoyang can overshadow numerous soccer stars with their fame; he indeed shines brightly.
Before the game, Popovich reminded the youngsters, it's okay to tremble with excitement and nerves, just don't tremble with fear afterwards.
Beside him, David Robinson almost asked Popovich, "How do you know I'm trembling with fear?"
Luckily, he held back, preserving his dignity.
But as the game was about to begin, seeing Gan standing at the center circle, Robinson slightly shook his head and said, "Sonny, you're playing center again?"
Gan Guoyang replied, "Entertaining old friends. Come on, David, the game is about to start."
After Gan Guoyang withdrew from the Players Union, the chairman position was taken over by David Robinson.
Off the court, the two are very close friends, and Robinson supported this comeback of Gan Guoyang.
Gan Guoyang also attempted to recruit Robinson, saying he could offer him not only a championship but also shares.
However, Robinson refused; he decided to stay in San Antonio, maintaining his loyalty there.
With slumped shoulders, Robinson reluctantly approached the center circle, preparing for an entire game of confrontation with Gan Guoyang.
Last season, Robinson was still an All-Star substitute center, but his numbers had already declined to a 12+8 level, solely relying on fan affection and the lack of successors in the center position to be selected as an All-Star.
When Gan retired, Olajuwon, Ewing, Robinson, and others aged, and Alonzo Mourning suffered kidney damage, leaving Shaquille O'Neal as the only mid-generation super center in the NBA, with the younger generation lacking a top-notch replacement at the five position.
Since the 1993 draft, no young super center has entered the league. The 1998 top pick Olowokandi was notoriously a bust, and many others moved from playing center to the more flexible four position, differing significantly from traditional five players in size, style, and technical characteristics.
Players like Webber, Garnett, Wallace, Little O'Neal, Duncan, Nowitzki, all enter the "forward" category for fan voting before the All-Star game.
This year's new Spanish rookie Gasol, in terms of height and wingspan, thoroughly fits the center material. A solid 7-footer, appearing much taller than the so-called 7-footers in the league.
Yet, Popovich still recommended Gasol for the four position; firstly, his strength isn't enough, secondly, in the center position, in case he gets dominated by Gan, it would leave bad memories.
Thinking of this, Robinson felt, if not I, who else should take the fall?
Besides, Gan also seems old, thinner, perhaps it's tough for him to be as ferocious as during his peak.
Facing Robinson, Gan Guoyang observed that David's muscles were as toned and firm as always, with no complaints about his physique.
But age first affects the legs, and just like him, Robinson's explosiveness and jumping ability must have significantly declined.
For players with such technical styles, once they lose their explosiveness, their performance plummets.
After all, in terms of technique, David Robinson was always somewhat singular, more reliant on his terrifying physical prowess.
During his peak, Gan Guoyang also had to approach Robinson carefully, or else he would inevitably get blocked.
The jump ball, the game begins, during the clash, Robinson felt Gan Guoyang's strength had indeed diminished from before, yet he still might not withstand it.
Terry Porter first took the ball, and Gan Guoyang quickly sank into the low post, pinning Robinson, starting the first offensive in this game with a back-down play.
The Spurs' style in this match was the polar opposite of the Mavericks in the previous game.
Popovich, a disciple of Larry-Brown, slowed down the game pace significantly.
All offense initiated from the low post with numerous set plays, heavily relying on the four position to hold the ball high and initiate plays.
Pau Gasol, being such a European-style player, was a huge boost for Popovich's Spurs.
Because Gasol could execute every offensive task Popovich entrusted to him perfectly.
Of course, his defense was slightly lacking, but with his height and wingspan, it wasn't too poor.