Gan Guoyang is completely unconcerned about whether Yao Ming can score more than 19 points.
Recently, his performance has been improving consistently, just waiting for an opportunity to explode.
He is clearly adapting to the speed and pace of the NBA, with increased focus and familiarity with team tactics.
Tomjanovich is a coach with very open tactical thinking, although the team plays the Princeton System, it doesn’t strictly follow the tactical handbook.
Some low-post offensive plays, Triangle Offense plays, are part of the Glory Team, primarily using what’s most effective.
The team didn’t slow down the pace to adapt to Yao Ming, but rather let Yao Ming adapt to the team.
Initially, it was difficult, but as Yao Ming gradually adapted, he said playing this way was truly enjoyable and exhilarating.
In a recent internal training match, Yao Ming led the substitute team to compete against the main team featuring Gan Guoyang and Jordan.
As the core of the substitute team, Yao Ming scored continuously in the post against Ewing, maintaining the lead for most of the time.
Yao Ming’s catching, ball handling, turning, and shooting are becoming increasingly proficient, his speed is increasing, no longer hesitant or unsure like at the start of the season.
As long as he catches the ball in the low post, near the basket, Yao Ming initiates an attack without hesitation and finishes the battle swiftly, without delay or entanglement.
His massive stature and gentle touch make the aging Ewing completely unable to defend, even when Gan Guoyang switched to defense, he was temporarily hit twice in succession.
Only when Gan Guoyang started to counteract, using front defense, was he able to curb Yao Ming, enough to demonstrate Yao Ming’s offensive threat was immense.
After training ended, Ewing sat on the sidelines, panting heavily, drenched in sweat, his knees aching, utterly exhausted.
Ewing was already planning to retire this season, his body really couldn’t handle it anymore, if not for the last chance to pursue a championship, he wouldn’t have stayed.
After playing several games in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season, Ewing increasingly felt exhausted, his knee injuries tormented him, and after his partner Mourning was diagnosed with kidney disease, he didn’t dare to casually take painkillers.
Seeing Ewing like this, Tomjanovich knows that Yao Ming’s day in the starting lineup is getting closer.
After the start of the new season, the Glory Team made great strides, winning all the first 8 matches.
The power of the Gan Guoyang and Jordan pairing is enormous, no team has found a way to curb them, the only one that pushed the Glory to the brink was on November 16th, at home against the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons made considerable preparation on both offense and defense, acquiring Richard Hamilton through a summer trade, boasting a fierce lineup on the wing and guard positions with Shawn Marion, Ricky Davis, Shawn Prince among others. In the paint, they chose Carlos Boozer, Oko, and other young players with shooting abilities. Joe Dumars is striving to create a new Detroit squad with balanced inside and outside strength.
During the game, the Pistons again concentrated their efforts on Jordan, with Hamilton continually chasing and hassling him, applying pressure and exhausting him.
Marion, Prince, and others made preparations afterward, identical to the Jordan Rules from years ago. The 39-year-old Jordan played very uncomfortably, struggling to coordinate smoothly with Gan Guoyang.
On the offensive end, the Pistons highlighted an all-around attack with no focal point, dodging the defensive strengths of the Glory.
Both sides actually battled fiercely to the final moments, Gan Guoyang, who had orchestrated and organized throughout the game, finally stopped pretending.
Playing one-on-one, strong attack in the low post, an 8-0 run took the Pistons away, achieving a tough victory.
The Glory won this game, but it also provided other teams with a strategy for dealing with the double god combination.
That is to restrict Jordan, restricting Jordan is more cost-effective than restricting Gan Guoyang, sever their connection.
Then on the offensive end, ensure all-around scoring, more ball movement, more shooting, more fast breaks, exhaust the core lineup of the older Glory.
Despite winning the game, in the locker room afterward, Gan Guoyang complained to Jordan: "It’s been more than ten years, how come you’re still restricted by the Pistons? Do the Jordan Rules affect you that much? You should improve a bit, Michael!"
"I got past the Pistons in ’91."
"That’s because the Pistons were declining, man, otherwise it’s really hard to say. I’ve played against both of your teams, I think the Pistons are not necessarily weaker than you guys. Although neither of them beat me."
Jordan was speechless with anger, his performance was indeed poor in this game.
But who can guarantee excellent performance in all 82 games?
It’s just that the Pistons caught him right then, thinking of this, Jordan was fuming at Joe Dumars.
Having become the general manager, yet still not letting me off, targeting a 39-year-old veteran like me.
As the head coach, Tomjanovich wasn’t bothered by this, it’s normal for two old fellows to argue, there’s nothing much to say.
What he truly cared about was Yao Ming’s role on the court in the final stages of the game.
Fans might only see Gan Guoyang scoring 8 consecutive points at a crucial time, but when Jordan was restricted and Gan Guoyang hadn’t yet made a move, it was Yao Ming who stabilized the situation and kept the score close.
As an absolute high point, at crucial moments, catching the ball in the post and scoring continuously against the Pistons, kept the score tight, setting the stage for Gan Guoyang’s counterattack later.
Players like him, tall, with excellent hand feel, once gaining position under the basket and receiving the ball, have extremely high offensive efficiency.