Despite their arguments, they often argue while blowing out their opponents, because their collaboration is really good.
Jordan and Gan Guoyang’s personal abilities have undoubtedly declined compared to the past, but after teaming up, they are very adept at leveraging each other’s strengths to compensate for their current deficiencies.
Jordan’s issues are explosiveness and speed. High-quality screens allow his precise mid-range shooting advantage to be utilized, and Gan Guoyang’s screen is consistently top-level in the league.
Gan Guoyang also has declines in explosiveness and speed, but he isn’t as dependent on these. Gan Guoyang’s main concerns are stamina and stability issues.
He needs a better passer to feed him the ball to finish the offense, conserving his energy, rather than being like in youth, receiving any scrap ball anywhere on the court and performing efficient one-on-one plays indiscriminately.
Jordan’s pick-and-roll can provide such quality passes, allowing Gan Guoyang to deliver stable output.
Nowadays, every high-scoring game for either relies heavily on the assistance of the other.
However, Glory did not start with Princeton nor let Gan Guoyang and Jordan use pick-and-rolls as the opening play.
Tomjanovich’s opening strategy was to let Yao Ming perform low-post plays against his opponents.
Yao Ming in the right low post calls for the ball against Ben Wallace, Andre Miller passes it to Yao Ming.
Yao Ming receives the ball, observes briefly, finds no double-team, and dribbles, pushing Big Ben inside.
Ben Wallace is strong in help defense, but in direct defense, his height and weight don’t quite measure up.
In the World Championship, Yao Ming faced Big Ben from Team USA, one spin move by Yao saw Big Ben end up sniffing armpits, Yao wasn’t afraid at all.
On the first attack, Yao Ming pushes into the basket, spins for a direct slam dunk!
Big Ben was pressed by Yao to the point he couldn’t even jump, not only was there a significant height difference but the weight gap was vast.
Kobe dribbles past midcourt, facing Jordan again, passes to Michael Redd, Redd passes to Little O’Neal at the elbow.
Little O’Neal dribbles and bumps against Ah Gan, suddenly passes inward to a cutting Kobe under the hoop, Kobe catches, underhand layup to evade Yao Ming’s block, scores another 2 points!
The Trail Blazers’ set offense is methodical, executed with great precision, it’s apparent that although they focus on defense, Carlisle’s offensive coaching is unquestionably potent.
Next possession, it’s no longer Big Ben defending Yao Ming, Carlisle realized letting Big Ben defend Yao was gifting him points, unable to exploit Big Ben’s assist defense prowess, completely pinned down by Yao.
Little O’Neal matches up against Yao Ming on the left side, the height gap remains substantial, but Yao Ming receives Gan Guoyang’s pass and doesn’t use height and strength to forcefully attack, instead quickly spins to the basket.
Little O’Neal closely sticks to Yao Ming, forcing Yao toward the baseline, Yao moves to the baseline, executes a fake layup, tricking Little O’Neal, pulls back, spins, fakes again, and spins once more, ultimately a light scoop for the basket!
Olajuwon-style footwork tricks! Yao Ming’s brilliant goal sparked fan applause, with Bill Walton sitting in the commentary booth exclaiming: "Yao! Dream Shake! My God, this doesn’t seem like Ah Gan, but more like Hakeem! Yao, did you learn from Hakeem? Maybe Ah Gan’s skills are too hard to learn?"
Many Chinese fans attending the game came to watch Gan Guoyang and Yao Ming, seeing Yao score two consecutive opening goals, one powerfully straightforward, the other subtly deft, excitedly clapped and cheered.
Kobe immediately responds with a top-of-the-key mid-range strong shot, slightly cooling down the atmosphere.
After all, this is Portland, the Trail Blazers are the home team here, why is it that during Kobe’s actions, the scene went quiet?
Glory’s third attack, Yao Ming calls for the ball again, but this time, Jordan and Gan Guoyang execute a pick-and-roll and pass.
Gan Guoyang catches the ball, mid-range shot succeeds, both teams kickoff displayed excellent offensive performance.
The intense battle, as the game progresses, is arriving step by step.