[Michael and Ah Gan are no longer at their peak, but their complementary teamwork has brought their combination to a new height.]
———Cover story, January 2003 Issue 1, Sports Illustrated, Foreword.
In their younger days, Gan Guoyang and Jordan didn’t like to play pick-and-roll. Teaming up with others not only wasn’t helpful but often became a hindrance.
This was related to the game rules at the time and also because both had capabilities that were too strong, strong enough to not be on the same level as others, making others drag them down in theory.
Phil Jackson once said that having Michael Jordan play the Triangle Offense wasn’t because Jordan needed the Triangle, but because his teammates needed it.
Jordan was forced to adapt to his teammates, so he played the Triangle Offense. If he held the ball doing it himself, he would be stronger than the Triangle Offense, though in such cases, his teammates would find it hard to play.
Gan Guoyang was the same. However, he was an interior player. By playing in the low post, his teammates could also play well around him. He played for a season on his own that led the League to change the rules, prohibiting isolation plays.
Many years later, Gan Guoyang admitted that was his most enjoyable and straightforward season, and if he could play like that always, it would be great. Why learn Princeton, or any other complicated tactics?
Later, some teams used pass-and-cut tactics, having certain players run off the ball, achieving great success.
But the player in interviews years later stated that playing off the ball and pass-and-cut was to adapt to tactics, compromising to teammates and coaches, and not because his ballhandling was weak.
Basketball is a team sport. Sometimes, a player being too strong isn’t a good thing, making teammates appear dull with no sense of involvement.
For the team, sacrifice is instead made by those who are the strongest. They seem to play very well, as if fish in water. In reality, they are amphibians who live better without water; it’s just that people don’t see it.
As for letting the team sacrifice and adapt to their skills and characteristics, their adaptability is somewhat weaker.
By 2002, Gan Guoyang and Jordan were no longer as mighty, and the decline in individual ability was inevitable.
They started to utilize rules more, tactics more, needing to adapt with teammates, cooperate, and leverage the strength of a good team.
Pick-and-roll became a tool for Jordan and Gan Guoyang to mutually achieve each other and themselves, and their pick-and-roll became more flamboyant and diversified.
Currently, most pick-and-rolls occur inside the three-point line, at the top of the arc and two 45-degree angles, since it’s challenging to launch an attack from elsewhere after those picks.
Outside the three-point line is too far, below the free-throw line is too crowded, so this narrow strip in the middle is the best zone for pick-and-roll cooperation.
But Gan Guoyang and Jordan don’t think so. They believe as long as they can disrupt the opponent’s defense and cause defensive chaos, pick-and-roll can be done anywhere.
Anyway, as long as they disrupt the opponent formation, accurately get the ball to the right person, and initiate an attack toward the basket, does it matter where it’s done?
Too far outside the line, then shoot a three, or drive inside. This is no difficulty for Gan Guoyang.
Too far inside, too crowded, still no problem. They can shoot over two, three defenders anyway.
No issue with bringing in two more defenders, and in such confined space, they can make brilliant plays, close to the basket, deliver some superb and threatening passes.
Rick Carlisle called a timeout. He sensed danger and knew where the real threat came from, but how to counter it? This was a big question.
Ah Gan + Jordan pick-and-roll, how do you break this?
Commonly defending pick-and-roll involves squeezing through, going around, double-teaming, and rotations.
Just these few methods: squeezing through going around makes no difference to Jordan.
Double-teaming? Who do you double? This is currently the League’s dilemma.
As for rotations, with two guarding three, both players are top-notch passers. The result of rotations is giving the third person a shooting opportunity.
Perhaps this is the best answer, allowing the third person to shoot, betting on them missing.
It might be Glory Team’s biggest offensive loophole, as their outside shooting is average.
After deciding, Carlisle demanded three players to defend Gan Guoyang and Jordan’s pick-and-roll.
As long as the interior isn’t left empty, both corners and 45-degree spots can be left open, let them take those shots.
Arrangements made, both sides resumed play. It was Trail Blazers’ offensive possession.
Kobe passed the ball to Little O’Neal. Little O’neal at the top of the arc initiated and directly passed the cutting Mike Reed toward the basket. Reed received the ball and made a layup.
The Trail Blazers steadied themselves. The key was still the defense; Carlisle was a bit tense, worried that Glory Team might have other schemes.
Sure enough, Jordan crossed the half-court and passed the ball to Gan Guoyang. Gan Guoyang held the ball at the top of the arc, seemingly about to run a Princeton play?
But not, Jordan didn’t cut to the basket, instead came outside the three-point line and set a screen for Gan Guoyang!
These two flipped positions: Gan Guoyang dribbled, Jordan screened, then Jordan rolled down, Gan Guoyang lifted high and passed straight to the basket.
Jordan caught the ball. The Trail Blazers lacked their interior defender Big Ben; it was Anderson instead, as Big Ben had rushed out. Jordan dunked over Anderson with one hand!
This completely caught the Trail Blazers’ defense by surprise. Carlisle touched his forehead, pulled out his notebook and noted down what had just happened.
"Jordan can also screen and roll; his cutting ability is very strong."