This is not a trick play; in the UCLA system, guards can indeed set screens.
Like in the Utah Jazz, Stockton would often pull out to set screens for Malone.
However, Stockton cuts out more to open space, while Jordan can drive straight to the basket to create damage.
Currently, the pick-and-roll between the two is still indefensible, and the Trail Blazers need to solve their offensive issues.
Kobe circled to the left corner to receive the ball, faked Jordan, and rushed into the basket, but missed a forced shot under the defense of three people.
This guy is a bit high-strung, Gan Guoyang grabs the rebound and launches a fast break.
Gan Guoyang knows the Trail Blazers’ defensive system well, understands Little O and Big Ben’s defensive habits.
When he is holding the ball on the perimeter, these two guys become very troublesome on the defensive end.
Jordan comes over for the screen again, but this time it’s a fake, and Gan Guoyang dribbles to the left side straight to the basket.
The Trail Blazers’ defense focused too much on the perimeter, allowing Gan Guoyang to break through cleanly and score with a left-handed layup.
The two old guys used pick-and-rolls to toy with the Trail Blazers’ tight defensive system.
Carl was very anxious on the sideline, but he had no solutions. These two old foxes clearly saw through Carl’s strategies.
Just during the bench timeout, Gan Guoyang and Jordan discussed that the Trail Blazers would definitely rotate, defending two players with three, opting to leave someone open and let Glory take the three-point shot.
However, the Glory team had poor three-point shooting, and under the intensity of such a game, the team’s three-point shooting percentage would not be high.
So sometimes when the opponent gives you an open shot, it’s not necessarily a real opportunity; it could also be a trap.
The two of them wouldn’t fall into such a trap, the fourth quarter was their stage performance, everyone else had to step back.
The gap has widened to 5 points, 90:85, the Trail Blazers have the offensive opportunity.
With half of the fourth quarter left, a 90-point deficit is too much for the Trail Blazers.
Especially after the start of the fourth quarter, they continuously lost points. In previous games, the Trail Blazers conceded the least points in the fourth quarter.
Because the opponent’s stamina and accuracy dwindled after being drained and tortured for three quarters, and the Trail Blazers would ramp up the defensive intensity to the maximum in this quarter. In several games, they kept the opponent from scoring double-digits in the fourth quarter; this level of intensity is understandable.
But Gan Guoyang and Jordan were like two sharp knives, combined to easily slice through the Trail Blazers’ tight defensive shell, revealing their vulnerable part: their wing positions were somewhat lacking.
Whether it’s Michael Redd or backup Bonzi Wells, they are more attack-oriented players.
In the defense-heavy small forward position, the Trail Blazers lacked a versatile player who can defend both inside and outside, steal and block shots.
If they had someone like Pippen, who could play a role on the wings, inside, and at the top of the arc, defend Jordan, and handle Ah Gan, the Trail Blazers’ defensive situation would be much better.
But they don’t have him; they rely heavily on the two inside players for defense, especially Big Ben’s mobility as a center, which is particularly crucial for supplementing the perimeter.
And Kobe as a shooting guard is ultimately not enough in terms of body size and defensive awareness. He can hassle Jordan, but after the pick-and-roll, making choices and controlling two people is something Kobe can’t handle.
In the following possessions, the Trail Blazers grit their teeth and temporarily held off Glory’s offense, while Kobe attempted to use his personal ability on offense to suppress Ah Gan, closing in and even overtaking the score.
His shots were not very calm or reasonable; although he nailed a mid-range shot, as Ah Gan rolled down to receive the ball after a pick-and-roll, scored a layup, and caused a foul from Big Ben, the Trail Blazers’ solid defensive system started to crack.
Scored the free throw, 93:87, Glory led by 6 points, the Trail Blazers needed a basket and a solution.
Kobe carried the ball like a bomb, charged into the basket, causing Yao Ming a defensive foul, going to the free-throw line.
Yao Ming took a break, Tomjanovich did not sub in Malik Rose but brought in Van Exel.
Thus, Glory switched to a four-small lineup and brought in a strong three-point shooter, creating an outside threat.
Bill Walton commented, "Glory’s fourth-quarter lineup showed me Tomjanovich’s imagination, he fully trusts Ah Gan and Michael’s ability to distribute the ball, they are playing an extraordinary brand of offensive basketball. Everything revolves around Ah Gan and Michael’s pick-and-roll; wings, inside, 45-degree angles, opportunities everywhere. We always praise Stockton and Malone’s pick-and-roll, but to be honest, Utah’s pick-and-roll power is not half of theirs, it’s terrifying, no idea how to respond."
The scary thing about Jordan and Gan Guoyang’s pick-and-roll is that both react very quickly, making decisive passes.
Many pick-and-rolls fail because the ball handler gets trapped, pressured defensively, fears making mistakes, or passes too slowly, causing the play to fall apart.
These two definitely do not have this issue; they supervise each other, anyone who passes slowly or makes mistakes will face the other’s tongue-lashing.
Kobe made both free throws; he wanted to rely on his strength to hold the team together. Gan Guoyang advised Kobe, "You need to connect deeper with your teammates; relying on yourself alone, you don’t have that ability."
"Win this game first before you speak!" Kobe retorted to Gan Guoyang.
Gan Guoyang smiled, Jordan received the ball from Van Exel, and Gan Guoyang moved to the post to get the ball.