Gan Guoyang knew that due to the long-term influence of Porter’s brainwashing, Yao Ming was beyond saving.
Fortunately, his performance on the court was quite good, and he listened to everything Gan Guoyang said, with training arranged according to the established plan.
He did not spend a lot of time solely on gaining weight and increasing strength, but frequently did flexibility and agility training.
For instance, ball jumps, ball control with both hands, and lots of training in catching and quick shooting.
The Glory Team did not plan to turn Yao Ming into another low-post anchor, but rather a more versatile and agile big man.
Yao Ming’s great advantage is that in his height category, his flexibility is unbeatable; NBA players reaching the level of 2.20 often become very bulky.
Speed and reaction sensitivity will be influenced by the slower neural transmission, which is why people often say "big dumb guy."
Yao Ming is not dumb at all; his IQ is not dumb, and neither are his movements. Although compared to small point guards like Allen Iverson, he is certainly bulkier, but compared to other giants like Muresan, Bradley, Bol, etc., Yao Ming’s movements and reactions are closest to those of ordinary people, and even faster than ordinary people.
The problem with Glory Team at the start of the first quarter was poor finishing, constantly passing the ball seeking so-called real opportunities.
But the 76ers’ defense was resilient, and Larry Brown’s team’s defensive formation wouldn’t display huge blunders continuously.
So when passing, some opportunities were wasted, and the offense lacked focus.
On the contrary, the 76ers played completely around Allen Iverson; Iverson was everything, the good was him, and the bad was him, so they didn’t hesitate much.
And though one might say Iverson’s state wasn’t as good as in the 2001 season, after all, he was only 27 years old, still one of the best scorers in the league.
In the first round against the Pacers, he delivered a 50-point performance in a single game; this kind of playoff scoring explosiveness ranks high in NBA history.
Though the other two guys monopolized the playoff single-game 50-point record, Iverson was young.
After the timeout, Glory Team adjusted their strategy, shifting their offensive focus to the relatively energetic Yao Ming.
Gan Guoyang set a pick-and-roll with Jordan at the high post, seemingly to roll down and attack, but actually deceiving the 76ers’ defense.
Gan Guoyang received the ball with a low-hand hand-off at the edge of the Three Second Zone to Yao Ming, and Yao Ming received the ball and dunked easily!
Allen Iverson used the same breakthrough pass to give Coleman the ball; Coleman caught the ball in the basket, trying to dunk but was blocked by Gan Guoyang.
This 1990 draft pick, now 35, never managed to fulfill his all-star potential to become a dominant inside presence in the league, and didn’t become the second Ah Gan.
But after moving around various teams, making a single All-Star appearance, peaking at 20+10, having played in the league for over ten seasons, still starting at 35 with double-double performances, his career could be considered decent.
After Gan Guoyang successfully blocked the shot, he immediately received a pass from Jordan in the fast break, quickly jumped and scored two points under the basket.
"You’re still using Bernard King’s style of attack; it’s really old-school, Sonny," Coleman quipped.
Coleman is always mouthy, daring to say anything; he has a nonchalant personality.
In 1995 he had some conflict with Malone; he bluntly referred to Malone as "Uncle Tom."
Uncle Tom is the protagonist of the famous African-American novel "Uncle Tom’s Cabin."
Although he was a black slave, the most famous African-American novel, within the black community this character is quite controversial.
Because the author of the novel was a white person, Tom in the book was very submissive to whites, so some blacks believed this was a white person’s effort to romanticize the slave relationship.
Thus some blacks call those who always mingle with white people, only having black skin but living lifestyles like white people, "Uncle Tom."
Karl Malone’s label has always been tough guy, along with truck, lumber, and hunting in the Western forests, which mostly don’t have much to do with black culture.
Malone’s close friends often include whites, and his social circle is basically the style of Midwestern whites, quite different from the southern black states where he was born.
On the court they often clashed; Coleman called Malone "Uncle Tom," thinking he betrayed the black class, playing basketball and making a bit of money just to mingle with whites.
As for Ah Gan, he was equally outspoken.
At worst being overshadowed, at worst getting knocked down.
Gan Guoyang didn’t mind; Coleman was speaking the truth, he truly was old-fashioned.
"But you still can’t defend my ancient technique, can you?"
"Nonsense, if I could defend you, I would’ve done it long ago..."
Mid-sentence, Coleman stepped out to set a pick for Allen Iverson; after the pick, Glory Team didn’t switch defense, Andre Miller opted to bypass, allowing Iverson to shoot from mid-range to prevent his basket penetration.
At the start, Glory prematurely double-teamed Iverson with ineffective results; the 76ers’ flexible offensive movement, coupled with Coleman’s ability to pass, they kept scoring.
After the timeout, the defensive strategy changed; Glory stabilized the formation, no longer spreading out due to excessive double-teaming and chase defense.
Allen Iverson’s mid-range jump shot missed, Yao Ming grabbed the rebound, Glory on the fast break, not too fast, not too slow.
This year’s Glory, in terms of tactics, like Gan Guoyang, played very old-school, with fewer three-point shots, more ball passing, and even more post-up offense.
Andre Miller’s three-point shooting was poor, but he established himself in the league with his passing and efficient offense; he had a post-up game.