At this point, many tactics have almost been used up, and everyone begins to play their trump cards.
The Trail Blazers’ trump card is Kobe, while Glory has two trump cards, one is Jordan and the other is Gan Guoyang.
Now Kobe has to face these two guys alone, but he shows no fear and is full of fighting spirit.
At this moment, Rick Carlisle no longer criticizes Kobe, and he begins to realize the significance of Kobe’s spirit.
He undoubtedly isn’t the most reasonable, and even often harms the team.
He isn’t the strongest either; Gan Guoyang and Michael are both more powerful and efficient than him.
But he’s here, on the court, making everything possible, even if just slightly possible.
Kobe made the first free throw, and the Trail Blazers did not give up hope of winning, at this time Gan Guoyang re-entered the game.
Chewing gum, like an executioner carrying out the death sentence for the Trail Blazers, making every player and coach of the Trail Blazers shudder in fear.
This kind of scene has happened too many times in past games, Gan’s fourth-quarter appearance, Gan’s consecutive shots, Gan taking away the game.
The only person not afraid on the Trail Blazers is Kobe, who also steadily executed the second free throw and gestured to Gan Guoyang to "bring it on."
Off the court, Bird saw Kobe’s gesture, slightly shook his head, thinking does this kid really think the team isn’t dying fast enough?
Gan Guoyang’s face showed no emotion, indifferent to Kobe’s provocation, he simply said to Jordan, "Tactic three."
Jordan nodded, and the two executed tactic three, which is the UCLA-style fake screen play.
The core function of this tactic is to use the deceptive nature of fake screens to quickly launch the attack.
The finisher could be Jordan or Gan Guoyang.
To put it bluntly, the two pretend to screen, tricking the defenders, then quickly set up for one-on-one.
This move is often used in tight moments during a match.
Because a real pick-and-roll can sometimes consume time and opportunities, and invite defensive plays.
If you screen at the top of the arc or at a 45-degree angle, in a blink three or even four defenders converge, and the opportunity is lost.
Now, they use the UCLA 1-4 formation to fake screen on the perimeter, with plenty of space, the opponents don’t dare to recklessly converge.
Then Gan Guoyang quickly leaves to cut inside or to the outside, Jordan processes the ball, initiating an attack or passing to Gan Guoyang to find a chance to score.
Meanwhile, other players also have opportunities to attack with the ball; it can be said it’s one of Glory’s ace moves.
Sure enough, the two faked a screen, Gan Guoyang quickly cut inside, Jordan observed and immediately passed the ball to the basket.
Gan Guoyang caught the ball, faced Big Ben coming to help, pressing him, and dunked the ball over Wallace!
The referee didn’t blow for a foul and showed mercy with his whistle; Gan Guoyang’s dunk reignited the enthusiasm at the MGM Arena.
Kobe tried to extinguish the fiery atmosphere with a pull-up jump shot near the basket, but missed from mid-range, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound.
Passed to Jordan, same-position fake screen play, this time Gan Guoyang moved to the left baseline.
Catching the ball, classic baseline post-up, jumper taken and scored again!
The point difference returned to double digits, Gan Guoyang remained expressionless, steady like a Buddha statue.
Once he appeared, the situation really changed dramatically.
With only Jordan, Kobe could still put up a resistance, but when Gan appeared, he couldn’t withstand it.
Carlisle called a timeout, adjusted the defense, and demanded man-to-man marking.
At this time, it’s only man-to-man, everyone simply takes care of their own matchup - it’s down to individual ability and fighting spirit.
Little O’Neal received a pass from Kobe, feinted to shake off the defense, drove inside, and succeeded with a dunk!
It’s Little O’Neal’s first dunk of the match.
Gan Guoyang was still catching the ball on the baseline, but this time he chose to pass to the cutting Jordan.
Jordan received the ball, dodged Big Ben’s block, then an agile maneuver in mid-air, successfully making a layup!
Landing steadily, after a series of mid-air moves and confrontation, Jordan lost no balance.
And afterwards, Kobe threw himself into the air, charging into the basket to make a layup, drawing Ewing’s foul.
Ewing argued with the referee for a few words, which were of no consequence; Kobe went to the free throw line, making two free throws.
Porter didn’t sub Ewing out, who received a pass from Jordan at the top of the arc, took a mid-range shot, and scored!
Ewing’s condition tonight was good, at this moment his presence on the court offered more stability in offense and defense than Yao Ming.
Porter worried that Yao Ming might make mistakes or fail to protect the defensive rebounds if he came up.
Michael Redd attempted a three-pointer, but missed, and Gan Guoyang tapped the ball to Ewing.
Ewing firmly controlled the ball, Glory was in no rush, advancing slowly, letting the time tick away - this favored Glory.
The Trail Blazers began full-court pressing defense, Andre Miller shielded the ball with his backside while crossing the half-court line to pass to Jordan.
Kobe aggressively pounced on Jordan, and the referee called a defensive foul on Kobe, but the two got fired up, starting to trash talk.
The point gap remained around 10 points, the situation was increasingly unfavorable for the Trail Blazers, players obviously worried and anxious.
But fouling was pointless, another high fake screen by Jordan and Gan Guoyang, Gan Guoyang suddenly pulled back out, finding a chance at the top of the arc.
Jordan’s pass was very timely to Gan Guoyang, Gan Guoyang caught the ball, shot a three-pointer, the ball flew in a perfect arc, precisely hitting the target!
Then, in defense, Gan Guoyang suddenly rushed up, snatched the ball from Kobe’s hands, countered by passing to Jordan, who glided in for a successful dunk!