Chapter 2032 - 9: Perfect Match_2

Sure, here is the translation:

The keywords for this configuration are speed, chaos, free offense, passionate and intense playing style.

But after the turbulence and trades in the 2001-2002 season, Karl’s lineup is incomplete.

Anthony Mason is unable to replace the versatile Glenn Robinson, and the bench’s Garbage Dog Williams has left the team.

Without these young and strong frontline players, the Bucks’ strength is greatly reduced. Their speed is up, but there’s no impact; they can only shoot from the outside.

Glory is not afraid of your shooting. In this era, it’s hard to kill just by shooting. A combination of inside and outside is necessary.

Sam Cassell finally used a post-up move to eat Andre Miller, turning around for a high-difficulty fadeaway jump shot and scoring.

After leaving the Nets, Cassell found his place again with the Bucks. This rookie from 1993 is already 33 years old this year, still as ugly as ever, but has a quite high mid-range shooting level.

He then hit another pull-up jump shot on a fast break, but Gan Guoyang immediately responded with a mid-range shot during the positional play.

Back and forth for several rounds, both sides were in a stalemate, while Yao Ming was continually running back and forth without even touching the ball.

The regular season is indeed faster than the preseason. This speed isn’t about everyone running quickly but about handling the ball fast.

There’s no time to think too much. A person can’t hold the ball for too long; a decision must be made immediately.

The attackers need to pass the ball quickly and shoot, while the defenders need to react quickly.

If you’re distracted, don’t know what to do, hold the ball slowly, you’ll easily fall out of sync.

Yao Ming is still a bit unaccustomed. Gan Guoyang sees his discomfort but doesn’t deliberately take care of him, letting Yao Ming adapt on his own.

When Yao Ming integrates into the game’s rhythm on offense and defense, the ball will naturally come to him. Forcing the ball won’t work well.

Soon, Yao Ming was called for a foul on defense, sending Ray Allen to the free-throw line. Gan Guoyang reminded him not to press down on defense, saying it’s a bad habit.

"When the ball flies toward the hoop, you have to anticipate its trajectory to intercept it, rather than staring at the ball and pressing down to block it; that’s easily a foul."

Ray Allen made both free throws, then Andre Miller missed a floater after breaking inside, and Yao Ming squeezed into the Three Second Zone, grabbing an Offensive Rebound.

However, he didn’t directly attack the hoop, instead putting the ball down first before raising, only for the ball to be stripped by the opponent. Luckily it went out of bounds and remained Glory’s ball.

Gan Guoyang realized this was another bad habit Yao Ming developed in the CBA: instinctively securing the ball after grabbing the rebound, needing a process to exert force when jumping.

As a result, the speed is too slow. In the CBA, players don’t have fast hands, but in the NBA, it’s different. If you’re slightly slow, a steal comes immediately.

Baseline ball, Yao Ming made the pass. He gave the ball to Gan Guoyang; the intention was too obvious and nearly got intercepted.

Fortunately, Gan Guoyang controlled the ball, utilizing the Hickma Step to turn, and just as he was about to shoot against the defense, unexpectedly passed to Yao Ming under the basket.

Yao Ming wasn’t prepared to catch the ball. He stretched out to catch it but couldn’t, the ball bouncing off his head, and by the time he tried to grab it, the Bucks had stolen it.

Quick transition defense, Yao Ming silently ran back. He knows Gan Guoyang’s pass: if caught, it’s a chance; if not, it’s a warning.

Continuous mistakes will be reminded, and it’s the same for everyone, even stricter for Yao Ming.

The Bucks, in a quick counterattack, could only shoot from outside. Cassell’s layup attempt was blocked by Gerald Wallace, who caught up.

Controlling the ball, outside Ray Allen shoots a three-pointer, Yao Ming followed up in full pursuit, but the ball didn’t score.

Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound, passed the ball to Miller to slow down slightly for the positional play.

Gan Guoyang held the ball high, quickly passing to the wing to Wallace cutting inside toward the basket.

Wallace caught the ball, broke through, drew the defense, then passed to Yao Ming, who didn’t slip this time.

Took it up instantly for a direct rise, single-arm dunk scored!

Yao Ming got the first basket of his NBA career—a dunk!

Gerald Wallace high-fived Yao Ming, and Gan Guoyang also came over to pat Yao Ming and said, "Now that’s more like it."

Yao Ming is slowly finding his form. The grind of the preseason training camp is proving useful, and he has chemistry with everyone.

Moreover, he understands how the Princeton System operates, and what his position is within this system.

Yao Ming isn’t the facilitator in the Princeton System but a high tower finisher. He must learn to sharply capture opportunities, converting them into substantial points.

Just now, his ball handling was decisive and quick, without the previous sluggishness, Gan Guoyang’s ball had some positive effect.

The first quarter quickly neared its end, Glory consistently maintained a double-digit lead. When Jordan came on to replace Gan Guoyang, the score was 25:14, Bucks’ offense struggled due to a lack of inside power; they were overly reliant on the outside.

George Karl made substitutions, sending up Toni Kukoc, who was Jordan’s former teammate.

Kukoc met Jordan, the two bumped fists; post-1998 disbandment, everyone went their separate ways.

Kukoc remained with the Bulls as one of Jerry Krause’s drafted political legacies, but without Jordan and Pippen, Kukoc wasn’t the star who could support the team.

Whether in scoring, assists, rebounds, or the most important aspect of physical health, Kukoc is more suited to be a third option or Sixth Man.

Soon he was cleared by Krause, roaming several teams, now surprisingly already 34 and entering the late stage of his career. The career timeline of a professional player turns too swiftly.