Chapter 936 - 6 Saying Thank You_2

The arrival of Mutombo was an attempt by the Nuggets management to prevent the team from conceding so many points.

At the same time, Mutombo also brought many surprises on the offensive end.

Although his low-post offensive skills are not much to speak of, his youth and vigor enabled him to integrate actively into Westhead’s offensive system.

On defense, he plays the center position, but on offense, he sometimes resembles a power forward, joining fast breaks and actively fighting for offensive rebounds to create scoring opportunities.

So far, relying on his towering height, long wingspan, and relentless effort, Mutombo has been averaging five offensive rebounds per game—an important reason for his good offensive performance.

However, tonight against the Trail Blazers, Mutombo’s offensive rebound-grabbing strategy was ineffective, as Gan Guoyang, a dominant presence on defensive rebounds, protected the Trail Blazers’ backboard exceptionally well.

There was no way to power through him—270 pounds of sheer weight and league-best strength made it impossible to contend with him.

Mutombo tried to use his height and reach to pluck rebounds over Gan Guoyang’s head, but his efforts were futile.

Without positioning advantage, it’s impossible to grab offensive rebounds unless the height disparity is overwhelming.

For the entire first half, failing to score in the post, Mutombo was left endlessly sprinting back and forth, searching for opportunities in transition.

But Gan Guoyang anticipated his moves, locking down most opportunities, denying Mutombo easy chances to catch the ball and finish at the basket.

Twice, Mutombo’s cuts to the basket to receive passes resulted in turnovers, as Gan Guoyang intercepted them. Mutombo was too slow in catching and bringing the ball up, while Gan Guoyang was extraordinarily quick in swiping at the ball.

As a result, Mutombo was scoreless for the entire first half, with his stat line showing only five rebounds and two blocks.

At halftime, Mutombo felt an unusual fatigue, both physically and mentally. He played with virtually no presence.

Gan Guoyang, on the other hand, dominated the first half with a relaxed performance, tallying 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks, helping the Trail Blazers lead the Nuggets by 17 points.

The Nuggets’ defense had already improved significantly compared to last season—they no longer conceded 70 to 80 points in a half or totals of 130, 140, or even 150 points in a game.

However, this version of the Nuggets had lost the essence of Westhead’s basketball philosophy. They were no longer a frenzied offensive machine but instead a team that seemed distinctive yet ultimately lacked strength.

This was because the league’s general trend was shifting towards defense, especially this season, which saw the league’s average scoring decline further.

Even offensive powerhouses like the Trail Blazers were improving their defensive efforts to enhance their stability on the court and achieve better results.

During halftime, Mutombo felt despondent. His confidence had taken a heavy hit, shattered by Ah Gan’s relentless dominance.

Gan Guoyang indeed went hard tonight, challenging Mutombo with playoff-level intensity and focus.

More importantly, the Nuggets lacked a system to support Mutombo’s defense, often leaving him isolated in the three-second zone.

The gap in experience and ability between the two players was evident, and Gan Guoyang had never been intimidated by centers like Mutombo, who were tall and slim.

In the second half, Gan Guoyang switched up his approach to dealing with Mutombo, pulling out to the perimeter frequently to set up plays and hold the ball at the high post or the 45-degree angle.

Mutombo was forced to step out to defend him, but he also had to keep an eye on the paint. This left him caught in awkward positions—either allowing Gan Guoyang uncontested mid-range shots or defending too far out, leaving the paint wide open for the Trail Blazers’ Princeton system to exploit with backdoor cuts and layups.

Westhead made some feeble adjustments, but they had little effect, as he had no strong cards to play.

In the NBA, roster talent reigns supreme. Without talented players or top-tier stars, it’s impossible to achieve success.

Gan Guoyang eased up on his intensity on both ends of the court in the third quarter, giving Mutombo some opportunities to score.

When Mutombo seized the chance and dunked with two hands after a catch in the paint, Gan Guoyang stared at him for a moment and said, "You should say thank you, Deke."

Mutombo was stunned for a second, wondering why he needed to thank him for scoring a dunk.

But he soon realized that if Ah Gan had gone all out on defense, there was a good chance he’d have been stripped of the ball or blocked again.

Mutombo was still too slow in the paint and, as Gan Guoyang had pointed out, had a bad habit—going into a crouch to collect the ball before rising.

This bad habit was shared by Georgetown’s centers, including Ewing, Mutombo, and Mourning. They seemed incapable of powering up without crouching to collect the ball first.

They could never emulate Ah Gan, who attacked immediately after receiving the ball, staying high and quick, leaving no time for opponents to react.

After hesitating for a moment, Mutombo finally told Gan Guoyang, "Thank you, thank you."

Gan Guoyang nodded and proceeded to play at a normal pace for the rest of the fourth quarter.

Mutombo finally had some breathing room to make a contribution on both offense and defense.

But the game’s result was no longer in question. With a commanding lead, the Trail Blazers, immersed in a festive Christmas atmosphere, secured the win with an 18-point margin.

At the end of the game, Mutombo shook hands with Gan Guoyang. In this moment, Mutombo lowered his usually proud head and retracted his lofty demeanor, saying, "I’ll work hard and aim to block one of your shots in the future."

Gan Guoyang appreciated Mutombo’s confidence. He knew that this African center would eventually shine brightly in the NBA.