Chapter 26: Why Not Use It If It's Free

The Trail Blazers maintained their advantage and pressure over the Rockets in the second half.

For Terry Porter and Drexler, the first issue they needed to consider in the offense was whether to initiate the attack themselves after crossing half-court or to feed the ball to Gan Guoyang.

If Gan Guoyang moved up the court, it was likely that he would initiate the attack from the backcourt. With Gan Guoyang sinking down and Thompson coming over for support, the intention was to have Gan Guoyang handle the ball for solo play.

Of course, the situation on the court was ever-changing, and players had to make judgments based on the defense's stance at every moment.

The Trail Blazers' core lineup had developed tacit understanding over two seasons and the players were exceptionally talented with strong ball-handling abilities.