He began to team up with Jordan to deal with Gan Guoyang, who had transformed into an outside assault monster.
And indeed, it was effective.
A strong, quick, and interception-skilled player up front kept reaching in to threaten.
Behind, a small yet sturdy player with excellent mobility and weight acted as a second line of defense, successfully blocking Gan Guoyang's unstoppable layups in the first quarter.
The Trail Blazers finally slowed down, and the Bulls could set up their formation, competing with the Trail Blazers at a more familiar rhythm.
The Bulls once suppressed the Trail Blazers on both ends and took a 24:21 lead in the first quarter.
It was a good start, and the Bulls were encouraged, finally able to curb the Trail Blazers' new offensive strategy.
Jackson was in a daze on the sideline, joyfully waving his arms as he saw the team take the lead, uncharacteristically ecstatic.
