Havlicek made the right decision in the second half, which was to keep Gan Guoyang on the court without interfering too much, letting the young man lead the team's defense.
This was not an easy thing to do; the NBA is a circle that values seniority, and for the veterans, being directed by a junior in defense was quite embarrassing.
But Gan Guoyang didn't care at all. When he stood in the paint, he was full of authority, commanding every teammate like a general, reminding them to cover, position, and grab rebounds.
His defensive awareness was excellent, and he was also very familiar with Team USA's offensive plays. After several rounds, the NBA stars found that the defense was effective following his commands.
Rick Mahorn was pushed by Gan Guoyang to help defend. The big man was a bit unwilling, yelling at Gan Guoyang not to touch him, but then Gan Guoyang blocked Kangkak in a one-on-one defense.
