Upon hearing Dick Motta's suggestion, Barkley finally understood why, back in Dallas, Aguirre was always fighting with Motta.
"You old man, are you trying to get me killed? Whether it's offense or defense, one-on-one against Ah Gan, I, Charles Barkley, am at a complete disadvantage."
It's only when avoiding Ah Gan that by using fast breaks, perimeter shooting, and offensive rebounds, Barkley can gain some advantage.
That's still on offense, letting Barkley guard Gan Guoyang, an occasional help defense is manageable, and with some luck, he might even sneak in a block.
But one-on-one defense, or playing solo at mid-range, Barkley knew he would just be giving away points.
The two had a significant height difference, and even the strength Barkley prided himself on wasn't superior; he definitely couldn't defend.
Luckily, Dick Motta was only the Bullets' assistant coach with the power to suggest, not to decide.
