Yang Hansen s NBA dilemma: When a traditional center meets a "historically fast-paced" system

"He is like a living target." A local media person in Portland described Yang Hansen's dilemma in the Trail Blazers' defensive system. When players like Anthony Edwards pass the defender from the midfield line and go straight to the basket, Yang Hansen standing in the penalty area has almost nothing to do.

In the latest podcast, these two media people who have been tracking and reporting on the Trail Blazers for a long time gave a rare in-depth analysis of the difficult situation of the Chinese rookie. They believe that Yang Hansen is not ready to play in the NBA yet, but more importantly, the Trail Blazers' current tactical system is "particularly unfriendly" to traditional centers.

The aliens in the run-and-gun system, the modern dilemma of traditional centers

The Blazers' tactical style this season was described by media people as "historically fast-paced." The team focuses on run-and-gun, full-court press, and pressure on opponents from the backcourt.

This tactical system has extremely demanding requirements on the center. It requires players to have excellent movement speed and defense switching ability, and be able to deal with the impact of the opponent's fast break. Yang Hansen's technical characteristics are exactly contrary to this.

Media people pointed out the core of the problem sharply: "In case someone breaks through the first line of defense, someone has to protect the basket. But this is exactly what Yang Hansen lacks the most right now."

What is even more confusing is the management's selection logic. "General Manager Cronin clearly knows that we will play this style, why did we choose him?" This question goes to the core of the problem - there is an obvious disconnect between the team's team building ideas and draft decisions.

The gap between ideal and reality, from offensive pivot to defensive loopholes

At the beginning of the draft, the Blazers had a clear positioning vision for Yang Hansen. A media source revealed: "Our original idea for him was that the team's starting lineup was strong in defense but insufficient in offense. He could serve as a substitute center and become the offensive hub at the top of the free throw line, feeding teammates who cut in."

This role is similar to Jokic of the Nuggets or Sabonis of the Kings. He plays an offensive support point in the elbow area, taking advantage of his passing vision and basketball IQ.

However, reality is far from imagination. The media person said frankly: "But the current team's system is completely different. Our substitute lineup plays faster and defends harder, and his current style is exactly the opposite."

Today's Trail Blazers second team emphasizes speed and defensive pressure, which is in sharp contrast to Yang Hansen's characteristics of being good at half-court offense and supporting passes. Not only was it difficult for him to take advantage of the situation on the court, but he also exposed his shortcomings of insufficient movement speed.

The way out of the Development League, the value of game time

Faced with Yang Hansen's current predicament, the two media people agreed that going to the Development League for training is the best choice.

"He really needs game experience, the more the better, and I think he is ready to play in the Development League." The media person emphasized, "He must also be eager to play. Now he is completely excluded from the NBA rotation and really needs to maintain his condition through games."

Yang Hansen is currently in an extremely awkward situation with the Trail Blazers - even if he gets the opportunity to play, he only has "five or six minutes per game." In this limited time, he often can only "either make a few mistakes, commit a few fouls, or allow the opponent to break through for a layup, and occasionally score a ball and make two free throws."

Compared with playing 30 minutes a night in the Development League, the current arrangement has limited help for Yang Hansen's growth. Media people pointed out: "Playing 30 minutes a night in the Development League, improving his physical fitness and learning defense will definitely help him more."

Management's responsibility, questions about draft decisions

Media people questioned the Blazers' management's responsibility in this matter. Selecting a player who matches the characteristics of a traditional center but placing him in a tactical system that is completely unsuitable is questionable in itself.

"This is actually everyone's problem - the management's problem, the coaching staff's problem, and Yang Hansen's own problem. It's hard to say clearly." A media person analyzed.

What is even more ironic is that the bargaining chip that the Trail Blazers used to trade to acquire Yang Hansen - Coward, selected with the 11th overall pick, is now performing well with the Grizzlies and is "one of the best rookies in the league."

In this regard, media people called for patience: "At least give Yang Hansen some time before saying, 'Coward should have been chosen', right? It would be too selfish to say this after just a few games in the season."

The way out for the future, the balance of adaptation and change

Faced with this dilemma, both Yang Hansen and the Trail Blazers need to find a way out. Media people proposed two possible solutions:

First, the Development League team adjusts tactics for Yang Hansen. "I don't know if the Trail Blazers' Development League team will copy our style of play or adjust tactics for him. Ideally, I hope that Yang Hansen will play in the Development League throughout the season and let the team develop some tactics around him."

Second, Yang Hansen took the initiative to adapt to the Blazers' style. "If we want him to gain a foothold in our team in the future, he must also learn to adapt to our style."

In fact, Yang Hansen is not completely without the potential to adapt to fast-paced games. The media person recalled: "Actually, during the summer league, I felt that his fast break performance was not bad. Sometimes he could advance with the ball and send good fast break passes. I think he has the potential in this area."

Yang Hansen's predicament reflects the struggle of traditional basketball concepts in the modernization process of the NBA. When run-and-gun tactics became mainstream and half-court offense was gradually marginalized, those big men with traditional skills had to face cruel transformation challenges.

"I feel sorry for him, but I don't want to see the team change their style of play." These words from the media person express the ruthless collision of ideals and reality in professional sports. In the NBA where winning is paramount, it is difficult for a team to change a successful system for the sake of a single player.

But for Yang Hansen, this is far from the end. As the media person said: "We have not given up on Yang Hansen, but his current situation is really difficult." The road to the NBA has always been full of thorns. Dirk Nowitzki also struggled when he first entered the league, and Nikola Jokic's rookie season was equally unremarkable.

True talent should never be defined by temporary difficulties. In the Development League, Yang Hansen may be able to find his own rhythm and reaffirm the self that amazed everyone in the CBA. After all, in the NBA, a land where miracles happen frequently, every underappreciated story may turn around with persistence.