Yang Hansen went wild, delivering a confident and spirited quarter.

Yang Hansen’s showings in the first two preseason games truly embody the idea of starting slow and then rising up.

In the first game, Yang Hansen found it very tough at the start, unable to keep up with the fast tempo. He finished with just 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist, alongside 4 turnovers, fouling out with 6 fouls. His foul control issues persisted into the first quarter today.

At the start of today’s first quarter, Yang Hansen was schooled by little Sabonis, who caught him off guard with a Euro step and scored a 2+1. Within just over three minutes, Yang Hansen had already committed three fouls, an astonishing foul rate. However, his third foul, a block against Eubanks under the basket, was, in my opinion, a good defensive play.

Ultimately, the root cause remains Yang Hansen’s lack of foul control. This is closely tied to his playing habits. The same defensive moves that might work in the CBA result in fouls in the NBA, and opponents still score. The difference in league standards and opponent quality means Yang Hansen needs significant playing time to adjust to this gap.

After his third foul in the first quarter, I was already prepared for another disappointing game from Yang Hansen. Unexpectedly, in the second half, he surprised all the fans, sparked by Saric’s three-pointer to him.

Saric hit an open three right in front of Yang Hansen, Avdija sped up with the ball, and Yang Hansen was already positioned near the baseline. Avdija accurately found Yang Hansen, who confidently shot and made his first preseason three-pointer!

Immediately on the next possession, before the broadcast could catch up, Yang Hansen sank another three, again assisted by Avdija. Those two threes completely unlocked his confidence, and everything flowed smoothly afterward. He scored a layup in transition, battling Eubanks under the rim.

The next play could be considered the most spectacular since Yang Hansen was drafted: catching the ball beyond the arc, faking out Eubanks, dribbling behind his back, spinning to fool him again, and using his size and wingspan to finish with a layup, igniting the entire arena!

In the first half, Eubanks was fired up whenever he saw Yang Hansen, eager to go one-on-one. In the second half, Yang Hansen unleashed all his pent-up energy on Eubanks, fully displaying his offensive talent and completely overwhelming his opponent.

In the third quarter, Yang Hansen scored 14 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, dished 1 assist, and blocked 1 shot, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from three, while making all four free throws. This was partly due to his growing confidence on the court and also thanks to the coaching staff’s trust.

During the third quarter, Yang Hansen stayed in his comfort zone, initiating offense from the top of the key to help the Trail Blazers create space. When he hit a three-pointer, opponents dared not leave him open. As he stood at the arc, a cutting opportunity emerged from the baseline, leading to his only assist of the game, a pass to Sharp who finished comfortably with a dunk.

Today, Yang Hansen showcased all his strengths: three-point shooting, natural scoring ability, and playmaking skills. Defensively, he also had 3 blocks, including one that stopped LaVine’s fast break layup, proving his defensive foundation is solid; it’s just a matter of adjusting his habits.

Whether shooting or playmaking, these are skills that Trail Blazers’ starting center Klingen lacks, which is why they chose Yang Hansen. The coaching staff gave him full trust, letting him play with the starters in the third quarter and assigning him some low-post tactics, where he performed excellently.

Yang Hansen’s role with the Trail Blazers is like that of a top-tier secondary option. He needs passers like Avdija to feed him, and he can also create chances for cutters like Sharp. Playing alongside high-caliber teammates allows him to be more comfortable on the court.

Of course, all this depends on Yang Hansen himself fighting for every chance, seizing every opportunity to distribute from the top of the key and to shoot open threes, repaying Lilups’ trust in him every time, just like he did today.

Today’s game was a real treat for everyone, as Yang Hansen finally felt vindicated, thoroughly silencing those who mocked him after the first game. The Trail Blazers’ coaching staff might be the most patient team in the world with him right now, and we should share the same patience and expectations for Yang Hansen.

After watching this game, Klingen, who fouled out early in the third quarter with his fifth foul, was already sweating profusely.