Team reporter: This was Yang Hanson's best performance of the season, truly proving he can be relied upon by the coach.

On January 9th Beijing time, Trail Blazers reporter Mike Richman talked about Yang Hanson's last game versus the Rockets in his newest podcast. He considered it Yang Hanson's best game this season, with the following details—

This might come off as a subtle putdown, but I honestly feel this way:Yang Hanson's performance was still a bit inexperienced, but the crucial number is 16 and a half minutes played. During those 16 and a half minutes, he was able to stay on the court and fulfill basic game duties, which is enough. While he was playing, the team was not overwhelmed by the opponent and no major issues arose. Of course, he did play somewhat cautiously, committing a few turnovers and some unnecessary reach-in fouls.

He made one three-pointer but missed several other shot opportunities; after that first three, his last three attempts missed. It’s clear he still held back a bit—you could even see him thinking on the court. He was carefully reading the game, but previously, no matter how well he understood it, he would only play four minutes before being subbed out, and then rarely got more playing time. Andin this game, the team not only gave him significant minutes but also heavily used zone defense tactics.

Tonight, the Trail Blazers mainly played a 3-2 zone defense, usually with Kamara positioned at the top of the key, and two inside players guarding near the basket. The Rockets had a terrible shooting night, hitting only 8 of 36 three-pointers. Because the Rockets missed so many shots, the Blazers opted for a taller lineup, pairing Yang Hanson with Lowry, who played almost the entire game side by side. Offensively, Yang played the power forward spot; defensively, with the team in zone defense, he guarded one of the low post areas near the basket.

This tactical setup allowed him to avoid one-on-one matchups—defending far from the basket is tough for him, but guarding near the rim reduces his defensive weaknesses and gives him chances to grab defensive rebounds. I think this game was a solid performance for Yang Hanson. I've seen many fans online say he played well against the Celtics, but I disagree.I believe this game was his best performance this season because he truly proved he could be “used by the coach.”

For a rookie like him, we should focus on his gradual progress: from not being able to play at all, to playing a few minutes, then completing basic tasks, and finally becoming more effective. In this game, he delivered 16 minutes of meaningful court time. I know plus-minus stats aren’t always reliable—his team was +2 when he was on the floor, and the game was ultimately won by just 1 point. But the key is, he participated in a close game without holding the team back, and the coach had no rush to take him out.This marks a very clear improvement for Yang Hanson.