Chapter 44: The Most Eye-catching Duel

In the initial minutes of the first quarter, things seemed calm, with both Jordan and Gan Guoyang playing conservatively.

As before, Jordan would bypass Paxson and take the ball past the mid-court on his own.

However, unlike before, Jordan wasn't looking to attack with the ball; instead, he was organizing the offense.

Jackson was happy to let Jordan handle the ball to halt the opponent's offense because when the ball was in Jordan's hands, the threat was significant.

The opposing defense focused on Jordan, allowing other Bulls players a more relaxed space to maneuver.

For most of the first quarter, Jordan took on the role of a playmaking guard, whereas John Paxson's main job was to sprint around the perimeter and look for opportunities around the baseline.

Jordan's orchestration, much like his ball-handling offense, was succinct and precise. He made quick judgments and handled the ball cleanly.