Su Qun defines "Hexion Moment"! 16+3 caps set off NBA, the triple truth behind Billups praise

On October 11, the lights of Portland’s Moda Center focused on a 21-year-old Chinese insider. When Yang Hansen scored his fifth score in a single quarter with a signature hook in the third quarter, the cheers of the fans at the scene almost lifted the roof. In the preseason game when the Trail Blazers narrowly defeated the Kings 124-123, the Chinese rookie came on as a substitute for 17 minutes and made 5 of 8 shots, 2 of 3 three-pointers, 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. He wrote his own legend with an explosion of 14 points in a single quarter. After the game, coach Billups' praise and basketball commentator Su Qun's definition of the "Hexion Moment" made this preseason game more meaningful than the victory itself.

"Have you missed today's 'Hexion Moment'?" Su Qun's question on his personal public account accurately hit the excitement point of countless Chinese fans. He scored 10 points in six minutes in the third quarter and scored 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the quarter. This performance was enough to echo those famous "moments" in NBA history. From the precise kills of the "Miller Moment" to the lone hero of the "Iverson Moment", now there is finally a highlight for Chinese players. Even though this is only a preseason game, its significance is full of weight - as Su Qun said, Yang Hansen suddenly gained a foothold in the Trail Blazers with these 9 minutes in the second half.

This confidence to "stand firm" stems from his amazing transformation from a sluggish first game to an explosion in the second game. Just one day ago, Yang Hansen's preseason debut was full of struggles: he scored only 4 points on 2 of 5 shots in 21 minutes. Along with 4 turnovers and 6 fouls, his shortcomings of slow pace and lack of confrontation were infinitely magnified, and he was even ridiculed as "Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden." But after just one game, he completed a complete transformation. Behind this contrast is the "strong psychological quality, strong learning ability, and adaptability" that Su Qun emphasized. Billups also confirmed this in the post-game interview: "It's really satisfying to see him adjust quickly in the second game. He played much better and was obviously more calm."

For Yang Hansen, the significance of this outbreak far exceeds the data itself, and is more like a "battle to rectify his reputation" related to his career. Su Qun's analysis accurately pointed out three core values: First, he made the Blazers' senior management breathe a sigh of relief. When the Chinese center was selected with the 16th pick in the first round, the team faced huge doubts that "the choice was too risky". After all, in the preseason debut, due to his reduced tactical status, he had few opportunities to "deal" at the top of the arc, and only sent 1 assist. It was far from his performance in the summer league as the core. This outbreak proved that he is a young center worthy of training and will undoubtedly make the team more patient.

Secondly, he got rid of the strangeness and psychological burden. Cultural differences, language barriers, and the self-requirement of "wanting to satisfy everyone" when he first entered the NBA put Yang Hansen under extra pressure. Billups once revealed that "he didn't even understand many voices." But the arrival of the "Hexion Moment" provided him with a "starting point for upgrading and fighting monsters", giving him a more solid psychological foundation when facing setbacks in the future.

More importantly, this performance fully demonstrated his "arsenal." Decisive shooting from beyond the three-point line, passing vision from the high post, soft finishing touch at the basket, and accurate blocking judgment on the defensive end. These potentials mentioned in the draft report were turned into real performance in these 9 minutes. Billups' "potential that was occasionally shown in the training camp" finally formed a sustained output in official games. No wonder the coach would exclaim, "With his size, logically speaking, he shouldn't be able to do this kind of action."

However, amidst the praise, Su Qun’s comments maintained a rare sense of rationality and objectively analyzed the environmental factors behind the “Hexion Moment”. This outbreak was not accidental, but the result of the superposition of multiple conditions: at 6 minutes and 03 seconds of the third quarter, Klingen, another rookie inside player of the Trail Blazers, received his fifth foul and left the field. Klingen's foul overdraft was partly due to Yang Hansen getting into foul trouble prematurely. The vacuum period when the main inside line was absent gave Yang Hansen the opportunity to "just let go and play", and his mental state also jumped to a positive level.

The change in tactical role is even more critical. When Holiday, the oldest member of the team, came off the court, the Trail Blazers gave up their guard-centered play and pushed Yang Hansen to be the pivot on the court. This adjustment made him feel like he was back in Summer League - when he had the power to handle the ball in the high post as the core of the offense, and his plus-minus was as high as +19. Now that he has regained a familiar tactical position, the high-position support tactics deliberately arranged by the coach have made him play well.

The weakening of the opponent's defense cannot be ignored. Kings All-Star center Sabonis was in a sluggish state. He accumulated 5 fouls and left the game midway through the third quarter. The Kings only had regular rotation players like Eubanks in the paint. The decline in the level of confrontational environment has created a looser space for Yang Hansen to play, and also given him more opportunities to show off the rim protection end. This echoes Billups' praise of "the rim protection performance has reached the top level."

The existence of these objective factors does not deny Yang Hansen's ability, but provides a more comprehensive footnote for his performance. As Su Qun said, Yang Hansen must not only recognize the important value of "Hansen Moments" but also have a clear understanding of the root causes of their occurrence, so that Yang Hansen can maintain confidence without being arrogant and complacent. Billups obviously understands this. While affirming his performance, he values ​​​​more that "his understanding of the game is becoming more and more mature." This maturity is the key to distinguishing "accidental outbursts" from "continuous growth."

When the cheers at the Moda Center gradually subsided, the "Hexion Moment" has become an important milestone in Yang Hansen's pursuit of NBA dreams.. Behind the data of 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks is the realization of talent, the reward of hard work, and the gift of the environment. For this young Chinese center, this game is not the end, but the real starting point. As Billups expects, as he further adapts to the rhythm of the NBA and continues to improve his defensive ability, Yang Hansen, who can not only display Jokic-style passing, but also develop Ben-Wallace-like defense, may be waiting for fans to witness not far away. And the "Hexion Moment" may be just the prelude to more legendary episodes in the future.