Yang Hansen must first get past Lilups to make a breakthrough.

The Trail Blazers' training camp has been underway for several days, and Yang Hansen is adapting well to the team. From the official scrimmage footage, Yang managed to maintain a steady touch under the basket and completed a 2+1 despite tough defense. However, judging by head coach Lilups' recent comments, Yang's early season experience won't be very comfortable.

In an interview yesterday, Yang Hansen said aside from that 2+1, there hasn't been a moment in camp that made him particularly proud. He admitted, "I probably have many shortcomings and areas to adapt to. I’m working hard to keep up with everyone’s pace and do what’s needed on the court."

For Yang Hansen, the biggest challenge during training camp and the start of the season is adjusting to the NBA-level pace. Compared to the CBA, the NBA’s game speed is much faster and the intensity several levels higher. Since arriving in the U.S., Yang has been adapting to this pace, but training camp presents a completely different experience.

When he finally steps onto the court in the regular season, facing NBA rotation-level players, it will be a brand new and even tougher challenge. So far, Yang’s camp performance is just meeting expectations — solid but unspectacular.

Lilups said, "He’s meeting my expectations; his feel for the game is good. Offensively, I’m not worried, but defensively, he’s a bit behind in rebounding and positioning."

"To be fair, he didn’t have to fight so hard for rebounds before. He was so dominant and tall in the CBA that rebounds seemed to just fall into his hands. The NBA is totally different — the pace is faster, and he will go through a learning curve. But he’s at the stage a rookie should be at, and I’m happy for him."

Actually, Lilups’ words are somewhat tactful. We can already predict Yang’s biggest weaknesses currently are defense and rebounding. In the Summer League, opponents repeatedly snatched offensive rebounds over him. There is much room for improvement in his rebounding protection.

In this entirely new, higher-level competitive environment, Yang needs to gradually adapt to the intensity. Sometimes rebounds are right in front of him, but he just can’t grab them — opponents move faster. Yang must work hard to match their speed.

Our league’s pace is sometimes really slow. When a center gets a rebound, guards wait in the backcourt for the center to pass before starting the offense. Big centers often don’t worry about opponents rushing for rebounds and just stand under the basket waiting for the ball to drop.

Over time, young players’ ability to box out declines, and their physicality under the basket weakens. Yang’s body is top-tier among domestic players, but in the NBA it looks average, so his shortcomings in details become more apparent.

When Lilups played for the Pistons, they were a team built on tough defense and rebounding. If your defense can’t keep up with the team’s pace, even being that year’s second overall pick like Milicic meant sitting on the bench.

After transitioning from player to coach, Lilups’ philosophy remains defense-first. To get playing time, you must play good defense. That’s why role players like Kamara can make a name for themselves on the Trail Blazers. Lilups repeatedly stresses defense in training and demands all players maintain a minimum of four strength training sessions per week.

Lilups’ arrival brought a new team culture to the Trail Blazers. Last season, he transformed them into a team with defensive efficiency ranking in the league’s middle tier. In the latter half of the season, their defensive efficiency even rose to the top five in the league.

After last season, Lilups signed a multi-year extension, so he will definitely be Yang Hansen’s head coach during his early career with no expected changes. Therefore, if Yang wants consistent playing time, he must first get through Lilups.

Trail Blazers’ Lowe had knee surgery this March and recently said he hasn’t been cleared to play yet. If Lowe misses the season start, Yang Hansen would be the team’s second center, playing after Klingen. But if Lowe returns, Yang might drop to the third center spot.

So until Yang improves his defense and rebounding, it will be difficult for him to get extended minutes. Enhancing these skills is essential for Yang Hansen to establish himself in the NBA.