Now that Kemp is off the court, the intensity of the Knicks' offense and defense immediately drops a notch.
Although Kurt Thomas is also an excellent power forward defender, he is calm and solid, with top-tier low post defense skills.
However, Thomas's strengths don't stand out when facing Gan Guoyang. He also suffers from a disadvantage in size, standing only 6 feet 9.
Moreover, Thomas is a typical player with a focus on ground play, with average athletic ability; such a technical player will struggle against Gan Guoyang.
Thomas's main means of offense is a mid-range catch-and-shoot, making him a typical utility player with less offensive vigor and creativity compared to Kemp.
Gan Guoyang's consecutive two three-point plays slowly dampened the Knicks' fierce momentum to catch up, as their three-point rhythm disappeared and their body's adrenaline fell from a peak to a low.
