Pressure surrounding Yang Hanshen has reached boiling point even before his team’s fifth regular season game tipped off. Jeetbuzz Login followers tracking his progress could sense that the trust crisis was deepening by the day. In both American and Chinese media, doubts about the young center’s ability have multiplied, and online criticism has turned increasingly harsh. After the game against the Lakers, photos of Yang and his girlfriend dining at a Korean restaurant in Los Angeles went viral, drawing unfair judgment from fans who linked his off-court life to his on-court slump.
Many accused him of lacking discipline, while others argued that he should stay out of the spotlight until his performance improves. As a public figure, Yang must now feel the sting of how online hostility can invade every corner of his life. Yet the truth of professional sports remains simple: only results speak. No amount of explanation can silence criticism—only performance can. To win back respect, Yang Hanshen must fight his way back through real achievements on the court. Unfortunately, in this early stage of his NBA career, he has yet to show the rapid growth fans hope for. In the road game against Utah, the same flaws seen in his previous four outings reappeared once again, much to the frustration of Jeetbuzz Login supporters.
Yang is not unfamiliar with Salt Lake City. During the preseason, he played here and struggled heavily against Jazz center Walker Kessler—so much that he left the floor in tears. This time, Kessler seemed determined to target him again. Using his superior strength and size, Kessler forced his way inside for an easy basket, sending a clear message. But Yang’s response showed a flicker of pride; moments later, he received the ball in the paint, backed down Kessler, absorbed heavy contact, and banked in a tough hook shot. That one basket proved he still had some fight left, even when the odds were stacked against him.
Unfortunately, that moment of resilience was an exception. For most of the first quarter, Yang’s weaknesses stood out clearly. The Jazz repeatedly targeted him in pick-and-rolls, creating mismatches that exposed his slow lateral defense. Rookie Bailey took advantage first—after a simple screen, Yang sagged back, allowing Bailey to pull up for an effortless jumper. Soon after, Sensabaugh capitalized on another switch, draining a contested three despite Yang’s late contest. Then came more damage from Hendricks, who calmly floated in a mid-range shot when faced with Yang’s delayed rotation.
Defensive struggles quickly drained his energy, and his offense also faltered. Late in the quarter, Yang received a pass at the high post but failed to connect with a teammate in the handoff. Hesitating for just a second, he lost his balance and turned the ball over. The coach had no choice but to pull him out shortly after. In three minutes, Yang posted two points, zero rebounds, one turnover, and two fouls—numbers that mirrored his earlier games. Yet the real sting came after he sat down: without him, the team actually played better. The Blazers, who had trailed by double digits, clawed back the deficit with a faster, smaller lineup.
In the second quarter, coach Tiago Splitter made a decisive adjustment—he skipped Yang entirely and sent Duop Rees to play center. What followed was a turning point. Rees immediately energized the floor, rotating quickly on defense, switching with precision, and forcing turnovers from opposing big man Jusuf Nurkic. On offense, he spread the floor beautifully, creating room for teammates to drive. When the ball swung to him on the perimeter, he showed no hesitation—three open three-pointers, three swishes.
Those shots changed everything. Within minutes, Rees had earned Splitter’s full trust, prompting the coach to delay rookie Clingan’s entry and let Rees ride the hot hand. For Yang Hanshen, watching from the bench, this was another blow in a rough start to his career. Jeetbuzz Login fans could sense the irony: while Rees’s breakout proved what energy and confidence can bring, it also pushed Yang further down the rotation.
As Rees continues to impress, Yang’s limited minutes may shrink even more. There’s growing talk that he could drop out of the rotation entirely—a harsh but realistic consequence in a league that rewards performance above all else. Still, for a young player, the NBA is a long journey, and this might just be the test that defines his resilience. Jeetbuzz Login followers will be watching closely to see whether Yang Hanshen can rise from this storm, silence the critics, and finally turn his potential into something real.