Chapter 13

The second quarter began, and the Nets replaced Morrow with draft pick Derrick Favors, who had played the entire first quarter. It was the Nets’ turn to possess the ball, with Jordan Farmar organizing their offense. Farmar drove with the ball, with Zhou Yi closely guarding him; Farmar then changed direction to get away from Zhou Yi and passed the ball to Graham. Graham tried to shoot immediately but missed, and Zhou Yi grabbed the rebound.

Zhou Yi was much faster than Farmar, so although it wasn’t easy, he managed to get past Farmar’s defense without much effort. Zhou Yi took a jump shot, but the ball bounced off the rim. After picking up the loose ball, he quickly passed it to Hansbrough in the paint. Hansbrough pushed Humphries and scored a layup off the backboard.

Humphries was a rebound machine, grabbing three offensive rebounds in a row and finishing with a dunk. On the other hand, the Nets’ offensive efficiency wasn’t very high. Zhou Yi played quite easily because Farmar’s defense was extremely poor.

However, Zhou Yi’s shooting form wasn’t great either—he made two of three shots in the first quarter and only one so far in the second. Disappointed, he passed the ball to Hansbrough, who had excellent form. Hansbrough turned and hit a backdoor jump shot. It was the first time he had missed since entering the game, and he made all four shots afterward.

“Hansbrough’s form is really smooth,” Zhou Yi murmured.

Farmar controlled the ball and passed it to Petro, but Daye, with his sharp awareness, intercepted it. Daye passed the ball to Zhou Yi to organize the offense. Zhou Yi calmly drove forward with the ball and passed it to McGrady after half the quarter.

McGrady had only taken three shots so far, hitting two of them. He flicked the ball and passed it skillfully to Dalambert, who pushed past Petro and tried to dunk—but the attempt missed, and again, Hansbrough grabbed the rebound.

Farmar stopped abruptly and took a jump shot; with a swish, the ball went through the net. Zhou Yi shook his head helplessly, sighing that his defensive experience was still insufficient. Zhou Yi drove fast with the ball and passed it to Daye on the perimeter. Daye attempted a three-point shot but missed again; the ball bounced back to him. He adjusted and tried another three-point shot, but it still missed, and Williams grabbed the defensive rebound.

Derrick Favors and Williams coordinated skillfully—Favors grabbed an offensive rebound after Petro’s missed shot, then retreated to the perimeter and threw the ball toward the rim, allowing Williams to score a dunk with a one-handed catch.

During this period, the Pistons’ offense fell into crisis, and the score gap gradually narrowed—the Pistons were now only up by 3 points. Kuster stood up anxiously from the coaching bench, watching the developments on the court with a grim expression.

Zhou Yi calmly observed the situation on the court. When he saw Hansbrough seeking the ball, he decisively passed it to him, as Hansbrough was currently the best shooter for the Pistons. As expected, Hansbrough lived up to the expectations; despite the opponent’s fierce defense, he managed to score again. In just a short time, Hansbrough had already scored five points, bringing his total to 10.

Famar tried to organize the offense, but at that moment the referee’s whistle blew, signaling the end of the official timeout. Eight minutes and 43 seconds remained in the second quarter.

The players from both teams returned to their respective benches. Zhou Yi remained calm as he walked slowly to his seat. Kuster went over to the players, knelt down, and said with a smile, “Guys, you’ve played well, but we can improve our offense even further. Tracy, you and Zhou need to organize the team’s offense. Taylor, you can move to the high post to provide coverage for Zhou. And you, Austin, try to get inside and attack—your height gives you an advantage in that role. Zhou, don’t hesitate; be decisive whether passing or shooting. The opponent’s interior players aren’t as strong as ours, so we should focus on the interior while using the outside as a supplement. But once Lopez comes in, we need to switch strategies. As the team’s playmaker, Zhou, you need to adapt quickly and change the focus of the offense as needed. Guys, your defense has been excellent. As long as we improve our offensive efficiency, we’ll win easily. Well, that’s all I have to say. Let’s go!”

Everyone nodded and replied in unison, “Understood.”

Soon, the official timeout ended, and the players from both teams returned to the court. The Pistons’ lineup remained unchanged, while the Nets made a slight adjustment, replacing Joe Han Petros with Stephen Graham.

The Nets have the ball, with Jordan Farmar still in charge of organizing the offense. After driving past half-court, Farmar passed the ball to rookie Fevers, who was clearly very nervous and failed to catch it even under Hansbrough’s interference. Hansbrough snatched the ball and quickly passed it to McGrady, who then passed it to Zhou Yi. Hansbrough rushed over to provide a screen for Zhou Yi, who pulled to the side to draw Williams’ defense. With Williams covering Zhou Yi, Daye was left open. Zhou Yi swiftly passed the ball to Daye, but unfortunately Daye missed the opportunity and passed it back to Zhou Yi. As the 24-second clock neared, Zhou Yi saw Hansbrough make a gesture with his finger pointing upward, so he smiled slightly and suddenly threw the ball toward the basket again. Hansbrough pushed Fevers aside and leaped high, completing an air pass above him, giving the rookie a valuable lesson.

“Hansbrough’s jumping ability is truly outstanding, but Zhou’s passes are also amazing,” Reggie Miller said excitedly to Marv Albert.

“Yes, just look at Hansbrough’s performance. From the second quarter until now, he hasn’t missed a single shot. So far, he’s made 6 out of 7 attempts and has already scored 12 points. He’s also grabbed 5 rebounds, 3 of which are offensive rebounds. He’s only played for less than 10 minutes—this is insane,” Marv Albert replied excitedly.

“If Hansbrough can seize opportunities and maintain this performance, he’ll definitely become a star player, maybe even a superstar,” Miller analyzed.

“Heh, Reggie, although I don’t agree with many of your views, I completely agree with what you just said. But that Chinese kid is also pretty good. Though his lack of experience is evident, his ability to control the game really impresses me,” Marv Albert said with a smile.

“Interesting, but I’m still more optimistic about Hansbrough,” Miller laughed.

“Hmph, let’s focus on the game and see if Hansbrough and that Chinese kid can deliver even more amazing performances,” Marv Albert said unhappily.

“Okay, okay, let’s keep watching the game.”

Chapter 77: Bynum Saves the Day

After Hansbrough completed the alley-oop dunk, Fevers and Hansbrough exchanged some harsh words. Then Fevers went over to the referee and argued, claiming Hansbrough had fouled by blocking the shot. The referee shrugged and didn’t respond, prompting Fevers to mutter in dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, due to players’ frequent complaints about referees’ calls, which undermined their authority, NBA Commissioner David Stern had implemented a “zero-tolerance” policy even before the new season began. As a result, Fevers was penalized with a technical foul.

After receiving the technical foul, Fevers stayed quiet to avoid a second foul that would have led to his ejection. The Pistons’ shooter for the technical foul was Zhou Yi, who easily scored the points the opponent had given away. While Zhou Yi was shooting, Kuster used Villanueva to replace McGrady. Kuster didn’t want McGrady to play for too long, as his knee injury hadn’t fully healed, and the Pistons couldn’t afford any more injuries.

Gordon would need to rest for four months, maybe longer. Wilcox also suffered an injury during the preseason. Although the team’s doctor had said Wilcox only needed a week to return, Kuster was still worried about potential issues with player rotation.

The game continued, with the Pistons still in possession. Zhou Yi orchestrated the team’s offense. With McGrady out, the responsibility of leading the offense fell entirely on Zhou Yi, increasing his pressure significantly.

Fortunately, Hansbrough’s offensive power remained strong, so the Pistons kept an advantage of over 8 points. Neither team was shooting well during this period, especially the Nets, who were unable to counter the Pistons’ strong defense.

In no time, six minutes had passed. Zhou Yi controlled the ball for most of that time, then used a crossover to dodge Famar’s defense and drive to the paint for a layup—unfortunately missing. Hansbrough immediately jumped high and secured a rebound dunk, also committing a defensive foul.

Both commentators praised Hansbrough’s strength, and he became the most attention-grabbing player on the court. However, the Nets fans didn’t share this view, as Hansbrough caused significant trouble for the Nets in securing their first victory. Thus, when Hansbrough stepped to the free-throw line, the crowd erupted in furious boos.

To be honest, Hansbrough had excellent composure and focus. Ignoring the loud boos from the fans, he made both free throws. With 5 minutes and 43 seconds left in the first half, both teams switched to their starters, and Zhou Yi was naturally taken off the court. The current lineups were: Pistons: Dobbin, Monroe, Prince, Villanueva, and Bynum; Nets: Lopez, Joe Smith, Otero, Morrow, and Harris.

Harris, as a true All-Star, scored 4 points right away upon entering the game and added 2 assists, while the Pistons managed only 2 points from Dobbin’s free throws. Thus, led by Harris, the Nets scored a 9–2 run, narrowing the score to just 3 points behind. However, the Pistons quickly launched a fierce counterattack, acting as if the Air Canada Center was their own court.

Despite the constant boos from the home crowd, the Pistons weren’t affected at all. Under Bynum’s leadership, they played an efficient offense. Within 3 minutes, they widened the score gap to double digits again.

Dobbin was still too old and struggled in matchups against Lopez. Monroe was very clever; seeing that Dobbin couldn’t contain Lopez, he would occasionally go over to help Dobbin defend him. After all, Monroe didn’t face much pressure defending Joe Smith, the 1995 draft pick, since Smith was also older and posed little defensive pressure on Monroe.

Lopez had to deal not only with Dobbin’s blocks but also Monroe’s help defense, which significantly reduced his offensive efficiency. But at that moment, the Nets’ outside shooters delivered fierce firepower—Harris and Morrow each hit a three-pointer, suddenly narrowing the score gap to within double digits again.

Bynum, relying on his strength, acted like a bulldozer, pushing his way past Harris to score inside the Nets’ paint, helping the Pistons stabilize their position. Prince also dealt a significant blow to the Nets—he first used his height and reach to block Morrow, then grabbed a rebound and scored a dunk with both hands.

At this moment, with 1 minute and 11 seconds left in the first half, “Little General” Johnson called a timeout to try and close the gap further. Soon, Johnson’s timeout paid off. Morrow and Otero acted like two bombers, unleashing a barrage of shots from outside against the Pistons. In just 40 seconds, the two combined to score three three-pointers, instantly narrowing the score to just a 3-point deficit. With 31 seconds left, each team had one more chance to score. Bynum didn’t waste a second after halftime and quickly drove past Harris to score again, helping the Pistons maintain their lead. Bynum’s drive took only 5 seconds, with 26 seconds left in the first half, so the Pistons essentially gained another scoring opportunity. However, Harris was a player who played strategically. With 26 seconds left, he slowed down, aiming to use up all 24 seconds of shooting time, leaving only 2 seconds for the opponent to attempt a final shot. Harris glanced at the 24-second timer; with 8 seconds left, he used his speed to leave Bynum behind, stopped abruptly, and shot a jump shot. His timing was perfect, and his form was excellent—seemingly sure to make the shot. But fate had other plans. The ball rotated a few times around the rim before bouncing out. Big Ben tightly guarded Lopez, allowing Monroe to grab the defensive rebound. The Pistons had only 6 seconds to organize their final attack of the half. Bynum calculated carefully, glanced at the timer again, and drove past Harris into the opponent’s paint. But this time, the Nets learned from their mistakes. Lopez was already ready beside Harris and delivered a huge block to Bynum. Yet Bynum wasn’t ordinary either. He quickly sidestepped and passed the ball to Big Ben behind Lopez. Big Ben rose instantly and scored a one-handed dunk, helping the Pistons gain 2 more points at the last moment. “Beautiful,” Reggie Miller exclaimed excitedly. Marv Albert also praised Bynum’s ability to adapt on the fly. After Big Ben’s dunk, the whistle marking the end of the first half sounded, and the scoreboard on the big screen showed a score of 49:43, with the Pistons leading by 6 points. Chapter 78: McGrady’s Frustration, Zhou Yi’s Promise

During the halftime break, Zhou Yi sat on the bench and cooperatively gave an interview with Xiang Yun. After the interview, Zhou Yi chatted with Xiang Yun for a while before quickly running back to the locker room.
In the locker room, McGrady was lying in his spot, while Bynum was gulping down a can of drink, with the other teammates busy with their own things.
“Hey, Will, you did well!” Zhou Yi sat down next to Bynum and smiled, putting an arm around him.
Bynum chuckled a few times and said in a low voice, “Of course. I really want to play more starts!” Then he picked up his drink and started drinking it noisily. Zhou Yi shrugged helplessly and turned to sit next to McGrady, saying, “Hey, Tracy, why have you taken so few shots today? I glanced at the stats just now—it seems you only took three shots in the first half.”
McGrady flashed his irresistible “angelic” smile that had captivated countless fans and said to Zhou Yi, “It’s not that I didn’t have good opportunities. Besides, I no longer have the same athletic ability as before. The minimally invasive surgery I had with the Rockets meant I could never regain my speed and explosiveness from my youth. Although I still dream of returning to my peak, I know I can’t go back to how I used to play. Since having knee surgery in February 2009, many people have doubted whether I’d fully recover. Their doubts are understandable, because I doubt it myself too. To be honest, my knee injury still isn’t fully healed. But although it’s not fully recovered yet, it’s almost back to normal. As long as I manage it well, there won’t be any problems. Heh, it’s really nostalgic—I can never go back to who I used to be. But I really want to win a championship, sigh…”
He spoke the last few words softly, so only Zhou Yi could hear them. After hearing McGrady’s words, Zhou Yi felt sad, but then his expression became extremely determined. He said to McGrady earnestly, word by word, “Trust me, Tracy. I’ll definitely help you win a championship. That’s my promise to you. I’ll make it happen.”

Maddie smiled but remained silent. Although he admitted that Zhou Yi was indeed extremely talented, he believed Zhou Yi couldn’t help him achieve this dream deep in his heart—at least not in such a team. The current Pistons were a genuine team of ordinary players, without any star players, or if there were any, they were already past their prime, like Maddie and Big Ben. In fact, the Pistons didn’t even have a leader or a true core; such a team couldn’t go far. Though the Pistons were also an underdog team in 2004 without a fixed leader, they had a true core, a true brain—Channing Frye. Moreover, four of the Pistons’ starting players that year were All-Stars, so it could be said that the 2004 Pistons had their own “ordinary version of the Big Four.”

Zhou Yi didn’t know what Maddie was thinking at that moment, but since he had made such a promise, he would go all out to fulfill it. Since Maddie had been willing to share so much with Zhou Yi, he believed Maddie truly regarded him as a friend. Zhou Yi clenched his fists tightly and placed them on his chest, muttering to himself, “This is not just about fulfilling Tracy’s dream—it’s also about fulfilling my own.”

……

After taking a short break, the players returned to the bench one after another, waiting for the second half of the game. Zhou Yi, Bynum, and Maddie walked together, chatting and laughing. Their cheerful expressions made them look like close friends who could talk about anything.

As they reached the exit of the player tunnel, Zhou Yi was called out by a voice. He turned around and saw Xiang Yun. Bynum and Maddie gave Zhou Yi a meaningful smile before quickly walking away, leaving him alone with Xiang Yun.

“Miss, wasn’t the interview over? What else do you need?” Zhou Yi teased with a smile.

Xiang Yun pinched him and snapped, “You only think about interviews! Hmph. I waited here for so long just to tell you to keep going, and you… Hmph.” With that, she turned away, refusing to look at him.

Zhou Yi’s face showed great embarrassment as he scratched his head and said sheepishly, “Okay, miss. Is it not enough that I admit my mistake? Alright, I’ll stop talking. The game’s about to start, and I need to go back to the bench.”

Xiang Yun turned back, glanced at Zhou Yi, nodded slightly, and replied helplessly, “Alright.”

Just as Zhou Yi turned to walk over, Xiang Yun called out to him from behind, “Keep it up!” Zhou Yi turned around, smiled at her slightly, and replied, “I know.” Then he quickly returned to his team’s bench. Xiang Yun watched his retreating figure, sighed, and walked away. The second half of the game hadn’t started yet, and the Nets’ cheerleaders were dancing brilliantly on the court, earning cheers from the fans. Zhou Yi sat to Maddie’s right, while Bynum sat to his left; it was clear the two young players regarded Maddie as their big brother. At that moment, Blake came over from the coaching bench. Hansbrough, who was sitting to Zhou Yi’s left, wisely moved to another seat, vacating his spot for Blake. Now, every player on the team knew that Zhou Yi and Blake had a special relationship, and since Blake was part of the Pistons’ management, the Pistons’ players were eager to get along with Zhou Yi—of course, Zhou Yi’s skills couldn’t be ignored either. “Hey, kid, how do you feel? It’s different from the preseason, right?” Blake asked, patting Zhou Yi’s shoulder with a smile. Zhou Yi rolled his eyes and replied gloomily, “Of course it’s not the same. The defensive intensity in the regular season is many times higher than in the preseason, and the atmosphere of the games is also very different.” Blake nodded, not commenting on Zhou Yi’s answer. “Well, only by playing more games can you get used to this environment and enjoy this atmosphere!” As soon as he finished speaking, Blake headed straight toward the player’s tunnel. Soon, the cheerleaders left the court, swaying their sexy hips, while two referees entered the court. The second half was about to begin. One referee blew two whistles at the players on both sides, signaling them to return to the court. The players from both sides gradually returned. In the Pistons’ starting lineup for the second half, Zhou Yi was still not on the court, but Maddie, having rested early in the first half, was part of the starting lineup. The big screen displayed the rosters of both teams again: Pistons: Durham Porter, Hansbrough, Prince, Maddie, and Bynum; Nets: Lopez, Humphries, Williams, Morrow, and Harris. The Nets got the ball. Humphries served from the baseline, and Harris took the ball, officially kicking off the second half!!! Chapter 79: Coordination

Although Bynum and McGrady had not played together for long, it was evident from the games that their partnership on the backcourt complemented each other well. Bynum had an outstanding performance at the start of the second half; he closely guarded Harris, stole the ball when he was off guard, then picked it up and dashed forward. Even though there was no defender on the opposing team’s interior, Bynum wasn’t greedy for glory. Instead, he drove the ball with his hips and passed it to McGrady, who was following up. McGrady didn’t hesitate either; after catching the ball, he leaped up and completed a dunk. Though his movements weren’t as graceful as before, the dunk was smooth and powerful in its own way.

Harris was extremely frustrated. Zhou Yi had already made his life difficult earlier, and now Bynum had stolen the ball from him as well. Harris dribbled the ball, scanning the court with a gloomy expression. Lopez stepped up to provide coverage for Harris, who then drove to the basket from the other side and easily scored with a layup.

Bynum shook his head helplessly, gave McGrady a wry smile, and whispered, “No one is coming to help defend.” McGrady was also helpless; he had been blocked by Moroka from behind and had no chance to come over for help, nor did any of the other teammates.

Bynum passed the ball to McGrady, who broke through and then suddenly turned to take a backspin jump shot, hitting it. The move was extremely smooth and beautiful, reminiscent of his past performances.

On the Nets’ side, Harris forced his way past Bynum and scored using his speed and agility. Bynum looked at Zhou Yi with distress, who gave him a thumbs up and signed, “Keep going. Try your best to disrupt him when he shoots. Also, use your body to push him.” Bynum nodded and, after receiving a pass from Hansbrough at the baseline, began organizing the team’s offense.

Bynum followed Zhou Yi’s advice and used his strength to take on Harris one-on-one, leaving Harris helpless. Bynum also scored a point as a response to Harris.

Harris gloomily controlled the ball, glanced at the 24-second timer, then passed the ball to Moroka, who was cutting to an open spot. Moroka caught the ball and immediately took a jump shot, but missed. Rebound specialist Humphries secured the offensive rebound and promptly passed it to Harris on the outside. Harris drove from the wing, glanced around, and smirked coldly. With a quick wrist motion, he passed the ball to Williams, who was cutting from the middle. After breaking through, Williams scored with a dominant two-handed dunk, hanging in the air with an arrogant expression.

“Harris’s passing is truly incredible; he truly lives up to the title of ‘King of the Underworld,’” Miller said with a smile to MarvAlbert sitting next to him.
“Yeah, Harris has excellent passing awareness. But in my opinion, it’s Williams’s dunks that capture everyone’s attention. Look at his freakish physique—he’s on par with LeBron James,” MarvAlbert said, staring at Williams on the court.
Reggie Miller rolled his eyes and replied helplessly, “You guy, can’t you just leave me alone?”
“Tch, watch the game, watch the game…” MarvAlbert replied with a grin.
…
Harris sneered at Bynum and spat out insults, “Amateur, can you even pass the ball that well?”
“Tch, you call that passing well? Watch how I pass,” Bynum retorted. Unlike Zhou Yi, who was calm and composed, Bynum had a straightforward personality and said what he thought. Seeing Harris’s insults, he matched him back without hesitation.
Bynum held the ball, with Harris sticking close to him, constantly harassing him in an attempt to steal the ball. Bynum took the chance to spin past Harris, break free from his defense, and head straight to the basket. Inspired by Harris, Bynum didn’t choose to attack on his own but rushed to the basket, drawing the attention of two other defenders, before quickly passing the ball to Prince beyond the three-point line. Prince adjusted slightly before shooting a three-point jump shot.
“It has to go in, it absolutely has to!” Bynum prayed inwardly.
With a swish, Prince’s three-point shot landed. Bynum looked excited and then glanced at Harris, his eyes filled with undisguised provocation.
Harris’s face turned red with anger. He huffed, took a deep breath after receiving a pass from Humphries at the baseline, suppressed his fury, and focused on organizing the team’s offense.
“I can’t panic now. I must stay calm. I don’t believe that guy can keep showing off until the end,” Harris thought, glancing at Bynum with resentment.

Harris did the right thing; he didn’t let anger cloud his judgment, which further proved that his All-Star status was well-deserved. Harris controlled the ball steadily and, seeing Lopez looking for it inside, quickly passed it to him. Lopez acted decisively—immediately turning and shooting after receiving the pass. With a swish, the basketball went through the net, lifting the entire basket with it.

Harris let out a sigh of relief and stopped looking at Bynum to avoid further provoking him. Bynum also ignored him, dribbled past the half-court line, and quickly passed the ball to McGrady. After catching it, McGrady broke through from the baseline. Prince provided excellent coverage, allowing McGrady to easily make his way to the basket. But Lopez was already on high alert. Yet McGrady showed no sign of fear and continued to charge forward. Lopez quickly jumped to try and block McGrady’s shot. But instead of shooting, McGrady passed the ball to Darlem Porter behind Lopez. Durham Porter roared and scored with a one-handed dunk.

The Nets’ Morrow quickly responded to Darlem Porter’s dunk with a three-point shot. It was still Bynum who organized the offense, passing the ball to McGrady, who was outside the 45-degree three-point line. McGrady pretended to shoot, and Morrow quickly jumped to block it. McGrady smiled, dodged Morrow’s body, and then took a three-point shot, adding another 3 points.

When Bynum retreated to defend, he clapped McGrady hard on the back, both of them smiling broadly. Under the leadership of Bynum and McGrady, the Pistons once again took a double-digit lead.

Harris adjusted his mindset and patiently organized the Nets’ offense. Bynum made a risky steal, and Harris seized the opportunity, turning around to bypass Bynum and rushing into the Pistons’ paint to easily score. At the same time, he also forced Hansbrough into a defensive foul, earning a free throw.

At this point, 5 minutes and 51 seconds had passed since the game started. Kuster quickly made adjustments to the lineup while the opponent was taking free throws.

Zhou Yi replaced Prince, Monroe replaced Hansbrough, and Darlem Porter replaced Durham Porter; everything else remained unchanged. The Nets also made changes, with Derrick Favors replacing the rebounding machine Humphries and Jordan Farmar replacing Morrow.

Will Zhou Yi be able to lead his team to victory upon returning to the court? Stay tuned!!!

Chapter 80: Stunning Performance

Harris takes a free throw and makes it, converting a two-plus-one successfully. Currently, both teams are using a twin-point guard strategy: the Pistons have Bynum and Zhou Yi backcourting together, while the Nets have Harris and Famar backcourting together. In terms of organizing attacks, the Pistons actually have an edge, as McGrady’s playmaking skills are formidable.

The game continues as McGrady passes the ball from the baseline to Zhou Yi. After receiving it, Zhou Yi passes it to Bynum, who quickly drives past half-court. After crossing half-court, Bynum doesn’t hold onto the ball but passes it back to Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi dribbles with one hand while gesturing to his teammates to spread out. Bynum provides a screen for McGrady, who finally breaks free from Williams’ defense and finds an open spot. Zhou Yi decisively passes the ball to McGrady, but the opposing team reacts quickly, with a player rushing to block McGrady. Seeing this, Zhou Yi quickly returns to the basket, and McGrady passes the ball back to him. Zhou Yi drives baseline, beats rookie Fevers, and finishes with a backdoor dunk using both hands. The ball goes in, and since Fevers had cheated earlier when Zhou Yi was shooting, Zhou Yi also gets a free throw.

At that moment, the entire crowd falls silent, staring in disbelief at that slender figure.

After a while, commentator Marv Albert recovers and explains to the crowd, “It’s unbelievable! I can’t believe it—this Chinese kid just scored a backdoor dunk with both hands! Haha, that was amazing, haha…”

Miller stares at Zhou Yi, speechless.

“Reggie, I admit you’re a great player, but after playing for so many years, you’ve never pulled off something like this!” Marv Albert says with a smile to Reggie Miller.

“No,” Miller replies instinctively.

“Heh, I don’t mean anything by it. I just want to express my excitement. I’ve never seen a foreign player do something like this. Maybe there have been, but I haven’t seen it. Haha, even Yao never had such an impressive performance!” Marv Albert is extremely excited.

“I understand how you feel, so I don’t mind your question. To be honest, this Chinese teenager has really shocked me,” says Reggie Miller.

“Well, if he’s nurtured properly, his achievements could be unimaginable.”

“I agree,” Miller replied without hesitation.
“Hehe, I didn’t expect our views to align again.”
……
In the stands, the home team’s fans were also debating heatedly.
“I really didn’t expect this Chinese kid to perform so well,” said a fan wearing jersey number 34, clearly a Harris supporter.
“Yes, although I heard earlier that the Pistons had acquired a Chinese point guard who performed well in the preseason, I didn’t take it seriously at all.”
“Well, I think the Lakers signed a Chinese point guard last season as well; I can’t remember his name. He also performed well in the preseason, but in the regular season, he hardly got any playing time. I never thought this Chinese kid could play for the Pistons and do so well. It’s truly incredible.”
“Maybe it’s just a flash in the pan!” another Nets fan sneered.
“Hehe, in my opinion, this Chinese kid doesn’t have much talent. It’s already good enough that he can establish himself with the Pistons, huh…” another fan added.
“Then why did the Pistons trade their starting point guard, Stakki? He was the core of their rebuilding effort, right?” a fan asked after thinking for a moment.
“Well…”
……
In any case, the arena was in an uproar, with everyone’s focus on Zhou Yi.
“This guy really loves to show off,” Bynum said, his tone slightly resentful, though he was actually very excited inside.
The game continued. Zhou Yi took a free throw and made it, including the extra shot. After hitting a three-point shot, the Pistons’ lead returned to double digits. The Nets made a substitution, with D’Amare James coming in for Williams.
Harris held his breath and controlled the ball steadily. After half a court, instead of rushing to pass, he subtly glanced at Lopez. Then, Harris accelerated and broke through Zhou Yi’s defense. Zhou Yi focused intensely and closely followed Harris. But Harris wasn’t an ordinary player—he used two feints followed by a quick turn to get free from Zhou Yi’s defense. After breaking into the paint, Harris didn’t shoot but passed to Lopez, who quickly ran back to the other side of the court. Lopez passed the ball back to Harris, who then dunked with both hands, though the impact was much less dramatic than Zhou Yi’s dunks.

Zhou Yi remained unfazed, but Bynum muttered a few words under his breath. Zhou Yi smiled at him and said, “Stop muttering; be careful of a technical foul.” Hearing Zhou Yi’s words, Bynum became much more subdued, though he still despised Harris in his heart. The fans at the arena cheered wildly for the Nets, while a small number of Pistons fans also supported their team, though their noise was a bit quieter. Zhou Yi continued to organize the offense, with McGrady bringing the ball to the perimeter. Zhou Yi moved around quickly and actively, shifting from one side to another, never staying in the same spot for more than a second. Harris was kept constantly on the move by Zhou Yi, allowing him to easily find open space. McGrady generously passed the ball to Zhou Yi, who immediately took a jump shot, sending the ball through the net. McGrady had given Zhou Yi a lot of guidance on jump shots. In fact, in many aspects, McGrady had provided great help to Zhou Yi. It could be said that McGrady had shared all his skills with Zhou Yi, though Zhou Yi hadn’t fully mastered them yet. After spending time together, McGrady had become both a teacher and a friend to Zhou Yi. He had taught Zhou Yi a lot, both in terms of skills and experience, without reservation. Zhou Yi also truly regarded McGrady as a friend and a teacher, otherwise he wouldn’t have made such a solemn promise to him. After all, Zhou Yi rarely made promises—he didn’t make them lightly, and once he did, he kept them. Time passed quickly, and the third quarter was coming to an end, with only one minute left. It was the Nets’ turn to attack, but it wasn’t Harris organizing the offense; it was Famar. Harris had been replaced by Stephen Harrahan three minutes into the quarter to rest. Chapter 81: Precise Strike Famar passed the ball to Lopez, who drove past Durham Porter and scored. The referee blew the whistle for a free throw. Lopez missed the free throw, and Monroe grabbed the rebound and passed it to Zhou Yi. McGrady had also been taken off the court to rest. Summers replaced McGrady, while Bynum was replaced by Micah Newton to rest as well.

Zhou Yi moved outside the opponent’s three-point line, with Famar stepping up to defend. Zhou Yi broke through, suddenly changed direction to shake off the defender, and scored a beautiful layup. Famar continued to orchestrate the offense; he didn’t waste time because 48 seconds remained in the game. If they could complete this attack quickly, they would still have one more chance. So, after crossing half-court, Famar quickly passed the ball to Graham, who then broke through and passed it to Lopez in the paint. Lopez didn’t waste the opportunity and scored again with a powerful drive.

At that point, 37 seconds remained before the end of the third quarter. Zhou Yi shared the same strategy as Famar and chose not to waste time. He broke through, but seeing no good opportunity, passed the ball to the outside. “The Beardless Hero” Villanueva was nothing short of daring—he took a shot from close range despite being tightly defended. With a swish, the ball went in, leaving the home crowd speechless.

Zhou Yi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, thinking to himself, “That’s absolutely insane.”

The Pistons’ offense took 13 seconds, leaving the opponent 24 seconds to attack. Famar glanced at the game clock and the 24-second timer, determined to use up all 24 seconds and leave no chance for the opponent.

The Nets’ players were actively moving around, while Famar controlled the ball and scanned the court. Time passed quickly, and soon only 6 seconds remained. Famar tossed the ball to Lopez, who was trapped behind Durham Porter. Lopez immediately turned and threw up a shot that went in. By then, the Pistons no longer had an offensive chance, and the third quarter ended.

Soon, the fourth quarter began!

Both teams played mostly with their bench players: Pistons—Durham Porter, Daye, Villanueva, Posey, and Zhou Yi; Nets—Joe Harris, Joe Smith, Stephen Graham, Damion James, and Jordan Famar.

The Pistons had the ball, with Zhou Yi in control. After Villanueva set a screen for Zhou Yi, he drove to the baseline, broke through, and scored a layup, adding 2 more points for the Pistons.

James quickly responded with a mid-range shot. However, the Pistons remained strong—Daye received a pass from Zhou Yi and, with help from Durham Porter, scored a jump shot near the free-throw line.

Zhou Yi drove into the opponent’s paint, slipped, and collided with Harris. The referee mercilessly called a foul on Zhou Yi. Dejected, Zhou Yi retreated to the backcourt without any protest.

Famar was very understanding; after Zhou Yi committed an offensive foul, he immediately responded with a passing mistake to show reciprocity, allowing the Pistons to regain possession. Zhou Yi felt much better immediately, holding the ball and calmly moving toward the opponent’s half.

The Pistons were still ahead by 11 points, so under Kuster’s guidance, the players played with great rhythm, neither arrogant nor impatient. Zhou Yi passed to Daye, who then passed to Villanueva, who drove and passed to Durham Porter, who easily scored 2 points.

Kuster nodded in satisfaction—the team’s offense was well-organized and highly efficient. With a smile, he focused his attention on that seemingly thin figure.

Before joining the NBA, Zhou Yi had much longer hair and was much thinner. When playing against others at school, he would habitually flick his hair whenever he scored, a gesture that always drew screams from the girls who liked him. After joining the NBA, to make playing easier, Zhou Yi cut his long hair short and went bald, which is why Hong Ming didn’t recognize him at first when seeing his photos online.

Back to the game, Famar controlled the ball and passed it to Graham. Graham drove at a 45-degree angle, passed past Daye, and tried to lay up directly, but missed. Josh Smith grabbed the offensive rebound and assisted Johhan Petro to score a layup.

The Pistons’ strategy was clear: use their interior players to target the weaker defenders, Smith and Petro, and when possible, quickly transition to the outside, where their outside shooters had high shooting percentages. Zhou Yi’s organizational skills were fully displayed during this period.

Miller and Marv Albert also showered Zhou Yi with praise, but he ignored them. Famar passed the ball, and Zhou Yi leaped to steal it, then passed it long to Posey, who rushed toward the opponent’s basket like thunder. Posey didn’t attempt a flashy dunk like other players but simply layed up effortlessly. Perhaps this is the difference between veteran players and young players—veterans tend to be better at protecting themselves and conserving energy during games.

On the Nets’ side, Famar assisted Smith, who made a jump shot at the free-throw line. After Villanueva’s jump shot missed, Petro grabbed the defensive rebound and passed it to Famar, who provided another assist—this time to Smith, who, after receiving the pass, pushed aside Durham Porter and dunked.