Chapter 72

With 4 minutes and 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Celtics finally scored their 80th point thanks to Rajon Rondo’s breakthrough, which forced Zhou Yi into a foul. By then, Zhou Yi had already led the Pistons to 92 points, so the gap wasn’t huge—12 points in five minutes wasn’t impossible.

But the only question now was who would step up to help them secure the win. Kevin Garnett had been replaced by Glen Davis again; his performance that day was extremely poor, leaving Doug Rivers with no choice but to take him off the court.

From the start of the game, Rajon Rondo had always looked down on Zhou Yi. It wasn’t until Zhou Yi led the Pistons to this desperate situation that Rondo realized Zhou Yi had grown—he was no longer the Chinese kid he could easily bully.

Rondo watched as Zhou Yi’s dribbling grew faster and faster, confusing him with his quick movements. Zhou Yi’s speed also increased significantly; he was fully committed to attacking. Rajon Rondo, at full force, was beyond Zhou Yi’s ability to match. In the blink of an eye, he rushed into the paint and scored his tenth point with a layup.

Next, Rondo intercepted Greg Monroe’s pass and assisted Paul Pierce in the distance, who hit a jump shot, narrowing the score to 8 points. The gap between the two teams was now only 8 points, with 4 minutes and 1 second left in the fourth quarter.

“Tracy!” Despite Rondo’s aggressive play, Zhou Yi didn’t back down. Dribbling through defenses, drawing double teams—everything was just like at the start of the game. After shouting, Zhou Yi threw the ball toward the basket. McGrady heard Zhou Yi’s shout and was ready. Seeing the ball in the air, he yelled, cut in from the side, leaped high, caught the ball, and dunked it with both hands!

The score gap between the two teams widened to 10 points again.

Rondo took control of the ball, flicked it, and sent it into the paint. Kevin Garnett caught the ball and went one-on-one with Greg Monroe, turned, and shot—hit! At that moment, Garnett’s shooting form seemed to improve.

On the Pistons’ offensive end, Zhou Yi received a pass from McGrady, stopped abruptly, and tried a jump shot—unfortunately, it missed. Kevin Garnett secured the rebound.

Rondo used Paul Pierce as a screen and hit a jump shot near the free-throw line. Seeing Rondo score again, the Pistons immediately called a timeout.

The score difference between the two teams is now only 6 points, with a possible tie within three points. With just two minutes left in the game, these final two minutes are the most critical of the entire match. The Pistons are fighting hard, and so are the Celtics. Having come this far, neither side wants to lose nor give up. The 20-second timeout is short and ends quickly. John Kuester’s strategy is simple: defend their three-point shots. But things are never as simple as they seem. After LaMarcus Aldridge comes on, free throws continue. Just now, when Aldridge shot, it resulted in a foul on Zhou Yi. Now Zhou Yi has no choice—he can’t compete with the opponent in speed, so he can only reach out. He already has two fouls on him, but since he’s a guard, two fouls isn’t much. After coming on, Zhou Yi simply stands outside the three-point line, resting his knees while watching Aldridge take free throws. “It won’t go in, it won’t go in, it won’t go in!” Zhou Yi kept muttering under his breath as he watched Aldridge get ready to shoot. Perhaps it’s Zhou Yi’s lucky day—Aldridge shoots steadily, but the ball doesn’t go as planned. After spinning around, it hits the back of the rim. Just as Zhou Yi prepares for a fast break, a green figure appears and snatches the ball before Samuel Dalembert and Greg Monroe, holding it close to his chest. “No good, it’s Kevin Garnett!” As soon as Garnett lands, he throws the ball at a 45-degree angle above him without even looking. Only then does Zhou Yi realize the person standing behind him has disappeared. Turning around, he sees Ray Allen in that 45-degree position. Seeing Allen there, Zhou Yi’s heart skips a beat. He watches helplessly as Allen throws the ball toward the basket with a wrist twist. Zhou Yi can only stand there, praying the shot won’t go in. The ball spins beautifully into the net, and the score suddenly becomes 94:91, with the Pistons leading by only 3 points. The Pistons don’t call a timeout because they already used one earlier. The Pistons attack, with Zhou Yi controlling the ball and organizing the offense. Looking at LaMarcus Aldridge in front of him, Zhou Yi takes a deep breath. After half a minute, he passes the ball to McGrady.

Madie drove with the ball and skillfully passed it to Samuel DalumPort at the basket. Unfortunately, Samuel DalumPort’s layup was disrupted by Kevin Garnett, and the shot missed; Kendrick Perkins grabbed the defensive rebound. LaJuan Randolph moved around outside the Pistons’ three-point line with the ball, then suddenly threw it high toward the basket. A green figure with a number 5 on his back cut from the middle toward the basket and leaped high into the air, catching the ball mid-air before slamming it home. 94:93—the Pistons led by just one point! The crowd was in shock; from leading by 19 points, they were now only ahead by one. Everyone became tense. This moment was unfavorable for the Pistons. What was needed now was to stabilize morale, and that responsibility fell on Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi could even hear his own heartbeat and breathing as he drove the ball toward the opponent’s half-court. Under LaJuan Randolph’s defense, he quickly rushed into the paint. Seeing Zhou Yi coming, no one in the Celtics’ frontcourt dared to block him, as Zhou Yi’s passing was more threatening than his offense. But once again, they underestimated Zhou Yi’s ability to handle pressure under critical moments. Using his right hand to drive the ball and his left to block LaJuan Randolph, Zhou Yi broke into the paint and suddenly stopped after a crossover. LaJuan Randolph, prepared for this, blocked Zhou Yi’s view, but Zhou Yi didn’t give up. Pretending to pass to the left, he shifted LaJuan Randolph’s focus slightly. Seizing this opening, Zhou Yi suddenly jumped and pushed the ball forward. The ball slid slowly through the air, seemingly slowing down for a moment. When it firmly landed in the net, Zhou Yi could almost hear his heart dropping back into his chest. 96:93—the Pistons regained a 3-point lead. “We still need to defend their next attack!” Zhou Yi quickly returned to defense. By the time he turned around, LaJuan Randolph had already driven to the half-court. Seeing Zhou Yi ready to defend again, LaJuan Randolph didn’t hesitate. In just a few meters, he accelerated to his maximum speed and rushed toward Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi could tell from LaMarcus Aldridge’s speed that he would definitely not be able to defend him if he stayed close, so he secretly stepped back a few times, noticing Zhou Yi moving back as well. The Pistons’ teammates knew this was Zhou Yi’s signal to ask for help in defense—a signal he had given them during the timeout earlier. Watching LaMarcus Aldridge rush over at top speed, Zhou Yi began to sweat profusely; he had to stop that shot at all costs, otherwise things would turn very bad for his team.

LaMarcus Aldridge was surprised to see Zhou Yi trying to block his three-point shot, but now wasn’t the time to shoot from three. He dashed toward the opponent’s half court. As soon as he crossed the three-point line, Zhou Yi rushed over and stuck closely to him.

However, LaMarcus Aldridge was faster at his peak than Zhou Yi. Despite Zhou Yi’s best efforts to keep up, he was still half a step behind. Just as LaMarcus Aldridge reached the basket ready to lay up, Greg Monroe abandoned his defense of Kevin Garnett and rushed over to disrupt him.

LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t expect Greg Monroe to interfere. He jumped up—failing to shoot would result in a foul. With no other choice, he threw the ball toward the basket. The hasty shot missed. Greg Monroe, who hadn’t jumped before, now leaped and caught the ball, then passed it to Zhou Yi for a fast break.

Now, only 1 minute and 5 seconds remained in the fourth quarter. When Zhou Yi drove into the Celtics’ half court, the game officially entered its final seconds.

Zhou Yi rushed forward quickly, but the fast break couldn’t continue. Paul Pierce rushed over and grabbed Zhou Yi, committing a foul. Of course, the Celtics hadn’t yet reached their foul limit, so it was just a free throw.

Tyshawn Prince handed the ball to Zhou Yi from the sidelines. Zhou Yi glanced at it and saw two players already following him, but his excellent vision allowed him to spot an open spot with Samuel Dalembert.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, his wrist already threw the ball to Samuel Dalembert. Unfortunately, Dalembert’s open shot missed, and the Celtics secured the defensive rebound.

Immediately after grabbing the defensive rebound, the Celtics called a timeout.

“The other team will definitely go all out now. Scoring two points is meaningless; it will also give us another chance to counterattack. So I guess they’ll shoot for three points. Their lineup has many players who can shoot threes—Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo all need to be guarded. Zhou Yi, Tracy, and Taishan, you three have a tough defensive task. I don’t want to fight to this point only to lose at home!” John Kuester said loudly, looking at his Pistons teammates.

“We still have a timeout. Wait until the ball is in play. I’ll call a timeout right away to plan our final shot. Stay calm. We’ve come this far—I don’t think anyone wants to back out!” John Kuester said to his team.

The 20-second timeout was really short. Before John Kuester could say much, Zhou Yi and the others were already about to take the court.

At that moment, 30 seconds remained in the game, and the Celtics were serving. As the referee handed the ball to Kevin Garnett at the sideline, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen immediately scattered apart, while Zhou Yi and the others rushed over to block them.

Perhaps because Zhou Yi was indeed a bit slow, Rajon Rondo managed to create space to catch the ball. Seeing the opening, Kevin Garnett quickly passed the ball to him. But as soon as Rajon Rondo got into position, Zhou Yi was already on him.

Facing Zhou Yi, Rajon Rondo remained calm and began dribbling slowly. Zhou Yi knew he was looking for an opportunity. But this time, no matter what, Zhou Yi had to stop his shot—he absolutely couldn’t let him score a three right in front of him.

Rajon Rondo glanced at Zhou Yi, then flicked his wrist, and the ball landed not far away. Zhou Yi turned to see it was Ray Allen.

Using Kevin Garnett’s screen, Ray Allen ran to the corner, caught the ball, and immediately shot a three, ignoring Taishan Prince’s hand that was almost on his face as he tried to block.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the basketball traced a nearly perfect arc and dropped into the basket, leaving the Pistons players in shock.

96; 96, tied. The game was tied at this point!

“Timeout!” John Kuester stood up then and signaled for a timeout. The referee immediately granted it.

Chapter 237: The Decisive Shot

It’s tied! The game is tied after all this time, and the entire crowd stares in disbelief at the score on the big screen. 96:96. The Celtics, with a burst of performance in the final quarter, pushed the Pistons into a desperate situation. But although it’s tied now, the Pistons still hold the advantage on the court. With only 15.4 seconds left in the game, the Pistons can use this final moment to take their last shot. Even if they miss, they won’t lose, as the game will go straight into overtime. “Last shot, Zhou—you take it!” Zhou Yi sat on the bench, head down, listening as head coach John Kuester outlined the strategy. Suddenly, a remark from John Kuester left Zhou Yi stunned—him taking the last shot? “Me?” Zhou Yi pointed at his own face in surprise. Him taking the last shot? He didn’t think he had the ability, though his skills and experience were already quite good, he still lacked the reflexes needed in critical moments. “It’s okay. You’ve performed so well in this game. Even if you miss the last shot, it doesn’t matter. We’ll just go to overtime,” John Kuester said, looking at Zhou Yi. In this game, Zhou Yi had held his own against Rajon Rondo, scoring 16 points and 13 assists for a double-double, and his shooting form was also good, hitting 6 out of 10 shots. Trusting Zhou Yi with the last shot shouldn’t be a problem. Hearing John Kuester’s words, Zhou Yi could only nod with a bitter smile. “Are you not confident?” John Kuester asked, patting Zhou Yi’s shoulder. “Um, I… I’m a bit unsure,” Zhou Yi nodded and replied. Hearing Zhou Yi’s answer, John Kuester wasn’t dissatisfied. Instead, he smiled and called the others over, saying, “I bet that old guy Doug Rivers never expected me to have Zhou take the last shot. So, I’m going to use Zhou as a surprise element—have him take the last shot.”

Immediately afterward, John Kuester, holding a drawing board in one hand, said to the Pistons players, “James and Tracy, you two go out there in a moment to draw the opponent’s defense—make sure you hold their attention. Samuel and Greg, if Zhou doesn’t get a chance, he’ll pass the ball to you two right away. Make sure you stay in position and also protect the rebounds. Zhou, you’re the first choice for the last shot. If there’s really no chance, pass the ball inside. Guys, do you all understand?”
“Understood!” Zhou Yi and the others replied loudly.
“Don’t feel any pressure. At worst, we’ll play overtime. But Zhou, you must manage the time well—don’t give the opponent any time to attack, okay?” John Kuester reminded them again.
Zhou Yi nodded and replied, “Understood!”
“Alright, guys, let’s go out there! Twenty consecutive wins depend on you—hehe!” John Kuester said with a smile, showing no signs of nervousness at such a critical moment.
“Let’s give it our all!” At that moment, Greg Monroe, who was behind Zhou Yi, placed a hand on his shoulder and said to him.
Zhou Yi glanced at Greg Monroe, then at his teammates’ trusting looks. A smile appeared on his face; his earlier nervousness eased, and his confidence grew.
Greg Monroe stood on the perimeter, holding the ball and watching his teammates moving around inside. Suddenly, a figure came into view. Greg Monroe threw the ball, passing it to Zhou Yi’s hands.
The moment Zhou Yi’s hands touched the ball, the timer started counting down. As he counted the seconds in his mind, he watched LaDainian Tomlinson ahead of him, looking for any weakness so he could score this crucial shot.
Zhou Yi kept track of the time, counting each second as pressure built up on him.
“Huh.” Zhou Yi took a deep breath, hoping to calm the pressure deep in his heart.
Finally, only 8 seconds remained before they could attack.
Seeing Greg Monroe coming up to provide cover, Zhou Yi dribbled and suddenly rushed to the left. LaDainian Tomlinson, seeing Zhou Yi head left, followed him, but as if he had seen through everything, he bypassed Greg Monroe’s defense and continued chasing Zhou Yi.

But as LaDainian Tomlinson bypassed Greg Monroe, he suddenly noticed that Zhou Yi had disappeared. While Tomlinson was puzzled, Zhou Yi broke through from his right side and entered the Celtics’ paint. It turned out Zhou Yi hadn’t relied on Greg Monroe to block Tomlinson; he had only used him to distract Tomlinson’s attention. After darting to the left, he immediately broke through to the right. When Tomlinson broke left, he didn’t see Zhou Yi, and during that moment of confusion, Zhou Yi seized the opportunity to rush into the paint. The Celtics’ players in the paint were anxious to see Zhou Yi break through at that moment. Kevin Garnett, who was defending Greg Monroe, rushed over to try and stop Zhou Yi. But Zhou Yi wasn’t backing down either; he held the ball in both hands and moved toward Garnett. Seeing this, Garnett realized it was a foul attempt! He quickly raised his hands and stepped back. At that exact moment, Zhou Yi adjusted his balance, jumped high, and by the time Garnett realized he had been tricked, it was too late. Zhou Yi’s ball flew high, hit the backboard, and dropped straight into the net with a “swish” sound. Immediately afterward, the end of the game was announced! “Huh? It went in! A game-winning shot?!” Zhou Yi started shouting loudly even while in mid-air as the ball firmly entered the basket. The other Pistons players, seeing the ball land in the hoop, also cheered and rushed toward Zhou Yi. Everyone on the Pistons team piled on Zhou Yi, bumping into him repeatedly. The Celtics players remained silent, with disappointed expressions on their faces, especially LaDainian Tomlinson and Kevin Garnett. In the end, the Detroit Pistons narrowly defeated the visiting Boston Celtics 98–96 thanks to Zhou Yi’s game-winning shot at the last moment. Zhou Yi was carried by his teammates as they happily headed toward the bench. “Congratulations!” At that time, LaDainian Tomlinson walked up to Zhou Yi, extended his right hand, and said to him. Zhou Yi stared at Tomlinson, then smiled, extended his right hand as well, shook it with Tomlinson, and said with a smile, “Thank you!” “If we have time, let’s compete properly again!” Tomlinson said to Zhou Yi with a smile.

“Hmm, okay,” Zhou Yi nodded in response.
Rajon Rondo nodded at Zhou Yi, then disappeared into the court with his teammates.
Throughout the game, all five players on the Pistons scored in double figures.
Zhou Yi made 7 out of 11 shots, scoring 18 points, 13 assists, and 4 rebounds; Tracy McGrady hit 3 out of 5 three-pointers, scoring 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, showing a very balanced performance; Tychon Prince scored 15 points; Greg Monroe had a solid game against Kevin Garnett, recording 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks—also a double-double; the last player to score in double figures was Samuel Dalembert, who also posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
On the Celtics’ side, only four players scored in double figures.
Rajon Rondo, who faced Zhou Yi, made 4 out of 12 shots, scoring 10 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds—clearly below his usual performance level; Paul Pierce hit 4 out of 6 three-pointers, scoring the highest score of the game at 21 points, along with 10 rebounds, also a double-double; Ray Allen had a poor game, making 7 out of 17 shots and 2 out of 8 three-pointers, scoring 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. The last Celtics player to score in double figures wasn’t the former “Wolf King” Kevin Garnett, but Glen Davis, who came in as a substitute. Glen Davis scored 14 points and 8 rebounds, far outperforming Garnett’s 9 points and 7 rebounds.
After the game, the Pistons’ winning streak expanded to 20 games. If they could win two more games, they would tie the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, held by the Houston Rockets at 22 wins.
Amazingly, one of the key contributors to the Rockets’ 22-game streak was Tracy McGrady, who is now one of the Pistons’ core players. Now, he will lead the Pistons, along with Zhou Yi, to tie or even break the 22-game streak he once achieved with Yao Ming. It’s quite ironic.
At the post-game press conference, a reporter asked McGrady this question:
“Mr. McGrady, your team has now achieved 20 consecutive wins and is on track to either tie or break the 22-game streak you and Yao created with the Houston Rockets. What’s your thoughts on that?”

Hearing the reporter’s question, McGrady smiled bitterly, shrugged his hands, and replied, “Dude, this is really a very lucky thing. Being able to witness such a miracle with two different teams—I believe every player would be extremely excited. I was happy during the time when I created a 22-game winning streak with Yao. Similarly, I’m very happy to witness such achievements with the current team. Thank you!”
After the press conference, Zhou Yi bid farewell to his teammates and drove back to his house.
Chapter 238: Living Together? Save me!
Zhou Yi returned home, exhausted. As soon as he entered, he smelled something delicious. Then, a woman’s voice came from the kitchen.
“Zhou Yi, is that you? You’re back?”
Hearing this voice, Zhou Yi immediately knew who it belonged to.
“Xiang Yun, how are you here? By the way, how did you get in?” Zhou Yi lay sprawled on the sofa and asked Xiang Yun.
“Oh, didn’t you give me the key yesterday? I forgot to give it back to you when I left,” Xiang Yun said as she carried a plate of steaming dishes toward the dining room, explaining to Zhou Yi along the way.
After hearing Xiang Yun’s explanation, Zhou Yi rolled his eyes.
“Then why did you come to my place? To return the key?” Zhou Yi asked.
After placing the dishes on the dining table, Xiang Yun rushed back to the kitchen, tidied it up, and then slowly walked over to Zhou Yi.
“Yes, I originally came to return the key,” Xiang Yun said to Zhou Yi.
“Oh, then thank you!” Zhou Yi really didn’t want any more involvement with Xiang Yun, so his tone toward her was rather indifferent.
“Are you stupid? I meant originally!” Xiang Yun spat at Zhou Yi and said.
“What do you mean?” Zhou Yi had a badpremonition and quickly sat up straight, asking her.
Xiang Yun poured herself a glass of water, took a couple of sips, and said nonchalantly, “Sigh, I’ve been busy all day and I’m exhausted. By the way, are you hungry? Do you want to eat now?”
Zhou Yi frowned slightly, glanced at Xiang Yun, and asked seriously, “Xiang Yun, what exactly did you mean by that sentence just now? And why did you come to cook for me?”
“Who said I’m cooking for you? I’m cooking for myself, and I’m just helping you a little,” Xiang Yun rolled her eyes at Zhou Yi and then walked toward the dining room, saying, “If you don’t eat, I’ll eat it myself!”

“Xiang Yun, what do you really mean?” Zhou Yi stood up and walked in front of Xiang Yun, asking.
“What do I mean? Zhou Yi, what’s wrong with you? I just cooked a meal in your house and stayed for a while—is that why you treat me like this? I know you don’t like me, but there’s no need to be this rude, right?” Xiang Yun glared at Zhou Yi and blurted out all these words.
“I…” Zhou Yi was speechless, stunned by Xiang Yun’s words.
“Alright, I should go now.” Xiang Yun took off her apron and headed for the door.
Zhou Yi stood there in shock, not knowing what to say.
Suddenly, Xiang Yun came back.
“Here’s the key!” After saying that, she turned around again and walked toward the door.
“Xiang Yun…” Zhou Yi called out her name in confusion, feeling uneasy.
“Is there anything else?” Xiang Yun asked coldly.
Zhou Yi stepped beside her, at a loss for words, and said, “Um, you said you cooked something too, right? Let’s eat together!”
His last few words were so soft that it seemed only he could hear them, but Xiang Yun heard them anyway.
A slight joy flashed in Xiang Yun’s heart, yet her face remained cold as she said to Zhou Yi, “Aren’t you not fond of me? Aren’t you not happy about me staying in your house? Why do you want me to stay for dinner now?”
Zhou Yi sighed inwardly and forced a smile at her. “I admit my attitude earlier was rude and hurt you. I apologize. Come on, let’s have dinner together! Otherwise, I’ll think you’re still angry at me.”
Xiang Yun pretended to be reluctant, then looked at Zhou Yi with a hint of annoyance and said, “Fine, I’ll give you one chance to prove yourself.”
“Hehe…” Zhou Yi smiled and led Xiang Yun back into the dining room.
“Do you know? I rarely cook at home either. I usually eat instant food or instant noodles. I really put in a lot of effort and thought to prepare dinner for you. And you… hmph…” Xiang Yun said to Zhou Yi, sounding aggrieved.
“Uh, I admit I was wrong,” Zhou Yi said, scratching his head apologetically.
“It’s okay, it’s nothing. I know what you’re thinking. It’s fine,” Xiang Yun waved her hand and said.
Zhou Yi served a bowl of rice for Xiang Yun and placed it in front of her, smiling and saying, “You’ve worked hard too. Go ahead and eat!”

“Hmm, thanks!” Xiang Yun stuck out her tongue, then picked up her bowl and started eating with relish.
“By the way, guess who I met when I first arrived at your door?” Xiang Yun asked Zhou Yi while eating.
“Hehe, I don’t know,” Zhou Yi replied with a smile and shook his head.
“I met the landlady, hehe,” Xiang Yun said cheerfully.
“Oh? What happened when you met her? Hehe, did she say something to you again?” Zhou Yi suddenly remembered what the landlady had said to him the previous day, so he asked Xiang Yun with a smile.
“Huh? How did you know?” Xiang Yun asked curiously.
“Hehe, I guessed it.” Three lines appeared on Zhou Yi’s forehead—the landlady would definitely chatter nonstop when she met someone she knew.
“Oh, the landlady asked if I was here to find you. Then she asked if I wanted to move in and live with you…”
Before Xiang Yun could finish, the food in Zhou Yi’s mouth sprayed out.
“Ah? What’s wrong? Did you choke?” Xiang Yun quickly went over to Zhou Yi, patted his back, and brought him some napkins.
“Cough cough, it’s okay. You just said the landlady asked if you wanted to move in and live with me?” Zhou Yi wiped his mouth and asked in surprise.
Xiang Yun nodded and replied with a smile, “Yeah, why?”
“What does it mean when she asked you that?” Zhou Yi asked, still worried.
“Oh, maybe she was just asking casually…” Hearing the first part of Xiang Yun’s reply, Zhou Yi’s tension eased a bit, but her next words made his heart race again.
“She told me to keep a close eye on you. Guys like you might seem honest on the surface, but you could be a playboy. So she suggested that I should watch you closely. Ideally…” Xiang Yun hesitated.
“Ideally what?” Zhou Yi asked anxiously.
“Ideally, the landlady said it would be best if I moved in and lived with you, so I could keep an eye on you,” Xiang Yun said shyly, glancing at Zhou Yi’s reaction secretly.
“Uh…” Hearing this, Zhou Yi was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered and said with a smile, “We’re not boyfriend and girlfriend, hehe. What the landlady said has nothing to do with us.”
“Hmm, that’s what I thought too,” Xiang Yun said after taking a sip of water.
“Thought? What do you mean?” Zhou Yi asked.

Xiang Yun glanced at Zhou Yi, then said calmly, “This is what I told the landlady. I said you’re a very reliable man, so I’m not worried you’d do anything bad behind my back.”
“What did the landlady say then?” Zhou Yi asked anxiously.
“That landlady asked me to move into your place,” Xiang Yun said softly, head bowed, as she ate.
“What? Why?” Zhou Yi asked, both angry and surprised.
Xiang Yun sighed and said to Zhou Yi, “Zhou Yi, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told the landlady that you’re my boyfriend.”
“What do you mean? Xiang Yun, don’t apologize so quickly. What’s really going on?” Zhou Yi asked urgently.
“Actually, I also rent my place from that landlady, as you probably know,” Xiang Yun said.
“Mm, I know that. She told me last time we talked,” Zhou Yi nodded.
“Here’s the thing: That landlady has some relatives coming from China, and she doesn’t have any extra rooms. So she wants me to vacate my place and move here, so she can save money, take care of you, and rent out the empty room to her relatives. That’s how it is,” Xiang Yun explained softly to Zhou Yi.
“Huh? What kind of logic is that? Why should you move out just because so many people are staying in her house?” Zhou Yi asked angrily.
“The landlady doesn’t have any other intention. She doesn’t know our real relationship, and it’s not easy to explain to her that we’re not a couple. Anyway, I’ve already agreed to move out in a couple of days. Hehe, you don’t need to worry. I’ll find another place to live,” Xiang Yun said with a smile.
Hearing Xiang Yun’s words, Zhou Yi didn’t know what to say for a moment. He felt somewhat guilty; if he hadn’t rushed her to find a place, she wouldn’t have had to move out because of him.
“Then, have you figured out anything about your place?” Zhou Yi asked worriedly.
Xiang Yun shook her head and said, “It’s not that easy to find a place this quickly. Let’s talk about it later! Hurry up and eat; the food’s getting cold.”
Zhou Yi ate a few bites reluctantly, then handed the keys that Xiang Yun had given him back to her.
“What do you mean?” Xiang Yun asked, surprised, though actually quite pleased.

“Keep the key for now. Move out once you find a place!” Zhou Yi said.
This was the lowest threshold Zhou Yi could accept. It was also out of a slight sense of guilt toward Xiang Yun that he made this decision.
“Really? Do you mean I can live here?” Xiang Yun asked Zhou Yi in surprise.
“Mm-hmm, but it’s only temporary. Once you find a place, I’ll help you move,” Zhou Yi said seriously.
“Oh, then thank you,” Xiang Yun thanked him.
“It’s okay. Things happened for a reason, and it’s only right that I help you,” Zhou Yi waved his hand and explained to her.
Xiang Yun nodded, still feeling a bit embarrassed, and said, “Anyway, I still should thank you. By the way, Zhou Yi, are you free tomorrow?”
“What’s up? Is there something?” Zhou Yi asked.
“I was wondering if you could help me move tomorrow if you’re free?” A faint blush appeared on Xiang Yun’s face. She felt a bit embarrassed for Zhou Yi to make such a big concession for her.
“Oh, I’m free tomorrow morning. Are you in such a hurry to move?” Zhou Yi asked, slightly surprised.
“How could I be in a hurry to move? I’ve lived there for four years and have grown very attached to it. How could I want to leave so quickly? It’s just that the landlord’s relatives are coming over in a few days, and I don’t want to cause them trouble, so I want to move out as soon as possible so they can prepare,” Xiang Yun explained, her voice filled with reluctance.
Hearing this, Zhou Yi nodded in understanding and said, “So I’ll help you move tomorrow morning? By the way, do you have a car? I seem to have seen you drive before?”
“Oh, that was the company car. I don’t have my own car. So you’ll have to drive there tomorrow morning. Well, I do have quite a lot of stuff,” Xiang Yun said with a sheepish smile.
“Oh, okay, I get it,” Zhou Yi nodded in response.
“Zhou Yi, did you move out of Uncle Blake’s place because your girlfriend is coming to live with you?” Xiang Yun suddenly asked.
“Huh? How did you know?” Zhou Yi asked in surprise.
It seemed only he and Blake knew about this; probably no one else in the U.S. was aware of it.
“Hehe, I overheard you mention it once,” Xiang Yun said with a smile.
“Oh, yes. She might come after the Spring Festival. I’m not exactly sure when,” Zhou Yi said.

Xiang Yun smiled and nodded, though her heart was filled with bitterness.
“Your girlfriend is very pretty,” Xiang Yun said with a smile.
“Oh? How do you know? Have you met her?” Zhou Yi asked in surprise.
“Hehe, I saw her at the gym during your birthday last time,” Xiang Yun explained with a smile.
“Oh, I see!” After taking a sip of water, Zhou Yi had finished his meal.
“Are you full?” Xiang Yun asked with a smile.
Zhou Yi nodded and said, “Yes, I’m full.”
Hearing Zhou Yi’s reply, Xiang Yun nodded and began to clear the dishes from the table.
“You cooked the meal; how can I ask you to wash the dishes too?” Zhou Yi said shyly.
“It’s okay. These are things boys like you shouldn’t do. Just sit there!” Xiang Yun stopped Zhou Yi from helping and, after finishing cleaning the table, carried the dishes to the kitchen.
Watching Xiang Yun’s back, Zhou Yi sighed gloomily.
“Sigh, I’ll have to live with Xiang Yun for a while now! Ugh, living together? Please spare me!”
Chapter 239: The Next Battle – Opponent: Sun
The next morning, after saying goodbye to Xiang Yun, Zhou Yi drove to her place. He had been there a few times before, so he could find it easily.
As soon as he arrived at Xiang Yun’s house, he saw the landlady who always made him feel uneasy.
“Mr. Zhou, I’m so sorry! One of my relatives showed up here out of nowhere, and I really had no choice!” As soon as she saw Zhou Yi, the landlady rushed over, apologizing and thanking him repeatedly.
Zhou Yi waved his hand smilingly and said to the landlady, “It’s okay, ma’am.”
“Oh, then thank you so much. Mr. Zhou, you’re really understanding! How about this: since you’ve paid three months’ rent, I’ll reduce the rent by 5% after three months as compensation for you. Does that work?” the landlady said earnestly.
“No need, really. It’s not a big deal,” Zhou Yi replied with a smile.
“Are you still blaming me? Mr. Zhou, if you don’t agree, I really don’t know what to do. Please agree!” the landlady insisted.
“Well…” Zhou Yi felt a bit embarrassed.

“Zhou Yi, since the auntie has spoken to you so sincerely, we should fulfill her request. If we refuse again, she will surely feel guilty.” At that moment, Xiang Yun came out carrying things and said to Zhou Yi, winking at him as well. Hearing this, Zhou Yi glanced at the landlady once more and nodded, saying to her, “Alright, let’s do as you say! Auntie, thank you so much.” “It’s me who should thank you!” the landlady said with a smile. Zhou Yi took the luggage from Xiang Yun and put it in the trunk of the car, then went back inside to help Xiang Yun load more items into the trunk. “Huh? Xiang Yun, what’s in this?” Zhou Yi asked, holding a cylindrical object that resembled a box. Xiang Yun glanced at what Zhou Yi was holding and, seeing that he seemed about to open it, quickly rushed forward and snatched the object from his arms. Her face turned red, and she glared at Zhou Yi, saying, “Don’t you know you shouldn’t just rummage through a girl’s things?” Zhou Yi shrugged helplessly and explained, “It smelled nice inside, so I got curious!” Hearing this, Xiang Yun’s face turned even redder. “Huh? Xiang Yun, why is your face red? Are you not feeling well?” Seeing her flushed face, Zhou Yi thought she might have a fever and asked anxiously. “It’s fine,” Xiang Yun snapped, placing the object in her arms on the passenger seat. “Is there anything else left?” Zhou Yi asked. “I think not,” Xiang Yun replied. “Oh, then let’s go! Auntie, we’re leaving! Goodbye!” Zhou Yi sat in the driver’s seat and started the engine after Xiang Yun got in the car. “Goodbye, Mr. Zhou, Miss Xiang!” the landlady waved at them. Xiang Yun also said goodbye to the landlady, then glanced reluctantly at the house where she had lived for so long before saying to Zhou Yi, “Let’s go!” Hearing this, Zhou Yi sighed and drove away toward his own home.

Zhou Yi’s residence was similar to a small villa, roughly one-third the size of Blake’s. However, it had many rooms. Zhou Yi was satisfied with this place because of the numerous rooms, allowing his family or friends to stay there as well.

Even before going to the Xun family’s house, Zhou Yi had already helped Xun Yun prepare a room, several rooms away from his own.

Upon arriving at the residence, Zhou Yi moved Xun Yun’s luggage to her room and then left her to sort things out on her own.

At noon, after having lunch, Zhou Yi drove to the gym to attend the team’s training. The training started at 2 p.m., and naturally, Zhou Yi was again the first to arrive.

Today’s training lasted until 6 p.m. After taking a shower in the gym’s locker room, Zhou Yi declined teammate Will Bynum’s invitation to go to a bar and drove home alone.

After spending over four months together, Zhou Yi had developed a very good relationship with his teammates. However, he maintained his consistent principles regarding his nightlife. At first, those teammates (actually just Will Bynum) kept insisting, but when head coach John Kuester found out about it, he sternly criticized those troublemakers, which made them calm down and stop dragging Zhou Yi to nightclubs.

John Kuester wasn’t opposed to players bonding, but Will Bynum and the others’ nightlife was too wild and not suitable for Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi’s skills were still improving. The two things John Kuester admired most about him were his outstanding talent and his serious attitude. But given Zhou Yi’s current age and experience, if he indulged himself too much, it might take a long time for him to regain control.

When he returned to the residence in the evening, Zhou Yi once again enjoyed Xun Yun’s generous dinner.

After dinner with Xun Yun, he didn’t rest right away but instead took out some videotapes given to him by head coach John Kuester, showing recent matches of their opponent, the Suns, for the next night.

Undoubtedly, with Jason Kidd aging and Chris Paul and Deron Williams getting younger, the title of the league’s best point guard still belonged to Steve Nash.

The Suns are a team that is both easy and difficult to play against. As long as Steve Nash is contained, the team basically has a 50% chance of winning. Especially after “The Tyrant” Amare Stoudemire moved east to join the New York Knicks, the Suns’ strength declined significantly. Yet surprisingly, without Amare Stoudemire, the player who primarily converted Nash’s passes into assists, Nash still ranks second in assists, just 1.2 assists behind the leader, Lajon Rollins, but 2.1 assists ahead of the third-ranked Deron Williams. So far this season, Nash ranks second in the league in assists per game with 12.4 assists per game, a performance that silences those who thought they wouldn’t see Nash at his best this season. Additionally, without Amare Stoudemire’s offensive firepower, Nash’s offensive talent has gradually come to the fore; his average scoring so far is also the second highest of his career. The Suns’ playing style relies on fast breaks, with their players being able to run and score well—except for Amare Stoudemire. But now they no longer have him. However, this aggressive playing style is only suitable for the regular season. Even last season, it caused a fast-break frenzy in the league, giving teams a tough time during the regular season. But while the regular season focuses on offense, the playoffs focus on defense, and it’s clear the Suns’ style won’t stand a chance in the playoffs. This season, the Suns have clearly strengthened their defensive capabilities. However, the effect isn’t very noticeable, especially after Amare Stoudemire left, as the Suns lost a strong defender in the paint, resulting in a decline in overall defensive quality. Still, the Suns are lucky—after losing Amare Stoudemire, they’ve seen great progress from their rookies, with Dragic emerging as a standout with excellent offensive skills. Thus, despite losing Amare Stoudemire, the Suns’ offensive power has actually increased. In games against the Suns, the responsibility of defending Steve Nash naturally falls on Zhou Yi.

Among the Pistons, only Zhou Yi might be able to keep up with Steve Nash’s speed. Moreover, Steve Nash is renowned in the league for his endurance; truly containing him would require a high level of physical stamina from the defensive players.

However, what works in Zhou Yi’s favor is that Steve Nash is already older. As much as he can still run, how fast can he run? How long can he keep going? So, head coach John Kuester isn’t too worried about this.

What worries Zhou Yi, though, is that Steve Nash is extremely cunning—he can always find ingenious ways to pass the ball. Although his speed isn’t what it was at his peak, his agility is extraordinary, and his experience far surpasses Zhou Yi’s.

How about calling Steve Nash the “old demon” among point guards?

There’s probably no other team in the league that can overwhelm the Suns with a more aggressive offense. For teams that excel at defense but are weaker offensively, controlling the pace is the fundamental strategy for defensive teams to counter offensive teams. Yet, different approaches to controlling the pace yield different results. Teams that defeat the Suns through direct confrontation don’t simply imitate their fast-paced style; securing rebounds and pursuing successful interior attacks are the keys to victory hidden behind their speed. It’s like an invisible force constantly controlling the Suns’ clock—stealing even a second from each possession can delay their “Apollo chariot.”

In terms of controlling the pace of a game, the only one who can truly rival Steve Nash is Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks. But since Jason Kidd has aged, both his skills and stamina are no longer at their peak.

Chapter 240: Steve Nash

Zhou Yi carefully studied the Suns’ information, then looked at the prediction prepared by John Kuester regarding the Suns’ starting lineup for the next day. Suddenly, he saw a name that surprised him in the prediction.

Vince Carter’s name was on the list of the Suns’ starting players for the next day.

“Isn’t Vince Carter on the Orlando Magic? How could he be on the Suns’ starting lineup? Could it be that Coach John Kuester made a mistake?” Zhou Yi murmured in surprise.

Then, he checked the Suns’ player profiles again. To his astonishment, Vince Carter’s name was also listed there.

“What’s going on? Was Vince Carter traded from the Magic to the Suns?” Zhou Yi guessed.
It turned out Zhou Yi was right!
“On December 20th, local time in the U.S., the Magic sent Vince Carter, Michael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, along with a first-round draft pick in 2011 and $3 million in cash to the Suns, in exchange for Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, and second-year center Earl Clark. Soon after, the Magic sent ‘Mr. 100 Million’ Rashard Lewis to the Wizards, acquiring ‘The General’ Gilbert Arenas in return.”
“So Vince Carter was indeed traded from the Magic to the Suns,” Zhou Yi murmured, delighted after checking the information on his computer.
After seeing Vince Carter’s name mentioned in both sources, Zhou Yi immediately turned on his computer and searched for recent news about him, where he found the above information.
It wasn’t surprising that Zhou Yi was so shocked—after all, they had played against the Orlando Magic twice a month earlier, and Vince Carter had been on the Magic’s starting lineup in both games. That’s why he was so amazed upon reading these news reports.
“It seems the Suns now have more scoring options. Not to mention Vince Carter, Michael Pietrus is known as ‘France’s Kobe Bryant,’ showing just how strong he is. Plus, Marcin Gortat is also an extremely talented interior player; it seems several teams offered him contracts over the summer,” Zhou Yi said to himself while reviewing the information on the Suns’ new players.
As he studied the Suns’ profiles and watched their recent games, Zhou Yi felt somewhat helpless. Steve Nash was truly at the peak of his game as a point guard, and it was obvious how difficult it would be to stop him. It seemed the only option was to do one’s best.
The Pistons’ game against the Suns caught the attention of most fans. After all, the Suns’ games were always entertaining, and last season they even made it to the Western Conference Finals, coming close to defeating the defending champions, the Lakers.
Many fans were looking forward to this match—one team with flashy offense, the other the brightest team of the season. There were two key attractions in this game: the showdown between cousins Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, and the battle between the league’s top veteran and rising star point guards.

Steve Nash vs. Zhou Yi!
On the current assists leaderboard, Steve Nash ranks second in the entire league with 12.4 assists, while Zhou Yi is fourth with 9.8 assists. At the top is Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics, leading the league with 13.6 assists; third is Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz, who averages 9.9 assists per game, just 0.1 more than Zhou Yi.
The Suns currently sit second in the Pacific Division with a record of 18 wins and 14 losses, and fifth overall in the Western Conference. Despite losing “The Prince” Amar’e Stoudemire, the Suns haven’t performed as well as last season, but they haven’t collapsed either.
Having already won two consecutive games, they will go all out in this match to secure their third straight win and end the Pistons’ 20-game winning streak at the same time.
……
December 31st, the last day of 2010. The Pistons vs. Suns game was scheduled for this day, meaning it was the two teams’ final match of 2010.
The game started at 9 p.m. on time, and by 8:20 p.m., the Suns’ home arena, US Airways Center, was already packed. The arena resembled a sea of joy, and the team’s strong recent performance helped fans forget the pain of losing Amar’e Stoudemire.
The moment Zhou Yi and Steve Nash hugged each other sparked enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.
“Hehe, Steve, I’m happy and excited to play against you,” Zhou Yi said to Steve Nash with a smile.
Steve Nash admired Zhou Yi’s calmness. In fact, he had noticed Zhou Yi earlier, during the Pistons’ warm-up exercises. Although it was just simple shooting practice, Zhou Yi’s consistent shooting caught his attention.
“Hehe, me too,” Steve Nash replied with a smile.
Then the two shook hands. Although Zhou Yi had always admired Steve Nash, he insisted on one thing: on the court, he didn’t need to respect anyone.
This statement was originally made by Allen Iverson when he first started his career, facing “The King” Michael Jordan. However, Allen Iverson’s words later caused him a lot of trouble.

In the months following Allen Iverson’s remarks, “Allen Iverson doesn’t respect Michael Jordan” became a common topic of conversation. Many fans believed Iverson was too arrogant, lacking Jordan’s humility and王者 demeanor demeanor. Although Iverson later explained repeatedly that what he meant was he didn’t need to show respect to Jordan on the court, in an era obsessed with news, his explanations were easily dismissed. Yet Zhou Yi greatly admired those words and regarded them as his motto. Iverson and Tracy McGrady had been Zhou Yi’s idols since childhood, so he had a deep affection for both of them. Although his current achievements were still far behind Steve Nash’s, Zhou Yi believed he could surpass him sooner or later—after all, everything Steve Nash had achieved was also due to opportunities. With the Dallas Mavericks, he could only be considered a second-rate player in the league, but a seemingly insignificant transfer led to his current status. Steve Nash was lucky to return to Phoenix, where there was a strong team with everything except an engine—Steve Nash precisely served as that engine. The Suns’ starting five were center Robin Lopez, power forward Channing Frye, small forward Grant Hill, shooting guard Vince Carter, and point guard Steve Nash. The Pistons had predicted this starting lineup before the game, so they weren’t surprised at all. The Pistons’ starting lineup consisted of center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Tashawn Prince, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi. As the referee threw the ball high into the air, this game, which attracted many fans, officially began! Greg Monroe easily passed the ball to the Pistons’ side, Tashawn Prince got the ball and immediately passed it to Zhou Yi. John Kuster had made careful plans for today’s game. In his view, the key to winning was controlling the pace of the game. Although close-quarters play wasn’t the Pistons’ strength, facing the Suns, who now lacked “The Tyrant” Amare Stoudemire, it was undoubtedly more advantageous for the Pistons.

For the Suns, accustomed to fast-paced attacks, positional play is not the kind of game they are willing to face. In fact, teams like the Spurs, who are skilled at positional play, are exactly the opponents the Suns encounter as guests. Judging from their past encounters, the Suns are indeed very afraid of facing opponents who play in a positional manner.

Understanding the Suns’ tactics allows for targeted countermeasures. First and foremost, it’s necessary to disrupt their basket defense—this is the secret to success for any winning team; without a solid basket defense, there’s no foundation for launching fast breaks. Effective defense should start from the moment of an offensive shot, with everyone quickly retreating to avoid putting pressure on the Suns’ basket defense, thereby giving them an easy chance to launch fast breaks. Countering with quick attacks after the defenders retreat is the Suns’ forte. To control the pace of the game, one must not easily give up on competing for rebounds in the front court or defending their passes, and always maintain a threatening distance from the Suns’ ball handlers and receivers—this is key to slowing them down.

Just doing this isn’t enough; one must also control their own offensive pace, trying to stay within a familiar rhythm. All winning teams focus on ensuring a high success rate in their attacks. Pushing into the paint is crucial, and this is also the main reason why those teams can increase their speed and shooting attempts while still maintaining a high shooting percentage. The best way to stop the opponent’s counterattacks is to force them to inbound from the baseline, provided that one can score points themselves. For teams aiming to secure victory, speed can be increased, but the strategy shouldn’t change—using the strongest approach to strike at the opponent is the key to success. Any team can engage in a head-to-head battle with the Suns; the key lies in choosing the right method.

Chapter 241: Attack and Defense

John Kuster placed the responsibility of controlling the pace entirely on Zhou Yi. For Zhou Yi, this was undoubtedly a challenge. For John Kuster, it was another gamble. No one knew the outcome before the game.

However, John Kuster had no choice but to take this gamble. The Pistons’ record was indeed good, even excellent. But their roster was incomplete, their playing style not yet mature, and they were still a long way from meeting the standards of a top-tier team. More importantly, since Zhou Yi joined, the Pistons’ style had become more similar to that of the Suns. Compared to the Suns’ flashy attacks and relentless fast-break rhythm, the Pistons’ style was still evolving in games. Facing the Suns with such an immature approach was undoubtedly asking for trouble.

However, the Pistons still have many advantages. First, their strength is greater than that of the current Suns. Second, the Pistons used to be very good at playing half-court games; although they now tend to adopt the Suns’ style, they haven’t forgotten their half-court tactics.

Zhou Yi didn’t rush to attack. He slowly drove the ball across half-court, lingering near the top of the key. The Suns’ defense was truly fast, but compared to their speed, their defensive quality wasn’t high. Zhou Yi’s bounce pass found Greg Monroe, who dunked the ball through Robin Lopez.

Robin Lopez is a second-year rookie but also a hardworking player. Compared to his brother Brook Lopez, Robin does the tough jobs on the team, and his defense is considered quite good among the Suns.

However, before this season, he was overshadowed by “The Dominator” Amare Stoudemire, so his playing time wasn’t guaranteed. But once Amare Stoudemire left, his opportunities arose. Since the start of this season, he has been the team’s starting center.

The Suns’ players are very active in movement, constantly switching positions and creating opportunities through their quick shifts. Steve Nash quickly drove the ball across half-court, and Zhou Yi immediately closed in to double-team him. Against a top-tier point guard like Steve Nash, the chances of stealing the ball or forcing him to make a mistake are extremely low.

The best way to truly limit Steve Nash’s impact is to restrict his passing and shorten his time holding the ball. Without sufficient time to control the ball, a playmaker’s efficiency will naturally be low—especially since Nash’s passing is the foundation of the Suns’ offense.

The fact that the two faced off so quickly delighted the fans watching the game. Although so far few believe Zhou Yi’s skill level has reached that of Steve Nash, as two of the best young and experienced point guards in the league, their matchup has generated great anticipation among fans.

Moreover, the Pistons’ record this year has truly amazed everyone, leaving them in awe. After losing several key players, the Pistons have shown remarkable vigor. And Zhou Yi is undoubtedly the main reason behind their current strong performance.

Zhou Yi is the key figure behind the significant changes in the Pistons. His arrival has sped up the team’s offensive rhythm, and defensively, they have become much more efficient compared to their previous lineup led by Rodney Stuckey. This season, the Pistons average 103.3 points per game, ranking seventh in the league, while conceding only 94.6 points per game—a 8.7-point difference, which is among the best in the league.

Before Zhou Yi could defend effectively, Steve Nash would already pass the ball. His passes were indeed graceful and well-timed; Grant Hill would take one step forward after catching the ball, creating space for a mid-range shot.

Grant Hill, once considered the successor to Michael Jordan, is now 38 years old but still possesses outstanding skills and ranks among the best in the league in terms of efficiency.

Zhou Yi secretly admired Steve Nash’s high-quality passing. He believed his own playmaking abilities were on par with Nash’s. Although he might lack Nash’s seasoned experience, his rapid improvement meant he could catch up to him within two years. However, after witnessing Nash’s passing in actual games, he realized the gap between them was much larger than he had imagined, and there was still much for him to learn.

Yet Zhou Yi wasn’t discouraged. While his current ability to organize offense and control the pace of the game wasn’t on par with Steve Nash’s, he had advantages over him as well. Not to mention his speed, his scoring ability was also strong, and his defensive skills, of which he was always proud, were another asset.

Michael Jordan, the “God of Basketball,” achieved feats that most people could only dream of, and excellent defense was a crucial factor in that success. In NBA history, only Michael Jordan and Gary Payton have ever been named Defensive Player of the Year while playing as guards.

In the first half, the two teams engaged in a scoring battle. The Pistons took advantage of their strength inside, scoring several points through power plays, while the Suns’ outside shooters were accurate, hitting several three-pointers. The Pistons led by just 2 points, 19–17.

The game, lasting about six minutes, was entirely dominated by the two point guards. Steve Nash delivered 4 assists, just as Zhou Yi did as well. The difference was that Steve Nash scored 6 points with two three-pointers, while Zhou Yi had two steals. Beyond his excellent playmaking and offensive skills, Zhou Yi’s defensive abilities are often overlooked. So far, he averages 2.8 steals per game, ranking first on the team and third in the entire league, behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Mike Conley. Moreover, his average steals place him just behind the top two, making it possible for him to overtake them.

Ervin Johnson called a timeout. So far, although the Suns are only 2 points behind, the course of the game is not in their favor. Of the Suns’ 17 points, 15 came from outside shots; inside, they have only scored 2 points through Robin Lopez’s free throws. With such a high three-point shooting percentage, they can’t expect to maintain it throughout the game. Although the Suns are a fast-paced team, their scoring is fairly balanced between inside and outside.

John Kuester seems quite pleased. He didn’t expect the team to hold their own so well in a head-to-head battle with the Suns. Their defense isn’t really a problem either; it’s just that the opposing team is shooting so well from outside. However, such hot shooting form won’t last the whole game. Once the Suns’ shooters cool down, if they still can’t solve their interior problems, they’ll take control of the game.

Still, the Suns’ interior players aren’t completely ineffective. Robin Lopez, a second-year rookie, has been performing very well, grabbing 4 rebounds so far, including 2 offensive rebounds. Channing Frye, who usually focuses on outside play, surprisingly stayed inside today, attacking the basket and competing for rebounds, which surprised many.

The Suns’ interior duo’s rebounding ability isn’t much worse than that of the Pistons. It’s just that there are issues with their coordination. Rebounding isn’t just about who can jump the highest or react fastest; teamwork is also crucial. When a player isn’t confident about grabbing a rebound, if a teammate is in a better position, they should provide coverage instead of trying to grab it themselves. That’s the proper attitude for a competent interior player.

There are significant issues with the coordination between Channing Frye and Robin Lopez, possibly due to Frye playing little time inside the paint. They even encountered a disastrous situation where they collided with each other while competing for rebounds. In contrast, although McGrady has just joined the Pistons, he has adapted well. The energetic Pistons this year give him hope of returning to the playoffs, and with an outstanding backcourt partner like Zhou Yi, he finds it easier to score. John Kuester praised the players and had simple requirements for the upcoming games: to continue putting pressure on the Suns inside the paint. Although competition inside is fierce, scoring is easier the closer you are to the basket. With a reliable inside scorer like Greg Monroe, the Pistons will surely make good use of him. Stamina has never been Channing Frye’s strength; before, with Amare Stoudemire holding down the fort inside, he played more easily. But now that Amare Stoudemire has left the Suns, and rookie Robin Lopez is clearly not yet in form, his stamina is already greatly depleted after battling Greg Monroe for half a quarter. Elvin Gentry has also noticed this problem. However, the Suns’ biggest challenge at the moment is defense. In previous games, few teams could compete with the Suns offensively, but the Pistons managed to do so today. Worse still, they lost Amare Stoudemire, their key inside player, this season. The Suns’ scoring methods can be too one-dimensional, while the Pistons have stuck to their own approach, keeping the pace of the game from accelerating. This pace isn’t to the Suns’ liking. Positional play poses a huge test to a team’s defense. The Suns’ usual strategy is to attack instead of defend; they don’t care how many points they lose as long as they score more than their opponent. Chapter 242: Shooting at the Sun After Amare Stoudemire’s departure, most of the core players who fought the defending champions in six games in last season’s Western Conference Finals have changed.

For the upcoming matches this season, Ervin Gentry is also trying to build a completely new lineup. So far, some progress has been made, but the lineup isn’t yet stable. In the first few games, the Suns have used four different starting lineups, and the team has failed to meet his expectations. Fortunately, their opponents so far have been relatively weak, so their record has been acceptable and hasn’t put too much pressure on him.

“Steve, how are you feeling?” Ervin Gentry asked anxiously, watching Steve Nash sweating profusely.

In the previous game, Steve Nash was undoubtedly the best player for the Suns, but he was under considerable pressure. Although Zhou Yi didn’t guard him closely, his defense was highly targeted, blocking off Nash’s best passing routes, which made it even harder for him to play. If Nash’s passing routes were completely blocked, he would indeed be at a loss. However, Zhou Yi’s approach left Nash hesitant, forcing him to choose less optimal passing routes. Thankfully, the Suns’ shooters were in good form, preventing the opponent from widening the score gap. But this wasn’t a sustainable solution—without Nash’s high-level passing, the Suns’ offensive quality would suffer greatly.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Nash realized that although Zhou Yi’s defense was good, it hadn’t put him under much pressure. The reason his passing wasn’t as good lay with his teammates. Used to last season’s lineup, Nash now had to adapt to new teammates after half of the core players had changed. Moreover, Gentry’s constant lineup changes forced him to adapt to new teammates throughout the game. Many excellent passes turned into meaningless attempts due to teammates’ poor positioning, leading to repeated passing mistakes. Nash believed he had the ability to change this, but in the meantime, he needed time to adapt to his new teammates, who also needed time to get used to his passing style.

After comforting Steve Nash a few words, Ervin Johnson instructed him to take more shots. This season, aside from the outstanding performance of several rookies, the Suns have also discovered Steve Nash’s gradually emerging scoring talent. In the more than twenty games already played, Nash has scored the most points for the team three times, with an average of 18.7 points per game—second only to his career high. His shooting percentage is as high as 51.2%, making him one of only three guards in the league so far to exceed 50% from the field. By “guards” here, we mean players who get enough shooting opportunities; the other two are Tony Parker of the Spurs, along with Zhou Yi.

The game resumed, and the Suns’ pace noticeably accelerated. Nash delivered a brilliant pass from the top of the key, assisting Grant Hill in hitting a mid-range shot. A passing mistake by Zhou Yi allowed the Suns to launch another fast break. In just nineteen seconds, the Suns once again demonstrated their astonishing scoring ability. John Kuester ran from the bench to the sidelines, constantly urging Zhou Yi to control the game’s pace.

Zhou Yi was somewhat frustrated by his earlier passing mistake. The Suns’ sudden speed change caught him off guard, leading to that error. But it was only for a moment; he quickly returned to the game. This time, instead of passing, Zhou Yi accelerated and moved to Steve Nash’s right side. His unusual move caught Nash off guard. In fact, Zhou Yi chose to drive straight at Nash because he saw that Nash’s attention had been largely drawn to his teammate’s movement, giving him the chance to attack him directly.

Nash reacted quickly, but against a already moving Zhou Yi, his speed and reflexes were still insufficient. He could only watch as Zhou Yi hit a mid-range shot in front of him. “Steve, I’m not just good at passing!” Zhou Yi said softly as he passed by Nash.

Watching Zhou Yi walk away, Nash smiled slightly. “What an interesting kid.”

He had never underestimated Zhou Yi’s scoring ability. Before the game, the Suns also carefully studied the Pistons’ game footage. They took Zhou Yi, a newly emerging player, very seriously, though they had little information available—most of it focused on his playmaking skills, with little research on his scoring ability. In the previous twenty-some games, Zhou Yi had around thirteen shooting attempts per game, hitting at least seven shots, and all of his attempts came after his teammates created space for him, giving him opportunities to take advantage of openings in the game.

Steve Nash took a shot from the right wing—his shot was extremely sudden. Zhou Yi, who was two steps away, didn’t even have time to react before Nash had already shot.

Zhou Yi gave a bitter smile. There were a few players in the league whose shooting speed was particularly fast; given just a little bit of space, they could complete the entire shooting motion. Among them, the ones who impressed him the most were Ray Allen and Steve Nash.

Accustomed to Steve Nash’s masterful passing, he had overlooked his scoring ability, which allowed Nash to take advantage of that weakness. And seeing Nash smile at him in such a strange way after defending, it was clear it was a response to what had just happened.

Steve Nash’s three-point shot missed, and Grant Hill scored on a putback.

The Pistons attacked, with McGrady assisting Greg Monroe, who scored on a reverse layup.

Immediately afterward, it was the Suns’ turn to attack. Steve Nash orchestrated the offense from the top of the key, making a brilliant pass to Vince Carter, who tried to layup but missed. However, Vince Carter grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on a putback.

On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi passed the ball to McGrady, who then handed it to the big men. After receiving the ball, Greg Monroe forced his way past Channing Frye and scored with a backdoor jump shot.

Grant Hill’s mid-range shot missed, and Greg Monroe snatched the ball from above the Suns’ big men. While everyone’s attention was on the rebound, Zhou Yi had already taken advantage of the situation by moving to the other side of the court. Greg Monroe passed the ball long, and it quickly flew across the court, landing precisely in Zhou Yi’s hands. After catching the ball, Zhou Yi scored with an easy, graceful layup.

The Pistons ended the first quarter leading 38-33, with a 5-point advantage.

The first quarter surprised and delighted John Kuester. The planned half-court offense was only implemented for half of the quarter; after the Suns took a timeout, they accelerated the pace of the game, and the momentum gradually shifted in favor of the Suns. Unfortunately, despite their advantage, the Suns failed to score, while the Pistons used the Suns’ strong fast-break tactics to widen the score gap to two points.

In the first quarter, Greg Monroe hit 6 out of 7 shots, scoring 13 points and adding 5 rebounds. Zhou Yi contributed 6 points and 5 assists. On the Suns’ side, Steve Nash led the team with 10 points and 6 assists.

John Kuester was satisfied with his team’s performance. Although his initial tactical plan was to stick to half-court play, using the opponent’s strengths to defeat them made him even more pleased. The intense back-and-forth action also delighted the home crowd, who valued not only winning records but also exciting games. Just as the Detroit Pistons had strong records but played in a dull manner, and it wasn’t until the year before last that they finally won the championship, the fans still didn’t particularly like the team. That championship game was widely seen as “brutality overcoming elegance.” In the eyes of the fans, the Lakers, with their “Four Kings,” were clearly the favorites to win the title. Although everyone knew that “offense wins games, defense wins championships,” they still felt reluctant when the Pistons actually won the title.