Chapter 76

The third quarter was a battle between the team’s starters, with the Pistons’ core players dominating completely and not giving their opponents any chance. However, the Jazz are a very stable team; even though the Pistons had an extremely high shooting percentage, it didn’t stop them from coordinating well, and their teamwork was excellent. At the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 81:71, with the Pistons only leading by 10 points.

Entering the most critical quarter, McGrady and Samuel Dalembert became extremely aggressive, and with Zhou Yi’s outstanding passing skills as he came on the court, the ball was constantly passed to them. With both players in hot form and Zhou Yi willing to pass, they quickly built a 20-point lead—this was the only time the Pistons managed to stretch their advantage to over 15 points. But the Jazz began to fight back at this point.

Unfortunately, the Pistons’ form was simply too good. Zhou Yi always passed the ball to those who were in hot form. McGrady and Samuel Dalembert kept breaking through the opponent’s defense to create free throws and score points. Although Zhou Yi’s assists weren’t particularly high, they weren’t low either.

With 2 minutes and 51 seconds left, the score was 99:86, with the Pistons leading by 13 points!

“If we don’t show momentum now, we’ll lose!” Watching the Pistons’ offensive push, Jerry Sloan was also thinking about this.

The Pistons were already in high form—everyone was shooting well, moving fast, playing aggressively, and enjoying themselves. That’s what it means to be in a good rhythm. Meanwhile, the Jazz seemed frustrated—was their six-game home winning streak about to end here?

“No, timeout!” Jerry Sloan stood up and asked the referee for a timeout. After Deron Williams brought the ball to the opponent’s half, he called for the timeout. Now, the experienced coach Jerry Sloan needed to make some strategic adjustments.

“Later, if they score, we’ll focus on the inside—our success rate there is higher!” John Kuester instructed Zhou Yi.

“Understood!” Zhou Yi replied, wiping sweat with a towel.

After the timeout, the Jazz took the initiative. The ball was passed to Deron Williams, who, without even looking, threw it straight to the inside, where it landed in the hands of Allen Jefferson. When it comes to league all-stars, Allen Jefferson is definitely one of them.

Although Allen Jefferson has never been selected for an all-star game, his skills are more than enough to earn him that title.

El Jefferson went one-on-one with Greg Monroe under the basket, easily moving him aside without giving him any chance before driving to the hoop and scoring two points with a smooth layup.
In the next possession, the Pistons failed to score, and the Jazz secured a defensive rebound.
Deron Williams took advantage of a screen from his teammate and shot from beyond the three-point line—making the shot.
99:91, the Pistons now led by just 8 points!
Cheers erupted throughout the arena, as if trying to lift off the roof.
At a critical moment, Zhou Yi stepped up.
He took a deep breath and drove fast toward the front court. After half a court, he made a clever pass to Taishan Prince on the perimeter.
Taishan Prince immediately shot a three-pointer, which swished through the net!
The Pistons regained a double-digit lead—11 points!
On the Jazz side, Andre Kirilenko also received a pass from Deron Williams and hit a three-pointer from outside.
Zhou Yi used his speed to get past Deron Williams’s defense. El Jefferson came in to help defend, but in doing so, he left Samuel Dalembert unguarded.
The ball passed between El Jefferson’s legs into Samuel Dalembert’s hands, who jumped and dunked, widening the score gap again.
Next, the Pistons secured a defensive rebound as the Jazz failed to score.
Zhou Yi broke into the paint again, but this time El Jefferson didn’t come out; instead, Paul Millsap defended him. Zhou Yi deflected the ball, which landed in Greg Monroe’s hands behind him.
Greg Monroe didn’t hesitate and shot a mid-range jump shot—making it!
With 23 seconds left in the game and a 12-point lead, it meant the Pistons were all but guaranteed to win!
“Yay!” The entire Pistons team hugged each other excitedly, shouting loudly.
106:94, the Pistons defeated the Jazz on their home court, claiming their 22nd consecutive victory!
This victory was no ordinary win for Zhou Yi and his teammates.
As Zhou Yi slowly ran out the clock, the game came to an end.
The Pistons won their 22nd consecutive game on the Jazz’s home court, tying the record previously held by the Rockets. In the eyes of Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan, there was nothing but helplessness…

DeRon Williams played 42 minutes for the Jazz, hitting 11 of 19 shots to score a game-high 28 points and deliver 12 assists. Al Jefferson, hampered by foul problems, played only 32 minutes but still managed a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Paul Millsap also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrey Kirilenko contributed 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, showing a very versatile performance.

Yet none of this could stop the Pistons’ offensive push. The real heroes of today’s victory were the team’s key players. All five starters scored in double figures. Zhou Yi hit 9 of 17 shots for 23 points and 14 assists, emerging as the best performer of the game. Tracy McGrady scored 27 points, added 5 assists, and 6 rebounds, while Greg Monroe had 18 points and 10 rebounds, also achieving a double-double. Tashaun Prince made 4 of 6 three-point attempts for 19 points, and Samuel Dalembert scored 11 points and 9 rebounds, nearly hitting a double-double.

“You guys can stay up late tonight; training is tomorrow afternoon!” John Kuester said happily to the Pistons players in the locker room after winning the game. It was the perfect reward for those who loved women and nightlife—usually restricted by training the next day, but not today.

“Coach, you’re amazing!” Will Bynum and several players even ran over to hug John Kuester. There was no better news, but Zhou Yi wasn’t interested in joining such a party.

Watching these joyful moments, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but smile.

Chapter 247: Another Battle Against the Lakers

After the game against the Jazz, the Pistons rushed to Los Angeles to face the Lakers led by Kobe Bryant. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, the team checked into the pre-booked hotel to rest. After entering his room, Zhou Yi glanced at the time and saw it was already 3:30 a.m. Lying on the soft, comfortable bed, he smiled and looked up at the ceiling.

“Hehe, 22 consecutive wins—second-longest in NBA history. McGrady has created history again. Hehe…” Zhou Yi thought happily, knowing he had helped McGrady achieve another goal.

“If I can help McGrady win one more ring, his career will be perfect.”

With those thoughts, he drifted off to sleep with a slight smile on his lips.

……

With the end of December’s games, the NBA once again demonstrated its efficiency, delivering a quick summary of the month. The most prestigious awards were undoubtedly the Best Player of the Month in the East and West.

The West’s Best Player of the Month was Kobe Bryant, who averaged 27.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists across 16 games in December, helping the Lakers achieve an impressive 13-3 record. This led them to the top of the Western Conference and second place in the entire league, just behind the Detroit Pistons, the season’s biggest underdog.

The East’s Best Player of the Month went to Zhou Yi of the Detroit Pistons. While everyone expected the Pistons to continue struggling this season, they surprisingly performed very well. As of now, they lead all teams with a stellar 31-3 record, ranking first in the league. They also went undefeated in their 17 December games, maintaining a perfect record for the month—a start only matched by the Bulls in 1996 in NBA history.

As the team’s core, Zhou Yi’s performance was undoubtedly the key to their success. In December’s 17 games, he averaged 22.8 points (first among all rookies and ninth in the league), along with 11.4 assists (first among rookies and second in the league), 5.6 rebounds, and 3.1 steals (first among rookies and first in the league).

His outstanding performance not only earned him the title of East’s Best Player of the Month but also naturally secured him the title of East’s Best Rookie of the Month. In December, Zhou Yi was named East’s Best Rookie of the Week three times, as well as East’s Best Player of the Week twice and received one nomination for Best Player of the Week.

Detroit Pistons’ Tracy McGrady was nominated for East’s Best Player of the Month, while another rookie, Greg Monroe, was nominated for Best Rookie of the Month.

The Best Coach of the Month in the West was Phil Jackson, the “Philosophy Coach” of the Los Angeles Lakers, who outshone other top coaches. In the East, John Kuester of the Detroit Pistons won the title of East’s Best Coach.

The Pistons lost their first matchup with the Lakers this season, and that loss was one of just three defeats for the Pistons. In the blink of an eye, over a month has passed, and both teams have performed exceptionally well. The Lakers are at the top of the Western Conference, while the Pistons lead the Eastern Conference—and overall the league. The Lakers have a record of 28 wins and 6 losses, compared to the Pistons’ 31 wins and 3 losses. The Lakers are three games behind the Pistons, making it a tough task to catch up.

Now, the two teams meet again, with the Pistons determined to avenge their loss. This clash between the conference leaders is bound to be exciting.

Kobe Bryant, the Lakers’ star, has also performed very well this season. Although his scoring isn’t as high as before, his averages of 26.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals are absolutely outstanding. His average scoring ranks fifth in the league, and his 25+5+5 stats are typical of a superstar.

As for the Pistons’ star, it’s undoubtedly Zhou Yi. So far this season, he leads the team in average points (21.6), assists (9.7), and steals (2.7). His average scoring ranks tenth in the league, his assists fourth, and his steals third. Thus, Zhou Yi truly deserves to be the Pistons’ leading player!

The brightly lit Staples Center is already packed to capacity. As long as Kobe Bryant is in Los Angeles, he remains a huge draw for ticket sales.

What’s most enviable about the Lakers’ crowd is the constant stream of Hollywood celebrities, who will surely be present in this highly anticipated game.

The Lakers’ starting five: center Andrew Bynum, power forward Paul Gasol, small forward Ron Artest, shooting guard Kobe Bryant, and point guard Derek Fisher.

Judging from the current Lakers roster, the point guard position is the team’s biggest weakness. Derek Fisher is aging, and Steve Blake isn’t at the level to be the starting point guard. Although Fisher is capable, he’s quite old, and describing him as less agile (compared to Zhou Yi) isn’t an exaggeration. His performance last season was impressive, but this season he’s gradually lost his edge.

It’s not a big problem to have Steve Blake as a reserve, but he probably isn’t good enough to be the starter. Moreover, he just arrived in Los Angeles at the start of the new season, and his chemistry with the team isn’t very good; his performance is much worse than last year. In this game, McGrady wasn’t in the Pistons’ starting lineup. He almost collapsed from dehydration in yesterday’s game, and John Kuester was worried that his past injuries might recur, even considering having him sit out this game. However, McGrady has a strong ability to adjust and was basically back to normal by today. He was in good form during training, but just to be safe, John Kuester ultimately decided to keep him on the bench. The Pistons used a starting lineup that was slightly different from before, with the five starters being center Samuel Dalembert, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Tashawn Prince, shooting guard Ben Gordon, and point guard Zhou Yi. When the Pistons’ starting lineup was revealed, boos filled Staples Center. Lakers fans wanted to see McGrady, one of the key players who could lead the Pistons to impressive results, in the starting lineup, so they naturally felt insulted by the fact that a reserve player was starting instead. Moreover, they wanted to see a matchup between McGrady and Kobe, which made them even angrier. The game started on time. Andrew Bynum’s mediocre jumping ability meant he had little competitive edge in the tip-off. Samuel Dalembert is a very solid blue-collar player, but his performance declined last season due to injuries and lack of playing time. Since joining the Pistons this season, Samuel Dalembert seems to have had a second act and is performing exceptionally well. Using his experience, Samuel Dalembert easily passed the ball to Zhou Yi ahead of Andrew Bynum, allowing the Pistons to initiate the first attack. Derek Fisher was tasked with defending Zhou Yi, but it was indeed difficult for him. With a simple change of direction, Zhou Yi easily left Derek Fisher behind. Although Derek Fisher has strong defensive anticipation skills, his speed disadvantage meant he could only watch helplessly as Zhou Yi rushed into the paint.

The other Lakers players hadn’t had time to react. Two steps inside the three-point line, Zhou Yi quickly took two steps forward and leaped lightly into the air. At that moment, the Lakers’ frontcourt consisted only of Paul Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Seeing Zhou Yi’s arrogance, he completely ignored their presence.

Andrew Bynum jumped high outside the three-second zone, his massive frame blocking Zhou Yi’s path to the basket. With his right hand above his head, he was ready to swat the ball away at any moment, while Paul Gasol also stepped in to serve as an additional barrier under the basket.

“Phil Jackson,” the Lakers’ coach, sat on the sidelines with a relaxed expression. Zhou Yi’s sudden move had indeed worried him a bit, but seeing the two frontcourt players almost completely shut down Zhou Yi’s chances of scoring, Phil Jackson felt relieved.

Seeing the Lakers’ defense in the frontcourt, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but admire them in his heart. The two players coordinated their defense, covering each other’s weaknesses. If Zhou Yi hadn’t been prepared, he might really have been at a loss now.

Given Zhou Yi’s personality, he always played cautiously in matches, as long as he could achieve his goal, he didn’t care about how he performed. After successfully breaking through, he noticed Andrew Bynum quickly moving toward the basket from the baseline.

As their bodies were about to collide, Zhou Yi used the strength in his waist and abdomen to slightly turn his body, avoiding Andrew Bynum. He quickly pressed down with his wrist, sending the ball through Bynum’s armpit and onto the floor.

The rebounded ball landed right in front of Samuel Dalembert, who had already stepped into the three-second zone with his right foot, giving him an ideal position to catch the ball.

At that moment, Paul Gasol’s heel was already off the ground. Seeing Zhou Yi’s pass, he was shocked and quickly stopped moving, trying to cover for it. But that brief delay was enough for Samuel Dalembert to jump high and lift the ball above his head.

Paul Gasol realized what was happening, but he couldn’t adjust his balance in time. His right hand weakly hit Bynum’s right elbow.

“Thud!” Samuel Dalembert dunked the ball heavily into the basket. Gasol’s attempt to recover not only failed but also resulted in a foul call, giving Samuel Dalembert a 2+1 opportunity.

“Swish.” The basketball settled firmly into the basket, causing the net to swing. Samuel Dalembert’s free throw succeeded, turning the 2+1 into a real score!

Chapter 248: The Madness of the Black Mamba

Derek Fisher is the Lakers’ main playmaker, but his role is essentially to safely carry the ball halfway across the court, after which control passes to Kobe. Especially this season, as Kobe has gradually shifted his playing style, Fisher’s role as a playmaker has become increasingly inadequate.

Kobe’s breakthrough ability is top-tier in the league. His exceptional speed, combined with strong physical strength, makes him almost invincible when breaking through defenses. Ben Gordon’s defense poses little challenge to him; leveraging his physical advantages, he easily penetrates the Pistons’ first line of defense.

In the new season, Kobe takes few shots in the first half, focusing instead on passing and defense. It is in the second half that he truly scores heavily—this is the biggest difference between him and last year.

When Kobe breaks through near the free-throw line, he passes the ball to Derek Fisher. Zhou Yi stays close to Fisher; upon receiving the ball, Fisher not only has no chance to shoot but almost has it stolen by Zhou Yi.

The ball returns to Kobe, but by then he no longer has a chance to shoot, as Teyshawn Prince has already appeared in front of him. Under Prince’s defense, Kobe can’t help but frown. In offensive-defense situations, the attacking team has the advantage, with many options available, while the defending team must hold its line tightly—any slight lapse could lead to an opponent breaking through.

The ball is sent back to the outside, but the offensive clock has already reached 21 seconds. After catching the ball, Ron Artest doesn’t even have time to adjust his stance before hastily attempting a three-point shot, resulting in a miss.

Samuel Dalembert grabs the defensive rebound and quickly passes it to Zhou Yi.

Derek Fisher is completely unable to stop Zhou Yi’s breakthrough, as Zhou Yi easily makes it past the three-point line. But this time, Kobe has noticed what’s happening. The moment Zhou Yi moves, he abandons Ben Gordon to cover Fisher’s gap, with other players filling in for his position.

However, he underestimates Zhou Yi’s passing ability. Before he can successfully cover, Zhou Yi quickly passes the ball—smooth, steady, and at high speed. Before the Lakers’ players can react, Ben Gordon quickly adjusts his grip on the ball and easily jumps from beyond the three-point line to shoot.

“Swish”—the ball cleanly drops into the basket!

Since his return, Ben Gordon has been performing better and with more confidence. His shooting from beyond the three-point line has been particularly outstanding, showing clear potential to become one of the league’s top shooters. Fortunately for him, he has two excellent teammates who draw most of the opposing players’ attention, giving him more opportunities to shoot.

On the Lakers’ side, Kobe took on Ben Gordon and scored the first two points for the Lakers with a beautiful backdoor jump shot. Kobe’s backdoor jump shot is almost impossible to defend against. It sent the entire crowd into excitement, and they even started chanting “MVP” for him.

“Swish!” Zhou Yi stepped back quickly, creating distance from Derek Fisher, and easily scored by shooting over his head. This was purely thanks to his physical abilities—his speed gave him a significant advantage in offense.

“Clang!” Ron Artest’s jump shot missed, and Andrew Bynum secured the offensive rebound, then passed the ball to Kobe on the perimeter. Kobe drove with the ball and passed it to Paul Gasol under the basket. Paul Gasol took on Greg Monroe and tried a turnaround hook shot, but it also missed, with Tashawn Prince grabbing the defensive rebound.

The teams switched sides, and it was the Pistons’ turn to attack. Zhou Yi drove with the ball and passed it to Tashawn Prince at the baseline. Tashawn attempted a layup but was disrupted by Andrew Bynum, failing to score, while Paul Gasol got the defensive rebound.

“Swish!” Kobe scored from mid-range. With his teammates failing to make shots in a row, Kobe decided to take matters into his own hands. However, the shot was barely successful—Ben Gordon’s close defense made his shot less smooth.

The teams switched sides again, and the ball went to the Pistons. Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball across half-court. Then, to everyone’s surprise, near the midcourt, Zhou Yi jumped high and shot the ball swiftly from his fingertips.

John Kuester was completely puzzled. In the previous two possessions, Zhou Yi had performed excellently, delivering the ball to the perfect spot at the right time. But such an unexpected shot—no one knew what he was thinking. Even if he wanted to show off his long-range shooting skills, it was still an outrageous attempt!

Still, John Kuester chose to trust Zhou Yi, believing he would never do something unprepared.

The Lakers players also watched the basketball in the air, but to their relief, it began to drop near the free-throw line. Under these circumstances, it seemed unlikely the ball could reach the basket—a typical airball. As the Lakers players relaxed, a dark figure swiftly leaped up from the Pistons’ front line. The bright “10” on the back of his jersey revealed his identity. At the peak of his jump, Greg Monroe paused mid-air, quickly turning his body 180 degrees to face the basket. With a smooth motion, Greg Monroe caught the basketball firmly and placed it at his waist. With a roar, he released the breath he had held, his stiff body instantly relaxing as he threw the ball backward over his head. With a loud thud, the thunderous dunk echoed throughout Staples Center, the entire basket shaking violently, and Greg Monroe’s body bouncing accordingly. The entire arena fell silent; no one expected the Pistons to deliver such a stunning alley-oop dunk right from the start, and even more surprisingly, both players who completed this amazing play were rookies. Seeing such fierce competition, the home crowd hoped their team would come up with even more exciting attacks. But they were disappointed. As the basket rejected another shot by the home team, some unexpected boos arose from the crowd—boos directed at their own team. It was rare to see such blunt boos, especially from the Lakers, who were known for their high-quality fans. Although the boos weren’t loud or numerous, anyone who wasn’t deaf could hear them. With his experience as “Phil Jackson,” the coach’s expression immediately changed. No matter how the game went, having booing in the home arena would undoubtedly make headlines in the media the next day; the team’s embarrassment was now certain. Watching his teammates waste chances over and over, with the first quarter almost halfway done, the visiting Pistons led 16:9. Especially after the unexpected boos from the crowd, the confident Kobe resolved to defeat his opponents in his own way. Kobe stepped back with his right foot, leaving only the figure of number 24 in front of Ben Gordon, his target now out of sight.

Greg Monroe’s slow pace gave Kobe enough time to decide on a jump shot. Yet his driving posture remained unchanged; as their bodies were about to collide, Kobe shifted slightly to the side, perfectly avoiding Monroe’s defense, by which time the Pistons’ paint was already empty.
“Ah…” With a roar, Kobe soared like an eagle in flight, rising high before over 20,000 Lakers fans, his powerful right hand lifting the basketball high above his head.
“Bang!” The deafening dunk sent Staples Center into chaos.
In an instant, the arena turned into a sea of joy. Faced with such a remarkable performance, all differences seemed to vanish. Number 24 once again became the hero of Angel City, as fans shouted his name at the top of their voices.
After facing boos from the home crowd just a few seconds earlier, Kobe completely changed the atmosphere with an astonishing dunk. At that point, the Lakers’ momentum clearly overwhelmed their opponents.
The Pistons failed to score, and Kobe grabbed a defensive rebound, driving fast down the court. He jumped forcefully from outside the three-second zone, charging straight at Samuel Dalembert’s defense. His exceptional air control made his movements look effortless—he simply shifted slightly to avoid his opponent’s defense, then flicked his wrist as the ball dropped through the net in the opposite direction.
Zhou Yi drove with the ball and passed it neatly to Greg Monroe in the high post. Monroe took a shot right away, thinking it would go in easily, but unexpectedly, the ball spun a few times inside the rim before bouncing out, with Paul Gasol grabbing the defensive rebound.
Kobe’s precise 30-degree three-pointer from the right wing finally tied the score for the Lakers.
It had only been two minutes since the Lakers fans started booing. During those two minutes, Kobe seemed possessed by God, turning into an unstoppable scoring machine—scoring 7 points alone, delivering a 7-0 run against the Pistons to tie the game.
Seeing this, John Kuester quickly called a timeout.
Chapter 249: McGrady Enters the Scene
After the timeout, the Pistons’ Ben Gordon was replaced by McGrady, and Tashawn Prince was replaced by James Posey. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ “Old Fish” Derek Fisher was replaced by Stephen Blake, and Andrew Bynum was replaced by Lamar Odom.

Zhou Yi controlled the ball and organized the attack, passing behind him to McGrady. McGrady took a mid-range jump shot, and the ball hit the backboard and went in.
“Swish,” Kobe scored another mid-range jump shot.
With a series of adjustments by John Kuester, the Pistons’ players became more motivated.
What makes a core player? A core player is someone who steps forward at critical moments when the team is in trouble, using their actions to help the team and inspire their teammates. This is the awareness that all core players should possess, and it’s also a manifestation of what fans call leadership.
Players who can’t step up in critical moments are considered completely unfit as leaders in the eyes of fans, though the standards for such leadership are somewhat vague. Clearly, this kind of quality needs to be proven over time. With their many instances of saving the team in dire situations, McGrady and Zhou Yi have clearly been elevated to this position. There’s no doubt about this—when the team needs points the most, over 90% of the Pistons’ possessions go to McGrady and Zhou Yi, with the other players desperately creating opportunities for them.
McGrady took on Kobe one-on-one at the baseline, spun around, left Kobe behind, and then delivered a thunderous dunk.
“Tracy, you’re in good form, huh?” Kobe seemed excited by McGrady’s performance.
“Hehe, I feel pretty good!” McGrady replied with a smile.
Steve Blake held the ball at the top of the key and then passed it to Paul Gasol inside. With Greg Monroe behind him, Paul Gasol hit a small hook shot that went through the net.
“Phew, finally!” Paul Gasol sighed in relief—he had finally scored a point after this long time.
With dreamlike footwork and lightning-fast feints, in just 5 seconds, Steve Blake felt utterly overwhelmed. He couldn’t figure out his intentions and was terrified. Against such an opponent, he naturally couldn’t stop Zhou Yi’s breakthrough—Zhou Yi easily left him behind by accelerating.
Kobe was blocked by McGrady on the left, providing just the right obstruction for Zhou Yi to complete an attack.
The ball flew out smoothly from Zhou Yi’s fingers. Kobe helplessly closed his eyes—Zhou Yi’s consistent shooting even impressed him. Based on his stats, Zhou Yi clearly couldn’t be ranked among the league’s top scorers, but his steady shooting and willingness to take risks at critical moments made everyone recognize his scoring ability.

In their last encounter, Kobe became acutely aware of this. Zhou Yi’s scoring methods were simple—he relied mainly on seizing opportunities; if none arose, he wouldn’t force a shot unless necessary. Consistent shooting was his true strength.

Kobe received the ball at the three-point line, taking a small step back with his left foot to adjust his balance. But before he could complete the move, McGrady seemed to have anticipated it, minimizing the space for him to turn. With his left foot unsteady, Kobe quickly used his right foot as an axis and spun 90 degrees in place. These rapid movements left him exhausted, preventing any successful breakthrough.

The crisis wasn’t over yet—Kobe had no chance to pass. Zhou Yi’s ghostly right hand gently knocked the basketball out of his grasp. By then, the Lakers’ players couldn’t reach him in time. Zhou Yi had already taken control, executing a graceful layup that was as picturesque as a painting. It stood in stark contrast to Kobe’s earlier thrilling performance, yet it was equally entertaining.

The Lakers’ point guard position had always been a concern for Phil Jackson. Derek Fisher was aging, and Steve Blake’s performance fell short of expectations. Steve Blake received the ball from Lamar Odom and carefully drove it across half-court. But Zhou Yi’s elusive presence shocked him. For a player, skill wasn’t the most important thing—overcoming fear in games was crucial first.

For most players, playing time was hard to guarantee. To earn their coach’s trust, they had to showcase their abilities within limited playing time. Excessive nervousness, however, backfired, leading to unnecessary mistakes. The only thought in his mind was to pass hastily. The gap between them made him feel insecure even before they clashed—lacking aggression in offense and failing to control the pass force, which barely touched Kobe’s fingertips.

The ball went out of bounds after touching his fingertips. Kobe’s expression darkened immediately. It wasn’t his fault, but technically, the mistake was recorded against him. Zhou Yi took control of the offense, using a crossover to shake off Steve Blake. Kobe immediately rushed to cover him. Zhou Yi smirked, flicked the ball, and it landed in McGrady’s hands.

McGrady shot from beyond the three-point line—*swish*—and the ball went through the net!

“Swish.” After breaking past McGrady, Kobe rushed straight to the basket. Samuel Dalembert’s defense posed no challenge to Kobe, who easily drove to the hoop and scored. McGrady faced Kobe again, backed up to him, and scored 2 points with a backdoor jump shot. Near the midcourt, McGrady launched a surprise attack from behind and managed to steal the ball from Steve Blake. He then drove fast, and under the watchful eyes of the Lakers players, he smoothly shot from beyond the three-point line. McGrady’s burst of energy sparked a counterattack for the Pistons. Ron Artest cut through the middle; after shaking off his defenders, Steve Blake’s pass miraculously ended up in his hands. Facing an empty basket, he chose the most conservative scoring method—layup—and scored. The thunderous cheers in Staples Center almost completely drowned out Kobe’s shooting movements. After a brilliant steal, McGrady chose to force his way through Kobe’s defense. His excellent physical condition and significantly taller stature among guards made him prefer to overpower opposing guards in attacks. Without fancy skills, his sheer determination made his drives extremely threatening—even against a player like Kobe. With his agile breakthroughs, his opponent had no choice but to back away. Yet despite breaking through, McGrady lost control of the ball to Kobe. Zhou Yi was a step too late; by the time he reached beyond the three-point line, Kobe had already leaped high, gently lifting the ball above his head and swishing it with a slight wrist motion. “Swish.” The crisp sound of the net finally brought a smile to Kobe’s face, especially when he saw Zhou Yi’s helpless expression. He was a player with an extremely strong sense of pride, one who grew stronger when faced with challenges. In his world, only the strong deserved respect.

Phil Jackson never assigned Kobe to specialize in guarding Zhou Yi. Given Zhou Yi’s skills, only Kobe among the Lakers could potentially contain him. In the head coach’s tactical philosophy, it was unlikely he would let the two teams’ ace players face off and drain each other’s stamina and fighting spirit—something the Lakers simply couldn’t afford at the moment. Yet even so, Kobe’s days weren’t easy either; McGrady’s tenacious defense gradually wore down his strength. The Pistons made substitutions—Will Bynum replaced Zhou Yi, Taylor Hansbrough replaced Samuel Dalembert, and Charlie Villanueva replaced Greg Monroe.

The Lakers also made adjustments to their lineup—Kobe was replaced by Shannon Brown, Ron Artest by Matt Barnes, and Paul Gasol as well.

“Swish”—a quick stop-and-shoot. McGrady looked relieved as he landed. He hadn’t held much hope for that shot, even though his timing was so sudden. Still, Shannon Brown tried to interfere as he shot. To avoid his fierce blocking, McGrady angled his shot slightly higher.

He was secretly thrilled—his form was excellent today, and it seemed fate was on his side, allowing him to make such a difficult shot. After all, he felt in great shape that day.

The Lakers attacked. Shannon Brown’s three-point attempt missed, and James Posey secured the defensive rebound.

The basketball bounced joyfully between McGrady’s fingers. On the timer behind him, the seconds had reached nine—this was the last offensive chance before the end of the first quarter.

McGrady’s expression showed no emotion. His head was lowered, with only his eyes slightly raised. Just a step ahead of him, Shannon Brown was already ready, sweating profusely. At that moment, he didn’t even dare wipe the sweat from his eyelashes.

Zhou Yi was taken off the court, meaning McGrady would likely handle the Pistons’ final attack.

When McGrady moved suddenly, Shannon Brown didn’t even react. His failure to defend marked the collapse of the Lakers’ defense. The three-step distance became an insurmountable gap. Without Kobe’s speed that captivated fans, Shannon Brown could only watch as McGrady rushed into the paint, his body soaring like an eagle in flight.

“Bang”—McGrady completed the Pistons’ final attack with a thunderous dunk.

With the whistle blowing, the first quarter officially came to an end.

The Pistons took a 4-point lead over the Lakers, 29:25, thanks to the outstanding performances of Zhou Yi and McGrady. Soon, the second quarter began. Steve Blake carefully drove the ball across half-court, but this time he didn’t habitually pass it to Kobe. Instead, he accelerated and easily slipped past Will Bynum before shooting a mid-range shot that sank smoothly into the basket. Will Bynum helplessly spread his hands—he was primarily responsible for that shot. His habitual mindset made him too careless in defense. Even though defense wasn’t his strength, there was no reason to let the opponent break through so easily, especially when it was just a player like Steve Blake. Will Bynum drove across half-court, and Steve Blake quickly closed in, blocking his path. Such aggressive defense from Steve Blake was a first in this game. While attitude is crucial in defense, wisdom is equally important. A player with only strength but no intelligence can never become a successful defender. With a convincing fake move, Will Bynum easily disrupted Steve Blake’s balance; his right foot, which had stepped forward, quickly retreated. Just such a simple fake move made Steve Blake lose his footing, leaving him unable to stop Will Bynum from slipping past him effortlessly, with a gentle breeze brushing against his cheeks. After breaking through, he passed the ball, and McGrady at the right baseline lightly jumped, guiding the ball smoothly through his hands as he shot a textbook-style three-pointer that went through the net. On the Lakers’ side, Lamar Odom’s layup also succeeded. McGrady moved around, constantly challenging his opponent, and finally, taking advantage of Shannon Brown’s unsteady footing, he made a surprise countermove to create an opportunity to shoot. At that moment, the ball was in Will Bynum’s hands. By then, the Lakers’ defense had been disrupted by McGrady. He just needed to pass the ball to Kobe to get a clear shot for a three-pointer. Faced with McGrady’s eager gaze and his right hand reaching forward to take the ball, Will Bynum quickly passed it to McGrady. McGrady shot a three-pointer right away—“swish!”—and the ball went through the net! Shannon Brown had the ball at the top of the key but hesitated suddenly. That brief hesitation can be fatal for some players, and seizing opportunities has always been McGrady’s strongest skill. With a quick move, McGrady stole Shannon Brown’s ball.

After stealing the ball from Shannon Brown, McGrady drove fast with the ball and ended the single fast break with an inspiring dunk. The thud of the dunk energized all the Pistons players. Ever since McGrady entered the game, the Pistons’ momentum soared quickly. Every basket he scored was incredibly inspiring. In no time, McGrady had already scored 14 points—6 out of 7 attempts—showing the home crowd that the all-powerful McGrady, the one who could score effortlessly, was back, the same McGrady who used to compete with Kobe. Under McGrady’s leadership, the Pistons launched a furious 12-2 run, pushing the score to 41-31, giving them a 10-point lead. Seeing this, the Lakers’ head coach, Phil Jackson, immediately called a timeout. Chapter 250: Zhou Yi vs. Kobe. After the timeout, the Pistons made further adjustments—Zhou Yi replaced Will Bynum, and Tashawn Prince replaced James Posey. On the Lakers’ side, Kobe came in to replace Shannon Brown, Paul Gasol also entered to replace Derek Carrickot, and Andrew Bynum replaced the veteran Joe Smith. The game resumed with the Lakers’ offense. Matt Barnes took a free throw at the sideline; Derek Fisher took the ball from him and slowly moved forward. After half a court, Derek Fisher passed the ball to Kobe. As soon as Kobe received the ball, McGrady closed in on him. Kobe vs. McGrady—every fan’s attention was instantly drawn to them. So far in the game, the best players from both teams were undoubtedly Kobe and McGrady. Before entering the game, Kobe had scored 15 points on 6 out of 10 attempts; while McGrady, despite playing less than eight minutes, had already scored 14 points on 6 out of 7 attempts. This clearly showed that this game was a showdown between McGrady and Kobe at their peak! Although McGrady hadn’t reached his former peak form, his current skills were enough to place him among the superstar players. So far this season, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Though he hadn’t yet reached the 20+5+5 level, if he could maintain this performance, he would definitely achieve it by the end of the season. Kobe tried to beat McGrady with a step-back jump shot, but due to McGrady’s intense interference, the shot missed, and Charlie Villanueva secured the defensive rebound.

The Lakers’ players hadn’t fully defended yet, and Zhou Yi’s pass had already crossed most of the court. The ball landed firmly in Tyus Prince’s hands, who scored easily with a two-handed dunk, adding 2 more points.

Derek Fisher drove past half-court and passed the ball to Kobe. Kobe drove forward, broke free from McGrady’s defense, and penetrated into the Pistons’ paint. Facing Charlie Villanueva’s help defense, Kobe completed the attack with a pull-up dunk.

Zhou Yi’s outside shot missed, and Andrew Bynum easily grabbed the rebound. On the Lakers’ side, Matt Barnes drove in after receiving a pass from Kobe but also missed, with Zhou Yi securing the defensive rebound.

The Pistons moved fast. Before the Lakers’ players could defend, Zhou Yi and McGrady executed a simple two-on-one maneuver, with McGrady putting the ball in the basket. McGrady was responsible for guarding Kobe, while Zhou Yi assisted. John Kuester’s strategy was simple: use Zhou Yi and McGrady to guard Kobe tightly and restrict his shooting opportunities.

As soon as Kobe received the ball, McGrady appeared in front of him, and Zhou Yi was also watching Kobe’s movements. Kobe spun past McGrady, and as he rushed toward the basket, Zhou Yi appeared in front of him. Instead of being surprised, Kobe simply smiled.

Seeing Kobe’s smile, Zhou Yi was shocked, feeling a sense of danger. Sure enough, when Kobe saw Zhou Yi coming to help defend, he quickly passed the ball to Derek Fisher outside the three-point line.

“Tracy, watch out for Derek Fisher!” Zhou Yi shouted.

But by the time McGrady reacted, it was too late. After catching the ball, Derek Fisher didn’t hesitate and immediately took a three-point shot. With a swish, the ball went through the net!

It was the Pistons’ turn to attack. Zhou Yi made a clever pass to Charlie Villanueva, who was positioned just outside the three-point line. Paul Gasol, who was guarding Villanueva, hadn’t yet followed up. So, after catching the ball, Villanueva shot a three-pointer. With another swish, it also went in!

Derek Fisher drove past half-court. This time, he didn’t pass the ball to Kobe but chose to drive himself. But the moment he started moving, his hand suddenly felt lighter, and a figure flashed past him from his right, moving like lightning.

Due to inertia, Derek Fisher still took two steps forward. By the time he stopped, Zhou Yi had already crossed half-court.

Rushing to the deserted Lakers basket, Zhou Yi scored 2 points with an easy layup. This time, after halftime, Derek Fisher honestly handed the ball over to Kobe. Outside the three-point line, Kobe drove with the ball, suddenly stepped back beyond the line, and then shot a three-pointer. McGrady tried his best to defend but still failed to block Kobe’s shot. Fortunately, Kobe’s three-pointer missed. However, Andrew Bynum grabbed the offensive rebound. Bynum attempted a follow-through layup but also missed. Paul Gasol jumped for a follow-through layup, still missing, before the Pistons’ Taylor Hansbrough finally secured the defensive rebound. Zhou Yi and McGrady coordinated, with the latter cutting to the basket from the middle to receive a pass from Zhou Yi and score a layup. On the Lakers’ side, Paul Gasol’s mid-range jump shot missed, and Andrew Bynum was called for a rebound foul while trying to grab a rebound. After a timeout, just over three minutes into the game, the Lakers took eight shots but scored only 2 points, with one turnover and one foul. In contrast, the Pistons scored from multiple players—except for Taylor Hansbrough, all four others scored. As the Lakers’ offense failed once again, “Phil Jackson” had no choice but to call a timeout. The Lakers’ offense had been problematic lately, and more importantly, their defense was too slow, allowing the Pistons to score on fast breaks repeatedly. After the timeout, John Kuester replaced Charlie Villanueva with Greg Monroe, Ben Gordon replaced McGrady, and Samuel Dalembert replaced Taylor Hansbrough. On the Lakers’ side, Ron Artest replaced Matt Barnes. For players like Kobe, though they are loved by fans for their outstanding scoring ability, their playmaking skills cannot be overlooked. It is precisely their strong offensive power that often leaves opposing players at a loss when defending them. Kobe drove and passed to Ron Artest, who hit a three-pointer. Before he could rest satisfied, the Pistons passed the ball again. Taking advantage of the opponent’s confusion, Zhou Yi quickly reached their half-court and scored a three-step layup, catching the Lakers off guard. Ron Artest made up for it by helping Kobe block Ben Gordon, allowing Kobe to seize an opportunity on the right wing and score a three-pointer.

Zhou Yi broke through Derek Fisher twice in a row, entering the Lakers’ paint, and scored after forcing a shot as Paul Gasol stepped in to help defend. On the Lakers’ side, Kobe provided another assist this time to Paul Gasol, who caught the pass, turned, and dunked with both hands. Zhou Yi passed behind him to Teyshawn Prince, who hit a three-pointer from the baseline. “Phil Jackson” marveled inwardly at this scene—unexpected that the Pistons could be so lucky, landing such an outstanding point guard with just one draft pick. Zhou Yi’s passes always came at the right time and to the right place; the Lakers were exactly lacking such a guard. Kobe took a shot from outside the right-wing three-point line using Derek Fisher as a screen. After spinning a few times around the rim, the ball actually went in. On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi broke through Derek Fisher, drove to the baseline, and shot—missing—while Paul Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound. “Swish”—again, Kobe! From the same spot and under the same circumstances, he hit another three-pointer. John Kuester didn’t pay much attention to Kobe’s consecutive three-pointers. Kobe was strong; among active players, he was undoubtedly one of the best. But his individual abilities were ultimately limited. The current Pistons, both defensively and offensively, were no match for the Lakers, who hadn’t yet fully unleashed their potential. With the help of two Pistons players guarding from outside, such opportunities were hard to come by, and even if they did, they couldn’t change the course of the game. Compared to John Kuester’s calmness, the Pistons’ players on the court weren’t as composed. Momentum was a key factor in determining victory or defeat. Anyone who could play in the NBA had some skills; it came down to performance on the court. A team with strong momentum could greatly influence its players’ performance. Kobe’s consecutive three-pointers undoubtedly boosted the Lakers’ momentum. Zhou Yi also admired Kobe greatly—when the team’s defense relaxed slightly, he seized the opportunity to narrow the score gap between the two teams; he truly was one of the best scorers in the league. Zhou Yi drove and passed, and Ben Gordon caught and shot. With another “swish,” Ben Gordon’s jump shot also went in. With nearly two minutes left in the first half, the Lakers made a substitution, bringing in Steve Blake to replace Derek Fisher.

Kobe tried another three-point shot from beyond the arc, but wasn’t as lucky this time. The ball bounced off the rim, and Zhou Yi picked up a loose ball on the floor. Seeing that the Lakers’ players were mostly back on defense and in position, Zhou Yi didn’t rush down either; instead, he slowly drove the ball forward. After settling his rhythm, he passed the ball to Teyon Prince. Teyon Prince broke through at the baseline and attempted a shot, only to be blocked by Ron Artest, but he managed to grab the offensive rebound. Teyon Prince passed the ball sideways to the ground, where it quickly bounced into Greg Monroe’s hands. Using his strong physique, Greg Monroe kept pressing against Paul Gasol. Suddenly, after pushing Paul Gasol hard, Greg Monroe took a step-back jump shot that went in. Switch of possession! Andrew Bynum received a pass from Steve Blake and was fouled by Samuel Dalembert while shooting. Andrew Bynum took free throws, missing the first but making the second. Zhou Yi drove with the ball, and Steve Blake was called for a defensive foul when he tried to steal it. Zhou Yi took the ball from Teyon Prince at the sideline and immediately passed it to Ben Gordon. Ben Gordon shot as soon as he got the ball, but missed this time; Samuel Dalembert grabbed the offensive rebound and handed it back to Zhou Yi. Moving around the top of the key with the ball, Zhou Yi carefully looked for an opportunity. Suddenly, he accelerated sharply, pulling ahead of Steve Blake, then took a jump shot that hit the backboard and went in. Kobe took control of the ball, dodged Ben Gordon, and shot from mid-range. Although the shot was a bit unsteady, it still went in. Zhou Yi drove across half-court and then passed the ball to Teyon Prince. As soon as Teyon Prince received the ball, Ron Artest quickly closed in. Teyon Prince passed the ball to Greg Monroe inside, then quickly ran to the other side. At that moment, Greg Monroe passed the ball back to Teyon Prince. Teyon Prince adjusted slightly and then attempted a three-point shot. “Clang,” the ball hit the rim and bounced back quickly. Just as everyone thought it was a miss, the ball fell from a high altitude, landing right in the center of the hoop—swish! Zhou Yi went over and high-fived Teyon Prince, saying with a smile, “What good luck!” Teyon Prince replied excitedly, “Yeah! I didn’t expect to be this lucky today. Is today my lucky day? Haha…”

The first half of the game officially entered its final seconds. Kobe broke through and passed the ball to Ron Artest. The latter shot from beyond the three-point line and made it—his shot was a true clean shot. Zhou Yi responded to the Lakers’ offense with a layup. After halftime, Steve Blake handed the ball to Kobe. Kobe penetrated into the Pistons’ paint and then passed the ball to Steve Blake on the outside. Blake also shot a three-point shot, which went in as well. After taking a timeout, Kobe became a master passer, continuously creating opportunities for his teammates; in no time, he had already delivered 6 assists in the first half. Under Kobe’s leadership, the Lakers gradually closed the score gap. The score was now 56:51, with the Pistons only leading by 7 points. Zhou Yi drove with the ball, breaking free from Steve Blake’s defense and reaching beyond the other side’s three-point line. He then shot a three-point attempt. The shot felt great, and Zhou Yi was confident it would go in. Sure enough, it did go in—a clean shot. Only 14.3 seconds remained in the first half. Steve Blake dribbled past the halfway line and passed the ball directly to Kobe. But just as he passed it, a figure darted past him and intercepted the ball. After stealing the ball, Zhou Yi quickly drove toward the Lakers’ half of the court. To waste time, he kept charging toward the Lakers’ basket and then completed a three-step layup, scoring. Yet Zhou Yi still left the Lakers with 5.4 seconds to attack, but they failed to make use of that time. With Kobe’s mid-range shot missing, the first half officially ended, with the Pistons taking a double-digit lead of 61:51. Chapter 251: The Turbulent Second Half John Kuster was in high spirits. Being able to push the opponent to this extent at the Lakers’ home court gave him plenty of reason to be proud. After all, just over a month earlier, the Pistons had suffered a crushing defeat at the Lakers’ hands. In just over a month, the Pistons had become stronger and more mature.

In the first half, three players for the Pistons scored in double figures. Zhou Yi played for 14 minutes and 10 seconds, hitting 10 out of 12 shots to score 21 points, along with an impressive 10 assists, delivering a 20+10 performance with such a high shooting percentage that the home crowd was thrilled; McGrady scored 10 points in 11 minutes, hitting 8 out of 9 shots for 18 points, his efficiency also astonishing; Tashaun Prince also scored 10 points.

On the Lakers’ side, Kobe scored 25 points by hitting 10 out of 22 shots, including 4 out of 7 three-point attempts, plus 1 assist. In other words, at least 37 of the Lakers’ 51 points were directly attributed to Kobe. Kobe’s strength is truly terrifying!

When the Pistons switched to a zone defense against Kobe, the game returned under their control. The commentators for the match were Kenny Smith and Reggie Miller. Their insightful analysis helped fans in the arena and those watching on TV better understand the progress of the game.

As the first half ended, Kenny Smith glanced at the stats sheet, cleared his throat, and said, “This season, Kobe’s improvement is evident to all. Under his leadership, the Lakers have achieved outstanding results. So far this season, they have a record of 28 wins and 6 losses, better than their 34-10 record from last season. The Pistons, after a poor season, were lucky to acquire an excellent point guard during the off-season. In their 34 games so far, his outstanding performance has helped the Pistons achieve the best record in the league at 31 wins and 3 losses. In those 34 games, Zhou Yi averaged 21.6 points, 9.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.7 steals—clearly an All-Star-level performance. The two teams met at the Pistons’ home court in November. Back then, the Pistons weren’t in top form and suffered their third loss of the season. Since then, the Pistons have not lost another game. However, more than a month later, the two teams met again at the Lakers’ home court, and it seemed they had switched roles. Under the Pistons’ zone defense on the perimeter, Kobe hit 10 out of 22 shots in the first half, scoring the highest 25 points of the game. Yet still, the Lakers trailed the Pistons by 10 points, 51-61.”

The halftime break ended quickly, and the second half began!

At the start of the second half, “Phil Jackson” made adjustments to the starting lineup based on the first half’s performance, taking out Kobe, who was struggling offensively. As the team’s top scorer, Kobe had already racked up 25 points in the first half, which was quite impressive. However, his excessive attempts to shoot prevented other players from playing freely, and he committed three turnovers in that half, leaving Jackson dissatisfied with his performance. Shannon Brown, a player with exceptional physical abilities, took Kobe’s place on the court. Kobe’s departure wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Lakers; on the contrary, it had a positive effect, giving other players more opportunities and increasing their enthusiasm for the game. For a team, the worst thing is to have players lacking passion and a sense of honor in playing, and that was exactly the case for the Lakers in the first half. With Kobe taking up two-fifths of the shooting attempts, the other players struggled to find their rhythm in offense. In the first two minutes of the third quarter, the Lakers scored a 7-2 run thanks to aggressive movement and quick passing. The Pistons’ relaxed vigilance was key to the turnaround. The opponents, who had been sluggish in the first half, changed their approach in the second half, speeding up the pace of the game—even without their star player, Kobe. The Pistons called a short timeout, but John Kuester wasn’t worried about the sudden shift in game pace. The Pistons could handle both fast breaks and half-court plays, and they were better suited for fast-paced games. Zhou Yi’s astonishing speed allowed him to complete an attack before the opponents could react. Derek Fisher wasn’t known for his speed, and Steve Blake was fast, but he paled in comparison to Zhou Yi. In the following minutes, Zhou Yi repeatedly broke through the defense of the two players, scoring either himself or passing to open teammates, delivering a 12-5 run for the Pistons. The score now stood at 75-63, with the Pistons extending their lead to 12 points. With 6 minutes and 43 seconds left in the third quarter, the Lakers called another timeout.

Kobe was resting on the bench, leaving the Lakers without their best scorer. Although Kobe was off form today, his presence on the court at least drew two defenders away from the rest of the team. After he left, the Lakers’ offense became more organized, but they weren’t as good as the Pistons at maintaining a fast-paced attack, with continuous passing mistakes leading to wasted opportunities.

When Kobe returned to the court, he immediately made an impact. Though his shot from beyond the three-point line missed, it forced a defensive foul on McGrady, resulting in two free throws that he made.

On the Pistons’ offense, Zhou Yi broke through and passed to Tashawn Prince, who tried a jump shot at the baseline but missed, allowing the Lakers to secure a defensive rebound. Derek Fisher’s three-point attempt missed, and Greg Monroe grabbed the rebound, passing it to Zhou Yi ahead.

Zhou Yi slowed down the pace, drove the ball across half-court, then moved around the arc. He stopped, held the ball with both hands, and lofted it into the paint. Samuel Dalembert faced off against Andrew Bynum, drove the ball a couple of times, then passed it back to Zhou Yi, who was open.

With no one guarding him, Zhou Yi glanced at the three-point line, took a deep breath, and released the ball, which sailed through the air and into the basket. His expression was calm and relaxed—his mindset during the game was truly excellent; such open shots rarely missed.

McGrady and Kobe faced each other again, and Kobe had to be careful dealing with McGrady’s defense. His underestimation in the first half led to him scoring continuously, amassing 18 points in no time. Though he didn’t want to admit it, if he hadn’t given it his all, he would have only brought trouble upon himself.

The ball bounced rapidly between his palms as Kobe’s body moved constantly, always trying to avoid being guarded. As time passed and his attempts to break through failed, it seemed he wasn’t prepared to pass the ball. Steve Blake had no choice but to step in and provide coverage—after all, he was the leader of the team!

After circling around Steve Blake, Kobe quickly brought the ball close to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw McGrady trapped about ten feet away, feeling an indescribable sense of joy—perhaps this was the satisfaction that comes from hard work.

Although an opportunity arose, Kobe didn’t choose a jump shot but went for a dunk. Now, the Lakers’ morale is low; with their current form, it’s already a blessing if the score gap doesn’t widen. To boost the players’ morale, nothing works better than three-point shots and dunks, with dunks being the most effective. For fans, a stunning dunk is the highlight of a game, and those top 10 plays selected after matches are mostly dunks.

Kobe rushed to the basket, drove past Greg Monroe, and dunked the ball with one hand, even causing Monroe to commit a defensive foul. “Kobe, Kobe, MVP, MVP…” The entire crowd erupted, shouting Kobe’s name at the top of their voices. Kobe calmly made the free throw, turning a 2+1 into a three points!

The Pistons attacked. Teyshawn Prince’s mid-range jump shot missed, and Paul Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound. Steve Blake drove with the ball, pushing Zhou Yi back by half a body length. Delighted, Steve Blake had successfully broken through Zhou Yi’s defense and finally had his chance to shine. He didn’t notice that at the moment he started moving, Zhou Yi’s right foot had already slowly lifted off the ground. As Blake used his body to create space, Zhou Yi’s upper body clearly retracted and shifted sideways, rotating 180 degrees around his left toe.

While Steve Blake was basking in the joy of his breakthrough, Zhou Yi had already moved to his right side. His ghostly right hand struck swiftly—unfailingly accurate given the opponent’s carelessness. By the time Steve Blake reacted, the Pistons had already executed a brilliant fast break.

Phil Jackson watched the game and shook his head. Kobe faced up against McGrady, using Steve Blake as a screen. He retreated beyond the three-point line and shot a three-pointer that went in.

On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi made a clever pass to McGrady, who hit a jump shot from high up. Andrew Bynum’s layup missed, and Paul Gasol grabbed the offensive rebound and added a free throw. Samuel Dalembert faced up against Andrew Bynum alone, assisting Greg Monroe in scoring a reverse layup. Ron Artest’s three-pointer missed, and Kobe grabbed the offensive rebound before stepping back beyond the three-point line and shooting another three—unbelievably, it went in.

Gradually, the third quarter began to resemble the first half again.

Kobe’s shooting percentage improved slightly in this quarter, and in his frenzy, he scored 19 points. Yet against the Pistons’ balanced attack, his individual efforts seemed insufficient. Among the Lakers’ other players, only Paul Gasol performed relatively well; as for the rest, their fate could be seen from Phil Jackson’s expression. The score at the end of the third quarter was 87:74, with the Pistons still leading the Lakers by 13 points.

Chapter 252: The Crucial Moment

By now, Kobe’s score had already risen to 44 points. The atmosphere in Staples Center was completely electrified, with all fans expecting another scoring miracle. But cold statistics were too superficial, causing enthusiastic fans to overlook many things that shouldn’t have been ignored. Thirty-three attempts—half of the Lakers’ total—showed John Kuster’s satisfaction. Of course, he wasn’t thrilled by his opponent’s scores; what he had in hand were Zhou Yi’s stats: 29 points, 16 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, and 2 blocks. He felt his heart almost bursting with excitement.

It was perfect—perfect! Achieving such stats in just three quarters meant he was on his way to a quadruple-double! When those eye-catching numbers appeared on the screens, countless fans were inspired. For domestic fans, everything related to Chinese players was of greatest interest. No matter how popular Kobe was in China, when placed against Zhou Yi, his fan base immediately seemed weak in comparison.