Chapter 77

The fourth quarter of the game started quickly! At present, both teams are mainly playing with their reserve players.
Pistons: Samuel Dalembert, Taylor Hansbrough, James Posey, Ben Gordon, and Will Bynum;
Lakers: Joe Smith, Paul Gasol, Matt Barnes, Andrew Bynum, Shannon Brown, and Steve Blake.
Paul Gasol forced his way to the Pistons’ basket, pushed aside Taylor Hansbrough, and scored a layup.
On the Pistons’ side, Will Bynum assisted Ben Gordon, who hit a mid-range jump shot.
Steve Blake passed the ball skillfully to Joe Smith for a layup, but it missed. Shannon Brown grabbed an offensive rebound and tried a reverse layup, which also missed, while Taylor Hansbrough secured a defensive rebound.
On the Pistons’ side, Will Bynum’s three-point attempt from beyond the arc also missed, and Samuel Dalembert scored a free throw.
The teams continued to trade blows, but the score gap remained in the double digits, keeping the Lakers and their home fans extremely anxious.
With 7 minutes and 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the game entered an official timeout.
After the timeout, both teams gradually brought in their starting players.
As soon as Derek Fisher entered the court, he made a mistake. When the ball was passed to him, he seemed to be half a beat slow, catching the ball instinctively—Zhou Yi naturally didn’t miss this opportunity.
At that moment, the Lakers’ players were quickly moving toward the Pistons’ half, with no Lakers player in their own half. Seizing this chance, Zhou Yi rushed into the Lakers’ paint like lightning. His slender frame soared into the air as he moved fast, like an eagle in flight—his body slightly bent, the basketball held high in one hand, making him resemble a fully drawn bowstring in the air.
The fans at Staples Center watched in dismay as this unfolded before their eyes.
“Thud”—a loud dunk sound echoed throughout the arena.
The Lakers’ fans couldn’t believe what they saw, able only to watch the basketball bounce around on the floor. The once chaotic situation suddenly took a sharp turn downward, with only a few Pistons fans cheering.
Phil Jackson decisively called a timeout. He had always been cautious in games against the Pistons. But he never expected the Pistons, playing away from home, to show such strength, leaving the Lakers unable to respond for a while.

John Kuester sat on the coaching bench at the side of the court, wearing a bright smile. The team not only played smooth offense but also performed excellently defensively.
Zhou Yi’s incredible steal led to another 7-3 run for the Pistons. Now, the score was 101-84, with the Pistons holding a 17-point lead.
Play resumed, and Kobe significantly increased his offensive intensity. In the current Lakers lineup, despite having Paul Gasol, it was still Kobe who could be relied on most at critical moments. Especially when the rest of the team was underperforming, Kobe undoubtedly had to take on more responsibility and pressure.
It wasn’t easy to contain Kobe, and among the Pistons’ current roster, James Posey was the most suited to handle this task.
The Pistons’ current lineup on the court was: Samuel Dalembert, Greg Monroe, Teyon Prince, James Posey, and Zhou Yi.
John Kuester had great trust in James Posey’s defensive abilities. As a key player on a championship team, James Posey always knew when to do what and when not to.
Kobe received the ball in the middle of the court, but this time it was Zhou Yi who confronted him. James Posey’s intense defense drained him of energy, especially when facing a player of Kobe’s caliber.
Kobe slowly controlled the ball rhythmically, constantly adjusting his body. He tried to find an opening to break through against Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi didn’t give him any chance.
Kobe kept dribbling back and forth between his legs, then suddenly moved, forcing his way past Zhou Yi’s right side. Zhou Yi stepped back and quickly shifted sideways, using his body to block Kobe. With no room to accelerate further, Kobe had no choice but to pass the ball back to the outside.
Steve Blake received the ball outside the three-point line and quickly passed it inside. However, his pass was too careless, and Teyon Prince easily intercepted it.
Immediately afterward, Teyon Prince made a long pass, sending the ball quickly across the half-court. The moment he passed, Zhou Yi understood his intention and quickly rushed back at full speed.
Although the two were only a step apart earlier, Zhou Yi’s early movement quickly widened the gap, rendering Kobe’s pursuit futile.
Watching Zhou Yi score the layup, Kobe angrily shook his fist.

On the Lakers’ offense, Kobe received the ball outside the three-point line on the right wing, but he didn’t get a chance to shoot as James Posey appeared in front of him immediately. The other Lakers players were not in good form, with only Kobe seeming to have regained his rhythm. John Kuester assigned James Posey the simple task of limiting Kobe’s scoring. Steve Blake quickly moved to the outside and set up a simple pick-and-roll with Kobe. After Kobe drove inside, he decisively shot the ball. “Swish” — the ball went in.

On the Pistons’ offense, Zhou Yi drove with the ball and made a clever pass to James Posey, who then threw it inside. Greg Monroe tried to layup, but was blocked by Andrew Bynum, with Paul Gasol grabbing the defensive rebound. Kobe passed the ball to Ron Artest from outside the three-point line. The Pistons quickly switched defenses, with Tashawn Prince following up decisively, forcing Ron Artest to stop his shooting attempt.

Kobe regained the ball near the free-throw line but didn’t seem to intend to shoot. His right hand, holding the ball, moved swiftly. At the moment James Posey shifted his weight slightly, a glint appeared in Kobe’s eyes. He quickly pulled back his right hand, leaped up, and his entire movement was smooth and effortless. James Posey reacted quickly, readjusting his balance as Kobe rose, but it was too late — Kobe had already shot the ball. “Swish” — James Posey shook his head helplessly. Truly a top-tier player with extensive game experience; he was far beyond his reach. He had tried his best to raise his arms to disrupt Kobe’s shot, but Kobe still managed to force a shot right over his head.

With that shot, the Lakers closed the score to 107:94, only 13 points behind the Pistons. The Pistons’ offense failed again, and John Kuester immediately sat up straight, concern rising in his heart. At that moment, 4 minutes and 23 seconds remained in the game, and the Pistons were only 13 points ahead. If they didn’t counterattack, the Lakers could easily catch up.

As John Kuester watched anxiously, Kobe scored another shot from outside the three-point line. 107:97 — the Pistons were now only 10 points ahead. John Kuester immediately called a timeout to prevent things from getting worse.

John Kuester carefully analyzed the situation on the tactical board. He wasn’t satisfied with the Pistons’ current advantage, as their opponents were no ordinary team—they had the league’s best shooting guard and a championship-winning coach with eleven rings; the Lakers were a team no one could afford to underestimate.
After the timeout, Zhou Yi was temporarily substituted out, with Will Bynum taking his place. McGrady also came in, replacing Tyus Prince.
With Zhou Yi off the court, McGrady was responsible for defending Kobe. Although McGrady had recovered well, his speed was clearly not up to Kobe’s, allowing Kobe to score repeatedly.
The Lakers managed to narrow the score gap at one point, but McGrady acted as a pillar, scoring continuously against Kobe and keeping the lead in double digits.
As Kobe gradually gained momentum, John Kuester remained calm. He knew well that one person couldn’t defeat a team.
With 2 minutes and 50 seconds left in the game, John Kuester called another timeout. At that moment, the score was 110:101, with the Pistons still leading by 9 points.
After the timeout, Zhou Yi replaced McGrady, forming a twin-point guard lineup with Will Bynum, while Tyus Prince replaced James Posey.
The game continued, and the decisive moment arrived!
Chapter 253: Nearly a Quadruple Double Against the Lakers, 23 Consecutive Wins, Second in History
As soon as the game resumed, the Lakers launched a fierce attack.
After controlling the ball for half the court, Derek Fisher passed it to Kobe without hesitation. Instead of attacking, Kobe tossed the ball to Paul Gasol, who was performing exceptionally well inside.
After catching the ball, Paul Gasol dribbled a few times behind his back, then moved left and right before hooking the shot—making it.
Halfway through the second half, Zhou Yi calmly scanned the court. At that moment, Tyus Prince came in and moved past Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi immediately passed the ball to Tyus Prince and set up a screen to block Ron Artest, who was guarding him.
Without Ron Artest’s defense, Tyus Prince accelerated to the fastest pace, rushed into the Lakers’ paint, and scored with a double dunk, also forcing a foul on Paul Gasol.
It was a brilliant play, made possible by Zhou Yi’s clever coordination.
Tyus Prince took the free throw and made both shots.

Kobe controlled the ball, with Zhou Yi defending him. Zhou Yi stuck closely to him, constantly using small moves to disrupt Kobe. Yet these tactics didn’t cause Kobe to make any mistakes. He dribbled behind his back, pulled to the left, and then jumped straight up to shoot from beyond the three-point line. With a swish, the basketball dropped into the basket. For players on the court, a three-point shot is even more deadly than a dunk. A three-point shot at a critical moment exerts huge pressure on the opponent, and when behind, it becomes the greatest hope. Many major comebacks in NBA history have relied on three-point shots, such as the famous “Maddie Moment” and “Miller Moment”. After a series of dribbles under the basket, a crossover freed Kobe. Seeing Kobe break through, Derek Fisher immediately came over to help defend Zhou Yi. As Derek Fisher rushed over, Zhou Yi remained calm and made an easy pass behind his back to Will Bynum, who was not far away beyond the three-point line. After receiving the ball, Will Bynum shot a three-point shot, which surprisingly went through the net. Kobe caught the ball at a high position, broke through Zhou Yi, and faced the additional defense from Teyshawn Prince. He used a fake move, then turned and shot a backspin jumper—again, with a swish, it went through the net. Samuel Dalembert also responded with a hook shot. The Lakers’ Andrew Bynum tried to attack inside, but was defended by Samuel Dalembert. On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi’s mid-range jump shot also missed. By the end of the timeout, the game was closely contested with high shooting percentages, but the Lakers hadn’t narrowed the score gap. The current score was 118:108, with the Pistons still leading by 10 points, and only 1 minute and 24 seconds left in the game. Kobe’s breaking speed was extremely fast. After getting rid of Zhou Yi, he noticed that the Pistons’ players were all focusing on defending the other Lakers players. Seeing the open Pistons’ basket, Kobe was overjoyed—this was an excellent opportunity to boost the team’s momentum. Two steps inside the free-throw line, Kobe soared like a soaring eagle, his right hand holding the ball raised high, becoming the focus of the court for a moment.

The long silent Staples Center once again became a sea of joy. No one could forget Kobe’s status as a dunking king; over the years, he had performed countless stunning and thrilling dunks at Staples Center. Although the team’s poor performance on the court made things uninteresting, watching Kobe’s amazing dunks made the ticket price worthwhile and the trip worthwhile.

However, it was clear that someone didn’t want Kobe to perform. At the moment he raised his right hand to dunk, a dark figure swiftly rose from the right side of the basket, using its incredible jumping ability to completely block Kobe’s path.

In mid-air, Kobe was helpless. Just as his strength was running low, Zhou Yi suddenly appeared out of nowhere—hadn’t he been left behind by Kobe earlier?

It was extremely difficult for Kobe to move against Zhou Yi. With no other choice, he decided to force a dunk. Taking advantage of Zhou Yi’s still-rising body, Kobe used all his strength to slam the ball down.

It was like a collision between Mars and Earth—two highly skilled players actually met in mid-air in front of tens of thousands of fans.

Kobe had overestimated his own strength and underestimated Zhou Yi’s astonishing explosive power. Zhou Yi’s right hand blocked the ball just in time, and the two of them froze in mid-air.

That dunk was destined to become one of the top ten dunks of the season.

Zhou Yi’s arm muscles swelled instantly. His explosive power pushed Kobe downward, with the ball bouncing around him.

The moment Zhou Yi grabbed the ball, Kobe’s mind went blank. Despite being in the advantage, he still couldn’t defeat this seemingly slender rookie. The shadow of failure instantly covered his heart.

Even Kobe lost confidence in winning, and the Lakers collapsed in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter.

The Pistons took advantage of the Lakers’ low morale and launched another scoring spree in those final minutes.

By this point, the outcome was no longer the most important thing.

The Lakers’ momentum was completely shattered by Zhou Yi’s block on Kobe’s dunk.

Watching their team suffer such a crushing defeat, with the game turning into a one-sided massacre, the fans at Staples Center could hardly believe their eyes.

In the end, the Pistons defeated the Lakers 102-95, avenging their loss from over a month earlier.

Kobe also used the last minute or so to raise his score to 55, but such a high score in this game was clearly just another highlight and had no impact on the outcome. Zhou Yi ultimately did not achieve a quadruple-double, but instead posted 32 points, 21 assists, 10 rebounds, and 8 steals—a near-quadruple-double. With 30+20+10, it was the first time in the Pistons’ history that such stats had been recorded, and with 8 steals added, Zhou Yi was destined to be etched into the Pistons’ history. Moreover, 30+20+10 was also the first time this season in the entire league that such stats appeared, and Zhou Yi’s name would surely be remembered by many after this game. In this match, the Pistons’ Tracy McGrady had the second-best performance on the team, scoring 25 points and 7 rebounds in just 26 minutes of play; Tyshawn Prince also scored 23 points. After this game, the Pistons extended their winning streak to 23 games, surpassing the Rockets to take second place in history, with no ties. This season, the Pistons were destined to be labeled as great. After defeating the Lakers, the Pistons’ record stood at 34 wins and 3 losses, leading the league’s second-place Lakers by four games. With the joy of victory, the Pistons returned to Detroit. They would face the Philadelphia 76ers at home in four days, in their first matchup of the season. …
“Chinese Rookie Stuns Kobe, Pistons Crush Lakers”
“32+21+10+8: The Miracle Kid Keeps Creating Wonders”
“Golden Duo Outwits Kobe, Pistons Beat Lakers Away from Home”
“23 Consecutive Wins: Detroit Makes History”
……
The game had just ended, and American newspapers with these headlines as front pages were rushing to print them; these newspapers would soon reach every household. The footage of Zhou Yi stunting Kobe would also be remembered by many Americans. At that moment, Zhou Yi was lying at home, fast asleep! While still in his dreams, a loud phone ringtone sounded. Zhou Yi turned over and reached for his phone on the table. Groggily, he glanced at the caller ID—it was Xiang Yun. Rubbing his eyes, he muttered, “What’s with this Xiang Yun? Why call so early? Could’ve just knocked on the door.” “Hey, Zhou Yi! Why don’t you open the door when I knock?” As soon as the call connected, Xiang Yun’s angry voice reached Zhou Yi’s ears. Hearing this, three lines appeared on Zhou Yi’s forehead.

“Did you just knock on the door? Hehe, I was sleeping so deeply that I didn’t hear it,” Zhou Yi replied with a sheepish smile.
“Never mind. You went to bed late, so I won’t hold it against you,” Xiang Yun said understandingly.
“Hehe, you’re so kind! By the way, Xiang Yun, what’s the matter you called me for?” Zhou Yi sat up and yawned before asking.
“Uh, get up first! We can talk after you get up. It’s already 10 a.m.; it’s time for you to get up,” Xiang Yun said after checking the time.
“Oh, okay. I’ll be ready in a moment,” Zhou Yi said before quickly jumping out of bed.
Ten minutes later, Zhou Yi and Xiang Yun were sitting in the living room.
“Go eat something first. I’ll talk to you while you eat,” Xiang Yun said, considering that Zhou Yi hadn’t had breakfast yet.
Hearing this, Zhou Yi felt warm inside and nodded with a smile.
The two sat at the dining table. Zhou Yi ate, while Xiang Yun watched him.
Zhou Yi looked up at Xiang Yun and noticed that she was staring at him. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said, “Xiang Yun, didn’t you say you had something to tell me? Why not start?”
Hearing this, Xiang Yun quickly turned away, organized her thoughts, and said to Zhou Yi, “You don’t seem to have any plans today, do you?”
Zhou Yi thought for a moment before nodding and answering, “Mm, I don’t have anything planned today.”
“There’s a very big racing competition this afternoon. Do you want to go watch it?” Xiang Yun asked.
“A racing competition? What kind of racing competition?” Zhou Yi asked curiously.
“This racing competition was organized by one of the largest racing clubs in Detroit in collaboration with several other clubs. Many competitors will be involved. Not only that, but racing enthusiasts from nearby cities will also attend. This time, it’s not like the accident Zhao Hui had last time—it’s a proper and grand racing event. Relevant authorities will supervise it, and those who perform well will receive generous rewards,” Xiang Yun explained calmly to Zhou Yi.
After hearing Xiang Yun’s explanation, Zhou Yi nodded.
“As you know, I don’t have many interests, and racing is one of them. So, I want you to go with me. Since you don’t have anything to do today, think of it as a way to relax!” Xiang Yun said pitifully to Zhou Yi.
“Uh, since you’re so interested in racing, why don’t you participate yourself?” Zhou Yi asked, crossing his arms and smiling faintly at Xiang Yun.

“Go to hell! You know my skills aren’t that good, yet you still mock me?” Xiang Yun said resentfully.
“Hehe, okay, I’ll just go with you then,” Zhou Yi said with a smile.
“Mm,” Xiang Yun immediately smiled.
“Uh, women are really fickle!” Zhou Yi muttered to himself.
Xiang Yun seemed to remember something and reminded Zhou Yi, “By the way, Zhao Hui will also be participating in the competition this time.”
Hearing Xiang Yun’s words, Zhou Yi spat out the milk he had just taken a sip of.
“Zhou Yi, what’s wrong? Are you choking?” Xiang Yun quickly rushed to his side and gently patted his back.
“Uh, it’s fine. You said Zhao Hui is also joining? Did you ask him to?” Zhou Yi wiped the milk from the corner of his mouth and asked Xiang Yun.
“You’re wrong this time,” Xiang Yun said with a smile.
“Huh? What’s going on?” Zhou Yi asked curiously with his mouth wide open.
“This time, it was Zhao Hui who wanted to participate in the competition on his own. But his uncles and aunts don’t know about it. Don’t spread rumors, okay?” Xiang Yun reminded him with a smile.
“Nonsense! But I still can’t believe Zhao Hui volunteered to compete,” Zhou Yi said doubtfully.
“It’s true. To be honest, when he told me, I also didn’t believe it at first. Later, when I went with him to register, I realized he really wanted to compete,” Xiang Yun said.
“Uh, I still can’t figure it out,” Zhou Yi said, shaking his head.
“By the way, not only Zhao Hui, but Michael Pippen and Lott Hill will also be competing in the racing race,” Xiang Yun added.
“Huh? They’re both joining too? Hehe, then I really need to go and take a look!” As soon as Xiang Yun mentioned Michael Pippen and Lott Hill, Zhou Yi recalled information about them. At the party at Zhao Hui’s house last time, Zhou Yi had met these two, as well as a girl named Wang Yun.
“Hehe, great! Let’s go together then! Give them some encouragement. But I still think Zhao Hui has a good chance of winning this racing championship,” Xiang Yun said excitedly.
“Hehe…” Seeing Xiang Yun’s eager expression, Zhou Yi also felt a bit excited.
Chapter 254: Home Team Wins Against 76ers, 24 Consecutive Wins

At 1:30 p.m., Zhou Yi set off with Xiang Yun to watch the car race. Upon arrival, Zhou Yi indeed spotted Zhao Hui, Michael Pippen, and Lotte Hill there. However, the three of them were preparing for the race and had no time to talk much with Zhou Yi and Xiang Yun; they merely exchanged greetings. Zhou Yi was surprised to find that the scale of this car race was quite large, with even a few police officers present. There were many car racing enthusiasts everywhere, all eagerly waiting for the race to begin. At exactly 2 p.m., the car race officially started! The race lasted about three hours, and the final results came as a great surprise to Zhou Yi. As Xiang Yun had said, Zhao Hui actually won the championship, Lotte Hill finished in third place, and Michael Pippen received an honorable mention, essentially a consolation prize. After the race, Zhou Yi, Xiang Yun, Zhao Hui, Lotte Hill, and Michael Pippen gathered at a restaurant for dinner to celebrate Zhao Hui and the others’ outstanding results. After dinner, Zhou Yi and Xiang Yun said goodbye to Zhao Hui and the others and went home. In the following two days, the Pistons had training sessions, and Zhou Yi was naturally the first player to arrive at the training ground and the last to leave. … On January 8th at 7:30 p.m., the Pistons hosted their opponent, the 76ers, at home. The Pistons were much stronger than the 76ers, and there was also good news for them in this game—Andrea Iguodala, the 76ers’ star player, would not be playing due to an injury. With Iguodala out, it became even easier for the Pistons to extend their winning streak to 24 games. Pistons’ starting lineup: center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Teyshawn Prince, shooting guard McGrady, point guard Zhou Yi; 76ers’ starting lineup: fifth man Spencer Hawes, fourth man Elton Brand, third man Andres Nocioni, second man Jody Meeks, first man Jrue Holiday. Greg Monroe’s excellent jumping ability allowed him to successfully rebound the ball easily.

Extending his right arm forward, he caught the ball in mid-air. Zhou Yi paused briefly before rushing forward like an arrow leaving the bow toward the opponent’s half-court. This was what John Kuester wanted from him—using his speed and breakthrough skills to create more opportunities for the team. Facing a veteran like Joel Horford, who was also quite experienced compared to Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi’s greatest asset was his speed, using his strengths to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses.

He hadn’t expected the first encounter to come so soon. Joel Horford was still very curious about the Pistons’ most dazzling rookie this season. He had analyzed the Pistons’ previous games carefully and reached a conclusion he was reluctant to face: compared to himself, Zhou Yi was clearly better suited to the Pistons’ current playing style. There were indeed several flaws in Zhou Yi, but at the same time, there were many outstanding strengths—this was the impression Zhou Yi left on him.

For this game, although he had been arrogant before the match, he still prepared thoroughly. His greatest asset now was his rich experience. Against a rookie like Zhou Yi, he had many strategies to counter him, but he didn’t dare underestimate him either. Zhou Yi’s speed scared him; seeing his breakthroughs reminded him of Allen Iverson, the king of speed and breakthroughs in the league—both possessed terrifying speed.

With his feet apart, his center of gravity slightly lowered, and his upper body slightly leaning forward, his outstretched arms swung continuously as Zhou Yi approached. At the Pistons’ home court, Joel Horford had much to prove. He couldn’t afford to lose such a game, so even before Zhou Yi reached the halfway line, he had already taken his stance, waiting for him to arrive.

Facing Joel Horford’s defense, Zhou Yi didn’t dare be careless. Although Horford had only been in the league for a few years, his skills were excellent—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat Louis Williams so quickly and secure the starting point guard position for the 76ers.

One had to admire Joel Horford’s seasoned experience. His defensive moves were solid, without any fancy techniques. If it weren’t for his own speed advantage, breaking through his defense wouldn’t be easy.

Through continuous strategic shifts, Joel Horford remained unfazed, sticking to his defensive zone, yet he managed to detect Zhou Yi’s breakthrough attempts several times. Although Zhou Yi failed to break through, his teammates were already in position. With a clever pass from behind, the ball was delivered to Teyshawn Prince, who scored from a moving jump shot.

Typical playmakers, when organizing attacks, face the basket sideways to better protect the ball. However, this approach has obvious drawbacks, as they can’t see the overall situation of the game. On the other hand, excellent point guards face the basket when organizing attacks; their superb ball-handling skills make it difficult for others to take the ball from them, and they have a clear view of everything happening on the court, allowing them to control both offense and scoring as they see fit.

Joel Horford passed the ball directly to the interior player Elton Brandon, with Greg Monroe immediately closing in.

“Captain” Elton Brandon has always been one of the underestimated players in the league. Drafted first overall, he posted 20+10 stats in his first season, proving his strength beyond doubt. If not for injuries, his career would have been truly outstanding.

Now, Elton Brandon has recovered from his injuries. Although he no longer has his former strength, his current abilities are still significant, and he has been performing better as the season progresses.

Although Greg Monroe is just a rookie, he possesses enormous potential. Since the start of this season, he has shown many bright spots, with averages of 13.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks serving as the best proof.

Elton Brandon used his left shoulder to push against Greg Monroe while dribbling with his right hand and pushing backward. He had excellent strength in close combat; many players with slightly weaker physiques couldn’t withstand even a few pushes and would give up their position under the basket. But today he was up against one of the most promising rookies in the league, Greg Monroe, whose combat strength was definitely on par with his own. Of course, that would be different if Elton Brandon were at his peak.

Elton Brandon couldn’t get any closer to the basket, and Greg Monroe was also in trouble. Enduring the massive force pushing against him, he shifted his center of gravity slightly forward to minimize the impact during the confrontation.

As time passed, Elton Brandon grew slightly anxious. Using the force against him, and with Greg Monroe’s strong pressure, Brandon quickly shifted his center of gravity and leaped backward at an angle. Taking advantage of Greg Monroe’s delayed reaction, he shot from a backward position.

The moment Elton Brand shifted his focus, Greg Monroe guessed his intention. He often used this tactic in games himself, but this time it proved somewhat ineffective—the strong rebound made it impossible for Greg Monroe to block it in time. With a swish, the ball went through the net! The Pistons continued their attack, and Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball past midcourt. He couldn’t break through Jrue Holiday’s defense, but his several attempts to break through did draw attention from the opposing team’s shooters, leaving McGrady open. Zhou Yi passed the ball to him just in time, and he scored easily with a jump shot. The ball bounced a few times on the rim before finally falling through. McGrady took a deep breath; he had felt something was off when shooting that shot earlier. Fortunately, he was lucky that day. In the previous game against the Lakers, McGrady performed exceptionally well, scoring 25 points in just 26 minutes, which naturally drew widespread attention. Many fans were excited, believing that the old McGrady had returned—even if not at his peak, he still had 80% of that strength. In fact, McGrady knew that his good performance was partly due to his recovery and partly because of having an outstanding teammate like Zhou Yi. He should be grateful—Zhou Yi’s passes would undoubtedly bring him more opportunities. McGrady shook his right fist vigorously, feeling very excited. As he passed by Zhou Yi, they bumped fists. The 76ers’ key players all had strong scoring abilities. Jrue Holiday coordinated from the center, selflessly providing passes to his teammates, transforming a rough and dull team into one that gradually became strong. Although Andre Iguodala’s absence had a huge impact on the team, the other players’ outstanding performances made up for it. Andres Nocioni received the ball, started dribbling suddenly, and when Teyshawn Prince, who was defending him, moved to follow, he took a quick stop and shot a jump shot. Although the ball bounced off the rim, it caused Teyshawn Prince to commit a defensive foul. Andres Nocioni made both free throws, tying the score at 4:4. Both teams played at a fast pace, and by the end of the first half, the score was 16:14. The Pistons maintained a slight advantage over the 76ers thanks to two three-pointers from McGrady.

This came as a great surprise to the home fans, who had thought the game would be a easy win with one team dominating the other. But without Andre Iguodala, the 76ers were only 2 points behind the Pistons at the end of the first half. Eddie Jordan called a timeout; as the game progressed, both teams entered a stalemate, testing the players’ ability to perform under pressure. Greg Monroe and Elton Brand were still fighting for position, clearly unable to focus on anything else. Zhou Yi and Joel Embiid, the two key players driving the team’s offense, also seemed unable to overcome their opponent. Embiid had the advantage of experience, anticipating moves and boasting excellent speed and skill, rendering Zhou Yi’s efforts futile time and again. Zhou Yi, on the other hand, had natural talent; though he was outplayed several times, his rapid reflexes allowed him to respond quickly.

What Eddie Jordan didn’t know was that Zhou Yi wasn’t in good form that day. If Zhou Yi had performed normally, Embiid wouldn’t have been a match for him at all. At a critical moment, Taishan Prince’s breakout broke the deadlock. First, he hit a three-pointer from the right wing, then scored a layup after being set up by Greg Monroe, adding five points in just one minute. At that point, the Pistons’ fans were undoubtedly the happiest—after two seasons of struggle, the team had found hope again. Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance gave fans confidence in his combination with Tracy McGrady, while Taishan Prince’s tenacious defense and timely scoring added another important scoring option beyond the two of them.

Taishan Prince’s impressive performance thrilled John Kuester. After establishing Zhou Yi as the team’s core, he expected Taishan Prince to be dissatisfied for some time, but didn’t expect him to overcome his feelings so quickly and accept his role in the team, stepping up when needed. He personally went to greet Taishan Prince, handing him a towel and drink. John Kuester’s gesture was meant to express his excitement, but it made Taishan Prince feel overwhelmed, leaving him momentarily unprepared.

The game resumed, and the 76ers replaced Joel Embiid with Louis Williams. It was a risky decision. Although Embiid didn’t perform well under Zhou Yi’s intense defense, he used his experience to effectively contain Zhou Yi, who wasn’t in form that day.

Louis Williams is also a veteran with extensive experience. His outstanding organizational skills mask his weaker scoring ability. His physical fitness gives him a significant advantage on the perimeter, and his aggressive drives make it difficult for smaller guards to stop him. His tall stature also makes shooting easy, allowing him to shoot over opponents’ guards with ease. However, his poor shooting accuracy greatly undermines his talent.

The arrival of Jrue Holiday is very unfavorable for Louis Williams, but it has also sparked his ambition. In the past few dozen games, although he has only played as a substitute, his performance has been impressive.

Under 76ers head coach Eddie Jordan’s tactical plans, Louis Williams’ role is not limited to point guard; he is the ideal sixth man, a player who steps in when needed, playing whatever position is required.

Using Louis Williams in this game was also a last resort for Eddie Jordan. Louis Williams’ talent cannot be ignored, but as an experienced veteran, he shares the same shortcomings as other veterans. With his physical fitness at a disadvantage, his experience may not even be as extensive as Zhou Yi’s. He is undoubtedly a double-edged sword—capable of revitalizing the team while also allowing Zhou Yi to thrive again.

At the start of the game, the ball was in the Pistons’ possession. Seeing the opponent take Jrue Holiday off the court, Zhou Yi took a deep breath. In just a few short minutes, Jrue Holiday had been stuck closely to him like a sticker, and not only that—where the referee couldn’t see, Jrue Holiday kept causing trouble with his subtle moves, posing a great challenge to Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi had already seen footage of Louis Williams’ gameplay during yesterday’s tactical session and felt fairly confident in dealing with him.

However, John Kuester didn’t seem intent on letting the two face off. After Zhou Yi passed the ball long to Greg Monroe, who scored under the basket, Kuester took Zhou Yi off the court and replaced him with Will Bynum.

Greg Monroe passed the ball back to McGrady, who, thanks to James Posey’s perfect screen, scored another three-pointer from the right wing.

The decibels in the Auburn Hills Palace of Auburn Hills soared as fans were extremely excited. After two disappointing seasons, the team has shown tremendous momentum in the new season, sitting at the top of the league with 34 wins and 3 losses, along with 23 consecutive victories, leaving their excitement beyond description.

Against the Los Angeles Lakers, Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance addressed the Pistons’ weakest link, while McGrady proved to the fans that he could fully compensate for the team’s lack of outside shooting power.

After witnessing Zhou Yi’s excellent performances in so many games, Will Bynum became even more aware that the position of starter was far out of reach for him.

Actually, even when Zhou Yi joined the team, Will Bynum had anticipated that he would secure the starting spot and greatly admired Zhou Yi’s skills. Now, as close friends and brothers, he naturally has no complaints about Zhou Yi.

The wisest thing for him to do now is to give his best effort within the limited playing time he has, in order to earn more minutes for future games.

John Kuester made a brilliant move by allowing Zhou Yi some rest time, gaining a better understanding of Louis Williams’ abilities, and enabling Will Bynum to thrive in the game. He not only successfully contained Louis Williams but also created several opportunities for McGrady through his screen plays.