Chapter 91
At the end of the third quarter, the Pistons were temporarily trailing the Mavericks 97-100 by 3 points. During this crucial quarter for the Mavericks, Jason Kidd performed best. It was under Jason Kidd’s leadership that the Mavericks launched a fierce counterattack and eventually took the lead. Truly one of the best point guards in the league, Jason Kidd hit 3 out of 5 shots in the third quarter, scoring 8 points and providing 5 assists. Zhou Yi hit 3 out of 6 shots, also scoring 8 points, but with only 4 assists.
Among the other players, no Mavericks player scored in double figures, with Jason Kidd having the highest score at 18 points. On the Pistons’ side, only three players scored in double figures, with Greg Monroe leading the team with 17 points.
Regarding the players’ performance on court, John Kuester had little to say—they played at an elite level. However, the Mavericks’ strong scoring lineup found their rhythm from the start of the third quarter, scoring effectively from both inside and outside. Although Kuester’s strategy to engage in a fierce offensive battle during halftime was meant to prevent the opponent from scoring heavily, the fact that they took the lead in the third quarter was still hard for him to accept.
After encouraging his players, John Kuester reminded them to focus on defense. As long as they maintained strong defense in the final quarter and improved their offense, their chances of winning remained high.
In the final quarter, the Mavericks made changes to their lineup, with Jose Barea and DeShawn Stevenson replacing Jason Kidd and Sean Marion, respectively. This adjustment did not significantly weaken the Mavericks’ offensive power, as both new players were excellent scorers. Jose Barea has served as Jason Kidd’s backup this season, with a shooting percentage of 45.9%, averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 assists per game—stats typical of a starter on any team. His three-point shooting ability is also strong, allowing him to make a significant impact in critical moments. DeShawn Stevenson, though not as outstanding as Barea, still averages 7.5 points per game, and his 38.7% three-point shooting rate makes him a reliable outside shooter.
On the Pistons’ side, Will Bynum replaced McGrady. John Kuester didn’t dare to replace the team’s playmaker like Rick Carlisle did. The Pistons’ starting lineup already had far less offensive power than the Mavericks’, and by replacing McGrady and going with a two-point guard setup, his intention was clear: to have Will Bynum share the responsibility of playmaking so he could focus more on offense. After all, with McGrady out, Zhou Yi was the only one who could be relied on for outside shooting.