Chapter 161

The fourth quarter began, with the Wizards playing mostly their starting lineup, while the Pistons were mostly on their bench.
Wizards: Andre Iguodala, Nick Young, John Wall, Javier McGuire, Morris Evans;
Pistons: Will Bynum, James Posey, Tracy McGrady, Greg Monroe, and Spencer Hawes.
John Wall passed the ball to Andre Iguodala under the basket. Iguodala stepped back and then shot a backdoor jumper. The ball bounced twice before going in.
Will Bynum drove to the paint, charging toward Javier McGuire for a layup, but was ruthlessly blocked by McGuire, with Nick Young grabbing the defensive rebound.
Nick Young drove fast and scored a layup.
Will Bynum drove past half-court and passed to McGrady. McGrady tried to backdoor past McGuire, but despite his strength, he wasn’t a match for McGuire. He pushed hard against McGuire, but it had no effect. He tried again, and just as McGuire stabilized himself to push back, McGrady suddenly stepped back and shot a jump shot, which went in.
Spencer Hawes tried to guard McGuire, but McGuire quickly passed to Andre Iguodala, who was in a good position, and Iguodala hit a jump shot.
McGrady drove into the paint, with Morris Evans and McGuire covering him. McGrady, in mid-air, passed the ball to Greg Monroe, who was open, but Monroe’s mid-range shot missed, and Iguodala grabbed the defensive rebound.
The teams traded blows, with the score difference staying around 16 points.
…
Andre Iguodala scored two more points with a hook shot under the basket, bringing the score to 84:74, with the Pistons now only leading by 10 points.
At this point, only 4 minutes had passed in the fourth quarter, and thanks to Iguodala’s brilliance, the Pistons’ 16-point advantage was gradually shrinking.
In the next two minutes, neither team scored, and the game entered a stalemate.
Philip Sanders was frantic, scratching his head. After finally seeing the Pistons’ shooting drop, Iguodala’s performance helped the Wizards narrow the gap to 10 points, but now his own players seemed lost.
Seeing this rare opportunity slip away, he paced anxiously on the sidelines, almost eager to step onto the court and play himself.
Suddenly, Iguodala passed inside, and Nick Young hit a three-pointer from beyond the arc.

The MIC Center gymnasium was instantly filled with roaring cheers as fans everywhere cheered. After such a long stalemate, their own player finally took the lead.
Greg Monroe attempted a jump shot from just inside the free-throw line; the ball rotated twice around the rim but still didn’t go in.
“Damn it!” Greg Monroe cursed in frustration. No wonder he was so upset—such shots not going in.
Andre Iguodala quickly grabbed the rebound and passed it to John Wall.
It was the Pistons’ half, and their players had mostly retreated to defend, except for Greg Monroe. So, John Wall didn’t go for an immediate fast break but instead slowed down to steady the pace, waiting for Andre Iguodala to get into position under the Pistons’ basket before breaking through.
Nick Young pulled up from the top of the key to receive the ball from John Wall. After catching it, he moved along the baseline before suddenly stopping and shooting—a jump shot that missed the target due to McGrady’s interference.
“Clang,” the sound of a missed shot echoed through the MIC Center.
But soon another “clang” followed.
Andre Iguodala dunked the rebounded ball with one hand, shocking everyone in the arena!!!
Iguodala’s dunk completely ignited the atmosphere in the MIC Center. The Wizards’ players seemed to wake up as well, their movements becoming much smoother. With one team’s momentum rising and the other’s falling, the Wizards’ morale soared, putting even more pressure on the Pistons.
John Kuester naturally noticed this and promptly called a timeout. After the timeout, he immediately made adjustments to the lineup. However, he didn’t criticize his players for their poor performance in the previous game. This timeout was meant to disrupt the Wizards’ rising morale; he believed his players had enough ability to handle the situation.
The timeout ended, and the game resumed!
The Pistons’ Will Bynum was replaced by Zhou Yi, while McGrady was replaced by Andre Iguodala. The Wizards also made adjustments, with Yi Jianlian replacing Xavier McKey and Josh Howard replacing Maurice Evans to strengthen their offense.
“The Pistons aren’t in a hurry right now. Although the lead has narrowed to 8 points, they still hold the initiative, especially with Zhou Yi on the court—his energy will drive the Pistons’ offense,” the commentator explained to the audience.

“Well, though, the Wizards have already built momentum, which is a problem for the Pistons. Actually, the main issue is how the Pistons can deal with Andre Iguodala. The previous approach of double-teaming him no longer works, and Andre Iguodala gets stronger by the day,” said another commentator.
After the ball was passed to Greg Monroe, Zhou Yi quickly moved. Greg Monroe isn’t the kind of player who plays selfishly; if he can’t shoot inside, he’ll definitely pass the ball promptly, and Zhou Yi would be his first choice.
Greg Monroe turned and hit a jump shot, drawing a foul from Yi Jianlian—this was already Yi Jianlian’s fourth foul.
Greg Monroe attempted a free throw but missed, and Andre Iguodala grabbed the defensive rebound.
John Wall, relying on his strong physique, charged into the Pistons’ paint like a small cannon. But he didn’t rush to shoot because Zhou Yi was in front of him, with Greg Monroe also watching closely.
Taking advantage of Greg Monroe’s attention, John Wall quickly passed the ball to Yi Jianlian beside him. Yi Jianlian caught the ball and immediately hit a mid-range shot.
Seeing Spencer Hawes grab the rebound, Zhou Yi quickly ran toward the Wizards’ half-court.
Spencer Hawes naturally noticed Zhou Yi and promptly threw the ball in his direction.
The ball landed in front of Zhou Yi, who accelerated, grabbed it, and rushed into the Wizards’ basket.
With the Wizards’ momentum building, Zhou Yi aimed to dampen it and boost his team’s momentum instead.
So, Zhou Yi grabbed the ball with both hands, jumped high, and then executed a powerful behind-the-back dunk.
106:96—the Pistons once again widened the lead to double digits.
Yi Jianlian ran back to set up a baseline pass. After catching the ball, John Wall charged toward the Pistons’ half-court.
Nick Young caught the ball at the top of the key, with James Posey closing in for defense. As mentioned earlier, James Posey is an experienced veteran—excellent both offensively and defensively, making him an ideal piece for a championship team.
Nick Young pushed hard to break free from James Posey’s defense, but by getting past one defender, he ended up facing another. Seeing Andre Iguodala closing in, Nick Young was in trouble.
With no other choice, Nick Young threw the ball back to Andre Iguodala inside.
Before Andre Iguodala could catch the ball, Greg Monroe successfully intercepted it with a double-team defense.

After grabbing the ball away from Greg Monroe, Zhou Yi immediately passed it to him. Zhou Yi drove fast down the court, with Andre Iguodala on his right and James Posey on his left. Halfway through the play, Zhou Yi made a bounce pass, and Andre Iguodala, who had cut in from the right wing, dunked with both hands right away. The score was 108:96—a 12-point lead, with less than 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Philip Sanders called a timeout. However, the timeout didn’t help the Wizards recover. Zhou Yi stole Nick Young’s pass, drove fast, and set up James Posey for a three-point shot. The Pistons’ tactics were highly targeted and very effective; they didn’t give the Wizards any chance again, even though Andre Bledsoe scored 6 points in a row. It was one man against many, and in the end, the Pistons won 115:104 to claim victory in this game. By beating the Wizards on their home court, the Pistons completed a sweep of them this season. In these games against the Wizards, Zhou Yi won not only his personal “Chinese Derby” but also the team’s “Chinese Derby.” Of course, another Chinese player, Yi Jianlian, also had an outstanding performance in this game—19 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Compared to the previous three Chinese Derbies, Yi Jianlian’s performance in this game was truly amazing. Chapter 375: Regular Season Ends, Playoffs Begin. After beating the Wizards, the Pistons still had five regular-season games left this season. But winning these five games wasn’t difficult for them, as their opponents were the Nets, Bucks, Bobcats, Cavaliers, and 76ers. As expected, the Pistons won all five games easily, even though they played without some of their key players. With the Pistons defeating the 76ers 98:89 away from home, their 2010-2011 regular season came to an end. With an impressive record of 75 wins and 7 losses, they surpassed Michael Jordan’s Bulls’ record of 72 wins and 10 losses from that year, ranking first in the entire league this season. The day after the Pistons beat the 76ers, all 30 NBA teams finished their regular seasons. Thus, the top 16 teams in the East and West were finally determined.

The top eight teams in the East are: Pistons (75 wins, 7 losses), Celtics (61 wins, 21 losses), Heat (57 wins, 25 losses), Bulls (52 wins, 30 losses), Magic (51 wins, 31 losses), Eagles (48 wins, 34 losses), Knicks (43 wins, 39 losses), Pacers (41 wins, 41 losses);
The top eight teams in the West are: Lakers (65 wins, 17 losses), Mavericks (61 wins, 21 losses), Thunder (54 wins, 38 losses), Spurs (52 wins, 30 losses), Jazz (51 wins, 31 losses), Rockets (51 wins, 31 losses), Nuggets (50 wins, 32 losses), Suns (49 wins, 33 losses).
With the intense regular season now over, various statistics are officially presented to fans.
Kevin Durant was named scoring champion for the second consecutive year with 29.3 points per game, becoming the youngest player to win the title multiple times in history.
Kevin Love dominated the rebounding category, averaging an astonishing 15.6 rebounds per game, of which 11.2 were defensive rebounds; his offensive rebounds were slightly lower in comparison.
Steve Nash remains the assist leader of this season, averaging 11.6 assists per game. However, this time it wasn’t as easy for him to hold on to the title, as Zhou Yi followed closely behind with 11.3 assists per game, just 0.3 fewer than Nash.
Moreover, thanks to Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance both offensively and defensively, his status as the best playmaker among active players is now under threat.
In the media’s voting for regular season MVP, he also fell behind Zhou Yi. Many experts offered explanations—the Pistons’ strong performance this season was one factor, while Zhou Yi’s rapid growth was another key factor. During the regular season, Zhou Yi already demonstrated comprehensive skills on par with Steve Nash’s, significantly shaking Nash’s position.
Andrew Bogut led the league in blocks with an average of 3.1 blocks per game, while “The Beast” Howard failed to win the block title and ranked only fourth in the block chart.
This season’s steal leader was Zhou Yi, with an average of 3.3 steals per game, 0.9 more than second-place Mike Conley.
This season’s playoffs will officially begin in the early hours of April 15th, Beijing time, with the opening game taking place at the Celtics’ home court, where they will face the seventh-ranked Knicks in the East.

The Pistons will also face the Indiana Pacers at home at 9:00 on the same day. The two teams have met four times in the regular season, with the Pistons winning 4-0.
The Pistons have scheduled this game at an ideal time, during prime viewing hours in China, so CCTV will surely not miss broadcasting it.
Even before the game started, the CCTV studio was already bustling.
Yu Jia commented, “In the four regular-season games, the Pistons won 4-0. Moreover, they have a huge advantage in playoff experience.”
During the pre-game warm-ups, Zhou Yi only tried a few three-point shots from outside before going to the sidelines to rest.
At 9 o’clock, the game began on time!
The Pistons’ starting lineup: center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi.
Good news for the Pistons is that Samuel Dalembert has recovered from his injury and can play in this game.
The Pacers’ starting lineup: center Roy Hibbert, power forward Josh McRoberts, small forward Danny Granger, shooting guard Paul George, and point guard Rodney Stuckey.
The Pacers’ performance this new season depends on one person—or rather, a group of people.
Each of the starting players has their own strengths and can help the team out of tough situations at critical moments. Additionally, the Pacers have several promising players on the bench.
“I’m here for the playoffs.”
Zhou Yi’s mood was far from as calm as his expression suggested. Compared to the dull regular season, he preferred the intense and exciting playoffs.
Every game was a life-or-death struggle, every match was thrilling, and even every breakthrough seemed much harder than in the regular season. Yet he truly loved this pace and enjoyed the thrill of the games.
Tracy McGrady sensed Zhou Yi’s excitement, patted his shoulder, and asked concerningly, “Zhou, what’s wrong?”
Suppressing his excitement, Zhou Yi turned to him with a smile and said in a deep voice, “Tracy, the playoffs have begun.”
Perhaps sensing the excitement in Zhou Yi’s words, McGrady also affirmed, “Yes, the playoffs have begun.”
“Ding,” the referee’s whistle sounded, and the atmosphere in the arena instantly intensified. The hearts of millions of fans watching on TV also became tightly held in anticipation.

As the orange basketball slowly rose into the air, Greg Monroe and Roy Hibbert gathered all their strength, ready to explode at any moment. “Ah…” The two muscular figures leaped almost simultaneously, but Greg Monroe’s jump seemed to go wrong—his excellent jumping ability wasn’t utilized, and his opponent grabbed the ball first. Paul George on the left caught the ball and, after seeing his teammate’s quick movement, passed it long toward Rodney Stuckey on the other side of the court. Josh McRoberts rushed to the basket first, and upon seeing this, Rodney Stuckey shouted. Thanks to their well-developed teamwork, Josh McRoberts immediately understood and quickly turned around. Suddenly, everything went dark in Rodney Stuckey’s vision—a dark figure appeared like a wall in front of him, blocking the ball’s path perfectly, so it could no longer reach him. “Greg!” Zhou Yi shouted as soon as he got the ball. Greg Monroe, who had been behind just moments ago, was now at the forefront of the team’s attack. Greg Monroe quickly retreated. He had always trusted Zhou Yi’s passes. Although he was moving, the teamwork developed over a season meant Zhou Yi knew exactly what Greg Monroe would do. By the time Greg Monroe reached the free-throw line, the ball was precisely in front of him. The moment he grabbed the ball, he used his momentum, tapping his left toe on the ground to launch himself into the air, flying freely in the key area before slamming the ball into the basket with both hands. “Boom!” Greg Monroe’s dunk was powerful, and the loud sound echoed throughout the Auburn Hills Palace. John Kuester stood up excitedly, clenching his right fist in the air, shouting in his heart, “That’s it! Play like this from the start—dominate the opponent with momentum.” The Pacers quickly drove the ball across half-court after gaining possession, handing the first offensive chance to Danny Granger. However, his jump shot from high missed, and Greg Monroe grabbed the first rebound of the game. McGrady’s three-pointer from the right wing also missed without any defense, and the rebound was taken by the opponent. Rodney Stuckey dodged Andre Iguodala’s steal and quickly drove the ball across half-court.

The Pistons employed a staggered defense, with Andre Iguodala assigned to guard him. Rodney Stuckey was the Pacers’ offensive hub, with most of their attacks originating from him. By completely cutting off his connection to his teammates, the Pacers’ offense would be nearly paralyzed.

The reason John Kuester didn’t assign Zhou Yi to guard him was mainly to reduce Zhou Yi’s workload on the court and allow him to focus more on offense. Rodney Stuckey’s aggressive drives couldn’t be executed under Andre Iguodala’s close marking; his several feints were seen through by the experienced Iguodala. Even the pick-and-roll set up by Josh McRoberts failed due to Zhou Yi’s help defense.

As time passed, Rodney Stuckey grew increasingly panicked. He had been warned many times by his coach about the importance of defense in the playoffs, but he still felt unprepared when faced with it. In their regular-season encounters, the Pistons’ defense hadn’t posed much pressure to him, except when Zhou Yi guarded him one-on-one, when he felt restricted.

But unexpectedly, in the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons showed such tenacious defense, and worse, their focus was on him. Rodney Stuckey managed to pass the ball, but only three seconds remained for Roy Hibbert. Greg Monroe didn’t dare slack off; he knew that holding on a few more seconds would thwart their attack. Standing just outside the three-second line with his arms raised, he was ready to intervene beside Roy Hibbert.

Roy Hibbert’s turnaround jump shot was deflected off the rim due to Monroe’s interference. Josh McRoberts, with his agile movements, rushed to the basket and used his strong frame to push Ben Wallace out, easily grabbing the rebound. McRoberts twisted in mid-air and passed the ball to the perimeter, where two Pistons big men were waiting. Once he landed, it would be difficult for him to pass the ball again.

Rodney Stuckey felt like crying. Just over a minute into the game, he had lost the ball twice in a row—first to Zhou Yi and now to Andre Iguodala. Unfortunately, Andre Iguodala’s movements were too exaggerated, and he lost his balance after stealing the ball, causing it to roll past the baseline.

Paul George’s left-wing three-pointer missed, the ball hitting the front of the rim and bouncing high, with several interior players competing for the rebound but failing one after another.
Zhou Yi had an accurate judgment regarding the rebound. He grabbed it and quickly started moving after landing, darting out like a cheetah.
The Pacers’ head coach, Jim O’Brien, stood up excitedly, constantly shouting “Defense!” from the sidelines.
But who in the league could match Zhou Yi’s full-speed pursuit?
Although Rodney Stuckey was trying his best to recover, seeing the distance between the two growing wider filled him with helplessness—the opponent still had the ball!
The three-point line and free-throw line rushed past his feet, and amid the cheers of the crowd, Zhou Yi’s enthusiasm surged, giving him an urge to tear everything apart.
“Ah…” Amid the shouts, Zhou Yi leaped into the air.
“Bang!” Zhou Yi slammed the basketball hard into the basket.
“Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi…” The entire arena erupted. Compared to regular season games, every dunk by the playoff players could ignite the fans’ passion.
With Greg Monroe’s turnaround jumper going in, the Pacers called a timeout. At that point, 7:35 remained in the first quarter. The Pistons had started strong with a 10-2 run, and under their intense defense, the Pacers’ shots kept missing.
“Andre Iguodala’s addition to the Pistons has clearly improved both their defense and offense. The Pacers’ lack of playoff experience was fully exposed under the Pistons’ aggressive defense. A third of the first quarter has passed, and the Pacers still haven’t found their rhythm,” Yu Jia analyzed.
“The Pacers are a team good at tough battles; they’ve always managed to beat teams like the Celtics and Lakers. Their resilience is among the best in the league. The Pistons have had a great start—now they should take advantage of this momentum to completely crush the opponents’ spirit and gain a bigger lead. After the Pacers’ timeout, with Jim O’Brien’s on-court leadership, things will surely change. Let’s see how the Pistons can withstand their counterattacks,” Coach Zhang said with a smile.
Volume 4: The Road to Kings
Chapter 376: A Strong Start to the Playoffs (Part 1)
After the timeout, the Pacers increased their outside shooting.
Paul George hit a three-pointer from outside the three-point line.

Taking advantage of McGrady’s missed shot, the Pacers launched another brilliant fast break, creating a three-on-one situation under the basket, which ended with Josh McRoberts scoring by driving to the left baseline. As the Pistons inbounded the ball, John Kuester shouted from the sidelines, “Zhou, control the pace and ensure the offense succeeds.” Zhou Yi waved at him and caught the ball passed by McGrady. In fact, even without Kuester’s instructions, Zhou Yi knew well that the previous two attacks had been a bit hasty, and the defense after those attacks had also been slow, allowing the opponent to score five points in quick succession. Rodney Stuckey was assigned to defend Zhou Yi; his strong physique gave him an advantage in defending from outside, and he had once been one of the best perimeter defenders in the NCAA. He could defend both strong opponents and quick, agile point guards. However, since joining the league, his defensive skills hadn’t improved much. Compared to his offensive talent, his defense was quite poor, especially his lateral movement speed, which was ineffective against players like Zhou Yi who could start moving instantly. Zhou Yi didn’t force his way through; Andre Iguodala’s screen helped him find another path to the basket. With a cut, he broke through to the right side of Iguodala and scored a mid-range shot from a 45-degree angle on the right wing. “Zhou Yi usually doesn’t miss opportunities like this. If the Pistons want to go further in the playoffs, they need to unlock him. When such opportunities arise, he should be more selfless,” Coach Zhang said with concern. After the timeout, the Pacers not only improved their offense but also their defensive quality significantly. Several consecutive possessions saw no points scored by either team. McGrady’s drive to the baseline was also stopped by Danny Granger, who pushed him back against the basket. At a critical moment, the Pacers’ rookie Paul George stepped up again. Under close defense from McGrady, he hit a backdoor jump shot from the right wing, tying the score at 7:12. At this point, there were only 5:41 left in the first quarter, and John Kuester reluctantly called a timeout. “Everyone did a good job defending, but we lost what’s essential. To go further in the playoffs, defense has always been the top priority for the team. But earlier we emphasized defense because our offense was reliable. Look at what our offense has become now.”

For the playoffs, John Kuester is most concerned about the team’s defense; he has always been quite confident in their offense. With the deadly duo at the forefront of the attack, few in the league can match them, and adding two top-tier scorers like Greg Monroe and Andre Iguodala, the Pistons’ offensive capabilities are by no means inferior to those of any other team.

With the team’s overall offense struggling, John Kuester still places his hopes on Zhou Yi, instructing the players to create as many scoring opportunities as possible for him.

Once the game resumed, control of the ball was in the Pistons’ hands. After receiving the ball on the right wing, Zhou Yi quickly moved forward, with Rodney Stuckey as his only defender. Stuckey’s defensive stance was solid, and his expression was serious, though he was overly tense, his movements slightly awkward—defense has never been his strength, especially when facing a player like Zhou Yi, whose presence inevitably caused him anxiety. Yet, seeing Stuckey’s expression, Zhou Yi had a sudden idea.

A highly convincing fake move made Stuckey unnecessarily tense; he quickly raised his center of gravity and raised the ball above his head. Zhou Yi’s earlier actions had already made Stuckey on high alert, and before he could fully execute his move, Stuckey was already in the air.

Watching the basketball grow larger in front of him, Stuckey felt bitter—he hadn’t expected Zhou Yi’s fake moves to be so convincing. Back in NCAA days, Zhou Yi was also a master of feints, with deadly changes of direction and strong body fakes. Whenever his defender hesitated or stepped back, he could immediately launch a jump shot. Given Zhou Yi’s earlier move, Stuckey had no choice but to pass or shoot. But at the last moment, Zhou Yi pulled his body back and jumped straight at him after landing.

“Ding!” “Swish!” The referee’s whistle sounded as Zhou Yi, losing balance mid-air, threw the ball toward the basket. His excellent shooting touch ensured that the shot, despite his altered movements, still made it through the net.

“Swish!” His consistent performance at the free-throw line made any player who fouled him secretly regret it.

Rodney Stuckey simply couldn’t stop Zhou Yi’s progress—whether passing or shooting, Zhou Yi single-handedly dominated the Pacers’ entire perimeter, helping his team score a 7-2 run and widen the score gap to 19-9, once again putting it in double digits. The Pacers called a timeout with 2 minutes and 41 seconds left in the first quarter. Both teams made adjustments: Darren Collison replaced Rodney Stuckey, Brandon Rush replaced Danny Granger, Solomon Jones replaced Roy Hibbert, Ben Gordon replaced Tracy McGrady, and Samuel Dalembert replaced Ben Wallace. John Kuester had no intention of substituting Zhou Yi and his teammates; his plan was to establish his team’s momentum from the start of the game and leave a strong impression on the opponents. Although the Pacers changed three key players, it didn’t mean they were less aggressive. Darren Collison is an excellent playmaker, and most importantly, he has a natural knack for seizing opportunities. Fortunately, Rodney Stuckey’s departure freed Andre Iguodala, who could now face off against Darren Collison and effectively limit his impact. As Josh McRoberts and several interior players tried to block him near the basket, Darren Collison suddenly appeared and grabbed an offensive rebound. Instead of immediately taking the rebound, he held the ball in mid-air. The ball traced a beautiful arc before he successfully completed the layup. Andre Iguodala clenched his fist in frustration—having seen he didn’t have the ball, he had relaxed slightly, only to have Collison rush inside and score; the score was now 19-11. The Pistons’ offense failed, and the ball quickly returned to the Pacers’ half. This time, Darren Collison didn’t force his way through; Andre Iguodala, learning from earlier, left no room for him to shoot. Left with no choice, the ball went back to the perimeter. After receiving the ball, Solomon Jones didn’t hesitate and executed a dunk right over Ben Gordon’s head. The ball bounced high off the rim but still went through. Greg Monroe turned and tried to drive inside, not only scoring but also forcing Josh McRoberts to commit his third foul of the game.

After Roy Hibbert was taken out of the game, the Pistons continuously attacked the opponent’s interior players. Even Rodney Stuckey couldn’t keep up with Zhou Yi, let alone Darren Collison, who was even slower. For Zhou Yi, the Pacers’ interior became nothing but an easy target.

In just two minutes, Zhou Yi earned three free-throw opportunities in a row, especially after drawing two fouls from Josh McRoberts, which made the opponent’s interior player extremely cautious and hesitant on the court.

During Greg Monroe’s dunk earlier, he showed great hesitation in defense. If he had acted sooner, even if he were to be fouled, it wouldn’t have allowed Greg Monroe to score a 2+1. His slight hesitation led to that problem.

With Paul George’s last-second shot from the right wing going in, the intense battle between the two teams temporarily came to an end.

The Pistons led 28–16, with Zhou Yi scoring 11 points—the highest on the team. His aggressive drives had become a nightmare for the Pacers. In just the first quarter, he went to the free-throw line four times, hitting all of them, repeatedly striking a blow to the Pacers’ players’ morale.

“The Pacers are being too lenient with Zhou Yi. When he’s performing so well, they should have Danny Granger guarding him instead of keeping him on the bench. Danny Granger has a significant restraining effect on him; his backboard block earlier really scared Zhou Yi. During those minutes, Zhou Yi didn’t dare to force his way past Danny Granger. In contrast, the Pistons’ tactical plan was clear: to completely shut down Rodney Stuckey and disrupt the Pacers’ offense. Zhou Yi has now become the master of the game’s rhythm. If the Pacers want to turn this unfavorable situation around, they must take decisive action against him,” the commentator pointed out sharply, highlighting the Pacers’ mistake of indulging their star player amid chaotic offense—explaining why the large score gap wasn’t unexpected.

But obviously, Jim O’Brien hadn’t thought of this. In the starting lineup for the second quarter, Danny Granger was still absent, with Brandon Rush, Rodney Stuckey, Roy Hibbert, Darren Collison, and Josh McRoberts forming a lineup that left John Kuester confused. Indeed, the Pacers’ bench players were quite strong, but they were still far behind their starters. Moreover, several of these bench players weren’t very good at defense. So who would be responsible for guarding Zhou Yi?

Chapter 377: A Strong Start to the Playoffs (Part 2)

“Swish!” McGrady shot a three-pointer from the left wing and hit it. Seeing that the opponent’s players hadn’t yet warmed up, Zhou Yi passed the ball long from the baseline. The ball traveled across most of the court before landing in McGrady’s hands, who easily hit another three-pointer. The score stood at 31:16.

“Wow…” The fans at the Auburn Hills Palace jumped up in excitement again.

Darren Collison rushed into the Pistons’ basket for a layup but was called for an offensive foul. The Pacers’ loss had its roots in the first quarter. Jim O’Brien’s lineup changes didn’t improve the team’s situation at all. By the end of the first half, the Pistons had widened the lead to 21 points, 61:40.

The first half ended with a score of 61:40.

As the best performer in the first half, Zhou Yi was interviewed by an ESPN columnist. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Zhou Yi smiled and said, “I’m glad we delivered an exciting first half for all the fans. I’ve always believed that matches are a result of interaction between two teams at the same level of strength and form. We all have strong fighting spirits, which makes everyone determined to win this game. I respect my opponents today—they’re an excellent team. It’s their outstanding performance that motivates our whole team. As for my expectations for the second half, I hope both teams can maintain their current form, of course, on the condition that we win the game. Thank you!”

In the locker room, John Kuester seemed to have calmed down as well. He said kindly to McGrady, “Tracy, you’re fine for the second half, right?”

Having sat on the bench for so long, McGrady was already frustrated. Hearing this, he quickly replied, “Coach, don’t worry. I’m fine now!”

Maddie’s eager expression made many of his teammates laugh uncontrollably, instantly livening up the atmosphere in the locker room.
It’s no wonder Maddie was so excited—after over a decade in basketball, this year offered him the best chance to make it to the second round of the playoffs, or even further. He certainly didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
John Kuester also said with a smile, “Everyone performed well in the first half, but we must not relax. We need to remember that our opponents have the strength to make it to the playoffs. Moreover, their key player, Danny Granger, hardly contributed in the first half; the Pacers will surely do their best to unleash him in the second half. The best defense is offense—offense is our main weapon. For the second half, I have only one requirement: offense. Use your relentless offensive pressure to overwhelm the Pacers.”
The team’s defensive performance left John Kuester very pleased; he never doubted their offensive capabilities.
The halftime break passed quickly. Even the exciting performances by the cheerleaders couldn’t draw the fans’ attention. Everyone was discussing the first half of the game. Indeed, such a closely contested battle between offense and defense was very appealing to fans, especially since it was a playoff game.
With the teams playing on different sides of the court, the Pistons took control of the ball first.
Rodney Stuckey’s main task in the first half was to defend Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi focused entirely on attacking, and Stuckey couldn’t stop him.
Zhou Yi gently raised his right hand, and Rodney Stuckey shook his head helplessly.
The basketball wasn’t passed as expected. Rodney Stuckey let out an frustrated roar—his misjudgment meant he wasn’t prepared for defense, and given the distance between them, he could only watch helplessly as Zhou Yi easily took a three-point shot.
“Swish”—the crisp sound of the ball hitting the net. Zhou Yi smiled as he returned to defense, confident in his shooting skills.
By the end of the first half, Roy Hibbert had gradually adapted to the Pistons’ defense. With his agile movement and rare skills for a center, he began to show his strength inside the paint.
John Kuester’s defensive tactics against Roy Hibbert were very successful in the first half, but he failed to make the necessary adjustments. The Pacers increased their high passes to the interior, giving Roy Hibbert more room to operate due to his height.

As Roy Hibbert continued to score inside, John Kuester had to make adjustments to the lineup, bringing Samuel Dalembert back onto the court. He had played only a few minutes in the first half, struggling offensively and unable to keep up defensively with Roy Hibbert.

But things were different now. Roy Hibbert’s performance in the second half was usually inferior to that in the first half, as fatigue remained a major constraint on his performance. Especially in this game, he hadn’t had a chance to rest in the first half and was essentially held in check by the Pistons in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Pistons strengthened their defense on the perimeter, giving Roy Hibbert more room to operate inside and making him the backbone of the team’s offense. Naturally, Jim O’Brien was even less willing to take him off the court.

It was as if the Pacers were stepping into a trap they knew about but had no choice but to go through with. That was their biggest feeling at the moment. Roy Hibbert’s stamina was declining rapidly; especially during the recent attacks, his movements were clearly less agile than in the first half. With Samuel Dalembert’s stamina and physique, the two of them managed to keep pace inside the paint.

Seeing the team gradually regain control of the game, John Kuester couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

“Swish.” Rodney Stuckey’s pass was perfectly timed, using the inside play to draw the Pistons’ defense away while feigning a shot to distract their players.

But the moment the ball was released, he threw it behind him. The timing and direction of the pass were impeccable, though the force used was somewhat lacking—he didn’t seem fully in control of it. Additionally, Josh McRoberts clearly didn’t expect him to pass.

In his haste, the ball hit his fingers and bounced out. Fortunately, there were no Pistons players nearby. Relieved, Josh McRoberts quickly bent down to pick up the ball.

Jim O’Brien clenched his fists, watching the game intently with a serious expression. He hadn’t expected the game to be so tough.

Taking a deep breath, the solid feel of the ball in his hands made Josh McRoberts a bit careless. A pale hand slipped through his armpit like a ghost.

The boos across the court instantly turned into gasps of shock. The tremendous force sent the ball flying right out of Josh McRoberts’ hands.

“Boom”—a steal followed by an immediate dunk!

Rodney Stuckey broke through, but Zhou Yi intercepted the ball. This time, however, the Pistons couldn’t launch a fast break because there were still two Pacers players on their half of the court! Before Zhou Yi broke through, McGrady had already slipped through from the left wing and cut toward the basket. As Zhou Yi rushed toward the basket, the Pacers’ defense immediately tightened inward, and in no time, three defensive players gathered around the paint. With Zhou Yi’s back to the basket, he quickly threw the ball over his right shoulder. The heavy footsteps sent chills down the Pacers’ players’ spines—Andre Iguodala appeared right behind Zhou Yi. “Swish”—the ball smoothly dropped into the net, creating a wave of foam. With a light clap, he quickly moved aside to defend, watching Zhou Yi’s agile figure. Yet inside, Andre Iguodala’s mind was filled with thoughts. His distraction allowed Danny Granger to easily find an open shot, and the ball went straight into the net. Andre Iguodala smiled awkwardly and waved his right hand a few times. Getting distracted during a game was a rather basic mistake for a veteran like him. The game continued, with the second half progressing faster than the first. Commentator Kenny Smith said, “The Pacers’ current playing style is certainly pleasing to watch, but such a fast pace is quite disadvantageous for them. With these rapid changes, Roy Hibbert is always left behind, falling behind in attacks, unable to provide support inside, and struggling to secure offensive rebounds. Roy Hibbert has excellent physical conditions and ranks among the best centers in terms of skill, but his biggest issue is stamina. Especially in such a fast-paced game, not only does his energy deplete quickly, but he also struggles to integrate into the team’s offensive system, ending up as a burden. So Jim O’Brien now has two options: either control the pace of the game or simply have Roy Hibbert sit on the bench to conserve energy and wait for the right moment to deliver a devastating blow to the Pistons.”

Sir Ba immediately retorted, “It’s indeed a good strategy for the Pacers to control the pace. Danny Granger and Rodney Stuckey are both excellent ball handlers, but their opponent is one of the league’s top point guards. If he gets going, it won’t be easy to complete this task. Still, it’s far more feasible than the second option. This current lineup is the one the Pistons use most effectively, with balanced offense and defense.”

Danny Granger’s pass was intercepted by Andre Iguodala. McGrady, lurking near the midline, had already moved into position. In the Pistons’ fast-break system, Zhou Yi and McGrady were the sharpest weapons. Zhou Yi’s speed, explosive power, and skilled ball-handling skills made him the ideal candidate for fast breaks.

McGrady’s speed was only above average—many guards in the league were faster than him—but that still didn’t stop his ability to drive to the basket. Though he didn’t possess extraordinary speed, his awareness of fast breaks was second to none.

“Swish”—a beautiful three-step layup completed the attack. Perhaps influenced by Zhou Yi, the Pistons’ players became highly efficient in their attacks. Although there were fewer spectacular plays, their seamless offensive flow still thrilled the fans.

After the Pistons grabbed two consecutive offensive rebounds, Jim O’Brien realized that Roy Hibbert was clearly being left out of the team’s actions.

The Pistons became addicted to fast breaks, accelerating the pace of the game even further. The Pacers grew increasingly passive. Although they had narrowed the score gap to under 15 points, their scoring lately relied mostly on individual skills, with few effective team plays. Especially Danny Granger’s three-point shots—the ball bounced twice off the rim before finally going in.

Such shots made Jim O’Brien frown slightly. He wasn’t satisfied with that shot. The Pistons’ disciplined defense prevented the Pacers from making any successful passes. As time passed and the 24-second timeout neared, Danny Granger reluctantly took a shot from beyond the three-point line.

Andre Iguodala had already noticed Danny Granger’s movement. As Roy Hibbert passed the ball, he quickly rushed toward Danny Granger, but it was still too late—the basketball flew past his fingertips.

Just ten seconds later, McGrady took a three-point shot after catching the ball at the baseline.

“Swish” — a beautiful three-point shot. McGrady swung his right fist forcefully. The Pistons widened the lead to 15 points, prompting Jim O’Brien to call a timeout. The Pistons maintained control of the game, keeping the pace fast, forcing the Pacers to chase behind them. Play resumed after the timeout. Amid chaos on the Pacers’ bench, Danny Granger’s three-pointer from the right wing calmed the restless team a bit. At a critical moment, Danny Granger finally showed the value of a core player. For Jim O’Brien, who was already unsure, this three-pointer served as a reassurance, dissuading him from making any substitutions. In this game, several Pistons shooters took turns attacking the Pacers’ interior, especially Zhou Yi’s drives, which the Pacers couldn’t stop. Perhaps seeing hope of making the playoffs, McGrady’s shooting form was astonishing. Jim O’Brien was frantic on the bench; he had never taken the Pistons lightly. He had done thorough research before the game, but he never expected McGrady to unleash such energy. What troubled him even more was that, despite knowing McGrady was in hot form, he didn’t dare double-team him. Zhou Yi’s frequent drives, Andre Iguodala’s occasional shots, and Greg Monroe’s two second-chance points — all four of these players could score 15+ points per game. Allowing any one of them to roam freely would have disastrous consequences. At that point, the Pistons led 75–59, by 16 points. After the timeout, everyone noticed that Zhou Yi wasn’t on the court. It seemed the large lead had made John Kuester more relaxed, giving him the chance to take Zhou Yi off the court for rest. After all, continuous driving drills placed a heavy strain on Zhou Yi’s stamina. The Pistons’ substitution wasn’t very wise. Though they led by a large margin and McGrady’s surge caught the opponents off guard, the main issue lay with Zhou Yi. It was his frequent drives that drew most of the Pacers’ attention, forcing their defense to pull inward and giving McGrady more shooting opportunities.

Although the Pistons were leading by a large margin, the game wasn’t one-sided. The Pacers’ main issue lay in their offense; Danny Granger got stuck in a foul trouble spiral, accumulating three fouls just four minutes into the third quarter and having to sit on the bench dejectedly. The wisest move for the Pistons now was to take advantage of Danny Granger being on the bench to further widen their lead, aiming to increase the gap to over 20 points by the end of the third quarter. Ben Gordon replaced McGrady, and Will Bynum replaced Zhou Yi, which significantly weakened the team’s outside shooting capabilities. Jim O’Brien, an experienced coach, noticed every change on the court. With the Pistons’ outside offense slowing down, interior offense became even more crucial. Seizing an opportunity during a dead ball, they quickly brought Roy Hibbert onto the court. The game is always full of changes; without the threat of breakthroughs, the Pacers’ defensive strength came into play. There were no obvious defensive weaknesses in the Pacers’ five positions, and after three consecutive missed shots by the Pistons, the Pacers took advantage to score a 8-3 run, all scored by Roy Hibbert inside. The Pistons called a short timeout, but Zhou Yi remained on the bench. On the other hand, the Pistons brought in Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye. The two commentators expressed doubt about these substitutions, noting that their performance in regular season games wasn’t great, and they would hardly get playing time in the playoffs. “Ding,” the referee’s whistle sounded. Roy Hibbert shook his head helplessly, looking at Charlie Villanueva’s excited expression as he raised his hands as if celebrating. The Pistons’ strategy was simple: restrict Roy Hibbert from getting the ball inside. As soon as the ball reached Roy Hibbert, at least two players would close in on him. Once he raised the ball to his chest, someone would immediately hug him. Although their moves weren’t rough, they always made sure to hold Roy Hibbert’s arm holding the ball, leaving him with no chance to shoot. The Pistons committed few fouls in this quarter, only two before the timeout. While an unsuccessful offense is frustrating, having no chance to shoot makes one even more upset.

Roy Hibbert is in such a state that the Pistons have stepped back from closely guarding him, making it extremely difficult for him to receive the ball inside—either the pass is disrupted or it’s interfered with by the Pistons’ foul tactics. His form has just started to improve, and he has a strong desire to score; when he can’t receive the ball steadily inside, he moves to higher positions. Without being in the paint, Hibbert’s intimidating presence is reduced by at least half. He does have some mid-range shooting ability, but it’s nowhere near as good as his offensive skills inside. Samuel Dalembert has performed very well—his strong physique makes it hard for Hibbert to return to the paint once he’s out of it. In the end, the Pistons won at home 107:88, with Zhou Yi emerging as the game’s best player, scoring 41 points on 13 attempts, including 14 points from free throws. In this game, he played more like a shooting guard, with modest assist numbers—8 assists, 4 steals, and 7 rebounds. Greg Monroe scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, adding 4 blocks, the most in the game; Andre Iguodala scored 14 points and 9 rebounds, nearly hitting a double-double, and was also one of the highlights of the game. McGrady had an average performance, struggling with 1 of 4 three-point attempts in the first half before showing slight improvement in the second half, finishing with 13 points. Chapter 378: Pistons vs. Pacers (1) The four games scheduled on the first day of the playoffs didn’t have any upsets; the results were mostly within fans’ expectations. The Magic lost to the Bulls 101:112. Although “The Beast” Howard dominated the paint, he couldn’t bring a victory to the Magic. The Pistons beat the Pacers 107:88 at home, with Zhou Yi scoring 41 points. The Lakers narrowly defeated the Suns 103:101. In this game, Kobe and Nash both had outstanding performances, delivering a thrilling back-and-forth battle for the fans. The game between the Mavericks and Nuggets also ended with a decisive victory for the Mavericks. Although Nene scored 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks, the Mavericks’ overall lineup clearly outperformed that of the Nuggets. Compared to the calmness of the first day, the games on the second day were full of suspense.

The Rockets defeated the Thunder 93-89 away from home. Kevin Martin, who was 2-for-8 in the first half, had a breakout second half, hitting 7 of 8 shots from beyond the three-point line, scoring 29 points and providing 6 assists. Yao Ming contributed 9 points and 2 rebounds in the final quarter, adding 27 points and 13 rebounds overall to help his team beat the Spurs. The Spurs’ GDP trio continued their strong performance from the regular season, winning the first game 111-101 against the Jazz. The Celtics easily defeated the Knicks, led by Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, 97-82. The biggest upset of the day came between the Heat and the Eagles, with the Eagles winning 103-100 away from home against the Miami Heat, which has a “Big Three” lineup. Although the Eagles are strong, most people believed the Heat had at least a 70% chance of winning. But no one expected the Eagles to seize the remaining 30% and take the lead first. On April 17, 2011, Beijing time, the Pistons will continue to play at the Palace of Auburn Hills, aiming for two consecutive wins. In the last game, Zhou Yi dominated the match. His fierce breakthroughs torn through the Pacers’ defense, while Greg Monroe also caused significant trouble inside. Andre Iguodala was also a hero for the team; his close defense on Danny Granger disrupted the Pacers’ offensive rhythm, allowing the Pistons to win easily. “Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the second game of the 2010-2011 NBA playoffs series between the Pistons and Pacers. I’m Yu Jia. Sitting next to me is coach Zhang, who will join me to analyze this game.” Yu Jia appeared again in the studio of CCTV. The Pistons have scheduled their games well, with both games at 9 a.m., which is the prime time for domestic fans to watch. The Pistons made changes to their starting lineup today, with John Kuester moving Samuel Dalembert to the starting position. The opponent’s starting center is a flexible big man with a wide range of offensive options, and Ben Wallace’s ability to contain him is quite limited.

In contrast, although Samuel Dalembert is also an older player, his mobility is much greater than that of Duncan, and his experience is not far behind. As a result, he has a significant impact on restraining Roy Hibbert. In the first game, he performed well as a substitute, scoring 8 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and recording 1 block—solid substitute stats.

The Pistons’ starting five: center Samuel Dalembert, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi.

On the Pacers’ side: center Roy Hibbert, power forward Josh McRoberts, small forward Danny Granger, shooting guard Dantey Jones, and point guard Rodney Stuckey.

“In this game, the Pacers have also adjusted their starting lineup, putting the more aggressive Dantey Jones in the starting position. I guess Jim O’Brien wants Dantey Jones to help defend Zhou Yi and completely contain him. Heh, this move also frees up Danny Granger—Jim O’Brien made a smart move!” Coach Zhang couldn’t help but praise after seeing the Pacers’ starting lineup.

“Yes, although Dantey Jones’ defense isn’t as good as Ron Artest or Sean Battier’s, his defensive intensity cannot be ignored. Especially with his fierce determination in defense, it seems Zhou Yi needs to be careful. Well, the game is about to start—let’s switch to the live footage.”

The camera switched to show the Auburn Hills Palace arena and its audience.

The game began, and Greg Monroe lost the tip-off to Roy Hibbert, allowing the Pacers to take the initial advantage in offense.

When Rodney Stuckey drove past Zhou Yi, the coverage for the ball wasn’t very good. Zhou Yi quickly moved out of the way and secured the ball.

Zhou Yi passed the ball long to Samuel Dalembert, who scored a powerful one-handed dunk inside the three-second line, helping his team take the lead.

The loss in the previous game was a huge blow to the Pacers. Their chaotic offense kept Jim O’Brien frowning during practice.

Danny Granger’s poor performance in the last game was also one of the reasons for the team’s defeat. By starting Dantey Jones in this game, Jim O’Brien aimed to relieve Danny Granger’s defensive pressure so he could focus entirely on offense.

At the start of the game, the Pacers players seemed determined to win, continuously attacking the Pistons’ interior players. D’Angelo Jones shot from just outside the left three-point line but missed, while Josh McRoberts managed to grab the rebound ahead of Greg Monroe and immediately dunked it. The ball slammed hard into Greg Monroe’s back, and Josh McRoberts let out a loud shout to vent the frustration from the previous game. The Pistons appeared a bit sloppy at the beginning of this match, falling behind in both defense and rebounding. Samuel Dalembert’s layup was blocked by Roy Hibbert from the side. The ball landed in Rodney Stuckey’s hands; by then, the Pistons’ defense hadn’t yet recovered. Stuckey passed the ball through the gaps between several players to Danny Granger at the front court, who then shot from beyond the three-point line. With a swish, Granger’s long-range shot went in. “Clap, clap, clap” — as the team’s offense improved, Jim O’Brien stood up excitedly and applauded his players. “It seems Danny Granger has truly found his rhythm,” Zhou Yi murmured, watching Granger. The Pistons’ offense remained ineffective, and the Pacers secured the defensive rebound. “Bang” — the ball bounced high off the front of the rim. In the playoffs, Rodney Stuckey’s three-point shots were clearly off target; he had made two of seven attempts from three-point range in the previous game, and even this unguarded shot today didn’t go in. Greg Monroe was retreating from the interior at that moment. The ball bounced high, making it difficult to judge where it would land. With two Pacers interior players standing beside him, he didn’t rush in recklessly. Just as it seemed he might get the ball, pressure from behind forced him to act. Fortunately, Greg Monroe had plenty of experience in such situations. Strength alone wasn’t enough in the interior; facing experienced opponents, relying solely on brute force would be foolish. Yet even this sudden pressure slowed his movement. In that brief instant, a figure darted out from behind him. Josh McRoberts grabbed the offensive rebound, turned, and hit a jump shot over Greg Monroe. Greg Monroe’s footing was unstable, and he couldn’t adjust in time. With his opponent shooting so recklessly, he could only watch helplessly.

The Pacers were determined after their previous loss and launched an aggressive attack from the start of today’s game. Josh McRoberts scored frequently despite being guarded by Greg Monroe and others, almost single-handedly taking control for the Pacers, scoring 9 points on his own—9 of the Pacers’ first 13 points. The Pacers started strong with a 13-5 lead, but John Kuester’s timeouts seemed to have little effect, as the Pistons’ defense was not showing any issues. However, the Pacers’ offense appeared rushed, with suboptimal shooting choices. Meanwhile, Josh McRoberts was in exceptional form, managing to score even under double coverage from Greg Monroe and Samuel Dalembert. “Zhou, is your foot okay?” John Kuester asked anxiously, unable to break through in the game and turning to the bench for help. Two and a half minutes into the game, Zhou Yi seemed to sprain his foot while competing for a rebound, prompting John Kuester to send him to the bench. Zhou Yi is a crucial player for the team, and no accidents are allowed—luckily, it was just a close call. Taking advantage of Donte DiVincenzo’s defensive foul, the Pistons quickly adjusted their lineup: Zhou Yi replaced Will Bynum, and Ben Wallace replaced Samuel Dalembert. As soon as Zhou Yi entered the game, he made an immediate impact by accurately reading Donte DiVincenzo’s passing patterns and quickly stealing the ball. “Fast break…” With Zhou Yi’s shout, the Pistons’ players surged forward, with Andre Iguodala leading the charge. Months of practice had taught him that when Zhou Yi initiated a fast break, the other players just needed to charge forward blindly—the ball would always end up where it needed to be. Realizing his chance, Andre Iguodala leaped up as a shadow of a basketball appeared above him. He easily grabbed the ball and lightly tossed it into the basket. After landing, he excitedly gave Zhou Yi a thumbs up—the pass had been perfect; the timing and speed of the ball made it easy for him to score with just a simple jump. Such a seamless offensive play could only be described as fluid and effortless.

With a “bang,” Andre Iguodala instantly soared into the air and completed a one-handed dunk. There was not the slightest hint of it coming—what should have been a Pacers inbound pass saw two Pacers players in the backcourt, leaving only Iguodala behind the Pistons. However, he was behind Rodney Stuckey and had no intention of interfering with the pass. Danny Granger still passed the ball to Stuckey, and the moment it left his hands, Iguodala, who had seemed sluggish moments earlier, suddenly became as quick as a rabbit, rushing out from Stuckey’s left side. Without hesitation after catching the ball, he dunked it for a score. This is the experience of a veteran—appearing relaxed before the opponent passes to distract them. And in this case, Rodney Stuckey also bore some responsibility; knowing Iguodala was behind him, he didn’t reach out to catch the ball. If he had been more proactive, Iguodala wouldn’t have had time to intercept it. The Pacers’ consecutive mistakes allowed the Pistons to score four points in just half a minute, bringing the score to 13:9 and sweeping away the gloomy atmosphere in the Palace. With the offense flowing smoothly, the Pistons’ defense improved as well. Tracy McGrady made a desperate dive to block the pass, sending it out of bounds, leaving only six seconds left for the Pacers to shoot. Danny Granger quickly caught the ball on the right wing, about to pass it, but seeing a Pistons player already beside his teammate and time running out, he quickly stepped back, using the movement to bounce upward and shoot the ball toward the basket. Having dodged the defender in front, he didn’t have time to watch his flanks. The moment he bounced up, Zhou Yi already knew his intentions and quickly cut in from the right wing, slapping the ball away. Fortunately, Granger’s shooting motion was slightly backward, otherwise Zhou Yi’s block would have sent the ball straight into his face. Still, the ball skimming over his head made him break out in sweat. Donte Jones had just caught the ball outside the three-point line when the referee’s whistle blew—clearly, he no longer had time to shoot.

The Pacers’ 24-second timeout expired—clearly the result of a coordinated defensive effort by the Pistons. McGrady’s deflection disrupted their offensive momentum, while Zhou Yi’s block snuffed out the Pacers’ last hope. When Danny Granger drove to the basket, the ball was once again intercepted by Andre Iguodala, showcasing the Pistons’ fast-break prowess once more. However, this offensive drive ended with Zhou Yi’s three-pointer from the right wing. In no time, the score gap narrowed to one point, with the Pacers temporarily leading 13–12. But the situation on the court had clearly tilted in favor of the Pistons. Jim O’Brien sighed repeatedly in the bench area. While the Pistons’ consecutive scoring plays were one factor, it was their repeated mistakes that worried him the most. As the Pistons closed in, Jim O’Brien reluctantly called a timeout. His players’ performance had indeed disappointed him, but he couldn’t just watch them get overwhelmed. The Pacers made adjustments to their lineup: Paul George replaced Danny Granger, Solomon Jones replaced Roy Hibbert, and AJ Price replaced Rodney Stuckey. The first two players had performed poorly—especially Danny Granger, who made two consecutive mistakes, and Roy Hibbert, who no longer showed his usual prowess, missing both attempts inside the paint. However, replacing Rodney Stuckey with AJ Price was a bit confusing. Josh McRoberts had almost single-handedly carried the Pacers, but without Stuckey’s passing and playmaking, he couldn’t have been so effective near the basket. Even the commentators said, “Replacing Danny Granger and the underperforming Roy Hibbert was understandable, but replacing Rodney Stuckey was clearly a mistake. In the last game, the Pacers collapsed because of his poor lineup decisions in the first quarter. Hopefully, they won’t repeat that mistake today; otherwise, this series will be uninteresting.” Although the Pistons’ defense had improved significantly, they clearly overlooked Solomon Jones, who came in as a substitute. Taking advantage of the Pistons’ delayed defense, he cut past Josh McRoberts and scored right away.

However, with just Solomon Jones’ scoring efforts, the Pacers clearly couldn’t withstand the Pistons’ relentless attacks. Especially in the final minutes, Josh McRoberts was almost nowhere to be seen on the court. The Pistons ended the first quarter 28–21. Had it not been for Solomon Jones’ two successful shots out of three attempts after entering the game, the score gap would have widened to double digits. Josh McRoberts scored nine points alone in the first quarter, while Danny Granger, now unencumbered, failed to deliver the expected performance, scoring only two points via two three-pointers. Compared to the Pacers’ lone star performance, the Pistons’ scoring was much more even—six of their eight players scored points, with Greg Monroe leading with seven points. Zhou Yi, McGrady, and Andre Iguodala each scored five points. The most striking contrast between the two teams was in turnovers: the Pistons had only one turnover so far, while the Pacers had six. The Pistons capitalized on those turnovers by scoring four fast breaks.

Chapter 379: Pistons vs. Pacers (Part 2)
The Pacers made further adjustments to their lineup for the second quarter: Rodney Stuckey, Josh McRoberts, Solomon Jones, AJ Price, and Paul George. Yet such a lineup clearly failed to leverage the Pacers’ strengths, whether defensively or offensively. Solomon Jones was excellent at seizing opportunities, but that was thanks to the performance of his teammates and their pick-and-rolls. His shooting near the free-throw line was exceptionally steady. It was his efforts at the end of the first quarter that prevented the Pacers from letting the score gap widen. However, in the second quarter, under close attention from Andre Iguodala, opportunities kept slipping away from him. One of his shots from the right wing went awry due to Iguodala’s interference, and Rodney Stuckey grabbed an offensive rebound in the chaos. Zhou Yi remained on the bench at the start of the second quarter; John Kuester wanted him to rest more so he could perform better in the crucial second half. As a result, Rodney Stuckey got his chance, as Will Bynum clearly couldn’t stop him. Rodney Stuckey drove to the baseline, grabbed a rebound, stepped back to avoid Greg Monroe’s defense, and shot a backdoor jump shot.

Greg Monroe finally realized that Rodney Stuckey had appeared out of nowhere in the paint, not only stealing an offensive rebound but also getting a free shot under the circumstances. “Damn guy, so sneaky,” Greg Monroe muttered. With Zhou Yi absent, it was Will Bynum who was responsible for organizing the Pistons’ offense. He had performed well during the regular season; despite being stripped of his starting spot, his stats hadn’t declined—some even improved. Especially on defense, Will Bynum showed great potential, averaging 11.2 points per game. It was no easy feat, considering the Pistons already had four solid scorers. However, it was clear his talent for organizing offense wasn’t very strong. With Zhou Yi out, John Kuester preferred to have McGrady handle the offense. Will Bynum noticed Greg Monroe running at the forefront, his right hand raised high as the ball flew toward the front court. He recognized the opportunity well, but unfortunately, the ball’s height and speed were problematic. Rodney Stuckey jumped right in the middle and managed to grab it. Thankfully, Andre Iguodala’s quick defense stopped the opponent’s fast break in its tracks. With McGrady hitting a shot from the right wing, the most chaotic moment of the game occurred within just three and a half minutes—the Pistons committed three turnovers, with Will Bynum alone making two. John Kuester could only shake his head helplessly from the sidelines. Will Bynum was indeed a talented player, but he was still young, and it would be difficult for him to adapt to such intense competition in the playoffs. In this regard, Zhou Yi performed far better than this “veteran” player. At that moment, 8 minutes and 42 seconds remained in the second quarter, and the game entered an official timeout, with the score at 31:24. Both teams’ coaches were clearly dissatisfied with the previous few minutes. After the timeout, both head coaches made significant adjustments to their lineups. Both teams opted to go with their starting squads. What relieved Indiana fans a bit was that Danny Granger also returned to the court. “Zhou, this guy isn’t easy to deal with. We need to be careful,” McGrady said with a smile as he watched Danny Granger return. “Heh, got it,” Zhou Yi replied with a smile.

Zhou Yi effortlessly moved around the top of the key with the ball, unexpectingly finding that Jim O’Brien hadn’t assigned Danny Granger to defend him but instead had him facing Andre Iguodala. Andre Iguodala was indeed an excellent offensive player, ranking third in points per game for the Pistons, but before the series began, John Kuester hadn’t set any specific requirements for his offense; his only task was to use his outstanding defensive skills to disrupt the opponent’s playmaking and throw their offense into disarray. With his gaze fixed on Rodney Stuckey across from him, a faint smile appeared on Zhou Yi’s lips. Having played alongside Rodney Stuckey for some time, he already knew well how he defended. In contrast, Rodney Stuckey still couldn’t figure out how to defend Zhou Yi, and speed was the biggest difference between the two. Zhou Yi’s smile, as seen by Rodney Stuckey, seemed like a mockery, sparking anger in him. Especially when he saw Zhou Yi darting to the right, he quickly stepped back. Though furious, he didn’t lose his judgment—given his inferior physical advantages and being outmaneuvered by his opponent, the best option was to block his path to the basket. Zhou Yi’s smile grew even brighter as he tapped his right toe on the floor, propelling himself backward swiftly. Still outside the three-point line, he easily shot from mid-air. At that moment, Rodney Stuckey was several steps away, unable to do anything but watch as Zhou Yi took his shot. With a clean, decisive motion, Zhou Yi was very satisfied—his breakthrough had already terrified Rodney Stuckey, who, in his current state of mind, was no longer fit to defend him. Yet Jim O’Brien seemed to have extraordinary trust in Rodney Stuckey, even after he was repeatedly outmaneuvered by Zhou Yi. Another smooth mid-range shot followed as Zhou Yi effortlessly broke through the Pacers’ first line of defense and scored. The ball was quickly passed to Rodney Stuckey, who, taking advantage of Andre Iguodala’s lack of coverage, quickly jumped up and shot from outside the three-point line. With a thud, the basket rejected his shot again—his hasty attempt even distorted his shooting form. He wasn’t Manu Ginóbili, who could score with the most bizarre shots.

Josh McRoberts didn’t jump to fight for the rebound; instead, he simply blocked Greg Monroe’s position under the basket. Muscular collisions were constant under the hoop, leaving Greg Monroe with no chance to jump at all. The Pacers’ muscular players were truly formidable, and Greg Monroe had no way to get free. It wasn’t long before Roy Hibbert secured an offensive rebound. The Pistons’ defense on rebounds was a major issue—less than half of the game had passed, and they had already given up seven offensive rebounds, meaning the opponent had seven second-chance attempts. Samuel Dalembert quickly intercepted, stopping Roy Hibbert’s shot mid-air. Yet he remained calm, making a clever pass at a tight angle that was hard to see, especially since Greg Monroe, blocked by Josh McRoberts, couldn’t see it either. Josh McRoberts didn’t immediately turn to shoot, as Greg Monroe’s defensive skills under the basket still worried him. But more importantly, Greg Monroe already had two fouls on him, so it wasn’t impossible to keep him on the bench with smart tactics. Feeling the immense force on his back, Josh McRoberts smiled slightly, lowering his center of gravity and pushing his large hips backward. In the league’s interior battles, hips are also a great tool for positioning and breaking through—when used cleverly, they can be very effective. One of the reasons why Coach B’s “tank” strategy works so well is his prominent hips. Greg Monroe sensed the opponent’s strength increase instantly. Though puzzled, he still reacted accordingly. Every inch inside the paint was contested, and Josh McRoberts noticed Greg Monroe’s change in behavior. His tense body quickly relaxed as he stepped slightly to the right, gaining space to jump, then lightly leaped up under the basket. Things went as he expected—Greg Monroe couldn’t stop in time, and due to inertia, he collided with him. Josh McRoberts took advantage of the situation to throw the ball, aiming for a 2+1. But he underestimated Greg Monroe; the moment he saw the ball in Josh McRoberts’ hands, he understood what was happening. Instead of just watching the opponent throw, he grabbed Josh McRoberts and pulled him down.

“Clang,” the ball hit the bottom of the backboard, ending Josh McRoberts’ hopes of a 2+1. With three fouls already, Greg Monroe had no choice but to sit out early, but fortunately, the Pistons still led by 12 points, 39-27. At that point, 5 minutes and 56 seconds remained in the second quarter. The disadvantages of Monroe’s absence became immediately apparent—the Pistons, already struggling in rebounding, found themselves in even greater trouble. In the few minutes left of the second quarter, the Pacers grabbed four offensive rebounds in a row, while Josh McRoberts continued to succeed in attacking the Pistons’ interior. Thankfully, Zhou Yi and McGrady maintained their usual accuracy from beyond the three-point line, preventing the opponents from taking complete control. Yet by the end of the half, the Pistons only led by 7 points, 54-47. The top scorer once again was Josh McRoberts with 18 points, along with 7 rebounds, including 3 offensive rebounds. On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi led with 17 points. During the regular season, John Kuester had hoped Zhou Yi would be more involved in offense, but he continued to focus on organizing plays. Unexpectedly, what hadn’t been achieved in the regular season was accomplished so easily in the playoffs. With 41 points in the first game and 17 points in this half, Zhou Yi has become the team’s most reliable scorer. Encouragingly, he still maintains a high shooting accuracy, with over 60% success rate from both mid-range and three-point shots.