Chapter 162
At the start of the third quarter, Greg Monroe, who had been on the bench for so long, was already filled with anger. The Pistons’ first offensive play was handed to him. In a clash of bodies, Josh McRoberts was gradually pushed toward the basket, and Greg Monroe took the opportunity to deliver a powerful dunk. The thunderous sound of the dunk echoed throughout the arena. During the intense first half, both teams had opted for the safest offensive strategies, so such an amazing dunk scene hadn’t occurred before—but it did ignite the atmosphere at the Pistons’ home court. “Ding,” the referee’s whistle came a bit late. Greg Monroe was prepared; his dunk had indeed been a bit reckless, and he feared it would be called an offensive foul. Yet he felt no remorse at all. The pent-up emotions in him dissipated, and his dunk had lit up the entire arena. Seeing the fans cheering enthusiastically, Greg Monroe felt that victory wasn’t far away. But what happened next stunned him—the referee called it a defensive foul on Josh McRoberts. Josh McRoberts wanted to argue, but the referee simply pointed expressionlessly at his feet. He looked down and realized his right foot was half in the three-second zone. Had he subconsciously taken a step back? This discovery filled him with unprecedented shame. For the first time in his life, he had chosen to avoid his opponent, even though it was just an instinctive reaction. It showed that fear had indeed taken hold of him in that moment. For a player, fighting spirit on the court is important, but it depends on the situation. Josh McRoberts tried to deny his actions by becoming more aggressive in his attacks, but a player who loses control becomes a double-edged sword—hurting both the opponent and himself. With three consecutive successful inside attacks by Josh McRoberts, Greg Monroe clearly sensed a change in him. What had once been a closely matched struggle now seemed to favor Josh McRoberts, especially after being elbowed by him during the positioning battle—his chest still ached from it.
John Kuester naturally noticed Josh McRoberts’ abnormal behavior, but he didn’t call a timeout. Josh McRoberts was clearly out of control at this point; his consecutive successes only reflected the weak offense from the other Pacers players. Jim O’Brien was probably the most hesitant at this stage. If he didn’t make a change in how he dealt with Josh McRoberts, the Pacers’ offense would become too monotonous. As long as the Pistons applied slight double-team pressure on him, the team’s offense would immediately get into trouble. Yet so far in the game, aside from Josh McRoberts, none of the other Pacers players had performed well enough to reassure Jim O’Brien. Rodney Stuckey took advantage of Josh McRoberts’ pick-and-roll to break through on the left, but Zhou Yi didn’t switch defenses but instead circled around Josh McRoberts to chase after Rodney Stuckey toward the baseline. Seeing this, Rodney Stuckey hesitated for a moment before changing his decision. “If they don’t switch, I’ll go alone.” Rodney Stuckey wasn’t slow; he left Zhou Yi behind and jumped for a short jumper. But just because he dodged Zhou Yi didn’t mean no one was guarding him. Andre Iguodala came in to help and secured a huge block on Rodney Stuckey. Greg Monroe picked up the ball and immediately looked for Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi drove past the half-court line, and just as Rodney Stuckey caught up, he passed the ball to McGrady. Then, after catching the ball, McGrady stopped in place. Zhou Yi ran over, took the ball from McGrady’s hands, and bypassed him. With a swift motion, Zhou Yi stopped abruptly and made a successful jump shot. Josh McRoberts tried the same tactic again, going one-on-one with Greg Monroe at the low post. His consecutive successes had inflated his confidence to an extreme. He noticed the threat behind him but ignored the threat coming from the side. In the Pistons’ entire defense, Greg Monroe was the cornerstone of the interior, Andre Iguodala was the most aggressive defensive weapon, while Zhou Yi was the all-around defender—present everywhere from the outside to the inside. Whenever there was even a slight opening in defense, he would appear out of nowhere, catching opponents off guard. In fact, many veteran players in the league possess such skills. They rely on their rich experience, keen sense of opportunity, and ability to seize opportunities. But they lack Zhou Yi’s physical condition, so they can’t pose as great a threat as he does.
“Snap!” A lightning-fast steal caught the Pacers off guard. As Josh McRoberts raised the ball to his chest, Zhou Yi acted decisively—grabbing it in a position where it seemed safe but also where the player was least alert. Zhou Yi’s pass was precise, reaching McGrady in the front court. Facing an empty paint, McGrady opted for a layup, easily scoring two points. Zhou Yi’s steal made Josh McRoberts even more anxious in his attacks. An occasional pass attempt by McRoberts was also disrupted by Andre Iguodala, as the Pistons began to restrict his offensive actions. The Pacers’ monotonous offense clearly couldn’t pull them out of trouble. Especially after Zhou Yi intensified their attacks, the Pistons regained a double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter, leading 76–61. Josh McRoberts scored another 11 points in that quarter, bringing his total to 29. Chapter 380: Pistons vs. Pacers (3) “Snap!” Josh McRoberts’ ball fell to the floor again, and Zhou Yi quickly picked it up. By then, McGrady was already speeding forward in the front court. Having experienced many successes in fast breaks, he was ready to retreat the moment Zhou Yi sneaked into the paint. Zhou Yi couldn’t help but smile—his teammates’ seamless coordination filled him with joy. But just as the ball was about to be passed, something unexpected happened in an instant. Josh McRoberts pushed him from behind, and unprepared Zhou Yi was forcibly pushed past the baseline. “Ah…” Zhou Yi, who had flown past the baseline, twisted his right ankle, and the excruciating pain made him cry out. John Kuester immediately called a timeout, but it was already too late. Greg Monroe, seeing Josh McRoberts’ action, was furious and punched hard with his clenched fist. Fortunately, Samuel Dalembert caught him in time, preventing further trouble. The Pistons’ team doctor rushed over and carefully examined Zhou Yi’s injury. After a while, he raised his head, but his serious expression worried the Pistons’ fans. “Coach, Zhou’s injury isn’t looking good. It’s the same spot as the sprain at the start of the game. It’s best to take him to the hospital for a thorough check-up right away.” The doctor’s report nearly broke John Kuester completely.
After Zhou Yi was pulled off the court by his teammates on the bench, Josh McRoberts was immediately sent off. Although Greg Monroe’s punch didn’t land, he was also called for a technical foul. Having lost both of their key players, the Pistons managed to maintain their lead and ultimately won 101–89, securing their second victory in this series. However, John Kuester did not appear at the post-game press conference; he had rushed to the medical room right after the game ended. By then, Zhou Yi’s examination results were in—his injury wasn’t serious, and he would be fine after a couple of days of rest. But for the third game between the two teams, it was advised by the team doctor that Zhou Yi should not play to avoid any recurrence of his injury. John Kuester finally breathed a sigh of relief—the two consecutive home wins gave the Pistons some respite. Taking a 2–0 lead into Indiana was the best outcome possible. As for Zhou Yi’s injury, John Kuester had already decided to have him rest for one game. With the Pistons’ current lineup, even if they couldn’t come away unscathed on the road, winning one game shouldn’t be a problem, and they still had the advantage of playing at home. While John Kuester was relieved, chaos reigned outside, especially among domestic and Detroit media. The Pistons’ successive playoff wins had raised expectations for the team. But at a time when everyone was hopeful, such an outrageous incident occurred during the game, particularly since it affected the team’s core player. Naturally, the media didn’t stay back and used their extensive platforms to exert significant pressure on the league. However, after John Kuester revealed Zhou Yi’s injury, the league, after some deliberation, only imposed a small fine on Josh McRoberts and no suspension, bringing the matter to a temporary halt. … Three days later, the Pistons traveled to Indiana to begin their two-game road trip. Before the game, an ESPN reporter reported that Chinese player Zhou Yi would not play in this match. John Kuester didn’t respond to this rumor, saying nothing was finalized yet. At 7:30 p.m., the third game between the Pistons and Pacers started. To the surprise of many fans, Zhou Yi was on the starting lineup.
Actually, John Kuester really wanted Zhou Yi to sit on the bench and rest for a day, but since Zhou Yi was very persistent, he reluctantly agreed to his request. However, he did put one condition: controlling Zhou Yi’s playing time.
The losses in the first two games forced Jim O’Brien to reevaluate his strategy. After some consideration, he adjusted the starting lineup—Roy Hibbert remained the center, while Jeff Foster took over as the power forward. In the previous game, Josh McRoberts’ lack of composure cost them their last chance to turn the game around, so Jim O’Brien decided to have Josh McRoberts sit on the bench as a lesson for him.
Additionally, Jeff Foster is taller than Josh McRoberts, which gives them an advantage in rebounding inside. The other players in the lineup are small forward Danny Granger, shooting guard Brandon Rush, and point guard Rodney Stuckey.
This adjustment was based not only on the performance of each player in the first two games but also aimed at enhancing the team’s height advantage. Danny Granger, who has the build of a power forward, plays at the small forward position, while Rodney Stuckey, as a point guard, is relatively tall.
Looking at the opponent’s player stats, John Kuester frowned deeply. Jim O’Brien’s lineup change seemingly reduced the team’s mobility, but it was specifically tailored for that game. In previous encounters, the Pistons hadn’t played their fast-paced offense but instead relied on defensive rebounds, repeatedly breaking the Pacers’ morale until they finally fell to the Pistons’ dominance.
The Pacers’ lineup change didn’t weaken their offensive capabilities; instead, they traded speed for defense and rebounds. In the first two games, the Pistons averaged 5 fewer rebounds than the Pacers, especially in offensive rebounds, meaning they had fewer second-chance opportunities.
Although they didn’t win the games by gaining a rebound advantage, Jim O’Brien clearly intended to further expand this advantage.
In the first two games, Greg Monroe, who was at a severe disadvantage in rebound battles, got lightly touched by Roy Hibbert’s right elbow after jumping, allowing Hibbert to easily push the ball away. “Swish”—being outplayed so easily by the opponent left Zhou Yi feeling frustrated.
With the shift from offense to defense, Zhou Yi slowly drove the ball across half-court. Rodney Stuckey was already waiting for him at the three-point line. Jim O’Brien’s lineup change was also intended to restrict Zhou Yi’s actions.
After several consecutive dribbles under his hip, Zhou Yi began to break through. His breakthrough skills go without saying, but he preferred to rely on speed to outmaneuver his opponents—pure speed, a pure visual spectacle. With his right foot stepping forward in an instant, Rodney Stuckey’s simple move prevented Zhou Yi from continuing his advance. He merely took a slight step forward, his extremely long reach almost encircling Zhou Yi’s entire body. Cheers erupted in the Consol Energy Center. Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance in the first two games had repeatedly frustrated the Pacers’ fans, and now, seeing Rodney Stuckey’s successful defense, they felt a sense of satisfaction after avenging themselves. After his joy, Jim O’Brien felt a hint of concern. Based on his understanding of Zhou Yi, he shouldn’t have been defended so easily, especially since Rodney Stuckey wasn’t very fast and Zhou Yi had enough time to react. But before he could remind Rodney Stuckey, Zhou Yi stepped back slightly. While his opponent was still guessing his intentions, he jumped up. At the distance between them, Rodney Stuckey’s hand inevitably touched Zhou Yi’s right hand holding the ball. With the limited space Zhou Yi had, jumping was already difficult, and this delay left him exhausted. Although he managed to throw the ball, it fell weakly halfway through its flight. “Ding”—the referee’s whistle sounded in time. This foul was merely an impulsive move by Zhou Yi, born out of his sense of urgency when facing Rodney Stuckey’s aggressive defense. Zhou Yi naturally wouldn’t miss the chance for a free throw, helping the Pistons take the lead away from home. The Pacers’ tactical changes also proved effective. In the first half of the first quarter, they held a clear advantage at the basket. Greg Monroe was constantly pressured by Jeff Foster starting from the tip-off. In previous games, Jeff Foster’s performance had been mediocre; when the team was in trouble, he failed to deliver under Greg Monroe’s pressure and faced criticism from Indiana media after each game. The team’s management was also extremely dissatisfied with his performance, and he harbored resentment. Danny Granger caught the ball, stepped back to dodge Andre Iguodala’s defense, and skillfully passed it to Jeff Foster. The pass was both clever and subtle, using the defenders’ bodies to move the ball inside under Greg Monroe’s watchful eyes.
From the start of the game until now, Greg Monroe and Jeff Foster have been fighting for position under the basket, each trying to claim that small area. Jeff Foster suddenly pulled back, lost his balance for a moment, and stumbled a couple of steps before easily dunking the ball into the hoop. Greg Monroe smiled helplessly. Throughout the playoffs, Jeff Foster has not been in good form, which made him somewhat underestimate him in this game. In the few minutes earlier, he hadn’t performed well under Monroe’s pressure, but it didn’t matter much. He considered himself a challenging player—the stronger the opponent, the more it stimulated his abilities. John Kuester called a timeout. Although the Pistons weren’t behind in score at this point, their performance was extremely poor, especially in rebounding, allowing the Pacers to capitalize repeatedly. There were also issues with their outside shooting; aside from Zhou Yi’s three free throws, the other nine points came from interior players. Ben Wallace, who had remained relatively quiet until now, hit all three of his shots, scoring the highest six points in the game so far. Chapter 381: Pistons vs. Pacers (4) After the timeout, the Pistons made adjustments to their lineup, with Will Bynum replacing McGrady. The reason for this change was to relieve Zhou Yi of the burden of controlling the ball. With the team’s outside shooters generally not in form, Zhou Yi became John Kuester’s last resort—a choice that had helped him turn the game around countless times before. With the ball, Will Bynum quickly moved across the court. Before he took the court, John Kuester repeatedly emphasized that the Pacers, frustrated by their losses in the first two games, had given up on speed. In that case, they should play their own game. The Pistons were known for their fast-paced offense, and as long as they maintained their rhythm, there would be no suspense in the game. Freed from the responsibility of controlling the ball, Zhou Yi felt extremely relaxed. He kept moving around the court, becoming a nightmare for the Pacers’ players. They couldn’t keep up with his speed, but they also couldn’t give up on defending him. Since the halfway point of the season, Zhou Yi’s three-point shots had become a nightmare for other teams. In the 41 regular-season games after the halfway point, Zhou Yi averaged 2.4 three-point shots per game, with a high success rate of 53.4%, especially when shooting from open positions, where he rarely missed.
Will Bynum’s passing is quite good, but unfortunately, his lack of overall game awareness severely limits his performance on the court, which is the biggest obstacle to him becoming a top-tier point guard. As soon as Zhou Yi reached the baseline, Will Bynum passed the ball, but his target was too obvious, and the passing speed wasn’t fast enough. By the time the ball reached Zhou Yi, Rodney Stuckey had already appeared in front of him, leaving no chance to shoot. “Thanks for those three free throws just now! Hehe…” Zhou Yi isn’t good at trash talk, nor does he like to use it during games. But he knows that although trash talk isn’t ideal, it can sometimes help him get past his opponent’s defense and gain some precious time—especially for a fast player like Zhou Yi, who can deliver a deadly shot with just a little extra time. Anyway, trash talk is already an accepted part of the league; every basketball superstar is good at it, even Michael Jordan often uses it during games, and no one seems to mind. Zhou Yi spoke standard Mandarin, so Rodney Stuckey naturally didn’t understand it. He was completely confused by those two short sentences and showed a surprised expression. That brief moment of confusion was enough for Zhou Yi to break through past him into the paint. Before the opposing player could react, he threw a high pass, and the ball gently landed in the basket. The Pacers had a significant advantage inside today—Jeff Foster and Roy Hibbert combined to trap Greg Monroe so tightly that he could barely move two steps, let alone grab rebounds. At the end of the first quarter, the Pistons were temporarily behind 21:26. John Kuester quickly freed Zhou Yi, preventing the opponent from widening the score gap. However, the interior problem still existed; if it wasn’t resolved, the score could easily widen at any moment. John Kuester was very troubled by this, but after looking at his team’s interior players, he could only shake his head. Watching Greg Monroe, drenched in sweat, John Kuester felt unprecedented pressure. He knew that if he didn’t solve the interior problem soon, Greg Monroe wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer under the double pressure from the opponent. Once even he couldn’t hold on, there would be no hope left for the game. But looking at the players on the bench, who could step in as the center?
He considered pushing Greg Monroe forward, but that would only be a temporary fix; reluctantly, he sent Samuel Dalembert instead. Affected by injuries, Samuel Dalembert’s performance was far from his usual level. At his current form, he was no match for Roy Hibbert, but his experience helped him hold his ground in the paint. More importantly, with him holding back the opponent, Greg Monroe was able to escape the double-team and gradually turn the tide in his confrontation with Jeff Foster. Zhou Yi hit a three-pointer from just outside the three-point line. A step away from him, Rodney Stuckey looked frustrated. The moment Greg Monroe passed the ball, he realized its target and quickly moved in front of Zhou Yi. Based on his usual experience, he had enough time to react at such a short distance, but Zhou Yi’s shot was too fast—by the time he tried to defend, Zhou Yi’s three-pointer had already been released, leaving him no chance to react. Rodney Stuckey’s pass easily went over Will Bynum’s head. Such a pass was indeed disheartening, but with a 13-centimeter height difference between the two, it wasn’t surprising, especially since the timing of the pass was also very short. After catching the ball, Roy Hibbert scored by throwing a small hook shot into the basket. Greg Monroe’s turnaround jump shot missed, while Zhou Yi, perched above Jeff Foster, effortlessly pushed the ball into the basket. Jeff Foster’s layup missed, and Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound, passing the ball to Zhou Yi. At that point, he was the only player for the Pacers on the court and scored two points with a simple three-step layup. Danny Granger brought the ball to outside the Pistons’ three-point line before passing it to Brandon Rush. Then, Danny Granger rushed to the corner outside the three-point line, received a pass back from Brandon Rush, and shot from outside the line. With a swish, Danny Granger scored a three-pointer. Zhou Yi also hit a three-pointer from the right wing baseline! Zhou Yi stole the ball in the middle of the court, easily outmaneuvered Rodney Stuckey with two quick passes, scored by shooting over Jeff Foster, and forced a foul, resulting in a 2+1 play. In just two minutes, Zhou Yi scored ten points alone, helping the Pistons launch a 10-0 run and successfully take the lead.
At the end of the first half, the Pistons led 56–50, holding a six-point advantage. Zhou Yi, whose offensive capabilities were fully unleashed, hit seven out of eight shots in that half, scoring 15 points through both field goals and free throws. Jim O’Brien’s hair seemed to turn gray all at once—just moments earlier the team had been in the lead, but in just two minutes, everything had completely reversed. Zhou Yi’s offensive surge not only helped the team take back the lead but also boosted their morale. ESPN’s on-site commentator took advantage of a pause in the game to comment: “The Pistons, who had held a decisive advantage in the first two games, faced a major setback at the start of this match, with all their outside shooters struggling to score. Greg Monroe was also under heavy pressure. After the second quarter began, John Kuester’s tactical change completely turned the game around. Thanks to Zhou Yi’s outstanding individual offensive skills, a 10–0 run allowed them to regain the lead. Although the results for Rookie of the Year haven’t been announced yet, Zhou Yi’s selection is almost certain. In the Pistons’ first two games of the round, it was his excellent and consistent performance that helped them take a 2–0 lead, which will undoubtedly earn them more points in the upcoming award selections. Although Blake Griffin also had impressive stats, his team’s poor record is clearly a major obstacle to him becoming Rookie of the Year.” The team regained the upper hand, and John Kuester was pleased with the results of his tactical changes. At the start of the second half, the Pacers didn’t change their lineup. Jim O’Brien was satisfied with their big man lineup. The reason the team lost the lead was mainly due to Zhou Yi’s sudden surge, though luck played a significant role as well. On the Pistons’ side, Will Bynum quickly drove to the other end of the court; he performed well in this game, making several clever passes that showed his skill. Rodney Stuckey’s defensive stance at that time seemed more focused on tracking Zhou Yi rather than the ball. From the start of the game, he stuck closely to Zhou Yi, never relaxing no matter where he went. The court was small enough that he couldn’t outrun him, and with the help of his teammates, Zhou Yi never got a chance to escape.
From the baseline to the top of the key, Zhou Yi made another back-and-forth movement. However, according to NBA rules, defenders must maintain at least one step of distance from attackers. Such a short gap might not matter to others, but for Zhou Yi, it was more than enough—especially given his agility and reflexes; a single step back was enough to get rid of his opponent’s defense.
After several failed attempts to break through, Will Bynum had no choice but to pass the ball to Greg Monroe.
Zhou Yi continued to move without the ball, using his outstanding skills to keep the Pacers’ defenders occupied. Although he didn’t have the ball, he at least drew the attention of at least two defenders, thus giving other players more opportunities.
Jeff Foster tightly covered Greg Monroe’s position. Monroe’s signature turnaround jump shot required space—at least enough room to turn around. But Jeff Foster wouldn’t give him that chance. After several physical confrontations, Monroe quickly passed the ball. His pass was sudden; while he was still locked in a struggle with Foster, the ball had already been thrown from the paint.
At that moment, Zhou Yi was at the baseline, with no room to maneuver in the middle of the court. Rodney Stuckey’s aggressive defense posed a serious challenge, and Brandon Rush was also closing in fast. If they managed to sandwich him, he would be in real trouble.
Zhou Yi crouched but didn’t stop moving. His upper body leaned forward rapidly, almost horizontal in the air. It seemed he was about to fall to the floor, but suddenly his left hand shot out, lightly touching the ground as his body shot forward like a cheetah. Such an impressive and astonishing move left the Pacers’ fans stunned.
But it wasn’t over yet. Due to this delay, Brandon Rush had already appeared in front of him. Zhou Yi’s situation was even more precarious now than before—his center of gravity was still in the air. He needed time and space to adjust his balance; otherwise, it would be pointless. From his current position, there was no chance of making a shot—his only vague idea was of where the basket was in the chaos.
Brandon Rush didn’t rush to grab the ball. With Zhou Yi in that position, if pressured too much, he could simply fall backward, pressing the ball under him, making it impossible for anyone to take it from him. At most, the Pistons could call a timeout.
Giving Zhou Yi hope made him try every means to adjust his stance. During this process, Zhou Yi’s defense became vulnerable, and his chance arrived—he just needed to wait quietly. Everything went as he wished. Zhou Yi used strength in his waist, gradually lifting his upper body, and the opportunity he had been waiting for came—he quickly moved in close. Having been in the league for so long, Brandon Rush was only a second- or third-rate player at his peak, but over the years he hadn’t wasted his time; he had his own ways of controlling the pace of the game. Jim O’Brien could trust Rodney Stuckey to back him up. Brandon Rush was secretly delighted; his fingers could already sense the basketball, but just as a faint smile appeared on his lips, the ball disappeared instantly. While Brandon Rush’s mind went blank, Zhou Yi’s brilliant pass came into view for all the fans. Zhou Yi’s actions matched what Brandon Rush had predicted. But the moment he reached out, Zhou Yi passed the ball beneath him—45 degrees to the right, where Will Bynum stood alone. There were no defenders around him; their attention was focused on Zhou Yi. Despite facing several dangerous situations, Zhou Yi managed to overcome them time and time again, especially with that incredible pass to Brandon Rush. The ball reached Will Bynum, who immediately took a three-point shot. His excellent shooting skills sent the ball straight into the basket. The Consol Energy Center fell silent—Zhou Yi’s bizarre pass was truly remarkable. But having their opponent act so freely on their own court, the Pacers’ fans naturally found it hard to accept. They were reluctant to applaud such a brilliant pass, and even boos seemed impossible. Taking advantage of a dead ball, the Pacers called a timeout to reorganize their lineup. Chapter 382: Pistons vs. Pacers (5) The timeout ended, and the players returned to the court. It was the Pistons’ turn to possess the ball. Zhou Yi took the inbound pass from his teammate at the baseline and quickly drove the ball across half-court. His defender was Darren Collison. Though Zhou Yi didn’t take his defense lightly, he remained relatively calm compared to others.
As is well known, Darren Collison’s defense has always been his weakness. Yet his defensive skills cannot be ignored either; his speed is among the best in the league, and he is modeled after the Hornets’ star player, Chris Paul. Even while on the Hornets, Darren Collison was Chris Paul’s best backup. Before Rodney Stuckey was traded to the Pacers, he served as the Pacers’ starting point guard. Moreover, Darren Collison is young and known for his endurance. Although his steals may not be outstanding, his close defense and speed make him a real hassle for players trying to break free. Zhou Yi didn’t force his way through but quickly passed the ball to McGrady. Against a team like the Pacers, tactics and playing styles need to change—flexible passing, active movement from perimeter players, and higher demands on the speed of interior players. McGrady feinted, broke through the Pacers’ defenders, and hit a mid-range jump shot to give the Pistons 2 points. On the Pacers’ side, Danny Granger broke past Andre Iguodala and completed a beautiful pull-up layup to score. Seeing their star player finally explode, the fans at Conseco Fieldhouse immediately cheered loudly. After Zhou Yi broke through, the ball was promptly passed to Andre Iguodala at the baseline. His three-point attempt missed, and Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound. Leaning against Josh McRoberts, he slowly moved toward the three-second line. Greg Monroe slightly bent his left elbow to push back against Josh McRoberts, creating space, then easily jumped up and hit a hook shot. With a sigh of relief, Greg Monroe wiped the sweat from his forehead. Josh McRoberts is not only strong but also powerful. Covering just a short distance of two or three steps took him a lot of effort. His final hook shot felt off, but luckily, the ball bounced a few times on the rim before finally going in. Josh McRoberts pulled to the perimeter to set a screen for Darren Collison. Under Zhou Yi’s defense, Darren Collison wasn’t as effortless as in previous games, especially when trying to break through. Several times he seemed on the verge of success, only for Zhou Yi to mysteriously appear in front of him.
After multiple failed attempts to break through, they had to rely more on their teammates to block shots. Darren Collison quickly broke through from the middle and entered the three-second zone, but Greg Monroe was already waiting firmly inside. Seeing no good chance to shoot, and given Darren Collison’s playing style, he naturally wouldn’t shoot so easily; with a slight flick of his wrist, the ball quickly found its way to Josh McRoberts’ hands. By then, Greg Monroe had already gone to defend Darren Collison, and the other Pistons players hadn’t yet had time to cover him. He stretched out his arm effortlessly and dunked the ball into the basket. Zhou Yi passed the ball long to the inside, where Greg Monroe used a convincing fake move to easily deceive Josh McRoberts, sending the ball through the net. Darren Collison passed the ball for a break, and D’Ante Brandon Rush hit a three-pointer from the right wing. A passing mistake by the Pistons allowed Darren Collison, Josh McRoberts, and D’Ante Brandon Rush to easily outnumber the defense 3 against 2, with Darren Collison finishing with an inside shot. Zhou Yi suddenly jumped from about one meter outside the three-point line and scored. This three-pointer was extremely sudden; Darren Collison hadn’t expected him to shoot from such a distance. Perhaps inspired by the home crowd and unwilling to lose this game at home or get swept out by their opponents, the Pacers played very aggressively and well in the third quarter. John Kuester naturally had nothing to say about his players’ performance—they were definitely outstanding, though it seemed the Pacers truly unleashed their full potential. They found their rhythm at the start of the third quarter, excelling both inside and outside the paint. John Kuester’s strategy of a high-scoring battle during the halftime break was also aimed at forcing the opponent to score heavily. After calling a timeout and encouraging the players, John Kuester still insisted on using a fast-break strategy. The Pacers made adjustments to their lineup, with Rodney Stuckey and Brandon Rush replacing Darren Collison and D’Ante Jones respectively. Such a change didn’t significantly weaken the Pacers’ offensive power, as both new players were excellent scorers. On the Pistons’ side, McGrady also left the court, replaced by Ben Gordon. Rodney Stuckey quickly drove the ball across half-court and passed it out shortly after crossing.
After catching the ball, Brandon Rush quickly tapped it on the ground, changed direction, and rushed toward the paint. Ben Gordon appeared in front of him almost at the same time; seeing no chance to shoot, Brandon Rush didn’t hesitate at all. He stepped back and passed the ball diagonally across the court, over the heads of two Pistons players, to Rodney Stuckey at the right baseline.
The moment he threw the pass, Greg Monroe realized its purpose and immediately moved outside to provide coverage. With Samuel Dalembert in the paint, he only needed to cover briefly to give his teammates some time before he could retreat back inside.
As Greg Monroe stepped out to cover, Rodney Stuckey glanced at the flying ball, gently supported it with his right hand, applied a slight force, and sent the ball quickly back in its original direction. Greg Monroe helplessly watched the ball fly over his head. The Pacers’ playing style involved flexible passing, with all the players on the court having decent passing skills. They never forced shots if there wasn’t a chance. Their goal was always to get the ball to an unguarded player as quickly as possible. Although the Pacers relied on fast breaks, with each attack usually taking only thirteen or fourteen seconds, they were patient in this regard. This was Jim O’Brien’s top priority when selecting players—except for point guards, no other player should hold the ball too tightly.
Josh McRoberts lightly jumped and quickly grabbed the ball. Bending his body slightly, he pressed his back tightly against Samuel Dalembert, applied a bit of force to create some distance between them, and raised his right wrist high—clearly getting ready to take a hook shot.
Samuel Dalembert wouldn’t slack off. After being pushed away, he immediately pressed closer again, exerting force through their touching bodies, thereby putting pressure on Josh McRoberts. After all, at the moment a player takes a shot, their defense is at its weakest. Without positioning, the chances of making a shot are much lower than when defending by jumping.
Josh McRoberts sneered. Samuel Dalembert’s approach wasn’t wrong—it was actually quite correct.
With one defender guarding two at the basket, it’s not wise to jump recklessly. But after all, being alone and outnumbered, he quickly pulled his right wrist behind his back, tapped the ball lightly on the ground, and it bounced just right to Roy Hibbert, who was now unguarded. With a loud shout, he leaped high, his right wrist thrown back dramatically.
“Boom!” The thunderous dunk completely ignited the atmosphere in the Consol Energy Center. That’s what made this arena special—no matter what the team’s situation, the fans’ cheers never faded.
The Pistons started from the baseline, and Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball past half-court. Rodney Stuckey, guarding him, looked serious and didn’t dare be careless.
Zhou Yi didn’t rush to break through. Standing outside the three-point line, he controlled the ball rhythmically.
Taking advantage of the moment Rodney Stuckey’s attention was distracted, he easily broke through by changing direction. Once he started moving, Zhou Yi remained calm—given his speed, no one in the league could catch up to him over such a short distance.
With Josh McRoberts coming over to help defend, Zhou Yi wasn’t flustered at all. Though he had been ready to shoot earlier, scoring didn’t necessarily require him to take a shot himself. He preferred the satisfaction of passing the ball. He planted his right foot on the ground, spun 180 degrees on the spot, and leaned into Josh McRoberts’ arms. Pushing the ball forward with both hands, it flew straight into the paint and landed in the hands of Ben Gordon, who was unguarded on the right wing. Gordon caught the ball, jumped, and swished it through the net.
Josh McRoberts’ jumper from the left wing missed, and Roy Hibbert quickly pushed the ball into the basket.
Zhou Yi hit a three-pointer from above the arc. For this shot, Greg Monroe was the main contributor—his clever pass drew the Pacers’ defenders away, leaving Zhou Yi unguarded.
Roy Hibbert’s aggressive drive at the basket failed, and Greg Monroe gently pushed with his right elbow against Josh McRoberts’ waist, allowing the ball to fall into his hands. With a long pass, Zhou Yi, who had already positioned himself in the middle of the court, scored easily.
It was Danny Granger again!
Facing Andre Iguodala’s defense, Danny Granger hit a three-pointer right away.
“Truly the leader of the Pacers—able to hit such a three even under direct defense from Andre Iguodala,” Zhou Yi murmured, shaking his head.
Reg Monroe caught a clever pass from a teammate, dunked for a score, and also drew a foul on Roy Hibbert, securing a 2+1.
In this game, the Pistons were lucky—this was the fourth time they had managed a 2+1 play successfully. A passing mistake by Rodney Stuckey allowed Greg Monroe to easily steal the ball, and with a long pass across the court, he assisted Ben Gordon in scoring, giving the Pistons their first lead of double digits in the game. Taking advantage of a dead ball, Darren Collison was brought back in, and John Kuester used the opportunity to replace Zhou Yi. The fast pace of the game quickly depleted Zhou Yi’s energy, so he was taken off the court for a few minutes to rest for the rest of the game. John Kuester had been focusing on the Pacers’ fatigue; he believed that by the end of the fourth quarter, when the Pacers showed signs of tiredness, having Zhou Yi back on the court would allow them to win easily. However, within three minutes of Zhou Yi being taken off, the Pistons faced a crisis. Led by the Pacers’ star Danny Granger, they scored a 11-2 run, reducing the Pistons’ hard-earned 11-point lead to just a 2-point advantage. In those three minutes, Danny Granger scored 7 points alone, demonstrating the value of a core player. John Kuester couldn’t sit idly and quickly called a timeout, with two minutes and eleven seconds left in the third quarter. After the timeout, Zhou Yi returned to the court. It was the playoffs, and John Kuester didn’t want to take risks. Although fatigue was a challenge for Zhou Yi, after seeing his determined expression, John Kuester had no choice but to put him back on the court again. Zhou Yi moved slowly toward the half-court, but his mind was in turmoil. Seeing Darren Collison just a few steps away, he was full of confidence. He had always been wary of Collison’s speed, but his defense was weak, allowing him to break through easily. Yet things weren’t that simple—in a team like the Pacers that focused more on offense than defense, there would surely be countermeasures other than Darren Collison. At that moment, Darren Collison also couldn’t afford to slack off. Zhou Yi moved slowly but gave off a sense of stability. The Pacers’ players didn’t try to steal the ball recklessly; given Zhou Yi’s expression, his chances of carelessness were minimal. In the hands of such an excellent ball handler, only if he made a slight mistake during a breakthrough would their defense show any weakness and allow the opponent to steal the ball.
As the two players drew closer, Darren Collison could sense the determination in Zhou Yi’s gaze. He crouched slightly and spread his arms a bit. He made up his mind in his heart—he had to block this shot no matter what. Even if he couldn’t block it completely, he would at least buy time for his teammates to come to help. He was almost certain that Zhou Yi wouldn’t choose to pass the ball. Although such a play went against Zhou Yi’s style, special circumstances required special measures. Even Darren Collison, who usually preferred passing, didn’t think there was anything wrong with Zhou Yi taking a shot alone at this moment. He slapped the ball twice firmly, his muscles tensing instantly, his sharp eyes narrowing, and an unstoppable momentum emanating from him. When Zhou Yi broke past Darren Collison, his quick reflexes allowed him to react immediately, but his movements were still a step slow. Only then did he realize his palms were covered in sweat. Zhou Yi’s quick stop-and-shoot was successful, and Josh McRoberts, who was trying to help defensively, was still a step behind. But it wasn’t his fault—he never expected Darren Collison to be broken through so easily. After all, defense wasn’t Darren Collison’s strongest suit. John Kuester finally sat back down. His bottom hadn’t touched the seat during those half an hour. The moment the ball went through the basket, he saw the Pistons’ players regain their fighting spirit. The lost morale couldn’t be regained in just a short time. The Pacers’ tactics made it difficult for the Pistons to cope. Fortunately, Zhou Yi’s entry reduced the pressure on Greg Monroe in the paint. Two crucial one-on-one situations widened the score gap to over 5 points, preventing the Pacers from narrowing it further. John Kuester was quite satisfied with the current situation on the court. Although the other players hadn’t scored yet, they were gradually returning to their normal defensive form. The Pacers’ offense had been going well so far, but it wasn’t as effortless as before. Josh McRoberts pulled back to the perimeter to help defend, while Darren Collison slipped to the baseline. He adjusted his stance to maintain a smooth shooting rhythm and released the ball in a perfect shooting form. The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air, and Darren Collison clenched his right fist tightly. Many fans in the Consol Energy Center let out sharp cries. “Clang”—Darren Collison’s seemingly sure-shot attempt accidentally missed, and his tightly clenched hands relaxed unconsciously.
Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound and passed it to Zhou Yi, then immediately rushed toward the front court. At this point in the game, Greg Monroe felt quite frustrated—watching the Pacers’ shorter players dunk right in front of his eyes while he was blocked by Josh McRoberts, allowing the Pistons to run rampant in their own paint.
Zhou Yi moved extremely fast; neither the Pistons nor the Pacers could keep up with him, not even Darren Collison, who was left several steps behind. The only threat to him was Josh McRoberts, who had stayed in the middle of the court. By the time Darren Collison tried to shoot, Josh McRoberts had already quickly returned to defense. He thought Darren Collison was unlikely to miss such a shot, but unexpectedly, it worked in Zhou Yi’s favor.
Now Zhou Yi was in a very awkward situation—Josh McRoberts was watching him closely from ahead, while Darren Collison and the other Pacers players followed closely behind. If he made the slightest mistake, he would be trapped between two forces. Even the closest Pistons player was several meters behind Darren Collison, leaving him on his own.
Positional play wasn’t Josh McRoberts’s strength. Given his build, small forward was actually his most suitable position. Fortunately, his extraordinary arm reach gave him more options in defense. Against tough players like Greg Monroe, his defense wasn’t very effective, but against outside shooters, especially those driving to the basket, his long arms were like swords hanging over their heads.
As Zhou Yi approached the three-point line and free-throw line, Josh McRoberts became highly focused. Since joining the NBA, he had learned one thing: no matter who his opponent was, he had to give his all in defense. Everyone who made it to the NBA was skilled, each with their own strengths. In many classic games, it was often the unsung players who decided the outcome. And a player like Zhou Yi definitely had the ability to create miracles on the court.
To his surprise, Zhou Yi stopped at the free-throw line. Josh McRoberts grew anxious—was it that trick again, a sudden stop and jump shot?
Many people in the league can do this, but few are truly skilled at it. The stop-and-shoot move requires a high level of physical coordination and touch. Yet the man before him seemed exceptionally good at it. In their previous encounters, Zhou Yi had repeatedly executed brilliant stop-and-shoot shots after breaking through, driving the Pacers’ defenders to the brink of frustration.
Josh McRoberts was ultimately faster, jumping quickly to completely block Zhou Yi’s shooting angle. He was confident that if Zhou Yi tried to shoot, he could definitely swat the ball away.
Josh McRoberts’ defense was indeed solid—reacting so swiftly was a quality every defensive player should possess. However, his aggressive defensive moves were unwise under these circumstances, as the paint was empty and the Pistons’ players could rush in to score at any moment.
With a slight smile, Zhou Yi quickly controlled his body. His physical abilities were outstanding—he managed to stop his rising body just before jumping, lowering his center of gravity slightly before darting past Josh McRoberts in a crouched position. With a gentle shake of his wrist, he sent the ball through the net.
“Wow…” The entire arena was in awe!
Yu Jia in the court’s live broadcast room excitedly analyzed what appeared to be an ordinary layup, revealing Zhou Yi’s exceptional skills. To be able to stop a rising body during a stop-and-shoot move demands incredible physical fitness. Moreover, despite being pressured by Josh McRoberts and Darren Collison, he remained completely calm, completing the entire offensive sequence with a single layup—proof of his composure in critical moments.
It seemed the Pacers’ luck ran out when Darren Collison’s shot missed. Several consecutive attacks ended in failure.
While the Pistons’ players also struggled to find their rhythm, they still managed a 9-2 run. Jim O’Brien had no choice but to call a timeout.
Just after Zhou Yi left the court, his team had managed to mount a strong counterattack led by Danny Granger, narrowing the score gap to 2 points. But once this Chinese player took over, the Pistons regained control of the game. Jim O’Brien felt desperate.
Chapter 383: Pistons vs. Pacers (6)
After the pause, the Pacers, fueled by the combined efforts of Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts, launched a 13-2 run that not only tied the score but also gave them a 2-point lead for the first time. The Pistons’ fighting spirit was once again dealt a heavy blow—John Kuester sat down on the bench as their temporary lead was not only erased but reversed by their opponents. However, there were still positives: the Pacers’ offense was no longer as sharp as in the first half, and physical exhaustion was starting to show, but the lead they had at that point was enough to give them an advantage.