Chapter 167

Just two minutes into the fourth quarter, and the Pacers still had a chance to narrow the gap, so Jim O’Brien planned to bring Josh McRoberts back in with about four minutes left in the game. However, he was concerned about whether his team could close the gap during the time Josh McRoberts was out. Josh McRoberts’ departure completely disrupted the balance inside the paint for both teams. Solomon Jones’ performance this season had declined significantly; he was unable to pose any threat to Greg Monroe inside. In the first half of the fourth quarter, the Pistons took advantage of their superior strength inside to push the score to 104–87, leading by 17 points. During that period, Greg Monroe scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds alone, playing a key role in expanding the Pistons’ lead. The Pacers, trailing at home, launched a fierce offensive push in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, with Danny Granger scoring 8 points on his own. But the Pistons held their ground thanks to their strong interior play. Greg Monroe continued his outstanding performance from earlier in the quarter, scoring repeatedly inside. With four minutes left, the Pistons still led by around 15 points. Jim O’Brien had to call a timeout. He hadn’t given up, and he believed his players hadn’t given up either, so he decided to try one more time and bring Josh McRoberts back in. Unfortunately, before Josh McRoberts could even touch the ball, Zhou Yi’s drive resulted in a blocking foul, earning him his sixth foul and forcing him to leave the game. What made Jim O’Brien even more frustrated was that Danny Granger also lost his touch at the last moment. As a result, the Pacers lost all hope of turning the game around. In the end, the Pistons, thanks to Greg Monroe’s explosive performance in the fourth quarter, defeated the Pacers 118–101 away from home. With this win, the Pistons completed a 4–0 sweep of the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first team to advance to the second round of the playoffs. The Pacers, naturally, were swept 4–0 by their opponents and became the first of the 16 teams to be eliminated.

However, the home crowd was not as sad as expected; instead, they all stood up and gave the home team enthusiastic applause and cheers, which brought tears to some of the home team players.
In this game, Greg Monroe scored a personal playoff high of 33 points, with 19 of those coming in the fourth quarter—the highest score he has ever recorded in a single quarter. He also added 14 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Zhou Yi continued to perform outstandingly, scoring 31 points, providing 13 assists, grabbing 9 rebounds, stealing 4 balls, and blocking 2 shots—almost achieving a triple-double—and rightfully became the most valuable player of the game.
At the post-game press conference, John Kuester was very excited. This is understandable, as in his first two seasons coaching the Pistons, they failed to make the playoffs at all. This season, not only did they make the playoffs, but they also reached the second round.
However, the second round is not their current goal; their aim is to win this season’s championship trophy.
During the press conference, John Kuester generously praised players like Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi, in particular, was the focus of his praise.
Naturally, Zhou Yi also became the focus of media interviews, even overshadowing head coach John Kuester.
Chapter 390: Watching the Game at United Center
The Pistons became the first team in the playoffs to advance to the second round. Their next opponent will be determined between the Bulls and the Magic.
Currently, the Bulls and Magic are tied at 2-2, making it hard to say who will advance to the next round. But this is not necessarily a bad thing for the Pistons.
The longer those two teams play, the more time the Pistons have to rest and adjust. Moreover, if they play seven games, whichever team wins will face severe fatigue in their subsequent matches.
While the Pistons advanced to the next round ahead of schedule, other games were still in full swing.
On April 26, the home-court Magic team defeated the Bulls 102-84, tying the series 2-2.
The fifth game between the two teams will be held on April 29 at the Bulls’ home court, United Center. Even under the most conservative estimates, the first round will end at least six days later, giving the Pistons at least a week to prepare.

After such a long time, the Pistons’ coaching staff was quite troubled. If they rushed to train, the schedules of the Bulls and Magic were unclear, leaving them without targeted training—essentially trying to figure things out blindly. On the other hand, if they took time off, just a few days of delay could make the players lose focus, making the games even harder to play. After much consideration, the team decided to take a four-day break first; by then, the situation would likely be clearer, and those few days would be enough for them to prepare.

During this time, Mo Keer didn’t disturb Zhou Yi. She knew his schedule was extremely tight, and her own studies were also very demanding lately. So aside from calling Zhou Yi to ease their longing, she didn’t see him very often.

Without Mo Keer around, Zhou Yi didn’t feel like playing either. Besides, he didn’t want to go see her now since the matter with Xiang Yun hadn’t been resolved yet. However, he was somewhat relieved that Xiang Yun had fully recovered from his previous injuries, so he could plan to talk to him sometime.

Of course, now wasn’t the right time, as this period was crucial for Zhou Yi.

The fifth game between the Magic and Bulls would take place on April 29th at the arena. In the previous four games, the two teams were tied at 2:2.

But in Zhou Yi’s opinion, it wouldn’t be easy for the Magic to win the series. The Bulls lost the first two games mainly because their star player, Derrick Rose, suffered a minor ankle injury in the third game, which affected his performance in both the third and fourth games.

Before the fifth game started, media reports announced that Derrick Rose’s ankle had fully recovered and would no longer cause any issues. So in this fifth game, if Derrick Rose adjusted well, the Bulls had a great chance of winning.

For the fifth game between the Magic and Bulls, Zhou Yi went to the Bulls’ home arena, United Center, to watch the match. To avoid being recognized and causing unnecessary trouble, he wore a hat and large sunglasses.

At 7 p.m., the game between the Bulls and Magic began.

“I need to watch this game carefully to analyze the tactics of the Bulls and Magic in the playoffs. Although the Bulls are stronger than the Magic, I still hope the Bulls will win. Howard of the Magic is extremely dangerous in the paint and hard to deal with. From the first four games between the Magic and Bulls, it’s clear that Howard is in top form in the playoffs. If not for Rose’s outstanding performance in the first two games, the Bulls would be in trouble. I really hope the Bulls win in the end; that way, I can face Rose again.” Thinking of this, Zhou Yi clenched his fists.

Derrick Rose had always been one of the players he wanted to face. Facing these top-tier point guards made Zhou Yi’s fighting spirit even stronger.

The game started on time at seven o’clock. Tom Thibodeau also used the last moments to motivate his team, saying excitedly, “Everyone must maintain a steady mindset. No matter what opponent we face, as long as we stick to our playing style and work hard on defense to contain that ‘monster’ in the paint, we will definitely win this game.”

“Okay!” Derrick Rose replied loudly, creating a tense atmosphere. Inspired by him, the other players also became highly motivated.

The Magic’s starting five were: center Dwight Howard, power forward Brandon Bass, shooting forward Hedo Turkoglu, point guard Jason Richardson, and shooting guard Jamal Nelson.

The Bulls’ starting lineup was: center Joakim Noah, power forward Carlos Boozer, shooting forward Ron Artest, point guard Keith Bogans, and point guard Derrick Rose.

Dwight Howard’s Superman-like jumping ability allowed him to get to the ball first. Jason Richardson quickly grabbed it.

Jason Richardson passed the ball to Jamal Nelson, who began to organize the Magic’s offense.

The Magic’s first offensive play went to Howard, the “monster” in the paint. Dwight Howard attacked Joakim Noah under the basket, spun past him, and secured a shooting opportunity.

Unfortunately, the ball bounced off the rim, and Carlos Boozer blocked Brandon Bass to grab the defensive rebound.

“The combination of Boozer and Noah is really strong. If the Bulls advance, it will be tough for us!” Zhou Yi sighed after seeing the coordination between Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah.

By this time, Derrick Rose had already rushed down the sideline toward the opponent’s half, with no one around him. Seeing this, Keith Bogans was delighted and quickly passed the ball diagonally. Unfortunately, he only paid attention to Derrick Rose and didn’t notice what was happening around him. At the moment the ball was passed, a dark figure flashed past him like a whirlwind. Jason Richardson touched the ball with his fingertips, changing its trajectory, but with his speed, he naturally couldn’t keep up with the fast-moving basketball. He could only watch helplessly as it flew over the sideline. Still, it disrupted the Bulls’ fast break attempt. As time passed, Keith Bogans managed to pass the ball to Carlos Boozer. Behind Derrick Rose, Jamal Nelson kept chasing him. During the free throw at the sideline, Keith Bogans tried several times to pass the ball to him, but Jamal Nelson kept interfering. Derrick Rose cut straight into the paint from the baseline. In the narrow space at the baseline, Jamal Nelson had no choice but to stop—after all, his bulky frame couldn’t fit through there. Fortunately, he didn’t have the ball. Thanks to nearly a year of teamwork, when Derrick Rose penetrated the basket, Carlos Boozer used his body as a shield to pass the ball to him, then quickly turned around to block Dwight Howard’s path. Without hesitation, Derrick Rose leaped lightly against Dwight Howard’s back, tilting his upper body slightly in the air and shaking his wrist gently as the ball went through the hoop. The crisp sound of the net made Dwight Howard turn around in confusion—he had no idea when the ball ended up in Derrick Rose’s hands. “Rose’s speed is still so fast. It seems his ankle isn’t seriously injured,” Zhou Yi thought to himself as he watched Derrick Rose rush toward his half. Using Jason Richardson as a shield, Jamal Nelson got free from Derrick Rose and made a lightning-fast break, reaching the paint ahead of Carlos Boozer to attempt a forceful layup against Joakim Noah. “Bang, bang, bang…” The ball bounced lightly off the rim a few times before finally falling through. The referee’s whistle sounded immediately, calling a foul on Joakim Noah, giving Jamal Nelson a 2+1 opportunity.

Jamal Nelson naturally wouldn’t miss the chance for a 2+1, sinking the free throw. After receiving the ball, Derrick Rose didn’t rush across half-court immediately but let his teammates flood into the opponent’s defense. In terms of scoring ability, the Magic’s starting lineup was no match for the Bulls’. Among the Bulls’ five starters, aside from Keith Bogans, the other four could average 20 points per game. Especially at the small forward position, Hedo Turkoglu clearly couldn’t keep up with Ron Artest; his only advantage was his rich experience and composure in critical moments. Indeed, extensive playing experience is undoubtedly a valuable asset in the playoffs. But in a game, experience alone is far from enough—it can only help a team perform beyond normal expectations at certain times, which is why players like Hedo Turkoglu exist as “clutch players.” At critical moments, their experience allows them to stay more rational and calm than ordinary players, knowing what the best move is. Yet such moments are short, and you can’t expect these so-called “clutch players” to perform in every critical situation. Moreover, the current Hedo Turkoglu is not the same as the one from 2009. Just half a court away, Hedo Turkoglu was already several steps behind by his opponent, and Derrick Rose’s pass quickly reached Ron Artest at the zero-degree angle at the baseline. Hedo Turkoglu turned to try to steal the ball, but reality cruelly mocked his foolish move. Either Derrick Rose would attack on his own instead of passing, or his passes were always fast, accurate, and precise. Whenever his teammates were in a favorable position, his passes would reach them immediately. His exceptional ability to penetrate was a key feature of his passing. He seemed to always find weaknesses in the opponent’s defense, and his steady passing was what allowed him to succeed. As long as his teammates didn’t make any extraordinary moves, his passes were rarely mistaken. Ron Artest’s shooting motion was very smooth; he seemed to have a natural talent for shooting. You could see the traits of a true shooter in him—not only a strong physique but also astonishing shooting ability. With a swish, from the zero-degree angle at the baseline on the other side, Ron Artest’s jump shot went in.

“Swish” — Carlos Boozer stepped back under the basket, turned, and hit a jump shot. Unlike his insane scoring in previous games, at the start of this match, Derrick Rose clearly focused more on organizing the offense.
“It seems Rose is going to be the passing master today, hehe…” Zhou Yi said to himself with a smile.
With six minutes and twenty seconds left in the game, the Bulls led by five points, 15-10, and Stan Van Gundy reluctantly called a timeout.
To curb Derrick Rose’s frenzied scoring from the previous round, he sent in the team’s best one-on-one defender from the start, but unexpectedly, Derrick Rose avoided the strong defenders and used passes to create scoring opportunities for his teammates, especially Raoul Dunleavy, who hit two three-pointers in just half a quarter.
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
In this match, Zhou Yi sat on the sidelines observing, memorizing every detail. He would never give up the chance to identify the weaknesses of both teams.
As soon as the game restarted, Jason Richardson charged forward after catching the ball. His opponent was Keith Bogans. After brief physical contact, Keith Bogans stepped back several times, and Jason Richardson quickly stepped left and hit a shot from beyond the three-point line.
Just three minutes later, the Bulls experienced the same frustration as the Magic earlier — Jason Richardson used his strong driving ability to score three times in a row from outside, including one three-pointer, scoring seven points in a row to help the Magic tie the score.
Left with no choice, Raoul Dunleavy had to defend out of position to contain Jason Richardson’s frenzy. By the end of the first quarter, the score was 25-25, with Jason Richardson scoring nine points for the Magic.
Keith Bogans sat on the bench, pale. Although it was only one quarter, under Jason Richardson’s constant pressure, he endured immense mental strain, feeling extremely tired. His right hand trembled so much that he could barely hold a drink bottle.
At the start of the second quarter, the Bulls made adjustments to their lineup — Kyle Korver replaced Keith Bogans, and Kurt Thomas replaced Joakim Noah.
“Thud” — Dwight Howard’s signature powerful dunk.
For Dwight Howard, as long as he was given a slight opening, he could complete a dunk.
Derrick Rose quickly drove the ball across half-court, with Jamar Nelson defending him at the time.

Jamal Nelson’s speed ranks among the best in the league. The Magic, in addition to having a top-tier outside shooter like Hedo Turkoglu, also boast the fastest backcourt duo in the league: Jamal Nelson and Jason Richardson. Although Richardson may be slightly slower, he far surpasses Nelson in both defense and driving ability. As a result, it’s difficult for opposing teams’ star outside shooters to get any opportunities during the rotations of these three players on the Magic’s team.

Jamal Nelson disrupts all attempts at quick changes of direction. Yet, while driving at high speed, Derrick Rose can still spot his opponent’s position out of the corner of his eye. With a quick turn, he passes the ball to a spot at a 45-degree angle on the right wing.

Kyle Korver quickly catches the ball and jumps up, but before he can shoot, the ball is snatched from his hands mid-air.

“Is it Hedo Turkoglu?” Zhou Yi asked in surprise.

Hedo Turkoglu, once known as the “Clutch Player,” has seen a significant drop in form this season. Yet, he can still bring surprises to his team in critical moments.

Korver handled that ball terribly. When Rose passed it to him, he didn’t move to catch it immediately but waited for it to come to him. This gave Turkoglu, who was several steps away, enough time to close in. Moreover, when shooting, he failed to notice another player beside him, resulting in poor ball protection and a scene that left Bulls fans sighing in disappointment.

Jamal Nelson hits a layup.

After the start of the second quarter, the Bulls’ offense suddenly stalled. They missed five shots in a row, including Derrick Rose’s free throw attempt. In contrast, the Magic kept pushing forward, causing the scoreboard to keep rising with each drive.

“The Bulls’ offense is having problems. At this point, Rose should try to shoot more. The Magic players simply can’t stop him. As the team’s core player, he needs to step up in such situations,” Zhou Yi said helplessly while watching the game.

Since becoming good friends with Derrick Rose, Zhou Yi often keeps in touch with him via phone or the internet, and their relationship is very good.

“32:25.” Looking at the bright red numbers on the scoreboard, Derek Rose remained exceptionally calm. Seeing the trust in his coach’s eyes and the anticipation from his teammates, he knew exactly what he had to do.
Jamal Nelson, who was guarding him closely, seemed to sense Derek Rose’s change. He glanced at him doubtfully; beads of sweat glistened on his sharp features under the lights. The basketball, constantly bouncing to Derek Rose’s right, seemed to remind him of what needed to be done.
A shadow flashed past Jamal Nelson’s eyes. By the time he turned to look, Derek Rose had already slipped away and quickly made his way toward the Magic’s interior players.
Kyle Korver seemed to understand Derek Rose’s intentions. He didn’t hold onto the ball long—passing it as soon as he got it.
Watching the ball’s trajectory, Jamal Nelson also realized what was happening. But seeing Derek Rose already advancing toward the free-throw line, he knew he had made a serious mistake by allowing him to escape his defense so easily.
With a swift motion, Derek Rose passed through Carlos Boozer’s body and threw the ball straight into the basket. His exceptional touch allowed him to choose from various shooting methods at will.
Chapter 391: The Madness of the Rose’s Son
With Carlos Boozer providing cover, Derek Rose easily drove into the paint.
Surprisingly, this time he didn’t opt for a mid-range shot. There wasn’t a single opponent within his three-step range. Given his shooting speed, he could have easily taken a jump shot—after all, he had just completed two mid-range shots earlier.
But he didn’t. Instead, he continued to drive rapidly toward the interior.
The Magic were already on high alert. They had just allowed Derek Rose to score twice by driving into the paint, and they were starting to feel embarrassed.
But after all, it had been Derek Rose’s fast break—they hadn’t been guarding the basket properly, so it was understandable. They never expected him to underestimate them so much and try to break through their defense all by himself.

“Dwight Howard is the toughest center in the league. If he’s not contained, it will be very difficult for the Bulls to win. Howard has always been a huge threat to the Bulls. The only way is to pressure him inside to force fouls and keep him in check. Howard already has two fouls on him; just one more and he’ll likely have to return to the bench. Even if Van Gundy keeps him on the court, he’ll definitely be cautious, and the balance inside will tip in favor of the Bulls, who have Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. Heh, Rose and I are on the same page. If it were me, I’d do the same.”

Derry Cross naturally had no idea that Zhou Yi had already guessed his intentions. If he had known, he would have regarded Zhou Yi with even greater respect.

Seeing Derry Cross’s sharp gaze, Dwight Howard felt annoyed and said, “Is this guy, Derry, trying to force me into a foul?”

It has to be said that Dwight Howard is quite smart. As someone who is often targeted for fouls by opponents, he quickly figured out Derry Cross’s intentions.

Derry Cross maintained his speed as he charged forward. To many, this move seemed reckless, especially since he already had a good chance to score earlier, but instead of taking it, he chose to head straight toward Dwight Howard under the basket.

After all, Dwight Howard’s defensive skills are among the best in the league. Such an obvious offensive intent was a major mistake.

However, some fans began to understand Derry Cross’s intentions. Derry Cross is calm and steady; he would never do such a reckless thing. He must have a reason for doing this.

Just as he was about to enter the three-second zone, Derry Cross suddenly jumped up. This sudden leap didn’t seem unnatural at all. With the momentum of his forward movement, he gradually closed in on Dwight Howard under the basket.

“This guy really wants to force me into a foul again. Damn it!” Dwight Howard said angrily.

Now that he knew Derry Cross’s intentions, Dwight Howard certainly wouldn’t sit idly by.

Interior players are the last line of defense for a team. Besides excellent defensive skills, composure is also crucial.

Dwight Howard understood Derry Cross’s intentions clearly, so he would never allow Derry Rose to succeed.

His upper body adjusted its defensive stance continuously as it moved with Derrek Rose in the air, while his lower body remained fixed as if rooted to the court—any movement at that point would only work against him, risking a defensive foul. Defending under the basket was extremely difficult; even the best players couldn’t cover everything. Yet, under any circumstances, interior players needed to possess a certain presence, an aura that overwhelmed their opponents and exerted strong pressure on them.

Brandon Bass also adjusted his position, staying behind Dwight Howard, ready to fill in any gaps that might appear in Howard’s defense. But in his opinion, Howard’s defense wouldn’t have any weaknesses.

Who was Howard? Known as “The Beast,” he was the Defensive Player of the Year.

Dwight Howard took a brief breath, confident that he had completely blocked Derrek Rose’s shooting angle. As long as Rose tried to shoot, he would surely deliver a memorable block. As an outstanding defensive expert, he had absolute confidence—especially since Rose jumped quite far, and such a long aerial trajectory would make his shot less precise.

Still, he didn’t relax his vigilance, as he had to defend against the opponent’s attacks while also avoiding fouls. So, Dwight Howard wasn’t at all relaxed at that moment.

He couldn’t help but admire his opponent’s sophisticated defense and quick reflexes, which had almost sealed off his shooting routes. But Derrek Rose wasn’t someone who gave up easily.

At the moment their bodies were about to collide, Rose’s upper body suddenly tightened, and he managed to slip through Howard’s armpit by a narrow margin.

“How did he do that?” Dwight Howard exclaimed in astonishment.

Howard still refused to give up on defending Rose and leaped up, swinging his massive hand at Rose’s right hand holding the ball.

Using the strength in his core, Rose forced himself to rise slightly and quickly passed the ball to his left hand. With a snap, as soon as he switched hands, Howard slammed his right hand onto Rose’s hand, causing him to lose balance instantly.

Rose used his last bit of strength to throw the ball high behind him. Rose was quite confident about this shot, as he felt great control as he released it.

“Swish!” Before he landed, an inspiring voice came from above, instantly filling him with excitement.
“Ding!” The referee’s whistle sounded as well—the shot was good, and a free throw was awarded.
However, the referee’s whistle was quickly drowned out by the fans’ cheers.Derrick·Kroos’s amazing performance had already gotten all the fans in the arena excited—his perfect aerial dodge, his superb ability to stay in the air, and especially that three-point shot at the last moment made it a truly great goal.
“MVP, MVP, MVP…” The fans expressed their enthusiastic support through shouts and screams, bringing the atmosphere to its peak that night.
Derrick·Derrick·Rose was the top contender for MVP of this season’s regular season, but he had a strong rival—Zhou Yi, who was sitting in the audience at that moment.
“Hehe, that was a beautiful shot, really inspiring. I’m sure the entire Bulls team will be thrilled after seeing that goal. It’s truly amazing,” even Zhou Yi exclaimed in excitement.
Amidst the fans’ screams,Derrick·Kroos easily made the free throw.
Hedo Turkoglu took control of the ball and, after half the court, forced his way through defense, reaching the basket under Rolando Dun’s coverage before attempting a layup. But Rolando Dun interfered, preventing Hedo Turkoglu’s shot from going in.
Carlos Boozer grabbed the defensive rebound and immediately passed it toDerrick·Kroos, who was already near the midcourt. After driving half the court,Derrick·Kroos passed the ball to Rolando Dun.
Rolando Dun drove fast with the ball, while Joakim Noala positioned himself high to set up a pick-and-roll for him, allowing Rolando Dun to quickly cut toward the basket.
But just as Rolando Dun was about to attack the basket, Brandon Bass rushed in. Instead of panicking, Rolando Dun casually threw the ball upward toward the backboard.
“Clang!” The basket groaned in response.
Derrick·Derrick·Rose slammed the ball into the basket, then landed and high-fived Rolando Dun before retreating to defend.

Jamal Nelson steadied his rhythm, suddenly accelerated with the ball, and used a quick behind-the-back dribble to create space from Raul Dunleavy. Kyle Korver, who was nearby, quickly came over to help defend, and Jamal Nelson decisively passed the ball to Hedo Turkoglu, who shot—swish—the ball went in!
On the Bulls’ offense, Kyle Korver’s three-point attempt missed. Brandon Bass secured the defensive rebound and passed it to Jamal Nelson.
Jamal Nelson’s touch seemed to improve suddenly; he drove the ball across half-court and then stopped abruptly in front of Kyle Korver to take a jump shot, which also went in.
Raul Dunleavy orchestrated the offense, moving back and forth outside the three-point line, while Hedo Turkoglu tried his best to defend him. As a result, Raul Dunleavy couldn’t find an opportunity for a while.
A bounce pass sent the ball to Joakim Noah at the basket. Joakim Noah moved a bit, then spun around and took a backboard jump shot—clang—it missed.
However, Carlos Boozer jumped up quickly, tapped the ball, and pushed it back into the basket.
The Magic’s offense failed; “The Beast” Howard fought for the offensive rebound but still missed. Carlos Boozer got the defensive rebound and passed it to Derrick Rose.
Derrick Rose drove the ball across half-court, broke through, and threw the ball inside to Carlos Boozer.
Carlos Boozer moved slightly, his layup missed, and Howard secured the defensive rebound.
The Magic’s offense continued to fail; they were having trouble scoring during this period, with Derrick Rose grabbing the defensive rebound.
“It seems the Magic are in trouble. Howard now has three fouls, so they can’t play as freely as before. As for the Magic’s outside players, aside from Turkoglu performing well today, none of the others did particularly well,” Zhou Yi analyzed calmly.
Dereck Rose penetrated the Bulls’ interior, with Hedo Turkoglu coming to help defend. Dereck Rose passed the ball to Kyle Korver behind him.
Kyle Korver took the ball and shot immediately—a three-pointer hit!
As time passed, the Bulls continued to control the game. The Magic couldn’t narrow the score gap to within 5 points, usually staying around 7 or 8 points.

Jamal Nelson drove to the basket, and Roel Deng tried to steal the ball, but failed instead committing a foul. Stan Van Gundy glanced at the clock—5 minutes and 41 seconds had passed in the second quarter—and took the opportunity to call a timeout. “It seems Howard is going off,” Zhou Yi murmured. Sure enough, after the timeout, Stan Van Gundy replaced “The Beast” Howard with Marcin Gortat. Jamal Nelson drove again and passed the ball long to Hedo Turkoglu at the right baseline, but halfway there, a hand suddenly appeared and snatched the ball away. Derrick Rose rushed quickly to the Pistons’ basket and completed a powerful two-handed dunk! Seeing Brandon Bass open for a shot, Jamal Nelson quickly passed the ball to him. However, Brandon Bass’s attempt was interrupted by Carlos Boozer, who did a good job disrupting it. Realizing there was no chance to score, Brandon Bass passed the ball to Marcin Gortat under the basket. Marcin Gortat dribbled twice with Joakim Noah behind him, then passed the ball to Jason Richardson, who cut from the baseline and completed a beautiful, dominant one-handed dunk. Carlos Boozer received a pass from Derrick Rose and attacked under the basket, but missed. The Magic’s next attack also failed, as Carlos Boozer grabbed the rebound. The moment Carlos Boozer secured the rebound, Derrick Rose accelerated toward the Magic’s half. Without the ball, Derrick Rose showed surprising speed, rushing into the opponent’s half in just a few steps, while Carlos Boozer’s pass arrived in time. With an easy layup, Derrick Rose scored. Jamal Nelson’s three-pointer hit the back of the rim and bounced high; Derrick Rose suddenly rushed to the basket from the middle, leaped high, and grabbed the defensive rebound. Immediately afterward, Derrick Rose dashed into the Magic’s paint like lightning and completed another dominant dunk, adding 2 points. With Jamal Nelson’s screen, Jason Richardson hit a mid-range shot.

Derrick Rose made several feints in a row, using his speed advantage to break through Jamal Nelson. With a behind-the-back pass, he delivered the ball to an unguarded Carlos Boozer, who scored 2 points with a jump shot from deep.

Jamal Nelson gained possession, but he made a turnover at a critical moment. Derrick Rose seized the mistake, took control of the ball, and rushed toward the opposing half. After crossing half-court, instead of rushing to attack, he lured Brandon Bass into defending him before passing the ball backward to Raul Dunleavy, who was closing in. Raul Dunleavy easily scored 2 points with a layup.

The offense and defense switched. Hedo Turkoglu drove to the basket, crossed under the three-point line, and passed to Jason Richardson. Unfortunately, Richardson’s three-point attempt also missed.

Derrick Rose stepped back after scoring, took a jump shot, and forced a foul on Brandon Bass. He made both free throws. Seeing Derrick Rose suddenly becoming unstoppable, John Kuester replaced Jason Richardson with Gilbert Arenas, hoping the faster Arenas could help defend him.

Using Arenas to guard Rose? It was a good idea, but Arenas hasn’t been in good form this season, making it a risky decision.

Jamal Nelson orchestrated the offense, with Brandon Bass setting a screen for Gilbert Arenas. Arenas took advantage to cut to the basket; Jamal Nelson then flicked the ball to Arenas, who slid in for a layup, scoring and also forcing a defensive foul from Joakim Noah. Arenas attempted free throws, but unfortunately missed both, and Joakim Noah grabbed the rebound and passed it to Raul Dunleavy.

After crossing half-court, Raul Dunleavy handed the ball directly to Derrick Rose. Now, the Bulls were relying on Derrick Rose to carry the team, as his shooting form was exceptional right now.

Derrick Rose attacked with the ball, with his teammates actively setting screens for him. Using their screens, he drove to beyond the three-point line and shot a three-pointer. With a swish, the ball went through the net again.

“Hehe, Ross has been hitting his shots quite well lately. It seems his injury is really healed. I’m really looking forward to facing him in the semifinals,” Zhou Yi said to himself with a smile.
Derrick Rose was too fast; it was difficult for Jamal Nelson to defend him.
Although his own speed wasn’t bad, it was still far behind Derrick Rose’s.
“Damn, I simply can’t keep up!” Watching Derrick Rose break through and score, Jamal Nelson shook his head helplessly before speaking in frustration.
On the Magic’s offense, Gilbert Arenas once again made a contribution by taking advantage of his teammates’ screens and hitting a three-point shot from beyond the arc.
On the Bulls’ offense, Derrick Rose carefully searched for an opportunity to score as he watched Gilbert Arenas. Suddenly, Derrick Rose accelerated sharply and feigned a stop-and-shoot. Seeing this, Gilbert Arenas rushed forward. Derrick Rose pulled back his hand and threw the ball right at Gilbert Arenas’ body.
With a “swish” and a “thud,” Gilbert Arenas felt like giving up in despair. Not only did he fail to stop the opponent’s attack, but he also committed a foul, allowing the opponent to score a 2+1.
Seeing Derrick Rose score again and even get Gilbert Arenas to foul, Stan Van Gundy immediately called a timeout.
Chapter 392: Whose Victory?
Derrick Rose took the free throw and made it, including the extra shot.
“Hehe, Ross must have scored over 20 points now. Tsk tsk, he’s really intense today!” Zhou Yi sighed as he watched Derrick Rose running back and forth on the court.
“Clang”—the basket finally rejected Gilbert Arenas, who had been substituted in and hit four shots in a row.
Since Gilbert Arenas joined the game, he had caused the Bulls’ players a lot of trouble. But this time, due to Kyrie Irving’s interference, his shot seemed too forceful. The ball hit the back of the rim and bounced high, and the four interior players under the basket all showed their strong positioning skills, unable to jump easily.
The moment the ball was shot, Gilbert Arenas seemed to sense it wouldn’t go in. As soon as he landed, he rushed into the paint to help Dwight Howard block Derrick Rose’s path.

Dwight Howard leaped into the air to catch the basketball, which seemed to grow larger in his eyes as he neared it. Just as he thought he would get it, a dark shadow flashed past him, and the basketball disappeared into thin air. As the person involved, he couldn’t understand what had happened due to the special circumstances at the time, but over ten thousand Bulls fans were shocked by what had just occurred. “Amazing speed, amazing jumping ability,” Zhou Yi, sitting on the sidelines, seemed stunned as well, murmuring continuously. The moment Gilbert Arenas rushed to the basket, Derrick Rose seemed to sense his intentions and quickly rushed from beyond the three-point line into the paint. His speed was so fast that even words couldn’t describe it. In the blink of an eye, Derrick Rose appeared under the basket, but almost at the same time, Dwight Howard was already ready to leap. Without hesitation, Derrick Rose jumped up quickly from outside the three-second zone. His incredible jumping ability made him soar through the air like a rocket, passing right in front of Dwight Howard. After landing, Derrick Rose didn’t pass the ball. He tapped his right foot on the ground and started moving at full speed again. At this point, the Magic players were all amazed by what had just happened. Only Hedo Turkoglu followed behind him, running near the midcourt, but he had to give up as well. The stark contrast in speed made Hedo Turkoglu feel like a clown, and this mindset caused him to slow down gradually. “Swish”—a beautiful layup, accompanied by cheers from the entire crowd. After such an amazing scene, even the Magic fans hoped that Derrick Rose would complete the move with a stunning dunk. In fact, Derrick Rose himself also wished for that. His high fighting spirit gave him the confidence to try any move. But the two consecutive full-speed sprints and the sudden leap made him realize how much energy he had already expended in such a short time. Though his fierce determination and strong legs didn’t completely overwhelm him, he knew he couldn’t pull off any amazing feat in such a short period. “It seems Rose’s stamina has declined. His decision to finish with a layup is clearly a sign of fatigue. But it could also be a tactic to make the opponent underestimate him,” Zhou Yi analyzed calmly.

Stan Van Gundy promptly called a timeout. He keenly noticed that after Derek Rose’s astonishing performance, not only were the players on the court a bit distracted, but many Magic fans seemed to be on the verge of collectively turning against their team. If fans started cheering for the opposing team, it would be a severe blow to the team’s morale.

The Bulls’ players surrounded Derek Rose and led him to the bench, where he accepted compliments from his teammates and coach. Yet Derek Rose inwardly smiled bitterly, thinking, “It may seem glorious on the surface, but my calves are still trembling nonstop.”

After drinking a whole bottle of water and receiving massages from the staff, Derek Rose finally felt a bit better. By then, Tom Thibodeau had finished making tactical adjustments, and Raoul Dunleavy returned to the court.

Tom Thibodeau could also see that Derek Rose had struggled greatly just now. Raoul Dunleavy’s role wasn’t just in providing consistent scoring; thechemistry he had developed with Derek Rose over several seasons was also a huge source of support for the team.

The Magic made significant lineup changes, bringing in “The Beast” Howard, Ryan Anderson, JJ Redick, Gilbert Arenas, and Jamar Nelson.

The players who had been on the bench were less affected by Derek Rose’s recent performance. Usually, when Dwight Howard took a break, Gilbert Arenas would step up and become the team’s new offensive core, thanks to his strong mental resilience.

Tom Thibodeau let out a helpless groan. The Magic’s lineup was simply too strong. Perhaps their current roster wasn’t as aggressive as their starting lineup, but they could quickly deploy a completely new team once the players affected by Derek Rose returned. Few teams in the league could pull off such a move, and the opponent’s five players couldn’t be underestimated at all.

“Hmph,” Derek Rose snorted lightly. Stan Van Gundy’s substitutions were indeed timely, but expecting to turn the game around based on that was probably wishful thinking.

With the player substitutions, a significant issue arose for the Magic: speed. Whether in offense or defense, this lineup severely affected the team’s speed.

When the game resumed, Magic fans were surprised to see that the Bulls’ offensive pace had improved significantly. The players quickly penetrated half-court, using their teammates’ screens to maneuver and move around, with the ball not staying in Derek Rose’s hands alone. Lightning-fast passes came from the middle of the court; Keith Bogans received the ball and swiftly moved, drawing Gilbert Arenas, the defender, toward the free-throw line. The ball was quickly passed to him from the side, and at that moment, Derek Rose appeared at the three-point line on the right wing. He took a light step forward, jumped high, and gently pushed the ball forward with outstretched arms. With a “whoosh,” white arcs appeared as Derek Rose didn’t waste his teammate’s pass. With the switch of offense and defense, Arenas’ excellent overall vision and judgment made him incredibly talented at organizing attacks. The ball moved quickly across half-court, but Arenas still tried hard to control the pace of the game. He knew well that if things turned into a fast-paced attack, even the Magic’s full-strength team might not be a match for the Bulls, strictly speaking. Passes, pick-and-rolls, passes, pick-and-rolls—the Magic’s offense was patient, with the ball constantly passing between several players as they searched for weaknesses in the Bulls’ defense. But against the Bulls’ tight man-to-man defense, it was difficult for them to find shooting opportunities. As the 24-second clock approached, Gilbert Arenas, holding the ball, began to sweat. His teammates on the bench kept reminding him to pass, and though well-intentioned, these reminders became an invisible pressure on him. “Arenas isn’t as strong as he used to be,” Zhou Yi remarked, seeing that Arenas couldn’t break free from Keith Bogans’ defense. Back in the day, “General” Gilbert Arenas was one of Zhou Yi’s favorite players. But after suffering from injuries and the gun incident last year, Zhou Yi’s admiration for Arenas had diminished significantly. Delay led to trouble; with no hope of passing, Arenas had to rely on breaking through. With a sudden step back, he caught Derek Rose off guard. Shifting left and right, he made it hard for Rose to determine his direction of attack. He tapped his right toe on the ground, accelerated instantly, and a white figure rushed toward Derek Rose’s left shoulder.

A tremendous force passed through Derrick Rose’s shoulders and spread throughout his body, leaving him unable to make any corrective moves. “Don’t think you can attack so easily!” Rolando Blackman appeared at the free-throw line in time, but his movements seemed a bit slow, allowing Gilbert Arenas to easily throw the ball into the basket. “Damn bastard,” Rolando Blackman cursed angrily. “No need to rush. We now have complete control of the game’s pace. This was just his luck; next time he won’t be so lucky,” Derrick Rose said quickly as he darted past, leaving those words behind. “Heh, Rose’s mental strength is getting stronger. He’s increasingly showing the qualities of a star player,” Zhou Yi thought to himself, impressed by Derrick Rose’s calmness. “Swish!” Carlos Boozer’s turnaround jump shot hit the target. The Magic’s lineup adjustments benefited the players inside the paint the most. Carlos Boozer had just faced Dwight Howard one-on-one, and their performances were evenly matched; every attack seemed extremely difficult. Years of facing each other had made them well aware of each other’s habits. But as Joakim Noah once again faced Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer rediscovered the joys of playing under the basket, as Ryan Anderson clearly couldn’t stop his attacks. Stan Van Gundy reluctantly called a timeout. Earlier, fearing that his key players might be affected by Derrick Rose, he had substituted in players with better mental resilience. But unexpectedly, the Bulls defied their usual playoff tactics by aggressively using a fast-paced offense, repeatedly attacking the Magic’s basket. Especially with Carlos Boozer’s dominance, the Bulls were able to attack from both inside and outside, scoring a 10-2 run that turned the score to 50-41, with six minutes and thirty seconds left in the second quarter. After the timeout, Derrick Rose was taken off the court to rest. Regarding Derrick Rose’s substitution, Tom Thibodeau thought carefully. From the start of the game, Derrick Rose had been guarded alternately by Hedo Turkoglu, Jamar Nelson, and Gilbert Arenas, taking on significant responsibilities on both offense and defense, which undoubtedly increased his physical strain. To prepare for the more intense next game, Tom Thibodeau decided to have him sit on the bench.

Faced with the Magic’s starting five, several Bulls players showed no sign of backing down. The Bulls today are no longer the same team they were at the start of the season—Joakim Noah’s growth and the addition of Carlos Boozer have elevated the team’s strength significantly. However, Derrick Rose’s absence clearly affected the Bulls, as the pace of the game gradually shifted back in the Magic’s favor, and both teams became entangled in positional battles. Fortunately, Carlos Boozer found his form inside, hitting two shots over Ryan Anderson to help stabilize the score, with Keith Bogans’ crucial three-pointer adding even more momentum. “It’s almost impossible to see any trace of last season’s Bulls here. Last season, without Rose, it was hard for them to keep up in games. But now, even against the league’s best defensive team, the Bulls remain in excellent form, holding a slight lead at all times,” Zhou Yi said, shocked by the Bulls’ performance. The whistle marking half-time finally blew—seemingly, God was on the Bulls’ side. Gilbert Arenas’ last-second layup missed, and the Bulls still led 58–54 by four points. In the second half of the second quarter, both teams struggled offensively, while the Bulls showed unprecedented determination defensively. “I’ve always believed that if the team can display overwhelming defense, the Bulls will become an unbeatable force. I was glad to see that in the second quarter. We did have some issues offensively, but I believe we can solve them. My only requirement for everyone in the second half is to maintain that defensive intensity, using defense to pressure the opponent and offense to defeat them,” Tom Thibodeau’s passionate voice could be heard clearly even from the Magic’s bench. No wonder he was so intense—he had always strived to build a top-tier defensive team. After two years of effort, hope finally appeared today. He knew well that the performance just now was only the peak of the Bulls’ current form, and there was still a long way to go before they became a true defensive powerhouse. But those outstanding moments could undoubtedly serve as a goal for the players to strive for.

What seems like a long halftime break to fans is actually very short to players and coaches. Tom Thibodeau’s tactical explanation hadn’t even ended when the staff started urging them on. Tom Thibodeau scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said, “I seem to have talked a bit too much! But anyway, you all need to follow my plan. Do you hear me?”
“We hear you,” the Bulls players replied in unison.
On the Magic’s offense, Jamal Nelson quickly brought the ball beyond the three-point line. For a top-tier playmaker like Jamal Nelson, controlling the ball was almost instinctive. Unless it was absolutely necessary, applying full pressure on them would only waste energy.
Seizing a great opportunity, Gilbert Arenas quickly moved in for a pick-and-roll. The moment the two broke through, the ball was in Arenas’ hands.
Without hesitation, Arenas swiftly dodged Keith Bogans’ defense and made a fierce breakthrough—something Bogans simply couldn’t defend against.
However, this also gave the defenders time to recover. By the time Arenas reached the free-throw line, he found himself trapped in a double team by the Bulls.
Carlos Boozer under the basket, Rolando Blackman behind him, and Derrick Rose rushing over—Arenas knew he didn’t have much time left. Once Rose got there, with three such skilled defenders surrounding him, it would be hard for any player in the league to do much.
Lost in thought, his rhythm of handling the ball slowed down naturally. Rolando Blackman didn’t hesitate and snatched the ball from him from behind. But Arenas was quick—as soon as he lost the ball, he reached back and knocked it out of Blackman’s hands.
Before Blackman could pick it up, a red figure flashed by—Derrick Rose, who had rushed in, had already bent down to grab the ball.
“Bogans!” Derrick Rose shouted. An orange-colored figure shot out from the Magic’s half of the court. The ball traveled across most of the court and landed precisely in Keith Bogans’ hands as he retreated.
Bogans’ slender figure dashed under the basket like lightning. He lifted off lightly on the tips of his toes and smoothly threw the ball into the basket.
The ball went back to the Magic. Jamal Nelson’s fake move was seen through, but the ball flew out of his hands, and this time the offense was passed to the interior players.

Dwight Howard controlled the ball while pushing his way toward the paint. In terms of physical confrontation, Joakim Noah was clearly at a disadvantage, but his ape-like reach made it difficult for Dwight Howard to advance. As the two gradually moved closer to the basket, the other Bulls players naturally wouldn’t just sit back and let them fight it out alone.
Unexpectedly, “The Beast” Howard didn’t choose to attack forcefully.
The basketball traced a white arc through the air. Its speed wasn’t fast, but it landed perfectly in Gilbert Arenas’s hands. After catching the ball, Arenas immediately threw it away.
“Swish”—the ball went through the net cleanly, accompanied by the crisp sound of the basket.
Yet, this beautiful shot was met with boos from the home crowd, whose noise filled the entire arena.
Chapter 393: Bulls Win
The ball went back to the Magic. Jamal Nelson’s fake move was seen through, but the ball flew out of his hands, and this time the attack went toward the paint. Dwight Howard controlled the ball while pushing his way inward. In terms of physical confrontation, Joakim Noah was clearly at a disadvantage, but his ape-like reach made it difficult for Dwight Howard to advance. As the two gradually moved closer to the basket, the other Bulls players naturally wouldn’t just sit back and let them fight it out alone.
Unexpectedly, “The Beast” Howard didn’t choose to attack forcefully.
The basketball traced a white arc through the air. Its speed wasn’t fast, but it landed perfectly in Gilbert Arenas’s hands. After catching the ball, Arenas immediately threw it away.
“Swish”—the ball went through the net cleanly, accompanied by the crisp sound of the basket.
Yet, this beautiful shot was met with boos from the home crowd, whose noise filled the entire arena.
60:56—the score gap narrowed to four points again.
With the teams switching sides, the Bulls used two long passes to quickly move the ball across half-court. With continuous dribbling sounds, Derrick Rose quickly moved from the top of the key to the right side, drawing the Magic’s defense there as well.
“Snap”—he grabbed the rebounding ball and leaned forward rapidly, shooting like an arrow toward the paint. His astonishing explosive power and sudden movement left Jamal Nelson, his defender, completely unprepared.

The Magic players rushed over quickly, aware of the consequences of bringing players like Derrick Rose into the paint. They dodged Gilbert Arenas’ sudden right-hand attack, and Derrick Rose found himself surrounded by the Magic’s two fastest players. Under pressure from both sides, Derrick Rose seemed resigned to his fate and forced himself to jump despite the encirclement. Without giving Gilbert Arenas time to think, he also leaped high, his large hands swinging in front of Derrick Rose’s face. With the basketball held high, just as it was about to be shot, Derrick Rose gently turned his right wrist, and the ball flew out in a diagonal streak of white light. Keith Bogans, beyond the three-point line, caught the ball and immediately jumped lightly, adjusting it in mid-air before shooting it swiftly, tracing a beautiful parabolic arc. Another uncontested three-pointer—63:56. The Magic were patient in their attacks, with several clever passes and pick-and-rolls that eventually brought the ball back to their players in the paint. Dwight Howard’s continuous feints finally disrupted Joakim Noah’s balance, and taking advantage of the moment the opponent adjusted, Dwight Howard dunked powerfully to score. … The Bulls maintained a high level of defense throughout, forcing the Magic to shoot almost at the buzzer on this attack. Their switching defense was smooth and well-coordinated, and it was this that allowed the Bulls not only to withstand the Magic’s relentless third-quarter offense but also to widen the score gap. 74:66—a eight-point difference, the widest in the game. Aside from Gilbert Arenas’ explosive performance in the first quarter after entering the game, the Bulls’ defense against the Magic players was quite successful. Dwight Howard shot 7 of 14, far below his near 70% accuracy from previous games; Jamal Nelson shot 2 of 9, and Gilbert Arenas shot 6 of 11, including 4 of his first 5 attempts. It was their successful defense that kept the Bulls ahead in the score. However, this also revealed another issue: the difference in quality between the two teams’ bench players. At this point, the Magic’s bench players were 5 of 9 from three-point shots, with a dominant 32:12 scoring advantage. Tom Thibodeau’s expression showed no sign of relief. During the first three quarters, several of the Magic’s key players had plenty of rest time.

The Bulls’ golden duo dominated almost all of the first three quarters; Derrick Rose managed to get a few minutes of rest, but Carlos Boozer was a true workhorse, the only player on either side who hardly took any breaks. Carlos Boozer was the backbone of the Bulls’ interior offense and rebounding efforts, yet he faced the league’s top interior player, Dwight Howard. Although Boozer had solid physical skills, he was far inferior to Dwight Howard. Whenever he faced Howard, he couldn’t gain any advantage against Howard’s fierce defense, and if his stamina failed, the Bulls would face unprecedented difficulties. Against players like those on the Magic, you can’t give them even the slightest breathing room—once you ease up on pressure, they can unleash terrifying strength. “The Magic’s interior players are simply too strong,” Zhou Yi said with a frown, resting his chin in his hands in thought. To relieve pressure on their interior players, the Bulls had to rely more on their outside players. Derrick Rose, who rested near midcourt, still maintained high energy, while Keith Bogans and Kyle Korver taking turns playing gave him plenty of rest time. “Dunk, we need your offense,” Derrick Rose quietly said to Ron Artest before he went on the court. Gilbert Arenas’s close attention to Keith Bogans made it difficult for him to get shooting space. Relying solely on one person from the outside was not enough to pose a serious threat to the Magic. If there was any offensive asset the Bulls could leverage at this point, it was Ron Artest at the small forward position. In the playoffs, he had acted as a sniper, and it was his excellent defense and timely offense that helped the Bulls maintain a scoring advantage. “Me?” He glanced at Derrick Rose in confusion. The coach had assigned him only defensive duties, aarrangement he actually opposed deeply. But he understood the coach’s intention—the Bulls weren’t short of talent offensively, having the league’s top offensive and defensive duo of Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer, along with the emerging interior player Joakim Noah.

Derrick Rose naturally knew his concerns and chuckled, saying, “The coach only cares about winning or losing. As long as we win this game, he won’t say much. And you need a chance to show what you can do—after all, the Magic aren’t an ordinary team, and Hedo Turkoglu is by no means an ordinary defender.”
Roland Deng could only nod after hearing Derrick Rose’s words.
“Heh, it seems Roland Deng will have to play a key role in the Bulls’ offense from now on,” Zhou Yi mused after seeing Derrick Rose and Roland Deng talking quietly.
Keith Bogans’ pass soared halfway across the court, landing precisely in Derrick Rose’s hands in the middle court.
At that moment, the Magic players clearly hadn’t focused on the game yet; only two players remained in the half-court—Gilbert Arenas and Jamal Nelson.
A loud thud as the ball was tapped woke the Magic players up. By the time they reacted, Derrick Rose had already rushed into the free-throw line, with only Gilbert Arenas chasing after him.
With his toes lightly touching the ground, as if wings had grown on his sides, Derrick Rose leaped gracefully outside the three-second zone. His wrist moved slightly, and the basketball traced a small parabolic path before soaring into the basket.
76:66—the score gap widened to double digits for the first time.
Stan Van Gundy frowned. The Bulls were indeed a tough opponent.
The Magic’s offense remained organized. Jamal Nelson quickly drove the ball across the half-court and chose to pass instead of shooting when confronted by Roland Deng.
Derrick Rose, who observed everything closely, noticed that something was off with the pass’s direction. Dwight Howard only needed to take a small step to the side to easily catch the ball, and that small step would have given him enough space to exert force. But somehow, Joakim Noah emerged from under the basket, blocking Dwight Howard’s path.
Opportunities in a game are fleeting. As Derrick Rose had predicted, the ball hit Joakim Noah’s shoulder. Just as the ball was about to bounce out of bounds, Derrick Rose quickly retrieved it.
Watching Roland Deng sprint across the half-court, Derrick Rose passed the ball precisely in front of him. Roland Deng picked up the ball and executed a layup, sending it cleanly through the hoop.

On the Bulls’ offense, after the ball crossed half-court, Derrick Rose, breaking through Gilbert Arenas, passed a well-hidden behind-the-back pass to Rolando Blackman, who was running toward the basket. Delighted upon receiving the ball, Blackman didn’t need to adjust and easily dunked it. Dwight Howard, trapped behind Carlos Boozer, could only watch as Blackman scored a powerful dunk. On the next offensive play, Gilbert Arenas ignored Derrick Rose’s defense, reversed direction, caught the ball, and immediately jumped for a shot—unfortunately missing it, as Joakim Noah grabbed the rebound. Faced with Derrick Rose’s attack again, Arenas paid much more attention this time. But to Arenas’s surprise, after dribbling to the middle of the court, Rose charged straight toward Arenas’s right side. Arenas closely followed, blocking Rose’s path. Just as Arenas thought he had him covered, Rose suddenly stopped abruptly; Arenas, still moving right, failed to keep up. By the time Arenas stopped, Rose accelerated and completely got past him. This series of moves confused Arenas. After passing him, Rose rushed toward the basket. Since Hedo Turkoglu had left his position earlier to help defend, he hesitated about coming over, but in that brief moment, Rose completed a three-step layup for two points. On the Magic’s offense, Dwight Howard received a pass from Jamal Nelson at the baseline and hit a jump shot. “Damn, since when is this guy this accurate from mid-range?” Zhou Yi frowned in frustration after seeing Howard easily score a mid-range shot. The teams switched offense and defense. Derrick Rose broke through at the baseline and passed neatly to Blackman in the corner, who then shot another three-pointer. Immediately afterward, Keith Bogans made a contribution—he stole Jamal Nelson’s pass and assisted Carlos Boozer, who was still on the Magic’s half-court, to score a layup. After the Bulls scored a 10-3 run, the Magic decisively called a timeout.

After the pause ended, the Magic significantly increased their mid-range shooting. Ryan Anderson was very consistent from the field; despite Carlos Boozer’s defense, he managed to hit two consecutive mid-range shots, helping to boost the team’s morale.

Jamal Nelson played cautiously inside the three-point line, but Derrick Rose used his speed to get past him three times in a row. Although the coach didn’t criticize him, he felt bad about it, knowing he was partly responsible for the Bulls’ scoring surge.

Derrick Rose feinted, causing Jamal Nelson to panic, but while he was distracted, Rose already passed the ball to the interior. With Ryan Anderson still young and inexperienced, Carlos Boozer had plenty of time to get the ball into the basket.

The game was one-sided. The Bulls were hot in the third quarter, hitting 12 out of 17 shots and scoring 39 points in that quarter.

…

Raul Dunleavy drove to the right baseline after a pick-and-roll, and Derrick Rose received the pass across half the court, hitting a precise three-pointer. This was already the fifth three-pointer by the Bulls in the fourth quarter, with 4.05 seconds left in the game. A 17-point gap was clearly not easy to close.

The Bulls also didn’t want to give their opponent any chance, continuing to play with their full starting lineup and putting in intense defense throughout the game.

The Bulls ultimately won 112–99, securing their fifth victory in this series. This game was a turning point—winning it boosted their morale immensely.

Throughout the game, the Bulls showed determination to fight to the end, defeating their opponent in the way the Magic were best at. Derrick Rose scored 38 points, the highest in the game, showing that the Magic’s attempt to contain him failed. With 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals, Rose achieved his first playoff triple-double.

Carlos Boozer’s stats weren’t eye-catching—19 points and 13 rebounds—but his clash with Dwight Howard dominated the game. Under his defense, Howard scored only 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Four Bulls players scored in double figures: Raul Dunleavy with 27 points and Keith Bogans with 16 points.

According to the post-game statistics, the Bulls outperformed their opponent in assists, steals, blocks, and other aspects. However, there were also concerning issues, particularly in terms of rebounds and the contribution of bench players—35 to 46, a deficit of eleven rebounds, with an even larger gap of seven in offensive rebounds. While the rebound problem is concerning, it can still be improved, sometimes with immediate results. But it is the performance of the bench players that poses the biggest threat to the Bulls; their substitutes scored only seventeen points, a stark contrast to the Magic’s thirty-eight points. Although the Bulls exposed fatal weaknesses during the game, they still managed to win, doing so at their home court, the United Center. The atmosphere in the Bulls’ locker room after the game was quite relaxed. After the match, Zhou Yi left the United Center. He did not go to see Derrick Rose; his visit to Chicago was kept secret, as he didn’t want anyone to know. At the post-game press conference, the media in Orlando appeared very worried, as just one more loss would end the Magic’s playoff run. “The Magic played poorly throughout the game. The Chicago Bulls humiliated them in the way they know best. With their foundation lost, I don’t know how the Magic will face upcoming games,” wrote a columnist from the Orlando Sports Journal. Stan Van Gundy looked grim; he was also deeply upset after the loss. But after seeing the statistics handed to him by his assistant, his despair vanished. In a best-of-seven series, the outcome of a single game doesn’t determine the series’ outcome. On the contrary, the problems the Bulls exposed in this game gave him confidence for the next games. Stan Van Gundy said firmly, “A loss? No, this isn’t a catastrophic defeat for the Magic. We saw what the opponent does best, as well as their weaknesses.”

“As for the key reason why the team lost, it’s that we underestimated our opponent’s determination. The Bulls are an excellent team with a great coach and talented players. We weren’t well-prepared before the game, but mistakes happen only once. In the next few matches, we’ll give it our all,” Stan Van Gundy replied firmly to the reporters’ questions.

Although he didn’t meet Derrick Rose, Zhou Yi called him as soon as he left the United Center to congratulate him on winning this crucial game.

Chapter 394: Eastern Conference Semifinals

Derrick Rose took a free throw and made it, including the extra shot.

“Hehe, Rose must have scored over 20 points now. Tsk tsk, he’s really fierce today!” Zhou Yi sighed as he watched Derrick Rose running back and forth on the court.

“Clang.” The basket finally rejected Gilbert Arenas, who had been substituted in and hit four shots in a row.

After Gilbert Arenas entered the game, he caused a lot of trouble for the Bulls’ players. But this time, due to Kyle Korver’s interference, his shot seemed a bit too forceful. The ball hit the back of the rim and bounced high. The four interior players under the basket all showed their strong positioning skills and couldn’t jump easily.

At the moment the ball was shot, Gilbert Arenas seemed to sense it wouldn’t go in. As soon as he landed, he rushed into the paint to help Dwight Howard block Derrick Rose’s position.

Dwight Howard quickly leaped up to catch the ball. The ball grew larger in his eyes. Just as he seemed about to get it, a dark shadow flashed past him, and the ball disappeared into thin air.

As the person involved, he naturally couldn’t understand what had happened due to the special circumstances at the time, but over ten thousand Bulls fans were shocked by what just happened.

“Amazing speed, amazing jumping ability.” Zhou Yi, sitting on the sidelines, seemed stunned as well, murmuring continuously.

The moment Gilbert Arenas rushed into the paint, Derrick Rose seemed to realize his intention and quickly rushed from beyond the three-point line into the paint. His speed was so fast that even the word “lightning-fast” seemed inadequate to describe it. In the blink of an eye, Derrick Rose appeared under the basket. But almost as soon as he started moving, Dwight Howard was already ready to leap up.

Derrick Rose didn’t hesitate at all. He quickly jumped up from outside the three-second zone, his astonishing jumping ability allowing him to soar through the air like a rocket, swiftly passing by Dwight Howard. After landing, instead of passing the ball, Derrick Rose tapped the ground with his right foot and accelerated again at full speed. The Magic players were all amazed by what had just happened, with only Hedo Turkoglu following closely behind, but even he had to give up after running near the midcourt— the stark difference in speed made him feel like a clown, causing him to slow down gradually. “Swish”—a beautiful layup, accompanied by cheers from the entire crowd. After such an impressive display, even the Magic fans hoped Derrick Rose would finish the move with a stunning dunk. In fact, Derrick Rose himself wished the same. His high fighting spirit gave him the confidence to try any move. But the two consecutive full-speed sprints and the sudden jump made him realize how much energy he had already expended in such a short time. Though his fierce determination and strong legs kept him from losing himself completely, he knew he couldn’t pull off any amazing feat in such a brief period. “It seems Rose’s stamina is declining. Using a layup to attack is clearly a sign of fatigue. But it could also be him feigning weakness,” Zhou Yi analyzed calmly. Stan Van Gundy promptly called a timeout. He keenly noticed that after Derrick Rose’s amazing performance, not only were the players on the court a bit distracted, but many Magic fans seemed on the verge of collectively defecting. If fans started cheering for the opposing team, it would be a severe blow to the team’s morale. The Bulls players surrounded Derrick Rose and led him to the bench. After accepting praise from teammates and coaches, Derrick Rose smiled bitterly inwardly: “It may look great on the surface, but my calves are still trembling nonstop.” After drinking a whole bottle of water and receiving a massage from the staff, Derrick Rose finally felt a bit better. By then, Tom Thibodeau had also finalized the tactics, and Rolando Blackman returned to the court.

Actually, Tom Thibodeau could see that Derrick Rose had been playing extremely hard just now. Raoul Dunleavy’s role wasn’t just limited to consistent scoring; the chemistry he had developed with Derrick Rose over several seasons was also a huge boost to the team.

The Magic’s lineup underwent significant changes, with “The Beast” Howard, Ryan Anderson, JJ Redick, Gilbert Arenas, and Jamar Nelson on the team. Several players who were on the bench earlier were less affected by Derrick Rose’s play. Usually, when Dwight Howard took a break, Gilbert Arenas would step up and become the team’s new offensive core, showing great mental resilience.

Tom Thibodeau let out a helpless groan. The Magic’s lineup was simply too strong. Perhaps their current lineup wasn’t as aggressive as the starting lineup, but they could quickly bring in a completely new group of players once affected by Derrick Rose. Few teams in the league could pull off such a move, and the opponent’s five players couldn’t be underestimated at all.

“Hmph,” Derrick Rose snorted lightly. Stan Van Gundy’s substitutions were indeed timely, but expecting to turn the game around just because of that was probably wishful thinking.

With several players substituted in, a significant issue arose for the Magic: speed. Whether in offense or defense, this lineup severely affected the team’s speed.

When the game resumed, the Magic’s fans were surprised to see that the Bulls’ offensive rhythm had improved significantly. The players quickly penetrated the half-court, using their teammates’ screens to move around, with the ball not staying in Derrick Rose’s hands the whole time.

Lightning-fast passes came from the middle of the court. Keith Bogans received the ball and quickly moved, drawing Gilbert Arenas, who was defending, toward the free-throw line. The ball was quickly passed to him from the side, and at that moment, Derrick Rose appeared at the three-point line on the right wing.

He stepped forward slightly, jumped high, and gently pushed the ball forward with his outstretched arms.

“Swish”—a wave of white arcs appeared as Derrick Rose didn’t waste his teammate’s pass.

With the shift between offense and defense, along with his excellent overall vision and judgment of the ball, Gilbert Arenas also showed amazing talent in organizing attacks.

The ball moved swiftly across half-court, but Gilbert Arenas still tried hard to control the pace of the game. He knew well that if things turned into a fast-paced attack, even the Magic’s full-strength team might not be a match for the Bulls, strictly speaking. Passes, pick-and-rolls, passes, pick-and-rolls—the Magic’s offense was patient, with the ball constantly moving between several players as they searched for weaknesses in the Bulls’ defense. Yet, facing the Bulls’ aggressive man-to-man defense, it was difficult for them to find an opportunity to shoot. As the 24-second clock approached, Gilbert Arenas, holding the ball, began to sweat. His teammates on the bench kept reminding him to pass, and though their intentions were kind, it became an invisible pressure on him at that moment. “Arenas isn’t as fierce as he used to be,” Zhou Yi remarked, seeing Gilbert Arenas struggling to get past Keith Bogans. Back in the day, “General” Gilbert Arenas was one of Zhou Yi’s favorite players. But after suffering from injuries and the gun incident last year, Zhou Yi’s admiration for him had diminished significantly. With no hope of passing, Arenas had to rely on breaking through. A quick step back caught Derrick Rose off guard, and his sidestepping made it hard for Rose to determine his direction of attack. With a light tap of his right toe, he accelerated instantly, a white streak rushing toward Derrick Rose’s left shoulder. The tremendous force transmitted through Rose’s shoulder spread throughout his body, leaving him unable to react. “Don’t think you can attack so easily!” Rolando Blackman appeared at the free-throw line in time, but his movement seemed a bit slow, allowing Gilbert Arenas to easily score. “Damn bastard,” Blackman cursed angrily. “No need to rush. We now have complete control of the game’s pace. This was just his luck; next time, he won’t be so lucky,” Derrick Rose said quickly as he drifted past. “Heh, Rose’s mental strength is growing stronger. He’s increasingly showing the qualities of a star player,” Zhou Yi thought admiringly as he watched the calm Derrick Rose. “Swish”—Carlos Boozer’s turnaround jump shot hit. The Magic’s lineup adjustment benefited the players inside the paint the most.

Carlos Boozer just faced Dwight Howard in a one-on-one matchup, and their performances were evenly matched; every offensive attempt seemed extremely difficult. Years of facing each other had made them well aware of each other’s habits. But as Joakim Noah once again took on Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer rediscovered the joys of playing under the basket, as Ryan Anderson clearly couldn’t stop his attacks. Stan Van Gundy reluctantly called a timeout, having earlier replaced several key players with ones who had better mental resilience, fearing they might be influenced by Derrick Rose. Unexpectedly, the Bulls deviated from their usual playoff tactics and aggressively used a pick-and-roll strategy, repeatedly attacking the Magic’s basket. Especially with Carlos Boozer thriving, the Bulls were able to attack from both inside and outside, scoring a 10-2 run that turned the score to 50-41, with six minutes and thirty seconds left in the second quarter. After the timeout, Derrick Rose was taken off the court to rest. Tom Thibodeau thought carefully before deciding to remove Derrick Rose. From the start of the game, Derrick Rose had been guarded by Hedo Turkoglu, Jamar Nelson, and Gilbert Arenas in rotation, taking on significant responsibilities on both offense and defense, which undoubtedly increased his physical strain. To prepare for the more intense next game, Tom Thibodeau chose to have him sit on the bench. Faced with the Magic’s five starters, the Bulls’ players showed no signs of backing down. The Bulls were no longer the team they were at the beginning of the season—Joakim Noah’s growth and Carlos Boozer’s addition had raised the team’s overall strength. However, Derrick Rose’s absence clearly affected the Bulls, and the pace of the game slowly returned to the Magic’s control. The teams gradually settled into a half-court battle. Fortunately, Carlos Boozer found his form inside, hitting two shots over Ryan Anderson’s head to help the team stabilize the score, with Keith Bogans’ crucial three-pointer adding even more momentum. “It’s hard to see any trace of last season’s Bulls here. Last season, without Rose, the Bulls struggled to keep up in games. But now, even against the league’s best defensive team, the Bulls maintain an excellent competitive level, always holding a slight advantage in the score,” Zhou Yi said, shocked by the Bulls’ performance.

The whistle marking the end of the half finally sounded. It seemed as though God was still on the Bulls’ side—Gilbert Arenas’ last-second layup missed, and the Bulls maintained a four-point lead at 58:54.
In the second half of the second quarter, neither team performed well offensively, while the Bulls showed unprecedented determination defensively.
“I’ve always believed that as long as the team exerts overwhelming pressure in defense, the Bulls will become an unbeatable team. I was glad to see that in the second quarter. We did have some minor issues offensively, but I believe we can solve them. My only requirement for everyone in the second half is to maintain that defensive intensity—use defense to pressure the opponent and offense to defeat them,” Tom Thibodeau said passionately, his voice clearly audible even from the Magic’s bench. No wonder he was so intense—he had always strived to build his team into a top-tier defensive unit. After two years of effort, hope finally appeared today. He knew well that the performance just now was only the peak of the Bulls’ current form, and there was still a long way to go before they became a true defensive powerhouse. Yet those few outstanding moments could undoubtedly serve as a goal for the players to strive for.
What seemed like a long halftime break to fans was actually very short to the players and coaches. Thibodeau’s tactical explanations hadn’t even ended when the staff started urging him on. Thibodeau scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said, “I seem to have talked a bit too much! But anyway, you all need to follow my plan. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, sir,” the Bulls players replied in unison.
On the Magic’s offense, Jamal Nelson quickly brought the ball beyond the three-point line. For a top-tier playmaker like Jamal Nelson, controlling the ball was almost instinctive. Unless it was absolutely necessary, applying full-court pressure on them was just a waste of energy.
A perfect opportunity arose—Gilbert Arenas quickly rushed in for a pick-and-roll. The moment the two broke through, the ball was in Arenas’ hands.
Without hesitation, Arenas swiftly dodged Keith Bogans’ defense and made a fierce breakthrough—one that Bogans simply couldn’t defend.

However, it also gave the defensive players time to recover. When Gilbert Arenas reached the free-throw line, he found himself trapped in a double-team by the Bulls. With Carlos Boozer under the basket, Rolando Blackman behind him, and Derrick Rose quickly closing in, he knew he didn’t have much time left. Once Derrick Rose got there, it would be difficult for any player in the league to do much against such a trio of skilled defenders. Lost in thought, his pace with the ball slowed down naturally. Rolando Blackman didn’t hesitate and snatched the ball from behind him. But Gilbert Arenas was quick—as soon as he lost control of the ball, he reacted instantly, causing the ball to fall out of Blackman’s hands. Before Blackman could pick it up, a red figure flashed by—Derrick Rose, who had rushed in, had already bent down to grab the ball. “Bogans!” Derrick Rose shouted. An orange-colored figure shot out from the Magic’s half of the court, and the ball traveled across most of the court before landing precisely in the hands of Keith Bogans, who was retreating. Keith Bogans’ slender figure dashed into the basket like lightning, lifted off lightly on the tips of his toes, and smoothly threw the ball into the hoop. The ball went back to the Magic. Jamal Nelson’s fake was seen through, but the ball flew out of his hands, and this time the offense went to the interior. Dwight Howard held the ball while pushing his way inward. In terms of physical confrontation, Joakim Noah was at a disadvantage, but his long arms made it difficult for Dwight Howard to advance. As the two gradually moved closer to the basket, the other Bulls players naturally wouldn’t just sit back and watch them fight one-on-one. Unexpectedly, “The Beast” Howard didn’t choose to attack forcefully. The basketball traced a white arc through the air. Its speed wasn’t fast, but it landed perfectly in Gilbert Arenas’ hands. After catching the ball, Arenas immediately threw it away. With a swish, the ball went through the net, accompanied by the crisp sound of the hoop. Yet, this beautiful shot was met with boos from the home crowd, whose noise filled the entire arena. 60:56—the score gap narrowed to four points again. The ball went back to the Magic. Jamal Nelson’s fake was seen through, but the ball flew out of his hands, and this time the offense went to the interior.

Dwight Howard controlled the ball while pushing his way toward the paint. In terms of physical confrontation, Joakim Noah was clearly at a disadvantage, but his unusually long arms made it difficult for Dwight Howard to advance. As the two gradually moved closer to the basket, the other Bulls players naturally wouldn’t sit idly by and let them engage in a one-on-one fight.

Surprisingly, “The Beast” Howard didn’t choose to charge in forcefully. The basketball traced a diagonal white arc through the air. Its speed wasn’t fast, but it landed perfectly in Gilbert Arenas’s hands. After catching the ball, Arenas immediately threw it away. With a swish, the ball went through the net, accompanied by the crisp sound of the basket. Yet, this impressive shot was met with boos from the home crowd, whose noise filled the entire arena.

60:56—the score gap narrowed to four points again. With the teams switching sides, the Bulls quickly passed the ball across half-court with two long passes. With consecutive dribbling sounds, Derrick Rose swiftly moved from the top of the key to the right side, drawing the Magic’s defense there as well. He grabbed the rebounding ball and leaned forward rapidly, shooting like an arrow toward the paint. His astonishing explosive power and sudden movement left Jamal Nelsons, his defender, completely unprepared.

The Magic players rushed over quickly, aware of the consequences of letting a player like Derrick Rose enter the paint. Avoiding Arenas’s surprise right-hand attack, Derrick Rose found himself surrounded by two of the Magic’s fastest players. Under pressure from both sides, he seemed resigned to his fate and jumped up despite the encirclement. Without giving Arenas time to think, he also leaped high, his large hands flailing in front of Derrick Rose’s face.

Holding the ball high, just as it seemed he was about to shoot, Derrick Rose gently twisted his right wrist, and the ball flew out in a diagonal white streak. Keith Bogans, who was outside the three-point line, caught the ball and lightly jumped up, adjusting it mid-air before shooting it out, tracing a beautiful parabolic path. With another uncontested three-pointer, the score became 63:56.

The Magic were always patient on offense, using several clever passes and pick-and-rolls to get the ball back to their interior players. Dwight Howard’s continuous feints finally disrupted Joakim Noah’s balance, and taking advantage of the moment the opponent adjusted, Howard dunked powerfully with both hands to score.
…
The Bulls maintained a high level of defense throughout, forcing the Magic to shoot almost at the buzzer on this offensive drive. Their switching defense was highly skilled and coordinated, and it was this that allowed the Bulls to not only withstand the Magic’s relentless third-quarter attack but also widen the score gap.
74:66—a eight-point difference, the widest of the game. Aside from Gilbert Arenas’ hot start in the first quarter, the Bulls’ defense against the Magic was quite successful. Dwight Howard was 7-of-14 from the field, far below his near 70% shooting rate in previous games; Jamal Nelson was 2-of-9, and Gilbert Arenas was 6-of-11, including 4-of-5 in the first half. It was their successful defense that kept the Bulls ahead.
However, this also revealed another issue: the difference in quality between the two teams’ bench players. At this point, the Magic’s bench was 5-of-9 from three-point range, with a dominant 32:12 scoring advantage.
Tom Thibodeau showed no sign of relief. Throughout the first three quarters, several key Magic players had ample rest time. The Bulls’ core group fought hard throughout those quarters, with Derrick Rose managing to get a few minutes off, but Carlos Boozer was a workhorse, the only player on either side who hardly rested.
Carlos Boozer was the Bulls’ backbone in interior offense and rebounding, but he faced the league’s top interior player, “The Beast” Howard. Although Boozer was physically strong, he was far inferior to Dwight Howard. Whenever he faced Howard, he couldn’t gain any advantage against Howard’s fierce defense. If Boozer’s stamina failed, the Bulls would face unprecedented difficulties.
Against players like the Magic, you can’t give them even the slightest breathing room. If you ease up on pressure, they’ll unleash terrifying strength.

“The Magic’s interior players are simply too strong,” Zhou Yi said with a frown, resting his chin in his hands as he pondered.
To relieve the pressure on their interior players, they had to rely more on their outside players. Derrick Rose remained energetic even after resting near the midcourt, while Keith Bogans and Kyle Korver taking turns playing gave him plenty of rest time.
“Dunk, we need your offense,” Derrick Rose quietly said to Rolando Dunk before he stepped onto the court.
Gilbert Arenas’s close attention on Keith Bogans made it difficult for him to get space to shoot. Relying on just one person from the outside was not enough to pose a serious threat to the Magic.
If there was one offensive asset the Bulls needed to exploit at that moment, it was Rolando Dunk at the small forward position. In the playoffs, he had acted as a sniper, and it was his excellent defense and timely offense that helped the Bulls maintain a scoring advantage.
“Me?” He glanced at Derrick Rose in confusion. The coach had assigned him defensive duties only, and he actually opposed this arrangement deep in his heart.
But he understood the coach’s intention—the Bulls weren’t short of talent offensively, with the league’s top offensive and defensive duo of Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer, along with the emerging interior player Joakim Noah.
Derrick Rose, knowing his concerns, smiled lightly and said, “The coach only cares about winning. As long as we win this game, he won’t say much. And you need a chance to show what you can do. After all, the Magic isn’t an ordinary team, and Hedo Turkoglu isn’t an ordinary defender either.”
After hearing Derrick Rose’s words, Rolando Dunk could only nod.
“Heh, it seems Rolando Dunk will have to play a key role in the Bulls’ offense from now on,” Zhou Yi mused after seeing Derrick Rose and Rolando Dunk talking quietly.
Keith Bogans passed the ball across half the court, delivering it accurately to Derrick Rose in the midcourt.
At that moment, the Magic’s players clearly hadn’t focused on the game yet. Only two players remained on the court: Gilbert Arenas and Jamar Nelson.
A loud thud as the ball was slapped woke the Magic’s players. By the time they reacted, Derrick Rose had already driven into the free-throw line, with only Gilbert Arenas chasing after him.

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, as if wings had grown on his sides. Derrick Rose leaped gracefully from just outside the three-second line, his movement exuding ease. With a slight shake of his wrist, the basketball traced a small parabolic path before soaring into the basket.
76:66—the score gap widened to double digits for the first time.
Stan Van Gundy frowned; the Bulls were indeed a tough opponent.
The Magic’s offense remained methodical. Jamal Nelson quickly drove the ball past half-court, and even when confronted by Rolando Blackman, he chose to pass instead.
Derrick Rose, who observed everything closely, noticed that the ball’s trajectory seemed off the moment it was passed. Dwight Howard only needed to take a small step outward to easily catch it, and that slight movement would have given him enough space to drive. But somehow, Joakim Noah emerged from under the basket, blocking Howard’s path.
Opportunities in basketball are fleeting. As Derrick Rose had predicted, the ball hit Joakim Noah’s shoulder. Just as the ball was about to bounce out of bounds, Derrick Rose quickly retrieved it.
Watching Rolando Blackman sprinting down the court, Derrick Rose passed the ball precisely in front of him. Blackman picked up the ball and executed a smooth dunk, sending it cleanly through the hoop.
…
On the Bulls’ next offensive play, after crossing half-court, Derrick Rose, who was breaking through Gilbert Arenas, made a subtle behind-the-back pass to Rolando Blackman, who was running toward the basket. Delighted after catching the ball, Blackman didn’t need to adjust and executed a smooth dunk.
Trapped behind Carlos Boozer, Dwight Howard could only watch as Blackman scored a powerful dunk.
On the following offensive play, Gilbert Arenas ignored Derrick Rose’s defense, reversed direction, caught the ball, and immediately jumped for a shot—but it missed. Joakim Noah secured the rebound.

Faced with Derrick Rose’s offense once again, Gilbert Arenas paid much more attention. But to Arenas’ surprise, after Rose dribbled into the middle of the court this time, he immediately charged straight toward Arenas’ right side. Arenas closely followed, trying to block Rose’s path. Just as Arenas thought he had stopped Rose, the latter suddenly stopped abruptly. Arenas, unable to keep up with Rose’s rhythm, continued rushing to the right. By the time Arenas stopped, Rose accelerated again and completely got past him.

This series of moves left Arenas confused. After passing him, Rose rushed straight to the basket. Since he had failed to cover properly earlier, Hedo Turkoglu hesitated about whether to go after him. But in that brief moment, Rose completed a three-step layup for two points.

On the Magic’s offense, Dwight Howard received a pass from Jamar Nelson at the baseline and hit a jump shot.

“Damn it, since when is this guy so accurate from mid-range?” Zhou Yi frowned in frustration after seeing Dwight Howard easily hit a mid-range shot.

The teams switched offense and defense.

Derrick Rose broke through at the baseline and passed neatly to Rolando Blackman in the corner, who then shot another three-pointer.

Immediately afterward, Keith Bogans made a contribution. He stole Jamar Nelson’s pass and assisted Carlos Boozer, who was still on the Magic’s half-court, to score a layup.

After the Bulls scored a 10-3 run, the Magic decisively called a timeout.

After the timeout, the Magic increased their mid-range shooting. Ryan Anderson was very consistent, hitting two consecutive mid-range shots despite being defended by Carlos Boozer, helping to stabilize the team’s morale.

Jamar Nelson defended cautiously inside the three-point line. Earlier, he had been outpaced three times by Derrick Rose’s speed. Although the coach didn’t criticize him, he still felt bad—he bore significant responsibility for the Bulls’ scoring surge.

Derrick Rose feinted, causing Jamar Nelson to panic. Meanwhile, Rose had already passed the ball to the interior while Nelson was distracted.

Faced against the still young and inexperienced Ryan Anderson, Carlos Boozer had all the time he needed to drive the ball to the basket. The game was one-sided, with the Bulls scoring 39 points in the third quarter—12 out of 17 attempts—showing their dominance. … Ron Artest broke free after a pick-and-roll and raced to the right baseline; Derrick Rose received the pass across half the court and hit a precise three-pointer. It was already the Bulls’ fifth three-pointer in the fourth quarter, with 4.05 seconds left in the game. A 17-point deficit was clearly not something that could be easily closed. Moreover, the Bulls clearly didn’t want to give their opponent any chance, continuing to play with their full starting lineup and putting in relentless defense throughout the game. The Bulls ultimately defeated their opponents 112–99, winning their fifth game. This match was a turning point, and their victory boosted their morale significantly. Throughout the game, the Bulls showed determination to fight to the end, defeating their opponents in the way the Magic were best at. Derrick Rose scored 38 points, the highest in the game, proving that the Magic’s attempt to contain him failed. With 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals, Derrick Rose achieved his first playoff triple-double. Carlos Boozer’s stats weren’t eye-catching—19 points and 13 rebounds—but his head-to-head battle with Dwight Howard dominated the game. Under Boozer’s defense, Dwight Howard scored only 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Four Bulls players scored in double figures: Ron Artest with 27 points and Keith Bogans with 16 points. According to post-game statistics, the Bulls outperformed their opponents in assists, steals, and blocks, but there were also concerning issues—especially in rebounds and contributions from bench players. They trailed by 11 rebounds overall (35 to 46), with a 7-point deficit in offensive rebounds. While the rebound problem could potentially be improved, even quickly, it was the bench players’ poor performance that was the most critical issue for the Bulls. Their bench scored only 17 points, a stark contrast to the Magic’s 38 points.

Although the Bulls exposed fatal weaknesses during the game, they still managed to win—winning at their home court, the United Center. The atmosphere in the Bulls’ locker room after the game was still very relaxed.
After the game, Zhou Yi left the United Center. He didn’t go to see Derrick Rose; his visit to Chicago was kept secret, as he didn’t want anyone to know.
At the post-game press conference, the media in Orlando appeared very worried, as the Magic only needed to lose one more game to end their playoff run.
“The Magic played terribly throughout the game. The Chicago Bulls humiliated them in the way they’re best at. With their foundation lost, I don’t know how the Magic will face upcoming games,” wrote a columnist from the Orlando Sports Newspaper.
Stan Van Gundy looked grim. After losing the game, he was also very depressed, but once he saw the statistics handed to him by his assistant, his despair vanished. In a best-of-seven series, the outcome of a single game doesn’t determine the series’ outcome. On the contrary, the problems the Bulls exposed in this game gave him confidence for the next games.
Stan Van Gundy said firmly, “This loss isn’t a disaster for the Magic. We saw what the opponent is good at, as well as their weaknesses.”
“As for the key reason for our loss, it’s that we underestimated the opponent’s determination. The Bulls are an excellent team with a great coach and talented players. We weren’t well-prepared before the game, but mistakes happen only once. In the next few games, we’ll give it our all,” Stan Van Gundy replied firmly to the reporters’ questions.
Although he didn’t meet Derrick Rose, Zhou Yi called him as soon as he left the United Center to congratulate him on winning this crucial game.
Chapter 395: Semifinals, Against the Bulls (Part 1)
The day after the Bulls beat the Magic, Zhou Yi boarded a plane and returned to Detroit.
In his opinion, the Bulls were almost certainly going to advance.
That same morning, the NBA announced two important awards for the 2010–2011 season: Best Sixth Man and Best Defensive Player.

The Magic’s All-Star center, “The Dark Man” Howard, outperformed defensive stalwarts like Josh Smith to win the 2010-2011 season’s Most Defensive Player award. As for the Best Sixth Man of the season, it went to Ben Gordon from the Detroit Pistons, Zhou Yi’s teammate. Ben Gordon played in 74 games this season, 68 of them as a substitute, averaging 23.2 minutes per game. In that time, he averaged 14.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. This is the second time Ben Gordon has received the Best Sixth Man award; he won it in the 04-05 season while still with the Chicago Bulls. The award for Best Sixth Man has been given annually since the 1982-1983 season to the most valuable substitute player in the NBA. It is chosen through voting by sports journalists and broadcasters across the United States and Canada. Each voter selects first, second, and third place players, with first-place votes worth 5 points, second-place votes worth 3 points, and third-place votes worth 1 point. The player with the highest total score wins the award, regardless of how many first-place votes they receive. According to official announcements, the Best Manager award will also be presented tomorrow. However, the winner of this award is already a certainty: Joe Dumars of the Detroit Pistons. It was Joe Dumars’ keen eye for talent that led to the Pistons signing Chinese player Zhou Yi, helping the team thrive this season. His trades this season have also been quite astute. According to experts, the Pistons are set for a successful season. In addition to their strong regular-season record, they are also likely to win many awards at the end of the regular season. Both McGrady and Zhou Yi are strong contenders for the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. Zhou Yi is second among the regular-season MVP candidates, with Derrick Rose in first place, though the outcome is still uncertain. Zhou Yi’s stats are on par with Derrick Rose’s, and his team’s record gives him an advantage. Zhou Yi is likely to win more awards as well; aside from the two mentioned earlier, he is almost certain to make the All-Rookie team and win Rookie of the Year. …

As of May 1, after the Bulls lost 98-105 to the Magic on the road, they were tied 3-3 with the Magic. The two teams left everything hanging until Game 7, where it would go to a seventh game. At this point, most other games in the league also remained uncertain, making it too early to determine who would advance. The Celtics defeated the Knicks 109-98 at home, eliminating them with a 4-1 series score and becoming the second team to make the playoffs after the Pistons; the Heat beat the Eagles 102-76 at home, taking a 3-2 lead; the Lakers defeated the Suns 109-99, leading 3-1; the Mavericks beat the Nuggets 106-96, tying the series 3-2; the Rockets defeated the Thunder 92-86 on the road, leading 3-2 in the first round of the playoffs; the Spurs, playing at home, beat the Jazz 92-78, also leading 3-2 in the first round. John Kuester reluctantly turned off the TV, surprised by how unpredictable the battle between the Bulls and Magic had been. The Bulls won two games at home first, but then lost the next two, allowing the Magic to catch up to 2-2. Back at home, the Bulls relied on Derrick Rose’s outstanding performance to defeat their opponents, but they lost Game 6 as well. Under these circumstances, it seemed the winner would only be determined in Game 7. “As you all saw in the last game, the Magic have taken one back at home. Although the next game is at the Bulls’ home court, the Magic, with Dwight Howard, still can’t be underestimated. Personally, I think the Magic have a better chance of advancing. What are your thoughts? Feel free to share,” said John Kuester casually. He had thought the situation should have become clearer by now, but the current state of the two teams was unexpected. Most players agreed with him; many didn’t really have a strong opinion, thinking the outcome would be the same regardless. However, Zhou Yi held a different view—he believed the Bulls still held a clear advantage, thanks to Derrick Rose, a player he had always seen as a rival, plus their home-court advantage. The waiting days were anxious and tedious. As other teams in the league settled their outcomes one by one, the battle between the Magic and Bulls remained highly uncertain.

The Spurs, playing away, defeated the Jazz 105-83 to advance to the Western Conference semifinals with a 4-2 record. Their next opponent will be the already-qualified Lakers, who have home-court advantage, with the first game taking place on May 6.

The Rockets, playing at home, beat the Thunder 112-93 to easily advance 4-2. Upon hearing this news, Zhou Yi immediately called to congratulate Yao Ming.

The Rockets’ next opponent will be the Mavericks, who defeated the Nuggets 4-2.

The Heat lost to the Eagles 93-96 away, also heading into a seven-game series.

After a long wait, Zhou Yi still reaped rewards as he was selected for the All-Rookie Team of the year. Zhou Yi from the Pistons, Greg Monroe, Blake Griffin from the Clippers, John Wall from the Wizards, and DeMarcus Cousins from the Kings stood out among many first-year players, forming this year’s All-Rookie Team. Zhou Yi also edged out Blake Griffin to be named the best rookie of the season.

On May 4, the Magic, playing away, lost to the Bulls 98-111 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulls withstood the pressure, defeating the Magic 4-3 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where their next opponent will be the long-awaited Pistons.

The first encounter between the Bulls and Pistons will take place on May 7 at the United Center. The Pistons, having rested for 11 days, will undoubtedly face a tough test.

The 11-day break gave them plenty of energy, but the lack of games over such a long period poses a significant challenge to their teamwork. Can the players maintain their previous form? On the other hand, the Bulls, having gone through seven intense games, are at their peak in terms of both teamwork and form. However, their stamina might be the only factor that could hold them back.

By now, all four teams from the East and West have advanced. The second-round matchups have also been determined: East – Celtics vs. Heat, Pistons vs. Bulls; West – Lakers vs. Spurs, Mavericks vs. Rockets.

…

At 7 p.m. on May 7, the United Center was packed. Here, the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Pistons and Bulls would take place.

Today was a good day for Zhou Yi, as he was set to receive an important award at home—the Regular Season MVP.

Before the game started, NBA Commissioner David Stern presented the MVP trophy to Zhou Yi. It was his first time being named regular-season MVP, and he became the first foreign player to win the award as a rookie. Derrick Rose went over to Zhou Yi to congratulate him. Although they were competitors for the MVP title, it did not affect their relationship. Zhou Yi and Derrick Rose chatted briefly before returning to their teammates. Greg Monroe and Carlos Boozer stood on either side of the referee. Even though the game hadn’t begun yet, a tense atmosphere filled the arena. Their intense gazes were fixed on the basketball in the referee’s hands, with muscles tensed beneath their jerseys. The moment the whistle blew, they would launch like cheetahs. As the orange basketball rose, Greg Monroe and Carlos Boozer leaped up—two top-tier power forwards destined to engage in a fierce battle from the start. With two “thwack” sounds as the ball made contact, it came to a halt mid-air in their hands. This sudden shift from motion to stillness was astonishing. Yet human strength has its limits; after pausing briefly, they quickly descended back to the ground with the ball. Although Greg Monroe had a slight edge and managed to take the ball from Carlos Boozer’s hands, it landed on the ground between them. Andre Iguodala seized the opportunity, picked up the ball, and quickly passed it to Zhou Yi, then rushed inside. By then, the Bulls players hadn’t reacted yet. Despite Derrick Rose’s top-tier speed, there were too many players gathered near the midcourt, making it difficult for him to move quickly. All that could be seen was Andre Iguodala easily scoring after receiving the pass from Zhou Yi. With the home team taking the lead, the United Center was filled with festive excitement. The United Center, which had seen average attendance in previous years, not only helped the Pistons escape their struggles after Zhou Yi joined but also brought astonishing attendance numbers. This season, its total attendance ranked fourth in the league—a truly inspiring figure. For this game, all 20,432 seats in the United Center were filled, with even extra seats set up in the aisles.

The Pistons’ official website shows that for the Eastern Conference semifinals, nearly 21,000 tickets for home games have been sold out. Tickets in the hands of scalpers have seen prices soar several times, with the highest reaching $1,000. The last time tickets in “The Motor City” sold out was four or five years ago.

In the past, a team’s prospects in the playoffs were determined by how many star interior players it had and its playoff experience. But in today’s fast-paced environment, scores are often decided by aggressive fast breaks, and without a strong offensive capability, even the best defense is helpless.

The series between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons is highly intriguing. The two teams have met four times in the regular season, with the Pistons winning 3-1, but the Bulls remain a formidable force. Moreover, the Bulls’ Derrick Rose is one of the strongest contenders for MVP, and the two have always seen each other as rivals. A matchup between two top-tier point guards is bound to be intense. The clash between Greg Monroe and Carlos Boozer is also a key highlight of this game.

Facing a team with strong offensive capabilities like the Bulls, the Pistons must not only rely on their own offensive strength but also use their defense to disrupt the opponent’s attacks.

In the Bulls’ offense, Derrick Rose uses teammates’ screens to break into the Pistons’ paint and scores with a brilliant backspin layup.

Switch of play.

Zhou Yi quickly drives the ball across half-court, with Derrick Rose guarding him. Although Zhou Yi isn’t taking his defense lightly, he remains relatively calm.

Derrick Rose is an excellent defender, but his defensive presence isn’t enough to intimidate players like Zhou Yi. Still, his speed is among the best in the league, and he’s known for his tenacity. Though he may not be great at steals, his close defense and speed make him a real hassle for any player trying to break free.

Instead of forcing a breakthrough, Zhou Yi quickly passes the ball to McGrady.

Against a team like the Bulls, tactics and playing styles need to change completely—flexible passing, active movement from perimeter players, and higher demands on the speed of interior players. In this game, although Ben Wallace returned, John Kuester didn’t start him but continued to use Samuel Dalembert. The Bulls’ interior lineup is strong and highly flexible. If Big Ben were used alongside Greg Monroe, it might not necessarily pose a threat to the opponent; instead, using Samuel Dalembert can enhance both offensive power and flexibility.

McGrady lofted the ball into the interior, where Greg Monroe tried to take a one-on-one shot but was blocked by Carlos Boozer. Joakim Noah grabbed the defensive rebound and passed it to Derrick Rose.

In the Bulls’ offense, Derrick Rose accelerated to the max and forced his way through defense before making a clever pass to Ron Artest, who easily scored a layup.

Zhou Yi took a deep breath—he had been chasing Derrick Rose and was a bit out of breath.

After halftime, Zhou Yi didn’t hold onto the ball and handed it back to McGrady.

McGrady feinted, broke through the Bulls’ defenders, and hit a mid-range jump shot, helping the Pistons tie the score.

The offense and defense switched.

The Bulls’ next attack failed, and Zhou Yi grabbed the rebound before pushing toward the Bulls’ half-court.

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 Carlos Boozer, he slowly moved toward the three-second line.

Carlos Boozer looked extremely strained. Though he’s a top-tier power forward, physical confrontation has never been his strength.

Greg Monroe slightly bent his left elbow to push back against Carlos Boozer, creating distance, then easily jumped up for a hook shot and made it.

With a sigh of relief, Greg Monroe wiped the sweat from his forehead. He hadn’t expected Carlos Boozer to be so strong—just a few steps had taken a toll on him. His final hook shot felt off, but luckily, the ball bounced a few times on the rim before finally going in.

Carlos Boozer pulled to the perimeter to set a screen for Derrick Rose. Under Zhou Yi’s defense, Derrick Rose wasn’t as effortless as in previous games.

Especially during attempts to break through, several times it seemed they were about to succeed, but Zhou Yi would mysteriously appear in front of them. After multiple failed attempts, they had no choice but to rely more on their teammates to block shots.

Derrick Rose quickly broke through from the middle into the three-second area, but Greg Monroe was already waiting firmly in the paint. Seeing no good opportunity to shoot, and given Derrick Rose’s playing style, he naturally wouldn’t shoot so easily. With a slight flick of his wrist, the ball quickly found its way to Carlos Boozer’s hands. By then, Greg Monroe had already turned to defend Derrick Rose, and the other Pistons players hadn’t yet had time to cover. He stretched out his arm effortlessly and dunked the ball into the basket.

Zhou Yi passed the ball long into the paint, and Greg Monroe used a convincing fake move to easily deceive Carlos Boozer, sending the ball through the net. Derrick Rose passed the ball for an assist, and Keith Bogans hit a three-pointer from the right wing.

After a passing mistake by the Pistons, Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, and Keith Bogans easily formed a 3-on-2 advantage, with Derrick Rose 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; Derrick Rose hadn’t expected him to shoot from such a distance. Especially since this was the playoffs, not regular season play.

Perhaps inspired by the MVP ceremony before the game, the Pistons performed exceptionally well in the first quarter, hitting 15 out of 22 shots for 41 points. Although the Bulls didn’t have the same efficiency, their 11 out of 23 shots was still quite solid. Moreover, the Bulls earned many free throw opportunities in the first quarter, with Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer each pulling off 2+1 plays, leaving them temporarily behind the Pistons 35–41 by 6 points.

The two point guards also performed admirably in the first quarter. Zhou Yi lived up to his status as regular season MVP, hitting 4 out of 6 shots for 11 points and 4 assists. Derrick Rose, on the other hand, hit 5 out of 7 shots for 12 points, with 3 assists and 2 steals.

Among the other players, seven Pistons scored, with Zhou Yi leading at 11 points. On the Bulls’ side, all the starting players scored, with Derrick Rose having the highest score at 12 points.

The fans at the Auburn Hills Palace were undoubtedly the happiest, as the best scoring battle so far in the playoffs was unfolding right before their eyes.

Regarding the players’ performance on the court, John Kuester had nothing to say—they were definitely at the top level. However, the Bulls’ strong scoring lineup found their rhythm from the start, scoring well from both inside and outside. Kuester had prepared for a fierce battle, expecting the opponent to score heavily, but 35 points in the first quarter was still hard for him to accept.

Still, he was quite pleased with his team’s offense, as scoring 41 points in a single quarter showed that the team’s offense was flowing smoothly without any issues. After encouraging the players a bit, Kuester insisted on continuing the intense battle. As long as they maintained a strong score lead in the second quarter, and given the Bulls’ fatigue after seven tough games, the Pistons would have the chance to win the match.

In the second quarter, the Bulls made adjustments to their starting lineup, with CJ Watson and Ronnie Brewer replacing Derrick Rose and Rolando Blackman, respectively. On the Pistons’ side, Ben Gordon replaced Tracy McGrady.