Chapter 187

At 2 minutes and 31 seconds into the fourth quarter, Andre Iguodala stole the ball from LeBron James, launched a fast break, drove into the Heat’s paint, and passed behind him to Zhou Yi, who caught the ball and scored with a mid-range jump shot. On the Heat’s side, Mike Bibby responded with a three-pointer. McGrady gently dribbled the ball, moving slowly, his sleep-deprived eyes fixed on his opponent. To those unaware, McGrady might have seemed like he wasn’t fully awake, almost as if he were sleepwalking. Yet it was precisely this demeanor that kept Dwyane Wade on high alert, unable to relax or make any moves. Wade knew full well that McGrady was a dangerous opponent at that moment—any slight mistake would lead to disaster. McGrady appeared to lack fighting spirit, as if in a daze, but in reality, he was constantly plotting attacks, ready to destroy his opponent at any second. When McGrady reached just outside the three-point line facing the basket, he changed his approach. He suddenly stopped dribbling, turned his body naturally, bent his knees, and relaxed his entire body, looking ready to shoot a three-pointer! Seeing this, Dwyane Wade immediately gritted his teeth and reflexively jumped up, raising his hands to block McGrady. But as he jumped, he realized he had made a huge mistake—McGrady hadn’t shot right away. A cold smile of triumph appeared on McGrady’s face as he jumped forward, crashing into Dwyane Wade and losing his balance. “Bleep!” The referee’s whistle sounded at that moment, and as McGrady lost his balance, he pushed with both hands and shot the ball. “Thud!” To the disappointment of McGrady and the Pistons, the shot missed. But this didn’t mean the attack was a failure, as the referee hadn’t yet called a foul! “Player 25, hand foul—three free throws!” McGrady made two of the three free throws, missing the last one. Juwan Howard of the Heat grabbed the defensive rebound. Immediately afterward, the Heat’s head coach, Eric Spoelstra, called a timeout.

After the timeout ended, the Heat suddenly unleashed a level of performance they had never shown before in this game. It was as if they had become a different team, dealing a devastating blow to the Pistons, leaving everyone on the team and the fans in the arena utterly shocked.

With 1:50 left in the game, the Heat finally narrowed the score gap to single digits. The fans at the Auburn Hills Palace could hardly believe what they were seeing. Even though the Pistons were still managing to score, the Heat gradually closed the gap. Less than two minutes later, they still held an 8-point advantage, yet the fans couldn’t see how that could guarantee their team’s victory.

Although the ball was in the Pistons’ possession, they didn’t need to score now—they just needed to defend tightly. Whether they scored or not no longer mattered. As long as they made good use of their advantage left and suppressed the Heat’s counterattacks, victory was what they wanted most.

Zhou Yi suddenly stumbled and made a mistake while dribbling. For some players, just a brief moment is enough to complete many actions, and Mike Bibby, who was defending him, was one of the best at that. Taking advantage of his moment of distraction, Bibby swiftly snatched the ball from him and passed it long.

The Pistons were clearly unprepared for this mistake. As Jwan Howard leaped high inside the three-second area, raising his hands high above his head, he slammed the ball down with great force at the peak of his jump. That powerful dunk seemed to shake the entire arena.

Chapter 415: 4:1 Overcome the Heat, Advance to the Finals
126:120. Seeing the impressive score on the scoreboard, John Kuester finally called a timeout. In just a few minutes, the Pistons’ 10-point advantage was about to be exhausted. What angered him even more was that since Mike Bibby entered the game, three Heat players had scored, and the interior defender Eric Dampier had also performed exceptionally well, preventing two crucial Pistons shots.

This definitely wasn’t the Heat’s true strength, nor was it the Pistons’ true strength. Yet the teams’ on-court performance was the exact opposite of their actual capabilities. With 1:30 left in the game, as long as they used this timeout wisely, they would still have control of the game.

“The Pistons’ timeout was timely. Based on the current score, they still hold a clear advantage, but judging from both teams’ performance so far, that 6-point lead isn’t that significant—it could be erased in just a couple of exchanges. What the Pistons need to focus on now is avoiding any mistakes of their own,” analyzed Zhang Lihe.

John Kuester was concerned about more than just that. The Pistons also had issues with rebounds. In the past few minutes, Jwan Howard alone grabbed three offensive rebounds, giving the Heat three scoring opportunities. With the game reaching a critical moment where every second counts, every rebound is invaluable.

The Pistons had been using a lineup of one big man and four smaller players, relying on speed, but their weakness in rebounds was inevitable. It seems this lineup wasn’t very effective against the Heat. To regain control of rebounds, John Kuester brought back Samuel Dalembert.

Samuel Dalembert joined the Pistons this season. To strengthen their frontcourt, the Pistons acquired him from the Kings this season. Since joining, he had performed well initially, averaging 7.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. However, as the season progressed, his performance declined due to injuries.

Once Dalembert entered the game, he and Greg Monroe gave the Pistons an edge in the paint.

On the Heat’s bench, Eric Spoelstra looked very serious. He tapped on the strategy board a few times and calmly outlined the tactics for his players.

“At this stage of the game, both teams are running low on energy, especially the Heat. It’s all about who loses their composure first; once that happens, the game is almost over,” Yu Jia said with a serious expression as well.

Samuel Dalembert proved to be a talented player. As soon as he entered the game, he grabbed an offensive rebound and passed it to Zhou Yi for a three-point shot that widened the lead to double digits. This shot was arguably the most valuable for the Pistons so far. With only 1 minute and 13 seconds left in the game and a 9-point lead, victory seemed within reach for the Pistons.

On the sidelines, Will Bynum and the other bench players could no longer sit still; they stood up, raising their fists high to celebrate the Pistons’ victory. The fans in the Auburn Hills Palace also became lively, with many cheering for the win. Eric Spolstra’s face turned pale instantly—once full of confidence, the Pistons’ goal left him completely disheartened, with less than a minute left. Zhou Yi enjoyed the wonderful moment to the fullest, but he didn’t get carried away, as Mike Bibby stood right in front of him. Mike Bibby was rushing toward his own half of the court and soon reached beyond the three-point line. Suddenly, a dark figure flashed past him. Mike Bibby’s movements seemed extremely slow in front of his eyes, and every action was precise. Watching Mike Bibby gracefully jump, the ball quickly flew out of his fingertips. With a swish, Zhou Yi didn’t even need to hear it to know the shot would definitely go in—Mike Bibby’s shooting had been textbook-perfect. McGrady didn’t notice Zhou Yi’s distraction and, seeing him still on the Heat’s half, felt a surge of joy. This was an excellent opportunity to launch a fast break; if Zhou Yi succeeded, it would secure the victory. Just as Zhou Yi regained his focus, a large basketball flew rapidly toward him. Instinctively, he dodged, and Mike Bibby easily caught the ball and passed it quickly to Eric Dampier. There were no Pistons defenders in front of Eric Dampier, and his dunk seemed capable of tearing the Pistons’ backboard apart. With 1 minute and 5 seconds left in the game, the Heat players, or rather Mike Bibby, erupted again—scoring five points in just half a minute, bringing suspense back into the game. The score was now 130:126, with only the Pistons left with one more 20-second timeout. But obviously, Yuehan-kusite wouldn’t foolishly call a timeout for the Heat. The Heat’s strong comeback momentum heightened the suspense, especially after Mike Bibby returned to the court, as the Heat completely dominated the Pistons. Zhou Yi drove with the ball, drew double coverage, and passed it to McGrady. McGrady took a mid-range jump shot, and with another swish, the ball went in. The Pistons regained control, with their new trio proving their value as key players at critical moments.

The Heat attacked, but the Pistons enforced a three-second rule, giving the Heat a free throw and a shot. With Mike Bibby’s free throw making it, suspense returned to the game. There was no longer any focus on who would win or lose; everyone’s attention was entirely on the match. Zhou Yi felt the most complicated emotions—his distraction at such a critical moment had pushed the team to the brink. John Kuester’s recent misbehavior was also largely his fault; he surely hadn’t expected his most trusted player to be the one who put the team in trouble. Seeing the excited expressions on the Heat players’ faces, Zhou Yi felt an unprecedented fighting spirit. He was known for his composure throughout the game, but now he too felt an urge to rise again after falling—he would have to make amends for his mistakes himself. John Kuester looked anxious, completely devoid of his usual calmness. He had been very proud after that timeout, believing he had turned the game around at a critical moment. Mike Bibby took the ball from LeBron James and began organizing the team’s offense. With less than a minute left, the game truly entered the countdown phase. Mike Bibby drove with the ball and then passed it to Jwan Howard. Howard pushed Samuel Dalembert aside and shot with a hook shot. The ball bounced around before finally going into the basket. 132:129—the Pistons led by only 3 points. As the game reached its most critical moment, every second was crucial. To prevent the Pistons from regaining their rhythm, the Heat players coordinated a tight defense throughout the game. In the final moments, the trailing team usually resorts to two tactics: either a tight man-to-man defense to force mistakes from the opponent or fouling. But with the current score gap and time left, fouling wasn’t necessary yet. Moreover, they were facing the Pistons, whose players were very consistent from the free-throw line. As soon as Zhou Yi received the ball at the three-point line, Mike Bibby immediately appeared beside him, trying to force him out of the court. With a feint, Zhou Yi got past him. Mike Bibby grew nervous—what seemed like a simple move, but Zhou Yi was decisive, showing no signs of fatigue from the game. It seemed the earlier mistake had stung the young player’s pride.

After facing this young man twice, the deepest impression Zhou Yi left on Mike Bibby was his resilience. In terms of pure speed, Zhou Yi might be slightly inferior to his peak self, but in those two head-to-head encounters, their performances were fairly even, with him always finding a way to escape desperate situations at critical moments.

Just past the halfway point, Mike Bibby didn’t give Zhou Yi any room to recover and pressed him tightly. Once Zhou Yi got fully going, even Mike Bibby at his best might not have been able to stop him, let alone now that Mike Bibby was already in decline.

Eric Spolstra was already restless, pacing anxiously on the sidelines. Especially upon seeing Zhou Yi’s expression, he kept shouting about defense.

The Heat had already switched to zone defense. Unlike other teams, the Pistons’ five players all had solid scoring abilities, and none of them could be overlooked.

Despite sweat dripping from his forehead onto the ground, Mike Bibby didn’t dare wipe it away. He seemed completely focused on defense, oblivious to the noise in the O’Brien Center.

Zhou Yi displayed lightning-fast speed, appearing right in front of Mike Bibby in the blink of an eye. At that moment, everyone in the arena and among fans watching on TV knew the game’s most crucial play was about to happen. With less than a minute left, this confrontation would determine the outcome of the game. The Heat had no room to retreat; if they failed to defend this shot, winning the game would become purely theoretical.

As the two men’s bodies neared collision, Zhou Yi’s movements seemed unchanged—his speed remained steady, while his hand movements subtly shifted. He caught the bouncing ball with his left hand and swiftly drove it toward Mike Bibby’s left side. The ball was moving extremely fast. Mike Bibby’s heart tightened as he slightly shifted his weight backward, adapting to Zhou Yi’s ever-changing moves.

At the moment the ball was released, Zhou Yi made a surprising move—he quickly spun 360 degrees in place, bent his right hand slightly, and appeared on Mike Bibby’s right side. Realizing his mistake, Mike Bibby tried to react immediately, but in that instant, Andre Iguodala nimbly pulled back to the perimeter and set up a simple screen with Zhou Yi.

Just as Zhou Yi was about to shoot inside the three-point line, LeBron James quickly rushed out. By the time Andre Iguodala pulled back to the outside, he had already guessed his intention and swiftly followed, managing to block Zhou Yi in time.

Zhou Yi wasn’t the type of player who liked to take matters into his own hands. After his shooting attempt was intercepted by LeBron James, the ball hit the floor to the right of LeBron James and quickly bounced into the hands of Samuel Dalembert inside. By then, LeBron James was defending him, leaving Iguodala free.

Iguodala rushed into the Heat’s penalty area, received the pass from Zhou Yi, and scoring on the basket seemed inevitable. Sure enough, Iguodala easily dunked, helping the Pistons gain another 2 points.

With 37.2 seconds left, Mike Bibby drove with the ball, passed past Zhou Yi, drew Greg Monroe’s defense, and then made a bounce pass to Eric Dampier. By this point, Greg Monroe had pulled out to guard Mike Bibby, while Samuel Dalembert was held back by Jwan Howard.

Eric Dampier stepped forward slightly, and scoring seemed inevitable. A faint smile appeared on his lips—being able to score such a crucial shot in an important game was a rare achievement for him.

Yet the Pistons players didn’t give up. Several of them rushed toward the basket. With the game already decided, they were determined to do everything in their power.

This time, Eric Dampier jumped very high. At the peak of his jump, he bent his waist slightly, his body like a taut bowstring, as a stunning dunk was about to unfold before all the fans’ eyes.

Just as his raised right hand was about to slam down, a sense of unease arose in his heart. He couldn’t see it, but all the Heat fans witnessed something they couldn’t believe.

At the moment Mike Bibby made the bounce pass, a dark figure rushed straight into the penalty area from outside the three-point line. By the time Eric Dampier leaped upward, that dark figure was already inside the free-throw line. There was no time to hesitate—like a projectile, he quickly soared into the air.

Watching the ball in Eric Dampier’s hands rising little by little, Zhou Yi’s determination grew even stronger. Yet his stamina had been greatly depleted; as his body soared into the air, exhaustion spread throughout his body, making it seem as though he might plummet straight down at any moment. But his perseverance kept him from letting go.

He didn’t have the energy to pay attention to anything else; it seemed as though only the basketball existed in his sight. Zhou Yi let out a roar and stretched out his right hand forward.

Finally, his fingers touched the basketball. Though it was just his fingers, they exerted unimaginable strength. Eric Dampier’s dunk was blocked by Zhou Yi right at the front of the backboard, causing the ball to bounce out instantly and be grabbed by Greg Monroe.

Thanks to Zhou Yi’s incredible block, the Pistons’ morale soared.

In the subsequent offensive wave, Andre Iguodala and Tracy McGrady coordinated perfectly, with Iguodala eventually hitting a three-point shot.

Although the Heat used fouling tactics against the Pistons and managed to score another three-point shot, their fierce counterattack was extinguished by the powerful Pistons.

“Ding” — with the end of the game’s final buzzer, the match came to an end.

The Detroit Pistons defeated the visiting Miami Heat 136:132 at home, eliminating the Heat 4:1 and advancing to the 2010–2011 finals.

Chapter 416: Finals, Opponent: Lakers

On June 4th, Beijing time, the Western Conference finals between the Lakers and Mavericks came to an end. Under the leadership of their star player Kobe Bryant, the Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki, 4:2.

The Lakers’ advancement meant that both teams destined for the finals had been determined: the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers. The first game of the finals would take place on June 7th at the Pistons’ home court, The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Time quickly arrived on June 7th. At 7 p.m., The Palace of Auburn Hills was packed with people, creating a spectacular scene.

The finals were scheduled to start at 8 p.m., and at 7 p.m., celebration activities were held at the Pistons’ home court.

At 7:40 p.m., the players from both teams came onto the court for pre-game warm-ups.

Soon after, the game was about to begin.

The Lakers’ starting five: center Andrew Bynum, power forward Paul Gasol, small forward Ron Artest, shooting guard Kobe Bryant, and point guard Derek Fisher.
Judging from the current Lakers roster, the point guard position is the team’s biggest weakness. Derek Fisher is old, and Steve Blake isn’t at the level to be the starting point guard.
Derek Fisher is capable, but he’s quite old; describing him as less agile compared to Zhou Yi isn’t an exaggeration. His performance last season was indeed surprising, but this season he’s gradually lost his touch.
It’s fine for Steve Blake to play as a reserve, but he likely lacks the skill to be the starter. Moreover, having just arrived in Los Angeles this season, his chemistry with the team isn’t great, and his performance is much worse than last year.
In this game, McGrady wasn’t part of the Pistons’ starting lineup. He was very fatigued from the previous round, and his knee seemed to have some issues. John Kuester was worried about a recurrence of his past injuries and even considered keeping him out of this game. However, McGrady has strong adaptability and was basically back to normal by today. He was in good form during training, but just to be safe, John Kuester ultimately decided to keep him on the bench.
The Pistons used a starting lineup that was slightly different from before. The five starters were: center Samuel Dalembert, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Ben Gordon, and point guard Zhou Yi.
The game started on time. Andrew Bynum’s mediocre jumping ability meant he had little competitive edge in rebounding. Samuel Dalembert is a very solid blue-collar player; his performance declined last season due to injuries and lack of playing time.
Since joining the Pistons this season, Samuel Dalembert seems to have had a second act, performing exceptionally well.
Using his experience, Samuel Dalembert easily passed the ball to Zhou Yi ahead of Andrew Bynum, allowing the Pistons to initiate the first attack.
Derek Fisher was tasked with defending Zhou Yi, and it was indeed challenging for him to do so.

With a simple change of direction, he easily left him behind. Derek Fisher had strong defensive anticipation, but with a clear speed disadvantage, he could only watch helplessly as Zhou Yi rushed into the paint. Before the other Lakers players could react, two steps inside the three-point line, Zhou Yi quickly took two steps himself and leaped lightly into the air. At that moment, the Lakers’ frontcourt consisted only of Paul Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Zhou Yi’s arrogance was evident as he ignored their presence entirely. Andrew Bynum jumped high outside the three-second area, using his massive frame to block Zhou Yi’s path to the basket, his right hand above his head, ready to swat the ball away, while Paul Gasol also stepped in to serve as an additional barrier under the basket. “Phil Jackson,” the Lakers’ coach, sat on the sidelines with a relaxed expression. Zhou Yi’s sudden move had indeed worried him a bit, but seeing the two frontcourt players almost completely blocking Zhou Yi’s chances of scoring, Phil Jackson felt relieved. Seeing the Lakers’ defense in the paint, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but admire them inwardly. The two players defended in sequence, covering each other’s weaknesses. If Zhou Yi hadn’t been prepared, he might really have been at a loss at that moment. Given Zhou Yi’s current personality, he always played cautiously in games, focusing on achieving his goals rather than how he performed. After successfully breaking through, he noticed Andrew Bynum quickly moving toward the basket from the baseline. As their bodies were about to collide, Zhou Yi used the strength in his waist and abdomen to slightly turn his body, avoiding Andrew Bynum, and quickly pressed down with his wrist, sending the ball under Bynum’s arm and onto the floor. The rebounded ball landed right in front of Samuel Dalembert, who had already stepped into the three-second area with his right foot, giving him an ideal position to catch the ball. By this point, Paul Gasol’s heel was already off the ground. Seeing Zhou Yi’s pass, he was shocked and quickly reduced his intensity, rushing to cover the gap. But that brief delay was enough for Samuel Dalembert to leap high, lifting the ball above his head. Paul Gasol realized what was happening, but he couldn’t adjust his balance in time, and his right hand weakly hit Bynum’s right elbow. With a thud, Samuel Dalembert dunked the ball into the basket. Gasol’s attempt to recover not only failed but also resulted in a foul call, giving Samuel Dalembert a 2+1 opportunity.

“Swish,” the basketball landed steadily in the basket, causing the net to ripple. Samuel Dalembert’s free throw was good, turning a 2+1 into a score!
Derek Fisher is the Lakers’ main playmaker, but his role is essentially to safely carry the ball across half-court before handing it over to Kobe. Especially this season, as Kobe has gradually shifted his playing style, Fisher’s role as a playmaker has become increasingly inadequate.
Kobe’s breakthrough skills are among the best in the league. His exceptional speed, combined with strong physical strength, makes him almost invincible when breaking through defenses. Ben Gordon’s defense is practically ineffective against him; he easily breaks through the Pistons’ first line of defense by leveraging his physical advantages.
In the new season, Kobe took few shots in the first half, focusing instead on passing and defense. It was in the second half that he truly scored heavily—this is the biggest difference between him and last year.
When Kobe broke through near the free-throw line, he passed the ball to Derek Fisher. Zhou Yi stayed close to Fisher; after getting the ball, Fisher not only had no chance to shoot but was also nearly stripped by Zhou Yi.
The ball returned to Kobe, but by then he no longer had a chance to shoot, as Andre Iguodala had already appeared in front of him. Under Iguodala’s defense, Kobe could only frown in frustration. The attacking team has an advantage in both offense and defense, with many options during attacks, while the defending team must hold its ground tightly—any small mistake could lead to an opponent breaking through.
The ball was sent back to the outside, but the offensive clock had already reached 21 seconds. After catching the ball, Ron Artest rushed to shoot a three-pointer without even adjusting his stance, resulting in a miss.
Samuel Dalembert grabbed the defensive rebound and quickly passed it to Zhou Yi.
Derek Fisher couldn’t stop Zhou Yi’s breakthrough, and Zhou Yi easily made it past the three-point line. But this time, Kobe had noticed what was happening. The moment Zhou Yi moved, Kobe abandoned Ben Gordon to cover for Fisher’s oversight, with other players filling in for his position.

Yet he ultimately underestimated Zhou Yi’s passing ability. Before he could adjust his defense, Zhou Yi had already passed the ball swiftly—flat, steady, and at high speed. Before the Lakers’ players could react, Ben Gordon quickly adjusted the ball in his hands and easily jumped from beyond the three-point line to shoot.
“Swish”—the ball cleanly dropped into the basket!
Since returning, Ben Gordon’s performance has been improving, and he’s playing with greater confidence. His shooting from beyond the three-point line has been outstanding, showing clear potential to become one of the league’s top shooters. Fortunately for him, he has two excellent teammates who draw most of the opposing players’ attention, giving him more opportunities to shoot.
On the Lakers’ side, Kobe faced Ben Gordon alone and scored the first two points for the Lakers with a beautiful backdoor jump shot.
Kobe’s backdoor jump shot was impossible to defend against; it caught the defenders off guard.
It drew screams from the crowd, who even started chanting “MVP” for Kobe.
“Swish”—Zhou Yi took a step back, quickly creating distance from Derek Fisher, and easily shot over him. This relied entirely on his physical strength; his speed gave him an edge in offense.
“Clang”—Ron Artest’s jump shot missed, and Andrew Bynum secured the offensive rebound, then passed it to Kobe on the perimeter.
Kobe drove with the ball and passed it to Paul Gasol under the basket. Paul Gasol faced Greg Monroe and tried a hook shot, but it missed as well; Andre Iguodala grabbed the defensive rebound.
The teams switched sides, and it was the Pistons’ turn to attack.
Zhou Yi drove with the ball and passed it to Andre Iguodala at the baseline. Iguodala tried to lay up but was disturbed by Andrew Bynum; the shot missed, and Paul Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound.
“Swish”—Kobe’s mid-range shot went in. With his teammates failing to score consecutively, Kobe decided to shoot himself, though the shot was barely successful. Ben Gordon’s tight defense made his shot less smooth.
The teams switched sides again, and the ball went to the Pistons. Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball across half-court.
At that moment, Zhou Yi did something that surprised everyone—he jumped high near the midcourt, and the ball flew out from his fingertips.

John Kuester was completely baffled. In the previous two rounds, Zhou Yi had performed exceptionally well, delivering the ball to the perfect spot at the right moment. But with such an inexplicable shot, it was hard to understand his thoughts. Even if he really wanted to show off his long-range shooting skills, that shot was still utterly outrageous!

Still, John Kuester chose to trust Zhou Yi, believing he would never do something unprepared.

The Lakers players also watched the basketball in the air. To their relief, it began to drop near the free-throw line. Under these circumstances, it seemed unlikely the ball could reach the basket—it was a typical airball.

Just as the Lakers players let out their sighs of relief, a dark figure swiftly leaped up from the Pistons’ interior players. The bright “10” on the back of his jersey revealed his identity.

At the peak of his jump, Greg Monroe paused mid-air, then quickly turned 180 degrees, facing the basket with his back to it.

With a smooth motion, Greg Monroe caught the basketball firmly and placed it at his waist.

“Roar!” Greg Monroe let out a roar, his stiff body instantly relaxing as he threw the ball backward over his head.

“Thud!” The loud dunk echoed throughout Staples Center, the entire basket shaking violently, and Greg Monroe’s body bobbing accordingly.

The entire Staples Center fell silent. No one expected the Pistons to start with such a stunning aerial pass-and-dunk, and even more surprisingly, both players who executed it were rookies.

Seeing such fierce competition, the home crowd hoped their team would deliver even more exciting attacks. But they were disappointed.

“Thud!” As the basket rejected another shot by the home team, some unexpected boos arose from the crowd—boos directed at the home team. It was rare to see such blunt boos, especially from the Lakers, who were known for their high-quality fans.

Though the boos weren’t many or loud, anyone who wasn’t deaf could hear them.

With Phil Jackson’s experience, his expression immediately changed. No matter how the game turned out, the occurrence of boos at home would undoubtedly make headlines in the media the next day. The team’s embarrassment was now undeniable.

Watching his teammates waste their chances time and again, with the first quarter nearly halfway through, the Pistons, playing away, led 16:9. Especially after the unexpected boos from the fans, the confident Kobe resolved to defeat his opponents in his own way.

Kobe stepped back with his right foot as he moved forward, leaving only the figure of number 24 in front of Ben Gordon—his target out of sight. Greg Monroe’s slow pace gave Kobe enough time to choose a jump shot. Yet his driving posture remained unchanged; just as their bodies were about to collide, Kobe shifted slightly to the side, perfectly avoiding Monroe’s defense, while the Pistons’ paint was already empty.

“Ah…” With a roar, Kobe soared like an eagle in flight, rising high before over 20,000 Lakers fans, his powerful right hand lifting the basketball high above his head.

“Bang”—the deafening sound of the dunk sent Staples Center into chaos. In an instant, the arena turned into a sea of joy. Faced with such a remarkable performance, any differences between fans seemed to vanish instantly. Number 24 once again became the hero of Angel City, as fans shouted his name at the top of their voices.

Just a few seconds after facing boos from the home crowd, Kobe completely changed the atmosphere with an astonishing dunk. At that moment, the Lakers’ momentum clearly overwhelmed their opponents.

The Pistons failed to score, and Kobe grabbed a defensive rebound, driving fast down the court. He jumped forcefully from outside the three-second zone, charging straight at Samuel Dalembert’s defense. His exceptional air control made his movements look effortless; with a slight sidestep, he easily avoided his opponent’s defense, and a gentle wrist flick sent the ball into the net in the opposite direction.

Zhou Yi drove with the ball and passed it skillfully to Greg Monroe in the high post. Monroe took the ball and immediately attempted a jump shot. It seemed certain to go in, but unexpectedly, the ball spun a few times inside the rim before bouncing out, and Paul Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound.

Kobe’s precise 30-degree three-pointer from the right wing finally allowed the Lakers to tie the score.

At this point, just two minutes had passed since the Lakers fans started booing. During those two minutes, Kobe seemed to be possessed by God again, turning into an all-powerful scoring machine. He scored 7 points on his own, helping the Lakers take a 7:0 lead and tie the score. Seeing this, John Kuester quickly called a timeout. After the timeout, the Pistons’ Ben Gordon was replaced by Tracy McGrady, and Andre Iguodala was replaced by James Posey. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ Derek Fisher was replaced by Stephen Blake, and Andrew Bynum was replaced by Lamar Odom. Zhou Yi took control of the offense, passing the ball to McGrady with a behind-the-back pass. McGrady shot a mid-range jump shot, which hit the backboard and went in. “Swish” — Kobe scored another mid-range jump shot. With a series of adjustments by John Kuester, the Pistons’ players became more motivated. What makes a core player? A core player is someone who steps forward in times of crisis when the team needs them most, using their actions to help the team and inspire their teammates. This is the awareness that all core players should possess, and it’s also a manifestation of what fans call leadership. Players who cannot step up in critical moments are considered completely unfit as leaders by fans, though the standards for such leadership are somewhat vague. Clearly, this kind of quality needs to be proven over time. With their many previous saves in critical situations, McGrady and Zhou Yi have clearly been elevated to this position. There’s no doubt about it — when the team needs points the most, over 90% of the balls end up in McGrady’s and Zhou Yi’s hands, with the other players desperately creating opportunities for them. McGrady took on Kobe one-on-one at the baseline, spun around, left Kobe behind, and then delivered a thunderous dunk. “Tracy, you’re in good form, huh?” Kobe seemed excited by McGrady’s performance. “Heh, I feel pretty good!” McGrady replied with a smile. Steve Blake held the ball at the top of the key and then passed it to Paul Gasol inside. With Greg Monroe backing him up, Paul Gasol shot a small hook shot that went through the net. “Phew, finally!” Paul Gasol sighed in relief, having scored his first point so far in the game.

Dreamlike steps, lightning-fast feints—just 5 seconds, and Steve Blake felt utterly overwhelmed. He couldn’t figure out his intentions and was filled with terror. Against such an opponent, it was impossible to stop Zhou Yi’s advance; with a quick acceleration, he easily left Blake behind.

Kobe was blocked by McGrady on the left, a perfect obstruction that was enough for Zhou Yi to launch an attack. The ball flew lightly from Zhou Yi’s fingers, and Kobe helplessly closed his eyes—Zhou Yi’s consistent shooting even impressed him. Based on his stats, Zhou Yi clearly couldn’t be ranked among the league’s top scorers, but his steady shooting and willingness to take risks at critical moments made everyone recognize his scoring abilities.

In their last encounter, Kobe had become acutely aware of this. Zhou Yi’s scoring style was simple: seizing opportunities. If there were no opportunities, he wouldn’t force shots unless necessary—consistent shooting was his true strength.

Kobe caught the ball at the three-point line, taking a small step back with his left foot to adjust his balance. But before he could complete the move, McGrady seemed to have anticipated it, minimizing the space for him to turn. With his left foot unsteady, Kobe quickly used his right foot as an axis, rotating his entire body 90 degrees in place. These rapid movements left him exhausted, preventing any further breakthrough attempts.

The crisis wasn’t over yet—Kobe had no chance to pass the ball. Zhou Yi’s ghostly right hand had already gently taken the ball from his grasp. By then, the Lakers’ players couldn’t even rush to help. Zhou Yi had already taken a huge lead, his graceful layup as picturesque as poetry. It was the complete opposite of Kobe’s thrilling performance earlier, yet just as entertaining.

The Lakers’ point guard position had always been a concern for Phil Jackson. Derek Fisher was aging, and Steve Blake’s performance fell short of expectations. Steve Blake caught the ball from Lamar Odom and carefully carried it across half-court. But Zhou Yi’s elusive presence shocked him. For a player, skills weren’t the most important thing—what mattered most was overcoming fear in games.

For most players, getting playing time is hard to guarantee. To win the coach’s trust, they must show their skills within the limited time they get on the court. Excessive nervousness, however, backfires and often leads to unnecessary mistakes. The only thought in their minds is to pass the ball in a hurry. The gap between them makes them feel insecure even before facing each other—lacking aggression in offense and failing to control the force of their passes, often just brushing against Kobe’s fingertips. The ball goes out of bounds after touching his fingertips, and Kobe’s expression immediately darkens. Though it’s not his fault, the mistake is still recorded on his stats. Zhou Yi takes control of the offense with a crossover, pushing Steve Blake aside. Kobe immediately comes to cover him, but Zhou Yi smirks, flicks the ball, and it ends up in McGrady’s hands. McGrady shoots from beyond the three-point line—swish!—and the ball goes through the net. With a swift move, Kobe breaks past McGrady and heads straight to the basket. Samuel Dalembert’s defense isn’t a challenge for Kobe, who easily throws the ball into the hoop. McGrady faces Kobe again, backs him up, and scores 2 points with a backspin jump shot. Near the midcourt, McGrady launches a surprise attack from behind, snatching the ball from Steve Blake’s hands. He then drives fast, shoots from beyond the three-point line under the watchful eyes of the Lakers players—swish! McGrady’s burst of energy sparks a counterattack for the Pistons. Ron Artest cuts through the middle; after shaking off his defenders, Steve Blake’s ball miraculously ends up in his hands. Facing an empty basket, he chooses the safest scoring method—a layup—and succeeds. The roaring cheers in Staples Center almost completely drown out Kobe’s shooting movements. After a brilliant steal, McGrady, facing Kobe’s defense, opts to drive hard. His excellent physical condition and noticeably taller stature among guards make him prefer to overpower opposing guards in attacks. Without fancy skills, his sheer momentum makes his drives highly threatening—even against a player like Kobe, his agile drives force opponents to back down. Yet despite breaking through, McGrady loses control of the ball to Kobe.

Zhou Yi was still a step too late. By the time he reached beyond the three-point line, Kobe had already leaped high, gently lifting the ball above his head with a slight wrist motion. “Swish” — the crisp sound of the basket finally brought a smile to Kobe’s face, especially when he saw Zhou Yi’s helpless expression, which filled him with even greater pride. He was a player with an extremely strong sense of self-respect, one who grew stronger in the face of adversity; in his world, only the strong deserved respect.

Phil Jackson hadn’t assigned Kobe to defend Zhou Yi full-time. Given Zhou Yi’s skills, only Kobe among the Lakers could potentially contain him. In the head coach’s tactical philosophy, it was unlikely to have the two teams’ ace players face off directly, as exhausting each other’s strength and fighting spirit in such a matchup was definitely not something the Lakers could afford at the moment. Yet even so, Kobe’s days weren’t easy either — McGrady’s tenacious defense was gradually draining his stamina. The Pistons made substitutions: Will Bynum replaced Zhou Yi, Taylor Hansbrough replaced Samuel Dalembert, and Charlie Villanueva replaced Greg Monroe.

The Lakers also made adjustments to their lineup: Kobe was replaced by Shannon Brown, Ron Artest by Matt Barnes, and Paul Gasol as well. “Swish” — a quick stop-and-shoot. McGrady landed with a look of relief. He hadn’t held much hope for that shot, even though his timing was so sudden. Yet Shannon Brown still interfered as he shot. To avoid his crushing grip, McGrady angled his shot higher. He was secretly thrilled — his form was excellent today, and it seemed as though fate was on his side, allowing him to make such a difficult shot. After all, he felt in great form that day.

The Lakers attacked. Shannon Brown’s three-point attempt missed, and James Posey secured the defensive rebound. The basketball bounced joyfully between McGrady’s fingers. On the timer behind him, the seconds had reached nine — this was the last chance for an attack before the end of the first quarter. McGrady’s expression showed no emotion; his head was lowered, with only his eyes slightly raised. Just a step ahead of him, Shannon Brown was already ready, sweating profusely, too afraid even to wipe the sweat from his eyelashes.

Zhou Yi left the court, and it was clear McGrady would handle the Pistons’ final attack.

In that sudden moment with McGrady, Shannon Brown didn’t show even the slightest reaction. His failure to defend marked the decline of the Lakers’ defense. Three steps became an insurmountable distance. Shannon Brown didn’t possess Kobe’s speed that caught fans’ eyes; he could only watch as McGrady rushed into the paint, his body soaring like an eagle in flight.
“Bang!” McGrady completed the Pistons’ final attack with a thunderous dunk.
With the whistle blowing, the first quarter came to an end. Thanks to Zhou Yi and McGrady’s bursts of energy, the Pistons led the Lakers 29–25 by 4 points.
Soon, the second quarter began. Steve Blake carefully drove the ball across half-court. This time, instead of habitually passing it to Kobe, he accelerated and effortlessly slipped past Will Bynum, shooting a mid-range shot that sank neatly into the basket.
Will Bynum helplessly spread his hands—he was primarily responsible for that shot. His habitual mindset made him too careless in defense. Even though defense wasn’t his strength, there was no reason to let the opponent break through so easily, especially against a player like Steve Blake.
Will Bynum drove across half-court, and Steve Blake quickly closed in, blocking his path. Such aggressive defense from Steve Blake was a first in this game. But while attitude is crucial in defense, wisdom is equally important. A player with only strength but no intelligence can never become a successful defender.
With a convincing fake move, Will Bynum easily disrupted Steve Blake’s balance. His right foot, which had stepped forward, quickly retreated. Such a simple fake move already made Steve Blake unsteady, forcing him to watch as Will Bynum effortlessly slipped past him, a gentle breeze brushing against his cheeks.
Breakthrough, pass—McGrady at the right baseline leaped lightly, the ball gliding smoothly in his hands as he shot a textbook three-pointer that sank through the net.
On the Lakers’ side, Lamar Odom’s layup from under the basket also succeeded.
McGrady moved strategically, constantly confusing his defenders. Finally, taking advantage of Shannon Brown’s unsteady footing, he made a surprise countermove, creating an opportunity to shoot. At that moment, the ball was in Will Bynum’s hands.

At this point, the Lakers’ defense had been disrupted by McGrady; he only needed to gently pass the ball to Kobe to create an open three-point shot. Faced with McGrady’s intense gaze and his right hand reaching out to take the ball, Will Bynum quickly passed it to McGrady. McGrady took a shot from range—swish! The ball went through the net! Shannon Brown held the ball at the top of the key but hesitated suddenly. That brief hesitation seemed fatal in the eyes of some players, as seizing opportunities was always McGrady’s strongest skill. McGrady reached in and stole Shannon Brown’s ball. After stealing it, McGrady drove fast with the ball and ended the single fast break with an inspiring dunk. “Bang”—the sound of the dunk energized all the Pistons players. Ever since McGrady entered the game, the Pistons’ momentum soared quickly. After the timeout, the Pistons made another lineup change: Zhou Yi replaced Will Bynum, and Andre Iguodala replaced James Posey. On the Lakers’ side, Kobe came in to replace Shannon Brown, Paul Gasol also entered to replace Derek Carrickot, and Andrew Bynum replaced the veteran Joe Smith. The game continued with the Lakers’ offense. Matt Barnes took a free throw at the sideline; Derek Fisher took the ball from him and slowly moved forward. After half a court, Derek Fisher passed the ball to Kobe. As soon as Kobe received the ball, McGrady closed in on him. Kobe vs. McGrady—every fan’s attention was instantly drawn to them. So far in the game, the best players from both teams were obviously Kobe and McGrady. Before entering the game, Kobe had made 6 out of 10 shots, scoring 15 points; while McGrady, despite playing less than eight minutes, had made 6 out of 7 shots, scoring 14 points. This showed that this game was definitely a clash between McGrady and Kobe at their peak! Although McGrady hadn’t reached his former peak form, his current skills were enough to rank him among superstars. So far this season, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Though he hadn’t yet reached the 20+5+5 level, if he could maintain this performance, he would definitely achieve it by the end of the season. Kobe tried to beat McGrady with a step-back jump shot, but due to McGrady’s intense interference, the shot missed, and Charlie Villanueva grabbed the defensive rebound.

The Lakers’ players hadn’t fully defended yet, and Zhou Yi’s pass had already crossed most of the court. The ball landed firmly in Andre Iguodala’s hands, who scored 2 points with an easy two-handed dunk.

Derek Fisher drove past half-court and passed the ball to Kobe. Kobe drove forward, got past McGrady’s defense, and penetrated into the Pistons’ paint. Facing Charlie Villanueva’s help defense, Kobe completed the attack with a pull-up dunk.

Zhou Yi’s outside shot missed, and Andrew Bynum easily grabbed the rebound. On the Lakers’ side, Matt Barnes drove in after receiving a pass from Kobe but also missed, with Zhou Yi securing the defensive rebound.

The Pistons moved quickly. Before the Lakers’ players could defend, Zhou Yi and McGrady executed a simple two-on-one maneuver, with McGrady putting the ball in the basket. McGrady was responsible for guarding Kobe, while Zhou Yi assisted. John Kuester’s strategy was simple: use Zhou Yi and McGrady to guard Kobe tightly and restrict his shooting opportunities.

As soon as Kobe received the ball, McGrady appeared in front of him, and Zhou Yi was also watching Kobe’s movements. Kobe spun past McGrady, and as he rushed toward the basket, Zhou Yi appeared in front of him. Instead of being surprised, Kobe simply smiled.

Seeing Kobe’s smile, Zhou Yi was shocked, feeling a sense of danger. Sure enough, when Kobe saw Zhou Yi coming to help defend, he quickly passed the ball to Derek Fisher outside the three-point line.

“Tracy, watch out for Derek Fisher!” Zhou Yi shouted.

But by the time McGrady reacted, it was too late. After catching the ball, Derek Fisher didn’t hesitate and immediately took a three-point shot. With a swish, the ball went through the net!

It was the Pistons’ turn to attack. Zhou Yi made a clever pass to Charlie Villanueva, who was positioned just outside the three-point line facing the basket. Paul Gasol, who was guarding Villanueva, hadn’t yet followed up. So, after catching the ball, Villanueva shot a three-pointer. With another swish, it also went in!

Derek Fisher drove past half-court. This time, he didn’t pass the ball to Kobe but chose to drive himself. But the moment he started moving, his hand suddenly felt lighter, and a figure flashed past him from his right, moving like lightning.

Due to inertia, Derek Fisher still took two steps forward. By the time he stopped, Zhou Yi had already crossed half-court.

Rushing to the deserted Lakers basket, Zhou Yi scored 2 points with an easy layup. This time, after halftime, Derek Fisher honestly handed the ball over to Kobe. Outside the three-point line, Kobe drove with the ball, suddenly stepped back beyond the line, and then shot a three-pointer. McGrady tried his best to defend but still failed to block Kobe’s shot. Chapter 417: The Final Battle. Fortunately, Kobe’s three-pointer missed. However, Andrew Bynum grabbed the offensive rebound. Bynum attempted a follow-through shot but also missed. Paul Gasol jumped for a rebound but failed as well; finally, the Pistons’ Taylor Hansbrough secured the defensive rebound. Zhou Yi and McGrady coordinated, with the latter cutting to the basket from the middle to catch a pass from Zhou Yi and score a layup. On the Lakers’ side, Paul Gasol shot a mid-range jump shot but missed. Andrew Bynum was called for a rebound foul while trying to grab a rebound. After a timeout, just over three minutes into the game, the Lakers took eight shots but scored only 2 points, with one turnover and one foul. In contrast, the Pistons scored from multiple players—except for Taylor Hansbrough, all four others scored. Seeing the Lakers’ offense fail once again, “Phil Jackson” had no choice but to call a timeout. The Lakers’ offense had been problematic lately, and more importantly, their defense was too slow, allowing the Pistons to score on fast breaks repeatedly. After the timeout, John Kuester replaced Charlie Villanueva with Greg Monroe, Ben Gordon replaced McGrady, and Samuel Dalembert replaced Taylor Hansbrough. On the Lakers’ side, Ron Artest replaced Matt Barnes. For players like Kobe, though they are loved by fans for their outstanding scoring ability, their playmaking skills cannot be overlooked. It is precisely their strong offensive power that often leaves opposing players at a loss when defending them. Kobe drove and passed to Ron Artest, who hit a three-pointer. Before he could rest satisfied, the Pistons passed the ball again. Taking advantage of the opponent’s confusion, Zhou Yi quickly reached their half-court and scored a three-step layup, catching the Lakers off guard. Ron Artest made up for it by helping Kobe block Ben Gordon, allowing Kobe to seize an opportunity on the right wing and shoot a three-pointer.

Zhou Yi broke through Derek Fisher twice in a row, entering the Lakers’ paint, and scored after forcing a shot as Paul Gasol stepped in to help defend. On the Lakers’ side, Kobe provided another assist this time to Paul Gasol, who caught the pass, turned, and dunked with both hands. Zhou Yi passed behind him to assist Andre Iguodala, who hit a three-pointer from the baseline. “Phil Jackson” marveled inwardly at this scene—unexpected that the Pistons could be so lucky, landing such an outstanding point guard with just one draft pick. Zhou Yi’s passes always came at the right time and to the right place; the Lakers were exactly lacking such a guard. Kobe took a shot from outside the right-wing three-point line using Derek Fisher as a screen. After spinning a few times around the rim, the ball actually went in. On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi broke through Derek Fisher, drove to the baseline, and shot—missing—while Paul Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound. “Swish”—again, Kobe! From the same position and under the same circumstances, he hit another three-pointer. John Kuester didn’t pay much attention to Kobe’s consecutive three-pointers. Kobe was strong; among active players, he was undoubtedly one of the best. But his individual abilities were ultimately limited. The current Pistons, both defensively and offensively, were no match for the Lakers, who hadn’t yet fully unleashed their potential. With the help of two Pistons players guarding from outside, such opportunities were hard to come by, and even if they did, they couldn’t change the course of the game. Compared to John Kuester’s calmness, the Pistons’ players on the court weren’t as composed. Momentum was a key factor in determining victory or defeat. Anyone who could play in the NBA had some skills; it came down to performance on the court. A team with strong momentum could greatly influence its players’ performance. Kobe’s consecutive three-pointers undoubtedly boosted the Lakers’ momentum. Zhou Yi also admired Kobe greatly—when the team’s defense relaxed slightly, he seized the opportunity to narrow the score gap between the two teams; he truly was one of the best scorers in the league. Zhou Yi drove and passed, and Ben Gordon caught and shot. With a “swish,” Ben Gordon’s jump shot also went in. With nearly two minutes left in the first half, the Lakers made a substitution, bringing in Steve Blake to replace Derek Fisher.

Kobe tried another three-point shot from beyond the arc, but wasn’t as lucky this time. The ball bounced off the rim, and Zhou Yi picked up a loose ball on the floor. Seeing that the Lakers’ players were mostly back on defense and in position, Zhou Yi didn’t rush either; instead, he slowly drove the ball forward. After settling his rhythm, he passed the ball to Andre Iguodala. Iguodala drove to the baseline and attempted a shot, only to be blocked by Ron Artest, but he managed to grab the offensive rebound. Iguodala made a lateral pass, and the ball quickly went to Greg Monroe. Using his strong physique, Monroe pressed against Paul Gasol. Suddenly, after pushing Gasol hard, Monroe took a step-back jump shot that went in. Switch! Andrew Bynum received a pass from Steve Blake and was fouled by Samuel Dalembert while shooting. Bynum took free throws, missing the first but making the second. Zhou Yi drove with the ball, and Steve Blake was called for a defensive foul when he tried to steal it. Zhou Yi took the ball from Iguodala and immediately passed it to Ben Gordon. Gordon shot as soon as he got the ball, but missed this time; Samuel Dalembert grabbed the offensive rebound and handed it back to Zhou Yi. Moving around the top of the key, Zhou Yi carefully looked for an opportunity. Suddenly, he accelerated sharply, pulling ahead of Steve Blake, then took a jump shot that hit the backboard and went in. Kobe took control of the ball, dodged Ben Gordon, and shot from mid-range. Although the shot was a bit unsteady, it still went in. Zhou Yi drove across half-court and then passed the ball to Andre Iguodala. As soon as Iguodala caught the ball, Ron Artest rushed over quickly. Iguodala passed the ball to Greg Monroe inside, then quickly ran to the other side. At that moment, Monroe passed the ball back to Iguodala. Iguodala adjusted slightly and then attempted a three-point shot. “Clang”—the ball hit the rim and bounced back quickly. Just as everyone thought it was a miss, the ball fell from a high altitude and landed right through the center of the hoop—a clean shot! Zhou Yi went over and high-fived Iguodala, saying with a smile, “What good luck!”

Andrei Iguodala replied excitedly, “Yeah! I didn’t expect to be this lucky today. Is today my lucky day? Haha…”
The first half entered its final seconds as Kobe broke through and passed to Ron Artest. Artest shot from beyond the three-point line and made it—his shot was a true backboard slam.
Zhou Yi responded to the Lakers’ offense with a layup.
After halftime, Steve Blake passed the ball to Kobe. Kobe penetrated into the Pistons’ paint before passing it to Steve Blake on the outside. Blake also shot a three-point attempt, which went in as well.
After calling a timeout, Kobe turned into an assist master, continuously creating opportunities for his teammates. In no time, he had already delivered 6 assists in the first half. Under Kobe’s leadership, the Lakers gradually closed the score gap.
The score was now 56:51, with the Pistons only leading by 7 points.
Zhou Yi drove with the ball, breaking free from Steve Blake’s defense and reaching beyond the other side’s three-point line. He then shot a three-point attempt.
The shot felt great, and Zhou Yi was confident it would go in. Sure enough, it did—another backboard slam.
With only 14.3 seconds left in the first half, Steve Blake dribbled past the half-court line and passed the ball directly to Kobe. But just as he passed, a figure darted past him and intercepted the ball.
After stealing the ball, Zhou Yi quickly drove toward the Lakers’ half-court. To waste time, he rushed to the Lakers’ basket and completed a three-step layup, scoring.
Still, Zhou Yi left the Lakers with 5.4 seconds of shooting time, but they failed to make use of it.
With Kobe’s mid-range shot missing, the first half came to an end, with the Pistons taking a double-digit lead of 61:51.
John Kuester was very pleased—being able to push the opponent to this extent at the Lakers’ home court gave him plenty to be proud of. After all, just over a month earlier, the Pistons had suffered a crushing loss to the Lakers. In just over a month, the Pistons had become stronger and more mature.

In the first half, three players for the Pistons scored in double figures. Zhou Yi played for 14 minutes and 10 seconds, hitting 10 out of 12 shots to score 21 points, along with an impressive 10 assists, delivering a 20+10 performance with such a high shooting percentage that the home crowd was thrilled; McGrady scored 10 points in 11 seconds, hitting 8 out of 9 shots for 18 points, his efficiency also astonishing; Andre Iguodala also scored 10 points.

On the Lakers’ side, Kobe scored 25 points by hitting 10 out of 22 shots, including 4 out of 7 three-point attempts, plus 1 assist. In other words, at least 37 of the Lakers’ 51 points were directly attributed to Kobe. Kobe’s strength is truly terrifying!

When the Pistons switched to a zone defense against Kobe, the game returned under their control. The commentators for the match were Kenny Smith and Reggie Miller. Their insightful analysis helped fans in the arena and those watching on TV better understand the progress of the game.

As the first half ended, Kenny Smith glanced at the stats sheet, cleared his throat, and said, “This season, Kobe’s improvement is evident to all. Under his leadership, the Lakers have achieved outstanding results. So far this season, they have a record of 28 wins and 6 losses, better than their 34-10 record from last season. The Pistons, after a poor season, were lucky to acquire an excellent point guard during the off-season. In their 34 games so far, his outstanding performance has helped the Pistons achieve the best record in the league at 31 wins and 3 losses. In those 34 games, Zhou Yi averaged 21.6 points, 9.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.7 steals—clearly an All-Star-level performance. The two teams met at the Pistons’ home court in November. At that time, the Pistons weren’t in top form and suffered their third loss of the season. Since then, the Pistons have not lost another game. However, more than a month later, the two teams met again at the Lakers’ home court, and it seemed they had switched roles. Under the Pistons’ zone defense on the perimeter, Kobe hit 10 out of 22 shots in the first half, scoring the highest 25 points of the game. Yet still, the Lakers trailed the Pistons by 10 points, 51-61.”

The halftime break ended quickly, and the second half began!

At the start of the second half, “Phil Jackson” made adjustments to the starting lineup based on the first half’s performance, taking out Kobe, who was struggling offensively. As the team’s top scorer, Kobe had already racked up 25 points in the first half, which was quite impressive. However, his excessive attempts to shoot prevented other players from playing freely, and he committed three turnovers in that half, leaving Jackson dissatisfied with his performance. Shannon Brown, a player with exceptional physical abilities, took Kobe’s place on the court. Kobe’s departure wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Lakers; on the contrary, it had a positive effect, giving other players more opportunities and increasing their enthusiasm for the game. For a team, the worst thing is to have players lacking passion and a sense of honor in playing, and that was exactly the case for the Lakers in the first half. With Kobe taking up two-fifths of the shooting attempts, the other players struggled to find their rhythm in offense. In the first two minutes of the third quarter, the Lakers scored a 7-2 run thanks to aggressive movement and quick passing. The Pistons’ relaxed vigilance was key to the turnaround. The opponents, who had been sluggish in the first half, changed their approach in the second half, speeding up the pace of the game—even without their star player, Kobe. The Pistons called a short timeout, but John Kuester wasn’t worried about the sudden shift in game pace. The Pistons could handle both fast breaks and half-court plays, and they were better suited for fast-paced games. Zhou Yi’s astonishing speed allowed him to complete an attack before the opponents could react. Derek Fisher wasn’t known for his speed, and Steve Blake was fast, but he paled in comparison to Zhou Yi. In the following minutes, Zhou Yi repeatedly broke through the defense of the two players, scoring either himself or passing to open teammates, delivering a 12-5 run for the Pistons. The score now stood at 75-63, with the Pistons extending their lead to 12 points. With 6 minutes and 43 seconds left in the third quarter, the Lakers called another timeout.

Kobe was resting on the bench, leaving the Lakers without their best scorer. Although Kobe was off form today, his presence on the court at least drew two defenders away from the rest of the team. After he left, the Lakers’ offense became more organized, but they weren’t as good as the Pistons at maintaining a fast-paced attack, with continuous passing mistakes leading to wasted opportunities.

When Kobe returned to the court, he immediately made an impact. Though his shot from beyond the three-point line missed, it forced a defensive foul on McGrady, resulting in two free throws that he made.

On the Pistons’ offense, Zhou Yi broke through and passed to Andre Iguodala, who tried a jump shot at the baseline but missed, allowing the Lakers to secure a defensive rebound. Derek Fisher’s three-point attempt missed, and Greg Monroe grabbed the rebound, passing it to Zhou Yi ahead.

Zhou Yi slowed down the pace, drove the ball across half-court, then moved around the arc. He stopped, held the ball with both hands, and lofted it into the paint. Samuel Dalembert took on Andrew Bynum alone, drove twice, then passed the ball back to Zhou Yi, who was open.

With no one guarding him, Zhou Yi glanced at the three-point line, took a deep breath, and released the ball, which sailed through the air and into the basket. His expression was relaxed—his mindset during the game was truly excellent; such open shots rarely missed.

McGrady and Kobe faced each other again, and Kobe had to be careful dealing with McGrady’s defense. His underestimation in the first half led to him scoring continuously, amassing 18 points in no time. Though he didn’t want to admit it, if he hadn’t given it his all, he would have only brought trouble upon himself.

The ball bounced rapidly between his palms as Kobe moved constantly, always trying to avoid being guarded. As time passed and his attempts to break through failed, it seemed he wasn’t prepared to pass. Steve Blake had no choice but to step in and provide coverage—after all, he was the leader of the team!

After circling around Steve Blake, Kobe quickly pulled the ball close. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw McGrady trapped about ten feet away. A sense of joy welled up in him—perhaps this was the satisfaction that comes from putting in effort.

Although an opportunity arose, Kobe didn’t choose a jump shot but went for a dunk. Now, the Lakers’ morale is low; with their current form, it’s already a blessing if the score gap doesn’t widen. To boost the players’ morale, nothing works better than three-point shots and dunks, with dunks being the most effective. For fans, a stunning dunk is the highlight of a game, and those top 10 plays selected after matches are mostly dunks.

Kobe rushed to the basket, drove past Greg Monroe, and dunked the ball with one hand, even causing Monroe to commit a defensive foul. “Kobe, Kobe, MVP, MVP…” The entire crowd erupted, shouting Kobe’s name at the top of their voices. Kobe calmly made the free throw, turning a 2+1 into a three points!

The Pistons attacked. Andre Iguodala’s mid-range jump shot missed, and Paul Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound. Steve Blake drove with the ball, pushing Zhou Yi back by half a body length. Delighted, Steve Blake had successfully broken through Zhou Yi’s defense and finally had his chance to shine. He didn’t notice that at the moment he started moving, Zhou Yi’s right foot had already slowly lifted off the ground. As Blake used his body to create space, Zhou Yi’s upper body clearly retracted and shifted sideways, rotating 180 degrees around his left toe.

While Steve Blake was basking in the joy of his breakthrough, Zhou Yi had already moved to his right side. His ghostly right hand struck swiftly—unfailingly accurate given the opponent’s carelessness. By the time Steve Blake reacted, the Pistons had already executed a brilliant fast break.

Phil Jackson watched the game and shook his head. Kobe faced up against McGrady, using Steve Blake as a screen. He retreated beyond the three-point line and shot a three-pointer that went in.

On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi made a clever pass to McGrady, who hit a jump shot from high up. Andrew Bynum’s layup missed, and Paul Gasol grabbed the offensive rebound and added a free throw. Samuel Dalembert faced up against Andrew Bynum alone, assisting Greg Monroe, who scored a reverse layup. Ron Artest’s three-pointer missed, and Kobe grabbed the offensive rebound before stepping back beyond the three-point line and shooting a tough three-pointer that, unbelievably, went in.

Gradually, the third quarter began to resemble the first half again.

Kobe’s shooting percentage improved slightly in this quarter, and in his frenzy, he scored 19 points. Yet against the Pistons’ balanced attack, his individual efforts seemed insufficient. Among the Lakers’ other players, only Paul Gasol performed relatively well; as for the rest, their fate was evident from Phil Jackson’s expressions. The score at the end of the third quarter was 87:74, with the Pistons still leading the Lakers by 13 points. By then, Kobe’s score had already reached 44 points. The atmosphere in Staples Center was completely electrified, with all fans hoping for another scoring miracle. But cold statistics were too superficial, causing enthusiastic fans to overlook many things that shouldn’t have been ignored. Thirty-three attempts—half of the Lakers’ total attempts. Looking at the statistics in his hands, John Kuster also appeared very pleased. Of course, he wasn’t thrilled by his opponent’s scores; what he had in hand were Zhou Yi’s stats: 29 points, 16 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 blocks. He felt his heart almost bursting out of his chest. Chapter 418: The Quadruple-Double Hero, a Strong Start to the Finals. Looking at the statistics in his hands, John Kuster also appeared very pleased. Of course, he wasn’t thrilled by his opponent’s scores; what he had in hand were Zhou Yi’s stats: 29 points, 16 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 blocks. It was perfect—perfect! Achieving such stats after just three quarters meant he was on his way to a quadruple-double! When those eye-catching numbers—29 points, 16 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 blocks—appeared on the screens, countless fans were inspired. For domestic fans, everything related to Chinese players was of greatest interest. No matter how popular Kobe was in China, once placed against Zhou Yi, his fan base immediately seemed much weaker.