Chapter 216

The second quarter also passed quickly, and the first half came to an end with a score of 68:62 in favor of the Eastern Stars, a margin of six points—neither large nor small, nor particularly decisive. In fact, against such a group of all-stars, such a score difference is really just a matter of two or three points, which is why they didn’t really engage in a fierce battle. During the second quarter, no one dared to challenge Zhou Yi’s dominance; he had control of the ball almost entirely. Of course, while he took care of himself, he also passed the ball to others, delivering 3 assists and scoring 2 points in that quarter. His stats rose to 14 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds. Although his numbers were slightly lower than when he was with the Pistons, he remained the top scorer for the Eastern Stars. Novak’s scoring also failed to surpass Zhou Yi’s.

With the first half over, it was clear this was a friendly match, with a relaxed atmosphere and lively fans. The first half of the third quarter was equally uneventful, with each player being lenient when possible, so the game remained moderate in intensity. Though there were occasional dunks heard in the arena, it didn’t change the overall subdued pace of the game. However, in the second half of the third quarter, the intensity increased. As often happens, storms hide behind calm surfaces. By the second half of the third quarter, the game took a turn. The first change came from the Western team—Anthony of the Western Stars suddenly rushed into the paint and nearly executed a dunk over Boosh. If Boosh hadn’t dodged quickly, he might have lost face that day. Still, this triggered Boosh’s anger, and under this spark, both teams gradually escalated their intensity, launching fierce attacks and defenses as each side sought to defeat the other as soon as possible. The game finally returned to a more intense, real fight—something that disappointed some but excited others—as the players became fully committed.

Zhou Yi, who had been on the bench for nine minutes, also stepped onto the court at this moment. He was now ready to go all out. Seeing Zhou Yi enter the game and thinking about the increasingly tense atmosphere between the two teams, the spectators immediately cheered as the match entered a new phase. With 3 minutes left in the third quarter, the West Coast All-Stars had basically fielded their strongest lineup, and a fierce battle was about to unfold.

As soon as Zhou Yi entered the game, he effortlessly moved through the crowd to get inside. In the crowd, he was like a slippery loach—no one could catch him. He kept moving around inside the paint before finishing the attack with a dunk.

The real fight between the two teams had begun.

Zhou Yi’s performance made the members of the West Coast All-Stars feel as if a storm was approaching. With each step he took, it seemed he was crushing their brief sense of calm. He moved around inside the paint with ease, as if he had a fast-forward button, zipping through the crowd without a trace, disappearing in an instant before reappearing with the net swaying high from a made shot.

Zhou Yi scored two points right after entering the game. When he wanted to score, it was hard to stop him. The ball went back to the West Coast. Deron, who was in control of the ball and had half the court to himself, quickly assessed the defense of the East Coast players and, with a frown, decided to break through himself.

Under Deron’s control, the ball wasn’t as agile as Paul, Zhou Yi, or Iverson, who seemed to turn the ball into a dancing butterfly. Instead, it had more stability—the ball stuck firmly in his hands like a well-behaved child. Deron resolved to make a sudden breakthrough. His steps crushed the floor as he moved forward. His breakthrough wasn’t as unpredictable and cunning as Zhou Yi’s, but it was more methodical and solid.

When he reached near the free-throw line, Deron stopped when it was time. Before the opposing point guard could reach him, he shot the ball. The ball traced an arc through the air and straight into the basket.

Deron scored two points, helping the West Coast All-Stars regain a two-point lead. Xiao Pang wanted to roar on the ground, but with anger building in his throat, he realized it wasn’t wise to celebrate his jump shot during an All-Star game filled with dunks. So he swallowed his anger and started helping with defense.

Chapter 463: End of the Regular Season

After the final competition, the East All-Stars defeated the West All-Stars, and Zhou Yi was undoubtedly the key figure behind the East’s victory.
“The MVP of the 2011-2012 All-Star Game is Zhou Yi!” Stern announced the result.
No one questioned this decision, as Zhou Yi’s contributions were evident. Throughout the All-Star Weekend, he was the most successful player, winning not only the Shooting Contest but also the Dunk Contest. Most importantly, he became the MVP of the All-Star Game for the second time in a row.
…
After the All-Star Weekend, the Pistons continued to maintain a very high win rate over the next two months. By the end of the 2011-2012 regular season, with a record of 68 wins and 14 losses (in this novel, the NBA did not experience a lockout), they surpassed the Oklahoma Thunder to claim the regular-season championship.
However, this did not mean the championship trophy would go to the Pistons, as there were several other teams with a chance to win the title that season, including the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Oklahoma Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs.
On April 19th, Beijing time, the Pistons faced their first playoff game against the New York Knicks.
At 9 o’clock, the game started on time!
The Pistons’ starting lineup was center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi.
Good news for the Pistons was that Samuel Dalembert had recovered from his injury and could play in this game.
The Knicks’ starting lineup consisted of center Tyson Chandler, power forward Amaré Stoudemire, small forward Cameron Anthony, shooting guard Landry Fields, and point guard Tony Douglas.
The Knicks’ performance in the new season depended on one person—or rather, a group of players.
Each of the starting players had their own strengths and could help the team out of tough situations at critical moments. Moreover, the Knicks also had several promising players on the bench.
With a “blip,” the referee’s whistle sounded, and the atmosphere in the arena instantly intensified. The hearts of millions of fans watching on TV also tightened with anticipation.
As the orange basketball slowly rose into the air, Greg Monroe and Tyson Chandler gathered all their strength, ready to explode at any moment.

“Ah…” Two muscular figures leaped into the air almost simultaneously, but Greg Monroe’s jump seemed to go wrong—his excellent jumping ability wasn’t utilized, and his opponent got there first to grab the ball.
The ball was caught by Landry Fields on the left side. After seeing his teammate’s quick movement, he passed the ball long across the court toward Tony Douglas on the other side.
Amare Stoudemire was the first to reach the basket. Seeing this, Tony Douglas shouted loudly. Thanks to their well-developed teamwork, Amare Stoudemire immediately understood and quickly turned around.
Suddenly, Tony Douglas’s vision went dark—a dark shadow appeared like a wall in front of him, blocking the ball’s path perfectly, so the ball could no longer reach him.
“Greg!” Zhou Yi shouted as soon as he got the ball. Greg Monroe, who had been behind just moments ago, was now at the forefront of the team’s attack.
Greg Monroe quickly retreated. He had always trusted Zhou Yi’s passes. Although he was moving, their teamwork developed over a season meant Zhou Yi knew exactly what Greg Monroe could do. As Greg Monroe ran into the free-throw line, the ball appeared right above his head.
The moment he grabbed the ball, Greg Monroe used his momentum, tapping his left toe on the ground to launch himself into the air, flying freely in the key area before slamming the ball into the basket with both hands.
“Boom!” Greg Monroe’s dunk was powerful, and the loud sound echoed throughout the Auburn Hills Palace.
John Kuester stood up excitedly, clenching his right fist in the air, shouting in his heart, “That’s it! Play like this from the start—dominate the opponent with momentum.”
The Knicks quickly drove the ball across half-court after gaining possession, handing the first offensive chance to Carmelo Anthony. However, his jump shot from high missed, and Greg Monroe grabbed the first rebound of the game.
Madison’s three-pointer from the right wing also missed as he was unguarded, and the rebound was taken by the opponent.
Tony Douglas dodged Andre Iguodala’s steal and quickly drove the ball across half-court.

The Pistons employed a zone defense, with Andre Iguodala assigned to guard him. Tony Douglas was the Knicks’ offensive hub, with most of their attacks originating from him; by completely cutting off his connection to his teammates, the Knicks’ offense would be nearly paralyzed.

The reason John Kuester didn’t assign Zhou Yi to guard him was mainly to reduce Zhou Yi’s workload on the court and allow him to focus more on offense. Tony Douglas’s aggressive drives were ineffective under Andre Iguodala’s close defense; his several feints were seen through by the experienced Iguodala, and even the pick-and-roll set up by Amare Stoudemire failed due to Zhou Yi’s help defense.

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

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

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

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

Landry Fields’ left-wing three-pointer missed; the ball hit the front of the rim and bounced high, with several players inside competing for the rebound but failing one after another.
Zhou Yi had an accurate judgment when it came to rebounds. He grabbed the rebound and quickly got up, charging forward like a cheetah.
The Knicks’ head coach, Mike D’Antoni, stood up excitedly, shouting “Defense!” from the sidelines.
But who in the league could match Zhou Yi’s full-speed pursuit?
Although Tony Douglas was trying his best to recover, seeing the gap between the two widen filled him with helplessness—the opponent still had the ball!
The three-point line and free-throw line rushed past his feet. Amid the cheers of the crowd, Zhou Yi’s enthusiasm surged, giving him an urge to tear everything apart.
“Ah…” Amid the shouts, Zhou Yi leaped into the air.
“Bang!” Zhou Yi slammed the basketball hard into the basket.
“Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi…” The entire arena erupted. Compared to regular season games, every dunk by the playoff players could ignite the fans’ passion.
With Greg Monroe’s turnaround jumper going in, the Knicks called a timeout. There were still 7 minutes and 35 seconds left in the first quarter. The Pistons had started strong with a 10-2 run, and under their intense defense, the Knicks’ shots kept missing.
“Andre Iguodala’s addition to the Pistons has clearly improved both their defense and offense. The Knicks’ lack of playoff experience was fully exposed under the Pistons’ aggressive defense. A third of the first quarter has passed, and the Knicks still haven’t found their rhythm,” Yu Jia analyzed.
“The Knicks are a team good at tough battles; they’ve always managed to beat teams like the Celtics and Lakers. Their resilience is among the best in the league. The Pistons have had a great start—now they should take advantage of this momentum to completely crush the Knicks’ spirit and build a bigger lead. After the Knicks’ timeout, with Mike D’Antoni’s on-court leadership, things will surely change. Let’s see how the Pistons can withstand their counterattacks,” Coach Zhang said with a smile.
After the timeout, the Knicks increased their outside shooting. Landry Fields hit a three-pointer from just outside the three-point line.

Taking advantage of McGrady’s missed shot, the Knicks launched another brilliant fast break, creating a three-on-one situation under the basket, which ended with Amare Stoudemire scoring by driving to the left baseline. As the Pistons inbounded the ball, John Kuester shouted from the sidelines, “Zhou, control the pace and ensure the offense succeeds.” Zhou Yi waved at him and caught the ball passed by McGrady. In fact, even without Kuester’s instructions, Zhou Yi knew well that the previous two attacks had been a bit hasty, and the defense after those attacks had also been slow, allowing the opponent to score five points in quick succession. The defender assigned to Zhou Yi was Tony Douglas, whose strong physique gave him an advantage in perimeter defense. Once one of the best perimeter defenders in the NCAA, he could defend both strong opponents and quick, agile point guards. However, since joining the league, his defensive skills hadn’t improved much. Compared to his offensive talent, his defense was quite poor, especially his lateral movement speed, which was ineffective against players like Zhou Yi who could start moving instantly. Zhou Yi didn’t force a breakthrough; Andre Iguodala’s pick-and-roll allowed him to find another path to the basket. With a cut, he broke through to the right side of Iguodala and scored a mid-range shot from a 45-degree angle on the right wing. “Zhou Yi usually doesn’t miss opportunities like this. If the Pistons want to go further in the playoffs, they need to open up Zhou Yi. When such opportunities arise, he should be more selfless,” Coach Zhang said with admiration. After the timeout, the Knicks not only improved their offense but also their defensive quality significantly. Several consecutive possessions saw no points scored by either team. McGrady’s drive to the baseline was also stopped by Cameron Anthony, who pushed him straight into the backboard. At a critical moment, the Knicks’ rookie from last year, Landry Fields, stepped up again. Under close defense from McGrady, he hit a backdoor jump shot from the right wing, tying the score at 7:12. With only 5:41 left in the first quarter, John Kuester had no choice but to call a timeout.

“The defense was good, but we lost what’s essential to us. To go further in the playoffs, defense has always been a top priority for the team. But earlier on, we emphasized defense because our offense was reliable. Look at what your offense has become now.”
For the playoffs, John Kuester is most concerned about the team’s defense; he’s still quite confident in their offense. With their deadly scoring duo, few in the league can match them, and adding Greg Monroe and Andre Iguodala as top-tier scorers, the Pistons’ offensive capability is certainly on par with any team.
With the team’s overall offense struggling, John Kuester still pins his hopes on Zhou Yi, instructing the players to create as many scoring opportunities as possible for him.
Once the game resumed, control was in the Pistons’ hands. After receiving the ball on the right wing, Zhou Yi quickly moved forward, with Tony Douglas as the only defender ahead of him.
Tony Douglas had a solid defensive stance and a serious expression, but he was overly tense, his movements slightly awkward. Defense has never been his strength, especially against players like Zhou Yi, so his nervousness was understandable. However, seeing his expression, Zhou Yi had an idea.
A highly convincing fake move made Tony Douglas tense up, causing him to lift his center of gravity quickly and raise the ball above his head. Already on edge from Zhou Yi’s earlier move, Tony Douglas jumped before Zhou Yi could complete his action.
Watching the basketball grow larger in front of him, Tony Douglas felt bitter. He hadn’t expected Zhou Yi’s fake move to be so realistic. Back in NCAA days, he was also skilled at fakes—deadly changes of direction and strong body feints. And whenever his defender hesitated or stepped back, he could immediately take a jump shot. Given Zhou Yi’s move, his defender had no choice but to pass or shoot. Yet, just as his body left the ground, Zhou Yi pulled it back and jumped straight at him after landing.
“Bleep” “Swish”—the referee’s whistle sounded. As Zhou Yi lost balance in mid-air, he threw the ball toward the basket. His excellent shooting touch ensured that the shot, despite his altered movement, still made it through the net.

His steady performance at the free-throw line made any player who fouled Zhou Yi secretly regret their decision. Tony Douglas simply couldn’t stop Zhou Yi’s movement; whether passing or shooting, Zhou Yi single-handedly dominated the Knicks’ entire perimeter, helping the team score a 7-2 run and widen the score gap to 19-9—now a two-digit difference again. The Knicks called a timeout with 2 minutes and 41 seconds left in the first quarter. Both teams made substitutions: Mike Bibby replaced Tony Douglas, Steve Novak replaced Carmelo Anthony, Jeffries replaced Tyson Chandler, Ben Gordon replaced McGrady, and Samuel Dalembert replaced Ben Wallace. John Kuester had no intention of substituting Zhou Yi and his teammates yet; his plan was to establish the team’s momentum from the first game and leave a deep impression on the opponents. Although the Knicks substituted three key players, it didn’t mean they were less aggressive. Mike Bibby was an excellent playmaker, especially skilled at seizing opportunities, seemingly with an innate sense for them. Fortunately, Tony Douglas’ departure freed Andre Iguodala, who could now face off against Mike Bibby and effectively limit his impact. As Amare Stoudemire was surrounded by interior players near the basket, Mike Bibby suddenly appeared and grabbed an offensive rebound. Instead of immediately taking the ball, he lifted it slightly in the air. The ball traced a beautiful arc before he successfully completed the layup. Andre Iguodala clenched his fist in frustration—having relaxed slightly since he saw no ball in his hands, he didn’t expect him to rush inside and still score. The score was now 19-11. Chapter 464: Moving Toward Victory. The Pistons’ attacks failed, and the ball quickly returned to the Knicks’ half. This time, Mike Bibby didn’t force his way through; Andre Iguodala, learning from earlier, left no room for him to shoot. Forced to pass again, the ball went back to the perimeter. After catching the ball, Jeffries didn’t hesitate and executed a quick dunk over Ben Gordon. The ball bounced high off the rim but still went through.

Greg Monroe turned and drove to the paint, not only dunking the ball but also drawing a foul on Amare Stoudemire—this was already his third foul of the game. After Tyson Chandler left the court, the Pistons continuously attacked the opponent’s interior, with even Tony Douglas unable to keep up with Zhou Yi, let alone Mike Bibby, who was even slower. For Zhou Yi, the Knicks’ interior became nothing but an easy target. In just two minutes, Zhou Yi earned three free throws in a row, especially after drawing two fouls from Amare Stoudemire, leaving the opponent’s interior player overly cautious and hesitant. During Monroe’s dunk earlier, he showed great hesitation in defense; if he had acted sooner, even if he had been fouled, it wouldn’t have allowed Monroe to score a 2+1. His slight hesitation led to this problem. With Landry Fields hitting a last-second shot from the right wing, the intense battle between the teams temporarily came to an end. The Pistons led 28–16, with Zhou Yi scoring 11 points—the highest on the team. His aggressive drives had become a nightmare for the Knicks. In just the first quarter, he went to the free-throw line four times, hitting all of them, repeatedly striking the Knicks players hard. “The Knicks are too lenient with Zhou Yi. When he’s performing so well, they should have Cameron Anthony guarding him instead of keeping him on the bench. Cameron Anthony has a significant restraining effect on him; his backboard block earlier really scared Zhou Yi. For those few minutes, Zhou Yi didn’t dare drive past Cameron Anthony at all. In contrast, the Pistons’ tactics were clear: they completely contained Tony Douglas, disrupting the Knicks’ offense. Zhou Yi has now taken control of the game’s rhythm. If the Knicks want to turn this unfavorable situation around, they must take decisive action against him,” the commentator pointed out sharply the Knicks’ problems. With chaotic offense and leniency toward their star player, a large deficit wasn’t unexpected.

Obviously, Mike D’Antoni hadn’t thought of this—Cameron Anthony was still absent from the second-quarter lineup. Steve Novak, Tony Douglas, Tyson Chandler, Mike Bibby, and Amare Stoudemire made up a lineup that left John Kuester confused. Indeed, the Knicks’ bench players were quite strong, but they were still far behind their starters. Moreover, several of these players weren’t very good at defense. Who would be responsible for guarding Zhou Yi?

“Swish!” McGrady hit a three-point shot from the left wing. Seeing that the opponent’s players weren’t in gear yet, Zhou Yi passed the ball long from the baseline; it traveled across most of the court before landing in McGrady’s hands, who easily scored another three-point shot—31:16.

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

Mike Bibby rushed into the Pistons’ basket for a layup but was called for an offensive foul. The Knicks’ defeat had its roots in the first quarter. D’Antoni’s lineup changes didn’t improve the team’s situation at all. By the end of the first half, the Pistons had widened the lead to 21 points, 61:40.

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

As the best performer in the first half, Zhou Yi was interviewed by an ESPN columnist. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he smiled and said, “I’m glad we delivered an exciting first half for all the fans. I’ve always believed that it’s the interaction between the two teams that creates a great game—only teams with similar strength and form can produce an exciting match. We all have strong fighting spirits, which makes us determined to win this game. I respect my opponents today; they’re an excellent team. Their outstanding performance has inspired our whole team. As for my expectations for the second half, I hope both teams can maintain their current form—of course, with the goal of us winning the game. Thank you!”

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

Having sat on the bench for so long, McGrady was already frustrated. Hearing this, he quickly replied, “Coach, don’t worry. I’m fine now!” His eager expression made many teammates laugh, and the atmosphere in the locker room instantly became lively.

No wonder McGrady was so excited. After over a decade in basketball, this year offered him the best chance to make it to the second round of the playoffs, or even further. He certainly didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
John Kuester also said with a smile, “Everyone performed well in the first half, but we must not relax. We need to remember that our opponents have the strength to make it to the playoffs. Moreover, their key player, Cameron Anthony, hardly contributed in the first half; the Knicks will surely do their best to unleash him in the second half. The best defense is offense—offense is our main weapon. For the second half, I have only one requirement: offense. Use your relentless offensive pressure to overwhelm the Knicks.”
The team’s defensive performance left John Kuester very pleased. He never doubted the team’s offensive capabilities.
The halftime break passed quickly. Even the exciting performances by the cheerleaders couldn’t draw the fans’ attention. Everyone was discussing the first half. Indeed, such a closely contested battle between offense and defense was very appealing to fans, especially since it was in the playoffs.
Playing from different locations, the Pistons took control of the offense first.
Tony Douglas’ main task in the first half was to defend Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi focused mainly on attacking, and Tony Douglas couldn’t stop him.
Zhou Yi gently raised his right hand, and Tony Douglas shook his head helplessly.
The basketball wasn’t passed as expected. Tony Douglas growled in frustration—his misjudgment left him unprepared for defense, and given the distance between them, he could only watch as Zhou Yi easily took a three-point shot.
“Swish”—the crisp sound of the ball hitting the net. Zhou Yi smiled as he returned to defense, confident in his shooting skills.
By the end of the first half, Tyson Chandler had gradually adapted to the Pistons’ defense. With his agile movements and rare skills for a center, he began to show his strength inside the paint.
John Kuester’s defensive tactics against Tyson Chandler were very successful in the first half, but he failed to make proper adjustments. The Knicks started passing more high shots to the interior, giving Tyson Chandler more room to operate due to his height.
As Tyson Chandler continued to score inside, John Kuester had to reorganize the lineup. Samuel Dalembert returned to the court—he had only played a few minutes in the first half, lacking offensive power and unable to keep up with Tyson Chandler’s speed defensively.

But things are different now. Tyson Chandler’s performance in the second half is generally not as good as that in the first half, and stamina remains a major factor limiting his performance. Especially in this game, Tyson Chandler didn’t get a chance to rest in the first half; he was essentially held in check by the Pistons in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Pistons strengthened their defense on the perimeter, giving Tyson Chandler more room to operate inside and making him the backbone of the team’s offense. Naturally, Mike D’Antoni didn’t dare to take him off the court as easily.

Knowing it was a trap set by the opponent, yet having no choice but to step into it headfirst—this is the biggest feeling the Knicks are experiencing right now. Tyson Chandler’s stamina is declining rapidly; especially in the few recent attacks, his movements were clearly less agile than in the first half. With Samuel Dalembert’s stamina and physical strength, the two of them were almost evenly matched inside the paint.

Seeing the team gradually regain control of the game, John Kuester couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased.

“Snap.” Tony Douglas’s pass was perfectly timed, using the inside players to draw the Pistons’ defense while feigning a shot to distract their players.

But the moment the ball was released, he threw it behind him. The timing and direction of the pass were impeccable, though the only regret was the lack of force—his control over the passing strength wasn’t perfect. Additionally, Amare Stoudemire clearly didn’t expect him to pass.

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

Mike D’Antoni clenched his fists, watching the game on the court with a serious expression. He hadn’t expected the game to be so tough.

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

The boos across the court instantly turned into gasps. With tremendous force, the ball flew right out of Amare Stoudemire’s hands.

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

Tony Douglas drove to the basket, but the ball was stolen again by Zhou Yi. This time, however, the Pistons couldn’t launch a fast break because there were still two Knicks players on their half of the court!

Before Zhou Yi could break through, McGrady had already slipped through the left wing and cut toward the basket. As Zhou Yi rushed toward the basket at full speed, the Knicks’ defense immediately tightened inward. In the blink of an eye, three defensive players gathered around Zhou Yi. It seemed as if an extra head had grown on Zhou Yi’s back as he quickly threw the ball from his right shoulder.

The heavy footsteps made the Knicks players nervous. Right behind Zhou Yi appeared Andre Iguodala.

Swish—the ball smoothly dropped into the net, creating a series of white waves.

With a light clap, Iguodala quickly stepped aside to join the defense. Watching Zhou Yi’s agile figure, Iguodala’s mind was filled with complex thoughts.

Iguodala’s distraction allowed Carmelo Anthony to easily find an open space and dunk the ball into the net.

Iguodala smiled awkwardly and waved his right hand a few times. Losing focus during a game was a rather basic mistake for a veteran like him.

The game continued, with the second half progressing at a faster pace than the first.

Commentator Kenny Smith said about this, “The Knicks’ current playing style is certainly pleasing to watch, but such a fast pace is quite disadvantageous for them. With these rapid changes, Tyson Chandler is always left behind, struggling to keep up in attacks, unable to provide support inside, and having trouble securing offensive rebounds. Tyson Chandler has excellent physical conditions and ranks among the best centers in terms of skills. However, his biggest issue is stamina—especially in such a fast-paced game. Not only does his energy deplete quickly, but he also struggles to integrate into the team’s offensive system, ending up becoming a burden. So Mike D’Antoni now has two options: either control the pace of the game or simply keep Tyson Chandler on the bench to conserve his energy and strike a fatal blow against the Pistons.”

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

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

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

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

After the Pistons grabbed two consecutive offensive rebounds, Mike D’Antoni realized that Tyson Chandler was clearly being left out of the team’s actions.

The Pistons became addicted to fast breaks, accelerating the pace of the game even more. The Knicks grew increasingly passive. Although the Knicks had narrowed the score gap to under 15 points, their scoring lately relied mostly on individual skills, with few effective plays together. Especially Cameron Anthony’s three-point shots, which bounced twice off the rim before finally going in.

Such shots made Mike D’Antoni frown slightly—he wasn’t satisfied with that shot. The Pistons’ disciplined defense prevented the Knicks from making any successful passes. As time passed and the 24-second timeout neared, Cameron Anthony had no choice but to take a forced shot from beyond the three-point line.

Andre Iguodala had already noticed Cameron Anthony’s movement. As Tyson Chandler passed the ball, he quickly rushed toward Cameron Anthony, but it was still too late—the basketball flew past his fingertips.

Just ten seconds later, McGrady shot a three-pointer from the baseline after catching the ball. “Swish” — a perfect shot — and McGrady pumped his right fist vigorously. The Pistons widened their lead to 15 points, prompting Mike D’Antoni to call a timeout. The Pistons maintained control of the game, with a fast pace that forced the Knicks to play just behind them. Play resumed after the timeout. Amid chaos on the Knicks’ bench, Cameron Anthony’s three-pointer from the right wing calmed the restless team a bit. At a critical moment, Cameron Anthony finally showed the value of a core player. For Mike D’Antoni, who was already unsure of himself, this three-pointer served as a reassurance, dissuading him from making any substitutions. However, in this game, several Pistons shooters took turns attacking the Knicks’ interior, especially Zhou Yi’s drives, which the Knicks were unable to stop. Perhaps seeing hope of making it to the playoffs, McGrady’s shooting form was astonishing. Mike D’Antoni was in a panic on the bench; he had never dared to take the Pistons lightly. He had done thorough preparation before the game, but he never expected McGrady to unleash such energy. What troubled him even more was that, despite knowing McGrady’s hot shooting form, he didn’t dare double-team him easily. Zhou Yi’s frequent drives, Andre Iguodala’s occasional shots, and Greg Monroe’s two second-chance points — all four of these players had an average of 15+ points per game, and letting any one of them free would have disastrous consequences. Chapter 465: Eliminating the Knicks (Part 1) At this point, the Pistons led by 16 points, 75-59. After the timeout, everyone noticed that Zhou Yi wasn’t on the playing roster. It seemed the large lead had made John Kuester more relaxed, allowing him to take Zhou Yi off the court to rest. After all, continuous drives placed a heavy strain on Zhou Yi’s stamina. The Pistons’ substitution wasn’t very wise. Although they led by a large margin and McGrady’s burst caught the opponents off guard, the main issue lay with Zhou Yi. It was his frequent drives that drew most of the Knicks’ attention, forcing their defense to pull inward and giving McGrady more shooting opportunities.

Although the Pistons were leading by a large margin, the game wasn’t one-sided. The Knicks’ main issue lay in their offense, with Carmelo Anthony struggling with fouls—accumulating three fouls just four minutes into the third quarter, forcing him to sit on the bench in frustration. The wisest move for the Pistons now was to take advantage of Carmelo Anthony being on the bench to further widen their lead, aiming to increase the gap to over 20 points by the end of the third quarter. Ben Gordon replaced McGrady, and Will Bynum replaced Zhou Yi, significantly weakening the team’s outside shooting capabilities. Mike D’Antoni, being an experienced coach, noticed every change on the court. With the Pistons’ outside offense slowing down, interior offense became even more crucial. Seizing an opportunity during a dead ball, they quickly brought Tyson Chandler onto the court. The game is always full of changes; without the threat of penetration, the Knicks’ defensive skills came into play. There were no obvious defensive weaknesses in the Knicks’ five positions, and after three consecutive missed shots by the Pistons, the Knicks took advantage to score an 8-3 run, all scored by Tyson Chandler inside. The Pistons called a short timeout, but Zhou Yi remained on the bench. On the other hand, the Pistons brought in Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye, and the two commentators expressed doubt about these substitutions, noting that their performance in regular season games wasn’t good, and they rarely got playing time in the playoffs. “Ding,” the referee’s whistle sounded. Tyson Chandler shook his head helplessly, looking at Charlie Villanueva’s excited expression and his raised hands as if celebrating. The Pistons’ strategy was simple: restrict Tyson Chandler from getting the ball inside. As soon as the ball reached him, at least two players would double-team him. If he raised the ball to his chest, someone would immediately hug him. Though not rough, they always made sure to hold onto the arm holding the ball, leaving him no chance to shoot. The Pistons committed few fouls in this quarter, only two before the timeout. Failing to score was frustrating, but having no chance to shoot made things even worse.

Tyson Chandler is in such a state that the Pistons have stepped back from closely guarding him, making it extremely difficult for him to receive the ball inside—either the pass gets disrupted or it’s interfered with by the Pistons’ foul tactics. His form has just started to improve, and he has a strong desire to score; when he can’t receive the ball steadily inside, he moves to higher positions. Without being near the basket, Tyson Chandler’s intimidating presence is reduced by at least half. He does have some mid-range shooting ability, but it’s nowhere near as good as his offensive skills inside. Samuel Dalembert played very actively; his strong physique makes it hard for Tyson Chandler to return to the paint once he’s gone. In the end, the Pistons won at home 107–88, with Zhou Yi emerging as the game’s best player—13 out of 19 attempts, 41 points total, including 14 from free throws. In this game, he played more like a shooting guard, with modest assist numbers—8 assists, 4 steals, and 7 rebounds. Greg Monroe scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, adding 4 blocks, the most in the game; Andre Iguodala scored 14 points and 9 rebounds, nearly hitting a double-double, which was also one of the highlights of the game. McGrady had an average performance, struggling with 1 out of 4 three-point attempts in the first half before showing slight improvement in the second half, finishing with 13 points. … Two days later, the Pistons faced the New York Knicks at home again. From start to finish, the Pistons maintained their lead and ultimately won 101–89, taking a 2–0 lead. Three days after this game, the Pistons traveled to New York to play the Knicks away. In the first two games, Greg Monroe, who was at a significant disadvantage in the battle for possession, was lightly touched on the head by Tyson Chandler’s right elbow after jumping, allowing Chandler to easily steal the ball. “Swish”—being so easily outplayed by his opponent from above really frustrated Zhou Yi. With the shift in offense and defense, Zhou Yi slowly drove past half-court, where Tony Douglas was already waiting at the three-point line. Mike D’Antoni’s tactic was aimed at containing Zhou Yi. After several dribbles under his arm, Zhou Yi began to break through. His breakthrough skills go without saying, but he prefers to use speed to outmaneuver opponents—pure speed, pure visual spectacle.

With his right foot stepping forward in an instant, before Zhou Yi could move at lightning speed, Tony Douglas’s simple move prevented him from continuing. He merely took a slight step forward, his extremely long arms almost encircling Zhou Yi’s entire body.
Cheers erupted in the Consol Energy Center. Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance in the previous two games had repeatedly frustrated the Knicks’ fans. Now, seeing Tony Douglas’s successful defense, they felt a sense of satisfaction after avenging their losses.
After his joy, Mike D’Antoni felt a hint of unease. Based on his understanding of Zhou Yi, he shouldn’t have been defended so easily, especially since Tony Douglas wasn’t very fast and Zhou Yi had enough time to react.
But before he could remind Tony Douglas, Zhou Yi stepped back slightly. While his opponent was still guessing his intentions, he jumped up. Given the distance between them, Tony Douglas’s hand inevitably touched Zhou Yi’s right hand holding the ball.
With the limited space he had, Zhou Yi could barely jump. After this delay, he was completely exhausted. Although he threw the ball, it fell weakly halfway through its flight.
“Ding”—the referee’s whistle sounded in time. This foul was merely a last-minute decision by Zhou Yi. Seeing Tony Douglas defending him as if it were an abyss and his movements becoming stiff, he came up with this idea on the spot.
Of course, Zhou Yi wouldn’t miss the chance for a free throw, helping the Pistons take the lead away from home.
The Knicks’ tactical changes also proved effective. In the first half of the first quarter, they held a clear advantage at the basket. Greg Monroe was under constant pressure from Josh Harrellson from the start of the tip-off.
In previous games, Josh Harrellson’s performance had been merely satisfactory. When the team was in trouble, he failed to deliver under Greg Monroe’s pressure and faced criticism from New York media after each game. The team’s management was also extremely dissatisfied with his performance, and he harbored resentment.
Cameron Anthony caught the ball, stepped back to dodge Andre Iguodala’s defense, and skillfully passed it to Josh Harrellson. The pass was both clever and subtle, using the defenders’ bodies to move the ball inside under Greg Monroe’s watchful eyes.

From the start of the game until now, Greg Monroe and Josh Harrellson have been fighting for position under the basket. Josh Harrellson suddenly pulled back, lost his balance for a moment, and stumbled a couple of steps before easily dunking the ball. Greg Monroe smiled helplessly. Throughout the playoffs, Josh Harrellson has not been in good form, which made him somewhat underestimate him in this game. In the previous few minutes, he hadn’t performed well under his pressure, but it didn’t matter much—he considered himself a challenging player; the stronger the opponent, the more it stimulated his abilities. John Kuester called a timeout. Although the Pistons weren’t behind in score at this point, their performance was extremely poor, especially in rebounding, allowing the Knicks to capitalize repeatedly. There were also issues with their outside shooting—aside from Zhou Yi’s three free throws, all nine points came from interior players. Ben Wallace, who had remained relatively quiet until then, hit all three of his shots, scoring the highest six points in the game so far. After the timeout, the Pistons made adjustments, with Will Bynum replacing Tracy McGrady. The reason for this change was to relieve Zhou Yi of the burden of controlling the ball. With the team’s outside shooters generally not in form, Zhou Yi became John Kuester’s last resort—a choice that had helped him turn the game around countless times before. With the ball, Will Bynum quickly moved across half-court. Before he entered the game, John Kuester repeatedly emphasized that the Knicks, frustrated by their losses in the first two games, had given up on speed. So, they should play their own game—the Pistons were known for their fast-paced offense, and as long as they maintained their rhythm, there would be no suspense in the game. Freed from the responsibility of controlling the ball, Zhou Yi felt extremely relaxed, constantly moving around the court and becoming a nightmare for the Knicks players. They couldn’t keep up with his speed, but they also couldn’t give up on defending him. Since the midpoint of the season, Zhou Yi’s three-point shots had become a nightmare for other teams. In the 41 regular-season games after the halfway point, Zhou Yi averaged 2.4 three-pointers per game, with a high success rate of 53.4%, especially when shooting from open positions, where he rarely missed.

Will Bynum’s passing is quite good, but unfortunately, his lack of overall game awareness severely limits his performance on the court, which is the biggest obstacle to him becoming a top-tier point guard. As soon as Zhou Yi reached the baseline, Will Bynum passed the ball, but his target was too obvious, and the passing speed wasn’t fast enough. By the time the ball reached Zhou Yi, Tony Douglas had already appeared in front of him, leaving no chance to shoot. “Thanks for those three free throws just now! Hehe…” Zhou Yi isn’t good at trash talk, nor does he like to use it during games. But he knows that although trash talk isn’t ideal, it can sometimes help him get past his opponent’s defense and gain some precious time—especially for a fast player like Zhou Yi, who can deliver a deadly shot with just a little extra time. Anyway, trash talk is already an accepted part of the league; every basketball superstar is good at it, even Michael Jordan often says trash talk during games without anyone complaining. Zhou Yi spoke standard Mandarin, which Tony Douglas naturally didn’t understand. He was completely confused by those two short sentences and showed a surprised expression. That brief moment of confusion was enough for Zhou Yi to break through past him into the paint. Before the opposing player could react, he threw a high pass, and the ball gently landed in the basket. The Knicks had a significant advantage inside today—Josh Harrellson and Tyson Chandler combined to trap Greg Monroe so tightly that he could barely move two steps, let alone grab rebounds. At the end of the first quarter, the Pistons were temporarily behind 21:26. John Kuester quickly freed Zhou Yi, preventing the opponent from widening the score gap. However, the interior problem still existed; if it wasn’t resolved, the score could easily widen at any moment. John Kuester was very troubled by this, but after looking at his team’s interior players, he could only shake his head. Watching Greg Monroe, drenched in sweat, John Kuester felt unprecedented pressure. He knew that if he didn’t solve the interior problem soon, Greg Monroe wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer under the double pressure from the opponent. Once even he couldn’t hold on, there would be no hope left for the game. But looking at the players on the bench, who could be sent to play center?

He considered pushing Greg Monroe forward, but it was like drinking poison to quench thirst; reluctantly, he sent Samuel Dalembert instead. Affected by injuries, Samuel Dalembert’s form was far from his best. At his current level, he was no match for Tyson Chandler, but his experience helped him hold his ground inside. More importantly, with him holding back the opponent, Greg Monroe was able to break free from double-teaming and gradually turn the tide in his confrontation with Josh Harrellson. Zhou Yi hit a three-pointer from beyond the three-point line. A step away from him, Tony Douglas looked frustrated. The moment Greg Monroe passed the ball, he realized its target and quickly moved in front of Zhou Yi. Based on his usual experience, he had enough time to react at such a short distance, but Zhou Yi’s shot was too fast—by the time he tried to defend, Zhou Yi’s three-pointer had already been shot, leaving him no chance to react. Tony Douglas’s pass easily went over Will Bynum’s head. Such a pass was indeed disheartening, but with a 13-centimeter height difference between the two, it wasn’t surprising, especially since the timing of the pass was also very short. After catching the ball, Tyson Chandler scored by throwing a small hook shot into the basket. Greg Monroe’s turnaround jump shot missed, while Zhou Yi, perched above Josh Harrellson, effortlessly pushed the ball into the basket. Josh Harrellson’s layup missed, and Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound, passing the ball to Zhou Yi. At that point, he was the only player for the Knicks on the court and scored two points with a simple three-step layup. Zhou Yi hit a three-pointer from the right wing baseline! Zhou Yi stole the ball in the middle of the court, easily outmaneuvered Tony Douglas with two quick passes, scored by shooting over him, and also forced a foul, resulting in a 2+1 bonus. In just two minutes, Zhou Yi scored ten points alone, helping the Pistons launch a 10:0 run and take the lead. At the end of the half, the Pistons led 56–50 by six points. Zhou Yi, whose offensive capabilities were fully unleashed, hit seven out of eight shots in the half, scoring 15 points from both field goals and free throws.

Mike D’Antoni’s hair turned several shades whiter all at once. The team had been in the lead just moments earlier, but in just two minutes, everything completely changed. Zhou Yi’s series of attacks not only helped the team take back the lead but also boosted their morale.

ESPN’s on-site commentator took advantage of a pause in the game to start his commentary: “The Pistons, who had held a decisive advantage in the first two games, faced a major setback at the start of this match, with all their outside shooters failing to score. Greg Monroe was also under heavy pressure. After the second quarter began, John Kuester’s tactical change completely turned the game around. Relying on Zhou Yi’s outstanding individual attacking skills, the team scored a 10-0 run to take back the lead. Although the results of this year’s Rookie of the Year voting may not be out yet, Zhou Yi’s selection is almost certain. It was his excellent and consistent performance in the Pistons’ first two games that gave them a 2-0 lead, which will undoubtedly earn him more points in the upcoming award selections.”

The team regained the upper hand, and John Kuester was pleased with the results of his tactical changes.

After the second half started, the Knicks didn’t change their lineup. Mike D’Antoni was quite satisfied with his team’s big men. The reason the team lost the lead was mainly due to Zhou Yi’s sudden surge in performance, though luck played a significant role as well.

Chapter 466: Eliminating the Knicks (Part 2)

On the Pistons’ offense, Will Bynum quickly drove past half-court. He performed well in this game, making several clever passes that showed his skill.

Tony Douglas’s defensive stance at that moment seemed more focused on watching the opponent rather than the ball. From the start of the game, he stuck closely to Zhou Yi, never relaxing no matter where he went. The basketball court was small enough that he didn’t need to be fast, but with the help of his teammates, Zhou Yi never got a chance to break free.

From the baseline to the top of the key, Zhou Yi made another round trip. However, according to NBA rules, defensive players must keep at least one step away from offensive players. Such a short distance might not matter to others, but for Zhou Yi, it was enough—especially given his agility and reflexes. A single step back was enough for him to completely escape his opponent’s defense.

After several failed attempts to break through, Will Bynum had no choice but to pass the ball to Greg Monroe. Zhou Yi was constantly moving without the ball, using his excellent skills to keep the Knicks’ defenders occupied. Although he didn’t have the ball, he at least drew the attention of at least two defenders, thus giving other players more opportunities. Josh Harrellson tightly marked Greg Monroe, as Monroe’s signature turnaround jump shots required space—at least enough room to turn. But Josh Harrellson wouldn’t give him that chance. After several physical confrontations, Monroe quickly passed the ball. His pass was sudden; while he was still locked in a struggle with Josh Harrellson, the ball had already been thrown from the paint. At that moment, Zhou Yi was at the baseline, with no room to maneuver in the middle court. Tony Douglas’s reckless defense posed a serious challenge for him, and Steve Novak was also rushing over. If they formed a double team, he would be in real trouble. Zhou Yi crouched but didn’t stop moving; his upper body leaned forward rapidly, almost horizontal in the air, as if about to fall to the floor. Suddenly, his left hand shot out, lightly touching the floor, and his body shot forward like a cheetah. Such an impressive and astonishing move left the Knicks’ fans stunned. But it wasn’t over yet. Due to this delay, Steve Novak had already appeared in front of him. Zhou Yi’s situation was even more precarious now than before—his center of gravity was still in the air. He needed time and space to adjust it, otherwise it would be pointless. From his current position, there was no chance of making a shot; with everything spinning, he only had a vague idea of where the basket was. Steve Novak didn’t rush to grab the ball. Given Zhou Yi’s current posture, if pressured too much, he could simply fall backward, pressing the ball under him, making it impossible for anyone to take it from him—giving the Pistons at most one timeout. This gave Zhou Yi hope; he would find a way to adjust his posture. During this time, his defense was weak, and his chance would arrive—he just needed to wait patiently. As he hoped, Zhou Yi used strength in his waist and gradually straightened his upper body. His waiting opportunity had come—he quickly closed in on his opponent.

Having been in the league for so long, Steve Novak was merely a second- or third-rate player at his peak. Yet over the years, he hadn’t wasted his time—he had his own ways of controlling the pace of the game. That’s why Mike D’Antoni trusted Tony Douglas enough to use him, thanks to Novak’s support.

Steve Novak was secretly pleased; his fingers could already sense the basketball’s presence. But just as a faint smile appeared on his lips, the ball vanished instantly.

While Steve Novak was at a loss for words, Zhou Yi’s brilliant pass came into view for all the fans in the arena.

Zhou Yi’s earlier actions matched Steve Novak’s predictions. But the moment he reached out, Zhou Yi passed the ball beneath him—45 degrees to the right, where Will Bynum stood alone. There were no defenders around him; their attention was focused on Zhou Yi. Despite facing several dangerous situations, Zhou Yi managed to overcome them time and again, especially with that incredible pass aimed at Steve Novak.

The ball reached Will Bynum, who immediately took a three-point shot. His excellent shooting skills ensured the ball went straight into the basket.

Silence filled the Consol Energy Center—Zhou Yi’s bizarre pass was truly outstanding.

But it was hard for the Knicks’ fans to accept their opponent acting so freely on their own court. They were reluctant to applaud such a brilliant pass, and even boos seemed inappropriate.

Taking advantage of a dead ball, the Knicks called a timeout to adjust their lineup.

With the switch from defense to offense, Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball across half-court. Mike Bibby was assigned to defend him, and though Zhou Yi wasn’t taking his defense lightly, he remained relatively calm.

As is well known, Mike Bibby’s defense has always been a weakness for Zhou Yi. Yet Bibby’s defense couldn’t be ignored either—his close marking and speed made him a real hassle for any player trying to break free.

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

Facing a team like the Knicks required completely different playing styles and tactics—flexible passing, active movement from perimeter players, and demands for speed from interior players.

McGrady feinted, broke through the Knicks’ defenders, and hit a mid-range jump shot, helping the Pistons score 2 points.

On the Knicks’ side, Cameron Anthony broke past Andre Iguodala and scored with a beautiful pull-up layup. Seeing their star player finally explode, the fans at the Consol Energy Center immediately started cheering loudly. After Zhou Yi broke through, the ball was promptly passed to Andre Iguodala at the baseline; his three-point shot missed, and Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound. Leaning against Amare Stoudemire, he moved step by step toward the three-second line. Greg Monroe slightly bent his left elbow to push back against Amare Stoudemire, creating space, then easily jumped and hit a hook shot. With a sigh of relief, Greg Monroe wiped the sweat from his forehead. Amare Stoudemire was not only strong but also powerful; covering just a short distance of two or three steps took him a lot of effort. His final hook shot felt off, but fortunately, luck played a role as the ball bounced a few times on the rim before finally going in. Amare Stoudemire pulled to the outside to provide a screen for Mike Bibby. Under Zhou Yi’s defense, Mike Bibby wasn’t as effortless as in previous games, especially when breaking through—several times he seemed on the verge of success only for Zhou Yi to mysteriously appear in front of him. After multiple failed attempts to break through, he relied more on his teammates’ screens. Mike Bibby quickly broke through from the middle into the three-second line, but Greg Monroe was already waiting inside. Seeing no chance to shoot, and given Mike Bibby’s playing style, he naturally wouldn’t shoot so easily. With a slight flick of his wrist, the ball quickly went to Amare Stoudemire’s hands. By then, Greg Monroe had already switched to defend Mike Bibby, and the other Pistons players hadn’t yet had time to cover. He stretched out his arm and easily dunked the ball. Zhou Yi passed the ball long to the inside, and Greg Monroe used a convincing fake move to easily deceive Amare Stoudemire, sending the ball through the net. Mike Bibby’s breakthrough pass led to a three-point shot from Donte Steward. A Pistons passing mistake allowed Mike Bibby, Amare Stoudemire, and Donte Steward to easily outnumber the defense 3 against 2, with Mike Bibby finishing with a mid-range shot. Zhou Yi suddenly jumped from about a meter outside the three-point line and scored. The three-point shot was very sudden; Mike Bibby wasn’t expecting it, as he dared to shoot from such a distance.

Perhaps inspired by their home crowd, and unwilling to lose this game at home or get swept out by their opponents, the Knicks played very tough and excellently in the third quarter. John Kuester had nothing to say about his players’ performance on the court—they were definitely outstanding, though it seemed the Knicks truly unleashed their full potential. They found their rhythm at the start of the third quarter, scoring well from both inside and outside, and Kuester’s strategy to engage in a fierce offensive battle during halftime was aimed at preventing the opponent from scoring heavily. After calling a timeout and encouraging the players briefly, Kuester still insisted on using a fast-break strategy. The Knicks made adjustments to their lineup, with Tony Douglas and Steve Novak replacing Mike Bibby and JR Smith respectively. This change didn’t significantly weaken the Knicks’ offensive power, as both new players were excellent scorers. On the Pistons’ side, McGrady was taken off the court, replaced by Ben Gordon. Tony Douglas quickly drove the ball across half-court and passed it right away. After catching the ball, Steve Novak tapped it quickly on the ground, changed direction, and rushed toward the paint. Ben Gordon appeared almost simultaneously in front of him; realizing there was no chance to shoot, Novak didn’t hesitate—he stepped back and threw a long pass that traveled across a quarter of the court, over the heads of two Pistons players, to Tony Douglas at the right wing baseline. The moment he threw the pass, Greg Monroe realized its intent and immediately moved outside to provide coverage. With Samuel Dalembert inside, he only needed to cover briefly to give his teammates some time before he could return to the paint. As Monroe stepped out to cover, Tony Douglas glanced at the flying ball, gently supported it with his right hand, applied a slight force, and the ball quickly flew back in its original direction. Monroe helplessly watched the ball fly over his head—the Knicks’ playing style involved flexible and varied passing, with all the players on the court having solid passing skills; they never forced shots if there wasn’t a chance.

Anyway, the goal is to get the ball to an unguarded player as quickly as possible. Although the Knicks play fast-paced basketball, with each attack usually taking only thirteen or fourteen seconds, they are very patient in this regard. This is Mike D’Antoni’s top priority when selecting players—other than point guards, players must not hold onto the ball too tightly.

Amare Stoudemire lightly jumped up, swiftly snatching the ball. He bent his body slightly, pressing his back tightly against Samuel Dalembert, then used a bit of force to create some distance between them. He raised his right wrist high, clearly preparing to take a hook shot.

Samuel Dalembert didn’t dare slack off. After being pushed away, he immediately pressed back against Amare Stoudemire. A force passed through their touching bodies, exerting pressure on Amare Stoudemire. After all, at the moment a player shoots, their defense is at its weakest. Without positioning, the chances of making a shot are much lower than when jumping to defend.

Amare Stoudemire sneered. Samuel Dalembert’s approach wasn’t wrong—it was actually quite correct.

Jumping recklessly when defending two opponents under the basket isn’t wise. But since he was alone, he quickly pulled his right wrist behind his back. The ball hit the ground lightly and bounced perfectly to Tyson Chandler, who was now unguarded. With a loud shout, he jumped high, his right wrist pulled back dramatically.

“Boom”—a thunderous dunk that completely ignited the atmosphere in the Consol Energy Center. This was the strength of the Consol Energy Center: no matter what the team’s situation, the fans’ cheers never diminished.

The Pistons started from the baseline. Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball across half-court. Tony Douglas, guarding him, looked serious and didn’t dare be careless.

Zhou Yi didn’t rush to break through. Standing outside the three-point line, he controlled the ball rhythmically.

Taking advantage of the moment Tony Douglas’s attention was distracted, Zhou Yi easily broke through him with a change of direction. Once he started moving, he became completely focused. With his speed, as long as he got going, no one in the league could catch up to him over such a short distance.

Amare Stoudemire tried to recover, but Zhou Yi remained completely calm. Though he had been ready to shoot earlier, scoring didn’t necessarily require him to take the shot himself; he preferred the satisfaction of passing the ball. With his right foot on the ground, he quickly spun 180 degrees and leaned into Amare Stoudemire’s arms, pushing the ball forward with both hands. The ball flew straight into the paint and landed in the hands of Ben Gordon, who was unguarded on the right wing. He caught the ball, jumped, and swished it through the net.

Amare Stoudemire’s jump shot from the left wing missed, and Tyson Chandler quickly pushed the ball into the basket.

Zhou Yi hit a three-pointer from above the arc. Greg Monroe was credited with this shot—he had drawn the Knicks’ defenders away, allowing the ball to reach Zhou Yi, who was unguarded.

Tyson Chandler’s drive to the basket failed, and Greg Monroe gently pushed Amare Stoudemire’s waist with his right elbow, causing the ball to fall into his hands. With a long pass, Zhou Yi, who was already lurking in the middle of the court, scored by driving to the basket.

It was Cameron Anthony again!

Facing Andre Iguodala’s defense, Cameron Anthony hit a three-pointer straight away.

“He truly deserves to be the leader of the Knicks. He can still hit such a three-pointer even under direct defense from Andre Iguodala,” Zhou Yi murmured, shaking his head.

Reg Monroe caught a clever pass from a teammate, dunked for a score, and also drew a foul on Tyson Chandler, securing a 2+1.

The Pistons were lucky in this game—it was the fourth time they had managed a 2+1 sequence.

Due to a passing mistake by Tony Douglas, Greg Monroe easily intercepted the ball and made a long pass across the court, assisting Ben Gordon in scoring. This was the first time the Pistons had widened the score gap to double digits in this game.

Taking advantage of a dead ball, Mike Bibby was brought back onto the court, and John Kuester used the opportunity to replace Zhou Yi. The fast pace of the game drained Zhou Yi’s energy quickly, so he was taken off the court for a few minutes to rest for the rest of the game.

John Kuester had been focusing on the Knicks’ fatigue. In his view, by the end of the fourth quarter, the Knicks would show signs of exhaustion. By bringing in Zhou Yi, who could recover his strength, they would easily win the game.

However, in the three minutes Zhou Yi was off the court, the Pistons fell into crisis.

Led by the Knicks’ star player Cameron Anthony, the Knicks launched an 11-2 offensive run, cutting the Pistons’ hard-earned 11-point lead down to just a 2-point advantage. During those three minutes, Cameron Anthony scored 7 points on his own, demonstrating the value of a core player.

John Kuester, unable to sit idly by, quickly called a timeout with two minutes and eleven seconds left in the third quarter. After the timeout, Zhou Yi returned to the court. It was the playoffs, and John Kuester didn’t want to take any risks. Although stamina was a challenge for Zhou Yi, after seeing his determined expression, John Kuester had no choice but to send him back out again.

Moving slowly with the ball toward the half-court, Zhou Yi’s heart was pounding. Seeing Mike Bibby just a few steps away, he was filled with confidence. He had always been wary of Mike Bibby’s speed, but his defense was weak, allowing Zhou Yi to break through easily. However, things weren’t that simple. In a team like the Knicks that focused more on offense than defense, there were surely countermeasures other than Mike Bibby. At this point, even Mike Bibby didn’t dare slack off.

Chapter 467: Eliminating the Knicks (Part 2)

Tony Douglas’s defense was too late. Samuel Dalembert, who was already in the half-court, had received Zhou Yi’s pass and quickly took two steps forward, easily leaping outside the three-second zone before dunking with both hands.

126:127—the Knicks now led by only one point. This finally made Mike D’Antoni uneasy, and he decisively called a timeout.

When play resumed, the fans in Madison Square Garden stood up one after another, cheering for their team, hoping their hero would create another miracle. Under Zhou Yi’s full-court pressure, the Knicks struggled to cross half-court for nearly eight seconds. Tony Douglas quickly passed the ball, but Zhou Yi’s sudden intensified defense made him feel almost suffocated. Once the ball was passed, he felt relieved.

After catching the ball, Cameron Anthony rushed inward. Under his assault, the Pistons’ defense kept retreating. With a smooth motion, Cameron Anthony executed a beautiful forced layup, twisting in mid-air to completely evade Greg Monroe’s defense.

Just as the ball was about to go into the basket, a pale palm suddenly appeared on the right side, swatting the ball away fiercely.
“Zhou…” The Pistons’ fans immediately cheered.
At that critical moment, Zhou Yi’s block proved decisive. Cameron Anthony’s layup attempt was highly concealed, but Zhou Yi keenly noticed that Greg Monroe seemed trapped by Amare Stoudemire, with limited movement under the basket and greatly hindered in defense.
Cameron Anthony was very good at making layups with Amare Stoudemire providing cover, but Zhou Yi acted quickly to save his team.
The ball hit the ground and was picked up by Greg Monroe, who then quickly passed it to McGrady.
Although the Pistons’ fans made up less than a quarter of the crowd, their loud cheers made Madison Square Garden seem like the Auburn Hills Palace.
“Andrei…” McGrady shouted before passing the ball to Andre Iguodala.
By now, Andre Iguodala had already rushed to the Knicks’ basket. It was clearly impossible for the Knicks to save the ball.
With a swish, the ball went in.
128:127—the Pistons took a 1-point lead.
“Wow…” The entire arena was in shock.
Immediately afterward, calls for Andre Iguodala kept coming.
“Andrei… Iguodala…”
“Andrei, great job!” Zhou Yi ran up to Andre Iguodala, excitedly saying.
“Hehe, if we can stop their next shot, we’ll basically win,” Andre Iguodala said excitedly to Zhou Yi, clenching his fists.
“Yeah, stop that shot!” Zhou Yi nodded firmly; the previously tired Zhou Yi seemed to have disappeared overnight.
With a clang, the basket rejected Amare Stoudemire’s baseline jump shot, and the entire Consol Energy Center fell into silence.
The rebounded ball flew out of the basket and ended up in the hands of a Knicks player.
It was Cameron Anthony!
The best shooter for the Knicks in this game!
One of the league’s outstanding clutch players—twenty-three seconds left in the game, and the ball was in Cameron Anthony’s hands.
Quickly stepping back two steps, Cameron Anthony retreated beyond the three-point line. His sturdy frame appeared extremely heavy in the air, and his hands holding the ball looked especially strong. Those hands, which had created many miracles before, once again took control of the team’s fate at a critical moment.

“Huh, huh, huh…” A faint sound of air being cut as the ball lightly flew out from between his fingers.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant; millions of fans around the world were watching this decisive shot. If the ball went in, the game would return to the Knicks’ control; if not, the Knicks might lose the match, and losing it could mean being eliminated by the Pistons.
“Thud”—a loud thud as the ball hit the ground, bringing time back to its normal flow. Right after the ball was shot, a hand suddenly appeared from nowhere and blocked it mid-air.
What kind of skill was that? With Cameron Anthony’s 6’9” height, the arc of his three-point shots is already high, and with such a long distance, what exceptional jumping ability was required?
In just over twenty seconds of play, Zhou Yi made two difficult blocks, saving his team.
In the last few seconds, the Knicks’ foul strategy only widened the score gap. Zhou Yi was relentless at the free-throw line, making all four of his attempts.
“Ding”—the final whistle blew. The Pistons, thanks to Zhou Yi’s crucial block at the last moment, defeated the Knicks 132–127, gaining a decisive advantage in this series. One more win, and they could sweep the Knicks and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Zhou Yi’s 45 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks made him the hero of the game.
……
Three days later, the fourth game between the Pistons and Knicks began.
The Pistons’ strong bench provided offensive firepower.
“Ding”—the referee’s whistle sounded, instantly intensifying the atmosphere in the arena. Millions of fans watching on TV held their breath.
This game was crucial. If the Pistons won, they would sweep the Knicks and advance directly; if they lost, the Knicks would take a 3–1 lead.
However, the chances of the Knicks pulling off a huge comeback were virtually zero. Besides, the next two games were at the Pistons’ home court.
As the orange basketball slowly rose into the air, Greg Monroe and Tyson Chandler gathered all their strength, ready to explode at any moment.
“Ah…” Two muscular figures leaped into the air almost simultaneously, but Greg Monroe’s outstanding jumping ability finally paid off as he reached the ball first.

In the four games of this series, Greg Monroe lost three jump ball contests; finally, he didn’t lose this time, saving some face. The ball was caught by Andre Iguodala, who immediately passed it to Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi drove with the ball, made a straight break, and passed it to Samuel Dalembert under the basket. Unfortunately, Dalembert’s layup missed, and the rebound was grabbed by Steve Novak on the left side. He threw a long pass, sending the ball swiftly toward Darren Collison on the other side of the three-point line. Josh McRoberts rushed to the basket first. Seeing this, Darren Collison shouted loudly, and thanks to their well-developed understanding, Josh McRoberts immediately understood what was needed and quickly turned around. Suddenly, everything went dark in Darren Collison’s vision—a dark figure appeared like a wall in front of him, perfectly blocking the ball’s path, so the ball would no longer reach him. “Greg!” Zhou Yi shouted as soon as he got the ball. Greg Monroe, who had been behind just moments ago, was now at the forefront of the team’s attack. Greg Monroe quickly retreated. He had always had confidence in Zhou Yi’s passes. Although he was moving at the time, the默契 developed over a season meant Zhou Yi knew exactly Greg Monroe’s movements and abilities. When Greg Monroe reached the free-throw line, the ball appeared perfectly above his head. The moment he grabbed the ball, Greg Monroe used his momentum, tapping his left toe on the ground, lifting off into the air, and dunked the ball heavily into the basket inside the three-second area. “Thud!” Greg Monroe’s dunk was powerful, and the loud sound echoed throughout Madison Square Garden. The Knicks quickly drove the ball across half-court after gaining possession, handing the offensive responsibility to Carmelo Anthony. However, his high shot missed, and Greg Monroe grabbed the first rebound of the game. McGrady’s three-pointer from the right wing missed without any defense, and the rebound was taken by the opponent. Darren Collison dodged Andre Iguodala’s steal and quickly drove the ball across half-court. The Pistons used a staggered defense strategy—Andre Iguodala was assigned to defend him, as Darren Collison was the Knicks’ offensive hub with excellent playmaking skills. Most of the Knicks’ attacks originated from him, and if they could completely cut off his connection with his teammates, the Knicks’ offense would be almost paralyzed.

The reason John Kuester didn’t assign Zhou Yi to defend him was mainly to reduce Zhou Yi’s burden on the court and allow him to focus more on offense. Darren Collison’s aggressive drives were ineffective under Andre Iguodala’s close defense; his several feints were seen through by the experienced Iguodala, and even the pick-and-roll set up by Josh McRoberts failed due to Zhou Yi’s help defense. As time passed, Darren Collison grew increasingly panicked. He had been warned many times by his coach about the importance of defense in the playoffs, but when it came to reality, he still felt unprepared. In the first three encounters of the playoffs, the Pistons’ defense hadn’t posed much pressure to him because he had played as a substitute in those games, with Zhou Yi already taken off the court by then. Even so, he had faced Zhou Yi directly, and it was only when Zhou Yi guarded him one-on-one that he felt constrained. Darren Collison managed to pass the ball, but only three seconds remained for Tyson Chandler. Greg Monroe didn’t dare slack off at all; he knew well that holding on a few more seconds would thwart the opponent’s attack. Standing just outside the three-second line with his arms raised, he stayed ready beside Tyson Chandler. Tyson Chandler’s turnaround jump shot missed the basket due to Monroe’s interference. Josh McRoberts, with his agile movements, rushed to the basket first and used his strong frame to push Samuel Dalembert out, easily grabbing the rebound. McRoberts twisted in mid-air and passed the ball to the perimeter, where the two Pistons big men were ready to intercept it the moment he landed. Darren Collison felt like crying—just over a minute into the game, he had lost the ball twice in a row: first to Zhou Yi and now to Andre Iguodala. Unfortunately, Iguodala’s movements were too exaggerated, and he lost his balance after stealing the ball, causing it to roll past the baseline. Steve Novak’s left-wing jump shot also missed, bouncing off the front of the rim as the big men below struggled to secure the rebound.

When it came to rebounding, Zhou Yi had an accurate judgment. He grabbed the rebound and, as soon as he hit the ground, quickly got moving, launching himself forward like a cheetah in a flash.

Mike D’Antoni, the Knicks’ head coach, stood up excitedly, constantly shouting “Defense!” from the sidelines. But who in the league could match Zhou Yi’s full-speed acceleration?

Although Darren Collison was trying his best to recover, seeing the gap between the two widen filled him with helplessness—the opponent still had the ball!

The three-point line and free-throw line rushed past his feet. Amid the cheers of the crowd, Zhou Yi’s enthusiasm surged, giving him an urge to tear everything apart.

“Ah…” Amid the shouts, Zhou Yi leaped into the air.

“Thud”—Zhou Yi slammed the basketball hard into the basket.

With Greg Monroe’s turnaround jumper going in, the Knicks called a timeout. There were still 7 minutes and 35 seconds left in the first quarter. The Pistons had started strong with a 10-2 run, and under their intense defense, the Knicks’ shots kept missing.

After the timeout, the Knicks increased their outside shooting. Steve Novak hit a three-pointer from just outside the left wing.

Taking advantage of McGrady’s missed shot, the Knicks executed another brilliant fast break, creating a three-on-one situation under the basket, with Josh McRoberts finishing with a layup from the left baseline.

As the Pistons prepared to pass the ball, John Kuester shouted from the sidelines, “Zhou, control the pace and ensure the offense succeeds.”

Zhou Yi waved at him and caught the ball passed by McGrady. In fact, he didn’t need Kuester’s instructions—he knew himself that the previous two attacks had been a bit hasty, and the defense after those attacks had been slow, allowing the opponent to close the gap by five points.

Instead of forcing a breakthrough, Zhou Yi used Andre Iguodala’s pick-and-roll to find another path forward. With a cut, he penetrated along Iguodala’s right side and hit a mid-range shot from a 45-degree angle on the right wing.

After the timeout, the Knicks not only improved their offense but also their defense significantly. Several consecutive possessions went scoreless. McGrady’s baseline drive was stopped when Cameron Anthony pushed him straight into the backboard.

At a critical moment, Steve Novak stepped up again for the Knicks. Under close defense from McGrady, he hit a backdoor jump shot from the right wing, tying the score at 7-12.

With five minutes and forty-one seconds left in the first quarter, John Kuester had no choice but to call a timeout.
…
At the end of the first quarter, the Pistons were temporarily behind by five points, 22–27. John Kuester quickly brought Zhou Yi back into the game, preventing the opponent from widening the score gap. However, the issue with the interior play remained; if it wasn’t resolved, the score could easily widen at any moment, a problem that troubled John Kuester greatly. Watching Greg Monroe, drenched in sweat, John Kuester felt unprecedented pressure. He knew that if he didn’t address the interior issue soon, Greg Monroe wouldn’t be able to hold up much longer under double-team pressure. If even he couldn’t hold on, there would be no hope left for the game. But looking at the players on the bench, who could be sent to play center? With no other option, John Kuester decided to send Ben Wallace in. Affected by injuries, Ben Wallace’s form wasn’t as good as before, but he still had some strength left and could serve as a deterrent to the opponent. At his current level, he certainly wasn’t a match for Tyson Chandler, but his experience helped him gain a foothold in the interior. More importantly, with him holding back the opponent, Greg Monroe was able to break free from the double team and gradually turn the tide in his confrontation with Josh McRoberts. Zhou Yi hit a three-pointer from just outside the three-point line. A step away from him, Steve Novak looked frustrated. The moment Greg Monroe passed the ball, he realized its target and quickly moved in front of Zhou Yi. Based on his usual experience, he had enough time to react at such a short distance, but Zhou Yi’s shot was too fast—by the time he tried to defend, Zhou Yi had already shot, leaving him no time to react. Steve Novak’s pass easily went over Will Bynum’s head. Such a pass was indeed frustrating, but with a fifteen-centimeter height difference between the two, it wasn’t surprising, especially since the timing of the pass was also very short. After catching the ball, Tyson Chandler scored by throwing a small hook shot into the basket. Greg Monroe’s turnaround jump shot missed, while Zhou Yi, above Josh McRoberts, effortlessly pushed the ball into the basket.

Josh McRoberts’ layup missed, and Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound. A long pass went to Zhou Yi, who was the only player left for the Knicks at that point, and he scored two points with an easy three-step layup.

On the Knicks’ side, Cameron Anthony hit a three-pointer just beyond the three-point line. Zhou Yi scored a three-pointer from the right baseline to respond. Zhou Yi stole the ball in the middle of the court, easily outmaneuvered Steve Novak with two quick passes, then hit a shot off Josh McRoberts’ backboard, forcing a foul and securing a 2+1 bonus.

In just two minutes, Zhou Yi scored ten points alone, helping the Pistons launch a 10-2 run and take the lead. At the end of the half, the Pistons led 55-49 by six points. Zhou Yi, whose offensive prowess was fully unleashed, hit six of seven shots in the half, scoring 15 points from both field goals and free throws.

…

“Swish” — another coordinated outside play by the Pistons. The ball passed through Zhou Yi and McGrady before ending up in Andre Iguodala’s hands. Almost in the same spot, Iguodala replicated his previous score. With Rodney Stuckey’s three-pointer missing, the teams finally concluded the third quarter.

For fans who had been looking forward to a fierce battle, the first three quarters were of high quality, satisfying everyone’s expectations. However, since it was the Knicks’ home court, most of the crowd were Knicks fans. They must have felt devastated to see their players fighting so hard yet still failing to take the lead.

Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance disrupted the Knicks’ defense, but Greg Monroe’s poor form couldn’t help his team. By the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 83-87, with the Pistons leading by just four points.

…

Jared Jeffries has seen a significant decline in form this season and was unable to pose any threat to Greg Monroe in the paint. In the first half of the fourth quarter, the Pistons took advantage of their dominance in the paint to push the score to 104-87, leading by 17 points. During that period, Greg Monroe scored 11 points alone and added five rebounds, becoming the key player in expanding the Pistons’ lead.

The Knicks, trailing at home, launched a fierce offensive push in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, with Cameron Anthony scoring 8 points on his own.

However, the Pistons withstood the opponent’s attacks thanks to strong support from their frontcourt. Greg Monroe continued his outstanding performance from earlier in the fourth quarter, scoring repeatedly in the paint. With four minutes left in the game, the Pistons still held a solid lead of about 15 points. Mike D’Antoni 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 by bringing Josh McRoberts back into the game. Unfortunately, before Josh McRoberts could even touch the ball, Zhou Yi’s breakthrough resulted in a blocking foul, earning him his sixth foul and forcing him to leave the game. What made Mike D’Antoni even more frustrated was that Cameron Anthony also lost his touch at the last moment. As a result, the Knicks lost all hope of turning the game around. In the end, thanks to Greg Monroe’s explosive performance in the fourth quarter, the Pistons defeated the Knicks 118:101 away from home. With this victory, the Pistons swept the New York Knicks 4-0, becoming the first team to advance to the second round of the playoffs. The Pistons’ opponent in the Eastern Conference semifinals has not been determined yet—at least two more days are needed. The most likely opponent is the Magic, who currently lead the Pacers 3:1 overall. Chapter 468: Eastern Conference Semifinals (Part 1) After a five-day break, the Pistons finally faced their opponent in the Eastern Conference semifinals. As expected, the Magic defeated the Pacers and advanced to the semifinals. However, they didn’t win 4:1 but 4:2. Regardless of the score, the fact that the Magic won was what mattered most. The first encounter between the two teams took place on April 30th at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Pistons’ home court. Right from the start, “The Beast” Dwight Howard wreaked havoc in the Pistons’ frontcourt. But not long after, Dwight Howard was taken off the court due to a foul trouble issue. After The Beast left, the Pistons went on a rampage in the first quarter, leading the Magic 32:22—by a full 10 points. At the beginning of the second quarter, Will Bynum, who came in as a substitute for Zhou Yi, scored 2 points with a jump shot. Seeing Zhou Yi’s strong performance in recent games, Will Bynum was certainly not willing to give up; he wanted to compete with Zhou Yi, but in a healthy way.

Watching Will Bynum score and widen the lead again, the Pistons were all delighted. But during the Magic’s attack this time, the Magic’s backup point guard, Chris Duhon, firmly passed the ball to the interior, where there was only one player—the Magic’s big man, Dwight Howard. When Dwight Howard stretched out his long arms to grab the ball, the hearts of everyone on the Pistons team trembled.