Chapter 220

At the end of the third quarter, thanks to several high-energy attacks by Zhou Yi, the Pistons’ offense became extremely smooth. By the end of the third quarter, the Pistons led the Orlando Magic 76–68, by 8 points.

Soon, the fourth quarter began, with the Magic gaining possession. Jamal Nelson steadied himself after receiving the ball. Zhou Yi had previously intercepted fast breaks multiple times after initiating plays—against this year’s biggest underdog among rookies, and the Pistons were also the biggest underdog among the league’s 30 teams. The Pistons’ impressive results were inseparable from Zhou Yi.

The Orlando Magic naturally wouldn’t underestimate them, nor would Jamal Nelson. Still, for now, Jamal Nelson had a good impression of Zhou Yi—at least this guy showed professionalism. Jamal Nelson undoubtedly had extensive experience, but he focused more on scoring rather than organizing the offense. After watching several of Zhou Yi’s games, he had always admired him greatly.

After facing Zhou Yi several times, he believed the Pistons’ success today was largely due to Zhou Yi’s presence—he was the undisputed leader of the team. Without Zhou Yi, the Pistons might have had a chance to compete for a playoff spot, but they definitely wouldn’t have reached this point.

The Orlando Magic played a steady game, with diverse offensive tactics and a meticulous defense. They were good at positional play, but once they got an opportunity, their fast breaks were astonishing—calm as a maiden and swift as a hare—that was the Orlando Magic’s style.

Jamal Nelson quickly passed the ball to Dwight Howard without hesitation. Dwight Howard passed it back to Jamal Nelson, and back and forth like this, Jamal Nelson used his teammates’ screen plays to reach an open spot. Just eight seconds into the fourth quarter, Jamal Nelson hit a mid-range shot, scoring the first 2 points.

Before the start of the fourth quarter, Stan Van Gundy had already laid out the strategy: have Dwight Howard hold the Pistons’ starters back in the paint, then pass to the outside players to create opportunities.

Zhou Yi watched the opponent’s movements and sighed—this was the strength of a superstar center, such smooth and efficient scoring. The biggest feature of the Orlando Magic was that four out of their five players were excellent ball handlers. No matter how tight the defense was, they could move the ball efficiently.

The Orlando Magic fans immediately cheered, and the atmosphere they created in such a large stadium was equally impressive. The Magic players enjoyed the cheers from the fans and played with great energy.

Halftime passed quickly. The Orlando Magic were now using zone defense. Zhou Yi’s speed when dribbling surprised everyone on the team, but they trusted their defensive capabilities—once Zhou Yi entered their defense, they were determined not to let him thrive as he had before.

Two steps outside the three-point line, Zhou Yi suddenly stopped, used the strength in his legs to propel himself upward, and in a flash, before Jamal Nelson could react, Zhou Yi’s three-pointer hit the basket accurately.

Jamal Nelson passed the ball to Brandon Bass inside, who then passed it backward to Dwight Howard, who scored with a jump shot.

Brandon Bass positioned himself in front of Samuel Dalembert, trying to defend Dwight Howard, but found it impossible to stop him.

It was a great coordination, with the players showing excellent awareness of positioning. Such smooth attacks were rare so far—top teams truly stand out thanks to their well-tested tactics, achieving the same results with minimal effort.

Zhou Yi’s passes were always precise. With a behind-the-back pass, Andre Iguodala caught the ball while moving, jumped, and shot from the right wing—making a three-pointer. The opposing defender was momentarily blocked, giving Iguodala enough time to shoot.

At the start of the fourth quarter, both teams engaged in a back-and-forth scoring battle, with the score rising rapidly. However, the Pistons were slightly at a disadvantage—the opponent’s offense was smooth, while the Pistons’ approach was rather monotonous.

It seemed the Orlando Magic were on the verge of tying the score. With the loud cheers of their home fans, the Magic played with great effort.

…

Zhou Yi made a behind-the-back pass, and the ball quickly reached Andre Iguodala. Without stopping, Iguodala passed the ball back immediately. Through this back-and-forth, Zhou Yi had enough time to penetrate into the opponent’s paint. Faced with the tight defense of Dwight Howard and Brandon Bass, he charged forward, reached into the small gap between them with his right hand, gently lifted the ball for a layup, and also drew a foul from the opponent.

But this foul was really hard to call—both players seemed to have committed fouls, and with three players tangled together, it was impossible to tell who was at fault. So both of them raised their hands simultaneously and glared at each other. In the end, the fault was assigned to Dwight Howard, bringing his total to five fouls. John Kuester waved excitedly. Dwight Howard’s performance in the paint had always been exceptional. So far, though Greg Monroe was doing well, he had been focusing most of his energy on defending Dwight Howard and grabbing rebounds. With a little over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Dwight Howard would inevitably be more cautious in the physical battles, giving Greg Monroe more room to operate. Zhou Yi also saw the situation clearly and passed the ball to Greg Monroe several times, allowing him to face Dwight Howard one-on-one. After battling for so long, Greg Monroe finally figured out a strategy—his opponent had exceptional physical strength, a wide defensive range, and an equally exceptional defensive awareness. But since he already had five fouls, Greg Monroe had an advantage in that regard. Holding the ball in his right hand, he used his left shoulder to push against Dwight Howard, constantly shifting his body. Gradually, Greg Monroe made his way inside, then exploded with all his strength. Dwight Howard, caught off guard, was completely pushed out of the paint, and Greg Monroe scored with a powerful dunk. As Dwight Howard flew out, his right hand instinctively touched Greg Monroe. Such a clear action wouldn’t go unnoticed by the referee, resulting in a 2+1 penalty. John Kuester jumped up excitedly and paced back and forth on the coaching bench. Dwight Howard was ejected, and Stan Van Gundy quickly called a timeout. John Kuester patted Greg Monroe approvingly and said, “Greg Monroe, you did great. Their starting center has been taken out—now their problems on the bench will start to show. Greg Monroe, in the rest of the game, you need to become the team’s top scorer and deal a heavy blow to our opponents. By the way, Zhou, from now on we’ll focus our attacks on the paint. Of course, don’t miss any opportunities on the outside as well.”

Although the opponent was very strong, he had Zhou Yi as his ace card—his speed and agility were enough to break through the opponent’s proud defense. At this moment, the Pistons were least afraid of exactly such teams, as their defensive capabilities were also excellent. It’s just that so far, their defensive skills had been overshadowed by their fierce offensive play. Even in the game against the Orlando Magic, the Pistons’ defensive performance in the first half was definitely top-notch.

Stan Van Gundy yelled anxiously, but after Dwight Howard was ejected, the gap in strength between the two teams became apparent immediately.

Greg Monroe’s skills were far beyond what Ryan Anderson could match, especially since he was versatile and could score from various angles, making it impossible for his opponent to defend him effectively.

Relying on his physical advantage, he managed to push the opponent back a few steps, and Greg Monroe quickly jumped up to shoot.

Zhou Yi quickly shouted, “Greg, be careful!”

But it was still too late. After pushing Ryan Anderson aside, Brandon Bass, who took over as the center for the Magic in place of Dwight Howard, swatted the ball away from behind Greg Monroe. Hedo Turkoglu picked up the ball and passed it long. At that moment, the only player near it on their side of the court was Jamal Nelson, and Zhou Yi, who was the closest to him, was at least five meters away—it was clearly a fast break.

Fortunately, Zhou Yi had already realized something was wrong. The moment the ball was swatted away, he immediately started moving back to defend.

For a moment, the two players and the ball were like three arrows shot from a bow. Zhou Yi was faster than his opponent, but the distance between them was still quite large. It wasn’t until the opponent was almost at the free-throw line that he had covered half the distance.

Seeing the opponent raise his right hand with the ball, clearly preparing for a three-point shot, Zhou Yi grew anxious. If the opponent scored on this fast break, their momentum would likely increase, making it difficult to win the rest of the game.

With all his strength unleashed, in front of over 20,000 spectators, Zhou Yi moved like a projectile, his speed increasing dramatically. It seemed as though the entire court came to a halt, and the distance between Zhou Yi and Jamal Nelson shrank rapidly.

Jamal Nelson had performed mediocrely throughout the game. Of course, he wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity to score a beautiful three-point shot, gaining two points for his team and sparking a counterattack.

But the entire arena fell silent in an instant, causing a hint of unease in him. Yet he hesitated not for a moment—after all, Zhou Yi, who had been closest to him just now, was now so far away that even if he were faster than him, he would definitely not be able to overtake him before he completed this attack.

As he rose into the air, Jamal Nelson stretched out his right arm, watching the ball get closer and closer to the basket. Suddenly, a rapid sound of wind rushed from behind him, accompanied by a wave of heat that enveloped his entire body. He was shocked to see an arm extend from behind him.

Jamal Nelson watched in pain as the shot he was sure would go in was blocked by the basket.

“A whistle” sounded immediately—the referee pointed at Zhou Yi, signaling a hand foul.

Zhou Yi shook his head helplessly. The call was fair, though it was a pity such a spectacular block was wasted. If he had had just a little more time, even one second, he could have easily swatted the ball away.

After a brief silence, the arena erupted in enthusiastic cheers. The scene from earlier kept repeating on the big screen, especially Zhou Yi’s astonishing speed as he rushed to catch up—far beyond what people could imagine, almost beyond human limits.

In fact, not only the fans in the arena but also the Pistons’ teammates, even John Kuester, stared in astonishment at Zhou Yi. They had always known about his speed, and so far in the games, it seemed no opponent had been able to fully outpace him. But they never expected he still had some speed left; his speed just now was definitely much faster than what he had shown before.

The speed he displayed reminded people of Allen Iverson, the king of speed in the NBA. Perhaps even at the peak of his career, Iverson’s speed was comparable to this astonishing pace.

Jamal Nelson took free throws and made both.

After driving past the half-court line, Zhou Yi waved his left hand—a clear signal that he intended to handle this shot on his own. His action surprised his teammates, as although Zhou Yi was the team’s offensive and defensive hub, it was unprecedented for him to decide to go it alone from the start. But they quickly cleared a path for him, unconditionally obeying his request.

John Kuester saw his gesture and temporarily resisted the urge to call a timeout; instead, joy flashed in his eyes. No coach likes players who act selfishly on their own, but as a leader, one has the right and duty to take matters into their own hands at certain moments. The momentum on the court was tilting in favor of the Orlando Magic, and as a key player, it was time for him to step up.

Facing Jamal Nelson’s defense, Zhou Yi remained calm, darting past him like lightning. Jamal Nelson was stunned—Zhou Yi not only broke through the first line of defense smoothly but also left the other players unable to react in time. All that stood in his way now was Brandon Bass, who had just blocked Greg Monroe. Brandon Bass’s defensive skills were evident.

Without a trace of fear, he didn’t even regard Brandon Bass as a threat; all he saw was the basket. The moment his foot touched the free-throw line, he gathered all his strength to the peak and released it in an instant. His slender body soared like an eagle, bending his legs as he reached the highest point, making his jump appear even higher.

Seeing Zhou Yi’s cold gaze from mid-air, Brandon Bass felt a sense of awe—this guy before him was truly terrifying. His feet instinctively stepped back several times.

He still held the ball in his right hand, which was straight at first. As he fell, the arm holding the ball retracted slightly, giving him enough space to dunk. With full force, he swung his right hand toward the basket.

With a “thud,” Zhou Yi landed effortlessly amidst the silence of the arena.

“Clap, clap, clap…” Someone started clapping first, and the fans, now awake from their stupor, cheered wildly. The arena went from utterly quiet to extremely lively, with cheers louder than ever before.

Stan Van Gundy stood up and signaled the referee to call a timeout. Given the team’s current state, there was no chance of turning things around without a timeout.

The Pistons’ players immediately surrounded Zhou Yi, showering him with praise. Such an amazing free-throw line dunk was extremely rare for an point guard.

John Kuester grabbed Zhou Yi’s shoulders and shouted excitedly, “Zhou, what you just showed is what an outstanding dunker does. I really didn’t expect you to be able to pull off such an amazing dunk.”

Cheers filled the Pistons’ bench. In contrast, the Orlando Magic’s locker room was in a different state—Zhou Yi’s dunks had crushed their morale, and Stan Van Gundy was also unsure of what to do. Despite his best efforts to strategize, the impact of Zhou Yi’s dunks tipped the balance in favor of the Pistons. The Pistons played with high morale and performed normally, while the Magic didn’t act like a top-tier team at all. In the end, the Pistons defeated the Magic 98:86, taking a victory away from Orlando. With this win, the Magic were eliminated by the Pistons, ending the 2011-2012 season. Now, the Pistons’ main concern was their opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. This opponent would be determined between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. Chapter 470: The Eastern Conference Finals Against the Heat (Part 1) After eliminating the Magic, the Pistons waited three more days before learning their Eastern Conference Finals opponent. The Heat and the strong Bulls fought seven games before narrowly winning 4:3 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. The first game of the Pistons’ Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat took place two days after the Heat eliminated the Bulls. In other words, the Heat only had two days of rest before heading to the Pistons’ home court, the Palace of Auburn Hills, to face the Pistons, who had rested for five days. On May 17, 2012, the Pistons welcomed the Heat to their home court. The two teams had met four times this season, with the Pistons winning three of them. However, it would be too hasty to conclude that the Pistons would eliminate the Heat and secure a spot in the Finals based on this record. This season, the Heat were one of the league’s most offensive teams, and their superstar small forward, LeBron James, had delivered MVP-level performance. If not for Zhou Yi’s emergence, LeBron James would have surely won this season’s regular-season MVP award. Before this Eastern Conference Finals game began, league commissioner David Stern presented the MVP trophy to Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi won the regular-season MVP for the second consecutive year, becoming the league’s top star.

“Hello, dear viewers. Welcome to today’s match. What we’re bringing to you today is the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Pistons hosting the Heat. Last season, the two teams met in the Eastern Conference Finals, and although the Pistons advanced to the finals, the Heat now have the strength to compete for the championship this season. Teacher Xu, what’s your opinion on the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals?” Yu Jia asked.

“It’s too early to predict the outcome between the two teams. But before the game, we can talk about these two teams. In the regular season, the Pistons won 3:1, but that doesn’t mean they will definitely beat the Heat. There are many interesting aspects to this matchup. The biggest highlight is, of course, the core players of each team. Greg Monroe has shown the skills of a top-tier power forward this season, while Chris Bosh has always been one of the best power forwards in the league. Each of them has their own strengths, and in this position, Chris Bosh is clearly stronger. Both teams don’t place much emphasis on center players, but comparatively, the Pistons have a slight advantage at that position. On the small forward side, LeBron James is the best small forward in the league, but Andre Iguodala is also excellent and very versatile. As for the backcourt, the combination of Zhou Yi and Tracy McGrady is naturally better than the Heat’s backcourt. However, in terms of bench players, the Pistons clearly have an advantage,” Teacher Xu said at length, referring to the materials in his hands.

The game started on time at 9:30. John Kuster also seized the last moment to motivate the team, saying excitedly, “Everyone must maintain a steady mindset. No matter what the opponent is, we just need to stick to our playing style and focus hard on defense. This is our home court, and we must win this game here. Don’t forget that we once beat the Heat 3:1 in the regular season. And last season, we already eliminated them, so this season as well, we will eliminate them.”

“Yes!” Zhou Yi replied loudly, and a fierce atmosphere arose. Inspired by him, the other players also became highly motivated.

With a clear “swish” as the basketball pierced the air, the sound reached the ears of the players entering the court. It was like a battle cry, marking the official start of the intense match.

The Heat’s starting five players are: center Ilgauskas, power forward Chris Bosh, small forward LeBron James, shooting guard Dwyane Wade, and point guard Mario Chalmers.
On the Pistons’ side: center Samuel Dalembert, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi.
Greg Monroe’s jumping ability allowed him to get to the ball first, and McGrady quickly grabbed it.
By this time, Zhou Yi had already rushed toward the opponent’s half along the sideline, with no one around him. Seeing this, McGrady was delighted and swiftly passed the ball diagonally.
Unfortunately, he only paid attention to Zhou Yi and didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings. At the moment the ball was passed, a dark figure flashed past him like a whirlwind.
Dwyane Wade touched the ball with his fingertips, changing its trajectory. But with his speed, he naturally couldn’t keep up with the fast-moving ball and could only watch it fly over the sideline. Still, it disrupted the Pistons’ fast break attempt.
Since it was the Pistons’ home court, despite the Heat’s excellent defense, there wasn’t much applause.
As time passed, McGrady still managed to pass the ball to Greg Monroe. Zhou Yi had someone trailing behind him, and LeBron James kept chasing him. During the free-throw line, McGrady tried several times to pass the ball to him, but LeBron James kept interfering.
Zhou Yi cut straight into the paint from the baseline. In the narrow space at the baseline, LeBron James had no choice but to stop—after all, his bulky frame couldn’t fit through there. Fortunately, he didn’t have the ball.
Thanks to the teamwork developed over the past year, when Zhou Yi dived under the basket, Greg Monroe used his body as a shield to pass the ball to him, then quickly turned around to block Chris Bosh’s path.
Without hesitation, Zhou Yi leaped lightly against Chris Bosh’s back, tilting his upper body slightly in the air and shaking his wrist gently as the ball went through the hoop.
The crisp sound of the basket made Chris Bosh turn around in confusion—how did the ball end up in Zhou Yi’s hands without him noticing anything?
“So fast.” In a flash, LeBron James appeared on his right side with the ball. He never expected his momentary carelessness to allow someone to bypass him like that.

Zhou Yi glanced back in annoyance. If it weren’t for having such a “tail” following him, he would never have let him break through so easily. LeBron James made a lightning-fast breakthrough, getting ahead of Greg Monroe and charging into the paint to force a layup against Samuel Dalembert. “Bang, bang…” The ball bounced lightly off the rim a few times before finally falling through. The referee’s whistle sounded immediately—Samuel Dalembert’s foul gave the opponent a 2+1 chance. With a smooth motion, LeBron James converted the free throws, completing the 2+1. Competing head-on with the Heat’s fast-paced offense was definitely not a good strategy. After receiving the ball, Zhou Yi didn’t rush to break through to the other end of the court; instead, he let his teammates flood into the opponent’s defense. In terms of scoring ability, the Heat’s starting lineup was no match for the Pistons’. Among the Pistons’ five starters, aside from Samuel Dalembert, the other four all had strong scoring skills. Andre Iguodala set up a pick-and-roll for Tracy McGrady, who quickly moved. Dwyane Wade was pulled several steps back by McGrady, and Zhou Yi promptly passed the ball to McGrady at the zero-degree angle at the baseline. “Swish”—from the other side at the zero-degree angle, McGrady’s jump shot hit. … “Swish”—Greg Monroe hit a turnaround jump shot from under the basket. Compared to his frantic scoring in the previous round, Zhou Yi clearly focused more on organizing the offense at the start of this game. With six minutes and twenty seconds left in the game, the Pistons led 15–10 by five points. Eric Spolsky reluctantly called a timeout. To curb Zhou Yi’s aggressive scoring from the previous round, he sent in the team’s best one-on-one defender from the start. But unexpectedly, Zhou Yi avoided direct confrontation and used passing to create scoring opportunities for his teammates, especially McGrady, who hit two three-pointers in just half a quarter. After receiving the ball, Dwyane Wade chose to drive straight ahead. His defender was McGrady. After brief contact, McGrady, who was somewhat weaker, stepped back several times. Dwyane Wade quickly stepped to the left and hit a three-point shot from beyond the arc. Just three minutes later, the Pistons experienced the same frustration as the Heat earlier—Dwyane Wade used his impressive strength to score three consecutive points from outside, including one three-pointer, bringing the Heat within one point.

Left with no choice, Andre Iguodala had to defend out of position to contain Dwyane Wade’s fury, and by the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 25-25, with Dwyane Wade scoring nine points for the Heat.
Mike Miller sat on the bench, pale-faced. Though it was only one quarter, the constant pressure from Dwyane Wade had taken a heavy toll on him, leaving him feeling extremely tired; his right hand trembled so much that he could barely hold a drink bottle.
At the start of the second quarter, the Pistons made adjustments to their lineup—Ben Gordon replaced Miller, and Ben Wallace replaced Samuel Dalembert.
As the Heat players took the court, Pistons fans were surprised to see LeBron James sitting on the bench. In truth, Zhou Yi knew best that he had passed the ball more often in the first quarter due to intense defense from the opponent.
This season, Zhou Yi had faced countless top defensive players in the league, but none had put as much pressure on him as LeBron James.
The key wasn’t so much his defensive skills but rather his absolutely outstanding physical condition.
“Swish”—Chris Bosh hit a mid-range jump shot.
Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball past half-court, with Mario Chalmers guarding him. His successive changes of direction were all thwarted by Chalmers, but as he drove fast, Zhou Yi caught a glimpse of his opponent’s position with the corner of his eye. With a quick spin, he sent the ball to a 45-degree angle on the right wing.
Ben Gordon quickly caught the ball and jumped, but before he could shoot, it was snatched from his hands mid-air.
“Is it Dwyane Wade?”
Ben Gordon had handled that shot terribly. When Zhou Yi passed the ball, he didn’t move to catch it immediately but waited for it to come to him. As a result, Dwyane Wade, who was several steps away, had enough time to close in. Yet when shooting, he failed to notice another player beside him. His lack of proper ball protection, combined with Dwyane Wade’s lightning-fast speed, led to the disappointing outcome that left Pistons fans sighing in dismay.
Dwyane Wade scored with a dunk.

The entire arena fell silent. After the start of the second quarter, the Pistons’ offense suddenly stalled—five consecutive shots missed, even Zhou Yi’s open mid-range shot went awry. In contrast, the Heat kept pushing forward, causing the numbers on the scoreboard to keep rising.

“The Pistons’ offense is having problems. At this moment, Zhou Yi should take more shots. With LeBron James resting, the Heat players simply can’t stop him. As the team’s core player, he needs to step up in times like these,” Teacher Xu exclaimed in front of the TV.

“32:25.” Looking at the bright red numbers on the scoreboard, Zhou Yi remained exceptionally calm. Seeing the trust in his coach’s eyes and the expectant looks from his teammates, he knew what he had to do.

Mario Chalmers, who was guarding him closely, seemed to sense Zhou Yi’s change. He glanced at him doubtfully. Beads of sweat glistened on his handsome face under the lights. The basketball bouncing constantly to Zhou Yi’s right seemed to remind him of something.

A shadow flashed past Mario Chalmers. By the time he turned to look, Zhou Yi had already escaped and quickly moved toward the Heat’s interior players.

Ben Gordon seemed to understand Zhou Yi’s intentions. He didn’t hold onto the ball long and passed it right away.

Seeing the direction the ball was going, Mario Chalmers also realized what was happening. But by then, Zhou Yi was already near the free-throw line. He knew he had made a serious mistake by letting Zhou Yi escape his defense so easily.

Swish. Past Greg Monroe’s body, Zhou Yi threw the ball straight into the basket. His exceptional touch allowed him to choose various shooting methods as he saw fit.

Bang. The O’Banion Pavilion finally stopped Dwyane Wade’s shot. With five shots in five attempts, Dwyane Wade had given the Pistons’ players a tough time.

But this time, due to Ben Gordon’s interference, Zhou Yi’s shot had a bit too much force. The ball hit the back of the rim and bounced high. The four interior players under the basket all showed their strong positioning skills but couldn’t jump up easily.

The moment the ball was shot, Dwyane Wade seemed to sense it wouldn’t go in. As soon as he landed, he rushed into the paint to help Chris Bosh block Zhou Yi’s path.

Chris Bosh leaped into the air as the basketball shot upward; it grew larger in his eyes, and it seemed he was about to catch it when a dark shadow flashed past him, and the basketball disappeared into thin air. As the person involved, he naturally couldn’t understand what had happened due to the special circumstances at the time, but over ten thousand Pistons fans were shocked by what had just occurred. The moment Dwyane Wade rushed to the basket, Zhou Yi seemed to sense his intentions and quickly rushed from beyond the three-point line into the paint. His speed was so fast that even “lightning” seemed inadequate to describe it; in the blink of an eye, Zhou Yi was already at the basket, though almost at the same time, Chris Bosh was already preparing to leap. Without hesitation, Zhou Yi leaped up quickly from outside the three-second zone. His astonishing jumping ability made him soar through the air like a rocket, passing swiftly in front of Chris Bosh. After landing, Zhou Yi didn’t pass the ball; instead, he tapped his right foot on the ground and rushed forward at full speed again. At this point, the Heat players were amazed by what had just happened, with only Big Z following closely behind him. But after running only halfway across the court, he had to give up— the stark difference in speed made Big Z feel like a clown, and this mindset caused him to slow down gradually. “Bang!” Zhou Yi completed the attack with a one-handed windmill dunk. Eric Spoelstra decisively called a timeout. He keenly noticed that after Zhou Yi’s astonishing performance, several players on the court became distracted—the loss of that ball had a significant impact on the team’s morale. The Pistons players surrounded Zhou Yi and led him to the bench, where he accepted praise from teammates and coaches. Yet inwardly, Zhou Yi smiled bitterly: “It may seem glorious on the surface, but my calves are still trembling nonstop.” After drinking a bottle of water and receiving massages from the staff, Zhou Yi finally felt a bit better. By then, John Kuester had also arranged the tactics, and McGrady returned to the court. In fact, John Kuester could see that Zhou Yi had struggled greatly just now. McGrady’s role wasn’t just in scoring consistently; the默契 he developed with Zhou Yi throughout the season was the greatest support for the team. The Heat’s lineup underwent significant changes: Mike Miller, Dwyane Wade, Juwan Howard, Big Z, and LeBron James.

A few players who had been on the bench earlier were less affected by Zhou Yi’s shot. Meanwhile, when LeBron James stepped off to rest, Dwyane Wade usually stepped up to become the team’s new leader, showing great mental strength. John Kueste sighed helplessly—the Heat’s lineup was simply too strong. Perhaps their current lineup wasn’t as aggressive as the starters, but they could quickly deploy a completely new lineup after a few players were affected by Zhou Yi. Few teams in the league could pull off such a move, and the opponent’s five players couldn’t be underestimated at all.

Chapter 471: The Eastern Conference Finals Against the Heat (Part 2)

After a fierce first half, the Pistons, led by McGrady, took a 51–46 lead over the Heat by 5 points. In the first half, McGrady scored 15 points alone, being the top scorer for the Pistons. On the Heat’s side, Dwyane Wade was the best performer, scoring 17 points.

Soon, the second half began. The Heat started off with an attack. But on their first attempt in the second half, they failed. LeBron James’s mid-range shot missed, and Zhou Yi grabbed the rebound. With the ball switched, the Pistons quickly passed the ball across half-court. With continuous dribbling sounds, Zhou Yi swiftly moved from the top of the key to the right, drawing the Heat’s defense there as well.

Grabbing the rebounding ball, Zhou Yi leaned forward rapidly and shot like an arrow toward the paint. His astonishing explosive power and sudden movement left LeBron James, who was guarding him, completely unprepared. The Heat players rushed over quickly, aware of the consequences of letting a player like Zhou Yi enter the paint. Avoiding Dwyane Wade’s attacking right hand, Zhou Yi found himself surrounded by two of the Heat’s fastest players. Under pressure from both sides, he seemed determined to fight to the end and jumped up despite being trapped.

Without giving Dwyane Wade time to think, he also leaped high, his pale hands waving in front of Zhou Yi’s eyes. With the ball held high, just as it seemed about to be shot, Zhou Yi gently twisted his right wrist, and the ball flew out in a diagonal streak of white light.

McGrady, who was outside the three-point line, caught the ball and lightly jumped up, adjusting it in mid-air before shooting it out, tracing a beautiful parabolic arc. Another uncontested three-pointer.

The Heat always showed patience in their attacks, with several clever pass-and-move plays that ended with the ball back in the hands of their interior players. Chris Bosh’s continuous feints finally disrupted Greg Monroe’s balance, allowing him to take a shot from a 45-degree angle on the right side as the opponent adjusted his stance.

The Pistons maintained a high level of defense throughout, forcing the Heat to shoot almost at the buzzer. Their switching defense was seamless and well-coordinated. Thanks to this, despite the Heat’s intense attacks in the third quarter, the Pistons not only held their ground but also widened the lead to 74–66—the largest margin of the game.

Apart from Dwyane Wade’s impressive scoring run in the second half of the first quarter, the Pistons also successfully defended against the Heat’s three stars. Chris Bosh was 3 of 10 from the field, LeBron James 2 of 9, and Dwyane Wade 7 of 14, including 4 of his first 5 attempts. It was this effective defense that allowed the Pistons to stay ahead. However, it also revealed another issue: the difference in quality between the two teams’ bench players. At that point, the Heat’s bench was 5 of 9 from three-point shots, with a dominant 33–21 scoring advantage.

John Kuester showed no signs of relief. During the first three quarters, several of the Heat’s starters got ample rest, while the Pistons’ frontcourt and backcourt players fought hard throughout. Zhou Yi managed to get a few minutes off, but Greg Monroe was a true workhorse, the only player on either side who didn’t take a break.

Greg Monroe was the backbone of the Pistons’ interior offense and rebounding, but he faced some of the league’s best interior players. Against Chris Bosh’s solid playing style, he had no advantage at all. If Monroe’s stamina failed, the Pistons would face unprecedented difficulties. With players like the Heat, you can’t give them even a moment’s respite—once pressure is eased slightly, they can unleash terrifying strength.

“Our outside players — I could hardly see any action from them throughout the entire third quarter; all I saw were beautiful arcs from the opponent.” To relieve pressure on the interior players, they had to rely more on the outside. Zhou Yi remained energetic even during breaks in the middle of the court. McGrady and Ben Gordon took turns playing, giving him plenty of rest time.

McGrady passed the ball across half the court, delivering it accurately to Zhou Yi in the middle. At that moment, the Heat players clearly hadn’t focused on the game yet; only two players remained on the court — Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.

A loud thud of the ball waking the Heat players up. By the time they reacted, Zhou Yi had already rushed into the free-throw line, with only Dwyane Wade chasing after him.

With his toes lightly touching the ground, as if wings had grown on his sides, Zhou Yi leaped lightly outside the three-second zone. His movement was effortless; with a slight shake of his wrist, the basketball traced a small parabola before soaring into the basket.

76:66 — the score gap between the two teams widened to double digits for the first time.

Eric Spolstra frowned. The Pistons were indeed a tough opponent. Yet he was also helpless — their three stars were tightly defended by the Pistons, preventing them from performing at their best. Moreover, that Chinese kid was impossible to defend against, even if ‘The King’ James tried to guard him.

In the end, the Pistons used Zhou Yi as their sharp weapon to tear through the Heat’s defense. Without a solid defense, the Heat quickly allowed the Pistons to take complete control of the game.

109:91 — that was the final score of the match.

Yes, the Heat lost, and it was a crushing defeat.

No one expected them to lose so badly.

Three days later, the second game of the Eastern Conference finals between the Heat and Pistons took place. But the Pistons still couldn’t defend against Zhou Yi effectively, and with their other players also performing exceptionally well, the Heat lost again, 88:96.

After losing two games in a row, the Heat was in crisis.

In the third game, with the help of Chris Bosh, the Heat finally defeated the Pistons. In that match, Zhou Yi scored 33 points on 13 attempts out of 21, but the team lost due to their overall poor performance.

In the fourth game, the Pistons adjusted their strategy by starting Taylor Hansbrough and Greg Monroe together. This change proved highly effective—as the two power forwards scored 38 points and grabbed 28 rebounds, adding 7 blocks to dominate the paint. As a result, the Heat lost another game.

At 1:3 down, the Heat were on the brink. Last season, they were eliminated by the Pistons 4:1 in the Eastern Conference finals. Could they suffer the same fate this season?

The Heat’s roster this season isn’t worse than last season’s—it’s actually better—but they’re still facing this outcome, leaving everyone puzzled.

Soon, the fifth game between the Heat and Pistons would begin. What made things worse for the Heat was that it would be played at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Pistons’ home court.

…

With 1:18 left in the game, Dwyane Wade scored five points in just half a minute, reigniting suspense. The score was tied at 110:106. The Pistons had one more 20-second timeout left, but John Kuester surely wouldn’t foolishly call a timeout for the Heat.

The Heat’s strong comeback effort heightened the tension, especially after Wade returned to the court, allowing them to overwhelm the Pistons.

Zhou Yi drove to the basket, drew double coverage, and passed the ball to McGrady. McGrady took a mid-range jump shot—and swish—the ball went in.

The Pistons regained control, with their new trio proving their value as key players at critical moments. The Heat tried to attack, but the Pistons enforced a three-second violation, giving them a free throw.

With Mike Bibby’s free throw successful, suspense returned to the game. Attention shifted away from predicting the winner and focused entirely on the match.

Zhou Yi was in a complex mood. At such a crucial moment, his distraction had pushed the team to the brink. John Kuester’s earlier mistake was also partly his fault—he surely didn’t expect his most trusted player to be the one who put the team in danger.

Watching the excited expressions on the Heat players’ faces, Zhou Yi felt an unprecedented fighting spirit surge within him. He was known for his calmness and composure throughout the game, but now an urge to fight back took hold of him—he would get back up wherever he fell and fix his own mistakes.

John Kuester looked anxious, completely devoid of his usual calmness. He had been quite proud after that timeout, as it had helped the team turn things 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 after a bounce pass. Howard pushed Samuel Dalembert aside and then shot with a hook shot. The ball bounced around before finally going into the basket.

112:109—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 defensive effort throughout the game. In such desperate situations, the trailing team usually resorts to two tactics: either a man-to-man defensive pressure to force mistakes from the opponent or fouling. But with the score still close and time remaining, fouling wasn’t necessary. 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 man’s pride.

After facing this young player twice, the deepest impression Mike Bibby had of Zhou Yi was his resilience. In terms of raw speed, Zhou Yi might be slightly inferior to Mike Bibby at his peak, but in these two direct confrontations, their performances were evenly matched. At critical moments, Zhou Yi always found a way to escape tough situations.

As soon as Zhou Yi broke past the half-court line, Mike Bibby didn’t give him any room to recover and pressed closely. Once Zhou Yi got fully into motion, even Mike Bibby at his best might not be able to stop him, let alone Mike Bibby, who was now far from his prime.

Eric Spolstra was already restless, pacing anxiously on the sidelines. Seeing Zhou Yi’s expression, he urged more defense. The Heat had already switched to zone defense. Unlike other teams, the Pistons’ five players all had strong scoring abilities, and none of them could be ignored. 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, every fan in the arena and those 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. The Heat had no room to retreat; if they failed to defend this shot, winning the game would become purely theoretical. As the two players neared each other, Zhou Yi’s movements remained unchanged—his speed consistent, with subtle adjustments in his hand movements. He caught the bouncing ball with his left hand and swiftly shot it toward Mike Bibby’s left side. The ball moved at high speed, causing Mike Bibby to tense up and slightly shift his weight backward, adapting to Zhou Yi’s changing movements. Just as the ball was released, Zhou Yi made a surprising move—spinning 360 degrees on the spot, his right hand bending slightly as he appeared on Mike Bibby’s right side. Realizing his mistake, Mike Bibby tried to cover immediately, but Andre Iguodala had already cleverly moved to the outside, setting up a simple screen with Zhou Yi. As Zhou Yi was about to shoot inside the three-point line, LeBron James rushed out quickly. Having anticipated Iguodala’s move, he followed closely and managed to block Zhou Yi in time. Zhou Yi wasn’t the type to rely on solo efforts. After his shot was blocked by LeBron James, the ball hit the floor to the right of LeBron and quickly bounced into the hands of Samuel Dalembert inside. By then, LeBron was defending him, leaving Iguodala free.

Andrea Iguodala rushed into the Heat’s basket area, received a pass from Zhou Yi, and scoring seemed inevitable. Sure enough, Iguodala easily dunked the ball, helping the Pistons gain another 2 points. With 37.2 seconds left, Mike Bibby drove to the basket, passed past Zhou Yi, drew Greg Monroe’s defense, and then made a bounce pass to Eric Dampier. By this point, Greg Monroe had moved out to guard Mike Bibby, while Samuel Dalembert was held back by Jwan Howard. Eric Dampier stepped forward slightly—scoring seemed certain—as a faint smile appeared on his lips. It was a rare opportunity for him to score such a crucial shot in an important game for his team. Yet the Pistons players didn’t give up. Several of them rushed to the basket; with the game already decided, they were determined to make one last effort. Eric Dampier jumped very high, bending his waist slightly at the peak of his jump, his body like a taut bowstring—as his thunderous 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 him. 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 swiftly rushed from beyond the three-point line straight into the basket area. By the time Eric Dampier leaped, that figure was already inside the free-throw line—there was no time to hesitate. He launched himself into the air like a projectile. Watching the ball in Eric Dampier’s hands rise higher and higher, Zhou Yi’s determination grew stronger. But his stamina was also greatly depleted. As he soared through the air, exhaustion spread throughout his body, making it seem like he might fall straight down at any moment. Yet his perseverance kept him gritting his teeth. He didn’t have the energy to pay attention to anything else; his eyes seemed fixed only on the basketball. Zhou Yi roared and stretched out his right hand forward. Finally, his fingers touched the ball. Though it was just his fingers, they exerted unimaginable force. Eric Dampier’s dunk was blocked right at the front of the backboard—the ball bounced out instantly and was grabbed by Greg Monroe.

With Zhou Yi’s unimaginable block in the final minute, the Pistons’ morale soared. In the ensuing offensive wave, Andre Iguodala and Tracy McGrady coordinated perfectly, with Iguodala hitting a three-point shot. Although the Heat used fouling tactics against the Pistons and also scored a three-point shot, their fierce comeback efforts were extinguished by the strong Pistons. With the final buzzer sounding, the game came to an end. The Detroit Pistons narrowly defeated the visiting Miami Heat 4:1, eliminating them and advancing to the 2011-2012 finals once again. Just like last season, they eliminated the Heat 4:1, though this time they knew their opponents in the finals would no longer be the Lakers—because the Lakers had already been eliminated by the Thunder in the Western Conference semis. Now, the Thunder were leading the Spurs 3:2 in the Western Conference finals. Chapter 472: Conclusion? Or a New Beginning! After defeating the Heat, the Pistons waited to see whether the Spurs or Thunder would win. The Pistons didn’t want to face the Spurs, as they were also in excellent form this season; despite Tim Duncan’s age, he still averaged 16.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He was also the most reliable player for the Spurs, and with the breakout performance of “the French Speedster,” the Spurs once again became strong contenders for the championship. But based on the current situation, they were in trouble, as they were already 2:3 behind the Thunder. The day after the Pistons’ game against the Heat, the Thunder and Spurs began Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. After four quarters, unfortunately, the Spurs were eliminated by the Thunder. The Thunder’s two stars combined for 71 points, becoming the key factor in their victory. Thus, the Pistons’ opponent became the Thunder. After the Thunder advanced to the finals, the league quickly scheduled the finals matchup between the two teams. The first game between them was on May 24th. … In the first five games of the finals, the Pistons and Thunder were tied 3:2, with the Pistons ahead by one game. They only needed to win one more game to claim the 2011-2012 championship and defend their title. The sixth game was held at the Thunder’s home court.

“The sixth game of the finals is about to begin. The starting lineups for both teams have been shown on the big screen. Let’s take a look at their starting lineups! Away team: Center Tyler Hansbrough, Power Forward Greg Monroe, Shooting Forward Andre Iguodala, Point Guard Tracy McGrady, Guard Zhou Yi; Home team: Center Nazr Mohammed, Power Forward Serge Ibaka, Shooting Forward Kevin Durant, Point Guard Sapuškaš Vlado, Guard Russell Westbrook,” introduced the commentator wearing glasses from the commentary booth to the audience.

“Now, the starting players for both teams have entered the court,” said another commentator.

Tyler Hansbrough and Nazr Mohammed stood in the center circle, ready to start the tip-off. As the referee lightly tossed the ball into the air, the whistle for the sixth game of the Pistons vs. Thunder finals blew.

Kevin Durant grabbed the ball, giving the Thunder the first chance to score.

Kevin Durant dribbled across half-court and passed the ball to Russell Westbrook to orchestrate the offense. With sharp eyes scanning the court, Russell Westbrook immediately launched an attack. Sapuškaš Vlado and Russell Westbrook executed a pick-and-roll, with the latter pulling to the other side for a three-point shot that went in, giving the Thunder an early 3-point lead.

Zhou Yi controlled the ball, used a fake move to deceive Russell Westbrook, and took a jump shot from the free-throw line, which also scored.

However, the Thunder’s star Kevin Durant quickly responded with a three-point shot.

McGrady received a pass from Zhou Yi at the baseline, drove past defenders, and passed the ball to Greg Monroe. Greg Monroe raised the ball above his head to confuse his opponent before dunking it.

Russell Westbrook passed the ball back to Kevin Durant, while Andre Iguodala tried to close in to stop his progress. Kevin Durant quickly changed direction to evade Iguodala’s defense and scored by driving to the basket.

The Thunder hit three shots in a row at the start of the game, taking a 4-point lead over the Pistons.

Greg Monroe took a mid-range jump shot after receiving a pass from Zhou Yi, but missed. Kevin Durant grabbed the rebound and quickly passed it to Russell Westbrook.

Russell Westbrook was like a bolt of lightning, instantly reaching the Pistons’ interior. Zhou Yi struggled hard to keep up with his speed. Seeing Westbrook about to drive to the basket, Zhou Yi reflexively jumped to try and block him. But Westbrook twisted his body, somehow hovering in the air for a moment before shooting, and the ball reluctantly fell through the net.

Zhou Yi looked serious, panting heavily as he stared at the court. So far, the Thunder had made four shots without missing a single one—their offensive efficiency was astonishing.

Zhou Yi drove with the ball, using Greg Monroe as a screen to get close to the basket. But Nazr Mohammed was already in position, waiting for Zhou Yi to drive inside. With a quick move, Zhou Yi passed the ball to Greg Monroe, who rushed into the paint. Due to losing his balance, Monroe collided heavily with Serge Ibaka, knocking him to the ground. The referee immediately blew the whistle—it was an offensive foul, and the Thunder gained possession.

Russell Westbrook kept the ball while directing his teammates to spread out. Once they were in position, he accelerated and drove past Zhou Yi.

Although Zhou Yi was fast, Westbrook wasn’t slow either. Gritting his teeth, he followed closely behind Westbrook, but inwardly he thought, “This Russell Westbrook is really too fast—it’s hard to defend him.”

Fortunately, Zhou Yi was still able to keep up with Westbrook; otherwise, he would have been completely overwhelmed. Though Westbrook appeared very thin, he was covered in muscles, extremely strong, and full of explosive power.

Seeing no chance, Westbrook passed the ball to Sapuo Savalossa, who drove a bit, took a jump shot—the ball hit the back of the rim and bounced out. Tyler Hansbrough grabbed the rebound among the crowd and passed it to Zhou Yi.

The Pistons’ offense still wasn’t working. Kevin Durant grabbed a defensive rebound and passed it to Russell Westbrook. After receiving the ball, Westbrook dribbled a bit before making a clever pass to Serge Ibaka. Ibaka faced Greg Monroe alone, feinted, and although Monroe wasn’t fooled, Ibaka feinted again, causing Monroe to jump. Delighted, Ibaka drove to the basket against Monroe. Though the layup didn’t go in, it resulted in a defensive foul on Monroe, achieving the same effect.

Seeing Monroe commit two fouls in less than 4 minutes, John Kuester immediately substituted him out with Samuel Dalembert. Ibaka took to the free-throw line, but strangely missed both shots. Dalembert grabbed a rebound and passed it to Zhou Yi. Ibaka was frustrated, while Monroe looked pleased, muttering to himself, “That foul was worth it. But I can’t get fooled again.”

Once Dalembert entered the game, he immediately formed a double tower with Tyler Hansbrough, putting immense pressure on the Thunder’s interior. Thunder head coach Scott Brooks was at a loss for words.

The Thunder’s perimeter players, including Zhou Yi, felt relieved after Dalembert joined the game. Big Ben and Samuel Dalembert dominated the opponent’s interior, scoring heavily. Nazr Mohammed and Serge Ibaka couldn’t contain them, and soon the Pistons took the lead with the help of Dalembert and his partner.

However, the Thunder quickly launched a fierce counterattack, led by their star, Kevin Durant. Andre Iguodala wasn’t in good defensive form today and couldn’t stop Durant’s performance. With his many offensive options—3-pointers, mid-range shots, drives, and dunks—Iguodala couldn’t contain him. Under his leadership, the Thunder scored a 11-2 run, instantly regaining the lead.

Seeing the opponent getting better, John Kuester called a timeout with 4 minutes left in the first quarter to make adjustments.

The score was now 24-15, with the Pistons trailing by 9 points.

With 3.9 seconds left in the first quarter, Ben Gordon received the pass at the baseline and quickly rushed toward the Thunder’s half-court. Two steps away from the three-point line, he shot the ball. With a swish, the ball went in. Both teams had high shooting percentages in the first quarter, resulting in a high score of 34:28, with the Pistons leading by 6 points. Will Bynum returned to the bench, took the towel and drink handed to him by Zhou Yi, smiled slightly, unscrewed the bottle cap, and drank greedily. After finishing, Will Bynum wiped the sweat from his face and sat down next to Zhou Yi.