Chapter 124
In the fourth quarter, key Bucks players like Brandon Jennings indeed did not appear on the court, indicating that the Bucks had truly given up. Without stars such as Brandon Jennings, the Bucks clearly lost their last chance to resist. In the fourth quarter, the Pistons took control of the game, scoring 15 points in a row to build a 37-point lead. However, there was bad news for the Pistons as well—during a rebound attempt in the first half of the fourth quarter, their main reserve player, Charlie Villanueva, accidentally stepped on an opponent’s foot and sprained it. After an on-site medical assessment, it was thankfully not serious, but he would definitely miss the next game. With the outcome already decided, the Pistons ultimately defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112–86 away from home, extending their winning streak to nine games and raising their record to 45–5.
Chapter 315: First Match Against the Spurs – Ginóbili’s Arrogance
Three days after the game against the Bucks, the Pistons hosted the San Antonio Spurs at home. Although the Spurs were older on average, they had shown a renewed vigor this season, playing at a high level. They now ranked second in the Western Conference and fourth overall in the league, behind the surging Pistons, defending champions the Lakers, and the Eastern Conference powerhouse the Celtics. On February 9th at 7 p.m. local time, this highly anticipated match kicked off. The Spurs’ starting lineup consisted of center DeJuan Blair, power forward Tim Duncan, small forward Richard Jefferson, shooting guard Manu Ginóbili, and point guard Tony Parker. The Pistons’ starting lineup included center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi. Inexperienced Greg Monroe was no match for the seasoned Duncan in rebounding, and the ball quickly went to Tony Parker. The Spurs’ playstyle was envied by other teams, and their approach to developing players was exceptional. The two key guards on the team, Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili, were both drafted low, yet their skills placed them firmly in the top tier of the league. Tony Parker’s speed was among the top five in the league. Although Zhou Yi had not faced him yet, he was well aware of Parker’s reputation.
In terms of speed, Zhou Yi considers himself no less than him, but after years of experience in the league, Parker has a clear advantage. Tony Parker’s shooting accuracy is quite good among point guards in the league. However, his three-point shooting is weaker—his three-point shooting percentage last season was only 29.4%, far lower than Zhou Yi’s 52.1% this season. In his pre-game plans, John Kuester emphasized defending against the Spurs’ two guards. Tim Duncan is naturally the leader of the team, but at 34, he is no longer as strong as before. This season, his average stats have dropped significantly—he now scores only 15.1 points and grabs 8.9 rebounds; he is no longer the dominant force on the court. Yet, despite his reduced stats, his intimidating presence remains as strong as ever. His performance this season has been relatively consistent, with averages of 15+9 points per game, though he rarely shows exceptional brilliance. For the Spurs to win games, their backcourt duo often plays a decisive role. Tony Parker’s speed and breakthrough ability intimidate any team in the league, and his nearly 50% shooting accuracy makes him a reliable scoring option. Manu Ginóbili is renowned in the league for his breakthrough skills. Once he gets going, his powerful momentum gives any center a hard time, and his unique shooting form, along with some unexpected moves, often allows him to score. He has top-tier breakthrough skills—although his first step isn’t extremely fast, he can find good entry routes through varied rhythms and teammate screens. His layup skills are unmatched in the league, often resulting in astonishing layup performances. He also has solid vision and passing abilities during breaks, often organizing the team’s offense after Tim Duncan leaves the court. His three-point shooting has improved steadily since joining the NBA, reaching 37.6% in regular season games and 39.2% in playoff games during the 04-05 season.
Compared to his superhuman breakthroughs, his mid-range shooting ability has been criticized; he lacks the ability to catch and shoot, and it’s rare to see him take mid-range shots after breaking through with the ball. He performs excellently in team attacks, with a good overall vision and judgment of the ball, often managing to secure rebounds in the paint despite the physical pressure, playing strategically rather than randomly, knowing his role and position, and effectively assisting TD with low-post attacks and supporting the outside shooters. His play is entertaining, and he is one of the most accurate free throw shooters on the Spurs, with excellent mental strength.
Tony Parker quickly drove the ball past the half-court line, with Zhou Yi already waiting at the three-point line. The only player on the team who could keep up with his speed was Zhou Yi.
Tony Parker didn’t hold onto the ball for long; right after crossing half-court, he passed it to Manu Ginóbili. Upon receiving the ball, Ginóbili immediately shot, and the ball traced a beautiful arc before swishing through the net.
McGrady shook his head in frustration, then stood beside Zhou Yi, waiting for Greg Monroe to serve the ball.
Zhou Yi and Parker were assigned to defend each other. Facing one of the league’s fastest players, Zhou Yi was naturally highly alert and slowly drove the ball past half-court.
As the two got closer, Parker’s expression grew increasingly serious.
Although he had never played against the young man before, watching video footage of Zhou Yi’s sharp breakthroughs had left a deep impression on him. Moreover, during pre-game analysis of the opponent’s tactics, Popovich emphasized that although Greg Monroe was rising in prominence, he was still somewhat inexperienced and not fully skilled, so even though he was facing an aging Duncan, he wouldn’t gain much advantage.
Now, the biggest threat to the team was Zhou Yi. Throughout most of the season, he had already become the focus of defense for various teams. To deal with Zhou Yi, Tony Parker was naturally the first choice.
Changes of direction, several feints—none of them fooled Tony Parker.
After several failed attempts to break through, Zhou Yi showed no sign of frustration; instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
While Parker couldn’t read his expression, Zhou Yi suddenly shrugged his right shoulder backward, turning 180 degrees with the ball, while shifting his center of gravity slightly backward, pressing his entire body tightly against Parker.
Parker’s reaction was swift; after understanding Zhou Yi’s intentions, his mind raced. Yet his response was still a fraction too slow. The moment he tried to pull back, Zhou Yi had already moved to his right, using his right hand holding the ball to push slightly backward, his elbow hitting Parker’s waist just enough to stop his movement. It happened so fast that not only could the referee not detect his subtle move, but Parker himself suspected it was an unintentional action.
The whole thing was complicated but completed in an instant. The Spurs players didn’t have time to react and could only watch helplessly as Zhou Yi hit a jump shot.
Being breached like this by Zhou Yi obviously upset Parker, but it didn’t affect his judgment of the game. Halfway through, he quickly passed the ball to Ginóbili on the right wing.
The Pistons player closest to Ginóbili was McGrady, but instead of shooting a jump shot, Ginóbili drove full speed, flashing past McGrady like lightning and charging toward the Pistons’ interior players.
This renowned breakthrough specialist in the league loved to attack the paint. Greg Monroe had already been drawn away by Tim Duncan, leaving only “Big Ben” Ben Wallace in the interior.
Ben Wallace’s stern expression made many players feel uneasy when facing him, but Ginóbili clearly didn’t care. He would dare to charge at Ben Wallace, let alone Dwight Howard. Besides, the once-dominant Defensive Player of the Year was now older and only retained some of his intimidating presence.
Using momentum, Ginóbili quickly rose upward, ignoring everything below. All he saw now was the basket, as he displayed his prowess in mid-air.
Ben Wallace’s eyes shone intensely as he shifted his weight slightly, focusing entirely on Ginóbili. Since the opponent was ignoring his defense so much, it was time to give him a proper lesson.
A collision between fire and earth was about to unfold at the Auburn Hills Palace. Under these circumstances, in a direct confrontation, Ginóbili was at a disadvantage. Ben Wallace, who was ready in the paint, had superior physical strength. Even Duncan couldn’t guarantee that Ginóbili could gain an advantage over him in a one-on-one fight.
At the moment their bodies were about to collide, Ginóbili suddenly twisted his body like a spiral, turning his back to Ben Wallace. His move was so sudden that Ben Wallace was clearly unprepared. But it wasn’t surprising—turning in mid-air under such circumstances isn’t something ordinary players can do. Ben Wallace’s massive hand slammed into Ginóbili’s left shoulder, causing him to tremble violently. Yet before he could be pushed to the ground, Ginóbili used his right hand to lightly lift the ball, with a move that was incredibly effortless. “Swish”—there was no greater blow to Ben Wallace than this. Despite his best efforts to block, the ball still went in, and he even gave the opponent a chance for a three-point shot. John Kuester could only shake his head in frustration. Ben Wallace’s defense had been excellent just moments earlier, but Ginóbili’s bizarre scoring turned all his efforts to nothing. In the Spurs, Ginóbili’s performance wasn’t always consistent, but he could always score incredible goals at critical moments. His unusual playing style always gave his defenders a hard time. In fact, if it were Ben Wallace at his peak, blocking this shot shouldn’t have been difficult, but now that he’s nearly 37 years old… “Swish”—Ginóbili truly enjoyed this style of play, especially when facing Ben Wallace, who had won four Defensive Player of the Year awards. This sense of achievement grew even stronger. Seeing Ginóbili’s arrogant demeanor, all the Pistons players were stirred. Chapter 316: The Pistons’ Counterattack. Greg Monroe’s powerful dunk sent even the seasoned Tim Duncan flying out of the three-second zone. This dunk was Greg Monroe’s way of repaying Ginóbili for what he had done, and it was exactly what all the Pistons players and fans wanted to see. Duncan’s signature dunk. Zhou Yi drove to the baseline, received a pass from the inside, and hit a three-point shot. Ginóbili’s layup caused Ben Wallace to foul, earning him two free throws, one of which he made. Greg Monroe’s jumping ability allowed him to grab the defensive rebound before Tim Duncan, then he passed it to McGrady. By now, Zhou Yi had already rushed down the sideline toward the opponent’s half, with no one around him. Seeing this, McGrady was delighted and quickly passed the ball diagonally.
Unfortunately, he only paid attention to Zhou Yi and didn’t really notice what was happening around him. The moment the ball was released, a dark shadow whizzed past his eyes like a whirlwind. Richard Jefferson touched the ball with his fingertips, changing its trajectory, but at his speed, he naturally couldn’t keep up with the fast-moving basketball and could only watch it fly over the sideline. Still, it disrupted the Pistons’ fast-break opportunity. Once the ball was in play, McGrady took control. As time passed second by second, McGrady still passed the ball to Greg Monroe. Behind Zhou Yi, Tony Parker kept chasing him closely. During the free throw at the sideline, McGrady tried several times to pass the ball to him, but Parker kept interfering. Zhou Yi darted straight into the paint from the baseline. In the narrow space at the baseline, Tony Parker had no choice but to stop—after all, his size made it impossible for him to squeeze through there, and fortunately, he didn’t have the ball. Thanks to the teamwork developed over most of the season, when Zhou Yi went under the basket, Greg Monroe used his body as a shield to pass the ball to him, then quickly turned around to block Duncan’s path. Without hesitation, Zhou Yi leaped lightly against Duncan’s back, tilting his upper body slightly in the air and shaking his wrist gently as the ball went through the hoop. The crisp sound of the net made Duncan turn around in confusion—he had no idea when the ball ended up in Zhou Yi’s hands. “So fast,” Zhou Yi thought as a shadow flashed before his eyes—Parker already appeared on his right side with the ball. He hadn’t realized his momentary carelessness had allowed Parker to bypass him so easily. Annoyed, Zhou Yi glanced behind him. If it weren’t for Ginóbili blocking him, he wouldn’t have let Parker break through so easily. Parker made a lightning-fast breakthrough, getting ahead of Greg Monroe and driving into the paint to force a layup against Ben Wallace. “Bang, bang, bang, swish”—the ball bounced lightly off the rim a few times before finally falling through. The referee’s whistle sounded immediately, calling a foul on Ben Wallace, giving the opponent a 2+1 chance. Ben Wallace was furious—less than five minutes into the game, he had already received two fouls and was constantly losing inside to the opponent. Competing with the Spurs in fast breaks wasn’t a good strategy at all. After catching the ball, Zhou Yi didn’t rush to break through to the other half of the court but let his teammates flood into the opponent’s defense.
In terms of scoring ability, the Spurs’ starting lineup is by no means a match for the Pistons’. Among the Pistons’ five starters, aside from Ben Wallace, the other four can score over 15 points per game on average. Especially at the shooting guard position, 34-year-old Ginóbili, though still highly offensive, has obvious defensive weaknesses and clearly can’t keep up with McGrady. Just half a court away, Ginóbili has already been pulled several steps back by McGrady. Zhou Yi’s pass quickly reached McGrady at zero angle at the baseline. Ginóbili turned to try to intercept the ball, but reality cruelly mocked his foolish move. Zhou Yi is known for his fast, accurate, and precise passes; whenever his teammates are in a favorable position, his passes always reach them first. His exceptional ability to penetrate is a key feature of his passing—seemingly always able to find weak points in the defense. His consistent passing is what allows him to stand out; as long as his teammates don’t make any extraordinary moves, his passes are rarely mistaken. McGrady’s shooting form is very smooth; he seems to have a natural talent for shooting, and one can see the beauty in his shots. With a “swish,” from zero angle at the baseline on the other side, McGrady’s jump shot went in. In the first quarter, the Spurs abandoned their usual steady approach and engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the Pistons. The Spurs are the only team in the league capable of adapting to two different styles of play. In pick-and-roll situations, Duncan is naturally the offensive core, with the entire team playing around him, leaving little room for mistakes. In fast breaks, the Spurs also have their own system. Their interior players aren’t as mobile as the Suns’ interior duo, but when it comes to the best backcourt combination in the league, no team matches the Spurs’ speed. French speedster Parker, needless to say, ranks among the top five in speed in the league. Argentine magician Ginóbili’s speed is also among the best in the league—some experts even estimate he’s in the top 15. However, this assessment lacks solid evidence; they’re far from having the absolute speed of Iverson at his peak, capable of overcoming anything. Such evaluations can only be roughly determined through experts’ judgments and comparisons with opponents on the court.