Chapter 146

Section 3: The Thunder’s Pursuit Continues The Thunder kept pushing in the second half of the third quarter. Although Greg Monroe and Zhou Yi’s inside and outside attacks showed the Thunder’s stability, the team’s two stars, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, scored 7 points in a row, becoming the driving force behind their pursuit. Their 7-point run briefly reduced the deficit to just 8 points. Later, Zhou Yi hit another three-pointer, allowing the Pistons to widen the lead back to double digits, followed immediately by a three-pointer from Russell Westbrook. Just as the Thunder saw hope of catching up, James Posey, who came in as a substitute, became a game-changer for the Pistons. He scored 9 points on his own, giving the Pistons a 16-point lead at one point. With 3:23 left in the third quarter, Thunder head coach Scott Brooks called a 100-second timeout. The Pistons still led 95–82, by 13 points. Both teams played aggressively with little defense. With 2:53 left in the quarter, the Pistons had already scored 99 points. After the timeout, play resumed. The Thunder’s situation didn’t improve much after the break; they continued to be dominated by the Pistons. In a critical moment, Kevin Durant, the Thunder’s star player, played a vital role. He scored frequently from outside, adding 9 points in less than two minutes, while the Pistons’ offensive firepower weakened during that time. Thanks to Durant’s outstanding performance, the Thunder gradually turned the game around. By the end of the third quarter, they had narrowed the deficit to 7 points, 94–101. Entering the fourth quarter, the competition between the two teams intensified. The game became tied, with the score remaining close. The home-court Thunder were determined not to give up easily and launched a fierce counterattack in the final quarter. Bench players James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined to score 7 points, helping the team quickly close the gap. However, Zhou Yi took control of the game from then on. He led the Pistons to widen the lead again, and this time they didn’t give the Thunder any chance. In the end, the Pistons defeated the Thunder 124–115 away from home. Chapter 352: Back-to-Back Away Games Against the Nuggets

At 10 a.m. on March 13th, Beijing time, the Pistons traveled to Denver to face the Nuggets. This game was the second encounter between the two teams this season; in their previous meeting, the Pistons had won, though not easily. Now, the Nuggets were determined to turn the tables.

Greg Monroe and Kenyon Martin jumped for the ball, and the Pistons secured possession first.

Zhou Yi tapped the basketball lightly, took a deep breath, then quickly drove forward with the ball. Just past the midcourt line, JR. Smith appeared in front of him. The Pistons’ current form gave the Nuggets a significant advantage, but they didn’t slack off at all. Instead, they focused more on defending Zhou Yi and McGrady.

During the pre-game strategy session, George Karl emphasized just one thing: no matter what happened, as long as the ball was in Zhou Yi or McGrady’s hands, the players on the court had to rush at them without hesitation. They were willing to create space for other players rather than let those two get a moment’s respite.

Zhou Yi didn’t hold onto the ball for long and quickly passed it away. JR. Smith clearly wasn’t expecting Zhou Yi to pass so easily. In his mind, given the Pistons’ current situation, Zhou Yi would try to keep the ball under control to avoid unnecessary mistakes. While he was distracted, Zhou Yi effortlessly slipped past him, and the ball quickly returned to his hands.

The moment he got the ball, Zhou Yi’s speed surged instantly, shifting from stillness to motion in a surprisingly abrupt way.

Chansi Billups wasn’t prepared for Zhou Yi to start moving so fast. He quickly took a defensive stance inside the three-point line, keeping a tight eye on Zhou Yi without daring to relax even for a second.

With a “whoosh,” Zhou Yi’s rapidly moving body suddenly stopped just outside the three-point line. His toes scraped loudly against the floor as he immediately jumped, raised the ball high, and gently pushed it, sending it flying through his fingers.

“Swish”—the ball landed in the net. After catching it, Zhou Yi clenched his right fist and slammed it against his chest, letting out a low growl.

Kasai Billups shook his head. Zhou Yi was truly a monster—his physical condition was astonishingly good. In just a few steps, he could go from stillness to motion and then instantly return to stillness. What seemed simple involved incredible explosive power and excellent body coordination; without these, it would be impossible to maintain balance. Naturally, Kasai Billups couldn’t achieve all of this in such a short distance.

“Great!” In the studio of the TV station, Yu Jia and Coach Zhang couldn’t help but cheer.

One had to admire the Nuggets’ offensive speed. After Zhou Yi scored, the ball was quickly passed on. Aside from Kasai Billups, who was left holding the ball behind, the other players surged forward like a tide into the Pistons’ half of the court. Their speed left the Pistons’ defenders struggling. Before Kasai Billups even reached the other side of the court, the ball was already passed on.

With his excellent overall vision, he immediately spotted players without defense around Kenyon Martin and passed the ball to him right away. Kenyon Martin took two quick steps and threw the ball high over Greg Monroe’s defense. The ball just barely passed through Monroe’s raised right hand and easily went into the net.

Almost in the same spot and in the same way, Zhou Yi replicated that goal almost perfectly. Kasai Billups’ expression turned grim. In basketball, completely stopping an opponent from scoring is only theoretically possible; in practice, it’s extremely difficult. But in just one minute, Zhou Yi scored twice in the same way right in front of him. What made it even more humiliating for Kasai Billups was that he didn’t react at all during both attempts—this was what hurt him the most.

Kasai Billups dribbled near the top of the key, glanced around the court, then made a beautiful bounce pass that landed in Cameron Anthony’s hands.

Cameron Anthony took on Andre Iguodala alone, spun around, and hit a backspin jump shot.

For the Pistons, McGrady tried a three-pointer from 45 degrees outside the right-wing three-point line, but it missed. Kasai Billups secured the defensive rebound.

It was Kasai Billups again—he passed the ball at the baseline, assisting JR Smith at the top of the key, who scored from beyond the three-point line.

Under Kasai Billups’ guidance, the Nuggets had a 7-2 run, with three of their players scoring in succession.

In the first quarter, both teams seemed focused on offense, but obviously, the Nuggets’ numerous scorers had more options in terms of offensive strategies.

Cameron Anthony, JR Smith, Chase Budinger, and Nene can all score, and they all have solid scoring abilities. On the Pistons’ side, the offense is quite monotonous; aside from Greg Monroe scoring inside, only Zhou Yi has opportunities for outside shots, but with the Nuggets’ double-team defense, Zhou Yi gets very few chances to shoot. After hitting two three-pointers in a row at the start of the game, he only managed to score two points via free throws in the next five minutes, with his other two attempts missing. The other players did have quite a few opportunities, but they seemed hesitant when shooting. After receiving the ball, they would overthink things, unsure whether to shoot or pass it. They were reluctant to waste such good opportunities, but with the Nuggets’ fast pace, they had very little time to shoot. Any moment of hesitation meant that defenders would immediately appear in front of them, and the few chances Zhou Yi managed to create were wasted. John Kuester had several strands of hair pulled out from scratching his head. From the start of the game, he hardly sat down at all, constantly pacing around the sidelines and shouting loudly. But the more anxious he became, the worse things got on the court. The players, who were already unstable, became even more hesitant and slow after being scolded by him, making more mistakes. With 4 minutes and 54 seconds left in the first quarter, they were trailing 14-20. Then, Alon Afflalo, who came in as a substitute, hit a three-pointer, and the Nuggets quickly widened the gap to 26-16. John Kuester reluctantly called a timeout. His extreme frustration actually calmed his mind, and he realized that his shouting wasn’t helping at all and instead left the players confused.

“This game was one of the toughest we’ve faced before the playoffs. I bear primary responsibility for how it turned out, but now isn’t the time to assign blame. After all, it’s only the first quarter, and we have plenty of time to make up for our mistakes. As for the Nuggets, there’s no need for me to say much—we’ve played against them before, and everyone knows their style well. Although our focus in this game was defense, we all understood that with our current lineup, we couldn’t stop their offense. So what could we do? We had to attack; there was no other choice. The Nuggets’ defense is weak, and they prioritize offense, using it as a means to defend—this is the best description of them. We had to pressure them defensively and surpass them offensively.” John Kuester’s tactical plan was simple: rapid movement, wide-ranging cuts, using speed to drive the offense forward, and taking aggressive shots without hesitation whenever an opportunity arose. He wouldn’t blame them if they missed, but if they missed a chance right in front of them, they would face criticism.

It was the best option available. If they lacked even basic shooting confidence, there was no point in playing this game. While this might result in many unnecessary shots, it was better than constantly letting opportunities slip away. However, this meant even greater pressure on Greg Monroe in the paint. He not only had to exert enough pressure on the Nuggets offensively but also maintain control of the rebounds. Fortunately, Greg Monroe was in exceptional form today. In the first seven minutes, he exerted huge pressure on the Nuggets’ interior players, performing well in offense, defense, and rebounding.

During this timeout, the Nuggets made a lineup change, with Chris Anderson replacing Nene.

John Kuester watched the Nuggets’ players on the court with envy. After playing for so long, he should have made a lineup adjustment as well—not only to preserve his players’ energy but also because keeping the same lineup on the court for too long would allow the opponent to find ways to counter them. But after glancing at the players on the bench, he suppressed his urge. With the score already so far ahead for the opponent, any further indecision would make it pointless to continue playing.

Zhou Yi gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was well aware that he needed to change his previous playing style—relying solely on shooting threes from outside—since that seemed unlikely now. Two Nuggets players who guarded him closely were like parasites; as soon as the ball reached him, they appeared right beside him, leaving no room for maneuver. Although confident in his abilities to break through their defense eventually, Zhou Yi didn’t like the idea of playing alone while the other four watched. Moreover, forcing a breakthrough might not even create any opportunities. He had always believed that the most intimidating moment in basketball came from constant movement, as any pass could lead to a perfect scoring chance. Keeping the ball in one player’s hands wasn’t good for either the player or the team, nor did it reflect the team spirit of basketball.

The ball was quickly passed to Greg Monroe. Greg Monroe dribbled with his right hand, focusing his strength on his left shoulder, pushing against Kenyon Martin behind him as he moved step by step toward the basket. Though old and injured, Kenyon Martin was in surprisingly good form today, firmly holding his ground under the basket.

As time passed, Greg Monroe knew he might not come out on top if he continued like this. Seizing an opportunity to drive, he quickly passed the ball to the outside. To everyone’s eyes, his next move would surely be to push past Kenyon Martin and dunk with one hand—after all, his earlier effort had been intense, with veins bulging on his face and muscles straining. No one expected him to pass the ball just before the fierce collision.

Zhou Yi naturally wouldn’t miss such a rare opportunity. The moment he got the ball, he quickly jumped up. The ball stayed in his hands for only a brief moment before flying out from between his fingers.

After landing, Zhou Yi let out a long sigh. During those few minutes of play, the opponent had managed to tie and then take the lead, with the score gap growing wider. He hadn’t been able to score from outside, which left him feeling extremely frustrated. This shot finally relieved some of that pent-up frustration.

George Karl shook his head helplessly. Although he had always admired Kenyon Martin—considering him, along with Cameron Anthony and Chauncey Billups, his most reliable player—he was indeed far inferior compared to Greg Monroe now.

The Nuggets’ offense was flawless, with every player contributing effectively. Their multi-pronged attack made it difficult for the opponent to defend, while the Pistons could only hold on by relying on the scoring efforts of Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe. The first quarter ended with a score of 23-34.

The atmosphere in the studio of the CCTV channel was quite dull. Ever since Zhou Yi emerged, Yu Jia had been highly optimistic about him. Watching multiple regular-season broadcasts, she saw Zhou Yi’s outstanding talent and gradually became his die-hard fan. As a broadcaster, she should ideally maintain a neutral stance, but her words showed clear admiration for the Pistons. Although she had already had a bad feeling after seeing the Pistons’ starting lineup before the game, she never expected the team, which she thought was strong, to appear so vulnerable in this match. Under the combined offensive pressure from the Nuggets, Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe’s individual efforts seemed rather insufficient.

“Coach Zhang, what’s your opinion on how the first quarter turned out like this? How do you think the Pistons can turn things around?” Yu Jia asked.

In the past, fans watching broadcasts on CCTV were most annoyed by the producers who constantly switched the camera back to the studio, as well as the two commentators’ incessant chatter. Commentators are meant to help viewers better enjoy the game, but sometimes the commentators on this channel were too naive, ruining fans’ experience.

“Actually, it’s not surprising that the game turned out this way. Both teams are among the best in the league at fast breaks. Such teams are invincible when their offense is going well, but once their offense falters, the game becomes messy. The Nuggets really showcased their strengths today, while the Pistons’ absence of several key players greatly weakened their offensive power. With their current situation, they can only rely on Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe.” Coach Zhang clearly didn’t have many solutions. You can’t cook without ingredients—this is exactly the situation the Pistons are in now. But with Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe around, the team still has hope. Basketball is a team sport, but star players often determine the outcome of games at critical moments. And when a team has two outstanding stars, they definitely have the ability to decide the winner in such moments.

John Kuester shared the same mindset. During the break, he gave the other players strict orders to be more aggressive in the game, to never miss opportunities when they arose, and not to force things if none were available. Instead, they should focus more on defense. Even if they couldn’t stop certain shots, they should use fouling tactics to prevent the Nuggets from scoring easily—though they needed to be thorough with the fouls to ensure the opponent couldn’t get a 2+1, making the Nuggets’ scorers nervous whenever they took a shot.

The willingness to use fouling tactics against a team like the Nuggets showed that John Kuester was in a desperate situation, but it was also an effective strategy to make the Nuggets’ scorers cautious.

With Greg Monroe moving slowly and Zhou Yi looking thoughtful, as the two stepped onto the court, the Nuggets’ players realized the real game had begun. In the first quarter, to get the other players going, they mostly passed the ball to their teammates. The poor offense from the other players was a key reason the Nuggets won by a large margin. During the break, George Karl remained vigilant, reminding his players that it wasn’t time to relax. He reminded them of what Zhou Yi had done against the Nuggets in their previous encounter, as well as Greg Monroe’s surprisingly good form that day. If they couldn’t control these two players, victory might not be theirs.

The ball went to the Nuggets first. Chauncey Billups quickly drove into the middle of the court. As he glanced at his teammates, Zhou Yi appeared beside him like a ghost. His rough right hand aimed at the ball in his hands. Billups was slightly startled but quickly turned, evading the steal. It was surprising that after just a few minutes of rest, Zhou Yi’s defensive intensity had increased so much—completely different from the first quarter.

Cameron Anthony pulled up to the free-throw line to block. The moment he got the ball, he passed it back, and it quickly reached JR Smith on the right side. Fortunately, Zhou Yi reacted quickly, appearing in front of him before Smith could shoot. His amazing burst of speed allowed him to overtake Smith, and his fingertips lightly touched the ball. Though he couldn’t block it completely, that slight touch was enough to change the ball’s trajectory slightly.

Two sounds, “bang” and “drip,” rang out one after another. He had just been relieved that the ball had missed, but the referee’s whistle left him confused. When he saw JR. Smith lying on the ground in pain not far from him, all the answers became clear.
“Fake fall,” those two words popped into Zhou Yi’s mind.
After the referee’s whistle, JR. Smith quickly got up, his face filled with indescribable joy. Although Zhou Yi disdained such tricks, they were widespread in the league—no, even in the entire sports world, they were an accepted practice. The key was that while some fake falls were trivial, others were extremely convincing. If it weren’t for their reactions afterward, no one would have guessed they were just acting.
Zhou Yi wasn’t discouraged at all; instead, he found it quite interesting. He had encountered fake falls many times during regular games, but none as convincing as JR. Smith’s.
Ben Gordon’s three-pointer from the right wing missed, and Greg Monroe was tightly held back by Kenyon Martin. Helplessly, he watched Chris Anderson grab the rebound and pass it to Chauncey Billups in the middle of the court. The closest Pistons player was Ben Gordon, and even with his speed, he could only watch as Chauncey Billups raced ahead and easily scored from beyond the three-point line.
The score gap grew wider, and John Kuester’s emotions calmed down. At this point in the game, there was little he could do. All he could do now was rely on the performance of the team’s star duo. If they could deliver in tough situations, there might still be a chance for a surprise. If they performed poorly, he could only hope the game would end quickly so as not to suffer a humiliating loss.
Maddie’s pass was almost intercepted by JR. Smith, but fortunately, Zhou Yi had a decisive speed advantage and reached the ball first, though he was also drenched in sweat.
Gently touching the ball in his hands, Zhou Yi told himself that the critical moment had arrived. The score gap between the two teams had reached sixteen points, but that wasn’t the biggest issue—it was the Pistons’ morale.
Slowly driving the ball across half-court, Chauncey Billups and JR. Smith appeared in front of him as expected. This time, Zhou Yi didn’t rush to break through or pass the ball.

As Zhou Yi kept moving around on the perimeter, the two defensive players for the Nuggets were forced to follow his movements nonstop. All eyes in the arena were fixed on him. His outstanding performance in the first game left a deep impression on them, and even as the Nuggets held complete control of the game, they wanted to see what more Zhou Yi could do.

“Swish, swish”—the basketball kept changing hands beneath Zhou Yi’s hips, with increasing speed. With each bounce of the ball on the floor, Chris Bosh’s heart trembled, and he couldn’t afford to relax his attention for even a moment. Watching Zhou Yi ready to strike, he knew that Zhou Yi’s attack could be completed in the blink of an eye.

A drop of sweat fell from Chris Bosh’s brow, causing a brief blur before his eyes. Just as he instinctively reached out to wipe it away, a cool breeze passed by him, bringing instant relief to his body—but chills to his heart. In a closed arena, there was no reason for such a breeze; it must have been caused by a player passing by quickly, creating a current of air.

Chris Bosh, of course, couldn’t see it, but all the fans in Pepsi Center witnessed an unbelievable scene: Zhou Yi’s figure appeared instantly to the right of Chris Bosh. Those who had just blinked seemed to have seen Zhou Yi teleport.

Once Zhou Yi reached full speed, JR Smith couldn’t keep up, not even manage to draw a foul. He could only watch as Zhou Yi dived into the paint.

At that moment, there were two tall players guarding the basket for the Nuggets. After Zhou Yi passed Chris Bosh, they were already prepared to defend.

It seemed Zhou Yi didn’t intend to score himself. After entering the free-throw line, he passed the ball to Greg Monroe inside, then quickly moved past him as well.

George Karl’s anxious heart could finally relax. The peak speed Zhou Yi had shown earlier had already stunned him. If he could score right away, it would be an excellent goal and one that would greatly boost the Pistons’ morale. With the ball in Greg Monroe’s hands, facing two interior defenders, it wasn’t easy for him to score.

But what happened next left George Karl extremely frustrated. Instead of turning around to shoot, Greg Monroe gently threw the ball to the left. His pass was very subtle. After catching the ball, Zhou Yi used Greg Monroe’s block as cover to easily shoot and score.

A passing mistake by the Nuggets allowed Zhou Yi to easily steal the ball, and a long pass helped Ben Gordon score a three-point shot. A block by Chauncey Billups and Cameron Anthony created a chance for a three-point attempt, but the shot missed the basket. Greg Monroe quickly pushed Chris Anderson away from the basket and secured the rebound. Greg Monroe passed the ball to Zhou Yi, who drove the court and scored with a quick stop-and-shoot. George Karl waited for a while before finally calling a timeout. During that period, the Nuggets seemed unable to find the basket, while the Pistons gradually found their rhythm after Zhou Yi’s impressive dribble move, scoring an 8-2 run to bring the score to 31-41, widening the gap to ten points again. “After being down 5-0 at the start by the Nuggets, the Pistons seem to have regained their composure. Ben Gordon and Zhou Yi scored three-point shots each, helping the Pistons narrow the gap to ten points again. What’s your opinion on their performance during this period?” Yu Jia briefly commented before turning the question to Coach Zhang. “Maybe fans watching on TV didn’t pay much attention to Zhou Yi’s dribble move just now, but here at the Pepsi Center, we could see the impact of that move. In the subsequent attacks, the Nuggets players seemed unable to find their rhythm, while the Pistons, under his leadership, regained their form and responded with an 8-2 scoring run. We hope the Pistons can maintain this excellent form after the timeout.” Coach Zhang was clearly distracted—Zhou Yi’s dribble move had left a deep impression on him. Zhou Yi wasn’t on the newly announced national team list for the World Championship, though the list hadn’t been made public yet. Coach Zhang only learned about it last night. He didn’t know what kind of stir it would cause in China once the list was released. Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance had greatly raised his status in the league, making things even more complicated.

John Kuester was naturally very satisfied with the team’s performance just now, especially since several role players showed significant improvement. Samuel Dalembert’s two consecutive offensive rebounds reduced the pressure on Greg Monroe in the paint, while Ben Gordon and Andre Iguodala’s three-point shots disrupted the Nuggets’ defense and also eased the pressure on Zhou Yi from outside. After the timeout, the Nuggets’ lineup changed again, with Chauncey Billups, Cameron Anthony, and others forming a new lineup that appeared to be better at defense. The Nuggets’ offense hadn’t had any problems earlier, but the sudden surge from the Pistons’ other players threw their defense into chaos. Given George Karl’s emphasis on offense, they were forced to consider defense as well. On the Pistons’ side, Jody Meeks also came off the bench. At the end of the first half, the Nuggets led 65-57. Although the Pistons were still eight points behind, their situation was far better than at the start of the second quarter. Their morale, which had been nearly broken, returned to the Pistons’ players in this quarter. Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe acted as pillars, holding off the Nuggets’ repeated attacks, and the Pistons’ players gradually regained their composure. Especially Ben Gordon, who played only eight minutes but hit two consecutive three-pointers. His impact went beyond the stats—he provided solid defense against Chauncey Billups and blocked shots for Zhou Yi several times, giving him opportunities to shoot. TNT chose Zhou Yi as the midpoint player, and it was Zhou Yi who revitalized the team’s offense in the second quarter, helping the Pistons regain their momentum. However, it was clear that victory was still out of reach for the Pistons. In the crucial battle of the second half, stamina would become a fatal factor for them. In the first half, nine Nuggets players took to the court, and even Cameron Anthony, who played the most minutes, sat on the bench for over five minutes.

Zhou Yi said, panting, “Everyone must have seen this game. It will be one of the toughest matches before our playoffs. The Nuggets are an excellent team—their offensive power ranks among the best in the league, and they do a great job with zone defense. Especially with a great leader at their core, we’re now eight points behind them. To win this game, we have no choice but to fight hard in the second half. Maybe we’re not as strong offensively as the Nuggets right now, but when it comes to fighting spirit, I don’t think we’ll lose to anyone. Our performance in the second quarter already proves that. As long as we can maintain this level of performance in the second half, victory isn’t far away.” After saying all that in one breath, Zhou Yi rushed into the locker room. For the second half, John Kuester surely needed to make some arrangements—at least giving several starters enough rest, otherwise, the team would be completely exhausted before the game was over.

Chapter 353: Intense Fighting

Right now, John Kuester was facing the biggest challenge: figuring out how to arrange player rest, which was extremely difficult for the Pistons. Greg Monroe and Zhou Yi were the hardest to manage. The team couldn’t do without them—Greg Monroe was a guarantee in terms of rebounds, and his presence in the paint was irreplaceable at the moment. It was his outstanding performance in the second quarter that kept the Nuggets’ offense focused on the outside. Zhou Yi, on the other hand, was the engine of the team’s offense. Without him, the Pistons were like an old machine, destined only to lose at the Pepsi Center, waiting to be overwhelmed by the Nuggets’ offensive wave.

Yet these two were also the players who needed rest the most. But when the game reached its critical moments, they became the most essential players for the team. Seeing John Kuester’s troubled expression, Zhou Yi understood his dilemma. He stepped up to him and said, “Coach, there’s no need to hesitate. The game has come this far. We have to go all out. If we give the Nuggets any chance to catch up, with our current lineup, we won’t be able to withstand their strong offense.” Greg Monroe also spoke with determination. Seeing their resolve, John Kuester was very inspired, but he still hesitated. “I’m just worried your stamina won’t hold until the end. As we get better, the Nuggets will definitely tighten their defense against you. The game will only get more intense from here on.”

Zhou Yi smiled cheerfully and said, “Coach, all the hard work we’ve put in this season comes down to this game today. To not waste months of effort, I’m willing to collapse on the field even if I’m exhausted.”
“Zhou Yi is already sitting on the sidelines resting. After all, in a 36-minute game, he was the only player from either team who didn’t take a break. Under the constant pressure from several Nuggets players, his stamina has been completely drained. Could this be a signal from the Pistons to give up?” Yu Jia asked doubtfully.
Coach Zhang shook his head and replied, “That’s unlikely. At this point in the game, if the head coach gives up easily, he probably won’t be able to face the consequences afterward. Besides, the score gap between the two teams is only thirteen points, so the Pistons still have a chance to turn the game around. Looking at the Pistons’ players on the court, there are two relatively unfamiliar faces for fans watching on TV—they’re the team’s rookies this year. To be honest, the Pistons are really lucky this year; all three rookies are outstanding, especially Zhou Yi. Achieving such results in his rookie season is truly enviable.”
“Of the five Pistons players on the court, except for Ben Gordon, they’re all very good at defense. If I’m guessing correctly, John Kuester is probably trying to stretch time out, trying not to let the Nuggets widen the score before Zhou Yi returns. But this will put even more pressure on Greg Monroe, as he’s the only relatively consistent scorer for the Pistons right now.”
After years of experience, Coach Zhang could immediately see John Kuester’s role. He could tell, and so could George Karl, that for the current Pistons, Kuester’s tactics were undoubtedly the right choice. Without Zhou Yi, the Pistons’ offense would suffer greatly. Instead of that, it’s better to focus mainly on defense. For players like Samuel Dalembert, what they have now is stamina, and they can hold their ground against their opponents.
George Karl didn’t think the Pistons’ tactics would be very effective against his team. Even the Spurs’ well-developed defensive system had little success against the Nuggets’ offense, let alone the currently disorganized Pistons’ defense.

But George Karl forgot one thing: team morale. The Pistons’ low morale in the first half allowed the Nuggets to play comfortably. However, when Zhou Yi ran out of energy and Greg Monroe had to carry the interior defense alone, the Pistons’ morale was successfully boosted. At that point, they had only one goal on the court: to slow down the Nuggets’ offense as much as possible and wait for Zhou Yi to return.

There are many things coaches cannot predict. It was naturally the Nuggets’ players who first felt the Pistons’ high morale. Previously, the Pistons had been using zone defense throughout the half.

After the start of the fourth quarter, they even sacrificed their energy to adopt man-to-man defense. From the moment Chauncey Billups received the ball, Ben Gordon kept interfering with his ball control.

With Chauncey Billups’ ability to handle the ball, he wasn’t worried about it being taken away easily. But his constant interruptions were still troublesome. John Kuester had decided on man-to-man defense from the start. The Nuggets were best at fast breaks, and a key advantage of their fast breaks was that the ball moved quickly across the court and was handed to the player in position in just about ten seconds. The longer an attack took, the lower the chances of it succeeding.

Ben Gordon’s interference was deliberate. His aim wasn’t to steal the ball from Chauncey Billups. With Chauncey’s steady ball control, even Zhou Yi couldn’t easily take it away. He always kept a two-step distance from Chauncey, preventing him from having enough time to get moving.

It took Chauncey Billups about six seconds to get the ball across the court. Around him, there were always Pistons players standing by. Chauncey sighed inwardly. He hadn’t expected that without Zhou Yi, the Pistons’ defense would be even more troublesome. When Zhou Yi was on the court, their defense focused more on offense, resulting in many gaps. The Nuggets were good at exploiting these gaps. Now, with the Pistons focusing more on defense than offense, they couldn’t quickly complete an attack and had to switch to half-court play right away.