Chapter 157

The first quarter was a bit dull, with the Pistons temporarily leading the Bulls 29–27. The core players on both sides performed averagely, while the role players shone brightly. Carlos Boozer had only two shooting attempts in the first quarter, Derrick Rose made 2 out of 5 shots, and Kyle Korver, who came off the bench, was quite active, scoring 7 points through shots and free throws. On the Pistons’ side, Greg Monroe was the main scorer, hitting 3 out of 4 shots, including two three-pointers. After that three-pointer, McGrady seemed to lose his shooting touch, missing all three of his attempts. Zhou Yi became the team’s workhorse, scoring 4 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, providing 3 assists, and stealing 1 ball. Both head coaches looked displeased—the tactics they had painstakingly devised failed, with the Bulls struggling offensively and the Pistons showing defensive weaknesses, putting both teams in an awkward situation. At least John Kuester was a bit happier, as the Bulls’ two star players were in trouble, while Zhou Yi was forced to focus on covering gaps rather than attacking. Watching McGrady out of breath, John Kuester made a new decision. As the second quarter began, Ben Gordon replaced McGrady. The Bulls also made lineup adjustments, bringing in five players to help: Joakim Noah, Ron Artest, Kyle Korver, Keith Bogans, and CJ Watson. This was a countermeasure against the Pistons, with three fast-paced forwards positioned on the perimeter, moving aggressively, but leaving gaps in the interior. However, in the first quarter, Joakim Noah hardly received any support from his teammates, so those gaps didn’t exist. The Bulls’ changes took immediate effect—Ron Artest’s one-on-one skills gave the Pistons a huge headache. Watching Artest appear repeatedly under the basket, Zhou Yi felt uneasy; the Pistons’ already weak interior became even more unstable under his pressure. “Boom!” Joakim Noah dunked with both hands, ignoring his teammates who rushed over to congratulate him. After scoring, he raised his clenched fists above his head and let out a loud shout. It wasn’t surprising that Joakim Noah was so emotional—for 15 minutes, he was completely contained by the Pistons in the interior. His teammates’ few tentative passes were either stolen or disrupted, allowing the Pistons to seize opportunities and score several fast breaks.

But John Kuester didn’t seem to notice. From the second quarter onward, Joakim Noah became much more active under the basket. Though he didn’t get many shooting opportunities, he created several chances for his teammates, and the Pistons’ advantage gradually faded.

The Pistons passed the ball five times in a row without getting a shot attempt. Andre Iguodala forced a shot near the free-throw line, but the ball arced too high and hit the back of the rim.

“A rebound!” A roar echoed, and several burly players rushed into the paint, their eyes fixed on the ball spinning in the air. Joakim Noah’s height advantage was evident as he spread his arms wide, blocking two Pistons players behind him.

Raul Dunham appeared under the basket again. With Joakim Noah’s help, he secured the best position for the rebound. The Bulls players thought the rebound was in their hands, and those near midcourt began preparing for a fast break.

“Ah…” Amidst the crowd’s gasps, Raul Dunham felt a strong gust of wind behind him as a somewhat pale hand appeared above his head. His wrist twisted, and a tremendous force pressed down from above, almost suffocating him.

“Crash!” The fans at the Auburn Hills Palace jumped up from their seats. Raul Dunham was 206 centimeters tall, and with his excellent jumping ability, Zhou Yi struck back—reaching even half a shoulder higher than him. With a powerful one-handed dunk, once he mounted Raul Dunham, even Joakim Noah was pressed beneath him.

“Zhou, amazing jumping ability, explosive dunks… I really wish I could see him perform in the Dunk Contest. What a shame.” The DJ’s loud shouts energized the crowd. The greatest regret, of course, was that Zhou Yi declined the Dunk Contest invitation this year. Although there weren’t many dunk shots of him in the game, they were all breathtaking.

Zhou Yi’s dunks boosted the Pistons’ morale, while the Bulls players were still a bit distracted. After a 7-2 run by the Pistons, the first official timeout was called.

Everyone on the Pistons’ bench stood up, paying tribute to Zhou Yi. They had been thrilled watching that shot from the sidelines. If substitute players were allowed to enter, they would have rushed forward immediately.

“Well done.” John Kuester also stepped forward with satisfaction and patted him on the shoulder. Zhou Yi had always been his most reliable player—he always knew what to do in the right situation, and sometimes he even took on the role of his coach.

After the official timeout ended, the Pistons used their regular lineup: center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi.

Joakim Noah’s return to the paint revitalized the Bulls’ offense. Even though the Bulls’ players had been distracted earlier, they managed to score continuously.

With a grunt, Zhou Yi staggered. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, taking several small steps to barely stop himself.

Keith Bogans suddenly appeared and pushed Zhou Yi aside from the side, right past Derrick Rose. With his balance still unsteady, he was lucky not to go out of bounds after such a fierce collision.

The referee called a defensive foul in favor of the Bulls, but Keith Bogans clearly wasn’t convinced. He chased after the referee, constantly explaining his actions and talking nonstop.

“Ding”—another technical foul.

When Zhou Yi stepped to the free-throw line, the entire arena fell silent. That was the sound of home-court advantage; the fans knew exactly what to do at that moment.

With a swish, a rainbow arced through the air, creating a wave of cheers that reached its peak instantly.

For Zhou Yi, free throws were like adding points out of thin air. With three chances, he naturally wouldn’t miss them.

The Bulls significantly strengthened their defense against Zhou Yi. As soon as the ball reached his hands, at least two players would close in on him. But Zhou Yi didn’t really care about that. The more defenders he attracted, the easier it was for his teammates to play. However, the Bulls’ defense became more intense, with more aggressive moves from their defenders. First it was Keith Bogans’ reckless push, followed by Rolando Blackman and the others adopting a more brutal style of defense, even putting him in danger twice.

John Kuester saw what was happening and immediately ordered the other players to step in to help. The on-site commentator also noticed the problem. Although he couldn’t make as effective adjustments as John Kuester, he had a voice—and that voice was directed at tens of thousands of fans.

The fans’ boos and protests were seen and remembered by the referee, but he couldn’t do much about it. In his view, although the Bulls’ defense was a bit rough, it didn’t violate the rules of the game.

As long as they don’t cross that line, there’s nothing he can do. You can’t just stop a game because the other team plays a rough defensive style!
Just like in the “Bad Boys” era, the worst among them was center Bill Laimbeer. Everyone knew he was vicious and ruthless on the court, yet he continued to play for over a decade. Referees could only penalize him when they confirmed intentional fouls.
The Bulls executed their foul tactics well, sending Zhou Yi to the free-throw line several times, but it didn’t yield much result. Mainly because they seemed to have chosen the wrong target. Zhou Yi was always a sensible player, especially on the court. Unless it was a critical play, he rarely forced shots, especially when unsure. He preferred to wait for the right opportunity to score.
“Thud” — McGrady’s three-point attempt missed. The brief break hadn’t helped him regain his form. The Bulls’ aggressive defense disrupted his shooting rhythm. Two consecutive misses left him with a grim expression.
Joakim Noah easily grabbed the defensive rebound and quickly passed the ball to Derrick Rose.
By now, the Bulls’ players had already retreated quickly. The Bulls were quite skilled at defensive rebounds this season, especially when Derrick Rose and Ron Artest were both on the court.
The pass wasn’t perfect, but it was well-timed. It was now a two-on-two situation under the basket. Derrick Rose rose up near the free-throw line, but Andre Iguodala used his excellent explosiveness to block his shooting angle.
His wrist suddenly dropped, and the ball hit the floor before bouncing quickly toward the paint. By then, Carlos Boozer had already slipped inside. With a feint, he created space to shoot. After moving around, he lifted his left foot slightly and leaped up in the tight space under the basket. With a gentle wrist motion, the ball traced a arc as it rose.
“Beautiful!”
Even Zhou Yi couldn’t help but admire it. He never expected Carlos Boozer, with his playing style, to be able to execute such a delicate shot. The entire play was smooth, with simple yet effective movements.
“Ding” — The referee’s whistle sounded rather inexplicably. Players from both teams looked at the referee in confusion, unsure who he was calling for.
“Pistons Player 1 committed a defensive foul. The shot counts, plus one free throw.”
The referee’s decision left McGrady feeling extremely aggrieved. His previous missed shots had already made him very upset, and this call completely ignited his anger.

Madie rushed angrily to the referee and started talking nonstop.
Zhou Yi was immediately worried—the referee had been near the free-throw line for the previous shot and might not have seen all the details under the basket, leading to a miscall. A look at the replay would suffice. He never expected Madie, who was usually gentle and kind, to become so angry all of a sudden.
Seeing the referee’s face darken, Zhou Yi quickly stepped forward and pulled him back. It was only the second quarter; if they offended the referee now, it would be difficult to play the rest of the game. After all, many controversial calls on the basketball court depended on the referee’s own judgment, and offending them was the stupidest thing to do.
Chapter 367: Taming the Bull (Part 2)
The referee’s decision left Madie feeling extremely aggrieved. His consecutive misses had already made him very unstable, and the referee’s call completely ignited his anger.
Madie rushed angrily to the referee and started talking nonstop.
Zhou Yi was immediately worried—the referee had been near the free-throw line for the previous shot and might not have seen all the details under the basket, leading to a miscall. A look at the replay would suffice. He never expected Madie, who was usually gentle and kind, to become so angry all of a sudden.
Seeing the referee’s face darken, Zhou Yi quickly stepped forward and pulled him back. It was only the second quarter; if they offended the referee now, it would be difficult to play the rest of the game. After all, many controversial calls on the basketball court depended on the referee’s own judgment, and offending them was the stupidest thing to do.
“I’m sorry. He’s not in good form today and got a bit too emotional. But he really didn’t touch the opponent just now,” Zhou Yi said after apologizing, still expressing his own opinion.
Half a year of professional experience had taught him many things. When dealing with referees, being overly impulsive or overly accommodating wasn’t the best approach. A mix of firmness and flexibility was the way to go. Even if the call couldn’t be changed immediately, the referee would have a bias in future decisions once they knew his stance.
Seeing that the referee only gave Madie a few warnings without calling a technical foul, John Kuster felt greatly relieved. Having a player like Zhou Yi on the team really made things much easier for him.
Still, John Kuster called a timeout. Madie’s performance today was extremely abnormal, and he was also quite emotional.

“Ben, you go.” Maddie’s performance disappointed John Kuster a bit; he simply said that before starting to outline tactics for the players. Maddie’s subpar form was a significant weakness for the Pistons. This season, he had been one of the team’s key scorers and a leader in fast breaks, the most reliable scorer aside from Zhou Yi. Ben Gordon was also an excellent player, but he was clearly inferior to Maddie, especially when it came to seizing opportunities. “Ding,” the referee’s whistle sounded again as Ben Gordon was called for an offensive foul. However, judging by his excited expression, it seemed the foul wasn’t meant for him. But looking at Kyle Korver’s painful face on the ground, he indeed had reason to be happy—several confrontations between the two ended with passes. Ben Gordon’s aggressive style seemed to have no effect on Kyle Korver, but this time his feint succeeded in tricking his opponent, though his final drive was a bit too hasty, resulting in an accidental contact with Kyle Korver. “It seems the supporting players are taking center stage today!” the two commentators joked. Both teams’ subsequent attacks revolved around them. When Zhou Yi’s three-point shot missed, the referee’s whistle blew, and before they knew it, those two had been the stars for five minutes. The Pistons still led 54–51, three points ahead. The second quarter saw a thrilling back-and-forth battle, with the score tightly contested. The Pistons had multiple scorers, with Zhou Yi scoring the most at 10 points. The Bulls’ scoring was more spread out, with Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose each scoring eight points. Kyle Korver was the only player in the game with double digits so far, but only 10 points. “This feels like a high-level match. It’s not surprising that the Bulls are playing such solid defense, but it’s also remarkable that the Pistons can deliver such excellent defensive performance with their current lineup. Fans, take a short break—we’ll bring you an even more exciting second half.” The commentator from the TV station said with a smile. 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block—Zhou Yi’s all-around performance made him the best player of the first half, and he accepted interviews from reporters in the middle of the court.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead gently, Zhou Yi smiled and said, “I’m glad we’ve delivered an exciting first half for all the fans. I’ve always believed that it’s the interaction between the two teams that makes a game great—only teams at the same level in terms of strength and form can produce such an exciting match. Their strong fighting spirit makes everyone determined to win this game. I really respect today’s opponents; they’re an excellent team. It’s their outstanding performance that fuels our team’s determination. As for my expectations for the second half, I hope both teams can maintain their current form—of course, on the condition that we win the game. Thank you!”

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

Having sat on the bench for so long, McGrady was already frustrated. Hearing this, he quickly replied, “Coach, don’t worry. I’m fine now.”

McGrady’s eager expression made many of his teammates laugh. The atmosphere in the locker room instantly became lively. John Kuester also smiled and said, “Everyone did well in the first half, but don’t slack off. Remember, the opponents are strong. The reason we’re ahead is that their two key players hardly performed in the first half. In the second half, the Bulls will definitely try their best to unleash them. The best defense is offense—offense is our main weapon. For the second half, I have only one requirement: offense. Use your relentless attacking style to overwhelm the Bulls.”

The team’s defensive performance put John Kuester at ease. He never doubted the team’s offensive ability.

Kuester’s confidence wasn’t unfounded. Carlos Boozer would be the main target of the Pistons’ attacks. Carlos Boozer didn’t have the stamina to sustain a 48-minute game, so in terms of physical strength, the Pistons had a clear advantage.

The halftime break passed quickly. Even the exciting performances of the cheerleaders couldn’t draw the fans’ attention. Everyone was discussing the first half. Indeed, such a closely contested battle was rare even in the playoffs.

The teams were playing from different locations.

The Pistons took the offensive lead first. Keith Bogans’ main task in the first half was to defend Zhou Yi. But Zhou Yi focused mostly on teamwork and defense in the first half, choosing open shots most of the time, leaving Keith Bogans with little chance to make an impact.

So far, he still has plenty of energy; even seeing a teammate sweating profusely makes him feel a bit embarrassed. Raising his right hand slightly, Keith Bogans shook his head helplessly. In his eyes, Zhou Yi was like a slippery eel—his tried-and-true defensive tactics barely worked against him. The basketball wasn’t passed as expected, and Keith Bogans let out a desperate roar. His misjudgment left him unprepared for defense, and given the distance between them, he could only watch helplessly as Zhou Yi effortlessly took a three-point shot. With a crisp “swish,” Zhou Yi smiled as he returned to defense. He had always been confident in his shooting skills—years of practice paid off in those three minutes on the court. His achievements today were thanks to his hard work and dedication. During team training, he was often the first to arrive and the last to leave. By halftime, Carlos Boozer had gradually adapted to the Pistons’ defense. Thanks to his agile footwork and rare skills for a power forward, his dominance under the basket became increasingly evident. John Kuester’s defensive tactics against Carlos Boozer were very effective in the first half, but he failed to make proper adjustments. The Bulls started passing more high shots into the paint, giving Carlos Boozer more room to operate due to his height. As Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah continued to score inside, John Kuester had to reorganize his lineup. Ben Wallace returned to the court. He had only played a few minutes in the first half, struggling offensively and unable to keep up with Joakim Noah’s speed defensively. But things were different now—Joakim Noah’s performance in the second half was usually inferior to that in the first half. Stamina was a major factor limiting his performance, especially in this game. Joakim Noah hadn’t had a chance to rest in the first half; he was largely held in check by the Pistons in the first quarter, while the Pistons strengthened their perimeter defense in the second quarter, giving Joakim Noah more space inside to become the team’s offensive backbone. Naturally, Tom Thibodeau didn’t dare to take Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer off the court.

Knowing full well it was a trap set by the opponent, they still had no choice but to step into it headfirst—this is exactly how the Bulls feel right now. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer’s stamina is declining rapidly; especially during the recent attacks, their movements were clearly less agile than in the first half. With Ben Wallace’s stamina and physical strength, the two of them managed to keep pace under the basket for a while. Seeing the team gradually regain control of the game, John Kuester couldn’t help but feel secretly proud: it seems he too has the potential to become a tactical master. “Snap”—Keith Bogans’ pass was perfectly timed, using the inside players to distract the Pistons’ defense and feigning a shot to draw their attention. But the moment the ball was released, he threw it behind him. The timing and direction of the pass were impeccable, though the only regret was the strength of the pass—after all, he wasn’t a point guard by background, so he struggled to control the force accurately. Plus, Raul Dunleavy clearly didn’t expect him to pass. In his haste, the ball hit his fingers and bounced out. Fortunately, there were no Pistons players nearby. Relieved, Raul Dunleavy quickly reached out to grab the ball—it was a great opportunity for him to score. Tom Thibodeau clenched his fists, watching the game on the court with a serious expression. He hadn’t expected the game to be so tough. Back-to-back games indeed had a significant impact on the Pistons, but he kept getting outmaneuvered by his opponent in terms of tactics. So far, the score gap between the two teams hadn’t reached double digits, yet the Bulls, despite their best efforts, still couldn’t close the gap. Taking a deep breath, the solid feel of the ball in his hands made Raul Dunleavy a bit careless. A pale hand slipped through his armpit like a ghost. The boos across the court instantly turned into screams. The tremendous force sent the ball flying out of Raul Dunleavy’s hands. Seeing the chance slip away, he naturally refused to let it go to waste. Passion surged within him, and he rushed forward like an arrow leaving the bow. His head swam at that moment, but years of experience prevented him from turning around to see who had stolen his ball. The United Center instantly became a dead silence. It seemed as if only two people existed on the vast court. For the first time, Tom Thibodeau saw Raul Dunleavy possess such astonishing speed when going all out.

But when his gaze shifted to another figure, he wished he had a whip to lash Rol Deng hard. Zhou Yi was two steps behind him, and though he started later, as the ball rolled past the midline, Zhou Yi quickly caught up in just a few steps. The clear sound of footsteps fueled Rol Deng’s fighting spirit even more—he was a typical emotional player; once his emotions were stirred, he could create astonishing miracles. Under Zhou Yi’s relentless pursuit, Rol Deng actually accelerated again. “Whoosh…” A strong gust of wind swept past Rol Deng, pushing him aside with ease, and the basketball, once so close, disappeared, leaving only the large number 37 on his jersey visible. Filled with frustration, Rol Deng’s eyes seemed to blaze with anger as he gritted his teeth and rushed after Zhou Yi once more. In the blink of an eye, the two roles switched, but at that moment, Rol Deng displayed a burst of strength no less impressive than Zhou Yi’s as they stumbled past the free-throw line. Zhou Yi, leveraging his half-step advantage, leaped forcefully. Having chased a third of the court, Rol Deng naturally couldn’t just watch his opponent dunk easily, but his speed had already reached its limit. In desperation, he instinctively reached out with his right hand and grabbed Zhou Yi’s jersey. Just as Zhou Yi raised the ball above his head, a tremendous force pulled him hard, causing him to lose balance completely. He was still a good distance from the basket, and with his reach, he couldn’t possibly complete a dunk. “Ding!” The referee’s whistle sounded in time. With no other choice, Zhou Yi gently threw the ball using his sense of touch. “Bang, bang, bang!” Losing his balance, Zhou Yi failed to control the force of his throw, and the ball flew high before landing on the top of the backboard. After bouncing twice, it still plunged into the basket. Overjoyed, Zhou Yi instinctively placed his right hand behind his ear, enjoying the cheers around him. “President Zhou is such a surprising player—being so far behind yet still able to catch up, and even in complete imbalance, he managed to get the ball into the basket using his sense of touch,” the on-site commentator exclaimed in delight. “Lightning-fast speed, ghostly steals—perhaps he deserves the title of Flash even more than Dwyane Wade,” another commentator mused.

“Thank you!” Zhou Yi whispered to Rolando Blackman before stepping to the free-throw line. His actions earlier had indeed been a bit excessive, but putting himself in Blackman’s shoes, he likely wouldn’t have wanted to let the opponent score such a beautiful shot either. Earlier, Zhou Yi lost all balance in mid-air, and with his last desperate shot, he couldn’t adjust his body at all—on the verge of landing on his back. Fortunately, Blackman quickly caught him, preventing any injury. Seeing this, the cheers in the Auburn Hills Palace gym reached their peak, including those for Blackman. In a game with such intense collisions, fans appreciate passionate performances, but they also genuinely admire such professional behavior. With Zhou Yi’s free throw successful, the Pistons finally widened their lead to double digits. A fast break allowed Zhou Yi to experience the joy of scoring as he continuously broke through, throwing the Bulls’ defense into disarray. Unlike before when passing was his first choice, Zhou Yi’s attempts suddenly increased, catching the Bulls off guard. Their combined defense couldn’t stop his progress. Tom Thibodeau watched helplessly as the Pistons gradually widened their lead, regretting his inadequate preparation. Despite his confident words before the game, he had always dismissed John Kuester. With 5:12 left in the fourth quarter, the Pistons still led 83–72, by 11 points. As both teams’ stamina declined, they resorted to more tactical changes. With declining offensive efficiency, they had to focus more on defense. With a 11-point lead and only five minutes left, given the Pistons’ current form, unless something major went wrong, the outcome was no longer in doubt. However, anything could happen until the last minute, especially for a resilient team like the Bulls. Derrick Rose had led his team to comebacks in previous games, so the Pistons couldn’t afford to be careless. With a 12-point gap, the Bulls’ morale didn’t drop but rose instead. Their continuous attacks momentarily overwhelmed the Pistons, thanks to the Pistons’ solid defense. It was indeed an exciting game, but both teams still had shortcomings. The Bulls were underprepared and exhausted from back-to-back tough games. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer had just started to improve in the second quarter, but by the second half of the third quarter, they ran out of energy.

The Pistons’ offense wasn’t very effective today either. The team’s second scoring option, McGrady, was off form, and their usual fast-break advantage didn’t show up. In the end, the Pistons withstood the Bulls’ fierce counterattacks and secured the win thanks to Zhou Yi’s two three-point shots at the last moment.

Chapter 368: Air Strike on Boston

The referee’s whistle blew, and players from both teams entered the court. The Pistons’ starting lineup consisted of center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, shooting forward Andre Iguodala, point guard Tracy McGrady, and playmaker Zhou Yi. The Celtics’ starting lineup included center Jermaine O’Neal, power forward Kevin Garnett, shooting forward Paul Pierce, point guard Ray Allen, and playmaker Rajon Rondo.

Standing in the middle of the court, Kevin Garnett and Greg Monroe stared coldly at each other. Thanks to his exceptional jumping ability and extensive experience, Garnett reached for the ball first. As soon as Rondo got the ball, he passed it right to Paul Pierce without even reaching the midcourt.

With a sharp friction sound, Paul Pierce stopped abruptly and turned, skillfully pushing McGrady, who was guarding him, aside. Pierce was one of the few players in the league who could handle any position from one to three, and his rugged style made it difficult for ordinary guards to defend him.

At that time, Greg Monroe was still engaged in a struggle with Kevin Garnett, leaving the Pistons’ paint empty. Zhou Yi became anxious and immediately stepped in to fill the gap, hoping others would cover the space he left behind.

Paul Pierce shrank slightly but didn’t slow down his breakthrough at all.

“It seems he’s going to rely on his strength to overpower me,” Zhou Yi thought.

His mind raced. Although Zhou Yi had good physical strength, that was only among guards. Facing such a well-known tough player in the league, he wasn’t arrogant enough to try to counter his strengths with his own weaknesses. Moreover, given the opponent’s speed, direct defense wasn’t the best approach.

“Hmph,” he grunted. He almost wondered if Paul Pierce’s body was made of granite—so hard that all his strength was wasted against his fierce attacks. He lost his balance and had to take a few quick steps back to stay steady.

Fortunately, it wasn’t all in vain. He hadn’t moved at all earlier and had deliberately raised his hands above his shoulders—a very obvious move. As long as the referee was paying attention, an offensive foul was inevitable.

“Swish,” the crisp sound of the basket made Zhou Yi frown. “Shouldn’t that be an offensive foul? Did I misjudge?” But when he saw the scoreboard showing 2:0, Zhou Yi realized he had indeed misjudged—Paul Pierce had deceived him; he didn’t know when Pierce had passed the ball. Several Celtics players were clapping and celebrating with Ray Allen, seemingly indicating that it was Allen who had scored. “Swish”—McHale’s three-point shot from the right wing also hit. He hadn’t expected the Celtics’ outside defense to be so weak; McHale simply used a reverse move to create space for a shot. Rajon Rondo didn’t wait for the Pistons’ defenders to close in and quickly passed the ball. Kevin Garnett was already positioned high up, while Ray Allen and Paul Pierce moved swiftly toward the paint like arrows leaving the bow. Against the Celtics, the Pistons had prepared thoroughly ahead of the game: Garnett would draw the defense and set up screens for his teammates, then rush back to the basket. This was one of the most common and effective tactics used by the Celtics since their trio came together. As one of the league’s top shooters, Ray Allen was also a well-rounded player. However, it was his outstanding performance beyond the three-point line in recent seasons that had led fans to label him primarily as a shooter. His movement and ability to spot opportunities were unmatched—given even the slightest opening, his three-point shots would pierce the opponent’s defense like swords. Paul Pierce, with his excellent breakthrough skills, aggressive playstyle, and convincing fake moves, also had a strong scoring ability inside. And even if he failed to score, Kevin Garnett, who followed closely, would deliver the decisive blow. Moreover, once these three started moving, the opponent’s defense was almost entirely drawn to them, allowing other players—so long as they weren’t fools—to easily create their own opportunities. Zhou Yi quickly tried to keep up with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Pierce’s aggressive style was beyond Zhou Yi’s ability to match. Although his defensive skills could compensate for his weaknesses, with Andre Iguodala around, John Kuester surely wouldn’t foolishly use Zhou Yi to defend Pierce.

With a quick movement, Paul Pierce easily caught the basketball and, with his back to Andre Iguodala, gave it a gentle push, sending it swiftly beyond the three-point line. Rajon Rondo caught the ball and quickly took two steps forward. But it was those brief two steps that allowed McGrady to reposition himself. The Celtics’ great opportunity was thus wasted.

Some might wonder why Rajon Rondo didn’t shoot right away despite having such an open shot, giving McGrady a chance to defend. But this isn’t surprising. Although Rajon Rondo is a guard with an overall field-goal percentage of 49.1% in regular season play, his three-point shooting is a major weakness.

With little chance left to shoot, Rajon Rondo passed the ball to Kevin Garnett in the paint. The Celtics’ playing style might be simple, but the strength of their three stars was enough to make up for it. The Pistons’ strong defense neutralized the Celtics’ attacks, but once the ball reached Kevin Garnett, the Pistons’ frontcourt faced another challenge. Kevin Garnett’s skills were formidable—though older, his experience and technique were even more refined.

Kevin Garnett held the ball in his right hand, with Greg Monroe gripping his waist with one hand and raising it high with the other, fully focused on preventing Garnett from shooting. With shrugs and twists, Kevin Garnett effortlessly dominated Monroe as he moved closer to the basket. When Monroe’s right foot stepped into the three-second zone, Kevin Garnett shrunk slightly, lifted his left foot, and spun in mid-air to take a backshot.

Unprepared, Monroe roared and leaped as high as he could, but it was too late—he could only watch the basketball fly over his head. With a crisp swish, the net’s sound made Monroe sigh in frustration.

A blue figure rushed past the midline like a hurricane, with exaggerated movements. The basketball bounced joyfully between his fingers, and his sharp gaze ensured nothing on the court escaped his notice. Paul Pierce charged at him like a fierce predator. Zhou Yi’s pace slowed significantly. Seeing this, Paul Pierce was pleased—during the earlier collision, he had had a clear advantage in physical confrontation. It seemed Zhou Yi was now wary of him. If a player instinctively avoids contact, it’s definitely not a good sign.

As the two men’s bodies neared collision, a flash of surprise appeared in Paul Pierce’s eyes. Zhou Yi lowered his body again, twisted his waist, and just barely avoided the collision by slipping under Pierce’s armpit. With a light push from his left hand on the floor, he quickly darted away.

The fans at North Shore Garden stared in disbelief at what they saw. The earlier sequence had seemed like a trick act—just as the two were about to collide, Zhou Yi appeared effortlessly on his opponent’s right side. A slight touch from his left hand on the floor completed the move, making it flawless.

Having shaken off Paul Pierce, Zhou Yi dived into the paint.

Kevin Garnett wasn’t taking any chances. As Zhou Yi moved forward with the ball, his right hand suddenly pushed it backward. Garnett was shocked—backpassing, one of Zhou Yi’s strongest passing techniques.

Garnett had already noticed that to his left, Greg Monroe was speeding toward the three-point line, with no Celtics player nearby.

He quickly shifted to the left. From that position, no matter whether Zhou Yi passed or shot, he could handle it easily.

Zhou Yi leaped into the air, gently guiding the ball toward the basket with his right hand. Garnett felt relieved—he hadn’t fallen for Zhou Yi’s deception. Acting swiftly, he lunged forward, his long, agile right arm already aiming at the ball in Zhou Yi’s hands.

Garnett’s mind raced as the basketball grew larger in his eyes. He could even sense its unique presence. Just a little more—just a tiny bit more—and he could block the shot.

But that tiny distance seemed like an eternity for Garnett. The ball, seemingly within reach, vanished into thin air.

In mid-air, Garnett’s mind went blank. He couldn’t predict Zhou Yi’s next move.

Greg Monroe rushed to the basket, watching the two figures colliding above. Not knowing what to do, suddenly a large basketball appeared before him. With a gentle push from his pale palm, the ball landed in his hands.

After catching the ball, Monroe stepped forward quickly, jumped high, paused mid-air, then drove the ball forcefully into the basket.

Upon landing, Monroe clenched his fists over his chest and let out an excited roar.

Layvin Bondurant was a step inside the right-wing three-point line, receiving the pass from Kevin Garnett. Before the Pistons’ defenders could react, he shot and made the basket.
The game continued, with both teams attacking in their own ways. The trio of stars was in excellent form; their simple coordination and outstanding individual skills allowed them to score easily.
Fortunately, the Celtics’ scoring methods were rather monotonous, and the Pistons’ players, who played aggressively and tirelessly on defense, limited their performance to a large extent. As a result, the Pistons managed to hold a slim 14-13 lead.
Doug Rivers called a timeout; the Celtics had a slight advantage on the court.
It was really difficult for the Pistons to win this game today, with all three stars in top form. Under such circumstances, the Celtics were almost invincible.
After the timeout, the Celtics substituted out their two outside players and brought in Van Wyden and another veteran, giving them more options in attack.
The Pistons also replaced McGrady with Ben Gordon, giving McGrady a chance to rest.
In the earlier exchanges, Paul Pierce tried several times to overpower Zhou Yi physically, putting the Pistons in a very difficult situation. With his fierce fighting spirit, exceptional strength, speed, steals, and top-tier defensive skills—Pierce’s strength was among the best in the league. Only players like Ron Artest, LeBron James, and Andre Iguodala could match him in terms of physical strength.
Paul Pierce was quite similar to Andre Iguodala, except his offense was more versatile; he knew how to use every scoring method available in the league.
Iguodala, on the other hand, was stronger in defense, while Pierce’s defense was generally average. Although he moved quickly and nimbly, his ability to read opponents’ offensive routes was mediocre, and he didn’t know how to use this strength to draw offensive fouls.
Having been in the league for many years, he should have had good defensive experience. It could be said that he lacked the talent of a top defender or perhaps hadn’t put in enough effort to improve his defense. Still, thanks to his excellent physical abilities, he became a top-tier forward-center hybrid who was always a nightmare for opponents.
“Swish”—Zhou Yi used a convincing fake move to easily trick Layvin Bondurant into jumping. He then slid sideways, jumped smoothly, and shot. The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air before sinking into the net.

After McGrady left the court, Zhou Yi significantly intensified their offense. Paul Pierce was constantly harassed by Andre Iguodala, and the Celtics’ two veterans were unable to keep up with Zhou Yi, allowing him to easily create many shooting opportunities from outside. John Kuester nodded in satisfaction from the sidelines—with Zhou Yi around, everything became possible. The score stood at 27:21, with 32 seconds left in the first quarter. Paul Pierce caught the ball outside the three-point line and, using a screen set up by Kevin Garnett, pushed aside his defender Andre Iguodala before charging toward the paint. However, upon seeing Greg Monroe and Spencer Hawes ready to meet him inside, he quickly sidestepped and passed the ball to Van Wever on the right wing. Van Wever, who had already been waiting outside the three-point line, adjusted slightly after catching the ball and effortlessly shot it as he had no defenders. “Swish”—the ball went through the net! With Ray Allen out of the game, the Celtics’ offense became more varied.