Chapter 166

More than half of the third quarter had passed, and I was on the court, almost acting as a playmaker—passing the ball whenever it came my way, otherwise the Pacers would immediately apply double teams.
“Thud” — Greg Monroe’s turnaround jump shot missed. It was already the fourth missed shot of his quarter. Josh McRoberts’s defense was tightly glued to him, limiting Greg Monroe’s space so much that even his signature turnaround jump shots became unreliable.
John Kuester reluctantly called a timeout; Greg Monroe was clearly not in form.
At this point, both teams were giving it their all. If the Pistons won this game, they could advance directly and also have plenty of time to rest and adjust their players’ conditions. If the Pacers won, they wouldn’t be eliminated by their opponents.
Looking at the tactical board, John Kuester realized that to reduce the pressure on Greg Monroe inside, they needed reliable shooting from outside. Zhou Yi would find it hard to make an impact under double teams in the short term, so the Pistons’ only reliance from outside was McGrady.
Once the game resumed, McGrady immediately helped the Pistons. He received a pass from Zhou Yi at the baseline, took a three-point shot, and—swish—it went in!
With Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe both in trouble, his three-pointer undoubtedly eased the team’s awkward situation greatly.
With McGrady as a reliable scoring option, the Pacers’ defensive strategy had to change. Double-teaming Zhou Yi had already left them at a loss, but unexpectedly, it was Andre Iguodala who benefited first.
The Pacers clearly didn’t want to give up on double-teaming Zhou Yi, but to contain McGrady, they brought out Danny Granger.
As the Pacers’ top star, Danny Granger was highly versatile, strong on both offense and defense. However, injuries this season had significantly reduced his performance compared to last year. Especially with Josh McRoberts’s rise, it had greatly limited Danny Granger’s ability to perform.
When Danny Granger rushed out to defend McGrady, McGrady immediately passed the ball to Andre Iguodala. After receiving the ball, Andre Iguodala chose to take a mid-range jump shot. Fortunately, the three Pistons players almost drew all of the Pacers’ attention. Roy Hibbert tried to step in for help but was intercepted by Greg Monroe.
“Swish” — the ball went through the net!

Under pressure from the opponent’s offensive attacks, Zhou Yi clearly focused more of his energy on defense, with Rodney Stuckey being his primary target. When Rodney Stuckey’s consecutive attempts to break through failed, Jim O’Brien substituted Dantay Jones out and brought Darren Collison back in, adopting a twin-point guard strategy. However, this was a double-edged sword: Darren Collison could organize the Pacers’ offense better, but his defense wasn’t as good as Dantay Jones’, giving Zhou Yi more room to operate. Still, Jim O’Brien made the adjustment despite knowing the consequences. Firstly, although Darren Collison’s defensive skills weren’t outstanding, he had a strong defensive awareness, and with Rodney Stuckey’s assistance, they could still contain Zhou Yi’s performance. Secondly, the Pacers always emphasized offense—they didn’t care how many points the opponent scored, as long as they scored a few more points themselves.

Chapter 389: Sweeping Through to the Next Round (End)
“Swish!” The ball zipped past Zhou Yi’s right side so quickly that he didn’t even have time to react, only feeling a cool sensation in his right arm. After Darren Collison joined the game, Rodney Stuckey became even more aggressive. Before Zhou Yi could finish his defensive move, Stuckey had already passed the ball. McGrady’s speed simply couldn’t match Darren Collison’s; he was always a step behind in defense. Moreover, Darren Collison didn’t hold onto the ball long—he passed it as soon as it arrived and quickly moved to another position. With each of his passes and catches, McGrady’s mental strength was tested. With significantly less speed and explosive power, he had to give it his all in every defense. Darren Collison, catching the ball at the baseline, easily jumped and shot—McGrady was still several steps away from him! Perhaps it was a change in mindset; Zhou Yi’s mood shifted from earlier frustration. Just by switching defensive players, the outcome became drastically different. Darren Collison had excellent physical fitness. Jim O’Brien once said that with his physique, he could easily become the best defender on the Pacers’ team. He could make impressive steals, but it might also lead to unnecessary fouls. He had a proactive defensive attitude and wasn’t afraid to exhaust himself. Yet in Zhou Yi’s eyes, his defense and Dantay Jones’s were on completely different levels. Dantay Jones was very clever in defense—no, rather cunning.

In defense, he relies more on his intelligence; compared to other players, he sets traps for offensive players. Many seemingly promising breakthrough opportunities are actually feints he deliberately creates. His defensive mindset ensures he never falls behind in intensity when facing any top-tier player.

Yet Darren Collison’s gaze was unfocused, always fixed on the basketball in Zhou Yi’s hands. His excellent ability to steal the ball made him prioritize interceptions in defense. Given Zhou Yi’s ball-handling skills, unless he made a mistake, it was very difficult for anyone to take the ball from him, and this defensive approach hardly put any pressure on Zhou Yi.

Two quick dribbling sounds made Darren Collison tense up. Zhou Yi’s seamless integration of himself and the ball left him in awe, and several attempts at interception went nowhere.

A sudden acceleration in the ball-handling rhythm was a precursor to a breakthrough. Darren Collison immediately tensed his entire body, constantly adjusting his posture as Zhou Yi moved the ball.

A cool breeze blew across his forehead, sending chills through Darren Collison’s heart. Zhou Yi, after making a rightward move, spun in place the moment the motion was complete, turning 180 degrees around him.

Darren Collison’s center of gravity had already shifted to his left with Zhou Yi’s movement, leaving him no time to react as he watched his opponent score from mid-range.

“Swish.” Hearing the sound of the ball going through the net, Zhou Yi clenched his fist in excitement.

With Dantay Jones on the court, he wouldn’t have had such good scoring opportunities. In the first half of the game, he had been trapped by the opponent’s double-team, barely able to score.

John Kuester’s worried expression eased as the two outside players scored successively, reducing the pressure from Greg Monroe in the paint.

“Swish.” It was another coordinated play by the Pistons’ outside players. The ball passed through Zhou Yi and McGrady’s hands before landing in Andre Iguodala’s hands. Almost in the same spot, Andre Iguodala replicated the previous score.

With Rodney Stuckey’s three-point attempt missing, the two teams finally ended the third quarter’s battle.

For fans who had been looking forward to a fierce showdown, the first three quarters between the two teams were of high quality, satisfying them greatly.

However, at the Pacers’ home court, there are naturally many Pacers fans. They must have felt extremely sad seeing their favored players playing so hard yet still failing to take the lead. Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance disrupted the Pacers’ defense, but Greg Monroe’s poor form failed to help the team. By the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 83:87, with the Pistons leading by just four points. If not for Zhou Yi’s burst at the last moment, the Pistons might well have been behind. Zhou Yi scored six points in a row to single-handedly carry the Pistons. Fortunately, McGrady also performed exceptionally well from beyond the arc, hitting five of six three-point attempts and becoming the Pistons’ second-leading scorer. Greg Monroe in the first half was indeed very different from usual; he lacked the dominance he showed in the first three games inside the paint. Even though Zhou Yi and McGrady forced the opposing team to move their defense outward, reducing pressure inside, Monroe’s performance didn’t improve at all. Especially against Solomon Jones, he was outmatched offensively and lacked solid defense. Undoubtedly, Greg Monroe was the most frustrated after the first half. As soon as he left the court, he hung his head low, covering his head with a white towel, clearly unwilling to communicate with anyone. John Kuester could only sigh helplessly upon seeing him in such a state. All along, Greg Monroe and Zhou Yi had been the players he trusted the most; their consistent performance was key to the team’s success. Even when they weren’t in form, they could gradually adjust over the course of the game. But today, Greg Monroe clearly lacked the ability to adjust. Yet he didn’t consider taking him off the court—no matter his form, his presence still served as a deterrent to the Pacers. Josh McRoberts managed to score frequently in the paint, but he was also cautious, and the Pistons’ interior defense wasn’t very strong anyway. Ben Wallace and Samuel Dalembert were both over 30, and Spencer Hawes had talent but was still young and inexperienced, with significant fluctuations in form. Without Greg Monroe’s help, they simply couldn’t shoulder the burden of the Pistons’ interior defense. Although Greg Monroe was also a rookie, he quickly adapted to the NBA’s pace and, like Zhou Yi, was the type of player who adapts quickly to new environments.

Moreover, Greg Monroe has exceptional talent and physical prowess, which is why he became a top-tier power forward right from his first season. When Greg Monroe was not in form, Pistons fans turned their attention to Zhou Yi without exception. In the first three quarters, Zhou Yi was undoubtedly the most prominent player on the court, delivering near-perfect statistics and firmly holding onto the lead. However, with Greg Monroe struggling, if the Pistons wanted to secure the win in the final quarter, Zhou Yi had to become more self-centered, maintain his excellent shooting form, and take more shots—making him once again a nightmare for the Consol Energy Center. But obviously, the Pistons hadn’t reached that point yet. Greg Monroe, who had performed mediocrely in the first three quarters, erupted in the final quarter, using his agile movements to outmaneuver his defender Solomon Jones, delivering a turnaround dunk just outside the three-second line and forcing Josh McRoberts into a blocking foul, resulting in a 2+1 play. With the frustration built up over three quarters, Greg Monroe completely unleashed himself in the final quarter, with the first two minutes becoming his personal showcase. He scored repeatedly through strong interior attacks and completely dominated the Pacers’ frontcourt, grabbing a block each off Solomon Jones and Josh McRoberts, helping his team pull off a 7-0 run. Thanks to Greg Monroe’s dominance, the Pistons quickly expanded their lead to double digits. The Pacers’ defense had focused heavily on the outside, and Greg Monroe’s explosion caught them off guard. At the coach’s signal, Jim O’Brien moved Solomon Jones closer to the basket, but changes made in response to the opponent’s tactics are never the best choice. The Pistons continued to perform steadily from beyond the arc, with Zhou Yi scoring a three-pointer to bring his total to 28 points. Faced with the Pistons’ overwhelming attack, Jim O’Brien had no choice but to call another timeout and adjust his lineup. D’Angelo Jones was brought back in, and his ability to contain Zhou Yi was evident. This allowed Rodney Stuckey to focus on guarding McGrady, reducing the pressure on the Pacers’ frontcourt players. Zhou Yi didn’t seem too concerned by the Pacers’ adjustments.

Dante Jones’ defense is already a headache for him, but that’s not the Pistons’ biggest issue right now. Greg Monroe’s interior play, which had just started to improve under double-team pressure, seems to have slipped back into poor form. Several Pacers interior players flashed through Zhou Yi’s mind, but the one who has the greatest impact on Greg Monroe is still Josh McRoberts. Such a physically dominant interior player is exactly the kind Greg Monroe least wants to face. Fortunately, Greg Monroe already has four fouls on him, so Jim O’Brien must be hesitant when using him. For a team’s core player, with the game in the final quarter, having four fouls should mean sitting on the bench to rest. But Greg Monroe’s explosive performance forces Jim O’Brien to keep Josh McRoberts on the court. Just like Greg Monroe, no matter their form, their presence on the court is irreplaceable. Determined, Zhou Yi thought, since Jim O’Brien is still hoping for a miracle, he might as well give him a hand! As for Dante Jones beside him, he indeed puts a lot of pressure on him, but if he really wants to break through, he’s confident no one can completely freeze him down. Dante Jones was shocked—Zhou Yi chose to drive straight ahead. The moment their bodies collided, he tilted slightly at 90 degrees, leaving the entire left side open for him, his right hand holding the ball remaining completely steady. The moment he started moving, McGrady had already received Zhou Yi’s signal and immediately stepped up for a pick-and-roll. With a grunt, Zhou Yi gently pushed Dante Jones’s ribs with his left elbow, using that slight force to quickly move behind McGrady. Now, there was no one in front of him; looking ahead, he saw Greg Monroe and Josh McRoberts locked in a fierce battle for position under the basket. Zhou Yi, moving at full speed, rushed like lightning into the Pacers’ interior. Facing the snarling Josh McRoberts, he didn’t hesitate and dived into the paint. Greg Monroe also cooperated well—seeing Zhou Yi so close, he unleashed all his strength, and even a strong player like Josh McRoberts had to step back. That step was crucial—his right foot, which was previously outside the three-second line, now had half of it inside the three-second zone.

He lightly jumped from just outside the three-second zone; at that moment, Josh McRoberts, who had lost his balance, was nowhere near a threat. But that wasn’t Zhou Yi’s intention. With a gentle twist of his body, the move appeared effortless. His right hand, holding the ball, lightly touched Josh McRoberts’ left wrist before throwing it away.
A “whoosh” and a “drip” sound came almost simultaneously, and Jim O’Brien’s face turned pale instantly.
When Zhou Yi charged inside, he had already guessed his intention—using Josh McRoberts on the court was indeed a last resort.
Greg Monroe’s explosive performance at the start of the fourth quarter meant that if not controlled in time, the game’s momentum would completely shift to the opponent’s side.
Yet he never expected Zhou Yi to see through his plan so quickly and react so swiftly. He had to admit that in terms of influence on the court and tactical execution, Zhou Yi was far superior to players like Rodney Stuckey.
Moreover, his basketball intelligence on the court was definitely above that of players like Rodney Stuckey.
His playing style wasn’t fixed; instead, he adjusted it based on the actual situation of the game. Still, if the two were switched positions, the Pacers could still maintain their strong offensive level, but Rodney Stuckey wouldn’t be able to take the Pistons this far.
With this foul, Josh McRoberts now had a total of five fouls. One more and he’d have to leave early to take a shower.
So, unsurprisingly, he was taken off the court by Jim O’Brien.