Chapter 168

After the start of the second quarter, it was CJ Watson who took charge of the ball control for the Bulls. With Derrick Rose out, Zhou Yi became more aggressive in the game. Facing CJ Watson, Zhou Yi was confident he had the ability to suppress his performance. CJ Watson quickly brought the ball across half-court; in terms of passing style, he followed in Derrick Rose’s footsteps, passing the ball right after crossing half-court. If there was a chance to score, he would do so; if not, he would quickly pass the ball back. With his active movement, he had many more options—this was the Bulls’ style: the ball was constantly in rapid movement, making it difficult for opponents to cut off their passing routes, and creating opportunities for shots during fast-paced plays. After catching the ball, Ronnie Brewer quickly tapped it on the ground and made a quick change of direction, charging toward the paint. Ben Gordon appeared almost simultaneously in front of him. Seeing no chance to shoot, Ronnie Brewer didn’t hesitate at all—he stepped back and passed the ball long, sending it diagonally across a quarter of the court, over the heads of two Pistons players, to CJ Watson at the right-wing baseline. The moment he passed the ball, Greg Monroe realized its intended target and immediately moved outside to provide supplementary defense. With Samuel Dalembert in the paint, he only needed to cover defensively to give Zhou Yi and the others some time to recover before he could return to the paint. The moment Greg Monroe stepped out to defend, CJ Watson glanced at the flying ball, lightly supported it with his right hand, applied a slight force, and the ball quickly flew back in the original direction. Greg Monroe helplessly watched the ball fly over his head. The Bulls’ playing style involved flexible and varied passing, with all the players on the court having solid passing skills. If there was no chance to shoot, they wouldn’t force it—they always aimed to get the ball to an unguarded player as quickly as possible. Although the Bulls relied on fast breaks, with each attack usually taking only 13 or 14 seconds, they were patient in this regard. This was Tom Thibodeau’s primary criterion for selecting players—except for point guards, other players must not hold onto the ball too tightly.

Carlos Boozer lightly jumped, swiftly grabbing the ball. His body was slightly bent, with his back pressed tightly against Samuel Dalembert. With a slight force, he created some distance between them. His right wrist, holding the ball, was raised high—his posture clearly indicating he was preparing to take a hook shot.

Samuel Dalembert wasn’t about to slack off. After being pushed back, he immediately pressed his body against Boozer again. A force passed through their touching bodies, actually putting pressure on Carlos Boozer. After all, at the moment a player shoots, their defense is at its weakest. Without positioning, the chances of making a shot are much lower than when jumping to defend.

Carlos Boozer quickly pulled his right wrist behind his back, causing the ball to lightly hit the ground and bounce perfectly into the hands of Kurt Thomas, who had just replaced Joakim Noah. Now with no one defending him, he let out a loud shout, leaped high, and threw his right wrist back dramatically.

“Boom”—a thunderous dunk that completely ignited the atmosphere in the Bulls’ bench.

However, this was the Pistons’ home court. The home fans naturally didn’t want to see the visiting team showing off so much. Plus, it was a fiercely competitive playoff game, so they gave Kurt Thomas loud boos.

Greg Monroe and Zhou Yi exchanged helpless looks. This was the Bulls’ usual tactic—exhausting the defenders so that they unknowingly fell into their rhythm.

Having faced the Bulls many times during the regular season, they knew their tactics all too well.

With the Pistons’ inbound pass, Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball across half-court. CJ Watson, guarding him, felt extremely uneasy. Having watched Derek Rose and Zhou Yi compete from the sidelines for so long, he was eager to see more of it.

He knew he didn’t have Derek Rose’s speed or his extensive experience. If he could stay calm, he might be able to contain Zhou Yi’s drives. But before they even collided, he already felt unsure. Panicked, his defensive stance became distorted.

Zhou Yi didn’t rush to drive. Standing outside the three-point line, he controlled the ball rhythmically. The smile on his face seemed mysterious to CJ Watson, especially those lively eyes that stared intently at his own. Not knowing his intentions, panicked, CJ Watson instinctively lowered his gaze, forgetting he was on the court and trying to avoid his stare.

Seizing the moment when CJ Watson’s attention was diverted, Zhou Yi easily broke through him with a quick change of direction. By the time he took his first step, he was completely focused; at his speed, once he got moving, no one in the league could catch up to him in such a short distance.

Unfazed by Carlos Boozer’s counterattack, Zhou Yi remained calm. Though he had been ready to shoot earlier, scoring didn’t necessarily require him to take a shot himself—he preferred the satisfaction of passing the ball. With his right foot on the ground, he quickly spun 180 degrees and leaned into Boozer’s arms, pushing the ball forward with both hands. It flew straight into the paint and landed in the hands of Ben Gordon, who was unguarded on the right wing. Gordon caught the ball, jumped, and swished it through the net.

Boozer’s jump shot from the left wing missed, and Kurt Thomas quickly pushed the ball into the basket.

Zhou Yi hit a three-pointer from above the arc. This shot was made possible thanks to Greg Monroe, who skillfully drew the Bulls’ defenders away, allowing the ball to reach Zhou Yi, who was unguarded.

Kurt Thomas’s drive to the basket failed, and Greg Monroe gently pushed Boozer’s waist with his right elbow, causing the ball to fall into his hands. With a long pass, Zhou Yi, who was already lurking in the middle of the court, scored easily.

Greg Monroe scored with a dunk after receiving a clever pass from a teammate and also forced a foul on Kurt Thomas, resulting in a 2+1. The Pistons were lucky in this game—it was the fourth time they had managed a 2+1.

Derrick Rose rested for just a few minutes on the bench. The Pistons’ 8-4 run pushed the score to 49-39, widening their lead to double digits.

This made Tom Thibodeau restless; he jumped to the sidelines several times to give instructions, but the game couldn’t be controlled just by shouting. CJ Watson’s poor performance was hindering the team’s offense.

After CJ Watson made a passing mistake, Greg Monroe easily intercepted the ball and passed it across the court to help Ben Gordon score a dunk.

Taking advantage of a dead ball, Derrick Rose was sent back onto the court, and John Kuester took the chance to replace Zhou Yi. The fast pace of the game drained Zhou Yi’s energy quickly, so he was taken off the court for a few minutes to rest for the rest of the game.

John Kuester’s substitution was widely criticized by the media after the game, deemed his biggest mistake of the match. With both teams being adept at fast breaks, the second quarter was a race against time. When Tom Thibodeau brought back the starting lineup, Kuester, however, removed their main offensive engine. With Derrick Rose entering and Zhou Yi leaving the court, the pace of the game shifted back in the Bulls’ favor. By the time Kuester realized his error, the Bulls were already close to tying the score. Kuester had been focused on the Bulls’ fatigue; he thought that by bringing in Zhou Yi to restore their energy in the second half, they would easily win the game. But he overlooked the fact that the Bulls’ bench was far superior to the Pistons’. In just seven minutes, the Pistons experienced their worst stretch of the season. Under Derrick Rose’s leadership, the Bulls unleashed their powerful offensive force, leaving the Pistons’ players in distress. Unable to defend against their relentless attacks, they also faced numerous problems—unable to maintain an offensive rhythm and making continuous mistakes. It seemed Kuester was determined to keep Zhou Yi out of the game in the second half. 24 to 7 was the score difference over those seven minutes. During those long seven minutes, the Pistons managed only two shots, and at critical moments, all their players failed, even missing free throws. The situation reversed completely; the two teams, which had been evenly matched earlier, now saw a stark contrast after the Pistons made a substitution. The Pistons’ players looked upset, while Kuester was furious. He hadn’t realized how essential Zhou Yi was to the Pistons. Especially in intense playoff games, Zhou Yi’s role in driving the team’s offense made a huge difference—his presence or absence had a significant impact. What he couldn’t fathom was that he had made such a costly mistake, stubbornly sticking to his decision when the team’s offense was in trouble. Perhaps he truly had to pay for his errors. A 11-point halftime deficit isn’t necessarily a decisive gap. But with the Pistons’ morale already low, Kuester seemed to be shooting himself in the foot.

He said seriously to his beloved players, “I don’t want to say much about the first half of the game. I couldn’t see in you the qualities of professional players. Facing the opponent’s fierce attacks, you acted like amateurs, and of course, I bear significant responsibility for that. But it’s pointless to assign blame now. There’s still half a game left, and I hope to see the unstoppable Pistons again. Don’t forget that in the regular season, we defeated the Bulls three times. I expect to see your true strength in the games ahead.”

After delivering some reprimands, John Kuester still encouraged them a bit. Focusing solely on blame wouldn’t boost the team’s morale much; on the contrary, it might backfire.

When the second half began, the Pistons brought back their starting lineup. It was already the lineup best suited for fast breaks. With an 11-point deficit, the Pistons were in a desperate situation. The Bulls’ offense was so strong that even other teams in the league might struggle to stop it, not to mention the Pistons’ mediocre defense at the moment.

As he slowly drove the ball toward the half-court, Zhou Yi’s heart was in turmoil. The situation had reached this point—not due to one or two individuals. The coach’s last-minute substitutions were indeed a major mistake. Worse still, as the team’s morale plummeted and they were unable to stop the Bulls’ fast breaks, several players began to think about giving up. Watching the opponent effortlessly weave through them and keep attacking their basket, the psychological pressure was unimaginable.

To recover lost points, the most urgent task was to reignite the players’ fighting spirit. On the court, nothing boosts morale more than scoring points. A brilliant score is far more effective than a successful defense.

With his teammates clearly not in form, Zhou Yi naturally had to take on the burden of scoring. Remembering the encouraging look from Coach John Kuester before the game, though unspoken, Zhou Yi understood the message in his eyes.

This next shot was crucial to the game. If he could successfully score, there was still hope for the Pistons. If he failed again, morale would suffer yet another setback, and reversing the score would be nothing but a fantasy.

Derrick Rose kept his attention on Zhou Yi. Knowing Zhou Yi’s exceptional ability to read the game, he was sure Zhou Yi understood the importance of this next shot for the Pistons.

Currently, the Pistons’ outside shooters have almost all lost their confidence as shooters. For a shooter, confidence is the most important thing—more important even than luck. Luck may accompany you for a while, but only confidence belongs to you. Shooters lacking confidence lack the ability and courage to make a decisive shot at critical moments in the game.

Although Greg Monroe has been trying to fight back, he lacks support from his outside players. Coupled with Carlos Boozer’s relentless defense, he is forced to focus more on positioning under the basket and protecting rebounds, leaving him no extra energy to devote to offense.

More importantly, the Bulls use rapid defensive rotations to completely cut off communication between the Pistons’ inside and outside players, making it difficult to pass the ball inside.

The most competitive area on the basketball court is the paint under the basket. It’s not just about having good skills or a strong physique to gain an advantage there—team coordination and timing are also essential.

The Pistons’ outside passing is of poor quality, making it hard for Greg Monroe to find a comfortable shooting position. While he keeps adjusting his position in search of an opportunity to shoot, the Bulls’ inside players have already prepared countermeasures against his attacks, resulting in wasted time.

Once he made up his mind, Zhou Yi no longer hesitated at all. Looking at Derrick Rose just a few steps away, he was filled with confidence.

He had always been wary of Derrick Rose’s speed, but he had already figured out his defensive patterns and knew he could break through successfully.

However, things weren’t that simple. In a team like the Bulls that excels in both offense and defense, there would naturally be countermeasures other than Derrick Rose.

At this point, even Derrick Rose couldn’t afford to slack off. Logically, one or two shots shouldn’t shake their lead.

But only they knew the hardships they faced—after seven grueling games against the Magic, the entire team was exhausted.

Especially in the last game, although the team appeared to win easily, was that really the case? Only they knew how much effort they had put in to win that seven-game series against the Magic.

Two days of rest was far from enough to recover from the previous round of games.

Chapter 396: Semi-Finals, Against the Bulls (Part 2)

Although Zhou Yi’s lips still curved into a smile, there was no trace of amusement in his eyes. His stern gaze seemed to pierce through Derrick Rose’s thoughts.

But Derek Rose, as the player involved, had a different feeling. Zhou Yi’s gaze revealed confidence and determination; although his eyes seemed to be focused on himself, he could clearly sense that Zhou Yi’s unwavering goal, through his body, was the basket. It was a strange feeling. Derek Rose felt this way because there was an indescribable glint in Zhou Yi’s eyes. He couldn’t quite distinguish it at first, but one thing was clear: Zhou Yi definitely wanted to throw the basketball into the basket with his own hands. Zhou Yi moved slowly with the ball, yet it gave a sense of stability. The Bulls players didn’t rashly try to steal it; given Zhou Yi’s expression, his chances of carelessness were minimal. Only if he made a slight breakthrough would there be any opening for the defense to be beaten. As the two players got closer, Derek Rose felt Zhou Yi’s determination even more strongly. He crouched slightly, spread his arms slightly, and made up his mind: he must block this shot no matter what. Even if he couldn’t block it completely, he would at least buy time for his teammates to cover. He was almost certain that Zhou Yi wouldn’t choose to pass the ball. Although such a play went against Zhou Yi’s usual style, in special circumstances, many didn’t think there was anything wrong with him playing solo—on the contrary, it seemed like a wise move. He slapped the ball twice firmly, his muscles tensing instantly, his sharp gaze narrowing, and an unstoppable momentum emanating from him. Derek Rose, who felt this momentum first, understood it all too well. When Zhou Yi broke past him, his quick reflexes allowed him to react immediately, but his movements were still a step slow. Zhou Yi’s quick stop-and-shoot was successful, and Carlos Boozer, who was covering him, was still a step behind. But it wasn’t his fault—he never expected Derek Rose to be broken through so easily. Defense wasn’t Derek Rose’s strongest suit, but his excellent speed and indomitable spirit meant he wouldn’t be easily overcome. John Kuester finally sat back down. His bottom hadn’t touched the seat during those half an hour. The moment the ball went through the basket, he saw the fighting spirit reignite in the Pistons players.

The lost morale cannot be regained in just a short time. The Bulls’ tactics make it somewhat difficult for the Pistons to deal with. Fortunately, Zhou Yi’s entry into the game reduced the pressure on Greg Monroe in the paint. Two crucial one-on-one situations kept the score close, preventing the Bulls from widening the gap.

John Kuester is fairly satisfied with the current situation on the court. Although the other players haven’t scored yet, they are gradually returning to their normal defensive form. The Bulls’ offense has been going fairly well so far, but it’s far from as smooth as in the second quarter.

He’s waiting for an opportunity. So far, the Bulls seem to be running out of stamina. However, thanks to Tom Thibodeau’s frequent substitutions, the problem isn’t severe yet and has had little impact on the Bulls’ offense.

Carlos Boozer pulled to the perimeter to block, while Derrick Rose slipped to the baseline, adjusted his stance, and tried to maintain a smooth shooting form before releasing the ball with a beautiful shot.

“Clang.” Derrick Rose’s seemingly sure shot unexpectedly missed, and his tightly clenched hands relaxed unconsciously.

Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound, passed the ball to Zhou Yi, and immediately rushed toward the front court. At this point in the game, Greg Monroe felt quite frustrated. Watching the Bulls’ shorter players score right in front of his eyes, while he was blocked by Carlos Boozer, he saw the Pistons freely dominating the paint.

Zhou Yi moved extremely fast—neither the Pistons nor the Bulls’ players could keep up with him, not even Derrick Rose, who was left several steps behind.

The only threat to him was Carlos Boozer, who had returned to the middle court. By the time Derrick Rose shot, Boozer had already quickly defended. He thought Derrick Rose was unlikely to miss such a shot, but unexpectedly, it backfired.

Now Zhou Yi is in a very awkward situation. With Carlos Boozer watching closely ahead and Bulls players like Derrick Rose closing in behind, the slightest mistake could put him in a sandwich attack. Even the closest Pistons player is several meters behind Derrick Rose. He can only rely on himself.

The three-point line, the free-throw line—Zhou Yi’s figure grew closer and closer, while Carlos Boozer became highly focused. His long career had taught him one thing: no matter who the opponent was, he had to give his all in defense. None of those who made it to the NBA were mediocre; each had their own strengths. In many classic games, it was often the seemingly unremarkable players who decided the outcome. And a player like Zhou Yi definitely had the ability to create miracles on the court.

To his surprise, Zhou Yi stopped right at the free-throw line. Carlos Boozer grew anxious—again, the quick-stop jump shot. Many players in the league knew how to do it. But few were truly skilled at it. Quick-stop jump shots required high levels of physical coordination and touch. Yet the man before him seemed very adept at it. In their previous encounters, Zhou Yi had repeatedly executed this move after breaking through, driving the Bulls’ defenders to the brink of frustration.

Carlos Boozer’s reaction was ultimately faster. He jumped quickly, completely blocking Zhou Yi’s shooting angle. He was confident that if Zhou Yi dared to shoot, he could definitely swat the ball away.

Boozer’s defense was indeed good. Reacting so swiftly was the kind of quality expected from a defensive player. However, his aggressive defensive moves were unwise under these circumstances, as the paint was empty and the Pistons’ players could rush in to score at any moment.

With a slight smile, Zhou Yi quickly controlled his body. His physical fitness was outstanding—he managed to stop his rising body just before jumping, lowering his center of gravity slightly before darting past Carlos Boozer like a cat, flicking his wrist to send the ball through the hoop.

What seemed like an ordinary layup revealed Zhou Yi’s exceptional skill. Being able to stop a rising body during a quick-stop jump shot demanded high physical fitness. Moreover, under the pressure of Carlos Boozer and Derrick Rose, he remained completely calm, completing the entire offensive play with a single layup—proof of his composure in handling critical moments.

The Bulls’ luck seemed to run out as well when Derrick Rose’s shot missed. Several consecutive attacks ended in failure, while the Pistons’ players still couldn’t find their rhythm, though they managed a small 12-2 run.

With no other choice, Tom Thibodeau called a timeout.

After the pause, a 13-4 run allowed the Bulls to regain a 10-point lead, severely dampening the Pistons’ newfound fighting spirit. John Kuester sat down on the bench as the gap between the teams widened again. However, there were still positives: the Bulls’ offense was no longer as fierce as in the first half, and their fatigue was becoming apparent, but the lead they had at this point was enough to give them an advantage.