Chapter 188

The fourth quarter of the game started quickly! At present, both teams are mainly playing with their reserve players.
Pistons: Samuel Dalembert, Taylor Hansbrough, James Posey, Ben Gordon, and Will Bynum;
Lakers: Joe Smith, Paul Gasol, Matt Barnes, Shannon Brown, and Steve Blake.
Paul Gasol forced his way to the Pistons’ basket, pushed aside Taylor Hansbrough, and scored.
On the Pistons’ side, Will Bynum assisted Ben Gordon, who hit a mid-range jump shot.
Steve Blake passed the ball skillfully to Joe Smith for a layup, but it missed. Shannon Brown grabbed an offensive rebound and tried a reverse layup, which also missed, while Taylor Hansbrough secured a defensive rebound.
On the Pistons’ side, Will Bynum’s three-point attempt from outside the arc also missed, and Samuel Dalembert scored a free throw.
The teams continued to trade blows, but the score gap remained in the double digits, keeping the Lakers and their home fans extremely anxious.
With 7 minutes and 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the game entered an official timeout.
After the timeout, both teams gradually brought in their starting players.
As soon as Derek Fisher entered the court, he made a mistake. When the ball was passed to him, he seemed to react slowly, catching it instinctively—Zhou Yi naturally seized this opportunity.
At that moment, the Lakers’ players were quickly moving toward the Pistons’ half-court, where there wasn’t a single Lakers player. Zhou Yi certainly wouldn’t miss such a chance.
Zhou Yi rushed into the Lakers’ paint like lightning. His slender frame soared into the air as he moved fast, resembling an eagle in flight. With his body slightly bent and the basketball held high in one hand, he looked like a fully drawn bowstring in the air.
The fans at Staples Center watched in dismay as this unfolded before their eyes.
“Thud”—a loud dunk sound echoed throughout the arena.
The Lakers’ fans couldn’t believe what they saw, able only to watch the basketball bounce around on the floor. The once chaotic situation suddenly took a sharp turn downward, with only a few Pistons fans cheering.
Phil Jackson decisively called a timeout. He had always been cautious in games against the Pistons. But he never expected the away-playing Pistons to show such strength, leaving the Lakers unable to fight back for a while.

John Kuester sat on the coaching bench at the side of the court, wearing a bright smile. The team not only played smooth offense but also performed excellently defensively.
Zhou Yi’s incredible steal led to another 7-3 run for the Pistons. Now, the score was 101-84, with the Pistons holding a 17-point lead.
Play resumed, and Kobe significantly increased his offensive intensity. In the current Lakers lineup, despite having Paul Gasol, it was still Kobe who could be relied on most at critical moments. Especially when the rest of the team was underperforming, Kobe undoubtedly had to take on more responsibility and pressure.
It wasn’t easy to contain Kobe, and among the Pistons’ current roster, James Posey was the most suited to handle this task.
The Pistons’ current lineup on the court was: Samuel Dalembert, Greg Monroe, Andre Iguodala, James Posey, and Zhou Yi.
John Kuester had great confidence in James Posey’s defensive abilities. As a key player on a championship team, James Posey always knew when to do what and when not to.
Kobe received the ball in the middle of the court, but this time it was Zhou Yi who confronted him. James Posey’s intense defense drained him of energy, especially when facing a player of Kobe’s caliber.
Kobe slowly controlled the ball rhythmically, constantly adjusting his body. He tried to find an opening to break through against Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi didn’t give him any chance.
Kobe kept dribbling back and forth between his legs, then suddenly moved, forcing his way past Zhou Yi on the right. Zhou Yi stepped back and quickly shifted sideways, using his body to block Kobe. With no room to accelerate further, Kobe had no choice but to pass the ball back to the outside.
Steve Blake received the ball outside the three-point line and quickly passed it inside. However, his pass was too careless, and Andre Iguodala easily intercepted it.
Immediately afterward, Andre Iguodala made a long pass, sending the ball quickly across the half-court. The moment he passed, Zhou Yi understood his intention and quickly rushed back at full speed.
Although the two were only a step apart earlier, Zhou Yi’s early movement quickly widened the gap, rendering Kobe’s pursuit futile.
Watching Zhou Yi score a layup, Kobe angrily shook his fist.

On the Lakers’ offense, Kobe received the ball outside the three-point line on the right wing, but he didn’t get a chance to shoot as James Posey appeared right in front of him immediately. The other Lakers players were not in good form, with only Kobe seeming to have regained his rhythm. John Kuester gave James Posey a simple task: to limit Kobe’s scoring as much as possible. Steve Blake quickly moved to the outside and set up a simple pick-and-roll with Kobe. After Kobe drove inside, he decisively shot the ball. “Swish” — the ball went in.

On the Pistons’ offense, Zhou Yi drove with the ball and made a clever pass to James Posey, who then threw the ball inside. Greg Monroe tried to layup, but was blocked by Andrew Bynum, with Paul Gasol grabbing the defensive rebound. Kobe passed the ball to Ron Artest from outside the three-point line. The Pistons quickly switched defenses, with Andre Iguodala following closely, forcing Ron Artest to stop his shooting attempt.

Kobe regained the ball near the free-throw line, but he didn’t seem to intend to shoot. His right hand, holding the ball, moved swiftly. At the moment James Posey shifted his weight slightly, a glint appeared in Kobe’s eyes. He quickly pulled back his right hand, leaped up, and his entire movement was smooth and effortless. James Posey reacted quickly, readjusting his balance as Kobe rose, but it was too late — Kobe had already shot the ball. “Swish” — James Posey shook his head helplessly. Truly a top-tier player in the league; his extensive playing experience was beyond his reach. He had tried his best to raise his arms to disrupt Kobe’s shot, but Kobe still managed to force a shot right over his head.

With that shot by Kobe, the Lakers narrowed the score to 107:94, only 13 points behind the Pistons. The Pistons’ offense failed again, and John Kuester immediately sat up straight, concern rising in his heart. At that moment, 4 minutes and 23 seconds remained in the game, and the Pistons were only 13 points ahead. If they didn’t counterattack, the Lakers could easily close the gap.

As John Kuester watched anxiously, Kobe scored another shot from outside the three-point line. 107:97 — the Pistons were now only 10 points ahead. John Kuester immediately called a timeout to prevent things from getting worse.

John Kuester carefully analyzed the situation on the tactical board. He wasn’t satisfied with the Pistons’ current advantage, as their opponents were no ordinary team—they had the league’s best shooting guard and a championship-winning coach with eleven rings; the Lakers were a team no one could afford to underestimate.

After the timeout, Zhou Yi was temporarily substituted out, with Will Bynum taking his place. McGrady also came in, replacing Andre Iguodala. Once Zhou Yi left the court, McGrady was responsible for defending Kobe. Although McGrady had recovered well, his speed was clearly not up to Kobe’s, allowing Kobe to score repeatedly.

The Lakers managed to narrow the score gap at one point, but McGrady acted as a pillar, scoring continuously against Kobe and keeping the lead in double digits. As Kobe gradually gained momentum, John Kuester remained calm. He knew well that one person couldn’t defeat a team.

With 2 minutes and 50 seconds left in the game, John Kuester called another timeout. At that moment, the score was 110–101, with the Pistons still leading by 9 points. After the timeout, Zhou Yi replaced McGrady, forming a twin-point guard lineup with Will Bynum, while Andre Iguodala replaced James Posey.

The game continued, and the decisive moment arrived! As soon as play resumed, the Lakers launched a fierce attack. After controlling the ball for half the court, Derek Fisher passed it to Kobe without hesitation. Instead of attacking, Kobe passed it to Paul Gasol, who was performing exceptionally well inside. After catching the ball, Paul Gasol dribbled a few times, then moved left and right before hooking the shot—making it.

Halfway through the second half, Zhou Yi calmly scanned the court. At that moment, Andre Iguodala moved up and passed by Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi immediately handed the ball to Andre Iguodala and set up a screen to block Ron Artest, who was defending him. Without Artest’s defense, Andre Iguodala accelerated to the highest speed, rushed into the Lakers’ paint, and scored with a double dunk, also forcing a foul on Paul Gasol.

It was a brilliant play, made possible by Zhou Yi’s clever coordination. Andre Iguodala took the free throw and made both shots.

Kobe controlled the ball, with Zhou Yi defending him at the time. Zhou Yi stuck closely to him, constantly using small moves to disrupt Kobe. Yet these tactics didn’t cause Kobe to make any mistakes. He dribbled behind his back, pulled to the left, and then jumped straight up to shoot from beyond the three-point line. With a swish, the basketball dropped into the basket. For players on the court, a three-point shot is even more deadly than a dunk. A three-point shot at a critical moment exerts great pressure on the opponent, and when behind, it becomes the greatest hope. Many major comebacks in NBA history have relied on three-point shots, such as the famous “Maddie Moment” and “Miller Moment”. After a series of dribbles under the basket, a crossover freed Kobe. Seeing Kobe break through, Derek Fisher immediately came over to help defend Zhou Yi. As Derek Fisher rushed over, Zhou Yi remained calm and made an easy pass behind his back to Will Bynum, who was not far away beyond the three-point line. After receiving the ball, Will Bynum shot a three-point shot, which surprisingly went through the net. Kobe caught the ball at a high position, broke through Zhou Yi, and then faced Andre Iguodala’s help defense. After a feint, he turned and took a backspin jump shot—again, with a swish, it went through the net. Samuel Dalembert also responded with a hook shot. Since the timeout, the game has been closely contested with high shooting percentages, but in reality, the Lakers haven’t narrowed the score gap. The current score is 118:108, with the Pistons still leading by 10 points, and only 1 minute and 24 seconds left in the game. Kobe’s breaking speed was extremely fast; after getting rid of Zhou Yi, he noticed that the Pistons’ players were all focusing on other Lakers players. Seeing the open Pistons’ basket, Kobe was overjoyed—such an excellent opportunity was perfect for boosting the team’s morale. Two steps inside the free-throw line, Kobe soared like a soaring eagle, his right hand holding the ball high, becoming the focus of the court for a moment. The Staples Center, which had been quiet for a long time, once again became a sea of joy. No one could forget Kobe’s status as a dunking king. Over the years, he had performed countless amazing and thrilling dunks at the Staples Center. Although the team’s poor performance on the court might have dampened interest, seeing Kobe’s spectacular dunks made the ticket worth it—making the trip worthwhile.

But it was obvious that someone didn’t want Kobe to perform. At the moment he raised his right hand to dunk, a dark figure swiftly rose from the right side of the basket. With astonishing agility, it completely blocked Kobe’s path to the dunk.
In mid-air, Kobe was helpless—just as his strength was running low, Zhou Yi suddenly appeared out of nowhere. hadn’t he already shaken off that kid?
It was extremely difficult for Kobe to make any move in front of Zhou Yi. With no other choice, he decided to force a dunk. Taking advantage of Zhou Yi’s still-rising body, Kobe used all his strength to slam the ball down.
The collision was like meteors crashing into Earth. In front of tens of thousands of fans, two players of extraordinary strength actually collided in mid-air.
Kobe had overestimated his own strength and underestimated Zhou Yi’s terrifying explosive power. Zhou Yi’s right hand promptly blocked the ball, and the two of them froze in mid-air.
That dunk was destined to become one of the top ten dunks of the season.
Zhou Yi’s arm muscles swelled instantly. His explosive power pushed Kobe downward, with the ball bouncing around him.
The moment Zhou Yi grabbed the ball, Kobe’s mind went blank. Despite being in the advantage, he still couldn’t defeat this seemingly slender rookie. The shadow of failure instantly covered his heart.
Even Kobe lost confidence in winning, and the Lakers collapsed within the last minute of the fourth quarter.
The Pistons took advantage of the Lakers’ low morale and launched another scoring spree in those final minutes.
By this point in the game, the outcome was no longer the most important thing.
The Lakers’ momentum was completely gone after Zhou Yi’s block on Kobe’s dunk.
Watching their team suffer such a crushing defeat, with the game turning into a one-sided massacre, the fans at Staples Center could hardly believe their eyes.
The Pistons ultimately defeated the Lakers 102-95, avenging their loss from over a month earlier.
Kobe also managed to reach 55 points in those last minutes, but such a high score only added another highlight to the game, having no impact on the final result.
Zhou Yi ended up with a legendary quadruple-double: 32 points, 21 assists, 10 rebounds, and 11 steals.

30+20+10+10 – the first time in Pistons history that such stats have appeared, ensuring that Zhou Yi will once again be etched into the history of the Pistons and the league. In this game, the Pistons’ Tracy McGrady had the second-best performance on the team, scoring 25 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in just 26 minutes; Andre Iguodala also scored 23 points. By winning this game, the Pistons secured a strong start to the finals and gained an advantage in their quest for the championship. After this match, the Pistons will face the Lakers at home again in three days. In this crucial battle, both teams will surely bring their best to the ultimate showdown.

Chapter 419: Pistons vs. Lakers (Part 1)
“Guys, come here. Let’s plan today’s tactics. I’ve already sent over today’s starting lineup: center Samuel, power forward Greg, small forward Andre, shooting guard Tracy, and point guard Zhou. For today’s game, our strategy will revolve around Zhou. Their number one player is a weakness; whether it’s Derek Fisher or Steve Blake, neither is a match for Zhou. As for the tactics, we’ll use what we practiced in yesterday’s training. Tracy, your task today is very important. Against Kobe, you need to defend his drives. If he tries to shoot three-pointers, let him do it! But no quick stops or inside jump shots – I believe you can handle that. Andre, the opponent guarding you today is a beast. I think you know better than I do how to deal with him. Figure it out yourself. Also, you need to help Tracy defend Kobe, and we also need your scoring support. Be careful with Samuel Dalembert inside – Paul Gasol isn’t easy to deal with. He’s a technical inside player, understand?” After analyzing all aspects of the Lakers, John Kuster carefully instructed his players before the game.
“Understood!” Zhou Yi and the others replied loudly.

The commentators for this game were none other than the familiar faces Yu Jia and Coach Zhang, also known to fans as “Zhang Lihe”.

Yu Jia looked at the camera in front of her, which was live broadcasting, and smiled. “Good morning, viewers! Welcome to the second game of the 2010–2011 NBA Finals, where the Detroit Pistons host the Los Angeles Lakers at home. In the first game of the finals, the Pistons secured a strong start by defeating the Lakers thanks to Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance of a triple-double. In this game, the two teams will meet again, determined to determine the champion. There are two key focuses in this match: one is the showdown between the Pistons’ frontcourt, led by the rising star Greg Monroe, and the Lakers’ frontcourt, headed by the well-known Paul Gasol; the other is the competition between Kobe and Zhou Yi. As we all know, Zhou Yi is this season’s regular-season MVP and the one who led the Pistons to the finals. In the first game of the finals, he scored a triple-double, helping his team beat Kobe’s Lakers. As for Kobe, there’s no need to elaborate—he’s the face of the NBA today.” At this point, Yu Jia glanced at the audience in the stadium, chuckled lightly, and said to Coach Zhang beside her, “Coach Zhang, have you noticed? Although this is the Pistons’ home court, there are quite a few fans wearing Lakers jersey number 24!” Coach Zhang glanced at those fans and said, “Actually, that’s quite normal. Even though McGrady and Zhou Yi are on the Pistons, it doesn’t mean all fans only support the Pistons. After all, there are many strong teams and stars in the NBA, and fans have their own preferences. It’s normal for this to happen! Besides, Kobe is the best player in the NBA now, so it’s natural to have so many fans.” “Yes! That’s exactly right,” Yu Jia agreed, nodding, before turning her attention back to the camera. “Well, with almost half an hour left before the game starts, let’s take a look at the highlights from the first game of the finals between the Pistons and the Lakers…” As soon as Yu Jia finished speaking, the screen immediately switched to an NBA broadcast, showing highlights from the first game of the finals between the Pistons and the Lakers. It was 7:05 p.m.—only 25 minutes left before the game officially began—but the players from both teams still hadn’t shown up. However, this didn’t cause the fans to complain, as most of them had already been waiting for nearly a month and weren’t bothered by waiting a little longer. Of course, deep down, they were still very eager and anxious.

Inside the locker room, Zhou Yi closed his eyes and leaned against the wardrobe, his expression eerily calm, as if he cared nothing about the game about to begin. Like Zhou Yi, the other Pistons players were also relaxed, showing no signs of anxiety about the tough match ahead, each busy with their own things. Then, the door to the locker room opened, and John Kuester stepped in, silently scanning his players before saying, “It’s time! Let’s go!”
Is it finally here? Then let’s go! We must win this game!
Zhou Yi suddenly opened his eyes, clenched his slightly sweaty palms, and silently left the locker room with his teammates, heading toward the court with a determination to win.
In the Lakers’ locker room, the players were also joking and playing around casually, without any pre-game tension, as if what lay ahead was just a fun outing rather than a game.
The Lakers’ head coach, Phil Jackson, entered the locker room and smiled at everyone inside. “How about it? Are you all ready?”
“We’re ready,” they replied, all wearing relaxed smiles.
“Huh, really?” Phil Jackson chuckled. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go! Let’s crush the Pistons with our effort!”
“Yes!” The Lakers players responded with full confidence, heading to the court with a strong belief in victory.
“Roar~~~” As the players from both teams entered the court, over 20,000 fans in the stadium erupted in loud cheers, calling out the names of their favorite players, including Kobe Bryant of the Lakers!
At that moment, Zhou Yi and McGrady walked up to Kobe, and the attention of all the fans immediately focused on the three of them.
McGrady and Kobe looked at each other without saying a word, but they conveyed their feelings through their actions. Both smiled and hugged each other, showing respect for one another and their fierce desire to win.
Then, Kobe and Zhou Yi also made eye contact, reading in each other’s eyes that burning determination to fight.
At 7:30 p.m., the pre-game warm-ups were over.
The whistle signaling the start of the game blew, and the starting players from both teams stepped onto the court.
The game that fans had been waiting for finally began.

Pistons’ starting five: point guard Zhou Yi, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, small forward Andre Iguodala, power forward Greg Monroe, center Samuel Dalembert;
Los Angeles Lakers: center Andrew Bynum, power forward Paul Gasol, small forward Ron Artest, shooting guard Kobe Bryant, point guard Derek Fisher.

At the start of the game, Andrew Bynum outjumped Greg Monroe and passed the ball to his teammate Derek Fisher, giving the Lakers the first possession.

As Derek Fisher dribbled toward the half-court, the Pistons’ players were already in position, ready to defend. Derek Fisher glanced at Andrew Bynum in the paint, intending to pass to him. But when he saw Andrew Bynum still engaged in a fierce struggle with Greg Monroe, he changed his plan and passed the ball to Kobe instead.

Upon receiving the ball, Kobe immediately bent down, preparing to attack, his eyes fixed on Zhou Yi ahead of him.

Zhou Yi stood with arms outstretched, watching Kobe quietly, utterly still, like a lurking beast that seemed harmless and unhostile, but would lunge with sharp claws and fangs the moment its prey moved.

Kobe felt an invisible pressure pressing down on him, trying to tear him apart, destroy him, overwhelm him. This feeling reminded him of battles against stars of his own caliber. Before him was a beast, ready to tear him apart at any moment.

Yet he wasn’t afraid. As the best player in the league, if he couldn’t handle such pressure, how could he be considered the best?

Zhou Yi silently watched Kobe, who remained motionless, his face expressionless.

Suddenly, Kobe accelerated, breaking through from Zhou Yi’s left with lightning speed, easily bypassing Zhou Yi’s defense. As Kobe passed by, Zhou Yi also moved, closing off part of Kobe’s offensive path. Of course, it was only part of it. Another part of Kobe’s offensive route remained open, and to block it, someone else would need to join Zhou Yi in double-teaming Kobe. And that person appeared—Greg Monroe in the paint!

Greg Monroe came to help Zhou Yi double-team Kobe, but just as Kobe was about to be trapped between them, he suddenly changed direction with his dribble, moving the ball behind his right hand and then to his left, using that maneuver to slip through the gap between Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe. With no defenders ahead, Kobe hesitated not for a moment and immediately caught the ball and jumped high. He hovered in the air, stretching his body with the ball in both hands. “Swish!” The crisp sound of the basket echoing filled the court, the ears of the fans, and the minds of the players. “Damn it…” Greg Monroe cursed under his breath, turned, went to the sideline, took the ball from the referee, and passed it to his teammate Andre Iguodala so he could take over the offense. Meanwhile, Zhou Yi hadn’t even reached the halfway line; he was still jogging slowly toward the front court. Receiving a pass from his teammate, Zhou Yi bent down to protect the ball, ready to attack, with Kobe as his opponent. Zhou Yi dribbled outside the three-point line, keeping his eyes on his rival Kobe, while his teammates kept moving around in search of an opportunity to support him. After more than ten seconds outside the three-point line, Zhou Yi gave a subtle signal to Greg Monroe inside. Greg understood immediately and rushed toward him. In the past, seeing Greg Monroe move like this would have led people to think he was setting up a screen for Zhou Yi. But this time, Greg didn’t set up a screen for Zhou Yi—he caught the ball. When Greg Monroe reached outside the three-point line, Zhou Yi quickly passed the ball to him and then rushed inside the line. “What the hell is he doing?” Kobe was stunned by Zhou Yi’s actions and hurried after him, but by then, Zhou Yi was already a meter away. Zhou Yi, who had rushed inside, turned back to look at Kobe behind him, then gave another subtle signal to Greg Monroe. Greg understood again, threw the ball toward the basket, and by then, Zhou Yi had already entered the Lakers’ undefended paint. “Ah!” With a loud shout, Zhou Yi seized the chance that Kobe hadn’t caught up with him, used his legs to leap into the air, and caught the flying ball head-on, with his back to the basket. “Oh my God! Is this…?”

At that moment, every Pistons fan in the arena held their breath, their blood boiling, hearts pounding, too afraid to even blink—none of them wanted to miss the next thrilling moment. Zhou Yi’s head had already touched the basket; his muscles tensed instantly as he powerfully dunked with both hands, sending the ball through the net. “Bang!” He caught the ball in mid-air and dunked with both hands. This alley-oop was extremely difficult, as Zhou Yi had to not only judge the ball’s trajectory but also accurately locate the basket while it was in flight. He used a reverse dunk, with his eyes unable to see the basket clearly. Silence—absolute silence! All the Pistons fans were captivated by this brilliant play and the soul-stirring dunk. The awe, only felt by those present, made them forget to clap, to shout, to think about the players, about themselves, about everything. They were utterly stunned, unable to recover. The Pistons fans felt a surge of boiling passion rushing into their brains, spreading throughout their bodies, making their entire being, even their souls, boil. “Wow~~~” All the fans went wild—some shouting, some clapping, some howling. They expressed their excitement, enthusiasm, madness, and joy through the simplest words and actions. 2:2, a tie. “Greg, great pass!” Zhou Yi happily ran up to Greg Monroe and high-fived him to celebrate. Greg Monroe smiled and said, “You too. That alley-oop was absolutely amazing.” “Hehe…” Zhou Yi wiped his nose and returned to the backcourt with his teammates. Of course, he used the time to conserve his energy. Pass, pass, pass again! Lakers veteran Derek Fisher assisted teammate Paul Gasol, who hit a precise mid-range shot. 4:2! Greg Monroe took on Andrew Bynum one-on-one, spun around, and scored a shot—4:4. Andrew Bynum maneuvered past Greg Monroe, caught a pass from a teammate under the basket, and powerfully dunked, deforming the basket further—6:4. McGrady shot from 45 degrees outside the three-point line and hit a three-pointer—6:7. The next two offensive attempts by both teams failed.

The Pistons launched an attack, with Zhou Yi and McGrady executing a aerial pass-and-move; McGrady caught the ball and smoothly dunked it. The Lakers’ attempts to score failed, and the Pistons’ subsequent attacks also went unanswered. Kobe grabbed a rebound in the backcourt, initiated a fast break, and completed a stunning aerial pass-and-dunk with Andrew Bynum. Kobe assisted Bynum in a powerful two-handed dunk. Zhou Yi missed a three-point shot, but power forward Greg Monroe grabbed a rebound in the frontcourt and dunked it with one hand. The first quarter was fiercely contested. Zhou Yi and Kobe showed great fighting spirit, taking on their opponents alone multiple times and delivering several impressive dunks for the fans. Five seconds before the end of the first quarter, Will Bynum stole the ball from Rudy Fernandez, started a fast break, rushed into the Lakers’ paint, and passed behind him to James Posey, who then stopped abruptly outside the three-point line and shot. “Swish!” With the end of the first quarter signaled by the whistle, the basketball smoothly landed in the basket. 29:32 — the Pistons ended the first quarter with a 3-point lead.