Chapter 84

When the second quarter began, John Kuester made no changes to the lineup or introduced any new tactics. He believed the team had performed excellently in the second half of the previous quarter, with smooth offense and significant improvements in defense. More importantly, the team’s coordination seemed to have improved as well, with some brilliant plays emerging. It’s best to strike while the iron is hot, and in a match like this, the intensity of competition isn’t overly fierce, so the physical strain from one quarter isn’t very noticeable.

The Raptors, on the other hand, substituted Jose Calderon out. In the first quarter, he seemed to be at odds with Zhou Yi, with their numerous head-to-head confrontations yielding little result. What frustrated Jose Calderon even more was his depleted stamina due to prolonged injuries; he felt exhausted after just one quarter. His pale complexion and heavy sweating clearly revealed his physical limitations, prompting the Raptors’ head coach to replace him promptly.

For a player like Jose Calderon who had been out for a whole season due to injury, the Raptors’ head coach hadn’t planned to give him much playing time anyway. He was also dissatisfied with his performance in the first quarter. Not only had his skills and stamina not recovered yet, but he also appeared too self-centered during the first quarter. In several confrontations with Zhou Yi, he seemed at a disadvantage. Frustrated, he became even more aggressive, significantly affecting the team’s offense.

After more than 5 minutes into the second quarter, the Pistons’ head coach, John Kuester, called a timeout and brought in the starting lineup.

Chapter 262: Capturing the Dragon, 27 Consecutive Wins

Jose Calderon quickly drove the ball across half-court. Zhou Yi was already waiting at the three-point line, and the only player on the team capable of keeping up with his speed was Zhou Yi. Jose Calderon didn’t hold onto the ball for long; he passed it to Linas Krezas almost immediately. After catching the ball, Krezas rose up and shot, sending the ball in a perfect arc before swishing through the net.

Samuel Dalembert’s recent performance has increasingly disappointed the coaching staff. Not only has he lost his offensive impact, but his defensive efforts have also been disappointing. However, with the team having just made major moves, it’s unlikely they’ll make any further trades in the short term.

Zhou Yi and Jose Calderon were paired up for defense. Facing a player renowned for his speed in the league, Zhou Yi was naturally on high alert, slowly driving the ball across half-court.

As the two players drew closer, Jose Calderon’s expression grew increasingly serious. In their last match, they had been evenly matched; Zhou Yi’s sharp breakthroughs had left a deep impression on him, especially after studying the opponent’s tactics before the game. Now, Zhou Yi was the greatest threat to the team, and naturally, Jose Calderon would prioritize dealing with him. Multiple feints and changes of direction failed to deceive Jose Calderon. Despite several failed attempts at breaking through, Zhou Yi showed no sign of frustration, instead revealing a faint smile. Just as Jose Calderon couldn’t read his expression, Zhou Yi suddenly shrugged his right shoulder backward, turning 180 degrees while keeping his center of gravity slightly back, pressing his body tightly against Jose Calderon’s. Jose Calderon reacted quickly—after figuring out Zhou Yi’s intention, he thought swiftly. Yet his reaction was still a fraction too slow. By the time he tried to pull away, Zhou Yi had already moved to his right, using his right hand holding the ball to push slightly backward, his elbow hitting Jose Calderon’s waist to block his movement. It was so fast that not only did the referee fail to notice the trick, but even Jose Calderon suspected it was an accidental move. It seemed complicated, but it happened in an instant. The Raptors’ players didn’t have time to react and watched helplessly as Zhou Yi scored a jump shot. Being overwhelmed by Zhou Yi’s breakthrough, Jose Calderon felt upset, but it didn’t affect his judgment of the game. Halfway through, he quickly passed the ball to Linas Krezas on the right wing. The Pistons’ player closest to Linas Krezas was Samuel Dalembert, but instead of shooting, Linas Krezas started running at full speed, darting past Samuel Dalembert like lightning and charging toward the Pistons’ interior players. Using momentum, Linas Krezas quickly rose upward, ignoring Greg Monroe under the basket. At that moment, his eyes were fixed only on the hoop as he displayed his strength in mid-air. Greg Monroe’s eyes shone brightly as he shifted his weight slightly, focusing entirely on Linas Krezas. Since the opponent was ignoring his defense so much, it was time to give him a proper lesson.

The collision of Mars hitting Earth is about to take place in the Toronto arena. Under these circumstances, in a direct confrontation between the two, Linas Kleiza is at a disadvantage. Greg Monroe, who is ready to defend tightly under the basket, is already superior in physical strength. Even Ed Davis can’t guarantee that Kleiza can gain an advantage over Monroe in a one-on-one fight.

At the moment their bodies were about to collide, Kleiza suddenly twisted his body like a pretzel, turning his back to Monroe. His move was extremely sudden, and Monroe was clearly unprepared. But it’s no wonder—turning in mid-air under such conditions isn’t something an ordinary player can do.

Monroe’s right fist slammed into Kleiza’s left shoulder, causing the latter to tremble violently. But before he could be pushed to the floor by Monroe, a large hand reached out from between them, and the basketball miraculously appeared in that hand. With a gentle lift, the move was incredibly effortless.

“Swish”—there was no greater blow to Monroe than this. Despite his best efforts to block, the ball still went in, and he even gave the opponent a chance for a three-point shot.

John Kuester could only shake his head in frustration. Monroe’s defense had been solid just moments earlier, but Kleiza’s bizarre scoring turned all his efforts to nothing. In the Raptors, Kleiza’s performance isn’t very consistent, but he always manages to score incredible goals at critical moments. His unconventional playing style always gives his defenders a hard time.

Monroe delivered a powerful dunk, his forceful slam even sending Ed Davis out of the three-second zone.

Ed Davis took a mid-range jump shot, hitting the backboard and putting it in the basket.

Zhou Yi drove to the baseline, received a pass from inside, and hit a three-point jump shot.

Kleiza’s layup caused Samuel Dalmbert to foul, earning him two free throws, one of which he made.

In the first quarter, the Raptors abandoned their usual steady playstyle and engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the Pistons.