Chapter 92

After the start of the fourth quarter, it was Jose Barea who took charge of ball control for the Mavericks. This 2006 draft pick has been given significant attention since joining the Mavericks. He is quite efficient and handles critical plays in a manner reminiscent of Jason Kidd. The only drawback is the lack of Kidd’s elusive and unpredictable passing skills—many of Kidd’s brilliant passes came from angles that are hard to imagine, especially when it came to short passes, for which no one in the league could compare to him, which is why he was hailed as the league’s best playmaker.

With Jason Kidd out of the game, Zhou Yi became more aggressive. This was Barea’s fourth year in the NBA, and he had gained some experience, but Zhou Yi was confident he could contain his performance.

Barea quickly drove the ball across half-court. In terms of passing style, he followed in Jason Kidd’s footsteps—passing the ball as soon as he crossed half-court, scoring if possible, or quickly bringing it back if there was no chance to shoot. Meanwhile, his active movement gave him more options—this was the Mavericks’ style: the ball was constantly in motion, making it difficult for opponents to cut off their passing routes, and creating shooting opportunities in fast-paced plays.

After catching the ball, DeShawn Stevenson dribbled a bit before making a quick change of direction and charging toward the paint. Will Bynum appeared almost simultaneously in front of him. Realizing there was no chance to shoot, Stevenson didn’t hesitate—he stepped back and launched a long pass that traveled across a quarter of the court, over the heads of two Pistons players, and reached Jose Barea at the right-wing baseline.

The moment he threw the pass, Greg Monroe realized its intended target and immediately moved outside to provide help defense. With Samuel Dalembert in the paint, he only needed to cover briefly to give Zhou Yi and the others some time before he could retreat back inside.

As Greg Monroe stepped out to help defend, Barea glanced at the flying ball, gently supported it with his right hand, and gave it a slight push, sending it swiftly back in the original direction. Greg Monroe helplessly watched the ball fly over his head. The Mavericks’ playing style relied on flexible and varied passing; the players on the court all had solid passing skills. If there was no chance to shoot, they wouldn’t force it—they would ensure the ball reached an unguarded player as quickly as possible.

Shawn Marion lightly jumped, swiftly grabbing the ball. His body was slightly bent, with his back pressed tightly against Samuel Dalembert. With a slight push, he created some distance between the two, raising his right wrist holding the ball high—clearly getting ready to shoot a hook shot.

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

Shawn Marion quickly pulled his right wrist back behind him, causing the ball to lightly hit the ground and bounce perfectly into Brandon Haywood’s hands. Now with no one guarding him, he shouted loudly, leaped high, and executed a very violent dunk.

Greg Monroe and Zhou Yi exchanged helpless looks. Unnoticed, the Mavericks had taken control of the game’s rhythm.

With the Pistons initiating from the baseline, Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball across half-court. Jose Barea, guarding him, felt uneasy. He had watched Jason Kidd and Zhou Yi compete for so long from the sidelines.

Jose Barea knew he didn’t possess Jason Kidd’s skills or his extensive experience. If he could maintain a calm mindset, he might be able to contain Zhou Yi’s drives. But even before they clashed, he already felt uncertain, becoming flustered and altering his defensive stance.

After half a season of testing, Zhou Yi had grown significantly stronger. Seeing Jose Barea’s nervous expression, he understood what was going on. Based on his knowledge of Barea, his defensive skills were definitely on par with Jason Kidd’s. His defense relied more on speed—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so easily overwhelmed by the Mavericks. Jose Barea’s footwork was fast, and he also had a clear advantage in stamina compared to Jason Kidd.

Zhou Yi didn’t rush to break through. Standing outside the three-point line, he controlled the ball rhythmically, a faint smile on his face. To Jose Barea, it was hard to figure out what he was thinking, especially with those dark eyes fixed intently on him—unclear of his intentions. In a state of panic, he instinctively lowered his gaze, forgetting he was on the court, subconsciously avoiding his stare and focusing on the ball in his hands.

Zhou Yi didn’t become complacent because of this. Seizing the moment his attention was distracted, he easily broke through Jose Barea with a quick change of direction. Once he started moving, he became completely calm. With his speed, as long as he got going, no one in the league could catch up to him over such a short distance.

Unfazed by Sean Marion’s counterdefense, Zhou Yi was well-prepared. He planted his right foot, spun quickly in place, and suddenly leaned into Sean Marion’s arms. Pushing with both hands, he sent the ball straight through the paint to Will Bynum, who was unguarded on the right wing. Bynum caught the ball, jumped, and swished it through the net.

Sean Marion’s jumper from the left wing missed, and Brandon Haywood quickly drove the ball into the basket.

Zhou Yi shot a three from above the arc, which sank cleanly.

Greg Monroe played a key role in this three-point shot. It was his clever pass that drew the Mavericks’ defenders away, allowing the ball to reach Zhou Yi, who was unguarded.

Brandon Haywood’s drive to the basket failed, but Greg Monroe gently pushed Ian Mahinmi’s waist with his right elbow, causing the ball to fall into his hands. With a long pass, Zhou Yi, who had been lurking in the middle of the court, rushed down and scored.

Jose Barea used his teammate’s screen to get past Zhou Yi’s defense and directly attacked the Pistons’ basket, scoring a layup.

Greg Monroe caught Zhou Yi’s perfect pass, dunked for a score, and also forced a foul on Ian Mahinmi, securing a 2+1.

Warm applause filled the Auburn Hills Palace. The Pistons had been on the defensive all this time, keeping the home crowd worried. Now that their team was gradually turning the game around, they were naturally very happy.

Jason Kidd had been on the bench for less than four minutes when the Pistons scored a 11-6 run, tying the score at 108-108.

This made Rick Carlisle restless, as he rushed to the sidelines several times to give instructions. Jose Barea’s poor performance against Zhou Yi had severely hampered the team’s offense.

A passing mistake by Jose Barea allowed Greg Monroe to easily steal the ball, and with a long pass across half the court, he assisted Will Bynum in scoring. Bynum’s layup helped the Pistons take a 2-point lead, 110-108, regaining control of the game. Rick Carlisle quickly brought Jason Kidd back into the game, while Dirk Nowitzki substituted Ian Mahinmi. John Kuester also took the opportunity to replace Zhou Yi, as the fast pace of the game quickly depleted Zhou Yi’s energy. To prepare for the rest of the game, he was taken off for a few minutes, with Tracy McGrady stepping in. Kuester’s decision was criticized by most media after the game, deemed his biggest mistake of the match. While Carlisle brought back the starting lineup, Kuester removed their key player, causing the pace of the game to shift back in favor of the Mavericks. By the time Kuester realized his error, the Mavericks had already built a large lead. Kuester had been focused on the Mavericks’ fatigue, thinking that bringing in Zhou Yi to restore their energy would allow them to win easily in the final minutes. But he forgot that the Mavericks’ bench strength was far superior to that of the Pistons. Dirk Nowitzki’s recent injury had indirectly helped some of the team’s bench players improve. In just three minutes, the Pistons experienced their worst stretch of the season. Under Jason Kidd’s leadership, the Mavericks unleashed their offensive power, leaving the Pistons’ players in distress. The Pistons not only struggled defensively but also failed to maintain their offensive rhythm, making continuous mistakes. 15-4 was the score difference during those three minutes. The Pistons managed only two shots to score, with their shooters failing at critical moments, even missing free throws. Kuester deeply regretted his earlier decision. Seeing the Mavericks about to take a double-digit lead, he quickly called a timeout. Chapter 269: Is the 28-Consecutive-Wins Streak Over? The situation reversed dramatically; the two teams, which were tied in the third quarter, ended up with such a starkly different outcome after the Pistons made a substitution.

The Pistons players clearly looked displeased, with John Kuester especially showing signs of anger. He hadn’t realized how essential Zhou Yi had become to the Pistons. Now, Zhou Yi was even more indispensable to the team. In such intense matches, with Zhou Yi in charge of the team’s offense, the team’s performance was completely different with or without him. What he found even more unbelievable was that he had made such a foolish mistake—persisting in his own way when the team’s offense was in trouble. Perhaps he really had to pay for his errors.

A 10-point deficit after seven minutes wasn’t an insurmountable gap. But with the Pistons’ morale already low, John Kuester felt like he was shooting himself in the foot. He said seriously, “I don’t want to say much about the just-played game. I can’t see the professionalism expected from professional players in your defense against their fierce attacks. It’s terrible. Of course, I also bear significant responsibility. It’s pointless to assign blame now. With seven minutes left, I hope to see the once invincible Pistons again. Don’t forget—we defeated the Mavericks not long ago. I expect to see everyone’s true strength in the remaining games.”

After scolding them a bit, John Kuester still encouraged them. Blaming them endlessly wouldn’t boost the team’s morale much; on the contrary, it might backfire.

When the game resumed, the Pistons sent out their starting lineup again. The 10-point gap had pushed them into a desperate situation, and the Mavericks’ offense had plunged them into crisis.

As he slowly drove the ball toward the half-court, Zhou Yi’s mind 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 collapsed and they were unable to stop the Mavericks’ fast breaks, several Pistons players began to feel desperate and want to give up. Watching the opponents effortlessly weave around 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 all his teammates clearly not in form, the burden of scoring naturally fell on him alone. Remembering the encouraging look from coach John Kuester before the game, though he didn’t say anything, Zhou Yi understood the meaning in his eyes. This next shot was crucial to the match—if he could successfully shoot the ball into the basket, there was still hope for the game. Failure would undoubtedly deal another blow to morale, and trying to turn the score around would be nothing but delusion.

Jason Kidd kept his attention on Zhou Yi. Based on his understanding of Zhou Yi’s exceptional ability to read the game, he knew exactly how important this next shot was for the Pistons. Right now, the Pistons’ outside shooters had almost lost all 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. A shooter without confidence lacks the ability and courage to make a decisive move at critical moments.

Although Greg Monroe kept trying to fight back, he lacked support from outside players, and Dirk Nowitzki’s relentless defense forced him to focus more on positioning under the basket and protecting rebounds, leaving him no extra energy for offense. More importantly, the Mavericks used 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 court is under the basket—there, it’s not just about having good skills or physical strength; teamwork and timing are also essential. The Pistons’ outside passes were of poor quality, making it hard for Greg Monroe to find a comfortable shooting position. While he kept adjusting his position in search of an opportunity, the Mavericks’ inside players had already prepared defenses against his attacks, resulting in wasted time.

With his mind made up, Zhou Yi no longer hesitated. Looking at Jason Kidd just a few steps away, he was filled with confidence. He had always respected Jason Kidd’s experience, but his speed was clearly inferior to his own, meaning his defense was also much weaker. He could easily break through and score.

However, things weren’t that simple. In a team like the Mavericks that excelled both offensively and defensively, aside from Jason Kidd, there were surely countermeasures. The Mavericks’ ability to switch defenses was just as fast as their offensive speed.

At this point, Jason Kidd couldn’t afford to slack off even a bit. Logically, one or two shots shouldn’t shake their lead, but only they knew the strain they were under. After playing against the Pistons all this time, the whole team was exhausted. The halftime break simply couldn’t make up for the exhaustion from the first half.

Zhou Yi moved slowly with the ball, but he gave off a sense of stability. The Mavericks players didn’t try reckless steals; given Zhou Yi’s composure, his tendency to be careless was minimal. Only against such an excellent ball handler could there be any chance of a steal, if only because his defense would show a slight gap during an attempt to break through.

As the two players drew closer, Jason Kidd crouched slightly, spreading his arms slightly, and made up his mind—no matter what, he had to block this shot. Even if he couldn’t stop it completely, he had to buy time for his teammates to come to help.

He was almost certain that Zhou Yi wouldn’t choose to pass the ball. But in special situations, even Jason Kidd, who usually preferred passing, didn’t think Zhou Yi’s attempt to drive was a problem—it might even be a wise move. Perhaps in the next two seasons, Zhou Yi could truly surpass him and become the league’s best point guard.

Besides his talent for passing, Zhou Yi was clearly better at scoring than him. Although he always appeared steady with his shots and a high shooting percentage, his scoring performance was even more outstanding. With an average of 22.3 points per game this season, he ranked first among rookies, and his 53.2% shooting percentage was among the highest among all point guards.

His 48.7% three-point shooting percentage, based on an average of 3.7 three-point attempts per game, was even more remarkable. In the league, few players who take that many three-point attempts per game manage a shooting percentage around 40%.

When Zhou Yi broke through Jason Kidd, his quick reflexes allowed him to react immediately, but his physical response was still a step too slow. Zhou Yi’s quick stop-and-shoot was successful, and Sean Marion, who came to help, was still a step behind. But it wasn’t his fault—he never expected Jason Kidd to be broken through so easily. As he aged, defense was no longer Jason Kidd’s strength.

John Kuester finally sat back down—his buttocks hadn’t touched the seat the whole time. At the moment the ball went through the basket, he saw renewed fighting spirit in the Pistons players. It wasn’t easy to regain lost morale in such a short time. The Mavericks’ small-ball strategy still posed a challenge for the Pistons, but thankfully, Zhou Yi’s entry reduced the pressure on Greg Monroe in the paint. Two crucial one-on-one situations kept the score close, preventing the Mavericks from widening the gap. John Kuester was fairly satisfied with the current situation on the court. Although the other players hadn’t scored yet, they were gradually returning to their normal defensive form. The Mavericks’ offense had been going well so far, but it wasn’t as smooth as in the first half of the fourth quarter. He was waiting for an opportunity. So far, the Mavericks seemed to be running out of energy, but with Rick Carlisle making several substitutions, the problem wasn’t severe enough to significantly impact their offense. Sean Marion pulled to the perimeter to set a screen, and Jason Kidd slipped to the baseline, adjusted his rhythm, then shot. The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air as Jason Kidd clenched his right fist, watching the spinning ball. “Clang”—Jason Kidd’s seemingly sure shot accidentally missed and went off the rim. Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound, passed it to Zhou Yi, and immediately rushed toward the front court. At this point in the game, Greg Monroe felt frustrated, watching the Mavericks’ shorter players score right in front of his eyes, while he was blocked by Dirk Nowitzki, allowing the Pistons to run rampant in their own paint. Zhou Yi moved extremely fast—no Mavericks player could keep up with him, not even Jason Kidd, who was left several steps behind. The only threat to him was Sean Marion, who had returned to the middle court quickly after Jason Kidd shot. The situation was unfavorable for Zhou Yi—Sean Marion was watching closely ahead, and Mavericks players like Jason Kidd were closing in fast from behind. If he made a mistake, he’d be trapped between two pressures. Even the closest Pistons player was several meters behind Jason Kidd. He had to rely on himself.

Zhou Yi’s figure grew closer and closer to the Mavericks’ three-point line, while Sean Marion 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.

To his surprise, Zhou Yi stopped right at the free-throw line. Sean Marion grew anxious—again, the quick stop and jump shot. Many players in the league could do this, but few were truly skilled at it. It required high levels of physical coordination and shooting touch, and it seemed the man before him was very good at it. In their previous encounters, Zhou Yi had repeatedly used this move, driving the Mavericks’ defenders to the brink of frustration.

Sean Marion was ultimately faster, jumping quickly to completely block Zhou Yi’s shooting angle. He was confident that if Zhou Yi dared to shoot, he could definitely swat the ball away.

Sean Marion’s defense was indeed solid—reacting so quickly 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 at any time to score.

Zhou Yi managed to control his body in time. His physical abilities were outstanding; at the moment he was about to jump, he somehow stopped rising, lowering his center of gravity slightly, and quickly slipped past Sean Marion in a crouched position. With a slight shake of his wrist, he sent the ball through the net.

It seemed the Mavericks’ luck ran out as well, with Jason Kidd’s shot missing. Several consecutive attacks ended in failure. The Pistons also struggled to find their rhythm, but they still managed a 9-4 run.

Rick Carlisle had no choice but to call a timeout. Fortunately, the Mavericks’ bench had improved significantly this year. They never lacked scorers off the bench—four of their three-point shooters had a success rate of over 40%. Jose Barea and Jason Terry were brought in.

At that point, the score was 116:120, with the Pistons still 4 points behind.

After the timeout, the Mavericks, led by Jason Terry and Jose Barea, scored a 7-2 run, regaining a 9-point lead. This setback dealt a major blow to the Pistons’ morale. John Kuester sat down on the bench—the narrow lead they had just regained was once again lost.

But it wasn’t entirely fruitless—the Mavericks’ offense was no longer as sharp as in the first three quarters, and their fatigue was gradually becoming apparent. Yet their lead at this point was enough to let them rely on it. With 5 minutes and 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks led 131-120, by 11 points. To many, the outcome of this game seemed almost settled. Theoretically, less than half a quarter could be enough to close a 11-point gap, but given the Pistons’ current form, it seemed the game would indeed enter garbage time. John Kuester glanced at the situation on the court and called a timeout. He shook his head helplessly—the Pistons played terribly in that half quarter. Without Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance, the game would have long been lost. After the timeout, the Mavericks’ offense remained fierce. A mistake by Jason Kidd allowed Zhou Yi to steal the ball in the middle court and shoot a three from the right wing. However, his shot seemed a bit late, and the Mavericks’ players didn’t pay much attention to it. With 4 minutes and 3 seconds left, Zhou Yi received a perfect pass from Greg Monroe at the baseline, jumped, shot, and the ball traced a beautiful arc before going through the net. The Pistons were now down 8 points, at 128-136. Jason Kidd’s long shot missed, and Greg Monroe jumped up to grab the rebound. By then, Zhou Yi had already crossed half court; a long pass was passed to him, and he scored another 2 points with a layup. Jason Terry caught a perfect pass from Jason Kidd at the top of the key, shot a three that counted as a foul on McGrady, scoring 4 points in total. The score stood at 130-140, with the Pistons still 10 points behind. 10 points, with 3 minutes and 40 seconds left—it was extremely difficult for the Pistons, a team that struggled both offensively and defensively, to close that gap in such a short time. Greg Monroe’s layup missed, and Brandon Haywood grabbed the defensive rebound. Dirk Nowitzki’s mid-range shot missed, and Greg Monroe quickly secured the rebound and passed it to Zhou Yi. The Pistons’ offense saw McGrady shoot from beyond the three-point line but miss, with Samuel Dalembert scoring a free throw. Sean Marion stepped out to block, and Jason Kidd took advantage of the opening to shoot a three that went in. The atmosphere in the Auburn Hills Palace instantly turned tense as everyone watched the game anxiously.

Zhou Yi took a 45-degree three-point shot from the right wing. Jason Kidd, who had been shadowing him the whole time, naturally wouldn’t let him succeed easily. The moment Zhou Yi released the ball, Kidd touched his right hand. Such an obvious foul couldn’t go unnoticed by the referee, so Zhou Yi’s free throws were a certainty—he made all three effortlessly. With three full minutes left in the game, Rick Carlisle called a timeout to stabilize the team’s morale. With an 8-point lead, the Mavericks still held complete control. While their aggressive fast breaks could put immense pressure on the Pistons, they also increased the chances of mistakes. Two of Zhou Yi’s recent three-point shots came from mistakes by the Mavericks that gave him opportunities. Thus, defense was now the most important thing for the Mavericks—they had to strengthen their defense without giving up on offense, which would make ending the Pistons’ 28-game winning streak no problem. After the timeout, the Mavericks sent out their strongest defensive lineup. In Rick Carlisle’s philosophy, defense was more important than offense. The reason they had been outscored by the Pistons earlier was that their defense hadn’t put enough pressure on them, allowing them to catch their breath. So now, they needed to apply maximum defensive intensity against the Pistons. Chapter 270: Defeat—The 28-Game Winning Streak Ends! Sean Marion once again pulled up at the top of the key to block, and after Jason Kidd easily broke through, he immediately passed the ball to Sean Marion, who turned and scored with a jump shot. As the Pistons built momentum, Sean Marion’s mid-range shot came at just the right time, stabilizing the Mavericks’ morale, which had started to waver, and widened the score gap to 10 points again. With two minutes and fifty seconds left, Zhou Yi made a passing mistake, and Jason Kidd launched a long pass that helped Jason Terry score inside. John Kuester decisively called a timeout. Although several players were performing well on the court and playing hard defensively, their mentality was too extreme, leading to unnecessary mistakes in passing details. Zhou Yi’s passing mistake earlier had a crucial impact on the game’s outcome. But after the timeout, looking at the players on the bench, John Kuester was hesitant—given their previous performance, he wasn’t confident enough to send them in.

The Pistons’ players clearly understood John Kuester’s intention to call a timeout, and they were also aware of his hesitation from his uncertain gaze. Will Bynum stepped forward and said, “Coach, let me play!” Seeing Kuester’s puzzled look, Bynum took a deep breath and said carefully, “Coach, I know my performance just now wasn’t great, but I understand the team’s situation better. What the team needs most now is stability. I think I can help Zhou the most—assist him with organizing the offense and pass the ball to him in a timely manner.” The other key players also volunteered to play. Seeing the hopeful look in their eyes, Kuester felt deeply moved. With Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance, the Pistons’ morale had been boosted. At this point in the game, Kuester felt no regrets regardless of the outcome, as he had successfully lifted the players’ spirits, making the rest of the game easier to handle. The unity among the team members made Greg Monroe feel pleased as well. The teammates’ laziness in the first half made him think they had become complacent due to their good record. But thankfully, it seemed the crisis had passed, and instead, the Pistons were more united than ever. When the game resumed, the Pistons’ starting lineup surprised many. The team’s bench players had performed well earlier, and although they still needed improvement in details, they were undoubtedly more reliable than the starting players. Rick Carlisle somewhat understood that thanks to Zhou Yi’s outstanding play, the Pistons had an edge in morale over the Mavericks. However, Zhou Yi’s passing mistakes had a significant impact on the game. At this critical moment, the Pistons needed to ensure they made no mistakes, and aside from Zhou Yi, Will Bynum was the most capable of doing so.

Zhou Yi and Will Bynum’s coverage in the outside area allowed the ball to reach McGrady in the right wing. With no one in front of him, all eyes instantly focused on him. This was undoubtedly a crucial shot. Against the strong Mavericks, Zhou Yi’s individual efforts were simply not enough. The Mavericks’ poor defense was also a major reason for his outstanding performance earlier. But now, no matter where Zhou Yi went, Jason Terry would stick closely to him, and Jason Kidd, not far away, also paid close attention. As soon as the ball showed signs of being passed his way, he would abandon his defensive player and step forward to double-team Zhou Yi.

Only if the entire Pistons team worked together could they create a miracle. Such an open shot was naturally the best opportunity. In previous games, McGrady had taken twelve shots but only made four, missing several excellent shooting chances as well.

With a “swish,” the basketball went through the net!

McGrady swung his arm vigorously, while the home crowd cheered loudly in support of their team.

Watching the Pistons regain their momentum, Jason Kidd was deeply impressed. Under such difficult circumstances, Zhou Yi had managed to help the team regain its strength all by himself—a skill that was rare in the league.

Faced with the Pistons’ offensive push, the Mavericks did not lose their fighting spirit. Their hard-earned lead seemed to give them confidence to win. In the face of the Pistons’ counterattack, their determination grew even stronger.

Jason Kidd quickly drove past half-court and passed the ball to Jason Terry, who stepped forward, raised his hands slightly, and scored a mid-range shot.

With the teams switching sides, Will Bynum quickly drove past half-court. Jason Kidd’s several attempts to steal the ball were skillfully avoided. At critical moments, his steady performance was quite reassuring.

At this point, Zhou Yi had completely taken on less responsibility in organizing the offense, and even the outside defense no longer revolved around him. In John Kuester’s words, the only thing Zhou Yi needed to do now was move around and shoot freely once he got the ball.

After catching the ball at the baseline, Jason Terry appeared beside him immediately. But Zhou Yi seemed to ignore the defensive player in front of him, jumped high, and gently lifted the ball with both hands.

Unexpecting Zhou Yi’s boldness, Jason Terry quickly tried to block the shot. From such close range, he doubted Zhou Yi could still shoot.

“Swish!” Jason Terry didn’t expect Zhou Yi to act so quickly; he simply didn’t have time to react. Over the years in the league, he had seen many players with fast shooting speeds, including Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ current star, whose shooting speed was also among the best in the league. During regular training, he had often witnessed Jason Kidd’s shots, but he could guarantee that Kidd’s speed was definitely not as fast as Zhou Yi’s. Moreover, at that moment, Zhou Yi’s shot seemed to carry an unstoppable momentum.

Sean Marion received a pass from Jason Kidd, turned, and hit a jump shot.

Zhou Yi easily broke past Jason Kidd and quickly passed the ball to Will Bynum, who shot effortlessly. Unfortunately, it seemed he still hadn’t found his rhythm yet, as the ball missed the target.

Greg Monroe tightly held Sean Marion back and easily secured the rebound, then passed the ball to Zhou Yi.

“Swish!” Another three-pointer!

This was already Zhou Yi’s third three-pointer in this quarter. The Pistons’ bench players immediately cheered, and the home arena was filled with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

There was still one minute and forty seconds left in the game, with the score at 147-136, a 11-point difference. There was still a chance to close it within almost two minutes.

For the Pistons, the best option was to take advantage of the Mavericks’ fatigue to take the lead. Even if it went to overtime, it wouldn’t be a good outcome for the Mavericks. Although they already showed signs of fatigue, Zhou Yi’s stamina was even more concerning—whether he could hold up through the rest of the game was doubtful. The reason the Pistons could compete with the Mavericks was thanks to Zhou Yi, Tracy McGrady, and Greg Monroe, who were the team’s key three-point shooters. Greg Monroe’s defense and offense in the paint gave the Pistons more options, while Zhou Yi matched up well against the league’s best point guards, even showing greater scoring ability in critical moments than Jason Kidd.

Under McGrady’s screen, Zhou Yi shot from a 45-degree angle on the right wing and hit the shot. However, he lost his balance upon landing and sat down on the floor, but he quickly got back up.

At the moment Zhou Yi caught the ball, two Mavericks defenders had already tightly surrounded him. Although there was help from teammates, Jason Terry remained in a favorable defensive position. As Zhou Yi jumped, he accurately judged his shooting point, but Zhou Yi’s astonishing shooting speed once again thwarted Terry’s defense.

With this three-point shot, the Pistons finally brought the score back to single digits. The home crowd was overjoyed as the gap narrowed suddenly when the game seemed lost.

Jason Kidd made a passing mistake, and the Pistons took advantage with a brilliant fast break. Tracy McGrady scored by dunking, easily adding 2 points.

Faced with the Pistons’ fierce offensive push, the Mavericks didn’t just focus on defense. After Jason Kidd and Sean Marion hit three-pointers in succession, with 1.05 seconds left in the game, the Mavericks widened their lead to 156-143, essentially securing the victory.

The ball was in the Pistons’ possession, but they seemed flustered. Will Bynum handled the ball carelessly, throwing it onto the backboard, where it was stolen by Jason Terry. Jason Kidd rushed to the basket, scored by dunking and drawing a foul. Although the free throw missed, with 48 seconds left, the Mavericks regained a 15-point lead.

Zhou Yi took advantage of Will Bynum’s screen and hit another three-pointer from the baseline. But this shot came too late—the Pistons’ defeat was almost inevitable.

A 29-game winning streak was out of the question, and the Pistons were destined to lose.

With Greg Monroe’s last-second shot missing, the Pistons lost at home 148-158, ending their 28-game winning streak.

After such a long streak of victories, the Pistons finally suffered a loss. However, they weren’t discouraged because they had reason to be proud—they had created a miracle.

By ending the Pistons’ 28-game winning streak, the Mavericks extended their own winning streak to 9 games.

This game was truly great—the total score of both teams exceeded 300 points, making it the highest-scoring game since the start of this season.

Although the score was high, it doesn’t mean the teams’ defenses were poor. On the contrary, both teams defended very well, but their shooting form was simply too hot, leading to such a high score.

Fans who came to the Auburn Hills Palace to watch the game praised it as the most exciting match they had seen so far. Although their home team lost, it wasn’t a disappointing loss. Jason Kidd of the Mavericks performed exceptionally well, scoring 28 points and delivering 18 assists, especially in the second half. It was Kidd’s outstanding performance in the second half that allowed the Mavericks to mount a comeback, take the lead, and ultimately win the game, ending the Pistons’ 28-game winning streak. Jason Terry also had a great game, scoring a season-high 30 points, along with 6 rebounds and 3 steals; Dirk Nowitzki played fairly solidly, hitting 7 out of 14 shots for 18 points and 7 rebounds; Sean Marion scored 20 points and 8 rebounds; Jose Barea scored 15 points, and Brandon Haywood scored 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Mavericks’ overall shooting percentage was an impressive 56.8%, with their three-point shooting at 51.2%. The Pistons also had a high shooting percentage of 53.1%, with their three-point shooting at 49.1%. Zhou Yi scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, bringing his total for the game to 36 points—the highest of the match—along with 13 assists, 3 steals, and 5 rebounds. Greg Monroe scored 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks; McGrady had a double-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists; James Posey hit 5 out of 7 three-point attempts, scoring 18 points and 6 rebounds; Samuel Dalembert also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds; among the substitutes, Will Bynum scored double digits with 12 points and 6 assists; Tychon Prince scored 11 points and 6 rebounds; Ben Gordon scored 10 points. The Pistons played very well in this game, with eight of their 11 players scoring double digits. However, the Mavericks were simply lucky enough to have a higher shooting percentage than the Pistons. After this loss, under John Kuester’s guidance, the Pistons became more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. In the post-game summary, John Kuester said to his players, “We lost this game, but I think it was worth it. Through this game, we can recognize the gap between us and other teams. It serves as a reminder that we must never be careless and must take every opponent seriously.”

After facing Jason Kidd this time, Zhou Yi also learned a lesson: never underestimate your opponent, no matter how old or weak he may be! As for the Pistons’ management, they also saw clearly through this game the gap between their team and those top-tier strong teams. After the game, the same idea arose in their minds: a trade! Seek a trade!!!

Chapter 271: Planning a Trade

The morning after the game against the Mavericks, Zhou Yi was awakened early by a phone call. It was Blake, who told him something very important. Upon hearing this news, Zhou Yi was instantly fully awake. Blake told Zhou Yi that the Pistons were very likely to seek a trade recently, with the goal of winning this season’s championship. The Pistons’ management was determined to turn the team into a championship-contending force through this trade. And already, rumors about this were spreading online.

After hearing Blake’s words, Zhou Yi quickly turned on his computer to check news about the Pistons’ potential trade. Lately, Zhou Yi had rarely used the internet, only checking his emails. He simply typed in “Pistons trade,” and many articles appeared immediately. Most of these articles came out after the game against the Mavericks, though some rumors had been around for a while. Zhou Yi opened several articles and read them carefully.

“On January 18th, according to multiple sources, the Pistons are very active in the trade market. ESPN reporter Sean Sam even revealed that the Pistons are expected to complete two major trades at once, acquiring Andre Iguodala from the 76ers and Marcus Camby from the Trail Blazers. With about a month left before the trade deadline, the Pistons, who have performed exceptionally well this season, are actively seeking changes to give themselves a real chance to win the championship, rather than being seen as just an underdog team. The Pistons’ general manager, Joe Dumars, is already working on these big trades; he is one of the most active GMs in the market right now. Joe Dumars’ top target is naturally the 76ers’ star player, Andre Iguodala. Although Iguodala prefers to join the Houston Rockets, given that the Rockets lack sufficient trade assets this season, it’s not certain he’ll get his wish, which gives other teams a chance.”

Based on the current situation, Joe Dumars is willing to consider using Teyshawn Prince, Juan Sammes, along with some cash or future draft picks as trade assets to acquire this top-tier league star. After the Pistons have achieved such impressive results, they need another star player to bolster their team and address their weakness in scoring in critical moments. Additionally, Joe Dumars and the Pistons’ management are confident that even after acquiring Andre Iguodala and losing Teyshawn Prince, the team’s defensive quality won’t decline given their enhanced offensive capabilities. They also believe that with the Pistons’ current success, Andre Iguodala would likely want to join the Detroit Pistons as well.

The overall assessment of Andre Iguodala is that watching him play reminds many people of Scottie Pippen—selfless on the court, with excellent physical conditioning, remarkable jumping ability, and an extraordinary reach. He is a versatile player who can play multiple positions, has recorded multiple triple-doubles, and possesses the potential to become a superstar.

Offensively, Andre Iguodala has outstanding scoring abilities, especially in critical moments, with his offensive skills continuously improving. Defensively, he was one of the best one-on-one defenders among rookies in 2004; his NBA draft template was Doug Christie. His perimeter defense is top-tier across the league, allowing him to defend three positions on the outside. He also has a very aggressive defensive attitude and strong rebounding skills for a guard, with his long reach enabling him to steal many balls.

While losing Teyshawn Prince may have a significant negative impact on the Pistons in the short term, they will surely reap great benefits over time. If they manage to acquire Anthony as planned, Joe Dumars’ next target might be the Trail Blazers’ center, Marcus Camby. Although Marcus Camby is over 36, he still averages 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this season. He is also one of the best replacements for the Pistons’ center position since Ben Wallace retired.

According to Sean Sam, the Pistons are exploring the feasibility of these two trades, which would undoubtedly be earth-shattering if completed. Of course, these are still just rumors until they become reality. The Pistons’ attempt to acquire both Andre Iguodala and Marcus Camby faces fierce competition from other teams, making it a challenging task. But at least it shows the Pistons’ strong desire to win a championship this season and their determination to make big moves.

Seeing these reports, Zhou Yi sighed. Although he also hoped the team would get stronger and perform better in the playoffs, he was somewhat upset at the idea that Tyshawn Prince might be used as a trade asset, especially after having worked with him for so long. However, it wasn’t something he could change. If the Pistons’ management really decided to pursue trades, no one could stop them.

Despite the rampant trade rumors, the Pistons continued with their regular training routines. Everything would proceed as usual until a trade happened. In the afternoon, Zhou Yi was once again the first to arrive at the training facility, putting in intense workouts. It was an hour and a half before the other Pistons players showed up one by one.

Tomorrow, the Pistons will head to Boston to face the Celtics again. This is another tough match for them after losing to the Dallas Mavericks. Before this tough game, the Pistons must train hard to shake off their negative mindset and bring their best performance to win the match.

…

At 4 p.m. on January 19th, the Pistons boarded their team plane and flew to Boston. By 5 p.m., they arrived at the hotel reserved for them in Boston. After lunch, at 6:30 p.m., they headed to the Bank of America Garden in Boston’s North End. In the visiting team’s locker room, head coach John Kuester outlined the tactics for tonight’s game, after which all the Pistons players headed onto the court.

The game would officially start at 7:30 p.m.!

The Pistons’ starting five were: center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Tyshawn Prince, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi.

The Celtics’ core five players were: Shaquille O’Neal at center, Kevin Garnett at power forward, Paul Pierce at shooting guard, Ray Allen at small forward, and Rajon Rondo at point guard.

The game began when the referee’s whistle sounded.

Chapter 272: Boston
“Good morning, everyone! Welcome to watch the NBA 2010-2011 regular-season game between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics, brought to you by Chaoting Wutai, on time via television. I’m Yu Jia, and today we’re honored to have Teacher Xu Jicheng as our commentator for this match,” Yu Jia said with a smile.
“Hello, I’m Xu Jicheng…” Teacher Xu appeared on the screen.
“In their last game, the Celtics won at home against the Orlando Magic, led by ‘The Dark Lord’ Howard. Ray Allen scored 26 points, and Kevin Garnett, back in action, scored 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. He also made a crucial steal, preventing the opponent from tying the score. The Boston Celtics ultimately defeated the Orlando Magic 109-106 at home, thanks to the solid performance of their core trio at key moments. The Celtics have now won three consecutive games and are 6-3 without Garnett. Hehe… Now, looking at the Pistons, they lost their last game to the Dallas Mavericks, ending their impressive 28-game winning streak. However, from the games so far this half-season, it’s clear that the Pistons definitely have the strength to reach the Eastern Conference finals! This year, although all three core players are a year older, none of them can be underestimated, especially with Garnett back in action. It will be very difficult for the Pistons to beat them.” Xu Jicheng glanced at the information on his computer and said with a smile.
“Well, the Pistons just lost a game, while the Celtics have won three in a row and have the home advantage. It’s really not easy for the Pistons to win. The biggest highlight of this game will surely be the matchup between Chinese player Zhou Yi and LaMarcus Aldridge. In their last game, Zhou Yi performed exceptionally well against veteran Jason Kidd. I believe he’ll deliver another great performance in this game as well.”
“Alright, the game is about to start. One more thing—everyone can send text messages to xxxxxxxx to choose your favorite team. We’ll give away a nice gift after each quarter, including an NBA jersey from xxx brand and Garnett’s signature boots. We hope everyone will actively send text messages to participate in today’s interactive event. Four lucky viewers will be selected today. Well, let’s hand over the camera to the scene.” Yu Jia used the same old clichés.

“The big screen on site has already shown the starting lineups for both teams. Pistons: center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, shooting forward Teyshawn Prince, point guard Tracy McGrady, and guard Zhou Yi. Celtics: Shaquille O’Neal at five, Kevin Garnett at four, Paul Pierce at three, Ray Allen at two, and LaDainian Tomlinson at one. Alright, Garnett and Monroe have done the jump ball — the game is underway.”

As the game started, the two teams’ main centers competed for possession, with Shaquille O’Neal clearly defeating Ben Wallace, giving the Celtics the first possession. LaDainian Tomlinson received a pass from a teammate, drove into the Pistons’ half, and orchestrated the Celtics’ first attack. At the top of the key, he stopped and passed the ball to Kevin Garnett underneath the basket. Garnett faced Greg Monroe and attempted a backdoor jump shot, which missed, with Ben Wallace grabbing the defensive rebound.

Zhou Yi took control of the ball as players moved into their offensive and defensive positions. After crossing half-court, he passed the ball to McGrady, who then passed it to Greg Monroe in the paint. Greg Monroe decided to attack immediately. He quickly spun, dribbled past Shaquille O’Neal guarding him, then took three big steps into the Celtics’ basket, raising his right hand with the ball as he jumped. “Swish!” Shaquille O’Neal hit Greg Monroe’s right hand, committing a foul in an attempt to stop him. If it were the old Shaquille, Greg Monroe’s shot would have been blocked. But the “Shark” was no longer what he used to be, and Greg Monroe was gradually becoming a top-tier power forward in the league.

“Ah~~~” With a fierce roar, Greg Monroe ignored the foul and slammed the ball into the basket. “Bang!” The ball went in! “Bleep!” The referee blew the whistle, calling Shaquille O’Neal’s foul. The shot counted, and there was also a free throw — Greg Monroe scored 2+1 right at the start of the game. Although it was the Celtics’ home court, Shaquille’s foul was too obvious, so even the home referee had no choice but to call it.

“Hehe, Greg Monroe has really grown a lot after going through half a season of competition. Right at the start of the game, he scored a 2+1 right over Shaquille O’Neal! That’s dominance! That’s the kind of dominance only a top-tier center can possess! The Pistons are really lucky this year to have Zhou Yi as well as a talented center like Greg Monroe!”
“Great job, Greg!” Tychon Prince high-fived Greg Monroe, his face filled with excitement, because the better Monroe performed in the paint, the higher the Pistons’ chances of winning that day! So how could he not be excited when Monroe showed such dominance right from the start?
Greg Monroe chuckled lightly, high-fiving each of his teammates to celebrate, then stepped to the free-throw line to take his shots.
Doug Rivers, the Celtics’ head coach, watched Greg Monroe, who now exuded such dominance and power, and couldn’t help but glance at Shaquille O’Neal, recalling O’Neal’s peak form—absolute dominance under the basket!
Doug Rivers frowned, feeling anxious. If Greg Monroe continued to play like this, the Celtics’ chances of losing that day would be very high.
“Swish!” The extra shot also went in, giving the Pistons a 3:0 start!
It was the Celtics’ turn to play. Paul Pierce held the ball, with Tychon Prince guarding him. After half the court, Pierce shifted his focus to Rajon Rondo and passed the ball to him. But McGrady seemed to have anticipated this, so as soon as Pierce passed, he immediately moved to steal the ball and drove alone toward the Celtics’ half-court, with no one else able to catch up to him!
McGrady rushed across the midcourt and entered the Celtics’ paint. Behind him, the Celtics players who had tried to chase him had given up. The closest Celtics player to McGrady was now nearly 4 meters away!
McGrady rushed into the paint, took three steps, and leaped into the air.
He stretched his body in mid-air, raising his right hand holding the ball, giving off a graceful, effortless appearance that made people’s hearts race with excitement!
“Thud!”
Without any extra motion, a stunning one-handed dunk was completed!
5:0—McGrady added more points for the Pistons!

Paul Pierce took control of the ball again. This time, he was very careful, preventing McGrady from stealing it once more, and successfully passed it to LaDanian Lord! After receiving the ball, LaDanian Lord feinted three times in a row to deceive Zhou Yi, then took advantage of the fact that the other Pistons players couldn’t reach him in time to break through and enter the Pistons’ paint. However, facing him was the Pistons’ interior pillar, Greg Monroe! LaDanian Lord didn’t dare to force a shot against Greg Monroe right away, so he chose to pass the ball to Ray Allen on the other side. After catching the ball, Ray Allen immediately used his signature quick-stop jump shot. He leaned back slightly, moved his wrist naturally, and shot the ball. But perhaps due to bad luck, the shot deviated slightly, hit the backboard, and Ben Wallace of the Pistons grabbed the rebound! After landing, Ben Wallace didn’t check his surroundings and immediately jumped again, throwing the ball forward. The team’s coordination had already told him that the fastest teammates, Zhou Yi and McGrady, had launched a fast break and entered the Celtics’ half-court! Zhou Yi, who had already entered the Celtics’ half-court, accelerated with the ball toward their interior, but it seemed someone was a little faster than him. The Celtics’ star point guard, LaDanian Lord, returned to their interior ahead of Zhou Yi and blocked his path. Zhou Yi raised his eyebrows, unable to find the best way to score, so he had no choice but to retreat and pass the ball back to McGrady, who had just reached the three-point line. After catching the ball, McGrady stopped moving immediately, adjusted his stance, and tried to shoot a three-pointer. But Ray Allen, who had caught up from behind, blocked his path before he could shoot. “Tracy, I’m not going to let you score that easily!” Ray Allen said to McGrady with a cold gaze. McGrady understood immediately, and a sharp glint appeared in his sleepy eyes. He suddenly sped up, using all his speed to charge toward the Celtics’ paint from Ray Allen’s left. McGrady’s speed was now at its maximum, while Ray Allen, having been blocked by Zhou Yi, was a bit slower than him. Although this small delay was insignificant, it was enough for McGrady to accomplish what he wanted! One step, two steps, three steps!

As McGrady took his third step, he left Ray Allen behind and charged into the Celtics’ paint like a sharp blade! McGrady perfectly broke through Ray Allen’s defense, and Rajon Rondo rushed back to cover him. But it seemed he had forgotten there was another person eyeing their basket. Zhou Yi rushed into the Celtics’ paint and caught McGrady’s pass, then soared into the air like a bomber, charging toward the basket with tremendous force! Rajon Rondo, behind Zhou Yi, stopped chasing and stared blankly at him in the air. Zhou Yi was a head taller than Rondo; Rondo’s raised right hand only reached Zhou Yi’s forearm, making it impossible for him to touch the ball. Thus, their arms crossed in midair without either touching the other, while Zhou Yi forcefully slammed the ball into the basket! “Bang!” The suffocating creak of the basket echoed clearly in everyone’s ears, and all eyes were fixed on Zhou Yi hanging high in the basket, recalling that heart-stopping moment—Zhou Yi had executed a thunderous axe-like dunk! “Yee~~~~” Cheers filled the Pistons’ bench, and the Pistons’ fans in attendance had their blood boiling, their hearts pounding wildly! Just one minute into the game, the Pistons led the Celtics 7:0! Meanwhile, Greg Monroe, McGrady, and Zhou Yi—known as the Pistons’ “the “working-class Big Three””—each completed a stunning dunk. Nothing could excite the Pistons’ fans more! The Pistons’ fans seemed to have already seen the goddess of victory. They believed the Pistons would surely win this game… Zhou Yi released the ball, landed on the ground, and turned to run back to the backcourt. As he passed by Rajon Rondo, he said, “I used to fear your strength, but not anymore.” Hearing Zhou Yi’s words, Rajon Rondo stood frozen in place, his face filled with shock and confusion, until his teammate passed him the ball, after which he changed his expression.

Lajon Randolph turned around, gazing at Zhou Yi’s back with a light smile on his face. “Heh, have you overcome your inner fears? Good. That proves you’ve taken an important step toward becoming a top-tier player. But that doesn’t mean you can beat me yet. Zhou, I admit you’re strong, but you’re still not on my level. Now, let me show you what a true top-tier point guard is…”
Lajon Randolph gently dribbled the ball, walking toward the Pistons’ half-court with a cold smile full of dominance and confidence. As soon as he reached the halfway line, Zhou Yi rushed over to defend him. But the moment Zhou Yi moved, Lajon Randolph also acted. Just before Zhou Yi could get close, he suddenly accelerated, using his body to block Zhou Yi aside and breaking through his defense from the right to head straight for the Pistons’ interior!
“Damn it!”
Zhou Yi was shocked and quickly turned to chase after Lajon Randolph, shouting, “Cover him quickly!”
Words and action went hand in hand.
The moment Zhou Yi said those words, McGrady rushed into the paint, joining Greg Monroe to double-team Lajon Randolph.
Surrounded, Lajon Randolph lost his most reliable scoring method, but he wasn’t panicked at all. Instead, he smiled lightly, because his intention was to draw the enemy’s double-team—Lajon Randolph stopped breaking through, jumped high to gain better visibility, and passed the ball to his teammate Ray Allen, who had an open shot.
Ray Allen took the ball. Zhou Yi quickly stopped chasing Lajon Randolph and rushed toward Ray Allen to stop him from shooting.
Seeing Zhou Yi coming toward him, Ray Allen didn’t rush to shoot immediately but chose to pass the ball again. He passed it to another teammate, Paul Pierce, who was unguarded outside the three-point line!
Paul Pierce didn’t waste this opportunity. After catching the ball, he naturally jumped, raised it, and with a motion of his wrist and arm, shot it away!
“Swish!” Three-point shot!
7:3. Lajon Randolph used his individual skills and teamwork to help the Celtics score their first point!
As the Celtics defended, Lajon Randolph, passing by Zhou Yi, threw one last remark at him: “I also want to tell you—right now, you’re still not on my level. Remember that?”

Zhou Yi’s expression darkened as he silently ran toward the front court with his teammates. He didn’t need to respond verbally to Rajon Rondo’s words—after all, Rajon Rondo indeed had the ability to say such things! Yet even so, it didn’t mean Zhou Yi would give up. He believed that as long as he worked hard, it wouldn’t take long for him to reach or even surpass Rajon Rondo’s level, as long as he didn’t give up on his dreams or hopes! Zhou Yi organized the offense with the ball, and after half a period, he passed it to McGrady. McGrady grabbed the ball with one hand, tested the defense a couple of times, then suddenly accelerated and broke through. Suddenly, he made a quick stop and attempted a jump shot—the ball hit just short of the rim. Garnett grabbed the defensive rebound and passed it to Rajon Rondo. Paul Pierce received a brilliant pass from Rajon Rondo and shot from beyond the three-point line—the ball went in. 7:5, with both teams having relatively high shooting percentages so far. McGrady moved around, using Greg Monroe’s screen to get to a 45-degree angle just one step outside the three-point line on the left wing. Zhou Yi saw this and immediately passed the ball; McGrady caught it without hesitation and took a quick jump shot. Before the Celtics players could react, the ball had already gone through the hoop. McGrady responded with his own three-point shot, bringing the score to 12:5, with the Pistons leading by 7 points. “Great shot!” Will Bynum stood on the sidelines, waving his towel excitedly. McGrady simply smiled, clapped hands with Zhou Yi beside him, and quickly retreated to the back. Celtics’ Kevin Garnett passed the ball, and Rajon Rondo caught it. Rajon Rondo dribbled slowly toward the front court and passed the ball to Ray Allen as soon as he arrived. McGrady was defending Ray Allen, constantly retreating as Ray Allen tried to break through, trying to cut off his path. Suddenly, Ray Allen made a quick stop and shot at an astonishing speed—McGrady didn’t even have time to react. However, Ray Allen’s shot didn’t go in; the ball rotated a few times around the rim before bouncing out, and Greg Monroe grabbed the defensive rebound. On the Pistons’ side, McGrady broke through and scored again. 14:5, with the Pistons now leading by 9 points. At first, the two teams were trading blows, with a small score difference of only 6 or 7 points. But halfway through the first quarter, the Pistons suddenly became incredibly hot, while the Celtics players suddenly lost their touch.

The Pistons quickly widened the score with an 8-0 run. With 4 minutes and 11 seconds left in the first quarter, they led the Celtics 25-12, by 13 points. Seeing this, Celtics head coach Doug Rivers immediately called a timeout. After the timeout, the Pistons’ Will Bynum replaced Zhou Yi, Ben Gordon replaced Tracy McGrady, and Samuel Dalembert replaced Ben Wallace. On the Celtics’ end, Glen Davis replaced Kevin Garnett, and Kendrick Perkins replaced Shaquille O’Neal. With the ball back, Will Bynum took over and organized the offense. Reaching the top of the key, he passed to Ben Gordon, who drove and passed to Samuel Dalembert inside. Dalembert tried a hook shot but missed, and Kendrick Perkins secured the defensive rebound. LaRon Landry drove to the Pistons’ basket, feigned a shot before passing to Paul Pierce, who dunked for 2 points. With the ball changing hands, Tyshawn Prince caught a brilliant pass from Will Bynum and shot from beyond the three-point line. With a swish, the ball went in! Paul Pierce, defending Tyshawn Prince, angrily swung his arm in frustration. The Celtics attacked, and Paul Pierce also shot from beyond the three-point line, hitting a shot of his own to respond to Tyshawn Prince. Ben Gordon used Greg Monroe’s screen to run to the corner beyond the three-point line, received a pass from Will Bynum, and hit a three-point shot. Another three-point shot—the Pistons were hot from beyond the arc that day. The home crowd cheered loudly for their team, and the players felt the fans’ immense enthusiasm! Ray Allen drove with the ball and shot a three-point shot from beyond the line. But it missed, and Samuel Dalembert grabbed the defensive rebound. Will Bynum took advantage of a screen set up by teammate Tyshawn Prince to break into the opponent’s paint, scored a layup, and also forced a defensive foul on Kendrick Perkins. Doug Rivers replaced Kendrick Perkins with Jermaine O’Neal. Will Bynum took a free throw and made it!

In the first quarter, the Pistons got off to a strong start. With Zhou Yi and McGrady as the core of their offense, they brought their “Golden Duo” to full strength. Under Zhou Yi’s coordination, they also involved Greg Monroe, breaking down the Celtics’ defense from within. Meanwhile, the Celtics struggled to find their rhythm, missing shots after shots. With their overall performance poor, they were constantly pressured by the Pistons, who gradually widened the score gap.

By the end of the first quarter, the Pistons led 32–21. Many Pistons fans thought, “It seems this game might enter garbage time early…”

The fans who were there to support the Pistons were cheering wildly, as they saw hope for a victory. With a 11-point lead already after just one quarter, wouldn’t the gap grow to 20 points by the end of the second quarter? If so, the Pistons would surely win the game easily…

They were so happy, so excited, so thrilled!

Back in the locker room, John Kuester clapped his hands gently and said with a smile, “Good job, everyone, in the first quarter. Greg, Tracy, and Zhou—you three used a lot of energy in the first quarter. Don’t play in the second quarter; take a break first.”

“Yes!” Zhou Yi and the others replied in unison.

Zhou Yi glanced at Rajon Rondo in the Celtics’ locker room, thinking back to what had happened in the first quarter.