The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 494 - 218: Is This Something Great?_5

Chapter 494: Chapter 218: Is This Something Great?_5

Alright, mainly because his condition was also very good tonight.

With his body control ability quickly reaching 90%!

On his good nights, it was as if he had triggered a "pseudo The zone," roughly reaching 80% of his strength under a "normal The zone." As for the "full power The zone" mode, that was quite a bit off.

Mainly because he couldn’t achieve the hundred percent body control of the "full power The zone" mode...

Even so, with Randolph’s help, taking care of the "Pistons Four Tigers" was no pressure at all.

Of course, that’s what he was thinking now.

In the first game of the series, the Pacers continued their dominance from the first round against the Cavaliers, beating the Pistons 107 to 93 by 14 points.

Zach Randolph scored 19 points and 11 rebounds, Su Wan scored 35 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, tasting somewhat of "Little LeBron."

The only difference is, Su Wan would never pass the ball with less than three or four seconds left on the 24-second clock.

At times like that, the best solution for a player like Su Wan was to draw the opponent’s interior defense and take a mid-range shot, playing an "assist off the backboard"!

Even if it didn’t score, the chance of teammates grabbing the rebound under the basket significantly increased with the "2 against 1" situation, and even if there wasn’t an opportunity for a "second attack" after an "offensive rebound," the shot clock was reset to 24 seconds, allowing for a complete reorganization of the offense.

Isn’t that more reliable than passing the buck to a teammate and letting them recklessly shoot a three-pointer?

What a pity!

That’s a strategy LeBron couldn’t play.

First, he didn’t have a stable mid-range shot and didn’t dare to shoot from that distance; second, you know... Old Zhan is a person who really values "efficiency," and he wouldn’t shoot such ineffective shots. As for who would, don’t ask. Anyway, by the end of the game, when you check the shooting percentages, Old Zhan did his best, and his teammates were CBA!

They thought they had found a smooth way to win the first playoff game and that the entire series would be an easy win.

But the outcome showed the Pistons’ tenacity and the heritage of a team that had once won the championship...

They quickly adjusted their defense against Zach Randolph, now double-teaming him more with Wallace and Antonio in the post, blocking his last shot to prevent him from shooting, and fighting with him all game long to drain his stamina.

Randolph’s lazy side, from his years on bad teams, started to show, as he began to settle for inefficient long shots, making a "clang, clang, clang" sound as he hit the iron, almost bending the hoop.

The Pacers also entered the second half of game two trailing by 4 points at 43 to 47.

Back in the visiting team’s locker room, Su Wan fiercely scolded Randolph, "If you can’t play in the post, then just sit on the bench for me. Does this team lack shooters like you? Paul, you’re on!"

Millsap became the starting interior player for the second half, but his touch wasn’t good that night, and his other specialty, the "second attack" after grabbing rebounds, was rendered ineffective against Rashid Wallace, the "Old Fox."

The Pacers ended the third quarter trailing by 5 points.

Unable to endure the cold bench, Randolph habitually lowered his head to Su, "Su, let me play in the fourth quarter! I’ll grit my teeth and push to the basket, I absolutely won’t shoot from outside again!"

Additionally, he was surprised to find that he couldn’t stand watching his teammates catch up while sitting off the court. It was unbearable for him; he wanted to be on the court helping the team.

Su Wan nodded, his tone cold, "You’d better be, Zach. This isn’t the regular season; this is the playoffs, and this is the battlefield. Don’t act like a coward, thinking only of avoidance!"

After sitting out the entire third quarter on the bench, Randolph took the court in the fourth.

Admittedly, because he hadn’t played in the entire third quarter, his state wasn’t very good, continuously missing shots. However, his fierce desire for physical contact made even Rashid Wallace secretly clench his teeth.

Neither he nor Antonio alone could hold Randolph down.

This allowed Randolph to still serve the purpose of drawing the defense inside.

Su Wan began to perform, scoring 10 points in the last 6 minutes to tie the game, but unfortunately, with 3 seconds left, Billups sank a desperate three-pointer, ultimately allowing the Pistons to hold onto their home court.

After two games, the series was tied 1 to 1.

After the game, Randolph took the initiative to reflect, "I was cowardly, and that’s the main reason the Pacers lost the game. It’s all on me; I am the reason the Pacers lost. I need to review my attitude. This is the battlefield; I cannot be a deserter!"

This self-criticism shocked the entire New York Media the next day...

Heavens!

Is this really Zach Randolph?

Even Portland was filled with exclamations.

They wanted to know, who was this person in Randolph’s body!

How could this "bad guy" be such a responsible man?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

The Indiana Media was also shocked by Randolph’s transformation. Could it be... this place is truly "Redemption City"?

Randolph: Whether I’m redeemed or not, I don’t know, but sitting on a "cold bench" is definitely uncomfortable!

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