The Pistons were actually more apprehensive. Laimbeer and Rodman have often suffered at the hands of Zhang Yang. Every ti they got rough with Zhang Yang, they ended up at a disadvantage. This guy held his ground one-on-two without faltering! After each conflict, they’d return to the locker room and gaze at each other in silence for a few minutes.
At 8 PM, the ga began. Ewing defeated Edwards in the tip-off, and the Knicks Team was on the attack!
Just like the past few gas, the Knicks Team set up the elevator door formation for their first offense. As Mark Jackson passed the ball to Gerald Wilkins at a 45-degree angle on the left side, Thomas suddenly struck, sweeping the ball away with one swift motion.
Steal! Fast break!
Watching Thomas dash toward the frontcourt, the crowd that was cheering quickly erupted into screams, frantically booing. Suddenly, the boos abruptly stopped, and cheers reerged!
Just as he leapt for a layup in the frontcourt, Thomas felt puzzled. He was executing a quick break layup, so why were the visiting fans cheering...
Before he could finish wondering, the lights seed to dim slightly, and he saw a hand erging from above him, swatting the ball he’d just tossed before it reached its peak, sending it firmly against the backboard!
Zhang Yang had sprinted from the left side of the free throw line, chased across the court for a spectacular block!
After Zhang Yang caught up to Thomas, Mark Jackson, who had followed along, grabbed the ball that Zhang Yang had swatted against the backboard at the three-point line, quickly pivoting to push ahead in a reverse fast break!
After landing, Zhang Yang imdiately turned and dashed forward. Thomas couldn’t afford to be shocked and pursued vigorously... Unard, Thomas only matched the speed of the similarly unard Zhang Yang, failing to close the gap between them. He lacked a speed advantage!
The Knicks Team had a 5-on-4 advantage. Zhang Yang received the ball at the three-point line, passed Rodman’s block, directly attacked the interior, and after attracting a double-team in the interior, he split the ball to Ewing, who pivoted and hooked successfully!
Zhang Yang made a significant contribution at the start. It should have been Thomas stealing and scoring from the fast break, allowing the Pistons to gain montum at the ga’s start while playing away. But Zhang Yang’s chase down block suppressed it, instead elevating the Knicks Team’s morale sharply at the start.
In the first half of the first quarter, the Knicks Team, riding the wave of their explosive start, stord to a half-quarter score of 16-11, leading the Pistons by 5 points as they entered the official tiout!
During this half-quarter, the Pistons couldn’t keep up with the Knicks Team’s offensive rhythm, not only because their morale was suppressed but also because Thomas was too caught up in his own head. He took three shots in half the quarter, and didn’t make any, significantly dragging the team down.
The main issue was the blocked shot at the start; Thomas observed the reactions of those around him...
That play made fans and players alike feel Thomas was no longer as he once was.
In the past, Thomas’s speed surpassed everyone, but now he’s only on par with Zhang Yang and Jordan.
Previously, people hadn’t noticed because when the Bulls played the Pistons, Jordan and Dumars faced off almost the entire ti, two defensive powerhouses going head-to-head. In the first four gas of the East Final, Zhang Yang and Dumars, two defensive powerhouses, were at each other, with Zhang Yang seldom defending Thomas. Even when providing backup defense, it rarely allowed for such a direct comparison of their speeds.
Thomas neither has Iverson’s exceptional physical fitness nor Paul’s ability to adjust playing style despite a decline in physical conditions. At 29, he’s gradually ceasing to be the assassin who effortlessly scored 20 10, beginning to walk the path of decline toward his 30s.
Of course, Thomas has rely declined, not reached the point of being incapable. He remains one of the best point guards in the league, just no longer the superstar point guard who rivaled the Magician. He hasn’t been selected for the All-NBA Team for three consecutive years.
Evidence of this could be seen from G1 and G4’s crucial monts, when Thomas dragged Dumars down.
Thomas was unwilling to accept this. He wanted to prove himself, but facing the Knicks Team’s rough and robust defense, he once again dragged the team down.
Entering the official tiout, Chuck Daly seized the opportunity to berate Thomas, repeatedly emphasizing ’teamwork,’ finally awakening Thomas. Now was not the ti to hastily prove himself.
After the official tiout, Thomas settled down, working seamlessly with Dumars, Rodman, Edwards, and Rick Mahorn, in just over three minutes, they responded with a 13-9 run against the Knicks Team, narrowing the score to 24-25, reducing the point difference to 1.
The Knicks Team, after lineup rotation, went through a slump, but the advantage built during the first half was still effective. In the last minute and a half, the Knicks Team resisted the Pistons’ offensive, scoring two baskets for 4 points, while the Knicks scored two baskets, including a three-pointer for 5 points, preventing the Pistons from overtaking the score in the first quarter, extending the lead by 1 point!
In the first quarter, Zhang Yang played for 9 minutes, shooting 3 of 6, including 1 of 2 three-pointers, plus 2 of 2 free throws, scoring 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, leading the Knicks Team to a 30-28 lead over the Pistons by 2 points!
Building on the montum lifted by the chase down block after his team’s morale soared at the start, Zhang Yang nailed a three-pointer when he returned towards the end of the quarter, firmly suppressing the Pistons’ counter-attack!
Realizing that a scoring battle was out of reach, Chuck Daly, during the intermission, instructed the players to initiate a defensive battle.
Zhang Yang anticipated a high likelihood of this from the opponents and upon returning to the bench during the intermission, directed Stu Jackson to adjust strategy and enhance defense. Stu Jackson isn’t particularly adept at situational responses, but he heeds advice... Not listening would cause the tactical board to fly out; it’s better to listen.
Thus, after the intermission, when the Pistons sought to use defense to strike the Knicks Team, they found their opponents had already initiated a defensive war ahead!
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