Chapter 52

From 2005 to 2006, just how terrifying was the Pistons team?

This is a question that many people find hard to answer.

After the coaching change, the Pistons still retained the defensive philosophy of their former coach, Larry Brown, which emphasized "clinging to the last moment." They used precise positioning and defense, and their aggressive fouls, which often bordered on brutality, made the opponents' offense as sluggish as constipation.

At the same time, the offensive wave brought by new coach Flip Saunders transformed the Pistons from a team that stuck to the old routine of "if I can't score, neither can you" to a more offensive-minded team. They granted more freedom on the offensive end, with the backcourt duo of Billups and Hamilton leading the attack, complemented by Rasheed Wallace's back-to-the-basket moves and the increasingly mature Prince's crafty cuts.

The Pistons' offense underwent a complete transformation this season, evolving from a defense-driven team to a powerhouse with both strong offense and defense in the Eastern Conference.

On the bench, the Pistons, who used to rely heavily on their starting five, saw new changes. Players like McDyess, Evans, and Delphino emerged, becoming important contributors to the team's offensive firepower, adding significant value.

In the original timeline, this Eastern powerhouse, which had faltered in the Finals the previous season, transformed into a super team with dominant offense and defense, achieving a league-best 64-18 record.

In the playoffs, this Pistons team advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fought the champion Heat in a six-game series, ultimately falling short.

Today, this champion team is about to face the declining Eastern aristocrat, the 76ers. Before the game, almost everyone had already set the tone:

The 76ers would be stifled in the first five minutes, overwhelmed by the Pistons' aggressive defense and offense, and ultimately lose.

For this view, not only fans and analysts were in full support, but even the 76ers players themselves could not refute it. The gap between the two teams was simply too large.

For the 76ers to win at the Palace of Auburn Hills, a notorious home court? It was a pipe dream.

And the first five minutes of the game indeed confirmed this view.

"Allen!"

On the court, Chris Webber made a signature behind-the-back pass, the ball taking a strange trajectory toward the baseline where Allen Iverson was cutting.

But before the ball arrived, a long arm suddenly appeared in the air, easily intercepting the ball.

"Taijon, great steal!"

Receiving the pass from Prince, the Pistons' playmaker Billups began a fast break. With more offensive freedom this season, the former third overall pick, who had struggled in previous seasons, was rejuvenated, opting for a fast break instead of the slow, methodical offense of the past.

"Trouble!"

Iverson sensed the danger. After the opening, he was still the 76ers' scoring core, hitting 3 of 5 shots and scoring 8 points in less than half a quarter, including free throws.

But the Pistons' overall strength was too overwhelming. Besides Iverson, only Webber had scored with a straight-arm mid-range shot, and the 76ers trailed 10-17!

"Hamilton!"

The long-distance runner Hamilton sprinted to the front court, and on the other side, Prince, with his long legs, was already under the basket.

How would the ball be passed? To Prince under the basket or to Hamilton cutting to the baseline?

Only Iverson had managed to get back on defense, watching Billups approach, analyzing the situation.

"I have to take a chance!"

Seeing Billups about to enter the three-point line, Iverson gritted his teeth and took a step toward Prince, who was already under the basket.

On the other side, Iguodala was also rushing to block the pass to Hamilton, and the 76ers' defense seemed solid!

But at this moment, Billups' uncanny court vision came into play.

Billups suddenly stopped his fast break, standing just outside the three-point line. Before his body was fully stable, he shot a three-pointer.

"BOOM!!!"

With the high-pitched voice of the DJ, the ball swished through the net.

Billups' chase-down three-pointer gave the Pistons 20 points in less than half a quarter!

"Beep!"

76ers coach Larry Brown reluctantly called a timeout, and the game entered an official break.

"43.3%..."

Looking at the season statistics in his hand, Brown gritted his teeth and shook his head. Finally, he looked up at Iverson and Iguodala and said, "Your choice was right. Although Billups has a scary three-point percentage, Hamilton's is even more terrifying, averaging 45.8%. It's fine to leave Billups open."

"But we can't keep playing like this. Their offense is too sharp, and our perimeter defense is too weak. If we continue, we'll be blown out in one quarter!"

As he spoke, Brown glanced at Kyle Korver, who lowered his head in embarrassment. He knew the coach was referring to the perimeter defense, which was his responsibility.

"Kyle, you'll rest for the rest of the half."

Sure enough, after much consideration, Brown made a personnel change, saying, "You need to conserve your energy. Your three-point shooting will be key in the later games. But our most important task now is defense!"

"Chen, Barnes, you two are up!"

"Yes!"

Chen Mu and Barnes stood up from the bench in unison.

After the adjustments, the 76ers fielded a somewhat unusual lineup.

Iverson as the primary ball handler, paired with the defensive-minded Iguodala in the backcourt. Barnes, another defensive player, was at the small forward position.

The frontcourt duo was the 76ers' true ace combination—Chen Mu and Webber.

"Run the offense through the frontcourt, and on defense, even if you have to run your legs off, stop them from shooting threes!"

Before the game, Brown gave this strict order.

"1, 2, 3... TEAMWORK!"

The players shouted in unison and stepped onto the court. The scoreboard showed a glaring 10-20, with the 76ers trailing.

Faced with the 76ers' lineup change, Pistons coach Flip Saunders was also very concerned. The backcourt of Iverson, Iguodala, and Barnes was clearly aimed at stopping the Pistons' three-point shooting. But with Webber and Chen Mu, both defensive liabilities, what was the purpose of this lineup?

"Darko, McDyess, you two replace the Wallaces."

After some consideration, Brown made a bold substitution, taking out the twin towers and bringing in two bench players with mid-range shooting ability.

"Since you want to play inside, I'll play along..."

Saunders thought to himself.

The game resumed, and Iverson steadily brought the ball up the court, passing to Webber and moving to the weak side.

"Chen!"

A quick exchange of glances, and Iverson and Chen Mu seemed to have a telepathic connection. They quickly set a screen on the weak side, forcing the Pistons to spread out.

Webber, sensing this, passed the ball to Chen Mu after a lateral move.

Facing Chen Mu was the talented big man Darko Miličić, a Serbian rookie who had struggled in the NBA but possessed a tall frame, good athleticism, and a smooth touch typical of European players.

"Oh? A second overall pick, huh..."

Facing Miličić's defense, Chen Mu smiled and looked at the basket, saying, "You want to go one-on-one without Rasheed? Coach Saunders has some guts..."

"Hmph, rookie, don't think you're great just because you had a good week and won the Player of the Week award," Miličić sneered. "You're just an undrafted player. How much can you do? I'm the second overall pick!"

"Second overall pick?"

Chen Mu laughed. "I think you're just my appetizer..."

As he spoke, Chen Mu faked a shot, drawing Miličić to step up. In the split second of the footwork change, Chen Mu had already moved laterally with the ball.

"Fake shot!"

By the time Miličić realized it, Chen Mu's signature mid-range jumper was already in the air, the ball drawing a beautiful arc and smoothly swishing through the net.

"Chinese kid..."

Miličić was frustrated. Before the game, Coach Saunders had warned him to be cautious of Chen Mu's mid-range shooting. But with limited playing time, Miličić's defensive awareness was still lacking, and a simple fake shot had been enough to fool him, leaving him feeling very unsatisfied.

"Get it back on offense!"

Billups, noticing his teammate's frustration, pushed the ball up the court and passed it to Miličić for a one-on-one.

Chen Mu said nothing, his eyes fixed on the ball in Miličić's hands, constantly adjusting his stance without giving any openings.

Miličić tried to push the ball forward but was surprised to find that the Chinese kid was not much weaker in strength. In a moment of hesitation, the ball was stolen.

"Great job, Chris!"

Although Webber's speed was slow and his explosiveness limited by injury, his steal skills, inherited from Vlade Divac, were still sharp. After stealing the ball from Miličić, Webber looked up and saw a yellow-skinned big man sprinting near the midcourt, all alone!

"Chen!"

Webber shouted and threw a long pass.

"Truly a versatile big man!"

Upon receiving the ball, Chen Mu felt no discomfort and dribbled forward, the path ahead clear as he charged toward the basket.

"No way!"

Behind him, Prince, with his quick speed, rushed over like he had done to Miller in the past, trying to steal the ball from Chen Mu.

"At this moment, I'll use this move..."

Hearing Prince's footsteps getting closer, Chen Mu suddenly remembered a move he had seen Jason Kidd use in the original timeline. He slowed down and paused.

"This kid...?!"

Prince had not expected the seemingly inexperienced Chen Mu to suddenly slow down. Unable to stop his momentum, his right hand, which was reaching for the steal, slapped hard against Chen Mu's left hand.

"Beep beep!"

The referee, who would not miss such an obvious foul, blew the whistle loudly and shouted, "Pistons 22, clear path foul! Two free throws and a possession!"

"YES!"

Chen Mu stopped, rubbed his sore left hand, and winked at Webber in the backcourt, causing the latter to laugh.

"Ha ha ha... This Chinese kid, a rookie, has such basketball IQ! Amazing!"

=================

The ten-thousand-word burst is complete, fulfilling the promise of a man!

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