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Chapter 274 - 138. Rookie Season Concludes (Last month’s bonus Chapter 1/5)_3

Chapter 274: 138. Rookie Season Concludes (Last month’s bonus Chapter 1/5)_3

The Pistons’ defense was strictly disciplined, and if every other position was locked down, then let Felton explode against Billups. Billups himself still scored 21 points, though his shooting percentage was a bit low at 20 shots for 8 made, but with 6 assists, it was a passable mutual explosion, not too much of a loss.

After the game, Zhang Yang checked on the Lakers’ situation. Kobe took 33 shots to score 34 points, furiously bricking 20 times. The Lakers ultimately couldn’t overcome the Suns, losing 110 to 119, a 3-1 lead disastrously reversed... Although he felt a bit embarrassed, his mood improved a lot.

His own failure was distressing, but seeing others fail too... No, no, he needed to go back and watch the tapes, to discuss the game with his teammates and coaches properly. They had to win the next game!

...

On the 9th, a rest day, the Bobcats were not disheartened by the defeat in the opener... mainly because the difference in strength was too great, so they had a very relaxed mentality.

Although they didn’t have much confidence, under Felton’s leadership, the team still really wanted to go hard against the Pistons.

If by some chance they won a game, that would be reason to be happy for a long time.

Jordan also came to Felton’s room to discuss with the players how they were going to play.

Soon, on May 10th, the Bobcats returned to Auburn Palace to face off against the Pistons in Game 2.

In this battle, the Bobcats played much better on offense.

Felton didn’t continue to play isolation but instead ran pick-and-rolls with Okafor, using the outside shooting threat he had demonstrated in the first game to work with Gerald Wallace and Okafor, drawing Ben Wallace out to the top of the key and pinning Rasheed Wallace underneath the basket.

The biggest beneficiary was... Zhang Yang, who, after a pick-and-roll with Okafor, slipped to the free throw line circle to catch and shoot using Okafor’s screen!

Billups, who had switched onto Zhang Yang, was completely flustered. This so-called rookie was indeed as bold as the rumors said! It’s no wonder Hamilton complained that he didn’t want to guard this rookie after a back-to-back game during the regular season.

You think you’ve defended well enough that the opponent won’t dare to shoot, but it seems there’s no shot this rookie wouldn’t dare to take! As long as there’s the slightest room, he pulls up to shoot, and his release is ridiculously quick!

There was a time when Billups thought he was the wildest shooter in the world, even when facing Kobe, he felt that in terms of recklessness, Kobe couldn’t consistently outdo him.

But today, facing this rookie, he realized what it meant to be outdone by the new wave...

In this game, Zhang Yang took 21 shots, made 9, including going 1 for 1 on threes. Adding 3 out of 4 free throws, he scored 22 points.

Felton was still outstanding, encouraged by Jordan to take the shot when he had the chance, not to hesitate. He went 9 for 19 to score 21 points, and his assists doubled from the last game to 6.

Gerald Wallace also took advantage of the top and high post distractions, attacking the basket to score 19 points with 7 rebounds.

The Bobcats scored 100 points as a team!

Only their offense improved, their defense was still lacking.

Hamilton had 22 points and 4 assists, Billups 18 points and 8 assists, Prince 21 points, Ben Wallace 9 points and 11 rebounds, Rasheed Wallace 17 points and 3 assists, McDyess 19 points... 108 to 100, the Pistons won two straight, defending their home court successfully!

However, despite the Pistons smoothly defending their home court, the resilience of the Bobcats made them itch.

These young ones were too bold! They were tough as nails!

In the paint, Rasheed Wallace felt like Gerald Wallace was like a leopard wanting to bite a chunk off him!

Especially in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats put up a score of 31 to 27. If the Pistons had let their guard down due to the 12-point lead after three quarters, they might have actually been overturned by the Bobcats.

On May 13th, as the series shifted back home, the Bobcats hosted the Pistons for Game 3.

The fourth quarter of Game 2 gave the Pistons a scare, nearly causing an upset.

On the road, the upset truly happened!

That game saw the Pistons continue to attack sharply, scoring 106 points. Apart from Ben Wallace only scoring 8 points, the other four stars scored over 15 points each, with Hamilton scoring a high of 31 points.

But the Bobcats went on a rampage!

They played more targeted defense on Zhang Yang, Gerald Wallace, and Felton.

Zhang Yang scored 12 points and Gerald Wallace 14, both performing below their previous outing.

Felton, showing his lowest scoring since the series started, went 7 for 16, scoring only 17 points but dishing out 10 assists!

Matt Carroll, Jumaine Jones, Alan Anderson, and Karim Rush, the four three-point shooters, went wild from downtown, collectively sinking 12 three-pointers, with three of them scoring in double figures, contributing 40 points together!

Okafor, taking advantage of the vacancy in the opponent’s interior, aggressively cut in for assists and crashed the boards for second-chance points, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

The Bobcats had seven players scoring in double figures, shocking the Pistons 111 to 106, refusing to go down 0-3!

The game was intense and exhilarating, and the home crowd was thrilled, screaming constantly.

But it also enraged the Pistons!

The next day, on May 15th, the Pistons, playing away, remained stable on offense and went all out on defense, reminiscent of their performance in last season’s finals.

Under the Pistons’ fierce defense, the Bobcats could not muster much resistance, scoring only 88 points and losing badly 88 to 105, trailing the series 1-3...

On May 18th, at the Auburn Palace, the Bobcats and the Pistons squared off for Game 5 of the series.

After being ground down on the floor in Game 4, the Bobcats were not disheartened and continued to fight on the road in Game 5.

Seeing the Bobcats’ tenacious demeanor, the Pistons players were not surprised. Although the Game 3 upset angered them, the persistent young players earned their respect.

Like in Game 4, they exerted their full strength in the battle against the Bobcats.

The Bobcats players made a valiant effort, but it was not enough to close the gap in strength.

At 9:23 p.m., the final buzzer rang out.

Zhang Yang saw the final score of 92 to 103 on the big screen. Although defeated, he was not overly disappointed. There were no regrets this season, including in this playoff series. He and his teammates had given it their all.

With a series score of 1-4, the Bobcats were eliminated in the second round, and Zhang Yang’s first professional season came to an end!