When Antoine reacted like this, the Pistons would lose their offensive and defensive anchor, making the Raptors' game much easier.
And it would take at least a week for him to recover from the Wang Yi Mountain Reaction. The teams would play three games in that week.
That meant the Raptors would have an easy time in at least those three games—and win them just as easily.
Even if Antoine overcame his slump by Game 4, they would already be down 0–3 by then. It would be too late.
But Coach Bickerstaff still clung to one last, faint hope. He hoped he was overthinking things, and that this wasn't the Wang Yi Mountain Reaction.
So he shook Antoine by the shoulders.
"Antoine, look at your parents on the sidelines. They're watching you."
"They worked so hard to raise you. They didn't do all that just to watch you look lifeless out there."
"They went deep into debt for you. They didn't do it so you could become a laughingstock."
"They practically gave up their careers and futures for you. They didn't do it so you'd fall apart whenever you faced Wang Yi."
Coach Bickerstaff still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
After hearing him out, Antoine turned to look at his parents.
Seeing their encouraging gazes, Antoine seemed to come around a little.
He managed to pull himself together somewhat.
When the head coach saw that Antoine's gaze had become less unfocused, he breathed a small sigh of relief and laid out the team's next play.
It was a play they'd practiced many times: a setup for Antoine to finish with an Alley-oop at the rim.
As long as a teammate could get the ball near the basket, Antoine could practically finish it with his eyes closed.
Bickerstaff hoped