This type of loss was not uncommon for the Bucks during the regular season.
The teammates were inaccurate, yet Yu Fei kept passing, they continued to be inaccurate, and then they would lose the game directly.
This was a strategy, not merely because this playoff series was bound to go beyond six games, but also because Yu Fei was an irreplaceable presence in the Bucks roster.
Facing a strong team like the Pistons, he needed to play at least 42 minutes per game, a significant drain that forced him to wait for the right moment to exert his energy.
George Karl had no objections to this, as going all out every game was foolhardy. The true masterminds would always test the opponent's strength during the playoff series, watch their rotation, look for weaknesses, and then strike hard.
The experience of leading the team as the sole core had awakened this awareness in Yu Fei.
That evening, in the locker room Karl said to Yu Fei, "Are you interested in starting the next game off-ball?"