"I'm going through you this time," Zhao Dong said with a grin, bouncing the ball at the top of the arc. "And if I still can't see your defense, I'm dropping 70 on you and breaking Jordan's record."
"Bring it on," Rasheed Wallace growled, gritting his teeth and sliding into a low stance.
He didn't think Zhao was bluffing. He just hoped—desperately—that he could stop it.
"I'm starting now," Zhao said, leaning forward.
The pressure was immediate. Wallace felt like a truck was barreling down on him.
Squeak—
Zhao's first step was a blur. Rasheed instinctively slid back, but Zhao's acceleration was too much. Wallace kept retreating—but it didn't matter. Zhao owned the paint now.
Oakley and McGrady rushed in from the wings to help—three defenders converging in the lane.
But Zhao stopped on a dime, pulled up before they could collapse fully, and let it fly.
Swish.
A clean mid-range splash. The Garden erupted.
Zhao turned with a smirk. "Told you—if I don't see your defense, I'm going for 70. That's two attacks, and I'm still waiting."
Rasheed's face twisted. He wanted to scream back, but with Oakley nearby, he held it in.
Oakley, however, frowned. He knew Zhao well—too well. If Zhao said 70, he meant it.
---
Explosion
From that moment, Zhao went off. Mid-post turnarounds. Pull-up threes. Spin moves in traffic. Layups through contact.
By the end of the first quarter—he had 28 points.
11-of-16 from the field. 2-of-3 from deep. 4-of-4 at the line.
Score: Knicks 38, Bulls 23.
In the studio, Charles Barkley grinned. "He's got 28 in the first? Man, that's one off the all-time record. And with 68% shooting? I wouldn't be surprised if he drops 50 by halftime. He might even crack 100 tonight!"
Kenny Smith shook his head. "No way the Bulls let that happen. If they have any pride, they'll start trapping him hard. They'll take the L before they let one guy torch them for 100."
Smith was right.
Second Quarter – Adjustments
The Bulls came out with a new plan: off-ball double teams.
Whenever Zhao moved, Rasheed Wallace and McGrady followed like shadows. Oakley dropped into the paint for insurance. It was a 2-on-1 tracking strategy that left the rest of the Knicks playing 4-on-3.
But unlike some stars who vanish under pressure, Zhao adjusted.
He drifted to the wing, drew defenders, then kicked it out. Ginobili and Stackhouse cut hard. Willis set sneaky screens. Rogers floated outside, ready to punish with threes.
Suddenly, the Knicks offense was humming.
It was no longer Zhao versus five.
It was five against three.
At the half, the scoreboard read:
Knicks 70, Bulls 45.
Zhao Dong: 39 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds.
The Garden was on fire.
Bulls head coach Tim Floyd looked overwhelmed. He kept switching schemes—man, zone, hybrid, box-and-one—but nothing stuck.
The team grew confused. By the end of the half, even Jason Kidd looked lost, unsure of which play to run. It was chaos.
Meanwhile, Knicks head coach Don Nelson was smiling.
He didn't even send Zhao back out in the second half.
"We've got a 25-point lead," he told the assistants. "Let the kid rest."
And just like that, Zhao's shot at 70—and Jordan's record—ended on the bench.
---
Final Score: Knicks 125, Bulls 88.
A 37-point beatdown in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
—
Postgame on TNT
Barkley leaned forward in the studio. "This Bulls team? Lotta talent. But no identity. And worse—no leader."
He shook his head.
"Rasheed? Great two-way guy. But not a superstar. He's not ready to lead. McGrady's got flash, but he's still figuring it out. They're a young team with a rookie coach and no direction."
Kenny Smith added, "Even MJ's Bulls lost to the Knicks three straight years. This version of Chicago? They've got to evolve. Right now, they're not built to go toe-to-toe with Zhao Dong."
"They're weaker than Philly," Barkley said bluntly. "And Philly got smoked."
Smith nodded. "Facts."
Game 1 was just the beginning.
The Knicks won the next three games, completing a 4-0 sweep.
In the West, the Lakers did the same, eliminating the Trail Blazers with brutal efficiency.
Both teams stormed into the Finals, carrying the swagger of champions.
May 27 – NYC Airport
The Lakers arrived in New York.
Magic Johnson, smiling and energetic, was immediately pulled into an interview by MSG Sports Network.
"Earvin, who's your pick—Lakers or Knicks?" the reporter asked.
Magic grinned. "Lakers, no question."
"Why?"
"Look, the Knicks have had a great run. But let's be real—their wins weren't easy. That Philly series? Tough. Zhao Dong had to carry everything."
He continued.
"Without Fordson, the Knicks lost half their interior defense. Against Philly, Zhao had to guard the paint and score 50. If he didn't go nuclear, they'd be out."
He leaned in.
"But now? Now he's facing O'Neal and Ben Wallace. That's not Ratliff and Malone. The Lakers frontcourt is balanced, mobile, and scary. And if Zhao has to stay inside to help defend Shaq?"
Magic shook his head.
"There's only one outcome. He'll get bullied. No shame in it—Shaq's 320 pounds, Zhao's 250. That math doesn't lie."
---
Back at the Knicks facility
Zhao Dong sat in the training room, watching the clip.
He muttered, "Am I crazy? Why would I just stand under the rim and take hits from Shaq?"
But deep down, he knew the truth.
He couldn't stop Shaq at the rim.
Veterans Willis and Gary Trent simply couldn't match up with Shaquille O'Neal. The Knicks' interior had no one who could truly challenge the Diesel.
The only real suspense? How long could Shaq's stamina last.
At the Lakers' Team Hotel – Press Conference Room
The media buzzed as the NBA Finals approached. Reporters packed in shoulder-to-shoulder. Microphones clicked on. The Lakers' press conference was about to begin.
A New York Sports Daily reporter fired the opening question:
"Coach Jackson, you lost to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals three straight years with the Bulls. Now you finally face them in the Finals. Do you believe this is the year you break through?"
Phil Jackson smiled coolly, his fingers interlaced.
"We've done our homework. We're prepared. We're here to win. That's the only goal."
Next up: Shaquille O'Neal.
Thomas, the Knicks' team reporter, leaned forward. "Shaq, you'll likely be matched up with Zhao Dong. Do you think you can compete with him one-on-one?"
Shaq's expression hardened instantly.
"What?!"
He glared at Thomas.
"You're asking if I can compete with him? No, no, you've got it backwards. You go ask Zhao Dong if he can compete with me. I know who you are. Knicks media, right? Tell your guy I'm coming for him. Tomorrow night—I'm going to beat his ass."
Across the table, Kobe Bryant raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by Shaq's fire. Then again… he was all in for the smoke.
A reporter turned to Kobe.
"Coach Jackson's confident, Shaq's confident—what about you? Can you handle the Knicks' perimeter defense?"
Kobe leaned into the mic.
"Absolutely. Ginobili's a rookie. Stackhouse? He can score, but he can't guard me. Nobody on that perimeter can stop me from getting buckets."
Then came the next question.
"You two—the OK duo—were dominant in the Western Conference playoffs. Can you elevate even further in the Finals?"
Shaq and Kobe exchanged a look—pure fire.
"You'll see," Shaq said, eyes locked forward.
"We're the best," Kobe added, calmly but coldly.
---
"Shaq, the All-NBA teams are being announced this afternoon," another reporter asked. "You expecting First Team honors?"
Shaq puffed out his chest.
"Who else would it be? If I'm not on the First Team, the voters need their heads checked."
"Kobe, what about you?"
Kobe hesitated for a moment.
He knew Iverson had balled out. Vince Carter, too. Competition was tight.
"I think I've got a shot. Let's see what the voters say."
3:00 PM – All-Defensive Teams Announced
Shaq's name showed up on the Second Defensive Team.
He frowned. He wasn't happy—but didn't say a word.
Meanwhile, at Knicks HQ, Zhao Dong smirked when he saw the list.
He hadn't appeared on the second team.
Which meant one thing.
He'd made the First Defensive Team.
And ten minutes later, it was official:
Gary Payton
Kobe Bryant
Zhao Dong
Kevin Garnett
Alonzo Mourning
Zhao was slotted in as a small forward—the perfect balance between perimeter pressure and rim protection.
"All worthy picks," he nodded.
Kobe's defense had been elite all season.
Payton—no question.
Mourning was the Defensive Player of the Year.
Garnett had patrolled more ground than anyone.
And himself? Well… he didn't need validation.
3:30 PM – All-NBA Third Team Announced
David Robinson
Vince Carter
Chris Webber
Eddie Jones
Stephon Marbury
Kobe, watching from the hotel TV, sat up straight.
If I'm not on the third team… I'm higher.
Same with Iverson, watching on vacation.
Ten minutes later, the Second Team dropped:
Alonzo Mourning
Grant Hill
Karl Malone
Kobe Bryant
Allen Iverson
Both stars were a little disappointed—but still proud.
The First Team was elite territory.
---
4:00 PM – The All-NBA First Team
Shaquille O'Neal
Tim Duncan
Zhao Dong
Jason Kidd
Gary Payton
Zhao Dong had now made the All-NBA First Team three years in a row.
He received call after call—congratulations from teammates, family, even rivals.
"Duncan and Garnett deserved it too," Zhao admitted.
"But someone had to get squeezed out. That's the cost of excellence."
May 28 – NBA Finals Game 1: Knicks vs. Lakers
Madison Square Garden pulsed with electricity.
Tipoff was at 8:00 PM, but by 6:00, the arena was already full.
Nearly 20,000 fans roared, waving signs, wearing jerseys, creating a sea of blue, orange, and gold.
The stars were out.
In one row sat:
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Hakeem Olajuwon
Larry Bird
Knicks legends Frazier, Reed, and Ewing
Also joining them was Tim Duncan, freshly recovered from injury.
This was Ewing's first return to MSG since retirement.
As he looked around, he felt a sting in his heart.
His banners hung, yes—but the crowd, the energy, the identity… it belonged to Zhao Dong now.
At least they weren't booing him anymore.
---
"Tim, where are you going next season?" Larry Bird asked casually.
Duncan chuckled. "Still thinking."
"If I were still with the Pacers, you'd have a max deal waiting."
Bird had stepped away from coaching, but his respect for Duncan hadn't faded.
Knicks legend Reed leaned over. "Tim, come to New York. You and Zhao Dong? Inside and outside dominance—we'd win ten straight rings."
Magic shot up. "Hold up! That's illegal. The league would veto that before the ink dries."
Kareem nodded. "That lineup would destroy the league's balance. You'd have to each guard your own city."
Duncan laughed, but Reed's pitch had gotten to him.
There was something about New York…
But he also knew the truth behind the scenes.
Knicks owner James Doland wasn't spending anymore.
The dynasty was already built. The team was already stacked.
And Doland?
He only cared about one thing now.
Money.
Championships were just a nice bonus.
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