"Zhao Dong, what do you think about the Hack-a-Shaq strategy? Do you consider it a dirty tactic? Does it harm the integrity of the game?"
At the press conference, a reporter fired questions at Zhao Dong without hesitation.
Zhao Dong, already prepared for this, calmly replied, "If you want an answer to that, I suggest you ask the league officials. If they think this strategy isn't good for the league's development, they can change the rules. Simple as that.
"This strategy has been around for decades. From the early days of the league until now, it has never been banned. That alone reflects where the league stands on it."
"And what stance is that?" the reporter pressed further.
Zhao Dong's expression didn't change. "Free throws are part of the game. If you don't want to get fouled, the solution is easy: work on your free throws instead of whining about others using a legitimate tactic.
"Whether it's me or O'Neal, we all play under the same rulebook. No one is getting special treatment."
"But he's a big man. How often do you see centers shoot free throws well?" the reporter argued, raising his tone.
"Yao Ming," Zhao Dong answered with one word.
That shut the reporter up instantly.
Meanwhile, across the venue, the press continued bombarding O'Neal with questions.
"Shaq, you went 8-for-19 from the line tonight, just 42%. That's even lower than your regular season average of 50.2%. Is it the pressure?"
Shaquille O'Neal wiped the sweat off his head. "Yeah, pressure… and exhaustion. I used up a lot of energy out there."
Another reporter jumped in, "If you had Zhao Dong's free throw percentage, do you think the Lakers could've beaten the Knicks tonight?"
O'Neal's veins popped. He wanted to jump off the podium and slam the reporter through the floor. He growled, "Don't compare me to Zhao Dong. I'm a dominant big man. He's a guard. Two different worlds."
"…."
The entire room went silent, baffled by O'Neal's blunt response.
"Would you ever consider shooting underhand like Rick Barry? Many people believe it could help your free throws," another reporter asked.
"Absolutely not," O'Neal said, firmly shaking his head.
"Even if it costs you a championship?"
O'Neal hesitated, then gritted his teeth. "I hate that style. Not doing it."
His stance quickly made headlines. The New York media blasted him the next morning:
"Selfish Shaq: Leaving L.A. With Nothing."
New York's media piled on the criticism. Even some L.A. tabloids jumped on the bandwagon, adding fuel to the fire.
Game 3 was set for June 2nd, giving the teams a brief two-day break. On May 31st, the Lakers flew back to Los Angeles.
Shaq's agent, David Falk, wasted no time launching PR efforts, defending his client.
"Shaq has practiced underhand free throws in private, but it simply doesn't suit him. What works for Rick Barry doesn't work for everyone," Falk explained to reporters.
The fans accepted this explanation, and some pressure eased off Shaq. But Falk wasn't done—he turned his crosshairs to the Hack-a-Shaq strategy.
"Let's be real—this strategy kills the game," Falk said to the media. "Fans don't come to watch Shaq get hacked every possession and shoot endless free throws. It destroys the flow of the game and cheapens the competition. Even if the Knicks win, using this method is disgraceful."
Meanwhile, the Knicks coaching staff didn't rest during the break. Don Nelson and his crew decided to activate Danny Fortson.
Fortson had been out for a while, recovering from injuries. His recent practice sessions were underwhelming—he'd visibly declined in performance, but with the roster depleted, the Knicks had no choice but to bring him back.
On June 1st, the Knicks flew to Los Angeles, accompanied by 3,000 New York fans and their families.
At the team's hotel, the Knicks held a scheduled press conference.
"Coach Nelson, Fortson has been activated and placed in the twelve-man roster. Does this mean the Knicks have run out of options?" a Los Angeles Sports Daily reporter asked.
Don Nelson grinned. "What kind of logic is that?"
"Well," the reporter pressed, "the New York media have pointed out Fortson's form has dropped dramatically since returning from injury. Doesn't putting him in the lineup mean you have no alternatives?"
Nelson chuckled. "Danny may not be at his peak, but he brings energy and toughness. We believe he can give us valuable minutes when it matters."
A reporter turned to Zhao Dong. "Zhao Dong, do you believe Fortson, who some call a 'has-been,' can still help the team?"
Zhao Dong's eyes turned cold. "Did you injure him yourself?"
"No! Of course not!" the reporter stammered.
"Then stop talking nonsense. We won two games and the Los Angeles media already forgot basic respect? Watch your words."
The room fell awkwardly silent. Zhao Dong dismissed the question entirely.
The press conference continued, and another reporter asked, "Coach Nelson, do you agree with David Falk's criticism of the Hack-a-Shaq strategy?"
"Not at all," Nelson responded directly. "As a head coach, my job is to use every legal strategy to win. Mr. Falk doesn't understand basketball tactics. He's not a coach, and I don't expect him to get it."
Back at the hotel, Zhao Dong called Fortson over privately.
"Danny, tomorrow's game is your shot to shut up the doubters," Zhao Dong said seriously. "Prove that you still belong in this league. You've taken hits, but you're not done. Go out there, defend hard, rebound harder, and show you're a professional who refuses to be written off."
"I got you, Boss!" Fortson clenched his fists with determination.
"Don't yell at me," Zhao Dong snapped. "Save your breath to bark at Shaq tomorrow. Damn, your spit got on my face."
"Haha… my bad." Fortson scratched his head awkwardly.
Zhao Dong then summoned Ginobili and Shawn Marion.
Both had been struggling—Ginobili was drained, and Marion's form had dipped, making rotations a headache.
"Boss," both greeted Zhao Dong respectfully as they entered.
"Sit down," Zhao Dong said, leaning forward. "Manu, how's your body holding up?"
Ginobili looked embarrassed. "Still tight and fatigued. I can't loosen up. Sorry, Boss."
Zhao Dong nodded. "It happens. You've been grinding non-stop since your rookie year. It's natural to hit a wall. Tomorrow, don't waste your legs. Spot up, stretch the floor. When I find you, knock down those threes."
"Yes, Boss," Ginobili replied firmly.
"Sean," Zhao Dong turned to Marion, "you need to put in serious work this offseason. Polish that jumper, work on your three-point shot, and rebuild your conditioning."
"I will, Boss," Marion responded quickly.
"Good," Zhao Dong said. "Tomorrow, if they keep doubling me, slash hard. You've got the speed and athleticism to punish them. Be aggressive."
Coach Nelson stood before the team, his voice sharp and decisive.
"Tomorrow night, we're going to run wing offense," he said. "You stay on the weak side, Marion, be ready to cut to the basket anytime. Keep your eyes on my pass."
"Understood, Coach," Marion nodded firmly.
Across the coast in Los Angeles, Phil Jackson had locked himself inside his office for the entire day, going over strategies for Game 3. This game would decide everything. If they lost tonight and let the Knicks reach match point, it would be over—no more margin for error.
In the first two games, the Lakers threw everything they had at Zhao Dong. More than half of their defensive effort was focused on him, yet they still came up short. Phil Jackson couldn't hide his frustration.
From the Bulls to the Lakers, no coach had more experience facing Zhao Dong than Phil Jackson. And now, he had to admit the brutal truth: Zhao Dong couldn't be stopped.
It was like back in the day with Michael Jordan. Zhao Dong was simply too dominant. Neither the "Jordan Rules" nor any "Zhao Dong Rules" could hold him back. When a player's offensive arsenal reaches such a peak, no defense in the world could contain him.
Jackson decided it was time to gamble. In Game 3, they would tighten up the paint and the perimeter while easing up everywhere else, conserving energy.
Of course, this strategy was aimed solely at Zhao Dong. The rest of the Knicks squad would still be contested properly.
"Let Kobe take the outside matchup," Jackson muttered, scribbling down plays. "If Zhao Dong wants to shoot from deep, let him. But once he steps inside the arc, especially in the paint, we clamp down hard."
This wasn't a groundbreaking strategy. Years ago, Larry Brown of the Philly 76ers tried the same thing. Sure, it didn't work then, but Jackson believed it was still a viable option now.
On the offensive end, O'Neal would remain their focal point. There was no alternative—the most efficient way to counter Zhao Dong's godlike scoring was with dominant low-post offense. The policy was non-negotiable: feed O'Neal in the paint.
Jackson tapped the marker on the board. "We'll clear out the wings. Glen Rice draws defenders on the strong side. Kobe attacks from the weak side. This will stretch their defense thin, giving Shaq easier access down low."
But after solving one headache, another remained—the hack-a-Shaq tactic. Nelson had weaponized it into a full-game strategy instead of a last-minute desperation move, and Phil Jackson had no countermeasure.
"Damn it… how'd Nelson come up with this garbage?" Jackson sighed, pacing in frustration.
He racked his brain all day, but as the clock ticked toward midnight, no answers came. He reluctantly shut off the lights, resting up for the battle ahead, a storm of uncertainty swirling in his head.
---
June 2nd — Game 3, NBA Finals
Reporters swarmed the Knicks' locker room pre-game.
"Zhao Dong, will you be using the hack-a-Shaq again tonight?" a reporter asked, voice sharp.
"I'm not the head coach," Zhao Dong replied casually. "You'd have to ask the coaching staff about that."
Another reporter followed up quickly. "Zhao Dong, the hack-a-Shaq tactic is causing a stir. Many think the league should ban it. What's your take?"
Zhao Dong leaned back, calm and confident. "This discussion isn't new. It's been going on since Wilt Chamberlain's era, so nothing surprises me. Look—centers have the most dominant positions on the court. Higher efficiency under the basket is part of the game. Teams should strategize, not complain. If there's a weakness, fix it. You can't have it all."
He continued, "Look at me—the league introduced anti-isolation rules and other regulations to limit some of my advantages. Have you seen me or my agent whining? No. We just get better, we improve. That's how champions think. As for banning it, that's for the league to decide. Either way, we'll adjust."
---
At 8 PM, the starting lineups were announced.
Knicks: Zhao Dong, Fortson, Rodney Rogers, Stackhouse, Ginobili.
Lakers: O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Glen Rice, Kobe Bryant, Ron Harper.
Inside the TNT studio, Charles Barkley leaned forward.
"Look at this—Fortson's starting tonight. The Knicks desperately need his defense and rebounding," Barkley analyzed. "Ginobili's banged up, Marion's out of rhythm, and their rotation's stretched thin."
Kenny Smith chuckled. "Rookies always hit the wall around this time of year. Happens to the best of them."
Barkley nodded. "Veterans Willis and Gary Trent got battered in Game 2 against Shaq. They're gassed, which is why Fortson's in. The Knicks need fresh legs."
Smith said, "Let's be real—guarding Shaq is a death sentence. You might survive one quarter, but a whole game? That's torture."
Barkley laughed, "And don't forget Zhao Dong emptied the tank last game too. The question is—did he recover in just two days? Because if not, the Knicks are in for a war."
Smith pointed out, "Lakers have their own stamina issues. Those five starters are logging heavy minutes too. But the Knicks, with their short rotation, have it worse."
Barkley concluded, "That's why I'm rolling with the Lakers tonight. Home-court, fresher legs, this might be their shot to turn it around."
---
Meanwhile, CCTV's Zhang Heli provided his own breakdown to fans in China.
"The key tonight lies with Fortson. Can he slow down O'Neal? Can he box him out and make him work for every bucket? Can he sap O'Neal's energy? That will determine if the Knicks stand a chance."
---
Across the country, in New York City, Commissioner David Stern settled into his chair, remote in hand.
Stern wasn't watching for the final score—he was watching Nelson's strategy.
The hack-a-Shaq tactic irked him. It broke the game's flow and ruined the viewing experience. Worse, it made the Knicks even more dominant after already pulling off a three-peat. Too much dominance risked fan fatigue. Stern secretly hoped the Lakers would break the dynasty.
He frowned. "A team this powerful shouldn't have to resort to hack tactics."
Stern's thoughts drifted to the league's next steps. Some league executives pushed for a ban on the hack-a-Shaq in the final two minutes of each quarter, proposing penalty free throws or possession changes. Stern was considering it.
But Zhao Dong was still young. The Knicks would stay powerful for years. The league needed balance—a Western powerhouse capable of toppling them.
Stern scoffed at the Spurs. "Not enough market appeal."
But the Lakers? That was different. Los Angeles was basketball gold, a massive market without an NFL team competing for attention. A Lakers dynasty meant ratings, revenue, and global appeal.
His mind raced through scenarios. Maybe the league needed more than just the late-game restrictions. What if they penalized off-ball fouls at all times with automatic free throws? That would neutralize hack-a-Shaq completely.
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