Chapter 253

June 5th. Game 2 of the Finals.

That morning, the league called for an emergency meeting.

And the topic? Only one: whether or not to legalize zone defense.

Under Commissioner David Stern's strong grip, the rule change passed quickly. Zone D was officially in.

Truth was, this was bound to happen eventually. Zone defense puts everyone on equal footing. But Stern didn't want to completely nerf Zhao Dong either. The NBA was a league built on superstars, and fans paid to watch them shine. If he cut Zhao Dong's game too hard, it would backfire.

Still, balancing was necessary.

Next, they started reviewing specific adjustments to the zone rules—especially the one MJ had brought up about limiting the first step.

Nobody really pushed back. Whether Zhao Dong was Chinese or American, even if he had MJ-level clout, balance came first. When the game's off-balance, the rules gotta shift.

And fast.

Soon, the league's rules team proposed a modification—the same one they'd eventually drop because of Iverson years later:

"If the pivot foot leaves the floor, the ball has to be released. Otherwise, it's a travel."

Now, thanks to Zhao Dong, that rule hit the books way earlier than expected.

Then Adam Silver spoke up.

"Mr. Commissioner, the Knicks' paint is packed with defensive beasts. That's a serious problem for offense. I think it's time we implement the defensive three-second rule."

"Three seconds on D?"

Stern hesitated. He didn't want to weaken the Knicks too much.

But then he thought it through—Zhao Dong back in the low post with less help-side defense? That mobility of his could wreck defenses even harder.

In the end, Stern realized he didn't need to cap Zhao Dong that hard. He nodded internally.

"There's already a three-second call on offense. If we don't balance that with three seconds on defense, the game's just tilted." Silver added fast, noticing Stern's hesitation.

Stern turned to the execs. "What do you all think?"

The Nike and Adidas-backed suits all raised their hands.

"Then it's passed," Stern announced.

At 11 a.m., the league held a press conference.

Three new rules hit the table:

Zone defense is now legal.

Joint defense (zone D) rules updated.

Defensive three-second violation now enforced.

---

"We're being targeted."

Back in New York, Knicks management was pissed—but powerless.

This was how the league had always worked. No use crying about it.

Zhao Dong? He was chill.

These rule changes? They were coming sooner or later.

Didn't matter much to him anyway—they hit everyone, not just him. His game was still his game.

---

At Nike HQ, Phil Knight was grinning from ear to ear.

They'd pulled it off.

He was the one who quietly pushed for the rule changes.

He'd gotten Jordan on that show hosted by Matt Goukas and Marv Albert. He'd backed the whole thing.

He'd also brought Adam Silver into the mix and pushed for the defensive three-second rule.

Now, the Knicks' rock-solid defense had cracks—and those cracks would cost them everything from rim protection to rebounds.

---

Back in Salt Lake City.

Jazz practice was lit.

Coach Jerry Sloan was hyped.

"Let's go, fellas! The league just gave us a shot! We're gonna clamp Zhao Dong with zone D tonight—no mercy!"

"Kill the Knicks! Kill Zhao Dong!" Karl Malone roared, fists clenched like a man reborn.

"This is our shot at the chip. Let's get it done!" John Stockton shouted.

"For the ring—take out Zhao Dong!" said Jeff Hornacek.

A little voice rang out from the side of the gym.

"For the championship, kill Zhao Dong!"

Everyone turned. It was Abby, Hornacek's four-year-old daughter, cheering along.

"Aww, Abby's adorable!" Malone grinned and jogged over to pat her head.

Hornacek froze.

He instantly remembered the legal trouble Zhao Dong's lawyers had dug up on Malone—including some disturbing stuff about underage girls. His heart jumped.

He rushed over and picked Abby up.

"Abby, go find Mom. It's not safe here, we're about to start drills," he said, quickly walking away.

Malone stood awkwardly, hands in the air.

"…What was that about?" he asked.

John Stockton pulled him aside.

"Jeff probably didn't mean anything. But, uh, you really shouldn't touch kids like that. The Child Protection Act's no joke."

That made it worse.

"What the hell, John? I didn't touch anyone! That was all that bastard Zhao Dong setting me up! I never molested anyone!" Malone snapped.

"Easy, Karl," Sloan cut in.

"Just be more careful. Don't go touching little girls, period."

"But Jeff acted like I was a monster. After all these years as teammates, he believes that damn Chinese kid over me?" Malone fumed.

Right then, Jeff walked back into the gym.

Everyone shut up.

Only Malone was still fuming.

---

Meanwhile, over in Philly...

Allen Iverson was grinding in the gym. Offseason workouts. Extra reps. Stuff he used to hate.

But the pressure from Zhao Dong? Too real.

If he didn't step it up, he'd get crushed.

Crazy thing was—even Iverson couldn't believe it. Two years in a row now, he was training like a man possessed.

Old AI would've laughed at the idea. But now?

"Bang!"

He fired the ball off the hardwood in frustration.

His agent had just come in with the news about the rule change.

"Man, this ain't about Zhao Dong! It's about me, you hear me?! He don't even got no quick burst from the perimeter, no low-post moves. But me? If y'all take away my drive, what's left?!"

"Allen, calm down," his agent said quickly.

"We can't reverse it, but you gotta work on your fundamentals. Ball control, footwork—tighten that up."

"Facts," said trainer Ham.

Iverson turned toward the exit. He wanted to walk out and never come back to this damn gym.

But as he took that first step—Zhao Dong's image popped into his mind.

And he stopped cold.

At noon that day, the Knicks held a press conference at their hotel, broadcasted live by NBC at the request of the media.

"Zhao Dong, do you have anything to say about the league introducing zone defense?" a reporter asked.

Zhao Dong smiled and replied, "I'm just glad my playstyle forced the league to change the rules—even though they'll never admit it."

The room burst into laughter.

He added, "But seriously, I ain't worried about zone defense. I've got the skillset to adjust. That's facts."

"Zhao Dong, do you think double-teams can stop your drives or your impact on the floor?" another reporter asked.

"Yeah, it can definitely limit me."

Zhao Dong explained, "Man-to-man D is like driving on a freeway. Zone defense? That's like a twisty mountain road with traffic cones everywhere. Makes getting to the rack a lot tougher.

Plus, zone makes it easier for help defenders to collapse. That's where it gets tricky for me.

Luckily, off-ball double-teams are still illegal. And illegal D rules are still up. If they weren't? I'd be straight-up boxed. Playing off the ball would be a nightmare—haha!"

"So how are you gonna deal with it in tonight's game?"

Zhao Dong smirked, "Tune in and see."

"What about the new three-second defensive rule?"

Zhao Dong nodded. "That one helps us out. Bigs can't camp in the paint anymore—they gotta move out and back in.

For me? That's a big win. I'm too quick for most bigs to stay with. If they can't park under the rim, I'll get buckets all day."

"Ohhh!"

Gasps rippled through the press corps.

"Damn it!"

At Nike headquarters, Phil Knight slammed the desk in frustration.

He had pushed for the three-second rule to weaken the Knicks' interior D—but now it looked like it played right into Zhao Dong's hands on offense.

In Utah's practice facility, Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan stared intently at the TV screen.

"Jerry, you want to run drills this afternoon?" asked his assistant.

"Go ahead and get them started," Sloan said. "I need to rework some things."

Meanwhile, back with the Knicks, after the press conference, Don Nelson, Jeff Van Gundy, Tom Thibodeau, and the rest of the coaching staff huddled up to prep for tonight.

In Chicago, Patrick Ewing and his agent arrived at Bulls HQ.

Ewing looked rough. He was still limping from the injury he suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals and needed a crutch to walk.

But what had him more upset wasn't the knee—it was the Bulls trying to buy out his contract.

"Patrick, have a seat."

Phil Jackson greeted them with a smile.

He'd already decided to cut Ewing, with the owner's approval. Nike had agreed to fund the buyout through a "sponsorship deal" worth tens of millions.

6:30 PM, Delta Center

The Knicks arrived at the arena.

At 7 PM, inside the visitor's locker room, Coach Nelson stepped forward.

"Starting five tonight: Zhao Dong, Charles Oakley, Allan Houston, Ben Wallace..."

One spot left. Last game it was John Starks. Was that the only change? Everyone turned toward Coach Nelson.

"…Chauncey Billups," he finished.

"Me?!"

Billups sprang to his feet, shocked and thrilled.

"Run the offense. Distribute the ball. Don't jack up wild threes. Keep turnovers low. And do your best to lock up Stockton," Zhao Dong instructed.

"Got you, boss," Billups nodded excitedly.

Coach Nelson moved to the whiteboard. "Zhao Dong's starting at the 4 tonight. We're feeding the post hard."

Van Gundy stood up next. "On defense, we're sticking to man-to-man. Zhao Dong's on Karl Malone. Lock him down."

Zhao Dong stood tall and shouted, "I don't care what rule they change—we're sweeping the Jazz! They ain't taking a single W from us!"

"Sweep the Jazz!!"

The locker room exploded in energy.

In the Jazz locker room, Jerry Sloan wrapped up his tactical prep. He turned to Karl Malone.

"Karl, Zhao Dong's got you. You've gotta go right back at him. Keep him busy in transition. Don't let him leak out for fast breaks."

"Bet," Malone nodded.

7:30 PM – Starting Lineups

Knicks: Ben Wallace, Zhao Dong, Charles Oakley, Allan Houston, Chauncey Billups

Jazz: Greg Ostertag, Karl Malone, Bryon Russell, Jeff Hornacek, John Stockton

NBC Broadcast

Marv Albert: "The Knicks are riding Zhao Dong hard on both ends. Offensively, the entire scheme runs through him. This is a team built around its superstar—plain and simple."

Matt Goukas: "Meanwhile, the Jazz got the Black and White Duo—Malone and Stockton—but their whole identity is team-first. P&R action, ball movement. Not isolation."

Marv: "And with the zone defense introduced, it's a shift that actually helps team systems like Utah's. Zone defense thrives on rotation and help. So this might balance things out."

Matt: "Still, the big question is—can zone slow down Zhao Dong?"

Marv: "The so-called Zhao Dong Rule' they tested before the East Finals? Didn't do much. Even without the straight-line drive, Zhao Dong backs guys down from the perimeter all the way to the cup. He's got that footwork."

Matt: "Exactly. And thankfully, he doesn't abuse that bully-ball style like Barkley or Mark Jackson. That old-school pound-the-rock stuff ain't popular with fans. Hurts the ratings."

Marv: "True, and honestly, Zhao Dong barely uses it. Even after the rule dropped."

Matt: "Maybe we need a shot clock just for post-ups, haha."

Marv (laughs): "Now that would be something."

CCTV Broadcast

Zhang Heli: "Coach Nelson is starting rookie Billups again. So what position will Zhao Dong play tonight?"

Sun Zhenping: "Small Forward, maybe?"

Zhang Heli: "Likely."

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