Chapter 288
Phil Jackson made the call first: "Ease up on the inside defense. From now on, we win this thing with offense."
Jordan nodded, sharp and calm. Even though Zhao Dong and the Knicks had firepower, the Bulls had a deeper squad and smoother offensive chemistry—especially now that Danny Fortson was injured. Without Fortson anchoring the paint, the Knicks were vulnerable on the boards. Jordan believed they had this in the bag.
Back on the court, Zhao Dong continued bulldozing into the paint on possession after possession. But something felt off. After a few more attacks, he realized the Bulls weren't even contesting him that hard down low anymore.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath, stepping back near the elbow. "They're pulling back?"
He'd been testing their interior defense this whole time, gearing up for potential playoff matchups. But with the Bulls choosing to go soft down low, the probing became pointless. No use wasting energy. He shifted gears—cut back on the drives, pulled up more from mid-range, started dishing out passes.
But the Knicks weren't at full strength either. Latrell was out with injury. Hu Weidong stepped up and played well, but he didn't have the same offensive bite. And Willis? He just couldn't clean the glass like Fortson did.
Final score? 95–105. Bulls took it by 10.
Zhao Dong still dropped a 30+ point triple-double, but no one really cared. The loss dulled everything.
Rebounds told the story: Knicks grabbed 41, Bulls snatched 49.
Turnovers? Ugh. Knicks coughed it up 10 times. Billups alone had 4, Hu Weidong had 3. The Bulls only had 5. Kidd had just 1. Jordan? Zero. The Bulls' backcourt dominated—plain and simple.
After the game, Matt Goukas didn't hold back:
"With Fortson and Latrell out, the Knicks' roster holes are glaring. They've got a major issue at small forward. Outside of Zhao Dong, only Hu from China can swing between shooting guard and forward. Barkley? Nah. Just not the guy for that role anymore.
Inside? No Fortson means rebounding and defense take a hit. And because they're short at the three, Zhao Dong has to keep playing small forward instead of shifting inside where he'd dominate.
This is why, in hindsight, Ernie Grunfeld messed up by vetoing the McGrady trade. With T-Mac on the squad, Zhao could've slid back inside tonight. Big missed opportunity.
And don't even get me started on the shooting guard spot. Without Latrell, outside scoring is weak. They just can't keep up with a team like the Bulls offensively."
Marv Albert chimed in:
"Hu Weidong did what he could—17 points on 6-of-13 shooting, hit 1 of 3 from deep, perfect from the line. Shot 46%, which is solid. About a third of those shots came from inside off drives. But he's not Latrell. He took too few shots, too careful. They needed someone who could light it up."
Matt nodded, "To be clear, I'm not knocking Hu. He's a bench guy who stepped up. Played 35 minutes, solid efficiency. It's just... they needed firepower tonight, and that's not his style. Without that, it's hard to carry Zhao Dong."
"Is Latrell really that important to the Knicks?" Marv raised an eyebrow.
Matt smirked. "You saw the game. Zhao Dong didn't even go all-out. He didn't push himself. Once the Bulls backed off inside, he didn't force it. Took more jumpers, passed more. He was watching, analyzing."
Marv's eyes narrowed. "Watching the Bulls?"
Matt shook his head. "Watching his own team. He wanted to see how much this squad could give with key guys out. They still dropped 95 points and lost by 10, and Zhao wasn't even trying to carry them. That tells you something."
Meanwhile, back in China, the CCTV crew had their own take.
"Dazhi played well today," Sun Zhenping said on-air. "23 minutes, 4-of-8 from the field, 3-of-3 from the line, and knocked down a triple. Hit double digits."
Zhang Heli nodded. "With Fortson out and Barkley playing fewer minutes, he got more touches. Still didn't take many shots, though."
"Scoring was spread out," Sun added. "Zhao Dong didn't attack as much either."
In Chicago, Zhao Dong was heading to the locker room when a NBC reporter stopped him, camera right behind.
"Yo, not gonna interview MJ?"
Zhao grinned and pointed across the floor. "Isn't he right there getting interviewed?"
The reporter laughed. "Man, I've been interviewing him for years. It's your turn."
Zhao shrugged, flashed a lazy OK sign. "Alright. Three questions max."
"Fair. First one—did you lose on purpose tonight?"
Zhao raised a brow. "Come on. The Bulls are stacked this year, way better than last season. You really think I'd throw the game?"
"You only took 18 shots. You're averaging 29. That's a big drop."
"Different game plan," Zhao replied casually. "I had 15 assists tonight. It just shows this pass-heavy style won't beat the Bulls with our current lineup. Meanwhile, Kidd had 14 assists and his team won. Their roster fits that playstyle better right now."
"So you're just testing the waters?"
"Isn't that what the regular season's for?" Zhao gave a half-smile.
"Alright, last one. What's your take on the rule allowing double-teaming off the ball? You against it?"
Zhao chuckled. "It can slow me down, sure. But I'm not worried. That rule won't stop me. And nah, I'm not against it. It was bound to happen sooner or later."
"How can you be so sure?"
"That's your third question," Zhao said, smirking. "But I'll answer anyway. You seen Shaq lately? Man's bulldozing through double teams like paper, dunking on everyone's head. If the league doesn't do something, he's gonna break the whole damn backboard system. To stop a beast like that, you have to allow off-ball doubles. Gotta keep things balanced in the paint."
Over in Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal watched the interview and roared, "Zhao, you bastard! I told you I'm changing the backboard after this season!"
In San Antonio, Tim Duncan quietly nodded. "He's got a point."
Popovich added, "The Shark's a menace under the basket—just like Zhao Dong when he attacks. This new rule's coming. It has to."
After finishing up the post-game press conference, the Knicks hit the road, heading straight to Toronto overnight. Another back-to-back was waiting, and fatigue was already settling in.
The following day, the outcry across the league grew even louder—calls for allowing defenses to double-team off-ball players were making serious waves now.
The NBA responded quickly, issuing a statement that it would begin studying the proposal.
"You did good, Zhao Dong. Real good."
Shaquille O'Neal's voice came through the ESPN segment with visible frustration.
Facing the cameras, the big man didn't hide his irritation. "Zhao, I'm comin' for you! But you ain't ever stoppin' me from building a dynasty with the OK squad."
Back in his Toronto hotel room, Zhao Dong flipped on the TV and laughed when O'Neal's clip played on ESPN.
"Heh, I'm targeting you, Big Fella," Zhao smirked. "Dynasty? You're not building one in this life."
In his previous life, the NBA only implemented the rule allowing defenses to double-team off-ball players in the 2001–02 season—by then, the Lakers had already bagged two straight titles, and the OK Dynasty was rolling.
But in this life? Zhao was doing everything to bring that change sooner—to derail Shaq and Kobe before they got started.
---
Elsewhere, big moves were happening across the league.
The Timberwolves officially placed Stephon Marbury on the trade block, publicly stating that the trade request came from Marbury himself.
"The fallout from Garnett's $100 million deal is showing," the Los Angeles Times reported. "This contract has basically frozen the Timberwolves' future."
Meanwhile, the New York Sports Daily speculated:
"Marbury's agent is reportedly in New York. Could a top-tier point guard be headed to the Knicks?"
The news stirred up a storm in the media.
Fans in Minnesota weren't having it.
"TRAITOR! GET OUT OF MINNESOTA!"
"YOU LEAVE US, YOU'RE DONE!"
Angry Timberwolves fans flooded the team's headquarters, shouting insults and burning jerseys.
Despite the noise, Marbury's trade value took a hit. He was demanding a max contract next season, and most teams couldn't—or wouldn't—meet his price. On top of that, he wanted to be closer to home, near New York, which limited the options even more.
The Timberwolves had a decision to make. Marbury's contract was ending this season—he'd become a restricted free agent. If they waited, they risked getting nothing. So they moved.
In a three-way deal, the Wolves got Terrell Brandon from the Bucks, the Bucks picked up Sam Cassell from the Nets, and the Nets got their man—Marbury.
Not the best return for Minnesota, but better than nothing.
---
That same day, Nike's New York headquarters made a big announcement.
The company would be selling off three of its subsidiaries in a packaged deal worth $650 million. The move was part of a broader plan to slim down operations and restructure internally.
It was the exact move Lindsay had hinted at earlier—splitting up Nike to focus on the core brand.
But the markets didn't like it.
Nike's stock plummeted 20% in one day, crashing to $25. The selloff was brutal.
---
Later that afternoon in Toronto, Zhao Dong met Vince Carter at a high-end restaurant.
"Boss, right this way," Carter greeted him warmly.
"Call me Zhao Dong," he smiled as he sat down.
Carter chuckled. "This spot's the fanciest Western restaurant in Toronto. You good with it?"
"Not bad," Zhao nodded, glancing around.
There was a bit of hesitation in Carter's expression before he leaned forward. "So... I heard the Knicks guys all followed you in on some investments. Any chance I can get in?"
"You tryna invest too? That's easy," Zhao replied casually. "Just give me the cash—I'll help you make bank."
"For real?" Carter lit up. "Bet!"
Zhao smirked, then asked, "How's Toronto treating you?"
"Not bad," Carter said, leaning back.
Zhao paused, his tone turning serious. "Vince, listen. The league's still playin' with some heavy defense. When you're up against squads like us, the Spurs, or the Heat, cut back on the highlight dunks."
Carter blinked. "Huh?"
"Like when you go against Shaq—don't even think about posterizing him. If he yanks you outta the air, that's your whole career on the line."
Carter nodded solemnly.
Zhao continued, "You gotta improve your shooting game, man. Pull-up jumpers, floaters, mid-range shots after you break down a guy—and definitely the three-ball. Expand your offense. Don't just be a highlight reel at the rim."
"Got it," Carter said, taking the advice seriously.
That night, the Knicks beat the Raptors, snapping a potential skid and improving their record to 14–1—still the best in the league.
---
December 3 – Back in New York
When Zhao Dong got back to the villa around 4 p.m., he was surprised to find Lindsay already home.
"Eve?"
"Hehe, the company didn't have anything urgent today, and I knew you were flying back—so I ditched work," Lindsay said playfully as she ran over to grab his suitcase.
After unpacking, she handed him a glass of apple juice. "I bought a ton of groceries. Let's make our own dinner tonight."
"Deal. I'll cook, you help."
After a short break, the two moved into the kitchen.
As Zhao started slicing vegetables, he glanced over and asked, "By the way, who are you planning to sell those Nike subsidiaries to?"
"My goal's to pass them to Adidas and Reebok," Lindsay said as she washed greens. "And while I'm at it, I'll tie up their liquidity. Those subsidiaries are mostly unprofitable—lots of toxic assets buried inside, including real estate and junk bonds."
She gave a small smirk. "Once they take the bait and those bad debts start exploding... they'll be stuck in it."
Zhao grinned.
Lindsay leaned back in her chair, her tone calm yet filled with confidence. "Adi and a few other companies recently bought back a ton of their own shares from the secondary market. That drained a lot of their working capital. On top of that, they took out massive mortgage loans. Once they acquire these subsidiaries, I can squeeze them further—it'll make them easy targets in the future."
Zhao Dong raised a brow. "They'll really take over those subsidiaries?"
A subtle smile formed on Lindsay's lips. "That's the easy part. For us finance folks, that's basic stuff. I had a top-tier Wall Street rating agency package those toxic assets together with a few high-quality ones using some algorithmic magic. To outsiders, they look like solid investments with great returns."
She continued, "Take this—say the bad assets are rated C-level, and the good ones are A+. Normally, there's a gap of eight rating levels between them. After packaging? Boom, it becomes a B-level asset. Looks clean on paper."
Zhao Dong nodded in understanding.
"I also quietly acquired enough shares in those companies through various channels, just enough to get people placed on their boards. These aren't just any people either—they're the real deal. Professional lobbyists, some with experience lobbying the White House itself. They'll push the boards of companies like Adidas to buy those 'repackaged' assets. And trust me, the success rate is sky-high."
"I get it now," Zhao Dong replied.
This whole scheme sounded eerily familiar to him. In his past life, the U.S. pulled the same move during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. To cripple the Eurozone, they created loads of garbage subprime mortgage loans, dressed them up with quality assets, and sold them off to Europe. When the collapse hit, Europe took the brunt of the damage.
And the reason behind it? OPEC was planning to use the Euro as a competing trading currency against the U.S. dollar. To protect dollar dominance, America set off the subprime time bomb.
It reminded him of the Plaza Accord too—Japan was strong, but not that strong. The U.S. only made Japan sign because OPEC was also considering using the yen in trades. Again, it was all about crushing potential threats to the dollar's throne.
"Then how is Zhao Dong Sports going to acquire Nike?" Zhao Dong asked, curious about the mechanics.
Lindsay's expression turned a bit sly. "Storm Fund has to make money. Nike can't just be handed over at a bargain. Eventually, Storm will divest and sell Nike to Zhao Dong Sports."
She paused, then added, "But here's the kicker—the Nike assets being sold include cash from divesting subsidiaries and the strongest core properties. Zhao Dong Sports will get a lean, mean version of Nike—only the best assets. Meanwhile, Storm gets its profit margin."
"Then Zhao Dong Sports teams up with Silver Demon Tech to invest in Nike, increasing their stake and diluting others. The moment that hits the news, Nike's stock will go through the roof. Zhao Dong Sports can sell a chunk of their shares in the secondary market, recover the cost of acquisition, and still hold controlling shares."
"So basically, you're trading Silver Demon for Nike?" Zhao Dong chuckled. "What's the price tag on the Silver Demon tech you're selling to Nike?"
Lindsay grinned wide. "As high as possible. Zhao Dong Sports spent tens of billions developing that tech, and it's loaded with patents."
Zhao Dong blinked. "Tens of billions? You're insane."
His wife was something else—running Storm Fund, pulling strings at Nike, and casually tossing around numbers like that.
He let out a small laugh. "Eve, make sure Nike doesn't get the best version of Silver Demon. Only Zhao Dong Sports should have that level."
"Of course," she nodded confidently. "Even if we wanted to give them the best version, they couldn't afford it!"
---
Meanwhile, a meeting was being held at the New York Alliance headquarters. The agenda? Whether to allow teams to double-team players without the ball.
But unlike last season, when the zone defense and Zhao Dong Rule sparked heated debate, this time barely half the room was in favor.
Commissioner David Stern instantly saw the difference. Storm Fund had just acquired Nike, and Lindsay, true to her word, had stopped interfering with league matters. That alone made Stern far more favorable toward Nike now.
Plus, the proposed rule would heavily affect O'Neal's game. Reebok wasn't having that. Of all the major sponsors, only Adidas supported the rule—and their influence just wasn't enough.
The vote failed.
Even if it had passed, Stern would've vetoed it anyway. In his view, the Bulls were stacked already. If Zhao Dong got limited further, the whole league balance would tip. No way he was letting that happen—not this season.
Of course, if the Knicks defended their title again? That'd be a different story. Next year, he'd definitely consider locking Zhao Dong down with that rule.
---
Game Night – March 3, Madison Square Garden
The Knicks faced their third straight back-to-back game, this time against the Boston Celtics. Everyone was feeling it. The fatigue was obvious.
With Billups resting, Charlie Ward started at point guard. The rotation shifted, depth took a hit, and the energy just wasn't the same.
But Zhao Dong? He flipped the switch.
He went full throttle, putting on another dominant performance. Dropped over 50 points. Carried the squad on his back. And when the final buzzer sounded, it was the Knicks who came out on top again.
Three straight wins. Three games. Three nights.
The New York Times headline said it all:
"Zhao Dong Proves He's the League's Best: Back-to-Back-to-Back 50+ Nights. The Knicks Are Built Different."
Matt Goukas and Marv Albert were hyped on the broadcast, and even Doug Collins was nodding his head in admiration back in the studio.
No matter how tired, no matter who was missing—Zhao Dong made sure the Knicks stayed on top.
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