NBA: The Dynasty Crusher (Basketball)

On the afternoon of June 15th, both teams arrived in New York one after another.

By 5:00 p.m., Zhao Dong returned to his penthouse. Lindsay had gotten off work early and was already waiting for him at home.

"Honey, redemption on the fund has skyrocketed these past few days," Lindsay reported as she handed him a glass of fresh juice. "Our bearish stance on the market is starting to shake things up."

Zhao Dong leaned back on the couch, loosening his collar. "Will that slow down delivery?"

"For now, we're fine. We've already cashed out over $50 billion. Add in the $20 billion in reserves, and we're covered."

Zhao Dong nodded, satisfied. "Good. Releasing our short position wasn't just to profit. It's about building a rep. If the market crashes next year like we expect, Storm will be seen as the smartest investment bank in the game. That rep? It'll make it rain when we raise funds again. All we gotta do is survive these next few months."

"Honey," Lindsay said suddenly, "the Finals end tomorrow. What's your plan after that?"

Zhao Dong grinned. "You decide. How about a trip somewhere?"

Her eyes sparkled, but she sighed. "I wish. I'm swamped with work."

Zhao Dong chuckled. "Lindsay, you're the boss. Set the vision. Delegate the grind to your people. Once we launch the investment bank and our group in China, you'll have even more on your plate. You can't keep doing everything yourself."

"I know," she nodded. "Finance is still my core, though. Once the China group is established, I'll need to hire a proper CEO."

"Exactly. We're the visionaries, not the operators. Leave the day-to-day to professionals," Zhao Dong replied.

"Oh, right," Lindsay remembered, "you asked me to check the NBA ownership market. A few teams are looking to sell. The stock market boom inflated asset prices, so some owners want to cash out at the peak."

Zhao Dong raised an eyebrow. "That's our cue."

---

Meanwhile, over at the Knicks' hotel, the Spurs management received a rude awakening.

"You reserved zero tickets for us?"

The Knicks' front office had sent a notice: no tickets would be provided for visiting fans in Game 5.

Lewis, the Knicks' President of Basketball Operations, smirked. "I'm doing your fans a favor. The cheapest nosebleed ticket tomorrow is $11,000. You sure you want to buy up a block for them? By league rules, if you reserve them and don't sell, you eat the cost."

"…."

Phils, the Spurs' operations chief, nearly had a heart attack. That price tag? San Antonio fans weren't built for that.

"I'll leave you ten tickets as a courtesy," Lewis offered.

"No need." Phils was so pissed he nearly slammed the phone.

---

That evening, Zhao Dong made a call.

"Yo, Zhao. What's up?" Michael Jordan answered casually from Las Vegas.

"Mike, tomorrow we defend our dynasty," Zhao Dong laughed. "You gonna be there?"

"…What?"

Jordan nearly choked. You really want me courtside to watch you take the crown that should've been mine?

"I heard the Mavericks are up for sale. Asking price is $280 million," Zhao Dong added casually. "With the market booming, team prices have doubled. You know the game. If you want to be a boss, now's the time."

There was a long pause.

"I'm flying to New York now."

Zhao Dong smiled. He knew Jordan's dream: team ownership. MJ was short on capital, but Zhao Dong had leverage. Zhao Dong was a major Nike shareholder—and MJ's brand? His crown jewel. As long as Zhao Dong agreed to mortgage the MJ brand or co-sign a deal, Jordan could be on the owner's seat.

---

June 16th. Game 5. NBA Finals. Madison Square Garden.

"The Knicks' Dynasty Is Unstoppable!" —New York Times

"The Tyrant's Thorn Is Coming Out—The Dynasty Is Set!" —New York Sports Daily

"Dynasty! Dynasty! Dynasty!" —every Knicks fan across NYC

By noon, fans were already packing into the Garden. The chants echoed through the streets like a war drum.

At 6:30 p.m., the Knicks' team bus pulled into Madison Square Garden. Fans roared in waves. Celebrities, former legends, and high-rollers filled the VIP seats—New York was electric.

Michael Jordan entered the arena to a media storm.

"MJ! You were in Vegas yesterday, right? What brings you to New York?" a reporter asked.

Jordan adjusted his shades and smiled. "Came to witness history."

"You think the Knicks can defend the dynasty tonight?"

"Of course. Spurs can't stop 'em. Too weak on the perimeter. Natural flaws in that lineup."

"You once said that if the Knicks repeated, Zhao Dong would earn the title 'God of Efficiency,' best active player in the league. Still stand by that?"

Jordan sighed internally. God of Efficiency… damn, that should've been me. If he hadn't clashed with Bulls management three years ago, he and Zhao Dong could've been the most dominant inside-out duo ever. Ten titles, easy.

"I stand by it," Jordan said finally. "I'm retired. He's the king now."

Just then, Shaquille O'Neal walked in, spotted Jordan, and grinned.

"MJ! Man, don't retire. Come to the Lakers—we'll run the league together!"

Kobe Bryant, following right behind Shaq, nearly exploded. Damn it, Shaq! I just broke through and you're recruiting MJ?! You tryna bench me again.

Jordan scoffed at O'Neal with a smirk, his voice laced with contempt.

"Shaq, you're too damn lazy," he said. "No way I'm playing second fiddle to you."

"Pfft!" Kobe burst into laughter on the sidelines.

O'Neal blinked in confusion, then sighed internally. Michael, you got it twisted. I meant I'd be the boss — you hug my thigh, and we take down Zhao Dong together.

But of course, he didn't dare say it out loud.

---

7:20 PM – Arrival Time

General Manager Ernie made his entrance flanked by staff and security. Dressed sharp and walking tall, he instantly became the brightest figure under the arena lights.

7:30 PM – Starting Lineups Announced

San Antonio Spurs:

C: David Robinson

PF: Tim Duncan

SF: Sean Elliott

SG: Mario Elie

PG: Avery Johnson

New York Knicks:

C: Wang Zhizhi

PF: Danny Fortson

SF: Charles Barkley

SG: Latrell Sprewell

PG: Zhao Dong

---

CCTV Broadcast Booth – Pre-Game Analysis

Zhang Heli leaned into the mic, calm and thoughtful.

"The Spurs brought Sean Elliott back into the starting five. But let's be real — their perimeter defense is still their Achilles' heel. Popovich just doesn't have the weapons out there."

Sun Zhenping nodded. "The Spurs' interior is elite. Their twin towers can overpower most lineups — they bullied the Lakers. But against the Knicks? With Zhao Dong running point? That perimeter weakness becomes a fatal flaw."

Zhang smiled. "Exactly. And don't forget, with Sprewell joining Zhao Dong, that Knicks backcourt is electric. Pop's outside guys aren't built for that kind of speed and pressure. Once they get blown by, the Spurs' twin towers are exposed."

---

7:40 PM – Player Introductions

"DYNASTY! DYNASTY! DYNASTY!"

The Madison Square Garden crowd erupted as the Knicks were introduced one by one. The decibel level rattled the rafters.

Zhao Dong grabbed the mic from the host, his voice thunderous with intensity.

"Tonight, we trample the Spurs!"

"TRAMPLE THE SPURS!" the crowd roared back.

"We defend the dynasty!"

"DYNASTY!"

"Tonight… we achieve greatness!"

"GREATNESS! GREATNESS! GREATNESS!"

The arena was an inferno. Veteran Charles Barkley stood on the court, eyes wide with admiration as he took in the scene. Man, this is why we play. That ring… it's so close I can feel it.

---

8:00 PM – Tip-Off

Wang Zhizhi squared off with Tim Duncan at center court. The ref tossed the rock.

Knicks possession.

Zhao Dong brought the ball up the left wing, stopping just outside the arc. The Spurs didn't waste time — Elliott and Johnson swarmed him in a double team, just like the Bulls did in the East.

The strategy? Cut off his driving lanes early, force him to jack up tough shots in traffic.

Popovich knew it wasn't ideal — his perimeter guys weren't Jordan and McGrady — but this was it. Finals basketball. You throw the kitchen sink.

But Zhao Dong? Cool as ever.

He didn't force a shot or try to split the trap. He simply zipped a pass to Barkley down low — wide open under the rim.

Sean Elliott scrambled to recover, and in that exact moment, Zhao Dong blew past Avery Johnson like a blur, cut straight into the paint, and raised his hand.

Barkley didn't hesitate. Bounce pass. Zhao Dong caught it in stride.

Duncan was the last line of defense, standing in the restricted area.

Fordson was trailing behind, pinning Duncan in place.

Zhao Dong went up strong.

"BOOM!"

He detonated the rim with a vicious dunk over Tim Duncan. The backboard shook. Duncan hit the floor hard.

"WHISTLE!"

The ref blew it loud and clear. And-1.

Foul on Duncan.

---

NBC Broadcast Booth – Reaction

Bob Costas: "Whoa! First play of the Finals, and Zhao Dong sends a message with that one!"

Doug Collins: "The double team failed because Johnson and Elliott couldn't contain the pass. That's the difference between this Spurs team and a squad like the Bulls. They can't cut off Zhao's vision. You give him that opening — it's over."

Isaiah Thomas: "And look at Nelson's game plan — Barkley and Wang are stretching the floor, pulling Robinson and Duncan out of the paint. That opens the lane for Zhao Dong to do exactly what he just did."

Bob: "Brilliant move. All season long, Barkley rested, and Wang only played about 20 minutes per game. You get to the Finals, and suddenly these two are fresh and lethal."

Doug: "It's vintage Don Nelson. He's maximizing versatility. If he had stuck with Fordson and Ben Wallace inside, the paint would be a traffic jam. Zhao wouldn't get looks like that."

Isaiah: "But it's not just coaching. You need a roster that can execute this. Zhao Dong can play every position. You surround him with veterans who can shoot and stretch the floor — that's a nightmare matchup for any team."

---

Back to the Court – Spurs Possession

San Antonio tried to answer.

Duncan and Robinson moved in tandem down low, using their height to seal off defenders. The plan? Get clean entries and pound it inside.

The Spurs went with their bread and butter—Twin Towers inside, three players spacing the perimeter. They kept swinging the ball around, trying to stretch New York's perimeter defense.

"Bang!"

Tim Duncan received a quick entry pass but was immediately picked up by Dazhi. Calmly, Duncan swung the ball cross-court to David Robinson, who caught it near the rim. Without hesitation, the Admiral rose up and slammed it home over Fordson, who, at just 201 cm, was hopeless in the air war.

Knicks' possession.

Zhao Dong and Barkley spaced out again, pulling both Duncan and Robinson out of the paint. Fordson made a hard cut toward the basket. Duncan instinctively dropped to protect the rim—and Barkley was left wide open.

Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson frantically tried to deny Zhao Dong's passing angles, but their defensive tools just weren't good enough.

Because defense isn't just about effort—it's about instinct and talent.

Zhao Dong faced four flailing arms in front of him, hands waving like windmill blades. He made just one decisive move that rendered their defense useless.

Palming the ball with one hand, Zhao raised it high and faked a rocket pass to Barkley. The momentary shift caused the entire defense to bite. Even Elliott spun around, thinking the pass was real.

But Zhao never passed.

Instead, with both defenders off-balance, he spun past Johnson on the right and exploded into the paint.

"They got fooled again," Doug Collins groaned on the NBC broadcast.

This time, Robinson was quicker in his rotation, cutting off Zhao's path. Zhao barely glanced at him, then kicked it out to Dazhi, who was wide open in the right corner.

Robinson froze—he couldn't close out fast enough. He turned and watched helplessly as Dazhi lined up the shot from five meters out.

Under the basket, Zhao Dong, Fordson, and Barkley boxed out Duncan and sealed off Robinson. Even if Dazhi missed, odds were high New York would snatch the rebound.

"Swish!"

Pure. Dazhi rarely missed when left alone from that range.

The Spurs came back on offense, leaning once again on their size. Twin Towers re-entered the paint, trying to dominate through their height.

But this time, Zhao Dong picked up Avery Johnson full-court. In a flash, he poked the ball free. Johnson scrambled to recover, but it completely killed the play's rhythm.

Moments later, Sprewell picked off a lazy pass from Johnson intended for Mario Elie and raced downcourt for a fast break.

Next Spurs possession—same problem.

Zhao Dong and Sprewell trapped Johnson on the sideline, forcing a panicked pass toward Duncan. The ball sailed over his fingertips and went straight out of bounds.

"The Knicks' backcourt is a straight-up All-Star combo," Isaiah Thomas chuckled. "The Spurs' guards can't keep up."

Knicks with the ball.

Zhao Dong delivered a pinpoint pass to Barkley, who nailed a mid-range jumper from the left elbow. Clean bucket.

Back the other way, Duncan answered with a tough basket in the paint.

But the Knicks weren't slowing down.

Zhao Dong once again broke the double team and slashed through the defense like a hot knife through butter. Duncan didn't dare leave Barkley open, and Robinson had to stay home on Dazhi.

But when Zhao Dong got downhill, both bigs were forced to rotate—leaving Barkley and Dazhi wide open.

Zhao kicked the ball to Dazhi, whose three-pointer rimmed out—but the Knicks had numbers under the rim.

Zhao snatched the rebound in traffic and threw down a monster one-handed jam, posterizing Robinson and drawing the blocking foul.

Robinson had been sealed off by Fordson and couldn't get off the ground in time.

End of First Quarter: Knicks 26, Spurs 14.

Zhang Heli on CCTV:

"A 12-point lead for New York, and honestly, Doug, I didn't expect the Spurs to look this vulnerable."

Sun Zhenping nodded.

"You're right. The Spurs were phenomenal all year. They even bullied Shaq and the Lakers with that Twin Towers setup. But this Knicks squad... they're something else."

Zhang Heli added

"Look, when Zhao Dong took over the point, the Knicks' backcourt became unstoppable. Meanwhile, the Spurs' guards became a liability. That's the difference right now."

Sun agreed.

"Exactly. You can't rely solely on your bigs, no matter how dominant. When your perimeter gets exposed on both ends, the towers can't hold up. They're stranded out there."

Zhang added:

"And it's not like the Spurs' Twin Towers can't dominate. They already blew up the Knicks' paint since Game 3. Zhao Dong rarely drops back to protect the interior—he's always lingering outside, waiting to spark the fast break. So yes, New York's inside game has taken a hit."

Sun Zhenping:

"But here's the twist—Zhao Dong might give up some paint defense, but his transition offense? Devastating. And when you add Sprewell slashing from the weak side, the pressure's unbearable for San Antonio."

Sun Zhenping:

"That's why the Spurs are losing despite owning the interior. Once Zhao Dong collapses the defense, those Twin Towers are the ones getting attacked."

Zhang Heli:

"If a team wants to beat the Knicks, their perimeter defense better be elite. You gotta lock down Zhao Dong's dribble-drive game—just like Chicago tried. Force him into the post, make him play slow. That's your only shot."

Sun Zhenping:

"The Bulls did force him into the post, but they still couldn't beat New York."

Zhang Heli chuckled.

"That's because Chicago's frontcourt doesn't demand double-teams. Rasheed Wallace, Charles Oakley... they're good, but not threats like Duncan and Robinson."

Sun Zhenping wrapped it up:

"Exactly. The Knicks didn't even double-team Jordan. They let him work and cut off everyone else. That's how they shut down the Bulls. But with Robinson and Duncan? You can't play them straight up. If the Spurs had the guards to keep Zhao Dong out of the paint, we'd have a different ballgame. But their perimeter defense is just too weak."

(End of Chapter)

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