NBA: The Dynasty Crusher (Basketball)

After the timeout, Gregg Popovich made his move.

Duncan returned, and the Spurs reformed the twin tower formation—this time with a twist.

Instead of assigning Duncan to guard Zhao Dong directly, Popovich adjusted. David Robinson would take the primary defensive assignment, using his length to disrupt passing lanes and harass Zhao Dong's vision, while Duncan shifted into weak-side help duty, essentially acting as a roaming anchor.

And surprisingly, it started to work.

Robinson's goal wasn't to shut Zhao Dong down—no one in the league could do that—but to slow his reads. Force hesitation. Interrupt rhythm.

Meanwhile, Duncan camped near the rim, sagging off Kevin Willis and ready to swat anything Zhao tried near the cup.

On the next trip, Zhao Dong spun baseline and banked in a textbook turnaround off the glass, but the following possession, he tried the same move—and Duncan was waiting.

Swat.

The weak-side help arrived like a ghost.

NBC's Doug Collins broke it down:

"That's a smart adjustment by Pop. Robinson's not expected to contain Zhao one-on-one, but he's long enough to obstruct the pass. And with Duncan anchoring weak-side... that's a lot of arms in the paint."

Offensively, the Spurs fed Robinson on Willis, and the veteran couldn't hold his ground. Robinson scored back-to-back post buckets, cutting into the Knicks' lead.

42–29.

Timeout, Knicks.

NBC switched over to Marv Albert, who called it clean:

"And the Spurs climb back within thirteen! That Twin Tower alignment finally starting to show some teeth defensively."

---

CCTV Broadcast – Halftime Analysis

Zhang Heli leaned into the camera.

"Zhao Dong's height does pose a challenge in the low post against the Spurs' length. On that blocked possession, he missed Willis open on the weak side. Why? Robinson was in his face, and Duncan closed off the passing window instantly."

Su Qun chimed in, "So how do the Knicks solve that double-team from the Twin Towers?"

Zhang Heli smiled.

"They don't need to force it inside. Zhao Dong has too many tools—he can play out on the perimeter, use his turnaround jumper, or even drag one of the towers out and blow by them. But more importantly, the outside needs to move. When Duncan sags off Willis, the offense needs to create a strong-side passing chain, then swing it weak."

---

Back on the Floor – Knicks Possession

Zhao Dong took his spot in the left low post.

Ginobili controlled up top, Stackhouse slid to the arc, Sprewell rotated from the right wing, and Willis planted on the weak side baseline.

Ginobili dumped it into Zhao, then cut straight to the basket.

Stackhouse rotated to the left corner.

Sprewell slid to the top.

Triangle offense. Classic Jackson style.

As Duncan shifted over to help on Zhao, Willis clapped for the ball. He was wide open—again.

But Zhao didn't force the pass. Instead, he zipped a quick dish to Ginobili mid-cut, and the Argentinian rookie made a slick bounce pass to Willis on the baseline.

Duncan pivoted to recover, but it was too late.

Layup. Two points.

Marv Albert:

"Willis... wide open for the finish! That's smart basketball. Zhao Dong drawing the double, and the rookie Ginobili with the relay dime!"

Doug Collins:

"That's how you counter the Twin Towers. Not by forcing up contested shots, but by using the triangle's spacing and movement. The Spurs can't guard everyone."

---

New York kept hammering the triangle.

Zhao drew attention, and his options opened up. He could:

Pass out to Stackhouse for a corner three,

Hit Ginobili cutting inside,

Drop it to Willis flashing baseline,

Or even reverse the ball to Sprewell on the skip.

Popovich was forced to gamble.

Eventually, he stopped double-teaming.

Big mistake.

Once left alone, Zhao pulled Duncan out to the elbow, pump-faked, and drove past him with a lightning-quick crossover. Robinson rotated late—and got bulldozed.

Zhao drew contact and still finished the and-one.

Fouls started stacking.

Duncan looked winded.

Robinson looked frustrated.

And the Knicks just kept running.

Fast breaks. Rotations. Movement.

This was not the grind-it-out Eastern team from last season—this was something new.

---

Halftime – Score: Knicks 58, Spurs 43

A 15-point halftime lead in the '90s NBA was nearly insurmountable. Especially against a team like San Antonio, known for their slower pace and methodical sets.

But no one seemed surprised.

Zhao Dong was dominating without even looking like he was trying. And the Knicks' offensive tempo had scorched the scoreboard—nearly 60 points in two quarters.

On NBC, Doug Collins broke it down.

"The Spurs have no choice. They have to double Zhao Dong. That's been the league's reality for the last three seasons. No one—not bigs, not wings, not guards—can contain him straight up."

Marv Albert nodded.

"And when they try? Zhao Dong simply steps out, pulls them away, and destroys the second tower in the lane. He's turning one of the most fearsome defensive duos in NBA history into statues."

Doug added, "You want the brutal truth? San Antonio's interior defense looks better when they double. When they don't—Zhao just wrecks them."

"At halftime," Matt Goukas noted, "both Duncan and David Robinson were sitting on three fouls. That's six combined in one quarter, all drawn by Zhao Dong. He got six free throws just from those plays alone. His pressure in the paint is absolutely lethal. If the Spurs can't control him, this game's over."

Bill Walton laughed.

"And don't think for a second the Knicks are helpless without Barkley. He's not a starter—more of a role piece. He's not the reason they're winning."

Cut to a hospital room in Phoenix.

"Damn Bill Walton!" Charles Barkley barked from his hospital bed. "Just wait—I'm gonna join NBC and take his job. I'm gonna be the top star of that damn network."

Maureen, his wife, stifled a chuckle.

"Charles, are you really taking Zhao Dong's advice and going into commentary?"

"Absolutely! There's real money in it." Barkley grinned. "And hey, you sent the money to Zhao, right?"

"Taken care of," she smiled.

"Good. I'm telling you, baby, that five million's gonna turn into fifty. Zhao Dong doesn't miss."

Maureen shrugged. "Well, I hope so."

Barkley growled again, jealous.

"Larry Johnson made tens of millions investing with Zhao. Guy's still a billionaire even after taxes. I want in. From now on, I'm riding Zhao Dong's coattails like he's Karl Malone delivering me a check."

---

Third Quarter – Spurs Home Court, NBC Broadcast

The Spurs returned to their roots: Twin Towers low-post dominance. Duncan and Robinson intensified their inside collaboration, using their height to dominate smaller defenders. The Knicks' Fordson and Zhao Dong rotated well, but the Spurs finally broke through.

Robinson scored first, banking in a fadeaway over Fordson.

Doug Collins noted from the booth:

"San Antonio's avoiding Zhao Dong's side. They're isolating Fordson more. That first bucket's a clear signal—they're targeting the weaker defender."

Bill Walton added:

"The Twin Towers' advantage isn't just size—it's vision. They see over the defense. That makes it tough for New York to collapse the paint."

Still, the Knicks refused to slow down.

Even as the Spurs made gains inside, Zhao Dong punished them on the other end with smart ball movement and calculated post-ups. The guards—Ginobili, Sprewell, and Stackhouse—continued to fly in transition. The Knicks' high-octane pace never let up.

By the end of the third, despite San Antonio's renewed focus, the score remained 83–68. A 15-point Knicks lead.

Doug Collins shook his head.

"The Spurs executed better offensively, but they just can't keep up. New York's tempo is relentless, and their efficiency—especially Zhao's—has been off the charts."

---

Fourth Quarter – The Knockout Blow

As the final quarter began, the toll on the Spurs' veterans became obvious. Robinson, drained and mistake-prone, committed two turnovers and got blocked by Zhao Dong on a drop-step fade. Popovich had no choice but to pull him early in the third minute.

That left Duncan alone in the trenches.

Zhao Dong, however, wasn't slowing down.

He continued orchestrating the offense, punishing switches, feeding open shooters, and pounding the paint when needed.

By the time he was subbed out with four minutes left, his stat line was already the stuff of legend:

38 points, 19 rebounds, 14 assists

13-of-20 FG (65%), 12-of-13 FT

Doug Collins couldn't stop praising.

"This is a masterpiece. Zhao Dong just dismantled the best defensive frontcourt in the league with poise, vision, and brute force."

Duncan's final stat line:

29 points (12-of-26 FG), 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks—but also 5 fouls and 3 turnovers.

David Robinson, before he faded, had quietly poured in 22 points and 11 rebounds—a solid effort, but not enough.

The Knicks' guards played their usual 36-minute rotation, allowing John Wallace and others to clean up the final minutes.

---

Bill Walton was glowing.

"Zhao Dong was surgical. This wasn't about pure scoring—it was his control. Every assist felt like a dagger. The Spurs' big men combined for 51 points and 20 boards—and still couldn't stop him."

Matt Goukas added:

"And don't overlook Fordson. 17 rebounds, two big blocks. Rim protection, hustle, clean box-outs. He's starting to look like a future rebounding champ. He and Zhao complement each other so well—one bangs, one finishes."

Walton snorted.

"Honestly, ESPN needs to reevaluate those ridiculous power rankings. Dropping the Knicks just because Barkley's out? That's amateur-hour analysis. Zhao Dong made it clear—Barkley's absence doesn't shift the balance at all."

Matt nodded.

"Exactly. Barkley's great—but not essential. And someone tell ESPN that, before Charles starts another war."

---

Cut to Phoenix – Barkley's Hospital Room

"These NBC clowns, dragging me into this!" Barkley raged.

Maureen laughed.

"You wanted to be in the spotlight, right?"

---

Postgame Interview – Courtside

Reporter from New York Sports Daily:

"Zhao Dong, you had 14 assists tonight, but the team still dominated—a big shift from last year. What changed?"

Zhao Dong grinned.

"Last season, our offense was more static—half-court setups, iso plays, post-ups. So when I passed more, it usually meant we weren't getting easy shots, and the game got harder."

He continued:

"This year, we're playing fast—run-and-gun, full-speed breaks, better spacing, better shooters. A lot of my assists now come on the move, in transition. When I draw two defenders, we make them pay. That's why we win even when I don't score 40."

Thomas, Knicks team reporter:

"Will this fast-pace, small-ball style continue all season?"

Zhao Dong smiled politely.

"That depends on our lineup and matchups. I can't speak for Coach Nelson. He draws up the tactics—I just execute them."

Another reporter, local to San Antonio, leaned in.

"Zhao Dong, what's your take on the Spurs tonight?"

He nodded thoughtfully.

"They need to strengthen the wing. The small forward position is critical—it connects inside and outside, and helps with weak-side rim defense. Right now, that's their weakest spot. To be fair, we're in a similar situation in New York."

---

Spurs Postgame Press Conference – AT&T Center

Even on their home floor, the press turnout was lackluster. A dozen reporters sat sparsely scattered, half of them assistants and camera techs. The mood was subdued.

"Coach Popovich," one local journalist began, "after another loss to the Knicks, do you think this roster can still contend for the title?"

Popovich was terse.

"It's a regular-season game. Let's not overreact. We still believe in our championship chances."

Another reporter followed up.

"You double-teamed Zhao Dong, and he still dropped a 30-point triple-double. Realistically, can this group beat the Knicks?"

Pop narrowed his eyes.

"Again, it's the regular season. Talk to me in June. If we meet the Knicks in the Finals, you'll see what we're really capable of."

"Will that include off-ball double-teams?" the reporter pressed. "You didn't use them tonight. Were you saving something?"

"No comment," Pop growled.

The microphone passed to Tim Duncan, sitting stiffly beside him.

"Tim, what's your reaction to the loss?"

Duncan spoke calmly but firmly.

"We've got to get better. That includes the players—and the front office."

That caught Popovich's attention.

"So you're saying the roster needs changes?" the reporter asked directly.

Duncan nodded.

"Look—the Lakers, Knicks, they've got firepower on both ends. Our current roster has gaps. Our perimeter defense couldn't keep up tonight. That's what killed us. I hope the management sees that."

Behind the scenes, Duncan and his agent had raised these concerns privately for over a year. The Spurs had remained frugal, never adding a second star to support him. Instead, it was always role players—hardworking, sure, but not enough to win a title.

Even now, in this small-market city, Duncan's commercial value was limited. Despite leading the Spurs to the Finals last year, he was still under-marketed and underpaid in endorsements.

The media picked up the scent immediately.

"Duncan Blasts Spurs Management!"

"Trade Rumors Swirl: Tim Duncan Wants Out?"

By the next morning, the basketball world was buzzing. For once, Duncan couldn't dodge the spotlight—even if he wanted to.

---

Later That Night – En Route to Houston

Fresh off their win, the Knicks flew overnight to Texas, prepping for a back-to-back against the Mavericks. Before the game, Zhao Dong caught up with two familiar faces over lunch: Alan Houston and Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon.

Alan was still the undisputed starting shooting guard for the Rockets. But with Steve Francis now on board, it was uncertain whether Houston would remain the face of the franchise once Hakeem retired.

Over grilled sea bass and iced tea, the conversation shifted to business.

"Dream's 8 million is already in," Zhao Dong said, laying out the details of his investment strategy. "Alan, you've already pulled your funds out from StormTech. You want in again?"

Alan nodded.

"Absolutely. Whatever you invested in last year—do it again."

Zhao Dong's plan was clear: funnel the capital from trusted NBA veterans into emerging tech giants in the U.S. stock market—companies like Apple and Amazon. Long-term vision. Real returns.

With business settled, the talk turned to Yao Ming.

The rookie had taken the league by storm, averaging 22 points and 9.5 rebounds in his first month. Some called it "rookie peak." Others warned it was too early to celebrate.

Hakeem grinned proudly.

"Yao's footwork is his weapon. He's not a muscle guy—but with that balance and flexibility, he doesn't have to fight you. He'll glide past you."

Zhao Dong chuckled.

"Oh? Are you hinting at your mentorship?"

The two shared a laugh.

In his previous life, Yao had refined his skills with Shanghai-style footwork, but lacked the low-post polish needed for dominance. In this timeline, under Dream's guidance, he looked sharper. Hungrier. The Rockets had a potential All-NBA anchor on their hands—and everyone in the room knew it.