That night, NBC was airing a special on the upcoming Eastern and Western Conference Finals.
The broadcast featured some big-time NBA guests—Magic Johnson, who had recently retired, Shaq, fresh off elimination with the Lakers at the hands of the Jazz, and Alonzo Mourning, whose Heat squad had just been bounced by the Knicks. The show was hosted by Marv Albert and Matt Goukas.
Zhao Dong was chilling in his hotel room when the show came on. He flipped to NBC.
The Bulls were also locked in, watching from their hotel. But one guy was missing—Rodman. That had Jordan pissed.
Rodman had been a ghost in these playoffs, putting up weak-ass numbers—just 8 rebounds a game and barely logging 20 minutes a night. His body was clearly not holding up. And now, instead of locking in for the Eastern Conference Finals, he was out partying? That wasn't sitting right with MJ.
"Alright, let's get into the Western Conference Finals," Marv Albert kicked things off. "Mavs versus Jazz. Who's got the edge? Magic, let's start with you."
Magic nodded. "The Jazz took out the Lakers 4-1, while the Mavs had a dogfight with the Sonics, winning in seven. That means Utah's got the rest advantage. Both teams split their season series 2-2, but that extra energy might tilt things in the Jazz's favor."
Shaq jumped in next. "Look, Hakeem and Barkley are both getting up there. Barkley's been banged up all season, and that's gonna be tough for a full series. I gotta agree with Magic on this one."
"Alonzo, what's your take?" Goukas asked.
Mourning still looked like he hadn't moved on from the Heat's elimination. He exhaled and said, "Man, it ain't gonna be easy for the Jazz. The Mavs got that low-post game locked down, and that's a weak spot for Utah. If Hakeem and Barkley go to work inside, they got a real shot at winning this series."
"Alright, 2-1 in favor of the Jazz," Marv noted. "Now, let's talk about the East. And of course, we gotta bring up Zhao Dong. Oh, and his new girl. No, not that K-pop chick—whatever happened there. I mean Lindsay, the one with that rich, classy vibe."
"Man, does anyone think Zhao Dong even deserves a girl like that?" Mourning blurted out.
Shaq and Magic cracked up.
"Ain't our call to make," Magic said with a smirk.
Shaq added, "Bulls' big three out here trying to play Prince Charming. Alonzo, you tryna throw your hat in the ring too?"
The whole crew laughed.
"I just can't stand this dude switching girls every other day," Mourning grumbled. "A guy like that ain't built for someone like Lindsay."
"Alright, let's reel it back in," Marv said. "Who's got the upper hand in the East?"
"Bulls," Mourning said instantly. "Knicks don't have a shot."
Magic leaned in. "On paper, the Knicks got some edges—especially down low. Ewing, Oakley, those guys are gonna be a problem. Even at the wing, Pippen ain't exactly got a clear advantage against Zhao Dong. But the Bulls got the backcourt edge with MJ."
He continued, "What makes this series tough is Zhao Dong's ability to break down defenses. Nobody's been able to check him yet. Neither the Magic nor the Heat could slow him down. He finds gaps in the defense like it's nothing."
Mourning nodded. "We tried everything—double-teams, traps, pressure inside and out. Didn't matter. His passing is next-level. He always found an open guy."
Shaq added, "When a player forces double-teams that far from the basket, you know he's a problem."
"So, you think the key to the series is stopping Zhao Dong?" Marv asked.
"No doubt," Magic replied. "Pippen's gotta step up. He's an elite perimeter defender, but if he can't contain Zhao Dong, the Bulls are in trouble."
"What about MJ? What's his role?" Goukas asked.
"Pippen takes the defensive challenge. The rest of the team has to be ready to help. Offensively, it's gotta be the MJ show. That's their best shot at winning," Magic explained.
Marv shook his head. "You're really putting Zhao Dong at that level of importance?"
"Yeah," Magic said. "He's built like Barkley, but his passing game is more like mine. And his driving game? Probably more dominant than both of us."
"In eight playoff games, Zhao Dong's already got four triple-doubles," Marv noted. "The numbers speak for themselves."
"Alright, so who's taking the series—Bulls or Knicks?"
Mourning didn't hesitate. "Bulls."
Shaq took a second, then nodded.
Magic smirked. "The Bulls got two weak spots. First, Dennis Rodman. He's been awful these playoffs—barely playing 20 minutes, pulling down only eight boards a game. That's a serious liability against the Knicks, who dominate the glass."
Shaq thought about it. "Ewing, Oakley, Buck—they're all elite rebounders. Meanwhile, the Bulls are banking on Rodman, and right now, he's looking washed. That's gonna be a problem."
Magic kept going, "The second weakness of the Bulls is Pippen."
"Pippen? You already said he can't lock up Zhao Dong on defense," Marv Albert said.
"No, I mean his role on offense," Magic Johnson shook his head.
"Offense?" Matt Goukas raised an eyebrow, then quickly caught on. "He's the Bulls' main initiator. You think he can't handle that responsibility?"
Magic nodded. "Pippen has always been their primary playmaker. He's got more assists than Jordan. He runs the show for them. But if Zhao Dong locks him up, that's gonna throw the whole offense off-balance and put more weight on Jordan's shoulders."
"I watched all four regular-season games between the Bulls and the Knicks, and that wasn't really an issue," Goukas pointed out. "Pippen still ran the offense pretty well. His assist numbers were solid."
Magic chuckled. "Regular season's one thing. Bulls and Knicks got bad blood, yeah, but no team goes all out before the playoffs. This is the Eastern Conference Finals. With the way Zhao Dong clamps guys up and the fact that he moves better than Pippen, you really think he's gonna let Pippen run the offense comfortably?"
Goukas and the rest nodded.
Shaq chimed in, "If Pippen can't run the offense, they'll have to sacrifice Ron Harper's defense and let him take over playmaking again. That's their only choice."
"Yeah, that's the move."
"Jordan can't do everything, but if they go that route, their perimeter defense takes a hit."
The crew nodded in agreement.
Shaq then smirked, "Well, in that case, I'm ridin' with the Knicks."
"Hmph!"
Mourning scoffed, shaking his head. "Man, I still got the Bulls. That rookie's too busy messin' with women. Let's see if he even shows up in the Conference Finals."
"Well, that's another Knicks weakness." Goukas and the others nodded.
---
"Dennis still ain't back yet. He ain't gonna be in game shape tomorrow. How the hell we supposed to get boards?"
In the hotel, Pippen looked frustrated.
"We just gotta work harder on the glass and keep it close," Jordan said, sounding drained.
Rebounding used to be one of their strengths, but against the Knicks? It was a problem they had no easy fix for.
Phil Jackson then looked at Pippen. "Scottie, you're the key in this series. You gotta slow Zhao Dong down."
Pippen nodded but didn't say much.
Phil continued, "On offense, try running the show. If it's not working, Harper will take over. That's just how it is."
"Nah, I got this," Pippen shook his head. "That kid ain't stoppin' me."
Pippen, though, had his own issues with Phil Jackson.
Ever since Jordan retired in '94, Pippen had taken over as the leader. But in the '94 playoffs, with 1.8 seconds left in a game, Phil had drawn up the final shot for Kukoc instead of him. Didn't even let him be a decoy. Ever since then, he'd held a grudge. He saw it as straight-up disrespect.
And now, in this series, Phil was putting him at the center of the defensive strategy against Zhao Dong while Jordan and Rodman played backup roles. Pippen took pride in that, and it showed in his attitude.
---
After watching that segment, Zhao Dong switched the channel.
Tonight was Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals—Jazz vs. Mavericks. Two powerhouse squads. He needed to see how they played.
Two hours later, Utah took Game 1 at home, 101-86.
Barkley struggled—37 minutes, 3-for-10 from the field, 6-for-6 on free throws, just 12 points, 8 boards, and 4 assists.
Drexler wasn't much better, dropping just 13.
Hakeem still had it, putting up 30, 13, and 5, but even he couldn't carry them to a win.
---
The morning of the 20th, Zhao Dong hit up his guys from the Seawolves to pick up their tickets.
He had three courtside seats. His family was back home, and he didn't have anyone else to give them to—except for Lindsay.
He called her up. "Evelyn, you got any friends who wanna catch the game? I got three courtside tickets."
"No, I don't really have many friends," she replied.
"Alright, I'll give them to someone else then."
There was a pause. Then Lindsay suddenly said, "Listen, Zhao Dong, I don't wanna sit with your girlfriends—especially not your new Korean one. If that's the case, I'd rather stay home."
Zhao Dong felt a little awkward. "Uh… got it."
---
That night, Madison Square Garden was packed with stars.
The Bulls and Knicks were the hottest teams in the NBA right now, drawing in tons of celebrities.
NBA legends also showed up to witness the showdown.
Tip-off was at 8 PM, but at 7, Zhao Dong was already in the underground parking lot, picking up Lindsay and taking her through the VIP entrance.
She had on light makeup, no jewelry, and ditched the black-framed glasses. A soft pink dress complemented her angelic face. Her aura? Pure elegance.
"Eve, you like red?" Zhao Dong glanced at her as they walked down a quiet hallway.
"Mhm."
She naturally slipped her arm around his and tilted her head slightly, nodding.
"Red is a big deal in Chinese culture too," Zhao Dong said with a smile.
Lindsay smiled softly. "I'm glad we like the same color."
Looking at her gentle smile, Zhao Dong felt something shift inside him.
When they stepped onto the court, every camera in the arena turned their way. The big screen overhead zoomed in on them, putting them in the spotlight.
Lindsay instantly became the brightest star in MSG, even outshining the actresses sitting courtside.
"A perfect mix of elegance and beauty. She's got that natural, aristocratic aura," Tom Cruise marveled.
"Hey, don't even think about it," Spike Lee laughed. "Zhao Dong don't care who you are—if you try to hit on her, he'll knock you out."
Tom Cruise chuckled awkwardly. "Hey, man, I'm just admiring, that's all."
"Yo, Zhao Dong, you just gon' walk past me like I ain't here?"
O'Neal was courtside, watching Zhao Dong stroll by with Lindsay on his arm without even looking at him. He called out, half-joking, half-serious.
"Shaq, man, I really can't see you right now," Zhao Dong turned around, smirking.
"Oh yeah? Then who the hell can you see? What, you blind to everybody here?"
O'Neal pointed at the superstars beside him—Magic Johnson, David Robinson, and a few others—putting on a fake mean mug.
Zhao Dong glanced at the smiling Lindsay and grinned. "Who else do you think I got my eyes on right now?"
"Haha!" The legends cracked up.
"Man, you serious?" O'Neal laughed, shaking his head. "You really just got eyes for your girl, huh? Damn playboy."
"Sorry, bro," Zhao Dong shrugged. "Lookin' at you ain't half as nice as lookin' at a beautiful woman."
"...!"
O'Neal covered his face, acting all dramatic.
Zhao Dong then introduced Lindsay, and she nodded politely to everyone.
"Evelyn, this is Ringo Wells, my agent. Ringo, this is Evelyn Lindsay. Keep an eye on her for me—don't let the media bother her. She ain't doin' interviews."
"Got it. Miss Lindsay, I'm Wells. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, Mr. Wells."
Zhao Dong handed Wells one of the courtside tickets, leaving the other seat empty. After the intros, he headed back to the locker room.
Meanwhile, Wells got busy shutting down reporters left and right.
"Zhao Dong, how's it feel kissin' the princess?"
"Yo, bring Lindsay to our party after the game!"
The second Zhao Dong walked into the locker room, his teammates were already all over him.
"If we win the championship, maybe," Zhao Dong grinned. "But I dunno if she'll say yes."
Over in the Bulls' locker room, Phil Jackson was keeping his guys in check.
"Y'all got wives, y'all got girlfriends—stop lookin' at somebody else's. Lock in. We're about to start the Eastern Conference Finals."
"Yeah, man, time to lock in," Jordan muttered, shifting his focus.
His teammates, though, were still glued to the TV.
Jordan sighed, got up, and switched it off. "Alright, that's enough. Coach, go ahead."
Phil nodded and turned serious. "One last rundown on Zhao Dong.
"His slashing game is elite—one of the best in the league. Y'all CANNOT let him get into the paint. Cut off his lanes, stop his drives, and make him settle for jumpers. But if he gets in, we collapse on him. No second thoughts.
"Defensively, he struggles in the post. If you catch him on the perimeter with his back to the basket, watch for his spin move and drive—be ready to backpedal fast..."
---
Starting Lineups:
Chicago Bulls: Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Ron Harper
New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Zhao Dong, Allan Houston, Charlie Ward
The game was being broadcast live on NBC and CCTV.
Zhang Heli broke it down: "The Knicks are starting Charlie Ward for the Eastern Conference Finals. That tells me they're going all-in on their spacing. With Zhao Dong attacking the rim more, they don't need Charles' driving ability as much. Ward gives them better shooting—plus, Ewing and Oakley can space the floor a bit, making Zhao Dong's drives even deadlier."
Sun Zhenping asked, "Coach Zhang, so you think the Knicks will stick to their drive-heavy approach tonight?"
"Most likely," Zhang Heli nodded.
On NBC, Marv Albert analyzed the matchup. "Even with the defending champs being as dominant as they are—especially with Jordan's legendary scoring—most media outlets have this series at 50-50. Either team could take it."
Matt Goukas nodded. "That right there is proof of how far the Knicks have come. Compared to last season, they added Larry Johnson, Allan Houston, and of course, Zhao Dong.
"And out of those three? Zhao Dong has become the heart of this team. He's the reason the Knicks are in the Eastern Conference Finals, and now they're a legit championship contender."
"Exactly," Marv Albert agreed. "That means this series boils down to one thing—who can slow down the other team's star? If either squad manages to neutralize Jordan or Zhao Dong, that's the squad that's winning this series."
After a pause, he added, "Of course, like Magic Johnson pointed out—if Pippen struggles against Zhao Dong on offense, the Bulls could be in trouble. He's part of their Big Three, and they rely on his playmaking. His size on the perimeter is a big advantage, but it won't mean much if he can't shake Zhao Dong off him."
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