Stern leaned back in his chair, holding the ratings report with a puzzled expression.
"Why the hell is it so high?" he muttered.
He had braced himself for a 2 million drop—a figure he could stomach.
But 17 million? That was a whole different ball game.
This was only Game 1, which meant the ratings for the rest of the Finals might actually increase.
He exhaled slowly, already doing the math in his head.
Russ Granik spoke up,
"Zhao Dong's influence in New York is massive right now.
He averaged a triple-double in the first round of the playoffs, racked up seven triple-doubles overall, and then dropped 46 points in the Finals opener last night.
The fans are eating it up."
Stern glanced at him,
"So, Russ, what's your angle?"
Russ grinned,
"Mr. President, Zhao Dong's game is built for the spotlight—power dunks, silky jumpers, deep threes, and monster blocks.
He's just as dominant on both ends as Jordan.
I think the ratings held up because, one, it's the Finals, so they were bound to get a bump.
And two, Zhao Dong is already building a serious fanbase across the league with his performances."
Stern nodded slightly, deep in thought.
Russ, sensing the moment, added excitedly,
"Mr. President, Jordan is still playing at his peak, but he's 33 years old.
Zhao Dong is just getting started.
Having a new face of the league isn't a bad thing.
And since you've been pushing for the Chinese market, this could be huge."
Stern raised his eyes, suddenly serious.
"That's two different things.
I'm tapping into the Chinese market for the league's benefit.
But do you really think our fans and the media will accept a Chinese player dominating the league the way Jordan does?"
He let out a dry chuckle,
"Besides, Zhao Dong's rep isn't exactly sparkling.
One's a womanizer with a violent streak, the other's a gambler.
Both are PR nightmares."
Russ waved him off,
"Come on, Mr. President.
The media hyped up Zhao Dong's past.
He hasn't even had many girlfriends since entering the league.
He broke up with his ex early in the season and hasn't been linked to anyone serious since.
There was only that Korean-American model after the second round, and that was just a rumor.
Oh, and that Lindsay girl—but nothing concrete."
Stern raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Yeah?"
Russ nodded,
"And about the violence—there's nothing off-court.
He's never started a fight during a game either.
Fans don't even mind on-court physicality.
Look at the NFL—there's a fight or worse every year, and they're still at the top of the Big Four."
Stern stared at him,
"What are you saying?"
Russ smirked,
"I'm not saying we need to prop him up.
Just let him grow naturally.
If he wins over the fans and the media on his own, we're still cashing in either way."
Stern mulled it over for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright.
Let's run with it."
He glanced down at the ratings report again, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Let's hope these numbers keep climbing."
Russ leaned forward slightly,
"Actually, Mr. President, we should consider officially targeting the Chinese market.
From what I've heard, tens of millions of people in China watched Game 1.
That market is massive.
And because of the time difference, it was daytime there.
If it aired at night, the ratings would be even crazier.
That's a huge opportunity."
Stern's eyes widened slightly.
"Tens of millions?"
His mind immediately jumped to merch sales.
"How many Zhao Dong jerseys have been sold in China?" he asked.
Provo shook his head,
"None.
The Knicks haven't even started selling jerseys there."
Stern's face turned red with rage.
"Those idiots at the Knicks' front office—
Do they even realize how much money they're leaving on the table?
That's a country, not a city!
They're ignoring a goldmine!"
He slammed his fist on the table, seething.
Jersey profits didn't just benefit the Knicks—they were split across the league.
The Knicks' incompetence was screwing over everyone.
"Get on the phone with them right now!" Stern barked.
"Tell them to fast-track their China expansion immediately.
Their COO is a total waste of space.
Hell, I want to talk to James Dowland myself.
The Knicks need a new COO—
They've got no right screwing over the rest of the league with their incompetence."
"Got it, Mr. President," Russ replied quickly, grabbing his phone.
---
Meanwhile, back at the hotel, the Jazz were holding a tactical meeting to review Game 1.
The coaches laid out the cold, hard truth.
There were only a few takeaways:
First, Karl Malone got clamped by Zhao Dong, scoring just 18 points—half of which came when Zhao Dong was on the bench.
Second, with Malone locked down, the Jazz defense completely collapsed.
Just like the media said, Malone got cooked on both ends.
Third, they utterly failed to contain Zhao Dong in the low post.
The dude was a walking mismatch.
Fourth, their perimeter defense on Zhao Dong was just as hopeless.
The Jazz guards were getting torched by his footwork and shooting.
Put it all together?
Their defensive strategy against Zhao Dong was a total disaster.
The Jazz's struggles weren't just on Karl Malone—it was a team-wide defensive breakdown. They threw double-teams at Zhao Dong, and even when he crashed into the paint, they kept stacking on the pressure with non-stop double-teaming. The system itself was flawed.
Jerry Sloan knew they had two major issues to solve if they didn't want to get steamrolled:
First, how to free Karl Malone from Zhao Dong's suffocating defense.
Second, how the hell to stop Zhao Dong.
For the first problem, Sloan had no choice but to rely on endless pick-and-rolls.
"We paid the price in Game 1," Sloan said seriously. "So, moving forward, I want everyone constantly running pick-and-rolls against Zhao Dong—no breaks. Keep switching, keep screening, and keep creating mismatches until Malone gets a clean look."
Unlimited pick-and-rolls—it meant Jazz players near Zhao Dong had to repeatedly set screens, forcing constant switches, freeing Malone for open shots or favorable matchups.
As for stopping Zhao Dong? That was Sloan's headache. He had rewatched the Eastern Conference Finals between the Bulls and Knicks over and over again, searching for answers, but he was still stumped.
Back then, Zhao Dong didn't lean heavily on low-post offense. But now? He was a full-blown monster down low, punishing double-teams and wrecking the boards with insane rebounding efficiency.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, Zhao Dong had looked like a future Hall of Famer. In the Finals, he was playing like one with a damn cheat code—unstoppable in the post with a deadly bank shot.
Just the thought of Zhao Dong muscling through double-teams and still hitting at a high clip was giving Sloan migraines.
He had wrongly assumed that without Patrick Ewing, the Knicks would lose their low-post presence. But with Zhao Dong becoming a force on the block, Sloan was crushed.
Double-teaming was the only option—there was no other way to contain a generational superstar.
Sloan's strategy was clear: if the first line of defense failed, slow Zhao Dong at the second level, then seal him off with a third layer under the rim.
His goal was to use the tight, congested space under the basket to trap Zhao Dong, limiting his freedom with constant crowding.
"Zhao Dong's footwork under the basket isn't elite," Sloan muttered to himself. "We'll trap him down low…"
With his game plan set, Sloan began drilling the new tactics into his players, determined to make Game 2 a slugfest.
---
Meanwhile, the Knicks didn't hold any formal tactical meetings. The team was given a breather.
Zhao Dong spent his downtime at Lindsay's place, planning to head back to the hotel after dinner.
Cooking together with family and close friends made for a pretty chill evening.
---
June 4th – Game 2 of the NBA Finals
The Knicks held a morning practice session.
During the session, Zhao Dong shared his thoughts with the coaching staff.
He suggested experimenting with more off-ball movement in Game 2.
"With my speed, I can easily beat Malone on cuts," Zhao Dong explained. "I've got top-tier cutting skills—he'll never be able to stick with me when I slip behind him."
His idea was inspired by Amar'e Stoudemire's future game style. The only problem? The Knicks didn't have a Steve Nash. Without a crafty playmaker, getting the ball to him mid-cut could be an issue, especially with Charlie Ward running the point.
Jeff Van Gundy nodded. "If you play off-ball, the Jazz won't be able to double-team you as easily. But expect them to ramp up their defense on Charlie. Our turnovers might go up."
Tom Thibodeau chimed in, "Still, mixing in new tactics will keep the Jazz off balance. It's worth a shot."
Van Gundy agreed. He didn't have a ton of offensive plays in his bag anyway, so he had no reason to push back.
---
The Knicks were in prime position to win the championship this year.
After Zhao Dong's insane Game 1 performance—a 54-point triple-double—the hype was real. Knicks fans were going nuts, and ticket prices reflected it.
For Game 1, scalpers were already charging $60,000 for courtside seats, while the official price was $20,000.
But thanks to Zhao Dong's dominant showing, Game 2 saw prices soar. The Knicks hiked ticket prices by 20%. First-row seats were now going for $30,000, and they still couldn't meet the demand.
Zhao Dong, however, didn't care about the price tag. He always kept one of his three front-row tickets empty, giving the other two to Lindsay and his agent, Ringo Wells.
Madison Square Garden was electric. Celebrities packed the seats.
Both teams announced the same starting lineups as Game 1.
Jazz Starting Five:
Greg Ostertag
Karl Malone
Bryon Russell
Jeff Hornacek
John Stockton
Knicks Starting Five:
Zhao Dong
Charles Oakley
Larry Johnson
John Starks
Charlie Ward
---
"In Game 1, Jazz shooting guard Jeff Hornacek was sharp, hitting 4-of-9 from beyond the arc for 44%. The Jazz need to keep feeding him from the outside," Matt Goukas analyzed.
"The key for Utah's offense is Karl Malone. If he can't get going, they're screwed," Marv Albert added.
Matt nodded. "But the real issue is how to contain Zhao Dong. That's priority number one. If they can't slow him down, the Jazz could get swept. With his firepower, if he goes nuclear again, it's a wrap."
On CCTV, Zhang Heli was also breaking down the game. "The Jazz will definitely make defensive adjustments on Zhao Dong tonight, but locking him down is easier said than done. His mix of scoring and playmaking makes him tough to trap, especially on the perimeter. His only real weakness is under the basket. Since he's not a true big man, once he's surrounded down low, his vision is limited, which could make it tough for him to kick the ball out. The Knicks need to be mindful of this."
Sun Zhenping added, "Zhao Dong's shooting is so deadly, he doesn't even need to drive to the rim. He can kill them from mid-range."
"Exactly," Zhang agreed. "If he wants to create space for the outside shooters, he can attack from both ends of the low post."
---
The game tipped off.
Zhao Dong won the jump ball, and the Knicks went on the attack.
He didn't bother handling the ball. Instead, he sprinted straight to the basket, with Malone guarding him.
As Charlie Ward dribbled toward the top of the arc, Zhao Dong posted up near the rim and raised his hand, signaling for the ball.
Malone played him tight, fronting him to deny the entry pass.
But Zhao Dong suddenly juked to the low left wing, using his speed to shake Malone. Ward fired the pass inside.
Zhao Dong caught it cleanly. Malone lunged at him, but Zhao Dong took a hard step toward the basket, forcing Malone to halt his momentum. Then, with a quick pivot, he planted his foot into Malone's waist and elevated.
"Bang!"
The ball kissed the backboard and splashed through the net. Smooth. Clean. Lethal.
"Forty-five-degree bank shot, Zhao Dong with the bucket!" Marv Albert called out.
"Yo, with his guard-level speed, crafty fakes, and deadly rebounding touch, Malone looks like a statue out there," Matt Goukas teased.
"When Zhao Dong plays off the ball, the Jazz don't even have time to double him," Marv added with a chuckle.
"So, do you think the Jazz will amp up the pressure on Charlie Ward and force Zhao Dong to handle the ball himself?" Matt asked.
"Double-edged sword," Marv replied. "Zhao Dong with the ball is even scarier, but it also lets the Jazz focus their defense on him more."
---
Meanwhile, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
Tim Duncan sat on his couch, watching the game. When he saw Zhao Dong's attack, he shook his head.
"I can't do that shit," Duncan muttered to himself. He knew he lacked Zhao Dong's speed and couldn't shake defenders the same way.
Even though Duncan was confident in his rebounding skills, he doubted his efficiency could match Zhao Dong's.
---
Back on the court.
The Jazz ran their offense.
After three straight pick-and-rolls, Malone finally got free from Zhao Dong and found himself isolated against Charles Oakley.
But that wasn't exactly an ideal matchup. Oakley's defense was like a damn street fight—pure physicality.
Oakley charged in, swinging his massive arms. Malone's trademark elbows, which usually made defenders flinch, didn't faze Oakley one bit.
Malone took a hard dribble and pulled up for a mid-range jumper—brick.
Zhao Dong snatched the defensive board and ignited the Knicks' fast break.
---
Utah's defensive adjustment was clear:
Stockton ramped up his on-ball pressure on Charlie Ward, making it tough to get the ball to Zhao Dong.
After forcing Ward into a dribbling miscue, Stockton picked his pocket and led the Jazz on a fast break.
Hornacek sprinted to the left-wing three-point line, caught the pass, and fired.
"Clank!"
The ball clanged off the rim, and Zhao Dong, who had hustled back on defense, grabbed the rebound.
He quickly fed it back to Ward but continued playing off the ball, conserving his energy and staying free from Utah's traps.
---
In the Knicks' half-court set:
Ward signaled for the "stretch" play.
Zhao Dong, Oakley, and Larry Johnson all cleared the paint, pulling the Jazz defenders out with them.
Suddenly, Zhao Dong sprinted backdoor, catching Malone off guard with a lightning-quick cut.
Malone, already a step slow, had no chance of keeping up.
Ward lobbed a perfect pass.
Zhao Dong snatched it mid-air and threw down a ferocious tomahawk slam, shaking the rim and sending Madison Square Garden into a frenzy.
"BOOM! Tomahawk jam by Zhao Dong!" Marv Albert roared.
On the Jazz sideline, Jerry Sloan was livid.
"John! Stick with your man and cut off those easy passes!" he barked.
---
0-4, Jazz possession.
Utah ran more pick-and-rolls, but this time Zhao Dong stayed attached to Malone.
Stockton, seeing no advantage, shifted to the right wing and drilled a mid-range jumper.
2-4, Knicks ball.
Zhao Dong and Ward ran the same set, but Stockton was even more aggressive this time.
Though he couldn't steal the ball again, he forced Ward into a sloppy pass. Zhao Dong caught it off balance and had to throw up a rushed shot under the basket—miss.
On the broadcast, Zhang Heli warned, "The Knicks' point guard is getting flustered—gotta be careful with those turnovers."
Van Gundy, recognizing the issue, called out from the sideline, "Zhao Dong! You run the offense!"
Zhao Dong nodded. Compared to Stockton, Ward's ball-handling was shaky. It made sense to have him focus on defense, Ron Harper-style, while Zhao Dong took over playmaking.
---
Utah's possession.
The Jazz ran their relentless pick-and-roll attack again.
Zhao Dong intentionally gave Malone a sliver of space, baiting the pass.
Stockton fired the ball to Malone, who caught it near the elbow.
Just as Malone squared up, Zhao Dong pounced—closing the gap instantly.
Malone swung his signature elbow, trying to clear space.
But Zhao Dong didn't flinch. He absorbed the contact and slapped the ball free.
The two scrambled for possession, but Zhao Dong's superior balance and agility allowed him to recover the ball.
"Oh! Zhao Dong just ripped it from Karl Malone!" Marv Albert shouted.
Zhao Dong took off down the court.
Malone, too slow, couldn't keep up.
The Jazz scrambled to block the paint, forcing Zhao Dong to kick the ball out to the left wing.
"Swish!"
John Starks caught the pass and sank the layup.
On the way back down the floor, Zhao Dong didn't hold back.
"Mailman, your elbows are weak as hell. You really think you can fight me with that soft-ass shit? I'll put you in a body bag," Zhao Dong taunted.
Malone sneered, "Just wait, I'm gonna pound your face in until you look like a damn pig."
Right on cue, Hornacek caught a pass and fired a three-pointer—splash.
"Watch Hornacek!" Zhang Heli called out. "He's 1-of-2 from deep. With Zhao Dong and Oakley covering the low post, Starks needs to focus on contesting the threes. Don't let Hornacek rain them in."
Score: 5-6, Knicks lead.
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