NBA: The Dynasty Crasher

Chapter 22: Will Zhao Dong Be Overwhelmed by Garnett on Both Offense and Defense?

"Kevin, how are you going to handle that Chinese guy from the Knicks?" Marbury laughed in the visiting team's locker room.

"Blow him up, what else can I do?" Garnett replied fiercely.

"Let's find a chance to play with him," Marbury suggested, smirking.

"Good idea," Garnett agreed, and the two shared a laugh.

At that moment, several reporters entered to conduct interviews.

"Kevin, what are your expectations for tonight's opponent, Zhao Dong?" a reporter asked.

"Expectations? I don't have any. I'm going to blow him up. I don't expect much from him. He's just a undraft pick," Garnett said, his face full of confidence and authenticity.

"But he scored 20+10 in two consecutive games," the reporter pointed out.

"Two games? My rookie season just passed. Go check my stats—20+10 isn't rare," Garnett replied, his tone dismissive.

"So, what do you want to say to him?" another reporter asked.

"Michael is my idol. I grew up watching him play. I won't let that guy humiliate Michael. He said he would score 53 points against Michael. To me, that's humiliation. A weak person can only humiliate someone like Jordan. We can't let that continue. We're going to blow that guy up and shut his mouth for good," Garnett said, shaking his head.

"Stephen, will you attack Zhao Dong tonight?" a reporter asked.

"My job is to break through. That's what I do best. Zhao Dong is just a stake in my eyes. I don't care about him," Marbury said arrogantly.

"But Iverson struggled against him," the reporter reminded.

"Allen didn't struggle; it's just that Zhao Dong's defense is too dirty," Marbury retorted angrily.

"Then how will you deal with him?" the reporter asked.

"Just wait and see. It's going to be a good show tonight," Marbury said with a strange smile, glancing at Garnett.

As the game began, the main players from both sides took the court. This game was being broadcast live across the United States by TNT. Bill Walton, commenting on the game, said, "The Timberwolves selected Kevin Garnett last year, a big guy with both offense and defense. The Knicks signed Zhao Dong this year with the No. 1 pick contract, a player with the same combination of offense and defense. So, in this game, how will they match up? Who has the better combination of offense and defense?"

"They should be well-matched. According to the starting lineup for the Timberwolves tonight, Garnett is playing power forward, which happens to match up with Zhao Dong," Matt laughed.

Bill Walton smiled and said, "Zhao Dong, the No. 20 overall pick this year, will face last year's No. 5 pick in the first round tonight. He's passed the first three tests with flying colors, scoring [20+10] in two games. His performance has been impressive, and the Knicks have ranked first in personal efficiency for two consecutive games. We're all excited to see how he'll perform tonight."

Matt analyzed, "Zhao Dong is strong in the low post, especially when he's under the basket, where he dominated Camby repeatedly. His size and strength give him great confidence. But tonight, he's facing Garnett, who has gained weight and now weighs 115 kilograms, the same as Zhao Dong. Garnett's defense is stronger than Camby's, and he has superior athleticism. He's capable of defending up to the three-point line. I think Zhao Dong's performance tonight might not be as strong as his previous games. He won't be able to limit Garnett's offense, and his own offense could be stifled."

"Garnett dominating both ends of the floor?" Bill Walton laughed lightly before continuing, "I heard Larry Johnson is coming back soon, and that will be Zhao Dong's most direct competition. I think he'll play hard tonight. We're in for a high-quality game from both sides."

Matt added, "Stephen Marbury, the No. 4 pick of the Timberwolves in the first round, is also a solid player. I'm hoping for a great performance from him tonight."

On the sidelines, CCTV was not broadcasting the game live, but Zhang Lili and Sun Zhenping were present as reporters.

"Zhao Dong's performance has been excellent. I think we should increase the number of live broadcasts at the station, maybe add one on the weekends," Zhang Reasonable suggested.

"According to news from Taili, a large number of fans have called in requesting more live broadcasts. Taili should definitely consider it," Sun Zhenping laughed.

As the game began, Garnett won the jump ball against Ewing, and the Timberwolves began their attack. Zhao Dong immediately focused on Garnett, with the latter charging toward the basket. The two clashed, muscles colliding as they prepared for their first confrontation of the night.

Zhao Dong lowered his center of gravity, making it difficult for Garnett to push through. Garnett tried to maneuver twice but was blocked both times. Garnett moved to the left wing low post. The two had been battling for a while, but the ball was passed to the right wing to Tom Gugliotta. Gugliotta, the No. 6 overall pick in the 1992 draft, would later become an All-Star. He was at the peak of his career this season and was the Timberwolves' leading scorer. While not known for his three-point shooting, he excelled in mid-range shots, with 43% of his attempts coming from long-range twos.

After pulling to the wing, Gugliotta swayed left and right, then took a jumper. "Swat!" Oakley showcased his strength, slapping the shot away.

The commentator shouted, "What a big block! Oakley's not an easy target. If you try to shoot over him, you'd better be ready to face that rejection!"

The Timberwolves attacked again, passing the ball to Garnett. He took the ball, swung it up, then turned and cut toward the basket. Zhao Dong immediately stepped back to defend. Garnett powered through, using his right hand to protect the ball and rushed to the basket. He made a forceful leap for a dunk. "Swat!" Zhao Dong exploded into action, slapping the ball away. It hit Garnett's head and went out of bounds.

The commentator roared with excitement, "Another massive block! Zhao Dong sends his first rejection of the game. Not only did he stop the shot, but he also forced Garnett into a turnover!"

After being blocked and committing another mistake, Garnett shot Zhao Dong a fierce glare, gritting his teeth in frustration before turning and heading back down the court. Zhao Dong braced himself, thinking Garnett might confront him, but to his surprise, Garnett ran off, proving his reputation as a tough competitor.

The Knicks then attacked. Ewing received the ball in the low post on the right wing. Garnett, active as ever, shadowed Zhao Dong from behind. Ewing turned and took a jumper, but missed. The ball bounced off the rim. Garnett took a step forward, preparing to grab the rebound when Zhao Dong appeared from the left side. But Zhao Dong didn't attempt to catch the ball. Instead, he quickly positioned himself for a penalty kick, which was faster than Garnett's timing. Though Zhao Dong had fallen behind, he focused on pointing the ball, knowing it was his only chance.

As soon as Garnett touched the ball, Zhao Dong's large hand struck from below. The two almost landed simultaneously, then leapt again for the ball. Garnett used both hands to fight for the rebound, but Zhao Dong, realizing he still had no advantage in the jump, decided to strike the ball once more.

This time, with more time to prepare, Zhao Dong deliberately directed the ball to his side. As he landed, he quickly turned his body to complete the box-out position, effectively trapping Garnett behind him. Zhao Dong then made a series of quick moves, recovering the ball three times before finally securing the offensive rebound. After landing, he took a step to the left of the basket, grabbed the ball with both hands, rose up, and dunked again. Garnett, trailing behind, jumped up in an attempt to contest the shot, but Zhao Dong timed his move perfectly. With a powerful slam, he dunked the ball into the basket with a resounding bang.

The commentator shouted in excitement, "What a beautiful play! Zhao Dong grabs the offensive rebound and slams it home!"

Matt laughed during the TNT live broadcast, "Zhao Dong's footwork under the basket is impressive."

Bill Walton responded, "Technically, he's not at an elite level yet, but Garnett's still relatively inexperienced. He's only a sophomore, and it's easy for him to get shaken, just like Iverson can easily shake a defender."

Matt then asked, "What if it was you, Bill?"

Bill Walton confidently replied, "No joke, I would've already blocked Zhao Dong's shot."

Matt nodded in agreement, acknowledging Bill Walton's legendary career as an FMVP, MVP, and Hall of Famer, emphasizing his blocking ability.

"But I have to give credit to Zhao Dong for his enthusiasm and strategy in grabbing that offensive rebound," Bill Walton added with a laugh.

"Yeah, that offensive rebound was no easy task," Matt agreed with a chuckle.

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