NBA: The Dynasty Crasher

Chapter 26: Bull Iron Triangle

Knicks: Ewing, Zhao Dong, Oakley, Alan Houston, Charlie Ward

Magic: Ronnie Binkali, Horace Grant, Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, Anfernee Hardaway

In the home team's locker room, Horace Grant's phone rang. It was a call from his former teammate, Michael Jordan.

"Michael, are you mad at him?" Grant asked in surprise.

"That kid's a troublemaker. Do me this favor, and I'll treat you to dinner next time," Jordan replied.

"No problem, then it's a deal. When you're back in Chicago, you're buying," Grant chuckled.

Meanwhile, in the visiting team's locker room, Zhao Dong received the system's expected task.

All-Star Sniper Mission:

Entrusted by Michael Jordan, Magic power forward Horace Grant will target the host, and the host must complete the counter-snipe. Specific criteria:

1. If you are blocked or stolen from by Grant three times, the task will fail directly.

2. If you make three mistakes due to Grant, the task will fail directly.

3. If you score fewer than 10 points against Grant and your shooting percentage is under 40%, the task will fail.

4. Limit Grant's rebounds to fewer than 6.

5. The host must continue to achieve a 20+10 performance.

Task Rewards:

Complete criteria 1, 2, and 3: Earn 1 skill point.

Complete criteria 1, 2, 3, and 4: Earn 2 skill points.

Complete all task options: Earn Cobra Grant's inside cut technique.

"Cut inside?" Zhao Dong thought, his eyes lighting up. The inside cut, an off-the-ball move, was an essential offensive technique. For Zhao Dong, who wasn't always in possession of the ball, improving this skill was crucial.

He was well aware of Grant's reputation. A key player in the Bulls' first dynasty, Grant was 31 years old, sporting sports glasses during games, and never removed them for free throws, earning him the nickname "Cobra." A 1994 All-Star, Grant had been named to the All-Defensive Second Team four times. He excelled at inside cuts, jump shots, blocking, and rebounding, once even sending away seven shots in a single game. Grant was an integral part of the Bulls' success, helping them overcome the Knicks in crucial games with his excellent performance.

Unlike Zhao Dong's previous mission targets, who were mostly rookies, Grant was a seasoned veteran with a wealth of experience. Given the mission's challenges and rewards, Zhao Dong knew Grant would be a tough opponent. Grant's solid defense would make blocking, stealing, and forcing mistakes difficult, but Zhao Dong was confident in his strengths. At 98 kilograms, Grant's size and strength were no match for Zhao Dong's own. With Kobe's jumping ability and Zhao Dong's height, he could dominate at the basket, making it hard for anyone to defend against him.

Zhao Dong also planned to focus on controlling offensive rebounds and generating second-chance points. This strategy would leverage his strengths while exploiting Grant's weaknesses in terms of size and strength.

In this game, Larry Johnson had finally come off the injured list and joined the 12-man roster. Van Gundy spoke with him and decided to start him as a substitute, with everything depending on his condition. Johnson accepted the role, understanding that he would need to prove himself before earning a starting position.

As the game began, the two teams met at the exit.

"Rookie, I'm going to give you a night you won't forget," Horace Grant taunted when he saw Zhao Dong.

"No, I'm not like you. I'm not interested in your backside; that just disgusts me," Zhao Dong shot back. He already knew Grant had been sent by Jordan, so he wasn't going to hold back.

"Haha…" Oakley and the others burst out laughing.

"Damned kid!" Grant's face turned bright red. One of the Iron Triangle members of the mighty Bulls Dynasty had just been roasted by a rookie. He felt utterly humiliated.

Tonight's game wasn't being broadcast live across the United States, but CCTV had chosen to air it.

"Hello, dear viewers, I'm Sun Zhenping," the announcer began.

"And I'm Zhang Lili," his co-host added.

"This is the home court of the Magic. With O'Neal's departure to the West this season, the Magic's interior strength has taken a significant hit, but overall, their team remains highly competitive and is still a playoff contender," Sun Zhenping remarked.

"The Magic also traded for Warriors' starting center Ronnie Binkali this season. His career stats are nearly 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. While he can't fully fill O'Neal's shoes, his strength makes him a solid starting player," Zhang Lili explained.

"Power forward Horace Grant is still with the team. Although he's no longer at his peak, he's managed to maintain his form and still performs admirably," Sun Zhenping added.

"Small forward Dennis Scott has made nearly 40% of his three-pointers over the course of his career," Zhang Lili continued.

In the regular season this past April, Grant had made 4 of 17 three-pointers in a single game, setting a historical record for the most three-pointers in a game. His shooting ability is particularly strong," Zhang Lili said.

"Shooting guard Nick Anderson and Penny Hardaway form a backcourt duo that has intimidated Eastern teams, but Anderson has some issues with his mental game. The Magic were defeated by the Bulls, and he bears some responsibility for that," Sun Zhenping added.

"Not to mention Hardaway—when the Magic had O'Neal, he was known as the successor to Magic Johnson. Unfortunately, with O'Neal gone, Hardaway has lost his primary passing target," Zhang Lili explained with a smile.

"Director Zhang, Zhao Dong has scored 20+10 in three consecutive games. Domestic fans are calling him No. 1 in Chinese basketball. Would you like to analyze his performance and future from a professional perspective?" Sun Zhenping asked.

Zhang Lili responded enthusiastically, "Zhao Dong is still in the adaptation stage. He hasn't faced any top-tier players yet and has mainly been up against rookies, which might be why his performance has been better. I expect his performance to fluctuate as he faces tougher competition, but that's completely normal. Regarding his future, the Knicks have given him a multi-million dollar contract, showing that they see his potential. We just need to wait for him to develop."

"Do you think he can still score 20+10 in this game?" Sun Zhenping asked.

"Tonight, he faces Grant, part of the Bull Dynasty's Iron Triangle. The defense will be tough. Zhao Dong needs to be cautious. If he's careless, he could get into trouble," Zhang Lili warned with a smile.

The game then began after the warm-up session.

"Feilong, you go," Ewing, who was dealing with a knee and ankle injury, said, knowing Zhao Dong's jumping ability. He asked Zhao Dong to jump for the ball.

"OK," Zhao Dong replied.

Zhao Dong was well aware of Ewing's physical condition. Ewing had conserved his strength in many games and would only exert himself in the playoffs. This was Ewing's final peak season, and Zhao Dong was ready to take the reins and become the Knicks' new core player. Ewing's condition also spared him the trouble of competing for power in the future.

As for Alan Houston, the "CIC King," he relied on his shooting ability to score. While his efficiency wasn't as consistent as Zhao Dong's, and his all-around game wasn't as developed, Zhao Dong knew that as long as he improved his own skills, Houston wouldn't pose a serious threat.

(End of this chapter)

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