NBA: The Dynasty Crasher

Chapter 29: Eating Raw Grant

Next, Zhao Dong received a defensive foul. Grant took the ensuing free throws but seemed rattled, missing both attempts. In the 9th minute of the first quarter, he was substituted out. That quarter, Grant received just one pass from Ewing. After Charlie Ward's mistake, he was never given the ball again. Despite Grant's weakened defensive performance due to his second foul, he didn't receive more passes. As a result, he shifted his focus to grabbing offensive rebounds, aligning with his game plan. He finished with six rebounds in the quarter, four of which were offensive, and created three second-chance opportunities, including two and-ones. He shot a perfect 4 for 4 from the field and 4 for 3 from the free-throw line, scoring 11 points, with six rebounds, one block, one turnover, and one foul.

From an offensive standpoint, Grant's defensive performance was lacking. On the defensive end, paired with Ewing for help defense, Grant shot just 1 of 3, missed both free throws, and totaled only two points, two rebounds, one assist, and one turnover.

Sitting on the bench, Zhao Dong reflected on his performance in the first quarter. Overall, Grant wasn't much of a threat since he was the Magic's third scoring option, averaging about 10 shots per game. He rarely attacked with the ball, and with Ewing's help defense in the paint, the pressure on Zhao Dong was minimal. On the offensive side, Zhao Dong couldn't do much due to not receiving any passes, so he focused on second-chance opportunities at the basket. He hadn't expected Grant to struggle so much with defending his second attacks, giving him the upper hand again and again. After evaluating his performance, Zhao Dong concluded that he had completed the task well, with no major issues.

Meanwhile, on the Magic bench, Grant was also reflecting. Having been outwitted by Jordan, he no longer cared about trying to teach Zhao Dong a lesson for Jordan's sake, but he still wanted to avenge the loss he had suffered under Zhao Dong's defense.

"The rookie mainly focuses on second-chance points. I can't match his jumping or strength, so I should take a page out of Rodman's book and adjust my defense accordingly."

Grant decided to change his defensive strategy. In the 6th minute of the second quarter, Zhao Dong returned to the game, and the Magic substituted Grant back in to defend him.

"Rookie, today I'm going to kick your ass!" Grant taunted, his voice full of trash talk, as he made countless small, sneaky moves with his hands—defensive tricks he'd learned from Rodman. Rodman was famous for this kind of defense, full of trash talk and subtle maneuvers. Especially in the playoffs, he used these tactics to irk opponents, provoking them until they either lost their composure or were ejected, which, in Rodman's eyes, was always a victory.

Zhao Dong, however, was unfazed. With the combined experience of his two lifetimes, which totaled more than 60 years, he'd long ago learned how to tune out such distractions.

Chapter 29: Eating Raw Grant

"Old man, do you often drop the soap in the locker room?" Zhao Dong taunted.

"Asshole rookie, what are you talking about?" Grant fired back. His response was just as direct, but Zhao Dong's words hit a nerve, and Grant nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Di!" In the 8th minute, Zhao Dong grabbed an offensive rebound and charged toward the basket. At that moment, Grant yelled and flung himself toward the basket dramatically, drawing a whistle. Grant, still using Rodman's signature defensive tactics, had flopped. The call was an offensive foul on Zhao Dong, marking his second offensive foul of the game, his fourth foul overall, and his second mistake.

"Asshole!" Zhao Dong was furious. If he made another mistake, the mission would fail, and he would lose the prize the system had awarded him. He really wanted to get his hands on that bastard's air-cutting technique.

"Boy, are you cool?" Grant sneered as he got up, grinning at Zhao Dong. Zhao Dong's gaze was cold, his teeth clenched, his fists tight, and ready to throw a punch. Seeing the tension, Grant quickly took a couple of steps back.

The referee approached, first glancing at Zhao Dong, then pointing at Grant. With a clear gesture of flopping, he awarded Grant a technical foul. The Knicks were awarded a free throw.

Grant stood there, stunned. Isn't this our home court?

"Haha... this is the best penalty tonight," Zhao Dong chuckled heartily.

The arena echoed with the voice of the commentator: "Poor Grant, your fall was just too exaggerated. Maybe you should practice your acting skills, huh?"

Some Magic fans joined in the laughter, enjoying the moment at Grant's expense. Zhao Dong stepped up to take the technical free throw, making it effortlessly. The Knicks then took possession for the backcourt.

In the 10th minute, Grant sprinted down the right wing and caught a pass after shaking off Zhao Dong. But Zhao Dong quickly caught up, adopting a tight defensive stance, using his strength to disrupt Grant's balance. Grant struggled to keep his footing, trying to use Zhao Dong's force to pivot and create some space. But his core strength wasn't enough. He didn't get the lift and missed the jumper as Ewing secured the rebound for the Knicks.

The Knicks quickly transitioned to offense, and Zhao Dong once again cut toward the basket. Grant tried to adjust his positioning to defend but was outmaneuvered. Chris Childs, seeing Zhao Dong's position, stepped aside to let Penny through and lobbed the ball in.

This time, Grant wasn't able to lock Zhao Dong down. He nearly wrapped both arms around Zhao Dong's waist, but Zhao Dong just dragged him half a step closer to the basket, then spun around. Grant, still holding on, was effortlessly tossed to the floor.

"Bah!" The sound of the dunk echoed as the ball went through the hoop, and the crowd erupted.

Chapter 29: Eating Raw Grant (Continued)

"Di!" Grant committed a defensive foul, and Zhao Dong made the free throw.

"Beautiful! This is O'Neal's style of play when he's facing a forward defense near the basket. As long as he can receive the ball and hang it in, there's no problem," Zhang Reasonable shouted excitedly.

"Grant's tonnage is too small," Sun Zhenping laughed.

"He's a space-oriented forward who maintains mobility and shooting ability. But facing an offensive player like Zhao Dong, who excels in low-post play, he's bound to struggle in a strong confrontation," Zhang Reasonable said with a smile.

In the next round, Grant ran along the wing again, but he wasn't at his peak. Compared to Zhao Dong, his speed was barely at the same level. He couldn't make quick cuts or create much space. When he received the ball, he was immediately met with Zhao Dong's tight defense. Against this kind of pressure, shooting from the outside was a difficult task.

Snapped! Zhao Dong exploded, showcasing his powerful jumping ability, and swatted Grant's outside shot away.

At the end of the second quarter, Grant had missed all three of his shots, including two outside attempts. On the defensive side, Ewing guarded the paint, while Zhao Dong contributed with two assists from Chris Childs, making one shot out of one attempt, earning a free throw after being fouled by Grant, and hitting one of two free throws. Zhao Dong ended the half with 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 foul.

(End of this chapter)

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