NBA: The Dynasty Crasher

Chapter 30: Skill Coverage

In the following game, Zhao Dong and Grant continued to face off. Despite Zhao Dong's lack of professional experience, his two lifetimes of accumulated wisdom and extensive exposure to games had given him substantial theoretical knowledge. He played with great intelligence, fully utilizing his physical advantages. While Grant was strong defensively, his low-post defense was weak, and he couldn't withstand Zhao Dong's power in the paint, especially when it came to rebounding.

The game ended with a score of 95–88, in favor of the Knicks. Zhao Dong played 33 minutes, shooting 7 out of 10 from the field, 6 out of 8 from the free-throw line, and finishing with 20 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, and 4 fouls. Grant, on the other hand, made 2 of 10 shots and 2 of 4 free throws, finishing with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, and 3 fouls.

Sitting on the bench, Zhao Dong eagerly activated the system.

"Congratulations to the host for completing all the task options. The reward has been issued. Please choose whether to overwrite."

"Great!" Zhao Dong exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

"Zhao Dong, congratulations on achieving 20+10 in four consecutive games," a voice interrupted his moment of triumph. It was Zhang Lili, who was now standing in front of him for an interview. Zhao Dong quickly stood up and greeted the reporter.

"Thank you, thank you. The main reason for today's performance is that my opponent was a bit rough on defense. Otherwise, my performance could have been better," Zhao Dong modestly remarked.

His "humble" response made Zhang and Sun laugh awkwardly.

Meanwhile, in the home team's locker room, Grant was on the phone with Jordan. The Bulls weren't playing that night, but since there was no nationwide broadcast of the game, Jordan had called to check in on the situation.

"Hey, Horace, how did it go?" Jordan asked when the call connected.

"Forget it, Michael. That kid is ruthless. Be careful when you meet him," Grant said dejectedly.

"You lost to him?" Jordan asked, surprised.

Grant let out a wry smile. "At first, I had the upper hand, and then I made a layup. Damn, that kid pulled me straight to the floor from behind, and I almost got injured."

"Damn!" Jordan swore, immediately following up with, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just my back, but I'm fine," Grant replied. He went on to explain, "That kid didn't get any passes today; he mainly worked off second chances around the basket. I couldn't compete with his size and strength. His jumping ability is great too—I just couldn't guard him under the basket. But if the Knicks play the Bulls, Rodman is lighter than me, but his jumping ability is even better than that kid's, so his defense should be more effective. Still, that kid isn't just tough—he's also very tolerant of trash talk. I tried to get under his skin, but it had no effect."

"I trust Dennis," Jordan responded, reassuring his teammate.

Chapter 30: Skill Coverage (Continued)

After exchanging a few more words, Jordan hung up, rubbing his forehead. He couldn't help but feel that if the Bulls faced the Knicks, their interior defense might face serious challenges. Luke Longley alone would struggle against Ewing, and Rodman's help would be crucial. In the past, Oakley's offensive presence outside the paint allowed the Bulls to focus solely on Ewing, minimizing defensive pressure in the interior. But now, with a rookie like Zhao Dong showcasing a strong low-post game, the defensive pressure in the paint would significantly increase.

The real dilemma was whether Rodman could handle Zhao Dong while still being able to provide help defense on Ewing. Jordan scratched his head again. In hindsight, it seemed like a mistake to use Zhao Dong as leverage to attack Jerry Krause. Keeping Zhao Dong would have strengthened their low-post threat, forced opponents to collapse their defense, and reduced the defensive pressure on Jordan himself.

Still, Jordan wasn't about to admit his mistake. On the court, he believed there was nothing his scoring prowess couldn't solve. Besides, he didn't think much of Zhao Dong—especially in the playoffs, where rookies often struggled to perform. What really troubled him was how Zhao Dong had become a media sensation, continually drawing attention to the Bulls' choices.

---

At the post-game press conference, the tension was palpable as reporters eagerly questioned Zhao Dong.

"Zhao, was it a dirty play when you pulled Grant down from behind during his layup?" a reporter from a local sports paper asked pointedly.

Zhao Dong responded without hesitation, "Do you think Grant's two throat locks on me were normal defensive actions? He literally grabbed me from behind by the throat. Want to try that yourself?"

The room fell silent as the reporter faltered.

Zhao Dong pressed on, "In fact, I've learned from certain sources that Michael Jordan contacted Grant before the game. Grant was tasked by Jordan to 'teach me a lesson.' Unfortunately for them, they failed. Instead, I taught Grant a lesson. I want Jordan to know this: you can beat me with your skills and strength, but don't resort to dirty tactics. I don't tolerate that."

The room erupted into murmurs, reporters buzzing with the unexpected revelation.

"Zhao, are you certain Jordan contacted Grant before the game?" another reporter asked, his excitement barely contained.

"I'm absolutely certain," Zhao Dong replied firmly.

Some reporters, quick to act, rushed out of the conference hall to chase the story, eager to verify Grant's phone records and break the news first.

Ewing, sitting beside Zhao Dong, leaned in and asked, "Are you serious about Jordan contacting Grant?"

"Of course," Zhao Dong said confidently.

Ewing smirked, shaking his head in disbelief. "Well, Michael's going to have a rough time with the media after this. He's not exactly their favorite person as it is."

Ewing glanced at Zhao Dong with a mix of amusement and newfound respect. For a rookie, Zhao Dong seemed far more informed and strategic than he'd initially thought. Or perhaps, Ewing wondered, Zhao Dong was just bluffing?

---

Meanwhile, Pat Williams, the Magic's general manager and president, was present at the press conference. Hearing Zhao Dong's allegations, his face darkened.

"Get Grant's phone records," Williams barked at his staff. If it turned out that Grant had indeed acted on Jordan's orders, Williams wouldn't hesitate to take action. After all, this was the man who had traded away Shaquille O'Neal; he wasn't afraid to make tough decisions.

As the press conference concluded, Zhao Dong walked away with a slight smile, his calculated words leaving a ripple effect that would likely reverberate through the league.

Chapter 30: Skill Coverage (Continued)

Jordan vowed to have Grant traded after the incident, his frustration boiling over. Meanwhile, the Knicks departed for Charlotte overnight, preparing for their back-to-back game against the Hornets. On the flight, Zhao Dong's seat was strategically placed in the middle, behind Ewing, Oakley, and a group of veteran players.

Settling into his seat, Zhao Dong activated his system.

"System, apply skill coverage."

"Overwriting…"

"Coverage complete. Air cut skill has been increased by 8 levels, now at level 83."

Zhao Dong felt a surge of excitement. Although it was only an internal cut skill from Grant, the significant improvement was still a game-changer. Enhanced air-cutting ability would bolster his off-ball movement, a critical aspect of his game given his limited opportunities to attack with the ball. Improved off-ball capabilities would allow him to create more scoring chances and become a greater offensive threat.

As he processed this development, he noticed Oakley sitting beside him.

"Zhao, you made a mistake during the press conference earlier," Oakley said.

"What mistake?" Zhao Dong asked, puzzled.

Oakley explained, "If something like that really happened and you wanted to expose it, you should've let your agent handle it. By addressing it personally, you've put unnecessary pressure on yourself. That's what agents are for—they take the heat, not you."

Zhao Dong nodded, understanding Oakley's point. "I see what you mean."

Oakley continued, "I already notified Wells before we boarded the plane. He'll call you to handle the fallout."

When they landed in Philadelphia, Zhao Dong indeed received a call from his agent, Ringo Wells.

"Zhao, leave this kind of thing to me next time. I'm your agent—I get paid to take care of these situations," Wells said with a chuckle.

"Sorry, Ringo, I couldn't hold back," Zhao Dong admitted, laughing.

"No problem, just remember this: if anything happens, push it all on me, including your 'sources.' That's my job. Got it?"

"Got it," Zhao Dong replied, feeling reassured.

As Zhao Dong ended the call, he realized the importance of having a reliable team around him. His actions might have brought attention, but moving forward, he'd have to play smarter both on and off the court.

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