The Bulls launched their offense.
"Oh, Zhao Dong is camped out at the free throw line, and the Knicks are running a 3-2 zone. That's a switch-up from the Bulls' setup, focusing hard on locking down the perimeter," Marv Albert called out.
Zhao Dong held it down at the free throw line, ready to cover all directions with his mobility. His defensive presence radiated across half the court.
On his left and right were Madden and Billups. Down low in the paint stood Ben Wallace and Fortson, guarding the wings beneath him.
Kidd controlled the ball at the top of the arc. Zhao Dong took one step up, and Kidd instantly shifted gears—he faked right with a slick crossover and exploded toward the right elbow.
But Zhao Dong slid with him step for step, cutting him off clean. Kidd couldn't get through and had to pull it back out.
On the right wing, Latrell stayed tight on Jordan, refusing to double up.
Jordan saw his moment. He suddenly darted around the arc, sprinting along the three-point line.
Kidd spotted the gap and zipped the pass.
Jordan caught it in stride, gave a quick pump fake to shake the defender flying in, then took one step inside the arc and pulled up for a silky smooth jumper.
Zhao Dong sprinted over to contest, but he was a step late.
Swish!
Nothing but net.
"Kidd's drive didn't draw the double. Zhao Dong in the middle was like a locked gate," Matt Goukas said.
"Which means the Bulls' tactic didn't quite break down the zone," added Marv Albert.
"The Knicks clearly trust Zhao Dong's perimeter defense. If Latrell had helped off Jordan, MJ would've been wide open. But even without that, he found just enough space off-ball to get a clean look," Goukas explained. "So while the isolation setup worked for Jordan, the Kidd-drive plan didn't really hit."
The Knicks came down on offense. Billups gave the signal—spread the floor. Big Ben stayed planted in the paint while the other four spaced out wide.
The Bulls stayed in their 2-3 zone, giving the Knicks' perimeter some daylight.
Fortson set a pick for Latrell on the right wing. Latrell curled around, caught the ball in rhythm, and pulled the trigger—but bricked the three.
Here's where the Bulls' 2-3 zone flexed—three guys crashed the paint hard against two Knicks. Oakley boxed out and snatched the board.
The Bulls broke out quick. McGrady sprinted up the left sideline, slicing toward the paint. Kidd launched a laser from the backcourt.
But Zhao Dong had already dropped back from the free throw line like a heat-seeking missile. McGrady caught the pass but hesitated—he saw Zhao Dong closing in and ditched the ball with a slick one-hand dish to Jordan on the break.
Jordan caught it on the right wing and went up smooth—money.
"This kid McGrady's got some serious juice," Marv said. "He can drive, shoot, and move the rock. Talent-wise, he's right up there with Pippen."
Matt added, "He's got the toolkit to become a top-tier point forward. But with Kidd running the offense, there's no need for him to be the playmaker just yet. When he first landed in Chicago, his role was just spot-up threes and perimeter defense—Zhao Dong called him a classic 3&D wing."
"But in last year's playoffs, he evolved. He could score from deep, midrange, even inside. Became a full-fledged small forward. We'll see what new tricks he's got this season. If the Bulls feed him more touches, let him take some load off Jordan, he'll grow fast."
Marv nodded. "Jordan's almost 36 now. The Bulls are definitely hoping McGrady and Kidd can take the reins when MJ steps away. I'd bet McGrady's gonna get more shots this season, no doubt."
They weren't wrong. Last season, McGrady averaged just 8 shots a game, hitting 45%. But tonight, he already had 5 shots in the first quarter—drained 3 of them. One was off the dribble, another on the break, and one was a catch-and-shoot jumper right over Latrell.
After one quarter, the score was tied at 23:23.
Matt Goukas broke it down: "Jordan hasn't gone full throttle yet. The Bulls spread the shots evenly—McGrady had the same number of attempts as MJ. This is clearly Phil Jackson testing the young blood during the regular season, just like how the Knicks are grooming Wallace and Fortson."
Marv said, "Zhao Dong still led the Knicks in attempts—seven shots, all jumpers from outside. He's not slashing or attacking the paint tonight, playing more off-ball, letting Billups run the sets. Feels a lot like the way Jordan plays."
Matt nodded, "And looking at the first quarter, the Bulls' biggest problem from last season—their inside game—is looking patched up. Their rebounding, from starters to bench, is right there with the Knicks."
"Their help defense inside is no joke either," added Marv. "Oakley and Rasheed Wallace can move and cover ground. They're protecting the rim, switching, rotating—doing it all."
Matt continued, "And perimeter defense? Jordan, Kidd, and McGrady—those guys are straight-up lockdown defenders. Honestly, the Bulls might even have the edge over the Knicks at the 1 and 2 spots. Both ends."
On the NBC broadcast, Marv Albert chimed in, "Gotta give Phil Jackson credit as a GM too. He rebuilt this roster with depth and defense in mind. They've got a bench now, and they're no longer getting bullied on the boards."
Matt agreed. "Yeah, ESPN's gotta rethink their championship odds. The Bulls are looking like serious contenders again."
Marv added, "For the Knicks, though, that inside combo—Ben Wallace and Fortson—they bring the grit, but offensively? They might give you 15 points total. That puts a heavy burden on the backcourt."
"Exactly," Matt said. "If Zhao Dong stays on the perimeter and doesn't drive, he becomes just a midrange shooter. That's not maximizing his skill set. It kills their offensive balance."
"So if the Knicks stick to this game plan, Bulls might start pulling away."
"It's still early," Marv said. "Lot of new pieces. The rotation's not set. Zhao Dong probably won't hit full stride until the second half of the season."
Matt was right. Zhao Dong wasn't going all out in the first half. He clocked in a solid 7-of-11 from the field, hit 1-of-2 from deep, and went perfect on two free throws, dropping just 17 points.
By halftime, the scoreboard read 47-42 — Bulls up by five.
Jordan put up 13 in the half. But it was McGrady who led Chicago in scoring, going 6-for-12, 1-of-3 from three, and 3-for-4 from the line. He racked up 16 points, making his mark early in the season as a legit scoring option.
Inside the locker room, Zhao Dong gave props to Fordson.
"Danny, two fouls in 18 minutes ain't too bad, especially with one being a smart defensive foul — that's acceptable. You also pulled down six boards. Solid work."
"Heh heh..." Fordson scratched his head, looking a little smug.
"But you still made a couple of mistakes. That second foul? Totally avoidable — happened while fighting for the rebound. That's two wasted possessions right there," Zhao Dong reminded him.
"Yes, boss!" Fordson responded quickly.
Billups shot Fordson a look full of envy. Man, if the boss coached me like that every day, I'd be leveling up nonstop...
Zhao Dong turned to Barkley next. "Charles, you want a ring, right? You can't be showing up like this. You went 0-for-4 in the second quarter."
Barkley's partner Willis actually outperformed him. Willis had a decent run — 4 points, 3 boards, a block, and an assist in just 10 minutes.
"I haven't played in a minute... still shaking off the rust," Barkley said, a bit embarrassed.
"Charles, all you're doing is taking jumpers. You're scared to get in the paint," Zhao Dong criticized.
"Who said that? Watch me next time. I'm a damn flying pig!" Barkley shot back, frustrated.
"Nah, you gotta pace yourself. Stay warm during the regular season, save that gas for the playoffs," Zhao Dong replied with a grin.
A veteran like Barkley — always banged up — was only useful come playoff time. Overuse him now, and there wouldn't be anything left in the tank when it mattered. Just like how Ewing had been run into the ground the last two seasons.
---
On CCTV's live broadcast:
Zhang Heli said, "He didn't get a single second in the first half. I've said before, the Bulls' frontcourt is loaded this year. Not many chances for him. It's a pity." (Dazhi)
Sun Zhenping added, "Exactly. The other bigs played a bit in the second quarter, but none of them made much of a splash."
Zhang continued, "Actually, if he was subbed in, it would give the Bulls more options offensively. He's got range — can stretch the floor. I've seen him shooting from the NBA three-point line back at the Dongcheng training base after returning to China. He's accurate. Plus, his mid-range game is solid too. Zhao Dong even got him a trainer from the States to work with."
Sun nodded. "Honestly, if there's really no room on the Bulls, maybe it's better to request a trade. It's tough for rookies to get minutes on a title-contending squad like this."
Zhang Heli agreed, "Zhao Dong definitely has a plan. He's invested so much in training Hu Weidong, Yao Ming in the NCAA, and Dazhi — plus building that training base in Dongcheng. There's no way he'd just let Dazhi rot on the bench. He's 22 now. This is the prime time for development. No game time means no growth."
---
Start of the Third Quarter
Zhao Dong was still running off-ball, but he wasn't settling outside anymore — he started cutting hard and attacking the rim directly.
Zhang Heli analyzed, "Zhao Dong playing off-ball means the defense can't trap him early. If they feed him right after his cut, with his finishing skills, he's almost automatic."
Sun added, "This play puts pressure on Billups. He's gotta read it right and deliver that pass perfectly. It also takes chemistry between him and Zhao Dong."
The first play didn't work. Billups didn't make the pass.
Zhao Dong slid to the right wing, locked eyes with Billups, and suddenly spun around for another cut.
This time, the pass came right on cue as Zhao Dong sliced through the paint.
McGrady and Oakley tried to collapse on him, but they were too slow.
Oakley knew Zhao Dong well. The moment he saw him cut, he moved — but not fast enough. He reached out, trying to stop him, but Zhao Dong blew past him with ease.
With the ball in hand, Zhao Dong took one powerful step and launched toward the basket as Rasheed Wallace rotated over to contest.
"BOOM!"
He dunked it hard. The entire arena erupted.
Rasheed got wrecked midair, crashed to the floor, and slid nearly two meters across the hardwood. He lay there, breathing heavily, looking straight-up miserable.
On the sideline, Phil Jackson shook his head. That was a failed defensive sequence. The double team never came.
"Move earlier! The double team has to hit when the pass comes!" he shouted from the bench.
---
On the NBC broadcast:
Marv Albert laughed, "Zhao Dong's off-ball cut? Man, under the no-double-team rule on off-ball players, this guy's a wrecking ball when he gets downhill."
Matt Goukas chimed in, "Oakley and McGrady tried to collapse, but with Zhao Dong's footwork and explosiveness, they weren't getting there in time. Even if they did, the way he finishes through contact — whether it's a quick pull-up or just muscling through — it's tough to stop him."
Marv added, "Stopping scorers like Jordan and Zhao Dong? You can't really shut them down. The goal is to make 'em work and lower their efficiency."
Matt thought about it. "In past seasons, Rodman couldn't handle Zhao Dong either. Rodman was great against guys like Karl Malone, but Zhao Dong's just got too much pop, too much speed. Oakley might help, but we'll have to see how the season plays out."
"Zhao Dong, tell me—how fast can you run now?" Oakley asked with a scowl as they jogged down the court.
He had tried to move ahead just now, but he still couldn't keep up with Zhao Dong's speed. He was half a step behind.
Zhao Dong chuckled. "Charles, I can run the 100 meters in under 10.5 seconds. What you think?"
"Man, cut the cap," Oakley grunted.
"Shit, why ain't you out there in the Olympics then?" he snapped. He acted like he didn't buy it, but deep down, he kinda believed it.
Next few possessions, Zhao Dong kept movin' off the ball—slicin' through the paint again and again, puttin' mad pressure on the Bulls' interior D.
Every time he cut through the lane, it wrecked the Bulls' defensive shape. They were scrambling, straight up panicked.
The reasonable collision zone got implemented in last year's playoffs. That rule was tailor-made for a beast like Shaq, but now it was a damn cheat code for someone like Zhao Dong. With his freakish strength and speed, he could charge in full throttle, and any defender who dared to get in his way inside the arc just got bulldozed.
BANG!
The rim rocked as Zhao Dong threw down another vicious jam, knocking Rasheed Wallace to the floor again.
"Damn bastard!"
After gettin' dunked on and tossed like a ragdoll multiple times, Rasheed—upgraded Roaring Lord or whatever—finally lost it. Dude snapped and shoved Zhao Dong.
That set off Big Ben, who was right next to him. Ben Wallace pushed Rasheed right back to the hardwood.
Then Danny Fortson stormed in, but Zhao Dong stepped in and held him back.
BEEEEEP!
The ref sprinted over and jammed himself into the middle of the scuffle.
David Stern was sittin' courtside. Ain't no way he was gonna let this turn into a full-on brawl. The second Rasheed got back up, the ref hit him with a technical.
"What?! He pushed me and I get the tech?" Rasheed snapped, yelling at the ref.
Yeah, bad idea. The ref popped him with a second tech right on the spot. Rasheed froze.
"Ohhh damn! Rasheed Wallace just tried to go head-to-head with Zhao Dong? What's he smokin'? Did he forget what happened to Tyson? Man got his head cracked by Zhao. You wanna end up in the hospital too?"
Matt Goukas shouted in disbelief on the NBC broadcast.
"He got hit with a tech! Wait, he's still jawin' at the ref—BAM! That's number two! Rasheed Wallace's outta here!" Marv Albert shouted with energy.
"Get your ass off the court, fool. You lucky Big Ben pushed you down first. If Zhao did it, you'd be stretcher-bound by now," Oakley barked as he grabbed Rasheed and dragged him away.
"Charles, I didn't even start it, man! That was him!" Rasheed yelled.
"You outta your mind? You shoved Zhao first! What, you got memory loss now?" Oakley wasn't playin' around—straight cursed him out.
Rasheed paused. Damn... maybe that was true?
He glanced over at Zhao Dong, who was just standin' there, cold stare locked on him. Rasheed flinched a little, face twitchin', a chill ran down his back. He turned and walked off quick.
Loud mouth, weak hands. Rasheed wasn't tryna throw hands with Zhao Dong—not today.
After the ejection, the refs gave Ben Wallace a tech too.
Zhao Dong looked at Jordan and cracked a grin. "Yo MJ, y'all look like y'all brought a whole barrel of dynamite. Just can't tell if it's gonna blow up the other team... or blow y'all up instead."
Jordan smirked. "You overthinkin' it. That was just a little hiccup."
With him and Oakley in the mix, Jordan was confident he could keep Rasheed's hothead in check. In the two weeks leading up to the game, Rasheed had actually behaved—no drama, got along just fine.
With Rasheed tossed, the Bulls brought in Kurt Thomas, a solid defender. With him and Oakley together, the paint didn't collapse.
Zhao Dong kept attacking off-ball, making hard cuts through the lane, but Oakley and Kurt Thomas ran a shadow defense. They played tight, physical, borderline dirty ball. It took a toll on Zhao's rhythm.
He got dropped three times in the third.
Oakley didn't pull punches on defense, but he made sure Zhao Dong didn't land wrong either—helped him up each time to prevent injury.
Still, that kind of physical D had a price. After the third quarter, Oakley had picked up three fouls, and Kurt Thomas had two.
That's with the refs lettin' a lot slide. If this was 2000s whistle standards? They'd both be out before halftime.
Zhao Dong slashed the paint 11 times that quarter. He had one bad pass turnover, shot 4-for-8 from the field, knocked down 6-of-8 from the line. That's 14 points in Q3, 31 total through three quarters.
Efficiency was a bit average this time. The double teams came early, often, and rough. He had to settle for a few tough floaters and short jumpers near the rim.
Most of his free throws came from gettin' straight-up decked on three hard takes—six shots from that alone. The rest? Barely any whistles.
Today's calls were light. If this was modern refs, Oakley and Kurt woulda been done in the first.
But this was '96. Knicks vs Bulls. Refs weren't gonna blow the whistle on every bump. Only the hard hits got called.
End of the third, Bulls were up 68-60. Up by 8.
MJ turned it up in the third—6-for-10 shooting, 3-of-4 at the stripe, 15 points. Vintage Jordan.
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