Chapter 19: Consecutive 20+10
In the 15th second of play, as Marcus Camby attempted a basket, Zhao Dong was already in the air, his incredible jumping ability on full display as he sent Camby's shot flying with a brutal volleyball-style block. Camby froze, clearly shaken. The worst part? He hadn't even scored yet, and he was getting embarrassed. Without the ball, Zhao Dong couldn't block him, but that didn't stop him from making it impossible for Camby to score.
Zhao Dong wasn't about to let Camby get comfortable in the paint. He forced him to take one step inside, but no more, positioning himself just over two meters from the basket. Camby could feel the pressure.
As Camby saw himself in the paint, his confidence started to build back up. His rookie contract was higher than Iverson's, and the media had hyped him up, comparing him to Zhao Dong. But right now? He hadn't scored, his defense was a joke, and he'd grabbed only one rebound. This wasn't looking good. If he couldn't step up against Zhao Dong, the media would tear him apart.
Little Momonga—Camby's teammate—saw him asking for the ball and passed it in. Despite Camby's offensive struggles, Little Momonga wanted to help his rookie teammate out. Zhao Dong wasn't fooled. He knew Camby couldn't shoot, so he backed off just enough to give Camby space for a jump shot. That was exactly what he wanted. With Camby's slow release, Zhao Dong was already preparing for his next block.
Sure enough, Camby took the shot, and Zhao Dong was already airborne. "Snapped!" The ball flew out of Camby's hands again, as the Madison Square Garden crowd went wild.
"Marcus, we need to be stronger for each other. We've gotta face this shit together. This is how we grow. Fail, learn, get better. Don't let me down," Zhao Dong called out, seeing Camby's frustration.
"Thanks, Zhao Dong. I got this," Camby replied with sincerity.
"You'll get there, bro," Zhao Dong said, nodding in approval. "Keep grinding. Get the ball, let's improve together."
Camby stepped up. "Give me the ball," he said, extending his hand from the top of the arc. Zhao Dong flashed a sly grin. This was about to get interesting.
By the end of the game, the Knicks had obliterated the Raptors with a 33-point victory, the final score being 108-75. The Knicks grabbed 45 rebounds to the Raptors' measly 30. That was just embarrassing.
Zhao Dong had played just 33 minutes, but in that time, he'd put up 10 out of 15 from the field—70% of those shots coming from near the basket—showing insane efficiency. He also made 5 out of 7 free throws. The result? 25 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 6 blocks, 1 turnover, and 2 fouls. Once again, he'd hit 20+10 in consecutive games. The crowd was losing their minds.
Meanwhile, Camby couldn't catch a break. In the third minute of the fourth quarter, he committed his sixth foul and fouled out of the game. In his 30 minutes, Camby had only made 2 out of 11 shots. Zhao Dong had stolen the ball from him once, blocked him 5 times, and Camby ended up with just 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, and 6 fouls. It was a disaster.
There was literally nothing positive to say about Camby's performance. The only highlight for the fans was Zhao Dong's block. He had completely dominated Camby in every aspect, finishing all the mission objectives and earning three quality points as rewards.
Back in Charlotte, Klaus, the general manager, cursed under his breath. "We really fucked up," he muttered, watching the game footage. He was pissed. But even more pissed? Michael Jordan, who was sitting back and watching an interview with Zhao Dong after the game. Jordan clicked off the TV with a sigh. He knew he'd made a mistake, but he wasn't about to admit it. Zhao Dong was a hell of a rookie, but no one was going to take Jordan's throne. No one.
"His best skill is probably low-post play, but it's nothing special," Jordan said, glancing at Pippen and the others. "He's just an average player in the post. If you've got a decent defender in there, he's not much of a threat. What do you think?"
Pippen and the others nodded, agreeing. Rodman, as usual, was a bit out of it, but he shook his head with a grin. "His rebounding is shit. If I was out there, I'd make sure he doesn't grab more than three boards a game."
"In the low post, you don't even need a double-team. I can shut him down with ease," added center Luc Keli, chuckling.
Jordan clapped his hands and smiled. "Alright, alright, this kid's good. But that's it. He's not special. He's got the all-around game, decent on defense, offense is fine, but nothing to write home about. No one move that stands out. He's just another average player."
Rodman sprang up from his seat, grinning. "We shouldn't even waste time on this mediocre kid. I've got a PT session tonight, three girls waiting for me. Anyone wanna join?"
"Dennis, you're a PT freak! You need it even during away games. If you skipped a few sessions, you might grab five more rebounds a game. That'd make life easier for us," Jordan said with a helpless laugh, shaking his head.
"PT is life, Michael. You can't stop me," Rodman shot back, a rebellious smirk on his face. Jordan just rolled his eyes, helpless.
Meanwhile, on the ABC live broadcast, Hubie Brown had this to say: "Camby didn't have a great game, but I still believe in him. His talent is through the roof. Once he develops, he'll be one of the best rim protectors in the league."
Cook jumped in, eager to shift the conversation. "What about Zhao Dong, Hubie? Another insane performance tonight. His efficiency was off the charts."
Hubie Brown nodded. "Yeah, it wasn't bad. The kid's got something. Consecutive 20+10 games? That's impressive."
Cook smirked, knowing exactly what Brown was getting at. "But doesn't that make Zhao Dong a better rookie than Camby, even with that No. 1 pick contract?"
Hubie didn't miss a beat. "No. As I said before, we draft for potential. Zhao Dong's performance tonight was solid, but it's all about his low-post game. That's not exactly a technical marvel. When he faces a stronger defender, or if he loses his edge in size or strength, his true level will show. Camby's a different animal. Once he matures, he'll be a force. His combination of technique and strength will make him a nightmare."
Cook nodded, understanding the point. While Zhao Dong's style worked tonight, it wasn't flawless. Against a more well-rounded defender, his playing style might not be as effective.
(End of this chapter)
--------
Thanks for reading! Send a Power Stone to support the story!
-----
Read Chapters ahead
Påtreon.com/FanficLord03