Chapter 36
Next, Zhao Dong began to analyze the objectives of the two missions and the data involved. Gary Payton, known for his excellent backcourt moves, often uses his hips to attack a defender's lower body, much like Mark Jackson. He frequently backs down his opponent to create space, and when near the baseline or the paint, he finishes with a turnaround jumper. The system's task required Zhao Dong to assist in defending Payton when he pushes down. From his position as the No. [1] defender, Zhao Dong's role would be to help guard Payton when he begins his post-up.
As for Rainman Sean Kemp, later generations would evaluate him as one of the most physically gifted players in history. If he had maintained better self-discipline, he could have been one of the top five superstars in NBA history. Kemp had extraordinary physical fitness, almost injury-free like LeBron James later in his career. His athletic ability, explosive power, and incredible jumping ability were unmatched. Kemp was known for his aggressive playstyle, including a one-handed shot, solid passing, and fierce dunks. His aerial ability was exceptional, and his dunks were famously brutal. Before Shaquille O'Neal's rise, Kemp dominated as the league's top dunker, with powerful flat baskets and dunks being his trademark.
In an era dominated by the four major centers, Kemp stood out by being the one who could challenge even the giants of the league. During the 1995-96 season, in his battles against the four legendary centers, he held his own. His nickname "Rainman" symbolized his dominance—he was seen as a ruler, a tyrant in the paint. However, despite his incredible talent, Kemp had weaknesses. He was often reckless in his bravery, struggled under pressing tactics, and had difficulty controlling his emotions. This final flaw was one of the main reasons the SuperSonics lost to the Bulls in the finals last season. Kemp's emotional instability, particularly in response to Dennis Rodman's trash talk and antics, led to a critical collapse in his performance at a pivotal moment, costing the Sonics the championship.
In fact, the Bulls, who had set a record with 72 wins in the regular season, were hailed as the greatest team in NBA history. But had it not been for Kemp's emotional breakdown in the finals, the Sonics might have beaten the Bulls, potentially becoming the best team in history themselves.
Completing the task against such a player was as challenging as facing a superstar. With Zhao Dong's current abilities, it seemed impossible, especially considering it was a back-to-back game. On the night of December 24th, Madison Square Garden was packed with stars. The starting lineups were:
Sonics: Jim McIlvaine, Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Jose Hawkins, Gary Payton
Knicks: Ewing, Zhao Dong, Oakley, Alan Houston, Chris Childs
This game was broadcast live by CCTV and ABC in the United States. ABC's commentary team, Hubie Brown and Darvin Cook, were discussing the matchup.
"From the perspective of the lineup, the Sonics have a height advantage. They have three players standing 6'9" or taller, while the Knicks only have Ewing. The Knicks are likely to struggle with rebounding in this game," Cook analyzed.
Hubie Brown added, "In recent games, Ewing has been in poor form. He's been sluggish on both ends of the court. This could be a problem for the Knicks tonight."
Chapter 36 (Continued)
"His body has been affected by injuries, which will likely cause the Knicks' low-post offense to struggle," Hubie Brown explained.
"Hubie, do you think that when Ewing is in a slump, Zhao Dong, the power forward, will increase his low-post attack?" Cook asked.
Hubie Brown analyzed further: "Zhao Dong is facing Sean Kemp tonight. The two have similar height and bounce. However, Kemp's physical fitness is more dominant—he's stronger in the paint. Zhao Dong is 11 kg heavier than Kemp, giving him greater strength and better ability to contend physically. Both players have their own advantages: Zhao Dong is technically more complete, but Kemp, with eight seasons of experience, is more seasoned. I don't think Zhao Dong will increase his offensive role because breaking through Kemp's defense will be a challenge."
Cook nodded, agreeing. "Overall, the Knicks seem to be at a disadvantage. If Ewing continues to struggle, the Sonics will have a higher chance of winning tonight."
"That's right," Hubie Brown said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "The combination of Gary Payton, the 'Glove,' and Sean Kemp, the 'Rain Man,' has made the Sonics a renowned team for their alley-oop plays. I'm sure we'll see plenty of that at Madison Square Garden tonight."
On the CCTV broadcast, the signal shifted from the studio to the live feed. Sun Zhenping said, "The Knicks have started well, with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses, while the Bulls are leading at 11 wins and 1 loss. These two teams are currently first and second in the Eastern Conference."
Zhang Lili added, "The Knicks are playing back-to-back games, and the Supersonics are very strong. There's not much hope for a win tonight. Zhao Dong is still new to the league, and in back-to-back games, physical fatigue could be an issue. It's reasonable to expect some ups and downs in his performance."
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were watching the Knicks game from their hotel. Jordan, who was preparing for an upcoming game against the Clippers, knew the strength of the Sonics all too well. "If Dennis hadn't used that face-to-face strategy to get Kemp out of the game last season, we might not have won our fourth championship," Jordan reflected.
"He's at it again, getting PT," Pippen complained. "Yesterday, Dennis only scored 2 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had 1 assist. On defense, he didn't contribute anything except for those rebounds. It was all zeroes. Michael, you have to talk to him. This isn't working."
Jordan glanced at Pippen, sensing tension between him and Dennis Rodman about Pippen's role on the team. As the leader, Jordan could suppress Rodman, but Rodman never accepted Pippen as the second-in-command. His issues with Pippen were becoming increasingly apparent. Jordan, already frustrated by the situation, grew even more agitated when he saw Zhao Dong on TV. "Tonight, Kemp will teach him a lesson," Pippen said with a laugh.
"That's a given," Jordan said with a chuckle. They both knew Kemp's reputation, and Jordan didn't believe Zhao Dong was ready to handle the Rain Man's intensity.
"He's going to get destroyed by Kemp and cry like a baby," Jordan said confidently.
"Haha..." Pippen laughed, enjoying the banter.
As the game began, both teams sent out their power forwards for the opening jump ball. Zhao Dong and Sean Kemp stood across from each other. When the ball was tossed into the air, both players leaped to claim it. However, Zhao Dong's size played a key role. As they jumped, Zhao Dong collided with Kemp in midair, throwing off Kemp's balance. The first possession went to the Knicks, with Ewing securing the ball.
Zhao Dong immediately focused on controlling the paint, particularly the offensive rebounds, as Ewing's recent slump had made him less effective. With the game in full swing, Zhao Dong was determined to make the most of the opportunities presented to him.
As Ewing took the ball and made his move toward the basket, he found himself in a tough battle with Kemp, who was known for his aggressive defense. Despite Kemp's rich experience, Ewing's superior strength, coupled with his 10-kilogram weight advantage, allowed him to establish better positioning. Meanwhile, Oakley made an important move by stepping out to the left-wing three-point line, pulling the 206 cm SuperSonic All-Star forward, Trevor Schrempf, away from the paint. This strategic shift opened up space and created a more favorable matchup for the Knicks.
(TL: Shawn Kemp, was nicknamed "Reign Man" and "Rain Man".)
(TL: Rain Man: Some people in Seattle tried to call Kemp "Reindeer", but Calabro came up with the name "Rain Man". )
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