Chapter 41: The Rain Man's Brutal Fury
On the ABC live broadcast, Cook remarked, "Obviously, Rain Man has stopped attacking the basket. He's gone."
"No, he's just avoiding unnecessary injuries. It would be foolish to play recklessly like that. His style is the smart choice," Hu Bi Brown countered.
Upon hearing his partner's comment about Rain Man being wise, Cook couldn't hide his disbelief. "If Rain Man is so wise, then the Supersonics might have been champions last season, and he could have been the FMVP too," he muttered.
During the halftime break, the team returned to the locker room, where Van Gundy addressed Chris Childs and Charlie Ward. "Get the ball to Zhao Dong more in the second half." The game had been tough with back-to-back scheduling, and the Supersonics were exceptionally strong, so winning wasn't the primary concern. However, Zhao Dong had been playing well, and Van Gundy saw the potential for victory, so he didn't want to give up. He also noticed that Zhao Dong had taken very few shots in the second quarter, with Charlie Ward passing him the ball only once. This needed to be addressed. Van Gundy wouldn't change the way Ewing had possession of the ball, but Zhao Dong needed more opportunities to handle it and score, which also aligned with the team management's wishes.
Chris Childs nodded immediately. "Understood, Coach. I'll make sure of it."
Charlie Ward, however, responded somewhat reluctantly, "If his position is good, I'll pass him the ball."
Charlie Ward didn't think highly of Zhao Dong, feeling that the rookie was a bit too confident and not as submissive and agreeable as other players. Because of this, Ward was hesitant to pass him the ball. Van Gundy shot Ward a look and nodded. Despite Ward's reluctance, Van Gundy valued his excellent defense, which was in line with his coaching philosophy.
Zhao Dong, on the other hand, had already noticed Ward's attitude. He could tell that Ward would only pass to him when absolutely necessary, which only fueled his desire to move further out to a more favorable position. He couldn't afford to be overlooked.
At the start of the third quarter, Zhao Dong played alongside Ewing, with Larry Johnson at the small forward position, and John Starks and Charlie Ward in the backcourt. Zhao Dong quickly realized that his chances for shots would be limited in this lineup. Ewing, Johnson, and Starks all required plenty of opportunities to score, leaving Zhao Dong with little room to make an impact.
Sure enough, in the first four minutes of the quarter, Zhao Dong didn't touch the ball once. He grabbed an offensive rebound, but then Ewing hit a small hook over him. Meanwhile, Ewing struggled with his jumper, missing two shots, and scored only one point from free throws. Larry Johnson, playing out of position at small forward, missed two shots, while Starks managed just one of two attempts, adding only two points to the board.
With the score at 57-48 and the Knicks trailing by 9, Van Gundy called a timeout. He pulled Charlie Ward off the court and sent Chris Childs in.
"Coach, should Larry and I swap positions?" Zhao Dong asked Van Gundy.
Both Van Gundy and Larry Johnson were surprised by the suggestion. Larry Johnson, of course, was thrilled at the idea. He was far better suited for a position in the low post, where he could use his skills, rather than playing small forward.
However, if Larry Johnson moved to the low post, he would have to face a fierce player like Yuren. With his back injury, Johnson knew he wouldn't be able to endure the physicality required, especially against such a strong opponent. He also wondered how many times he'd have to take shots to the head, or how often he'd get blocked by someone taller. Was Feilong trying to trick him?
"Larry isn't tall enough to defend against Rain Man," Van Gundy disagreed, shaking his head.
"Coach, I'll still face Rain Man. After pulling him out, Larry can go down and fight again," Zhao Dong said, a confident glint in his eyes.
Larry Johnson's eyes lit up at the idea—it was a good strategy. Van Gundy paused for a moment to think, then nodded reluctantly. "Alright, give it a try, but don't shoot wildly from the outside. Attack closer to the basket."
"I understand, Coach," Zhao Dong replied eagerly.
"Larry, focus on running pick-and-rolls with Feilong," Van Gundy added as the timeout ended. The game resumed with the Knicks on offense.
Zhao Dong initially turned toward the low post before quickly moving to the right-wing three-point line. Rain Man followed him, staying close. Meanwhile, Larry Johnson drew his defender, Detlef Schrempf, into the low post. Schrempf, a 6'9" All-Star-level player from Germany, didn't switch onto Rain Man.
Standing at the three-point line, Zhao Dong had a clear view of the court, giving him a sense of freedom with plenty of space.
"Chris?" Zhao Dong asked, signaling for the ball at the top of the arc. Chris Childs, without hesitation, passed it over. Zhao Dong caught the ball with his right hand and pulled it back. Rain Man closed in, putting a hand on Zhao Dong's chest, his defense intense and aggressive.
At that moment, Larry Johnson set a pick for Zhao Dong. Zhao Dong used the screen to get past Rain Man, and just as Schrempf switched to defend, Zhao Dong quickly changed direction, bursting past the second line of defense. He charged toward the paint with speed and precision. Schrempf, despite being taller, couldn't match Zhao Dong's quickness.
Supersonics center Jim McIlvaine saw Zhao Dong moving toward the basket and quickly made his way from the left low post to defend. But McIlvaine was too slow. By the time he reached the basket, Zhao Dong had already leaped into the air.
The crowd in Madison Square Garden erupted as Zhao Dong completed a powerful dunk.
"Boom!" The impact of his dunk reverberated through the arena, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
"Yeah!" Fans jumped to their feet, cheering and shouting in excitement.
Jim McIlvaine, a 240-pound center, found himself helpless as Zhao Dong's dunk left him sprawled on the court beneath the basket. He gasped for air, his chest tight from the overwhelming pressure. Looking up, he saw Zhao Dong hanging above him, with eyes cold and fierce—his presence felt like that of a dominant force, as if Rain Man himself had returned. McIlvaine experienced a rush of dread, feeling as though he had just faced an unstoppable force on the court.
The Supersonics quickly transitioned into their attack.
The left wing was clear, and at that moment, Rain Man could no longer hold back. After watching Zhao Dong relentlessly attack his basket, he felt the need to retaliate. He was determined to smash the Knicks' defense, tear down their hoop, and teach this Chinese player, Feilong, a lesson. His competitive spirit flared, and with a burst of speed, he bypassed Zhao Dong and charged into the paint.
At the same time, Gary Payton, who was on the strong side, sent a pass toward the basket. The ball soared through the air, and as it approached, Rain Man's adrenaline surged. His excitement reached a fever pitch. Zhao Dong, who had already turned and begun retreating to the basket, saw Rain Man coming. Without hesitation, Rain Man launched himself into the air, grabbing the ball with both hands as he aimed for the dunk.
But Zhao Dong was ready. He leaped up with his own incredible athleticism, raising his right hand high to contest the shot.
The collision was inevitable.
Rain Man, known for his explosive power and later regarded as an enhanced version of a card bully or the harmless version of Griffin, unleashed a forceful jump. His incredible explosiveness was a rare sight in NBA history. The sheer impact of his jump sent Zhao Dong crashing down to the floor the moment they collided.
Yet Zhao Dong's terrifying bounce and wingspan gave him enough defensive height to challenge Rain Man. At the last moment, he managed to slap his big hand on the basketball just as the dunk was about to happen, redirecting the ball and preventing it from going in.
"Boom!" The resounding sound of Rain Man's missed dunk echoed as he hung from the rim. He had failed to complete the dunk—by the time he hit the basket, the ball had already slipped out of his hands and bounced away, hitting nothing but air.
"Yeah!" The crowd roared in exhilaration as the ball soared high into the air.
Zhao Dong, still on the floor but not wasting a second, slid toward the baseline. The ball was still in play, and despite the impact of the collision, he immediately scrambled to get back on his feet. Without pausing to catch his breath, he sprang into action, ready to continue the play.
(End of this chapter)
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