"Come down!"
With his jaw clenched and sweat streaming down his face, Shaquille O'Neal leapt up to meet Zhao Dong mid-air. But this time, he wasn't contesting the ball.
He was contesting Zhao Dong.
Shaq brought his forearms down aggressively—arms fully extended beyond the vertical cylinder, an illegal move. He wasn't playing the ball. He was trying to pull Zhao Dong down out of the air.
Zhao Dong collided with O'Neal's massive chest. Instinctively, the Diesel caught him mid-air, preventing a dangerous fall.
"Beep!"
The whistle shrieked.
The lead referee pointed straight at O'Neal. Foul—clear contact. Two free throws for Zhao Dong.
Zhang Heli's voice cut in on CCTV.
"That's O'Neal's second foul. Zhao Dong has two as well. But this time, it was Zhao Dong who forced the issue—he got the foul and put pressure on the Lakers' interior."
Su Qun nodded.
"If this continues, O'Neal's foul trouble could change the dynamic entirely."
Zhang added, "Yes, but Zhao Dong must be careful. Shaq protected him this time. Next time, it might not end so safely."
Back at the line, Zhao Dong took a breath, bounced the ball twice, and knocked down both free throws.
63–53. Knicks by 10.
---
The Lakers responded.
On the next possession, Marion shaded toward O'Neal in the post, and the big man fired a sharp pass to Glen Rice on the perimeter. Rice pulled up from three—money.
Phil Jackson nodded calmly on the sideline.
"That's the triangle at work," Doug Collins noted from the NBC booth. "O'Neal draws two defenders, and it opens up the outside."
Marv Albert added, "Phil didn't have a center like this in Chicago. But now he's got the most dominant big man on Earth. That compresses the Knicks' defense and creates open looks just like that one."
63–56.
Barkley chimed in, "That's five for Glen Rice in the second half, all because Marion had to leave him to help with Shaq. Ginobili's late on the rotation."
Van Gundy shouted from the sideline.
> "Manu, switch quicker—cut off the corner!"
Ginobili raised a hand in acknowledgement but was visibly gassed. He bent over, grabbing at his shorts.
This is the Finals, he reminded himself. No room for excuses.
---
Meanwhile, O'Neal adjusted his strategy.
Instead of forcing post-ups every trip, he began to playmake. When he had clean position, he attacked. When the double came, he kicked it out—Kobe and Rice both benefitting with open looks from the wings.
The Lakers' outside shooting was suddenly clicking.
But the problem remained: they couldn't stop Zhao Dong.
Possession after possession, Zhao Dong kept pounding the paint, risking injury and drawing contact. He took hard bumps, elbows, body shots—but he kept coming.
In the first four minutes of the third quarter, O'Neal committed one more foul, bringing him to three. That changed everything.
On Zhao Dong's next drive, O'Neal stepped back instead of challenging. He let Zhao Dong go.
Mistake.
Zhao Dong crashed through the lane, scored again, and turned up the pressure.
In just one quarter, he racked up 14 points, including free throws—bringing his total to 47 points through three.
---
End of the 3rd Quarter – Score: Knicks 80, Lakers 70
---
Barkley leaned back in the TNT booth.
"Shaq started smart after two failed possessions early in the third. He began distributing and letting his shooters work. The team's scoring increased, and his energy stayed preserved."
Smith nodded.
"But what I don't get—how is Zhao Dong still standing? He's everywhere. Fourteen points in the quarter, but he was diving on defense, rotating, banging in the post…"
Barkley chuckled.
"You're trying to find his limit? Lemme save you the time. There is none. I played with him. Zhao Dong doesn't get tired. He's a machine."
Smith added, "Five of seven from the field, four for four from the line. He's efficient. And he's not forcing shots. That's the scary part."
On CCTV, Zhang Heli was analyzing the score differential.
"Ten points. Not impossible for the Lakers, but difficult. Zhao Dong's presence makes every possession a challenge."
Su Qun asked, "Coach Zhang, if you were in Phil Jackson's shoes, how do you rally the Lakers for the comeback?"
Zhang Heli paused.
"There's only one solution: feed O'Neal. Less passing, more post dominance. Shaq was too unselfish in the third. If he goes back to punishing the inside, their efficiency will spike."
---
On the Lakers bench, Phil Jackson gathered his team.
O'Neal towered above everyone, a towel draped around his neck.
Phil looked calm. Controlled.
"The outside's open now," he said. "We've stretched their defense. But it's time to return to our roots. Shaq—next quarter, you anchor the block. Attack. Punish them."
"We need to support Shaq outside," the coach said, brows furrowed with urgency. "But I don't want open looks on the perimeter. We're down ten—we need efficient offense."
His voice grew firmer as he outlined the next steps.
"Once Shaq pulls away from the basket, I want everyone cutting inside. Attack the rim. We score near the basket, not from deep tonight."
Then he pivoted to defense.
"Kobe, Ron—tighten the screws on Ginobili. He's a rookie. Physically, he's running on fumes. He's our opportunity."
As the fourth quarter tipped off, the Lakers came out swinging.
Shaquille O'Neal, having rested during the third, came back in full force. In the post, under heavy double-teams, he muscled in back-to-back buckets. On top of that, he drew fouls from both Zhao Dong and Shawn Marion, slowing the Knicks' momentum.
In response, New York packed the paint on defense. Unable to find space underneath, Shaq started floating out. This opened lanes for Kobe and Glen Rice, who slashed inside repeatedly. The Lakers ignited a 14–8 run in just half a quarter, trimming the gap to four. 88–84.
On the other end, the Knicks' offense sputtered under relentless L.A. perimeter pressure. Ginobili, rattled and overextended, turned the ball over twice in the opening minutes. Both mistakes led to quick scores for the Lakers.
Charles Barkley, courtside with TNT, shook his head and said gravely, "Defense collapsed. Two costly turnovers. The Knicks can't afford to get careless in a game they must win."
After a timeout, Zhao Dong brought the ball up.
With Ginobili benched due to those back-to-back turnovers, New York's spacing changed. The lineup now featured Willis and Gary Trent inside, Rogers at forward, and Stackhouse at the two. The floor spread wide—Willis and Trent drifted to the wings, Stackhouse and Rogers stationed beyond the arc.
L.A. matched them. O'Neal and Robert Horry left the paint, sticking just inside the elbows to contest any drives.
Bang, bang, bang.
Zhao Dong dribbled up to the top of the key. Kobe switched onto him. Harper slid to cover Stackhouse.
Squeak!
In a flash, Zhao Dong exploded off his pivot foot. The sharp screech of rubber echoed as he blew by Kobe with a single, devastating first step.
Kobe, legs heavy and fatigue setting in, reacted late. He reached out instinctively and caught Zhao Dong's arm—whistle. Foul. Two free throws.
Zhao Dong shook his arm, visibly annoyed.
"These illegal contact calls up top are killing me," he muttered under his breath.
"Zhao Dong's stamina is off the charts," said Kenny Smith on the live TNT feed. "He's an inside player outpacing Kobe Bryant down the stretch. That says it all."
Barkley chuckled. "This is when fatigue decides everything—tempo, rhythm, and ultimately… the win."
Swish. Swish. Zhao Dong drained both. 90–84.
On the next possession, Zhao Dong jumped Harper at the top of the arc, poked the ball loose, and snatched it. One-man fast break.
Bang!
Even though Kobe chased with everything he had, he lagged two steps behind. Zhao Dong took off—slam dunk.
The Garden erupted.
Since Zhao Dong assumed point duties, the Lakers couldn't exploit the Knicks' ball-handling. On the contrary, he exploited them—no guard in purple and gold could match up. The mismatch was glaring.
By the 11th minute of the final quarter, it was 102–92. The Lakers called their final timeout.
Zhang Heli exhaled loudly on the broadcast. "I think that's it. The Knicks are taking Game 1. What a battle."
Su Qun nodded. "Shaq was dominant—38 points on 72% shooting. Kobe and Glen Rice contributed 26 and 21, shooting 53% and 46.5% respectively. The Lakers shot 52% overall. That's a top-tier showing."
He paused, then smiled. "But Zhao Dong… he was on another level."
On the screen, Zhao Dong's line flashed:
23-of-34 shooting (67.6%)
13-of-14 free throws
59 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks
1 turnover, 4 fouls
In the TNT booth, Barkley lit up. "The Finals scoring record is 61, set by Elgin Baylor—a Lakers legend. And now Zhao Dong's just three points shy of rewriting that history."
Kenny Smith leaned forward. "Three points. Just needs three more. Come on!"
Play resumed. O'Neal banged inside again, desperate to score. The Knicks didn't double him—Zhao Dong held his ground solo. Shaq backed down, spun, then floated into a side hook.
He couldn't even jump.
Bang!
Zhao Dong skyed—swatting the ball clean out of the air.
"OHHHH!" erupted the crowd.
Madison Square Garden roared. That block wasn't just highlight-worthy—it was the nail in the coffin.
Next possession, Zhao Dong nailed a mid-range jumper. It brought his total to 61—tying Elgin Baylor's legendary mark. One more shot… but time ran out.
Final score:
Knicks 104, Lakers 94
Zhao Dong ties the NBA Finals scoring record in a single game.
After the game, Zhao Dong stood under the spotlight for the on-court interview.
"Zhao Dong, congratulations!" CCTV's Yang Yi beamed. "You just tied the NBA Finals single-game scoring record with 61 points—equaling Elgin Baylor's mark!"
"Really?" Zhao Dong grinned, surprised. "Didn't even realize it."
"Your field goal percentage was a staggering 68.5%. You kept your form all the way through the fourth quarter. That was pure domination. How did you manage that?"
Thomas, the Knicks' team reporter, leaned forward eagerly.
"If I want to do it, I can do it," Zhao Dong replied calmly.
He took the towel Ginobili handed him, wiped his sweat, and added with conviction, "Humans have limits—but we're meant to break them."
Just then, Kobe passed behind the interview area. He paused mid-step, blinking at Zhao Dong's bold words as he dabbed his own face with a towel.
"Break human limits?" he muttered. "What's that supposed to mean—more punishment in training?"
Thomas fired off another question. "How do you assess the Lakers' performance tonight?"
"They were excellent. The OK combo—O'Neal and Kobe—is one of the best duos in NBA history," Zhao Dong admitted with a nod. "Honestly, the Black and White Duo, the Mailman and Stockton, even Kemp and Payton… none of them are as dangerous as these two."
Hearing that, O'Neal walked past and chuckled to himself. He didn't hide the smile tugging at his face. Praise from an opponent like Zhao Dong? That hit different.
—
One hour later, both teams gathered for their post-game pressers.
"Coach Jackson," a reporter from the LA Times asked bluntly, "you've lost to the Knicks again. You've lost to Zhao Dong again. Thoughts?"
Phil Jackson looked shaken.
He had every reason to be. With the strongest starting lineup in the league and the mighty OK duo, they still fell short. Again.
Zhao Dong's scoring efficiency, his relentless motor—it was like coaching against a myth. A machine. His palms were cold. His face pale.
"Tonight…" he began hoarsely. "Tonight's game…"
The words struggled to come out. O'Neal and Kobe glanced over, concerned.
Jackson coughed, then raised his voice.
"We played well. But Zhao Dong… he was better. He played with the precision of a god. What we're facing—what we're fighting—isn't just a player."
He paused, clenched his fist.
"We are at war… with God."
His voice grew firmer.
"And even if we're fighting a god… we have to beat him. We need courage. We need fire. We need to kill God!"
—
The next morning, "We Want to Kill God!" dominated the headlines across the U.S.
In Los Angeles, media outlets turned Jackson's words into a rallying cry. The Lakers fanbase surged with energy.
But over in New York, The New York Times fired back two days later:
"Kill God? Don't Even Think About It."
The media war was on. And it was just as heated as the battles on the hardwood.
—
June 30th – Game 2: Knicks vs Lakers
It was Game 2 of the NBA Finals. With the 2-3-2 format, this was New York's last home game before heading to L.A. for three straight. Every Knick knew how critical this one was.
But Coach Nelson wasn't feeling too confident.
Both rookies, Ginobili and Marion, were showing signs of exhaustion. Ginobili, the starting guard, and Marion, their energy forward, were gassed.
To adapt, Nelson made a bold call—Zhao Dong would start at point guard. Ginobili would come off the bench. He expanded the rotation too, inserting deeper bench players like John Wallace.
"We're going to attack Shaq directly," Nelson said flatly. "Their strength is our target."
Starting Lineups
Lakers: Shaquille O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Glen Rice, Kobe Bryant, Ron Harper
Knicks: Willis, Gary Trent, Rodney Rogers, Jerry Stackhouse, Zhao Dong
In the TNT studio, Barkley frowned.
"That frontcourt's too light," he muttered. "Shaq's going to destroy them inside."
Smith added, "Word from the Knicks locker room is Ginobili's completely out of gas. That's why Zhao Dong is starting at the one. And while Shaq might dominate the paint, Zhao Dong can burn their perimeter. No one on the Lakers can guard him."
Barkley laughed. "Ron Harper's too old to handle Zhao Dong. They'll probably throw Kobe on him. And if they do—Kobe's in for a long night."
Smith chuckled. "Facts."
—
In the Lakers' locker room, Phil Jackson was doing what he did best—getting in his players' heads.
"We're at the edge. There's no retreat now. We must be prepared to go to war with God. There's no other option."
Kobe clenched his fists.
"Then let's kill God," he growled.
Jackson nodded solemnly. "Good. Now—meditation."
Kobe and Shaq exchanged glances.
"You just want a nap, don't you?" they muttered in unison.
If you notice the new Fanfic are gone i'll give the new link
This is the new link for my new Fanfic because i repost it
Killing People is Kinda Scientific Right?
https://www.webnovel.com/book/killing-people-is-kinda-scientific-right_33392445700696205
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
Change (â) to (a)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9