The starting lineups for Game 1 of the Finals were officially announced.
Nets: Yao Ming, Tim Duncan, Stephen Jackson, Kendall Gill, Stephon Marbury
Trail Blazers: Shaquille O'Neal, Brian Grant, Shawn Marion, Eddie Jones, Zhao Dong
As the championship series tipped off, TNT remained the official national broadcaster for the playoffs.
In the commentary booth, Charles Barkley grinned. "Look, both the Nets and Lakers have dominant bigs, but their dynamics are different. Duncan's mid-range game gives him a bit more versatility compared to Shaq, which creates better spacing for outside drives."
"Kenny, Yao's definitely a step up from an aging David Robinson. He can stretch out to the three-point line now. This pairing isn't weaker than the Lakers' combo. It's different, maybe even more balanced."
Kenny Smith nodded. "True, but the one thing they don't have is Shaq's sheer dominance at the rim. That's gonna affect their post-up frequency and offensive efficiency in the paint."
Barkley chimed in with a chuckle, "Which ironically plays right into Zhao Dong's hands. To beat him, you have to win the paint war. And that's the Nets' weakness."
Smith added, "Exactly. They can breeze through most teams, but if you want to beat Zhao Dong, you have to attack the rim. That burns energy like crazy. Just like the Lakers, the Nets are going to feel it in the second half."
Barkley laughed, his belly jiggling. "Zhao Dong's scary, man. He doesn't need to live in the paint. He's shooting over 60% from the short mid-range—those 5-to-10 footers just inside the lane. That means less physical toll and longer high-efficiency minutes."
Smith said seriously, "Which is why I think we'll see a repeat of the Lakers' fate. The Nets can hang for three quarters, maybe even take a lead. But by the fourth, fatigue will hit. Their defense will crumble."
Barkley concluded, "In the end, the Blazers just have fewer holes. From the 1 to 3 positions—point guard to small forward—they're flat-out better. The Nets' perimeter? That's their Achilles' heel."
Kenny leaned forward. "Then who guards Zhao Dong? Stephen Jackson? Kendall Gill? Marbury?"
He ran through the matchups, frowning. "Jackson's 6'8" and quick, sure, but he's just a rookie. You put Marbury on Zhao? That's a funeral. Gill's a good thief, great with steals, but not nearly physical enough to keep Zhao from bulldozing through."
He looked directly at the camera. "If their perimeter gets torched, their twin towers inside will be left wide open to take the full brunt of the Blazers' attack. The real question is: how long can they last?"
Barkley chuckled. "Kenny, you just roasted the entire Nets' backcourt. You're gonna give 'em a complex."
"Ha ha ha!" Both burst into laughter.
---
Over on the CCTV broadcast, commentator Zhang Heli smiled warmly. "This game is wildly popular here in China. It's not just the Finals—it's a national derby between two of our biggest stars. I hope Zhao Dong and Dayao both show up big tonight."
Su Qun laughed. "You could say Zhao Dong helped raise his own rival."
Zhang Heli agreed. "And he may have also helped shape the next cornerstone of China's men's basketball program—Yao Ming."
---
At that moment, a camera cut to a VIP suite inside the Rose Garden.
Lindsay appeared in the box with her four sons, a small army of nannies, and several bodyguards in tow. It was her first time at the Blazers' home arena—and the first time the quadruplets were making an appearance there.
Seated beside her were team owner Paul Allen and his sister Jody Allen, both showing her immense respect.
As the camera zoomed in on her and the boys, the arena erupted with applause and cheers. Lindsay stood up and waved gracefully to the fans.
"Welcome, Mrs. Lindsay." Barkley grinned like a kid who just saw Santa Claus. "Portland's true MVP has arrived."
CCTV's feed followed suit, focusing the lens on the luxury box. Back in China, millions watched the family reunion unfold.
---
In Zhao Dong's hometown of BJ, his mother Li Meizhu jumped to her feet, pointing at the TV excitedly.
"Look! Look! It's the four babies—they've gotten so big! This time they're back, I'm not letting them go again!"
Zhao Zhenguo, his father, shook his head. "Weiwei and Dongdong are still working in the U.S. How are you going to keep the kids here? You want the grandkids, but don't they want their parents too?"
Li Meizhu frowned, frustrated. "It's all Dongdong's fault for still playing basketball. I can't even see my own grandchildren!"
The elderly great-grandparents, struggling with their eyesight, shuffled toward the screen, bending over to inspect the four little faces. Their eyes were locked on the TV, reluctant to blink.
CCTV gave the family close-ups for a full thirty seconds, cutting away only briefly before returning again.
---
8:10 p.m. — The starting lineups took the court.
The visiting Nets entered first. When the Blazers were announced, the house lights dimmed dramatically.
Zhao Dong was the last to emerge from the tunnel.
The Rose Garden exploded.
Fans rose in unison, forming a sea of red and black, all performing the customary worship gesture. Hands extended forward, fingers together, bowing slightly in reverence.
"The King has arrived," the in-arena announcer roared. "This is Portland's gift to their emperor, Zhao Dong. They believe he'll bring home the long-awaited championship!"
Zhao Dong waved to the crowd, then turned toward his family suite and blew kisses to Lindsay and the boys.
---
8:30 p.m. — Tip-off.
Yao Ming and O'Neal met at center court.
The jump ball went to the Blazers.
O'Neal and Grant immediately spread to the left and right elbows. The perimeter followed suit, creating full-court spacing.
The Nets set up a 3–2 zone, clearly designed to clog driving lanes and slow down penetration. But with the Blazers' five-out spacing, the zone defense stretched dangerously thin.
The paint?
Wide open.
Zhao Dong brought the ball up, crossing half-court and drifting toward the top of the arc. His primary defender?
Stephen Jackson, the Nets' rookie swingman.
Barkley was stunned on the TNT broadcast. "Stephen Jackson? He's a rookie—just drafted in 2000! This is his first season, and they're throwing him out there to guard Zhao Dong in the NBA Finals? You've gotta be kidding me."
Smith chuckled beside him. "Then who else? If not him, who's guarding Zhao?"
Barkley paused, frowned, then reluctantly nodded. "Damn. Good luck, kid."
---
On the Court, Rose Garden Arena
Zhao Dong grinned as he squared up at the top of the arc.
"Rookie," he said with a smirk, "I'm blowing by you—left side. Get ready."
Jackson's body tensed. His arms twitched slightly. "You—y-you come on then," he said, trying to play tough, but the stutter gave him away.
Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you a stutterer?"
"Who stuttered?!" Jackson snapped defensively.
Too late.
Zhao Dong exploded left with a lightning-quick first step. Jackson instinctively reached out—grab.
Tweet!
The whistle blew sharply as the ref ran over, signaling an illegal hand-check.
"See that?" Barkley laughed on the broadcast. "Rookie touches Zhao Dong, he's getting whistled every time. Welcome to the Finals, kid."
The Blazers inbounded on the sideline. Zhao received it at the left wing three-point line, caught Jackson leaning, spun off him, and slashed hard into the paint.
The Nets' perimeter defense was already stretched thin. The second line was out of position. Marbury glanced at Zhao but made no rotation.
Zhao Dong rocketed into the lane.
Duncan and Yao were already back in the paint—but Zhao had come in at an angle from the wing, cutting their help timing. He had a clean lane.
But instead of going in strong for a dunk, Zhao elevated two meters out, floated mid-air, and flicked in a one-handed bank shot over both defenders.
The ball kissed the glass—swish.
"If that was just Duncan, he'd have punched that down," Barkley noted. "But Yao was there, and Zhao didn't want to hurt the big fella."
---
Chinese Broadcast – CCTV Booth
Zhang Heli raised his voice. "See? I told you—the Nets' perimeter defense isn't as strong as the Lakers'. Once that first line breaks, it's wide open underneath!"
Su Qun blinked. Wait… when did Coach Zhang say that?
---
Next possession, the Nets set up with Yao and Duncan on opposite low blocks—classic Twin Towers formation.
Marbury danced on the perimeter before zipping a bounce pass to Yao. The big man caught it deep, backed into O'Neal, faked left, spun baseline—and boomed a dunk over Grant, who tried to help late.
Outside the arc, Zhao Dong nodded silently.
Yao looked leaner this season. With his weight at 125kg, his agility had noticeably improved. His skills were sharper too—cleaner footwork, better touch. He might not have had Shaq's brute force or Duncan's resume yet, but in terms of finesse, he was right there.
"If it weren't for O'Neal clogging up First Team center votes and Duncan being locked at the four, Yao might've made All-NBA this year," Zhao thought.
---
Back on TNT, Barkley chuckled. "Trail Blazers can't stop the Nets in the paint. Yao and Duncan don't dominate the rim like Shaq, but man, their skill sets—those guys are artists."
Smith added, "That's why Portland's gotta win this from the outside."
---
Back on the court, Zhao drew a double-team from Jackson and Kendall Gill on the wing. Spotting an opening, he whipped a slick pass to Marion cutting baseline. Marion caught it mid-stride and exploded for a thunderous two-handed jam before the bigs could rotate back.
"The Nets' defensive recovery is too slow!" Su Qun noted on the Chinese broadcast.
Zhang Heli nodded. "Duncan needed to slide up to help, but Marion's cut was perfectly timed. Half a beat late and it's over."
"And Marion's got a new nickname now," Su Qun laughed. "I heard Zhao Dong started calling him 'The Hacker'."
"Haha, straight from the locker room," Zhang chuckled.
---
On the Nets' next possession, Duncan muscled in a putback over Grunfeld.
For the next few minutes, both teams traded punches.
The Blazers stuck with aggressive wing attacks, relying on Zhao to create and finish or find the open man. The Nets focused on deliberate low-post sets, pounding the paint with Duncan and Yao.
---
Score Check — Mid 1st Quarter
Blazers 16 – Nets 12
Possession: Nets.
On the CCTV broadcast, Zhang Heli analyzed, "Zhao Dong has 3-of-3 shooting, 1-of-1 from the line, totaling 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. He's playing efficiently, but not pushing himself too hard yet. Only one drawn foul on Duncan so far."
Su Qun added, "Right, not just on offense—he seems passive on defense too."
Back on TNT, Barkley echoed the same. "Zhao's coasting a little defensively. As long as Marbury doesn't hog the ball or go cold, the Nets' offense is fine."
Smith nodded. "That floor-spacing combo is scary efficient."
"But I bet Marbury won't be able to resist." Barkley smirked. "He'll want to cook."
---
Sure enough, just like Chuck said—by the second half of the quarter, Marbury started dribbling a little longer… and a little more often.
Possession doesn't always mean more shots—it's about ball control. When one player hogs the ball too long, teammates freeze out, the offense stalls, and the playbook becomes useless.
Midway through the first quarter, the Trail Blazers suddenly clamped down on their perimeter defense.
Marbury danced at the top of the arc, pounding the ball, eyes scanning for a window to shoot. He hadn't passed in three possessions and had only scored two points so far.
"Snatch!"
Zhao Dong read the play like an open book. He lunged forward, swiped the ball clean from Marbury, and took off down the court.
Marbury gave chase for two steps, but seeing Zhao Dong gain speed after the arc, he pulled back.
"Boom!"
The Moda Center erupted as Zhao Dong hammered down a tomahawk dunk.
Jogging back on defense, he flashed a grin and barked, "Iron Horse! You think you can steal a title with defense like that?"
Marbury growled, "I'll steal one off you soon enough."
Zhao Dong smirked. "What—when I'm asleep?"
Marbury had no comeback. His face twisted in frustration.
"Screech!"
Moments later, Zhao Dong pounced again. A blur of motion—hand out, fingertips jabbing—the ball popped off Marbury's dribble. Marbury panicked, turned to shield the ball, and locked it up.
Big mistake.
Eddie Jones and Marion came flying in. In a blink, Jones stripped the ball and zipped a pass ahead.
"Bang!"
Marion soared and slammed it home.
Zhang Heli shook his head on the CCTV broadcast. "12 to 20. Two steals, and the Blazers suddenly stretch it to an eight-point lead."
Su Qun added, "The Blazers coasted defensively early, but now that they've locked in, the Nets are in serious trouble."
Zhang chuckled, "Defense is like a muscle—you can't flex it all game. You tighten when it counts, loosen when you must. Remember the Jordan Rules? The Bad Boys could only sustain that intensity for half a game at most."
With the Blazers' perimeter suffocating the Nets, the offense ground to a halt. Yao Ming and Duncan were set in the post, but no entry pass came. The wings couldn't deliver under pressure.
Zhao Dong started hunting Duncan directly. Breaking through the Nets' fragile perimeter, he drove straight at the Hall of Famer.
The Trail Blazers' tactic was clear: Grant pulled Yao out of the paint, leaving Grant under the rim to keep Duncan pinned. Once Zhao Dong broke through, there'd be no help defense.
It worked perfectly.
By the 9th minute, Duncan was tagged with his second foul and benched.
Without their Twin Towers active together, the Nets' interior dominance disappeared.
End of the First Quarter: Trail Blazers 35, Nets 22.
Yao Ming had carried the paint, playing all 12 minutes—5-of-8 from the field, 2-of-2 from the stripe, totaling 12 points. But he also picked up his second foul.
Zhao Dong? He turned it up late. Perfect from the line, nearly flawless from the field—9-of-11 shooting, 4-of-4 free throws. He racked up 22 points in the opening quarter alone.
With Yao resting, Duncan took the reins in the second quarter, leading the second unit.
The Blazers? Zhao Dong stayed in with the starters.
Over at the TNT booth, Barkley chuckled, "This is what happens when you've got depth. Unless you can play all 48 like Zhao Dong and still stay fresh, your bench is getting cooked."
Smith nodded. "Even in the starting five, the Nets are outgunned. Doesn't matter how good your bigs are—if your guards can't get them the rock, it's over."
Barkley added, "The Nets can't stop Zhao Dong. That man's putting up over 80% shooting. You let him stay this efficient, you're not winning anything."
Back on CCTV, Zhang Heli gave his take. "The Nets' perimeter is a mess. Offense can't create, defense can't stop anyone. They're even weaker than the Lakers on the outside."
Su Qun agreed, "It's do-or-die for the Nets' backcourt."
Zhang continued, "You know, at the start of the season, Marion wasn't quite there yet. Their perimeter rotation was shaky. But now? Marion's matured. He gives them reliable scoring and defense at the three."
"He's not a shot-creator," Su Qun added, "but he can shoot inside and out. And his help defense is elite—covering both the paint and corners. That kind of versatility is huge."
Zhang nodded, "Zhao Dong, Eddie Jones, and Marion—this might be the best perimeter trio in the league, both ends of the floor. Nobody matches up well."
Su Qun agreed, "The only weak link is inside. They've got depth, but none of their bigs are elite individually."
Zhang added, "They make up for it with defense and rebounding. Grant, Fordson —they're all high-level interior role players. Otherwise, how do you think they took down the Lakers with Shaq and David Robinson?"
(End of Chapter)
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