The U.S. team adjusted on defense just as Hubie Brown predicted—Tomjanovich had Shareef Abdur-Rahim switch onto Zhao Dong, moving Payton off him.
But Rahim was at least ten kilos lighter than Zhao. The moment he stood in front of Zhao, he might as well have been a traffic cone.
Here, under FIBA rules, Zhao had no reason to hold back his strength. Against Payton, he hadn't even bothered posting up—it felt like bullying a child. But Rahim? He was fair game.
The Chinese team cleared out, stretching the floor completely. Even Yao Ming pulled to the left wing, three meters from the paint, dragging Garnett and Mourning away from the rim.
"It's a full inside-stretch tactic!" Hubie Brown's voice cracked with excitement from the NBC booth. "This is the same God-Slaying lineup theory Zhao Dong used in Chicago!"
---
Zhao caught the ball at the top of the arc, back to Rahim.
"Bang! Bang!"
Two hard bumps, and Rahim was already staggering, retreating step after step. Zhao hadn't even gone full force yet, and Rahim had lost all defensive position.
Seeing this, Payton abandoned Li Nan on the left wing and darted toward Zhao for a double-team.
Li Nan didn't hesitate. The moment Payton left, he cut hard to the basket.
"It's open!" Xu Jicheng shouted.
Zhao smirked, flicked a backhand pass without even looking. Li Nan caught it in stride and laid it in easily. Garnett and Mourning, pulled out of the paint earlier, couldn't recover in time.
"Beautiful basketball!" Sun Zhenping cheered. "This is how you punish double-teams—Zhao draws the pressure, the cutter attacks the lane, easy score!"
Xu Jicheng chuckled. "Zhao could've dunked himself, but he made the smarter play. If Mourning or Garnett had collapsed, he could've dished to Dazhi or Yao. Our offense is running like a clinic."
10–2, China led by eight.
---
On the next possession, Garnett went back to work in the low post against Yao. This time, Yao read his footwork perfectly, contesting hard.
The shot clanged off the rim. Mourning muscled inside, somehow ripping down the offensive board despite Dazhi and Yao's double effort.
The big man immediately exploded upward for a putback slam.
"Bang!"
A huge palm came out of nowhere—Zhao Dong swatted the ball off the glass.
"Well done!" Xu Jicheng roared.
The ball ricocheted high. Zhao landed, instantly reading the trajectory, sliding into position. Garnett leapt first, tipping it, but couldn't secure it.
Yao Ming stepped into the perfect spot, snatching the rebound with both hands. He swung his elbows wide, creating space, then fired it out to Zhao.
Crossing half-court, Zhao signaled for another clear-out.
Back to Rahim.
"Bang!"
Rahim staggered again, powerless to hold ground. Zhao spun past him, cutting straight into the paint.
This time, Payton and Vince Carter stayed home on shooters, unwilling to gamble. Garnett and Mourning rotated together, forming a wall.
Zhao drove right at Garnett, pulled up as if to attack, then faked. Garnett bit, leaving his feet.
"Gotcha."
Zhao lobbed it right over Garnett's head.
Yao caught it midair.
"Bang!"
A thunderous dunk rattled the rim.
Zhao grinned down at Garnett. "Relax, KG. That wasn't even a poster dunk."
If he thought the joke would ease tension, it didn't. Garnett's nostrils flared, his teeth bared—he looked ready to lunge at Zhao.
"Move," Zhao barked, brushing past him.
Garnett just snorted, "I'll give you one back," and sprinted downcourt.
The U.S. brought the ball up, and Payton suddenly noticed his matchup had changed.
Zhao Dong wasn't guarding him anymore.
Too bored defending Payton, Zhao had swapped assignments, taking Li Nan's spot near the free-throw line. The Chinese defense shifted into a 2-1-2 zone, Zhao anchoring the middle—ready to help both perimeter and rim.
"Finally," Payton muttered to himself. A grin spread across his face. "Looks like my turn to eat."
He glanced at Hu Weidong, who was now guarding him.
"Boy, I'll cross you like an empty street at dawn," Payton said, his trademark trash talk dripping confidence.
It was the same line he once used against Grant Hill in Hill's rookie year, when Payton had cooked him badly. Now he wanted to run it back against Hu.
Hu Weidong scowled, crouching lower.
As Payton advanced, Hu lunged for a steal.
Payton was ready. He spun smoothly, sliding past Hu with a smirk.
"Beautiful move!" Cook shouted from the NBC booth. "That's vintage Glove—"
He didn't finish.
Payton took a step and suddenly crashed into what felt like a brick wall.
"Bang!"
Zhao Dong had stepped up perfectly, cutting him off. Payton bounced backward like he'd run into a padded post, tumbling to the floor. The ball slipped free.
Zhao scooped it effortlessly.
"Smart rotation!" Hubie Brown exclaimed. "Zhao read the gamble early and rotated before Payton even cleared Hu. That's elite help defense."
Zhao was gone the moment the ball hit his hands.
At full sprint, he tore upcourt.
Behind him, Yao, Dazhi, and the others didn't even bother to follow—they stayed in the backcourt, watching.
No one on Team USA could catch him now.
"Bang!"
Zhao launched from just inside the free-throw line, hammering home another flying slam dunk, bringing the crowd to its feet.
The arena erupted. Fans waved flags, chanting his name.
14–2, China was in control.
"Payton was careless—way too careless," Cook sighed at the NBC commentary booth. "Zhao Dong is right there. How do you think you're getting past him by going straight at him?"
Hubie Brown's tone was harsher. "He hasn't adjusted mentally. He disrespected Hu Weidong and forgot who's lurking behind him. That's Payton's fourth turnover against Zhao already."
On the U.S. bench, Tomjanovich shook his head, visibly disappointed. This wasn't the performance he expected from a two-time All-NBA First Team guard.
When a dead ball finally came, he made the change—Jason Kidd checked in for Payton.
Sun Zhenping smiled as he saw the substitution. "Kidd's a top-tier point guard. He's not far off Payton's level, and he's faced Zhao many more times."
Xu Jicheng laughed, clearly relaxed given China's lead. "Experience or not, it won't matter. If Kidd could handle Zhao, the Bulls wouldn't have been eliminated by the Knicks two years in a row. And they just got swept again."
Sun Zhenping grinned. "Well, Zhao's with the Trail Blazers now, so the Bulls finally have some breathing room. The U.S. media says the two strongest teams in the East are the Nets and the Philly 76ers, but I still think the Bulls are right there—definitely the third-best team."
But Kidd's presence didn't solve Team USA's problems. Under Zhao's control, China's offense kept rolling.
Zhao shifted gears—taking fewer shots and feeding Yao Ming in the paint.
FIBA rules meant no defensive three-second violations, allowing Yao to camp under the rim. With his size and soft touch, he became a nightmare matchup. Once Alonzo Mourning was pulled out to the perimeter, Garnett was left trying—and failing—to stop Yao one-on-one. Even when Mourning rotated back in, he couldn't slow the young giant.
The U.S. relied more on individual offense, but their lack of chemistry showed. They scored, but only in small bursts.
Kidd, well aware of Zhao's tendencies, played cautiously. Whenever Zhao moved near him defensively, Kidd either swung the ball immediately or retreated.
On defense, Zhao anchored the middle of China's 2-1-2 zone, constantly rotating between high and low post. His help defense smothered penetration, forcing Carter and Rahim into awkward mid-range pull-ups. Carter, usually explosive, looked frustrated.
As long as Zhao stood in that middle spot, Yao and Dazhi had strong rim protection behind them. The trade-off? Guards like Carter occasionally broke through on the wings, as Hu Weidong and Li Nan struggled to contain elite NBA athleticism.
Still, the U.S. had no answer for Zhao's presence.
"They're avoiding Zhao now," Cook noted. "He's sitting in the middle, cutting off drives. So we're going heavier on wing mid-range looks. It's working… somewhat."
Hubie Brown shook his head. "That won't last. Look at how the Knicks beat the Lakers in the Finals this year—it was all about high-efficiency shots at the rim. Now, Zhao's not even scoring much, but Yao is dominating inside. If we settle for mid-range, our efficiency will crater, and the lead will only grow."
By the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard read 28–12, China up by 16.
The world was stunned.
---
"When did the Dream Team become this vulnerable?"
"It's simple—they're playing against Zhao Dong."
"Wait… is this really the Chinese national team?"
"They were never weak. Four of their five starters are NBA-caliber. And Zhao? He's the best player in NBA history, period."
"The God of Efficiency lives up to his name."
"Zhao was right—this American squad isn't a Dream Team."
"He even stopped attacking late in the quarter. If he hadn't, the lead would be even bigger."
Media outlets buzzed, reporters exchanging shocked glances courtside.
---
On the American bench, silence. Players sat slumped, gasping for breath.
Tomjanovich looked exhausted. It wasn't his coaching—it was reality. No one on his roster could match Zhao Dong.
Sure, Garnett could go at Yao in the post, maybe even get the better of him in stretches. But that didn't matter because Zhao's mere presence changed everything.
Even when Zhao wasn't shooting, he bent the entire defense. His passing and floor vision kept China's offensive efficiency high. If he decided to take over offensively, the U.S. would get blown out entirely.
Tomjanovich sighed inwardly. This Olympics feels like a trap. I should've never taken this job.
If Shaquille O'Neal had joined the roster, maybe he would've had some hope. But with this lineup? He had none.
His only real hope lay in the depth of his bench.
--
In the second quarter, the U.S. rotated in fresh legs. Unlike China, whose bench quality dropped significantly, the Americans could field nearly two full starting-caliber lineups.
Yao, Dazhi, and Hu Weidong went to rest. Dayao checked in, but China's overall talent level dipped sharply.
Tomjanovich smirked slightly. If we're going to come back, it has to be now.
But Zhao Dong had other plans.
---
With the bench unit struggling, Zhao shifted into full attack mode.
FIBA rules might've taken away the NBA's "reasonable collision zone," but Zhao didn't need to rely solely on driving dunks. Just like in the NBA Finals against the Lakers, he attacked through footwork and physicality near the basket.
For ten straight minutes, Zhao was relentless—posting up, drawing contact, and cashing in at the line.
By the time the second quarter ended, Zhao had dropped 20 points in that stretch alone, pushing the Chinese lead to 48–34 despite the U.S. bench's furious push.
52–40. China still held a 12-point lead.
Tomjanovich looked helpless on the sideline. With all of China's starters back in the second half, the U.S. team's hope of a comeback faded fast.
In the third quarter, Zhao Dong focused on orchestrating the offense, letting Yao Ming battle Kevin Garnett one-on-one in the post. China maintained a comfortable double-digit lead without breaking much of a sweat.
Then, when Zhao decided to attack in the fourth quarter, everything collapsed for Team USA. In just three minutes, he stretched the lead to 20 points, completely breaking their spirit.
By the final buzzer, the scoreboard read 101–77.
China had just blown out the United States by 24 points in the opening game of the group stage—an earthshaking statement to the basketball world.
Zhao Dong led the way, dominating in two quarters of play. His stat line was monstrous: 43 points, 15 assists—6 of them to Yao Ming and 2 to Wang Zhizhi.
---
Post-Game Interviews
Reporters swarmed Zhao after the game.
"Zhao Dong, what do you think of this U.S. team?" a New York Times reporter asked.
Zhao smiled. "I told them before the game—they're competing for silver, not gold."
Another Associated Press reporter pressed him. "Do you think the U.S. team failed tactically, or is their roster lacking?"
"Both," Zhao replied bluntly. "They play isolation basketball, and their lineup can't match ours."
"So, what changes should Team USA make if they want to beat China?"
Zhao thought for a moment. "Simple. Bring in Shaquille O'Neal."
"What about the other positions? You dominated every American point guard today. Doesn't the No. 1 spot need an upgrade?"
Zhao smirked. "Garnett's fine at the four. He's perfect for their so-called 'God-Killer' lineup. But for the other three spots? It doesn't matter who they choose. No one in the U.S. can guard me. Swap in a superstar or a benchwarmer—the result's the same. Nobody can stop my scoring or my passing on the perimeter."
The arrogance in his tone made American fans furious—but there was no arguing with him.
---
The U.S. head coach sounded defeated in his post-game interview.
"We had no advantage inside," Tomjanovich admitted. "Garnett battled, but Yao held his own. Our wings are strong, but at the point guard spot, we're at an absolute disadvantage.
"Zhao Dong destroyed us on the perimeter. We couldn't stop his scoring, and we couldn't stop his passing. Our entire defensive scheme broke down because of him.
"And honestly? He wasn't even going full throttle. He only attacked for two quarters. Anyone who's watched him in the NBA knows he's most dangerous when he goes all-out for 48 minutes.
"With this roster, we can't beat China. We need stronger players—guys who can match Zhao's efficiency. Shaq is the only one who can at least challenge him inside."
Shaquille O'Neal, watching from home, suddenly found himself under tremendous pressure.
China's confidence skyrocketed after the win. They carried that momentum, beating New Zealand on the 19th and France on the 21st, proving their championship credentials.
On the 23rd, China faced Lithuania in their fourth group-stage matchup.
Zhao was unusually hyped before tip-off. He smiled confidently and told his teammates, "Tonight, we blow them out."
No one knew why he was so fired up—but Zhao had his reasons.
When the game started, he unleashed a full-on assault. Breaking down defenders, pulling up from mid-range, hammering the rim—Lithuania had no answer.
In just the opening minutes, Zhao led a 12–0 run, scoring every point himself:
5-of-5 shooting,
2-of-2 at the line,
One vicious dunk over Lithuania's starting center,
Another poster over their power forward.
Lithuania wasn't weak—they had size, length, and deadly three-point shooting. After regrouping, they started to counterattack, spacing the floor and firing away from deep.
But Zhao refused to slow down. His relentless drives kept stretching the lead, and China closed the first half up by 20 points.
Zhao's halftime stat line: 34 points.
Lithuanian defenders looked demoralized.
By the final buzzer, Zhao got what he wanted—a 108–61 blowout, a 47-point victory, and a personal stat line of 58 points.
China improved to 4–0, locking up first place in the group.
On the 25th, China defeated Italy to finish 5–0, sweeping the group stage and advancing to the quarterfinals as the top seed.
That same evening, the U.S. played France in their final group match.
After dinner, Zhao invited his teammates to watch together.
---
Zhao grinned knowingly as the game progressed. In his past life, Vince Carter had delivered one of the most iconic dunks in Olympic history—posterizing the 218 cm center, Frédéric Weis.
And right on cue, with 16 minutes left in the second half, Carter stole the ball, sprinted to the rim, and took flight.
"Here it comes!" Zhao laughed as Carter soared.
"Oh!"
The entire arena gasped as Carter leaped over Weis and smashed the dunk home.
Yao Ming chuckled. "Brother Dong, Carter's trying to be you."
Zhao smirked. "If you see a guy trying that against you, pull him out of the air. Don't be polite."
The U.S. closed the group stage at 4–1, finishing second and also advancing to the quarterfinals.
---
Quarterfinals Ahead
The quarterfinals were set for the 28th.
China, first in Group A, would face Spain, the fourth seed from Group B.
Given China's form, few doubted the outcome. The team's eyes were already on the gold medal.
That same day, the women's 20km race walk would also take place—but all eyes in China were on basketball.
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