"Zhao Dong, what do you think of this Lakers team?" a reporter asked after the game.
Zhao Dong smiled calmly.
"I don't need to evaluate their main lineup. If David Robinson stays healthy, the Lakers have the strongest starting five in the league—even the Nets can't compare.
"But their bench? That's where the problem is. The Lakers don't have enough depth, which forces their starters to play heavy minutes during rotations."
He didn't bother sugarcoating it. Everyone knew Robinson went down early in the first quarter. Had he stayed healthy, the Trail Blazers would've struggled in the starters' head-to-head clash and would've had to rely heavily on their bench to make up for it. The outcome might have been completely different.
Most media outlets shared the same opinion.
---
After losing to Portland, the Lakers' management immediately began planning roster moves.
There was no other choice. No matter how much money it cost, they had to strengthen the bench. Otherwise, their massive investment in the "God-killing" lineup would be wasted.
If they couldn't even get past the Trail Blazers, how could they talk about the Finals—let alone a championship?
Fortunately for them, it was only the first game of the regular season. The Lakers still had time to make adjustments.
The game exposed just how powerful Portland's bench really was. Other teams immediately took notice, flooding general manager Whitsitt's desk with trade proposals.
This was exactly what Whitsitt wanted. Zhao Dong had requested three players be cleared from the roster before the season—Shawn Kemp was already traded, but Damon Stoudamire and Bonzi Wells still hadn't been moved. Now, Whitsitt finally had leverage.
Wells had little trade value—this was only his third season, and he was still on his rookie contract without standout performances. But Stoudamire still held decent value, and Whitsitt planned to package him with Wells to acquire a quality guard.
Among the offers, one stood out—the Chicago Bulls wanted Reggie Fortson.
The Bulls had been eyeing Fortson for a while, even reportedly willing to trade Tracy McGrady for him earlier.
Whitsitt couldn't help muttering as he read the offer,
"Man, the Bulls really love Fortson…"
But he rejected it outright. Zhao Dong personally vouched for Fortson, and with Portland's current championship aspirations, anyone useful was staying. The owner didn't care how much luxury tax it cost.
After reviewing all the trade offers, Whitsitt felt disappointed—none of the proposals were ideal.
After thinking it through, he decided to target future draft capital instead. The roster was already strong, with 14 players under contract. Even if they traded two, there would still be 12 solid rotation players, leaving time to strengthen the team later.
In the end, Whitsitt zeroed in on the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors weren't interested in Stoudamire but wanted Bonzi Wells to boost their bench scoring. Whitsitt, however, didn't like the players they offered in return.
Following his original plan, Whitsitt packaged Stoudamire with Wells and demanded the Warriors' unprotected 2001 first-round pick, plus a marginal player as filler.
The Warriors countered with a top-five protection, but Whitsitt stood firm, agreeing only to a top-three protection.
Finally, Golden State agreed.
Just like that, Damon Stoudamire and Bonzi Wells were traded to the Warriors.
---
"Someone's cleaning house," Stoudamire said bitterly in a post-trade interview.
"I knew once Shawn Kemp got traded, we'd be next. And I was right," Bonzi Wells added, equally frustrated.
But their anger meant nothing. With Zhao Dong's current status in the league, he didn't care what they thought.
Zhao Dong took over as the full-time point guard, running the offense while Brian Grant and Fortson anchored the paint. The team also had a deep rotation of big men—German, Jermaine O'Neal, and Dale Davis—all capable of contributing.
Under Zhao Dong's leadership, Portland kept winning. After their opening victory over the Lakers, the Blazers went on a seven-game winning streak, sitting comfortably at the top of the league.
Zhao Dong's numbers were absurd. Through seven games, he averaged 46 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists—a mind-blowing stat line that left fans and analysts speechless.
The league released its first MVP rankings of the season, and Zhao Dong unsurprisingly topped the list.
O'Neal was ranked second, but even his dominant performance paled in comparison.
"Zhao Dong's performance this season is… divine," Michael Jordan said in an interview. "He's playing from a different level, like he's looking down at everyone from the heavens."
Magic Johnson echoed the sentiment:
"Zhao Dong has the potential to have one of the greatest seasons we've ever seen. This might be something historic."
Media worldwide rushed to cover Zhao Dong's incredible run.
Tim Duncan, despite suffering a severe injury, continued to impress. Though he had lost much of his explosiveness and vertical game, his fundamental skills shone through, and his consistency stunned the league.
Yao Ming, meanwhile, looked even better than in his rookie year. After putting up superstar-level numbers last season, he was playing at an even higher level now.
The Nets also started the season hot, matching the Blazers with a 7–0 record, while the Lakers stumbled without Robinson, who missed four games early on. Los Angeles went 5–2, including a loss to the Philly 76ers.
Among the four title contenders—the Nets, Blazers, Lakers, and 76ers—the Nets and Blazers were undefeated, the Lakers had two losses, and the 76ers had lost to the Nets.
Off the court, life was just as eventful for Zhao Dong.
China's WTO accession negotiations had officially concluded, awaiting UN approval—a year earlier than in the previous timeline.
On November 12, Lindsay returned to the United States on a private jet with their four sons.
Zhao Dong personally went to the airport to pick them up.
The quadruplets, nearly three months old, were strong and healthy—so identical that even Zhao Dong couldn't tell them apart. But the moment they saw him, their natural bond was clear. After just a little teasing, they started babbling excitedly, all eight tiny hands reaching out for hugs, making Zhao Dong laugh out loud.
Lindsay, though not fully back to her pre-pregnancy figure, looked graceful and elegant.
Nearly a year later, she returned to the U.S. as one of Wall Street's financial giants, drawing the attention of countless media outlets. Interview requests poured in, but she declined them all.
Meanwhile, the U.S. stock market continued its sharp decline as the bear market dragged on.
Lindsay, who had always been bearish on the U.S. stock market, returned to the States—and the market reacted instantly. The next day, all three major indexes plummeted by hundreds of points. Wall Street media even coined a term for it: "The Lindsay Effect."
That same day, New York Knicks owner James Dolan finally threw in the towel, announcing that he would sell the Knicks to cash out.
Meanwhile, Zhao Dong and the Trail Blazers boarded a flight to New Jersey to face the Nets on the road.
Before takeoff, Lindsay called Zhao Dong.
"Do you want to buy the Knicks?" she asked casually.
Zhao Dong chuckled. "No point. Doesn't make sense for me."
The Blazers landed in East Rutherford at 3 p.m. and checked into their hotel an hour later.
Waiting for Zhao Dong was Yao Ming, who invited him to dinner. Stephon Marbury tagged along, curious to join the fun.
At 5 p.m., the three sat down at a private restaurant, chatting as they ate.
"Brother Dong, you're pushing yourself too hard this season," Yao Ming said with a laugh. "Seven games, averaging forty-five minutes? Barely any rest."
Zhao Dong nodded. "Our lineup's thin. As the core, I have to play longer."
Marbury had just taken a sip of red wine and nearly choked, coughing so hard his face turned red.
"Pfft!" Yao Ming couldn't hold back his laughter.
After catching his breath, Marbury shook his head with a bitter smile. "Zhao Dong, what lineup are you complaining about? The Lakers are stacked, but they still couldn't beat you. Your bench could be a starting lineup on some teams."
"That was because David Robinson got hurt," Zhao Dong replied, smiling. "We took advantage of it. That game doesn't really count."
Marbury waved him off. "Even if Robinson stays healthy, he's old—he can barely play thirty minutes. O'Neal can only go forty max. The rest are bench guys. Your bench would still destroy theirs."
Zhao Dong shook his head. "Our starters are weaker than the Lakers'. If their main lineup stays healthy, I'm not sure our bench can fully close the gap."
Yao Ming leaned in, interested. "So, Brother Dong, who's winning tomorrow? Us or you?"
Zhao Dong grinned. "You Nets are strong. You destroyed the Philly 76ers so badly they were running scared. Beat them by more than twenty."
Yao Ming and Marbury both laughed heartily. Last season, the Nets were humiliated in the first round by Allen Iverson's "Email Combination." This year, with Yao Ming and Tim Duncan, they were determined to crush Philly and own the East.
"Hey, you hear about the Knicks?" Marbury suddenly asked.
Zhao Dong nodded. "James Dolan can't take the losses anymore. Selling the Knicks nets him seven to eight hundred million—keeps him alive through this economic crisis."
Marbury sighed. He used to dream of returning to play for the Knicks. But now? Forget it. The Knicks were a sinking ship, and the Nets were championship contenders with Yao Ming and Duncan anchoring the paint.
Zhao Dong teased, "So, who's the boss between you three? Or are you gonna fight it out and let us steal a win?"
Both Marbury and Yao Ming laughed, shaking their heads.
Marbury answered first. "No way, Zhao Dong. No boss. We're the iron triangle—one outside, two inside. Stable and unshakable."
Yao Ming nodded. "We all agreed on that."
Zhao Dong smiled. "You three are entering your peak right after debuting. With that potential, the Nets will be title contenders for at least the next five to eight years."
Yao Ming and Marbury exchanged excited glances, fired up for the challenge.
On November 13, at 7:30 p.m., inside the visiting locker room at Continental Airlines Arena, head coach Mike Dunleavy prepared to announce the starters.
Jermaine O'Neal sat nervously, eyes locked on the coach. He started the opener but had been benched for six straight games. He'd worked hard to improve—better shot selection, more aggressive defense, tougher rebounding—all in hopes of reclaiming his starting spot.
Dunleavy read the names:
"Zhao Dong… Eddie Jones… Shawn Marion… Reggie Fortson…"
He paused.
Jermaine O'Neal held his breath, blood rushing to his head.
"Jermaine O'Neal."
"YES!" Jermaine jumped up, pumping his fist like a kid.
Brian Grant smiled wryly. He knew he was better defensively, but the Blazers needed scoring. O'Neal deserved this shot.
At 7:40, the official starting lineups were posted:
Trail Blazers: Zhao Dong, Eddie Jones, Shawn Marion, Reggie Fortson, Jermaine O'Neal.
Nets: Yao Ming, Tim Duncan, Stephen Jackson, Kendall Gill, Stephon Marbury.
The matchup was hyped as "The China Derby" back home. It was a Saturday night, prime time, and millions tuned in.
On CCTV's broadcast, commentator Zhang Heli analyzed,
"The Blazers traded Damon Stoudamire, so Zhao Dong is now their full-time point guard. We won't see Zhao Dong and Yao Ming battling in the low post much. But that's dangerous for Yao—remember the Lakers game? Zhao Dong attacking from the perimeter is terrifying."
Su Qun added, "Both lineups are strong, but the Nets' starters are clearly better. The Blazers, however, have the deeper bench."
Zhang nodded. "The Nets' only weakness is at shooting guard. They even tried to trade for Steve Smith, but the Blazers refused. Think about it—Smith, a starter last season, is only a bench guy in Portland now. That tells you how stacked their second unit is."
On TNT national broadcast, Charles broke it down:
"This is like the Lakers game for Portland—two dominant big men inside. Their starters will be outmatched. They'll need their bench to save them again."
Smith countered,
"But the Nets aren't the Lakers. They've got Duncan and Yao Ming stretching the floor, with Marbury constantly attacking and kicking out. That's lethal. Portland stole one against the Lakers, but they'll need more than luck tonight."
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