Champion Rules

Chapter 122, Section 118: You will be the challengers when you encounter us (Seeking monthly votes!)

With the start of preseason training camps, the NBA storm is once again sweeping the globe.

Lynch's new season has just begun, and he has already received both extremely unexpected good news and extremely unexpected bad news.

The good news is that Mike Brown, the head coach who was fired by the Cavaliers last season, eventually joined the Knicks coaching staff, serving as Flip Saunders' right-hand man alongside Mike Malone.

This is another reinforcement of Flip Sanders' weaknesses, and the Knicks no longer need to worry about his overly conventional coaching style.

Whether on offense or defense, Flip Sanders has plenty of excellent support behind him.

Mike Brown actually received offers from many teams, but firstly, James Dolan was willing to offer more money. Secondly, Mike Brown also admitted, "Only in New York can I have a chance to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers."

Mike Brown certainly knew that in a league dominated by star players, coaches were simply expendable resources.

If anything goes wrong with the team, the first to leave won't be the players or the general manager, but the coach.

No matter how famous you are, whether you've won a championship or Coach of the Year, you can easily lose your job.

This is the NBA ecosystem; if you want to coach in this league, you have to learn to accept it.

Therefore, Mike Brown doesn't resent the Cavaliers firing him.

But he couldn't understand why LeBron had to act so righteous.

It was clearly his fault for failing to contain Lynch; it was clearly a problem with his individual abilities. Yet, in the end, he didn't mention a word about any of this. Cleveland still treats him as a hero, while regarding Mike Brown as trash.

Therefore, Mike Brown was very unwilling to accept this.

He desperately wanted to prove that his strategy was sound, and that the problem lay with the star players!

The good news of Mike Brown joining the team gave Lynch more confidence for the upcoming season, while the bad news surprised him.

The Knicks' team doctor conducted a comprehensive physical examination and evaluation of new recruit Tyson Chandler. He was physically healthy and had no problems, but he had significant psychological issues that did not match his appearance.

"You say he has mild depression? Bullshit, tell me you're talking nonsense." Lynch looked at the report given by Philip Sanders with disbelief.

This is practically saying that Stephen A. Smith is a LeBron fan, because Tyson Chandler, who always seemed to be full of passion, throwing punches and yelling on the court, doesn't look like someone who would be depressed.

Philip Sanders shrugged helplessly.

"I find it hard to believe, but that's the truth."

Listen to Lynch, the reasons why the Chicagoans traded Tyson are more complicated than expected.

It wasn't just because they needed to make room for Ben Wallace, but also because Tyson had proactively submitted a trade request six months prior. The pressure he was under there was immense, and his mental state had become extremely unhealthy.

In Chicago, because he failed to live up to expectations for his talent over the years, all the media called him a bust and treated him as a laughing stock in the draft, alongside Kwame Brown.

He experienced a fall from grace, going from being anticipated by the entire nation to being condemned by everyone.

Don't forget, Tyson was also a high school rookie, and his mentality was just as fragile.

He was once a nationally renowned basketball prodigy, having graced the cover of Sports Illustrated before even starting high school.

Aside from meeting that Eastern giant from the same country as you in 1998, he has never lost to anyone.

But all of that came to an end the moment he was drafted. Once he arrived in Chicago, his career became unremarkable, and he was disliked by the media and fans.

He simply couldn't stand the environment there, so he took the initiative to apply for a trade.

Looking closely at the second half of last season's matches, Tyson was indeed not as passionate as before; he was plagued by immense pressure.

"He had barely crawled out of the mire of Chicago when he found himself in an even more stressful place. From the whirlpools of Lake Michigan, he was being pushed into the rapids of the Hudson River." Lynch tossed aside the report; playing in New York was like playing in the spotlight. You could receive the most applause, or you could receive the most malicious slander.

Lynch recalled Chandler's stiff smile in front of reporters' cameras at media day yesterday, and his taciturnity in the locker room. Lynch had assumed he was just unfamiliar with his teammates.

Lynch glanced down at the sports section of The New York Times on Philip Sanders' desk. The media outlet was promoting the new season, and the headline read: "Is a 24-year-old center really worth trading Jamal and Kurt?"

This city that never sleeps is always looking for new topics and always putting pressure on the players.

Playing in New York brings plenty of spotlight and immense commercial value. But you always have to pay a price for those benefits.

Playing basketball in New York is never easy. The pressure, the attention, and the criticism are not something everyone can handle.

Lynch had long since adapted to the New York environment, but Tyson Chandler might not be so.

Originally, he went to New Orleans. Compared to Chicago and New York, that city didn't have as much spotlight, so he could focus on basketball in peace.

And there, he also met the tall man who made him eat so many pancakes that he vomited.

It's no exaggeration to say that his time with the Hornets saved this young center's career.

He regained his confidence in the warm breeze along the Mississippi River and proved his worth with each cap and pancake.

But now that he's in New York, the situation is much more complicated.

The media, fans, and even some scouts easily overlook the impact of psychological factors on a player's performance.

Countless talented young people in high school and college have ultimately lost their way in the league due to their fragile hearts.

Lynch knew he had to handle Tyson Chandler's situation well, otherwise he might not be able to reach the heights of the original historical record.

Historically, Tyson Chandler was at his full potential after leaving the Hornets, which is why he was able to immediately contribute to the Mavericks' championship run in 11. His previous experience had given him enough experience and the courage to face setbacks.

Tyson Chandler, now living in the Big Apple, is still a work in progress.

His height determines the ceiling of the Knicks' defensive capabilities this season, so as the team leader, Lynch must handle this issue well.

This is why championship contenders prefer veteran players. The advantage of veterans is that they know exactly how to make you play well with just a glance. Young players, on the other hand, often require more time and effort to develop.

Fortunately, Knicks head coach Flip Saunders is a very approachable coach, Grant Hill is a very patient veteran, and Lynch is a highly charismatic leader.

If the three of them work together, it doesn't seem difficult to get Tyson Chandler back on track.

Philip Sanders threw the copy of The New York Times on the table into the trash can: "I'll talk to him. Even a blind man can see his talent. I won't allow this kid to be held back by this mess."

Lynch nodded. Since Philip Sanders was going to take the gentle approach, he would find another way.

During the rest of the preseason training camp, Philip Sanders was always seen in the weight room at dawn.

He never rushed to correct Chandler's technique, but instead, like an old father, he put his arm around the young center's shoulder and talked to him.

Grant Hill acted as a caring older brother, visiting Chandler's home to talk with him all night and inviting him to his home as a guest.

Sanders promised him a starting position and guaranteed him playing time.

Hill gave him dignity and wouldn't allow any Knicks player to mock him.

But as the start of the tournament approached, Tyson Chandler's form did not improve much.

In situations like these, simply offering advice or comfort won't be very effective.

Lynch needs to work on something else.

In the October preseason, Flip Saunders began experimenting with Mike Malone's new defensive strategy. This involved Lynch providing a lot of help defense, even excessive help defense, to close down every opening. Then, the responsibility of protecting the rim was completely handed over to others.

But after only two games, former Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown suggested ending the trial during a coaching staff meeting.

"We won't succeed. The problem isn't with Lynch, but with our lack of quality rim protectors. Tyson's performance in the last two games has fallen far short of our expectations. We've shut down the perimeter and mid-range, but we've lost the most important area—the paint—which is putting the cart before the horse."

Mike Malone admitted that the Knicks' defense was not good in the past two preseason games.

Tyson Chandler would always feel incredibly frustrated after a defensive lapse, and then his performance would worsen because of that frustration, thus creating a vicious cycle.

His fiery temper made him want to storm into the locker room and beat Tyson Chandler up: "That spineless brat! We even traded Jamal and Kurt away!"

Philip Sanders waved his hand: "Mike, there's no need for pointless emotional outbursts. Beating him up won't get you back your former player. We need to be patient with Tyson. Let's wait and see, at least until after the preseason."

In the final preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James exploded for 33 points, leading his team to victory.

Of course, nobody took this insignificant game seriously, since Lynch only played for 17 minutes.

LeBron James's footwork in the low post is something that impresses fans more than his personal statistics and wins.

Before the game, LBJ told reporters with a grin, "Yes, I attended Hakeem's training camp this summer, and it benefited me a lot. Now I can try some back-to-the-basket offense; I'm different now, I've completely rebuilt my arsenal. Why did the training only last three weeks? Oh, it's because Hakeem developed high blood pressure. For his health, I voluntarily stopped training. Hakeem is a very good person; because I stopped training early, he even refunded my tuition."

It's no secret that LeBron James attended Hakeem Olajuwon's training camp this summer, and Nike media outlets were eager to send planes around the world to distribute flyers to promote LBJ's efforts.

In Nike's marketing philosophy, every page the little emperor reads and every drop of sweat he sheds must be seen by the public, otherwise it's all for nothing.

The day before the game, Hakeem Olajuwon was interviewed by reporters. When asked how much LeBron had learned from him, Olajuwon showed no trace of the pride he had shown after coaching Lynch the previous year. He just laughed awkwardly and spoke in a broken voice.

"LeBron, uh... hahaha, you know. He's an extremely good player, his footwork is... I can only say, he's very creative, very innovative. Thank me? No, no, no, please don't! LeBron is very quick to learn, I didn't teach him anything, really! Don't say I taught him!"

Everyone thought Dream was being modest, but after watching the game, they realized that Dream was actually feeling guilty.

The monument he had painstakingly built in the education field was shattered by LBJ.

In this game, LeBron's post-up game lacked the flair of Hakeem Olajuwon and Tyson Lynch. It lacked both Lynch's fluidity and Olajuwon's rhythm. As the commentators put it, "LeBron is like Jermaine O'Neal with his bones stuck. Look at his teammates, that's what low-post offense looks like!"

His movements were stiff, his footwork clumsy, and even his occasional turnaround jump shot looked very awkward.

But these are not the biggest problems. Competitive sports are not dance performances. Whether the game looks good or not is not important. What matters is whether you can score points.

However, LBJ's low-post isolation plays, besides being ugly, often resulted in traveling violations being called.

He couldn't clearly explain his steps, and always habitually took an extra step or two.

Those distorted, abstract-painting-like steps, those half-beat-extra-beat turnaround jump shots, punctured the training camp's promotional bubble into a million holes.

It seems he didn't even learn the most basic things from Hakeem Olajuwon.

After the game, Charles Barkley laughed so hard he almost fell off his high chair.

He patted the studio, the tears of laughter glistening in his eyes under the lights:
"Now I know why Hakeem's blood pressure spiked! But that's the hardship of middle-aged men. Even legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon had to endure three weeks of hell to earn some retirement money! I sympathize with you, buddy."

LBJ's low-post isolation plays became the first viral meme of the new season, and Nike is now hoping they didn't promote James's trip to Hakeem Olajuwon's training camp during the offseason.

But the New York media and fans weren't in the mood for this amusement. As the game ended, their telephoto lenses were pointed directly at the locker room tunnel. In the footage, Tyson Chandler stood with his head bowed, like a moving statue of repentance.

This normally towering seven-foot-tall man now appeared hunched over, even his shadow seemed to slouch.

The reason LBJ was able to score 33 points in a game where he made a complete fool of himself was because the Knicks' rim protection was not strong enough.

Nazr Muhammad's size meant he was unlikely to be able to stop LeBron James, and Tyson Chandler, who was highly anticipated, once again disappointed everyone. His overly nervous performance allowed him to be repeatedly fooled by James' simple feints.

He played with absolutely no confidence, hesitant and timid. And once a rim-protecting forward loses his fighting spirit, it's as if he's lost everything.

The preseason is over, and the next game is the Knicks hosting the Spurs.

However, it seems that the Knicks have been unable to find a suitable starting center after trading away Kurt Thomas.

New York fans don't want to see their team lose on championship ring night.

The locker room doors slammed shut, and Tyson Chandler returned to his seat, silently processing the pain of defeat.

No one bothered him; kind-hearted Grant Hill always told everyone to give him some time, so the Knicks players never expressed any dissatisfaction with him.

A few minutes later, the tallest player on the team stood up and walked over to Flip Saunders.

"Boss, don't make me start in the next game. Tim Duncan will destroy me. I'll make you lose the opening game, and I'll become the sinner of the whole city! Let me sit on the bench. I don't mind being in the transitional lineup!"

Time seemed to stand still in the locker room for a moment, as if by some advanced Japanese technology. Stephon Marbury's energy drink, which he had raised to his lips, froze in mid-air, and Grant Hill's half-untied ankle bandage fell from his hand.

Tyson Chandler's words were utterly incomprehensible to the Knicks players, who championed a brutal, competitive spirit.

What is he doing? Is he deliberately giving up his starting opportunity?
Has he become that afraid of the game?
All the effort that Philip Sanders and Grant Hill put in throughout the entire training camp seems laughable at this moment.

Their companionship, guidance, and all their efforts were torn to shreds by this young center himself.

Yes, Philip Sanders has helped many young players develop.

Yes, Grant Hill helped Lynch save Stephon Marbury's soul.

But people are different; just because they can help others doesn't mean they can help everyone in the same way.

Flip Saunders had never seen anything like this before. He had thought that by guaranteeing Tyson Chandler a starting position, he could restore his confidence.

Surprisingly, he volunteered to be a substitute?

Stephon Marbury's sneer broke the spell of time-stopping: "Ha, I told you this bastard was hopeless. This softie's veins probably flow with strawberry milkshakes."

"Stephen, every warrior has moments of getting lost," the gentle and mild-mannered Grant Hill tried to stop Marbury.

But Marbury didn't listen to him this time: "Alright, Grant, you defend him so much, and this is how he repays you? I feel sorry for you. Look at his trembling knees, smell this cowardly stench filling the room! Championship team? Ha! With this kind of spineless coward, we can't even win the Brooklyn Community League!"

After Marbury finished speaking, he glanced at Lynch beside him.

This Coney Island prodigy knew that all he could do was grumble; there was only one person in the entire locker room who could decide Tyson Chandler's fate.

Lynch stared intently at Tyson Chandler, his gaze sharp.

"Stop your cowardice and shut your stinking mouth. Don't think too much, just finish the first game with me. That's all I ask of you, finish the first game with me. I won't give you all sorts of psychological interventions like other people do, I won't test your footwork in the paint, and I won't lecture you. After the first game, you can decide for yourself whether you want to hide on the bench."

Since neither Philip Sanders' method nor Grant Hill's method worked.

Then Lynch would have to use some of his own methods.
-
Ben Wallace felt he was entering the second peak of his career.

In eight preseason games, the San Antonio Spurs displayed historic defense.

The key to Craig Popovich's great success in the 21st century lies in his consistent focus on one thing: designing tactics around Tim Duncan.

The Spurs have undergone many transformations, from the twin towers strategy to the dazzling passing and cutting of the small-ball era. At different times, the Spurs played like two completely different teams.

But no matter how things change, Tim Duncan remains the tactical hub of the Spurs.

This is something Craig Popovich will never forget.

Popovich is like a master jeweler. He allowed Parker's lightning-fast breakthroughs to become a sharp edge, and he also indulged Ginobili's magic blade. He was willing to leave room for Kawhi Leonard's growth, but all the brilliant stars were ultimately precisely set on the tactical crown built by the "21st cornerstone".

The core of this team's tactics will always be Duncan. And his greatest wisdom in life was finding every possible way to extend Tim Duncan's career.

He squeezed every last drop of potential and value out of Tim Duncan; not every coach has that ability.

Since Duncan is the core player, the most suitable center for the Spurs will always be a blue-collar center.

If you want TD to make an impact on offense and do more on defense, you can't let him fight physical battles with the big men at the center position for long periods of time. You have to find him a center who can do the dirty work.

The admiral did a lot of dirty work during his cooperation with TD, and even he had to make compromises.

When Aldridge first joined the Spurs, he didn't want to play center either, but Popovich smiled slyly and said, "We invented a new position—the big center, which is actually a double power forward, except you have to stand further inside."

In short, Tim Duncan's best interior partners were always those blue-collar interior players.

Looking across the entire league, you won't find a better blue-collar center than Ben Wallace.

His partnership with Duncan allowed the Spurs to dominate during the preseason, with their interior defense being virtually impenetrable.

With Ben Wallace anchoring the rim, Duncan was able to continue losing weight, which allowed him to regain his health and agility without worrying about his toughness under the basket.

With Bruce Bowen's guidance, the Spurs forged a suffocating defensive network.

After the final preseason game, Ben Wallace's joy was written all over his face.

He felt he had come to the right place.

“Every minute I’ve spent with Tim has made everything about basketball simple. Eight teams tried to challenge our defense in the preseason, but the result…” His eyes gleamed with the fire of a conqueror once more. “We welcome more teams to challenge us in the regular season, especially that King of New York! Tyson Chandler may have disappointed him, but Tim and I have absolutely lived up to his expectations!”

Ben Wallace couldn't wait any longer; he'd had his fill of foreplay, and now all he wanted was to get down to business.

Go all out on the home turf of the defending champions.

Just like how Lynch treated the Pistons last season.

This declaration was like a symphony of shields before a medieval knight's departure for war; the Silver Legion was already at the city gates.

Amidst speculation about the Knicks' starting center, the 2006-07 NBA season opener will take place on October 31st.

Before the game began, New York fans experienced an incredibly exciting moment, with the heart of New York City pounding for the glory that came after 33 years.

As the ribbon bearing the words "2005-2006" slowly rose, 20,000 arms surged like a tsunami. This temple, which had witnessed Willis Reed's legendary return, was now cheering for the coronation of a new king.

An elderly fan with white hair trembled as he wiped his glasses in the stands, afraid of missing this grand event that was 12000 days and nights late.

The boys, dressed in Willis Reed retro jerseys, held up Lynch's number 20 and completed the generational shift of faith under the championship banner.

The championship banner was finally fixed at the highest point of the dome, and the big screen switched to the scene of the Knicks players lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in last year's Finals. The surging cheers reached a new peak, and the long wait of 33 years was finally condensed into eternity at this moment.

Amidst thunderous cheers, Lynch slowly slipped the enormous diamond ring, adorned with the Knicks logo, onto his finger. The cool light refracted by the sapphire on the ring's surface shone brightly against the spotlights of Madison Square Garden's dome.

Beside him, Stephon Marbury was reverently kissing his ring, while Grant Hill was covering his face with his ring-wearing hand.

New York fans were already incredibly satisfied, but this night still needed a victory to be considered perfect.

This city that never sleeps has stored the champagne of its championship celebration in its memory cellar, and now it needs to replenish its jubilation with the blood of the people of San Antonio.

After everything was over, the players from both sides quickly gathered in the center circle.

Ben Wallace glanced at the guy opposite him and deliberately asked, "Lynch, are you sure you want to start this kid? Is he wearing a diaper? I don't want him to pee his pants and leave a stench on the court. With him, you can't challenge me and Tim."

Tim Duncan, standing to the side, remained silent, but the confidence in his eyes conveyed his agreement with Ben Wallace's words.

"Shut up," Lynch said, ready for the jump ball. He didn't even bother to look up at Ben Wallace, his eyes fixed on Spalding in the referee's hand. "You're a loser who doesn't even qualify as a runner-up."

The referee blew the whistle, and the game began.

Lynch secured the first possession for the New York Knicks.

In fact, it wasn't just Ben Wallace who was surprised by Tyson Chandler's starting position; fans and media were as well.

Mike Breen claimed, "This starting lineup is just as amazing as LeBron James' low-post footwork."

Everyone predicted that Tyson Chandler would be relegated to the bench or even dropped out of the rotation after his poor preseason performance.

Nobody knows why he's still in the starting lineup.

The Knicks' first offensive play: the New York kings intend to personally set the tone for a spectacular start to the new season.

He waved and called for Tyson Chandler to run a 4-5 pick-and-roll.

Tyson Chandler was nervous; he knew perfectly well that the Knicks' biggest roster change in the offseason was his own.

If the team loses the championship after replacing Crawford and Kurt Thomas with himself, he will take full responsibility.

He felt he would most likely be held responsible for this, looking at his opponents, Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace, he thought he would be crushed by those two guys and might not even get a single point.

Lost in thought, Tyson Chandler, his body trembling slightly, stood beside Tim Duncan, allowing Lynch to break through.

The pick-and-roll wasn't very solid, but Lynch still managed to outpace Duncan by half a body length thanks to his speed.

With Duncan's long arms wrapped around him, Lynch had no chance to pull up for a jump shot and could only drive straight to the basket.

But Ben Wallace was already prepared to protect the rim under the basket.

Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace, the league's most formidable defensive duo, were about to close in. Lynch jumped, leaning on Ben, and the Spurs' twin towers' four arms completely blocked his shooting space. Under tight defense, Lynch threw the ball toward the basket.

Tyson Chandler is ready to fight for the rebound; even Lynch couldn't score under the extreme pressure he just faced.

But soon, Tyson Chandler discovered that the basketball's trajectory wasn't towards the basket, but towards him.

"Lincia hastily took a shot under double-team pressure. Wait, no, Tyson Chandler leaped up and executed an Alley-oop!!! My God, a beautiful inside pass! In this league, probably only Lyncia can execute this kind of play with a center cutting to the basket! Ben Wallace and TD's supposedly unbreakable defense suffered a major blow right from the start!"

Amid Mike Breen's shouts, Knicks fans cheered for Tyson Chandler's explosive one-handed dunk.

When Tyson Chandler landed heavily, the tremor in his feet reminded him that this was not an illusion.

He thought he wouldn't get a single point tonight, but he was the first to score at the start of the game.

Hearing the cheers of the fans and seeing the frustrated looks on Duncan and Ben Wallace's faces, Tyson Chandler stopped trembling.

Everything doesn't seem so difficult?
During the preseason, Lynch didn't get much playing time, and Tyson Chandler was always excluded from the offensive system, so Lynch never managed to get an alley-oop with him.

But remembering the pick-and-roll partnership between CP3 and Tyson Chandler, Lynch decided to become "Paul who is 25 centimeters taller".

His offensive threat can draw the opposing center, and his passing ability is also sufficient to provide alley-oop opportunities for his cutting inside teammates.

His pick-and-roll partnership with Tyson Chandler will be a major weapon for the Knicks in the new season.

"Focus!" Lynch's signature low shout cut through the clamor of the crowd, and Tyson Chandler immediately rushed back to his own half of the court.

The Spurs' next attack was initiated by Tony Parker, who broke through the defense like a silver dagger after using a screen.

After penetrating the paint, the Frenchman encountered Chandler protecting the rim, turned around, and made a layup.

Last season, Parker's drives to the basket always caused problems for the Knicks. The height of Kurt Thomas and Nazr Muhammad alone could not stop Parker from scoring, and once Lynch intervened to help defend, Parker could always find Duncan in the middle of the defense.

But this time, even without Lynch, the paint was completely covered by the 216cm Tyson Chandler.

Parker found a very tight shooting angle, the basketball escaped Tyson Chandler's grasp, but still bounced off the backboard.

Chandler completed a satisfactory guardrail.

But nightmares followed one after another. Just as Tyson Chandler finished protecting the rim and was about to fight for the rebound, he was pinned to the ground by Ben Wallace's elbow.

"Cough!" The excruciating pain made Tyson Chandler suspect that his lungs had exploded.

Tim Duncan casually grabbed the rebound, jumped again, and intended to lay it down gently.

He was about to score over Tyson Chandler's head, and his defense still looked vulnerable.

But Tyson Chandler was not met with defeat.

Lynch's powerful block, accompanied by the sound of air being cut, turned the gentle layup by number 21 into a muffled thud as the backboard trembled!
Lynch rushed back into the paint and delivered his first block of the season!
"Fuck!" Even the usually taciturn Tim Duncan couldn't help but curse.

This was the first time Tyson Chandler had seen Tim Duncan so defeated, like seeing the vulnerable side of a dignified goddess exposed as a mere mortal.

Only a few rounds into the match, the superstar aura of Duncan, Ben Wallace, and others had already begun to fade in Tyson Chandler's eyes.

They didn't seem so scary, and I didn't seem so terrible either.

And the fans here are willing to cheer for him.

With the Spurs' twin towers suffering consecutive defeats, the King of New York triumphantly yelled at Ben Wallace, "WTF? You guys can't only play in the preseason, can you?"

The Knicks were on offense, and Lynch continued with a 4-5 pick-and-roll, determined to face the Spurs' toughest defense.

But Ben Wallace was, after all, the master of the Dark Defense era—well, the former master.

He has extensive defensive experience and knows how to defend alley-oops.

This time, after Lynch broke through, Ben Wallace chose a very precise position.

That position can both block Lin Qi's driving angle to the basket and disrupt the passing corridor for alley-oops.

With no other option, Lynch delivered a cross-court pass through a gap in the double-team, handing the ball to Stephon Marbury to handle the attack.

Marbury drove past Ginobili and went straight for the basket. Duncan was marking Lynch closely, offering no help protection at the rim, but Ben Wallace's quick reaction still resulted in Marbury getting a solid foul.

"Ben Wallace also delivered his first block of the season, and he and Lynch showed no mercy on the defensive end!" Mike Breen clenched his fists.

The basketball flew out of the three-point line and landed in Eddie Jones' hands.

"Come on!!! Again!!!" After sealing the cap, Ben clapped his hands loudly, clearly excited.

Eddie Jones wanted to take advantage of Ben Wallace's stable footing to attack the basket, so he broke through the defense the moment he received the ball.

As a result, Ben Wallace, still nearing the end of his prime, moved quickly and swatted the basketball away again the instant Eddie Jones raised his hand!

"My God! Ben Wallace made two blocks in seven seconds! The no-fly zone he and The Big Fundamental are creating is eroding New Yorkers' courage!"

The Spurs' terrifying dominance on the defensive end was on full display. Lynch struggled to score against Duncan's defense and Ben Wallace's rim protection, while it was a pipe dream for anyone else to attack the basket.

Fortunately, the Knicks regained possession of the ball, but there was very little time left on the shot clock.

Michael Pietrus lacks the ability to attack with the ball, and he can only pass the hot potato of the basketball to star player Lynch in the last 6 seconds - which is understandable, after all, he is just a role player, and he doesn't have "the chosen one" tattooed on his body. Of course, he has the right to rely on his star player in critical moments.

Tim Duncan's granite-like arms completely blocked Lynch's shooting vision, while Ben Wallace, like a bulldog smelling blood, had his dark face contorted with excessive excitement.

He knew perfectly well that time was running out, and Lin Qi's only option was to force his way to the basket and try his luck.

But Ben Wallace would crush all luck; he was on high alert, and two consecutive blocks had made him even more bloodthirsty.

He wants to take down that number 20, he wants to lift the championship trophy in San Antonio, and he wants to tell Joe Dumars that letting him go was the most outrageous mistake in NBA history!
Lynch jumped amidst the encirclement of Duncan and Ben Wallace, and the Spurs' twin towers left the ground almost simultaneously with Lynch.

Lynch held the basketball high, but Duncan and Ben Wallace's height was also astonishing.

Two large hands firmly covered the basketball, leaving Lynch with absolutely no chance of scoring.

Knicks fans held their breath, while Spurs fans were ready to cheer; their twin towers were unbreakable.

In mid-air, the 208cm tall Lynch contorted his body, the basketball sliding from above his head to below his abdomen like a magician's coin, avoiding the blocks of Ben Wallace and Tim Duncan. He then extended the ball past Wallace's side and executed a reverse layup for a score!
"Shh!"

Madison Square Garden, and indeed all the fans watching the game on television, were stunned for a second or two.

Then, the world was abuzz with the incredible scene that had just unfolded.

"Under the tight defense of Tim and Ben Wallace, Lynch scored with a reverse layup! Did you see his move? It was like a guard! I bet Lynch didn't do anything like that in the first two years of his career!" Mike Breen's eyes widened, his ears ringing from the bloodshot head.

Thanks to Lou Williams' talent for layups, Lynch can now also perform difficult maneuvers in the air despite his towering stature.

When Ben Wallace and Tim Duncan landed, their expressions were as if they had seen a ghost.

They had just done their best on defense, but they still couldn't stop number 20 from scoring.

San Antonio's proud, superb defense was shattered by Lynch in the very first game.

During the preseason, Ben Wallace confidently said that he welcomed the entire league to challenge him and Duncan, especially the King of New York.

But when they actually arrived in New York, everything was different from what they had imagined.

Their preseason pride shattered amidst the cheers of New Yorkers.

After scoring, the King of New York pumped his fist and then stared at the no longer arrogant Ben Wallace.

"You may be very strong, you may have won eight games in the preseason, you may have played the best defensive efficiency."

But stop spouting your stupid nonsense. I don't need to challenge you or Tim.

Remember this: when you encounter us, you will be the challengers!

Tyson Chandler was right next to Lynch as he said this, and he heard every single word Lynch uttered.

This arrogance that existed from the very beginning of the game infected him; this impact that went straight to his heart was more powerful than any words from Philip Sanders and Grant Hill.

His opponents aren't that strong, and the Knicks might not necessarily lose even if they field their starters.

All he needed to do was match Lynch's passion with the passion he had back then.

He's not a bust; from now on, he's the New York Knicks' starting center.

"Lin Qi," the young center, who hadn't been very proactive, spoke up.

"how?"

"Let's crush those guys blocking our way!"

Lynch simply smiled and said, "Welcome back, Tyson Chandler."

(Thanks to the generous donors Xiong Haizi de Xiaobiantui, Xiangfeng Zongzai Libieshi, Tian Cangren, Xixi Dashenshi, and others for their generous donations! I am deeply grateful! There is only one chapter today, but it is a two-in-one update with the same word count, still 10,000 words.)
(End of this chapter)