Champion Rules

Chapter 123, page 119: The Best Defensive Player (Seeking monthly votes!)
During this year's offseason, TNT broadcast a special segment titled "The Influence of the Locker Room".

The league will select the player who is most inspiring to his teammates and the player who makes his teammates most frustrated through voting and analysis.

In a highly controversial poll, LeBron James was voted "Most demoralizing player" with an overwhelming number of votes.

Kenny Smith believes that his performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where he was completely outplayed by Lynch, was one of the reasons for the Cavaliers' complete collapse.

"When the spotlight shone on Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, everyone witnessed the Cavaliers' ace being completely dominated by Lynch. Even more fatal was that, at the moment when the team needed a superstar to step up, he repeatedly pushed crucial possessions to role players. When toughness was needed, he would inexplicably lose focus on the defensive end. This lack of leadership was like a virus, enough to erode the fighting spirit of the entire team."

The "Most Inspiring Teammate" award was shared by New York King Lynch and Wolf King Kevin Garnett. Sam Cassell, who was teammates with both of them, told fans on the show:
"Linchet ignites passion with his domineering presence, while KG awakens wildness with his relentless roars. When you watch them dive for every loose ball, scream for every defensive rotation, and fight with such tenacity it's like they're trying to kill the opposing star, your DNA will be subtly and completely rewritten. Their team has no boundaries between stars and supporting players; they are warriors burning their lives for a common goal. I guarantee that even in the do-or-die games of NCAA March Madness, you won't feel such pure competitive adrenaline!"

Now, Tyson Chandler is experiencing this passion firsthand.

The burning fighting spirit that filled his chest was like a high-voltage current coursing through his entire body. Every muscle trembled and awakened, every pore thirsted for victory.

This was a feeling Tyson Chandler had never experienced before.

The Chicago Bulls have been mired in failure for years. Their fans yearn for the glory days of the MJ era, and their gazes towards current Bulls players are always tinged with scrutiny and disappointment.

There was never a leader in the locker room who could rally the team; only sighs rose and fell. Tyson Chandler often felt helpless and didn't know who to confide in.

During his rookie season, his team changed coaches three times, and throughout his five-year career with the Bulls, he experienced five coaching changes.

In 2002, he thought he could make a name for himself in Bill Cartwright's system, but he was relegated to the bench during training camp the following season. In 2004, new coach Scott Skiles patted him on the shoulder and promised him a core role, but when the team's record slipped to third-to-last in the Eastern Conference at Christmas, he was put on the trading block before the trade deadline.

This recurring collapse of trust eventually forges a deep-seated cognitive imprint: perhaps I am destined to be a laughing stock in draft history, a loser who will never match my draft position. Perhaps in this league, I will have a hard time beating anyone.

Last season, his mental defenses completely collapsed when Chicago fans and media also lost all patience with him.

He felt that he was probably the person in the world who understood Kwame Brown the most. Those immense expectations and the cold, harsh reality were like two slowly closing hydraulic gates, crushing their backs into powder.

But in New York, Lynch made all of that disappear.

He didn't blame himself, but simply told himself to at least play one good game.

He didn't complain loudly; he simply let himself experience the pleasure of dominating his opponents on the field.

His charisma is like some kind of dark magic, enough to change souls.

At this moment, Tyson Chandler is intently guarding the basket.

He knew that from this night onward, victory would no longer be a fluke.

He will make winning a habit.

The game continued, and Manu Ginobili used off-ball movement to shake off Eddie Jones and received a pass from Parker on the left side of the court, creating a shooting opportunity.

Just as the Argentine sword was about to be drawn, Lynch suddenly transformed into a black shadow and blocked his path, forcing Ginobili to retract the thrusting blade.

Lynch's timely delay cost Ginobili his best shooting opportunity. Eddie Jones arrived just in time, and the two double-teamed Ginobili, leaving the Spurs' number 20 like a moth caught in a spider's web.

In a flash, Ginobili suddenly bent down and slammed the ball to the floor. The basketball bounced off the ground and precisely passed through the gap in the defense, landing in Duncan's hands.

Stone Buddha receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area, turns, and is about to unleash his signature 45-degree hook shot, sending it in a perfect arc.

However, Tyson Chandler's aggressive defense caused the hook shot to miss, and Lynch quickly returned to the paint to secure the rebound over Ben Wallace's head.

The Spurs' offense was once again stifled.

Mike Malone excitedly pumped his fist, his face turning bright red.

Chandler transformed into a guardian of the paint, fully unleashing Lynch's potential to sweep away defensive help defenses.

His envisioned defensive system finally became a reality in the first game of the regular season!

You can't expect Tyson Chandler to defend the great TD every round, but at least he'll make it harder for the Holy City 21 to unleash his signature moves.

Fortunately, the Spurs solidified their defense, preventing the Knicks from widening the gap further; they remained down by four points. It was tough, but not fatal.

One possession later, Lynch made a brilliant interception of Parker's pass to Bruce Bowen.

The "Eric Snow stealing talent" he acquired late last season has now become ingrained in Lynch's bones. His judgment of passing paths and reaction speed to steals are now worlds apart from last season.

But the most crucial change is in the defensive system.

Last season, Lynch wouldn't have dared to leave Duncan so easily.

Now, he can go anywhere he wants.

"Idiot!" Craig Popovich roared from the sidelines. "You can't even pass such a simple pass correctly? I'm trading you away, I swear, I'm trading you away tonight!"

Popovich hates mistakes the most during games.

Because he knew that a mistake would not only result in a change of possession, but would also dampen morale.

The seemingly harmless Tim Duncan is someone who knows how to exploit his opponents' mistakes to create a sense of frustration. When you make a mistake, he may not say anything, but his smug grin, which is enough to get you a technical foul, will make you feel incredibly humiliated, and it's more infuriating than trash talk.

The Spurs are well aware of the dangers of mistakes, and therefore hate them the most.

Tony Parker is innocent; he's not a rookie anymore. He knows when to pass and when not to. When he passed the ball to Bowen, he clearly saw that Michael Pietrus was completely blocked by the off-ball screen and couldn't possibly make a steal.

But who would have thought that Lin Qi would extend his reach beyond the three-point line!

Following Ginobili's performance, Lynch once again used his unparalleled help defense to shut down an opportunity that the Spurs should have had.

Mike Malone nudged Philip Sanders with his elbow: "Philip, have you ever experienced being hated by everyone?"

"What?" The kind-hearted man, who was loved wherever he went, turned his head blankly, not knowing what Mike Malone wanted to say.

"Get ready, when we grind all our opponents' offenses into a jungle of muscles, when we make every victory reek of the rust of a defensive meat grinder, everyone in the league will want to tear you apart. They'll think you've killed the beauty of offense. But screw it, we're going to win big!"

The game that followed made David Stern, an NBA commissioner in the stands, feel nauseous, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

With more than five minutes already played and the score still 4-0, the Madison Square Garden basketball hoop had been welded with triple iron gates ever since Lynch's spectacular layup.

Slow positional attacks, ugly mistakes, and disappointing missed shots were repeated time and again.

With the addition of Ben Wallace to the Spurs and Tyson Chandler to the Knicks, their defense has reached a terrifying level, making it virtually impossible to successfully attack the basket.

The fact that the No HandCheck rule is practically defunct has left perimeter players unable to find their shooting touch in the almost brutal physical contact.

Lynch's presence only added to Stern's despair; his help defense range was enough to stifle any beautiful offensive plays.

The metallic thud of the basketball hitting the rim again and again made the president's temples throb.

This is the highly anticipated opening match, a major battle that the league has been promoting for a long time.

Just like in a boxing match, if both sides focus too much on defense, the result is fewer effective strikes and a lower level of entertainment value.

David Stern suddenly had a terrifying thought: what would the NBA Finals be like if the Knicks were to face the Spurs this year?
That would be an absolute disaster. He believed that with Lynch's commercial value and fame, the viewership ratings for the finals with him in it wouldn't be too low.

But if the game were more entertaining, the viewership would naturally be higher.

Beside David Stern, his special assistant Adam Silver shook his head: "This isn't basketball, it's more like medieval knights in armor fighting hand-to-hand. Scoring, the most important and entertaining thing in basketball, has become secondary."

David Stern did not respond, but he already had a plan in mind.

If this season's Finals really is Knicks vs. Spurs, and if both sides maintain this extreme level of defense, then he will personally end the era of dark defense.

Of course, Knicks fans didn't find the game boring.

From the 90s to the present, the Knicks have played this kind of basketball for most of the time.

With the fourth quarter nearing its end, the score was 72-69, with the New York Knicks leading by 3 points.

The San Antonio Spurs, who were invincible in the preseason, are about to fall on the home turf of the defending champions.

This arena, which has witnessed countless legends, awaits Lynch's final judgment on the Spurs.

马刺队进攻，镜头给到特写林奇，电视屏幕下方打出了他今天的数据：21分13个篮板6次助攻4次抢断5次封盖。

The new system and the large enough range of help defense gave Lynch more opportunities to intercept the opponent's passes, and his performance on the defensive end today suffocated Mike Breen.

"People always say that a player's defensive impact cannot be reflected in statistics. This rule does not apply to Lynch. The reason why statistics cannot reflect defensive impact is simply because your defensive statistics are not exaggerated enough."

What's most terrifying about Lynch is that his defense was already top-tier in the league in his first two seasons, but this season he's evolved! He's relentlessly devouring every inch of his opponents' offensive space!

Beside him, Marvin Albert, staring at the horrifying data sheet, was also drenched in sweat: "You have to admit—"

The sudden roar from the arena drowned out the subsequent commentary; just a second earlier, Lynch had made his block count for the night 6.

Tony Parker used Duncan's screen to break through, drawing the defense of Lynch and Tyson Chandler, and then flicked his wrist to throw the ball into the air, attempting an alley-oop with Duncan.

But Tyson Chandler and Lynch, who were chasing him, jumped at the same time. The two dark figures roared off the ground and together they slammed the basketball from Tim Duncan's fingertips to the ground!

This double interception was like a microcosm of the entire game; the defensive line built by Lynch and Tyson Chandler was so impenetrable.

Because Lynch was the first to touch the basketball, the block statistic was counted on Lynch's head.

The roar generated by the twin towers' zone defense made the broadcast cameras tremble, but it wasn't over yet. After making the block, Lynch immediately sprinted forward, and Stephon Marbury threw a long-range pass for an alley-oop. The basketball crossed half-court and went straight to the top of the basket, assisting Lynch to dunk for the score!

Marvin Albert, who had just been interrupted, shrugged: "You have to admit, third-year Lynch is already the best defensive player in the league!"

The point difference has reached 5 points, with only 49 seconds left in the game.

For the Spurs, this offensive play was a matter of life and death.

Popovich called a timeout, and Tim Duncan sat on the bench, wiping sweat with a towel.

TD still remembers Lynch's first season in his professional career, when he could easily quell the opponent's restless talent with his broad hands and rich experience.

Last season, the two sides traded wins and losses.

And this season.
Duncan was reluctant to admit it, but he was indeed being suppressed.

The young New York number 20 has already been able to turn the tables and suppress himself.

Under the scorching spotlights of Madison Square Garden, he felt like an ice sculpture slowly melting.

"Beep—" The buzzer pierced the stagnant air, and GDP stepped into the battlefield side by side.

Ginobili's hair moved without wind, Parker's shiny forehead reflected a cold light, and the gust of wind that came up when Duncan pulled off the towel lifted Popovich's graying sideburns.

The rhythm of the three people's steps was perfectly synchronized, like a holy sword that had been tempered a thousand times slowly being drawn from its sheath.

The NBA's status as the world's premier basketball league isn't solely due to the high level of its athletes; its leadership is evident in all aspects.

For example, if you compare the game floor and lighting effects of CBA, European leagues and NBA, you will find a huge difference in quality.

The exquisite camerawork is also where the NBA surpasses other basketball leagues. At this moment, the broadcast camera, like a single eye peering into destiny, slowly pans upwards from the backs of three towering figures. Directly in front of them, the towering New York number 20 stands in the paint like the god of war, Ares, awaiting the dominance of the GDP trio.

He was like an insurmountable mountain, blocking the path of the once-powerful trio.

As the game began, Tim Duncan set a screen for Parker, and Lynch immediately switched onto him, forcing Parker to pass the ball.

Duncan received the ball on the cut and encountered Tyson Chandler. He passed the ball to Ben Wallace, but Lynch had already returned to the paint.

With no other option, Ben Wallace passed the ball back to Parker to reorganize the offense, but the Knicks didn't give him a chance.

The defending champions' defense was like a suddenly tightening noose, and Lynch rushed out of the paint to double-team Parker with Stephon Marbury outside the three-point line!

With nowhere to hide, Parker managed to pass the ball from Lynch's fingertips to Manu Ginobili, who had found an opening.

Lynch immediately switched defense to Ginobili, a big man guarding a small man. Ginobili did not hesitate to drive to the basket.

Last season, Lynch's biggest weakness was his inability to defend smaller guards effectively.

But Lynch's excellent one-on-one defensive footwork allowed him to tightly shut down Manu Ginobili, and his hard work during the offseason allowed Lynch to realize his talent of "Andre Robertson's one-on-one defensive footwork".

Lynch tried his best to hold onto the demon sword until he collided with Eddie Jones, who was attacking from both sides.

Just as Ginobili hesitated, Lynch suddenly struck and knocked the basketball out of the Argentine's hands!
Mike Breen jumped up from the bench in excitement: "Lynch actually managed to defend Manu one-on-one! My God, is there anything he can't do on the defensive end!?"

Before he finished speaking, Eddie Jones picked up the basketball from the ground and made a long pass to Lynch, helping him to easily dunk once again.

At this point, the point difference had reached 7 points, with only 35 seconds left in the game. The San Antonio Spurs became the sacrificial lamb for the Knicks' championship ring presentation night!

而林奇则拿下了25分13个篮板6次助攻5次抢断6次封盖的夸张数据——5X5。

This time, the camera pans past Lynch from behind, revealing a dejected GDP trio in front of him.

Mike Breen watched the footage on the big screen and applauded along with all the other New York fans.

"Lynch conquered them."
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I've been reborn in New York, and I'm confident I can perform admirably here. Jamal and Kurt are both excellent players, but believe me, I won't let you regret this trade. — Tyson Chandler, who had 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks, talks about his first regular season game with the Knicks.

The Knicks now have both the second-best power forward and the best center in the East. — Amir Johnson replied, putting his arm around Tyson Chandler's shoulder.

Lynch put up a dazzling 5x5 stat line in his first regular season game, and we all know this won't be the last time he does this in his career. Of course, the King of New York, as always, doesn't care about stats; he's only interested in winning. — Charles Barkley's assessment of Lynch.

"Welcome all challengers to Madison Square Garden to suffer." — Lynch mocked, mimicking Ben Wallace's tone.

(Thanks to the generous donors: XiangfengzongzaiLibieshi, Tiancangren, Aba Aba www, Xixi Dashenshi, and others for their generous donations.)

(End of this chapter)