Champion Rules

Chapter 131, Section 127: Someone's blaming basketball for their bad shooting? (Seeking monthly votes!)

Lynch burst the bubble of the Utah Jazz's record, and Charles Barkley's post-game comments represented the views of most basketball commentators on the Utah Jazz.

"Utah will have a great record and great games this year. But we all know that the championship trophy has nothing to do with them."

Ultimately, the Jazz exposed their lack of star power.

Carlos Boozer, who averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds per game, suddenly became 11 points and 6 rebounds against Lynch.

The inexperienced Deron Williams lost his way under the relentless pressure from the opponent, shooting only 38% from the field. In the final moments, he made an unnecessary behind-the-back pass error that completely shattered the team's morale. Who knows if Stephen Curry is a fan of Deron Williams? Their inexplicable behavior in this regard is simply a matter of kinship.

These factors doomed this team to become a supporting player in the playoffs.

ESPN's renowned writer Chris Broussard reinforced this point in his online column: This is a game of giving the ball to the best player and having him put it in the basket, or having him prevent the opponent from putting the ball in the basket. A system player like Deron Williams will never achieve the playoff success that Lynch did.

Lynch's outstanding individual performance directly shattered the Jazz's reputation; of course, he felt that he had actually saved the Jazz team.

If he hadn't taught Deron Williams a lesson, Williams might be trying to ride on Jerry Sloan's neck right now.

For the Jazz, this game shattered their dream of becoming a powerhouse.

For the Knicks, this game set the tone for the season.

In the locker room after the game, Flip Saunders, as usual, praised the players.

"It was a great match, and I appreciate everyone's effort, especially the veterans. We have everything we need to successfully defend our title; we just need to keep it up. Defending a title is difficult, but if we maintain this level of performance, it won't be too hard."

Amidst applause from the entire locker room, Sam Cassel, with ice packs on his legs, staggered to his feet: "I have something else to say."

Although people often joke about Sam Cassell's appearance, he is actually very respected in the locker room.

Perhaps it's because of his outstanding performance, or perhaps it's because he can get along well with everyone.

In short, the locker room becomes very quiet when Sam Cassell says he's going to speak.

Everyone respects him.

Cassell walked to the middle of the locker room. Tonight's game had left him exhausted, but it had also given him confidence.

He wants to make sure that the fighting spirit he showed tonight can continue for the rest of the season.

He believes that this was the night that forged the team's championship spirit.

Standing in the middle of the locker room, Cassel looked around and clapped his hands loudly.

"I know defending the title is difficult, I know we're getting older, and I know we only have one superstar, Lynch. But let's not try to run away. We'll stick together, we'll fight for each other, and we'll get through this!"

Sam Cassel's oratory skills contrasted sharply with his appearance; Lynch even saw an abstract kind of handsomeness in him when he shouted at everyone.

The Knicks' determination to defend their title is now firmly established. Whether veterans or young players, they will give their all for this even more difficult championship.

The impassioned speech that had been echoing in the locker room gradually faded away, and Sam Cassel hunched over and sat back down on the bench.

The energized players began changing their clothes, preparing to board the team bus back to their hotel.

Only the three veterans who had just returned to the game sat motionless.

Stephon Marbury mechanically ripped off the kinesiology tape wrapped around his knee; Sam Cassell stared at the ceiling with bloodshot eyes, his temples throbbing from altitude sickness; Eddie Jones didn't even bother to take off his wristband, which was soaked in sweat and turned a dark brown.

Anyone who has experienced strenuous exercise and extreme fatigue has surely felt this way: you just want to lie down or sit, and you don't want to do anything else. You don't even have the strength to take out your phone; at most, you just want to lie down and smoke a cigarette.

Those three men undoubtedly experienced such a night, playing almost frantically against Deron Williams on the court, even at high altitudes like Salt Lake City.

This greatly depleted their energy.

Lynch took in this scene; it was only their first game back, but their fatigue was already hard to hide.

Their determination can inspire their fighting spirit, but it cannot change their age and abilities, nor can it bring their level and physical function back to their peak, let alone make them match Lynch's current strength.

But Lynch wasn't worried about anything. He wouldn't yell at the aging Shaq, Malone, and Payton in the locker room like Kobe Bryant did after the 2004 Finals: "You guys are trash, you don't deserve to stand on the same court as me, you're all garbage!"

Lynch believed these old guys wouldn't abandon him halfway through.

Just like they believed Lynch could lead them to a title defense.

On this night when the heart of a champion is forged in fire, Lynch is not worried about anything related to failure.
-
The New York Knicks continued their winning streak, winning 7 of their next 10 games with a fully healthy roster.

The most recent loss was on December 13th at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, where Kobe Bryant, wearing a redesigned #24 jersey by Nike, scored 47 points to secure the victory for the Purple and Gold.

ESPN senior writer David Thorpe had just published a column before this game, in which many people doubted whether Kobe could reach the level of last season after knee surgery. After analyzing detailed data reports, Thorpe concluded that Kobe is still the best offensive player on the planet.

This game seemed to prove Thorpe's conclusion. Even with Lynch's help defense, Kobe could still score with all sorts of difficult fadeaway shots, a skill that probably no one else in the league possesses.

At the end of the game, Kobe Bryant hugged Lynch: "The last time I played this well was when I was playing a PlayStation game and controlling myself. Hey, what's the most points you've ever scored in NBA 2K?"

"Zero points. I don't like playing NBA 2K. I prefer controlling female characters with a remote rather than controlling myself or other men." Lynch wasn't in the mood to talk about games with Kobe.

"Something doesn't sound right. Which kind of remote control are you talking about?"

"Don't ask Kobe, congratulations. But I'll remember, especially next time I go to Los Angeles for an away game."

Kobe wasn't angry. "I'm waiting, man."

Lynch is eager to get back into action. He could ignore Kobe in previous seasons, but not this season.

For fans, Kobe's number 24 symbolizes his severing of ties with the "villainous Kobe" of the past.

For the player, Kobe's number 24 symbolizes the man who had stepped away from the era of dominance for a few years, and who is about to rejoin the competition.

He began to mature, and the fierceness in his body lessened.

Even Phil Jackson, who once hated Kobe to the core, bluntly said: "It seems that Kobe is almost catching up with Michael."

People know that he was referring not only to his ball skills, but also to his mentality.

Now that Kobe has rejoined the competition, Lynch will take him seriously.

The day after losing to Kobe, Lynch's mood was still affected.

He learned through the car radio while driving his Range Rover Autobiography to the training ground that the 47-point victory over the Knicks had caused all of Kobe's new #24 jerseys in the NBA store to sell out instantly, with pre-orders postponed to four months later, and a new batch not expected to arrive until February of next year.

On eBay, Kobe's first signed #24 jersey worn this season fetched a staggering $10875. Keep in mind, this isn't an antique; it's just a jersey from less than two months ago.

All of this means that yesterday's defeat made Lynch a stepping stone for Kobe to announce his return to the competition, and a key battle for Nike to reshape Kobe's image.

The only thing that made Reebok feel relieved was that those sold-out No. 24 jerseys were all Reebok's.

This defeat gave Nike a glimpse of the brand's revival. They believe that when Kobe Bryant transfers or when the Lakers complete their roster improvements, the number 24 will return to championship contention.

This is Nike's second-best piece of good news since the start of the season.

The best news? Of course, it's that they now have someone who is closer to winning a championship than Kobe.

After waiting for three full seasons, and after AJ almost turned Nike into a sub-brand, LeBron James became the top seed in the Eastern Conference in his fourth year in the league.

After losing to the Lakers, the New York Knicks' record became 18 wins and 6 losses.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a record of 19 wins and 5 losses.

This is a height the Cavaliers haven't reached since 1992.

The combination of Larry Brown, LBJ, Jermaine O'Neal, and Tayshaun Prince achieved the success that people expected.

This team still adheres to the principle of prioritizing defense, but its offense is much better than last season.

The team's offense no longer relies on LeBron James's solo performance; Jermaine O'Neal and even Tayshaun Prince can share the scoring burden.

The New York Times also published a photo of James and the Cavaliers' record the following day, with the headline: "Lynch will not allow Nike star to use basketball Mecca as a springboard."

The next game after losing to the Lakers is Knicks vs. Cavaliers.

Facing another formidable Nike brand, Lynch needs to defend his home turf and his dignity.

After losing to the Lakers, Lynch was in a bad mood and desperately needed a victory to vent his anger. But the day before the game, Cavaliers player Jermaine O'Neal called and asked, "Can I treat you to dinner?"

This unexpected incident slightly eased the tense atmosphere.
-
Jermaine O'Neal came incredibly close to winning an NBA championship.

But with Reggie Miller's retirement and the complete breakdown of his relationship with Ron Artest, the championship dream of this generation of tough Pacers was shattered.

Jermaine O'Neal's decline seems to mirror that of this formidable team; after injuring his knee in a playoff game against the Pistons in 04, he never played a healthy season again.

Since then, his star power in the league has begun to fade.

When Ron Artest was traded, in the words of then Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh, "No joke, I received offers from more than 20 general managers who all wanted Ron Artest."

No one expected that such a problematic player would receive such widespread attention.

This confirms an unspoken truth—men are all hypocrites; they may say they don't want something, but when they can actually get it, no one wants to miss out.

Jermaine O'Neal was far from being welcomed when he was traded.

Frequent knee injury warnings have made teams hesitant to sign him, and most teams lack confidence in him.

Lynch was the only star player who proactively called to recruit him.

This made him feel a long-lost sense of respect.

Although they ultimately couldn't play together, the warmth Lynch conveyed in his post-game hug and the sincerity he showed during offseason recruitment left a special mark on Jermaine O'Neal's heart.

This respect that transcends team boundaries became a precious ray of light in its darkest years.

These things may seem insignificant to Lynch, but they mean a lot to Jermaine O'Neal.

His reluctance to join the Knicks wasn't because he had a problem with Lynch; it's just that current stars aren't open-minded enough about "defecting."

Therefore, Jermaine O'Neal had long wanted to invite Lynch to dinner, hoping to formally meet the King of New York.

The dinner was unsurprisingly arranged at Lynch's restaurant. Jermaine O'Neill was originally supposed to treat, but Lynch said that he wouldn't have to pay for the meal since it was his own restaurant.

“Even though you’re number one in the East, I still have to say you should come to New York.” During the meal, Lynch inevitably brought up Jermaine O’Neal’s decision this summer.

Jermaine O'Neal didn't shy away from the topic: "We're doing very well right now, and importantly, I still have a chance to beat you."

"You really think you have a chance? Tell me, what did LeBron say when his shooting touch was off in the last few games? He actually blamed basketball for being bad," Lynch laughed. "You think this guy can lead you to a championship?"

This year's NBA has seen a change that many people have overlooked—the league has replaced the basketball it has been using since 1970.

Previously, Spalding basketballs used leather taken from the belly of cows, requiring the sacrifice of four cows for each ball. The ball's advantage was its exquisite feel, but its disadvantage was its high price, making it unaffordable for the average fan. Furthermore, each ball was slightly different, requiring players to familiarize themselves with the game ball beforehand.

Starting this season, NBA game balls are made of microfiber composite materials. The standardized industrial process ensures that every basketball is identical, and the production cost is greatly reduced.

But this ball has been controversial from the very beginning.

Wade thought the ball was more likely to slip, while Nash felt the ball could practically stick to his hand.

O'Neal, joining in the fun, launched an indiscriminate attack: "The new ball feels incredibly plasticky, like a cheap toy from a toy store. It's absolutely awful. Who decided to use this plastic ball? They should recall their college diploma!"

Some people think it's slipperier, some think it's stickier, and some think it feels too plasticky. It's clear that the players are just not used to it, but there's no evidence to suggest that there's anything wrong with the ball.

As a player with high emotional intelligence, LBJ naturally supported the new ball at the beginning of the season: "NBA Commissioner David Stern did not make the decision to change the ball on a whim; he must have thought it through carefully. The cost of the new ball is greatly reduced, making it affordable and accessible to everyone, which is a very meaningful thing."

Two days ago, LBJ experienced a classic case of "LeBron-style amnesia," saying something completely contradicting his previous statements:
"The new basketball is really slippery, like driving on an icy road. It's disastrous and has greatly affected my shooting accuracy, which is why I keep missing shots. I think changing the basketball was an ill-advised decision."

He initially supported changing the ball.

When he happened to be having a bad day, he stopped supporting him, perfectly shifting the blame for the shooting percentage problem onto basketball.

I can't even remember what I said.

When asked about this blatant attempt to shift blame, Jermaine O'Neal shook his head and smiled: "Okay, I admit, LeBron isn't like you. He's not a perfect leader yet, not mature enough, but I think his talent is undeniable, and I think we have a great chance. I don't think the difference between you and him is that significant."

“You don’t know me well enough, you don’t know our atmosphere well enough. Everything we have can give you a better career. Look at Tyson, before he came to New York, he was despised in Chicago. But now, people call him the best center in the East. Of course, you’ve made your decision, so I can only wish you all the best.”

After that, Lynch and Jermaine O'Neal talked about the Knicks.

Regarding how Sam Cassell unites the team.

Regarding how the three coaches should divide their work and cooperate.

How Tyson Chandler regained his confidence.

Jermaine O'Neal couldn't help but compare the Cavaliers and the Knicks in his mind, but in the end, O'Neal still said, "But I still don't regret it. If I can get out of the East, if I can win the championship, then I believe it will feel even better to beat you and do all that. I crave to beat you, and I think that's the real proof that I respect you."

Lynch now admires Jermaine O'Neal more; twenty years from now, this competitive spirit will gradually disappear from the league.

But not all brave people get a perfect ending.

Lynch smiled and nodded, forking up a piece of fruit before the meal: "Pray for good luck, Jermaine."

The dinner ended pleasantly, and both parties agreed to get together often when they have time.

The next day, game day. In the Cavaliers' locker room, Jermaine O'Neal shared Lynch's story of success.

His tone was normal, just casual conversation. He wasn't praising Lynch; he simply hoped the team could learn from New York's approach to creating the perfect atmosphere.

But halfway through Jermaine O'Neal's speech, LeBron James suddenly snapped: "That's enough, Jermaine, I've had enough."

"Huh?" Jermaine O'Neal was a little confused. LeBron James rarely spoke so loudly in the locker room.

"I've had enough. It's fine for you to say things like that normally, but this is before a game against them, and I don't like you constantly talking about our opponents. You can look at my stats over the years I've been in the league; they're not worse than his. He only got a ring because he had a better roster. Other than that, what's the difference between me and Lynch?"

"LeBron, I joined Cleveland because I trusted you, and I think you're not much different from him." Jermaine O'Neal had had enough of the locker room infighting with the Pacers, so he immediately made his stance clear.

There's nothing between him and LBJ, and he doesn't want any misunderstandings to arise between them.

“Yes, I trust you too, so let’s stop talking about Lynch!” LeBron James frowned. “In the Cleveland locker room, we’re forbidden from talking about Lynch!”

Jermaine O'Neal didn't continue the argument; he simply recalled the stories from the Knicks' locker room and how closely they were united.

At that moment, Jermaine O'Neal realized that the difference between Lynch and LBJ might be greater than he had imagined.

LeBron James's aggression is not hard to understand; he has lived in the shadow of shame all summer.

In the playoffs, he was swept 4-0 by Lynch's team.

Mike Brown assigned him to defend Lynch one-on-one, but he was utterly outplayed, which became a dark chapter in his career.

During the offseason, LBJ traveled with Team USA to the World Championships, hoping to win a gold medal and become a champion. However, they suffered a humiliating defeat to Greece in the semifinals, ultimately only managing to win a bronze medal.

The summer's defeat led to LBJ being shamefully called "LeBronze" by the media due to the similarity in his name.

He was overshadowed by the huge defeat, and his current first-place record in the East was like a painkiller, relieving his pain.

But when facing Lynch's team, the bitterness of defeat hits the tongue again, reopening the wounds that have not yet healed.

So he snapped; he couldn't stand anyone praising Lynch.

Because he would feel that it was humiliating.

"We forbid talking about Lynch" became the hottest topic before the game.

LBJ's timing was inappropriate, as the locker room was not fully closed at the time, and many trainers and staff were inside.

This type of person is often the most beloved source of information for NBA reporters, who are happy to earn some extra money from them.

Before long, everyone knew about this rule set by Cavaliers leader LeBron James.

Coach Larry Brown declined to discuss the topic: "I hate these rumors. You have to understand, this is a war, and my players and I have to focus on the war, not talk about locker room gossip."

Shannon Brown, the man who led the Cleveland Cavaliers' rookie to defeat LeBron James in the 2003 McDonald's Slam Dunk Contest and was the culprit behind his reluctance to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, has revealed everything.

As a rookie, he couldn't keep anything to himself.

“Jermaine has been talking about how good Lynch is, and LeBron thinks he’s no different from Lynch, and I think so too.”

This isn't a big deal, but it's enough for the media to use it as spice for tonight's game.

Before the game started, James didn't even bother with any pretense of friendliness.

His experience of being swept in the playoffs last season made him completely hate Lynch.

Jermaine O'Neal shook hands with the Knicks players in place of LeBron James. When he hugged Lynch, Lynch jokingly remarked, "In my locker room, everyone can talk about LeBron."

Jermaine O'Neal shrugged and didn't answer; he didn't want to deepen the misunderstanding between him and LeBron James.

The game began, and Lin Qi won the first point by overtaking Da Z.

In the first round, the Knicks felt that the Cavaliers' defensive capabilities were on a completely different level compared to last season.

As promised, Coach Larry Brown had Tayshaun Prince play his preferred small forward position, LBJ at point guard, and Damon Jones at shooting guard.

This starting lineup has a significant advantage in terms of physique, with even the shortest player, Damon Jones, standing at 191 cm.

Marbury faced Tayshaun Prince and waved to Lynch for a pick-and-roll.

But this protégé, whom Larry Brown brought from Detroit, bypassed the screen almost immediately. He was lean, quick, and had long arms, so defending pick-and-rolls was not a problem for him.

Marbury passed the ball back to Lynch, who was closely guarded by Jermaine O'Neal.

The King of New York suddenly lowered his shoulder and accelerated, but in the confrontation, he tasted the defensive ferocity that Jermaine O'Neal had displayed.

He said he longed to compete with Lynch, that he longed to beat Lynch, and that he wasn't just talking.

Ultimately, Lynch, unable to fully utilize his speed, missed his shot when Zydrunas Ilgauskas provided timely help defense under the basket.

"I told you we have a chance to win the championship!" Jermaine O'Neal shouted. Although he talked about Lynch in the locker room, he could distinguish between friend and foe during the game.

In the first round, the Cavaliers proved to the world that they were no longer the easy prey they were last season.

LeBron James controlled the ball seriously for half the court, orchestrating the offense like a true commander, before passing the ball to Damon Jones, who had created an opportunity.

The latter received the ball on the left side of the three-point line and took a shot, but Marbury held on tight enough that the basketball bounced off the side of the rim.

Lynch secured the rebound, and Eddie Jones had already sprinted to the midcourt line.

Lynch skillfully passed the ball upcourt, and Eddie Jones, with no one around, could easily launch a fast break and give the Knicks the first point.

But as Eddie Jones raised his hand for a layup, a long arm suddenly appeared, swatted the ball away, and completed the block!

Eddie Jones turned around in astonishment, only to see Tyshaun Prince silently carrying out all of this.

Reggie Miller is certainly very familiar with Eddie Jones's feelings at this moment.

Chauncey Billups once called Tyshaun Prince the "silent assassin."

Unlike most vicious defenders, TyShon Prince is often very quiet, doesn't show any ferocity, and his face is usually expressionless.

But by the time you realize he's there, it's probably too late.

Tayshaun Prince's incredible block shattered the Knicks' hopes of scoring first, and he immediately passed the ball to LeBron James after getting it.

Facing Michael Pietrus, LBJ called for a screen and drove into the paint.

Tyson Chandler immediately switched onto James, but his speed was a disadvantage, and James was still able to get into the paint.

Lynch tried to help protect the rim, but Jermaine O'Neal held him tightly.

LBJ finished with a tomahawk dunk, giving Madison Square Garden the lead.

"If LeBron wants to prove he's no different from Lynch, that last play gave him a great start!" said commentator Mark Jackson. "Whether LeBron is exaggerating or not, we'll soon find out."

After scoring, James turned to look at Lynch and said, "I also want the number 23 jersey to sell out. Please, Lynch."

James was undoubtedly mocking Lynch for making Kobe's jerseys sell out.

“If you just release a special ‘LeBron’ colorway, believe me, it will sell very well. After all, you are really amazing, LeBron. You won a bronze medal in your second international competition, second only to me who won a gold medal in my first one,” Lynch replied.

LeBron James is once again stung by the success Lynch once achieved, which is why talking about Lynch is forbidden in the Cavaliers' locker room.

The game continued, and the Cavaliers have proven that their defense is much stronger than last season, but that doesn't mean the Knicks are completely unable to score.

Lynch used off-ball movement to shake off Jermaine O'Neal, received the ball in the right corner, and made the shot.

"Shh!"

"Jermaine, I still stand by my opinion: you chose the wrong team," Lynch said calmly, looking at Jermaine O'Neal.

Jermaine O'Neal shook his head helplessly. If it were during his prime, he could definitely have caught up.

However, he is still struggling to play against Lynch's off-ball offense.

The score is 3-2, and the battle between LBJ and Lynch continues.

James was particularly excited today. In the second possession, he drove hard past Michael Pietrus, drew Lynch's double team, and then passed the ball back to O'Neal, who easily scored with a mid-range jumper.

3:4.

He recklessly displayed his versatility, proving the truth of the statement "I am no different from Lynch".

But the biggest problem preventing LBJ from proving himself was that the Cavaliers could never stay ahead of Lynch for long.

Just as the connection between LBJ and O'Neal was completed, Lynch used an assist to put the team ahead again.

He passed the ball through the gaps in the low post to Tyson Chandler, who then slammed it home with a dunk.

5:4.

The score was close from the start. LBJ wanted to replicate Kobe's performance from the previous game and wanted to prove that he was no different from Richie, so he was in excellent form.

But Lynch wasn't going to back down. He wanted to tell the entire league that Kobe's ability to play in the last game was not something that could be replicated, and he refused to be Nike's stepping stone again.

The score remained close until the last four minutes of the first quarter.

When Lynch was about to turn around on offense, he was intercepted by Jermaine O'Neal.

Jermaine O'Neal's experienced underhand cutter allowed him to gain possession of the ball directly.

At this point, the Knicks were leading by 3 points, and the Cavaliers had another chance to tie the game.

As soon as O'Neal handed the ball over, he heard Lynch raise his hand and shout, "Mine! I'll take responsibility for getting the ball back!"

As a leader, he did not shirk responsibility and promised to take the ball back.

The Cavaliers' offense began, and Jermaine O'Neal was curious about how Lynch would fulfill his promise.

Lynch fulfilled his promise in a very simple and brutal way. This leader, who had just made a mistake, completely forgot about "energy management" and suddenly went all out, directly double-teaming LBJ with Michael Pietrus outside the three-point line.

This kind of strangulation defense is often a trump card that is only revealed in the final moments of the game, because it is very energy-consuming.

But when faced with his mistake, Lynch chose to take full responsibility.

Getting the ball back is his current responsibility and obsession.

The tight double-team made it difficult for LBJ to pass the ball, and he couldn't get it to the open O'Neal immediately. He was forced to use his back muscles to withstand the double pressure before passing the ball to Tayshaun Prince, who came to receive it.

Before Prince could even get his foot in the ball, Lynch had already arrived with a whoosh, forming a pincer attack with Eddie Jones.

Jermaine O'Neal raised his hand for the ball, but the young prince wasn't particularly good at passing. Faced with such pressure, he had to do his best just to protect possession of the ball.

Prince passed the ball to Damon Jones, and Lynch once again fearlessly sprinted towards the ball handler.

Damon Jones passed the ball to Jermaine O'Neal before Lynch could close in, and O'Neal caught the ball, turned around and shot.

But the moment he released the ball, it was grazed by Lynch's five fingers.

He has already rushed back to Xiao Ao's side.

"Tireless defense! Lynch hasn't stopped since the start of this play! He wants to take responsibility for his mistakes, he wants to help the team get the ball back, and his sense of responsibility keeps him going for a moment!" Mark Jackson didn't know how to describe Lynch's defense in this play; even professional defensive players might not have done better than him.

Unfortunately, the basketball that Lynch blocked ended up at Zydrunas Ilgauskas' feet.

With his high center of gravity, Zydrunas Ilgauskas struggled to bend down and retrieve the ball. For a center, lowering his center of gravity to get the ball is the most painful thing in the world.

Sure enough, the moment the slow-moving Z touched the ball with one hand, Lin Qi had already pounced on the floor to contest it with Z!

Big Z also lost his balance and fell to the ground. The two entangled figures rolled on the floor, sweat splattering everywhere, while the basketball struggled desperately between four hands with bulging veins.

In a fierce scramble for the loose ball, it eventually rolled to the three-point line and returned to Damon Jones's hands.

Damon Jones attempted a drive while things were in disarray under the basket. His sudden acceleration gave him half a body length ahead of Marbury, giving him a chance to finish the attack.

But the moment he stepped into the penalty area, his sinister smile froze on his face. The figure who should have collapsed to the ground was now up, arms raised high, ready to provide cover in the perfect position!
"Holy crap!" Damon Jones was utterly incredulous. How could anyone execute a defensive play so perfectly in a single round?

Lynch's timely help defense forced Damon Jones to abandon his attempt to attack the basket and pass the ball back to Prince.

Prince received the ball, and as expected, Lynch sprinted out to the three-point line, where he was subjected to a double-team!
"My God, he's in front of the ball handler again! Tayshaun passed the ball again, and the Cavaliers' shot clock is almost over. Lynch's omnipresent defense is suffocating me even backstage. This isn't defense, it's execution!" Mark Jackson spoke quickly, but he still couldn't outpace Lynch's rotation.

Prince's passing target was James; in the crucial moment, he chose to trust his star player.

Lin Qi was exhausted; the continuous shifts were making his breathing heavy.

But he gritted his teeth and quickly double-teamed LBJ.

LeBron James hesitated, with only 4.2 seconds left on the shot clock. He didn't know whether to shoot or pass the ball again.

This may not be due to mere cowardice. For a player like LBJ who always seeks the most correct and perfect solution, they don't subconsciously want to kill everything with their own hands; they only subconsciously seek the optimal solution.

This often leads them to hesitate at crucial moments.

Lynch's outstretched hand prompted LeBron James to pass the ball to Damon Jones. However, due to the hasty pass and Jones's unpreparedness, assuming James would shoot, the ball flew out of bounds.

"Fuck!!!" Lin Qi roared as the basketball went out of bounds, clenching his fist.

Every drop of sweat on his body recorded this epic defensive round. With his relentless sprints, unwavering ground ball challenges, and countless clutch blocks, he redeemed himself within twenty-four seconds.

He fulfilled his promise as a leader, and he regained possession of the ball after his own mistake!

"That's Lynch, that's Lynch! Look at his incredible defense!" Mark Jackson exclaimed, clapping as he commentated on the fight. "The Clevelands want to take this? They better put on their helmets, because this is going to be a long fight, twelve rounds! Twelve rounds! Lynch won't give you a single chance to breathe in any round!"

New York fans cheered for their heroes, whose defensive play perfectly demonstrated the New York Knicks' indomitable spirit.

His teammates gave Lynch a high-five. A single possession of the ball might not affect the overall game, but Lynch's furious defensive play after regaining possession showed everyone that tonight was a must!
Ironically, when faced with the same mistake, LeBron James, who claimed to be no different from Lynch, did not make up his mind to regain possession of the ball, but instead spread his hands and yelled at the referee.

"Are there really no old-style game balls here? Damn it, I told you this damn plastic basketball was too slippery! Damn it, that was supposed to be a perfect pass, but this cheap ball made me drop it! Damn it!"

This absurd scene made Jermaine O'Neill want to laugh.

That statement, "I'm no different from Lynch," has become the most ridiculous comment of the season. How can this guy be so narcissistic? Why doesn't he just say he's no different from Michael Jordan?
Jermaine O'Neal didn't know if he would succeed with the Cavaliers, but he and everyone else could be sure of one thing: Lynch and LBJ were completely different! They shouldn't even be compared!
Joining the Cleveland Cavaliers was a choice made with backbone, but Jermaine O'Neal is now unsure if it was the right one.

After regaining possession, the Knicks launched another attack.

Lynch ran across half-court and glanced at James, who was still complaining to the referee about the new ball after his mistake: "Stop making excuses, LeBron. It's just a bronze medal, a pretty, pathetic basketball. What can it determine? Why have I never encountered any problems with the new basketball? Why do you always seem to run into these problems? Stop making excuses."

The nickname "LeBronze" is not popular among Chinese football fans and is rarely mentioned, as it is a pun on the English word.

But in North America, this humiliating nickname is as catchy as Zhang Jizhong's and has tormented LBJ all summer; he feels like vomiting whenever he hears it.

If that nickname came out of Lynch's mouth, he would feel even more disgusted.

So, LBJ got angry.

"Shut up, Lynch! Shut up! I don't want to talk about people like you!"

"You want to shut this person up, you want to shut that person up, you want to ban talking about me in the locker room, but you can't shut anyone up, and you can't stop anyone from talking about me! In fact, after tonight's game, the whole world will be talking about me! Jermaine, you're right?"

Lynch shifted his gaze and glanced at Jermaine O'Neal.

Jermaine O'Neal did not respond or speak up for LBJ.

He doesn't have the time or inclination for that.

He knew he was going to be in big trouble tonight.

This is what you have to bear if you choose to be Lynch's enemy.

(Thank you so much to Z-Taoist and other big shots for the donations, I'm so grateful!)

(Today's update is now complete, a total of 10,000 words)

(End of this chapter)