Champion Rules

Chapter 134, Page 130: The premise is that he deserves respect (Seeking monthly votes!)

Before the reality show featuring Steve Nash's MVP battle begins, Lynch's long-dormant system issues its first mission of the season.

There are very few MVPs in NBA history who are over 34 years old, but Karl Malone proved with his phenomenal performance that MVP has nothing to do with age. If he can do it, so can you!

[Objective: To achieve the first stage goal of the MVP journey by defeating the Phoenix Suns, led by former MVP Steve Nash, in the Christmas Day game.]

[Reward: 50 talent points.]

Since redeeming his talents in the latter half of last season, Lynch has now accumulated another 136 talent points.

If you can successfully complete your goal, the time until your next shopping trip will be greatly shortened.

It's definitely time to add some new talents. Since the last time he got a free purchase as a championship reward, Lin Qi hasn't spent any money on anything for a long time.

Before the Christmas Day game, the Knicks had four more games to play, and Lynch led the team to a series of victories, paving the way to Phoenix.

On the 16th, Lynch dominated Chris Bosh of the Nuggets—the power forward whose fate was completely changed by Carmelo Anthony being selected second overall. At this time, Bosh was being tormented by George Karl, who insulted him every minute, his curses raining down on the court like hail.

Why can't you stop him?

"You damn coward! Did you feed all your backbone to the dogs?"

"Damn it, you skinny, tall ostrich, can't you be a little tougher?"

"You're practically doing the splits, just waiting for Lin Qi to mess with you!"

"The team should have used the third pick to draft a rim protector; at least that thing could protect the rim!"

Chris Bosh's Nuggets career wasn't a failure; he still put up impressive numbers, and the team made the playoffs last season.

George Carr hoped that Chris Bosh would become a beast like Sean Kemp.

Of course, the best would be a castrated wild beast.

The huge gap between expectations and reality destined their relationship to be anything but good.

But then again, has George Karl ever had a good relationship with any player in his life?
The arrogance of the old white men made them feel deep down that farm tools should obediently follow orders and not be allowed to express any opinions.

In their next three games against the Hawks, Bobcats, and Bulls, the Knicks prevented any surprises.

In the game against the Bulls, Tyson Chandler scored a season-high 23 points, along with 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.

As the buzzer sounded, the Chicago fans' anger spread from the stands to the VIP boxes, chanting, "Fire Paxson! We love Tyson!"

The more they loved Paxson as a player in the 90s, the more they hate him as a general manager now.

Chicago fans' anger is understandable. Paxson's trade of Tyson Chandler and loss of Ben Wallace will be considered the stupidest move in NBA history until a Dallas manager's "outrageous move" comes along.

Tyson Chandler gave an interview to reporters after the fight.

"Seeing so many Chicago fans cheering for you, are you moved? Do you still want to go back to Chicago to play?"

Looking at the arena that had once caused him depression, Tyson Chandler grinned mischievously: "To hell with Chicago, I'm the center for New York now!"

Tyson Chandler has never forgotten those slanders and insults from back then.

Tyson Chandler's performance reflects the current state of the entire Knicks team: they are confident, tough, arrogant, and ruthless.

With this mindset in mind, the entire Knicks team prepared to fly to Phoenix on Christmas Eve, as planned.

Lead-gray clouds pressed down on the New York skyline, and Christmas Eve's heavy snowfall, accompanied by biting winds, swept through JFK Airport.

The heavy snow caused a two-hour flight delay, but the players weren't upset. Everyone was excited, as if the blizzard was a powerful accompaniment.

Philip Sanders was worried that the team was getting too arrogant, but Mike Malone told him, "Ignore them, this is the New York mob."

Before setting off, Sam Kassel, while smoking a cigar, told the reporter with a grin:
"Having a group of teammates with excellent finishing ability, and more importantly, the run-and-gun system brought by Mike D'Antoni, is the most important reason why Steve played so well. If you are a point guard and the coach allows you to control the ball like Steve, then everything is perfect."

It's worth noting that before going to Phoenix, he hadn't even been nominated for MVP, so people wouldn't even discuss him in this topic. Ultimately, he was just a system player.

Lynch is a true MVP; he will show everyone what an MVP should be like.

Lynch's views are completely different from those of aliens.

"Steve will play ten times tougher than LeBron, I'm sure of it. Some people just look tough, and some people are just mistaken for being soft."

Lynch will never stop humiliating LBJ.

Since we're irreconcilable enemies, we should act like we're irreconcilable enemies, otherwise it'll look like we're just playing around.

With the roar of its engines tearing through the snow, the Knicks' steel behemoth soared into the sky, heading towards a sunny destination.

But what awaits them there is not warmth, but only the malice of the entire city of Phoenix.
-
December 25, Phoenix, American Airlines Center.

Before the game even started, the Knicks players already felt the hostility from the crowd.

The stadium was filled with deafening boos and incessant shouts, like a scorching heatwave in the desert.

Furthermore, the Knicks had a string of bad luck before the game even started.

Phoenix-based singer Stevie Nix, 58, gave a lengthy Christmas special opening performance before the game. The venue was packed with equipment, so much so that four Knicks players nearly tripped over temporary cables as they left the court after warming up.

When Philip Sanders tried to move the cables, a staff member in charge of the stage equipment yelled at him, rudely waving his walkie-talkie and spitting on his expensive custom-made suit: "Don't touch the equipment! Do you know how much these cables are worth?"

It's hard to say whether this stadium staff member didn't recognize Flip Saunders or was simply expressing malice.

The hot-tempered Mike Malone stepped in to defend Sanders, which led to a scuffle between him and staff, further escalating the animosity between the two sides.

After the conflict broke out, the shouts and jeers of the fans at the scene briefly drowned out Stevie Nix's singing.

"Damn it, this is our territory!"

"Damn it, we'll make them pay!"

"Bury these New York thugs under the desert and turn them into fertilizer for cacti!"

The suffocating hostility and pervasive harassment made the Knicks uncomfortable, and the tension was rising from their shoes to the spines of everyone on both sides.

Phoenix fans were unhappy with Sam Cassell's comments and were also influenced by the media narrative. In their view, Lynch came to their turf to steal Steve Nash's MVP award.

They do not welcome such uninvited guests.

This atmosphere, combined with Stevie Nix's cheerful "Jingle Bells," made the scene feel utterly absurd.

As the last note hummed by Stevie Nicks faded into the dome, American Airlines Center was suddenly filled with a deafening roar.

Finally, the woman's performance ended, and the men's battle was about to begin.

The Phoenix Suns players were all sharp-eyed, and the fans were cheering for the team's current starting lineup.

When Stoudemire first returned this year, the Suns' record was not good, it could even be described as terrible, with only 1 win and 5 losses at the start of the season.

But later, Mike D'Antoni adjusted the lineup, moving Shawn Marion to the small forward position and putting Boris Diaw in the starting power forward position to smooth out the offense.

After making adjustments, the Suns immediately went on a seven-game winning streak, thus returning to the ranks of the Western Conference powerhouses.

Therefore, this starting lineup gave Phoenix fans a great deal of confidence.

Despite the tense atmosphere, Nash still shook hands with each of the Knicks' starters and wished them all a Merry Christmas.

When shaking hands with Lynch, Nash said in addition to "Merry Christmas," "Our whole team treats this as a preview of the Finals."

Lynch patted Nash on the shoulder: "That's exactly what I was thinking."

There was little personal animosity between Lynch and Nash; it was simply a clash of the purest desire to win between two warriors.

After they separated, Lin Qi suddenly felt something was wrong with his palm.

He looked at Nash in a panic: "Steve, you fucking don't tell me!"

“Yes, I’ve already licked my palm. But don’t worry, I don’t have any infectious diseases,” Nash smiled.

Lynch:
The game began, and Amar'e Stoudemire, who was still in excellent form after his return, won possession for the Suns.

Nash quickly dribbled the ball past half-court and soon noticed the Knicks' defensive changes.

When he called for a V-shaped screen, neither Tyson Chandler nor Lynch switched on defense, remaining close to their assigned opponents.

Their unwavering loyalty to their partners would put countless modern couples to shame.

Nash had no choice but to pull up for a mid-range jump shot, and Stephon Marbury's aggressive defense didn't give him much of a challenge, allowing the Canadian to score steadily.

Suns owner Robert Salvo is practically Arizona's Mark Cuban; his presence is undeniable. After Nash scored, he stood up and yelled at Lin Qiu on the court, "Feeling the power of the MVP? You little punk!"

But Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni wasn't as excited as the owner.

Given the Knicks' defensive discipline, that defensive play just now was definitely not as simple as slow help defense or a help defense error.

The Knicks were deliberately forcing Nash to take the shot himself.

The game continued, and Lynch wasted no time. He leaned against Boris Diaw to get the ball and finished the attack with a simple turnaround jump shot.

Scoring over the Suns was as easy for Lynch as beating LeBron James.

2:2.

Nash understood what the Knicks wanted.

They want to shut down the rest of the Suns and then see who can kill the other with points, Lynch or Nash!
This undoubtedly escalated the war once again.

The outcome of this match is not only about the teams, but also about the most direct offensive duel between the two players.

Nash didn't want to play like that, even though he was confident he could dominate a slower Marbury.

Because that's not the Suns' rhythm, because playing one-on-one deviates from the philosophical foundation of Phoenix's seven-second storm.

So after this pick-and-roll, Nash still passed the ball to Amar'e Stoudemire who was cutting to the basket.

Tyson Chandler's aggressive retreat prevented Stoudemire from having a direct chance to attack the basket, forcing Stoudemire to stop the ball under the basket and clumsily make a fake move, trying to shake off Chandler.

Don't let Amar'e Stoudemire's physical attributes fool you; he's actually quite simple-minded and has no idea how to play in the low post.

His simple, unpretentious feints under the basket revealed a kind of beauty characteristic of LeBron James.

Tyson Chandler was completely unfazed, and then Lynch joined in with both arms.

As a finisher, Amar'e Stoudemire's strength has never been his passing game.

He's probably the worst passer on the run-and-gun Suns.

With two pairs of long arms interfering, Amar'e Stoudemire barely managed to throw the ball to Boris Diaw, but Michael Pietrus had already spotted the passing lane and easily intercepted it.

Boris Dior shrugged and shouted in his native language, "The French don't fight the French!"

The Knicks were on offense. After a turnover, Amar'e Stoudemire stared intently at Stephon Marbury, who was dribbling the ball, hoping to redeem himself with a block.

His defensive habit of only focusing on the ball handler is amateurish and fatal; there is probably no player in the entire league with a more amateurish defensive awareness than him.

Amar'e Stoudemire's career was indeed unique. A high school rookie who had never experienced college basketball, he encountered a coach who treated defense as worthless after entering the professional basketball world. As a result, he never received professional defensive training throughout his basketball career.

At that moment, Amar'e Stoudemire had only the ball in his eyes and completely forgot where Tyson Chandler, who was originally his matchup, was.

Chandler had already set an off-ball screen for Lynch, allowing Lynch to run smoothly to the left baseline corner.

Stephon Marbury leaped and delivered a fancy behind-the-back pass, smoothly placing the ball in Lynch's hands. Lynch calmly took the shot, needing no worries about Stoudemire coming out to rotate in.

For Stoudemire, figuring out man-to-man marking was already the limit of his mental capacity.

Rotation? You might as well let him study relativity. The result will be the same anyway; he'll never understand it.

Lynch sank a wide-open three-pointer, making it 5-2.

"The Suns' defense won't be able to stop Lynch," Mike Breen cheered. "If the Phoenix Suns want to touch the Larry O'Brien Trophy, they really need to seriously consider bringing in some defensive players!"

Before Mike Breen could finish speaking, the Suns launched the ball from the baseline like an arrow, attempting to tear apart the opponent's defense with their signature seven-second blitzkrieg.

But the Knicks' defensive discipline was on full display at this moment. Even though the Suns played at a fast pace, the Knicks remained completely organized, with each player sticking to their assigned matchup and denying Nash any opportunity to orchestrate the offense.

The tactic of "locking out everyone else and letting Nash score" sounds simple, but not every team can execute it.

With the rest of the Suns team effectively shut down, Nash himself wasn't having an easy time either. Stephon Marbury, seemingly oblivious to pain despite his injury, continued to apply relentless pressure on Nash, showing no decrease in defensive intensity.

This year's Knicks backcourt is like this: from Marbury to Sam Cassell, these New York tough guys are making up for their lack of ability with an almost self-destructive defensive attitude.

Nash called for Diaw to set a screen, wanting to test Lynch's patience and see just how strong the New York Kings' defensive composure really was.

But Lynch's determination on the defensive end exceeded Nash's expectations. He resolutely refused to switch, denying Diaw any chance to receive the ball. After the pick-and-roll occurred, he simply stood by Nash like a soldier in formation, watching him sink another mid-range jumper.

Phoenix fans cheered, chants of "MVP!" echoing throughout the arena.

They all felt that Nash had hit a very tough response shot.

Only Nash knew the crisis hidden behind that seemingly tough response; he was forced to do it.

The run-and-gun tactic simply wouldn't work tonight; the smooth gears of the tactic were jammed by the New Yorkers' disciplined iron clamps.

The Suns' offense won't be shut down, but it won't be able to dominate them anymore.

The game went on for several minutes, with Lynch and Nash engaging in a suffocating scoring battle.

Lynch's unstoppable turnaround fadeaway and Nash's despair-inducing pull-up jumper—the duel between these stars sparked a dazzling display of skill in the desert city, thrilling the fans in attendance.

Nash helped the Suns tie the game time and time again, making it seem like the two teams were evenly matched at first glance.

In reality, the game was more favorable for the Knicks.

The slow pace, inconsistent shooting, and intense physical play are all familiar styles of play for the Knicks.

At the end of the first quarter, the electronic scoreboard showed the Knicks leading 32-30 by 2 points.

Mike Breen bluntly stated: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the weight of the MVP battle! Lynch scored 16 points in a single quarter, Steve scored 15 points in a single quarter, and both superstars unleashed their full arsenal on Christmas Eve. Welcome to the battleground of superstars!"

Amid cheers from the fans, Steve Nash lay supine on the bench floor, his face contorted in pain.

The excruciating pain in his back prevented him from even sitting up; he could only lie on the ground to relieve the pain.

The entire Suns team is used to this kind of scene; it's the norm for two-time MVPs.

This is why Stoudemire and Diaw were so angry when they saw Nash get knocked down by Robert Horry in the playoffs, because they knew Nash's physical condition.

Mike D'Antoni simply squatted down next to Nash and began to devise tactics, surprisingly ignoring Lynch's offensive efforts in the first quarter:
“Sometimes when there’s really no other way, just let him score a few points. It’s not the end of the world! As long as our own offense keeps going, we have a chance! So in the second quarter, be more aggressive in your movement, keep speeding up, and create some space for Steve to pass the ball! We will win. They can’t keep up with our speed. If we keep running and moving tirelessly, we can leave them behind!”

This simplistic and crude strategy is naturally unlikely to work.

In the second quarter, Nash was still forced to play one-on-one.

He carried the team with his scoring, but he was finding it increasingly difficult because his back was affecting his jump shot.

Midway through the second quarter, after Nash missed three consecutive shots, the Canadian changed his strategy.

He chose to attack the basket with a do-or-die attitude.

"Steve crossed over Sam and went for a layup over Nazr. He got fouled, but the ball went in! And one!!! Look at Sam's expression, he must be regretting saying before the game that Steve was just a system player!"

Amid Mike Brin's shouts, Steve Nash lay motionless on the ground for a long time.

Amare Stadmai, who has only scored 4 points so far tonight, ran up and pushed Nazir Mohammed away, escalating the already tense atmosphere.

The referees quickly separated the two groups, as they didn't want anything to go wrong in the Christmas game.

After hurling a few insults, Stoudemire grabbed Nash's hand.

"Damn it! How are you?"

Nash nodded, then glanced at Mike D'Antoni on the sidelines, preparing to bring on the Brazilian lightning Barbosa.

The Canadian struggled to his feet and rushed to the sidelines, shouting, "Don't take me off!"

Mike D'Antoni paused for a moment, but Nash pointed at Lynch, implying that only he could compete with him now.

He must not back down.

Standing at the free-throw line, Nash licked his fingers and calmly made the free throw.

This penalty kick brought the game to a 14th tie, and Sam Cassell covered his head with his hands, saying, "It's all my fault, Lynch, damn it, it's all my fault!"

"What? Being beaten by Steve is nothing to be ashamed of, there's no need to blame yourself."

"That's not what I meant! My pre-match comments must have really angered him. Damn it, I'm such an idiot!"

Lynch reached out and patted Cassell's head, which some fans saw as as daring as touching an alien: "Alright, old dog, it's nothing, I'll handle it. We're the New York mob, we're not afraid to provoke anyone. Steve's burning, so we'll set off an even bigger fire."

As Lynch finished speaking, his gaze met Nash's.

The Canadian instantly concealed his back pain-induced contortions, a defiant smile spreading across his face: "Cutting off my passes won't destroy us. I'll fight you to the bitter end."

"I must say, you deserve two MVPs, but I do too," Lynch replied. The second quarter ended in another back-and-forth between Lynch and Nash.

In the final two possessions, Lynch grabbed the offensive rebound from Diaw's head and then dunked over Stoudemire from the spot, looking down at his staggering opponent like a king and roaring at him in the face, leading the Knicks to a 3-point lead.

This is Lynch's strength: he has an excellent jump shot from the outside, but he is also incredibly tough inside.

Mike Brin has begun to sympathize with Stoudemire and Diaw: "Boris and Amaré played like caddies for Caesar tonight, handing him the golf clubs Lynch used to hit them."

The king of the desert saw all of this and prepared to respond.

Immediately afterwards, Steve Nash, in the corner next to the Knicks' bench, faced Trevor Ariza's timely rotation and launched a fadeaway shot, sinking the ball and tying the game as the buzzer sounded!

Amid chants of "MVP" from the crowd, Nash said nothing, but turned around with a resolute expression and pumped his fist at the Knicks' bench.

"Lynch has 31 points in the first half, and Steve has 28. God, can anyone tell me how this game will turn out? All I know is that this is what we want, an MVP-caliber matchup!" Mike Breen was already unable to predict the game; the back-and-forth between Lynch and Nash was incredibly intense.

In the past, only defensive battles could make fans and commentators feel the brutality.

But tonight, Lynch and Nash made the atmosphere in the arena thin with their tough scoring.

At halftime, the score was 68-68. Steve Nash, clutching his back, slowly walked into the player tunnel.

Lynch looked at Cassell and Marbury, who were exhausted from defending Nash, and assured them, "The tie is only temporary, believe me."

The halftime break did not quell the intensity of the match; the fans' cheers did not diminish, and the players did not relax.

Not satisfied with just watching, team owner Robert Salvo even stormed into the locker room and yelled at everyone:

"Tonight, we've spent more time on offense than ever before. Did you guys force the seven-second rule into the Desert Lizard's defenses?! Remember! We need to finish our shots within seven seconds! Statistically, every extra second that passes reduces our offensive efficiency!"

Robert Salvo is the kind of owner that no player in the entire league and no one in the karaoke industry would like—he's stingy and troublesome.

Last summer, he let Joe Johnson go for nothing because he was unwilling to spend the money.

But while he was stingy, he also possessed an excessive enthusiasm like Mark Cuban. He would pay out of his own pocket to buy handbells for every fan at the stadium to create a home-field atmosphere, and he would often barge into the locker room without anyone's permission to offer what he considered to be professional opinions or give what he considered to be passionate speeches.

No one on the team could stand him.

Mike D'Antoni's neck flushed with anger as he complained, "Robert, you should have told me before you went into the locker room! And besides, only I can give instructions here!"

Robert Salvo wasn't buying the coach's argument: "Mike, am I wrong? We played fucking slow tonight, like an old, outdated team from the 90s!"

“That’s because of the Knicks’ defensive strategy.” The hot-tempered Raja Bell was about to retort, but Nash stopped him.

The two-time MVP, exhausted, straightened his back and said, "Robert, I promise you victory! But for now, please go out and rest for a bit; we need some space."

Upon seeing Nash, Robert Salvo suddenly broke into a manic smile. He reached out and patted Nash on the shoulder: "Great, fantastic! You know what, Steve? I've only had this damn team for 23 months and you're already MVP, so I fucking believe in you! Go guys, go, let Phoenix burn!!"

The annoying owner finally left, and the locker room returned to silence. The entire Suns team immediately went to the bathroom—Steve Nash needed to soak in the bathtub for a long time to relieve his back pain, so most of the time, the Suns' halftime tactical arrangements were made in the bathroom.

Mike D'Antoni knew that Steve Nash's back was a ticking time bomb. Although he kept saying he was fine, the intense pain would definitely affect his performance.

In regular games, it's not a big deal if Nash occasionally loses his scoring touch due to back problems, because he can still use his ability to connect the whole team to attack.

But tonight, Steve Nash was forced into a scoring role. If he also goes cold, the Knicks will easily gain the upper hand.

Because of Nash's injury, Mike D'Antoni wasn't very confident about the offensive back-and-forth in the second half.

The architect of this fast-paced style couldn't make Nash's back healthy overnight; all he could do was make Lynch's offense less consistent in the second half.

When D'Antoni uttered the word "double-team!" the whole team paused for a moment. "Double-team Lynch in the second half, be rough with him, we can't let him get away with this anymore."

This guy, who had dismissed Lynch's scoring performance in the first half, is now getting nervous.

He was scared of being beaten.

Since the others couldn't contribute offensively today, let's put more effort into defense!
Fortunately, the Phoenix Suns still have some tough guys who can contribute on the defensive end.

As soon as Lynch got the basketball, his old rival Raja Bell quickly double-teamed him.

He fought back roughly against Lynch, his dark elbows repeatedly striking Lynch's waist.

Behind Lynch, Boris Diaw displayed his most serious defensive attitude of the season, constantly battling against Lynch.

In the first half, Diaw witnessed firsthand what it meant to "if he brings a hurricane, we'll give him a sandstorm in return," and he could see how hard Steve Nash was fighting.

He couldn't let that guy bear it all alone; he himself was part of the sandstorm!

This defensive play was a clear signal that the Suns were no longer conserving energy for offense. They had embraced the "Lynch-Nash scoring" game mode, completely abandoning the seven-second offense and starting to play a half-court offense against the Knicks.

This is exactly what the Knicks wanted.

But in this round, Lynch did indeed get into trouble.

Lynch passed the ball to Eddie Jones, who was left wide open, but his hands, which had barely touched the ball in the first half, were already cold, like frozen gun barrels.

Eddie Jones' wide-open jump shot bounced off the rim, but the Suns successfully defended it.

Having star players hold the ball for extended periods is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can maximize the star player's power, but on the other hand, it can deplete the energy of role players.

Many star players only realize how difficult it is to be a role player when they transition to a new career path. Most of the time, you can only watch from the corner, and if you occasionally receive the ball and miss, you get criticized. Sometimes, you even receive the ball when there are only two or three seconds left on the shot clock, making it really difficult to maintain a high shooting percentage.

Dwyane Wade only realized how difficult it was to be a role player, especially one who had to play alongside LeBron James, after joining the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lynch, who was born in Europe, understood this principle well, so most of the time, the Knicks' offense was team basketball.

But tonight was a different story; Lynch had the ball and took more shots. Sure enough, the role players' performance couldn't be guaranteed.

The Suns completed a successful defensive play, and Raja Bell looked at Lynch and started nagging: "I admit I was proven wrong by you, you won a championship before me. But believe me, you can't win more championships than me."

"Alright, alright, stop with the loan for the championship, Raja. You talk like LeBron." Lynch shook his head dismissively.

Raja Bell was even more furious. Why was he being compared to LeBron James?!
He vowed to teach Lynch a lesson!
Coincidentally, Raja Bell's idol is New York legend Willis Reed, whom he admires for his tough style, which is why he chose number 19.

As a result, he became mortal enemies with the person his idol favored most.

In the transition between offense and defense, Steve Nash continued to drive to the basket, and despite Tyson Chandler's block, he pulled up for a layup despite his almost broken spine.

The Suns have taken the lead again!
Nash lost his balance and fell upon landing. Amar'e Stoudemire was worried about him, but the Phoenix leader frowned and immediately got up: "Damn it, get back to defend Amar'e!"

In the stands, Suns owner Robert Salvo, like a madman conducting a symphony orchestra, waved his handbell and led the entire stadium in a frenzy of cheers.

This enthusiastic atmosphere completely ignited the American Airlines Center and fueled the passion of the Suns players.

then
"Beep beep!"

The whistle blew sharply as Raja Bell grabbed Lynch's arm with a rough foul as he turned to shoot, causing him to fall to the ground.

This move was actually less dangerous than Bruce Bowen's nonchalant dribble, but the referee still gave Raja Bell a flagrant foul.

Players from both teams immediately surrounded him, and Raja Bell was elbowed by Marbury during the shoving. This subtle movement went unnoticed by the referee, so Raja Bell complained to the scorer's table, "Damn it, my face is all swollen, I can't even open my mouth!"

Mike Malone roared from the sidelines, "You fucking deserve it! If you know your face is swollen, shut up, or Lynch will smash your face to pieces, you piece of trash!"

"Mike, step back, or I'll give you a technical foul." The referee felt he had already caused enough trouble and didn't want to hear Mike Malone's voice anymore.

But Mike Malone's anger wasn't so easily appeased: "Get out! I'm not backing down!"

Soon, Mike Breen, backstage at the commentary booth, noticed something unbelievable: "Wait, what happened? The Knicks and Suns are having a fight, and suddenly the Suns' assistant coach got a technical foul?"

The scene was in complete chaos; this game had gone beyond the scope of a regular season match.

After everything calmed down, Lynch made both free throws, tying the score again.

But it wasn't over yet. A possession later, Raja Bell received a pass and prepared to shoot. But to his utter surprise, Stephon Marbury delivered a Bruce Lee-style flying knee to him.

The referees were extremely nervous at that moment. They were really worried that something would go wrong with the nationally televised game, so they immediately separated the two teams and cut off the fuse of the explosion at its source.

Raja Bell, bleeding from the corner of his mouth, screamed wildly, "You damn bastard, I'll tear your filthy legs off!"

Marbury retorted, "Try touching Lynch again, you bitch!"

The game became even more exciting. Before the game, Nash said he would treat this game as a preview of the Finals.

But now, this is not a rehearsal at all, this is the final itself.

The high level of defensive intensity was maintained for 12 minutes in the third quarter, which slowed down Lynch and Nash's scoring pace.

In the second quarter, Lynch only scored 11 points, while Nash scored 9.

But the score between the two tonight has reached an astonishing 42 to 37.

Mike Brin's hands trembled as he gripped the stat sheet: "My God! This is only the stats after three quarters! They're writing the most insane scoring duel in Christmas Day history!"

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Marbury and Cassell were almost out of breath, like two leaky bellows.

They took turns battling Nash tonight, but they still couldn't withstand the physical and psychological pressure of defending the MVP.

Against Nash, any 0.1-second lapse in concentration will come at a heavy price.

Raja Bell and Boris Diaw were also in a sorry state; defending Lynch is never an easy task.

Of course, both MVP candidates are also burning the midnight oil.

Lynch sat on the bench, frantically wiping away sweat. Nash hunched over, each breath sending a sharp pain through him, as if sandpaper were grinding against his joints.

Massive development requires both ability and physical stamina, and Nash and Lynch have reached a critical point.

As a result, their efficiency dropped simultaneously in the second half of the fourth quarter, and the score remained close.

During a timeout with two and a half minutes left in the game, Flip Saunders told everyone: "Hold on, hold on! We'd better build a big enough lead so that we don't let the game get to the point where we're down by just one point and give the MVP one last shot!"

He was worried about the crucial shots; he knew how terrible Steve Nash was today, and he didn't want all his efforts to go to waste.

But the Suns were equally worried, with D'Antoni yelling, "Be more aggressive! Wear him down, take him down! We need to get a big enough lead, don't even think about dragging the game to the last minute!"

Mike Breen has obtained data that reveals why the Suns' head coach is so afraid: "This season, the Phoenix Suns are 0-5 in games where the score is only 5 points in the last two minutes. They are not good at playing these kinds of drawn-out games."

Both coaches were trying to avoid the bloodiest scene, but it happened anyway.

With 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the score was tied. Lynch drove hard to the basket and attempted a layup, but Boris Diaw blocked it.

"That was probably the greatest defensive play of his life!" Mike Breen commented.

In the stands, Robert Salvo clutched a handbell already soaked with sweat, his hoarse throat emitting incoherent sobs.

All he remembered was when they brought Diaw over, he asked the team's general manager, Brian Colangelo, "Who the hell is this Russian? Why did we bring him in?"

Yes, at the time, Salvo didn't even know him or his nationality.

But now, he believes that everyone in all of Arizona knows Boris Diaw.

The Suns are on offense, and Steve Nash has a chance to seal the game.

Sam Cassell was fully focused, and Lynch had already scored 54 points, surpassing Nash's 46 points; he deserved the victory.

He relentlessly battled Nash, who was nearly overwhelmed.

But after a V-shaped screen, Nash's mid-range fadeaway shot still pierced the net!

"Goal! Steve Nash scores 48 points! He tied his career high for points in a single game, and the Phoenix Suns lead by 2 points with 11 seconds left! Will this shot end it all!?"

After scoring, Steve Nash leaned on his knee, breathing heavily. The scorching number 48 was branded on the scoreboard, as hot as his back.

He had reached his limit. He felt that once the adrenaline dissipated after the match, he might not even be able to walk.

But he still gave a stubborn smile and said softly to Boris Dior, "This is the sandstorm we've stirred up!"

Phoenix fans went absolutely wild, chanting in unison, "Goodbye Lynch! Goodbye Lynch! Goodbye Lynch!"

Amidst the loud cheers, Philip Sanders paused the game.

Sam Cassell stared at the Phoenix fans surging like waves, almost swallowed up, overwhelmed by guilt.

He kept thinking that if he hadn't said those things before the game, Nash wouldn't have gone so crazy.

Lynch, at the center of the storm, simply sat back on the bench, his expression calm.

Philip Sanders walked up to him and said, "Don't be nervous, ignore these sounds."

"Do I look nervous to you?" Lin Qi laughed.

He wasn't nervous at all because he wasn't afraid of losing, and he didn't overthink what would happen if he missed.

Therefore, he was able to maintain a calm and composed mindset.

As Philip Sanders was outlining his tactics, the big screen and televisions in the arena were replaying the back-and-forth between Lynch and Nash.

With 48 points against 54, Mike Breen exclaimed, "This game should be added to ESPN's classic games channel immediately! I can't wait to watch it again tomorrow!"

The timeout ended, and Sam Cassell took a few deep breaths.

Lynch told him a second time, "It's okay, we're not afraid to anger anyone."

The game began, and the Knicks managed to solve the world's biggest problem with inbounds play without much trouble.

Sam Cassell broke through multiple screens to get the ball, and the clock started ticking.

He kept the ball in his hands, watching the time, and with four seconds left, he passed the ball to Lynch, who had circled to the left 45° three-point line after using a screen.

After receiving the ball, Lynch didn't adjust; he immediately turned and shot a jumper, showing great confidence in his shot. Most importantly, he wasn't afraid to face the consequences of missing.

It's nothing to be ashamed of. If you lose, face it squarely and then fight back. That's all.

But if you don't even dare to compete or take the shot, what are you talking about for the MVP? What are you talking about defending your title?
Boris Diaw, who had just successfully blocked Lynch's shot, got off the screen and raised his hand to contest it. He didn't dare to lunge too hard, lest he be called for a defensive foul.

Mike D'Antoni's Adam's apple bobbed as Lynch's shot arced high, like a falling guillotine.

In the end, the basketball, like a drop of water, fell into the vast ocean.

"Lynch's second career buzzer-beater! No defense in the world can stop a 208cm player from shooting like that! When he's so decisive, you can only bet he won't make it! 57 points in the game, Lynch's performance overshadowed Steve's and shot down the sun!"

Lynch tugged at his jersey and roared at the fans in the stands, "Goodbye Phoenix! Goodbye!!!"

The Knicks players quickly swarmed around Lynch and hugged him tightly. From the tense pre-game performance to now, all the Knicks players' dissatisfaction was finally released.

Sam Cassell, who successfully completed the assist, did not participate in the celebration; he simply collapsed to the ground in relief the moment the ball went in.

He was saved; he was finally saved.

He also swore an oath.

I will never interrupt MVP-level battles again.

Because that's a height that ordinary players can never reach.

Amid the cheers of the Knicks players, Steve Nash crouched on the ground, clutching his back, his eyes vacant.

The camera used a wide-angle lens, capturing both Lynch in his revelry and Nash in his dejection.

Basketball always brings two emotions to their extremes.

A moment later, Lynch broke free from the excited crowd and hurriedly walked to Nash, who was preparing to leave.

Nash maintained basic courtesy and prepared to shake hands with Lynch, but Lynch immediately pulled him into his arms.

“Fuck, that was close, Steve. You’re amazing, I really am. I know you have a problem with your back, and it’s incredible that you still managed to do this. You deserved to win too, but I had to do it in the end. You know, it’s competition.”

Aside from Jermaine O'Neal from last season, this Canadian, who fought to the very end despite a back injury, is the second opponent that Lynch truly respects.

Nash chuckled and patted Lynch on the shoulder. Lynch was busy going back to the locker room for a bath; his back was almost too stiff to straighten.

But before leaving, he still gave Lynch the highest praise.

“Seriously man,” Nash laughed sincerely, “you’re a genuine MVP, but damn it, you’ve made my back injury look like a lame excuse.”

After saying that, Nash turned and left, and the Suns' number 13 was gradually swallowed up by the shadows of the player tunnel.

"It's time to go, leader," Sam Cassell, who had somehow appeared beside Lynch, said, his damp jersey still warm from the battle. "It's been a fucking long Christmas night."

Lynch nodded: "It was fucking long. We almost lost. Our Christmas was almost ruined. Steve Nash is no joke. There's no bust in MVP, at least not for the next fifteen years."

"Ha, I didn't know you would respect your opponent so much. You didn't have this kind of face when you were humiliating LBJ."

“Of course I know how to respect my opponents,” Lynch said, putting his arm around Cassell’s shoulder, “provided they deserve it. LeBron? He’s worth nothing.”

Amidst a chorus of boos, the New York gangsters strode off the stage, stepping over the corpse of their former MVP.

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

(I didn't want to divide this book into too many chapters, as that would disrupt the rhythm, so I've combined it into one book, presenting 11,000 words in one chapter. Just like the previous book, I won't combine it into two chapters every day; I'll mainly adjust it according to the rhythm.)

(I need to ask for leave tomorrow, so I'm letting you know in advance to avoid making you fathers wait in vain. I'll post a separate chapter tomorrow to repeat this.)
(End of this chapter)