Champion Rules

Chapter 137, Section 133: Don't say you can't do it without Lin Qi (Seeking monthly votes!)

Kobe Bryant never requested a trade mid-season.

In the original historical account, his desire to leave began in the summer of 2007.

And the team that came closest to Kobe was not the Chicago Bulls as rumored, but the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons agreed to give up Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Jason Maxiell, and two first-round draft picks.

Kobe's demand was that Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace must remain on the roster.

Both parties reached an agreement, and the only thing missing for the trade to be completed was for Kobe Bryant, who had the power to veto the trade, to sign the contract agreeing to the deal.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss personally flew to Barcelona with the contract and met with Kobe, who was on vacation at the time. The two had a candid conversation that no one outside knew about.

After the conversation, Kobe withdrew his trade request, and the farce ended.

Since then, Kobe has remained silent about trades, and as usual, he devoted himself 100% to the preseason training camp, leading the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference before Pau Gasol arrived.

That's the whole story of the Kobe Bryant trade; the entire saga unfolded during the offseason. There's a lot of dirt on this superstar scorer, but he never disrupted a team's operations during the season.

But in this historical account, he seems to have been pushed to his limit by Lynch.

Lynch saw Kobe again after the press conference, and Kobe's condition was completely different from before the game.

His face was drawn up, without a smile.

"Are you angry? It can't be that bad. Don't overthink it. LeBron and Carmelo have had worse times than you. You're not the worst off." Lynch comforted him.

Kobe let out a heavy sigh, his brow furrowed.

"Of course I'm angry, but not at you. You think I care about your 11 damn blocks? I'll get my revenge next time! But damn it, look at this team!"

They've done nothing since Shaq left! The only teammate I got who wanted to win was Caron Butler, and they traded him away after just one season! I've had enough!
I can tolerate people who want to win but have limited ability, but I cannot tolerate a bunch of idiots who don't even want to win!

Kobe's words were true; Lynch knew a little story about Kobe during his two-peat championship run.

At the time, everyone was mocking Adam Morrison, dubbed "Bird II." As a player who once again proved Michael Jordan's draft judgment, Morrison was outside the Lakers' rotation, spending far more time in a suit than in a jersey.

When he wanted to celebrate the victory with his teammates, no one on the field would even pay attention to him.

This is the kind of player who, if he were in LeBron James's hands, would never have his name mentioned, unless you were his son.

If you were in MJ's hands, he would take pleasure in humiliating you every day.

But Kobe treated him as a true teammate because it wasn't that he didn't try, it's just that he wasn't capable enough.

He would speak up for Morrison when TV hosts mocked him: "He's really strong. He does a lot behind the scenes and puts in far more sweat in training than you can imagine. Let's not laugh at him."

Knowing that Morrison was a fan of Chelsea star Didier Drogba, he specially asked Drogba to help him get a signed jersey, which, in addition to the signature, also read: "To Adam, all the best."

Kobe's most famous quote, "The second-place team is the first-place team," came from a press conference after the 08 NBA Finals. But people always overlook another of his quotes: "Despite the loss, despite how frustrating it is, I am proud of my teammates."

This is Kobe; in this respect, he is incredibly similar to Lynch.

They understand that not everyone in this league is a genius.

It's important to understand that not everyone can match the strength of this league.

But just do your best.

They can tolerate the gap in talent, but they cannot tolerate the laziness of the soul.

The Lakers' locker room is now filled with a rotten stench that would make Kobe sick.

Andrew Bynum clearly has the best development resources in the team, but he doesn't have the ambition to improve.

Lamar Odom earns a higher salary than MVP Steve Nash, but instead of focusing on his skills, he studies how to use silicone implants to pass drug tests.

Kwame Brown possesses exceptional talent but is always hesitant and timid.

Smush Parker is nobody but thinks he's all that.

Of course, there's also the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe knew the Buss family had the ability to make the team better, but they were complacent because of the large Los Angeles market.

All of this disgusted him.

He felt that this group of people were not worthy of his obsession and passion.

Lynch never expected that he would trigger Kobe's trade request ahead of schedule; he seems to have inadvertently changed history once again.

"If you apply for a trade, where do you want to go? You have the right to veto a trade, and you can almost designate the next buyer." Lin Qi wanted to sound him out.

"Whatever, as long as we can compete for the championship. I don't care about this bullshit market. I just want to win, not be a loser in the biggest market. I'm fed up with being a clown in Hollywood."

“I thought you’d say you wanted to go to New York,” Lynch joked.

“I’m talking about contending for the championship. Do you understand what contending for the championship means? Do you understand why Jermaine O’Neal didn’t want to go to New York last summer? I’m only 29 years old. I’m not at the point where I need to find a superstar like Gary Payton. Even if I were to team up with another star, he would be the one to come to me.”

"Don't let the old school ruin you. When you see some 25- or 26-year-old stars who should be competing against each other actively teaming up and achieving success, just don't be jealous."

Kobe paused for two seconds, then suddenly burst into a sharp, cold laugh: "Who the hell would be so shameless?"

Lynch shrugged: "I just feel that when some young people continue to be this desperate, it's going to happen soon. Don't forget, some people only signed 2+1 contracts."

Kobe shook his head: "It's fucking pathetic to be your arch-rival."

That evening, Kobe and Lynch had dinner together, and then went to the hotel to visit Kevin Lucas before saying goodbye.

Before leaving, Kobe's last words were: "I will be back in this competition. The media narrative thinks this is already a league of you, Carmelo, LeBron, and Dwyane. No, we are not retired yet."

Lynch didn't know what decision Kobe would make.

It's unclear what decision the Lakers' management will make.

But since things happened so early, Lynch estimated that the timeline would no longer completely overlap with the original history.
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Lynch's dominance made Kobe want to leave the team.

This was the headline on the front page of most media outlets the following day.

It is widely believed that Lynch's dominance overwhelmed Kobe Bryant, becoming the final straw that broke his back.

To put it bluntly: Lynch drove Kobe away.

Lin Qi felt wronged; he shouldn't have to take the blame.

What truly overwhelmed Kobe was his incredibly talented teammates.

What Kobe felt last night, Giannis Antetokounmpo will definitely understand very well 21 years from now. Sometimes, wanting to leave isn't a mistake.

It was undoubtedly a terrible night for Kobe Bryant.

He lost the game, allowing Lynch to record a career-high 11 blocks.

But Kevin Lucas Jr. had a fairytale night in Los Angeles.

Lynch completely overwhelmed the arrogant Kobe Bryant, and the VIP seats on the sidelines that witnessed this bloody crackdown were paid for by the humiliated Kobe himself.

Back in New York, Kevin Lucas Jr. remarked, "Kobe Bryant was a good guy, and he'll be number two on my list of idols from now on. Everyone says he's selfish, but he was truly selfless. He paid me to watch him get blocked six times; that level of selflessness absolutely deserves him as number two on my list!"

Lynch could only pat Kevin Lucas on the head: "Don't swear too much, kid."

The smoke from Staples Center has barely cleared when the league has already stirred up ripples of a trade storm.

Although fans often jokingly refer to the Buss family's teams as "Lakers-minded teams," they have always been known for their decisive and efficient actions.
There are countless NBA stars who almost joined the Lakers during their prime.

The Lakers' relationships with other stars go far beyond mere rumors; they always maintain actual contact with the hottest players.

The farce of "Kobe leaving" will undoubtedly become the most significant plot twist in the middle of the season, and another media frenzy following "AI joining the Nuggets".

With only thirty-odd days left until the trade deadline, it was uncertain whether Jerry Buss would get a good night's sleep in the coming month, or whether he could recreate the miracle of "Barcelona recruiting Kobe." Knicks fans didn't care about the Los Angeles Lakers' fate; they were only cheering for Lynch.

Lynch's 48 points against the Lakers kept him in the lead in the MVP race, and ESPN writer Marc Stein also promoted Lynch.

"When we talk about the sustainability of historic performances, Lynch is redefining that concept."

Over the past two seasons, Lynch has occasionally put up spectacular performances. In fact, he scored 40 points in his very first NBA game, a record that is unprecedented and likely to remain so. The difference this year is that Lynch is producing such numbers much more frequently.

从揭幕战对阵马刺的5X5全能数据到血洗活塞狂砍60分。从让勒布朗颜面尽失的42分之夜，再到与纳什的MVP对决中轰下57分完成实力认证——纽约之王正在把惊世骇俗变成每周集锦！

Last night he racked up 48 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists at Staples Center, including 11 blocks.

What we are witnessing is not just a data frenzy, but also a superstar's almost tyrannical dominance over the game.

Lynch's performance was enough to put him far ahead in the MVP rankings, even though everyone said Dirk's scoring efficiency was historic and the Mavericks' record was also very good.

But last season's Finals proved that Dirk is nowhere near Lynch's level.

Marc Stein's article makes Dirk Nowitzki's path to the MVP award even more difficult.

MVP is ultimately determined by media votes, and everyone is easily influenced by public opinion. Therefore, creating buzz is crucial.

So far, Lynch's biggest rival in the MVP race is Dirk Nowitzki, but last season's Finals ironically became a point of contention, suggesting that Nowitzki is inferior to Lynch. Therefore, it has always been difficult for him to surpass Lynch.

This is somewhat like "using the sword of the previous dynasty to kill the official of the current dynasty." Normally, a star player's performance in last season's Finals has nothing to do with his MVP competition this season.

But that's how media narratives work; they always use various methods to guide public opinion.

Just as Lynch was leading the MVP race with the momentum of his 48-point blowout of the Lakers, the Detroit Pistons, the villain hated by all of New York, dealt Lynch a heavy blow to his winning streak.

On January 15, the New York Knicks lost to the Detroit Pistons on the road. This was the second time in half a month that the Detroit Pistons had defeated the defending champions, and the Knicks' seven-game winning streak was broken.

They had originally trailed 0-1 in the regular season, but have now turned the series around to 2-1.

Zach Randolph was on fire tonight, and Lynch couldn't leave his side.

Carmelo Anthony got his chance and scored 36 points, tearing the Knicks' perimeter defense to shreds.

When Lynch had to focus his attention on Zach Randolph, the unprotected Michael Pietrus became a meal for Cameron Anthony.

In the locker room after the game, Mike Malone gave Michael Pietrus a good dressing down.

After nearly giving up on defending Kobe in the previous game, the Frenchman surrendered at lightning speed once again tonight.

"That damn slack, damn it!" Mike Malone roared, pointing at the Frenchman's nose, as if he had gone mad. "You were completely destroyed by Carmelo Anthony, utterly destroyed! You were barely a warrior in the first half, but in the second half you turned into a fucking coward! That bastard could have blown you over in one step!"

The Frenchman did not refute, as being blown out in the first half severely affected his mentality.

Not everyone is like an alien, a lone wolf, or Eddie Jones, an unkillable cockroach.

The intense competition of the past half-season has left the Frenchman physically and mentally exhausted. Last season, he could persevere because he needed a big contract. But this season, with a new contract in hand, he only feels tired.

Michael Pietrus remained silent with his head down, but when the locker room opened, he still offered a few words of defense for himself in front of the media.

He believed his fatigue was completely understandable.

"I'm always on the defensive end of the opponent's perimeter players. When we played the Lakers, I guarded Kobe; when we played the Pistons, I guarded Melo; and when we played the Cavaliers, I guarded LeBron. I'm always the one on the front line."

But I don't think defending a superstar is one person's responsibility. I admit I couldn't stop Melo, and I admit Lynch needed to guard Zach. But if Eddie or Stephen had been quicker to help, I wouldn't have been in such a predicament. Ultimately, the loss wasn't entirely my fault.

The Frenchman doesn't realize what he's said, but the New York media will make him.

The next day at the Greenburg training center, Mike Malone stormed into the locker room clutching a crumpled copy of the New York Post, the pages rustling with his furious strides.

Pushing open the locker room door, he threw the newspaper into Michael Pietrus's arms without saying a word: "Look what you've done!?"

Michael Pietrus picked up a newspaper, and the New York Post satirized him with a full-page cartoon.

The image shows a Frenchman standing on a dilapidated boat with the words "Team Defense" written on it, throwing his teammates, who are wearing Knicks jerseys, into the Hudson River one by one. The caption reads: "The French Master of Blame-Shifting."

The entire comic satirizes his behavior of shifting blame to his teammates.

Eddie Jones then learned that the Frenchman had criticized the veterans' defensive efforts in an interview the day before, which brought back some unpleasant memories for him.

Shaquille O'Neill-esque baseless accusations seem to have reached New York.

He helplessly spread his hands: "Michael, I want you to know that we really did our best. We didn't slack off, we didn't belittle victory, we didn't ignore your efforts, we did our best."

"You fucking bastard, without their efforts, Melo would have gotten 40!" Mike Malone didn't have Eddie Jones's good temper, and he was ready to continue his tirade.

But his roar was cut off by Lynch's iron-like grip.

Lynch pressed down on his shoulder. "That's enough, Mike! My ears have been ringing since I got here this morning! It's so damn annoying, is this some kind of supermarket sale day?!"

"But those damn Frenchmen..."

Lynch patted Mike Malone hard on the back, then turned to Pietrus:

"Michael, you shouldn't have said those things directly to the outside world. How could you make such a basic mistake? We're not the kind of team that refuses to communicate. If you have a need, you can say it in the locker room instead of confiding in reporters."

Also, never make excuses. What would you think if I told a reporter, "We lost to the Pistons twice in two weeks entirely because of you, and it has nothing to do with me?"

Michael Pietrus nodded, but he has remained silent from the beginning and has not offered any explanation.

"Alright guys, this is a small matter. We've talked it out now, right? What we need to do now is shred these garbage comics, not rub them into our own wounds. Mike, you say something first." Lynch looked at Mike Malone again.

This assistant coach yells at everyone except Lynch.

He took a deep breath, as if suppressing his anger: "OK, I won't yell anymore. But remember, we should never blame each other!"

Eddie Jones also stood up and shook hands with Michael Pietrus: "Next time, let's try to be quicker with our help defense."

Everything returned to calm, and Lynch believed he had handled the incident admirably.

He didn't let the gloom of the loss to the Detroit Pistons linger for long. Lynch quickly led his team to victories against the Charlotte Bobcats, Boston Celtics, and Memphis Grizzlies, putting the Knicks back on track to victory.

Michael Pietrus's defensive effort and offensive efficiency are still not great, but at least they're not to the point of being a liability.

对阵孟菲斯灰熊的比赛，林奇再次轰下40+，全场41分16个篮板4次封盖，把可怜的保罗.加索尔防到只有14+6入账。

At the end of the match, Lin Qi deliberately imitated Pau Gasol's tone when he won the World Championship last year in Spanish: "If the Chinese team has Lin Qi, Pau Gasol can only pray that they will still be the champions."

The Spaniard looked up helplessly at the arena dome, unsure how to complain to the league about these two damn bullies.

Their playing style was clearly driven by personal grudges!
At the press conference, Gasol simply sighed: "Don't ask me any questions. I'd better watch these two bullies fight it out. They had better treat each other with the same intensity they used on me, otherwise I'll have to sue them for intentional assault."

In their next game, the Knicks will fly directly to Houston to face the Rockets in their final matchup of the season.

The last time they met, the Knicks were playing with a depleted roster and lost the game.

Despite the defending champions having a full roster, Tracy McGrady remains confident.

“Lynch is a difficult individual to handle; no one can stop him from putting up those spectacular numbers. But the whole league knows how to beat the Knicks; that’s no secret,” he told a reporter from the Houston Chronicle, his eyes still sleepy.

This formula is indeed publicly available.

Preventing Lynch from getting out of position to help on defense is the most effective way to defeat the Knicks.

Ironically, the Houston Rockets used the same method to defeat the Knicks last time.

Stephen A. Smith mentioned the key to the game on his radio show.

"Hopefully Michael won't lose his way in the second half this time, and hopefully he won't blame anyone this time. The Knicks generously gave him the contract he wanted last summer, and a starting position. He deserves to give everything for the New York Knicks. Man, you can't be that kind of player in the final year of a contract. Go and deal with Tracy, Michael. You don't need to shut him down, you just need to put pressure on him all the time. Don't tell me you can't do it without Lynch."

(End of this chapter)