Champion Rules

Chapter 145, Section 141: I'll handle the passion, romance, and glamour (Seeking monthly votes!)

"I don't care about league rules, I only follow the rules of Madison Square Garden. Nobody can touch Lynch, that's the rule of Madison Square Garden." — DeShawn Stevenson, chin held high, responding to his post-game beating of LeBron James.

"Young Master! ? ? ? —— When he heard that he would be fined $2, his expression immediately changed 180 degrees, and the Gatorade in his hand soaked his suit pants."

Why should I pay attention to him? Why should I pay attention to an opponent who can't keep up with my intensity at all? Of course, I'm grateful for everything the second-best shooting guard in the East did for me; I'll pay all his fines. — Lynch on the post-game altercation and league punishment.

I don't know. As a law-abiding basketball player, my first reaction when I saw the conflict happen was to rush over and try to pull LeBron away. I really wasn't taking sides. I was just playing my game; we're all just trying to make a living. —Amir Johnson innocently spread his hands.

Lynch is nothing, all he does is ride on the coattails of others. The Knicks have the best center, the second-best power forward, and the second-best shooting guard in the East; you won't find another team with such a luxurious roster in the entire league. He only scored 50 points tonight. If I had as many shot attempts as him, I would have scored 60 points against a sworn enemy like LeBron. — DeShawn Stevenson's assessment of Lynch's performance tonight.

I was just joking; Lynch is the big shot. — DeShawn Stevenson immediately changed his tune after learning that Lynch would pay his fine.

Yes, Lynch's attitude towards LeBron tonight was full of contempt; he showed him absolutely no respect. If it were any other opponent, I wouldn't approve of Lynch doing that. But for someone who openly declared they were irreconcilable enemies with Lynch, for someone who deliberately provoked a physical altercation after the game was over, I don't think Lynch's actions were problematic. — Flip Saunders's assessment of Lynch's attitude towards LeBron James tonight.

If you watched the game, you'd know that my collision with Lynch wasn't intentional. In fact, his shoulder bumped into mine. —LeBron James on the origin of the conflict.

I didn't back down, someone just pulled me! I swear on my word, I wasn't scared! — LeBron James responds to his frantic retreat after the confrontation.

The last time they faced off was the last time LBJ disrespected Lynch, but Lynch will have countless more nights disrespecting LeBron. —Mark Jackson's post-game summary.

"The King's Contempt"—the headline on the front page of The New York Times the day after the game, accompanied by a photo of LeBron James being brutally beaten while Lynch walks away nonchalantly.
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LeBron James' night in New York became the most humiliating night of his career.

It's nothing new that number 23 got blown out by number 20. In the past two and a half seasons, the two have faced each other 14 times in their careers, 10 in the regular season and 4 in the playoffs, with LeBron James winning 0 and losing 14.

Even in LeBron James' most impressive matchups, he only managed to hold his own against Lynch.

On most nights, Lynch would also thoroughly expose LeBron James' personal statistics.

If it weren't for Nike's media influence, the two companies would never be frequently compared.

What was new last night was the humiliating sight of LeBron James being knocked down by DeShawn Stevenson late in the game, which added a dramatic footnote to this shameful defeat.

He played Dr. J, who was humiliated by Bird with data.

He also played Bird, who gets beaten up by Dr. J.

They experienced two completely different kinds of humiliation at the same time.

Stephen A. Smith joked on his radio show, "LBJ can play any role; he's much more versatile than Lynch."

The following morning at the Greenburg training center, DeShawn Stevenson walked into the locker room humming a tune, the bruises on his knuckles resembling medals of honor.

When he recalls the feeling of his fist hitting LeBron James' jaw last night, and the powerful blow that sent blood and foam flying through his mouthguard in a perfect arc, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turn up.

This hook, thrown in defense of his brother, has become one of the most exhilarating memories of his professional career.

After Lynch walked into the locker room, DeShawn Stevenson tossed him a bottle of drink: "Thanks, buddy. I can only repay you with my performance on the court."

He was referring to Lynch paying his fine.

Lynch stood motionless, as steady as he had been in his back-to-the-basket game the night before. He caught the flying plastic bottle with one hand and unscrewed the cap:

"I will also pay you the wages you missed during your five-game suspension."

Lynch knew perfectly well that last night's conflict had nothing to do with DeSean Stevenson; he had only beaten up Number 23 to stand up for him. Therefore, he felt it was his responsibility to cover all of DeSean Stevenson's financial losses.

But Desean Stevenson waved his hand:

"Come on, my salary this season is 93, even less after taxes, but I'm not so poor that I can't afford to go to a strip club. Like you said, we're already much better off than those single mothers. So stop pretending to be rich in front of me, I don't need it."

As Stevenson spoke, he grabbed a towel and threw it at Lynch, only to be hit on the forehead by an empty can in return.

More and more people came into the locker room, all discussing the exhilarating victory of the previous night.

Philip Sanders' shout brought the joyful recap to a close: "Alright guys, party time's over, time to get back to your real love—basketball. Get moving, let's get training started, guys."

Lin Qi was the first to stand up and leave the locker room.

Last night's game was of great significance to Lynch, as he inflicted immense pain on his arch-rival.

However, the whole team sensed that he had an unfinished business.

What more could he want? He dominated LeBron James, and his teammates beat LeBron James.

His nonchalant departure and LBJ's humiliating beating became one of the most famous scenes in professional sports history.

Only Grant Hill knew what Lynch was thinking.

For Lynch, last night's brief moment of glory was merely a stepping stone to the temple of legend.

His climb is far from over.

With their morale high, the Knicks easily won their remaining two games in January against the Bobcats and the Magic, extending their winning streak to nine games, the longest in the season.

1月结束，尼克斯以40胜8负的战绩领跑全联盟，连39胜9负的达拉斯小牛也甘拜下风。

This marks the first time in Lynch's career that he has remained at the top of the league as the regular season enters February, leading to increasing confidence that this year's regular season MVP will belong to the young Caesar.

The two teams' explosive regular season records have led the media to predict that this year's Finals will most likely be a rematch between the Knicks and the Mavericks.

However, for Lynch, whether it's Dallas, the Silver and Black Army, or other challengers standing in his way, all he has to do is complete the final coronation under the spotlight.

His determination was unwavering.

After the January season ended, Lynch refreshed his talent shop – having achieved his first MVP goal, Lynch had already accumulated 200 talent points half a month ago.

Lin Qi wasn't very satisfied with the items in the mall last time, and he was waiting for the day when the merchandise would be refreshed.

After today's update, Lin Qi finally saw a decent talent.

[Improve the upper limit of jump shot consistency under motion variations to Danny Green's level. Price: 200 Talent Points.]

Danny Green is undoubtedly one of the best 3-and-D players in NBA history, and he has the same honor as LeBron James—three championships with three different teams.

People know he was an excellent defender and had an incredibly accurate three-point shot during his prime.

But he also has a skill that is not easily noticed: he can still make some unbelievable jump shots even when his movements are distorted.

Many NBA players make these kinds of shots, but Danny Green makes a particularly large number of them from beyond the three-point line.

Even with a contorted and unbalanced body, and arm swings deviating from textbook norms, the basketball can still trace a tricky arc and pierce the net.

Even with his shooting form completely distorted, Danny Green still maintains a certain level of accuracy.

For Lynch, as he plays off-ball more frequently, more teams will definitely target his off-ball defense when the playoffs begin.

Lynch needs this kind of strong shooting ability to cope with the higher intensity of defense in the playoffs.

After this exchange, Lynch only has 12 talent points left, but the MVP series of missions is not yet over.

He will have many more opportunities to collect talent fragments.

In February, the Knicks inevitably experienced a period of fatigue, going 2-3 before the All-Star break.

But Lynch wasn't worried. Considering the Knicks have a lot of veterans, occasional slumps are acceptable.

He also believes that after the All-Star Weekend break, the team will be back in top form.

This year's All-Star Weekend was held in Las Vegas, and Lynch was once again selected as the All-Star vote leader and started the season.

Reporters had been eagerly anticipating any special interaction between Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, both embroiled in trade rumors, at this year's All-Star Game, but Jason Kidd's absence due to a back injury dashed their hopes.

However, besides Kidd and Kobe, there is another person who is feeling lost about his future.

On the day before the main competition, Lynch, KG, Kobe and Yao Ming sat together watching the dunk contest.

Halfway through the game, Lin Qi and Yao Ming went to the CCTV commentary booth to wish Chinese fans a Happy New Year.

When they returned to their seats, Kobe and Garnett were having a crucial conversation. KG stroked his stubble, his gaze fixed on the dazzling light show above the arena: "Are you really planning to leave Los Angeles? The trade deadline is the day after tomorrow. What's going to happen? Can you really trade for Jason Kidd?"

As KG asked, his eyes widened. In an era when the trend of superstars forming teams at their peak had not yet swept the league, the combination of 34-year-old Kidd and 29-year-old Kobe was already beyond imagination.

Lin Qi and Yao Ming sat down, but Kobe did not shy away from continuing the topic in front of them.

"Nothing will happen, KG. I plan to wait until summer to see how things go."

After speaking, Kobe glanced at Lynch, who had just sat down. He knew how this guy, or Carmelo Anthony, would affect the Nets and determine whether a trade would occur.

“But we did contact Jason, but everything is still uncertain. And you, Kevin, I’ve heard some rumors.” Kobe steered the conversation toward KG.

“I don’t know,” Kevin Garnett sighed. “I can’t leave Minnesota, I can’t leave my fans, that’s where I have everything. But to be honest, the Timberwolves don’t see any hope of winning a championship right now,” he said with a self-deprecating laugh. “We can’t even make the playoffs.”

Garnett turned to Lynch, with whom he had a fairly good relationship: "If it were you, and the Knicks had no hope of winning the championship, would you leave?"

Lynch was surprised that KG would ask him this question. He and KG had a good relationship, but they weren't close enough to be intimate.

"That depends on the management's attitude. The fans' support cannot be let down, but without the team's support, winning the championship is just empty talk. Although it's none of my business, I have to say that Kevin McHale is an idiot and he can't give you anything."

Yao Ming chuckled and patted Garnett on the shoulder: "He said something similar to me, but we don't have to be so extreme. He's the guy who ousted his own team's general manager in his rookie season, who can follow his example, hahaha."

Lynch was just saying it casually, but KG's gaze became serious, as if he had seen a corner of the veil lifted by the goddess of fate.

Loyal faith and a burning desire for the Larry O'Brien Trophy were tearing him apart from the bone.

Lin Qi had no control over this kind of thing.

But he knew that change was bound to happen.

Just like many parts of history he has altered.

As usual, Lynch coasted through this year's All-Star Weekend, showcasing a few dunks, but that was about it.

The All-Star game performance of Lynch and the performance of Lynch at other times perfectly illustrate the difference between a star player who has the desire to win and one who doesn't.

Kobe ultimately won the All-Star MVP with 31 points. Perhaps he knew he was destined to win nothing this season, so he did his best to secure a consolation prize for himself.

After the All-Star Weekend, Lynch's title defense continues.

As expected, neither the Lakers nor the Nets made any moves before the trade deadline. Kidd wanted to try again, and Kobe chose to wait another six months.

The Knicks experienced another minor wave of injuries in March, affecting Stephon Marbury, Eddie Jones, and Grant Hill.

Marbury considered a forced comeback, knowing Lynch was MVP contention and the Dallas Mavericks' record was very similar to the Knicks'. If they fell behind, the MVP race might tip in favor of the German.

But Lynch stopped him.

"Take good care of your injury. I don't want to trade your health for MVP."

"I just want to do something for you."

"Help me defend my title, that's all."

Eddie Jones' injury gave the second-best shooting guard in the East a starting opportunity. During his time as a starter, he averaged 11 points per game with a 32% three-point shooting percentage.

In his third game against the Cavaliers this season, he even scored 23 points, helping Lynch maintain his undefeated record against LBJ.

After the game, he humbly stated, "I think I could even be called the 1.5-point guard of the East."

Amir Johnson thinks he's really shameless.

The excellent performance of the bench players prevented the Knicks' record from slipping too much due to injuries.

The spring breeze in April dispelled the shadow of injuries, and the Knicks were all healthy. Flip Saunders began load management, strictly controlling the playing time of the starting players, including Lynch.

But this did not prevent Lynch from still putting on an MVP-caliber performance, helping the Knicks achieve a historic 63 wins despite load management with consecutive double-doubles.

虽最终不敌达拉斯小牛的67胜，但最新一期的MVP排行榜上，林奇仍以场均28.8分13.1个篮板4.4次助攻1.8次抢断2.6次封盖的数据位列排行榜第一。

Lynch's basic stats completely outclass Dirk's: third in the league in points per game, first in rebounds, ninth in steals, and third in blocks.

Except for three-point shooting percentage, Lynch is not inferior to Dirk in any aspect.

Whether four wins or individual performance is more important is the battle between Nike's media and Reebok's media.

Their propaganda campaign will definitely influence the final vote.

However, two things are certain—Steve Nash won't steal anyone's MVP this season, and Carmelo Anthony has no right to complain that someone else stole his MVP this year.

The Eastern Conference standings have been confirmed, with the Knicks, Pistons, Cavaliers, Heat, Nets, Wizards, Bulls, and Magic ranking first through eighth respectively.

The four players, including Lin, Melo, James, and Wade, have begun to dominate all four top spots in the Eastern Conference, and Dwight Howard's Magic have finally joined the playoff race.

The pace of the new era is unstoppable.

But this also means that Lynch is very likely to not face LBJ in the playoffs this year.

Because Anthony and LBJ will meet early in the semifinals, and it is generally believed that the Pistons will win – the Cavaliers' 0-4 record against the Knicks this season has already excluded them from the championship race, only the Cleveland media firmly believe that they still have a chance to win the championship.

Another confirmed fact is that Jason Kidd is very likely to face Lynch in the semifinals.

Faced with the wave of a new generation, Jason Kidd will make a final desperate attempt.

The outcome of this series will directly impact the biggest suspense of this summer.

At the post-season press conference that night, Lin Qi leaned wearily against the back of his chair.

In his bid for MVP, Lynch played every single one of the 82 regular season games without a single day of relaxation.

During the wave of injuries, he was forced to start the playoffs ahead of schedule.

He admitted that he felt somewhat tired.

This exhaustion was a combination of physical and psychological effects; he had even forgotten what it felt like to enjoy alcohol with D'Addario for the last time.

Beside him, Philip Sanders answered a question about whether Lynch was too tired and whether he overused Lynch during the regular season.

"Of course he gets tired, but think about it, every time Lynch makes a move, he's trying to rebuild my pool, pulling out the bushes from the old one, and relaid the tiles. All of this makes me tell myself: keep letting him hit, don't let him rest!"

The press conference was met with laughter, and Lynch laughed as well. Flip Saunders once again defused a sharp question with the recurring theme of rebuilding the swimming pool that had been used throughout the season.

At the end of the press conference, a Sports Illustrated reporter raised his hand:

"Lynch, don't you think this Knicks team is very similar to the Knicks team in 1971 that was eager to defend their title? Frequent injuries to veterans, tired star players. That Knicks team was ultimately defeated by the more energetic Washington Bullets after leading 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals due to fatigue."

Should we worry that fate is repeating itself in New York?

Lynch recalled his conversation with Willis Reed at the beginning of the season and his advice.

"The story of 71 years did not have a perfect ending, but that's the world of competitive sports."

Passionate, yet tragic.

Romantic, yet decadent.

Gorgeous, yet muddy.

"The New York Knicks' eternal captain has already shown me desolation, decay, and the mire, and now Lynch stands before you—"

Willis Reed's words, "Remember, hold on a little longer," echoed in Lynch's mind, making his eyes shine.

"Only responsible for passion, romance, and glamour!"

(End of this chapter)