Champion Rules

Chapter 149, Section 145: None of This Is LeBron James' Fault (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

The New Jersey Nets suffered a crushing defeat, with the second-best power forward and shooting guard in the East dominating the fourth quarter, and Lynch failing to score a single point in the fourth quarter. — Cleveland Plain Dealer

As Lynch said, he has officially put Jason Kidd's Nets career into its final countdown. —The New York Times

贾森.基德被高估了，他连巅峰期都被高估。04年入选一阵的贾森.基德15分9助攻39%命中率出勤62场，球队47胜35负。二阵的萨姆.卡塞尔20分7助攻49%命中率出勤81场，球队58胜27负。这个结果只能说明萨姆真的很丑，否则贾森压根进不了一阵，这就是他！你们指望他带领篮网赢纽约尼克斯？交易他吧！——《纽瓦克邮报》。

Claiming to be Superman is the most foolish and arrogant statement in the world, and Lynch would lose face over it. —Detroit Free Press

With 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 blocks in three quarters, I don't think there's anything wrong with Lynch's self-assessment. Furthermore, anyone who's gone to elementary school should know that Lynch's original words didn't mean that at all. Besides, Lynch didn't tattoo Superman on his back. — ESPN writer Marc Stein
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Lynch's self-proclaimed superman persona sparked some controversy that shouldn't have arisen.

Nike-affiliated media outlets love to take things out of context. In their descriptions, Lynch seems to be chin-up, telling everyone, "I'm fucking Superman."

But Lynch's original words meant something completely different: "I don't have superpowers, but my teammates make me feel like Superman."

The Knicks' star player's original words emphasized team strength, and rather than self-praise, it was a heartfelt declaration of the locker room's cohesion.

Although the Knicks experienced a minor setback mid-season due to the Michael Pietrus incident, Lynch's decisiveness and Sam Presti's efficiency resolved all issues before the negative impact of the Frenchman could fully spread.

From the starting point guard to the Lithuanian bench player, every member of this Knicks team plays an irreplaceable role in the winning system.

This is what Lynch truly celebrates.

Stephen A. Smith used the 89 Pistons as an example on his show.

"In 1989, the Detroit Pistons, in their first championship season, made a significant mid-season trade. This mid-season trade did not strengthen the team; instead, it weakened the team in terms of talent."

Adrian Dantley, a five-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion, is sowing seeds of division in the locker room due to his dissatisfaction with giving younger Dennis Rodman more playing time.

The Pistons acted swiftly and initiated a trade, acquiring Mark Aguirre, who is indeed an All-Star caliber player, but it was clear to everyone that this was a trade that downgraded the talent of the players.

It is widely believed that if the Detroit Pistons had not made this trade, they would not have won the championship in 89.

Compared to talent, there are some things outside of basketball that are more important.

The New York Knicks are going through something similar this season. DeShawn's talent is not as good as Michael's, and you can't expect this $93-a-year guy to score 22 points against LeBron James.

But his arrival made the team better, which is what Lynch was really praising.

He loves the current atmosphere, he loves the team, and with the support of his teammates, he feels invincible.

He trusted his teammates, and they trusted him in return.

You can misinterpret Lynch's words all you want, but when Lynch successfully defended his title, no one can distort this great history.

Lin Qi is very grateful to the media that spoke up for him, and he is also glad that the power of discourse in the basketball world no longer belongs solely to Nike.

But he didn't care that Nike media misinterpreted his meaning. His words weren't meant for the media and fans, but for his teammates.

He wanted the whole team to know that although he had the best stats, the victory did not belong to him alone.

Lynch's comments directly led to Eddie Jones's breakout performance in Game 2 of the series, where he scored 23 points and his several one-on-one plays against Carter seemed to bring back memories of his peak.

The New Jersey Nets offered no resistance, suffering their second consecutive crushing defeat in New York.

After the game, Eddie Jones explained why he was in such great form tonight.

"The championship belongs to Lynch, but it belongs to everyone. We can't expect Lynch to put up nearly 40 points and 20 rebounds in three quarters every game. He also has to help Phil fix the swimming pool during the offseason, so we can't let him get exhausted now."

That being said, Lin Qi actually had a very tough time.

To shut down the Nets' offense, he would have to expand his help defense area as much as possible.

Fortunately, he finished the game in three quarters in two consecutive games, which is not too serious a challenge for Lynch's physical condition.

At the post-game press conference, Jason Kidd once again brought up the story from 1971.

"At that time, the Washington Bullets were also down 0-2. It wasn't the end of the world, and it didn't mean the Knicks would win the title defense. The Bullets fought a great fight back after returning to Baltimore. I think we will play a similar game at Continental Airlines Arena. Our will has not been broken, and that's the most important thing."

Jason Kidd aspired to recreate the myth of the 1971 Washington bullet, which he used as a source of inspiration.

Nets fans felt the same way; during Game 3 at Continental Airlines Arena, countless fans held up signs that read "Believe."

They firmly believe that the Nets' Big Three still have a chance to make a comeback.

But shortly after the game started, the fans' hopes were completely dashed.

The Nets players failed to deliver a strong performance at Continental Airlines Arena, with Richard Jefferson, one of the Nets' Big Three, even surrendering first.

His performance today was like sleepwalking; he was no longer proactive in attacking the ball.

You can imagine Richard Jefferson's despair. He struggled to shake off the clingy Trevor Ariza, finally creating a sliver of space, and just as he received the ball and was about to shoot, that number 20 would appear right on cue, negating all his previous efforts.

Over time, Richard Jefferson gave up resisting.

Just five minutes after the match, he looked at Lin Qi with a strange expression and said, "You beast, come on!"

Lynch: ???
Following Richard Jefferson's negative example, Mickey Moore also chose to give up.

The aggressive defense he displayed in the first two games has vanished without a trace; he knows he's no longer likely to get a mid-level contract. So why continue to exert himself?

For a player like him, honors, championships, and dignity are simply not important.

US dollars are the real deal.

Since it's impossible to get anything tangible now, why bother risking my life?

If he can get a big contract, he will be happy even if the team loses, just like those players who don't care even if they lose the game after getting great individual statistics.

Even if the New Jersey Nets pull off a stunning comeback, Mickey Moore won't feel any joy.

Beneath the dome of the Continental Airlines Arena, the collapse of faith was like a domino effect.

Fans tore up signs that read "Believe," and angry shouts filled the arena: "Sell this rotten team!" "Jason Kidd, get out of New Jersey!"

,

The sound waves pierced Kidd's eardrums, causing him serious injury. He had played for the Nets since 2001, leading the team, which Marbury had dragged into the abyss, to two NBA Finals appearances.

Now, however, the fans want the team to trade them.

Looking at the New Jersey fans who were loudly complaining, Lynch felt that they might be the most tragic group of people in the world.

They thought that with the change of ownership and the trade of Kidd, the team could get back on track.

But things won't get any better, because this is the swan song for the New Jersey Nets.

If nothing changes, these will be the last two playoff games these fans will watch at the Continental Airlines Arena.

By the time the Nets make the playoffs again, the team will probably be called the Brooklyn Nets.

Lynch did more than just put an end to Jason Kidd's Nets career.

This also marks the end of the New Jersey Nets' final struggle.

Jason Kidd and Vince Carter are the only two players on this Nets roster who are still persevering, and they are still waging a Sisyphean struggle.

UFOs yearn to fly over mountains, but they are no longer young.

Jason Kidd wanted to hold onto his last peak, but the last peak is like a handful of sand; the harder he tried, the faster it slipped away.

Stephon Marbury looked at the two struggling guys and felt like the luckiest man in the world.

He was fortunate enough to be saved by God.

Without Lynch, without him changing New York, Stephon Marbury wouldn't believe what he'd be like now.

Perhaps he's no longer playing in the NBA.

The lingering fear of surviving the ordeal added a touch of pity to Marbury's gaze as he looked at Kidd and Carter.

God can't save everyone.

When the match ended, Jason Kidd approached Lynch and shook his hand. The two put aside their tense confrontation, and their relationship eased.

"Well played, Lynch, it was absolutely dominant."

"You persevered to the end, Jason."

"Congratulations, I don't think there's anything we can do to stop you."

"Now can you answer my question? Are you going to Los Angeles this summer?" Lynch couldn't help but wonder how history would change.

Jason Kidd looked up and glanced at the fans booing him.

"Maybe, I haven't thought about it carefully yet. But at my age, if I really had to leave, I would definitely prefer to go to a team that has the strength to compete for the championship." Jason Kidd's old-school superstar persistence crumbled at this moment.

He had to admit that he had to learn to bow his head elsewhere, and that his time on his own was over.

Lynch understands why seeking a partnership with another star player would place such a heavy psychological burden on Jason Kidd, just as he understands why Jermaine O'Neal rejected the New York Knicks last summer, and why Kevin Garnett struggled with whether to leave the Timberwolves.

But this old-fashioned era is coming to an end.

Lynch believed that he might even hasten the end of this old-fashioned era.

After taking a 3-0 lead, the series was no longer in doubt.

This has made the other round of the Eastern Conference semifinals even more anticipated.

LeBron James' Cavaliers and Carmelo Anthony's Pistons are locked in a close battle.

The day after the Knicks crushed the Nets, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons at home, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

This was a night for LeBron James, as he scored 25 consecutive points in the final stages of the game, accounting for 29 of the Cavaliers' last 30 points.

This was an unparalleled individual performance; he finally looked like a responsible star player.

Richard Hamilton was completely unable to withstand LeBron James's onslaught, and Lionel Hollins stubbornly refused to change his defensive strategy, which became the driving force behind LBJ's miraculous performance.

He didn't want Anthony to go up against James; he wanted Anthony to stay active on offense.

However, unlike in previous games, the Pistons made quick adjustments in the following games.

In Game 4 of the series, Carmelo Anthony personally went to face off against LeBron James.

This is Carmelo Anthony, who has honed his skills with the Pistons for many years and is extremely dedicated to defense.

His defensive presence made it difficult for James to easily penetrate the paint, leaving the Cavaliers' offense reliant on Jermaine O'Neal.

But Jermaine O'Neal was outplayed by Zach Randolph, whose powerful low post play left him scrambling on defense, further impacting his offense.

After losing Game 4, James feigned composure: "When the Cavaliers return to Cleveland, we will end it all."

He rarely keeps his word, and after the pivotal Game 5 in Detroit, the series ended in Cleveland in Game 6.

But the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated.

Jermaine O'Neal was completely out of sorts on offense in this game, and his weakness of low efficiency as the playoffs progressed was exposed once again.

Zach Randolph, on the contrary, became more and more dominant, using 26 points to destroy the Cavaliers' interior defense.

LeBron James scored a game-high 31 points, but the team still lost.

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cavaliers 4-2, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive year.

At the end of the game, LBJ and Melo embraced.

Last season's loss to Lynch was already embarrassing for Nike, and this season's defeat to the Pistons has left Nike's publicity department scratching its head in frustration.

They spent dozens of times more resources on LBJ than on Carmelo Anthony, even going so far as to have LBJ and Carmelo Anthony promoted together.

But to this day, LBJ still hasn't lived up to his potential.

Anthony hugged James and said, "You'll find a way, brother."

James did not respond; a profound sense of frustration overwhelmed him.

Unlike last season, when LBJ's performance against Lynch was simply disastrous.

But this season, LeBron James' individual performance has been outstanding enough.

He scored 25 points in Game 3 and 31 points in tonight's crucial game—although he made several mistakes at critical moments, his overall performance was still commendable.

It was hard for LBJ to accept losing the game despite his outstanding individual performance.

After hugging LBJ, Carmelo Anthony turned to look at Larry Brown, who had been kicked out of the Pistons last season.

Melon grinned, revealing a grotesque smile: "You fucking need me so badly, Larry!"

Larry Brown was furious; he didn't think he had done anything wrong.

The Pistons only won by 4 points tonight. If LBJ had reduced his turnovers by half, no, by two, the outcome of the game might have been very different!

The media around LBJ always says he can impersonate Magic Johnson, but he even has difficulty imitating Grant Hill!
He walked into the players' tunnel, where Larry Brin happened to run into James, who was talking to Rich Paul.

The veteran coach unleashed all his pent-up anger on number 23: "Damn it, LeBron, who can you beat?!"

Rich Paul was quite dissatisfied: "Hey, what's wrong with you? LeBron also gave it his all, that's a fucking 31-point performance in a do-or-die game!"

"Stop talking about giving it your all. The Cavaliers have done enough for LeBron this season, but he still can't get past the second round. Ultimately, LeBron is a coward! Look at his ball handling in the final moments, it's all turnovers, and all of them come from passing! He's afraid to shoot, he doesn't have the courage to take responsibility, and he won't even say a stupid 'we'll get back at him next time'!"

"Get out!" Rich Paul roared. "Get out of here! We don't want to talk to a bastard like you who only knows how to slander!"

Larry Brin chuckled and pushed up his glasses: "Ha, telling the truth is slander? I'm not leaving. I still have four years of my multi-million dollar contract with the Cavaliers. And the whole world knows that losing isn't my fault!"

Larry Brown left, and LeBron James glanced at Jermaine O'Neal, who had a poor performance that night, but made no comment.

There was neither complaint nor consolation.

Rich Paul watched Jermaine O'Neal's weary figure recede and shook his head: "It's not your fault, LeBron, it's just—"

James remained silent, waiting for Rich Paul to finish speaking.

"It's just that your teammates aren't at a high enough level yet. Next season, we'll be implementing that new 2+1 contract. I think we should seriously consider our career planning."

LeBron James nodded, not refuting Rich Paul's statement that "your teammates aren't good enough."

Rich Paul patted LeBron James on the back: "Don't worry, it's normal to win or lose in the playoffs, especially losing to Melo. At least we haven't lost to Dwight Howard yet."

He comforted.

LeBron James's mind was in turmoil; he recalled discussing playing together with Melo last season.

That's crazy, but not impossible.

But now there is a very scary problem – he lost to Melo in the playoffs, so in what capacity should he join Melo?
LeBron James didn't know; he felt he shouldn't be that cowardly.

At the Pistons' press conference, Carmelo Anthony, who will face Lynch in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third consecutive season, had a sharp look in his eyes.

He knew that the real battle had just begun.

"Who is a reporter for The New York Times?" Anthony asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

A reporter raised his hand and stood up: "Is there a problem, Melo?"

"Did Lynch really say he felt like Superman?"

"The meaning is slightly different, but he used similar expressions. What's wrong?"

“It’s nothing,” Cameron Anthony said with a frighteningly fierce expression. “I’ll just make him lose face because of those words.”

(End of this chapter)