Champion Rules

Chapter 159, Section 155: Don't underestimate the weight of the phrase "just one step away" (Seeking monthly votes!)

In Game 1 of the series, Lynch scored 20 points in the final quarter to give the Knicks an early lead.

But when talking about this game, people can talk about more than just Lynch's individual heroism.

There was also Stephon Marbury's brief resurgence in the second quarter, and Grant Hill's isolation plays in the third quarter.

Based on Stephon Marbury's post-game interview, Lynch is no longer just seen as a talented player, but as a leader destined for greatness.

Stephen A. Smith praised Lynch on his ESPN show:
"Those pathetic skeptics in Cleveland are like beggars eyeing a sumptuous feast, sourly emphasizing, 'The Knicks couldn't have won without Stephen and Grant's performances. Therefore, Lynch isn't so terrible; he needs his teammates to succeed too.'"

Nonsense! MJ needed Scottie Pippen, the legendary Larry needed Kevin McHale, that's how great team sports should be.

Honestly, I seriously doubt they can grasp one thing completely—that basketball players are human.

People hesitate, feel frustrated, and even want to give up. At these times, as the star player, you have to find a way to bring your teammates back. It might be an inspiring speech, or it might be some seemingly illogical but effective one-on-one plays. In short, you have to find a way.

A leader's ability to pull his teammates back in such moments determines the team's ceiling.

The whole world knows that Lynch is that kind of person.

Stephen A. Smith shares the view of most mainstream media: Lynch is being touted as the next face of the league.

However, Lynch did not join the media frenzy, knowing that the media's praise was meaningless.

If this were the Adam Silver era, the adored Lynch would at least have gained some tangible benefits, such as an SGA-level hair whistle.

At this point, all he can get is some media praise. LBJ has already proven that media praise doesn't guarantee success.

The Knicks have only won one game; the Finals are far from over.

While the world was praising Lynch, Robert Horry was jogging on a treadmill in the gym of the Spurs' hotel.

He gazed at the New York skyline, his mind filled with the shots he had missed the previous night.

As Robert Horry aged, his playing time gradually decreased year by year. However, Gregg Popovich would still put him on the court in crucial moments.

This trust brought Robert Horry comfort, while betraying that trust caused him pain.

At that moment, Spurs video editing consultant Joe Prunty also entered the gym. As a member of the coaching staff, Joe was very familiar with the players, so he joked with Robert Horry, sporting dark circles under his eyes from staying up all night editing videos:

"Many fans call you 'Mr. June,' but June is almost over and you still haven't started performing. If you had made those three-pointers yesterday, the game might have turned out very differently. Maybe last night, I would have gotten dark circles under my eyes from watching the hot New York girls all night, instead of from staying up all night editing videos for Greg."

Joe Prunty's personality is completely different from most of the Spurs coaching staff. While the others are mostly serious and rigid, he is the exact opposite. He is usually frivolous, loves to joke, and speaks without restraint.

Robert Horry knew this guy's personality; he meant no harm, he just wanted to vent about Popovich's outburst the night before. Or maybe he just really wanted to feel the warmth of a New York girl.

But those words still made Robert Horry feel a little uncomfortable.

He pursed his lips: "There's not much pressure in the game right now. I like pressure. Pressure makes me more focused and allows me to see the goal more clearly. In those moments, whether there's an open space or not, I can score as long as I shoot."

“Robert, you’re making it sound so real.” He thought Horry was joking with him too.

But Horry's voice was extremely serious.

“That’s certainly true,” the legendary veteran said, tossing a towel over his shoulder. “These things happened in Hakim’s great legend, in the glory of OK’s dynasty. Now, they’ll happen to Tim.”

After Robert Horry finished speaking, he left the gym. Joe Prunty watched the veteran's departing figure, the mocking smile on his face disappearing.

He also stepped onto the treadmill, gazing at the city skyline.

“Those New York bastards are in for a world of hurt,” he muttered to himself.
-
In Game 2 of the finals, the tension between the two sides was noticeably higher than in Game 1.

This all stemmed from the war of words that ensued after the first battle between the two sides.

Gregg Popovich and Bruce Bowen believed they could maintain their influence as usual.

But Lynch responded to them without hesitation, exposing their ugliness.

Gregg Popovich felt offended, saying that no NBA player had ever been so disrespectful to him in a public interview.

The old man's anger infected the entire Spurs team. No matter how much criticism Gregg Popovich faced from the outside world, the players' respect for him within the Spurs team never changed.

They have buried the seeds of the battle for dignity deep in their very bones.

They will not remain indifferent after Greg Popovich has been humiliated.

Generally speaking, there is very little animosity between Western and Eastern teams because they meet so few times during the regular season.

The Spurs and Knicks were initially just competitors.

But now, some personal grudges have been mixed in with the competition.

The first quarter had barely begun when the flames of personal grudges were already scorching the court.

Bruce Bowen made an overly aggressive tackle during a defensive play, knocking Lynch, who was jumping for a shot, to the ground.

Although he didn't use any footwork, Bowen still played to his strengths.

Tyson Chandler was the first to appear in front of Lynch, shoving Bruce Bowen aside, but this provoked even stronger resistance from the Spurs players.

"You filthy hyena!" Watching the two sides clash, Mike Malone almost wanted to step in and punish the filthy guy himself. In the end, his dissatisfaction turned into a roar, "DeSean, I want you to keep your word!"

During a break in play, DeShawn Stevenson substituted Eddie Jones for him.

Less than a minute later, a second conflict broke out.

Tim Duncan was setting a screen for Maurice Peterson, but DeShawn Stevenson, who was chasing him, didn't go around him. Instead, he shoved his shoulder into Duncan.

The Silver and Black Army's bench erupted in a deafening roar of angry shouts. Popovich was practically right up to the referee's nose, confronting him directly. On the field, the two sides once again shoved and shoved each other, exchanging insults.

DeShawn Stevenson simply tilted his head, spat out his braces, and innocently spread his hands.

He made San Antonio fans feel the same disgust as Bruce Bowen.

As it turned out, DeShawn Stevenson wasn't bluffing. As a member of the New York mob, he was ruthless.

After DeShawn Stevenson committed a foul, the Spurs' defense became much more disciplined.

However, the normal confrontation is becoming increasingly intense.

The dull thud of muscles colliding and the shrieking of shoe soles rubbing together, two torrents of steel being repeatedly tempered in the furnace of Madison Square Garden.

As the game battled to the end of the third quarter, both teams' shooting accuracy was on the verge of collapse due to the intense competition, and the score remained deadlocked like a taut string.

So in the fourth quarter, Gregg Popovich put Robert Horry back in. Even though he hadn't been accurate in the previous game, he still earned the coach's trust.

But tonight, Gregg Popovich's trust was rewarded.

"Three-pointer! Robert Horry hits the Spurs' first three-pointer of the fourth quarter! Never, ever forget Robert Horry, no matter his age. I have to remind everyone, in the first round of this year's Western Conference playoffs, 37-year-old Robert still managed to score the game-winning shot over Chris Bosh!"

Robert Horry roared with excitement, and Gregg Popovich felt gratified.

He always believed in Robert Horry, until the day he retired.

In the fourth quarter, Robert Horry stepped up more than once.

With five minutes remaining in the game, Horry hit another three-pointer to tie the score.

With 2 minutes and 45 seconds left, Lynch faked out Duncan in the low post and scored with a hook shot over the onrushing Ben Wallace. Horry immediately received a handoff pass from Duncan at the free-throw line and made a textbook mid-range jumper over the help defense, erasing the deficit and keeping the Spurs in the competition.

With 1 minute and 23 seconds remaining, Lynch double-teamed and passed the ball to Eddie Jones, whose three-pointer missed.

Twenty seconds later, Robert Horry immediately responded with a mid-range jumper—Flip Saunders, unusually, unleashed a torrent of profanities on the bench as Horry's shot gave the Spurs the lead.

In the fourth quarter, Lynch had to switch back and forth between double-teaming Duncan and defending Horry, and he did it very well as always, giving Robert Horry only three decent opportunities, but he capitalized on all three.

Horry is no longer like he was in his younger days, capable of suddenly scoring 18 points in a single quarter to end a game, or grabbing offensive rebounds in crucial moments.

These days, he doesn't contribute much in the fourth quarter. All told, he only scored three goals, for a total of 7 points.

But Flip Saunders knew very well that without those 7 points, the Spurs would have lost long ago.

"Big Shot Rob is back tonight! My God, how many more championships will this name, etched on the playoff monument since the Olajuwon era, change?" Mike Breen has never seen a role player like Robert Horry, born for clutch moments.

Many role players have delivered moments of brilliance in crucial moments, but only Robert Horry has consistently delivered clutch goals in the playoffs year after year.

On the Spurs' bench, Joe Prunty stood up and applauded the 37-year-old veteran.

From Hakeem Olajuwon's legend to the Lakers' Lakers dynasty, this role player was never the one off the offensive end, but he always made the legend shine.

The light finally shone on Tim Duncan.

Lynch immediately responded with a turnaround jump shot, personally turning the score around over Robert Horry's head.

In the next possession, the Knicks changed their defensive strategy. Lynch went inside to defend TD one-on-one, while Tyson Chandler went out to guard Horry.

The Knicks stuck to man-to-man defense, giving the Spurs no chance.

But this matchup allowed the Spurs to discover the formula for beating the Knicks—minimizing Lynch's help defense. Manu Ginobili capitalized on this opportunity, executing a fadeaway jumper over DeShawn Stevenson, unleashing his signature move and ultimately drawing blood from the defending champions.

Manu Ginobili jumped up and cheered, while Robert Horry pumped his fist and growled.

Tim Duncan emerged victorious in this chaotic battle.

Thanks to key performances from Robert Horry and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs became the first team to take a victory from Madison Square Garden in this year's playoffs.

With the score tied at 1-1, Lynch walked into the players' tunnel and suddenly heard a loud "boom".

DeShawn Stevenson punched and smashed the framed picture of his jersey in the players' tunnel.

Lynch turned to look at Stevenson, who was also staring at Lynch.

"Lynch, it's all my fault. I just... Argentina's cunning feint got me out of the way, damn it!"

Lynch picked up the fallen picture frame and hung it back on the wall: "With this energy, why don't you come with me and smash up the ATT Center?"

Lynch remained calm in the face of the series victory because he knew it was only a temporary one.

Therefore, he remained calm in the face of tonight's defeat, because it was only a temporary setback.

At the post-game press conference, DeShawn Stevenson also vowed: "If the Knicks lose the championship, I will retire from the NBA and go to the San Fernando Valley to film 'The Incompetent Husband'."

On the other side, Tim Duncan, like Lynch, remained unsmiling in the face of victory, his granite-like, cold face blending seamlessly with the black backdrop behind him.

He stared at the camera like an emotionless robot, his deep voice squeezing out from his Adam's apple: "Yes, Lynch is phenomenal. I've always felt that the future belongs to him."

This is a classic Tim Duncan trash talk, without any profanity but every word is venomous. The seemingly humble praise hides a poisoned edge, and every syllable proclaims to the world: the glory at this moment still belongs to the silent rock.

The Spurs returned home with an advantage, demonstrating their value in a way that Robert Horry was aiming for.

Reporters in San Antonio also ran the headline "Rob lights a victory cigar as Tim chokes."

During Game 3 of the series, the giant screen at the ATT Center in San Antonio also displayed the slogan "Birthplace of Legends".

But Lynch didn't let Spurs fans witness the birth of a legend; instead, he roughly stubbed out TD's cigar.

In San Antonio, witnessed by Spurs fans, Lynch scored 43 points.

Perhaps it was JR Smith's hot streak that started to take effect, as Lynch's catch-and-shoot jumpers were devastatingly accurate today. Countless times, Spurs players watched helplessly as the ball flew through their fingers, whistling through the net behind their heads.

Tim Duncan became a great backdrop on his home court. With 37 seconds left in the game, the Spurs were only down by 3 points and even forced the Knicks to the point where they had only 3 seconds left on the shot clock before failing to get a shot off.

If this defense succeeds, the Spurs will once again have a chance to turn the tide.

But the King of New York didn't show his league; he crushed San Antonio.

With three seconds left, Lynch received a pass from Stephon Marbury beyond the three-point line, then turned and launched a jump shot that swished through the net!
After scoring, Lynch didn't roar with joy; he just stared at Duncan and said, "The future doesn't belong to you, and neither does the present. All you have is the past, Tim."

Two of the three matches went down to the wire.

This is a celebration for the fans, but it's too cruel for the players.

In Game 4, the Spurs relied on the team's hot three-point shooting to win a game at home, while Game 5, the pivotal Game 5, became a suffocating battle with every second hanging in the balance.

The game saw 19 ties and 15 lead changes throughout. Sideline reporter David Aldridge remarked, "If you love basketball, you'll love this game. Only these two teams can put on such an incredible showdown!"

Both sides maximized their strategic approaches. Grant Hill started to clear the Spurs' wing, while the Spurs sent in Robert Horry to force Lynch to defend Duncan one-on-one, preventing him from escaping the quagmire of physical battles in the paint.

Both sides demonstrated an extremely high level of skill in both tactical deployment and player performance.

This made the game extremely difficult, with star players giving their all and role players fighting until their last bullet was fired.

Manu Ginobili strained the ligament in his left middle finger and groin during a scramble for the ball.

Grant Hill twisted his ankle with 55 seconds left in the game, and a sharp pain shot through him instantly.

But neither of them left the field; they simply told the team doctor, "I'm fine!"

With 47 seconds left in the game, Bruce Bowen deliberately left Grant Hill open to contest Lynch's jump shot.

Lin Qi chose to trust his teammate when double-teamed, and he decisively passed the ball out.

Grant Hill responded to Lynch's trust, and the basketball pierced the net amidst the breathless atmosphere, widening the gap to 5 points in the final moments and helping the New York Knicks raise their flag atop the pivotal Game 5.

After the Spurs called a timeout, Grant Hill limped back to the bench after making a jump shot.

It wasn't until he sat down that people noticed his ankle was incredibly swollen.

The time bomb that had accompanied him throughout his career seemed poised to destroy everything at this moment.

On the other side, Manu Ginobili's fingers are almost unable to bend, and a groin injury is affecting his signature change of direction.

Normally, if you have an injury, you need to rest and recuperate.

However, Manu Ginobili and Grant Hill both held extremely high tactical importance for their respective teams.

Manu Ginobili is the Spurs' ace in transitional lineups, while Grant Hill is the foundation for the Knicks to clear the wing.

They cannot fall.

Although there are only 47 seconds left in this match, this series is not over yet.

How these two players deal with injuries will, to some extent, determine the course of the series.

Grant Hill remained silent, as did Lynch, who simply patted his head.

The game continued, and Manu Ginobili returned to the court, but his drives to the basket were clearly affected.

When he broke through again using Duncan's screen, Lynch could clearly see that his speed was not as fast as before.

So the moment the Argentine drove straight into the paint and raised his hand for a layup, Lynch's chase-down block extinguished his scoring opportunity and the Spurs' hopes of winning Game 5.

After Lynch got the basketball, the Spurs immediately committed a tactical foul.

Amid boos from 20,000 fans, Lynch calmly made the two game-winning free throws.

With a 3-2 lead, the New York Knicks fought a fierce battle in San Antonio to take a 3-1 lead and are now just one step away from defending their title!
But Grant Hill's injury made Philip Sanders feel that this step wouldn't be so easy to take.

If he is lost, Lynch will definitely face a tough battle in G6.

Gregg Popovich smashed the clipboard; they were just one possession away from victory tonight. If Manu Ginobili hadn't been injured and had narrowed the gap in that crucial moment, the Spurs would have had a real chance.

They were just one step away, but that one step was enough to crush the Spurs.

After five hard-fought games, the competition will return to New York.

The Knicks' loyal followers await the king's coronation.

They all knew that they were just one step away.

However, the next day, Sports Illustrated featured Lynch and Duncan on the cover with a headline reminding all New York fans:
Don't underestimate the weight of the phrase "just one step away".
-
The Boston Celtics are trying to trade their fifth overall pick for an All-Star caliber player; if that fails, they will trade Paul Pierce to begin a rebuild. —Slam Dunk

The next Chinese basketball superstar, Yi Jianlian, completed his open tryout, surrounded by several chairs. — NBA Time and Space.

"I'm back to championship form, the Butcher is back!!!" — LeBron James posted on his blog with a picture, warning his opponents for next season.

Is it possible for the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire both Jason Kidd and Kevin Garnett? Let it happen! Los Angeles is never afraid of having too many stars! —Los Angeles Times

We haven't finalized the starting lineup for the next game yet. As you can see, both teams have injuries, which is part of the competition. Moreover, this is a game about who will win the Larry O'Brien Trophy. — Flip Saunders on the starting lineup for the next game.

I will definitely play. I'll spend the next few days figuring out how to get back into my physical shape. — Manu Ginobili confirms he will play in Game 6.

"If given the chance, I would definitely step up." — Robert Horry, who briefly shone in Game 2 before disappearing for three more games, talks about the do-or-die Game 6.

I've already finalized a deal with the director over there. If we lose, you can expect to see my movie. Of course, I'm not going to play the husband in *The Incompetent Husband*! — DeShawn Stevenson discussing a potential film project.

"Lynch, what do you think about Grant's injury? Since the Pistons, he has never played with an injury; that's his principle. Are you worried about his injury?"

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. I’m not saying Grant isn’t important, but we will never surrender just because we lack help.”

"The whole world is expecting you to defend your title in G6. Is this an incentive or a pressure for you?"

"Both factors are at play, but even without the pressure from public opinion and the expectations of fans, I will do my best to end everything in Game 6. There is no reason to give the opponent a chance to breathe."

"LeBron seems very excited about next season. Do you think this is a sign that the Cavaliers are about to bring in a blockbuster star?"

"I don't think so. It's common knowledge that LeBron was the best player in the offseason. But whether he'll still be the best when the new season starts is anyone's guess. In fact, I don't want to talk about LBJ. He's already fantasizing about next season, but sorry, my season isn't over yet."

What do you think of the cover headline of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated?

"They're right, the weight of that one step is not to be underestimated. But I'm not the only one carrying that weight; it's us!"

(Thanks so much to YUANW, 胡言的乱语, and other great contributors for their generous donations! I'm extremely grateful!)
(End of this chapter)