Champion Rules

Chapter 168, Page 164: If you missed MJ at 28, then you absolutely mustn't miss him at 21! (Seeking monthly votes!)

Knicks assistant coach Mike Brown was a victim of the "star matchup strategy".

In Game 1 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals, then-Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown assigned LeBron James to guard Lynch one-on-one.

He firmly believed that a strong enough and agile enough wing player was the best choice to defend Lynch.

The final result of the game proved that Mike Brown had a deep misunderstanding of LBJ.

His strength is limited to his physique, but his mentality on the defensive end is very fragile; a few failed defensive rounds can leave him dejected.

His agile footwork, capable of instantly moving from the three-point line to the basket, seems to exist only on the offensive end; he is far less agile on the defensive end.

LeBron James is not just the best player to defend Lynch, he's practically Lynch's chosen one.

Under his defense, the Cleveland Cavaliers were slaughtered by 47 points, setting a new record for the biggest point loss in the playoffs.

Of course, LBJ's defense wasn't entirely without merit. He successfully kept Lynch from playing in the fourth quarter because the team's lead was too large, ultimately limiting Lynch's personal score to 36 points.

This game became the catalyst for Mike Brown's dismissal.

Thanks to Nike's media coverage, the disastrous Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals was blamed not on LeBron James, but on Mike Brown's poor decisions.

Ironically, in the subsequent Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks also used a star-match strategy, and Lynch's one-on-one defense against Carmelo Anthony was extremely successful.

The same tactics, executed by different players, yielded two completely different results. This stark contrast shattered all excuses: it wasn't the tactics that were wrong, but the fundamental difference in the executioners' character.

Now, fate has given Mike Brown another chance to clear his name.

When Lynch suggested that he would directly match up against LeBron James on both ends of the court, he recalled the night in 2006 when James guarded Lynch one-on-one.

What would happen if the roles were switched?

The cycle of fate appears particularly ironic under the spotlight of Madison Square Garden.

In basketball, many things need to be compared.

When people question whether SGA deserves the MVP award, Anthony Edwards will prove that he does.

When people question whether Mike Brown's tactics were the culprit behind the Cavaliers' massacre, Lynch will stand up for him.

As an academic coach, Philip Sanders knows all too well that such emotional matchups will disrupt the balance between offense and defense.

"Linch, the game has just begun. This isn't a street fight. Going head-to-head with LeBron will exhaust your defensive value and drain your energy. It's a very low-efficiency approach."

Lynch stared at Philip Sanders, his gaze still firm: "Of course I know it's unreasonable, which is why I just said it's a request, please do this for me."

The fire burning in his eyes made the Knicks' bench heat up; it was the suppressed fury after being provoked by their arch-rival.

Mike Malone slammed his hand on the clipboard: "Give him a chance! Phil, let Lynch do it! The whole league knows about their relationship. Give Lynch some room to maneuver and let him take down that bastard!"

Flip Saunders' gaze swept across the bench. Stephon Marbury's clenched fists bulged with veins, Trevor Ariza straightened his back, and DeShawn Stevenson shouted, "It's okay, coach! Lynch will play three, Trevor will play two. I'm willing to give up my playing time! Sometimes, Lynch has to learn to win without me!"

Philip Sanders isn't the type to act impulsively, but at this moment, everyone's eyes were telling him one thing: if he refused, he would lose control of the locker room, and he would lose respect and authority there.

For a head coach, losing these would be fatal.

Philip Sanders looked at Amir Johnson: "Amir, stick to Elton Brand all the time!"

Amir Johnson excitedly ripped off his training clothes and slammed them onto a chair: "Lynch, focus on LeBron. I'll defend my title as the second-best power forward in the East against that newcomer!"

The substitutes' bench erupted in howls like a pack of wolves, the roar almost drowning out the fans in the stadium.

Lynch smiled. "Thank you, Phil."

Mike Brown was smiling nearby.

From a rational perspective, he shares the same view as Flip Saunders: he does not support Lynch directly matching up against James.

But from an emotional perspective, he desperately needed this opportunity to vindicate himself.

Just then, the buzzer sounded, and Lynch finally got what he wanted. Ever since he heard LeBron James's provocation in the locker room after the previous loss, the fire in Lynch's heart had never been extinguished.

Yes, the Knicks lost to the Lakers' Big Three in their opening game, and were dominated throughout the entire game.

But for Lynch, his team is definitely not one that LeBron James can fool.

This isn't a basketball game; it's a Spartan gladiatorial contest where only crushing your opponent's pride to dust can extinguish the flames of your passion.

The game resumed, and LeBron James returned to the court.

Just now, Cavaliers' new head coach Brian Scott didn't make any strategic changes. During the entire timeout, almost everything he said could be summarized as: "LeBron, you're really great."

After changing several head coaches, Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry finally realized one thing: the coach next to LBJ doesn't necessarily have to be a tactical genius, but he must be someone who can make LBJ happy.

The X and O on the tactical board are just empty symbols. Making LeBron James happy and creating a harmonious atmosphere in the locker room is more effective in improving the team's fighting spirit than any tactic.

And no coach in the entire league understands the art of flattery basketball better than Brian Scott.

This really worked. Even though the Cavaliers were behind, LBJ still walked onto the court with great confidence.

He enjoyed being worshipped as a god, much like a medieval knight enjoyed having his armor polished by his squire.

As Brian Scott's fawning voice still echoed in his ears, he suddenly saw a sneer on the face of Mike Brown, the idiot on the Knicks' bench.

He seemed to be expecting something.

The game began with the Cleveland Cavaliers, trailing by 6 points, taking the initiative on offense.

After LBJ dribbled the ball past half-court, he saw that the person guarding him at the top of the key was actually Lynch.

The cheers at Madison Square Garden grew even louder, and Mike Brin felt his blood rush to his head: "Lynch seems to want to prove that every single one of his abilities is superior to LBJ's!"

Lynch's defense reminded Spike Lee of a younger Kobe Bryant.

He constantly adjusted his distance and position with small, quick steps, always maintaining the best defensive stance.

Lynch had already redeemed the "Andre Robertson One-on-One Defensive Footwork" talent, so his perimeter defensive footwork has always been excellent.

After acquiring Tony Allen's lateral move before the offseason, Lynch was full of confidence in his perimeter defense.

Seeing that Lynch was no longer guarding him, Elton Brand sensed an advantage in the matchup and raised his hand for the ball: "LeBron, I can beat him one-on-one!"

Amir Johnson, who was responsible for guarding Brand, raised an eyebrow and grinned as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world: "LeBron is a smart man. He knows you can't handle the second-best power forward in the East, so he won't pass you the ball."

Elton Brand let out a cold snort. He had never seen such a shameless person—this guy, who averaged only 5 points per game, dared to call himself the second-best power forward in the East in front of him, a two-time All-Star. Why don't you just win two championships, surpass Jordan, and call yourself the GOAT?
"LeBron, let me take him down!" Elton Brand continued to call for the ball.

"Save your breath, Elton, don't make things difficult for yourself," Amir Johnson replied with absolute confidence.

Amir Johnson's confidence doesn't stem from his own ability, but from the self-esteem of superstars.

Even if LeBron James is weak, he cannot escape the duel with his arch-rival.

He'll definitely be taking a lot of one-on-one shots against Lynch tonight, instead of passing the ball to Elton Brand.

Just like how Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade would have a lot of one-on-one battles every time they met.

So what's there to be afraid of if Elton Brand can't even catch the ball a few times?
Amir Johnson decided to go ahead and pretend without hesitation.

When you go out, your identity is given by yourself.

LeBron James certainly didn't back down; he wanted to let Lynch experience what it felt like to be blown past in one step, and he wanted to personally break the three-year losing streak against him.

If Lynch guarding him one-on-one is what that idiot Mike Brown is hoping for, then he's going to be very disappointed.

LeBron James knew that Lynch had once shut down his good friend Carmelo Anthony in a one-on-one defense.

But his explosiveness is not as mediocre as Carmelo Anthony's.

James took a step back, then accelerated to break through.

However, he did not get the breakthrough he expected. Lynch's lateral movement was very fast and his footwork was accurate.

At the same time, LBJ was unable to use his strong physique to directly push Lynch aside, because Lynch's physical strength was equally impressive.

LeBron James was completely shut down by Lynch. He drove into the paint and forced a layup. With a loud thud as leather struck his palm, he was met with a solid block.

Mike Breen's roar nearly shattered the commentary booth: "The DPOY is ruthless! Look at him, look at Lynch's defensive flexibility! He can defend the paint, he can defend the perimeter, he can crush you anywhere, he's unstoppable on defense!"

Before the echo of the basketball hitting the floor had faded, Lin Qi stood like a war god in front of the staggering number 23: "You still need to practice, you bronze medal. That's why they won't let you play in the opening game. If the gap in skill is too big, the tickets won't sell for a good price."

This one-on-one defeat was a huge embarrassment for LeBron James, as it was a stark contrast, and he was defeated by Lynch without any excuse.

Stephon Marbury led the fast break, his knees had long lost their explosiveness, but his eyes, which had seen through eleven years of NBA history, were still sharp—a surgically precise bounce pass tore through the Cavaliers' defense, the basketball arcing eerily across the wooden floor, precisely finding Trevor Ariza cutting to the basket.

"boom!"

With the score difference at 8 points, LeBron James turned around and Lynch was beckoning him with his finger.

“Reckless LeBron, prove you can do better than your useless brother Melo.”

LeBron James gritted his teeth; he wasn't without fighting spirit, and he decided to continue his one-on-one attack on Lynch, hoping to create a gap in Lynch's defense.

The recent match made LBJ realize that he couldn't defeat Lynch simply by relying on physical talent.

He decided to add some technical elements to his physical gifts.

LeBron James lowered his center of gravity beyond the three-point line, dribbling the ball alternately with his left and right hands.

Seeing this, Amir Johnson continued to provoke: "Elton, thank LeBron. He'd rather be the clown himself than let you lose face. What a great sacrifice."

"Shut up, you bastard, you fucking moron!" Elton Brand's roar drew the referee's attention, a direct insult to the female members of the Eastern Conference's second-best power forward's family.

If it were Lin Qi who provoked him like that, he wouldn't feel so angry.

But it was absolutely disgusting to hear these words coming from Amir Johnson.

Amir Johnson wasn't angry; in fact, he was pleased. Because sometimes, disrupting the opponent's mentality is part of defense.

LeBron started again, and the moment his foot pushed off the ground, the floor of Madison Square Garden groaned under the strain.

LBJ was about to drive to the right, but suddenly changed direction to the left at the moment of starting.

However, Lynch was like a moving wall, always blocking No. 23's way.

LeBron James was certainly not going to give up, so he immediately turned to the right.

But the intense competition completely disrupted his dribbling rhythm, and the basketball rolled off the court like a living thing that had broken free of its restraints.

So, just as the Cleveland fans in front of their TVs were about to cheer, LBJ, who was halfway through his turn, dropped the ball, and his one-on-one attempt ended in a very embarrassing failure.

“What a beautiful waltz!” Lynch exclaimed.

James quickly picked up the ball with both hands, and since he could no longer dribble, he had no choice but to pass it to Tayshaun Prince.

Tayshaun Prince received a pass stained with sweat and humiliation, cut to the basket, but missed.

The cheers from Madison Square Garden stung James's pride, and his one-on-one play looked clumsy against Lynch's defense.

Immediately afterwards, Lynch received the ball beyond the three-point line, blew past LBJ in one step, and prepared to make a layup.

An enraged LeBron James grabbed Lynch's jersey, and the referee called a foul on him.

He could only vent his anger on the referee: "This was normal competition! Damn it, this is a basketball game, not a women's ballet! He did the same thing when he was guarding me!"

Lynch smiled: "LeBron, when did you start using self-deceiving lies to maintain your pathetic dignity?"

The referee ignored number 23 and simply signaled for Lynch to go to the free throw line.

After Lynch made both free throws, the Cavaliers were down by 10 points in the first quarter.

Yes, the Knicks didn't seem as strong as they were in the last game against the Lakers' Big Three.

But the defending champions' dominance was undiminished against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Not everyone has the right to challenge Lynch's team.

Seeing the score gap widen to 10 points early on, and seeing LeBron James miss consecutive one-on-one shots against Lynch, Mike Breen solemnly told fans around the world:

"No matter what period it is, whether the Knicks are rebuilding or contending for the championship, whether their roster is young or aging, one thing will never change: Lynch will never let his arch-rivals have the right to live."

This is very similar to that of the one in the 90s; he never tolerated provocation from his mortal enemies.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you missed Michael Jackson at 28, then you absolutely mustn't miss Lynch at 21.

(End of this chapter)