Champion Rules

Chapter 169, page 165: When he closes the door on you, he'll also take down the roof beams (Seeking monthly votes!)
Lynch's outstanding defense taught fans around the world a fact—rule changes can't save everyone.

Even under the No HandCheck rule, breaking through the DPOY's defense is still not an easy task.

The No HandCheck rule only adds a lubricant to breakthroughs, but the lack of inherent strength cannot be compensated for by such a lubricant.

As a powerful penetrator, LBJ relies heavily on speed and physicality. Once he loses these two advantages, you can't expect him to rely on unpredictable rhythms to get past opponents, even though he can lose the ball with a simple turn.

Of course, it would be difficult to find a player in the entire league who would give LBJ an advantage in terms of strength and speed.

But the Knicks happen to have the most unique defensive monster of this era.

In fact, before this season, Lynch might have had difficulty defending James's drives one-on-one due to his agility.

However, after a whole offseason of dedicated training in lateral quickness, Lin Qi is fully capable of switching to the small forward position.

Every impact by LBJ became a living experiment to test Lynch's training results.

Philip Sanders sat on the bench with his legs crossed: "I'm worried, Mike."

"What's there to worry about?" Assistant coach Mike Malone laughed, pointing at the scoreboard. "Look at LeBron's pathetic state. Lynch completely dominated him. He brought it on himself; he shouldn't have been so arrogant as to provoke Lynch. The game will soon be decided, and it might not even last a full game. So, there's no need to worry about Lynch's stamina."

“No, that’s not what I’m worried about,” Philip Sanders said, his gaze fixed on Lynch. “I’m worried about what if the team doesn’t strengthen its roster. God, we can’t waste Lynch’s talent, that would be a crime. Look at him, he’s incredible.”

Flip Saunders noticed during training camp this year that Lynch had improved significantly in both dribbling and perimeter defense.

Last season, Lynch was already the Defensive Player of the Year, but his defense continues to improve.

He can battle in the low post like Karl Malone, and he can also weave a wide net on the perimeter like Scottie Pippen.

Such a monster, combining offense and defense, is rare in the Alliance.

But Flip Saunders, who had experienced failure with the Timberwolves, knew that even the most incredible players need help.

Building a team in the NBA is an extremely complex matter; it's not something you can do simply because you have money.

Philip Sanders worries that if the reinforcements are not handled well, it could affect the height of Lynch's career and waste his prime, which would be unforgivable.
Mike Malone waved his hand: "Trust Sam. Since he joined the team, it has been managed very well. What's more, our owner is someone who is very willing to invest in a championship. At the last internal meeting, Sam and James' attitude was clear enough that they would build a roster for Lynch to build a dynasty in the near future, and they will definitely work towards that goal."

Sanders' voice was so soft it was almost a soliloquy: "Hopefully they've already planned out the blueprint for the summer of '09: the lottery draft, trades, free agency. That will be a crossroads that will determine the course of history."

(The previous statement that Marbury's contract expired in 10 years was a typo and has been corrected. It actually expired in 09.)
(Regarding Marbury's terrible contract, it wasn't Presti who gave it to him. His contract was for the 2003-04 season before Lynch entered the league. After he was traded to the Knicks midway through the season, the Knicks directly gave him a five-year contract extension in January 2004. So it has nothing to do with Presti, and Lynch couldn't interfere. It was purely Assassin's fault.)
"Perhaps we can't build the roster we want in 09 and need more time to mature, or perhaps we won't even need to wait until 09 to return to our peak," Malone slammed the tactical board heavily on his knees. "But one thing is certain: Sam and the owner will never let Lynch be left alone. Just watch, this young ruler is destined to create his own era."

At that moment, a thunderous sound echoed across the court as Lynch completed his second block on James.

He suddenly stopped halfway through his drive, turned around, and launched a jump shot.

However, his less-than-smooth movement allowed Lynch to easily block the shot.

LeBron James missed several one-on-one shots in a row, and his breathing became increasingly heavy under the spotlights of Madison Square Garden.

Although Tayshaun Prince stole the ball from Marbury in this possession, preventing the Knicks from widening the gap further.

However, the team's situation remained quite passive, and when LBJ brought the ball across half-court again, the Cavaliers players even lacked confidence.

Lynch clapped his hands: "LeBron, if you really can't play, you can pass."

Elton Brand once again yelled for the ball, "LeBron, calm down! Give me the ball!"

“It’s no use,” Amir Johnson’s infuriating voice arrived as expected. “LeBron’s pride is more valuable than your position. He chooses to prove himself.”

Amir Johnson doesn't believe James won't pass the ball at all today; he's not like Kobe Bryant, a player obsessed with taking shots.

But at the very least, he has to score a goal over Lynch before he starts passing the ball, especially after Lynch said that trash talk.

Otherwise, what's the difference between that and surrendering?
The duel between superstars is never a simple contest of skills; it is a life-or-death struggle for dignity.

Between superstars, it's better to fight ruthlessly than to kneel down.

When Admiral played around with Hakeem Olajuwon, he didn't order anyone else on the team to defend Olajuwon; he only asked Dennis Rodman to help with the defense.

LeBron James dribbled the ball forward, and as expected, he didn't call for a screen and lowered his center of gravity.

LeBron's dribbling trajectory traced a restless arc under the spotlight, searching for an opening to break through. After several attempts, he still couldn't find a single opportunity.

As the timer slid from 24 seconds to 8 seconds, everyone held their breath, waiting for the final chapter of this one-on-one drama.

It seems that LeBron James has no choice but to force a shot.

Amir Johnson smiled with satisfaction, which meant he could once again show off in front of Elton Brand without worrying about being embarrassed.

After all, no sensible ball handler would choose to pass the ball after dribbling for 20 seconds. In this possession, the ball definitely won't reach Elton Brand again.

“Elton, I'm sorry, I'd love to play one-on-one with you too. But obviously, LeBron understands the difference between us.”

Amir Johnson's voice trailed off as LeBron James lobbed the ball to Elton Brand with just four seconds left on the shot clock.

This choice, which defied the rules of superstardom, caught Amir Johnson off guard.

"Huh? No."

Before Amir Johnson could react, the 99 number one draft pick received the ball and turned to shoot, making the shot.

"Shut up, you bitch!" Elton Brand roared, pounding his chest. He had finally vented his anger.

Amir Johnson looked at LeBron James with a bewildered expression, then glanced at Lynch with a wronged look: "How could he do that?! Does he even know how to play basketball?!"

Lynch shrugged. Only a genius would know why LeBron James would pass the ball with four seconds left.

Although the Cavaliers scored, the mood of Cleveland fans did not improve.

The sound of the net trembling was like a sarcastic slap in the face.

Because of that last round, you could say that LBJ chose to surrender.

He was very unwilling to give up, so he dribbled for a full 20 seconds, which shows that he originally wanted to play one-on-one.

But under Lynch's impenetrable defense, he didn't even have the courage to make a move.

LeBron James gave up on competing fiercely with Lynch, something that would never have happened to someone like MJ, Kobe, or Lynch.

“LeBron,” Lynch ran across half-court, staring at his arch-rival, “is this your answer? You’re going to make me experience this brutal game?”

LeBron James chose to remain silent, simply telling himself, "I just made the right choice, and we scored, didn't we?"

Soon, another voice echoed in LeBron James's mind: "LeBron, is this just wishful thinking? You have to beat him! You can't run away! This is a battle for dignity! This is your chance to break the losing streak!"

The sound made his tongue taste rust, perhaps from the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth where Lin Qi's elbow had grazed it during the fight.

Number 23 shook his head vigorously, completely banishing the latter sound from his mind.

"No, this isn't running away," he murmured to himself, gazing at his reflection on the wooden floor, sweat dripping down his nose. "This isn't running away; this is teamwork first. This is a sound decision, and no one can question sound basketball!"

James wasn't born a coward; he gradually changed his mindset through repeated confrontations.

For example, tonight, he went from being full of fighting spirit and determined to fight Lin Qi to the death, to now convincing himself.

He decided to end this absurd duel.

Then, LBJ stopped playing one-on-one.

He played like a professional point guard, feeding the ball to his teammates and directing their runs.

Under Lynch's defense, he restrained his shots very much.

But Lynch did not stop his insane killing spree.

He will take on LeBron James one-on-one whenever he has the chance.

He will always stand in front of LeBron James as long as he is on the court.

This did give Elton Brand a scoring opportunity. No matter how aggressive Amir Johnson's defense was, he couldn't single-handedly shut down the 99 number one draft pick.

But Elton Brand was unable to lead the Cavaliers to a comeback victory.

At halftime, LBJ had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Lynch had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks.

The Cavaliers are down by 15 points.

As the buzzer sounded for halftime, Lynch approached LeBron James, who was about to walk into the players' tunnel, and proudly raised his arm, like a gladiator displaying his blood-stained blade.

"Come on, LeBron, I'll keep going in the second half, I definitely will."

Mike Breen and the entire crowd rose to their feet and applauded.

Lynch played irrationally tonight; he neglected help defense and passing, allowing Elton Brand to do whatever he wanted.

But why are so many people still cheering for him?

Because he showcased the purest form of competitive sports.

No refereeing, no playing the victim, direct output, emotionally stable, decisive, no compromise, no discussion.

This is the purest rebuttal to LBJ's words.

Therefore, even if his play wasn't entirely rational, fans were still willing to cheer for every thud of Lynch's muscles colliding with others, and to go wild with his battle roar as he pounded his sternum after a block.

These wildly growing competitive symbols have precisely shattered LBJ's carefully crafted facade of "reasonableness."

LeBron James returned to the locker room, grappling with self-doubt.

Brian Scott walked up to him with a smile. "LeBron," his voice was smooth as if ironed, patting the young superstar's sweaty shoulder, "you activated Elton's offense, you created space for him. This is All-Star caliber play, this is the wisdom of leadership basketball. Don't give up, we'll turn the tide in the second half."

The head coach's words interrupted LBJ's brief moment of self-doubt.

Yes, the coach approves of my approach.

This means I did not make a mistake.

Nobody thinks I'm a coward.

In the second half, I will continue to play like that.

It's impossible for Lynch to be this accurate for the entire game.

Reasonable basketball may not be as exciting, but it will definitely lead us to the other side of victory.

What do those noisy commentators know? When the champagne of victory is popped, nobody remembers whether the process was dramatic enough.

“Their DPOY is burning himself out,” Brian Scott continued. “And what we have to do is let that fire burn Madison Square to ashes, let him burn himself out.”

In some ways, Brian Scott's strategy is also logical.

He believed that Lynch's over-reliance on the game would become too much for the Cavaliers in the second half. That would be the time for the Cavaliers to launch their counterattack.

To mount a counterattack, he needs to ensure that LBJ doesn't lose confidence prematurely.

His predecessor, Larry Brown, was a demanding coach who was accustomed to publicly criticizing his players.

So now he has a career, even though he is the only coach in the 21st century besides Phil Jackson who has won consecutive championships.

Brian Scott values ​​this job, so he will learn from his mistakes and deal with LBJ in the right way.

The second half began, and LeBron James continued to focus on playmaking and connecting the team.

He almost completely abandoned one-on-one play with the ball, with only sporadic off-ball cuts reminding people that this chosen one's athletic talent has not been completely extinguished.

Lynch continued his relentless retaliatory tactics, and in the second half, he changed his playing style somewhat. He didn't rely solely on the ball, but instead increased his off-ball attacks.

James discovered that Lynch's sudden cuts were becoming difficult to defend.

His first step was quick, but his stride was too long.

If you're not careful, Lynch will create distance between you and the ball, and with timely off-ball screens, chasing down Lynch becomes quite difficult.

Lynch started firing from beyond the three-point line, which allowed the point difference to widen even faster.

Of course, the Knicks didn't continue to let Elton Brand do whatever he wanted.

During halftime, Flip Saunders instructed Ariza to double-team Brand more aggressively.

This will give Tayshaun Prince some open looks, but that's okay, the little prince's offense can't kill the game.

This strategy worked. Elton Brand's offense was no longer as unrestrained as it was against Amir Johnson's aggressive defense and Ariza's ever-present long arms.

Even when Tayshaun Prince gets a shot opportunity, it's usually only a half-open shot – Trevor Ariza always rotates back into position immediately to minimize Prince's shooting space.

Furthermore, the Knicks always maintain a high level of activity at the shooting guard position.

Ariza, DeShawn Stevenson, and Eddie Jones all possess excellent defensive rotation capabilities. If one gets tired, another can immediately step in.

The point difference gradually widened, and Lynch's score continued to rise.

Brian Scott clenched his fists on the sidelines, realizing he had underestimated last season's Grand Slam champions.

Despite taking on a lot of responsibility, Lynch showed no signs of declining efficiency in the second half.

What's even more problematic is that LeBron James's offensive drive is as weak as Brian Scott's desire for his wife.

His attitude toward LBJ during halftime allowed number 23 to comfortably shirk responsibility—of course, in his mind he wasn't actually shirking it.

Not long into the fourth quarter, when Lynch scored his 41st point of the game with a three-pointer after a reverse run, some loyal fans who had cheered for number 23 trembled and turned off their TVs.

The 17th encounter, the 17th defeat—fate continues to write the same script for the duel between the son of Akron and the tyrant of New York.

The curse that LBJ cannot beat Lynch will continue.

Rich Paul and Maverick Carter, who were also watching television, fell silent.

Maverick Carter's cigar had long since gone out, and the ashes piled up in the ashtray were like his crumbling faith.

Previously, Maverick Carter had been a staunch supporter of the "Loyalists".

He believes that LBJ should not leave Cleveland. The 2+1 contract was merely a tactic to force the team to strengthen its roster, not a genuine intention to leave.

Only by winning a championship in Cleveland can LBJ be called a legend.

Teaming up with Carmelo Anthony? That's utterly absurd. Unless LBJ can turn the Pistons into his own team, he'll miss out on a chance to become great, and he'll become the next Scottie Pippen.

But now, Maverick Carter's thinking has wavered.

The last defender of the loyalists' Adam's apple bobbed, his voice seemingly squeezed out from between rusty gears: "Is it really possible for LeBron to beat Lynch in Cleveland?"

Rich Paul's sigh echoed for a long time in the enclosed space as he gazed out the window at the gloomy Cleveland night sky: "Eyebrow pencil."

"Damn, if LeBron wasn't in the East, he wouldn't have met Lynch so many times." Realizing that his statement was essentially a surrender, Maverick Carter chose to shut up.

The conversation ended there, and both of them could hear the guilty conscience in each other's tone.

The answer to what happened in the summer of 2009 is becoming clearer.

The shadow cast by number 20 on the Cavaliers has been long enough, yet there seems to be no end in sight.

On the court, Lynch gave a thumbs-up to his new recruit Steve Blake, who had passed him the ball, and then turned his head towards James:

"LeBron, you piece of trash, when are you finally going to let me experience the brutal game you promised?"

Lin Qi trampled on his mortal enemy without restraint or mercy.

James was speechless; his pre-game provocation became the burial ground for him.

He angered the King of New York, and this is the price he paid.

The Cavaliers are already down by 31 points, and the game is essentially over.

But Brian Scott didn't intend to substitute his starters; he wanted to at least let his star player put up some respectable numbers before taking him off the court.

But Lynch wasn't even going to give LBJ that much face.

Just like last season, Lynch refused to leave the court even during garbage time in the game against the Cavaliers.

When LBJ declared that he was irreconcilable with Lynch, it effectively removed the shackles from Lynch's body.

He can play garbage time in games against the Cavaliers without restraint because people know the two have a grudge, so no one will criticize Lynch for playing garbage time.

When Mike Breen realized that Lynch was still on the court after the timeout, he knew that this would be LBJ's worst night ever.

In their past 16 matchups, LBJ has not always been a one-sided massacre.

In one-third of the games, LBJ and Lynch had similar stats, and the Cavaliers were still able to fight until the very end.

In the other third of the nights, LBJ's stats were far inferior to Lynch's, but the Cavaliers didn't lose by much.

With a third of the game remaining, the Cavaliers suffered a crushing defeat, but the stubborn figure of number 23 remained on the stat sheet.

Never before has there been a game in which Lynch completely outclassed LBJ in individual statistics while the Knicks crushed the Cavaliers by a large margin.

Tonight, the match will be decided.

Lynch continued to defend LBJ one-on-one during garbage time. Even though the game was already decided, the Defensive Player of the Year remained an unyielding steel defense.

Stephen A. Smith’s words from years ago have come true for Lynch—Cleveland comes from Latin and means “unrealistic hope.”

As the final buzzer sounded, the New York Knicks crushed the Cavaliers by 52 points, 127-75.

Not only that.

Lynch's explosive 53-point performance built a monument to victory, his 17 rebounds supported his dominance in the paint like steel, his 6 assists wove an impeccable offensive network, and his 5 blocks nailed the opponent's dignity to the pillar of shame.

In contrast, LeBron James' dismal 15 points reflected his helpless struggle with only 7 rebounds, and his seemingly impressive 9 assists were shattered by 6 turnovers.

A game where both statistics and point differential completely crushed LeBron James, effectively severing his head.

Mike Brin felt a chill in the air.

"When God closes the door of fate, He always mercifully leaves a window of hope open. But sorry Lynch, when He closes the door for you, He also takes down the roof beams."
-
Elton was probably the only player who truly tested me. He couldn't stop me from winning, but I couldn't stop him from scoring either. We were evenly matched, and I would put him in the "Kings'" category. But as I said, ultimately he couldn't make me lose, so I'm still the second-best power forward in the East. —Amir Johnson's assessment of the 99 number one draft pick who recently joined the Cavaliers.

I don't want to comment on that idiot! — Elton Brand, furious.

Hahaha, it's nothing. When you're out in the world, your identity is yours, and it's Lynch who gave it to you. Being on Lynch's team, he can pat himself on the back however he wants. Because Lynch is the kind of leader who will truly lead you to victory, not someone who treats you like a disposable item. — Mike Malone's comment on Amir Johnson's remarks, while also subtly mocking LeBron James.

LeBron did play a brutal game, but he didn't say which side he made brutal. —DeShawn Stevenson supporting LBJ.

My strategy wasn't the problem; the problem has always been the people executing it. — Mike Brown, who was once fired by the Cavaliers, finally got his revenge.

Why are you looking at me? I wasn't the one who said we were irreconcilable enemies. — Lynch talking about his habit of playing during garbage time.

LeBron James did not attend the post-game press conference.

(Thank you so much to the generous donors like He Feng! I'm extremely grateful!)
(End of this chapter)