Champion Rules

Chapter 171, Section 167: Let's End It Here (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Heading to the front lines.

This slogan, brimming with passion and a sense of mission, was originally just a standard promotional theme designed by the NBA for this season.

Following a tumultuous offseason marked by dramatic changes in the league's landscape, the intense preparations of all thirty teams perfectly embody this spirited and combative slogan.

But no one in the NBA's publicity department could have imagined that it was Stephon Marbury's interview that truly made this topic widely known among fans.

“When we went to the front lines, there were always some people who thought about running away, but that person would never be me. I believe that my father would not want to see me use him as an excuse to run away either.”

This interview video, brimming with passion and deep emotion, ignited the entire basketball world like a wildfire, truly etching the slogans that were once just on posters into the souls of every fan.

Stephon Marbury returned to the team the day after attending his father's funeral, participated in training, and gave an interview to reporters.

In the original history, this event directly led to Stephon Marbury's complete breakdown.

But now, thanks to Lynch, Stephon Marbury is no longer fighting alone. The mental armor that Lynch personally forged for him is protecting his wounded heart.

Lynch stared at the familiar figure on the training court, his knuckles unconsciously tapping the soft cushion of the bench. Stephon Marbury was focused on practicing his corner three-pointer, his sweat-soaked jersey outlining his increasingly lean spine.

Lynch was also surprised by Marbury's speed of adjustment. He is not a superstar, so he did not have the standard superstar start. Unlike most black players, Stephon Marbury had a father when he was young, and the father and son had a very deep relationship.

Therefore, the blow of his father's death to him was self-evident; this heart-wrenching pain was enough to make an ordinary person succumb to despair for months.

But he overcame those difficulties and returned to the field immediately.

After finishing his shooting practice, Marbury walked off the court, panting heavily.

His declining physical abilities have affected his shooting consistency, and he has to spend more time maintaining his shooting touch.

Marbury sat down next to Lynch and unscrewed the cap of the sports drink.

Lin Qi patted his shoulder: "You should rest for a few more days. Even if it's not for your own sake, you should spend some time with your mother. She has just lost the person she relied on all her life."

“My brothers will be with him,” Marbury replied. “And my mother supports my decision. She’d rather watch me give it my all on the court than lock herself in her room.”

Lin Qi nodded and didn't say anything more about it.

"Thank you for your support. We'll win the championship together again, Stephen."

Marbury hesitated for a moment, the water bottle in his hand making a soft click. His gaze swept over the championship banner fluttering in the dome of the training facility, and he responded quietly.

"Yes, definitely, Lynch."

The shadow of Don Marbury's death was gradually dispelled by victory.

Stephon Marbury's performance did not suffer from the loss of his loved one; on the contrary, he played with great intensity.

In the games in early December, he scored 24 points against the Magic, 16 points against the Spurs, and 17 points against the Wizards.

Stephon Marbury's image has never been so positive; he was called "New York's fighter who lived to die" by The New York Times.

This guard, who overcame numerous difficulties to reach the front lines, even ranked third among Eastern Conference guards in the latest All-Star voting statistics.

Marbury's aggressiveness on both offense and defense seems to have returned to its peak.

But his peak is over.

As the season progressed, Marbury experienced some injuries and physical issues.

He can occasionally put on an outstanding performance, but his consistency is lacking.

Last season, the Knicks retained their championship title thanks to the burning passion of their veterans.

But the fuel in the veterans' tanks is not inexhaustible.

On Christmas night, in the second game between the Knicks and the Lakers' Big Three, Stephon Marbury gave it his all but was unable to score in double digits.

Jason Kidd's defense is deadly to Stephon Marbury right now.

Kidd is quite old, but age has had little impact on his defense.

Because he's a player who truly defends using his brain.

Unlike many defensively excellent point guards, Gary Payton's defense declined drastically as he got older, and in the final years of his SuperSonics career, he was unable to make a positive impact on the defensive end.

But even as Jason Kidd aged, his defense remained outstanding. He applied the court vision of a genius point guard to the defensive end; he knew when and where to be, and he knew the effectiveness of his footwork, reach, and footwork.

Mike Breen even believes: "I think Jason now can even make young superstars like LeBron and Dwyane suffer on the defensive end."

Cleveland fans exclaimed that Mike Breen's life was miserable. While an aging player like Kidd might be able to defend Wade, could he really defend LeBron? LBJ would consider it a loss if he scored less than 28 points in a single game against him!

Jason Kidd's age-independent defensive prowess made it difficult for Stephon Marbury to get anywhere.

Ultimately, he only managed 8 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Without support, Lynch couldn't carry the team alone, and the Knicks lost to the Lakers once again.

After the game, Kobe hugged Lynch and said, "Thank you for beating me up last season. If I hadn't gone crazy because of the loss and asked for a trade, KG and Jason might not be here."

Lin Qi shook his head. This guy really is a masochist: "Since you like it so much, I don't mind beating you up a few more times."

Kobe wasn't angry; instead, he smiled pleasantly and said, "Sorry, unless you make it to the Finals, we won't meet again this season. And even if you do make it to the Finals, you'll be the one getting a beating."

After saying that, Lynch turned and left Staples Center, walking into the players' tunnel.

At this moment, he belongs only to an inconspicuous corner. Meanwhile, the glittering center of the court belongs to the Lakers players who have won glory.

As he walked into the players' tunnel, the New York tyrant was savoring the taste of long-lost defeat.

For the past two years, he has been at the very center of the spotlight.

But now, the lights are quietly shifting their angle as the Lakers' Big Three rise.

After this game, calls for the Lakers to break the Knicks' dominance grew louder. Basketball programs were no longer talking about the Knicks' title defense, but rather their rebuilding process.

Three thousand kilometers away, Knicks general manager Sam Presti was overwhelmed by a deluge of scouting reports. Coffee stains on his desk blurred the 2009 free agent roster, mirroring his current state of confusion.
During this period, he had been working hard to bring in new players. But to his dismay, the Knicks didn't have many options in the summer of 2009.

Kobe Bryant's contract expires in 2009, but you can hardly expect him to leave the current Los Angeles Lakers.

Carlos Boozer is highly likely to leave the lifeless Salt Lake City in the summer of 2009, the allure of New York's big markets proving quite tempting. However, he's not the kind of teammate who can help Lynch build a dynasty; his abilities aren't at that level yet.

Richard Hamilton would be a good option, but the Detroit Pistons will certainly do everything they can to keep him. Currently, Hamilton has a good relationship with everyone on the Pistons, so he has no reason to leave and will most likely choose to remain loyal.

Steve Nash also seems like a good option, but if the Suns don't exercise their team option, Nash will become a free agent in the summer of 2008. If the Suns exercise their team option, it means they will almost certainly offer Nash an extension, making the chances of acquiring the Canadian extremely slim.

The remaining players, such as Mehmet Okur, Hedo Turkoglu, and Jamal Crawford, a familiar face to the Knicks, are not qualified to be the second option.

Oh, and LeBron James, he'll also be entering the free agent market in the summer of 2009.

However, he probably won't choose to join the Knicks.

Although Sam Presti thought LBJ was a very shameless person.

But in this particular matter, Sam Presti was full of confidence in LBJ's sense of honor.

At that moment, news of the Knicks' loss to the Lakers came over the radio. Sam Presti leaned back on the bench, pressing his temples with his hands.

He has studied countless transfer options and thinks 2010 is the best time to make signings.

Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and David Lee, who was once traded by the Knicks but has since matured.
Unfortunately, most of them have a good relationship with the team. This means that they will most likely extend their contracts ahead of schedule.

Chris Bosh is the only one who might leave, but his role overlaps too much with Lynch's.

Lynch is practically an upgraded version of Chris Bosh in every way. It's unlikely that their collaboration will result in a 1+1=2 outcome.

Should we wait until 2010 to take action? Or should we go all out and take a gamble in 2009?
For Sam Presti, this required not only wisdom, but also courage.

His choice could very well affect the team's fate.

A turning point came unexpectedly during the cold snap in January.

The Memphis Grizzlies suddenly opened their trade window to the entire league, and Sam Presti and general managers from other teams across the league received the news that the Memphis Grizzlies were shopping Spanish big man Pau Gasol.

Following the departure of Jerry West, the Memphis Grizzlies' new general manager, Chris Wallace, decided to change the course of the entire operation.

The Grizzlies have indeed made the playoffs year after year, but they've struggled to win a single game in the playoffs. This has proven that Pau Gasol's ceiling as the team's core player is very clear.

So this summer he abandoned the idea of ​​strengthening the team and instead began rebuilding.

In fact, the trade involving Pau Gasol had been underway before the season even began.

Pau Gasol was once very close to joining the Los Angeles Lakers, but the trade naturally fell through after KG joined the team. Since then, the Memphis Grizzlies have been flirting with the Miami Heat.

After negotiating for most of the season, the two sides still haven't reached an agreement.

Now, Chris Wallace may not want to drag things out any longer, or he may want to put pressure on Pat Riley.

Suddenly, he became willing to listen to offers from every team in the league.

For this reason, Sam Presti specifically spoke with Lynch in person.

He needs to confirm what assets the Knicks actually have that are available for trade.

In addition to that, there is an even more important issue – whether Lynch is willing to try playing the small forward position.

“Pau Gasol may not be a strong core player, but he would be an excellent supporting player,” Lynch affirmed Gasol’s role, “but I think we are all wasting our time. The reason Chris Wallace suddenly went public with his trade was to put pressure on the Heat to get one or two more draft picks from Miami.”

Why do you think the Memphis Grizzlies will definitely make a trade with the Miami Heat?

"Because the Miami Heat have draft picks, Shaquille O'Neal as a bargaining chip to guarantee box office success in a small market. And Marc Gasol."

"What?" Sam Presti could hardly believe his ears. "Paul's brother?"

"The Memphis Grizzlies studied him carefully and believed that Marc had the potential to become an All-Star caliber player. But not many people knew Marc's value, so they originally planned to steal that gem with a second-round pick, just like the Spurs acquired Manu Ginobili back then."

But they failed. That damned Pat Riley seemed to know their whole plan and intercepted Mark beforehand.

Therefore, the Grizzlies' primary trading partner has always been the Heat.

The Grizzlies' sudden decision to trade Paul across the league is like a newly divorced woman going around sleeping with various men. It's not just for pleasure, but also to provoke her ex-husband.

Chris Wallace wanted to use this tactic to drive up the price, nothing more.

Lynch only just realized why Pat Riley was so excited when he heard that the Lakers had acquired KG in Hawaii.

Because that would mean Pau Gasol definitely wouldn't go to the Lakers, and he would start to take the initiative in trades.

At this moment in Miami, draft picks, expiring contracts, box office guarantees, and Marc Gasol are forming the perfect trade puzzle.

NBA history can sometimes be shaped by the trades of one or two players. For example, Paul George never imagined that his trade would lead to the Oklahoma City Thunder reaching the NBA Finals in 2025.

Marc Gasol now holds the key to the fate of both the Grizzlies and the Heat.

Sure enough, the next day, the NBA officially confirmed a mid-season trade that shocked the entire league.

The Miami Heat traded their 2010 and 2012 first-round draft picks, Shaquille O'Neal, and the rights to Marc Gasol to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Pau Gasol.

Lynch's analysis came true; the Heat were greatly affected by Pau Gasol's flirting with other "men".

They originally only wanted to give them a first round, but now they have to add another first round in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

Gregg Popovich reacted strongly: "What the Memphis Grizzlies have done is simply incomprehensible. The league should establish some kind of trade screening mechanism to resist these meaningless trades. I would definitely vote against this trade."

Shaquille O'Neal was past his prime, but Pat Riley traded him for an All-Star in his prime, even though he already had Dwyane Wade and Paul Pierce on his roster.

This would naturally make most people in the league envious.

This mid-season trade sparked a surge in league discussion because it created a Big Three team in the Eastern Conference.

Although Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, and Pau Gasol are not nearly as famous as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd, people believe that the Miami Heat are destined for greatness.

ESPN columnist Zach Lowe points out: "When the All-Star power forward develops chemistry with two top wing attackers, Miami will have the potential to tear apart any defense."

After the trade was completed, the Heat's odds of winning the championship soared fivefold, and Pat Riley was far ahead in the Best General Manager voting.

The Phoenix Suns, having lost the chance to acquire the Shark, once again ignited the league with a mind-boggling mid-season trade.

They traded Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal, who is averaging only 13 points and 6 rebounds per game this season.

The main character is a mini-O'Neal, and also O'Neal.

Stephen A. Smith gave the Suns' trade an A grade: "They explored the new lower limit of human intelligence and deserve an A rating!"

With the Pau Gasol trade finalized, Sam Presti has once again found himself in the vortex of the free agent market, where he can only continue searching for a path to the Knicks' revival.

Sam Presti chose to remain silent after the All-Star break this season, a stark contrast to the clamor of other teams in the league.

Fueled by locker room cohesion, the defending champions embarked on a comeback after the All-Star break—escaping the mire of fifth place in the East and ultimately securing third place in their division with a record of 54 wins.

Although this is nine wins less than last season's glorious 63 wins, the absence of Grant Hill's retirement and the aging roster make this record all the more precious.

Carmelo Anthony's Detroit Pistons finished with 61 wins, ranking second in the Eastern Conference, while the Miami Heat finished with 59 wins, also ranking second in the Eastern Conference.

The Cleveland Cavaliers also racked up 54 wins, but due to head-to-head results, they were ranked behind the Knicks – the Cavaliers suffered another humiliating 0-4 record against the Knicks this season.

The Orlando Magic, ranked behind the Cavaliers, have 51 wins. The Magic's rise this season is not only due to Ray Allen, but also because Dwight Howard has become more aggressive and competitive on the court.

Adidas's lucrative contract was like a carrot dangling in front of Dwight Howard's eyes, completely igniting his competitive spirit beyond simply saving souls.

The playoff matchups have been officially announced, with the Knicks facing the Washington Wizards in the first round.

Lynch swept the Wizards, who had lost Gilbert Arenas, in a series where he averaged 35+15+6 per game.

But in the second round, the Knicks faced the formidable Miami Heat.

Since the formation of the Big Three in the East, their chemistry has been outstanding.

Pau Gasol can fit into almost any system, while Paul Pierce is a great one-on-one player who can take over the game when Wade is resting. And when playing alongside Wade, he can also contribute off-ball offense.

Dwyane Wade's role has hardly changed, except that he now has a reliable second-in-command and a low-post pivot.

Lynch scored 44 and 48 points in Games 2 and 3 respectively, leading his team to victory.

However, the Miami Heat, with their stronger overall strength, still eliminated the New York Knicks with a total score of 4-2.

The Knicks' dream of a three-peat has been shattered.

Lynch stood amidst a shower of confetti, gazing up at the scoreboard, while Mike Brin's sighing commentary pierced through the clamor of the crowd:
"Lynch was the best player in this series, and he almost nailed Pau Gasol to the pillory of shame. But unfortunately, it was ultimately a tragic torch. We have to accept the fact that we lost this series."

Stephon Marbury looked at Lynch, his body so exhausted that he simply slumped down in the shadow of the scorer's table.

He gave it his all in this series, but his help defense couldn't help Ariza contain Dwyane Wade, and his 11.6 points per game couldn't help Lynch go any further.

This was the best performance Stephon Marbury could deliver, for which he had to have fluid drained from his knee every three days. Like Grant Hill last season, he can say with a clear conscience that he gave it his all.

However, the light he ignited was insignificant.

He had etched the word "desperate" into his very bones, but he was like a rusty key, unable to unlock the iron locks that imprisoned the dynasty.

After failing to achieve a three-peat, Stephon Marbury clenched his fist.

He returned to the locker room alone, where the words on the wall, "Glory belongs to those who burn for one another," were so glaring.

He remembered Lynch saying, "We'll win the championship together again," and memories of the past four years were projected in a montage on his wet retina.

Finally, the image freezes on the dark, sunless stadium, on the person who pulled him up, and on the overlapping palms on the Phoenix court floor.

This time, he decided to let go.

He didn't want to be led around by him all the time.

He has been saved.

So he also wanted to lift him up in his own way.

Stephon Marbury's eyes were red, not because he lost the game, but because of some more complex emotion.

Thirty seconds later, Sam Princeton, who was comforting Lynch in the player tunnel, received a text message from Stephon Marbury.

"Please grant me a pardon."

Tell Lynch I did my best.

Stephon Marbury glanced one last time at his lone shadow stretched long by the flashing lights at the end of the corridor, then turned and left the brightly lit New York City behind him.

He looked at the phone in his palm, and a tear fell onto the wallpaper showing a smiling face holding a glass together.

(End of this chapter)