Champion Rules

Chapter 177, Section 173: Lin Qi absolutely blew us away (Seeking monthly votes!)
Steve Nash participated in the 2000 Olympics, and in his memory, international basketball events, in terms of both scale and atmosphere, are far inferior to the NBA.

Back then, the international arena was like a faded photograph, appearing as an enlarged version of an amateur league compared to the dazzling, massive stage of the NBA.

But tonight, Steve Nash's established image was shattered.

A red wave surged beneath the stadium's dome, and 18,000 leaping figures transformed their shouts into tangible air currents, causing goosebumps to rise on his skin beneath his clothes.

He saw the veins bulging on the necks of the elderly men with white hair in the front row, and the children in their mothers' arms clutching the five-star red flag. A kind of heat that transcended language suddenly flowed through his spine, making Nash's blood boil, and he couldn't help but shout along with the Chinese fans.

Steve Nash is not a neutral fan; he absolutely supports the Chinese team.

Last summer, he played in a wonderful charity match for the Chinese national team, experiencing firsthand the enthusiasm of Chinese fans. In the second half of the game, he even briefly served as the point guard for the Chinese team.

This summer, he became Lynch's teammate again, which strengthened his connection with the country.

In fact, that's exactly why he's here.

He wanted to send his best wishes to his new teammates as soon as possible.

The cheers reached their peak when the Chinese team entered the stadium, and when Lin Qi appeared, the spotlights on the Dream Team's side seemed to dim by a third.

China's number 10 clapped his hands loudly: "Go on! To the millions of people behind you!"

Steve Nash took a deep breath. Some historical moments are medals in themselves for witnessing them.

Stephon Marbury sat in the front row, gazing at the Olympic rings leaping beneath the stadium's dome. The vibrant colors rippled across his eyes, and the nightmare of Athens four years ago suddenly flashed back on his retina.

The Olympics four years ago almost pushed him into the abyss of his basketball career, but it was also the beginning of Lynch's real impact on the American basketball world.

But fate had other plans, and Lynch saved Stephon Marbury's basketball career.

Lone Wolf was relieved that he felt no pressure at this moment. He had already retired with great success and no longer needed to face an opponent like Lynch.

LeBron James was shooting right in front of Stephon Marbury, just as he had experienced that humiliating game four years earlier.

After hitting three consecutive three-pointers, LBJ turned to look at the retired Marbury, the gold stitching of the USA lettering on his jersey gleaming brightly under the spotlight: "It's so great to see so many compatriots here, especially someone like you. Stephen, thankfully I don't have to live in the shadow of four years ago, unlike you."

His tone was laced with honeyed hypocrisy, while a razor-sharp sneer crept into his lips.

LeBron James and Stephon Marbury have a strained personal relationship, stemming from James's disparaging remarks about Stephon Marbury's shoes years ago and his long-standing rivalry with the Knicks.

So, despite using terms like "compatriot," LBJ remained antagonistic towards the lone wolf.

The relaxed feeling after retirement allowed Marbury to calmly face this malice. He smiled gently and said, "Enjoy your last moment of relaxation, LeBron. Look at the atmosphere here, look at the expectations of the Chinese. The guy on the court later won't give you a chance to strike a pose. And don't speak too soon, or you might fall into the shadow of another four years."

The sudden roar from the audience drowned out the rest of the conversation. The referee signaled for both sides to stand still, as the national anthem ceremony was about to begin.

The players from both sides lined up in the center of the field, the national flags unfurled under the spotlight, and the tense muscles trembled slightly as the national anthem played. Everyone could almost hear the roar of adrenaline surging through their veins.

After the process was completed, the starting five players from both sides finally approached the midfield.

This will definitely be a fierce battle. The Chinese fans' desire to avenge their loss to the United States in the opening game of the Olympics has fueled their longing for revenge against the Dream Team, while Lynch's frustration over failing to defend his title last season has fueled his desire to take revenge on these NBA stars.

This place contains both competitive sports and personal grudges.

Apart from Dwight Howard, who was all smiles and hugging everyone, the other players were all serious and expressionless.

Kobe took this game very seriously. He wanted to continue his dominance in FIBA ​​and win everything like Michael Jordan did in 1992.

For years, people have been comparing him to MJ. Now, it's time to take a real step toward becoming a god.

Before the game started, Kobe said a few words to Lynch.

"I love Chinese fans, Lin Qi, and I am overwhelmed by their support, but tonight I have to let them down."

I've heard this phrase many times in China these days: "Friendship first, competition second."

I hope you can break this tradition tonight.

Lin Qi waved his hand: "You must have misheard Kobe. I only know one thing: the game comes first, friendship is fourteenth."

"Lynch!" LBJ suddenly joined the conversation, "After tonight, you'll never have the right to call me LeBron again."

Before James could finish speaking, he noticed that Lynch had already turned away.

Lynch didn't even glance at LBJ. What kind of person are you to talk to me before the game?

Instead, he moved closer to Dwight Howard and said, "Dwight, be serious, I'm not LeBron."

Lynch deliberately raised his voice, making sure every word pierced LeBron's eardrums precisely.

Yao Ming couldn't help but want to applaud; it was a textbook response.

Although he didn't speak directly to LBJ, it must have deeply hurt him.

The match began, and the role players of the Chinese team, who had lost the previous game, were completely neutralized.

So tonight, even though it's the final, Lynch decided to let the role players get a feel for the game first.

On the first play, Lin Qi and Liu Wei executed a pick-and-roll, and Liu Wei broke through and passed the ball to Yao Ming.

When Yao Ming drew a double team, Liu Wei had already moved to the corner, received a pass from Lin Qi, and hit a three-pointer.

After one round, Lin Qi set an off-ball screen for Zhu Fangyu.

The latter man bypassed the wall of players, received the ball, and shot. The basketball flew over the dome of the Wukesong Arena and pierced the net once again.

In a stadium teeming with superstars, this offensive prelude led by role players caused a stir among commentators worldwide.

But some fans who are well-versed in the philosophy of championships understand that this is precisely the manifestation of a superstar's vision—Lin Qi is like a conductor of a symphony orchestra, first activating each part with precise tactical arrangements, and only playing his own splendid movement after the whole team is in the zone.

Role players are indeed crucial, but basketball games are never won by role players carrying star players; rather, they are won by star players carrying role players.

You can't wait until the crucial moment to refuse to take responsibility and leave the outcome to role players.

Instead, it's about knowing when to give them opportunities, helping them find their rhythm, and then leading them to victory.

In the opening rounds, the Chinese team's role players took many shots, and although not every shot went in, it did help them gain confidence.

When Sun Yue swiftly intercepted Kobe's cross pass, and when Liu Wei hit a difficult fadeaway jumper over Kidd's defense, the Chinese team's confidence surged on the court at a visible speed.

Lin Qi didn't make his first shot until 2 minutes and 48 seconds into the game.

He received the ball beyond the three-point line and decisively broke through, using a Euro step to shake off the defender, and scored a layup in front of Dwight Howard's basket.

Yao Ming also began to demonstrate his dominance in the low post. Although Dwight Howard was an NBA superstar, in Yao Ming's eyes, his threat was far less than that of Marc Gasol, who had not yet entered the NBA.

Fans around the world were surprised to find that the incredibly talented Dream Team was temporarily suppressed by the Chinese team.

However, the Dream Team increased the intensity of the competition in advance.

They started using the same tactics that easily dominated the world of basketball in the 90s – pressure defense.

In terms of physical attributes alone, no team in the world can compare to them.

When they started applying heavy pressure on the defensive end, the Chinese team made a series of mistakes.

This strategy gave the Dream Team a 7-point lead at halftime.

But China's head coach Jonas was not nervous.

Although FIBA ​​only has 40 minutes, the pressure defense starts from the first quarter, which is a challenge for the Dream Team's stamina.

In the second half, the Dream Team will definitely pay the price for revealing their hand too early.

Furthermore, Lynch's usage rate hadn't increased significantly in the first half; he hadn't yet taken on too much responsibility. This means he still has enough energy to handle crises in the second half.

In the third quarter, Yao Ming was temporarily substituted for a rest. Coach K planned to attack the Chinese team's interior, but the effect was not good.

Because the Chinese team's interior rotation is not weak; in fact, it is considered very strong in FIBA ​​competitions.

When Yao Ming is not on the court, Yi Jianlian, who comes off the bench, is still able to protect the rim under the basket, allowing Lin Qi to continue his sweeping play.

Yi Jianlian's help defense is actually very poor. His lateral movement is not fast enough, and his defensive positioning is not as good as Wang Zhizhi, who has always been criticized for not being able to defend.

He started playing basketball too late, which resulted in his basketball IQ not being high enough.

But he can grab rebounds, he can jump, and he can engage in physical contact.

His rim protection and rebounding are highlights on the defensive end.

At least in these two respects, his contribution was positive.

Many people believe that Yi Jianlian's difficulty in surviving in the NBA is due to his defense, after all, he had a season in the NBA where he averaged double-digit points and had a game with 30+ points.

But the real reason he was eliminated from the NBA was precisely because his offense was so incredibly bad.

His proud mid-range and three-point shooting are actually far inferior to Wang Zhizhi's. His finishing efficiency under the basket is so low that it belongs to a class of its own among all NBA players who are over 210 cm tall.

On the FIBA ​​court, alongside Lynch and Yao Ming, when he doesn't need to shoulder too much responsibility on offense, he would be an excellent rim protector on defense.

Yi Jianlian's rim protection was naturally not comparable to Yao Ming's, but the Dream Team still couldn't break through the Chinese team's interior defense.

After Yao Ming returned fully rested and in top form, Dwight Howard, like the girls he brought home to "save their souls," began to suffer unilaterally.

The ample space allowed Yao Ming to choose the most comfortable way to dominate Howard, and he showcased almost all of his skills.

Turnaround jumper, hook shot, tough finish, strong drive to the basket.
What's even more frustrating is that you can't get him to the free-throw line like you would with Shaq; his free throws are even more accurate than some of the guards and wings on the Dream Team.

In an era where traditional centers are fading, no individual player can stop the energetic Yao Ming from one-on-one in the low post.

With Yao Ming's efficient low-post offense and the role players' confidence and excellent overall defense, the Chinese team ultimately entered the fourth quarter with a 1-point lead.

The bad news is that Yao Ming's stamina can only last for one quarter, after which he can only focus entirely on the defensive end.

The good news is that Lynch didn't dominate the first three quarters. What was he waiting for? Now!

So, when the broadcast cameras panned across a panting LeBron James and a drenched Kobe Bryant, the sea of ​​red at Wukesong began to surge with an atmosphere of impending doom—everyone knew that the moment of victory for the superstars was about to arrive.

The fourth quarter began quickly, and the camera focused on Lynch, who twirled the silicone wristband on his wrist.

Back in New York, Kevin Lucas embraced his family, who were genuinely hoping the Dream Team's opponents would win. Then, as everyone expected, Lynch's performance began.

Compared to four years ago, this Dream Team is stronger and has a more balanced roster.

However, compared to four years ago, Lynch is no longer the same Lynch.

"Three-pointer! Lynch helped the Chinese team solidify their advantage right at the start of the fourth quarter! What a confident shot!" Bob Costas was very excited. He hadn't commentated on such a high-level basketball game since the NBA and NBC ended their partnership.

Tonight, he rediscovered the passion he had in the 90s when watching that god slaughter the entire League.

During the Dream Team's attack, LBJ's drive to the basket was blocked by Yao Ming. He then changed his pass in mid-air, but Sun Yue intercepted the pass.

Kobe Bryant was both happy and angry.

The good news is that this outstanding Chinese guard is his NBA teammate.

What's infuriating is that this steal could cost him his Olympic gold medal.

Sun Yue controlled the ball himself, crossed half-court, but was forced to stop by Kobe near the free-throw line.

Time seemed to shift strangely at this moment; before the gasps from the stands could even form, the basketball had already arced across the court, shifting widely towards the weak side.

Sun Yue's tall stature and guard-level fundamentals gave him a different vision than traditional guards. When Lin Qi got the ball, LBJ, who was retreating on defense, immediately tried to interfere, but he was a beat too slow.
"brush!"

“Lincho! Lynch! Lynch! Look at him! He’s ready for his Olympic moment!” Bob Costas got goosebumps. He had lived through the tumultuous 90s, and he knew better than anyone else in the arena what Michael Jordan’s game was like.

Perhaps, in terms of physique and movement, Kobe Bryant is the closest to MJ.

But that competitive spirit, that feeling that you know everything is about to end the moment he gets the ball, is something only Lin Qi can truly emulate.

The man who called himself emperor was panting, his sweat reflecting iridescent light under the spotlight, much like Stephon Marbury on that night in Athens four years ago.

Dwight Howard's smile vanished completely, and he shrugged and yelled, "Don't hesitate, buddy, I can grab the rebound!"

The young players started to lose their composure, but Kobe Bryant steadied them: "The game is far from over, we'll leave with the gold medal!"

Kobe then inspired the team with his actions. He easily broke through Wang Shipeng with a screen and then made a difficult fadeaway jumper over Lynch's help defense. Then, in front of all the Chinese fans, he put his finger to his lips.

The Wukesong Arena erupted in a cacophony of sounds – American fans cheered like an undercurrent, while Chinese spectators clenched their fists in a cold sweat.

With the score difference down to just one point, Coach K clapped his hands vigorously, and the Dream Team suddenly snapped out of their daze.

They knew that the tension was now with the Chinese team.

They may begin to doubt themselves or experience an emotional breakdown.

Because right now, all they can rely on is Lynch.

Lin Qi glanced at Wang Shipeng, who had been relentlessly targeted by pick-and-rolls tonight, and roared without mercy, "Fuck you! If you can't defend, take off your jersey and get off the court!"

The person who was harshly criticized didn't get angry; instead, they became even more focused on the game.

Lynch's outburst reminded him of the significance of this match.

The game continued, and Lin Qi missed his three-pointer this time, but Yao Ming grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it to Lin Qi who was cutting in.

Lynch pushed up against Howard and James, but was roughly tackled and sent to the free throw line.

After the two free throws, the score difference became 3 points.

When Lynch made his second free throw, he beckoned to Kobe with his finger: "Try winning a championship in front of me."

In the following games, Lynch's performance was nothing short of miraculous.

His offense is incredibly efficient; he can score from long range, in the post, or by driving to the basket.

With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, when Lynch used a backboard layup to avoid Howard and LBJ and score, Bob Costas knew that at that point he would no longer be surprised by anything Lynch did.

"16 points in the quarter! The Chinese team has only scored 19 points in the quarter so far!" he roared. In the fourth quarter, the entire Chinese team was focused on defense, and the offense relied almost entirely on Lin Qi.

The point difference widened to 5, and the Dream Team started to get nervous.

One possession later, Kobe took a three-pointer, but it missed the target.

Dwight Howard grabbed the rebound and launched a second-chance attack, but Yao Ming blocked him directly.

The basketball landed in LeBron James's hands. He saw Lynch rushing towards him, hesitated for a moment, but still chose to shoot. The result...
"Three misses! The American team panicked. At this moment, when they were about to miss out on the gold medal, they were somewhat flustered!"

Lynch's string of goals left the opposing team in despair; that's what a superstar is!

Yao Ming grabbed the rebound, Liu Wei quickly advanced the ball, and passed it to Lin Qi in the corner.

Lin Qi dribbled the ball, faked out Kidd who was rushing back, and drove into the paint for a one-handed dunk!
The night sky above Wukesong Arena was split in two: on one side, there was endless silence and the Stars and Stripes no longer waving; on the other side, there was deafening cheering.

The game was paused. With less than three minutes left and the team trailing by 7 points, Coach K opted to remove LBJ, who had just missed a three-pointer, and bring on Wade.

This had an immediate effect, with Wade's breakthrough helping the Dream Team pull one back.

In the next few possessions, the Chinese team failed to score again. Lin Qi missed two consecutive shots, and Yao Ming's strong drive to the basket was stolen by Wade, who had come in to help defend.

The Dream Team narrowed the score to 4 points thanks to Wade's breakthroughs—as the top scorer for the Dream Team in this Olympics, Wade's strength has been greatly underestimated in the FIBA ​​arena.

Bob Costas posed a hypothetical question: "Shouldn't Coach K have replaced LeBron a long time ago?"

With 53 seconds remaining in the game, Jonas called a timeout.

Some Chinese fans covered their eyes; it looked like the Chinese team was about to be overwhelmed.

Lynch, who had been magical throughout the entire episode, seemed to lose his magic at the last moment.

Steve Nash stared at the number 10, recalling their agreement: I'd get the ball in crucial moments.

Lynch felt like he had tinnitus; he couldn't hear any other sounds except for a buzzing sound.

All he could see were the cheering fans in the stands and the fluttering flags.

He was under pressure; losing the Olympic gold medal at home would be a scar on his career and a huge blow to the fans—their basketball superstar was battling fiercely on the other side of the ocean, yet he couldn't lift the trophy at home.

The immense expectations turned into pressure, but Lynch suddenly remembered that special face and a sentence that Sam Cassel had once said to him.

"What you should really be anxious about is that you don't even have the right to be expected of."

"Lincia! Lincia! Feint a low post play, then immediately cut out! Yao will screen for you, look for opportunities beyond the three-point line, do you hear me!" The voice of Lithuanian tyrant Jonas pulled Lincia back to reality, and all the surrounding noise returned to his ears.

Lin Qi glanced at the route he already knew by heart on the tactics board and nodded.

When the timeout ended, Stephon Marbury found his hands were trembling.

The world's attention, the pressure of the entire nation, and one's own honor.

“What a fucking terrible stage this is!” he exclaimed.

Beside him, Grant Hill, wearing glasses, didn't answer, but simply took a deep breath amidst the huge cheers.

At the start of the game, Lynch set a screen for Liu Wei, then quickly cut to the basket, leaning against Chris Bosh, and tried to post up.

Just as the Dream Team's defensive resources were tilting towards Lynch, Lynch suddenly abandoned his positioning and ran towards the three-point line.

Chris Bosh chased after him, but ran into Yao Ming's wall of defenders.

Dwight Howard tried to switch on defense, but Yi Jianlian was already entangled with him.

Lynch received the ball beyond the three-point line, and the double screen strategy was very successful, leaving Howard and Bosh with no chance to interfere with Lynch.

But Wade and Kobe immediately double-teamed him; these two shooting guards, ranked second in defense in the entire league, had no intention of giving Lynch a chance to defy fate.

Bob Costas yelled, "Lynch, he has to do it!"

Lynch didn't shoot. He took a step back, making Kobe step back and allowing Wade to lower his center of gravity to prepare for a steal.

Just then, Lin Qi gathered the ball again and stepped back to the three-point line.

This step back created valuable space for him.

The space was very narrow because Kobe and Wade still had a chance to interfere.

This space is also very vast, enough to change history.

"Linch did indeed take the shot, a step-back jumper that went in! This play demonstrates just how exceptional Linch is! His recent string of misses didn't stop him! This is one of the greatest moments in basketball history!"

China is leading by 7 points with 41 seconds left! Good heavens, Lynch absolutely blew us away!

Bob Costas can no longer distinguish his nationality; he is American, but this magical fourth quarter makes it hard for him not to like Lynch.

Scoring 21 points in the quarter, Lin Qi waved his arms wildly at the fluttering red flags, roaring with abandon.

Steve Nash felt as if he had been pressed down into his seat by a tremendous force. He tried to stand up and cheer, but found his body incredibly heavy.

This guy will be my teammate next season.

We're fucking sure we can build a dynasty!
This shot was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the Dream Team's counterattack.

Ultimately, Lynch's miraculous performance failed to allow the Dream Team to close the seemingly insurmountable gap.

The final whistle blew, and the score was 98-94, with the Chinese team successfully defending their title at Wukesong.

The most dazzling superstar in the basketball world delivered a perfect performance in his hometown.

Beautiful ribbons and fluttering red flags intertwined before LBJ's eyes, creating the most terrifying scene of his basketball career.

Stephon Marbury's words echoed in my ears like a curse: "You might just be stuck in the shadow of another four years."

"LeBron!"

A loud shout from behind startled James, who turned around to see the guy draped in the flag grinning maliciously.

“You’re right, I really can’t call you Bronze Medal anymore. From now on, I’ll call you Silver Medal, if you don’t mind.”

(End of this chapter)