Champion Rules

Chapter 181, Section 177: You're the third-best shooting guard in the East now! (Seeking monthly votes!)
The entire Staples Center was bathed in golden light, and amidst the tens of thousands of breathless gazes, the fifteenth championship banner bearing the Lakers' logo slowly rose like a dragon taking flight.

This powerhouse, which doesn't even bother to hang its division championship banner from the dome, has added another brilliant chapter to its already illustrious history.

Kobe Bryant donned his fourth NBA championship ring, the cold light reflecting off the metal's sharp edges seemingly soothing the wounds torn open by his Olympic defeat.

While this honor may not be as grand as LeBron James's historic triple-medal grand slam this summer, consisting of a FIFA World Cup gold medal, an Olympic silver medal, and a World Championship bronze medal, it is still enough to bring Kobe some comfort.

Steve Nash looked at Jason Kidd, who was crying tears of joy, and he understood Kidd's feelings perfectly.

Fifteen seasons of wandering and searching have finally transformed into the real touch of his fingertips—is this not the mirage that Nash always chased when he crossed the Phoenix desert storm?

After experiencing so many heartbreaking failures, he finally achieved his goal, which was the ending Steve Nash had been hoping for.

He glanced at Lynch, a conviction more intense than any flash of light flickering deep in his pupils.

If even the man who could transform Madison Square Garden into a sanctuary of glory couldn't lead him to touch the patterns on the Larry O'Brien Trophy, then perhaps the constellation "Redemption" never existed in the dome of the basketball world.

Tonight will be the first test for him and Lynch.

After the championship award ceremony, the players from both sides began to gather at midfield.

Just now, Kobe's touch on the ring was as gentle as if he were touching a lover's cheek.

But when his gaze met Lynch's across the center line, his voice was icy: "This time it's my home turf, Lynch. The Olympic miracle won't happen twice. By the way, you must have seen the posters we have downstairs. Hope you like them."

Lynch and Kobe had no personal grudges, but they were always at odds on the court.

This is a very pure competitive relationship.

"Miracle? I beat the Dream Team twice, that's just my daily routine. I'm not a stingy person, Kobe. If your trophy room is missing an Olympic gold medal, I'd be happy to give you one. With our relationship, it's not a problem."

"Oh, so if you want to experience what it's like to wear three rings on your hand, I happen to have an extra one here."

The two players were at odds even before the match, which made the players around them even more serious.

They both knew that with the two fanatics' competitive spirit burning so fiercely in the opening match, tonight was destined to be a tough battle.

At the start of the game, Lynch won the first possession over Kendrick Perkins—the former Celtics center who left the Celtics for the Lakers last summer on a mid-level exception contract because the Celtics were focused on developing Bynum and therefore had no place for Perkins.

Although they lost the jump ball, Perkins was not upset. Instead, he immediately retreated to defense and used his burly body to form a wall under the basket.

Kevin Garnett was bursting with passion from the very first round of the game. He clapped his hands wildly and roared at the whole team: "Crush their first attack with the toughness of a champion!"

Nash dribbles the ball to the three-point line, and the V-shaped pick-and-roll is replicated in the Knicks.

Nash used the screen on Lynch's side to force Garnett to switch, and then bounced the ball to Lynch who was quickly cutting down the court.

Garnett immediately chased back, and Perkins had already set up a defensive perimeter under the basket.

Meanwhile, Jason Kidd recaptured Nash, blocking Lynch's route back to Nash.

The 20,000 eyes inside Staples Center had already foreseen that the Knicks' ace was about to fall into the purple and gold trap.

Lynch's only option now seems to be to force his way to the basket against the chasing KG and Perkins under the rim, which is undoubtedly a scene that Lakers fans are eager to see.

Last season, Lynch faced this predicament countless times when playing against the Lakers.

But Lakers fans' expectations were ultimately dashed.

Lin Qi stopped abruptly in a flash, and used the momentum to create space by taking a step back.

Garnett, rushing over the bar, barely managed to raise his massive hand to defend, but the basketball had already traced a rainbow arc and fallen into the net.

Lynch smiled at Kevin Garnett: "It's not as easy as last season, KG."

Lynch's step-back jump shot had already shown its potential at the Olympics, but most people, including Kobe, felt that Lynch's step-backs had an element of luck.

After all, in the first four seasons of his professional career, Lynch had never demonstrated any skills related to step-back moves.

But his first goal of the new season told the world that Lynch never relies on luck.

2:0.

Lynch's goal was spectacular, but Kobe quickly gave the Los Angeles fans a reason to cheer.

Kobe was quite excited to see Raja Bell wearing a Knicks jersey.

Raja Bell had a feud with Kobe during his time with the Suns, making him one of Kobe's old enemies.

Now, the Suns' tough guy who always used dirty tricks to provoke him is wearing orange and blue armor, which is no less than a temptation for Kobe.

His desire for Ganja Bell instantly intensified.

As an old-school player, Kobe's favorite thing was to take revenge on his enemies.

Who could refuse such a gift: the chance to beat the Knicks and Raja Bell in the same game?

So this time, KG received a pass from Kidd outside the three-point line, and Kobe dropped into the low post to become the axis of the triangle offense.

Raja Bell immediately confronted him aggressively, not forgetting to yell at Lynch, "You couldn't beat him last season because you didn't have a defender as good as me to save you."

KG lobs the ball to Kobe and then quickly cuts in, forcing Lynch to chase instead of help defend.

The brilliance of the triangle tactic is now fully revealed. The essence of this tactic is not the triangular formation itself, but the continuous infiltration and movement of other players. This movement keeps the triangle constantly in place, yet it is also constantly changing.

Therefore, this is a tactic that demands a very high level of football intelligence from the players; it's not something that can be achieved by simply applying a formula to any situation.

Coincidentally, this group of Lakers players all have a pretty good basketball IQ.

Everyone's movement was gearing up for the Black Mamba's fatal blow, and the triangle offense once again successfully created one-on-one space for superstar Kobe.

Kobe faked a shoulder and then suddenly turned and drove to the basket, but Raja Bell was very tight on him, giving Kobe no space at all.

When he cornered Kobe near the narrow baseline and thought his defense was successful.

Kobe, however, jumped directly during the dribble and scored with a difficult, elegant fadeaway jumper over Raja Bell.

After scoring, Kobe roared fiercely, "You'd better save yourself first, you pathetic wretch. Why doesn't Steve have a championship? Why does the Phoenix evening breeze never reach June? Because you're a heavy burden next to number 13. If Joe Johnson were still in Phoenix, Steve would have been wearing a ring long ago."

Kobe's trash talk, just like his shots, hit Raja Bell right where it hurt.

Enraged, he deliberately bumped into Kobe while returning to defense, and was immediately called for an offensive foul by the referee.

In order to further promote the league globally, David Stern has been cracking down on such incidents more strictly.

But the ruthless bandit from the Virgin Islands had already ripped off his mask of reason. Raja Bell didn't care whether he had been fouled or not. He pressed his forehead against Kobe's brow bone and said, "Say that again? I guarantee your championship ring will be stuck in your throat!"

Kobe wasn't provoked at all; he simply raised his arms and said, "See? That's why I said you're a fucking burden."

KG then rushed over and pulled Raja Bell away: "Fight? Do you need me to lend you a blanket beforehand? Who knows if you'll fall into a baby-like sleep like you do in training."

The memories of his dead body began to assault Bell, and he also saw Kendrick Perkins trying hard to suppress his laughter.

The lights from the Staples Center dome illuminated his deathly pale face, and beads of sweat rolled down his twitching facial muscles.

All of this is like trampling on Raja Bell's self-esteem.

At that moment, a strong arm shielded him behind him.

The New York No. 20 jersey tightened as Lynch raised his arm, his index finger like a sword of judgment pointing directly at KG's trembling nose: "Enough, KG, two against one isn't fair, or do you want two against two?"

Raja Bell looked at the man he had once considered "other," whose shoulder and back muscles resembled a wall of steel.

After the Lakers players left, Lynch turned to Raja Bell and shrugged, not blaming him: "Keep playing like that with Kobe, keep that biting intensity, just don't give them the ball so easily anymore."

Raja Bell's attitude toward the team and toward Lynch is changing; a dormant sense of identification is beginning to stir within him.

Of course, he was unaware of this at the moment.

The game continued, and the Lakers took the inbound pass.

Having just taught Raja Bell a lesson, Kobe didn't engage in consecutive one-on-one attacks. At this stage, Kobe wasn't obsessed with ball possession and shots—at least compared to his former self.

While high-difficulty shots are Kobe's trademark, the truth is that the greatest Kobe was the one who played the game rationally.

Kobe still has many difficult one-on-one situations, but most of them are when tactics fail to work and he has to take on the responsibility.

In basketball, those who play rationally throughout the game are not necessarily helping the team.

Kobe was responsible for making runs and drawing attention, while Kidd passed the ball to KG who was cutting in. Lynch had just been entangled by Perkins' off-ball screen, and Kidd spotted this fleeting opportunity.

KG jumped with both feet to dunk, but at the highest point he encountered an even fiercer suppression - Lynch rose from the side, and the dull thud of his palm hitting the basketball was like a thunderclap.

Jason Kidd gaped open; Lynch had clearly been held back by Perkins' off-ball screen.

Lynch did indeed collide with an off-ball screen, but having successfully lost weight, he possesses greater speed. Even if he gets caught off guard, he still has a chance to catch up with his opponent.

As KG stumbled to the ground, he met Lynch's downcast gaze: "Now you know who should have the DPOY trophy, right?"

Kobe won both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP last season, but KG didn't come away empty-handed. Thanks to the Lakers' excellent record and defense, he became last season's Defensive Player of the Year.

This has caused considerable controversy, with some media outlets believing that Lynch should be the true DPOY.

He was fully entitled to receive that award for the second year in a row.

Lynch never dwells on what he has lost; his defense against KG is his motto.

The moment the Knicks regained possession, Steve Nash sprinted across half-court like an arrow, leaving a trail of blue and orange afterimages on the Staples Center floor.

After the preseason training camp, the Knicks have gotten used to playing fast-paced basketball.

So it wasn't just Nash; the Knicks' veterans from their half-court offense were also pushing forward rapidly. Nash's gaze fell on Trevor Ariza, and just as Kidd was about to reach for the ball, he suddenly tossed it into the air.

Tyson Chandler, who quickly cut in from the middle, received the ball and completed an alley-oop with a powerful, high-flying shot!

The thunderous crash of the basketball hitting the rim echoed throughout Staples Center, just as Kevin Garnett staggered to his feet.

The familiar fast-paced style of play unfolded before Kobe's eyes, and the Knicks' transformation went more smoothly than people had anticipated.

This made Black Mamba somewhat uneasy.

If it's just about fast-paced offense, this Lakers team can handle it.

But the key point is that the current New York Knicks have a defense that the Phoenix Suns of yesteryear could never match.

Look at that last offensive play, Kidd's pass was perfectly timed, and KG's cut in was also very quick.

But Lin Qi still managed to defend against it.

This ability to perfectly blend a fluid, offensive style with an impenetrable defense is a quality that the Suns team of yesteryear could never achieve.

In the following rounds, every offensive play by the Knicks thrilled fans back in New York.

Smooth, beautiful, wonderful, and highly entertaining.

Lynch didn't have a single one-on-one opportunity, yet he still managed to score 6 points with ease.

The Lakers' defense, which they were so proud of last season, proved insufficient against the Knicks' fast-paced offense.

Fortunately, Kobe's isolation plays and Kidd's three-pointers helped the Lakers keep the score close.

Eight minutes into the first quarter, the Lakers were down by only five points.

At this point, Philip Sanders substituted Steve Blake for Nash.

After Steve Blake high-fived Nash, he ripped off his training shirt. As Nash walked toward the bench, he lifted the hem of his jersey to wipe away sweat, revealing the kinesiology tape on his lower back, a sign of the wear and tear of age.

Nash's fragile back led Flip Sanders to decide early on to strictly control his playing time.

For Nash at this age, keeping his average playing time below 35 minutes per game is the safest approach.

But this substitution will expose the Knicks to a problem that the Suns also face – when Nash leaves the court, the brilliant seven-second offense disappears.

The most crucial element of the seven-second offense is Nash; any other guard would not achieve the same effect.

Raja Bell knew this too, and he told Nash, "Rest easy, the Lakers won't come back by much, our defense is different now."

DeShawn Stevenson, who replaced Raja Bell, burst into a hoarse laugh upon hearing this: "Man, you're saying the Lakers are taking the lead? Fuck, you bastard, you don't seem to understand the situation at all. Our star player hasn't even left the court yet, how can the Lakers take the lead?"

DeShawn Stevenson pointed at Lynch: "In Phoenix, you can only hope that Steve will floor the gas and go seven seconds. But here, a seven-second attack is just a way to make it easier for Lynch."

The game continued, and the Lakers substituted Derek Fisher for Jason Kidd, but KG and Kobe were still on the court.

Phil Jackson wanted to take the lead while Nash was out, so he didn't let them rest.

DeShawn Stevenson's confrontation didn't make things much easier for Kobe; his muscles were like steel bars, gripping Kobe's waist.

But the Black Mamba's serpentine footwork instantly turned his defense into a clumsy puppet.

With just a change in rhythm, Kobe beat DeShawn Stevenson.

DeShawn Stevenson is indeed an excellent defensive player, but Raja Bell is an All-Defensive Team caliber player after all, and Stevenson's defensive footwork is far less refined than Raja Bell's.

The gap between the two sides is still significant.

So Kobe easily got past DeShawn Stevenson with a change of pace, and took advantage of Tyson Chandler being blocked to drive straight to the inside.

But Kobe didn't let his guard down, and sure enough, he caught a glimpse of Lynch rushing back into the paint.

Judging by visual inspection alone, Lynch's physique is about the same as last season; he hasn't lost much weight.

But Kobe could sense a change in Lynch's speed; Lynch was even faster than he was at the Olympics. He bet that Lynch had definitely adjusted his weight.

Kobe was not afraid. He jumped and attacked the basket directly as Lynch came to help defend.

In the air, Kobe made many evasive maneuvers, adjusting his shooting angle to try and avoid the defense.

But Lynch's hang time was completely unexpected by Kobe.

The weight loss not only gave Lynch a faster movement speed, but also increased his jumping height and hang time to some extent.

People say that the implementation of the No HandCheck rule will usher in a golden age for guards and completely stifle big men in the paint.

But Kobe felt that Lynch seemed even stronger under these rules!

In the era of dark defense, Lynch could be an inside player.

In the No HandCheck era, Lynch could be a small forward with the height of an inside player.

Kobe's layup, after multiple adjustments and dodges in the air, was ultimately slapped to the ground by Lynch.

Just when the prey thinks it has escaped, the merciless claws truly fall.

The Knicks' bench erupted in a frenzy of blue cheers, towels billowing and bouncing like waves.

Steve Nash leaned back in his seat, more relaxed than he had ever been during a rest on the bench.

He glanced at Raja Bell, who still looked tense beside him, and patted him on the shoulder: "DeShawn is right. I'm not the key to everything on this team. Now, we follow his lead, man."

Steve Blake tried to emulate Nash's fast break after getting the ball, but failed.

He saw Wilson Chandler cut in quickly, but he didn't capitalize on the fleeting passing opportunity. To avoid a turnover, he had to abandon the fast break, and the Knicks went into half-court offense.

In half-court sets, the difference between Steve Blake and Nash was even more pronounced. When Blake ran pick-and-rolls, Derek Fisher could pull up his pants and walk around the screen without fear of Blake suddenly shooting.

KG didn't go up to help defend, but instead kept his eyes on Lynch the whole time.

The fluid offense indeed vanished after Nash left the court. Mike Malone scoffed, "Tell Sam we need a backup guard who can pass, shoot with the ball, run, and run pick-and-rolls. With a backup guard like that, we can continue our seven-second offense during rotation time."

Flip Saunders chuckled wryly: "We do have a guard like that, but he's playing in the G League right now."

On the field, Lynch began to dominate the game using his old methods.

He leaned against Garnett; his weight loss made his position less solid, but it was still sufficient.

Blake carefully lobbed the ball to Lynch, and Kobe immediately double-teamed him.

But before he could double-team him, Lynch had already turned and jumped to shoot.

In the end, Kobe and KG both reached out to block, but Lynch's fadeaway jumper still created space for him to shoot.

"brush!"

"Don't underestimate Lynch's ability to break through defenses!" commentator Reggie Miller shouted. "Even after the seven-second whirlwind subsides, he can still tear apart the champion's defense with the most classic killing moves!"

The point difference widened to 7 points. After Nash left the court, the Lakers not only failed to close the gap, but were further pulled away.

One possession later, Kobe and KG ran a pick-and-roll, and Lynch immediately switched to lock down Kobe. Kobe then passed the ball to Garnett, who was cutting to the basket.

Tyson Chandler's strong rim protection caused Garnett to miss his shot, and the basketball tumbled and fell off the rim.

Kendrick Perkins tried to grab the rebound, but Lynch, who had returned to the paint, violently snatched the ball from his head.

This time, Blake simply gave up on the idea of ​​pushing for a fast break. Why make things difficult for yourself? If you can do it, you can do it; if you can't, you can just slow down. There's no shame in that.

This time, Lynch didn't hold the ball, but instead looked for opportunities through off-the-ball movement.

Steve Blake passed the ball to Ariza, who tried to dribble past Luke Walton, but lost his grip as soon as he started moving. The entire Staples Center was filled with LeBron's beauty.

Ariza has always wanted to become Lynch's number two, but his ball-handling skills have never improved, and he doesn't have the brute force of LBJ and his ghostly footwork.

A frustrated Ariza picked up the ball and passed it back to Blake, just as Lynch circled out to the three-point line.

Blake quickly passed the ball again, and the moment Lynch received it, Kevin Garnett had already rushed out to intercept it.

The moment Lynch dribbled the ball, KG anticipated his intention to drive to the basket.

However, due to the No HandCheck rule, Garnett cannot use his hands to stop Lynch. And if he uses his torso, he simply cannot keep up with Lynch's current speed.

Lynch drove to the basket, and Kobe came over to help defend, trying to receive the ball. However, Lynch used both hands to avoid a steal, then used a huge Euro step to get past Luke Walton, and scored a layup over Perkins' defense!

At that moment, no one could say what position Lin Qi was playing.

All people know is that he adapted to the future faster than anyone else.

He is like the ultimate warrior in the basketball world, providing the correct answer to the evolutionary direction of all tall people.

The ball went in, making the score 9 points, and Phil Jackson had to call another timeout.

Lin Qi blinked at Kobe, whose face was ashen: "I don't need you to give me my third ring. I'll win it myself."

As Lynch walked off the field and sat down on the bench, Raja Bell, unusually, reached out to greet him with his hand, and his arrogant expression vanished.

"Well done, boss."

DeShawn Stevenson grinned mischievously: "Now you can kiss Lynch's hand and tell everyone you're the third-best shooting guard in the East."

(End of this chapter)