Champion Rules

Chapter 182, Section 178: We are ruling this place (Seeking monthly votes!)
Lynch failed to give the Lakers the lead until the end of the first quarter, and during the break, an incredibly somber atmosphere filled the Lakers' bench.

The defending champions and their fans looked at each other, their expressions a mixture of shock and unease.

It's just like the Thunder fans who led for the entire game in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals but lost in the final 0.3 seconds.

Last season, the Lakers' Big Three won 67 games in the regular season, meaning the playoffs would only take six games at most to decide the outcome.

Their dominance is very evident.

They were used to easily crushing their opponents and taking victory away amidst the despair in their eyes.

Therefore, the Lakers did not expect the situation at this moment.

This isn't a match for the Chinese national football team. As soon as you hear the words "do-or-die battle," no matter who the opponent is, you can predict what will happen.

Before the game, no one could have predicted that the defending champions would be humiliated and dominated on their championship ring night.

Throughout the entire quarter, the Knicks gave the Lakers no breathing room.

Although they are only down by 5 points, this does not make the Lakers players feel relieved.

Because Steve Nash will return in the second quarter.
The seemingly close point difference will become an insurmountable chasm under the storm that Steve Nash is about to unleash.

Catching up by 5 points will not be an easy task.

Kobe Bryant pursed his lips, as worried as everyone else, but not about the revamped New York Knicks.

In his view, Lynch's evolution is a more terrifying phenomenon than Knicks'.

He recalled the slender figure wearing the number 35 jersey that had stirred up a storm in his heart during last season's game against the SuperSonics.

KG and Dirk Nowitzki both played small forward for a while when they first entered the league, but they later both moved towards the power forward position.

Kevin Durant is different. In terms of his playing style, the SuperSonics, which is now the Thunder, really intend for him to be a wing scorer.

According to official records, Kevin Durant is only 206 cm tall. But Kobe Bryant estimated that he was at least 211 cm tall.

This is the height of a true center; he'd be good enough even for the center position.

But he chose to challenge tradition, dominating the field with mid-to-long-range jump shots and singles fighting with a stick.

Although his unique charisma makes people prefer to believe he is the kind of loser who peeks at girls' foot bath water rather than a respected superstar.

But Kobe still commented on him after his last game against the SuperSonics last season: "KD may become the best scorer of this era."

Then, this season, Lynch has become the KD that Kobe fantasized about.

He's as fast as a small forward and has the physical attributes of a tall player.

He can develop his skills from mid-to-long range and make breakthroughs quickly.

What's even more terrifying is that Kobe didn't believe Kevin Durant was better than Lynch on the defensive end.

While the Thunder were still trying to create a future warrior, the Knicks quietly launched the finished product.

The electronic buzzer pierced the noise of Staples Center and interrupted Kobe's thoughts.

Phil Jackson didn't make any major adjustments, simply calmly telling everyone, "We're completely abandoning offensive rebounds, retreating quickly, and curbing the Knicks' offensive pace. Don't panic, the seven-second offense is just a mirage in the desert. If it were that deadly, Steve wouldn't be in New York."

This strategy had some effect, but the Knicks' half-court offense was equally powerful when Nash and Lynch were both on the court.

Lynch darted around quickly, and Garnett had to concentrate fully to keep up.

After Lynch drew away the Lakers' biggest defensive anchor, Nash started taking more shots.

Although Jason Kidd's historically top-tier defense made Nash's scoring less easy, it still allowed the Knicks to maintain their lead.

In the third quarter, Kobe went on a shooting spree, narrowing the gap to just one point.

But Raja Bell's three-pointer and layup widened the gap again.

Lynch's performance tonight undoubtedly impressed Raja Bell.

But Kobe did not win him over.

This fighter is still giving his all to battle Kobe, even though most of his efforts are in vain.

After personally widening the score gap this time, Raja Bell triumphantly shouted at Kobe, "Are you still a heavy burden now?"

A sly glint flashed in Kobe's eyes: "You're not the one who led the Knicks to the top; you're just reaping the benefits. Standing on the shoulders of giants to reach for the stars, do you really think you're an astronomer? Even if you only score 8 points in a game, the Knicks can still win; you're not important at all. If you score 8 points and the team loses, that proves you're important."

Kobe tried to provoke Raja Bell and induce him to continue fouling him.

He succeeded.

Raja Bell, who was initially elated after scoring consecutive points, was provoked by Kobe's words, and his joy instantly turned into anger.

This Virgin Islands thug used an unnecessary and violent collision to knock Kobe down during the next defensive play, giving him a chance to shoot free throws.

Just as the Knicks were about to gain momentum, Raja Bell personally brought that momentum to an abrupt halt.

Kobe smiled as he lay on the floor rinsing the trash. Bell gave him a thumbs up: "Well done, tough guy, thanks for the two points."

Lynch shook his head. Raja Bell's biggest weakness was that he was too easily ignited.

This results in him committing several unnecessary fouls against you in every game.

When such a foul is committed against someone like Kobe Bryant, it's practically giving away points.

Kobe made both free throws to bring the Lakers back within 4 points, once again saving them from the brink of elimination.

Raja Bell thus picked up his fourth foul of the night and had to be substituted.

After DeShawn Stevenson replaced Bell, the Knicks' offensive spacing was somewhat affected. Kobe would leave the inconsistent three-point shooter Stevenson alone and double-team Nash, preventing him from comfortably running pick-and-rolls with Lynch.

Nash passed the ball to DeShawn Stevenson on two consecutive possessions when he was double-teamed, and the second-best shooting guard in the East lived up to expectations, missing both shots.

Raja Bell's value was on full display at this moment; he could do more than just defense, he could also provide a reliable three-point shooting threat.

With a series of missed shots, the point difference melted away like a wax figure being roasted, and the Lakers closed the gap to just 2 points.

The defending champions finally saw hope of turning the tide.

Flip Sanders called a timeout, and Lynch criticized Raja Bell: "Idiot, you shouldn't let others lead you by the nose, that's why you're only the third-best shooting guard in the East!"

DeAndre Jordan, standing to the side, simply couldn't imagine what Dwyane Wade would think if he were there.

The Knicks were kind enough not to name anyone the best shooting guard in the East, but their second and third place rankings make their first-place ranking seem less prestigious.
Raja Bell did not refute, but he also did not admit any wrongdoing.

He just gripped the towel tightly, clearly still angry.

Of course, holding a role player accountable now will obviously not change the situation.

Nash is currently unable to push the pace, and his ball-handling offense is being contained.

Flip Saunders decided to show a different side of the Knicks: "Guys, let's play the game like it's the last minute."

The game restarted, and Kobe hoped to completely shake off the gloom in the third quarter and enter the fourth quarter with a lead.

He bent down and spread his arms, like a venomous snake about to strike.

Jason Kidd adopted the same stance, knowing that stopping Nash was the key to everything.

As a result, Steve Nash neither called for a pick-and-roll nor drove to the basket after crossing half-court. Instead, very unusually, he passed the ball to Lynch as soon as he crossed half-court.

Lynch held the ball high up the court, while Steve Nash began making active off-ball runs.

Kidd immediately gave chase, but it was clear that the Knicks were well-prepared, having devised a very effective off-ball strategy for Nash.

The Wind Child's movement complemented the Knicks' off-ball pick-and-roll perfectly, moving with lightning speed through the meticulously planned no-ball court.

Phil Jackson let out a suppressed curse. The Knicks had integrated Nash and Lynch so well.

Now, Nash and Lynch have completely switched roles.

With Nash playing off the ball, Lynch became the center of the offense.

This was originally the Knicks' strategy to close out the game in the final moments, but it has to be admitted that the Los Angeles Lakers are very strong, forcing the Knicks to change their strategy in the third quarter.

The plan to shut down Nash failed, and his off-ball movement also tied up the Lakers' defense, just like how Stephen Curry will use his off-ball movement to hold off opponents in the future.

Lynch and Nash faked a handoff, and Kevin Garnett's weight was pulled by Nash's movement, but Lynch suddenly sprang into action. By the time KG realized he needed to get back on defense, the Knicks' ace's first step had already torn through the air.
Because Nash drew the defense away from Lynch, he didn't encounter help defense during his drives. It wasn't until he penetrated to the basket that he met Kendrick Perkins, who was protecting the rim.

However, inside the penalty area, Lynch was already able to take on multiple opponents single-handedly.

He gently raised his hand, tricked Kendrick Perkins into jumping, then turned and hooked the ball over the onrushing KG and into the net, scoring a successful point!
Lynch high-fived Nash: "I think this should also count as an assist for you."

“I just wandered around,” Nash laughed.

In the commentary booth, Reggie Miller beamed with excitement: "For many years, no team has fully developed Steve Nash's off-ball abilities. But with Steve's shooting ability and basketball IQ, believe me, he will become a top-tier off-ball scorer!"

One possession later, Lynch broke through and passed the ball to Nash, who had found an opening at the top of the key after using a screen.

Jason Kidd knew very well how strong his old rival's shooting ability was, and he struggled to get past DeShawn Stevenson before making a desperate tackle.

But it was too late; Nash was one of the greatest jump shooters in history.

You could even say that, at the point guard position, his shooting ability is second only to Stephen Curry, who ushered in a new era.

"Shh!"

The Nets rolled around, and New York's new formula dashed the Lakers' hopes of a comeback once again.

The partnership between Lynch and Nash demonstrated a perfect synergy, with 1+1>2, in their very first game.

This offensive surge allowed the Knicks to regain momentum, but there was no one on the court like Raja Bell who would give Kobe a free win.

The Lakers ultimately entered the fourth quarter trailing by 8 points.

After the start of the fourth quarter, Lynch's consecutive catch-and-shoot jumpers plunged the Lakers into despair.

The increased speed makes Lynch's off-ball movement even more threatening. Last season's Defensive Player of the Year could only watch helplessly as Lynch repeatedly scored over his head.

Kobe started taking over a lot of the game, but his shooting touch was clearly not very good today.

Kidd is different; his performance on the offensive end remains consistently stable.

But his consistency is precisely the biggest source of despair for the Lakers.

As the game progressed, Garnett, who was originally a defensive player and only played a supporting role on offense, found himself becoming the Lakers' key offensive player!
This wasn't the first time KG had experienced something like this. During his middle school years, he saw a friend being bullied on the street, so he went to help.

As the fight escalated, he became a key figure in the brawl and was subsequently taken away by the arriving police as the main culprit.

Tonight, the scene brought back painful memories of being handcuffed and put in a police car years ago.

Fate's cruel joke left the wolf king exhausted on both offense and defense, his sweat-soaked purple-gold battle robe gleaming helplessly under the spotlight.

The Lakers, who were exhausted from running around the court throughout the game, ultimately couldn't change the outcome.

The New York Knicks decisively defeated the Lakers 114-101 in their opening game.

At the end of the game, Lynch, who had 37 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks, made a gesture of pressing down with both hands and then pushing up with his knees.

This means he has completely broken the broom in the hands of the Lakers' Big Three and finally snatched the victory from their heads.

Steve Nash, who scored 22 points and had 10 assists, was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines. He glanced at the Lakers' newly unveiled championship banner, his eyes sparkling.

"I think this was probably the easiest game I've ever won in my career. No disrespect to the Lakers, it's just that with Lynch around, winning is as natural as breathing. I think that's the difference between an exceptional leader and an ordinary leader."

Nash's response was gentle, but DeShawn Stevenson wouldn't be so friendly to his opponent.

"Kobe Bryant should remember what he said when he won the Finals MVP last season: 'Remember, Lynch and I can combine for 42 points every night like tonight. Whether you admit it or not, we are truly dominating this league!'"
-
The New York Knicks defeated the Lakers in their highly anticipated opening game, giving LeBron James's idol a lot of trouble.

He has become an indispensable part of the wild celebrations of New York fans, a unique celebratory firework in this basketball mecca.

The Knicks used that game to declare their return to dominance and step back into the center of the spotlight.

But not all New York teams are so high-profile.

In the dim light of the metropolis, the Bayside Hawks' home arena is like a forgotten parallel world—the empty arena echoes with the sound of basketballs hitting the floor, the sparsely populated stands can't even hold a three-digit number of people, and even the scouts' suits have become a luxury decoration.

Ben Gordon huddled at the end of the bench, staring at the words "Brooklyn Bayshore Hawks" on the floor and giving a self-deprecating smile.

Ben Gordon never imagined that he, who was the Bulls' leading scorer last season, would now be playing for this G League team.

But he did find some common ground with the team.

The Bay Shore Hawks were originally part of the Cleveland Cavaliers. After the Cavaliers established their own Development League team, the Bay Shore Hawks moved to Philadelphia and became part of the 76ers.

Last season, the BayHawks became the Raptors' affiliate team.

This season they moved to Brooklyn again.

This team has been abandoned and homeless, like migratory birds.

Isn't Ben Gordon the same?

He was abandoned by his father shortly after birth (the first version said he had both parents, but unfortunately I overestimated his father, and the previous text has already been corrected), and it was basketball that gave him respect and love.

But when he entered the NBA, basketball began to abandon him.

The "Mr. Fourth Quarter" who once enjoyed the cheers of 20,000 people at the United Center in Chicago is now wearing a G League jersey, battling with his own shadow in a deserted training facility.

He gave everything for the Bulls, but the team preferred to offer Luol Deng a max contract instead of him.

Having experienced the pain of abandonment once again, he returned to his hometown of New York, hoping to start over.

As a result, even the last vestiges of warmth from his hometown were extinguished, and before he could even play a single game, the Knicks dumped him in this godforsaken place—of course, it was entirely his own fault. His body was possessed by a demon, which caused Raja Bell to experience terrible things, and he lost the trust of the locker room.

Ben Gordon still felt sad; he didn't understand why God had given up on him.

Everyone has forgotten him, and even he himself is almost forgetting his own dream.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out in the empty stadium, with sporadic gasps.

Ben Gordon turned his head to look at the stands, and against the cascading light from the overhead lights, he saw the figure who had slaughtered the Lakers at Staples Center the night before leaning against the railing. At this moment, he had actually walked into this small arena.

The two looked at each other, and Lin Qi smiled and pointed at him: "Fight hard, buddy, take them down!"

Ben Gordon did not respond, even though he was incredibly surprised by Lynch's arrival.

However, his fingertips were already deeply embedded in his palms.
In the damp night air of Brooklyn, it seemed that not everyone had forgotten him.

(End of this chapter)