Champion Rules

Chapter 184, Page 180: Not a Burden (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

The Knicks have once again defeated the Cavaliers, a pattern that has been repeating itself for the past four years.

LeBron James has been making some incredibly ugly turnaround jump shots in crucial moments, a pattern that has been repeating itself for the past four years.

But one thing is different from previous years – this is undoubtedly the most frustrating loss for Cavaliers fans.

They came incredibly close to victory, even taking a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, seemingly on the verge of breaking the curse.

Their expectations were raised to the sky, but at the last moment, the goddess of fate withdrew all her favor.

The pain of falling from a great height, the pain of witnessing one's lead vanish like quicksand, is far more unbearable than being dominated from start to finish.

LeBron James' championship dream has been shattered, and the statement "LeBron needs to team up with superstar teammates to succeed" shines even more ironically in the midst of defeat.

You can't say the Cavaliers' roster isn't good enough.

While LBJ may not have had superstar teammates, Lynch and Melo also lacked superstars during the Knicks and Pistons' back-to-back championship runs—even though the Knicks assembled the second and third-best shooting guards, the best center, and the second-best power forward in the East. He has every right to say that he has never played for a super team.

Clearly, not having superstar teammates is not an excuse for failure.

LeBron James's star power is waning, and he's surprised to find himself increasingly yearning to escape the land he once loved so dearly.

People's hopes and expectations are always changing.

Elon Musk and Tang Pu went from having a close relationship to exchanging insults online in just five months.

LeBron James and Cleveland have been struggling for four years now.

Lynch was also surprised by what he saw.

The New York Knicks started the season with a 10-game winning streak, which exceeded Lynch's own expectations.

This team's style has clearly undergone a 180-degree turn, but their cohesion is surprisingly good.

Of course, this team is not without its flaws.

Behind the dazzling achievements, two hidden concerns are quietly emerging.

When Steve Nash was substituted out, the problem of the seven-second offense remaining unresolved was still not solved.

Raja Bell's out-of-control behavior, however, always creates unexpected situations and puts the game in crisis.

After the war, news of Raja Bell being eliminated by DNP in the final quarter was widely publicized by the media.

This is not the first time Raja Bale has felt the impact of a major market, nor is it the first time he has been in the spotlight due to disciplinary issues.

Not long ago, a video of him being brutally beaten by Ben Gordon on the training field went viral worldwide, garnering over ten million views and becoming the most high-profile moment of his career.

Now, DNP's news has once again thrust him into the spotlight.

Kenny Smith commented on him on a TNT program.

"According to sources, the reason Raju was knocked down by Ben was because Raju always spewed out some inappropriate trash talk during training."

In the 10 regular season games played this season, Raja put the team in crisis in two of those games due to pointless fouls.

We never deny his value and ability. He has been selected to the All-Defensive Team for two consecutive seasons and has maintained a three-point shooting percentage above 40% for four consecutive seasons. He is a good player. His elite perimeter defense and consistent three-point shooting are impeccable.

But from preseason training camp until now, he has consistently oscillated between being an excellent player and a troublemaker, and this unpredictability is adding uncertainty to the Knicks' championship aspirations.

These comments firmly branded Raja Bell as a "troublemaker."

During his time with the Phoenix Suns, this guard had a number of outrageous behaviors.

But the Arizona sun seemed to melt away the criticism from the media and the public—even though the Suns have been among the top teams in the West for years, the low profile there makes Raja Bell's transgressions seem like cactus thorns in the desert, eye-catching but rarely attracting sustained attention.

But when this desert plant was transplanted into New York's concrete jungle, each of its spikes cast exaggerated shadows under the spotlight.

The night after the match, Raja Bell went to the supermarket to buy things.

He pulled the collar of his trench coat up to the tip of his nose, the brim of his baseball cap pressed against his brow bone, and his gaze behind his sunglasses wandered over the floor tiles.

The beeping of the barcode scanner at the checkout counter sounded like a countdown timer, signaling that he was about to leave safely.

But the moment the cashier handed him the shopping bag, the capillaries on the bulbous nose of a middle-aged white football fan behind him suddenly turned bright red: "Damn it, Raju!? Hey, when the hell are you going to shut up? When are you going to stop causing trouble?"

The sound waves, like stones thrown into water, created ripples in the otherwise calm supermarket.

The office worker, engrossed in his phone, suddenly looked up; the couple between the shelves stopped their intimate whispers; and the single girl in yoga pants put down the remote-controlled fitness equipment she was holding.

All eyes instantly turned to this striking figure, who stood at 196 centimeters tall, as if under a spotlight.

An angry roar came from somewhere: "Trouble! Creator!"

The syllables were broken into neat beats, and the sarcastic remark was like flipping a switch, unleashing a chorus of scattered hisses and synchronized shouts from deep within the shelves. More and more people joined in the shouting, gradually merging into a jarring harmony.

Raja Bell clenched his fist so tightly that the shopping bag left deep marks on his palm, and the edges of his sunglasses reflected the cold light of countless cell phone flashes.

He didn't linger, even though a few fans still wanted his autograph.

As he escaped into the driver's seat, Bell recalled an interview with Wilson Chandler that he had inadvertently seen on an ESPN program when he was still playing for the Suns last season.

He specifically mentioned the pressure of playing in New York.

"The New York media is crazy, and the fans are crazy. If you don't perform well in New York, they'll make you feel it during the game. They'll make you feel it when you go to the grocery store. They'll make you feel it even when you're driving down the street—they'll let in a few 'softies' through your rolled-down window while you're waiting at a red light."

That's why the pressure of playing in New York is immense.

Of course, similarly, if you win, if you perform well, those curses will instantly turn into love letters, making you feel their love at all times.

At that moment, amidst the roar of the engines, Raja Bell personally experienced this pressure.

There is no tolerance of the desert here, only the law of the jungle: either be crowned in victory or drown amidst boos.

But Raja Bell doesn't think he did anything wrong; it's impossible for him to keep smiling after being insulted.

“You are a heavy burden on number 13. If Joe Johnson were still in Phoenix, Steve would have been wearing a ring long ago.”

These hurtful words suddenly echoed in his mind again, causing him to press the accelerator harder with his right foot.

He followed Steve Nash, feeling he could help him.

But he never considered this question: would things really be better if he were in someone else's shoes? Was his so-called following just wishful thinking?
The blaring sirens and blinding flashing lights brought Raja Bell back to his senses. An NYPD police car pulled him over, and he realized he had been speeding far too fast.

"Damn it, damn it!" Raja Bell slammed his fist on the steering wheel in a rage, then had to pull over.

When he got out of the car, the two policemen who approached him paused for a moment, then smiled and whistled.

"Looks like you're going to be on the front page again tomorrow, Raja."
-
Raja Bell was arrested for dangerous driving.

This indeed became the headline the next day.

In the locker room, Lynch just found it strange: "Why is Raja's temper as inconsistent as LeBron's jump shot? Sometimes he's indifferent to trash talk, but other times he'd love to kill someone. Steve, Phoenix has the most professional medical team; could Raja have also been diagnosed with some kind of psychological problem?"

DeShawn Stevenson scoffed, “Don’t insult LeBron. His jump shot has always been textbook consistent, never been off.” Nash shrugged. “He’s never been diagnosed with any mental health issues, and he rarely acts like this in Phoenix. I don’t know what’s bothering him, I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I’ll talk to Lynch, and I’ll make sure he’s not a problem anymore.”

Steve Nash knew that Lynch had done everything he could. Although Bell was DNP'd in the final quarter of the last game, all the conflicts were kept within the locker room. Lynch never publicly criticized him.

Lynch wants to resolve Raja Bell's issue as soon as possible and doesn't want this mess to affect the team's winning streak.

In their next game, the Knicks will face another strong opponent: the Utah Jazz.

That was a team that had won 50+ games for two consecutive seasons. Although there had been some unpleasantness between Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan recently, the team still possessed considerable fighting power, and their pick-and-roll system remained as sharp as ever.

Lynch knew that the winning streak would eventually end, and no team could ever achieve an 82-0 record.

But now that things have come to this, Lin Qi naturally hopes to extend his winning streak as long as possible.

Deron Williams is a very talkative guy, and Raja Bell happens to be the best option to defend him.

To continue their winning streak, the Knicks need Raja Bell to build a barrier with his iron will.

If Bell can fully commit, avoid being overwhelmed by negative emotions, and refrain from giving away points, the Knicks will definitely be able to secure a victory more easily.

This team needs him to be complete.

The next day, Raja Bell was in low spirits after the speeding incident, and his training performance was not very good.

The dull thud of the basketball hitting the rim during shooting practice betrayed his scattered mind.

Without a doubt, entering the competition in this state would be a disaster.

In the game against the Charlotte Bobcats, Raja Bell went 1-for-6 and allowed Jason Richardson to score 26 points.

Although the Knicks still managed to defeat the weaker Bobcats and extend their winning streak, Raja Bell's performance was not satisfactory.

"He ruined Benny's form, and now he's ruined his own. Guys, is Deron Williams going to score 40 points over him in the next game?" Stephen A. Smith finally snapped at Raja Bell.

Many New York media outlets have begun discussing potential trades for Raja Bell. Compared to Ben Gordon, who genuinely suffers from mental illness, Raja Bell is quite popular in the trading market.

These trade rumors have further fueled Raja Bell's self-doubt. He had thought he was there to help Nash win a championship, but now he seems to be the one standing in the way.

Nash spoke with him, but it didn't work out.

He even asked Nash a strange question in return: "Would you feel more relaxed if someone else were following you?"

Wilson Chandler looked at his teammates, who were almost suffocating under immense pressure, and was reminded of his own rookie season.

He knew this feeling was unpleasant, and he also knew that there was only one person in all of New York who could help him.

After training ended the following afternoon, before reporters entered the locker room for an interview, Wilson Chandler found the person who could help him.

"Regarding Raga, I don't know if this detail is the real reason for his outburst. But both of his outbursts on the field seem to stem from a similar statement."
-
The media open days at the Greenburg training center are never dull; they're always packed with restless reporters.

Moreover, this occurred while Knicks players were being arrested by the police.

Although several days have passed since the incident, and Raja Bell has been punished with community service.

However, the buzz surrounding this matter is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon.

Raja Bell looked at the dense forest of microphones in front of him and felt utterly exhausted.

Next, he will face countless more problems that annoy him.

For him, dealing with the New York media was more agonizing than dealing with Kobe Bryant.

There were quite a few reporters in front of Lynch, and most of their questions were related to Raja Bell.

"Lynch, is it your decision or Phil's decision to DNP Raja in the game against the Cavaliers?"

"I was the one who brought it up first. If a person can't control their emotions on the court, then they can't control anything. I've made that mistake myself. I got into a fight with a Pistons player during the playoffs. So, I didn't want something like that to happen to my teammates. At the time, I felt that letting Raja rest was the best option."

The locker room was noisy, but Lynch's voice still managed to reach Raja Bell's ears as he answered questions.

This still doesn't qualify as public criticism, but Bale feels he's probably not far from being traded.

What are your thoughts on Raju being arrested for dangerous driving?

"Reckless driving will bring tears to your loved ones' eyes."

"Deron Williams says he's very keen to end the Knicks' winning streak in Salt Lake City. What do you think?"

"There's a gap between desire and reality. Steve still longs to dunk on Shaq?"

Nash, standing to the side, was very serious and "angry": "Damn Lynch, don't say it out loud!"

The laughter coming from the locker room eased the atmosphere slightly, but the sharp questions that followed instantly evaporated the relaxed mood.

"Lynch, ever since he joined the team, he's been causing trouble. He's made Ben lose his way, he's repeatedly put the team in crisis, he's not well-behaved off the court, and his own form is questionable. Don't you think he's a burden on this team's path to greatness?"

Raja Bell gritted his teeth, his fingers gripping the bench tightly.

Lynch was surrounded by reporters, so he couldn't see Raja Bell's expression.

He was simply recalling what Wilson Chandler had told him.

Lin Qi deliberately raised his voice and spoke with a firm tone.

"I don't know what the hell this bullshit is. Yes, he messed up and made some mistakes. But listen, which champion doesn't stumble a few times along the way?"
I'm not going to complain like an emperor and then ask the management to trade him. Some people think about changing teammates when they encounter trouble, like a giant baby crying for a new toy. That's not me.

He's not a burden; he's a key piece of our championship puzzle!

Steve Nash smiled with satisfaction amidst the reporters surrounding him.

This two-time MVP knows better than anyone that Lynch's ability to become the king of Madison Square Garden is not solely due to his devastating scoring ability and formidable defensive wall.

The situation in New York is far more complex than elsewhere, and it presents an ultimate test of a leader's leadership abilities.

Lynch has undoubtedly passed this test once again.

The locker room was suddenly enveloped in a heavy silence, and the cold light reflected from the metal locker illuminated Raja Bell's stiff back.

Steve Nash took on the responsibility of breaking the silence.

"Hey, you over there, keep your voice down during the interview. Don't you know who the team leader is?"

Amidst the laughter, Wilson Chandler tossed a towel over Raja Bell's head.

Raja Bell gripped the bench even tighter.

He vowed that Deron Williams would become the twelfth skeleton.

(Thanks so much to Ackerman丶1 and other generous donors! I'm extremely grateful!)

(End of this chapter)