Champion Rules

Chapter 190, Section 186: The Superstar's Weapon (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Lynch's 16-game winning streak and aggressive offense and defense earned him a 200-point bonus.

Currently, Lynch has a total of 252 talent points, and he has the opportunity to add another talent before the end of the regular season.

However, Lin Qi now has a sweet problem: according to the brain-dead system setting that "it is harder to become stronger after winning MVP", the price of goods may not be the limit even if it increases to 400 talent points.

This means that if you choose the wrong skill tree in the future, you will not only waste talent points, but also a lot of time.

Every decision Lynch made afterward was crucial.

Similarly, Lynch's decisions regarding the locker room were also crucial.

Ben Gordon's return to the Greenburg training center was a controversial decision.

As someone who once knocked out a teammate with a single punch and threatened to confront him in the locker room with a gun, Ben Gordon is definitely a dangerous individual.

Although those paid public intellectuals often say: the bullets of democracy will never hit free people, so Americans don't need to ban guns at all.

But even the Stars and Stripes, which originated at the foot of the White House, doesn't believe this.

Even though there has never been a shooting incident between players in NBA history, who knows what a mentally ill American man might do.

Ben Gordon's return has everyone on edge.

When he walked into the locker room, no one greeted him except Steve Nash.

Everyone looked at him with a strange expression.

Ben Gordon was used to this kind of attention. He silently sat down in front of the locker with his name on it, where the Knicks' number 7 jersey was hanging.

He had never played an official game in an NBA team's jersey this season, and Gordon couldn't help but touch the jersey with his hand, as if trying to knead all the bitterness into the polyester fibers.

At that moment, the locker room door was flung open, and the newcomer shouted in a cheerful voice, "Good morning, history makers! Lynch should have treated us all to a nightclub full of big-butt girls instead of watching that crappy basketball game!"

The man's voice stopped abruptly upon spotting Ben Gordon sitting in front of the cabinet.

Raja Bell stared at the man who had taken him down more than two months ago, clenching his fists.

Seeing this, Steve Nash tugged at Raja Bell's arm: "Sit down, buddy, your locker isn't over here."

“Of course I know.” Raja Bell shook off Nash’s hand and walked up to Ben Gordon, who was sitting in a hooded chair. “Don’t fucking think I’m afraid of you, don’t think you can ride on my head. If you dare to lay a hand on me again, I guarantee I’ll knock a few teeth out this time!”

Although Raja Bell slept peacefully last time, he's the kind of guy who keeps trying even after repeated defeats.

Look at his battles with Kobe; he was always outmatched in every encounter, but his defense against Kobe was always full of passion.

Regardless of the outcome, he was always wary of the other side's top leader.

Lynch has only seen a similar spirit in LBJ. Although he won fewer Finals, you could say he was always playing.

Ben Gordon did not respond to the warnings and provocations, but simply sat silently.

In addition to playing in the G League, Ben Gordon also received a lot of psychological intervention during this period.

He's still a ticking time bomb, but he's a little more manageable now.

Raja Bell didn't sit back down in his seat, grumbling, until Lynch walked in.

Lynch deliberately raised his voice: "Ben, do I need to introduce him again? Ladies and gentlemen, from today onwards, he is officially back with the team."

People applauded in welcome, but Lynch knew that the welcome was not genuine.

Ben Gordon still has a lot to do to gain recognition.

Sitting next to Lynch, Steve Nash began to whisper to Lynch, "Lynch, is this your decision or Sam's decision?"

"Is there a difference?" Lin Qi replied with a smile.

This answer was enough for Nash to get the answer.

“You know, I’m not the kind of person who would criticize my teammates. Benny is also a victim, and I sincerely hope that his mental illness can be cured as soon as possible. But right now, this is a dangerous decision.”

“We always have to try to solve the problem, Steve, and there are always risks involved. I don’t want to go down the trade route, so let’s see how he performs.”

During the day's practice, Ben Gordon's accuracy from beyond the three-point line was pleasing; the sharp blade that once won the Sixth Man of the Year award is shedding its rust.

He has indeed regained his form, but training alone cannot tell you much.

So in the afternoon, Philip Sanders arranged for Ben Gordon to participate in a scrimmage.

Before the practice game started, Lynch walked up to Ben Gordon and said, “I know it’s not nice to not be accepted in the locker room. But nobody is born to be popular. You have to earn respect yourself. Don’t do anything stupid. Try to do something you’re proud of. That will keep you away from anger.”

"Ah."

Raja Bel was itching for this opportunity; he had been waiting for it for a long time.

Steve Nash reminded his old friend, "Don't provoke him anymore."

It's clear that Raja Bell hasn't learned from the previous incident: "How could I have provoked him? I just wanted to confront him."

The game started, and Ben Gordon encountered Raja Bell just past the halfway line.

Raja Bell's mouth isn't clean; you can tell he plays with emotion in his hands.

But Lynch and the coaching staff did not stop him. If Ben Gordon could not control his emotions during practice, he would be even more uncontrollable in official games.

Ben Gordon struggled to break through Raja Bell's defenses; even according to official height calculations, Gordon was five centimeters shorter than Bell.

But in reality, the difference between the two is 11 centimeters.

Ben Gordon's actual height is only 185 cm.

Gordon struggled against someone stronger, taller, and with exceptionally fast defensive footwork.

He wanted to pass the ball, but his intention was too obvious. The ball was intercepted by Bale's long arms as soon as he passed it, resulting in a mistake.

Raja Bell stole the ball and scored on a fast break dunk, glaring mercilessly at Ben Gordon: "Wake up, this isn't the G League!"

Gordon stood there, his Adam's apple bobbing with each deep breath, his tongue repeatedly licking the unspoken "fuck you."

He took a deep breath and kept reminding himself that he had to get the big contract in order to calm himself down.

The game continued, and Raja Bell pressed the entire court this time, marking Ben Gordon closely the moment he received the inbound pass.

Raja Bell tried to steal the ball, but Ben Gordon seized the opportunity, made a crossover dribble past him, and pulled up for a three-pointer.

But before the basketball could even leave his fingertips, Raja Bell blocked it from behind.

He is, after all, a defensive-team level guard. Perhaps Raja Bale's defense doesn't seem that impressive in front of superstars.

But against ordinary players, his defense is like an iron gate.

Ben Gordon definitely needs to adapt to the level of play in the NBA. In the G League, he could easily score 30 points every night through isolation plays.

But in the NBA, the same ball, the same move, and the same space no longer present an opportunity. After the block, Raja Bell continued his tirade: "Lost? You fucking regret crawling out of that rat hole in the G League!"

His elbow deliberately rolled over Ben Gordon's ribs, like a bloodthirsty hyena circling its prey. "Don't worry, I'll personally drive a garbage truck and take you back."

Ben Gordon's gaze turned fierce, and that scarlet haze once again clouded his retina, as if the two months of psychological intervention courses and tranquilizers were about to evaporate.

Raja Bell remembers that look; he will never forget it.

But he didn't back down; he was ready to fight Ben Gordon again.

The sounds around Ben Gordon began to blur, and anger and resentment were taking over his mind.

He dribbled across half-court, where he was facing Raja Bell, who was shaking his head and swaying.

But at this moment, the appearance of New York No. 20 greatly dissipated Ben Gordon's anger.

The Kings of New York set up a screen for Ben Gordon. A superstar setting up a screen for a guy who just came back from the G League—maybe only Stephen Curry, besides the Big Fundamental of San Antonio, would do that.

Ben Gordon went over the screen, Raja Bell struggled to get through, but Ben Gordon still managed to get space to shoot.

Ben Gordon excels at the ability to shoot three-pointers directly with the ball, a skill ahead of its time.

He took the shot immediately after the screen, leaving Raja Bell's fingertips far behind.

"brush!"

The crisp sound of the basketball scraping against the net gave Ben Gordon a sense of accomplishment. His tense jawline relaxed slightly, his previously bloodshot pupils gradually cleared, and the noise from the sidelines returned to his ears.

Bipolar disorder tends to grow wildly when faced with setbacks and provocations. If both are encountered simultaneously, the violent emotions are like a pack of wolves bursting out of the jungle, tearing a person to pieces in an instant.

That's why Lynch had Ben Gordon do things that he could be proud of.

A successful jump shot or a victory is enough to calm the enraged Bulls back down.

Ron Artest, who also suffers from bipolar disorder, rarely caused trouble during his time with the Rockets and Lakers because he could achieve enough in Houston and Los Angeles.

Lynch hoped to use this method to control Ben Gordon, this ticking time bomb.

When he's on the verge of losing control, a screen is more effective than an angry reprimand.

Learning to manage problem players is an essential lesson for star players.

Michael Jordan could make a monster like Dennis Rodman work in Chicago, something the Admiral couldn't.

The result was that Dennis Rodman, who was alongside MJ, could get the young Shaq into trouble, and he tamed the red-haired devil into the sharpest claw in the triangle offense system.

Dennis Rodman, who was standing next to the admiral, refused to help the admiral defend against the Dream.

Rodman of the Bulls and Rodman of the Spurs are the same person, but they performed at completely different levels.

To be honest, Lynch had no feelings for Ben Gordon whatsoever; they had exchanged fewer than ten words, and he had absolutely no interest in saving his career.

Lynch only saw him as a weapon that he could use.

Sometimes, it's not that the weapon is inadequate, but that you have to find the right way to use it.

When Ben Gordon scored, Raja Bell cursed under his breath, chewed on his mouthguard, and stomped his foot, but ultimately didn't utter any more trash talk.

Everyone knows this game wasn't biased; it was a practice match, and everything was meant to simulate real gameplay. In a real game, it's very common for players like Ben Gordon to call for pick-and-rolls.

The game continued, and Ben Gordon fought hard on the next defensive play. The sense of accomplishment on the offensive end often inspires enthusiasm on the defensive end.

Raja Bell's three-pointer bounced off the rim, Lynch grabbed the rebound and passed the ball directly to Ben Gordon.

Ben Gordon's style is completely different from Blake and Dragic.

He prefers fast-paced scoring and, because of his high scoring threat, he can effectively draw the defense.

When the opponent is afraid to give him an opening and retreats easily, the opening for the opponent to let go will appear.

Ben Gordon made a quick run, drawing Amir Amir Johnson's defense before hitting the ball to Lynch, who was making a run down the flank.

Lynch scored with a powerful dunk, and this lineup, orchestrated by Ben Gordon, executed a simplified version of the seven-second offense.

This is exactly the kind of guard the Knicks need.

Mike Malone shook his head: "That's fucking unbelievable!"

“Indeed, it’s a shame that such an incredible player like Ben is plagued by mental illness.” Flip Saunders nodded approvingly.

"No, I mean Lynch is fucking incredible. I've never seen anyone his age have this level of control over their team. He's testing the sharpness of Benny, this double-edged sword, making sure the blade points outwards while also ensuring the hilt doesn't turn against its wielder. And it seems he's succeeded."

Philip Sanders shrugged: "That's why James Dolan said in an internal meeting last summer that if we waste a player like Lynch, we should all be shot. Yes, Lynch is a different kind of guy, he's the kind of guy who can build a dynasty."

The scrimmage went much more smoothly, with Ben Gordon scoring 10 points and dishing out 3 assists in 25 minutes.

Most importantly, even without Nash, the Knicks' offense is no longer a mess.

Ben Gordon is certainly no match for Nash. His passing ability, his passing vision, and his ability to control turnovers are all completely incomparable to Nash's.

However, his ability to use his own threat and quick follow-up to guide the seven-second offense is more than enough during his rotation time.

When the practice match ended, Ben Gordon yelled.

This can be seen as an outlet for his terrible life during this period.

Raja Bell grumbled as he went back to the locker room, while Lynch wore a broad smile.

“Heartless bastard,” DeShawn Stevenson grumbled as he walked up to Lynch. “He’s got a new love and he’s already forgotten about his old flame, Raja?”

“Don’t worry, Raja isn’t that petty, and—” Lynch put his arm around Desean Stevenson’s shoulder, “you’re my old flame.”

During the locker room interview this afternoon, a group of reporters once again gathered in front of Ben Gordon, asking him many questions.

Lynch was naturally not spared either.

"Lynch, is the relationship between Ben and Raja still tense?"

"Are you nervous? Raja greeted his mother on the training field today; he's very loving."

"When will Ben be traded? We all know that Sam always likes to build a roster as early as possible, rather than waiting until the trade deadline."

"A trade? The people in this locker room right now are the ones who will be standing on the podium next summer."

"But the team's problems do exist. In the next game against the San Antonio Spurs, your offense during the rotation will be tested again."

“No,” Lynch said confidently, shaking his finger. “We’ve won 16 straight, man. We’ve been testing others since the start of the season. Tomorrow will be the same. Let Tim prepare for the test.”

(End of this chapter)