Champion Rules

Chapter 191, Section 187: We Are All Honest People (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

San Antonio, like New York, is definitely a place with a story.

First came Duncan the Stone Buddha, and now comes the 10-day Buddhist class.

They all have one thing in common: they are all very low-key.

As the Knicks' opponent in the 2007 NBA Finals, Tim Duncan did not say anything about ending the Knicks' winning streak, nor did he mention anything related to the New York Knicks before the game.

When he and his teammates arrived in New York, he was even amazed by the number of reporters present.

Facing the reporters' cameras, Tim Duncan looked stunned.
"Damn it, Manu, it seems the whole world cares about your baldness."

Ginobili:
I'm balding because of you!

The Spurs' style and the size of the San Antonio market mean they are not a team with high viewership.

This can easily lead to fans underestimating the importance of the sport.

For example, when discussing who will win the championship this year, few media outlets included the Spurs in their discussions.

In fact, since the 99-00 season, the Spurs have never had a season with fewer than 50 wins.

In fact, except for the 99-00 season, the Spurs have achieved more than 55 wins every season.

They are too consistent, too outstanding.

As a result, people have become accustomed to this excellence and thus overlook their goodness.

The Spurs are a strong team every year, and this year is no exception.

Even if Duncan were low-key enough, Lynch wouldn't mistakenly think this was an easy game.

When Lynch warmed up, he greeted Tim Duncan: "Tim, I really miss last summer. We teamed up and gave David Stern a game that almost suffocated him in the stands. Look at this offensive basketball league now, where the slightest touch blows the whistle and every night is a test of the referees' cardiovascular endurance. I still prefer our traditional matchups. If you have time, come to my restaurant after the game, and we can reminisce."

"Yeah, yeah, the league is too soft these days. Luckily, the league still has you and me, the two guardians of classicism," Duncan responded.

Tony Parker listened to their conversation and just wanted to cover his ears.

He really couldn't listen to it anymore.

Two cunning old men who had been quietly losing weight to adapt to the new era were now talking at length about their nostalgia for the old days.

While saying no, they were actively embracing each other.

Man, huh.

Ginobili deliberately missed a shot, causing the ball to bounce and hit Duncan on the head.

Duncan glanced at the mischievous Argentinian and casually brought up the Knicks' roster:
"When are you planning to make the trade? I heard you need a backup guard. Perfect timing, we've already put Manu Ginobili (deliberately mispronounced) on the trading block. Tell Craig to trade him for three cases of wine, he'll agree, and he'll get Manu Ginobili to wear a Knicks jersey right away."

"Let Ma Niu Er find another buyer. I think we probably won't go through with the deal."

"Oh, if you guys insist on not making any reinforcements, then you'll have a tough time in the transition period tonight," Duncan's eyes flashed with a conqueror's light, "If I break your winning streak, will you still treat me to dinner?"

The stone Buddha always reveals its brilliance at the most unexpected times.

It's not that he doesn't want to win, but rather that he prefers to achieve victory quietly rather than constantly talking about it.

Lynch smiled: "It's hard to say who'll have the toughest stretch tonight, Tim."

"Seriously? You have many strengths, but don't deny your weaknesses."

“Oh my old man, don’t doubt what I’m saying. I don’t lie, and you won’t find anyone more honest in the entire league than me, you, and LeBron.”

"Do you hate LeBron that much? You mention him so often, it's like he invented basketball. But you're right, we really are the three most trustworthy people in this league."

Tony Parker left the court temporarily and returned to the bench; he felt like he was going to vomit if he listened any longer.

The game started quickly, and Tyson Chandler easily won the first point over Ben Wallace.

Ben Wallace is no longer the player he once was, and he is no longer worth $1400 million a year.

In fact, the Spurs knew about the risks when they signed Ben Wallace.

Giving a huge contract to a center who is over 30 years old, has no basketball skills, and relies solely on his physical attributes and defensive awareness to get by in the league is definitely risky.

They had to take risks back then in order to win the championship.

Now, what was bound to happen has finally happened.

Ben Wallace has been reduced to a barely passable starting role player.

The Knicks' offense is a challenge, but the Spurs have a knack for defending against the seven-second offense. Their playoff battles against the Phoenix Suns from 2005 to 2007 are already classic examples in history.

The Silver and Black Army's defensive strategy was textbook perfect: they forced Nash into isolation plays by blocking his passing lanes, then used double-teams to limit his scoring in crucial moments, allowing Stoudemire, who couldn't completely seal the game, to take shots. And most importantly, they went on an offensive offensive throughout the entire game.

However, they were completely helpless against the Knicks' seven-second offense.

When the Spurs attempted to repeat their old tactic of disrupting Nash's passing network, the tactical gears on the court had already been quietly rearranged. Lynch took over the playmaking role like a second engine, while the freed-up Nash transformed into a deadly outside finisher.

In the first possession, Lynch facilitated from the high post, assisting Nash to hit a three-pointer from the right corner.

Lynch and Nash had an agreement: Nash would control the ball during regular time, while Lynch would take charge during crucial moments.

However, this agreement is not set in stone. When facing teams that want to cut off Nash's connection with other players from the start, Lynch will immediately switch to ball-handling mode.

Immediately afterwards, the Spurs' second move also failed to work.

They were able to go toe-to-toe with the Suns because the Suns' defense was terrible.

But the Knicks are one of the best defensive teams in the league.

This is a fatal variable.

After Tony Parker broke through Nash, he was not greeted by Stoudemire standing by waiting to block him, but by Lynch actively helping to defend him.

Parker passed the ball to Duncan, but Tyson Chandler filled the gap in time.

Duncan passed the ball to Ben Wallace under the basket, but by the time he got the ball, Lynch had already returned to the basket—the French guard's fingertips were still three frames away from the ball when the New York number 20 had already cut back into the paint in time with the defensive rotation.

When the former dominant force of the Dark Ages of defense received the ball in the paint and looked up, what came into view were two arms that blotted out the sky.

To defend against a player like Ben Wallace, all you need to do is raise your arms, and he'll pose no threat.

This kind of mature, timely, and intelligent rotation is simply not seen in Phoenix.

A high-scoring offense is an impossible strategy for this Knicks team.

The Spurs' offense stalled, and Ben Wallace, a player completely ineffective on offense, could only frantically pass the ball to Bruce Bowen.

But his passing intentions were too obvious, and his passes were too slow and hesitant.

Trevor Ariza easily intercepted the ball; as a pass thief, he doesn't waste any bad passes from the opponent.

The moment possession changed hands, Nash quickly unleashed a fast break storm.

Tony Parker quickly intervened, but Nash still found Raja Bell in the right corner, just like they had in Phoenix in the past few years.

Lynch cut in from the middle, a seemingly unnecessary off-the-ball movement that proved deadly. Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace, who were about to close out, stopped in their tracks, knowing all too well the disastrous consequences of allowing the King of New York to receive the ball in the paint.

With Lynch drawing attention, Raja Bell calmly took a shot, and the three-pointer pierced the net.

5:0.

After Raja Bell scored, Lynch looked at Duncan, who was quickly retreating with him on defense, in surprise: "Damn it! Tim, how are you so fast? Have you lost weight?! What happened to upholding tradition? Where is your integrity? Where is your perseverance?"

Duncan calmly replied, "You don't seem to be slow either, my buddy."

Then, the two looked at each other and smiled.

Craig Popovich couldn't laugh at this scene.

In the 04-05 season, when that European superstar first arrived in North America, he was immediately hit hard by the Fist of Liberty.

Tim Duncan was rookie Lynch's nightmare. Lynch never won against the Spurs in his rookie year, and his individual performance was also overshadowed by TD.

But now, Lynch is dominating Duncan in every way.

Look at his defense, look at his ability to draw defenders.

Tim Duncan today can only be called "the best power forward before Lynch entered the league".

Seeing Popovich looking worried, assistant coach Mike Budenholzer patted his hand: "Don't worry about Craig. I know it's hard to accept. Our starting lineup is indeed not as strong as theirs. But the game has just begun. It's a 48-minute game, and it's also a game of rotation. New York is strong, but all teams have weaknesses."

In the following games, Tony Parker became the Spurs' primary offensive weapon.

He frequently ran pick-and-rolls with Duncan, and although the effect was only so-so against Lynch's ability to quickly switch between the two defensively, this was exactly the kind of play the Spurs wanted to see.

They were trying to wear Lynch down as much as possible, forcing him to go all out on the defensive end.

It's important to remember that during rotation time, Lynch still has to take on several minutes of playing time. Meanwhile, the Spurs possess a hidden weapon during rotation time: Manu Ginobili.

If they continue playing like this, by the fourth quarter, the team that created the 16-game winning streak may show signs of fatigue, and their performance may fluctuate.

That will be an opportunity for the Spurs.

Seven minutes into the game, Flip Sanders called a timeout with the Knicks leading by six points.

This is a signal that he wants to replace Steve Nash.

The Spurs' starting lineup offered no resistance against the Knicks' starting lineup.

But as Budenholzer said, that's not the whole story.

There is no perfect team in the world, and the Knicks' weaknesses are about to be exposed.

Craig Popovich looked at Manu Ginobili. To make him a sixth man, the Spurs used their mid-level exception to sign Wizards 3-and-D guard Roger Mason this summer. It was all worth it, because Ginobili is indeed better suited to playing in transitional periods.

This hit the Knicks right where it hurts.

Lynch must attack with all his might to stop the storm Manu has unleashed; he is indeed strong, but there is no room for him to breathe.

This will definitely wear him down!
Craig Popovich gripped the sword's arm with his five fingers: "Slit his throat while he takes a breath!"

Tim Duncan sat on the bench, glanced at Lynch, and recalled their pre-game conversation.

Don't deny your weaknesses, buddy, because basketball will expose everything, whether you admit it or not.

The game continued, and Mark Jackson, who was commentating on the game, looked at the number 7 and couldn't believe that he had actually come on the court.

“Wait, it’s Ben Gordon. We know Lynch and Sam went to watch his game, and we know he’s been recalled to the roster. But it’s really unexpected that the Knicks have put him back on the schedule so quickly.”

Reggie Miller shook his head: "God, I bet the Knicks' locker room is really tense these days. Ben is a troublemaker, it's not about his ability, his temper, or his illness, but it's what's causing trouble for the Knicks. Ben definitely won't play for long; the Knicks are just giving him a few minutes of 'testing time' so they can trade him."

Gregg Popovich smiled for the first time tonight.

The Knicks actually resorted to using this kind of guy in order to solve their rotation problem?
It seems they really have run out of options.

Everyone thought Ben Gordon was more of a nuisance than a benefit.

Just like when Dennis Rodman joined the Bulls, everyone felt the same way.

The game continued, with the Knicks taking the lead.

Spurs backup point guard George Hill closely guarded Ben Gordon and deliberately provoked him: "Old dog, you should have accepted the Bulls' contract. Look, now you have nothing. Even if you crawl back to lick management's shoes, you still won't get that contract."

Ben Gordon quietly controlled the halfway line, and Lynch moved up.

When the entire Spurs team thought Lynch was going to receive the ball and force a pass, he instead ran a pick-and-roll with Ben Gordon.

Ben Gordon went through the screen and took the shot before George Hill could react.

"brush."

The score difference is 9 points.

Lynch easily returned to defense; this time, he only set up one screen.

Mike Budenholzer, who had been relaxed, became a little nervous. The pick-and-roll and Ben Gordon's decisive shot just now didn't seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Soon after, Manu Ginobili drove to the basket with a beautiful serpentine drive, drawing a foul from DeAndre Jordan and completing a 2+1 play.

He narrowed the gap to 6 points, but Lynch still didn't take the ball and attack.

He simply facilitated from the high post and then passed the ball to Ben Gordon, who cut out to the mid-range.

"brush!"

"Ben! He hit his second consecutive basket! God, is this the Ben Gordon who was thrown into the G League?" Reggie Miller was astonished. What methods did the Knicks and Lynch use to help this guy, who had gone through a fight and was in such bad shape that he was about to play in the G League, find himself again?
In the following rounds, both sides scored points.

But the situation was not what Gregg Popovich wanted to see at all.

Because Lynch played very restrainedly during transitions, he gave most of the opportunities to Ben Gordon, which greatly reduced his workload.

After Lynch left the court in the tenth minute of the first quarter, Ben Gordon did not allow the team to go into a scoring drought.

At the end of the first quarter, the New York Knicks still led by 7 points, and the Spurs' plan to take the lead during rotation time failed.

Mike Budenholzer once said that a match is decided in 48 minutes.

The Knicks only won the game when their starters were all on the court together; that wasn't enough to win the entire series.

Right now, the Knicks seem to have control of every second of the 48 minutes of the game.

This team, currently on a 16-game winning streak, has actually solved their only exposed weakness!

At the start of the second quarter, when the Knicks' starters returned to the court, the Spurs' resistance appeared weak.

The offensive storm unleashed by Lynch and Nash left the aging Spurs helpless.

Furthermore, Ben Gordon continued to perform well during his rotation time in the second quarter.

His pick-and-roll with Lynch was so threatening that the Spurs were once unable to cope with it.

Lin Qi was like a desperado who had gotten a revolver, frantically pulling the trigger during his shift without any effort.

And this gun didn't even have a safety.

At halftime, the Spurs were down by 13 points.

Losing their advantage in rotation time completely disrupted the Spurs' strategy.

Right now, they haven't overworked Lynch, nor have they gained an advantage during rotation time.

Gregg Popovich, a man who will stop at nothing to win, certainly wouldn't confine his thinking to the basketball court.

He looked at Bruce Bowen, the dirty executioner who was the Spurs' key weapon to break the deadlock.

"Enrage Ben, but don't hurt him, or the Knicks bastard will retaliate against Tim! Light the bomb, set him on fire!"

The Spurs have a lot of experience with this; they used the same method to deal with the strongest Suns team in 2007.

So in the third quarter, when Ben Gordon returned to the court, Bruce Bowen approached with malicious intent, like a venomous rattlesnake.

"It's not a good feeling to be ignored by the entire locker room, is it? No matter how well you perform, all your teammates are thinking about is when to trade you. You're a monster, nobody likes you." Bowen's smile was full of repulsive hypocrisy.

He had just noticed that, apart from Lynch, no one on the Knicks team interacted with Ben Gordon.

Whether he scores a goal or provides an assist, he is clearly excluded.

This is normal. A person who beats up a teammate and threatens to bring a gun into the locker room is unlikely to be liked by his teammates.

Therefore, Bruce Bowen decided to start from this point and try to ignite Ben Gordon's emotions.

Ben Gordon frowned, then continued to seek screens from Lynch.

Using screens, getting rid of defenders, and jumping to shoot, Ben Gordon relied on Lynch's trust to perform a streamlined routine.

But upon landing, Bruce Bowen deliberately bumped into him with his shoulder.

"boom!"

Ben Gordon fell heavily, and Bruce Bowen pretended to lose his balance, falling to his knees at the referee's feet. Then he knelt down on one knee, raised his hands reverently above his head, his innocent face like that of a suffering saint: "I didn't foul, I just fell while squeezing through a screen and accidentally bumped into him."

Raja Bell on the bench clenched his fists; the scene before him was all too familiar: "The bastard Spurs!"

Steve Nash was also unusually angry, admitting that when Robert Horry knocked him down in 2007, there was an element of acting involved in order to get the whistle.

But the Spurs' strategy is still not exactly ethical.

Ben Gordon was furious, and he immediately looked up at Lynch.

Number 20 is like a lighthouse in a stormy sea.

He had become accustomed to finding his way through him.

He didn't want to disappoint the last person in the world who hadn't abandoned him.

Gordon stood up, straightened his jersey, and then silently prepared to receive the inbound pass.

Lynch smirked: "Bruce, tell your coach not to treat us like the Phoenix Suns!"

The game restarted, and Lynch inbounded the ball. Ben Gordon received it and raised it to draw Bowen's defense.

But it was just a fake shot. He quickly drove into the paint, forcing the Spurs to change their defensive formation before casually tossing the ball into the air.

"Lynch, alley-oop dunk! Ben Gordon is tearing the defense apart with his offensive threat, the Spurs are down by 17 points!"

Lynch landed and glanced at Popovich, whose face was already flushed red on the bench: "You can't stop Steve anymore."

In the following games, the Spurs were completely crushed.

Manu Ginobili could only close the gap during the transition period, but he could hardly take the lead.

When the Spurs fielded their full starting lineup, they were no match for the Knicks because they couldn't effectively wear down Lynch.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Craig Popovich, with a grim face, substituted the three members of the GDP trio.

Because the game has already entered garbage time.

A hint of melancholy, typical of mortals, flashed across Stone Buddha's face. It wasn't that Lynch didn't acknowledge his team's weaknesses; rather, they simply didn't have any.

It turns out he was really honest.

When the Knicks filled their last gap and smoothly extended their winning streak to 17 games, Reggie Miller earnestly told everyone:

“I know that Lynch is already exceptionally outstanding.”

He already has two championships and has won the MVP award.

But look at tonight's game, look at the undefeated Knicks, look at Lynch's leadership.
Those moments, in retrospect, were merely the prelude to Lynch's peak.
-
Me and that bastard? I don't like him, but as long as he doesn't do anything stupid and can make a contribution, we're fine. — Raja Bell talking about Ben Gordon.

I have to say, this caught us completely off guard. I don't know what happened, just like I'll never understand why Phil Jackson could make a jerk like Dennis a champion. — Gregg Popovich on the loss.

Are they a perfect team? No, there is no perfect team in this world. The Knicks' weakness is, well, we should find it soon. — Manu Ginobili on the Knicks' 17-game winning streak.

No trade is needed; the Knicks have found the best backup for Steve Nash from within. — Stephen A. Smith Show.

Yes, Lynch, LeBron, and I are all honest people. I've said before that the future belongs to Lynch, Lynch has said before that there will be no trades, and LeBron has said before that he won't leave Cleveland. —Tim Duncan told a dry joke, finding humor in the situation.

(End of this chapter)