Champion Rules

Chapter 195, Section 191: Enjoy the hunt, gentlemen! (Seeking monthly votes!)
The first match after the dinner.

The New York Knicks will host the Dallas Mavericks.

The dome of Madison Square Garden darkened, a crimson glow illuminated the giant screen, and flames shot from above the basketball hoops, casting shadows onto the tense faces of the Dallas players.

As Lynch took off his training clothes and slowly walked to the center of the field, and as the announcer called out his name, 20,000 blue and orange light sticks flowed through the stands like a ring of stars.

“This doesn’t look like a regular season game at all,” Mike Brin on the ESPN commentary desk adjusted his headset. “It’s more like the NBA Finals. Look at the atmosphere, look at the lights. The Dallas team seems to be trembling in the dark. They know that when the lights come back on, they will be met with a torrent of steel.”

This grand entrance and introduction ceremony stemmed from Lynch's insistence.

An introductory ceremony isn't held at every game, because it's essentially a show.

Therefore, most of the time, this extra "performance" only takes place before highly anticipated and important matches.

Clearly, the Dallas Mavericks are not a high-profile team right now.

Since the summer of 2007, when the entire league was in turmoil, the Mavericks traded Josh Howard to Boston in exchange for Jeff Glenn and Tony Allen, their record has fluctuated.

Tony Allen is too versatile, and Jeff Green needs to develop. They are useful, but not the kind of players who can make an immediate impact.

As a result, the Mavericks were only seventh in the Western Conference last season, and it seems unlikely that they will be able to break into the top five in the West this season.

Therefore, to most people, this was just an ordinary match.

But Lynch insisted on having an introductory ceremony: "Let's give Dirk some respect. He was our opponent in the Finals in 2006—even though he didn't win a single game, let's still give a little respect to the ever-lasting Blue and White Knights."

Clearly, Lynch's real purpose was not to pay tribute to Dirk.

His goal, as Mike Brin stated, was to make Dallas residents feel fear in the dark first.

He wanted everyone on the Knicks team to observe the Dallas players' anxiety, fear, tension, and unease in the dark.

He succeeded.

During the entrance ceremony, the Knicks players clearly saw what they wanted to see on the faces of the Dallas players, just like in Lynch's video.

The Dallas crowd's genuine reaction made Lynch's words at the dinner party believable and the team's confidence seem more real.

The Knicks' starting five were positioned near midfield, and Lynch smiled and greeted Dirk Nowitzki.

"Dirk, your team's recent record has been pretty good."

"I think we've probably gotten through the adjustment period and are now on the rise."

“I really hope you can keep going, but I’m sorry Dirk, this is Madison Square Garden, and tonight is going to be tough for you.” His tone was as cold as the frozen Hudson River in the dead of winter.

After Lynch confidently said that, no one on the Mavericks objected.

From the pressure of the entrance ceremony to the intimidation of their star player, the Mavericks have lost their edge.

They knew how strong this Knicks team was, so when Lynch openly displayed his determination to devour them, they truly saw themselves as prey.

Lynch returned to his own half of the field and clapped his hands: "Happy hunt, gentlemen."

The Dallas residents did not give up immediately.

On the very first offensive possession, Dirk Nowitzki scored with his signature one-legged step-back layup over Lynch's head.

Since his loss in the 2006 NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki has intentionally increased his use of post-up offense.

Dirk's back-to-the-basket technique has always been excellent, but his aversion to physical contact makes him avoid back-to-the-basket plays.

But now, the European giant who once avoided the jungle of muscles has evolved into a killer with an elbow as hard as granite, combining elegance and ferocity.

He is not afraid of physical contact, is good at backing down his opponent, and has even developed the one-legged step-back move – a move as classic as Kobe's fadeaway, Wade's crossover, and LeBron's hands-on-hips move in the frontcourt.

In fact, this period was the peak of Dirk's personal abilities.

Unfortunately, the team's strength is not yet able to match his peak performance.

The Dallas Mavericks' biggest problem is their defense, and Dirk Nowitzki is no exception.

He is a player who needs protection from his inside partner.

But Mavericks center Eric Dampier only has the title of the second-best center in the Western Conference.

His defensive instincts are like a rusted radar, and his lateral movement speed is comparable to that of an aircraft carrier turning around.

He's like the husband in "The Incompetent Husband," and by the time he arrives, Dirk has already been thoroughly used.

Therefore, Lynch showed no mercy to Dirk.

The strangulation begins.

Steve Nash quickly advanced the ball, and Devin Harrison's defense was practically useless against Nash's unpredictable dribbling rhythm.

When the Knicks unleash their offensive storm, the tension on their opponents' faces becomes even more apparent.

Devin Harrison, who was responsible for guarding Nash, frowned, while Tony Allen vigilantly observed the Knicks players' movements.

The anxiety reached its peak when they saw Lynch step up to run a crucial pick-and-roll with Nash.

After the pick-and-roll, Dirk had to delay Nash, and Lynch seized the opportunity to cut to the basket. Steve Nash delivered a perfectly timed bounce pass to Lynch. The basketball flew precisely through Tony Allen's outstretched fingertips, preventing the top perimeter defender from scoring.

Facing Eric Dampier, a slow rim protector, Lynch easily scored with a layup.

After scoring, Lynch pointed at Nash and said, "Good pass."

Nash nodded in response: "Easy, Lynch, easy."

"Damn it!" Tony Allen cursed under his breath.

When the Dallas Mavericks put up a fierce defensive effort, look at Lynch's and the Knicks' reactions; it's as if tormenting other teams' defense is just a way for them to have fun.

The game continued, and the Dallas team continued to target Dirk, hoping to repeat their previous tactics.

But Dirk didn't seem to have a good rhythm when he was backing down the ball, so he passed it back to Devin Harris.

The young guard used his speed advantage, almost blowing past Nash in one step. Raja Bell quickly helped defend, blocking the middle. But Devin Harris still managed to get past Bell with a quick change of direction while on the move, breaking in from the wing.

He raised his hand for a layup in the paint, and facing Tyson Chandler's block, Devin Harris dodged in mid-air to avoid the defense, flicking the ball towards the backboard with his fingertips.

However, before Devin Harris even landed, he saw the basketball being pinned to the backboard by a large hand.

Only then did he realize that he was nothing more than a deer being toyed with by a pack of wolves.

Raja Bell deliberately led him into Lynch's defensive range, and from the beginning, he was destined to be torn apart.

But the suffocating sense of frustration was not over yet.

Lynch passed the ball to Nash, and before most of the Mavericks players could recover from the shock of the block, the Son of the Wind had already launched a counterattack.

Tony Allen quickly retreated, Trevor Ariza sprinted along the middle, and Raja Bell moved to the corner, leaving Tony Allen to deal with only one of them.

The ball found Raja Bell, who was temporarily unguarded, and he took an open shot. This guard, who went 0-for-5 in the previous game, no longer felt that rim getting smaller and smaller.

The opponent's tension will offset his own, and no pressure can affect Raja Bell's accuracy anymore.

"brush!"

"That fast break three-pointer! Philip is one of the few coaches in the league who allows players to shoot threes on fast breaks. It's unconventional, but it's definitely working!" New York fans cheered as Mike Breen praised the move.

Spike Lee's dismissive voice pierced the ears of every Mavericks player: "This is our game! You're all finished!"

Although the game has just begun, these offensive and defensive plays, these difficult rounds, have already left the Mavericks players looking at each other helplessly.

The Knicks' defense seemed capable of tearing everything apart, and once they finished their defense, an even more ferocious offense would follow. That's why the Knicks were able to win 23 straight games.

The Mavericks players felt they had no chance of winning the game.

In just two rounds, the Knicks have completely built up their confidence.

In the next defensive play, Devin Harris tried to find Jeff Green, but Trevor Ariza's relentless pursuit completely blocked the Mavericks' receiving routes on the wing, preventing him from passing the ball rashly.

This made Devin Harris nervous; beads of sweat on his forehead were already glistening under the spotlight.

Not daring to delay the game, he hesitated for a moment before lobbing the ball to Dirk, who was leaning against Lynch in the low post.

Dirk Nowitzki had just gathered the ball and was about to sit back when Ariza suddenly double-teamed him, like a thorny barrier that had suddenly grown from the ground.

The Germans lifted the ball as high as possible and then searched for teammates among the four long arms.

Nowitzki spotted Jeff Green and passed the ball.

But Raja Bell was waiting for his chance. The former defensive back, like a spy who had received a code in advance, immediately lunged towards Jeff Green the moment the German passed the ball and poked it out of bounds with his fingertips.

Although they didn't manage to take possession of the ball directly, it was still a successful defensive play that disrupted the opponent's entire strategy and rendered all their efforts futile.

When Dirk Nowitzki's one-legged fadeaway attempt hits a wall, when Devin Harris's drive is brutally blocked, when every pass feels like navigating a spiderweb, the repeated frustrations are hardening in the eyes of the Mavericks players.

All of this left the Dallas Mavericks feeling very disappointed, extremely disappointed.

Even though the score is only 5-2 now, each difficult round is silently eroding their confidence.

The air around the Mavericks players began to smell of blood—not in a physical sense, but in a suffocating way, as the oppressive force of the steel torrent materialized.

Raja Bell glanced at Ariza with a smile, and Ariza returned the same sinister smile.

That seemed to be saying, "Look at them, guys, these naive cowboys are actually dreaming of scoring a goal."

Unlike the fearful Mavericks, everyone on the Knicks team truly began to enjoy the game and revel in the killing. Therefore, their defensive intensity and aggression were exceptionally high today.

Their mindset underwent a complete 180° shift.

Before the dinner, they were hesitant and afraid of losing the victory and missing out on their 73-win streak.

After the dinner, they were completely relaxed and played basketball.

For Knicks players now, defense is no longer a boring and tiring thing, but more like a hunting game.

The game continued, and the Mavericks scored with a drifting, contested shot by Dirk Nowitzki.

Lynch has already sealed the line, but Dirk may be the best shooting big man in NBA history.

4-5, the Dallas Mavericks were only one point behind. But when Steve Nash and Lynch once again set up their pick-and-roll rams beyond the three-point line, that one-point gap instantly became an insurmountable chasm.

"Steve, pull up for a jump shot after a screen, easy money! Listen, forget Karl Malone and John Stockton, Lynch and Steve are now the best pick-and-roll duo in history. The Knicks' seven-second offense has made everyone overlook the power of their pick-and-roll, it's simply undefendable."

7 to 4, the score gap has indeed widened again.

Dirk Nowitzki decided to play off-ball this possession, hoping to create a three-point opportunity.

But after losing weight, Lynch can keep up with Dirk with ease. Even if Lynch is used to defend small forwards, he won't seem slow.

But the Mavericks still found an opportunity. When Lynch was tied up by the German machine running off the ball, the others could more easily break through the defense.

Devin Harris drove to the basket and, without Lynch's help defense, pulled up for a floater in the paint.

But he underestimated Tyson Chandler's intimidating presence.

When the skinny center forward leaped up like a spring, his long, overwhelming arms still made Devin Harris feel a little nervous.

He hastily threw the ball, failing to get the angle right. The basketball hit the side of the rim, and the attack failed again.

"Damn it!" Devin Harris retreated without looking back, not even having time to feel sorry for his mistake.

Then, Lynch made the Mavericks players even more heartbroken with a dunk on a fast break.

That's what playing against the Knicks is like; you've just experienced a setback, and then you're immediately faced with an even bigger one.

The killing spree is underway, and the Mavericks' only hope lies in Dirk Nowitzki's incredible shooting ability.

He hit many difficult shots, turning various one-legged step-back moves that Lynch had previously shut down into points.

However, the German machine was clearly overwhelmed by the Knicks' tenacious defense and exaggerated whirlwind attack.

The score was pulled up to double digits in the first quarter and reached 21 points by the end of the second quarter.

Countless Knicks fans held up signs with the number "73" in the stands, celebrating another victory that was almost within their grasp, burning with the pride of the Texans.

Seeing those numbers floating around the arena again only excited the Knicks players.

The second half is about to begin; both sides are ready.

The Knicks players, dressed in orange and white jerseys, walked onto the court like a group of cruel executioners about to publicly execute the poor Dallas cowboys.

Their jerseys were still stained with the blood of their opponents from the first half, but they were already eager to make their opponents bleed even more in the second half.

The camera pans to Lynch, Nash, and Philip Sanders.

Mike Brin remarked, "When three great people stand together, they often create a magnificent scene."

Lynch, leaning against the technical console, heard Mike Brin's commentary and smiled, nodding in agreement.

That's true, and this statement applies to most industries.

If a movie could bring together Yui Hatano, Ichika Matsumoto, and Ayaka Kawakita, it would certainly create a dazzling spectacle.

At the start of the third quarter, Lynch destroyed the Mavericks' already dwindling determination to win with a three-pointer.

The point difference had become 24 points. Lynch shrugged at Dirk Nowitzki and said, "Sorry Dirk, you know I'm just doing my job."

With a 24-point deficit, the Dallas Mavericks are on the verge of collapse.

Tony Allen then scored one of the few morale-boosting plays of the night with a steal and fast break dunk.

But this is more like a deer's death throes after its throat has been bitten.

The Knicks' offensive onslaught suddenly intensified.

Trevor Ariza's three-pointer, Ben Gordon's layup, and DeAndre Jordan's alley-oop dunk.
A rapid counterattack brought the score difference closer and closer to 30. Time and again, disappointing defense and failed offense caused cracks to appear in the Mavericks' morale.

In the seventh minute of the third quarter, Dirk Nowitzki missed a turnaround jump shot.

Between heavy breaths, he glanced at the scoreboard, the bright red numbers growing ever more distant.

Lynch launched his attack, with Dirk Nowitzki sticking close behind.

At this moment, Lynch suddenly asked calmly, "Dirk, are you staying in New York tonight?"

Nowitzki was very nervous, not knowing what kind of psychological warfare Lynch was going to play against him again, or what tricks he would use to completely destroy his opponent.

“Yes, of course we’ll be staying in New York,” the German replied, mustering his courage.

"Oh, you guys want to go out and have some fun? I can arrange it for you. Nightclubs, bars, cigar clubs, anything goes. I can book a table at any of them right away. Big-butt women, black women, white women, it doesn't matter."

"what?"

"I can arrange everything for you, don't worry. I won't bother you, but my people will take care of it. In the end, all you need to do is sign my name on the bill."

"What are you up to, Lin Qi? What exactly are you trying to do?"

“It’s nothing,” Lynch said, looking at Dirk with the ruthlessness of a predator. “Consider it compensation for beating you up so badly. Tonight was tough for you. Relax after the game.”

Dirk Nowitzki knew Lynch wouldn't say anything nice, and he was on guard, but after hearing it, his morale was still greatly dampened. He could clearly sense that his indomitable will was being eroded by something.

That bastard Lynch. He seemed to know from the very first second of the game that it would turn out this way.

All the Mavericks' resistance, all their tactical changes, and all their sweat seemed to be a waste of time.

All the bloody battles were nothing more than the struggles of trapped beasts for people to watch.

The German did not respond to Lynch again, but Lynch could sense something changing about him.

The German war machine, which had been putting up a tough resistance, seemed to have completely relaxed its guard.

In his frustration and anger, he also felt that "we simply cannot win."

And so, Dirk lost his magic.

In the third quarter, his shooting touch completely collapsed. Although Jason Terry stepped up from the bench to replace Dirk and continue the offensive output, it only delayed the cowboys' demise.

After three quarters, the Dallas Mavericks trailed by 29 points.

They were already corpses.

Throughout the fourth quarter, the Dallas Mavericks' starters could only sit on the bench, reminiscing about the unbearable three quarters of the game.

Steve Nash lay on the floor as always—even sitting down caused him excruciating back pain.

He looked at Lynch and said with lingering enthusiasm, "This is a wonderful experience, Lynch. I can't believe I feel like winning 73 games isn't so difficult."

Lynch smiled smugly: "I just got you to shift your focus from your own fears to other people's fears. In fact, we've always been this good."

"You know what? I've started to worry about LeBron James."

"LeBron? Why?"

"He said before that he wanted us to experience the distance between ourselves and greatness. My God, his length is simply immeasurable. Even with Antoine Jamison now, I don't think they pose a threat. He'll probably lose badly next time we face each other."

Lynch actually saw a hint of expectation on Steve Nash's face.

That kind of anticipation that makes you eager to slaughter your opponent.

"When did the good-natured Steve become a bloodthirsty bastard?" Lynch joked on purpose.

“Oh, it’s all because of you,” Nash adjusted his lying position. “Damn Lynch, it’s all because of you. Now, our whole team is full of bastards like that.”

The game ended with the Dallas Mavericks losing 86-111.

林奇三节拿下29分10个篮板4次助攻，纳什三节15分12次助攻。

Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 35 points, but his team was utterly crushed.

The German walked onto the court dejectedly, shook hands with the Knicks players, and showed his last bit of sportsmanship.

When the German hugged Lynch, he gave a wry smile: "You said it yourself, you arranged for us to go to nightclubs."

"Okay, my people will contact you."

"Don't contact me, contact Jason. I don't like going to those kinds of places, but my teammates can have some fun."

"You cunning bastard, you're not going but you're asking me to make arrangements? You've really figured out how to use someone else's flowers to curry favor."

"You have the nerve to call me an idiot? Look at this damn score. Damn it, this is the only way I can make you bleed!"
-
Missed shots, counterattacks, over and over again. God, I don't know if the New York Knicks are the greatest team of all time, after all, I've never played against the '96 Bulls. But in my career, the pressure this Knicks brought was unparalleled. — Jason Terry, shrugging helplessly after the game.

We couldn't stop Lynch. Yes, I scored more than him, but that guy only played three quarters. If he had played the whole quarter, maybe 40 points? 50 points? Who knows what stats he could have put up? — Dirk Nowitzki's assessment of Lynch's performance tonight.

Pressure? Man, we're way ahead of the rest of the league, who can put pressure on us? — Raja Bell once again discusses the impact of pressure on the team.

As everyone knows, I'm a player under pressure. Under pressure, I go 1-for-5; today, with no pressure, I went 0-for-3. That's normal; the second-best shooting guard in the East only plays in high-level games. — DeShawn Stevenson's comments on his 0-point game today.

"Lynch, another great game. You've only lost four games so far this season. Do you think you can break the 72-win record?"

"I cannot predict the future, but we certainly will not give up the opportunity to take on great challenges."

"Even if it takes a lot of your energy during the regular season, we're willing to do it?"

"This is the assumption I dislike the most. Why do we have to set a premise that going for 73 wins will exhaust us?"

"Look, were we exhausted from today's match? No. I don't like to assume anything beforehand. We'll challenge the great, and great journeys never require looking back or looking forward. That's it."

What are your thoughts on LeBron?

"I've already given my answer. If you dare, then come and stop me."

"But the Cleveland Cavaliers' recent record has indeed improved, and Antoine Jamison is a very good fit for him."

"If you dare, come and stop me. Everything else is just nonsense. By the way, thankfully this game is before the trade deadline."

"What do you mean?"

"It means that LBJ still has one more chance to change teammates. Keep it up, LeBron, you deserve better. When you find a championship-winning roster, you'll naturally win when you join it."

(End of this chapter)