Champion Rules

Chapter 197 (193): Countdown to Death (Seeking monthly votes!)

LeBron James' Cavaliers have only lost once at home this season, and the team that defeated them was none other than Lynch's New York Knicks.

Like many nights when you lose your first game, a lot happened in that Cavaliers' first home loss.

Raja Bell committed a foul on Mo Williams when his team was trailing, resulting in Flip Saunders calling a disqualifying player (DNP) in the fourth quarter.

The New York Knicks' fourth-quarter comeback against the Cavaliers sent Cleveland fans on a rollercoaster of emotions, from despair to hope and back to despair.

Two months later, both teams have undergone tremendous changes.

The 2.0 version of the Knicks has been molded into a true whole by Lynch.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have also upgraded their combat capabilities.

From any perspective, this season is indeed the best opportunity for LeBron James to break his losing streak against Lynch.

The Cavaliers are stronger than ever, and LeBron James's defense is among the best in the league.

If the Knicks weren't so dazzling, the Cavaliers would be the most watched team in the East right now.

However, LBJ is confident that he can reclaim his star.

Therefore, he was shocked when he heard what Antoine Jamison had said.

"50 points?" LBJ stared at Jamison in disbelief. "Lynch really said that?"

This season, with the Cleveland Cavaliers already so strong, Lynch's declaration left LBJ in disbelief.

This is not just arrogance, but extreme contempt for him.

Shaquille O'Neal, standing nearby, laughed and shook his head: "Are we damn narcissists trying to imitate MJ?"

LeBron James stood up, surveyed the entire locker room, and solemnly declared:
“Listen to me, I promise! I promise we’ll keep the victory in Cleveland tonight! Not just tonight, not just tomorrow night, not just next time we meet, and not just the time after that. From today onward, the curse Lynch has cast on Cleveland will be broken, and we will win every game against Lynch, I promise!”

LeBron James's vow ignited the morale of everyone in the Cavaliers' locker room.

Clearly, the current Cavaliers players are unaware that there are two figures in the United States whose reputations have crossed the ocean to China, where they even encounter difficulties renting a power bank—one is Tangpu, and the other is LeBron James.

Their promises are always grand and impressive, but perhaps worthless.

Half an hour later, Ben Gordon, who was warming up, took off his hood and, for the first time ever, took the initiative to talk to Lynch.

“Hey, Lynch.”

Lynch turned his head and saw that it was Ben Gordon who had spoken to him. He grinned and said, "I'm glad you took this step. You need to talk to the other people in the locker room more."

"Do you need me to pass you the ball more tonight?" Ben Gordon asked bluntly. "You know, after a pick-and-roll, I can draw the defense and then set up the ball for you."

Ben Gordon had just overheard Lynch's conversation with Antoine Jamison, and he knew Lynch was planning to score 50 points.

Lynch nodded, not feigning modesty: "That would be great if you were willing, thank you Benny. But don't rush, let's stick to Coach Philip's strategy."

Lynch glanced at Flip Saunders, Mike Malone, and Mike Brown. If killing LeBron James was a crime, then the three old men should also be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Because tonight they have a new strategy for the Cavaliers to ensure their dominance continues.

To quote Mike Malone: ​​"If we lose to the Cavaliers, then our 70 wins will be meaningless."

Lin Qi sometimes felt helpless when faced with such a group of inhuman coaches.

Gordon nodded: "It's all my duty. I didn't care about what he said in the locker room before, but now I remember it very clearly."

The game was about to begin, and the Quicken Loans Arena was filled with deafening cheers:
"Beat NYC! Beat NYC! Beat NYC!" (Beat New York)
Lynch looked around and felt fortunate that he had accomplished something even Michael Jordan had never done.

In the era when Mark Price and Brad Daugherty dominated Cleveland, Cleveland residents' hatred for MJ was not as deep as it is today.

Lynch's almost cruel rule over Cleveland made the city hate him utterly.

For Lynch, this was the highest praise: he had plunged his mortal enemy's city into hatred, simply because he had never given his opponent even the slightest hope of victory.

Amid the raging anger of the Cleveland fans, Lynch shouted, "Fuck Cleveland!"

"Fuck Cleveland!!!" The Knicks players pumped their fists in agreement.

The game begins, and Tyson Chandler gets possession of the ball for the Knicks.

Lynch ran forward, and Antoine Jamison was indeed the one primarily responsible for defending Lynch.

Lynch received the ball in the low post, and Trevor Ariza cleverly led LBJ to the weak side, a move that made it impossible for LBJ to provide any help defense against Lynch.

To the surprise of the Cleveland fans and commentators, the Knicks did not execute the V-roll pick-and-roll at the start of the game, but instead used Lynch to initiate a one-on-one attack in the low post.

"Damn, do they really think this is an amusement park?" Brian Scott cursed under his breath, believing that the Knicks were playing like this just to help Lynch score a lot of points.

Although LBJ was pulled away, Cavaliers' sharpest forward, Tayshaun Prince, immediately double-teamed him.

The Cavaliers' strength this season can be largely attributed to LeBron James' significant improvement on the defensive end.
The defensive line he built with TySean Prince was remarkably effective in both individual and help defense, especially in pressure-based double-teaming.

The Cavaliers' strategy today was to double-team Lynch relentlessly, preferring to let other Knicks players take shots rather than allow Lynch to attack, putting maximum pressure on him.

Despite Lynch's pre-game declaration that he would score 50 points, he did not rush to shoot when double-teamed.

In the instant Tyshaun Prince double-teamed him, Lynch calmly passed the ball to Raja Bell.

The latter lived up to expectations, making his very first shot.

The Knicks took a 3-0 lead in the opening game, but the trailing Cavaliers remained calm.

For them, successfully forcing Lynch to pass the ball was already achieving their tactical objective.

On the defensive end, LeBron James encountered his nightmare again.

Lynch once again took the lead in guarding LBJ, and Brian Scott frowned, puzzled by the Knicks' tactical intentions.

On offense, Lynch was given the ball to assist the team; on defense, he was tasked with guarding the most difficult player to defend.

Does he really think he can hold on for four quarters like this?
The Cavaliers' trade of Elton Brand did create more offensive space for LeBron James, but it also removed a key player to contain Lynch.

Antawn Jamison is a face-up shooting power forward who rarely plays in the low post and has little weight. The Knicks can use Trevor Ariza to defend him without worrying about Ariza being at a disadvantage.

With this shift in power, Lin Qi could naturally have closer contact with the person he liked most.

LeBron James waved, signaling everyone to separate.

He accelerated in a straight line, used his body to push Lynch aside, and then raised his hand for a layup.

After losing weight, Lynch could no longer completely dominate LBJ in physical confrontations like he had in previous seasons, but his speed and size still allowed him to block LBJ's layup at the last second!
LBJ's first offensive play was easily defended by Lynch, and the cheers that had been deafening in Quicken Loans Arena immediately deflated like a balloon with a hole punctured.

As in their previous 21 matchups, LeBron James was helpless against Lynch's defense.

His playing style was completely countered by Lynch.

LeBron James's physical gifts are so outstanding that he can often defeat his opponents in the simplest and most brutal way.

Neither Nike nor LeBron James expected that the young Kaiser, who came to North America from Real Madrid, possessed dynamic talent that was in no way inferior to LeBron James'. Once he could no longer rely on his talent to create an overwhelming advantage, LeBron James' shortcomings on the offensive end became glaringly obvious.

Compared to a natural talent like LBJ, technical players like Dirk and Kobe have a better chance of winning against Lynch – in their last game against the Mavericks, Dirk scored 35 points over Lynch.

When physical disadvantages are not an advantage, which type of player can offer more solutions?

Commentator Reggie Miller bluntly stated, "Listen, I know basketball isn't a one-on-one game, and LBJ's overall influence on the court is undeniable. But in a one-on-one situation, LBJ could never beat Lynch. He doesn't have the ability, or rather, it's not his style. For a player lacking mid-range skills, going one-on-one with Lynch is difficult, even hopeless."

Mark Jackson, standing nearby, suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of one-on-one, before the 08 Olympics, I interviewed Melo and asked him about one-on-one games within the Dream Team—you know, Dream Team players always love to play one-on-one in practice, it's a long-standing tradition of the Dream Team. When I asked about LeBron, Melo told me that LBJ never participates in any one-on-one games. Now, I finally know why."

Reggie Miller continued, "Yeah, it's like if a one-on-one game only allowed shots under the basket, believe me, Melo wouldn't participate."

Carmelo Anthony's lips twitched in front of the TV. "My finishing around the basket wasn't that outrageous, was it? What I call super strong ability to create second-chance opportunities!"

The Knicks immediately retaliated, and for any team, once their offense is successfully defended by the Knicks, it means the beginning of a double nightmare.

A missed shot not only signifies a failed offense, but also indicates that the Knicks' fast-paced offensive storm is about to hit the court and will quickly engulf any defense that has not yet established a foothold.

After receiving a pass from Tyson Chandler, Nash immediately advanced the ball. Mo Williams tried to stop him, but he wasn't known for his defense and was easily shaken off by Nash's crossover dribble.

Tayshaun Prince quickly retreated from the middle to try and cut off Nash's path to the basket.

Seeing this, Nash ran into the paint and threw the ball directly towards the backboard.

The basketball bounced back, and Lynch caught it steadily, dunking it over LeBron James despite his close defense!
With a 5-0 lead, the Knicks' league-leading offense left even the defense-minded Cavaliers helpless.

The unbeaten record since Jamison joined the team became shaky from the start.

The Cavaliers continued their offense, but LeBron James stopped going one-on-one and instead orchestrated the offense as point guard, feeding the ball to Mo Williams, who had shaken off Nash. Williams continued his hot streak from the previous game, scoring 42 points, and sinking a long-range shot.

After Mo Williams scored, the entire Cleveland crowd chanted, "All-Star! All-Star! All-Star!"

Lynch also applauded his opponent for the first time: "You know what LeBron is like, Mo is definitely worth an All-Star. As for you, damn it, you're the one who should have given up your spot to him."

"Lin Qi, wait until you win before you talk to me like this. Shut up."

"I've won 21 times, so shut up! By the way, LeBron, I'm only 48 points away."

Lynch's words were like adding fuel to the fire, instantly igniting LeBron James's anger. He hadn't expected Lynch to truly embody his pre-game declaration of "50 points," and had actually started a countdown on the spot!
The game continued, and the Knicks were unable to mount a fast break because the Cavaliers scored.

However, the Knicks, stuck in position, still didn't run a V-shaped pick-and-roll, and Lynch continued to drop into the low post to receive the ball.

LeBron James double-teamed him, but Lynch calmly passed the ball with one hand to Trevor Ariza, who was cutting inside. Ariza attacked the basket and scored before Shaquille O'Neal could shake off Tyson Chandler's defense.

7:3.

Seeing Lynch forced to pass the ball again, LBJ seized the opportunity, spreading his hands smugly and mockingly saying, "Man, aren't you going to score 50 points? You can't pass like that. If you can't do it, don't brag."

Lynch was almost speechless at the sarcastic remark. He never expected that LBJ would use such a phrase to attack him. It was like Chris Paul telling someone that if they were short, they shouldn't play basketball.

When did LBJ have the right to tell others to stop bragging?

"We're not the same, LeBron. Just keep an eye on my 50-point countdown and don't miss a thing."

In the following games, Lynch did not rush to score.

Whenever the game becomes a positional affair, Lynch will usually choose to pass the ball after drawing double teams.

The Knicks played exceptionally well as a team, with their role players having a hot hand today.

What alarmed LBJ was that despite Lynch’s constant passing and assists, his own scoring never stopped improving.

In the final moments of the second quarter, during a lightning-fast fast break, Steve Nash's pass found Lynch at the perfect moment.

Lynch received the ball while moving at high speed, pulled up without hesitation, and made a three-pointer!
When Lynch hit a three-pointer after receiving a pass from Josh on a fast break, his personal score had quietly climbed to 21 points.

"LeBron," Lynch smiled slightly at his opponent not far away, announcing with a hint of sarcasm, "only 29 points behind."

LeBron James swallowed hard, his eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.

Is Lynch less than 30 points away from 50?

He was clearly passing the ball the whole time!

On the Knicks' bench, three unruly veterans were lounging with their legs crossed.

Their strategy worked.

They capitalized on the Cavaliers' strategy of double-teaming Lynch relentlessly, intentionally passing the ball to him during half-court sets. This drew the Cavaliers' heavy defensive attention, creating easy scoring opportunities for their teammates.

When does Lynch score? During fast breaks.

As long as Lynch has the opportunity, Steve Nash's ball will definitely find the King of New York.

In this way, Lynch was able to score efficiently, avoiding being bogged down in one-on-one situations and thus improving his efficiency, while also successfully exploiting the opponent's defensive strategy to break through their defense.

Furthermore, it also allows Lynch to avoid expending too much energy on the offensive end.

LBJ had no time to panic; with only 6.4 seconds left in the second quarter, a normal possession was extremely tight.

LBJ decided to control the time.

He had Varejao play a ground ball, and the numbers on the timer wouldn't move as long as Varejao didn't touch the basketball.

Reggie Miller nodded: "LeBron is very experienced. He tried to get some points back for the Cavaliers before halftime instead of giving up. He's a true leader."

LBJ followed the basketball toward the frontcourt. When the basketball rolled to the three-point line, he picked it up and confidently took a shot, but the ball missed.

Reggie Miller:
"forget it."

LBJ's strategy not only failed to work, but also gave the Knicks 5 seconds to launch a counterattack.

After DeAndre Jordan grabbed the rebound, he intended to pass the ball to Ben Gordon, but Mo Williams clung to him like glue, preventing Jordan from passing the ball.

Left with no other option, he glanced at Lin Qi, who had already run across the halfway line, and made a long pass with one hand.

With DeAndre Jordan's middle school level passing skills, the ball predictably went wide and far.

Lynch ran with all his might and caught the basketball in mid-air, but half of his body was already outside the backboard.

But Lynch didn't give up. He switched hands in mid-air, moved the ball to the inside of the backboard, and successfully banked it in as his body dropped!

Lynch scores, giving the Knicks a 13-point lead with 1.3 seconds left on the clock.

Lynch ran up, walked past LBJ, and casually tossed out, "27 points left."

It was like a death countdown to hell, each one tormenting LBJ's nerves.

Then, Lynch turned to look at Mo Williams, who had recently been embroiled in All-Star controversy:

"I feel like you guys are playing four against five. Do you guys feel that way too?"

(End of this chapter)