Champion Rules

Chapter 205 201: The Billionaire Leader (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

The Knicks gave the Magic a tough start.

Their offensive engine completely stalled.

Their tight defense was also unsustainable.

The Magic have indeed demonstrated their formidable strength in their matches against the Cavaliers last season and the Pistons this season.

But when facing the Knicks, they were like a skilled streetball player suddenly encountering Victor Wimbledon—no matter how good they were, they had no chance of winning.

Stan Van Gundy is currently at a loss as to how to make adjustments; he is helpless and can only continue to watch his team struggle on the field.

Dwight Howard finally broke the Magic's scoring drought on the next possession, receiving the ball in the low post and driving to the basket, dominating the rim.

But this is nothing to be happy about, because the Magic's offense simply isn't functioning. Dwight Howard can't kill anyone on his own.

Dwight Howard is one of the best defensive players in history, and his offense is also among the best in the "defensive player" category.

But he ultimately relied on defense, and his only 40+ point game in his career speaks volumes about his offensive ceiling.

If the Magic's offensive system doesn't function, you can't expect Dwight Howard to destroy the opponent with his individual firepower.

Left with no other option, Stan Van Gundy had to rely on Rafer Alston to run pick-and-rolls with Dwight Howard.

This is certainly not as effective as the ace combination of Turkoglu and Howard, but at least it can barely keep the offensive system running.

In the first quarter, "Streetball King" Rafer Alston was on fire, scoring 8 points with a mid-range jumper after a pick-and-roll.

But the Streetball King was ultimately just a role player, and role players' touch is hard to maintain.

In the second quarter, when his touch cooled off, his mid-range pull-up jump shot became less accurate.

More often than not, he can only look for his teammates in the brief gaps created by the pick-and-roll.

At this moment, Ray Allen, who had been full of fighting spirit all night, took over the offense.

He repeatedly broke free from Raja Bell's defense, caught the ball, and fired three-pointers that pierced the heart of the court.

This refined assassin relentlessly chipped away at the score difference with precise long-range strikes.

With the second quarter nearing its end, Ray Allen's fourth three-pointer of the quarter swished through the net, and the Magic fiercely narrowed the gap to just one point.

During halftime, Lynch jokingly teased Raja Bell: "Rayle is treating you like an ATM, buddy. I feel like he could really score 40 points."

"Shut up, Lynch!" Raja Bell grumbled. "I was just unlucky! I had the mask on my face, and he still got in!"

“Oh right, right,” Lynch pressed on, “You said the same thing a few years ago when Ray Ray hit a game-winning three-pointer from way beyond the arc. The old excuse really works, Raja.”

The long-forgotten memories struck Raja Bell like a heavy hammer.

That was a game in January 2006, where the Suns and SuperSonics delivered an amazing offensive battle for the fans.

The two teams went into double overtime, with a staggering score of 152-149. The SuperSonics and Suns combined for 32 three-pointers, breaking the league record of 31.

Ray Allen scored 32 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including 8 of 10 three-pointers.

In the final moments, Ray Allen nailed a three-pointer from a full three meters beyond the three-point line, slamming the ball into the net despite Bell's desperate defense.

After the match, Raja Bale angrily cursed, "How can I explain this? I can only say I was just incredibly unlucky."

The competitive and unwilling-to-admit-defeat Bear Grylls could only console himself with the thought of "bad luck."

So when he said it again, Lynch deliberately brought up this old story.

As expected, Raja Bell lost his temper.

"Fuck!" Raja Bell's roar echoed through the locker room. "Don't mention that awful game again, and definitely don't mention Ray Allen! I'll take care of him in the second half!"

"Oh, we're all watching."

Lynch nodded in satisfaction. You have to provoke someone like Raja Bell who likes to fight and be aggressive.

Ordinary encouragement won't work on him, but if you reopen his wounds, it won't make him depressed; instead, it will make him more motivated.

In the second half, Raja Bell pounced on Ray Allen like a hungry beast, relentlessly harassing him.

His trash talk was endless, and his physical confrontations became even more ferocious.

At the same time, Steve Nash also turned on his scoring mode.

He started running pick-and-rolls with Lynch frequently, and Rafer Alston was also unable to stop Nash's mid-range jumpers after the pick-and-rolls.

With Nash relieving some of the offensive pressure and taking on some of the shot attempts, Lynch was able to focus more on defense.

He actively expanded the defensive perimeter, repeatedly flanking Ray Allen.

Ray Allen felt like a caged beast.

In each round, he had to go through a fierce struggle with Raja Bell.

When they finally get a chance to receive the ball, they are either immediately re-guarded by Raja Bell or run into Lynch's impenetrable wall of help defense.

To make matters worse, he often found himself surrounded by the fierce duo of Lynch and Raja Bell.

Faced with the bloodshot, clenched teeth and ferocious expressions of Lynch and Raja Bell, the Orlando Magic, or rather Ray Allen, backed down.

This is not cowardice, but rather the instinctive fear humans feel when facing wild beasts.

Ray Allen remained silent, passing the ball out again and again.

He didn't take mid-range shots, nor did he fight hard under the basket.

Marvin Albert shook his head: "Listen, Ray should keep his 'nice guy' image for the offseason. On the court, you can't maintain a tolerant and humble attitude while beating a player like Lynch!"

Ray Allen, Hedo Turkoglu, and Rashad Lewis are all clutch killers in critical moments.

But basketball games are not just about crucial moments.

A truly great player will maintain a bloodthirsty state for 48 minutes.

Clearly, they are not that competitive yet.

The Magic were down by 9 points going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Lynch immediately demonstrated the difference between an ordinary star and a superstar.

He played with maximum intensity on every possession on the defensive end, and he made every attempt on offense without hesitation.

He knows how to lead his team and how to motivate his teammates.

He also understands when to step forward and set an example.

Ray Allen almost disappeared in the fourth quarter due to entanglement and double-teaming, while Dwight Howard was back to isolation play.

Howard was very tired tonight; before tonight, he spent most of his time in nightclubs.

Dwight Howard's tenosynovitis flares up every time he leaves a nightclub because he keeps shooting.

Tonight, Dwight Howard surprisingly found himself feeling tired of going to nightclubs.

He has to keep shooting, otherwise the team's offense will come to a standstill.

As for Hedo Turkoglu, who gave LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony a huge headache, his final single-game score was 7 points.

The New York Knicks ultimately won the game 108-91 at home.

Ray Allen scored 23 points, but only managed 2 points in the fourth quarter.

Dwight Howard scored 31 points, but as Flip Saunders predicted, he couldn't kill the game.

For the Knicks, Lynch scored 33 points, and Steve Nash had 20 points and 11 assists.

Raja Bell only scored 11 points tonight, but his efforts on the defensive end are undeniable.

The Knicks easily defeated the Magic, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Ray Allen's dismal departure gave him the confidence to chase a championship, fueled by LBJ and Carmelo Anthony. But tonight, Lynch shattered all his dreams.

In the next two games, the Knicks gave the Magic no chance.

In Games 2 and 3, Lynch, as usual, dominated the frontcourt of Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu.

However, in the decisive Game 4, the Knicks, who held a 3-0 lead and were determined to sweep the series on the road, encountered some trouble.

That night, the team's outside shooting was ice-cold. Whenever Lynch was double-teamed and passed the ball, his teammates couldn't respond from beyond the three-point line.

With his three-point shooting off, Lynch struggled to get open looks on defense. In the third quarter, when Raja Bell's fifth three-point attempt of the night bounced off the rim, Reggie Miller brought up an old grudge: "That's Raja for you. He always falters in crucial series games. This was a great opportunity for the Knicks to advance, but the curse has struck again."

In contrast to the Knicks, the Magic's shooters were on fire tonight.

Even with close-range interference, they still managed to score quite a few baskets.

Perhaps it was their survival instinct that brought them to their best, and the Magic refused to let their championship dreams be shattered.

At the end of the third quarter, the Knicks were down by 11 points.

Raja Bell threw down his towel, and Magic fans began relentlessly taunting him: "Steve's a heavy burden! Steve's a heavy burden! Steve's a heavy burden!"

Of course, even more damaging were the insulting slogans they learned from New York fans: "You shoot like LeBron! You shoot like LeBron!"

This has become arguably the most influential marketing label of LeBron James' career, and has become an integral part of NBA pop culture.

Flip Saunders decided to bench Raja Bell in the fourth quarter and started Ben Gordon, who had a mediocre performance tonight.

But nobody believed Ben Gordon could change anything.

Ben Gordon has always played the role of a "mercenary" in the Knicks' locker room.

Everyone knows that his goal in playing in New York is to leave this summer.

Can you expect a player like that to fight tooth and nail for the team?

Moreover, if he underperforms, it will definitely affect his contract renewal this summer.

For a mercenary like Ben Gordon, taking the plunge in this kind of competition would never be his first choice.

Ben Gordon silently removed his hood and walked onto the court. Standing in front of him was his college senior—Ray Allen, who was now playing with a frenzied intensity.

Lynch walked over to Ben Gordon, ready to start the fourth quarter.

Ben Gordon, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "I'll try to help you."

"Hmm," Lin Qi replied simply.

If this team's leader were someone else, Ben Gordon might actually be hesitant to play due to his contract extension in the summer.

But he won't abandon Lynch, because Lynch never abandoned him either.

The game took a turn for the better when Ray Allen and the Magic's forwards triple-teamed Lynch, allowing Lynch to quickly find Ben Gordon, who had just been substituted in.

Facing Rafer Alston's rotation help defense, Ben Gordon did not hesitate and still took the shot decisively.

When the basketball missed, the cheers from the Orlando fans nearly lifted the roof off.

Fortunately, Lynch disrupted Turkoglu's pass in this possession, preventing the Magic from widening the score gap further.

The Knicks got a fast break opportunity. After Steve Nash crossed half-court, he found Ben Gordon had already run to the right three-point line.

He quickly passed the ball out, and Ben Gordon, upon receiving it, surprisingly still took a bold shot, not shirking his responsibility.

This time, the basketball went into the net.

He held up three fingers and roared to the sky.

Lynch clapped his hands: "Only 8 points left, guys, give it your all!"

Ray Allen never imagined that this was the beginning of the noose tightening.

On the ensuing defensive play, Ben Gordon also displayed remarkable effort.

This guy, who is only 183 cm tall, couldn't effectively interfere with Ray Allen's shot due to his height, so he used his quick and precise footwork to circle around him 360°.

It became very difficult for Ray Allen to catch the ball, let alone shoot it.

Trevor Ariza was also affected, his marking of Rashad Lewis becoming impenetrable.

Many times, when Rafer Alston breaks through after a screen, he is forced to stop the ball because he has neither a chance to shoot nor a chance to pass.

However, defense alone is not enough to catch up.

On offense, Gordon Lynch's pick-and-roll began to cause problems for the Magic.

Ben Gordon did not back down. Tonight, no one could say he played like LeBron, because LBJ was definitely not as decisive as him in these moments.

One shot, two shots, three shots!
Ben Gordon's three-pointers came flying in like a barrage of bullets! His three consecutive hits ignited the dormant offense, tying the game!
Stan Van Gundy paused the game: "Ray, stop double-teaming Lynch, keep a close eye on that lunatic!"

At this moment, the atmosphere on the Magic's bench had become heavy. The air seemed to solidify, making it difficult for them to breathe.

The desire to win has vanished, leaving only the desperate struggle of "how not to lose".

Such a mindset has already sealed the fate of the outcome.

The Knicks' offensive momentum didn't slow down after the timeout, and Lynch continued to run pick-and-rolls with Ben Gordon. However, because Ben Gordon was closely guarded by Ray Allen, Lynch became the point of attack after the pick-and-roll.

He first watched as Rashad Lewis made a few step-back mid-range shots.

After extending the lead to 6 points, Lynch lost his touch.

But it wasn't over yet. Lynch continued to drive to the basket. Although Dwight Howard was guarding the Magic's rim, and although he reduced Lynch's efficiency in attacking the basket, Lynch wasn't completely unable to score. He could still maintain his scoring momentum with strong drives to the basket.

These scenes evoked memories of Ray Allen's victories over the Cavaliers and Pistons.

When the Cavaliers need mid-range jumpers to stay alive, LeBron James struggles to respond—you don't even need to worry about his shots, because he can inexplicably make mistakes at the start of a dribble.

When the Pistons needed to score aggressively, Carmelo Anthony's clumsy attempts at finishing at the rim always looked ridiculous.

Where is Lynch?
He can choose the appropriate playing style at the right time.

He's better than LeBron James! He's better than Carmelo Anthony!
He's better than LeBron and Melo combined.

Lynch's relentless scoring was like a raging torrent, completely shattering the Magic's mental defenses!

The Magic discovered that unless triple-teamed, their weak defensive frontcourt was simply unable to stop Lynch.

At the end of the game, the Knicks completed a comeback, winning 105-97 after trailing by 11 points in the final quarter.

The Orlando Magic had their best night yet, but still couldn't escape a 4-0 sweep.

Two years ago, the young Magic team faced Lynch in the playoffs and were swept 4-0.

Now, this Magic team, which is already strong and well-equipped, is still struggling to secure a victory over Lynch.

The momentum of 20 vs 24 seems truly unstoppable.

At the end of the series, Lynch and Howard embraced.

He patted Warcraft on the back: "Don't be sad, at least you've only been eliminated by me and Melo."

"What do you mean? Is this something to be happy about?"

Lynch grinned mischievously: "Our chosen one is about to be eliminated by Dwyane. Once that happens, LeBron will be the only player in the dream team to have been eliminated by all four of the other four at least once. So, you're pretty good, Dwyane."

On the sidelines, Reggie Miller witnessed Lynch and Howard embracing, and recalled Ben Gordon's sudden outburst in the final quarter, realizing how formidable this team was.

"Has the New York Knicks' talent reached historic levels? No, their talent is great, but it's definitely not historic."

The Knicks are not a super team, they are more like a good team with a super great player.

Their 73 wins and easy sweep of the Magic were all thanks to Lynch.

He influenced players like Raja, DeAndre, and Ben Gordon, who weren't exactly top-tier talents, but Lynch encouraged and guided them, ultimately leading them to where they are today.

If James Dolan ever wants to sell the team, a leader like Lynch could fetch $100 billion for the Knicks!

Lynch sat down in the players' tunnel and saw Raja Bell actually pat Ben Gordon on the shoulder.

"Hey, you did a good job tonight, even though there was an element of luck involved."

Ben Gordon paused for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you."

This was the first time the two had spoken since the boxing incident.

This already formidable team continues to evolve in the playoffs.

After returning to the locker room, Lynch picked up his phone and sent a text message to Kobe.

"The countdown has begun, old dog."

(End of this chapter)