Champion Rules

Chapter 207, Section 203: Spanish Proverbs (Seeking Monthly Tickets!) (Combined)

In 2008, Pau Gasol was experiencing the darkest moment of his career.

With the Memphis Grizzlies, he was never able to taste a single victory in the playoffs.

In FIBA, the glory of the national team that won the 2006 World Championship was also downplayed as "a stroke of luck due to Lynch's absence".

In the recently concluded 06-07 season, with him only playing 56 games due to injury, the Grizzlies didn't even make the playoffs.

Logo Man Jerry West also seemed to feel that the plan to save Memphis was unlikely to succeed, and chose to resign before the 07-08 season.

Everything plummeted into despair; his NBA future looked bleak, with no glimmer of hope in sight.

But one winter night in 2008, Pau Gasol received a phone call that would change his life.

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace told him on the phone, "Paul, you'd better pack your bags and head to Miami. We just made a trade, we traded you away. But don't be sad, guess what Miami traded you for? The great Shaquille O'Neal!"

Pau Gasol wasn't happy about it; he knew he had been abandoned.

He understood even more clearly that the most important thing in that trade wasn't Shaq, but the two first-round draft picks and his brother.

He was a discarded pawn of Memphis, a spineless coward despised by all the media.

Before entering the NBA, he hoped to become like Tim Duncan, shining in a small market.

But reality is often much crueler.

But after arriving in Miami, Pau Gasol regained the respect he had long missed.

When he first arrived at the Heat's training facility for his physical, Pat Riley was waiting for him at the entrance. The silver-haired man, dressed like a Miami godfather, opened his arms and said, "Let's win a championship together!"

That afternoon, Heat star Dwyane Wade went to the hotel where Pau Gasol was staying to express his welcome: "I just wanted to welcome him as soon as possible, and also, we can definitely win a championship together!"

All of this filled Pau Gasol, who was in a slump, with an unprecedented surge of warmth and hope.

His positive impression of the team allowed him to fully integrate into the team almost in his very first game.

His past shortcomings—not being tough enough in the low post, taking too many mid-range shots, and being unable to break down defenses in critical moments—are no longer problems in the face of Wade and Pierce, two masters of shot development.

At the same time, his previously less stellar strengths—excellent passing, high basketball IQ, outstanding tactical execution, and poetic temperament—are shining brightly in Miami.

He developed a wonderful chemistry with the team and the two stars.

All of this culminated in Pau Gasol's career reaching its peak in the summer of 2008—he and the Miami Heat defeated the young but already legendary number 20 in the playoffs.

When Lynch said to him, "Congratulations, Catalan Gummy Bear," he even confidently replied, "Let's talk about it after I win the championship."

At the time, Pau Gasol was quite confident, believing that he, Wade, and Pierce could defeat any strong opponent.

However, on the stage of the Finals, Kevin Garnett dealt him a devastating blow.

In fact, even in the series that eliminated the Knicks, Pau Gasol's performance was consistently overshadowed by Lynch. It was only the eventual victory that temporarily masked the problem and spared him from excessive criticism.

But the defeat in the finals was like opening a floodgate, and those familiar, sharp criticisms poured out instantly.

"This softie is the Miami Heat's only weakness."

"He was unable to demonstrate any value as the playoffs progressed into the later rounds."

"The only thing that can be said for sure is that he did not intentionally tank because he could not win the Finals MVP. At least his professional attitude is commendable. But if you want to win a championship, professional attitude is just the foundation, not a bonus."

During that summer when he was disappointed with both the Finals and the Olympics, Pau Gasol met an elderly woman while vacationing on a beach in Miami.

The old man initially gave him a gentle look, but just a few seconds later, his gaze suddenly turned into undisguised anger: "You're that soft, big guy from the Heat, aren't you?"

This sharp criticism from an ordinary fan deeply hurt Pau Gasol, who realized he had let down the city that had placed such great trust in him.

It was this profound sense of loss that drove him to devote himself to almost frantic training.

Throughout the offseason, he worked hard on strength training and honed his pick-and-roll jump shot technique.

His hard work paid off.

In his first full season playing alongside Wade and Pierce, he achieved a record of 62 wins and eliminated the in-form LeBron James in the playoffs.

Pau Gasol has become much tougher, and in the last round, he made Antawn Jamison look like a softie.

He didn't want to let his teammates down or the city down anymore.

So when he heard Lynch say before the match, "Those who try to stop us will be punished," he scoffed inwardly.

He told himself, "The Miami Heat will never be extinguished by anyone again."

At this moment, Dwyane Wade was blocked in the first possession of the game, which undoubtedly boosted the Knicks' morale.

Steve Nash picked up the basketball and quickly launched a counterattack, hoping to take advantage of the numerical advantage before Wade could get up.

After reaching the three-point line, Steve Nash bounced the ball off the ground and passed it to Trevor Ariza.

Ariza was unable to gain speed due to Paul Pierce's pulling, but he still gained a half-body-length advantage.

He raised his hand to lay up, and just as the basketball was about to hit the backboard, it was pushed back down onto the backboard by a hand, just like before.

"Pau Gasol's chase block! The Spaniard is a tactical execution machine! I believe Coach Erik Spoelstra must have instructed the Heat to abandon their offensive rebounding efforts and retreat on defense for a period of time. Look at Paul, he started sprinting back the moment the transition began!"

Pau Gasol's pursuit ignited Marvin Albert's passion.

This kind of aggressive, aesthetically pleasing block is a rare and powerful moment for Gasol in the game, but tonight his determination and beast-like fighting spirit drove him to catch up with his prey at all costs.

The score remained 0-0, and the Heat regained possession of the ball.

Dwyane Wade is a very special penetrator because he is not afraid of heavily guarded paint areas.

Even in the East, where the penalty area defense is relatively more formidable, he has always been able to move through unopposed territory.

Even in FIBA, which is known as the "nightmare of breakthrough players," he is in complete control, and was even the top scorer at the Olympics last year.

His greatest strength lies in maneuvering and delivering a fatal blow in confined spaces. Perhaps only Michael Jordan, the basketball legend, can surpass him in this ability.

However, the Heat's matchups against the Knicks throughout the season, along with Lynch's humiliating block just now, have ruthlessly revealed a fact: when the opponent has top-tier rim protectors, even the Flash can be contained.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has been studying this problem for a long time.

The final solution was quite bold: let Pau Gasol handle the ball more often.

In this possession, Wade didn't act impulsively. Instead, he followed the strategy and passed the ball to Pau Gasol, who was backing down in the mid-range.

Faced with Lynch's relentless close-quarters pressure, Gasol first lowered his shoulders and squeezed back, then seized the opportunity with a swift back turn!
Just as Lynch shifted his weight to block the turning route, the Spaniard flicked his wrist, and the basketball flew to the exact opposite side of the turning direction—where Wade cut in along the baseline like lightning!
Wade has an extremely keen sense for off-ball cuts and understands the secrets of basketball. He is also very selfless, and giving up possession of the ball is not difficult for him.

Pau Gasol's exquisite passing skills are second only to Chris Webber among 21st-century big men.

Therefore, they were able to achieve this level of teamwork.

When Gasol receives the ball and initiates a play, Lynch, who is fully focused, locks his defensive focus entirely on him, making it difficult for him to cover another star player who is penetrating the paint.

Wade slipped past Lynch and drove straight to the basket.

Facing Tyson Chandler's help defense, he showed no fear. His powerful jump and strong physique not only allowed him to score but also drew a foul from Chandler!
The basketball went in, and Pau Gasol roared as he bumped chests with Wade.

Erik Spoelstra pumped his fist on the bench; his strategy worked in the playoffs!

Then, the Spaniard turned his head and said something unusual: "Even the best hunter can let a hare escape."

Lynch, who had played in Spain, knew that this was a Spanish proverb.

It means that no matter how powerful or experienced a person is, they are ultimately just a mortal.

When applied to Lynch and Wade, the hunter-hare metaphor becomes unexpectedly fitting.

Wade made the free throw, giving the Heat a 3-0 lead.

On the Knicks' offense, Lynch and Nash set a pick-and-roll, and Mario Chalmers was completely unable to get around the barrier formed by Lynch in time.

Although Wade immediately came to help defend, Nash found Raja Bell with a faster pass, and the latter hit a three-pointer.

The Heat's lead didn't last long, ending in a 3-3 tie.

The initial exchanges between the two sides have already set a tense and confrontational tone for the entire match.

In the subsequent match, the two teams went back and forth, neither giving an inch.

Pau Gasol's excellent high-post playmaking ability not only created space for Dwyane Wade's sharp drives, but also freed up Paul Pierce's jump shot, allowing the Heat's two main offensive threats to avoid Lynch's help defense interference.

When he didn't have to worry about help defense, Paul Pierce gave Trevor Ariza, who was responsible for guarding him, a lot of trouble.

This man, known for saying "him presence means your team has already scored 25 points," showcased his boring but solid offensive skills.

However, the Heat have been unable to contain Nash Lynch's pick-and-roll on the other end.

Lynch's powerful individual offensive threat forced Pau Gasol to refrain from leaving Lynch to help defend Nash when defending pick-and-rolls.

If Steve Nash is given even the slightest bit of room to maneuver, the opponent's defense will inevitably be torn apart by him.

With his surgical passes that facilitated easy scores for his teammates and his signature pull-up jumpers, Steve Nash relentlessly punished any gaps in the defense, whether through surgical passes or his signature pull-up jumpers.

The two teams traded leads, but the Heat held a slight advantage.

After all, the combined firepower of Wade and Pierce was stronger than that of Nash alone.

Tyson Chandler unsurprisingly found himself in foul trouble, committing three fouls before halftime, two of which were against Dwyane Wade.

Tonight, you can't say that Wade still has the whistleblower aura.

Compared to "the whistle of Oklahoma flowing downstream, the young beggar's impetuous punishment," the whistles he won today are basically indisputable.

Without Lynch's timely defensive help, Tyson Chandler often had to resort to fouls to deter Tyson Chandler when facing the Flash's attacks.

In the final moments of the third quarter, after a pick-and-roll between Ben Gordon and Lynch, Dwyane Wade used his keen instincts to steal the pass from Ben Gordon to Wilson Chandler.

At this point, there were less than 4 seconds left in the first half.

After stealing the ball, Wade faked out Ben Gordon's attempt to block him and took a long-range shot from just a step past the midfield line.

The ball flew like a shooting star and swished through the net!
After scoring, Wade remained remarkably calm. He walked straight to the closest spot to the New York fans in the stands, stood proudly with his arms crossed amidst the deafening boos from the crowd.

This action doubled the boos in Madison Square Garden, but Dwyane Wade, who had just given the Heat a 7-point lead with that basket, was very pleased with himself.

Wade remained calm and unmoved. With just this provocative yet composed stance, he was enough to etch a landmark moment into history, a moment that others could only dream of.

Paul Pierce then ran to Wade's side, put his arm around his good friend's shoulder, and shouted to the stands, "Hurry up and prepare a funeral for your king! No one can punish him!"

As DeShawn Stevenson left the court, he deliberately walked between Wade and Pierce, bumping into them hard and yelling, "The game is over, don't get in my way."

Paul Pierce was immediately enraged and shoved Stevenson hard: "What do you think you're doing? You piece of trash who can't even get a chance to play?"

Amir Johnson immediately rushed to help, grabbing Pierce by the collar: "Watch your words. Have you forgotten why you got stabbed so many times last time?"

The referee quickly stepped in to separate the two sides, but the players on both sides still refused to stop and continued to hurl insults at each other.

Since their rivalry began in last season's playoffs, the New York Knicks and Miami Heat have always had a tense and intense rivalry.

This applies to the regular season.

The playoffs will only make things worse.

As Lynch said before the match, this had long transcended the simple competition and victory, and was deeply marked by personal grudges.

Both sides were driven back to the players' tunnel, but the tension in Madison Square Garden showed no signs of abating.

Everyone knew that the second half would be an even fiercer battle.

At halftime, Wade had 16 points, Pierce had 13 points, and Pau Gasol had 6 points and 5 assists.

史蒂夫.纳什12分6次助攻，林奇8分8个篮板2次封盖。

This was clearly not a successful half; the Knicks failed to effectively stop Wade's drives to the basket and Pierce's jump shots.

Back in the locker room, everyone was still reeling from the earlier on-court altercation.

DeShawn Stevenson was still furious, roaring indignantly, "These damn bastards! We will not allow anyone wearing a Knicks jersey to swagger around in the Mecca of basketball! Lynch will play on the court, and I'll play off the court. Let them leave with both dignity and physical damage!"

Amir Johnson yelled at DeAndre Jordan, "You shouldn't have pulled me back!"

DeAndre Jordan innocently spread his hands: "Sorry, man, I swear I wanted to be the first one to rush over there. It's just... cough... I've been watching too much Kevin Garnett game tapes lately."

The locker room fell silent for a few seconds, then, like a firecracker being lit, everyone burst into laughter.

DeAndre Jordan, despite being a rookie, was rarely pranked because he had gotten along well with his teammates throughout the season.

His sense of humor, willingness to make fun of himself, and humility made him a popular figure in the locker room.

The tense atmosphere dissipated instantly. Just as the laughter subsided, Lin Qi stood up and clapped his hands: "Give it your all in the second half! Don't be upset about the result in the first half, because we'll crush them soon!"

After Lynch finished speaking, Flip Saunders immediately laid out a new strategy: "Lynch, you'll play center in the second half, focus on helping protect the rim. DeAndre, you'll start in the second half, fill in for Tyson for a while, and keep Pau Gasol in check."

DeAndre Jordan was clearly taken aback: "Boss, you've got it wrong. I just said I was watching Kevin Garnett's game tapes, I didn't say I've become Kevin Garnett himself."

Having a rookie directly guard an All-Star power forward is indeed a task beyond imagination.

But Philip Sanders was unequivocal, his tone firm: "What's so difficult about that! Remember, Lynch is right behind you providing cover! Just keep that in mind!"

Flip Sanders needs to free up Lynch and let Pau Gasol take the shots; it's better than letting Wade and Pierce take the shots at will.

DeAndre Jordan dropped his joking grin and glanced at Lynch.

Lin Qi nodded: "It's really not difficult. Just remember to lick the sweat off your hands at any time to avoid miscatching the ball."

The second half began quickly, and the Knicks' adjustments were seen by most as a last resort.

Tyson Chandler has already committed three fouls, so rookie DeAndre Jordan must play.

The Heat took the first possession, and in the first round, they used their usual starting move, passing the ball directly to Pau Gasol from the high post.

The player who can defend the Spaniard is no longer Lynch, but a rookie center who only played 15 minutes per game in the regular season.

Eric Spoelstra hadn't expected Philip Sanders to be so bold, but he certainly knew Sanders' intention—to free Lynch up to focus on help defense.

How can a rookie, fresh out of school, possibly defend an All-Star center like Pau Gasol one-on-one?
With his exceptional basketball IQ, Pau Gasol instantly seized this scoring opportunity, opting not to pass but instead facing the basket and driving directly to the basket.

With his top-notch ball-handling skills for his size, the Spaniard suddenly stopped abruptly inside the free-throw line, turned around and jumped to shoot.

This was one of his signature moves: a sudden stop, a very high release point, and a soft touch, which often allowed him to easily hit the target before his opponent could jump to block it.

But this time, when Pau Gasol turned and took a shot, he was shocked to find that DeAndre Jordan, although he jumped a little later, rose to the same height as him with amazing speed and delivered a thunderous block, swatting the ball away!
"Paul, breaking into the paint. Oh my god, DeAndre Jordan! Beautiful block, he didn't let Pau Gasol score! This rookie is completely fearless in the conference finals against an All-Star!"

Marvin Albert's shouts and the fans' cheers made the boy who was disappointed in the Green Room even more confident.

The past season has been a journey for DeAndre Jordan to continuously build his confidence.

He was completely destroyed by Kevin Love in the March Madness tournament, to the point that he lost his starting position on his college team.

His poor performance in the tryouts caused his draft position to plummet. Originally considered a top-three center in this year's draft, he was eventually drafted even behind the relatively unknown Alexis Ajinca.

During that period of uncertainty, it seemed like nothing he did went as planned. After joining the Knicks, with the help of Patrick Ewing, he clearly felt his transformation.

His defensive awareness is getting better and better, and his blocks are frequently featured in the daily top five.

Throughout the year, he and his team only lost 9 games.

Although he still feels nervous at times, he knows deep down that he is getting better.

DeAndre Jordan could hear Flip Saunders excitedly yelling from the sidelines: "Yeah, respect comes from your defense, DeAndre!"

DeAndre Jordan could see Patrick Ewing smiling and applauding with satisfaction; the Big Apple's interior defender was happy to see New York's tenacious defense still shining brightly.

Has it been successful? True success is probably still a very, very long way off.

But at least, this boy, once seen as a loser by the whole world, has used his performance on the court to fiercely shatter the doubts and has grown step by step into a player worthy of cheers and applause from Madison Square Garden.

Those jerks who missed out on me, you must be tossing and turning at night!
This block gave the Knicks a chance to counterattack. Steve Nash picked up the ball and scored on a fast break layup, narrowing the Miami Heat's deficit to just 5 points.

DeAndre Jordan's eyes were fixed intently on Pau Gasol.

Pau Gasol knew that the rookie in front of him was just a jumpy guy.

His technique was too rough, and his defensive awareness was also very poor. He relied purely on instinct and athleticism to defend.

Such an opponent is no challenge for Pau Gasol.

In this round, Pau Gasol decided to go deeper.

He turned and raised his hand near the basket in the low post, faking a shot, which indeed caught DeAndre Jordan off guard. He then took a step around the defense and lifted his hand to lay up the ball.

He did manage to get past DeAndre Jordan, but Lynch didn't let him go.

Lynch, who came in with lightning speed from the weak side, delivered a huge block, and Pau Gasol tasted the bitterness of being blocked for the second consecutive round!

Although DeAndre Jordan was deceived, he still managed to force Pau Gasol to choose a more complex offensive approach with his strong physique and terrifying athleticism, buying Lynch time for help defense.

The sudden block gave the Knicks another chance to counterattack. Steve Nash faked a pass and passed it to Trevor Ariza, who followed up and slammed it home with a two-handed dunk.

The Miami Heat's lead was quickly eroded to just 3 points.

These two offensive and defensive exchanges clearly exposed Pau Gasol's weakness: once he takes on the role of the main offensive force, his performance falls short.

If his primary offensive weapon were strong enough, the Memphis Grizzlies wouldn't have struggled to win a single game in the playoffs—it's understandable that the Grizzlies, with a truly underwhelming roster, consistently fall short in the first round. But failing to win a single game definitely indicates a problem with their star player.

Tracy McGrady has never made it to the second round in his career, but he has managed to win some games through a few breakout performances.

Gasol is best suited as a supporting player rather than the primary ball-handler.

The more he tries to shoulder the main offensive burden, the more he will lower the team's ceiling.

Pau Gasol didn't get carried away; like Tim Duncan, he sees the team as everything.

In the following rounds, he no longer insisted on one-on-one play, but instead resumed his role as a high-position pivot.

Facing DeAndre Jordan's tight defense, Pau Gasol bounced the ball to Dwyane Wade, who was cutting in.

Wade received the ball and immediately accelerated, preparing to tear apart the Knicks' interior defense, only to find Lynch already blocking his path like a ghost – number 20's awareness, reaction, and speed were all perfect.

If it were an ordinary player, Lynch would definitely have drawn an offensive foul on them.

But Dwyane Wade forcefully shifted his center of gravity and barely managed to slip past Lynch with his signature elusive step!

Wade shook off his defender and raised his hand for a layup, but Lynch's turnaround speed was equally impressive. In a flash, he was already up behind Wade, delivering his second block of the night against the Miami Lightning!

The Heat's offense faltered once again, and Flip Sanders' tactical adjustments had an immediate effect.

If Lin Qi can be freed up and not confined to defending one person, he can benefit the entire team's defense.

On the bench, Patrick Ewing joked to Mike Malone beside him: "That's why Lynch doesn't have a steady partner yet, because he has the ability to make more girls enjoy the pleasure he brings. It's a crime for a man like that to be tied to one woman. You know, with great power comes great responsibility."

Mike Malone:
Mike Malone is glad Lynch didn't enter the industry in the 90s, otherwise MJ, Ewing and Lynch together could have slept with a quarter of the young women in America.

Fortunately, the Heat's defense was quick enough this time, preventing the Knicks from launching another fast break.

The game became a half-court affair, and the Knicks continued with their usual strategy: Nash and Lynch running pick-and-roll plays.

However, the adjustments made during halftime were not unique to the Knicks; Erik Spoelstra also made some plans for the second half.

At this moment, the player standing in front of Nash was Heat number 3.

In every respect, Dwyane Wade is one of the top three defensive guards in the league, and he is definitely the best solution to defend Nash.

However, in order to conserve Wade's energy, Spoelstra did not use this arrangement in the first half.

In the second half, it's time to unleash our power.

Wade immediately demonstrated his powerful defensive pressure.

He deftly bypassed Lynch's screen and almost instantly returned to Nash's position. His strong physique put immense pressure on Nash, preventing him from organizing or creating opportunities with the same ease as in the first half.

Nevertheless, the experienced Nash remained calm and quickly and accurately passed the ball to Lynch, who was cutting down the court.

Lynch drove into the paint, carrying Pau Gasol. Facing Nene, who was helping to defend the basket, Lynch made a sudden stop while moving at high speed, followed by a smooth turn and a deft hook shot that put the ball into the basket!

Lynch only scored 8 points in the first half. His low score was mainly because he played more of a "system player" role on offense, focusing on drawing defenders and providing high-quality screens for the team.

However, when tactical execution was thwarted, Lynch immediately demonstrated his unparalleled ability to overcome difficulties and solve the problem single-handedly.

At this point, the Miami Heat's lead has dwindled to just one point!
Lynch scored, his gaze sweeping over the swaggering Paul Pierce at halftime: "Who are you planning to hold a funeral for? The first man in NBA history to get his ass kicked?"

Pierce retorted without backing down: "Shut your mouth, you're still lagging behind!"

Provoked, Paul Pierce received the ball in the mid-range and prepared to continue his one-on-one against Ariza.

But as soon as he got the ball, Lynch and Trevor Ariza had already formed a pincer movement.

Because he was tightly marked, Paul Pierce was unable to attack independently or pass the ball directly to Nene under the basket.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Pierce could only helplessly pass the ball back to Mario Chalmers at the top of the arc.

The young Heat point guard attempted to break the deadlock, immediately passing the ball to the Brazilian forward who was left wide open by Lynch the moment he received it.

However, he underestimated the difficulty of facing the DPOY in the playoffs. His passing intention was too obvious. The moment the ball left his hand, Lynch had already made a lightning-fast lunge towards the target direction with amazing anticipation and intercepted the pass!

"Damn it!" Chalmers cursed in frustration, feeling as if Lynch was controlling his every move.

After Lynch was freed from Pau Gasol, he fully demonstrated his terrifying potential as a Defensive Player of the Year.

The Heat's smooth offense in the first half was disrupted by a series of steals and blocks.

Lynch passed the ball to Nash, then ran past Pierce, leaving behind the words: "Paul, remember to clench your ass, it's not over yet!"

Dwyane Wade's tight defense prevented Nash from launching a counterattack, but the Knicks no longer rely on Nash to drive their offense.

Lynch used an off-ball screen to circle out to the three-point line and made the three-pointer despite Paul Pierce's help defense!
Madison Square Garden shook violently as the Knicks went on a 9-0 run at the start of the second half to take a 2-point lead over the Heat!
Lynch held up three fingers and waved them in front of Paul Pierce: "Didn't I tell you to clench? Why the hell is it so loose? Is it used often?"

Paul Pierce, who is known for his sharp tongue, was so angry that he couldn't speak.

The Heat called a timeout, and Erik Spoelstra was surprised that the Knicks were able to adjust so quickly.

Lynch's defensive coverage was terrifying; Erik Spoelstra never expected the Heat's offense to be completely contained.

The core of the problem comes back to Pau Gasol; the Spaniard must dominate against DeAndre Jordan.

Only in this way can Lin Qi be brought back to his side.

“I need you to play a little more selfishly! You can’t keep shooting and you can’t keep passing. You have to find that balance between attacking and organizing, Paul!” Erik Spoelstra told Gasol.

Pau Gasol knew this was a battle for redemption—he had waited far too long for this night since being crushed by KG in last season's Finals.

On the first possession after the timeout, Pau Gasol scored with a layup after a drive, temporarily tying the game.

DeAndre Jordan's progress is undeniable, but he ultimately lacks the ability to completely shut down Gasol.

However, in an instant, Lynch, who was double-teamed, responded with a precise pass. Raja Bell raised his hand and drained a three-pointer!

Dwyane Wade's strategy of guarding Nash did not achieve the desired effect. He may have contained Nash, but he did not contain the New York Knicks' lifeline at all.

The hole the Heat had just filled has been dug open again, and the Knicks have regained a one-point lead.

Pau Gasol desperately needed to regain his offensive firepower, but he failed to do so.

The Spaniard attempted a turnaround hook shot under the basket, the basketball spinning past DeAndre Jordan's fingertips, but missed.

Pau Gasol cursed under his breath; that last shot was a real opportunity, but he failed to capitalize on it.

To date, his highest playoff score is only 28 points.

He couldn't even shoulder the scoring burden in the first round of the playoffs, let alone in the more intense later rounds.
Lynch grabbed the rebound, and seeing no hope for a fast break, he simply dribbled the ball across half-court himself.

Beyond the three-point line on the right wing, Lynch called for a screen from Trevor Ariza.

The screen was immediately set, and Pau Gasol was a little slow, so Pierce had no choice but to step in.

After Pierce switched onto him, Lynch slowed down and dribbled the ball leisurely outside the three-point line.

The moment he switched defenses, Lin Qi deliberately slowed down his dribbling pace, like a hunter teasing his prey.

He deliberately singled out Paul Pierce!
Lynch's eyes were filled with sarcasm as he casually hooked his fingertip towards Paul Pierce, his words as sharp as ice: "Come on, come closer. Hey, you can't be hiding under Dwyane Wade's crotch for the rest of your life, can you?"

Paul Pierce paid the price for his arrogance at the end of the first half.

He pressed close, trying to steal the ball from Lynch's hands.

Lynch, however, was prepared. He leaned back firmly to block Pierce as his pivot, then swiftly turned and left him behind before heading straight into the penalty area!
Paul Pierce wasn't a top-tier one-on-one defender, which is why Lynch dared to dribble freely in front of him.

Richie calmly gathered the ball near the free-throw line, gesturing for a sudden stop and jump shot.

Seeing Lynch suddenly stop in the mid-range, Pierce's defense became slightly impatient, and he immediately pounced on him like a startled bird.

But Lynch pulled the ball back the instant Pierce took off, using a deft step back to create space. Pierce, still in mid-air, could only watch helplessly as Lynch gained a wide-open opportunity.

Lynch didn't waste the opportunity, and his step-back jumper went in smoothly.

With the score difference already at 3 points, Lynch deftly extended his index finger, almost touching Pierce's nose: "Remember, shut your mouth and stop barking at my fans, you piece of trash!"

The Miami Heat's morale was clearly dampened, and they were unable to stop the Knicks' scoring spree for several possessions after the start of the second half.

Pau Gasol's journey toward self-redemption has been far more arduous than anticipated.

In the next offensive possession, he cleverly used a fake move to earn the opportunity to stand at the free throw line.

But the boos from the crowd and the pressure of closing the gap caused Pau Gasol's first free throw to bounce off the rim.

Frustration overwhelmed the Spaniard, who clutched his head tightly with both hands. Dwyane Wade, standing beside him, quickly gave him a high-five, trying to comfort him, but the dejection was clearly difficult to dispel.

As the second free throw was about to be taken, Lynch's voice pierced through the noise, deliberately shouting at DeAndre Jordan, who was preparing to grab the rebound: "Get ready! This softie can't make free throws, he always messes things up!"

This seemingly casual remark struck Gasol like a sharp thorn. He gritted his teeth and struck again.

"Boom!"

The basketball bounced off the rim again!

Wade quickly retreated on defense, encouraging Gasol: "Go for it! It's okay, make up for that free throw with your defense!"

Pau Gasol fought back defensively and teamed up with Nene to successfully protect the rim, stopping Lynch's attack.

But with his offensive threat completely gone, Lynch can now move freely on defense without restraint.

Wade attempted to take the initiative, driving to the basket and attempting a floater under Lynch's long arms interference, but the ball bounced off the side of the rim. Lynch's interference was so effective that even Dwyane Wade couldn't resist it.

DeAndre Jordan roared, leaped high, and firmly grabbed the precious defensive rebound.

However, the moment he landed, an unexpected incident occurred. The basketball mysteriously slipped from his hands and rolled directly out of bounds.

Lynch shook his head: "Rookie, have you been secretly watching too much Kwame Brown or LBJ game footage?"

DeAndre Jordan scratched his head sheepishly. At that moment, during a dead ball situation, head coach Flip Saunders made a substitution, signaling Tyson Chandler, who had managed to keep his foul count under control, to replace Jordan.

DeAndre Jordan saw the gesture and turned to walk to the sidelines.

Just then, Lynch reached out and pressed down on his shoulder. "Hey, rookie."

DeAndre Jordan turned around.

Lin Qi released his grip and said solemnly, "I didn't congratulate you on the phone when you were drafted because that wasn't your place. Tonight, I can say congratulations, DeAndre. You're an excellent NBA player, and you performed very well."

DeAndre Jordan's lips curled into a genuine smile: "Actually, boss, the game tapes I watch the most are yours."

“Very good,” Lin Qi nodded, a hint of a smile in his eyes. “But don’t tell anyone about this. I can’t afford to lose face.”

With this heartwarming recognition and lighthearted banter, DeAndre Jordan walked to the sidelines, gave Tyson Chandler a high-five before returning to the bench.

His teammates were praising him, and Patrick Ewing patted his head with satisfaction.

Some people have found salvation.

But some people still have to struggle.

This substitution undoubtedly means that the Miami Heat's offensive situation will become even more difficult.

Tyson Chandler—a seasoned defensive stalwart whose skills far surpassed those of DeAndre Jordan in his rookie season—immediately took over the defense against Pau Gasol.

With the pressure mounting, the Spanish team struggled even more on the offensive end.

Pau Gasol was determined to give his all for Miami, but the cruel reality of competitive sports is not just about passionate success, but also about cold defeat.

That night, the young and fearless DeAndre Jordan tasted the sweetness of passion, while the bitter taste of defeat would eventually fall upon someone else.

When Paul Pierce's mid-range shot missed under Lynch's rotation interference, it signaled the complete annihilation of Gasol's strategic value.

He was unable to draw Lynch's defense and was powerless to create space for the two main offensive players, and his role as a pivot on the offensive end collapsed.

As Lynch ran forward, parallel to Pau Gasol, he retaliated against Gasol's Spanish proverb from the first half.

"If the dog dies, the rabies will be gone."

This is what the Spanish proverb means: to solve the problem at its root.

Pau Gasol tragically became the root cause of the problem.

Yes, the King of New York never forgets to punish anyone who challenges his authority here.

(Today I'm combining two articles into one, updating with 10,000 words in one go.)

(Thanks so much to kmagth and other great contributors for their generous donations!)

(The entire examination has been completed; it's just a contusion, no fractures, and all internal organs are fine. I also sent photos to some fathers who messaged me privately yesterday. The wound isn't huge, but it's not small either, and overall it's not particularly serious. Thank you all for your concern. The party at fault has been very cooperative and hasn't tried to evade responsibility. In short, fathers don't need to worry too much.)
(End of this chapter)