Champion Rules

Chapter 213, page 209: Superstars vs. Superstars (Seeking monthly votes!)
The Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 were still an excellent team.

Although their regular season record was not as good as in the first year the Big Three came together, that was more due to Phil Jackson's rest strategy than to a decline in their overall strength.

They are the second-best offensive team in the league, second only to the New York Knicks—considering the Lakers are a slow-paced, half-court offense, their offensive efficiency is quite remarkable.

They are undoubtedly the best defensive team in the league. The exemplary defense of their three core players, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett, forced every role player to give their all on defense, thus creating the league's best overall defense.

This team has the best help defenders in the league, second only to Lynch and Dwight Howard.

It has the best defensive and most experienced point guard in the entire league.

It has the most cunning head coach in the entire league, and the one with the most championship rings among active players.

And number 24, who has become more adept at leading the team to play the right way, yet still retains an extremely strong individual attacking ability.

This is the strongest fortress the New York Knicks need to overcome in the Finals.

Kobe Bryant was particularly excited when he arrived in New York.

As the team bus entered New York City, Kobe Bryant, looking at the various Lynch posters on the exterior walls of the skyscrapers along the way, couldn't hide his excitement and took off his sunglasses: "Kevin, look at this, it's simply a gift from God!"

“A gift? Lynch?” Kevin Garnett, sitting to the side, scoffed. “Come on, he’s clearly a demon sent from hell to disgust us.”

Despite their decent personal relationship, Kevin Garnett knew how tough Lynch was on the court, and he didn't enjoy playing against him.

Kobe still had a smile on his face, his eyes burning: "Beat him, Kevin! We will be the undisputed rulers of this era! At that time, we will be wearing a real ring!"

Kobe Bryant had waited a whole year, and he couldn't wait to get on the court and beat the league's hottest number 20.

Meanwhile, at the Greenburg training center.

Ben Gordon walked into the training facility early as usual, only to find that someone else had arrived even earlier than him.

Trevor Ariza was pacing back and forth in the center of the training facility, holding a small piece of paper in his hand and muttering to himself, looking just like an actor rehearsing a play.

Ariza was so engrossed in refining his lines that he didn't even notice Ben Gordon walk in.

“Dear Lynch, please allow me…” He started, then immediately contradicted himself, “No, that’s not formal enough.”

Then, he readjusted his expression and mood: "Dear Mr. Lynch, I want to tell you something, I... no, no, no, that's too serious."

"Hey Lynch, how's today? I have something I want to tell you, it's not a small thing, damn it, how am I supposed to bring it up!"

He tried several versions of how to start a conversation, but none of them seemed quite right.

It wasn't until Ben Gordon deliberately slapped the ball that Ariza was startled and turned his head sharply.

"who!?"

Ben Gordon stopped what he was doing, pointed his face under his hood toward the door, and said with his usual hesitation, "I just came in and didn't mean to disturb you."

"You were already in here?" Trevor Ariza was visibly more alarmed. "You heard everything?"

Ben Gordon nodded. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, sorry."

Trevor Ariza's panic level immediately soared; he looked far more embarrassed than if he had been caught cheating.

Adulterous couples can even hide their lovers in a closet—in short, there's always room for maneuver in adultery.

But the words he rehearsed were like spilled water, impossible to hide again.

He stared intently at Ben Gordon, and although the usually taciturn man didn't seem inclined to ask any further questions, Ariza still urgently urged him:

"Benny, whatever you do, don't tell Lynch what you just heard. I'll talk to him myself after the Finals are over."

“You know me,” Ben Gordon replied simply, walking to the sidelines to begin shooting practice. “I’m not a talkative person.”

"Thank you."

“But…” Ben Gordon stared at Ariza after taking a shot, his voice as deep as ever, yet with an unprecedented resolve, “But, whatever you do, don’t let it affect the game. Whatever you want to do, whatever you’re thinking, don’t let it affect the Finals. Lynch can’t let this city down, and we can’t let him down either.”

Trevor Ariza nodded slightly, his gaze settling on the prominent Knicks logo in the training facility, a confident smile playing on his lips: "Benny, you can rest assured about that. I will never let Lynch down in any game I play alongside him."
-
2009 6 Month 4 Day.

On the day Game 1 of the finals began.

As the Knicks and Lakers' starting lineups stepped into center circle to prepare for the jump ball, the Finals viewership had already soared to its highest point since 1998.

For David Stern, this meant a lot.

One of the most important symbols is that the enormous impact of Michael Jordan's retirement has finally begun to fade.

Or rather, this league has finally produced a superstar whose influence rivals that of MJ.

Of course, at present, neither Lynch nor Kobe can be compared to MJ.

But at least, their epic showdown and the market behind them combined to bring the league's ratings back to the levels of its golden age.

At the start of the live broadcast, Mike Brin couldn't contain his excitement and exclaimed, "Two dream teams are about to stage a dream match!"

The live broadcast camera panned across the faces of every starting player from both teams, and everyone's face was tense.

The players jumped around eagerly, and a fierce collision seemed imminent.

Mike Breen needs no further explanation from fans regarding the brilliance of these two teams this season.

Throughout the past season, both the Knicks and the Lakers have displayed unparalleled dominance in their respective conferences.

Now, these two most dominant teams have finally met.

On one side are the New York Knicks, eager to return to their peak.

On one side are the Los Angeles Lakers, eager to build a dynasty.

When they meet on a narrow path, their only goal is to prove who is the true hegemon of this era.

Putting aside their past personal friendship, Lynch and Kobe were locked in a tense standoff on the court.

"Lincia, beating you to win the championship would give me immense satisfaction." Kobe's gaze was intense, and there was not a trace of jest in his tone.

“Likewise,” the King of New York immediately retorted, “It’s not too bad to win back the championship while you old bones are still able to play!”

Just one minute into the game, Kevin Garnett had already taken down Lynch for the third time.

He and Lynch got tangled up while fighting for a rebound, neither willing to give way, and the struggle turned into a wrestling match.

After they both fell to the ground, Lynch forcefully pinned Garnett down, showing no intention of getting up: "Want to play, Kevin? Then I'll play with you!"

It wasn't until players from both sides intervened that Lin Qi finally managed to get Kevin Garnett to his feet.

The referee called a foul on Kevin Garnett, and Lynch smiled and spread his hands: "You think you're the best power forward in the league after dominating Pau Gasol last season?"

Before the smoke of the conflict had cleared, 30 seconds later, Kobe Bryant also fell to the floor—Raja Bell had been holding onto Kobe's jersey tightly during the defense, and then suddenly pulled him down hard!
Both of these aggressive moves were called fouls by the referee, but neither team seemed willing to back down.

Because this is the kind of intensity that this generation of players envisions for the Finals.

In the following matches, neither side reduced their defensive intensity in the slightest.

The Lakers' starting lineup is practically made for defense.

Kidd, Kobe, Matt Barnes, and Garnett all possess excellent defensive flexibility—Matt Barnes was a pleasant surprise for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. They signed this previously unknown player to a minimum contract last summer, initially using him as a backup, but his defensive abilities have proven to be well worth the price.

Furthermore, Matt Barnes has always been a tough defender, and this type of player is often Kobe's favorite, so he got along well with Kobe.

Therefore, Barnes showed no sense of alienation as a short-term contract player, did not consider himself a mercenary with only a one-year contract, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Lakers' championship aspirations.

With him filling the void left by Luke Walton, the Lakers' defense was quite tight.

During the regular season, when the Knicks played against the Lakers, Matt Barnes was still largely unused off the bench. Therefore, it was unclear how much impact he would have on the game.

The Knicks, on the other hand, continued to use the key to their victory from the previous round—using exaggerated pressure and double-teaming to limit the Lakers.

The intense physical battles in the finals limited both teams' shooting percentages, but that's precisely what made it so exciting for the fans.

It was this high-intensity defense that made it difficult for either side to find good opportunities, and instead created many classic moments of star players scoring difficult goals against each other.

In the second quarter, when the Lakers had gone four consecutive possessions without scoring, Kobe received the ball while running. Facing Raja Bell's tight defense, he made a brilliant fake, took a quick step before Lynch's double-team could get in place, found that precious space, and then unleashed his signature fadeaway jumper!

Despite Raja Bell's ghostly and impenetrable interference, Kobe still managed to send the ball into the basket with an impeccable form and an extremely elegant fadeaway.

This invaluable basket finally broke the Lakers' scoring drought and gave them a slim two-point lead.

However, the King of New York responded with lightning speed!
Lynch faked a pick-and-roll with Steve Nash, then immediately cut in. Kevin Garnett reacted quickly, spreading his hand to cut off Lynch's path to receive the ball.

But Steve Nash found the most tricky and smooth route in the narrow passing lane, delivering a quick bounce pass to Lynch with precision.

Lynch received the ball without hesitation, and facing Matt Barnes who came to help defend, he smoothly turned around and faced Kendrick Perkins, who was guarding the basket, raising the basketball high with one hand.

Everyone thought it would be a skillful turnaround hook shot, but the next second, Lin Qi suddenly jumped up like an eagle ready to pounce, using his amazing explosiveness to overpower Kendrick Perkins in mid-air, and with thunderous force, slammed the ball into the basket with one hand over him, roaring to the sky!

The score was tied again, and the fans erupted in deafening cheers.

The two consecutive superstar matches were a visual feast for the fans.

This also explains why this year's finals had the highest viewership ratings since the beginning of the new century.

Looking at the many Finals this century, there are bound to be some shortcomings. Take Lynch's previous two Finals appearances as examples:
The game against the Dallas Mavericks was almost one-sided, with little suspense.

The game against the Spurs was full of suspense, but both sides displayed extreme defensive intensity. In addition, Tim Duncan's playing style was simple and steady, and he had a rare opportunity to engage in a high-difficulty duel with Lynch.

The Finals of this century have either lacked the high-scoring battles between top superstars, leaving only "ugly" defensive contests for support, or the outcome was predetermined from the start, with no suspense whatsoever.

The Knicks vs. Lakers matchup this year was a rare exception – it was full of suspense and thrilling scoring duels between star players.

As the game progressed, the contest between Lynch and Kobe gradually shifted from an offensive duel to a defensive one, with both sides vying to create trouble for each other.

In the fifth minute of the third quarter, Lynch passed the ball to Nash on the sideline, but Kobe, who was suddenly double-teamed, managed to steal it and allow the Lakers to launch a fast break.

However, just one possession later, when Lynch and Raja Bell teamed up to double-team Kobe, the towering Lynch also displayed amazing defensive skills—he instantly lowered his center of gravity and made a precise steal, forcefully taking the ball from Kobe's hands!
The fierce, head-to-head battle between the two seemed endless.

If there were no time constraints, they might have really let this fierce battle continue indefinitely.

Fortunately, basketball games have their own rules regarding the final whistle.

As the game entered the heated fourth quarter, the intense back-and-forth battle between Lynch and Kobe continued on the court.

Even more coincidentally, they were both substituted at the same time after playing for three minutes in the fourth quarter.

Phil Jackson and Flip Sanders are not novices, and they both agreed that the game would likely go down in the final moments.

The two sides are too evenly matched in terms of strength, and the star players on both sides are also too evenly matched.

Moreover, neither team probed the other; G1 had already come up with the most targeted strategy.

The fourth quarter is unlikely to bring any major changes, and the score will most likely remain close.

At this point, they need to give their ultimate killer a breather and prepare to take over the game.

Sitting on the bench, Kobe glanced at Lynch, while Lynch's gaze was fixed on him, both of them revealing a lingering sense of satisfaction.

The contest between the two is far from over, but for now, the stage must be handed over to other characters.

Trevor Ariza did not lie to Ben Gordon. When Lynch was off the court and the offense was led by Steve Nash, Ariza decisively seized the gap left by Matt Barnes' double-teaming of Nash, hitting two mid-range shots and a three-pointer in succession.

Clearly, he truly cherished this opportunity in the finals. The secret that had been weighing on his mind did not bother him in the slightest at this moment.

But the Lakers also had someone step up, with Kevin Garnett keeping the score close with his incredibly tough, non-contact, hard-hitting jump shot.

When Kevin Garnett once again caught and shot a mid-range ball with an off-ball movement, pounding his chest and yelling, "You softie, you can't guard me!", Amir Johnson couldn't take it anymore.

"Enough, Kevin! You look like you just crashed into the paint and dunked on me! Shut up! You don't have the guts to attack the rim, you don't even have the guts to go toe-to-toe with me! All you do is avoid jump shots, huh? The famous Kevin Garnett is just a jump shooter now?"

KG was clearly enraged. He lunged forward, pressing his forehead firmly against Amir Johnson's head: "Do you believe I can tear you to pieces?"

Jason Kidd, who was pulled to Garnett's side the instant the conflict broke out, shook his head speechlessly: "Kevin, I believe you, just let go of me first."

Seeing the tension between the two sides, the referee immediately stepped in to try and calm things down.

But when he arrived at the scene, Kevin Garnett, who had just been so aggressive, had unknowingly moved to stand behind Jason Kidd.

These dazzling footwork, so difficult to capture, is probably only comparable to that of Hakeem Olajuwon and LeBron James.

"Jason, don't stop me!" Garnett yelled at Kidd in front of him. "These kids these days don't know what respect is!"

Kidd:
I didn't move an inch!
The farce eventually ended with Kevin Garnett yelling and cursing.

However, the tension between the two sides did not subside.

In the following rounds, the field was filled with vicious fouls and intense physical collisions.

Without a superstar scorer, both teams' offenses completely stalled.

Trevor Ariza's quick help defense repeatedly thwarted KG's mid-range shot attempts.

KG retaliated by continuously rotating to help out and disrupt Ariza's shots.

Steve Nash attempted to shoulder the offensive burden for the Knicks, but he struggled to find opportunities against the ever-present, experienced Jason Kidd's defense.

The cameras frequently panned to Lynch and Kobe on the bench—the whole world's eyes were filled with anticipation, hoping for their return to the court.

Right now, only they can solve the problem.

The score remained unchanged. The hustle and bustle of Madison Square Garden had been worn down by the suffocating back-and-forth battles, leaving only a heavy, suffocating breath pressing on everyone's chest.

Like most New York fans, Spike Lee would occasionally glance at the bench, hoping to see Lynch play.

The game continued, and Steve Nash tried to reignite the offense. Jason Kidd, like a persistent thorn in his side, precisely predicted every passing route with his eyes that had seen it all.

Nash had to pass the ball to Ben Gordon on the wing with difficulty, but Matt Barnes pounced like a hyena, disrupting the attack with a fierce but clean steal!

Ben Gordon tried to pick up the basketball, but only managed to deflect it out of bounds. The sharp whistle brought only a brief pause, not a score.

With the offensive and defensive positions reversed, Garnett tried to repeat his previous tactic, immediately taking a jump shot after receiving a pass from Kidd.

But Trevor Ariza quickly helped defend, and this time he almost made a block. KG had to rely on his amazing core strength to dodge in the air to escape Ariza's grasp, but the ball was undoubtedly out of aim.

"boom!"

The familiar clanging of metal struck everyone's eardrums once again.

The camera cut to the two teams' benches almost simultaneously.

On the Lakers' side, Phil Jackson maintained his signature Zen-like calm, but his right index finger was rhythmically tapping his knee. His gaze swept across the players on the court like a hawk, then returned to the dwindling clock.

Kobe Bryant, however, was no longer calm. He abruptly ripped the towel off his knees, a movement so swift it startled his teammates. His dark eyes burned with resentment and desire, his gaze fixed intently on every move on the court.

He quickly adjusted the heavy brace on his left knee, revealing his inner anxiety. Then he stomped his foot hard on the floor, the sneakers scraping against the floor with a screeching sound, like a wild horse being restrained and pawing at the ground.

He turned his head and nodded slightly in Phil Jackson's direction, his eyes sharp as a drawn sword—a silent command and request.

On the other side, the New York Knicks' bench.

Philip Sanders crossed his arms and pursed his lips. Sweat soaked his temples; each successful defensive rotation eased his tense nerves slightly, but each forced pass made his palms sweat even more.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of movement beside him—Lin Qi had silently stood up.

Unlike Kobe Bryant's overt agitation, Lynch's movements were more like a predator quietly leaving its lair. He simply twisted his neck, his arms hanging naturally, and slowly adjusted the rubber wristbands on his wrists.

But his gaze, cold and focused, pierced through the noisy stadium and landed precisely on the number 24 on the opposite side, who had also stood up.

Their eyes met briefly and silently in the air, as if an invisible current surged through the stadium.

"Beep——!"

The referee finally blew the whistle again. In the physical battle for the rebound, DeAndre Jordan and Kendrick Perkins both got the ball and fell to the ground. The referee called a jump ball.

The opportunity is coming!

"New York Knicks request a substitution!"

"Los Angeles Lakers request a substitution!"

The two almost overlapping electronic beeps at the scene were like the starting gun of a race, instantly igniting the long-silent Madison Square Garden!
A deafening roar of pent-up cheers and shouts erupted like a tsunami, sweeping across the entire space.

Kobe Bryant and Lynch, one in black and one in white, were like arch-rivals on the battlefield awaiting the signal to charge, both waiting in front of the scorer's table.

Kobe stretched his calf muscles by hopping a little while staring coldly ahead.

Lin Qi took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as knives, staring at the direction of the basket.

Kobe stepped onto the court first, pointing to his teammates. Wherever he went, the Lakers players seemed to be infused with new energy.

Lynch followed closely behind, clapping his hands vigorously, which quickly reassured the slightly flustered Knicks players.

Finally, they've arrived!
After they went on stage, the two finally spoke to each other.

“It’s time to end this, Lynch.” Kobe’s voice wasn’t loud, but it seemed to pierce through the clamor of voices.

Lynch simply grunted an "Mmm," then slammed the ball hard on the floor, producing a dull, drum-like "thump."

The air in Madison Square Garden was tense, like a fully drawn bow that could snap at any moment.

Everyone held their breath, and every heart was in their throat.

They were waiting for Lynch to take his first step once he received the ball.

They waited to see what decision Kobe would make in the next second if he was on defense.

In front of the television, Dwyane Wade found himself unconsciously holding his breath.

At this moment, with only 4 minutes and 43 seconds left in the game, the score is tied.

Kobe and Lynch, these two super scorers, are going to have a showdown in the crucial moments.

Wade knows their clutch abilities better than anyone else in the league.

Because both of them had given him unforgettable memories at crucial moments.

At the beginning of this season, after the Heat's first loss to the Knicks, Dwyane Wade made a statement that was half-joking and half-expectant:

"Damn Lynch, damn Kobe. One hit a game-winner over me, the other ruined it. Seriously, I can't wait to see these two bastards hurt each other in the clutch. Their games have never gone to the clutch, have they? I'm really looking forward to this dog-eat-dog moment!"

Tonight, what he had hoped for—no, what the whole world had hoped for—has come true.

(End of this chapter)