Champion Rules

Chapter 225, Section 221: A True Super Team (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Carmelo Anthony knew tonight's game wouldn't be easy.

If beating Lynch were an easy thing, then the Super Pistons wouldn't have come into being.

He admitted that Lynch's strong scoring at the start of the game did indeed ignite the home team's morale, showcasing his talent.

But Melo wasn't about to back down in terms of momentum.

Then, Carmelo Anthony uttered a classic line that has stood the test of time in the basketball world.

"Don't get cocky. Open your eyes and see clearly. Tonight you're not facing any Cleveland Knights!"
LeBron is no longer the sole hope of a team.

He's here to assist me!
"You think you've got the game in the bag just because you scored a few points against him?"

LeBron James: ???

This statement may have caused Lynch no harm, but the damage it caused to LBJ was immeasurable.

The word "assist" stuck in LeBron James's ears like a thorn.

It is even more humiliating than the "untouchables" Lynch described.

LBJ still remembers Carmelo Anthony's confident assertion that there was no hierarchy on this team.

He even told the media with righteous indignation that they were not Batman and Robin, but Batman and Superman.

And now, in the blink of an eye, I've become a supporting character to him?

Clearly, when Carmelo Anthony uttered that "supportive" statement, he didn't fully consider how it would hurt LeBron's feelings.

His goal remained consistent: to suppress Lynch's rising momentum.

LeBron James chose to remain silent.

He simply pursed his lips, his gaze complex as he watched Lin Qi steadily step onto the free-throw line.

Amidst deafening cheers from the crowd, he sank the crucial free throw, successfully completing a 3+1 play!

With the score at 4-8, this four-point play was like a hammer blow, allowing the New York Knicks to break the balance and take the lead.

Lynch's four-point play sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy, but the lead didn't widen further in the next few rounds.

Lynch remained like a master lord, continuously exerting suffocating pressure on LeBron James.

The scene resembled an experienced hunter calmly toying with his still-naive prey.

Or to put it more bluntly: it's like a father beating his son.

But Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams also got to experience being treated like royalty, thoroughly enjoying the thrill of having their opponents become their "cash cows."

Tonight, Lynch, Melo, and Deron Williams, three of the league's top superstars, still radiated dazzling star power, dominating the course of the game.

Everyone else talks about sacrifice but it's just talk; only LeBron James truly looks like a role player!

He was busy with the arduous task of "running back and forth, squatting in the corner, and eating a single sheet."

This is because LBJ is still too young. If it were 10 years from now, he would optimize the "shuttle run" feature to show off his privileges and get rid of the stench of a role player.

But tonight, this still immature LBJ played too much like a role player.

Even Mike Breen exclaimed, "To be honest, I didn't expect LeBron to sacrifice so much for the team at first. He adapted to his new role very quickly, and we have to respect him!"

Nick Harrison, Nike's Vice President of Basketball Operations for North America, who was watching the game on television, twitched at the corner of his mouth.

Upon hearing Mike Brin's narration, his hand holding the coffee cup trembled violently, and the brown liquid spilled directly onto his shiny custom-made leather shoes.

Are you serious, LeBron?
You spent countless media fees, put on a grand show called "The Decision," and, under the banner of Nike's "Chosen Ones," meticulously planned to escape your hometown of Cleveland and form a historic superteam.
Why make such a big fuss just to come to the car market and play a minor role?

Nick Harrison felt a sudden blackout, and his blood pressure spiked.

You're fucking amazing!
Halfway through the first quarter, LBJ had only scored 2 points. Because he was being closely guarded by Lynch, he barely even touched the ball.

He focused all his energy on defense, but tragically, he couldn't stop Lynch at all.

Even so, Carmelo Anthony shook LeBron James' hand immediately after sitting down on the court.
"LeBron, thank you for everything you've done for this team! I promise you victories!"

LeBron James opened his mouth as if to explain something, but quickly closed it again.

What could he say?
"I didn't sacrifice anything, I just simply couldn't make shots in front of Lynch?"
Or is it "I'm not a supporting character, I was just frozen by Lynch"?
No matter what you say, it's wrong.

It all sounds like an attempt to cover up the truth.

No matter what you say, it will only make this damn "willing to play a supporting role" persona even more vivid.

He wasn't playing the role player; in front of Lynch, he could only play like a role player.

A sense of frustration overwhelmed him instantly. He could only rub his burning nose hard, lower his head, and look like a primary school student who had been wronged by his teacher but could not prove his innocence.

Then he swallowed alone this absurdly bitter cup, brewed by the opponent's attacks, the teammates' finishing blows, and the commentators' instigation.

After a long silence, LBJ looked up with a pained expression: "Everything for victory, Melo."

At least, he still has a chance of winning.

At least he still has a chance to break that damn 0-24 curse against Lynch tonight.

Lionel Hollins remained confident in his strategy. While Lynch had indeed scored 12 points, he firmly believed that Lynch could not maintain such high efficiency all night under LeBron James' defense.

But Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams' dominance on offense will continue.

The Knicks should probably bring in some bench players now. Their starters can't stop Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams, let alone their rotation players.

This is precisely the power of a super team—the ability to defeat the most formidable opponents in the simplest and most overwhelming way.

That mere 4-point difference will definitely be erased in a short time.

The timeout ends and the game continues.

The Knicks did indeed make substitutions: Goran Dragic replaced Nash, DeMar DeRozan replaced Raja Bell, Ron Artest replaced Wilson Chandler, and DeAndre Jordan replaced Tyson Chandler.

Apart from Lynch, the Knicks completely revamped their starting lineup.

Ron Artest had barely stepped onto the court when, with his signature aggression, he clenched his fist and slammed it into Lynch's chest:

"Hey! Who am I supposed to defend against?"

Lin Qi clutched his chest, looking disgusted: "Didn't the coach tell you who you were supposed to guard?"

“He made me guard LeBron,” Artest grinned, glancing across the court. “But I see you and that guy are having a ‘fun’.”

Lin Qi said expressionlessly, "I've had my fill. It's your turn to take over."

"Ha, you're quite the sharer."

Goran Dragic, standing to the side, shook his head. These two were not only incredibly intense during training, but their conversation was also incredibly intense.

They were talking not about a young superstar, but about a cheap prostitute who could be played with by multiple people.

The Knicks are on offense, and the ball continues to be given to Lynch.

Lin Qi lowered his shoulders, forcefully turned around, and accelerated his breakthrough.

LeBron James was right behind him, never missing a beat. At the same moment, Pistons backup center Kwame Brown came to help defend from the weak side.

You can say that Kwame Brown wasn't a qualified number one draft pick, but you can't say that he wasn't a qualified blue-collar center.

Lynch was caught in a pincer movement, but his attack did not stop.

He tossed the ball directly towards the basket, and DeAndre Jordan soared into the air like a helicopter, catching it and dunking for the score.

While DeAndre Jordan still lacks original offensive creativity, his ability to seize opportunities and finish plays has far surpassed his rookie season's immaturity.

His eyes were always fixed on the ball handler, like the most precise hunter, ensuring that every "delicious" bite delivered to his mouth would not be wasted.

The Pistons' defense failed again, and the score difference was 6 points.

Lionel Hollins can only hope for a successful attack.

But the moment Lynch stood in front of Carmelo Anthony, the Pistons' head coach seemed to have suffered a cerebellar atrophy.

You don't actually think of me, LeBron, as a role player, do you?!

Why would they let a substitute defend him?

Admittedly, Ron Artest's aura has dimmed considerably since the end of the Dark Defense era. Partly, the rules have constrained him, completely sealing off many of his "over-the-top" physical combat moves.

On the other hand, the relentless passage of time also eroded his physical functions.

His last selection to the All-Defensive Team was in 2006.

He remains a formidable defensive player, but the dominance he displayed during his peak years at the level of Defensive Player of the Year is gone forever.

Therefore, when he stood in front of LeBron James, no one thought he could truly lock down this absolute superstar in his prime.

Carmelo Anthony seemed even more dismissive of this, whereas in the past, when Lynch guarded him one-on-one, his mid-range shot would be greatly limited.

Melo's weak ability to attack the basket makes it difficult for him to force an attack.

But now, with his mid-range game limited, the task of attacking the basket can be handed over to LBJ.

They complement each other perfectly.

“Lynch, you can’t beat all of us.” Carmelo Anthony said smugly, then looked at his good friend, “It’s up to you, LeBron.”

"Uh, LeBron?"

LeBron James did not respond.

He didn't show the slightest bit of the confidence Melo expected, not even a simple gesture of "receiving".

He simply pursed his lips, his gaze fixed on a formidable enemy, the tension almost emanating from the taut lines of his muscles.

give it to me?
Others might underestimate Ron Artest now, but LeBron James—who experienced that hellish defense firsthand—definitely won't!
That night last season against the Houston Rockets on the road was one of the most unforgettable dark games of his career.

In that game, he was completely shut down on the perimeter, making a paltry 7 out of 21 shots.

Even more humiliatingly, in his flustered state, he delivered a record of 0 assists in a single game for the first time in his career.

That night, the one who haunted him like a persistent ghost was none other than Ron Artest!

More precisely, it was the ironclad defense built by Artest, Battier, and Yao Ming that strangled him.

But Artest's relentless biting and harassment remained the source of LBJ's deepest nightmare.

For every player named "James," Ron Artest was a nightmare.

Even though the era of dark defense is long gone, he still brought CBA-level competition to the NBA.

This defensive style is what players like LeBron James, who rely on driving to the basket, hate the most.

Therefore, he hesitated.

A great unease lingered in my heart.

Melo and Deron Williams can easily handle their matchups.

If I can't break through Ron Artest
Then I'll really become a role player!

Deron Williams passed the ball to LBJ, knowing that number 6 hadn't been attacking much in previous games, and now was the time to make up for it.

LeBron James leaned his back against Ron Artest, as if he were leaning against a breathing, foul-mouthed brick wall.

He practiced a few times; his movements were quite standard, and his strength was sufficient. Then
It was sent back to Delong.

Delong: ? ? ?
Maybe it's just the angle.

It's okay, I'll keep feeding him.

After LBJ readjusted his position, Deron Williams lobbed the ball in again.

This time the bag is OK!
LeBron James seemed to be ignited by this trust. His eyes were piercing, his breath was deep, and his back-to-the-basket movements were so exaggerated that it seemed as if he wanted to devour number 96 alive.

But Ron Artest was like a piece of raw iron repeatedly hammered by a ten-thousand-ton hydraulic press; he didn't even flinch, let alone move backward.

How could this bastard who fought tooth and nail with the King of New York on the training field possibly back down in front of LBJ?
The spark that LeBron James had just ignited was extinguished with a "whoosh" by the bulletproof steel plate.

And so, the familiar script was repeated.

Once again, the ball, with a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment and determination, flew back into Deron's hands as if fleeing a disaster.

If Deron Williams were a point guard in the small-ball era, he would definitely be playing that role himself.

But this highly aggressive diminutive player is still a traditional point guard at heart.

For him, the desire to score and the desire to share the ball are equally strong.

So, almost without thinking, he reflexively threw the ball at LBJ for the third time.

Carmelo Anthony was furious watching the two players pass the ball around aimlessly.

What are you two doing?!

Hurry up and attack!

Seeing that he couldn't shift the blame, LeBron James had no choice but to bite the bullet and take the blame himself.

He used a slightly clumsy and awkward back turn to force his way into the paint and drove straight to the basket.

Ron Artest was always by his side, constantly challenging him and determined not to give him any space to start at full speed!

Meanwhile, DeAndre Jordan, whose defensive positioning was even better than in his rookie season, was already standing like a giant shield on the edge of the restricted area, watching intently, ready to strike.

LeBron James leaps with difficulty in a fierce struggle with Ron Artest, twisting his body in an attempt to complete a difficult floater.

However—"Bang!!"

With Ron Artest's interference from the side and DeAndre Jordan's overwhelming block from the front, the basketball bounced off the front of the rim.

Lionel Hollins's hopes dimmed as LeBron James neutralized the Pistons' offensive consistency for the second time tonight.

The Knicks failed to execute a fast break because the Pistons retreated very quickly on defense, forcing their offense into a half-court offense.

Lynch provided cover, setting up a screen for Goran Dragic.

Deron Williams quickly bypassed the defense, and the Slovenian bounced the ball through the gaps in the crowd to Lynch.

Lynch received the ball and without hesitation, accelerated straight to the basket. In a flash, he made a convincing layup fake against the onrushing Kwame Brown and the chasing LeBron James.

In that deceptive pause of a fraction of a second, Kwame Brown and LeBron James were simultaneously launched off the ground.

In the gap between the two players' descent and the inability of the blocker to reach the ball, Lin Qi calmly gathered the ball, twisted his waist, and executed a light and graceful hook shot within a small space.

The basketball traced a soft parabola, brushed the backboard, and fell into the net!

14 points in a single quarter!
Despite LeBron James's defense, Lynch's shots remained efficient and elegant.

LeBron James, however, was unable to respond to the Knicks' offensive adjustments.

The two attacks presented a stark contrast.

With the arrogance of a victor, Lynch beckoned to Cameron Anthony with his index finger and deliberately raised his voice:

"Come on, face me. Do you really think you can win this tough battle with just one role player?"

This scathing remark is not only a sharp provocation to Carmelo Anthony, but also a blatant insult to his so-called "arch-rival," LeBron James!
After the Knicks switched to a transitional lineup, the Pistons' offensive advantage became less pronounced.

Lynch's presence created scoring opportunities for role players like Goran Dragic and DeAndre Jordan.

In the remaining battle of the first quarter, the Pistons failed to capitalize on the opportunity to significantly narrow the gap. Instead, the experienced Knicks seized the opportunity to consolidate their advantage and ultimately entered the break with a 9-point lead.

At the end of the first quarter, Lynch and Ron Artest greeted each other with a powerful chest bump.

Goran Dragic then smiled and high-fived DeAndre Jordan as he completed the alley-oop, sharing in the joy of success.

Witnessing all this, veteran commentator Mike Brin, in his signature, penetrating tone, delivered a chilling truth to the world:
"Perhaps the defending champion New York Knicks' star power on paper isn't as extravagant and dazzling as that of the Detroit Pistons."

But the terrifying roster depth combined with Lynch's dominance
ladies and gentlemen--"

He paused briefly to emphasize the key conclusions that were about to be reached.

"The New York Knicks led by Lynch are the real super team."

(End of this chapter)