Champion Rules

Chapter 229, Section 225: This is definitely not luck (Seeking monthly votes!)
Kevin Durant had complete freedom against Luol Deng in the last game.

He even executed several dribbling breakthroughs with such fluidity that it was like tearing a sheet of paper.

Lorre Deng was no nobody.

He has been on the verge of being selected for the All-Star Game and the All-Defensive Team for many years and is a recognized defensive stalwart.

Kevin Durant, however, easily defeated the Britons as if he were harvesting victory on a pickup basketball court.

The unveiling was like a bathwater injected into Kevin Durant's veins, igniting his desires to an unprecedented boiling point.

He truly believed that he no longer needed to wait! No longer needed to lie low!
By the time I was in third grade, I was strong and dazzling enough to crush all doubts.

And he has firmly established himself on the altar of the league's top superstars.

But at this moment, the huge gap between his desires and his abilities caused him pain.

He longed to defeat Lynch, but he simply couldn't.

On both offense and defense, he was completely outmaneuvered by Lin Qi.

Moreover, the king on this throne was clearly far from satisfied.

In the next offensive possession, Kevin Durant began to use his most familiar off-ball style of play.

He used continuous running to seek opportunities in the mid-range, and Stephen Curry delivered the ball in a timely manner.

But the moment KD displayed his historic mid-range shooting touch, Lynch pounced on him, joining Wilson Chandler in interfering with KD's shot.

A flicker of panic crossed Kevin Durant's eyes as he had to make a last-minute pass to Serge Ibaka in mid-air.

However, because the pass was too sudden, and Serge Ibaka was not prepared, the basketball flew directly into the hands of James Harden, who was sitting on the bench with his legs crossed.

James Harden looked at the basketball in his hands and sighed.

Sure enough, the things he had seen on TV were happening to Kevin Durant.

Ah Du, Ah Du, why did you provoke him?!
Why don't we relax and go to the gym after the game?

Why make a fool of yourself?
Lynch didn't directly match up against KD, but clearly, he wouldn't let KD score easily either.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Qi also found an opportunity for a mid-range jump shot through off-ball movement, and immediately shot after receiving the ball.

Serge Ibaka's interference was only a fraction of a second too slow, but it was enough for Lynch to take a comfortable shot.

"brush."

Once again, Lynch responded in Durant's style.

This is a blatant provocation; the King of New York is demonstrating his dominance in a way never before seen.

It's not uncommon for NBA superstars to teach young star players.

But no one has ever done what Lynch did: replicate the opponent's attacking style and score a goal.

It's as if he's declaring to the world: What Kevin Durant can do, I can do. What Kevin Durant can't do, I can still do.

Fortunately, Stephen Curry stepped up and scored a long-range two-pointer after a pick-and-roll to stop the bleeding for the Thunder.

Stephen Curry has developed a better shooting ability than most stars; he only needs a tiny bit of space to throw the ball out.

However, Stephen Curry is still only a rookie and cannot yet carry the Thunder's entire offensive burden on his own.

Under Raja Bale's pressure, he sometimes couldn't find even the slightest space to throw the ball out.

Even more deadly was that Lynch's barrage of fire, fueled by a fierce desire for revenge, never ceased for a moment.

In each round, he would demonstrate the correct way Kevin Durant missed a shot in the previous round.

When Kevin Durant told Lynch in an almost threatening tone before the game, "We don't want to wait any longer."

The trigger had already been pulled, and everything was beyond repair.

Five minutes into the first quarter, Scott Brooks substituted James Harden in to keep the Thunder's offense going.

However, the results were mixed.

James Harden's presence certainly gave the Thunder another threat, as he outscored Steve Nash twice.

But there's always another side to every coin.

When it comes to eye-based defense, people always think of LeBron James of the Lakers first.

But before James even started using his eyes to defend, the young James was already doing so.

Harden showcased his offensive talent as well as his defensive prowess.

The result was that while the Thunder's firepower improved, the Knicks' backcourt firepower was also unleashed.

Both sides traded blows, but Thunder failed to achieve a true breakthrough.

The Thunder are now down by 12 points.

Whether it was the opening game or tonight, Lynch's desire to score was incredibly high.

In the last game, he was eager to defeat the super Pistons.

Tonight, Lynch unleashed his full offensive potential for Kevin Durant once again.

Fortunately, KD, whose head had been ruthlessly pushed underwater by Lynch, got a chance to catch his breath.

Ten minutes into the first quarter, both teams brought in their transition lineups.

The Thunder substituted Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

The Knicks also substituted Lynch, who had already scored 14 points in the quarter.

Scott Brooks understood that this was the key to closing the gap.

This season, the Knicks' transitional roster lacks a consistent scoring option like Ben Gordon.

This means that when the Knicks' tactics fail to come together, their offense becomes extremely difficult.

With James Harden on the Thunder, Scott Brooks believes he can help the team close the gap during transition periods.

As Lynch walked off the field, he caught a glimpse of DeMar DeRozan taking off his training clothes.

This rookie, whom the outside world was thankful for, saying "thankfully the Knicks drafted him," silently stepped onto the brightly lit court.

The face, still bearing acne scars, held little expression, only focus and determination.

As Lynch brushed past him, he silently reached out and gave him a high five, offering no words of encouragement or lengthy advice.

Lin Qi understood that for this extremely introverted young man who was used to keeping his thoughts buried deep inside, incessant admonitions would only make him more disoriented and anxious under pressure.

Trust, rather than words, is the strength he needs most right now.

DeMar DeRozan took a deep breath and silently accelerated his run onto the court.

"Shouldn't we say something to him? This is his first official match in a new tactical role."

Lin Qi stared at the young man and answered casually:
"Don't bother him, let him do it himself."

DeMar DeRozan picked up the basketball from the ground and felt its inflation level and texture.

At that moment, James Harden walked past him as if nothing had happened.

Just as the two passed each other, Harden's head was still looking forward, but his arm suddenly reached back out without warning.

Snapped!
The basketball hit the ground instantly!

Harden then slowly turned his head, his face beaming with exaggerated smugness, as if to say, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so amazing," and winked at DeRozan.
"We've been playing against each other since we were kids. I could slice your ball with my eyes closed. Be careful, hold the ball tighter later."

DeMar DeRozan was not annoyed at all; instead, he showed a rare smile.

He didn't take it as a provocation; he knew it was just a joke between childhood friends.

"You won't be able to get a shot at me tonight."

"That hurts our feelings. You know I'm always super focused on defense!"

"Oh, so when Steve went for the layup just now, why were you standing blankly at the three-point line defending thin air?"

"Huh? You think that's defending against thin air?"
I anticipated Steve's prediction and cut off his passing lane!
He scored 2 points, but he didn't get an assist!

Assists are the soul of a point guard, so in that last matchup, I actually had the advantage.

Well, it seems that not only do people named James love to play defense with their eyes, but they also love to say things that are hard to understand.

The game continued, with James Harden taking the first shot.

He had expected to be matched up against his childhood friend DeRozan, but instead, he was facing Agent 96, who looked like a New York fugitive.

For some reason, in just the first millisecond of their eyes meeting, James Harden felt a slight throbbing in his head. Veterans aren't necessarily gentle, but they're certainly considerate.

Ron Artest practically stuck his body to James Harden.

This extreme physical contact made Harden, who relies on upper body strength to play, very uncomfortable.

He couldn't find any advantage in the confrontation, and couldn't even squeeze out a decent space to make a move.

Ultimately, he managed to shake off the beast thanks to a screen from center Nick Collison.

However, the intense competition had worn down his touch, causing him to miss his mid-range jump shot.

"boom!"

The basketball slammed heavily against the front of the rim as if it were filled with lead.

DeMar DeRozan immediately ran forward, and James Harden, whose attack had failed, quickly followed.

When defending DeMar DeRozan, James Harden's bewildered eyes cleared up.

Having just lost face, as a good brother, it's only natural that DeRozan should share the burden!

James Harden knows DeRozan's playing style very well; he will definitely take the ball and try to isolate in the mid-range.

Since entering the NBA, DeMar DeRozan has maintained his consistent style, whether in the Summer League, preseason games, or his NBA debut against the Detroit Pistons.

But tonight, the DeMar DeRozan in front of Harden felt like a stranger.

Because he had no intention of asking for the ball to go one-on-one, he stared at Goran Dragic who was dribbling the ball, seemingly waiting for the other to pass him the ball, but in reality he suddenly cut in!
DeMar DeRozan's drives are still a bit raw, but fortunately the Knicks have two good point guards.

Whether it's Steve Nash or Goran Dragic, who has matured over the past year, they can both lead their teammates inside with perfectly timed and exquisite passes.

James Harden was caught off guard by DeRozan's sudden "off-ball defection".

The moment DeRozan pushed off the ground to start his run, he lost a crucial half-body position due to a misjudgment.

DeRozan received the ball, took two long strides, and leaped into the air!

His mid-range shooting skills are not very useful in the NBA, but his outstanding athleticism is top-notch even in the vast NBA landscape.

Thunder veteran center Nick Collison stood helplessly under the basket, like a target pinned to the floor, futilely raising his arms high.

Before he could even gather the strength to jump, he was firmly pressed down by the soaring black shadow with overwhelming force.

"boom!"

The rim slammed open as DeMar DeRozan unleashed a thunderous dunk over his opponent, kicking off tonight's head-to-head clash with two other 09 draft picks!
DeMar DeRozan's absolute height isn't particularly impressive, but his explosive speed is unbelievably fast.

In fact, this is also why he was able to dominate the court with his mid-range shot during his college years.

Many of his pull-up jump shots during his college years involved him releasing the ball at the highest point of his jump, while the poor defenders were often still struggling, barely an inch off the ground.

Entering the NBA, a defensive inferno, with increased defensive intensity, his impressive jumping speed alone is far from enough to support his consistent output in the mid-range area.

But it was enough for him to dunk on those giants who weren't athletic enough with a beautiful display.

DeMar DeRozan wanted to see Lynch's reaction on the bench, but then he remembered what Lynch had told him.

He doesn't play basketball to make anyone proud.

He did it to surpass himself.

To win.

This instantly dispelled the fog surrounding his search for validation.

So, this usually taciturn young man suddenly clenched his fists and, with all his might, pounded his chest like an awakened lion!
Then, he raised his head and transformed the unwillingness and determination in his chest into a thunderous roar!

The point difference reached 13 points, and instead of narrowing it during the transition period, the Thunder's lead widened further.

James Harden took the ball again and drove to the basket after a screen. He had discovered that the best way to deal with Ron Artest was to run pick-and-rolls.

After getting past Artest again, James Harden was already thinking about attacking the basket.

He thought that the No. 96 steel plate was no longer a problem.

Clearly, he underestimated Ron Artest's defense.

That violent defender not only possessed a terrifying physique and boundless fighting spirit, but also an incredibly fast pair of hands.

Just when James Harden thought everything was fine, Ron Artest suddenly attacked from behind, his powerful fingertips forcefully shoving the basketball out of Harden's control.

The young, talented defender once again failed to score.

"Damn it!" Scott Brooks uttered a low curse through gritted teeth.

This season, the Knicks have indeed lacked a consistent scoring option during transition periods.

However, they possess a sufficiently tough defense during transition periods.

This was precisely Flip Saunders's brilliant gamble. He insisted on keeping Ron Artest, this "iron meat grinder," on the bench, just to build an impenetrable wall during the vacuum period when the main players were resting.

A transitional lineup can lack offense or defense, but it cannot lack both at the same time.

The Knicks launched a counterattack, but Goran Dragic remained calm and steadily controlled the ball past half-court.

James Harden has been paying close attention to his good friend's movements; he knows something has changed about the guy.

But the No. 96 steel plate, like a nightmare, was once again welded to Harden's body.

He set up an off-ball screen for DeMar DeRozan, who immediately cut around the screen, while Harden slammed into Artest's solid chest.

Goran Dragic immediately delivered the pass, but this time, it wasn't the aging Nick Collison who came back to help defend the basket.

Instead, it's Serge Ibaka, a powerful and athletic beast in the paint!
DeMar DeRozan, however, showed no fear and once again jumped to attack the basket, facing Serge Ibaka.

Ibaka's exaggerated wingspan completely covered the airspace above the basket like a dark cloud, making it look like a brutal block.

but!
DeMar DeRozan twisted his waist in mid-air, executing a 360° spin to effortlessly get past the ferocious Thunder forward and complete the layup!

DeMar DeRozan's overall talent may not be top-tier, but he's not entirely without merit either.

Aside from his speed, few players of his size can match his flexibility and core strength.

This allows him to perform a large number of difficult moves in confined spaces that only smaller point guards can do.

His favorite is the 360° mid-air layup.

Because of these qualities, DeMar DeRozan may not yet be able to demonstrate his value in the mid-range and is not yet able to serve as Lynch's second-in-command.

But it can definitely become an excellent driving weapon.

The coaching staff's timely adjustments prevented him from taking further detours and successfully stopped him from wasting his talent and time in futile struggles.

And he finally unleashed his potential.

DeRozan's consecutive scores brought the Thunder down to 15 points.

This is only the point difference after the first quarter.

At this very moment, countless Thunder fans simultaneously echoed in the hearts of Lynch's chillingly prophetic voice from the day before the game:
"You'd better not think that picking Demar is a stroke of luck for you."

Yes.

Now they truly understand—this was by no means luck!

That guy is equally talented, and if used properly, he can make the Knicks even more terrifying.

Ultimately, the 15-point difference remained until the end of the first quarter.

The Thunder's attempt to narrow the gap to single digits was completely thwarted.

As DeMar DeRozan walked off the field, Lynch gently placed his hand on the top of his head, like a king stamping his seal of approval on his mighty general.

Just as DeRozan was about to sit down, Lynch called out.

"Hey kid, you're much better than last time."

At the start of the second quarter, when Kevin Durant had to face the number 20 player again, who was determined to tear him apart, with a 15-point deficit.

In the young KD's chest, the once raging flame of pride had long since been extinguished, leaving only ashes and coldness.

An almost tangible feeling of suffocation surged in from all directions, like invisible mercury seeping into every inch of skin and bone.

He knew this was not the end.

Until his throat was completely choked, until the last moment before his consciousness plunged into darkness—

This "purgatory" that Lynch himself laid out for him will never end!
(End of this chapter)