Champion Rules

Chapter 233, Page 229: You created all of this yourself (Seeking monthly votes!)
In the second quarter, Manu Ginobili's slump continued.

Most of the time, the Argentinians were Gregg Popovich's last trump card.

Once he enters the game, he could very well change the course of the match immediately.

But this season, this strategic trump card, which had torn the hearts of opponents to shreds countless times, has become ineffective.

RC. Buford certainly knew that Manu Ginobili had a certain unpredictable, erratic nature.

Even the most unpredictable player shouldn't have a poor start to the season, with eight consecutive games going poorly.

Previously, he may have just wanted to use that sentence to provoke the Argentinians.

This will break through the dusty seal and awaken the blood of the dormant demon sword.

But now, right now.

He was really assessing one thing in his mind: What can Manu still bring us now?
Of course, the Spurs weren't completely overwhelmed and forced into garbage time.

Because in the third quarter, Steve Nash's offensive consistency finally started to fluctuate.

Back-to-back games have created a small hole in Steve Nash's tank, affecting his jump shot.

This is the dawn the Spurs have been waiting for. They have always believed that an offense that relies too much on mid-range jump shots will not be stable.

During this period, they slowly chipped away at the deficit. By the third quarter, the Spurs had narrowed the gap to just 8 points.

Yao Ming was a key player in the Spurs' defensive comeback, pushing the limits of efficiency with almost every touch of the ball.

Although he has difficulty catching the ball, once he gets his hands on it, it's practically a score.

Neither Tyson Chandler nor DeAndre Jordan could find a way to deal with this unparalleled low-post weapon in the league.

DeAndre Jordan struggled particularly, committing two fouls in just two minutes.

Of course, for Yao Ming, whose free throw percentage has remained above 85% for five consecutive seasons, DeAndre Jordan's fouls were completely inefficient.

Although the Spurs are still some distance from completely tying the score, the difference is at least down to single digits.

In a basketball game, when the team that is trailing by a large margin narrows the gap to single digits, the fans of the team that was originally trailing often suddenly feel hopeful about the game.

It's as if someone has erased all the memories of their team being brutally beaten from their minds.

They were almost certain that the San Antonio Spurs would win the game.

Amid cheers, Philip Sanders called a timeout.

DeAndre Jordan hung his head in dejection, feeling a sense of defeat seep into his very bones like ice water.

He hated the feeling that "the team needed help, but he couldn't do anything about it."

This summer, a month before the start of preseason training camp, DeAndre Jordan contacted Patrick Ewing and paid out of his own pocket to have him train with him.

He is now very clear about his limits. He doesn't seek to make an impact from a low position, nor does he want to imitate someone's clumsy "dream dance" that makes people dig their toes in disbelief during a nationally televised broadcast.

The most important thing for a person is to find their own path.

Stephen Curry doesn't necessarily have to be a dunker, and Shaquille O'Neal doesn't necessarily have to develop a three-point shot.

Because rushing headlong down the wrong path is a pure waste of life.

DeAndre Jordan is very clear about his goals now; he just wants to be a hardworking, blue-collar center.

If I could ever dream of becoming an NBA starting player, it would be to one day, if possible.

In the previous few games, DeAndre Jordan performed quite well.

He even blocked Dwight Howard's shot in a game against the Magic.

But tonight.
A hook shot shattered my starting dream; Yao Ming, I am a scholar.

He sat back on the bench, and Patrick Ewing patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't be so sad, kid. If something like this happens again, just think of my good brother David Robinson."

DeAndre Jordan looked up at his mentor: "David?"

"Yes, as everyone knows, David was mercilessly crushed by Hakim in the playoffs."

DeAndre Jordan didn't interrupt Ewing; he was about to hear an inspirational story about how David Robinson got back up after being dominated.

The gorilla then told him:

"He was beaten so badly he can't lift his head, he'll never be able to lift his head again. So when it comes to being beaten to a pulp, who could be worse off than David?"

Thinking about his duels with Hakim, doesn't that make you feel better? At least you weren't the most humiliated one.

DeAndre Jordan:
Meanwhile, another link is forming between veterans and rookies.

Flip Sanders substituted Steve Nash for Goran Dragic early.

Goran Dragic was a little nervous because Flip Saunders' strategy was to have him run pick-and-rolls with the big men more often and take more shots.

This allowed them to continue punishing the Spurs' defense in the mid-range.

The heavy responsibility of scoring has made the Slovenian, who has only recently gained consistent playing time this season, somewhat uneasy.

He glanced instinctively at Steve Nash, who smiled and said, "There's nothing to worry about. We've been working on this for so long."

In this Knicks team, Lynch is a lighthouse, a beacon guiding everyone's direction.

His influence in the locker room was unparalleled.

But he couldn't be in two places at once; his energy always had a limit.

It's impossible for him to build deep connections with everyone on the team and personally participate in every detail of everyone's growth.

Therefore, Steve Nash actually had a greater influence on Goran Dragic's development.

At the start of last season, Goran Dragic, a newcomer to the NBA, had an emotional breakdown because he couldn't even perform well in intra-team scrimmages.

He called home in tears, having lost his confidence in playing basketball.

It was Nash who guided him step by step, trained with him, shared recipes, and controlled his diet together.

To Goran Dragic, Lynch was a high-ranking general, and he would naturally follow in his footsteps.

Steve Nash, on the other hand, is more like a close and supportive older brother.

Sometimes, Steve Nash's words are more effective for him.

The Slovenian nodded, ready to go on stage.

Lin Qi wiped away his sweat and prepared to go on the court to defend their advantage.

He believes that as long as he can stop the Spurs from closing in and maintain the double-digit lead into the fourth quarter, he can win.

This team, whose morale is already low and whose internal cracks are faintly visible, will inevitably collapse completely under the weight of despair.

As Lin Qi prepared to get up, a strong yet warm hand silently gripped the hem of his jersey.

Steve Nash looked up at the young ruler: "You can trust him as much as you trust me. I'll give you a good enough replacement before my career ends, but he needs his chance."

Lynch shrugged: "I believe everyone sitting here, even idiots like Desean Stevenson."

Stevenson: ? ? ?
"Stop being disrespectful to Lynch, unless you want to find your water glass so empty you could run a mouse in it when you sit back down!"

“I apologize, ‘smart’ DeShawn.”

The game restarted, and the stands at the ATT Center resembled a boiling silver-black ocean.

However, the Spurs players on the court had expressions of unyielding frost on their faces; they were not as optimistic as the fans.

They haven't forgotten that they're still down by 8 points.

They were also upset by Manu Ginobili's complaints.

The only saving grace is that the torment of that damned pick-and-roll might finally end with Nash's departure.

After all, with Nash off the court, the Knicks didn't have any perimeter players with particularly strong ball-handling and shooting abilities.

The Knicks took the initiative on offense.

Yao Ming nearly broke down when he saw Tyson Chandler set a screen for Goran Dragic.

They're actually going to use this strategy again?!

Do you really think any guard can replicate Steve Nash's performance?

Tony Parker thought the same thing. Seeing the Slovenian skillfully bypass the screen, Parker chose to go around the defense from behind.

Because he doesn't believe everyone has Steve Nash's terrifying ability to shoot while handling the ball and setting screens.

Seeing this, Goran Dragic immediately gathered the ball outside the three-point line and took a shot.

Shams' excellent awareness allowed him to instantly box out Lynch, completely depriving him of the opportunity to grab the offensive rebound.

But the next second, the basketball swished through the net, a three-pointer!
The crisp sound of tearing through the net was like a steel needle piercing twenty thousand beating hearts.

The silver and black ocean, which was relaxing just a second ago because of "Nash's departure", suddenly felt the absolute zero cold.

The difference has returned to double digits.

Goran Dragic pumped his fist and roared; he was so decisive that he didn't seem like a player who had only been in the main rotation for eight games.

Yao Ming no longer knows how to beat this team.

They already have an unparalleled core, and every player on the field possesses solid fighting ability, supporting the team like a perpetual motion machine.

On the verge of a breakdown, Yao Ming's hasty hook shot in the next offensive possession bounced off the rim.

Besides the impact on his mentality, his physical condition was also starting to deteriorate. Fortunately, Tim Duncan grabbed an offensive rebound and tried to turn the tide with a second-chance opportunity.

He was about to lay up when he was blocked by Lynch for the fourth time tonight – Lynch’s sixth block of the game.

On the sidelines, Gregg Popovich's pupils dilated in shock.

Even now, I still can't believe that Lynch really single-handedly dragged down the Twin Towers' offensive efficiency.

When it comes to dominance, people think of Lynch's unstoppable scoring performances and his 60+ point game against LBJ.

But tonight, Greg Popovich believes, this is the ultimate interpretation of Lynch's dominance.

People often say that superstars are impossible to defend effectively.

Unless he runs into the Kardashian family or starts dating a young model.

For example, Hakeem Olajuwon, throughout his entire career, the only person who could truly and completely stop the Dream was his young wife.

As a player, at most you can slightly reduce the efficiency of superstars or decrease their output.

This is the limit.

You can't completely and truly stop a superstar.

But this ironclad rule failed when it came to Lynch.

Are there few superstars who have been reduced to role players by his defense?
Tonight, Yao Ming and Tim Duncan were forced to significantly reduce their playing time due to the defense.

Such dominance is rare in history.

In fact, this is related to the fact that Lynch didn't need to put in too much effort on the offensive end tonight.

Tonight, the team's main offensive weapon has been Steve Nash, and now Goran Dragic is adding fuel to the fire.

The energy he saved on offense became the most solid foundation for building his wall of despair on defense.

Before regret could even take hold, another storm swept through New York.

Facing that 1-5 pick-and-roll that was aimed right at his heart again, Yao Ming decided to rush forward to help defend.

He wants to put pressure on Goran Dragic.

This will indeed leave the Spurs' paint area empty, but with his overwhelming and terrifying pressure, most rookies will make mistakes under suffocating pressure!

Even LeBron James had a game with 0 assists when facing pressure from Yao Ming and Ron Artest.

But tonight, this tactic didn't work.

When Yao Ming rushed out to defend, Goran Dragic remained calm like a veteran, making a crossover pass during the move, which smoothly passed to the cutting Lynch.

The commentators remarked, "It's as if Steve never left."

Tim Duncan stayed close to Lynch, but couldn't stop Lynch from accelerating.

Lynch rushed to the basket, raised the basketball, and suddenly stopped.

Tim Duncan didn't jump; he knew Lynch was likely to feint.

Sure enough, Lin Qi retrieved the basketball, turned around, and prepared to shoot.

TD then jumped up to block.

It turned out to be a feint!

After Tim Duncan jumped, Lynch cleanly brushed past him and scored with a layup.

The basketball bounced over Yao Ming, who was coming back to help defend, and gently fell into the net.

This ball made the temperature at the ATT Center even colder.

Because this is practically a one-to-one replica of Hakeem Olajuwon's crossover dribble against David Robinson!

Two generations of towering pillars of San Antonio were trampled into the dust by the same fluid and nightmarish dance moves!

Lynch and Goran Dragic high-fived, and the 13-point lead extinguished the last breath of excitement in the AT&T Center.

In the following rounds, Yao Ming dared not rush forward again. Like an ancient reef rooted in the deep sea, he resolutely chose to retreat to defense and continue to gamble on Goran Dragic's shooting touch.

But he lost his bet.

The Slovenian was on an incredible shooting night, hitting shot after shot and relentlessly blasting through the net, shattering Yao Ming and the Spurs' gamble!
Even if the pick-and-roll tactic fails to execute in some rounds, Lynch can still step up and solve the problem.

At the end of the third quarter, the Spurs trailed by 18 points.

Goran Dragic scored 11 points and had 2 assists in a single quarter, making it a night that fans will remember his name.

In the fourth quarter, the Spurs, with their morale low, were in a state of near-give-up.

Furthermore, with the "Desperate Blade" still sheathed this season, the Spurs have no chance.

Ultimately, this team, which was considered a strong threat to the Knicks' dominance, along with the remains of challengers like the Heat and Magic, was crushed beneath the cold throne by New York's steel torrent!
Lynch's stats today were still outstanding, with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 6 blocks.

As always, all the cameras were pointed at him.

Few noticed that Goran Dragic, who scored 18 points and had 4 assists, was excitedly embracing Nash.

But Lynch noticed them, and he also noticed Patrick Ewing, who had his arm around DeAndre Jordan's shoulder.

Lin Qi looked at them, deep in thought.

But at that moment, Yao Ming walked up, blocking Lin Qi's view and interrupting his thoughts.

"A beautiful victory. I knew it wouldn't be so easy for me to retire." Yao Ming said with a wry smile as he shook hands with Lin Qi.

Lin Qi did not restrain his pride just because the other party was his compatriot: "I'm sorry to make it difficult for you to catch the ball tonight, but by keeping you at a disadvantage, I was able to maintain an advantageous position."

"Don't blame yourself. The most disgusting person today wasn't you, it was your two guards. Their mid-range jumpers after pick-and-rolls were absolutely awful!"

Lynch laughed. “I often feel very lucky,” he said, glancing toward the player tunnel, toward Dragic, who was being mentored by Nash, and Jordan, who was being nurtured by Ewing.

"I'm very fortunate that most of my colleagues are so outstanding."

The next day, the entire Knicks team finally returned to their sweet home.

Because the players were exhausted from the consecutive away games, Flip Saunders did not schedule training today.

After the plane landed, everyone dispersed and went home.

But Lynch still went to the training ground in the afternoon, still dedicated to improving his triple threat jump shot and step-back jump shot.

He called Nick Morris, the director of the Greenburg training center, in advance, hoping he could open the door.

Nick Morris was surprised on the other end of the phone.

"Damn it, don't you guys know what exhaustion is?"

Lin Qi was also surprised: "Us?"

"You didn't know? Golan and De'Andrei had already arrived for training before you called!"

Half an hour later, Lynch arrived at the Greenburg training center.

Sure enough, quite a few people had already arrived.

Steve Nash is coaching Goran Dragic on a pick-and-roll offense.

Patrick Ewing's defensive details when dunking on DeAndre Jordan.

Lynch glanced at Nick Morris beside him and shrugged: "I've always said I'm lucky."

"Why do you say that suddenly?"

"Without Steve, without Patrick, Goran and DeAndrei wouldn't have progressed so quickly. I'm so glad I met them."

Nick Morris suddenly burst into laughter: "What nonsense are you talking about? You created all of this yourself!"

"Ok?"

"When you help Stephon Marbury get back on his feet."

When you help Trevor Ariza regain his confidence and land a big contract.

When you help Eddie Jones find his home.

When you are patient with Ben Gordon.

When you help Steve Nash realize his dream.

When you let Demar DeRozan unleash his full potential.
Ultimately, it's you who instilled this locker room culture into the team.

The New York Knicks weren't like this before you came.

And all of this eventually coalesced into that phrase in our locker room:
Glory belongs to those who burn for one another.

After saying that, Nick Morris jokingly teased LeBron James:

"LeBron is wronged because it was clearly you who created the first super team of this era through your influence."

After hearing this, Lin Qi looked up at the championship banner in the training hall.

“I don’t quite agree with your last statement,” he said with a smile. “By the standards of a super team, we still have far too few championship banners.”
-
I don't flop, I don't even know how to fake a flop. — LeBron James after the game, discussing the controversy surrounding his flopping against the Lakers.

LeBron James becomes the first Detroit Pistons player in the 21st century to be fined for flopping. —Detroit Free Press

This sounds like something out of Genesis: God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God said, "Whatever you want," and it came to be. John said, "Let there be dynasties," and indeed, a dynasty is about to begin. — Stephen A. Smith's comment on John Hollinger's prophetic article, "Aiming for Dynasties and Disdaining the Pistons," after the Knicks' eight-game winning streak at the start of the season.

(End of this chapter)