Champion Rules

Chapter 256, Part 252: Ultimate Failure (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

LeBron James stared at Lynch with the gaze of a brown bear that had survived a long winter locking onto fresh flesh and blood.

His eyes churned with primal violence and man-eating ferocity.

For LeBron James, Lynch's humiliating behavior went far beyond the outcome of the game.

That cold "zero good games" gesture pierced his pre-game declaration of "putting on four good games in a row," crushing his ambition into dust.

Over the past year, the media has been relentlessly questioning him about "forming cliques to avoid battle and taking shortcuts," and he has been desperately trying to shake off this stigma.

But Lynch's epic stats of 20+20+20 made his struggles seem so ridiculous.

At this moment, every inch of LBJ's blood was roaring: Why can this man always laugh and trample on my dignity?

When Lynch orchestrated his teammates' three-point barrage with a mocking shrug, when he raised an eyebrow in a sarcastic tone after making that gesture—all these images melted into scalding venom, corroding his pride.

In LeBron James's eyes, basketball is never about fighting and killing.

This is a business, a show; there's absolutely no need for everyone to fight like cavemen.

Therefore, he could not understand for a long time the deep-seated hatred that Michael Jordan had for "The Smiling Assassin" Isiah Thomas.

Until tonight, he finally understood.

A fierce urge to crush the other person, or even to make them disappear or ruin their career, surged within him.

This unprecedented, burning, and piercing hatred burst forth from LeBron James's pupils.

But at that moment, no one noticed the burning hatred emanating from LeBron James's eyes.

The eyes of the entire world were fixed on the superstar who racked up 20+20+20 points.

Media outlets around the world also began to eagerly elevate Lynch to god-like status.

In the ABC studio, Doug Collins exclaimed excitedly, "I never imagined anyone could put up such incredible numbers in the modern basketball world that Wilt Chamberlain did! See? This is the right way to use Wilt! Not criticizing him for forming superteams, but shining with equally immortal stats!"

TNT's Charles Barkley gaped, his mouth practically agape, as if he could easily stuff a whole hamburger inside: "My God, he's set a whole new standard for superstars! He's shattered the basic stats and crushed the advanced ones! From any angle, Lynch is an all-powerful player!"

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith went so far as to elevate Lynch to the level of Michael Jordan for the first time: "In terms of pure game impact, he has surpassed Michael Jordan. I'm not saying Lynch is already the GOAT, after all, he hasn't built a three-peat dynasty, and his number of rings is only half that of MJ. I'm just saying that in terms of pure skill, he is already a player who can rival MJ."

Of course, there are also New York locals like Mike Brin who are struggling financially: "LeBron has undoubtedly hit rock bottom, but he has to keep going. Because if he mentally collapses early as usual, Lynch will probably have to make him dig a hole down to the bottom and go even lower!"

The media's praise for Lynch is not excessive; his performance tonight deserves all the accolades.

Superstars have an inherent aura, but this aura can be broken and is extremely fragile.

Simply put, superstars, who are surrounded by an aura of fame, carry the highest expectations that are difficult for ordinary people to reach.

Once these expectations are disappointed, the halo will shatter, the "god-like" status will collapse, and the status will crumble amidst the worship of fans, the pursuit of the media, and the favor of sponsors.

Kobe Bryant was clearly becoming the league's top player, but his outburst in a small hotel shattered expectations, and his league standing only began to recover with difficulty in the last two seasons.

LeBron James is a similar case. He entered the league with the aura of a chosen one, arguably the most watched high school player in American basketball history. But aside from individual statistics, he has almost never met people's expectations in terms of performance. His season results have consistently been either terrible or awful.

But Lynch never encountered anything that could affect his status.

Because he always lives up to everyone's expectations.

Moreover, he has consistently exceeded people's expectations.

When he made a strong debut in Europe, people expected this 18-year-old top draft pick to revitalize New York.

He actually did it, not only demonstrating exceptional individual ability, but also leading the team back to the playoffs in his first year with the team.

Just when people were expecting him to go further in the NBA, he single-handedly buried Carmelo Anthony's Pistons dynasty and brought long-awaited championship glory to New York.

When people expected him to crush the Pistons' Big Three in the playoffs, he not only won the game, but also put up an incredible 20+20+20 stat line.

Every time a note of anticipation falls, he always responds with an even more magnificent melody.

This has forged its ever-growing, unshakeable, and dazzling aura.

Therefore, the media never spares no effort in praising him.

Lynch, who was in the center of the spotlight, was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines. Before the questions even started, several Knicks players had already picked up water glasses and poured them over Lynch.

Lynch laughed as he accepted his teammates' "punishment" and called over Ron Artest, putting his arm around his shoulder.

He wasn't praising Ron Artest's five three-pointers tonight, but rather asking him:

"Did you see clearly who splashed water on me just now?"

"See clearly."

"Very good, replace all their trousers with lace trim. If you don't have any, have someone go and buy some."

Before Lynch could finish speaking, Ron Artest blurted out, "How did you know I happen to have a bunch of lace panties in my closet?"

Lynch: ???
Lynch resisted the urge to press for answers, and simply patted Ron Artest on the shoulder again, telling him to get on with his business.

It's normal for people to have a few weird little quirks.

Moreover, Lynch had said long ago that New York City was a place with a certain charm, where locals all lived a life of quiet dedication and talent.

He's used to it.

After the playful banter, the interview finally began.

The two sides mainly discussed Lynch's performance tonight, focusing on his epic 20+20+20 stat line.

Lynch also spoke the truth:
"Before this game, I never thought I could put up these numbers. It's not that I lacked confidence, but rather that I wasn't even thinking about personal stats."

I just want to win; I never play for personal statistics. The only thing I believe in is that when you focus on winning, the statistics will come to you.

Lynch's words sounded like he was mocking someone, but of course, he didn't mean it that way at all.

Some people, however, have deliberately made themselves into people who believe that "telling the truth is being ruthless."

Then, inevitably, both sides brought up LeBron James, with a sideline reporter asking Lynch to comment on LBJ's performance that night.

Lynch discussed the Pistons' tactical changes: "LeBron played the role of the ball-handler tonight, something the Pistons had never tried before. I don't know what happened that made them decide to make an emergency change in strategy before the Eastern Conference Finals. But it turned out that it didn't work."

After speaking, Lin Qi raised both hands, his right palm facing outward and the back of his left hand facing outward, while simultaneously making two L-shaped hand gestures with his index finger and thumb at a 90-degree angle:

"The price of having LeBron as the absolute core is that the entire Pistons team plays like LeBron."

"You play like LeBron" has long been a classic insult among basketball enthusiasts, used without swearing, as part of popular culture.

Lynch's words were a mockery of the Detroit Pistons' decision and an insult to LeBron James.

He made LeBron James lose face under the spotlight.

Back in the locker room, LBJ watched all this, clenching his fists.

He had battled Lynch for six seasons, and he had never been so enraged.

A voice boomed in his mind, like a volcano about to erupt: "You have to shut him up, LeBron, no matter what!"

This thought, imbued with an unprecedented, burning murderous intent, was planted in his heart.

But now, besides defeating Lynch, LBJ faces even more trouble.

The day after the game, Deron Williams challenged that number 6 for the first time at a tactical meeting.

"I don't think continuing to let LeBron handle the ball a lot will help the team."

The words were so direct and unexpected that even Pistons head coach Lionel Hollins was momentarily taken aback.

The three have always gotten along very well.

They weren't exactly inseparable, but at least they never had any conflicts over things like the ball, the shot, or women.

This is the most unexpected thing about the Detroit Pistons this season.

Three young All-Star superstars at the peak of their lives have actually put aside their competitive spirit and coexisted perfectly.

But this coexistence requires sacrifice to sustain it.

Deron Williams was the one who sacrificed the most; his stats declined the most significantly among the three.

But he was willing to sacrifice himself, all because of Deron Williams' respect for Carmelo Anthony.

Even though Lynch is currently at the height of his fame, in the eyes of many American players, Melo is still a living legend.

In his freshman year, he led Syracuse University, which was not favored, to upset the powerhouses, lift the NCAA championship trophy and be crowned MOP; in his first year in the league, he became a playoff starter and helped his team reach the top of the league; in his second year, he completed a back-to-back championship and personally lifted the FMVP trophy.

He then quickly became AJ's top endorser, signed a maximum salary contract, and firmly established himself as a city hero in Detroit.

For many Black players, Carmelo Anthony is more like an embodiment of the "American Dream" that is within reach.

Compared to Lynch, who burst onto the scene and fought his way through European leagues, Carmelo Anthony's background and experiences undoubtedly resonate more with Black players, making them feel more connected and empathetic.

Many of them firmly believe that this guy with a perfect start can wrest the naming rights of this era back from Lynch's head.

That's why, when Carmelo Anthony suggested that Deron Williams relinquish some ball possession, he agreed without hesitation. However, in the last game, LeBron's out-of-control performance—suddenly stopping passing the ball in the final quarter and then making erratic passes at crucial moments—made it impossible for Deron Williams to simply tolerate this based on respect for Carmelo Anthony.

Thus, for the first time this season, discord arose among the Big Three.

LeBron James' gaze swept over Deron Williams, then quickly glanced at Carmelo Anthony, remaining silent.

He's not Michael Jordan; he won't stand up with the same ferocity as that Bulls legend, point his finger at everyone, and growl:
"Shut up, and give me that damn ball."

He maintained a calm and analytical demeanor; no one could read his mind, and no one knew whether he was happy or unhappy.

Therefore, no one knows whether his next game will be affected by this.

LeBron James has always had an aura that makes it difficult for people to establish a solid foundation of trust in him.

At this moment, Deron Williams would rather have a big argument with him than face this unsettling unknown.

As the undisputed leader of this team, Carmelo Anthony knows he must speak out:

"Listen, we actually played quite well last game. For most of the time, we were able to keep the New York Knicks at bay and struggle in the mud. Although we lost, there's no need for us to get so worked up."

The problem was in the fourth quarter, LeBron. It's not that you can't score, but you can't let us stand in the corner without the ball for too long, and then suddenly pass it to us when we've completely lost our touch.

Ultimately, your control over the offensive rhythm can definitely be improved.

Carmelo Anthony doesn't want to completely take back LBJ's ball-handling duties. After all, the last game proved that LeBron James' defensive effort is truly remarkable when he has the ball for extended periods.

You have to give him the feeling that "I'm the main character," even if it's not true.

Derek Williams was pleased that Carmelo Anthony did not use his personal relationship with LeBron James to shield him, which earned him even greater respect from Williams.

But he also became less respectful of LeBron.

Even after his good friend had stood up for him despite the immense pressure, he still remained silent and did not say definitively, "I will never let you down again."

This made Carmelo Anthony a little embarrassed.

In the end, LeBron James simply nodded.

"We will skin Lynch alive."

"No, damn it, no!" Deron Williams roared. "We're going to skin the New York Knicks alive, not Lynch! Don't you understand? You always mess up the game because of your personal grudges!"

Deron Williams pointed directly at LBJ: "In the fourth quarter yesterday, all you were thinking about was outscoring Lynch, letting your personal stats overshadow the team's victory, and you messed it up! By the time you finally remembered to rely on us, we had already been left out in the cold, and you had exhausted all our strength!"

"Enough!" Head coach Lionel Hollins slammed his hand on the table, preventing the conflict from escalating.

He looked at LeBron James and basically agreed with Melo's statement.

In the first three quarters of last night's game, LBJ did a good job, almost achieving a triple-double in just three quarters, and his impact on the game was just like Lynch's.

The turning point came in the fourth section.

It was as if LBJ had suddenly been possessed by his son, losing all his basketball IQ and making a mess of the team's offense.

Lionel Hollins did indeed give him more one-on-one opportunities in the fourth quarter.

But this absolutely does not include forcing him to step back when he's completely shut down, resulting in him misstepping with either leg!

Lynch shocked the world yesterday, and James shocked Lynch yesterday. That move he made yesterday—stepping back three or four steps from mid-range all the way to the three-point line—is something Lynch could never have imagined in his entire life!

Forcing a one-on-one attack is one thing, but when they realize they can't break through halfway through, they can switch back to passing mode!
After waiting for so long, forget about your shooting touch; even your previously smooth and silky shooting form has long since dried up.

However, Lionel Hollins also admitted that as long as LBJ can correct these problems in the fourth quarter, his overall performance is still commendable.

So he made the decision: "LeBron, keep handling the ball, but play smarter, don't let the stats hurt you. Play like Lynch, we all know you can do it."

With the support of Carmelo Anthony and the head coach, Deron Williams couldn't say anything more.

After the meeting, Melo deliberately sought out Deron for a frank conversation.

"Your suggestions and concerns are understandable. LeBron did mess up in the last game, and I'm not against you."

But believe me, buddy, we're on the right track.

We were like a combination punch to each other; I've never seen a boxer who could consistently knock someone down with just one hand.

So, give him a little trust and a little more patience, okay?

Deron Williams nodded and didn't say anything more.

Carmelo Anthony once again used his personal influence to resolve the crisis of the locker room falling apart.

That evening, Lynch's restaurant welcomed a special guest.

Cameron Anthony visited and had dinner with Kevin Lucas Jr., who was about to have his birthday.

Since the playoff conflict involving Kevin Lucas and Wu Lan a few years ago, Carmelo Anthony has met with them at least once a year.

Initially, it was purely out of apology.

To this day, Carmelo Anthony still considers the verbal abuse his former teammate Rasheed Wallace inflicted on fans and Lynch's mother to be an extremely egregious act.

But over time, this relationship has quietly evolved. Carmelo Anthony found that being with them made him feel exceptionally relaxed, providing him with moments to temporarily set aside the distractions of the game and find inner peace.

Wu Lan always shows motherly care, carefully preparing a sumptuous meal; Kevin Lucas Jr.'s resilience in the face of life's challenges also deeply inspires Melo to never stop.

This is a very delicate relationship.

He and Lynch were mortal enemies on the field.

Off the court, however, he got along well with Lynch's die-hard fans and Lynch's mother.

Carmelo Anthony intentionally distanced himself from them, trying not to think of them as "Lincia's family and fans" when he was with them.

Unfortunately, Lin Qi happened to be in the store that night.

His mother insisted on calling him home for dinner tonight, telling him never to date a divorced woman like Scarlett Johansson.

It took Lynch twenty minutes to convince her that Scarlett Johansson was really just in New York to watch the game.

"Mom, what did I do that makes you assume I'm having an affair with every female celebrity you see sitting on the sidelines?"

Wu Lan pulled out her small notebook, which she had specially kept for fear of mixing up the names of her son's girlfriends.

A thick list, several pages long, was laid out before Lin Qi: "Tell me what you did!?"

At that moment, Carmelo Anthony walked into the store.

Lynch knew he would come today, so he wasn't surprised. A smile immediately appeared on his face: "If I were you, I would be torturing LeBron James right now, instead of leisurely coming out to eat."

Carmelo Anthony didn't want to spoil the mood: "LeBron did a good job, and he'll do even better in the next few games."

To Lynch's surprise, Carmelo Anthony still trusted him so much.

Sometimes, you have to admit that LBJ is a lucky bastard.

But this only piqued Lin Qi's interest.

“You’ll pay the price sooner or later for trusting the wrong person,” Lynch said. “You shouldn’t put your hopes on a guy who’s doomed to fail.”

Carmelo Anthony remained calm, his belief in his best friend unwavering: "He won't let me down."

These words were like sparks thrown into dry tinder, instantly igniting the twisted and burning "expectation" in Lin Qi's heart.

He could almost hear his blood rushing through his veins; he couldn't wait to see Carmelo Anthony's stunned expression after a few games.

No matter how Lynch beats LeBron James, there's always room for maneuver in his defeats.

After all, failure is a normal thing in competitive sports.

However, someone who completely trusted him—a player like Carmelo Anthony—was betrayed by him on the crucial stage of the playoffs, revealing an unbelievable shock and disappointment.
For LBJ, that was a truly satisfying defeat!

Lynch's mischievous side suddenly surfaced; he desperately wanted LBJ to experience such an ultimate defeat.

“Melo,” Lynch said with a hint of sarcasm, “you are a more respected opponent than LeBron. So, I must remind you.”

Lin Qi stood up and pressed down on his shoulder.

"Don't put your hopes on a hypocrite, or you'll lose everything. Pray that he won't be as incompetent as he was in the fourth quarter of the last game."

Cameron Anthony chuckled, ignoring Lynch's warning.

Save your arrogance, or you'll be the one who loses completely.

"Okay, I'm waiting."
-
Yes, last night our underwear was replaced with a lace one. And you know what's the worst part? There was even discharge on it! It was a worn-out lace bra! A genius knows why Ron had that stuff in his closet! — Tyson Chandler recounted Ron Artest's prank in detail on his radio show last night.

Ray Allen has announced he will not re-sign with the Orlando Magic, officially entering free agency. Several experts predict that Ray will only be able to secure a mid-level exception contract in free agency. —ESPN SportsCenter

The Los Angeles Lakers lead the San Antonio Spurs 1-0, which is not surprising. The Spurs' twin towers combination is perfect, but they lack a top-class wing player. — Stephen A. Smith's assessment of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

American sportswear brand Under Armour has officially entered the basketball market and is looking for an influential spokesperson to expand its reach. Coincidentally, Nike has yet to renew its contract with LeBron James. — NBA Time and Space

(Only one update today, 4000 words shorter. I'm busy with family matters this afternoon, and will resume normal updates tomorrow.)
(End of this chapter)