Champion Rules

Chapter 257, Section 253: It's okay, he'll remember. (Seeking monthly votes!)

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Pistons performed exceptionally well.

LeBron James adapted to his role, finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Even in the fourth quarter, he did not get bogged down in solo attacks.

Tonight, LBJ was very restrained in his desire to shoot.

He dreamed of becoming the Pistons' number one player, but now he's become the Pistons' number one player himself.

But there was no other way; it was his only option. He knew perfectly well that his greedy shooting performance in the last game had already pierced the thin ice of trust in the locker room.

To secure victory, LBJ must play like a high-level role player, or rather, like Scottie Pippen.

However, the Pistons did play a good game as a result, and they are probably the team that came closest to winning at Madison Square Garden this season, after the Los Angeles Lakers.

Carmelo Anthony was on fire with 23 points, Deron Williams had 26 points, and Richard Hamilton added 18.

With their excellent defense, the Pistons led by 2 points with 27 seconds left in the game.

But in the end, fate smiled upon the almost forgotten person.

Steve Nash delivered the final blow to the Pistons.

In their last matchup, Nash was tasked with guarding Man Amzah, and the defense completely fell apart.

In their last matchup, Nash was tasked with guarding Deron Williams, and their defense completely collapsed.

The Knicks are on the verge of collapse today, but Nash has stepped up!
With five seconds left in the game, Steve Nash and Lynch ran a pick-and-roll but failed to get a shot off. Meanwhile, LeBron James aggressively guarded Lynch, preventing Nash from getting the ball to him.

Steve Nash had nowhere to retreat and nowhere to avoid.

So the Wind Child switched hands and pulled back, creating a half-inch gap under Deron Williams's snapping fingertips, and unleashed a three-pointer with all his unwillingness and desire for redemption.

"brush--!"

The sound of the net being pierced was crisp and clear, like a divine decree!
This became the final goal of the game, extending the New York Knicks' undefeated home record.

The moment the game ended, the Knicks players flooded the center of the court like a surging tide, tightly surrounding the 36-year-old point guard at the core.

This Knicks' second-in-command, who had been the target of countless defensive attacks throughout the long season, has finally silenced all the doubters.

But on the other side, the Detroit Pistons' camp was not shrouded in despair.

Unlike the previous game's fourth-quarter collapse, the players simply high-fived each other after losing, their gazes calm.

Steve Nash's game-winning shot certainly stung, but tonight the Pistons proved that as long as LeBron James doesn't fight his own ideas or dart his feet around aimlessly, the Pistons are fully capable of going head-to-head with that legendary Knicks team.

LBJ's performance tonight was impeccable. He focused intently on defense, steadily responded to the limited number of shot attempts, and orchestrated the team's offense.

In addition, when the Pistons' counter-attack engine was ignited, their fast break counter-attacks were incredibly aggressive.

His speed in launching fast breaks is comparable to Nikola Jokic's speed in chasing high-speed rail in China.

Carmelo Anthony watched Lynch embrace Nash, his heart unmoved.

Because he also has a reliable helper by his side.

Lynch said LeBron James is untrustworthy and will lead to his utter defeat?
Stop dreaming!

The series has spread to Detroit, an industrial wasteland struggling against the ravages of time, where it finally tasted the sweetness of revenge in its own lair, the Palace of Auburn Hills.

LeBron James scored 15 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 10 assists, and added 3 steals.

Richard Hamilton, who primarily plays off the ball, benefited from this, scoring a team-high 31 points.

Carmelo Anthony then hit two difficult shots over Lynch's head in the final moments.

When the game ended, the Detroit fans roared and stomped their feet like madmen, and the stands groaned in pain under the immense pressure.

They almost completely overturned this arena, which had witnessed countless glories and bloodshed.

The Pistons fans' frenzy is understandable, given that the Detroit Pistons became the first team to defeat the Knicks in the playoffs.

This is not just a victory, but also a powerful declaration to the world: the Detroit Pistons are not like those mediocre runners-up!
Their team has the real strength to shake the throne!

Of course, the Pistons fans' madness didn't stop there.

As Lynch and his teammates walked into the players' tunnel, countless paper cups fell from the stands of both games.

They rained down on the heads and shoulders of the New York soldiers, carrying with them insults, contempt, and an aura of decay.

Ron Artest got fired up and started yelling at Detroit fans in the arena.

He has never liked the Palace of Auburn Hills; it has been his least favorite place since his time with the Pacers.

Because it was here that their burning championship dreams were frozen, the Pacers' wings to glory were severed, and Reggie Miller had to retire with a lifelong regret.

Now, six years later, when he has another chance to compete for the championship, the result is Detroit again, and this cursed hell arena is once again standing between him and glory.

If it weren't for the significant height difference between the players' tunnel and the stands, this mentally ill New Yorker might have already rushed onto the stands.

Of course, now that he's matured, he won't fight anymore.

He just keeps putting his slicked-back stuff on those damn fans' heads!

In the end, with rage boiling in his veins and nowhere to vent it, Ron Artest could only unleash his destructive impulses on an innocent camera next to him, then give the stands the middle finger: "Cheer, you bastards! But you Puxi will be crying sooner or later!"

The Knicks players were a bit frustrated, but not all Pistons originators on the court were basking in the joy of this victory.

LeBron James's face didn't reflect pure joy.

"LeBron, you've defeated Lynch for the second time in your career. Are you feeling incredibly excited right now?"

The reporter's question significantly diminished his joy after his victory.

The word "second time" only cruelly drags back those devastating memories of his past defeats.
Such emphasis only reminds people how pathetic his record was against Lynch.

"There's nothing to get excited about unless we win the whole series."

What are your thoughts on Melo's two crucial jump shots in the final moments?

"That's the significance of Carmelo Anthony's existence, that's why he's considered a Detroit legend."

LeBron James sounded impatient; he was no longer willing to answer these stupid questions.

But then, the reporter asked him the question that broke his defenses the most.

"After the last defeat, Melo said you were the best partner he had ever had, and he criticized the media for being harsh on you, believing that the media's evaluation of you was very unfair. Did this motivate you?"

If the question about Lynch significantly diminished LeBron James's joy after his victory...

That problem is like the opponent's tight grip at the last moment in a competitive sport, instantly extinguishing the joy of victory.

Yes, he has now become Carmelo Anthony's best helper, an excellent support, and a reliable cog in the machine!

He heeded the calls of his teammates and coaches and made changes. He and his team won, briefly snatching a glimmer of hope from Lynch's grasp on the playoff stage.

But he did not get everything he dreamed of.

He is not a superstar who receives the worship of millions.

There was also none of the pure ecstasy that should have been like a volcanic eruption, belonging to the victorious conqueror.

He wanted Lynch to die, but even though he won the match, he didn't feel like he had also defeated Lynch.

If all this ends with him becoming a dim foundation beneath someone else's crown, then why did he bear the infamy to make that notorious "decision"?
If I can't get everything I dream of, then I'll just have a lemon ice cream!

A myriad of thoughts churned, collided, and roared through his mind like a storm.

In the end, all he managed to utter was a withered reply, as if his soul had been drained: "Yes, that gave me the courage to move forward."

He turned abruptly, his back slightly hunched, his head bowed low, and strode quickly into the darkness of the players' tunnel, showing no sign of victory.

On the court, Carmelo Anthony continued to emphasize: "LeBron is my best partner. He is helping us break through the bottleneck and helping us return to the Finals."

He still trusted him unconditionally, and he still felt that Lynch was the ultimate loser.

This isn't Carmelo Anthony's fault; after all, he's never had a teammate who would openly express his dissatisfaction in a manly way.

LeBron James is always accustomed to brewing storms in silence; he will tightly seal all his disappointment, resentment, and ambition behind that calm mask.

He never voiced his discontent or frustrations until the pressure completely broke the dam of his will. At that point, he would declare his dissatisfaction with a silent yet deafening act that would shake the world.

The day after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the league announced that Ron Artest had been fined $10,000 and required to pay for the expensive camera.

He was furious: "To hell with it, why are those basketball bastards who throw dirt and garbage at us all unscathed, while someone like me who follows the rules and plays basketball cleaner than the American general manager gets fined?"

To be fair, Artest plays basketball much more cleanly than the American coach does.

Lynch's lips didn't twitch; he didn't laugh at Ron Artest's usual lowbrow joke.

He was also in a bad mood.

It wasn't because he lost to the Pistons, but because the arrogant faces of the Detroit fans after the game, which spread like a plague, felt like a rough saw repeatedly pulling at his nerve endings.

A strong desire for revenge lingered within him.

Lynch reviewed the game with the coaching staff last night. In fact, neither side had anything new in terms of tactics, and the Knicks couldn't be said to have been completely suppressed.

If there's one thing the Detroit Pistons did best, it's that LeBron James's distribution of the ball was incredibly clever—Lynch is very reluctant to admit LBJ's occasional flashes of brilliance, but he was indeed the biggest reason the Pistons won last night.

When Carmelo Anthony is on fire, he always gets scoring opportunities, and LBJ feeds him the ball steadily like an old-school point guard.

If Carmelo Anthony misses two shots in a row, LBJ will immediately direct the whole team to attack the basket, temporarily stopping feeding the ball to Melo.

These are all minor details, but the team played very smoothly and had extremely high offensive efficiency under LBJ's meticulous card-playing direction.

It's fair to say that this team truly addressed the Pistons' scoring woes last night when Carmelo Anthony was off his game.

You could say that last night's LeBron James was an upgraded version of Draymond Green.

Excellent defense, intelligent card dealing, and an offensive capability that is several levels stronger.

But no matter how good such a player is, he will never be the number one star player on a team.

The key to last night's victory lies in the fact that number 6 was truly sacrificing himself and lowering his status for the sake of victory.

The question is, given LBJ's ambition and personality, how long can he maintain this level?
In Lynch's view, the answer is very simple—if they lose another game, LBJ might not be able to hold on any longer.

If even this final sacrifice cannot win the favor of the goddess of victory, how could he be willing to be trapped in this self-imposed cage?

If the Pistons are down 3-1 in their next game, LBJ will definitely tear off this mask of compromise and turn back into the greedy, all-consuming behemoth!

At that point, eliminating the Detroit Pistons will be very easy.

Lynch decided to focus more on defense in the next game and completely shut down Carmelo Anthony.

In every inch of the court, in every second of the clock, Lynch will use an impenetrable noose to bind Melo's every breath; he will use his rock-solid body to resist and compress every movement of his; in every step of his receiving, dribbling, and jumping, he will build a suffocating defensive cage!

For a scorer who relies on his shooting touch, such high-pressure, all-around, and relentless defense is absolutely a devastating final blow!

In the last game, to balance offense, Lynch probably only focused 50% of his energy on defense. In most cases, that's more than enough.

But last night the melon felt incredibly hot to the touch.

In the next game, if Lynch can increase that percentage to 70%.

That would be a strangulation from another dimension. Even if Carmelo Anthony's touch is as hot as lava, Lynch could extinguish it!
As for the attack.

Lynch can always trust that long-haired, hand-licking monster.

Most of the time, he keeps a low profile.

But when Lynch needs him, such as in Game 2 of the previous series, he will definitely step up.

He is the kind of truly trustworthy helper.

Trust LeBron? That's like watching Tim Duncan and Nikola Jokic show off their windmill dunks—too abstract to comprehend.

Carmelo Anthony will soon find out just how abstract his trust really is.

After training that day, Lin Qi was receiving a massage from a physiotherapist.

Steve Nash stood to the side, receiving electroconvulsive therapy on his back as usual.

Aside from the game-winning shot in Game 2, Steve Nash was actually dominated by Deron Williams throughout the entire series.

The physically strong Deron Williams was best at dealing with relatively weak opponents like Steve Nash, just as he tormented Chris Rondo.

Steve Nash gritted his teeth; although his back injury had tormented him for over a decade, the pain was still unbearable.

Just then, his phone rang; it was his twin daughters calling.

"Dad, when can you take us to the beach for vacation? We miss you so much!"

The little girl's voice was as soft as cotton candy, enough to melt any father's heart.

Steve Nash shook his head with a smile: "The earliest would be the end of June."

"It'll take that long? Our brother and I haven't seen you for six months."

Steve Nash felt a pang of sadness. After his divorce, he could only see his two adorable little angels and son during his holidays.

His failed marriage made him feel deeply indebted.

He couldn't spend much time with them and couldn't fulfill his responsibilities as a complete father.

His parents both advised him to retire.

He already has the ring he's always dreamed of.

He also has an MVP award, a max contract, and the love and respect of fans in Phoenix and New York.

What else can he pursue?

He should enjoy life and be a good father.

They certainly couldn't understand what Steve Nash still had to pursue.

He hasn't fulfilled his promise yet, and he can't just leave like this.

After he hung up the phone, Lin Qi joked, "You really don't take the Pistons seriously, just tacitly agreeing that the vacation won't start until the end of June."

Nash waved his hand dismissively: "Of course we'd lose. We have the regular season MVP and the best defensive player on our team."

"Don't say that. The results of this year's selection haven't come out yet. I don't like opening champagne halfway through. It's not that I'm not confident enough, it's just that there are always some idiots who will mess things up in these kinds of polls."

Just after Lynch finished answering, he received a call from Sam Presti.

On the phone, the Knicks general manager sounded very excited:
"Lynch, congratulations! For the second consecutive season, you've won both MVP and DPOY! My God, that's insane!"

Lynch's voice was much calmer:
"Oh, no need to yell so much, Sam. You said it yourself, this is the second season in a row, not the first time."

"No, you don't understand! This time you're the unanimous MVP! The only unanimous MVP in NBA history!"

Lin Qi paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Okay, then it's definitely worth making a fuss about."

The King of New York is gearing up for a fight.

Since that's the case, let's show those damn Detroit fans.

How will the only unanimous MVP in history retaliate against those clowns who dared to swagger in front of him!
-
"Ha, what's that? You're just missing a soldier, while we've got a general who's gone straight to the other side!" — A Cleveland fan's comment online about Ray Allen not renewing his contract with the Magic.

At this moment, Shaquille O'Neal will no longer complain. It turns out that if you're truly as good as Lynch, even the dumbest reporter won't refuse to vote for you. —Stephen A. Smith on Lynch's unanimous MVP award.

You know, Lynch is more successful in business than Shaq, and Reebok is more influential now than it was 10 years ago. Many of the journalists who voted were influenced by Reebok.

They bribed the journalists, gave them exclusive interviews with Lynch, and texted them to ensure they voted for Lynch.

Therefore, rather than calling it a miracle created by Lynch, it's more accurate to say it's a business miracle created by Reebok.

This is the only reasonable explanation; otherwise, I really can't imagine why I or Kobe wouldn't even get a first-place vote.

— Carmelo Anthony talks about Lynch's unanimous MVP award.

Wait, has Melo forgotten who gave Reebok its current influence? No worries, he'll remember in Game 4. — Charles Barkley on Carmelo Anthony's controversial remarks.

(End of this chapter)