Champion Rules

Chapter 266, Section 262: Your spines will break first (Seeking monthly votes!)
After one quarter, the New York Knicks went into the break with a 3-point lead.

Phil Jackson remained calm and composed, his composure and confidence in controlling the situation undiminished.

Of course, his confidence did not come from underestimating Lynch.

On the contrary, this strategist with ten rings knows better than anyone else that, in terms of overall ability, Lynch is the best individual player in the league.

He has already demonstrated his dominance in the previous round of matches.

Carmelo Anthony paid a heavy price for his comments questioning the value of the unanimous MVP award.

LeBron James has become the highest-paid clown in the entire league.

He remains confident because the responsibility he carries is even heavier than that of Michael Jordan back then.

That Bulls team had Michael Jordan as a very strong defender, but Scottie Pippen always took on the biggest defensive burden.

This means that in some games, Michael Jordan could recklessly unleash his offensive prowess without worrying about the collapse of his defensive fortress.

Most importantly, MJ didn't have to worry about Madonna, Ciccone, and others harassing him off the court, because they were all harassing Pippen.

But with the Knicks, Lynch was both the offensive and defensive anchor.

We also have to deal with Victoria's Secret rising stars and Hollywood celebrities!

He is both the spearhead that tears apart the enemy and the ultimate shield that guards the throne.

In the previous round, the reason Lynch handed the offensive reins to Steve Nash was because he needed to conserve some energy on the defensive end.

Therefore, even if Lynch were truly possessed by a god and unleashed a firepower spectacle comparable to MJ at his peak during the exchange of blows, it would be impossible.

The Knicks, a steel behemoth that relies too heavily on a single core player for power, have no chance of winning.

The more aggressively Lynch attacked, the more obvious the Knicks' defensive weakness became.

This is the source of Phil Jackson's confidence.

In the first quarter, Lynch scored 14 points and also contributed 2 blocks.

They delivered top-level performances on both offense and defense.

But what about the second and third quarters?
Can Lynch maintain this level of performance?

The holiday break ended quickly, and the bloody gladiatorial combat resumed.

Lynch faced Kevin Garnett again. Although Lynch had already scored a lot of points over him, his defensive attitude remained firm, and he did not make any mistakes due to impatience.

A defender who never makes mistakes is terrifying.

This was true even for Lynch.

He decided to further agitate KG.

"Kevin, aren't you going to let someone help you? Damn, your defense is just like LeBron's!"

"Whatever," Kevin Garnett said calmly, even when faced with the most vicious trash talk in basketball. "Come on, fucking come on."

Kevin Garnett set aside his pride and faced the gap between himself and Lynch.

But he just wouldn't admit defeat.

Lynch scored his 16th point of the night with a pull-up jumper to the free-throw line.

But Kevin Garnett didn't show the slightest bit of frustration.

On the bench, DeShawn Stevenson couldn't take it anymore.

"Damn, I don't know what you guys think, but if I'm fighting tooth and nail to get past my opponent, and they're just playing on their phone with a blank expression, I'm going to break down. Damn it, Lin Qi is facing exactly that kind of person right now!"

Mike Breen also mentioned Kevin Garnett's mentality: "If LeBron had that kind of determination, we might still be watching the Eastern Conference Finals."

LBJ:
On Lakers' offense, Kobe Bryant bypassed Kendrick Perkins' screen and used his speed to break past Tyson Chandler, who had switched onto him, and went straight for the basket.

But Lynch's shadow immediately loomed over Kobe.

Kobe was confident in his hang time when attacking the basket, regardless of who he was facing.

He is one of the few players who can replicate the simple and domineering style of play: "You jump up first, and then shoot after the opponent lands."

Only when facing Lin Qi would that seemingly indestructible tower of confidence quietly develop a crack.

Instead of attacking the basket directly, he waited until Lynch was very close before passing the ball to KG.

Lynch reacted with lightning speed, forcefully twisting his massive body to lunge back, but Kevin Garnett's tough jump shot still sank in.

Kevin Garnett's anger finally found an outlet. He pounded his chest and roared, tearing apart the dome of Madison Square Garden: "You're the LeBron's defender!!!"

KG's voice was so loud that it even penetrated the television screen and entered the eardrums of every viewer in front of the television.

LeBron James clenched his fists as he sat on his hospital bed.

Why do I keep getting mentioned?!
It was just an ordinary goal, and the Lakers were still down by 3 points.

But Phil Jackson suddenly sat up straight.

He could see that Lynch's defensive support was starting to slow down!

As the match progressed, the two sides remained deadlocked, and the tense situation was like a furnace.

But scoring is becoming increasingly easier for the Lakers.

The Knicks' defense is becoming increasingly porous, and because Lynch needs to operate at full power on both ends of the court, his offense is also affected.

On the final possession of the second quarter, Kobe Bryant drove to the basket and unleashed a difficult reverse layup.

The basketball swished through the backboard the instant the buzzer was swallowed up, and the score was reversed!

Lin Qi stopped his pursuit, panting heavily, and wiped the sweat that was about to drip into his eyes.

This time, he failed to protect the rim immediately and watched helplessly as number 24 took the lead.

At that moment, Jeff Van Gundy, standing next to Mike Bryant, also cheered for Kobe: "A work of art-like layup! In this series, we won't see LeBron's inexplicable mistakes anymore. We'll only see spectacular moments repeated time and time again. This is a true top-level showdown!"

LeBron James, lying in his hospital bed, completely broke down.

I didn't even play a second in the finals, and I was already being cyberbullied by three people!

If LBJ looks back on this time more than a decade from now, he will definitely be very envious of Ben Simmons' stealth ability, which is comparable to that of an F-22.

At halftime, the Los Angeles Lakers led by one point thanks to Kobe's incredible layup.

During halftime, an ESPN reporter found Phil Jackson.

"Lynch has already scored 28 points in the first half. The high post defense strategy doesn't seem to be working. Will you change your strategy in the second half?"

Phil Jackson did not answer, but gave a faint, Zen-like smile before turning and disappearing into the shadows of the players' tunnel.

Even though he's in his sixties, it doesn't stop him from showing off!

During halftime, the Knicks coaching staff had a pretty good idea of ​​what the Lakers were going to do.

In fact, the coaching staff realized what was happening midway through the second quarter.

But they are still hesitating.

But now, with the Lakers taking the lead, Flip Saunders cut off all hesitation and fixed his gaze on Lynch with keen eyes:

"Lynch, focus on offense. Guys, it's your turn to protect Lynch on defense tonight."

He decided to let Lynch fire away, leaving the defensive responsibility to his teammates.

Of course, Steve Nash needs to make sacrifices for this.

"Steve, I might start Wilson in the second half."

In the first half, the Lakers' defensive strategy prevented Steve Nash from making any impact.

He scored 8 points and had 5 assists, a decent performance, but it wasn't enough to fundamentally change the Knicks' offense.

In addition, they can easily become a weak point for the Lakers on the defensive end.

To bolster his crumbling defense, Flip Sanders has no choice but to reduce Steve Nash's playing time.

Reducing the playing time of a two-time MVP in the Finals is no easy task.

If Allen Iverson were sitting here right now, he would tell Flip Saunders with righteous indignation: "I have never seen the MVP come off the bench."

Steve Nash silently unscrewed the bottle cap, and the ice water slid down his parched throat.

His gaze slowly rose and settled on the cold locker room wall, where the foundation of the team's locker room culture was engraved.

A moment of frozen silence, a slight movement of the Adam's apple, and the water bottle was set down.

"I'm OK."

His voice was as steady as the surface of a lake that had not been touched by the wind.
-
Wilson Chandler was a little nervous as the second half was about to begin.

But seeing Jason Kidd, the NBA's player with the highest combined score in history, eased the tension a little – the Lakers' Big Three often combined for 60 points, but Kidd never scored more than double digits, so how could his combined score be low?

Of course, Wilson Chandler's task wasn't just to defend Kidd. If that were the case, Steve Nash wouldn't have needed to be on the court at all.

In the second half, when Lynch reduced his rotations and movement on the defensive end, the others had to increase their rotations and movement.

He could face anyone.

Maybe it's Ty Shawn Prince, maybe...
It's Kobe Bryant.

In any case, Wilson Chandler has once again reached a crossroads where fate will test him.

He cannot back down.

He lost his starting position in the regular season, and his replacement, Ron Artest, has been performing well. So, he doesn't have much to say.

Tonight is a rare opportunity, and he must deliver an outstanding performance to secure the next contract.

With the game about to begin, Phil Jackson instantly understood his opponent's intentions upon seeing the Knicks' lineup change.

The Knicks want to free up Lynch on the defensive end, and that's Flip Saunders' idea.

The question is, can the Knicks' defense hold up without Lynch?
The Lakers inbounded the ball from the baseline, and Jason Kidd controlled the ball across half-court.

Kobe cuts out, and Kidd delivers the ball smoothly.

Kobe faked a shot, shifting Ron Artest's weight, and then drove to the basket.

But the next second, Wilson Chandler arrived just in time and blocked Kobe's path.

Kobe passed the ball back to Jason Kidd, and Wilson Chandler almost immediately covered for him. "Thump!"

No one can test Jason Kidd's shooting consistency under pressure.

Immediately afterwards, Lynch received the ball beyond the three-point line and pulled up for a three-pointer, sinking it cleanly, and the Knicks regained the lead.

Lynch already had 31 points, and the third quarter had only just begun.

No one knows if his offensive firepower can continue until the very end, and no one knows how terrifying his scoring stats will be tonight.

But Phil Jackson didn't care about Lynch's scoring numbers. He wanted to see what Lynch could do and whether his scoring could cover up the Knicks' defensive shortcomings!

Kobe quickly capitalized on this absence to score again.

Number 24 was backing down Ron Artest, and just as he was about to turn around and shoot, he was double-teamed by Wilson Chandler again.

If it had been Lynch who arrived at that moment, Kobe might have passed the ball, because Lynch's defensive height would have likely blocked the shot.

It was clear that the visitor was Wilson Chandler, and Kobe decisively took a fadeaway shot.

The basketball flew over the fingertips of two people and went into the pocket!

A defender of Lynch's caliber is not something teammates can reach simply by trying.

In Phil Jackson's view, when Flip Sanders decided to let Lynch relax on the defensive end, it meant that the Lakers' chances of winning were increasing.

In the following possessions, the Lakers capitalized on most of their scoring opportunities.

Lynch focused solely on guarding Kevin Garnett, significantly reducing the area he could cover for help defense.

This gave the Purple Gold Legion an opportunity.

Fortunately, Lynch maintained his offensive level. Therefore, the Lakers still did not gain any substantial lead.

The tense game caused Flip Saunders to frequently get up and yell at the players on the court, and he would pause the game at the slightest provocation.

Phil Jackson has a completely different style. If he wore a floral shirt and a straw hat, people would definitely think he was there to watch a game.

The Zen master simply sat down and said, "What pause? Pause what? Stop what? I'm just making money while I'm sitting here!"

His confident demeanor made even the hot-tempered Mike Malone want to kneel down and shout, "Coach, I want to beat up the other coach!"

Whether Phil Jackson treated Philip Sanders as a human being is unknown, but he certainly didn't treat Kevin Garnett as one.

Kevin Garnett was in better form than he expected. Although Lynch kept scoring, KG's defensive intensity did not drop at all.

He's so tough, there's simply no player in the world who can really kill him.

But what about the Knicks?
Under the Lakers' relentless offensive onslaught, every tremor only intensified the groans of collapse.

How long can the Knicks' downgraded defense hold up?
Phil Jackson doesn't think he needs to adjust anything.

Everything was proceeding according to his plan, and victory was only a matter of time.

Midway through the third quarter, the Lakers took a 3-point lead after Kobe scored with a difficult drifting shot over Ron Artest's head.

Kobe brought up the old story again: "Baby, if you had chosen the Lakers last summer, you should be cheering now, not waiting to be executed in this quagmire of despair!"

Ron Artest's violent face twisted instantly with humiliation. He picked up the basketball and slammed it hard against the soft mat of the basketball hoop with all his might.

Phil Jackson smirked; it seemed someone was on the verge of losing control.

Lynch glanced at Ron Artest; his bloodshot eyes and taut jaw muscles made Lynch a little worried.

He was under immense defensive pressure tonight.

He was about to step forward and say something to calm the volcano that was about to erupt when Ron Artest, like a provoked bull, violently threw the baseline ball out.

With no other option, Lynch had to continue the game.

He still shouted, "Ron, calm down!"

But no reply was received.

The Knicks were on offense, and Lynch passed the ball to Raja Bell who was cutting in, but Kobe managed to steal it the instant he caught the ball.

With a 3-point lead, the Lakers launched another aggressive attack. If this attack succeeds, the Lakers will temporarily end the current stalemate and gain a real lead.

Phil Jackson slowly lifted himself off the bench and finally stood up.

But he didn't want to direct the game; he wanted to witness the Knicks' collapse firsthand.

Just now, Ron Artest showed signs of breaking down.

Without Lynch as their core player, the Knicks' defense would be in complete disarray should Ron Artest also fall ill.

Kobe had the ball, and like Lynch, he continued to trash talk his opponent, hoping he would make a mistake.

“Look at you, you’re going to mess everything up again, Ron. To be honest, you’re nowhere near as good as Trevor Ariza last season. If he were here, the Knicks wouldn’t be in such a passive position right now, and my scoring wouldn’t be so easy. If the Knicks lose, it’s all because of you. But this isn’t the first time you’ve caused the team to lose a championship, is it?”

Kobe could clearly feel the hot breath gushing from Ron Artest's nostrils. He knew that the guy was on the verge of losing control, like a rubber band stretched to its limit, as if it would snap at any moment.

Ron Artest attempted a steal, but Kobe smoothly changed direction, getting past him.

But he quickly blocked Lynch's path with his arm again—although it's the era of No HandCheck now, the referees are still very lenient on the Finals stage, and Ron Artest was not called for a foul.

Kobe stopped abruptly and passed the ball to Kidd, who had run to an open position beyond the three-point line, switching to off-ball offense.

As he started moving, Kobe didn't forget to elbow Ron Artest in the chest.

Ron Artest gritted his teeth, looking like a mad bull making its last stand in a Spanish bullring.

As a result, Kobe turned the tables again, almost causing Artest to fall over.

Number 24 glanced back at the disheveled New York mental patient, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Ron, Lynch will be the next Reggie Miller. This is you; no matter how great a player you are, you can't win any honors."

Lynch saw Ron Artest charging toward Kobe like a defensive tackle targeting a quarterback.

Phil Jackson seemed to hear a crisp "click".

That string seems to be broken.

Kobe stopped abruptly and then made another run.

He believed that this move would be enough to shake off Ron Artest, who was blinded by rage.

At the same time, Jason Kidd had already passed the ball to the position where Kobe was about to arrive.

If you catch it, it's a perfect shooting opportunity.

To the surprise of both Kobe and Kidd, Ron Artest did not overextend himself, nor did he commit a rough foul on Kobe.

He turned around quickly the moment Kobe turned on him and kept up with Kobe's rhythm!

He remained lucid until the very end!

At that moment, seeing the basketball about to fly past his fingertips, Ron Artest's reflexes kicked in like a goalkeeper as he leaped out and stole the ball!
Lying on the ground, Ron Artest saw number 20, who had already run up the court.

Screw repeating the same mistakes.

Fuck the second Reggie Miller.

Screw that, it cost the team the championship!
I came to New York not to be a fool again!

Before this string in my brain snaps, your spines will break first!

Go Lynch, go for it!
Let those self-righteous bastards die!

Lynch received the basketball that Ron Artest had fought tooth and nail to steal, and Kevin Garnett caught up at that moment.

Lynch could hear KG's heavy breathing.

He has a strong heart, but old age is old age.

He couldn't stop himself.

Lynch used his shoulder to hold off KG as he drove to the basket, and without getting rid of KG at all, he suddenly sprang into action!

Kevin Garnett, the legendary talent monster who was rumored to be able to touch the top of the backboard, can no longer jump at all.

After running a long distance, his legs were exhausted. Moreover, Lynch quickly overpowered him.

He could only instinctively raise his arms, but he couldn't stop number 20 from holding up the torch of the era.

"boom!!!"

The basketball hoop shook violently as Lynch dunked over Kevin Garnett and scored.

"Beep beep!!!"

The referee blew the whistle, and Lynch got a 2+1 opportunity!
Upon landing, Lynch pointed to Phil Jackson, who had specifically stood up to watch this round:
"Your tactics will get you killed pretty badly, Phil."

The embraces of teammates, the thunderous shouts
Lynch's 2+1 play interrupted the Los Angeles Lakers' momentum.

Ron Artest then ran up and bumped chests with Lynch in mid-air.

"Well done, Lynch! Smash that bastard!"

Lin Qi patted his head: "I just thought..."

"Don't worry about me, I promised you."

Lynch stepped up to the free-throw line and calmly sank the extra point.

The score was tied again, and the Los Angeles Lakers still couldn't escape the quagmire of physical battles.

At this point, Lynch had already scored 38 points.

His high-position one-on-one ability is extremely powerful.

Now, the Knicks' role players have proven that their defense won't collapse easily.

Therefore, there is only one way to win – let Lynch step up his offensive efforts!

At this moment, the second-best shooting guard in the Eastern Conference, who scored 0 minutes in a single game, has found his value.

He stood up and yelled at Lynch:

"Hey trash, what are you doing? Why are you keeping us in this state of anxiety? If you could get 50 points, the suspense would have been over long ago!"

Ron Artest needs to calm down.

Lynch?

He needs more fire!
(End of this chapter)