Champion Rules

Chapter 267, Section 263: This was the most tragic moment of his entire career (Seeking monthly votes)
After watching Lynch complete a 2+1 play, Kobe Bryant helplessly shrugged at Kevin Garnett.

He thought that Ron Artest, that bastard, was about to explode.

Just like countless times he has lost control, he has ruined the game because he couldn't manage his emotions.

As a result, he calmly completed an extremely beautiful steal.

Then continue to retreat and defend diligently, waiting for the next round of physical combat with yourself.

Ron Artest is indeed a reliable and good player now, although he still loses control at times and shows a volatile side.

But now he often directs his emotional outbursts outside of the competition.

Whether he smashed cameras, gave the middle finger to opposing fans, or acted as a troublemaker for big-assed girls off the court, at least Ron Artest hasn't hurt anyone on the court since.

Fortunately, LeBron James doesn't have mind-reading abilities and doesn't know what Kobe Bryant is thinking.

If he knew Kobe's inner monologue at that moment, he would probably be devastated to realize:

Damn it, even Kobe didn't treat me like a human being!
Phil Jackson stared at Lynch, who had just yelled at him, his eyes blazing with anger.

For a coach of his status and age, he is used to being respected.

Not only do his teammates respect him, but his opponents also often show him a great deal of respect.

But Lynch completely shattered this unspoken rule.

He's like the invincible Larry Bird back in the day; even if he respects you, all he ever shows on the field is arrogance and contempt.

Phil Jackson sat back down on the bench in disappointment, and assistant coach Brian Shaw quickly tried to calm him down.

"Don't worry, Phil. For the Knicks, they're just slowly dying. We still have one more trick up our sleeve in the fourth quarter."

Phil Jackson firmly believed this:
"Yes, the advantage is still with me!"

The third quarter continued to be a close contest.

Lynch was still scoring, but Kevin Garnett wasn't completely defeated.

Despite being heavily guarded, Kobe Bryant still managed to tear apart the Knicks' defense with his steely ability to break through.

After three quarters, Lynch had 44 points and Kobe had 32 points.

The New York Knicks entered the fourth quarter with a 5-point lead.

As soon as Lynch sat down, he looked at DeShawn Stevenson smugly and said, "Looks like I'll have no problem getting 50 points tonight."

The second-best shooting guard in the East sneered: "But you can't get 55 points. Only Michael can score that many points in the Finals."

In response to DeShawn Stevenson's shameless act of raising his price at the last minute, Lynch retorted, "Ha, if you add up all your Finals points in your entire career, could you even reach 50?"

"Compare me? Why the hell don't you compare yourself to LeBron James? He hasn't scored a single point in the Finals. Do you feel accomplished comparing yourself to us?"

Lin Qi was speechless for a moment.

DeShawn Stevenson knew, of course, that this kind of provocation wouldn't work on Lynch.

But at least it can implant the thought in Lynch's subconscious that "I have to get 55 points to shut that bastard up."

On the other side, Phil Jackson glanced at Kobe.

He was the Lakers' last resort in the fourth quarter.

But before the brutal final battle, KG still has to suffer a bit first.

“Kevin,” Phil Jackson walked up to him and stroked KG’s sweat-soaked head, “don’t forget what you truly hate deep in your bones.”

Kevin Garnett took a deep breath, his chest expanding violently. What he truly hated wasn't the boos from Madison Square Garden, nor Lynch's provocation.

Instead, it was a failure.

That was something that could make him break down and cry in front of the camera.

His peak has sunk into the setting sun, and the hourglass of his career is now only filled with the last grains of sand.

He could only burn his broken body and tear open a gap in the last moment before the window of victory closed!

In the fourth section, steel against steel, will against will, once again clashed and intertwined in the most naked way.

For Lynch, he showed more respect for KG tonight.

KG's defensive intensity and attitude did not slacken for even a second.

No matter how many points you score, it stands forever like a steadfast wall of sighs.

KG was also impressed by Lynch's tenacity.

Although Lynch has scored 44 points, it's fair to say that none of them were easy.

KG knew better than anyone how terrifying the defense he poured onto Lynch was.

But that guy was able to calmly develop his skills even in dire situations, carrying the team on his shoulders for the entire game.

Unfortunately, they weren't here to admire each other tonight.

Their ultimate goal is to crush their admired rivals into the abyss of eternal night.

In this round, under Kevin Garnett's tight defense, Lynch was unable to get any space to shoot, and his offensive gear seemed to have finally rusted away.

Just as KG's soul was about to burst into an uncontrollable triumphant song, Lynch's massive body spun strangely to the right like a top, and he hooked a shot from the edge of the paint, the basketball drawing a precise arc, banking it for another two points!

46 points!
First there was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, now there's Tyler Lynch, and in a few years there will be Giannis Antetokounmpo, the "ground-hugging" one.

As it turns out, the most classic technologies will never be outdated in any era.

Phil Jackson frowned. Lynch's ability to forcefully develop shots and score was indeed better than he had expected, exceeding the limits of his calculations.

Time relentlessly ticked away in the meat grinder, and Lynch's personal score for the night quickly reached 53 points.

After Phil Jackson's timeout, the Lakers' offense failed, and Lynch used an off-ball movement to shake off KG, received a pass from Goran Dragic, and took a shot.

KG's bloodshot eyes only caught the wind brushing past his fingertips before he heard the sound of the basketball going through the net.

55 points!
He tied Michael Jordan's record for the highest score in the NBA Finals!
This time, Lynch didn't trash talk KG; instead, he fixed his gaze on the corner of the Knicks' bench like a king on a royal tour.

"DeShawn, why the hell aren't you saying anything? The points I scored in one game are enough for you to play in the Finals for a lifetime!"

DeShawn Stevenson remained seated, neither responding nor waving his towel.

He felt that Lynch's score was clearly over 40 just a second ago.

He's already 55 just from drinking a sip of water?
You're scoring faster than LeBron James is running away!

He turned his head in confusion, asking Amir Johnson, who had scored 33 points and waved a towel throughout the game:
"Damn it, Lynch's scores were all calculated using multiplication?"

It wasn't just DeShawn Stevenson who was surprised.

Phil Jackson's unease was manifesting as tangible ice spikes piercing his spine, while the fans in the arena were incredibly excited.

A 50-point performance in the Finals is a feat no player has achieved since the dawn of the 21st century.

The last time was in 1993 with Michael Jordan.

Although the era of dark defense is over, in today's league, physical clashes and grappling are still the bloody norm throughout the game.

Therefore, the impact of these 55 points on fans and the media was enormous.

This is unlike the data bubble era that followed, where defense was completely abandoned and no player's statistics made him seem particularly impressive.

In today's world where offense and defense remain relatively balanced, a 50-point game in the Finals carries enough weight to leave an indelible mark on the anvil of history.

The Knicks are up by 6 points, and Lynch has scored more than half of the Knicks' total points tonight.

In the very next possession, as Jason Kidd slammed a three-pointer toward the rim, New York sensed a bloody opportunity to tear open an even bigger wound.

Lynch took control of the half-court by himself. On the other side, Kevin Garnett lowered his center of gravity, touched the ground with one hand, and stared at Lynch with bared teeth, like a dying beast about to make its final, desperate attack.

It's hard to imagine why Kevin Garnett's defense hasn't collapsed.

As Lin Qi approached, KG let out a hoarse roar, slamming his hand down: "Charge me!!!"

Lin Qi acted as if a deity had granted the humblest request of a mortal, without any change in speed, any feint, or even a hint of bending his knees to gather strength.

He immediately pulled up for a three-pointer.

Kevin Garnett's low center of gravity prevented him from immediately blocking Lynch's shooting space.

All I could do was watch as the basketball transformed into a burning rainbow, scorching through the net.

"Shh."

Derek Fisher:
Fisher can now proudly tell everyone that his defense is remarkably similar to that of the renowned Kevin Garnett.

Mike Brin couldn't believe his eyes: "Another one! Wait, Lynch has a chance to score 60 points in the Finals!!!"

Spike Lee sat trembling in his seat. All of Michael Jordan's performances here combined couldn't compare to tonight's impact!

Lynch scored 58 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers trailed by 9 points, sliding into the abyss.

Phil Jackson paused the game again.

The strategy is to call a timeout during normal times and not call any timeouts, but to call two timeouts in succession at crucial moments.

Phil Jackson vividly illustrated what it means to blunder and make a fool of oneself.

The Zen Master showed the entire league tonight that even if you're a coach, showing off in front of Lynch will come at a heavy price.

With three minutes remaining in the game, Phil Jackson originally planned to wait until the last 120 seconds to use his trump card.

But now, the team is in dire straits, and Kevin Garnett has been completely defeated.

All of this had to be brought forward.

The veteran coach's Adam's apple bobbed laboredly as he tried to make his tone sound calmer, projecting an image of continued dominance:
"Go, Kobe, it's time."

Lynch returned to the court and found that the player closest to him had changed from KG to number 24.

He immediately understood what the Lakers were trying to do; they had done the same thing during the regular season.

Next, they're going to use Kobe to guard Lynch one-on-one!

With Kobe's ability, Lynch would have to be extremely careful even when dribbling the ball for the next three minutes.

During the regular season, Kobe's move to defend Lynch one-on-one in the final moments actually worked.

Even though the Lakers ultimately lost that night, in that brief moment when the hourglass was about to run out of time, Kobe did indeed choke Lynch's offense.

With Kobe guarding him closely, Lynch was really stuck in place and had to take a one-on-one shot.

Every dribble is dangerous.

Some basketball players like to avoid facing each other's star players, and then elevate the opposing team's second or even third star player to the Finals MVP, thereby diminishing the historical status of the opposing team's number one star player.

Some basketball players, however, prefer to pit one star against another, directly diminishing the historical stature of the opposing team's top player. The reason Phil Jackson initially avoided this matchup was, naturally, due to concerns about Kobe's stamina.

If Kobe were to directly match up against Lynch, his offensive firepower would definitely be limited.

Human physical strength and energy are ultimately limited.

And now, it is undoubtedly time to burn everything to the ground!

On their first possession back, Tayshaun Prince pulled the Lakers back from the brink of defeat with a three-pointer.

Wilson Chandler was frustrated by his inability to get back into position in time due to his excessive help defense on Kobe.

Every time he concedes a goal against a defender, he feels like his contract extension is getting smaller.

With a six-point difference, the Los Angeles Lakers are still clinging to that vine of survival that is hanging low over the abyss.

In the next possession, Lynch ran into trouble when he tried to get past Kobe off the ball.

Kobe's lightning-fast movements were like a pre-woven spider web, always managing to get half a step ahead and wrap around Lin Qi.

For defensive reasons, the Knicks currently do not have Steve Nash, a passing specialist, on the court, nor do they continue to use Goran Dragic, who had a poor defensive performance tonight.

Whether it's Raja Bell, Wilson Chandler, or Ron Artest, it would be difficult for them to safely feed the ball to Lynch in this situation.

Lin Qi had no choice but to receive the ball beyond the three-point line.

At this moment, Lynch's disadvantages were laid bare.

When he receives the ball beyond the three-point line, it is difficult for him to break through Kobe's defense by dribbling and attacking one-on-one.

Lynch could only start his back-to-the-basket game from beyond the three-point line, and then turn around and shoot a jump shot from the mid-range position.

The basketball bounced off the rim; this wasn't the rhythm Lynch liked.

Phil Jackson, no longer composed, clenched his fist and shouted, "Well done!"

With Jason Kidd finally scoring his 11th point of the night with a fast break layup, the Los Angeles Lakers instantly narrowed the gap to 4 points!
The emotions of the fans at Madison Square Garden tonight were absolutely extreme.

They witnessed Lynch's 50+ point game in the Finals, but now they are witnessing the Los Angeles Lakers pull off the most spectacular Finals comeback of the season.

Fortunately, Lin Qi responded immediately.

In this possession, he solidly established his position, received a hasty bounce pass from Ron Artest, turned around, and launched a jump shot over Kobe's burning gaze.

Basketball shot made, 60 points!
Kobe's defense made it difficult for Lynch, but at least he managed to score.

But soon, Kobe hit a pull-up three-pointer, narrowing the gap to just 3 points!
Goal! Kobe scores 41 points.

He glanced coldly at the scoreboard above his head: "No matter how many points you get, you won't be celebrating tonight. Elgin is the only one to score 60 points in the finals, but he's not going to get a fucking ring from that!"

In the next few rounds, neither side scored.

Ron Artest's tenacity gave Kobe no chance.

Kobe's defense also disrupted Lynch's offensive firepower.

The 3-point difference was like a boulder about to roll down a mountain, keeping both sets of fans on the edge of their seats.

With 55 seconds left in the game, Phil Jackson called another timeout.

He'd love to pause the game every round.

As a coach who likes to take unconventional approaches in crucial moments, he set his sights on Tayshaun Prince.

"Kobe, next possession, you drive to the basket, draw Wilson Chandler into a double team, and then pass the ball to Tayshaun."

"TySean, don't be nervous, it's just a regular jump shot. You just made one, it's that easy!"

Tayshaun Prince nodded, and Kobe did not refuse.

The Kobe of today is no longer the ball-dominant player who easily loses his temper. He's willing to pass the ball, provided you prove you're qualified to receive that trust.

Without a doubt, Tayshaun Prince has already proven himself in his half-season with the Lakers.

A buzzer suddenly sounded, sending a shiver down the spines of everyone watching the game.

Kobe Bryant felt the atmosphere become scorching hot, as if the air conditioning in Madison Square Garden had broken down.

Thick sweat clung to the skin, and the enemy's breath was almost within reach.

This was definitely the darkest Finals battle of Kobe's career, even more difficult than last season.

The Lakers have exhausted every last drop of energy, but they are still just a little short of defeating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

He closed his eyes and tried to take a deep breath.

Now, he's going to completely overcome the mountain that is Madison Square Garden!
The Lakers' offense was executed according to the plan. Kobe dribbled the ball like a black light straight into the paint, and Wilson Chandler immediately double-teamed him.

In mid-air, Kobe, who was staring at the basket, changed his shot into a pass, giving the ball to the wide-open Tayshaun Prince!
This scene caused the floodgates of Lynch's memory to burst open, and fragments from another time and space pierced his nerves.

In Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant, who was double-teamed, passed the ball to Ron Artest in a similar manner during a crucial moment.

The latter hit a three-pointer, giving the Lakers a crucial advantage.

Will all of this be replicated?

Tayshaun Prince catches the ball, raises his wrist, and the basketball is about to leave the bow.

Just as the basketball was about to leave his fingertips, Wilson Chandler arrived in front of him with incredible speed, his arm like a guillotine cleaving through the air!

It's one thing to go in once, but to want to go in a second time?!

He will never let his next contract be ruined by some damn role player!

The basketball was almost blocked; Tayshaun Prince's shooting rhythm became a bit off in the final moments.

then
"Boom!!!"

"No!" Lakers' assistant coach Brian Shaw exclaimed as he came off the bench, covering his head with his hands.

Phil Jackson remained calm, but his slightly trembling hands revealed that he was also struggling to breathe.

At this moment, Kobe Bryant truly became the team's hope.

If he can defend against this next attack, the Lakers might still be able to breathe a breath of desperate oxygen through the cracks in the abyss.

If they lose, Lynch will defend his home court with the incredible 60-point performance in the Finals.

There was no timeout in the game, and Flip Saunders intended to bring Steve Nash in on the offensive possession to create space for Lynch.

But this is risky. If the Lakers don't call a timeout after this possession, Nash will be forced to participate in defensive possessions.

That would become an incurable, fatal ulcer on the defensive end.

Therefore, Philip Sanders did not make any substitutions or call a timeout.

He completely handed over the final power of life and death to the King of New York!

The following text has been displayed at the bottom of the large screen during the ESPN live stream:

Elgin Baylor holds the record for the highest single-game score in NBA Finals history with 61 points.

Currently, Lynch has 60 points.

He was just one step away from setting a historical record that even Michael Jackson had never achieved.

One attack carries with it victory, record, and glory!

The remaining Lakers fans have not lost hope, and in the previous few rounds, Kobe's defense against Lynch was quite effective.

He certainly couldn't shut out Lynch, but his defense against Lynch at the high post was better than most.

Kobe was well aware of what this round meant, and he forced his leaden legs to move wildly, his upper body repeatedly entangled with Lynch, squeezing every inch of breathing space.

Despite Kobe's efforts and the Knicks' lack of passing options, Lynch still couldn't get the ball.

He had to circle out to the three-point line again, catch the basketball that now weighed over a thousand tons, and face Kobe directly.

Mike Brin's every syllable vibrated at a high frequency: "Lynch, can he beat him!?"

Lynch wanted to continue his back-to-the-basket attack, but Kobe seemed to have anticipated all of Lynch's footwork changes.

Lynch tried several times, but he couldn't create space for himself by turning his back and stepping.

On several occasions, the basketball was almost completely stripped from Kobe's grasp by his devilish claws.

With only 7 seconds left on the shot clock, Lynch retreated to the three-point line and dribbled facing the basket.

He was prepared to take a desperate gamble.

Lynch suddenly turned left, which Kobe saw as tantamount to suicide.

For Kobe, it would be too easy to cut off Lynch's face-up drives!
After seizing the opportunity, Kobe suddenly made his move, his fingertips about to touch the cold surface of the basketball, about to touch victory.

But Lynch, who already possesses Stephen Curry's dribbling talent, reflexively pulled the ball to the right!
Kobe's eyes widened, the world seemed to slow down, and he watched as the basketball slowly passed through his fingertips.

Furthermore, because he had just thrown his center of gravity too far forward, he was jolted and his whole body leaned forward.

"Hold."

Kobe Bryant, the basketball icon symbolizing Los Angeles' hopes for victory, crashed heavily onto the cold hardwood floor like a broken royal flag. Beside him, Lynch gathered the ball, stopped abruptly, pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

Ray Allen witnessed all of this on television and suddenly closed his eyes.

Too cruel.

The next moment was undoubtedly the most tragic moment of Kobe Bryant's entire career.

"Shh!"

"boom!!!"

"My God! Lynch drove to the basket and faked out Kobe Bryant, scoring his 62nd point of the game! My God! This is a historic night! The King of New York has solidified his dominance, and no one can dethrone him!"

Listening to the deafening noise from the scene, and watching Kobe fall to the ground after being shaken off his feet and Lynch successfully create a miracle, Phil Jackson was pinned to the bench by an overwhelming sense of fear, completely unable to move.

Suddenly, he felt a strange, warm, and damp sensation inside his trouser leg.

He touched his thigh in disbelief, then relaxed.

He said that, faced with this level of difficulty, how could someone as battle-hardened as himself possibly break a sweat?

Oh, it was just urinary incontinence.

Ok?
and many more.

No!

Oh shit!

(End of this chapter)