Champion Rules

Chapter 290, Section 286: Picking the Blooming Rose (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

Michael Jordan, in the most direct way, declared that the dominance of the basketball god has not yet dissipated.

The viewership for the game was already quite high simply because he returned to the United Center.

MJ was satisfied with the United Center's response tonight, which allowed him to rediscover the exhilarating feeling of being the GOAT after enduring humiliation for the past two weeks.

The arrival of number 23 also gave Chicago fans strength. Before the jump ball even started, the immense power gushing from tens of thousands of throats already foreshadowed the extraordinary night ahead.

The Bulls' outstanding performance this season and that bald-faced guy sitting in the front row of the stands are a symbol for these fans.

It symbolizes that the Chicago Bulls are about to become great again.

This symbolizes that their legend will continue.

This symbolizes that the shame of being swept in the first round by the Knicks in the past two years is about to be settled.

It must be said that MJ's position at the United Center is indeed unshakeable.

It can only be said that there is a difference between the two on the 23rd. Both are going home, but one is giving a speech and the other is being reported to the credit bureau.

On the court, third-year Derrick Rose had shed his naivety and, like a leader, shook hands, bumped fists, and hugged the Knicks starters on behalf of the Bulls.

At this season's media day, Derrick Rose has fully revealed his desire to win and his ambition.

When asked by a reporter what his expectations were for himself in third grade, he told the reporter:
"I have high expectations for myself this season, not just to break the first-round curse."

Why can't it be me? Why can't I be the league's MVP? Why can't I be the best player in the league?

I practice hard, I give everything in the game, why can't I be the best?

This young man, who was usually quiet, humble, and low-key, revealed for the first time an almost bloodthirsty ambition.

He now wants to do more than just be a genius.

He wanted to be the winner.

When Derrick Rose finally stood before Lynch, his gaze sharp, and with a calm tone that seemed to freeze the air, he delivered that long-forgotten vow to the King of New York:

"Remember this feeling, remember the searing pain of being crushed right now. When you achieve success, I will still be here, waiting for you."

This is what you said to me the first time you swept me in the playoffs.

Now, I've come to find you.

Lynch had no problem with Derrick Rose; in fact, he admired the guy.

But tonight, he won't give the Chicago Bulls any chance to win.

He wanted to give the owner of the number 23 jersey a glorious entrance, but instead left in a sorry state.

Lynch adjusted the wristband on his wrist that read "Beyond Michael Jordan," his gaze even colder than Derrick Rose's:

"You'd better not get in my way tonight, Derek."

The game was about to begin, and the Bulls' starters were originally standing in a circle, shoulder to shoulder, gathering their fighting spirit.

Just as the tense atmosphere seemed to freeze, Joakim Noah suddenly broke away from the group like a cannonball, squatted down and plunged into the floor in the middle of the crowd, frantically scratching his messy hair with both hands, muttering incantations, and finally roaring as if he had successfully performed a ritual, raising his arms high!

Lynch:
Looking at his appearance and behavior, Lin Qi really found it hard to imagine what his father had planted during the incident.

Derrick Rose's personality makes him incapable of reacting to anything like this.

But the rest of the Bulls team just couldn't hold back anymore.

Chris Bosh looked at him with disgust: "What the hell are you doing?"

Joakim Noah, maintaining his bizarre pose with arms raised, shouted: "May Michael Jordan possess you, and with his will, take down Lynch! Yahoo!"

Chris Bosh:
Stop trying to channel Michael Jordan; you'd better get rid of all the filth on yourself first!

The game began with DeAndre Jordan securing the first possession for the Knicks.

As soon as Goran Dragic dribbled across the center line, a wave of intense defensive pressure surged in.

It wasn't that Derrick Rose put too much pressure on the Slovenian defenders, but rather that the Slovenian point guards looked around and couldn't find a safe passing spot for a while.

Within sight, Chris Bosh relentlessly clung to Lynch, following him every step of the way, engaging in a fierce, close-quarters battle for every inch of space, eliminating any possibility of an easy catch.

As Lynch exhausted himself and finally used a screen to circle out to the top of the three-point arc, the moment his fingertips barely touched the basketball, Luol Deng's figure had already appeared like a ghost.

Those powerful, long arms, comparable to those of a power forward, instantly spread out, forming a cage that blocked off the sky, creating a deadly double encirclement of Chris Bosh.

Furthermore, they relentlessly battled Lynch, as if this wasn't the start of the first quarter, but rather Game 7 of the series.
Tom Thibodeau's teams never hold back in physical confrontations.

Lynch had to pass the ball to Wilson Chandler, but unfortunately, his jump shot missed under pressure from the Bulls' shooting guard Keith Bogans.

Iron-willed defense, teamwork, and relentless effort—these signature defensive styles of Tom Thibodeau were on full display in the very first round.

Of course, no player can maintain such a high level of defense for 48 minutes. Especially not under Tom Thibodeau, who adheres to the philosophy of "why use ten when five slaves can do the job".

Despite playing an inhumane amount of time, the Bulls' secret to maintaining defensive intensity is that everyone else coasts on offense.

The Chicago Bulls' offense relies heavily on Derrick Rose's individual abilities.

On the defensive end, the Bulls had one player protecting four others.

On the offensive end, Rose carried four opponents single-handedly.

While her teammates gave their all on defense, Rose shone alone.

Rose played her best on offense, while her teammates all faltered.

Even Chris Bosh, known for his offense, was asked by Tom Thibodeau to focus most of his energy on defense after arriving in Chicago.

In order to squeeze out the last bit of energy from their defensive stalwarts, the Bulls abandoned all fancy offensive tactics.

The most noticeable plays on the court were the basic pick-and-rolls that Chris Bosh set for Derrick Rose.

Other players won't make many cuts or runs.

This creates a problem – the Chicago Bulls have very poor offensive spacing.

Luol Deng and Keith Bogans can both shoot threes, but their production volume is too low.

Joakim Noah, a high-level role player who couldn't even make a decent free throw, also lacked the ability to create space.

Therefore, Derrick Rose's mission became both incredibly clear and incredibly brutal: he had to attack the basket efficiently within the tight encirclement of his opponents.

For 99% of the players in this league, this is an impossible task.

Because the conditions of "confined space" and "efficient attack on the frame" are contradictory.

It's like you can't expect a man to move quickly and for a long time.

But Derrick Rose's greatest strength lies precisely in using surreal agility and skill to send the basketball thundering into the basket amidst the most crowded jungle of muscles!

Chris Bosh's pick-and-roll wasn't top-notch, but for Derrick Rose, as long as someone could block the defender's first step, he could easily shake them off.

Of course, simply getting past the defender doesn't mean the attack has been successful.

Facing Lynch's help defense, Derrick Rose managed to change his driving path without slowing down, gaining space and scoring with a floater!
Derrick Rose's drives to the basket are more aggressive than Dwyane Wade's.

The Flash's killer move is more about unleashing his explosive power in a devastating straight-line dash. His changes of direction while moving have largely been replaced by the refined yet relatively controllable Euro step.

Derrick Rose is completely different. The way he tears apart the defense is almost like repeatedly twisting and forcibly tearing his own bones and tendons at high speed.

Every sharp, ergonomically defying change of direction is like renegotiating a betrayal agreement with the body, the cost of which is terrifying.

This kind of breakthrough aesthetic, which pushes physiological potential to the brink, is almost destined to run counter to long-term health.

However, it must be admitted that, faced with this sharp cone that is determined to penetrate even the most impenetrable defense, all the defenders can do is swallow their frustration.

On the sidelines, Michael Jordan, with an appreciative smile on his lips, gently applauded Derrick Rose.

He felt a deep fondness for this quiet and humble young man who gave his all on the court.

Most importantly, it is the perfect weapon to pierce through Lynch's arrogance!
The roar of the United Center continued to pound as the New York Knicks faced a suffocating second offensive possession.

Goran Dragic and Lynch set a pick-and-roll, and Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh, without the slightest hesitation, tacitly double-teamed Lynch at top speed.

Lynch passed the ball to Goran Dragic, who bounced outwards, the instant the encirclement was formed. However, the Slovenian, who was in an open position, did not shoot immediately.

A moment of hesitation flashed in his eyes, and his gaze instinctively searched for a teammate in a more "perfect" open position.

That slight hesitation killed the fleeting shooting window.

On the sidelines, Steve Nash, dressed in a suit and tie, abruptly flung his arm, his disappointment evident.

If he were still in the squad, that gap would be enough to make the defense pay the price!

The Knicks didn't get many good opportunities after that, and Lynch had no choice but to force his way in near the free-throw line, using his shoulder to create a small opening before attacking the basket.

But Chris Bosh and Joakim Noah's four long arms had already woven a dense, all-encompassing net, and with a dull thud of muscles colliding, the basketball bounced off the rim.

Joakim Noah was ecstatic after successfully defending Lynch: "Lynch, I played like Michael tonight!"

"Ha!" The real Michael Jordan suddenly stood up from the VIP seats, roaring at Lynch with undisguised sarcasm, "That's it?! Surpass me?! Don't be ridiculous, kid!"

MJ felt that his choice to come to the United Center was absolutely worthwhile.

He couldn't wait to, at the moment the final whistle blew, with the supreme legend of the United Center, use his eagle-like sharp gaze to fix his eyes deep into the eyes of that number 20!

The Bulls are on offense. In this possession, Lynch blocked Derrick Rose's drive, but Rose has a completely different playing style from most aggressive point guards. Beneath his fiery exterior of driving to the basket flows an unusually cold and decisive blood.

He always manages to strip away all unnecessary emotional impurities in that split second and make the simplest and most efficient choice.

If Russell Westbrook were in possession of the ball at that moment, he might have slammed a floater into the timer above the backboard.

But Derrick Rose was different. Seeing that he was completely blocked by Lynch, he pushed the ball to Chris Bosh with both hands, who made a steady mid-range shot.

4:0.

Just as Chicago fans were getting excited, Flip Sanders paused the game.

Michael Jordan stood up triumphantly, applauding the composed Derrick Rose. Then, he immediately turned to the Knicks' bench, his voice piercing the defense as he taunted Lynch: "Hey! You've only played two rounds and you're already calling a timeout?! Kid, did your dominance just disappear on a plane?!"

Ron Artest sprang up like a tiger whose tail had been stepped on, his eyes wide with rage: "Fuck you!"

Michael Jordan sat down, clutching his ribs.

Lynch then sat down on the bench. To be honest, he didn't know why Philip Sanders called a timeout so early.

But before Flip Sanders could speak, an unexpected thunderclap exploded on the Knicks' bench.

The usually gentle and refined Steve Nash now had a ferocious expression, veins bulging on his neck, as he roared at Goran Dragic like thunder:

"Golan! You're a starting player now, not some lowly benchwarmer who doesn't have to take any risks!"

Steve Nash's eyes were wide with rage, as if he wanted to devour someone.

He was quite dissatisfied with Goran Dragic's hesitation just now. He clearly has excellent shooting ability, but he ignored those opportunities in order to be "safe".

As a substitute player, playing it safe is of course fine; it's the style of play that's least likely to be criticized.

But as a starter, sometimes you have to step outside the box and take responsibility, even at the risk of criticism.

Goran Dragic did not refute this, saying his relationship with Steve Nash was similar to that of DeAndre Jordan and Patrick Ewing.

It is the passing down of skills from master to apprentice, etched in the sweat of the training hall, and even more so, the camaraderie of mutual support.

He knew better than anyone that for every stumbling step he took in his growth, there were stone steps silently paved by the Son of the Wind.

When Steve Nash was injured, he must have hoped that he could step up.

Philip Sanders raised his hand, gently but firmly gesturing for the still-angry Nash to sit down:

"Steve is right, responsibility is paramount. Listen! Tonight, in this intimidating away game, every one of us must be a sharp blade on offense and dare to take responsibility!"
The Bulls focused all their defensive resources on Lynch, and that's our chance!

"Hey you guys who got open looks, don't hesitate like spectators, make your move!"

After saying that, he looked at Lynch and said, "The others need to help Lynch on offense. Lynch, your number one task tonight is to lock down Derrick Rose! Use the energy you save on offense to squeeze out on defense! Cut the thorns off the rose, and the Bulls' meat grinder will break down. They don't have anyone else who can carry the offense!"

Lynch understood; the Knicks were going to do the opposite of the Bulls.

The Knicks employ a four-for-one offense and a one-for-four defense on defense.

Flip Saunders admitted that he underestimated the young Bulls' strength before the game.

To deal with this type of team, you have to use some rather extreme strategies.

The battle reignites as the Bulls return with renewed force. Derrick Rose employs his signature move, attempting to tear apart the defense with his crossover dribble.

But Lin Qi anticipated this and blocked the breakthrough route as a second line of defense.

Derrick Rose passed the ball to Chris Bosh again, but Lynch, who didn't need to hold back on defense, rushed in to help out. Just as the Ostrich King raised his arm to shoot, he soared into the air and delivered a devastating block, swatting the basketball away!

"Roar--!!!"

As Lin Qi landed, the suppressed flames in his chest finally transformed into a roar that could shatter rocks and pierce the clouds!

He didn't even glance at Chris Bosh, who was stunned by the block, but instead turned sharply to the Bulls' bench, his eyes, burning with icy fire, locked onto Michael Jordan, who had just been shouting!

The Knicks countered, and Lynch quickly moved into the low post, instantly attracting the Bulls players to surround him like a magnet.

Lynch passed the ball to DeMar DeRozan, a move he never hesitates to make, demonstrating his absolute trust in his teammate.

DeRozan received the ball, lowered his shoulder, and launched himself into the air in one fluid motion, his realistic shooting fake completely blew away Keith Bogans, who was rotating to defend him.

As the defender stumbled past him, he calmly gathered the ball, rose into the air, and delivered a textbook mid-range shot that cut through the noisy air and swished through the net!
2:4.

On the sidelines, Michael Jordan casually rested his chin on one hand, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on his cheek.

Watching Derrick Rose dribble across half-court, MJ silently chanted in his mind, "Tear him apart, Derrick! Tear that bastard apart!"

Derrick Rose went over the screen, changed direction without slowing down, and drove straight into the paint.

Facing DeAndre Jordan's block, he executed a mid-air folding layup and launched the ball.

The next second, Derrick Rose didn't see the basketball bounce off the backboard and go into the net; he only heard a loud "bang" from the backboard.

Immediately following was a gasp of "Woo!" from the entire audience.

Mike Breen's shout echoed from the United Center, igniting excitement among New York fans watching on television: "A chase-down block! Lynch plucked the rose that was blooming in mid-air!"

Lynch removed more than just roses.

Just now, Flip Saunders said that the Chicago Bulls didn't have a second player who could step up and score, but that statement isn't entirely accurate.

Before joining the Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh was an absolute core player who averaged 20+ points per game for five consecutive seasons, and he was by no means mediocre.

The reason he ignored Chris Bosh's threat was because he knew that the guy had no chance against Lynch's defense.

He's not really an attack point; at best, he's just an old 0.5.

Tom Thibodeau's rough fingers gripped the whiteboard tightly. He wasn't a farmer who cared much about offense, otherwise he wouldn't have come up with a tactic like having Derrick Rose carry four players on offense.

Even though he saw Lynch single-handedly contain both Chris Bosh and Derrick Rose, the Bulls' two strongest offensive players, he still felt lingering fear.

The defensive system he painstakingly built didn't seem as terrifying as Lynch's defense alone!
It is now certain that this will be an extremely fierce match.

Derrick Rose and Lynch, they won't score tonight.

One of them will be crushed under the most intense, high-pressure defense in the entire league.

The game continued, and Goran Dragic dribbled the ball forward quickly. He looked around and found no opportunity to pass.

So he gritted his teeth, charged head-on at Derrick Rose who was chasing back, used his shoulder to create a sliver of space, and forcefully drove into the paint and leaped up!

Derrick Rose's jumping height and speed were quite astonishing, and he kept Goran Dragic firmly in the air.

They managed to create a rim protection threat like a center using their guard-like height.

But Goran Dragic pulled the ball back, looped it under Derrick Rose's arm, and flicked it gently.

"Shh."

The score was tied at 4-4, and the Chicago team's lead had vanished.

Furthermore, what's even more troublesome is that Lynch has successfully defended against Derrick Rose for two consecutive rounds.

That number 20 was like a tyrant, brutally ruling his own half of the court.

Derrick Rose had no choice; he was the team's only offensive initiator.

He has no room or leeway to make adjustments.

He could only transform himself, time and again, into a blood-stained spear that tore through the steel defenses, and recklessly crash into the high wall built by the tyrant!
But Derrick Rose is not a mindless brute.

He was brave, but not foolish.

He remained calm.

Having learned his lesson from the previous two mistakes, Derrick Rose didn't drive deep into the paint this time after using a screen; instead, he took a mid-range pull-up jumper.

One of Rose's transformations this season is his increasingly lethal pull-up jump shot.

Over his three-year professional career, Derrick Rose's shot distribution has continued to expand outwards. He is well aware that relying solely on reckless physical confrontations is unlikely to ensure his continued dominance on the peak of his career.

For the past three years, he has been devoting his time and effort, sparing no expense, to developing peripheral firepower.

however--

The moment Derrick Rose took to the air, Lynch attacked again, showing no mercy on the defensive end.

Its defensive coverage radius is so large and its recovery speed is so fast that it is simply hopeless.

Rose's vision was blocked by Lynch's giant hand, and forcing a move would only be humiliating.

He used his core strength to twist his body and turn the shot into a pass!

The basketball barely changed its trajectory, deflecting towards Bosh.

But this impromptu pass, like the struggle of a drowning person, was weak, feeble, and ill-timed.

Chris Bosh's outstretched fingertips barely managed to touch a tiny vortex of air before the basketball futilely traced a desperate trajectory and flew out of bounds!
The Chicago Bulls' offense failed once again!

The deafening cheers from the Joint Center seemed to be instantly choked by an invisible giant hand, turning into an eerie silence.

The number 20 in front of them was burning with a fury on the defensive end that they couldn't understand.

This was the third consecutive round where Lynch had firmly pinned down the undefendable number 1.

"three times."

Lynch's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced the silence of the United Center like a steel needle, reaching the very front row of the Bulls' stands.

He walked step by step to the sidelines, just one meter away from Michael Jordan, right under the watchful eyes of thousands at the United Center.

Then, he bent down slightly and used his exclusive privilege in front of that man—he reached out, touched Michael Jordan's face, and wagged his finger!
Then he turned around abruptly and strode back to his own half of the field.

That attitude was arrogant to the extreme, and ruthless to the extreme!
In the stands of the United Center, some people were stunned, while others cursed angrily.

That bastard, how dare he?!

Michael Jordan froze in his seat, the water bottle in his hand groaning under the strain.

Instead of being punished, Lin Qi continued to humiliate him on his own turf!
When the Bulls attacked again, Michael Jordan had lost his confidence.

Derrick Rose has been overshadowed by number 0.

He began to regret his decision today.

Perhaps I shouldn't have come.

(End of this chapter)