Champion Rules

Chapter 291, Section 287: I will walk the path to surpass you step by step on my own (Seeking monthly votes!)
Michael Jordan absolutely hated that damn finger-wagging gesture.

Chicago fans were also deeply dissatisfied with Lynch's rude behavior of making such a provocative gesture in front of the team's legend.

But what could Lynch have done wrong?
Mike did something similar!

The great Michael Jordan once changed into his jersey early during the 1997 All-Star Game to visit his colleague Dikembe Mutombo, who was from Africa. After learning that Mutombo was struggling because "I've never been dunked on by you," Michael told him not to worry.

Shortly after, he granted Dikembe Mutombo's request on the court and politely paid tribute to him by making Mutombo's signature finger-wagging celebration.

That's the great Michael Jordan; he always managed to meet other people's needs.

Therefore, Lin Qi was simply following in the footsteps of his predecessors and taking on responsibilities.

Since Michael Jordan wanted to see Lynch's dominance, Lynch, as the best player in the world, naturally had a responsibility to fulfill the old man's request.

Therefore, this cannot be called rudeness.

On the contrary, this shows that Lynch is very polite.

The live broadcast gave Michael Jordan a close-up, and at that moment, his furious expression was impossible to hide.

People wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly stood up and had someone take number 23 off the United Center the next second.

In the stands behind MJ, countless fans were yelling at the referee: "Send that bastard out! He can't provoke the fans like that!"

In theory, players who provoke fans should indeed face severe penalties.

But Michael Jordan knew perfectly well that such a punishment would not fall on Lynch.

In this kind of competition, no referee would eject Lynch from the game for a single finger wag.

In other words, Michael Jordan, whose dignity cannot be challenged, was helpless at this moment.

He could only pin his hopes on the Bulls players on the court.

Derrick Rose frowned. Even though he had improved so much, that number 20's defense was still incredibly suffocating.

Based on past experience, Derrick Rose's sharp offensive attempts just now should have easily secured points for the Bulls.

Derrick Rose has the ability to tear apart defenses.

Lynch, on the other hand, has the ability to completely destroy scoring opportunities.

This night was destined to be the ultimate battle between spear and shield.

In the following rounds, Derrick Rose didn't get many good opportunities.

Lynch spared no effort on the defensive end, and his individual defensive coverage was unprecedented.

Tom Thibodeau's worst fears came true: while Derrick Rose was in trouble, Chris Bosh failed to step up.

Lin Qi controlled both cores by himself!
But Lor Deng stepped forward.

He used his experienced drives and spot-up mid-range shots to score hard-fought points for the Bulls.

Soon after, Tom Thibodeau also switched to California's Jay Chou Kyle Korver ahead of schedule.

His three-point shooting also relieved some of the scoring pressure on Derrick Rose.

On the Knicks' side, everyone took on the responsibility of scoring.

DeMar DeRozan showcased his highly entertaining mid-range isolation skills against Luol Deng's defense.

Goran Dragic began to take a more proactive approach to the attack.

Wilson Chandler never stops running on offense.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate for a time, but Bulls fans were quite tense.

Because Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh had such a low presence on offense, Lynch effectively shut them down.

The Chicago Bulls can't win this game relying solely on role players.

Nine minutes into the first quarter, Derrick Rose was substituted by Southern Onsa Realist Pastoral Coach Tom Thibodeau, who briefly showed his mercy.

The rancher, whose aim was to exhaust his players, finally loosened his grip on the game briefly.

Clearly, Chris Bosh did not win the favor of the goddess of charity.

Among the many donkeys of the Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh and Luol Deng were arguably the two most unfortunate iron donkeys.

Because their attacking substitutes are not strong enough, their playing time this season has been over 39 minutes.

Of course, there's another reason why Tom Thibodeau didn't bench Chris Bosh—he also didn't want Lynch to rest!

As long as either Derrick Rose or Chris Bosh is on the court, Lynch has to keep guarding the defense and can't catch his breath on that end.

Otherwise, the stalemate will soon be broken.

Sure enough, seeing that Chris Bosh was still there, Lynch also chose to continue playing.

The last few minutes of the first quarter were hard to describe in words.

Perhaps Tom Thibodeau's initial intention was to torment Lynch, but in practice, Chris Bosh felt it was purely tormenting himself!

Lynch's defensive tenacity did not diminish at all; on the contrary, it suddenly disappeared due to Derrick Rose's distraction, allowing Lynch's ever-present suffocating feeling to be concentrated entirely on the Ostrich King!
Now Chris Bosh knows why Lynch doesn't have a stable, long-term partner.

If he were treated like that every day, he would break up with Lin Qi too!
With one minute left in the first quarter, Chris Bosh was already drenched in sweat.

As a result, he is no longer able to execute Tom Thibodeau's high-pressure tactics on the defensive end.

After receiving the ball with his back to the basket, Lynch immediately turned and broke through, his powerful lower body strength like a giant hammer, crushing everything in his path!

Chris Bosh tried his best to stay close, but his so-called close defense was already weak and ineffective!
Lynch ignored the limp Chris Bosh beside him, gathered his strength, and leaped up from the ground.

The rim thudded beneath him as a powerful dunk, ignoring the defense, gave the Knicks a point!

Chris Bosh stumbled and fell to the ground, looking utterly disheveled. But he hoped his efforts had been meaningful; if Lynch was also panting heavily and struggling to walk, then in a way, he had "fulfilled his mission."

However, when he struggled to look up at Lynch, the scene he saw shattered that last shred of self-comfort.

Lin Qi landed steadily, calmly straightened his jersey, and wore an almost leisurely smile.

This demon even had the energy to spew out venomous insults:
"Smile, Chris. Many power forwards play their whole lives and no one remembers them, but you're different. You can be remembered by the world because of my dunk, and your team can make a lot of money from it."

At this moment, not only was Chris Bosh's body pierced, but even the last glimmer of dignity that supported him was completely extinguished.

This guy, who had been playing at full power on the defensive end for the entire quarter, showed no signs of slowing down at all.

For Lynch, it was as if he were always in the early morning, always hard.

Chris Bosh is just holding on!

He looked almost pleadingly at Tom Thibodeau on the sidelines, but there was no warmth in Tom Thibodeau's eyes, only the farmer's indifference towards farm tools.

In the final minute, Philip Sanders finally substituted Lynch.

Shane Battier stepped up to face Chris Bosh, and according to the plan, this should have been Chris Bosh's sweet moment to fight back.

However, due to severe fatigue, Chris Bosh failed to gain an advantage over Shane Battier in the final minute.

His heavy legs could no longer support any effective back-to-the-basket moves, and even the most basic shooting jump seemed sluggish and powerless.

At the end of the first quarter, the New York Knicks led by 6 points.

Lynch scored only 6 points in the quarter, but contributed 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Of course, Lynch's defensive impact cannot be fully captured by statistics.

However, the opponent's data can reflect this influence.

Derrick Rose scored 6 points in the quarter, shooting less than 40% from the field, and committed 3 turnovers in the quarter.

Chris Bosh scored 2 points in 12 minutes; although his scoring wasn't high, he played a lot of minutes.

After the first quarter ended, Lin Qi slumped heavily to the sidelines, his chest heaving violently, each breath sounding like he was swallowing lava.

That one-minute break was like a drop in the ocean, not nearly enough to cool down the intense heat surging deep within the engine.

Jermaine O'Neal watched this scene with a surge of emotions. The entire league knew that Lynch's physical abilities were as unfathomable as an icy ocean, but under such extreme pressure, his defensive efficiency remained at its peak.

This is incredible.

He finally understood why Ray Allen would say something like "Never make an enemy of Lynch."

Honestly, Jermaine O'Neal finds it hard to imagine that a guy like that could be defeated.

He also found it hard to imagine how incompetent he must be if he failed even after cooperating with such guys.

Regardless of how much he can contribute, he is determined to do his best every time he takes the court.

At the start of the second quarter, Derrick Rose, like a drawn sword, once again slashed at the Knicks' defense.

Lynch then took to the stage, his rock-solid body once again facing Chicago's sharpest spear.

The United Center eagerly anticipated the blooming of roses, but harsh reality slapped them down.

Derrick Rose can still easily pierce the first line of defense, but Lynch's deathly shadow looming over the penalty area repeatedly shatters Rose's brilliant bloom after his breakthroughs!

The Knicks' defense is impregnable, built upon Lynch's foundation!
But Lynch's playing time remained high, and his rest time was cruelly compressed. It wasn't until 1 minute and 22 seconds into the second quarter that he was substituted and given that fleeting moment of respite.

Throughout the first half, Lynch's total rest time was less than 180 seconds.

But this inhuman effort paid off with a heavy reward—the New York Knicks led by 11 points at halftime!
A sense of despair hung over the United Center. This strong and ambitious young Bulls team had been on a roll this season. But against the New York Knicks, everything seemed much the same as the previous two seasons.

Mike Brin exclaimed, "Young warriors are knocking on the throne! But Lynch, with his steely will, declares: You are not yet worthy to sit at this table!"

The young Bulls, who had just ascended to the top spot in the Eastern Conference, faced an unprecedented test against Lynch.

Lin Qi was burning himself out, keeping the dynasty's warship on course amidst the temporary turmoil.

Michael Jordan calmly watched everything unfold. The Chicago Bulls were now far behind, but he didn't believe the game was over.

Tom Thibodeau's noose around Lynch's neck had already left Lynch bleeding profusely.

Lynch may not be able to maintain this level of efficiency in the second half.

Moreover, sometimes, this kind of purgatory-like struggle not only tests the limits of the flesh and blood, but also repeatedly forges the steel of the will in the furnace.

Michael Jordan knows this best.

That legendary "battle against the flu" was supported by more than just simple physical strength as he climbed back to the top from the depths of despair.

That is the indomitable flame that consumes the soul!
Under constant pressure and monotonous defense, can that guy hold on until the very last moment?

In the third quarter, the Knicks' role players temporarily lost their touch, which gave the Bulls an opportunity.

And towards the end of the third quarter, Lynch's movement on the defensive end finally slowed down.

He's still fast, but it's become much harder to completely shut down the duo of Chris Bosh and Derrick Rose.

Michael Jordan's taut jawline finally relaxed, revealing a long-lost smile. Tom Thibodeau's strategy of attrition had worked.

Lynch didn't put up many stats tonight, scoring only 14 points by the end of the third quarter.

For a scoring champion like Lynch, tonight's output certainly won't be enough to satisfy his potential.

This will definitely affect Lynch's performance and defensive intensity to some extent.

After the third quarter, the Chicago Bulls narrowed the gap to just 8 points.

Lynch's sweat-soaked battle uniform clung heavily to every inch of his muscles, forcing the equipment manager to go to the locker room to get a dry spare uniform.

Philip Sanders knew that Lynch needed a break.

But the Bulls are currently riding high on morale, and if they were to remove Lynch, their cornerstone, they would almost certainly be swallowed up by the tide of reversal.

Once the bull gets back on its feet, the raging waves will be hard to quell, and the momentum will be unstoppable.

After a fierce internal struggle, Philip Sanders finally decided to replace Lynch.

Before the score is tied and then reversed, let Lynch rest for as long as possible.

After Philip Sanders finished setting up, Sean Battier stood up.

He didn't give a passionate speech; he simply surveyed each soldier in the changing seats, his calm eyes, honed by countless battles, locking onto them all, and then clapped his hands firmly and powerfully:

"This isn't Lynch's battle alone! We may not be able to end the game ourselves, but every minute of resistance we put in from here on out is buying time for Lynch! We absolutely cannot let the Bulls tie or take the lead in a short time. The longer we hold on, the longer Lynch can rest!"

DeMar DeRozan clenched his fists.

Goran Dragic glared ahead. Ray Allen's face was no longer calm.

Jermaine O'Neal stood up and ripped open his training shirt: "I didn't come here to win a championship without doing anything."

At the start of the fourth quarter, Derrick Rose was once again ready to attack the Knicks' defense.

But when he entered the battle line, he found that Lynch was not there.

Tom Thibodeau's eyes flashed with a ferocious gleam of wild joy. He roared at the top of his lungs, his few remaining hairs trembling: "Derek! Opportunity! Tear it open, now!"

However, it was the Knicks who scored first.

DeMar DeRozan calmly faced Luol Deng's close defense, took a series of probing steps, and suddenly pulled up for his signature mid-range shot, which went in smoothly.

He wasn't intimidated; he's currently the only one who can manage possession of the ball relatively efficiently.

The point difference returned to 10 points, but Derrick Rose quickly continued to chip away at the deficit with a 2+1 play.

He forcefully drove past the help defender and into the paint, twisting his body in mid-air to throw the ball in!
"Beep——!"

Whistle blows! 2+1!

The vacuum left by Lynch's absence was laid bare, and no one could stop Chicago No. 1, that sharp hammer that broke through defenses!
Jermaine O'Neal did his best, but he still couldn't get back to the paint in time to block the shot from the front.

After making the free throw, the Bulls narrowed the gap to 7 points.

The Bulls' blade is already close to the Knicks' throat.

In the next possession, the Bulls immediately opted to double-team DeMar DeRozan.

DeMar DeRozan is ultimately not a master at breaking double teams. His hasty pass under pressure was intercepted by a Bulls player who was waiting for him.

The Bulls launched a counterattack, and Derrick Rose easily shook off everyone, drove straight in, and scored a layup.

With a five-point deficit, Philip Sanders sighed.

The Bulls closed the gap faster than he expected.

At this rate, Lynch's rest time will likely only extend to a handful of more rounds.

While catching his breath, Lynch's gaze unconsciously swept towards the stands, only to collide with Michael Jordan's sharp eyes.

Dressed in a suit and tie, MJ smiled and extended his hand, also making a finger-wagging gesture towards Lynch.

He felt that Lynch and the Knicks were almost finished.

But just then, a "whoosh" sound came from the field.

Shane Battier hit a solid spot-up mid-range jumper, extending the lead to 7 points again!
Chris Bosh's defense was aggressive enough; he shut down most of Shane Battier's space with his fingertips.

But Shane Battier didn't hesitate at all, and his decisive shot resulted in a steady shooting motion and a score.

After scoring, he raised his arms and shouted, "Hold on a little longer! Even just one more round!"

Derrick Rose was like a cold, sharp blade, ruthlessly piercing through the Knicks' rotation players' burning passion.

Seeing Derrick Rose charging in again, Jermaine O'Neal's eyes were bloodshot. He used all his strength to break free from Joakim Noah, who was entangled with him, and dragged his heavy, leaden body back to the basket. Facing Rose's astonishing speed and height, he squeezed out his last bit of energy and leaped into the air!

Derrick Rose displayed a desperate display of hang time and flexibility in the air, with a seemingly effortless folding layup that appeared to render Jermaine O'Neal's defense useless.

At the critical moment, the experienced Jermaine O'Neal lashed out with his other arm like a steel whip, his fingertips precisely, and even with a bit of luck, scraping the bottom of the rising basketball!
The orange basketball, its trajectory slightly deflected, helplessly grazed the side of the rim and flew out of bounds!

Although the Bulls still had possession of the ball, Jermaine O'Neal, upon landing, roared to the sky as if he had won a decisive battle, and pounded his chest with all his might!
He knew that he had also placed a weight on the scales of victory that was enough to tip them, contributing his insignificant strength.

The Bulls' second offensive possession finally broke through the defense, but Jermaine O'Neal's block just now at least bought Lynch an extra 30 seconds of rest!

This moment of respite is of extraordinary significance in this crucial battle where every second counts.

With the score difference reduced to 5 points, the Chicago Bulls are confident that the New York Knicks won't be able to hold out for long.

In this particular possession, Ray Allen yelled at DeMar DeRozan on offense, "Set a screen! Get over here!"

He set up an off-ball screen for DeMar DeRozan, who understood perfectly and cut out with lightning speed when the opportunity arose.

Goran Dragic's pass was delivered with surgical precision.

Catching the ball, taking a step, jumping—the basketball traces a familiar yet deadly trajectory and swishes through the net!
The point difference has reached 7 points again!
This was probably the first time Ray Allen and DeMar DeRozan, two quiet players, communicated on the field.

The tacit understanding between them, which had once been like a stagnant pool, was now rippling with a hint of active exploration.

Everyone can clearly see that the team's chemistry is developing in the heated atmosphere of the battlefield, as they climb upwards with difficulty and determination after experiencing a slump.

The seeds of change that Lynch planted in the locker room began to sprout.

He continued to lead the charge with his own flesh and blood, demonstrating his determination and standards to everyone with his inexhaustible defensive iron will.

Meanwhile, the composed tactician Shane Battier skillfully took up the baton of communication.

Now Lynch understands that a true leader is not someone who is obsessed with using their own power to control the locker room.

Instead, we need to learn how to manage the locker room in the right way.

For example, Lynch's personal statement, "Try to let me rest a little longer," is definitely not as effective as what Sean Battier said.

Shane Battier's gentle interpretation and collectivist approach are clearly more likely to awaken the protective will and self-motivation deep within the role players.

Tom Thibodeau's expression grew increasingly grim, because the Bulls not only needed to take the lead, but they had to do so as quickly as possible.

Once Lin Qi caught his breath, they would have no more chances.

The team must force Lynch to come back on before he's fully rested.

But now, these determined guys have become a tough nut to crack.

Derrick Rose's sharpest lightning dagger is absolutely capable of piercing through this thicket.

But Tom Thibodeau clearly sees that now every time the Bulls tear a hole, they have to go through a bloody scraping process, and every step forward costs them precious time.

In the ensuing close battle, the Bulls ultimately prevailed, using their core talent to crush the deficit and continue to erode the score.

When Chris Bosh, with Shane Battier's tenacious defense pinning his fingertips, forcefully sank a mid-range shot, the gap cruelly narrowed to just 2 points!
The United Center erupted in a tsunami of jubilation. Chicago fans' hearts nearly leaped out of their chests. They smelled the sweet scent of a comeback, and the dawn of victory was within reach!
result--

"Dudududu!"

A sharp, cold whistle sounded to signal a halt.

Lin Qi suddenly ripped the towel off his neck and threw it hard on the floor, then opened his arms to hug all his teammates who were leaving the field.

The fans at the United Center then realized that the Knicks' rotation, through a bloody battle, had managed to buy their ultimate nightmare—Lynch—a full four and a half minutes of rest!

For Lynch, the ultimate weapon with monstrous physical prowess, a four-and-a-half-minute rest period is enough for him to recharge to 80%.

It was enough to pump the terrifying fuel that would burn away any remaining hope into his nearly empty fuel tank!
Chris Bosh stared intently at Lynch, who had stood up again, and a chilling coldness instantly pierced his bones.

His throat was dry, and an untimely remark slipped out as if out of control, his voice filled with helplessness:

"Damn it, we're finished."

The whistle blows, and purgatory begins anew!
As soon as the timeout ended, Lynch hit a jump shot over both Luol Deng and Chris Bosh.

Lynch widened the gap once again, which was so close.

Derrick Rose attempted to replicate his previous performance that tore apart the rotation, using a screen to push off the ground and explode like an arrow piercing the Knicks' heart.

However, what awaited him was Lin Qi's anticipated, devastating block that seemed to come crashing down from the sky.

"boom--!!!"

The basketball was slapped away by that giant, sky-covering hand, and the sound of it hitting the floor echoed in the hearts of Chicagoans like a heavy hammer.

Ruthless! Decisive! This heralds the return of absolute dominance!

This was just the beginning of a nightmare! For the next few minutes, the air in the Joint Center seemed to freeze under Lynch's icy gaze.

He is everywhere and guards against everything!

Luol Deng was trying to sneak in along the baseline? Lynch's sliding steps were like a shadow, his long arms blocking out the sky, and he forcefully pinned the ball, which was about to go in, to the backboard.

Derrick Rose attempted a sudden stop-and-go mid-range jumper? Lynch's fingertips, like a ghostly claw predicting the trajectory, precisely swept across the side of the basketball.

Chris Bosh gets a second chance under the basket? Lynch arrives like lightning, his giant hand and the ball arriving almost simultaneously.

Every time the Bulls attacked, it was like hitting an incredibly hard wall.

Suffocating, despair.

The Knicks' counterattack was as fierce as a flood, each strike drawing blood.

With Lynch drawing defenders away from the offensive line, DeMar DeRozan and Ray Allen both hit crucial shots.

The point difference seemed to be torn apart by an invisible hand, from a suffocating 2 points to a deadly 12 points that silenced the United Center!
Mike Brin, sweating profusely, read aloud the data presented from the front lines with disbelief:
"Since Lynch entered the game, Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh have combined for the following points:"
zero!"

Michael Jordan was furious; he had no idea what those two idiots, Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh, were doing.

Despite leading by 12 points, Lynch remained on edge, giving his all in every defensive possession.

Scoring data has no impact on him at all.

His strong willpower allowed him to keep rolling around in the defensive quagmire.

Michael Jordan didn't want to admit it, but...
That guy truly has everything it takes to become a legend!
With two minutes left in the game, the Bulls' fate was sealed.

As Lynch extended the lead to 18 points with a turnaround jumper, Michael Jordan roared, "Enough! I've had enough of this damn game! Damn it, I shouldn't have come back to this damn place!"

Before the game, the dashing Michael Jordan stood up awkwardly, preparing to leave the court early.

Just then, a basketball hit Michael Jordan squarely.

It turned out that Chris Bosh had passed the ball out of bounds under Lynch's intense pressure defense.

What did Chris Bosh do wrong? It's perfectly normal for Bulls players to pass the ball to Michael Jordan in crucial moments!
Michael Jordan turned around angrily, just as Lynch walked to the sidelines.

He made no attempt to hide it, raising his arm to display the sports wristband on his wrist that read "Beyond Michael Jordan," as if showing off a trophy of conquest:
"See? This is the path to surpassing you, and I will walk it step by step on my own. I know you don't want to admit that you will be surpassed, but all you can do is sit here and watch helplessly!"

After saying that, Lin Qi abruptly put down his hand, turned around and ruthlessly turned his back to the basketball god, and strode back onto the court.

Michael Jordan did not answer and left the court early.

It wasn't until that moment that Chicago Bulls fans suddenly woke up.

The god of basketball has long since departed and will never return.

Ultimately, Lynch led his team to a 19-point victory over the in-form Chicago Bulls.

他今晚只拿下21分，但同时收获16个篮板8次助攻6次封盖4次抢断。

At the end of the game, he stood at the logo of the United Center, looking at the number 23 hanging high.

Then, he took off his number 20 jersey and held it high.

In this day and age, the god of basketball is not Michael Jordan.
-
"This is the kind of defense I've never seen in my career. Lynch is the greatest defensive player of all time." — Derrick Rose, who scored 28 points but shot less than 35% from the field, commented on Lynch's defense tonight.

Lynch's dedication ignited the Knicks. You know, not all star players can be completely indifferent to scoring stats. — Chris Bosh commenting on the Knicks' resilience tonight.

The New York Knicks' fluctuating performance over the past month has been worrying, leading many to believe their dynasty was on the verge of collapse. But tonight, we saw what Lynch can do, and what this Knicks team can do. A three-peat won't be easy, but Lynch will make it happen.

As for my old friend Michael? Ha, he just won't face reality. Admit it, I'm right, Lynch will eventually surpass you.

— Charles Barkley's post-game summary.

"Jermaine, how did your first game with the Knicks feel?"

"It's incredible. This team has an unparalleled locker room atmosphere. You know, I thought the Knicks were demoralized and chaotic right now. But this team doesn't look like a team whose starting center just requested a trade and whose starting point guard is injured."

“DeMar just mentioned that Shane Battier gave a short speech before the fourth quarter. How important do you think he was to the locker room?”

"Sean is very important. He's the kind of player that everyone in the locker room trusts and listens to."

But Lynch was the most important; his leadership and outstanding performance kept us convinced from beginning to end that we could win.

"One last question: Will your relationship with Ron affect the team? It's said that you haven't spoken to him yet."

"It won't have any impact, and I won't try to talk to him. There's nothing between us."

— Jermaine O'Neal in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

(Thanks to the experts who wanted to know for their donations)
(Today's update is 8000 words, slightly reduced by 2000 words)

(End of this chapter)