Champion Rules

Chapter 293, page 289: A Temperature Even Hotter Than Miami (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

Klay Thompson looked at Lynch on the sidelines and confidently held up four fingers:
"Hey Lynch, I know you want me, but I'm at least a top-four pick. You guys better trade for a higher draft pick!"

Clay Thompson was very confident; in fact, he had tried his best to appear humble in front of Lynch.

In an interview after the last game, he bluntly stated, "I should have been drafted before Kyrie Irving."

He now says he's at least fourth overall, which is quite low-key.

Clay's confidence was not unfounded; his predicted ranking had always been very high, and he himself hadn't expected to fall to 11th in history.

The reason he wore number 11 after entering the NBA was to remind himself never to forget this shame.

On the court, Klay Thompson received the ball, dribbled behind his back, switched hands, and fell down like an idiot. The opponent picked up the ball and slammed it down on a fast break.

I wanted to have a cool time, but I ended up pooping a big one!

Lynch clapped softly.

Wow, beautiful! So beautiful.

This kind of embarrassing situation has to be done by foreigners.

Klay Thompson's dribbling, Stephen Curry's dunk, LeBron James's dream shake, and Ben Simmons' shooting are considered the four great skills of comedic basketball.

Just that one shot, Lynch even doubted that he was watching Klay Thompson, not Klay Thompson!
But to be fair, putting aside this blunder, Klay Thompson's overall performance today was indeed commendable.

During his college years, he was already the best pure shooter in the NCAA, bar none.

His game sense, his off-ball movement, and his jump shot are all at a level of perfection.

Although his ball handling was worse than expected, his excellent defense, which he had shown after entering the league, was not displayed in the games.

But this did not prevent him from dominating the NCAA.

As the final whistle blew, Klay Thompson walked straight to Lynch and shook his hand.

He knew perfectly well that Lynch's personal visit was nothing short of an invisible invitation to the New York stage.

Klay Thompson was eager to go to New York to team up with Lynch.

It's not just about winning honors.

Also, because he and Lynch share the same interest—sleeping with models, lots and lots of models!

How can you call this trash?

That's called the similarity of great players!
The Knicks' threat level will be further enhanced in the future.

Because of the names of Lynch and Klay, Victoria's Secret models dare not cry at night!
Finding a teammate with the same interests is incredibly difficult; Klay Thompson really wants to report to New York.

Lynch didn't have a bad impression of this kid. Although he was overly confident and loved to show off, he was much more polite than that jerk Kyrie Irving.

That evening, Lynch treated Clay to dinner.

They discussed the draft, and Lynch made no secret of his admiration for him. Sam Presti also stated that the Knicks have never given up on pursuing higher draft picks.

All of this delighted Klay Thompson.

After dinner, when Lynch said he was going back to the hotel, Clay Thompson was surprised: "Is it over?"

Lin Qi was also surprised: "Otherwise what?"

Shouldn't we take a look at DC at 4 a.m. together?

"Sorry, Klay, I have a game tomorrow night. If you want to train together, there will be plenty of opportunities when we get to New York."

Clay Thompson was filled with awe.

To be able to talk about partying in nightclubs like preparing for the championship—that's the art of conversation of a superstar!
I still have a lot to learn!

On the way back to the hotel, Lynch and Sam Presti exchanged opinions.

They all believe that Kyrie Irving is still the best option.

Currently, it seems that Klein Thompson's problem is the same as that of Kawhi Leonard at San Diego State University.

They all possess enviable talent packages, but the time needed to unlock their magnificent potential is probably not something the New York Knicks have.

Lynch's impression of them mostly comes from their peak period after entering the NBA.

However, in reality, it often takes some players quite a while to go from entering the league to reaching their peak.

If you examine the early stages of their careers using the impressions of their peak years, you'll find a vast difference between them.

For example, Lynch was surprised by Klay Thompson's almost non-existent presence on the defensive end tonight.

Some people need almost no time to adapt to the NBA.

They may not have a very high ceiling, but their immediate impact is such that they can be put into a championship team immediately.

Kyrie Irving is that kind of player.

In terms of peak performance, Kawhi Leonard was definitely the highest among the three.

He can punish not only his opponents and emperors, but also capital.

Klay was also good in his prime; he was a true all-around good second-in-command.

However, if the Knicks want to continue competing for the championship and surpass the three-peat, Carter and Klay Thompson may not be the best options.

Because when the Knicks desperately needed them to fight for the championship, they hadn't been able to make any substantial contributions.

For most lottery teams, they would certainly choose the better future.

However, the unique nature of the Manhattan Project meant that the Knicks' draft logic could not follow the old ways.

Immediate impact players are what the New York Knicks need most right now.

Acquiring both immediate impact players and potential players would be most beneficial for the New York Knicks.

Among the players drafted in 11, Kyrie Irving is practically the only one who meets these criteria.

His potential is not as high as Kawhi Leonard's, but it's not low either.

His versatility isn't as good as Klay's, but it's still decent.

However, he possesses combat capabilities that the other two lack.

Looking at the first four years of his career, Kyrie Irving was a better player than them.

For the Knicks' Manhattan plan to succeed, and for Lynch to realize his plans for the end of his career, the fighting spirit of this rookie in the early stages of his career is crucial.

The only problem is that without the number one draft pick, there would definitely be no Kyrie Irving.

Sam Presti scratched his head: "This is the trouble of happiness, huh?"

It is indeed a happy kind of trouble.

Lynch was fortunate to be able to work with someone like Sam Presti, who cleverly turned the team's crisis into an opportunity.

But Lin Qi also knew that one must be strong to succeed.

After returning to New York from Washington State University, Lynch led his team to a narrow 122-89 victory over the Clippers.

Good news: Tyson Chandler exploded for 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Bad news: He fouled out and had to wear a jacket after only 28 minutes of play.

Many media figures joked about Tyson Chandler's excessive fouls tonight:

"Tyson won the championship ring in New York, so of course he has to help New York win the number one draft pick!"

Lynch personally increased the odds of winning the top scorer draw.

Throughout December, the Knicks' record became much more stable.

Compared to losing five games in November, the Knicks only lost two games in December.

With a record of 25 wins and 7 losses, the Knicks remain at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

However, the loss in the Christmas game dampened the gradually stabilizing results.

That night, the Miami Heat didn't hesitate to triple-team Lynch in crucial moments.

Even Lynch would face a tough battle against Dwyane Wade, Andre Iguodala, and Pau Gasol simultaneously.

Goran Dragic's shots are decisive, but the Flash always manages to quickly recover. His long-range shooting becomes less consistent when disrupted.

DeMar DeRozan lacks long-range threat, so Andre Iguodala's recovery and support are even more effective.

Ultimately, the Miami Heat won by 8 points thanks to their extreme defense.

The Miami Heat's defensive tactics in crucial moments this season are similar to those of the Knicks in the 90s—suffocating pressure, forcing their star player to pass the ball, and creating turnovers.

But their offense was much better than the Knicks of the 90s. Once a turnover occurred, Dwyane Wade and Andre Iguodala's athleticism was enough to make that counterattack devastating.

Once on the field, Pau Gasol shines.

The Heat have had an outstanding season, proving that Pat Riley's offseason trade of Paul Pierce for Andre Iguodala was a smart move.

As it turns out, if the Heat had replaced LeBron James with any All-Star caliber small forward, their fighting power wouldn't have been too bad.

At the end of the game, Dwyane Wade said smugly, "Linche, this time it's my turn to tell you that you won't be able to hold onto your number one spot in the East for long. What I've lost, I will definitely take back."

"Dwayne, you have some nerve. Don't forget I gave you a starting point guard spot."

"Hahaha, so this is the King of New York's excuse?" "It's not an excuse, it's the truth. Just a reminder, don't mistake chance for certainty."

"I really hope Steve will be able to play in time for the next game when we meet again."

“You wouldn’t really want that, Dwayne.”

Dwyane Wade watched Lynch walk away, his joy still lingering.

This season, he has already beaten Lynch twice at Madison Square Garden, the holy grail of basketball.

Looking back on the first two seasons when I was overwhelmed by Lynch, it's something I never even dared to imagine.

Yes, Lynch, through his leadership and the team's excellent management, has temporarily maintained the steady course of this dynasty ship amidst the storms.

The cracks that led to decline were never truly healed.

Dwyane Wade knew this was an opportunity; the only time he played in the NBA Finals in his career was when the Knicks were at their weakest.

Now, the pointer of fate seems to be swinging once again.
He believed his opportunity had come again.

If Lynch believes Steve Nash's return can save him, the Flash will shatter that illusion at their next meeting.

The calendar turned to 2011, and the cold, white equipment at the Greenburg Rehabilitation Center gleamed.

Steve Nash's workout clothes were soaked with sweat. Every monotonous weightlifting and every stumbling step on the treadmill seemed to be his way of trying to drive away the anxiety in his heart.

The calendar on the wall, like a silent hourglass, turned page by page, proclaiming that the mid-January return date set by the medical team for him was just around the corner.

For fans, two months may pass quickly.

But for Steve Nash, it felt like an eternity.

Anxiety, like a venomous insect gnawing at his bones, gnawed at him day and night.

He longed to return to the battlefield because he knew that Lynch was nearing his limit in carrying the weight he was on his own.

Goran Dragic gritted his teeth and shouldered the burden, making remarkable progress, but he is ultimately not Steve Nash.

The sooner he returns to the game, the sooner he can help share the burden with Lynch.

After another round of training, Wind Child collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, letting the sweat soak into the cold rubber mat.

He knew all too well that winning the third crown of a dynasty was often like climbing the steepest cliff.

But only by experiencing it firsthand can one understand that this is by no means a short sprint with gritted teeth, but a long and desperate journey full of thorns.

This places extremely high demands on willpower and the desire to win.

With a soft click, the door to the physiotherapy room was pushed open.

Lynch's familiar figure was like a ray of light dispelling the gloom, once again shining into this space filled with sweat and willpower.

"How are you, Steve? How are you feeling today?"

Steve Nash sat up from the floor: "It couldn't be better. I feel like I'll be back soon."

"What's the rush?" Lynch leaned against the doorframe. "Didn't Philip set your return date for mid-January?"

"He didn't specify which match he would make his comeback?"

Lynch shrugged: "Maybe the game against the Wizards?"

"A prodigy? Why?"

"There's no particular reason. Philip said you've just recovered from your injury and need time to adjust. The Wizards won't put you under much pressure; you can easily play for about twenty minutes, warm up your muscles, and get back into the swing of things. Just be careful not to get shaken up by that John Wall kid."

Steve Nash didn't relax because of the joke, but seriously asked, "Why not the Miami Heat game? I was already fully recovered by then."

"You're definitely recovered, but do you really want to go up against Dwyane Wade right after returning from a two-month hiatus? You know Dwyane's defensive style, and his 'enthusiasm' for your ankle is no joke. Wake up, this is too risky."

Steve Nash didn't ask any more questions. Even after Lynch left for a long time, he remained silent, his clenched fists leaving deep finger marks on his knees.

In early January, the New York Knicks maintained their level of play.

But losses to the Spurs and Mavericks allowed the Miami Heat to gradually close the gap.

Ray Allen's sudden ankle injury has had a significant impact on the Knicks.

1月14日，双方再一次相遇之前，尼克斯30胜9负，迈阿密热火29胜10负。

If the Miami Heat win their next home game, they will top the Eastern Conference with the same record as the Knicks, based on their head-to-head record.

Dwyane Wade is really looking forward to tonight.

"I will give Miamiers a night of cheers."

The day before departing for Miami, Flip Saunders called a meeting with the coaching staff after finishing training.

They are almost certain that the Miami Heat will replicate that damn three-man pressure tactic in the crucial moments of the night after tomorrow.

Originally, the coaching staff planned to replace DeMar DeRozan with Ray Allen in the final moments to give Lynch more space.

But Ray Allen won't be playing in the next game—he can play with an injury, his ankle is only slightly sprained, but Philip Sanders doesn't want to take the risk.

The meeting yielded no results; they didn't have enough cards to play to break down the Heat's defensive strategy.

As Flip Saunders stepped out of the coaching staff meeting room, he saw Steve Nash standing at the door, having been waiting for who knows how long.

Philip Sanders knew why he was there and preemptively said, "Don't even think about it, Steve."

Steve Nash remained unmoved, as calm as tempered iron: "Can we go inside and talk?"
-
At noon on January 13, Lynch drove his Land Rover to JFK International Airport.

Everyone will gather at the airport and then fly to Miami.

The wheels rolled over the road, and Dwyane Wade's voice on the radio scorched the air:

"Hey, I beat him in the playoffs, didn't I? Why can't I beat him again?"

"Lin Qi is very strong, he is my friend, but I am determined to win the top spot in the East."

"He's not the kind of person who's petty; he wouldn't get angry just because I beat him."

As Lynch drove, he tapped the steering wheel with his fingertips.

Yes, he and The Flash have a good relationship.

But the thought of him actually returning to the top of the Eastern Conference at home filled him with a cold, unspoken displeasure that surged up like a tide.

Lin Qi parked his car in the designated VIP area of ​​the parking lot. Just as he locked the door, a familiar, slightly hoarse voice broke the silence, carrying a long-lost warmth:
"Hey, Big Fella."

Lynch looked up and saw Steve Nash, dressed in a suit and tie, leaning against the door frame.

His long, flowing hair, which he had kept for many years, had vanished without a trace, replaced by an extremely short buzz cut, which made his face, etched with the marks of time, look even more rugged.

Steve Nash met Lynch's shocked gaze, stepped forward, and forcefully extended his palm upward: "I'm back, buddy."

Lynch could roughly guess what Steve Nash had done, and he couldn't help but smile: "How did you convince Philip?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that we'll fight side by side. And then, let those bastards in Miami stay in second place!"

Steve Nash tightened his grip on Lynch's hand as he spoke, as if he wanted to crush all doubts.

"Oh, when did you become so rude? But it does suit your new hairstyle quite well."

What do you think of my new look?

"Want to hear the truth?"

"of course."

"So ugly it's shocking."

"asshole."
-
Steve Nash knew he was about to face one of the most suffocating chains on the modern backcourt.

He wore his familiar jersey and stepped into the dazzling light at the end of the American Airlines Arena tunnel.

In an instant, a deafening roar of boos poured down like molten lava, and the crimson sea in the stands churned in fury!
Steve Nash walked to the center of the court, picked up a basketball, and gently stroked the familiar surface of the basketball.

He looked up, his gaze like a precise sniper scope, locking onto the Flash who was poised to unleash his attack in the opposite half of the court.

Most people were surprised by Steve Nash's early return.

Including Dwyane Wade.

He told reporters, "I know the New Yorkers are desperate to keep their top spot in the East, but are they just going to throw Steve at me like that? That will ruin him. He's not ready to face our brutal defense. Just wait and see, that will destroy his rhythm and confidence."

Shortly after, Lin Qi also gave an interview before the match.

The reporter relayed Flash's words to Lynch.

Lin Qi feigned surprise: "He really said that?"

"Not a single word is different," the reporter replied.

"My God, it seems Dwayne hasn't figured out the situation yet."

It wasn't that Steve was pitifully dumped in front of him.

It was him and his Miami Heat who were cruelly thrown in front of the New York Knicks, whose starting lineup had been completely restored!

Just then, the basketball hoop unleashed a burst of flames to liven things up, the light illuminating Lynch's face.

The temperature in his heart had long surpassed the heat of Miami.

(End of this chapter)