Champion Rules

Chapter 301, Section 297: The Champion's Fuse (Seeking monthly votes!)

Until the Dallas Mavericks get the number one pick in 2025, the 2011 number one pick will be a hot topic among fans and the media for a long time.

Less than ten minutes after the lottery results were announced, all sorts of conspiracy theories were already spreading widely online.

Some believe this is David Stern's way of thanking Lynch—for stepping aside during a crucial season in his quest for a three-peat to resolve the labor dispute, preventing a lockout and bringing a perfect end to his commissioner career.

Analysts even scrutinized David Stern's micro-expressions at the time, deciphering a whole set of central ideas that even he himself might not have known.

Some have suggested that David Stern may simply want to create another basketball god before retiring, and therefore chose to support Lynch in breaking the three-peat limit.

Many people believe that Chinese capital manipulates the lottery draw. Considering the increasing number of Chinese sponsors in the NBA and the fact that the NBA is the most internationalized of the four major North American sports leagues, the NBA would naturally strongly support the capital behind international players.

"Imagine a husband with a health condition that makes it almost impossible for him to conceive, suddenly discovering that his wife is pregnant. His first reaction wouldn't be that he's lucky, but rather that he'd immediately investigate whether someone else is interfering!"

Of course, this claim was quickly refuted by another group of American fans.

"Many people like to demonize China now, but in fact we have always been the more magical one."

Just a few days ago, a Chinese netizen posted on social media that their trains could pass through buildings, which shocked many Americans. But think about it, we've been able to fly through buildings for 10 years.

So, let's stop blaming Chinese capital; this may well be David Stern's own decision.

Don't worry about why he made that decision, because you never know what will happen in America.

Many fans believe that the New York Knicks were simply lucky. While the Clippers weren't the team with the highest probability of getting the number one draft pick, they certainly weren't the lowest either, so getting the number one pick was quite normal.

Whatever the truth may be, this will be recorded in history as an ending where the answer remains a mystery forever.

Regardless of the truth, this outcome will not change.

Lynch turned off the TV and sent James Dolan a text message: "The rest is up to us."

The burden on the New York Kings' shoulders suddenly became heavy, because he knew that the team had the basic conditions to surpass a three-peat.

If he fails to achieve that unprecedented feat, the responsibility will inevitably fall on Lynch's own shoulders.

This lottery ticket is far from an automatic ticket to success.

Historically, the Cleveland Cavaliers had the most number one draft picks in the 21st century, but they weren't particularly successful.

David Stern often chose to be selectively blind when the Cavaliers were in the draft lottery, and as a result, they never won.

Four number one draft picks were barely enough to secure a controversial championship, and David Stern practically wished he could have been the one to win.

Getting the top scorer's pick doesn't guarantee success.

Success lies in making good use of the top scorer's ticket.

The next day, the uproar over the draw had not yet subsided, and the entire league was still reeling from the aftershocks of the earthquake.

Shaquille O'Neal expressed his astonishment on social media, calling it a "game-changing moment that will rewrite the course of NBA history."

Charles Barkley, however, believes that the talent of the 11 draft class is not enough to support Lynch's ambitions, and that even if the Knicks get the number one pick, it will be difficult to break history.

He also emphasized: "Don't be misled. Even if Lynch doesn't surpass the three-peat, as long as he wins the championship this year, he will be enough to threaten MJ's status!"

On the other side of the storm's eye, LeBron James watched the overwhelming commotion with a detached and bewildered expression.

People are saying that Lynch has a good chance of seizing this opportunity to surpass his three-peat.

But in reality, Lynch's third consecutive championship is still hanging in the air, not yet in his pocket!
Can't you be a little more practical like me? Don't take out loans to consume in advance so easily.

Moreover, LeBron James doesn't see giving the Knicks the number one draft pick as a catastrophe.

Because he acknowledged that he had the most promising teammates in the entire league.

No name in the 2011 draft could compare to the talent and brilliance of Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

LeBron James still has the advantage in terms of teammates.

LBJ did not comment on the Knicks getting the number one draft pick, but left an intriguing post on social media:
"A true king never places his hopes on others."

DeAndre Jordan looked at this post and showed off his phone on the subway.

You're the kind of player who could easily get a disability certificate by just finding any clip from a game (because he would always fall down for no reason; this was the period when LBJ was most addicted to flopping), and you call yourself the King?

And who is it that always places their hopes on others?
LeBron James's remarks always give people an abstract feeling that his cerebellum is underdeveloped and his brain is completely undeveloped.

The sound of the locker room door being pushed open interrupted DeAndre Jordan's thoughts.

He looked up and saw that it was Lin Qi walking in.

So he immediately asked, "Hey Lynch, who are we going to pick with this number one pick? Is it really Kyrie? Or is he just a smokescreen?"

When DeAndre Jordan asked this question, everyone else in the locker room also looked up curiously.

As the center of the media storm, the Knicks players themselves were also curious about the arrival of this number one draft pick.

Lin Qi glanced around the locker room with a serious expression and answered decisively:

"Before winning this championship, we forbade any discussion of the number one draft pick, either internally or in front of the media. Remember, our next stop isn't the draft, it's Miami. Our trouble isn't the future, it's Dwyane Wade right here."
-
Dwyane Wade returned to the South Coast, and even with a 0-2 deficit, the city was still eager for a big win.

From one end of the alley to the other, fans wearing bright red No. 3 jerseys formed a sea of ​​jubilation.

The huge poster hanging outside the building, with the slogan "Miracles happen here," was scorching and dazzling under the Miami sun.

Will a miracle happen here?

For Dwyane Wade, a miracle must happen here.

This was the Miami Heat's last chance to make a comeback.

If the series score becomes 3-0, all the struggles will come to an end in despair.

On the car radio, a reporter was randomly interviewing fans on the street, and their optimistic voices almost filled the carriage.

They generally felt confident about the Heat's Game 3, believing the team would definitely be able to adjust.

One fan's comment made Dwyane Wade's shoulder line tense slightly:

In Miami, the basketball god has never been named Lynch, nor Michael Jordan!

Regardless of victory or defeat, Miami fans have never hesitated to shower Dwyane Wade with thunderous support.

This is not just the Flash's home turf; it has become a part of his life.

Here, he went from being a greenhorn to reaching the pinnacle, tasting the sweetness of glory and swallowing the bitter fruit of defeat, falling and getting up countless times.

Here, he became the embodiment of children's dreams, a proud medal on the chest of this city.

He is the soul and totem forged by this team, the eternally burning basketball flame on the South Coast.

The next game will be more than just about winning.

It concerns whether a city hero can shoulder the heavy responsibility that has already been forged into his shoulders.

Back home, Dwyane Wade gently placed the cigar box, which held countless obsessions, into his small bag for the next day.

He would shed his last drop of sweat and blood on the battlefield tomorrow night.

He wanted to drag Lynch into a deadly battle as well.

He hoped that the cigar would witness all his journeys.

Game 3 of the series started on time at the American Airlines Center.

Dwyane Wade showed excellent form right from the start of the game. After breaking through, he faced Lynch's help defense, but instead of continuing to drive recklessly, he suddenly stopped, then turned and faded back to make the jump shot.

At this moment, Dwyane Wade is no longer just the lightning bolt who can tear apart defenses with speed alone.

His technique and details have become increasingly refined.

He now has a wide range of offensive options and is no longer limited to forcing his way into the basket.

One possession later, the Flash received the ball beyond the three-point line and hit a three-pointer.

Dwyane Wade in 2011 was a complete and accomplished version of himself.

Eleven years ago, his skills were not comprehensive enough; eleven years later, his health has been deteriorating.

Only at this moment, the perfect symphony of technique and physicality played the most brilliant movement of his career.

The only person who could stop Dwyane Wade in 2011 was that man.

The roar of the fans swept through the arena like a tsunami, and the chants for MVP were deafening.

In this frenzied furnace, Dwyane Wade's engine roared to its limit.

By halftime, he had already scored 23 points, and the Miami Heat were leading by 5 points.

Facing the deafening roar, The Flash proudly pointed to the floor beneath his feet—

This is his territory, and he is orchestrating the entire operation to ignite the final flames of war for this city.

During halftime, Dwyane Wade was being interviewed by reporters.

At that moment, Pau Gasol suddenly burst into the frame. The big man reached out and affectionately ruffled the Flash's hair, loudly declaring to the camera, "You guys have to respect this guy!"

Dwyane Wade's individual performance ignited the entire team; in the third quarter, the entire Heat team seemed to be injected with a surge of adrenaline.

Andre Iguodala almost completely shut down DeMar DeRozan, who only managed 6 points in the third quarter tonight.

Dwyane Wade has also given up on physical conditioning, relentlessly attacking Steve Nash on the defensive end, while continuing to take on a huge role and charge into battle on the offensive end.

Even the usually elegant Pau Gasol showed his fighting spirit, repeatedly grabbing crucial offensive rebounds in fierce battles in the paint.

Not only the players, but even the head coach showed a do-or-die determination.

Erik Spoelstra significantly increased the playing time of Dwyane Wade, Andre Iguodala, and Pau Gasol tonight.

There is only one goal—to fight this do-or-die battle at all costs!

All of this seemed to foreshadow a heroic night for the Miami Heat.

After three quarters, the Heat led by 8 points, with Dwyane Wade having 33 points.

Lynch also contributed 30 points – the Heat changed their defensive strategy, forcing him to take on a lot of responsibility in the first three quarters, no longer able to easily build up his energy in the first three quarters as he did in the previous two games, and then save his energy bomb for the fourth quarter.

Erik Spoelstra deliberately reduced his help defense on Lynch tonight, preventing the Knicks from scoring from multiple positions.

Finally, in the fourth quarter, Erik Spoelstra unleashed his trump card – Andre Iguodala guarding Lynch one-on-one.

"Small defense against big" was the Los Angeles Lakers' trump card strategy against Lynch in last season's Finals.

Although Lynch's ball-handling and offensive abilities have improved significantly this season, reducing the effectiveness of this move, it is still the Heat's last and only option at this moment.

Pau Gasol was unable to compete with Lynch on the perimeter.

If all the defensive resources are piled on Lynch, the Knicks' role players, who are in top form, will immediately unleash a barrage of attacks.

Therefore, the best approach is to have Andre Iguodala defend Lynch one-on-one.

The best approach would be to leave the game to Lynch and Dwyane Wade in the fourth quarter.

As the fourth quarter began, Dwyane Wade, number 3, who had battled Lynch for seven years and only won once, stood at the top of the arc, scanning his home court with sharp eyes.

His gaze passed over the shoulder of his opponent and landed on his most formidable adversary.

That number 20, he had almost no weaknesses, he was incredibly strong.

But at this moment, Dwyane Wade must find a way to take him down.

He didn't want to lose again; he didn't want to spend his entire career chasing his first title.

After getting into position, everything was ready, and number 3 signaled to his teammates to step forward and provide cover.

Nene Hilario set a screen, Dwyane Wade jumped high after hanging on, and made a pull-up jumper.

Dwyane Wade scored 35 points, giving the Heat a double-digit lead!
He didn't even glance at Wilson Chandler in front of him, but just shouted at Lynch:
"Forget about the top draft pick, Lynch, this is where your trouble lies!"

Steve Nash had just crossed half-court when he was once again tightly marked by the number 3 player.

He tried to find DeMar DeRozan, but Mario Chalmers, as aggressive as a bulldog, didn't leave the young man even the slightest opening to receive the ball.

Steve Nash eventually passed the ball to Lynch, who received it at the top of the key, where Andre Iguodala immediately marked him closely.

Now, it's number 20's turn to make a move.

The experienced Andre Iguodala had no intention of giving Lynch any space to pass the ball. Lynch took advantage of the situation, lowering his shoulder and using his solid back as a powerful hammer to forcefully pound towards the basket.

During the play, Andre Iguodala tried to disrupt Lynch's back-to-the-basket dribble, but Lynch's large hands acted like suction cups, firmly controlling the ball and skillfully avoiding every challenge.

Fortunately for Heat fans, after losing weight, Lynch's pure physical strength can no longer completely overwhelm Andre Iguodala as it used to, making it more difficult for him to score.

But so what?
Lynch doesn’t need to be close to the basket to score. He fakes a shoulder to the left near the free-throw line, then immediately flips over and leans back in the opposite direction, shooting the ball into the fingertips!

The score difference was back to 8 points. Lin Qi clenched his fist and roared, "Trouble? Old buddy, the biggest trouble you've ever caused me in your life was during the last labor negotiations!"

The two exchanged trash talk, and their scores climbed together.

The next few rounds were a spectacular showdown between the two superstars.

Dwyane Wade just broke down New York's defense with an incredible layup.

Lynch responded with a step-back jump shot.

Dwyane Wade drives to the basket and then takes a drift shot.

Lin Qi immediately called for the ball in the low post, and with his exquisite footwork and feint, he easily scored two points with a hook shot off the backboard!

They are not in the same position, but that does not prevent them from exerting the same sense of pressure on each other.

But the cheers at the American Airlines Center never stopped. For the Knicks, who were down by 8 points, what they needed was not just a back-and-forth offensive battle, but a deadly offensive wave that could turn the tide of the game.

Dwyane Wade knew that neither he nor Lynch could afford to make a mistake, nor could they allow the raging fire of their offensive to be extinguished even for a moment.

Once Lynch's offensive momentum stalls, the Heat can immediately widen the score gap.

Once Dwyane Wade's offensive momentum stalls, his advantage will be completely wiped out.

Both sides are walking on the edge of a knife, with no way out!
This fierce battle, a battle for both the superstar and the team's survival, has already raged for more than half a quarter.

On the scoreboard, Flash's personal score was a breathtaking 43 points, while Lynch's name was followed by an equally impressive 40 points.

In the do-or-die Eastern Conference semifinals, both of their key players scored over 40 points, their intensity setting the air on fire.

This is undoubtedly a visual feast for all fans.

But Philip Sanders was not satisfied with the current situation; he had no one who could truly contain the burning No. 3.

DeMar DeRozan is still relatively inexperienced and his skills are still somewhat immature.

Wilson Chandler's momentary hesitation in taking a step was like a slow-motion replay in the face of the Flash's absolute speed.

In the first two games, the Knicks defeated the Heat with a stronger team offense, rather than by locking down Dwight Howard.

But tonight, with the Heat changing their strategy and the Knicks no longer able to easily defeat them with offense, containing Dwyane Wade was the key to victory.

DeShawn Stevenson volunteered to give it a try. He has been practicing his footwork hard recently and is confident that he can turn Dwyane Wade and his teammate Nene Hilario into a tough old man within three minutes.

This suggestion was naturally rejected; Lynch didn't need that kind of victory.

Unless the opponent is LeBron James.

Ultimately, Mike Malone's suggestion brought the star matchup to its purest conclusion: "We'll match Lynch against him!"

But Philip Sanders waved his hand: "Lynch needs to put all his energy into the offense, and besides, he can't keep up with Dwayne's speed!"

Lynch admits that his speed is incredible for his size. But if compared to Dwyane Wade, his pride in speed pales in comparison.

Therefore, the Knicks did not make any substantial changes during this timeout.

The game continued, with both sides still trading blows.

However, the gap in physical fitness was already widening beneath their feet, and Lynch and The Flash's offensive efficiency inevitably began to decline.

Thanks to Dwyane Wade's several missed jump shots and DeMar DeRozan's two excellent isolation plays, the point difference was swallowed up to only 4 points.

Heat fans were on tenterhooks, but thankfully Lynch started to falter, and DeMar DeRozan also began to make mistakes due to fatigue. The four-point difference became a stubborn thorn in their side, and the game remained deadlocked until the final two minutes.

Now it's not just the two star players; the role players on both sides are panting and struggling to move.

The referee deliberately increased the intensity of the game, allowing both sides to use more aggressive moves on defense and permitting more physical contact during defensive plays.

This is unlike the small-ball era, where the referee would penalize a defensive player even if they were just standing on the court.

This almost barbaric scale results in the depletion of one's soul.

Wilson Chandler was completely unable to stop Dwyane Wade in the following rounds.

With just one step, The Flash can create a gap of a full body length.

If it weren't for the Flash's own shooting touch being affected by physical condition, the point difference would probably have been much wider.

On the bench, Philip Sanders had a furrowed brow.

The Heat's fighting spirit far exceeded expectations; for them, this was a crucial battle to establish themselves. If they were to secure this home-court victory, the entire series would be dragged into a quagmire.

To destroy their will, we must plunge them into the abyss of despair tonight!

When the game was paused again, he finally gave in: "Lynch, you guard Dwyane!"

With Lynch's stamina nearing its limit, this is a risky choice, and the Knicks could very well be burned by this gamble.

If Lynch is unable to contain The Flash, the extra physical exertion will further deplete his final offensive firepower.

But now, Philip Sanders can only trust number 20.

The King of New York who could always overcome all obstacles.

On the other side, Dwyane Wade once again pulled out his cigar case from under the bench, the expensive cigar fuse resting quietly in the velvet.

Pat Riley's thick hand landed on his shoulder at just the right moment: "Victory will be for the brave. Go, Dwayne."

The Flash turned and stared intently at Pat Riley: "I don't want this cigar to wait too long. It should burn in the flames of victory, not trapped in this damn box."

The timeout ended, and both teams returned to the court.

Dwyane Wade wiped his sweat, then saw Lynch walk up to him and put his hands on his knees.

"Lin Qi, you don't think that trash-talking at this time can disturb my mind, do you?"

"I'm not here to trash talk."

"Then what are you here for?"

Lynch turned his head, and his icy gaze gave Dwyane Wade goosebumps.

"I'm here to end your performance."

The game began, and Dwyane Wade, after receiving the ball, stared incredulously ahead.

He couldn't believe that Lin Qi was actually directly facing him!
His first reaction wasn't to challenge Lynch one-on-one, but to find Pau Gasol.

Wilson Chandler's aggressive fronting made passing to Gasol a very dangerous offensive option.

Dwyane Wade lacked the confidence to feed the ball directly to the Spaniard, so he waved his hand.

Let's start one-on-one!

The Flash starts moving to the left, gains half a body length, then suddenly closes the ball and quickly steps to the right to break through – the Mysterious Step.

But Lynch reacted quickly. He was also a master of the Euro step, and he guessed the Flash's intention the moment the ball came together.

But Dwyane Wade was too fast. Even though Lynch reacted quickly, he still gave number 3 half a body length of space.

The Flash scores with a floater, and the floor of American Airlines Center shakes.

The whole of Miami was chanting for that number 3, just for him!
Dwyane Wade pounded his chest and roared, "You can't stop me!"

Flip Saunders clenched his fist so tightly it almost broke his palm. Was it the right choice to let Lynch conserve his limited energy on the defensive end?
He had no answer until the result of the match was announced.

Fortunately, Lynch immediately scored a goal to keep the score close.

Lynch faced Andre Iguodala, his shoulders slightly lowered—with just a feint of a probing step, Andre Iguodala took a half-step back, and Lynch seized this tiny opening to complete his shot, sinking a three-pointer!

The sound of the net churning and scraping was like cold water being poured into a boiling oil pan, and the point difference was only 3 points!
Having succeeded in his attack, Lynch didn't even catch his breath. He immediately turned around and, in the heart of that raging inferno, firmly opened his arms once more, welding his icy gaze to Dwyane Wade.

This was the bloodiest showdown in their seven-year feud!
If The Flash wants to win, he must personally step over Lynch's corpse!

Lynch also knew that as long as he personally killed the Flash who had played exceptionally well tonight, the Heat would no longer be able to stop the fully-formed New York Knicks.

Dwyane Wade didn't call for a screen and once again used his speed to overpower Lynch.

Lynch was half a body length behind, but his long arms kept the Flash within his defensive range.

The Flash didn't slow down; taking advantage of Nene blocking DeAndre Jordan, he chose to attack the basket directly.

Of course, Dwyane Wade knew just how terrifying Lynch's defensive range was.

In mid-air, he deliberately switched hands to pull the lever to avoid Lynch's block.

But when he switched hands and lifted the ball, Lynch's large hand still swung down heavily like a warhammer, swatting the ball away!
The live stream camera instantly switched to the area below the backboard, where Heat fans in the first row covered their mouths with their hands, their wide eyes filled with disbelief.

On the Knicks' bench, everyone jumped up and waved towels.

Ray Allen was the only Knicks player still sitting down, but beneath his chest, the blood was still boiling with passion.

Why was this team's locker room able to calm down after experiencing turmoil?

You could say that Sean Battier played a crucial role as a lubricant.

You could say that Sam Presti's decisive trade prevented the conflict from escalating further.

Ultimately, however, the team's winning mentality stems from Lynch.

Everyone firmly believed that as long as they could temporarily set aside their prejudices and follow in Lynch's footsteps, they could achieve success.

Just imagine, if this team had been led by LeBron James, there might never have been the Indianapolis reconciliation of the century.

Because Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal knew that even if they put aside their differences, they might not necessarily be able to achieve victory under LBJ's leadership.

But if it were Lynch, everything would be different.

Tonight, Dwyane Wade delivered what may be one of the most explosive playoff performances of his career, igniting what could be the most brilliant flame of his career.

The Heat were still in the lead at this point, and their situation was very favorable.

But Ray Allen still believed that Lynch could handle everything.

Throughout the season, this belief took root in the locker room and became the key to holding everything together.

The Knicks immediately countered, with Steve Nash delivering a precise long-range bounce shot that sliced ​​through the Heat's defense like a scalpel, finding the sprinting DeMar DeRozan.

The young man leaped into the air and slammed the ball into the basket with one hand!
Only 1 point difference!
As it turned out, Lynch didn't need to defend against that lightning strike every round. Just seizing those fleeting opportunities once or twice was enough to tip the scales of victory completely!

Now, all Dwyane Wade could hear was the sound of his own heavy breathing.

He believed Lynch felt the same way—those legs that had been running all night on the court must feel like they were filled with cold lead!

He must have reached his limit!

He can be defeated!

Dwyane Wade drove to the basket again, but this time he didn't go all the way to the end. Instead, he stopped abruptly a step behind the free-throw line and jumped high into the air.

But then, a sound rang out that silenced the entire American Airlines Center.

Snapped! ——

"Lynch blocked Dwyane's pull-up jumper! My God, he did it! Can he turn the game around!?"

As soon as the commentator finished speaking, Lin Qi rushed forward to pick up the blocked basketball, and despite being closely guarded by Andre Iguodala, he attacked the basket and put the ball in during the scramble!

Lynch's 51st point of the game puts the New York Knicks ahead!
Dwyane Wade had no idea how Lynch did it, how he could react so quickly when his physical strength was almost exhausted.

It's like people don't know why his speed can tear through time and air.

After scoring, Lynch pulled up his collar, wiped the sweat from his forehead, returned to his own half, and continued to stand next to Dwyane Wade.

His hand had already gripped the lightning bolt by the throat; if Number 3 couldn't break free, he would suffocate in the palm of the King of New York.

With a sudden stop and a turnaround fadeaway, Flash created even more space for his shot, and the basketball successfully cleared Lynch's hand.

but.
Boom!
The basketball hit the front edge of the rim, and Dwyane Wade missed his only chance to break free from the suffocating shackles!

The King of New York would never give him that chance.

Lynch controlled half the court, and the Flash was completely convinced of the impeccable defense of number 20 in the final few possessions.

Conversely, he couldn't match up against number 20 on the defensive end.

This left him feeling very helpless.

He watched as Lynch received the ball at the top of the key, faced Andre Iguodala, and called for a screen.

Dwyane Wade clenched his teeth.

No! He cannot stand idly by! He must stop this!
DeAndre Jordan set a screen, and Nene Hilario had to come out to defend the pick and roll.

While DeAndre Jordan himself doesn't pose a shooting threat, Lynch is far too much. If you don't switch on defense immediately after a pick-and-roll, Lynch will have enough space to close out a jump shot that could seal the game.

The screen is set, Lynch accelerates.

Andre Iguodala tried to steal the ball the instant Lynch made his move, but it was all in vain, because Lynch, having sensed what was happening, suddenly changed direction and forcefully cut into the empty space on the other side of the screen.

Fortunately, Nene Hilario, the world's toughest old man, was still able to switch on defense immediately.

As a small center, Nene is very mobile. Although his speed is not comparable to Lynch's, he still stayed close to Lynch's side and back, and was not completely shaken off.

But Lynch ignored his close defense, stepped into the restricted area, and immediately sprang into action, as if to set the sky ablaze!
At that moment, a black lightning bolt that tore through the air suddenly pierced into the restricted area!
After Michael Jordan, the power of the greatest rim protector in history was unleashed!

Dwyane Wade arrived perfectly to help defend, his leap reaching an astonishing height. He transformed into a soaring wall of sighs, blocking Lynch's path between him and the basket!

The Flash has repeatedly pulled off impressive feats, even outmaneuvering interior players on numerous occasions.

This time, although his jump height was exactly the same as Lynch's, Lynch's longer arms left the Flash far behind in basketball.

However, defense is not necessarily hopeless.

The two bodies collided violently in mid-air. Dwyane Wade was instantly thrown back by the immense force, while Lynch was also knocked backward, losing his balance.

Furthermore, he was still some distance from the basket at that moment.

A dunk might fail!
Lynch stretched his arms as far as he could, and Dwyane Wade landed heavily, looking up at the monster still struggling against inertia, gliding through the air.

He has given everything!
If even this can't stop him.
"boom!--"

Lynch practically slammed the ball into the basket with his fingertips, completing the dunk amidst intense competition and taking a 3-point lead!
The deafening explosions, like the clash of swords, echoed through the stadium, but the fans in the stands fell silent.

That was the vacuum left after faith was shattered in an instant.

Dwyane Wade stood with his hands on his hips, the raging fire that had been boiling for a full 48 minutes now seemed to be extinguished by a torrential downpour of ice rain, leaving only a wisp of unwilling smoke.

He was convinced.

He was powerless against Lynch's dominance.

He gave it his all, and he scored 48 points.

But the guy he knew all too well put on an even better performance.

This incredible dunk became the turning point of the game.

The Miami Heat completely collapsed in the next few possessions, and DeMar DeRozan added the finishing blow after Lynch's loss—a beautiful mid-range turnaround fadeaway jumper, bringing the lead to 5 points, which they maintained until the end of the game.

林奇用53分11个篮板4次助攻4次封盖2次抢断的超级表现，率队拿下了决定性的G3，拿下了这场血腥的球星对决。

Pau Gasol had 14 points and 14 rebounds tonight, including 6 offensive rebounds, repeatedly squeezing opportunities out of Lynch and Jordan's fingers.

Andre Iguodala scored 21 points, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, a shot he's not particularly good at tonight.

德维恩.韦德48分7个篮板7次助攻2次封盖2次抢断。

The entire Heat team performed exceptionally well; they gave it their all.

But it was precisely because they burned themselves out yet still failed to achieve victory that their morale suffered a devastating blow.

After this game, the 3-0 scoreline effectively sealed the series' fate.

As expected, Game 4 of the series was far less intense than Game 3.

With five minutes remaining, the Heat were down by 15 points, and Heat fans could already foresee the outcome.

As the final buzzer sounded, a complex silence enveloped the American Airlines Center. Dwyane Wade didn't look at the glaring 13-point deficit on the scoreboard; instead, he bent down and retrieved that familiar wooden box from deep within the bench once more.

Inside the velvet lining, the Cohiba cigar that had carried his obsession for two years lay quietly, with faded words visible on it—the vow he had once written to himself.

Instead of heading to the locker room, he pushed through the noisy crowd and went straight to the center of the field. Lin Qi was surrounded by reporters, his figure standing tall and imposing like a war god under the flashing lights.

He handed the wooden box to Lynch. The lid was opened, and the rich aroma of tobacco mixed with years of longing wafted out.

Lin Qi asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"It has waited too long," the Flash said, his eyes filled with resentment, weariness, and a hint of admiration at the fact that everything had finally settled.

This was the first time he felt truly convinced of Lin Qi's superiority.

He has done his best, and even surpassed the best.

But in the end, they still couldn't win.

He was disappointed with the ending, but he accepted it.

Lynch's gaze swept over the cigar, finally settling on The Flash's face.

These sworn enemies, who had fought each other for seven years, now had no more of the fierce fighting spirit in their eyes, only the calm after being completely crushed.

Dwyane Wade's 48-point display of heroic brilliance was shattered by the New York Knicks' iron wall. The Knicks in the playoffs are a completely different monster—Dwyane Wade understands the weight of this statement better than anyone else at this moment.

Lynch didn't immediately accept the gift: "Isn't this the championship fuse Pat left for you?"

"Yes, but I'll keep this thing here." The Flash pointed to the wooden box. "For now, it's just an unfulfilled dream. Let it burn for victory, Lynch."

After saying that, he forcefully shoved the wooden box into Lin Qi's hand, with a force that left no room for refusal.

The moment their knuckles touched, Lin Qi felt a slight tremor lingering in the other person's palm.

It was the aftershock of a fierce confrontation that had not yet subsided, and the embers left after a will had been crushed.

“Take it,” Dwyane Wade said, his tone resolute yet weary, before he suddenly looked up, the last embers of hope in his eyes blazing brightly. “But remember, after this one burns out this year—”

His gaze was like a knife, piercing the heart of the Knicks' glory, "The next one, I'll personally set it on fire at Madison Square Garden sooner or later!"

As soon as he finished speaking, The Flash turned around and disappeared into the shadows of the main arena tunnel.

Lin Qi looked at the cigar box in his hand; he knew its weight.

Perhaps this is Dwyane Wade's way of expressing respect.

At that moment, Lynch noticed the words on the cigar that had almost completely faded.

That was something that only Paul Pierce, besides Dwyane Wade, had seen.

He paused for a few seconds, then smiled and closed the lid of the cigar box.

The King of New York glanced at the player tunnel, chuckled, and muttered to himself:

“I’ll set it on fire, buddy.”
-
Dwyane gave me a cigar, which I'll light when I lift the championship trophy. Thanks, buddy. — Lynch talking about the box Dwyane gave him after the game.

What else can I say? We can leave with our heads held high, because we only lost to the most unbeatable guy in the world. — Dwyane Wade, hands shrug.

It makes no difference who it is. — Lynch's answer to the question, "Would you prefer to face the Bulls or the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals?"

(One update today, because the two chapters combined made it 10,000 words in total)
(End of this chapter)