Champion Rules

Chapter 302, page 298: The Only Guardian (Seeking monthly votes!)

The New York Knicks swept the Heat 4-0, a surprising result.

People weren't amazed that the Knicks could win, but rather that they could so easily destroy a 60-win regular season team like breaking a twig.

Just like how Chinese fans were amazed that the national team, which was not favored before the start of the tournament, actually won by double digits against New Zealand in the semi-finals.

And this team, whose immediate strength is terrifying, actually got this year's number one draft pick!

That's why people say the NBA is the most murky place in the world.

Later, even Steve Ballmer, one of the founders of the computer, was outmaneuvered when he came to the NBA.

As New York fans celebrated their team's advancement, Oklahoma City fans were also cheering.

That young Thunder team also advanced to the Western Conference Finals with overwhelming force.

As the playoffs progressed further into the rounds, young players Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant did not hit a wall.

Before the second round began, some media outlets were not optimistic about the Thunder, believing that even if they advanced, they would have to go through a tough battle.

The reason is that Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are both shooting-oriented players, and such players often experience a significant drop in efficiency in the playoffs.

Shooting alone cannot win a championship; this has been an ironclad rule in the NBA for many years.

But they broke this ironclad rule with their outstanding performance.

The defensive environment in the league is no longer what it was five or six years ago, and the shooting ability of those two young men can no longer be measured by outdated standards.

The Thunder's outstanding performance has brought the 23 vs. 20 matchup one step closer, but this is also the most difficult step yet.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are about to face the experienced San Antonio Spurs.

It has been 12 years since the "Stone Buddha" of San Antonio first lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Twelve years is a long time.

Why is Jimmy Butler, also Michael Jordan's illegitimate son, tougher than Anthony Edwards in the playoffs?
Because the quality was still very good when MJ was dry-drawn in 1989, but when it was dry-drawn again 12 years later, it had become watery!
This results in Anthony Edwards having a slightly lower natural hardness!

Twelve years is enough time for a man to go from rich and vibrant to bland and bland, enough time for a head of long hair to turn into a bald patch.

But Tim Duncan's desire for a championship never wavered.

The Spurs will do everything in their power to stop the Thunder; the Silver and Black will not let this young team get away easily.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls, who are currently leading the Eastern Conference, seem poised to pierce the Pistons with their sharp horns.

Then, with its still-bloody horn, it stabbed the defending champion.

When the Chicago Bulls took a 3-2 lead and reached match point, Carmelo Anthony looked around the court, staring at the United Center floor beneath his feet and the number 1 player who remained unsmiling even after the victory, and seemed somewhat dazed.

He was once a young man who shocked the entire league.

He won two championship trophies and an Finals MVP in his first two years in the industry.

In his own heart, and in the eyes of millions of fans, he is the new force that challenges the old order and stirs up a storm.

Over the past few seasons, although Carmelo Anthony has experienced various failures, he has always been competing with people of his own age, vying for the glory of the era.

This is the first time Carmelo Anthony has been challenged by a younger player.

That's the cruelty of competitive sports: seniority doesn't matter, only victory matters.

Seven years ago, Carmelo Anthony was a highly anticipated rookie.

And now, he is very likely to become a stepping stone for another super rookie.

Lynch's old rivals are facing new threats, while Lynch is also dealing with newcomers.

The Knicks got a much-needed rest before the Pistons and Bulls game ended.

This allowed Lynch to take time out of his schedule to participate in the Knicks' tryouts.

This year's NBA draft, most people only remember that the Knicks had the number one pick.

However, they overlooked the fact that in addition to the number one pick, the Knicks also had an extra first-round pick and two second-round picks—the Knicks had a total of four draft picks in the 11 draft!

NBA team general managers all have their own quirks.

The Warriors have a thing for short people.

The Lakers have a penchant for older players.

But Lynch felt that Sam Presti's fetish was the most practical.

He usually hoards draft picks quietly through some inconspicuous transactions, and then pulls out a bunch of them and puts them on the table when he needs them most.

Therefore, this year's Knicks tryout day was particularly lively.

As soon as Lin Qi walked in, he saw a group of young people sweating it out on the field.

Seeing Lynch standing on the sidelines, Kyrie Irving, the top pick in the draft, couldn't help but get distracted and even smiled and nodded at the King of New York while dribbling the ball.

A slender guard attempted to steal the ball from him. But Kyrie Irving, almost reflexively, executed a behind-the-back dribble, easily shaking off the defender.

For him, dribbling seems like walking; it's become a muscle instinct.

Even when he's not particularly focused, he can still escape danger with his fancy dribbling skills.

But the guy he had shaken off wasn't discouraged. He immediately pounced on the guy like a wild dog fighting for a bone, launching a desperate, bite-and-pull defense, even resorting to pulling and tugging.

Kyrie Irving continued to dribble past his defender, repeatedly finding himself with a chance to win, yet he didn't rush to finish the shot.

He seemed to want to tell the guy in front of him, and also to tell Lynch, just how powerful he was.

These two people were participating in the trial with completely different mindsets.

Kyrie Irving was blatantly showing off and flaunting his talent, while the guy guarding him was like a wild dog trying to snatch a bone from the number one draft pick and steal a chance to play in the NBA.

Sam Presti then walked over to Lynch and handed him the list of players for today's tryouts, along with basic information about these rookies.

Lynch glanced casually at the roster, then immediately looked back at the court: "He's really great."

Sam Presti shrugged:

"Kyrie may be a little arrogant, but yes, he is truly extraordinary. He only played 11 games for Duke last year due to injuries, but even so, no one could challenge his status as the number one draft pick."

Now we see why: no one in this year's draft can beat him one-on-one. I even think that of all the rookies present, probably no one could even touch the ball in his hands.

After hearing Sam Presti's high praise for Kyrie Irving, Lynch simply waved his hand and said, "I mean, the guy who guards him is really great."

"Jimmy Butler? Lynch, he's an older rookie, only playing in NCAA Division I as a sophomore. His physical and dynamic talents are both average. Last season, as a senior, he only averaged 15 points per game. In the intensity of the NBA, his offense is practically useless."

His biggest selling point is his defense, and clearly, this kid is working hard to demonstrate that.

Despite his talent, he might not necessarily become a great defender in the NBA.

Lynch didn't lose interest in Jimmy Butler because of these negative reviews; instead, he joked with Sam Presti:

"I think if we can't get Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy would be a great substitute. Look closely, do you see anything? Doesn't he look a bit like Michael Jordan? Maybe he's Michael's illegitimate son!"

Sam Presti:
"Even if it were true, it wouldn't matter. Michael's most talented son, Marcus, didn't even have a chance to make it into the NBA, let alone his illegitimate son."

Lynch disagreed: "That's not necessarily true. Marcus has an aunt who's always been tough on him since he was a child, but what about Jimmy? He's always just toughed things out."

On the court, Kyrie Irving, having had his fill of playing around, finally created an opening and made the shot.

After scoring, he turned to the sidelines and yelled at Lynch, "Hey, you promised me, when are we going to start one-on-one?"

Lynch pointed at Jimmy Butler: "If you can avoid getting the ball stolen from him before the game ends, we'll start one-on-one immediately."

The defender, who has African American, French Canadian, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and British ancestry, thought he had misheard.

"What? That guy? You mean him? Are you serious?"

Kyrie Irving's dismissive tone displeased Jimmy Butler, but the latter remained silent and focused on the next offensive possession.

Jimmy Butler attempted a strong drive with the ball, but his poor ball-handling skills made it difficult for him to move.

At that moment, a tall figure darted to the three-point line, and Jimmy Butler immediately passed the ball to him. Butler caught the ball and shot, sinking the three-pointer with ease.

After scoring, he roared excitedly, his gaze sweeping over Lynch on the sidelines, seemingly unintentionally.

This guy is very recognizable, but not because he's a great player.

He may not be the most talented rookie in the tryouts, but he's definitely the second most handsome on the court—Lin Qi still holds the top spot.

Lynch looked at the guy, his smile growing wider and wider, and he whistled merrily, "Look, we not only have Kawhi Leonard's meal replacement, but also Klay Thompson's meal replacement." Thinking about how the guy changed girlfriends at a rate comparable to Klay Thompson's, Lynch felt even more like he was a Klay Thompson meal replacement.

After all, he's a man who could still date a prime Jenner even after retiring.

Sam Presti chimed in, his tone as calm as a manager's: "You mean Chandler Parsons? He's great, but his potential is nowhere near Klay's. Klay's jump shot is historic. But if you're really interested, we can try picking him in the second round."

On the court, Kyrie Irving once again faked out Jimmy Butler, and then scored with a layup under the protection of beast forward Kenneth Faried.

Kenneth Faried's jumping ability was astonishing, as if he were about to devour Kyrie Irving alive in mid-air.

But Kyrie Irving evaded the defense with spectacular aerial maneuvers, making Kenneth Faried look like a reckless barbarian.

That Duke star guard made it clear to even those who know nothing about basketball that there was a qualitative difference between him and the others on the court; they were not even on the same level.

This is probably why Kyrie Irving's scouting report included the sentence: "He can adapt to the game and intensity of the NBA immediately."

After scoring, Kyrie Irving shrugged at Lynch: "What other excuse do you have for avoiding the game? Poor Jimmy couldn't stop me at all. Hey, you're not going to go back on your word, are you? You're not going to become LeBron James, are you?"

Sam Presti adjusted his glasses. "Listen, Kerry's talent is undeniable. But if we're really going to draft him, we need to find a way to smooth out his arrogance; it won't do him any good."

“No, we don’t need to deliberately smooth out his edges,” Lynch smiled. “The competition itself will teach him how to let go of that pride.”

After receiving the ball, Chandler Parsons assisted Kenneth Faried for an alley-oop dunk. The forward, who looked like a Predator, let out a happy shout, clearly feeling he had delivered a highlight moment.

But in reality, Lynch and Sam Presti were both drawn to Chandler Parsons.

He is 206 cm tall, has an excellent jump shot, and good passing vision.

His all-around skills prevented him from being placed in any system.

In Lynch's view, it's incomprehensible that Faried is projected to be drafted at the end of the first round, while Chandler Parsons is projected to be drafted only in the second round.

Their prediction order should be reversed.

Aside from his physical attributes, Faried has not yet demonstrated any particularly impressive strengths.

Chandler Parsons' well-rounded skills and high basketball IQ give him a good chance of becoming a quality starter.

The matchup continued on the court, with Kyrie Irving once again facing off against Jimmy Butler, showcasing his ball-handling skills that seemed to have been sculpted by God himself, making others envious.

Steve Nash also happened to enter the practice court at that moment. Even this two-time MVP point guard master widened his eyes slightly after seeing Kyrie Irving dribbling the ball.

The Son of the Wind shrugged, joking with a hint of self-deprecation, "If this guy had been born a few years earlier, I probably would have lost my job long ago."

Kyrie Irving, just like before, is using all sorts of flamboyant moves to provoke people.

The rhythm alternates between fast and slow, with varying amplitudes.

But the more he was teased, the harder Jimmy Butler got!
Just as Jimmy Butler closed in and prepared to steal the ball, Kyrie Irving nimbly changed direction to the left, passing right past his opponent.

Jimmy Butler stumbled because his center of gravity was too far forward, and he awkwardly knelt heavily on one knee on the floor.

A few gasps of surprise rang out, the sound Kyrie Irving loved most.

He enjoys hearing the gasps of amazement from his opponents after he's shaken them off.

But even in this humiliating moment, Jimmy Butler did not give up on defense.

With one knee on the ground, he used his amazing core strength and unyielding will to twist his waist and abdomen, like a trapped beast that was driven to the brink of despair but still wanted to tear itself apart. With an extreme half-turn, he adjusted his upper body, which had not yet completely collapsed.

Then he reached behind Kyrie Irving and poked the basketball out of his hands!
Kyrie Irving never expected the threat to come from behind, from an opponent who had already been faked out.

Just as he was about to pick up the basketball, Jimmy Butler took two aggressive steps forward.

His muscular arms stretched out recklessly, and his entire body slammed heavily onto the floor, firmly pressing the basketball, which symbolized the result of his struggle, under his body!

The floor made a dull thud, and the training hall fell into an unusual silence.

All the noise, praise, and even the previous sporadic exclamations were frozen by this strong resilience that burst forth from the dust and refused to be mere accompaniment.

Jimmy Butler immediately passed the ball to Chandler Parsons, then stood up, pressed his face against Kyrie Irving's, and roared angrily!
Sam Presti swallowed hard. Judging from the game's performance, Jimmy Butler had played rather poorly.

However, after being outmaneuvered countless times by Kyrie Irving's dazzling dribbling, the fierceness in his eyes not only did not fade, but burned even brighter as if doused with gasoline.

He admitted that the guy was far tougher than he had imagined.

And this toughness is also a talent!
He still doesn't believe that Jimmy Butler can become Kawhi Leonard's replacement; the talent gap between the two is simply too great.

When they stand together, the difference in arm length is even more striking than the height difference between Shaquille O'Neal and Tyson Lynch lying side by side.

But Sam Presti is indeed seriously considering Jimmy Butler's place in this draft class and the possibility of picking him.

Lynch shook his head; Kyrie Irving was too relaxed.

What did he think this was? This was a brutal arena for the NBA, a life-or-death tryout, not a street game.

Under normal circumstances, Jimmy Butler at this stage would have absolutely no chance of taking the basketball from him.

It was that fatal complacency and the pride in his bones that made all of this a reality.

Two minutes later, the trial ended.

Kyrie Irving led Team A to a resounding victory, scoring 22 points in just 20 minutes, proving to be unstoppable.

He walked up to Lynch, his expression displeased: "Hey, I was just dispossessed, but that was just an accident. It doesn't mean anything, and it's no reason for you to refuse to fight me one-on-one. Didn't you make even the slightest mistake during your tryouts back then?"

Lynch smiled, not answering immediately, as if giving Carey Irving enough space to ponder the naiveté in his words.

After a few seconds of silence, Lin Qi slowly spoke: "Making a mistake during the trial?"
Kid, 2004 isn't that far away. You can look it up online, or ask your father.

The King of New York paused, his smile vanished, and he raised his head:
"I didn't need to participate in any tryouts back then."

In the 2004 NBA Draft, Lynch did not participate in the NBA Combine, and even only worked out for the Knicks, which did not include a scrimmage.

That tryout was less of a tryout and more of a gesture of respect to the Knicks.

Because Lynch, who was sweeping across Europe at the time, didn't need to prove his worth through tryouts, he was 100% guaranteed to be the number one pick from the day he became eligible for the draft.

Kyrie Irving wanted to retort, but he opened his mouth and said nothing.

Lynch is right; the competition itself will make him let go of that pride.

Seeing that Carey Irving had finally lowered his head, which had been held high, Lynch patted his head:

"Listen, I promised I'd play you one-on-one. Now, I can give you a definite time. I'll definitely play you once before the preseason starts. But you're not good enough yet, so work on it."

After saying that, Lin Qi turned and walked away without looking at the kid again.

Sam Presti immediately followed him out and asked Lynch which players he liked.

Lin Qi took the list and circled three names.

Sam Presti was somewhat surprised; he had expected Lynch to draw at least five or six names before continuing to observe and select.

"Is it decided? No more consideration for anyone else?"

"Sam is no longer needed. These three men are enough to accomplish the first phase of our Manhattan Project."

Sam Presti was excited by Lynch's confidence: "My God! We...we really have a chance to become the first four-time champion dynasty in modern basketball!"

Lynch handed the pen back to Sam Presti and said something profound:

"Four consecutive championships? Have a little more imagination, Sam."

Sam Presti stood there, stunned, when LeBron James's famous quote suddenly popped into his mind:

"Not one, not two, not three, not four."

The difference is that LBJ was just bragging.

It wasn't one, not two, not three, not four, but fucking zero.

But Lynch has the opportunity to make it all a reality!
That evening, the Detroit Pistons narrowly lost to the Bulls 87-108, and were eliminated 2-4 in the series.

Carmelo Anthony stood on the floor, his face a mixture of astonishment, resentment, and disbelief.

He was defeated by Lynch, an insurmountable mountain, and also suffered a crushing defeat against Dwight Howard, an iron wall.

But he never expected that he would lose to Derrick Rose, a newcomer!
That number one, with skills his old rival lacked and the same arrogant attitude, trampled on Carmelo Anthony, changing the landscape of the league. He ruthlessly crushed Carmelo Anthony's former glory and completely shattered the old power structure of the Eastern Conference.

In the embers of the competition's conclusion, Mike Brin's signature voice, carrying the weight of history, proclaimed to the world through the microphone:

"This is the first time since 2004 that the Eastern Conference Finals are not a duel between the 'Dream Team Five'. The old order of the East has collapsed, and Lynch, one of the former 'Destroyers', has now become the last and only guardian of the old order."

(End of this chapter)