Champion Rules

Chapter 322, Chapter 318: I can make this sound disappear (Seeking monthly votes!)

The game restarted, and Kyrie Irving's attitude had completely changed.

His mind became quite tense. He knew that this was a match where he had to give it his all, and any lapse in concentration could lead to mistakes.

He and Lynch stepped onto the court at the same time, and the noise from Chesapeake Energy Arena almost engulfed him.

A cacophony of insults surged forth like a tidal wave:

"We will get our revenge this year, you New York bastards!"

"Hey Kyrie, the Knicks will trade you after tonight because you're useless in this level of game!"

"KD's mid-range jumpers will ruin you! Stephen's three-point barrage will drown you! James Harden's drives will crush you. And everyone else will work hard to send you to hell!"

The last shout made Irving laugh. "I, Scottie Pippen II, am now only fit to be categorized as 'other'?"

For a moment, he couldn't tell whether the fan was a genuine Thunder supporter or a shill.

Beside Irving, Lin Qi remained calm and composed, stretching his waist and arms as if the surrounding noise didn't exist.

Noticing Irving's gaze, Lin Qi, who had been expressionless, instantly broke into a smile.

There was no warmth or kindness in that smile.

Instead, it reveals a kind of ruthlessness and excitement.

It was like a hunter who had caught the scent of blood finally stepping into the long-awaited hunting ground.

"Focus on defense and don't get distracted. Don't worry, I'll find you if you get the chance," Lin Qi reminded him calmly, but with an undeniable seriousness.

"Ah."

This is the first time since Kyrie Irving started playing basketball that he has had to focus all his energy on defense in a game.

This is the first time a team has been able to temporarily disregard his offensive talent because they have another, better offensive talent.

The battle reignited, with the Oklahoma City Thunder continuing to widen the score gap thanks to Kevin Durant's mid-range pull-up jumpers.

But Lynch responded quickly, taking advantage of a screen beyond the three-point line and facing Serge Ibaka's hesitant help defense, before hitting a pull-up jumper.

The stand-up duel between numbers 35 and 20 was tense, and after Lynch scored, he beckoned to KD with his finger.

LeBron James has lost his composure!
It's like how, to show respect, a woman should look into her male partner's eyes while eating.

To show respect, when two players are matched up, they usually focus on dealing with the person in front of them rather than getting distracted by interacting with a third party.

Lynch completely abandoned this most basic respect.

He scored over LeBron James, but then hooked his finger at KD.

For the first time, James experienced just how frustrating it was to be a Scottie Pippen.

You have to do all sorts of dirty and tiring work, but the spotlight will never shine on you.

The Warriors attacked again, and this time Stephen Curry was unable to receive the ball easily.

In last season's Finals against Steve Nash, Curry delivered a stunning performance in the first two games.

Not only is his three-point shooting accurate, Stephen Curry is also just 11 dunks away from Lynch, who has the most dunks in the Finals with 11.

He was completely liberated.

But this season, facing a faster and more aggressive Kyrie Irving, the Slam Dunk Champion's offense is no longer so easy.

Kyrie Irving's problem isn't that he can't defend, but that he doesn't have the energy to do so.

In addition, their size and physical strength are somewhat disadvantageous, so their defensive initiative cannot reach the top level.

But when he puts everything into defense, and the difference in strength isn't particularly large.

Kyrie Irving's defense was quite commendable.

Kevin Durant didn't hesitate and initiated another one-on-one challenge.

Wilson Chandler tried his best to challenge and pressure KD, but KD still skillfully used his assist hand to separate the defender.

After finding an opening, Kevin Durant accelerated to the left and then immediately made a sharp change of direction to the right.

For someone of his height, it's quite incredible that he can execute such smooth double crossovers.

But just as Wilson Chandler continued his close defense, KD followed his double crossover with a step-back jumper. This completely created space for him, and he calmly drained the jump shot!

"It's like Lynch is wearing a number 35 jersey!" Mike Breen exclaimed.

In his opinion, Kevin Durant's progress is too exaggerated.

He's practically a grotesque replica of Lynch now.

With the Thunder maintaining their lead, Kevin Durant yelled at Lynch, "Come on, man, it's your turn!"

This scene was strikingly similar to what he did to Kobe Bryant last season.

He wielded his sickle, ruthlessly reaping the dignity of the veterans.

But Lynch is not an aging Kobe.

In the next possession, as Lynch drove to the basket, LeBron James grabbed his jersey, trying to force him to slow down.

Lynch keenly sensed the pull, leaned on LBJ to jump, and drifted to shoot while in the midst of the confrontation.

The physical contact between the two was extremely intense, especially considering that Lin Qi was using a drifting shot. When he released the ball, his center of gravity was already quite unstable.

Furthermore, LBJ stayed in front of Lynch the entire time, leaving Lynch with almost no decent space to shoot.

Finally, he took the shot with a motion that looked like he was casually tossing the ball towards the basket. The referee blew the whistle, and the ball went in!

Mike Breen was on the verge of hysteria: "LeBron couldn't stop Lynch even with fouls, who on Earth can stop Lynch?!"

Not wanting to be taken advantage of, LBJ suddenly covered his face and fell backward after the whistle blew, as if he had just been hit by Mike Tyson's uppercut.

If the camera zooms in at this moment, you'll probably see him sneaking glances at the referee.

But the referee didn't even have the desire to pause the game to review the video; he even wanted to give him a technical foul.

LeBron James not only insulted the referees' eyes, but also their intelligence.

The Oklahoma City fans' high spirits vanished because of this clumsy fall.

LBJ couldn't stop the defense today, and he didn't shoot on offense.

Its main purpose is pure torture!
LeBron James' performance had no effect; Lynch stepped up to the free-throw line and made the free throw.

The big screen was still replaying Lin Qi's shot. Although Lin Qi initially aimed to draw a foul, his extreme jump shot consistency was still amazing.

Not to mention Mike Brin, even Kyrie Irving felt that Lynch and Kevin Durant were filming a science fiction movie tonight.

Their offense tonight was simply unstoppable; it seemed like all defense was futile, and whether the ball went in or not depended entirely on their shooting touch.

From then on, both sides' strenuous defense made easy goals a pipe dream; every point required breaking through their impenetrable defenses.

So Lynch and KD traded blows for a few more rounds, each trying to break through the other's defense.

Finally, the Thunder had to resort to more extreme double-teaming, which finally gave Kyrie Irving a few opportunities to catch and shoot.

He seized the opportunity, and the crisp sound of the net being swished rang out one after another. He perfectly completed his task in the first section: to let go carefully and to absorb some of the attacks for Lin Qi.

The game went down to the rotation time in the first quarter, and with James Harden coming on, the Thunder had another chance to turn things around.

During his rotation time, no one on the Knicks could match up against him.

Mike Malone tried many different players to defend him, but the results were not ideal.

Ray Allen was too slow to handle Harden's explosive first step.

Jimmy Butler was too inexperienced; he was like a green boy full of energy but unable to even find the entrance to the hole. His enthusiasm crashed into an impenetrable wall, utterly futile.

Chandler Parsons is the best option to limit Harden during rotation time, but he can only slightly hinder him and cannot completely stop Harden's fierce output.

James Harden became the sharpest weapon to break the deadlock, and at the end of the first quarter, the Thunder led by 7 points.

Lynch scored 14 points in the quarter, Kevin Durant scored 13 points in the quarter, and James Harden scored 7 points in the quarter.

Contract years have proven to be the best teacher in the NBA.

It can enable a player to realize their potential immediately.

After the first quarter, Mike Brin couldn't help but remark:
"This is a nightmare level of sustained firepower!"

In last season's Finals, James Harden's performance in most games was MVP-caliber—anyone who watched the games knows how important he is to the Knicks.

His defense is sluggish, he's lazy and misses shots, and his legs give way when he drives to the basket.

If playing in the NBA required a breathalyzer test, James Harden would be in jail.

However, his rise this season has become the key to the Thunder's transformation.

His more consistent performance ensured that the Thunder's offense wouldn't falter from the very first second of the game.

During the break, on the bench, Kevin Durant raised his arms high, facing Lynch, enjoying the cheers of the fans in the arena.

He had already obtained the keys to Oklahoma City from LBJ before the game.

And now, he wants to snatch the key to the league from Lynch!

The camera panned across the few Knicks fans in the arena, who seemed to still be full of confidence in the game, still jumping and bouncing around.

But their voices were completely drowned out by the tidal wave of noise from the Oklahoma City fans.

Beside Mike Breen, Brian Davis, the Thunder's home commentator known for his extremely biased stance towards the home team, leaned forward and asked Mike Breen a question:
"Mike, look at KD's performance in the first quarter; it was exactly like Lynch's. Yes, we all know Lynch dominated the league for many years. Do you think tonight will be the beginning of a change of the throne?"

Mike Brin was about to answer when Brian Davis immediately spoke up:

"Yes, this is definitely the beginning of KD taking over the league! Just like you said, the Thunder have a nightmare level of offensive consistency, they are very difficult to beat!"

On the other side, Mike Malone decided to continue making lineup changes.

Someone has to match up against James Harden during the rotation – if you can't stop him, then go head-to-head with him!
Kyrie Irving then received a new assignment.

"I need you to be on par with James!"

The newly crowned champion was taken aback for a moment. He had no objection to the arrangement, but this also meant that Lin Qi would face greater pressure for most of the game.

In the first quarter, Kyrie Irving genuinely helped Lynch a lot.

He limited Oklahoma City's dunk champion on the defensive end and scored 6 points efficiently on offense.

If he has to rotate out his playing time, then all that support will vanish.

But Kyrie Irving quickly put aside his doubts.

In the first quarter, Lynch's performance proved one thing: he just needs to focus on his own business.

The game continued, and as soon as Lynch entered the court, the Oklahoma City fans erupted in a unified chant:
"Beat Lynch! Beat Lynch! Beat Lynch!"

The shout made people feel as if they were in Boston's North Shore Gardens.

However, Beat LA's nemesis slogan has now been replaced by a blatant challenge to Lynch personally.

That's right, the Oklahoma City fans weren't chanting "beat the Knicks."

Instead, he defeated Lynch.

This is a more specific goal; they are eager to witness Kevin Durant completely crush superstar Lynch tonight!

Kevin Durant on the court clearly received this enthusiastic signal.

He waved his arms high, like an agitator under a spotlight.

With each powerful swing of his arm, the decibel level of cheers in the stadium suddenly rose to a new level!
KD was enjoying the feeling; at that moment, he was practically the king of Oklahoma City.

At this moment, he has roots!

“Damn it,” Teodosic, who replaced Irving, looked around at the suffocating hostility. “You’re not exactly welcome here, man.”

Lynch smiled, his gaze sweeping over the scattered Knicks blue:

"I'm quite popular. Didn't you see a lot of Knicks fans who came all the way here to support me?"

"But their voices are completely inaudible now; KD has practically taken over the entire arena."

Lynch listened to these voices, clenching his fists.

Oklahoma City fans not only want to win, they also want to see KD knock them out.

Alright, then let me show you!

The referee's whistle interrupted the conversation, and the game continued.

Seeing that the Knicks didn't bring Kyrie Irving into the game in the second quarter, the Thunder intensified their double-teaming of Lynch.

But Lynch had a plan: he stopped holding the ball and started making a lot of off-the-ball runs.

With Milos Teodosic on the field, Lynch had no need to worry about not being able to receive the ball.

And that's exactly what happened; Teodosic's assists came at every unexpected moment.

When DeMar DeRozan passed the ball to Teodosic at the top of the arc, everyone thought it was just a routine pass.

But Teodosic's handling of the ball was astonishing—he didn't even pause the moment he received it, and with a leisurely behind-the-back pass, he precisely penetrated the gap in the defense!
The basketball seemed to have eyes, landing right in Lynch's hands as he circled to the corner after a screen.

Swish!
In the blink of an eye, a seemingly effortless pass turned into a fatal goal.

On the defensive end, DeMar DeRozan took over the task of guarding Stephen Curry.

Although he is not as quick as Irving, he has honed a ruthless and tenacious style of play in New York.

He stuck to Curry like glue, constantly disrupting every attempt by Curry's number 30 to receive the ball. Therefore, Kevin Durant still had to shoulder a significant amount of scoring duties.

But this is exactly what Thunder fans want to see. He was in top form tonight, and everyone is eager to see him snatch victory from Lynch as the absolute core player.

Lynch and Durant continued to score against each other, and the cheers from the crowd never stopped during their intense back-and-forth.

However, halfway through the second quarter, KD's offensive consistency started to falter.

Mike Malone will be using a rotation strategy to defend KD tonight, with Wilson Chandler and Chandler Parsons taking turns guarding him.

He may not be facing the best defender, but he will always be facing the most energetic defender.

Such defense is a severe test of Durant's stamina.

In the eighth minute of the second quarter, Kevin Durant missed another jump shot under pressure from Chandler Parsons, and a sigh echoed through Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Lynch grabbed the rebound himself, passed the ball to Teodosic, and then looked for an opportunity to score off the ball.

Teodosic had actually found a tricky passing route quickly, but just as he raised his hand to pass, Stephen Curry showed the determination to bring last glory to American centers.

He gave Teodosic a very rough challenge, causing the European MVP to miss the best opportunity to pass the ball.

The game was forced into a positional play, with Teodosic dodging Curry's attempts to steal the ball while waving for Lynch to set a screen.

The moment the pick-and-roll was set, Lynch bounced outwards, creating a brief opening that Theo passed the ball to him.

Number 20 calmly took a shot over LeBron James. The interference wasn't too tight, and whether it went in or not depended more on Lynch's shooting touch at that moment.

As the basketball spun in the air, a sense of relief rose in the hearts of Oklahoma City fans.

Kevin Durant's shooting consistency has begun to decline.

Even Lynch might not be able to make the shot.

Swish!
This last illusion was shattered by a crisp, pleasant sound of the web being swiped.

Even at the end of the second quarter, Lynch was still able to steadily hit three-pointers!

"Bang!!!" Mike Breen roared in his signature voice, "KD is already one of the most offensively potent players this season, but Lynch is the very edge that defines 'most offensively potent'!"

With this powerful basket, the Knicks extended their lead to 6 points.

In the stands, the deafening roar of the Oklahoma City fans suddenly subsided.

Meanwhile, the sporadic shouts of New York fans are gradually coalescing into a clear, surging countercurrent.

Lynch stared at Kevin Durant, and once again beckoned with his finger: "Kevin, go for it!"

Scott Brooks called a timeout, and Kevin Durant shook his head in frustration.

Currently, his personal score has reached 24 points, but Lynch already has 30 points in the first half!
Furthermore, it is more efficient.

That's some terrifying individual firepower.

Kevin Durant did his best, but he was still left behind.

Scott Brooks knew what the young and impetuous Durant was thinking, and he comforted the already formidable scorer:
"You played really well, KD. Don't worry, we'll tie the score next."

Most fans share Scott Brooks's opinion.

Although Lynch briefly dominated Durant, basketball is not a one-on-one game after all.

During the rotation, if James Harden replicates his performance from the first quarter, erasing those mere 6 points will be a piece of cake.

The Thunder still have a chance to win, and Kevin Durant still has a chance to turn things around.

During the rotation time, the Thunder indeed brought Harden back in.

But the Knicks also brought out Kyrie Irving, their "anti-Harden weapon."

In the last few minutes, Kyrie Irving was amazed for a single second by Lynch's incredible 30-point performance in the first half.

That man is redefining his understanding of superstars again and again tonight.

Beyond the shock, an unprecedented determination exploded within Irving's heart:

He would never allow himself to become a heavy burden that even such a giant could not drag down!

The game continued, and Thunder fans rallied, their cheers filling the arena once again.

At this moment, KD, Curry, and Lynch were not on the court.

The duel between James Harden and Kyrie Irving became the key factor in the point difference.

James Harden took the initiative, driving to the basket and drawing a foul before making both free throws.

The point difference became 4 points, and Brian Davis was very proud:

"The dawn of Oklahoma will never be absent! Oklahoma will never experience the long night!"

But this time, the point difference isn't like those big-bottomed girls who obediently wait for James Harden to make a run for it.

Mike Breen stared at the dribbling prodigy who had dribbled the ball across half-court, clenched his fist, and shouted:
"Kerry is here!"
He dribbled between his legs repeatedly, bringing the ball to the left of the field of view.

Breakthrough, sudden stop, fadeaway—

Bang!!!

Kyrie Irving made sure Lynch's efforts wouldn't be in vain!
Yes, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a nightmarish level of offensive consistency.

But remember!

There is only one pair in this league that can be called a 'nightmare'!

Lin Qi sat on the bench, a satisfied smile on his face.

Kyrie Irving proved himself to be a reliable teammate, delivering a significant impact on the game tonight in a near-Finals-level, suffocating battle.

During the subsequent rotation time, Kyrie Irving and James Harden engaged in a fierce battle, with neither gaining the upper hand.

Even though Harden repeatedly tore through the defense with his signature powerful Euro step, sending the ball into the net in a beautiful display of skill.

But the tumultuous waves that surged within the Chesapeake Energy Arena are visibly peeling away layer by layer.

Because each team scored against the other meant that the Thunder failed to close the gap.

At halftime, the scoreboard showed a 6-point difference that remained unchanged.

Given Lynch's greater scoring consistency than Kevin Durant, it's hard to believe the Thunder could take the lead when Lynch is on the court.

Of course, the usual chants of "Defeat Lynch" rang out.

However, Kevin Durant's performance was not as exciting as it was at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams headed towards the players' tunnel, with Lynch and Kevin Durant passing each other.

Number 20 stopped in front of number 35 and looked around the stands: "Do you believe it, KD? When the game is over, I can make these damn voices disappear."

KD retorted, "You can try."

LeBron James also joined in at this moment:
"Lin Qi, this is fucking our home turf, ours!"

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Qi impatiently waved his hand to interrupt, as if shooing away an annoying mosquito:

"Okay, okay, I got it. Go ahead and say whatever you want to Kyrie Irving. I have nothing to say to you, LeBron Pippen."

LBJ:
Why did God give a beast like Lynch a mouth that can speak human language?!
As Oklahoma City fans had predicted, the second half turned into a difficult situation.

Lynch was on fire tonight; he could make a shot as long as he got the slightest opening.

His partnership with Milos Teodosic was a pleasure to watch, which further enhanced Lynch's offensive efficiency.

On the bench, James Harden's eyes were wide open.

Since he made a fortune, he has traveled countless land and water routes, making him quite experienced.

But he could never predict Milos Teodosic's next passing route.

Kevin Durant could feel the cheers from the home crowd gradually weakening, like the breath of a dying person.

This made him nervous and fearful.

This seems to indicate that Lynch's prediction is coming true.

Lynch kept scoring, kept scoring.

Kyrie Irving even forgot he was part of the game; he just stared in astonishment at the scoreboard.
"Damn it, how many points is this guy going to get!?"

Next to Kyrie Irving, Amir Johnson shrugged.

"That depends on how long the opponent will resist. If they give up early, they'll reach 50 points. If they continue to resist, they might reach 60 points."

"60 points!?" Kyrie Irving felt like he was hearing an astronomical number.

He didn't get this many points in high school competitions.

Amir Johnson remained calm and composed.

"Relax a bit, rookie. This isn't the first time Lynch has done this."

In the ninth minute of the third quarter, Lin Qi made a turnaround jump shot under double coverage, bringing his personal score to 46 points.

With the Thunder trailing by 13 points, it was time for the rotation, and Kyrie Irving returned to the court.

Thus, the nightmare for Oklahoma City fans continued.

This time, James Harden made a significant contribution, narrowing the gap to 10 points before the fourth quarter.

But when the buzzer of the break pierced the air, the deafening noise of the Chesapeake Energy Arena had almost dissipated.

The remaining scattered cries are like the last few wisps of foam on the rocks after the tide has receded, futilely creating a final, stubborn ripple in the vast silence.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Lynch returned to the court.

In the first round, he received a pass from Theo and made another mid-range shot.

Lynch was bloodthirsty tonight, making so many moves without any restraint.

He didn't like the chants at Chesapeake Energy Arena tonight.

"Beat the Knicks" is one thing, but "beat Lynch?"
Since the Oklahoma fans are targeting him, he should respond with his own points!
The Thunder's confidence has been shattered, and Kevin Durant's offense completely collapsed in the fourth quarter.

His offensive consistency is now so poor that he can't even keep up with Lynch.

Stephen Curry continued to perform well, and his three-point shooting finally caught fire in the fourth quarter.

But it's too late.

His three-pointers ironically became an "accomplice" to Lynch's continued scoring, as they prevented the game from truly entering garbage time.

Thus, Lynch continued to torment the nerves of Oklahoma City fans.

He made a drifting shot before the double team closed in, bringing his score to 58.

A pull-up jumper from beyond the three-point line, 61 points.

He scored 63 points with an alley-oop dunk, breaking his career-high single-game scoring record.

With 44 seconds left in the game, Lynch cut out after a screen, and LeBron James chased after him desperately, stretching his arms out as far as he could.

But Teodosic's pass still flew through the gap like a guided missile, almost grazing LBJ's fingertips before landing in Lynch's hands.

Catching the ball, turning, leaning back—the sharp sound of the basketball cutting through the air became the only sound.

Swish!
The white waves churned up by the Nets were like a slap in the face, shattering Oklahoma City's last bit of stubbornness.

The scarlet "65" on the scoreboard was like a brand cast by a god, burning into every unfocused pair of eyes.

At this moment, Chesapeake Energy Arena was deathly silent.

Kevin Durant scored 45 points today, a truly outstanding performance.

But the guy they were hoping KD would take down had already scored 65 points!
Goal! The game is paused, and both sides prepare to substitute all their key players, marking the end of the game.

Lynch did not immediately leave the field, but instead jumped onto the technical table, looked down at the subjugated battlefield, and raised his left hand.

The sporadic shouts from Knicks fans finally broke the silence.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Shouts erupted from the corner, growing louder and louder.

In the quiet arena, a tsunami suddenly erupted, engulfing the entire stadium—the roar of hundreds of New Yorkers overwhelmed the 10,000-seat arena!
Mike Brin felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at Lynch, who was standing in front of him with his arms raised.

He had never seen anyone conquer an away game in such a manner:
"Lin Qi commands immense respect! No one can rival him in basketball!"

The cheers for MVP echoed through Chesapeake Energy Arena.

However, this honor does not belong to the players of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
-
After the first timeout, Lynch and I came off the court at the same time. When I saw the smile on his face as he stepped onto the court, I knew something was going to happen tonight. — Kyrie Irving on Lynch's 65-point game.

"It probably started when they started chanting 'Beat Lynch,' and the game changed. My offensive drive began to surge. You know, I never shy away from a challenge." — Lynch, discussing the source of his motivation for scoring 65 points tonight.

He was terrifying tonight, you know. We double-teamed him a lot, but his off-ball movement was exquisite, and Milos's passes were so tricky. Even when he was double-teamed, he still managed to score. Tonight, when he had the ball, you could only watch how he put it in the basket. — Scott Brooks on Lynch's 65 points.

Don't forget KD's 45 points; he was great too. However, we shouldn't compare him to Lynch. — Scott Brooks referring to KD's performance tonight.

Besides KD, Stephenson and James also played well tonight. Of course, the others were also very tenacious. However, Lynch was unstoppable tonight. — Scott Brooks' assessment of the Thunder's performance tonight.

"I fucking have nothing to say!" — LeBron James responds to being categorized as "other" once again.

(I had a cold and fever and went to the hospital for an IV drip, so it's late. Today's update is one chapter, a combined 7800 words, condensed to 2200 words to give me a breather.)

(End of this chapter)