Champion Rules

Chapter 335, Section 331: You will see something even more terrifying (Seeking monthly votes!)
After the exciting All-Star Game, an emotional Lynch who successfully accepted the AMVP trophy decided to throw another party.

The party was star-studded, with most of the Eastern Conference All-Stars present, as well as many Western Conference All-Stars.

When Dwyane Wade left the party at 2 a.m., he was unsteady on his feet and had a dazed look in his eyes.

Clearly, Dwyane Wade's alcohol tolerance isn't as impressive as his breakthroughs.

Carmelo Anthony, the toughest drinker tonight, arrived ten minutes ago. He walked without staggering and his eyes were clear—he was carried out.

Just think about how bad everyone else's alcohol tolerance must be for this heavy drinker to become so bored and fall asleep peacefully?
Reporters who had been waiting outside the door immediately swarmed around him, and the blinding flashes of their cameras made it impossible for Dwyane Wade to open his eyes.

However, these flashes of light excited Wade, who raised his arm and shouted at the camera:
"Hey! Did you all see how my brother dominated tonight? Listen, Lynch is the only one in the NBA—yes, the only one—whose shooting accuracy is clearly better than mine! Yeah!"

The next day, footage of The Flash shouting into the camera appeared on news broadcasts on major television stations.

Many people took this as a joke, because The Flash clearly has nothing to do with the word "shooter".

This is just as nonsensical as LeBron James saying he has no skills.

Lynch is certainly not the only player in the league who is clearly a better shooter than him. In fact, every NBA team can find at least one player who is a significantly better shooter than the Flash.

Sir Charles Barkley still praised Dwyane Wade's remarks: "This just shows that Dwyane is an honest man. You see, even when he was drunk, he didn't dare to say that he was better than Lynch."

Of course, Dwyane Wade's outrageous remarks after drinking were just a spice in this All-Star game.

The real highlight that major television stations were vying to report on was Lynch's merciless post-match declaration, broadcast live across the United States.

It's extremely rare for tensions to be openly agitated during All-Star Weekend, a time when stars relax, put on a show, and maintain a semblance of harmony.

Even longtime rivals are mostly maintaining a subtle understanding at this moment, saving the tension for the regular season and the upcoming playoffs.

Even when someone breaks the unspoken agreement, it's usually a dirty trick like the Smiling Assassin freezing MJ, or Melo and James freezing Lynch.

On the surface, it was a weekend veiled in warmth and devoid of open conflict.

But Lynch broke this tradition.

In front of fans all over the world, on the All-Star stage, he had a direct confrontation with two of his opponents.

He thrust the tense confrontation that had permeated the entire season into the most intense spotlight.

David Stern liked Lynch.

He successfully raised fans' expectations for the playoffs to their highest level.

Now, everyone is eager to know if the Pacers, now the second-best team in the East, can change their fate of being swept in the regular season in the playoffs after strengthening their roster.

People are also wondering if Dwight Howard will leave Orlando.

And what storms will he face if he fails to break free of his cage?

The All-Star Weekend has just ended, and the most tense and exciting trading deadline is right around the corner.

Dwight Howard was restless, and he would turn on his phone every few minutes.

In the past, he would only open his phone to see if anyone needed his help to save their soul.

Today, he's checking if his agent has called him or if Woj has released any trade leaks.

Don't be surprised; Woj has done this more than once, knowing about trades before the players themselves.

The trade between the Hawks and the Magic is mainly stalled on the players. In addition to draft picks, the Magic also want Josh Smith and Joe Johnson as core players in return.

However, the Hawks clearly do not want to dismantle their existing core for Dwight Howard. Without their two key players, even with Howard's addition, the team would lose its purpose in upgrading.

The two sides are currently locked in a protracted stalemate.

The Atlanta side is aggressively driving down prices by claiming that Warcraft has designated a buyer, attempting to take advantage of the situation.

The Magic took a hard line, even saying, "We would rather let Dwight go for nothing in 2013 than accept a paltry sum of money!"

The trade stalled, and as the clock ticked closer to midnight, Dwight Howard's palms were almost soaked with sweat from his phone screen.

Meanwhile, inside Lynch's luxurious villa on Long Island, New York.

Sarah Sampaio was also sweating.

Weird.

The central air conditioning system at Lynch’s residence was clearly working well, and the indoor temperature was pleasant.

But every time she stepped into the house, an indescribable "high society heat wave" would hit her, making her cheeks burn.

She nestled close to Lin Qi, biting her lip, unconsciously pressing her body even closer, her plump hips brushing against his thigh.

Lin Qi simply put his arm around her, his gaze fixed on the phone screen like a magnet.

“Honey, why are you so focused on tonight’s news? The Knicks won’t make any trades by the deadline this year, and your roster won’t be adjusted, right?” Sarah Sampaio asked, puzzled, her hips swaying more seductively.

Lynch nodded slightly, his fingertips still on the screen: "Yes, we don't have any mid-term deals this year."

"Then why do you care so much?"

"You know, I'm a sentimental person. I just wanted to send my friend my sincerest blessings as soon as possible."

At 23:58 PM, Dwight Howard felt as if the sofa in his home had splintered, making him extremely uncomfortable.

He frantically refreshed Woj's social media page, as if awaiting a final verdict.

Finally! A bombshell revelation about him suddenly popped up!
Warcraft stared intently at the screen, his pupils suddenly contracting. His expression froze on his face, making it difficult to discern whether it was disbelief and frustration or a sudden burst of ecstasy.

At the same time, Lin Qi also came across the same information.

After reading it, he quickly typed a message on his phone and sent it to his old friend.

He then casually tossed his phone aside and pulled his girlfriend, who was already burning with passion and her breath hot, into a tight embrace.

He decided to kneel before Sacha Sampaio tonight.

As a man, Lynch never knelt before anyone; it was a matter of dignity.

Unless he's facing a woman who's bent over with her back to him.

Warcraft was still staring at the leaked information when an overwhelming feeling of nausea surged through his chest, and his stomach churned.

Woj's latest tweet on social media is a chilling statement:

"Atlanta and Orlando failed to complete the trade before the trade deadline. The trade window may not be completely closed, but for the remainder of the season, Dwight Howard will be forced to stay in Florida."

Expectations are shattered into ashes of despair, and a feeling of nausea gets stuck in my throat.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

Dwight Howard initially thought it was his incompetent agent texting him to inform him of the trade's outcome.

But not.

The text message was from Lynch; it was shorter, but its impact far surpassed Woj's report by a thousand times. Every character felt like a mocking shard of ice.
"Remember, whatever you do, don't come in eighth, buddy."
-
Based on their roster strength, it's unlikely the Orlando Magic will fall to eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Chris Paul is right; the biggest characteristic of the East is that some areas are flooded while others are drought-stricken.

It's not that there aren't strong teams here, but rather that the strong teams are all too strong, and the weak teams are all too weak, making it less balanced than the Western Conference.

Therefore, it's hard to imagine what reason the Milwaukee Bucks, a team led by Brandon Jennings, could have to rank higher than the Magic.

But competitive sports are never about comparing rosters on paper.

If roster numbers on paper spoke for themselves, LeBron James would already be a winner in life.

The Magic's roster on paper is decent, but their cohesion is completely gone.

The situation where World of Warcraft threatened to leave but didn't actually leave is the most awkward.

If even the team's star player wants to leave, how can the others possibly have the fighting spirit?
As expected, once the trade deadline passed, the Orlando Magic's season spiraled out of control like a kite with a broken string.

March's schedule felt like a relentless downpour for them, with a string of defeats. The entire team's morale plummeted, and the role players were practically invisible on the field, acting like office workers just going through the motions, showing absolutely no fighting spirit.

Even Dwight Howard himself was mired in a quagmire, playing passively and struggling.

He knew in his heart that he shouldn't face Lynch in the first round. But once on the court, he always lacked motivation.

Because another voice was telling him: So what if he avoids Lynch? The Orlando Magic will most likely not even make it past the first round this year.

The Magic's record continued to decline, and Dwight Howard's aggression grew increasingly intense.

He committed more and more rough fouls on the court, and he received technical fouls more and more frequently.

He was no longer the young man who always wore a kind smile and loved to joke around.

Critics, led by Shaquille O'Neill, once relentlessly criticized his character flaws.

They believe that a "big boy" who is always laughing and joking lacks that fierce spirit and is destined to be unable to lead the team to greatness.

Now, Warcraft is no longer all smiles and laughter, but it has also failed to garner praise.

He simply stumbled from one extreme—the abyss of self-numbing pleasure—into another extreme: a volatile prison consumed by resentment.

In stark contrast to the Orlando Magic are the Indiana Pacers.

Having upgraded their roster before the trade deadline, they went on an impressive 11-game winning streak in March.

Aron Afflalo adapted to the Pacers faster than people expected, almost like a plug-and-play game.

CP3 played an indelible role in this.

This tall, pure-hearted troublemaker always manages to find Aron Afflalo when he makes a run into space, and he never makes any of his teammates feel uncomfortable.

Alan Afflalo, returning to his familiar roles, quickly regained his rhythm.

Their three-point shooting percentage rebounded strongly to 40%, and they regained their robust defensive performance.

The experiences of LeBron James and Allen Afflalo both prove one point: if you don't have the ability, don't try to be the core player.

However, whether it's the Magic struggling in the mire or the Pacers riding their winning streak, they are merely supporting characters in a grand narrative in front of the New York Knicks, who continued to crush the league in March.

The Knicks' conquest continues with overwhelming force, crushing every obstacle in their path.

The backcourt duo of Lynch and Kyrie Irving continues to plunge the entire league into a nightmare from which it will never awaken.

On March 31, the Knicks' iron hooves trampled over the Boston Celtics, leaving a mark of conquest at TD Garden.

So far, 72 games have been played in the season, and the Knicks have a record of 64 wins and 8 losses.

Looking back at the five losses they suffered in the first two months of the season, no one could believe they could reach the 70-win mark.

However, from the depths of winter in January to the gentle breeze of spring in March, the Knicks only suffered three defeats in their three-month-long, arduous journey!
A 70-win season seems like a done deal!
In addition, the New York Knicks have won 45 games by double digits.

They are just one game away from tying the record set by the legendary 96 Bulls.

They are just five games away from tying the all-time record of 72 Lakers.

The Knicks didn't keep their fans waiting long. On April 9, against the Washington Wizards, Kyrie Irving and Lynch combined for 64 points, helping the Knicks crush their opponents 120-99.

This game marked the Knicks' 50th win of the season by double digits, officially tying a record that had stood for 40 years!
But that wasn't the end. Just two days later, on April 11, against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Knicks scored 101-83, marking their 51st double-digit win of the season.

Break the record!

4月12日背靠背面对克利夫兰骑士，101比91，第52场。

On April 14th, in the away game against the Utah Jazz, the score was 113-84. It was Game 53, and the series is far from over!
On April 15th, facing the Toronto Raptors, Lynch only scored 17 points throughout the game, as the game was already over before he even finished the third quarter.

With a score of 110 to 84, the New York Knicks won by double digits for the 54th time this season, once again breaking the historical record!

Meanwhile, the Knicks' record improved to 73 wins and 8 losses.

At the end of the game, Lynch stood in the center of the Canadian Airways Centre arena.

This was not Madison Square Garden, which he had loyally guarded; the land beneath his feet was even territory of the Maple Leaf Country, which he was unfamiliar with.

However, an invisible gravitational field suddenly formed, sweeping across the entire stadium with him at its core.

The shouts started as a commotion in one corner, but quickly spread like wildfire, unstoppable!

The fans in the stands of 10,000 or 20,000 people rose to their feet as if propelled by an invisible giant wave.

Applause, shouts, and stomping combined into a tangible sound wave that crashed against the dome!

At first, there were scattered shouts, but in the blink of an eye, they coalesced into a unified, earth-shattering torrent, like the battle cry of an ancient giant, shaking heaven and earth:
"MOAT! (The myth of all ages) MOAT! MOAT!"

In the vast constellation of competitive sports, the title GOAT was once the most dazzling crown, used to honor the solitary figure who reached the pinnacle.

But the dominant performance of the New York Knicks in the 2011-12 season, led by Lynch, made the GOAT aura seem pale and insignificant.

This epic journey, beyond the imagination of the mortal world, needs a new, unique title, one that can bear its full weight.

Thus, Sir Charles Buckley's self-created MOAT began to spread widely.

The spotlight stretched Lynch's shadow infinitely, projecting it onto the court floor, making him look like an unyielding monument to a miracle.

Number 20 did not deliberately make a fuss; he simply stood quietly in the eye of the storm, letting the gravitational waves lift him up.

The entire alliance bowed down to his glory at that moment.

Amid the commotion, the man in colorful clothes, Sager, walked up to Lynch's side.

This seasoned veteran, who has witnessed countless battles and legendary moments, was unusually devoid of his signature smile at this moment.

The overwhelming frenzy and deafening shouts shocked and made him feel a little nervous.

He realized that Lynch might be the summit that no one else in the sport could ever climb.

He seemed to be standing before the gates of a radiant temple, about to interview a deity.

“Lynch,” Sager’s voice held a tension that surprised even himself—he hadn’t felt nervous about a live interview in many years—“How do you describe the feeling of receiving such earth-shattering adoration on the road?”

Lynch put his arm around Sager's shoulder and smiled, as if reminding a novice not to be nervous.

Stop shaking, old buddy, hold my microphone steady.

Then, Lin Qi leaned down slightly:
"Thank you! Thank you Toronto! Thank you to everyone who cheered! This moment is not only an honor, but also a magnificent display of basketball's resonance!"

The sounds heard here are completely different from those heard in Madison Square Garden, but equally breathtaking.

I am very proud, and of course, I am genuinely happy for everything our team has done!

The room fell silent briefly at his words, before erupting into an even more powerful response.

Sager composed himself and asked the last question of the evening:
"With only one game left in the regular season and the playoffs about to begin, what would you like to say to your playoff opponents?"

This time, Lin Qi's smile was much less pronounced.

"If you think the three-peat New York Knicks are already terrifying, then I can tell you with certainty that you will see something even more terrifying."

Thousands of miles away, the ice puck, coated in liquor, slammed into Dwight Howard's feet, shards of ice splashing onto the cuffs of Magic's number 12 trousers.

A chill, as if an invisible giant hand were gripping his throat, seized him from the depths of his soul.

This kind of fright far exceeds the limits that any fictional ghost could bring.
-
It turns out I don't need to apologize to Michael Jordan, and I have no reason to apologize to him. Because I didn't disparage him; I was just stating the facts. Look at him now, Lynch has indeed surpassed Michael. — Charles Barkley on his broken relationship with MJ.

The Manhattan Project is going to explode on American soil this time, it's insane. — Stephen A. Smith on the Knicks' chances of a fourth consecutive championship.

The Indiana Pacers finished the season with 64 wins, not bad, enough. — The New York Times proudly mocked the second-place team in the Eastern Conference.

Michael Jordan's latest documentary, "The Last Dance," has officially premiered on ESPN, consisting of 10 episodes. —ESPN Advertisement.

Unfortunately, the Orlando Magic are eighth in the Eastern Conference. — Orlando Sentinel

(End of this chapter)