Champion Rules

Chapter 339, Section 335: Who Cares About You? (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

The Pacers felt immense pressure from the very beginning.

This sense of pressure did not "stop there," but rather spread and overwhelmed the entire game like a tidal wave.

Throughout the entire game, the Pacers struggled to survive in the mire of being behind.

They played with nothing but relentless intensity: tenacious defense, frantic running, and squeezing every last drop of energy and willpower out of themselves. Every possession was a battle of wits and strength, sparks flying from the impact of their muscles throughout the arena.

But these scenes then became the norm:
David West clung to Lynch like a fierce fighting dog the entire time, his jersey soaked with sweat, gritting his teeth and enduring every confrontation. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as the number 20, in a moment of physical disarray, unleashed an absurd, drifting shot, shattering all the effort he had amassed.

The Pacers collapsed the defense, rotating tirelessly. Finally, Lynch forced his way into the paint and scored with a layup.

Kyrie Irving faked a pass from beyond the three-point line to fool Chris Paul's serious defense, then gracefully cut in like a wisp of smoke, flicking the ball with his fingertips and ruthlessly swishing it through the net.

You can clearly see how much effort the Pacers put in; every defensive possession was like a climb that exhausted all their strength.

But the Knicks stood calmly at the top, gently brushing aside every effort the Pacers made.

In the final possession of the third quarter, Paul George was tasked with guarding Lynch, and Allen Afflalo immediately double-teamed him.

Lynch passed the ball to Ray Allen, and David West almost immediately rotated in to contest it.

Ray Allen seemed completely oblivious to David West, and he met the opponent's lunge with a shot that was executed without the slightest hesitation or deviation.

"Shh."

The basketball went in, and all the Pacers' efforts were once again in vain.

Ray Allen landed, took small steps back, pointed at Lynch, and said nothing more.

It was as if that three-pointer that pierced the heart was nothing more than a boring, routine practice.

The New York Knicks continue to lead "as a matter of course".

The buzzer sounded, and the Pacers were already down by 18 points.

Chris Paul walked off the court, covered in sweat.

He didn't know where the problem lay; the Pacers hadn't made any mistakes.

However, the Knicks made too many shots against the Pacers' flawless defense, especially Lynch, who was a sharp weapon against their defense.

These shots, made amidst perfect defense, left the Pacers in despair.

In fact, Lynch was already a benevolent monarch.

The 2025 Pacers team experienced an even more desperate way to die—they hung a spoon directly around their opponent's neck, and they called whatever fouls they wanted.

Lin Qi was at least using his own strength to compete with the Pacers, rather than having an off-court mage summon a rain of points.

The point difference had widened, but Frank Vogel was not discouraged by the huge gap.

As soon as the players sat down, the Pacers head coach slammed his clipboard.

"Chris, you're a fan of Tim Duncan, and you chose Wake Forest University because of him."

"Then please tell me, how was the greatest record of Shams' career achieved?!"

Chris Paul was stunned. Was this the greatest record of Tim Duncan's career?
Tim Duncan wasn't a player who played for statistics, so he rarely publicized his records.

Nonsense, which serious player would constantly bring up their records to show off?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wouldn't flaunt his 3 points whenever he had nothing better to do, and Wilt Chamberlain only briefly mentioned his 2-stroke record in his autobiography.

Just as CP3 was wondering, Frank Vogel himself provided the answer:

"35 seconds and 13 points, Tracy McGrady was able to create this great scene because those guys from the Houston Rockets just couldn't believe they would lose, and because of that madman Tracy McGrady, even if God himself pronounced a death sentence, he would still tear a hole in the sky!"

CP3:
The tall and imposing Chris Paul's eyelids twitched wildly. Did this idiot coach think he was being funny?!
He glanced around at his teammates; David West, Roy Hibbert, and others were pinching their thighs hard, their facial muscles contorted and twitching as they tried to suppress laughter.

Paul George and Aron Afflalo clenched their fists, seemingly grasping the essence of Franka Vogel's words.

Although Franka Vogel's admonition was laced with biting and merciless mockery of the smiling T-eater, it must be admitted that his appeal was successful.

The players either relaxed or rekindled their fighting spirit.

Frank Vogel noticed the subtle shift in the players' morale and continued:

"The Pacers have faced many situations in their history where they were down by double digits after three quarters. Many times, the whole world thought we were doomed. But gentlemen, in many similar games, we have had the last laugh."

There is only one situation in which we are certain of death: when we ourselves believe we will lose!

Frank Vogel's pre-made chicken soup for the soul was a success.

After the start of the fourth quarter, the Pacers did not succumb to the huge point difference.

On the contrary, they rose up in resistance.

Paul George hit a mid-range shot, and Roy Hibbert was tougher on both offense and defense in the low post.

Chris Paul naturally wouldn't shirk responsibility. He found his rhythm with mid-range shots after pick-and-rolls and frequently created scoring opportunities using 1-5 pick-and-rolls.

The point difference was gradually narrowing when the Pacers displayed amazing efficiency in the final quarter.

With four minutes remaining in the game, when Chris Paul used a nutmeg to shake off DeAndre Jordan after a pick-and-roll and scored a layup, the Pacers narrowed the gap from 18 points to 6!
New York fans were amazed by CP3's beautiful dribble, and Mike Malone immediately paused the game to interrupt the Pacers' momentum.

This Pacers team is increasingly reminiscent of the Reggie Miller era.

Reggie Miller's Pacers team was so resilient that it seemed able to withstand any pressure, and Miller, as the core player, seemed to turn all the pressure into fuel to unleash more potential, always able to return all the pressure to the opponent in the final quarter.

Today, it seems that all of this is being replicated.

The game was paused, and Chris Paul glanced maliciously at Spike Lee on the sidelines, his pupils burning with the vengeful fire of bare feet.

But Spike Lee showed no embarrassment or fear.

He didn't believe anyone could turn the game around right under Lynch's nose.

Even though the Pacers had closed the gap to just 6 points.

On the Knicks' bench, Mike Malone was visibly agitated, hurling insults.
"Why is your offensive consistency declining? Oh, you're already celebrating? You think the game is over? If you need a humiliating loss like this, like having dog shit smeared on your face, to remind yourself that this is the Eastern Conference Finals, then keep going!"

The Knicks were caught up not only because the Pacers had amazing offensive efficiency, but also because the Knicks' offense had declined.

Despite being double-teamed and receiving help defense, Lynch's timely passes failed to translate into actual points.

All of this made Mike Malone quite unhappy.

Although, on Lynch's advice, Mike Malone stopped criticizing players in the media.

But in private, he's anything but polite.

This was not due to the Knicks underestimating their opponents; it was simply an inevitable result of the Pacers' tenacious and tough defense.

Whether it's this Pacers team or the Pacers of the 90s, they all have the ability to use relentless, iron-willed defense to make most players lose their touch in the final quarter.

This is why the Pacers are always able to pull off so many incredible comebacks.

Especially against the Knicks, whether it's 9 seconds and 8 points, or the 20-point comeback in the pivotal Game 5, the Knicks are always the backdrop.

Because the Knicks in the 90s were a typical defensive team, the team believed in tough defense and selected players with defense as the priority.

Even when it comes to offense, they place more emphasis on a player's offensive capabilities in combat sports—if Draymond Green had appeared on the Knicks in the 90s, he would definitely be considered an all-around offensive player.

Even star player Patrick Ewing is not a top-tier target for hard-hitting attacks.

Therefore, when the Knicks' offense stalls in the fourth quarter, they lack a player who can consistently score points.

This is when the Pacers' opportunity arises.

But the Knicks today are clearly different.

After venting his anger, Mike Malone looked at Lynch.

As a coach, he really disliked saying the next sentence, as it would make him seem unprofessional.

But from the perspective of victory, this is precisely the simplest and most brutal method. "Listen, everyone else, shove all your shitty offenses back into your nostrils. Put all your strength into fighting, tearing apart every damn defensive round."

Then, give the damn ball to Lynch!

Lynch was about to take over the game; his face was expressionless, and taking over the game was as natural to him as breathing.

He's never been the kind of guy who's too afraid to take over a game in the All-Star Game.

The game restarted, and the Pacers' morale was still high.

As soon as Chris Paul stepped onto the court, he couldn't wait to vent his anger at the glaring figure on the sidelines: "Hold on tight! Don't let go, you'd better strangle yourself to death, you idiot!"

But Spike Lee's response only fueled CP3's anger.

His response was that he did not respond.

He simply sat on the bench with his legs crossed, smiling, not even bothering to stand up.

It's like when a man boasts, "I'm going to fuck you tonight," and the woman he's facing isn't excited or scared, she just shakes her head and chuckles.

The game restarted, and Kyrie Irving quickly passed the ball after crossing half-court.

Lynch didn't make any extra moves, he just called for a pick and roll.

"Damn it, damn it!"

Roy Hibbert was going crazy; he was completely tormented by Lynch's pick-and-roll tonight.

He didn't fully dive out because he still needed to protect the rim. In the first half, every all-out defensive effort he made only served to widen the paint, allowing the Knicks' wings to freely penetrate and dominate the restricted area.

At this moment, Roy Hibbert was trying his best to maintain a delicate balance—just enough to swing his arm to interfere with the shot, and also enough to retreat and protect the rim.

However, Lynch did not see the concept of "balancing".

After the pick-and-roll, facing Hibbert's close yet ineffective interference, Lynch took off without any adjustment and without warning!

The basketball's arc was clean and deadly, piercing the net with a "swish".

The crisp sound was like a resounding slap, striking the pavement's newly rallied fighting spirit.

There's never such a thing as "just right" when it comes to defending Lynch.

You either give it your all or you concede a goal.

With the point difference reduced to 8 points, Chris Paul decided to rebuild the team's morale:
"Lynch, keep going! You better pray you make every shot. Otherwise, we'll ruin everything!"

Excellent rhetoric; this one sentence is enough to put pressure on most star players.

Sometimes, the team in the lead faces more pressure than the team behind.

But this pressure was ineffective against Lynch.

Because he really can continue!

In the next Knicks offensive possession, Lynch called for a 4-5 pick-and-roll.

This isn't like performing moxibustion, where you need to change things up from time to time.

In the highly targeted playoffs, use whatever technique is most effective until the opponent collapses.

By having a dominant center like Roy Hibbert on the court, the Pacers were practically telling Lynch, "Come and have some fun."

Previously, in order to ensure the team could function normally and to motivate his teammates, Lynch did not call pick-and-roll isolation plays for extended periods.

But now that he's in charge of the game, he doesn't need to think about that anymore.

Hibbert still hoped to find a so-called "balanced distance," but when Lynch's mid-range shot went in again, Frank Vogel couldn't sit still.

"Stick it on, stick it on, don't let him have even the slightest gap!"

At this moment, Alan Afflalo ran to Paul George's side, breathless:

"Roy can't be stopped! We have to help defend! If Roy gets beaten while diving out, the two of us will double-team him at the basket! We'll force Lynch to pass the ball; we can't let him take the fall!"

Paul George nodded without hesitation. At this point, the only option was for the entire team to fight against Lynch, who had taken over the game.

CP3 and Lynch used the same tactic, calling for a pick-and-roll and preparing for a mid-range shot.

This time, however, Kyrie Irving, who was fully focused on defense, stole the ball just as CP3 was about to get around the screen, forcing a turnover.

The Pacers' offense stalled. Seeing that the mistake was irreversible, Chris Paul pretended to fall, his entire body locking Kyrie Irving's legs like vines.

The referee blew the whistle, and the "clever" foul successfully extinguished the Knicks' fast break.

Just as CP3 was secretly rejoicing, Lynch poured cold water on his hopes: "Chris, are you just going to let me fail like this? By clinging to Kerry's coattails?"

"Please pray you don't miss, you bastard, or else..."

"Who cares about you guys? All I care about is the Larry O'Brien Trophy."

Chris Paul's harsh words were instantly swallowed back down his throat.

Throughout the night, the Knicks displayed a defiant attitude towards the Pacers, as if they were the stronger team.

At this moment, the sense of frustration brought about by this contempt reached its peak.

The game continued, and Lynch continued to run pick-and-rolls.

Roy Hibbert felt that this tactic completely stifled the entertainment value of basketball, and if possible, he hoped the league would ban the pick-and-roll.

But this was clearly a pipe dream. After the pick-and-roll, Roy Hibbert immediately closed in and teamed up with David West to surround him.

At the same time, Paul George sprinted to the basket, the words of Allen Afflalo still ringing in his ears.

Lynch pretended to look up and look for someone, but the next second he suddenly lowered his center of gravity and walked past Roy Hibbert!
Hibbert had no time to react; his slow movements were practically useless against Lynch.

Lynch triumphantly broke through the double team and drove straight to the basket, leaving Paul George standing in the restricted area, looking utterly bewildered.

Where the hell is Alan Afflalo?
Why am I the only one in the restricted area?

Aron Afflalo did not break his promise; he just wasn't as quick as George and hadn't had time to get back to the penalty area.

Therefore, George had no choice but to face Lynch, who was charging towards him at full speed, under the basket.

He was inwardly wailing:
"Why is it always me!"

"boom!"

Paul George's powerful dunk over an opponent earned him his second spot on the top 5 plays tonight.

Lynch's dunk widened the gap again, and the Pacers' morale collapsed once more.

He doesn't need to pray that he can keep scoring goals; he himself is the god who controls his destiny.

Chris Paul felt a pair of merciless hands tightening around his neck, just as Spike Lee had described.

Spike Lee clapped loudly; he had known this would happen all along.

reverse?

nonexistent.

Ultimately, despite a brief surge in the fourth quarter, the Knicks still emerged victorious with an 11-point lead.

Lynch finished with 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Kyrie Irving added 22 points.

Chris Paul had 17 points and 12 assists, Paul George had 21 points, Allen Afflalo had 15 points, David West had 13 points, and Roy Hibbert had 11 points.

Despite trailing by 18 points after three quarters, they did not give up. They played a very balanced game, and no one was greedy for credit.

But given Lynch and the Knicks' absolute dominance, Mike Breen could only offer them this assessment:
"They were great, and they are a respectable loser."

(End of this chapter)