Champion Rules

Chapter 342, Section 338: But Lin Qi was not satisfied (Seeking monthly votes!)
Although it was Paul George's first time playing in the Eastern Conference Finals, he has already accomplished what many players can't do in their entire careers.

To become a dazzling backdrop.

In the final moments, his jump height and the fluidity of his movement when defending Lynch's shot were perfect.

If Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant's fadeaway jump shot was a sight to behold, then Paul George was the opposite.

It is precisely this pleasing defensive posture that creates such a unique and unforgettable backdrop moment.

In this niche market, Paul George is arguably already far ahead.

Of course, as a sophomore, Paul George's performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals was already quite excellent.

He forced Lynch to concentrate fully on his defensive challenges, which in itself is a testament to his value.

After the match, mainstream opinion did not treat him as a laughing stock.

On the contrary, Paul George received a chorus of optimism for his future development.

The general consensus is that he has shown the potential to develop into a top-class 3D wing player.

Sports Illustrated’s chief writer, Jack McCollum, was particularly bold in his assessment of him.

He posted a GIF of George stealing the ball from Lynch on his social media, with the caption:
“This second-grader is going up against the best players in the league, and we all see his potential. If he can continue to improve his ball-handling, he will become a superstar.”

Admittedly, it's undeniably embarrassing to be relegated to the background during a crucial battle that has garnered widespread attention.

But on the other hand, he gained unprecedented attention and personal fame from this battle.

All things considered, playing against Lynch in the last game was definitely not a bad thing for him.

Back in Indianapolis, Paul George was treated like a hero.

Lance Stevenson, a sophomore guard who joined the team at the same time as Paul George, looked at the fans wearing George jerseys outside the team bus and felt genuinely envious:

"Damn it, do you know what's going to happen next? Indianapolis will be plastered with your billboards, Nike will be pouring more publicity into you, and the San Fernando Valley will be offering you a huge contract to have a cameo role in a movie!"
"Dude, you can go back and tell your parents you fucking did it!"

Paul George himself simply watched all of this with a cold eye, looking rather sullen.

He turned his head back from looking out the window, not even daring to meet the fans' burning eyes:

“We lost the game, I let Lynch score 42 points, I don’t know why people are cheering for me.”

"Why are we cheering for you?" Lance Stephenson stared at the guy next to him in disbelief, as if he'd seen a ghost. "Because there isn't a single second-year player in the entire league who can do better against Lynch than you! Because people can see your future!"

"What's the point? We're still down 2-0. Yes, right now."

Paul George was not in high spirits, while the other Paul in the car, who was even taller and more imposing, was clearly more worried than him.

Trailing 0-2, the Pacers might still have a chance to turn things around if their opponent were another team.

But when facing Lynch, the "Lynch Rule" makes the situation hopeless.

The so-called "Lynch Rules" are a concept proposed by Stephen A. Smith:

"If your team is down 0-2 to Lynch's team in a series, you're out."

This concept has never failed since Lynch joined the league in 2004.

For other teams, a 3-0 scoreline means utter despair.

But against Lynch, a 2-0 scoreline was already a death knell.

Can the Indiana Pacers be an exception? Can Chris Paul break the rules?

Or is he going further and further down the road to surpassing LeBron James?

When Chris Paul returned home, the reports about him were far less friendly than those about George, with the media filled with cold mockery.

On social media, countless fans are asking him, "How does the Eastern Conference bonus taste?"

Chris Paul was on the verge of a mental breakdown. He was already down 2-0, and he couldn't imagine how unkind the world would be to him if he lost this series.

That night, Chris Paul tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

He fantasized about winning the next game, but the cruel reality seemed to suggest that it was destined to remain just a fantasy.

Lynch's cold face, Spike Lee's mocking chokehold, the deafening roar of mockery from Madison Square Garden—all these fragments of images churned wildly in his mind, turning into a cauldron of poison called despair.

"They don't understand! They have no idea what I've sacrificed! Those clueless bastards, what right do they have to laugh at my determination?!" Chris Paul screamed inwardly.

Anxiety, like molten lava, coursed through his veins, eroding the dam of reason.

Ultimately, Chris Paul could only hear one voice in his own head:
No matter what, I must win, I must win, I must win!

Chris Paul's inner cries may be unheard by others, but he will surely make people see them.

Before Game 3 of the series, the New York Knicks, in conjunction with the NBA, held a press conference in a conference room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indianapolis.

Lynch was officially awarded the 2011-12 season regular season MVP trophy.

This is Lynch's fourth MVP award in his career, and his third MVP trophy in the last four seasons.

Currently, Lynch ranks second in the all-time MVP awards, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6 times), Michael Jordan (5 times), and Bill Russell (5 times).

Lynch suddenly felt envious of LBJ. If there were a mid-season tournament in this era, he would probably have become the player with the most MVP awards in NBA history.

Why isn't the Mid-Season Invitational MVP the same as the regular MVP?
The MVP award is undoubtedly a prestigious honor, but Lynch wasn't particularly excited when he received that iconic trophy from David Stern. Because from the moment the Knicks reached 73 wins, there was only one MVP candidate.

Lynch was already excited long before he won the award.

So, in Game 3 of the series, when Lynch stepped into Conseco Arena, he already had a brand new identity—the season's MVP.

This crown was like adding fuel to the fire for Chris Paul, who was already burning with anger.

John Hollinger, a well-known writer for ESPN, has long held the view that Chris Paul has the most MVP-caliber seasons among all players who have not won the MVP award, even more than some players who have won the MVP.

His argument is based on the various types of high-level data that he advocates.

Chris Paul's advanced stats are always impressive, often rivaling those of the season's MVP in many years.

Moreover, their skill level has been maintained very well.

Some MVP players may have an incredibly brilliant season, but their performance in non-MVP seasons is relatively average.

Two typical examples are Allen Iverson and Derrick Rose, whose performances in MVP seasons and non-MVP seasons differed greatly.

Chris Paul is different; from an advanced statistic perspective, he has played at an MVP level for many seasons.

However, he never won a real MVP trophy.

Therefore, writers like John Hollinger refer to CP3 as "an MVP-caliber player without an MVP award."

This viewpoint pleased CP3, as it was a form of recognition for him.

But this viewpoint also made CP3 feel resentful. If I really have MVP-level skills, then why can't I get that damn trophy?

This season, when CP3 led the Pacers, who were only eighth in the East last season, to 63 wins, he felt that he should also be one of the MVP contenders.

Lynch's 73 wins is impressive, but last season's Knicks were already a team with 60+ wins.

His progress was not so obvious.

Moreover, based on advanced data, CP3 and Lynch's match influence is almost on the same level.

However, things didn't go as planned, and Lynch was crowned champion again with a landslide victory in the vote.

Although CP3 was the second MVP this year, his vote count was far behind Lynch's.

In other words, CP3 was never even considered when it came to the MVP award.

Stepping onto the court, the cheers from the home crowd couldn't reach Chris Paul's ears.

All he could hear was the crackling sound of dry branches splitting under the scorching flames.

Not long after he started warming up, a reporter from the sidelines approached CP3 and interviewed him.

Unsurprisingly, the discussion revolved around Lynch's MVP award.

"I am 100% disappointed with this result. You know, sometimes results don't reflect a player's pure ability. We went through mid-season trades, and we went through some injuries to David West and Roy Hibbert."

Without these, we might also be a 70-win team.

I lead the league in assists and steals, and the Pacers have the best record improvement in the league.

But you know, this is a league that only values ​​points and final results.

But it doesn't matter. Just like Tim Duncan, even though he never won the Defensive Player of the Year award, people still know that he was one of the best defensive players in the league.

I think I've proven myself to be an MVP-caliber player.

I think I am the MVP of this season.

Congratulations to Lynch, he's always been lucky.

Chris Paul has never shied away from expressing his desire for the MVP award; he showed a similar sentiment when Kobe won the MVP in 2008.

It's nothing for a player to complain a bit after missing out on the MVP award.

But Lynch has heard far too many complaints about Chris Paul this season.

He joined the Pacers during the offseason, complaining that the Western Conference environment was too poor.

After being swept 4-0 by the Knicks in the regular season, he complained that all that was missing between him and Lynch was a trade.

Now that he has missed out on the MVP award, he is complaining that this is a league that only looks at record and points.

These words completely belittled Lin Qi's efforts and hard work, making them seem worthless.

Lynch was really fed up.

He suddenly felt that LBJ was actually quite endearing when he was in the East, since he usually spoke with rigorous logic and was very discreet, leaving no room for criticism.

Unlike Chris Paul, whose statements were riddled with errors.

As expected of a player selected for the "DeMarcus Cousins ​​Selection," CP3 is indeed very easy to be disliked.

Before the match began, Lynch simply shrugged at CP3's comments.

He didn't want to argue because:

“If we can’t confront it head-on, then whatever you say is right, buddy.”

But unfortunately, Chris, we're facing off head-on!
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The Pacers will continue with their small lineup tonight. At this point in the game, both coaches are finding it difficult to come up with any new tricks. The players' performance and overall strength will determine the outcome of the game to a greater extent.

Chris Paul did not lose his composure despite losing the MVP award and being down 0-2. After the game started, he continued to play the role of playmaker.

But tonight, after the Pacers returned to their home court, their shooting touch wasn't as hot as in the previous game.

The Pacers were able to go toe-to-toe with the Knicks in the last game not only because of their small lineup, but also because of their exceptionally good jump shot.

Arron Afflalo hit 6 three-pointers in a single game, while Brazilian lightning Barbosa made 4 of 5 three-pointers.

David West's mid-range shooting was phenomenal; even someone like Lance Stephenson managed to hit a decent shot.

But tonight, the Pacers' shooting percentage fluctuated greatly.

Ron Artest even inexplicably missed a shot during a counterattack, much like a passionate player who frequently racks up triple-doubles.

But Artest also had his reasons: I won the championship ring in New York, what points did I score for the Pacers?

No matter where I am, I will always be Lynch's soldier!
The Pacers had a terrible shooting night, while the Knicks had the opposite.

The Knicks' starting five all had excellent shooting nights, and Theo Hernandez, Ray Allen, and Chandler Parsons also performed admirably in their rotation. Chris Paul certainly made a lot of good passes, but the Pacers' consecutive missed shots and the Knicks' own outstanding performance allowed the defending champions to build a double-digit lead in the first quarter.

During the break, Frank Vogel squatted in front of CP3, his tactics board blank.

"Chris, you have to step up and lead the team through this difficult time!"

He needs CP3 to step up and take over like Lynch did.

CP3 responded.

In the second quarter, Chris Paul took a lot of shots.

He pulled up for a jump shot after a pick-and-roll, forcefully tearing apart the defense in a one-on-one situation.
Chris Paul has shown why some media outlets consider him an MVP-caliber point guard.

He plays like a traditional point guard, but his ability to develop offense is something most traditional point guards lack.

It's hard to imagine Steve Nash or Jason Kidd using one-on-one hard breaks to solve problems when the situation is hopeless, like CP3 does now.

In the second quarter, thanks to Chris Paul's outstanding performance of 13 points, the Pacers narrowed the gap and trailed by only 8 points at halftime.

Reggie Miller, who once faced off against the "Smiling Assassin," even commented: "It's incredible. The only short player with better hard-hitting ability than him is probably Allen Iverson! Chris is burning himself out and declaring to the world that he deserves the MVP!"

Back in the locker room at halftime, Chris Paul was panting heavily.

Chris Paul played very poorly in the last quarter, but right now, tactics aren't enough to close out the game, and the team's star player taking over is the only solution.

In the third quarter, Chris Paul decided to continue his individual strong-solution style of play.

But on the first offensive possession of the game, Chris Paul was about to shoot after a screen when he saw DeAndre Jordan double-team him without hesitation.

At the same time, Lynch quickly rotated, rushing to the paint to protect the rim and cutting off David West's scoring opportunities after cutting to the basket.

Chris Paul's excellent court control was on full display at this moment. Instead of dogmatically passing the ball to his old partner cutting to the basket, he anticipated Lynch's move and directly passed the ball to Paul George.

Paul George received the ball in the corner, and Lynch came out to rotate out again.

Even if Lynch is incredibly fast, he can't possibly launch a counterattack from the penalty area to the corner in an instant.

He provided some interference to Paul George, making his shots much more difficult, but not to the point of being hopeless.

Paul George still decisively released the ball, and Chris Paul stared intently at the arc, his heart filled with anticipation.

Once someone regains their touch, and once his teammates recover their form, the pressure on him won't be so great.

But things backfired.

"Bang!"

The sound of hammering mercilessly shattered all hopes.

Paul George failed to make his jump shot despite Lynch's interference.

He had put in a lot of effort to defend Lynch, and had been battling Lynch physically for the entire first half.

His jump shot touch has long been worn away.

Furthermore, Paul George lacked ball-handling offensive skills during this period. Once he received the ball, he would almost always choose to shoot a jump shot.

Therefore, Lynch doesn't need to worry about him faking a shot and then driving to the basket; he just needs to jump as high as he can to disrupt his shot.

While his talent is admirable, Paul George's immediate impact during this period was far from sufficient.

Defending against him is so easy.

The Pacers' long-range shooting touch hasn't returned, which means the Knicks can continue using the defensive strategy of "DeAndre Jordan double-teaming, Lynch rotating in to help."

Chris Paul's one-on-one environment will become very difficult, posing a greater challenge to his ability to break through defenses.

Unfortunately, he couldn't overcome the difficulties like he did in the second quarter.

The tight double-teaming neutralized his pick-and-roll offense, and now he can only score by dribbling and going one-on-one.

This is the most energy-consuming hard-to-solve method. You have to understand that the essence of pick-and-roll offense is to reduce the pressure on the offensive initiator, allowing him to more easily get rid of the defender and gain a mismatch advantage.

Now, however, they are forced to abandon it.

Moreover, the young Kyrie Irving was very dedicated to defending the opposing team's star player.

Within the team, there has always been a healthy competition between him and Jimmy Butler, with whom he "doesn't get along."

From his very first professional game, Kyrie Irving has firmly held onto his starting position.

This is an honor, but also a pressure—Kyrie Irving demands that he outperform Jimmy Butler and prove that his starting position isn't solely due to his status as the number one draft pick.

Therefore, it will be even more difficult for CP3 to score in a one-on-one situation.

In the first three attempts of the third quarter, Chris Paul missed all three shots – whether mid-range or driving to the basket.

Lynch roamed extensively on the defensive end, causing David West and Paul George to miss shots frequently.

This left Chris Paul with no choice but to grit his teeth and keep trying, even though he kept missing shots.

After a brief resurgence in the second quarter, the Pacers' offense quickly returned to a state of utter despair.

When Kyrie Irving missed several shots due to defending CP3, and when DeMar DeRozan's efficiency began to decline under the relentless defense of Allen Afflalo, things took a turn for the better.

It was Lynch again, continuing the Knicks' offensive momentum.

He first made a jump shot after a shoulder fake, even under double coverage.

He grabbed another offensive rebound and then powerfully dunked over David West for a score.

Immediately afterwards, beyond the three-point line, Lynch faced Paul George, who was tightly guarding him.

Lynch's long-range three-pointer in the crucial moments of the last game led Paul George to decide to heed Ron Artest's advice—no matter where Lynch gets the ball, he must not be given space.

But Ron Artest's advice also has its problems.

As a physical defender, most of his defensive experience comes from the HandCheck era.

In the era of No HandCheck, close-quarters contact is restricted in many ways.

Paul George was unable to get a hand to him, so Lynch used a beautiful spin followed by a crossover, and slid past the young body that was being held too tightly and had no room to react, as if a sharp blade were cutting through oil.

Times have changed. The art of top-level perimeter defense is no longer about brute force, but about precise distance control and footwork.

To become a top-class outside defender, you must always maintain the perfect defensive distance and ensure you don't lose your position.

This is something even Ron Artest himself couldn't do.

In this regard, Paul George should really consult the renowned Iron Man Kawhi Leonard, who sits calmly on the bench.

After getting past Paul George, Lynch easily pulled up and took a three-pointer.

The basketball swished through the net, and before anyone knew it, Lin Qi had scored 7 points in a row.

The Knicks had barely shown signs of offensive stagnation when Lynch immediately stepped in to resolve the crisis.

On the defensive end, he shut down CP3's ability to connect the team.

On the offensive end, they can immediately develop solutions to the problem.

Thanks to Lynch's efforts, the Knicks have built a 16-point lead.

At that moment, Reggie Miller decided to take back what he had just said.

"In fact, this is probably why Chris can't win the MVP award. Tonight, we clearly saw the gap between him and a true MVP."

He is a very well-rounded player with a strong presence on the court, which helps him produce impressive advanced statistics.

However, we must recognize one fact: no matter how much advanced data we have, it can only serve as a reference and is by no means the ultimate measure of a player's strength.

According to various advanced data models, CP3's influence in the competition is comparable to Lynch's, but this is not the case in reality.

Chris's height of 183 cm presents an insurmountable ceiling: he cannot fundamentally improve the team's overall defense.

Similarly, he is unable to develop the offense and carry the workload like a true ball-handling playmaker.

While he can certainly deliver top-tier offensive output in a particular quarter, it's difficult for him to maintain that level of performance throughout the entire game.
Most of the time, he needs to rely on his teammates' performance to hold on until the fourth quarter, and then use crucial one-on-one plays to win the game.

All his shortcomings were no problem in front of Lynch.

Lynch can serve as the offensive focal point, or he can develop a wide range of shots.

In fact, Lynch also possesses off-ball abilities that Chris Paul lacks.

When he encounters difficulties in attacking with the ball, he can immediately switch to off-the-ball attacking mode.

Chris, however, can't do that, and we saw it today; he's getting increasingly bogged down in one-on-one situations.

Reggie Miller paused, his words as steady as a final verdict:
"I respect Chris; he is definitely the best point guard in the league right now."

But as for the MVP, I don't think he should complain about anything.

Lynch is undoubtedly the Most Valuable Player!

Reggie Miller's analysis is incisive, and in fact, it also explains the difference between him and Nash and Kidd.

Even looking back many years later, this explains why he never won a ring throughout his career.

Steve Nash is a point guard who can play off-ball, which allowed him to succeed as Lynch's second option.

Paul, on the other hand, is completely different. Once he loses possession of the ball, his offensive value collapses instantly.

Jason Kidd's defensive ability is arguably the best in history for a point guard; he can directly change a team's defense as a guard.

So he was able to lead his team to the Finals, and in another timeline, he was able to taste the championship as a role player alongside Dirk Nowitzki.

CP3 also lacks this capability.

Whether he's the team's core player or a supporting player, Chris Paul has always been a solid raiser of the team's floor, but he hasn't been able to help the team break through its ceiling.

The game continues, and CP3's offensive development is struggling, with consecutive misses becoming the norm.

Lynch's presence also eliminated the possibility of Paul George and David West helping to share the pressure.

At the same time, he went all out.

The score difference, like a burst dam, gradually swelled to a despairing number.

In the final moments of the third quarter, Lynch scored a 2+1 against Roy Hibbert, who came off the bench, giving the Knicks a commanding 31-point lead!
The Knicks outscored their opponents 38-15 in a single quarter!

The Pacers' offense was almost completely shut down in the third quarter, while the Knicks continued their winning streak under Lynch's timely takeover.

At this point in the game, all the controversy surrounding who deserves the MVP has become meaningless.

But Lynch was not satisfied.

He'd had enough of Chris Paul's nonsense, so he made a decision.

Let that bastard shut up from now on.

There is only one way to achieve this goal.

"Chris," Lynch asked CP3 as they walked off the court at the end of the third quarter.
"If the hardest record to break in the regular season is your idol Tim Duncan being scored on 13 times in 35 seconds, then it's this record."

What is the hardest record to break in the playoffs?

Chris Paul did not answer; he only felt ashamed and fearful.

(One update today, 3200 words shorter than usual. I also need to take a day off tomorrow. I will resume 10,000 words per day on the 12th.)
(End of this chapter)