Champion Rules

Chapter 343, Page 339: Lin Qi was very satisfied (Seeking monthly votes!)

Chris Paul sat on the bench, looking up at the Pacers fans in the stands.

Their cheers remained enthusiastic, and they continued to cheer on the team.

But that's precisely what frustrated Chris Paul the most.

He failed to live up to that enthusiasm.

Lin Qi's meaningful words just now indicated that this ordeal was far from over.

That statement not only expressed Lynch's admiration for Tim Duncan's historical record, but also his recognition of Chris Paul's potential.

He believes that scoring 58 points in a single playoff game is not the limit for Chris Paul, the god of point guards.

In this timeline, since Carmelo Anthony had never been to the Western Conference, Lynch thought this classic record would be completely forgotten.

As it turned out, history repeated itself in the 2009 playoffs.

The Denver Nuggets, led by Chris Bosh and Chauncey Billups, once again thrashed the Hornets, led by Chris Paul, by a massive 58-point margin.

The 58-point performance wasn't caused by any one person, but rather by the tacit cooperation of all the players on both sides.

The Hornets' bench players just can't score, while the Nuggets' bench players could score with their eyes closed.

Therefore, whether Chris Bosh or Carmelo Anthony was in charge of the Nuggets at the time, it wouldn't have made a substantial difference to the final result.

That was absolutely the most humiliating game of Chris Paul's career, even though Peja Stojakovic was the Hornets player with the worst plus-minus rating in that game. But CP3 will definitely not be complacent about it or use his plus-minus rating as an excuse.

Regardless, if a team loses by 58 points in the playoffs, the star player is definitely the one who bears the most responsibility.

The 58-point blowout loss in 48 minutes of playoff playoffs and the 13-point concesion in 35 seconds of regular season playoffs made the two greatest players in Wake Forest University history seem to be equals, serving as the best advertisement for the school's basketball development.

At this moment, alarm bells were ringing in Chris Paul's mind—perhaps tonight, he would surpass his idol and senior, Tim Duncan, and claim the title of "Number One in History" that he absolutely did not want to bear.

Chris Paul slammed his clenched fists against the back of his seat, growling furiously, "Who the hell does that bastard think he is?!"

This sudden outburst instantly drew the attention of the entire Pacers team, with everyone frowning and looking serious.

Chris Paul didn't relay Lynch's words to anyone else; he simply stood up, his tall frame so imposing that Roy Hibbert didn't even need to look up at him while seated.

"No matter how far behind we are, we will fight to the last man in Indianapolis! Lynch thinks he can completely dominate us? No, let that megalomaniac see our backbone!"

Ron Artest didn't hear a single word of CP3's nonsense; he knew what was really making him nervous.

Team spirit? Bullshit, he's clearly worried about being nailed to the pillar of shame again.

Ron Artest knew Lynch well; given his character, he wouldn't let any opportunity slip by to humiliate his mortal enemy.

The Knicks were already leading the Hornets by 38 points, and in Lynch's eyes, it was like a vibrant Victoria's Secret model wearing only apricot-colored lace panties in his bedroom—he was determined to cross that line.

Ron Artest sighed, recalling the joke he made with Lynch during their farewell dinner when he left New York last season:
"If this really happens (in the playoffs), I will 'accidentally' break my ribs in the bathtub the night before the game so that I don't have to play."

Now, he deeply regrets not slipping and falling in the bathtub last night.

On the other side, Kyrie Irving sat down next to Lynch with a grin.

He knew that the outcome of the match was already decided.

The 3-0 scoreline also means that this series has been completely decided.

He made it to the NBA Finals in his rookie season, and if he wins the championship, he will become a legendary player like Carmelo Anthony.

Even for Kyrie Irving, who had been accustomed to success since high school, this was a dreamlike starting point.

He laughed and stretched out his hand to Lynch: "What a wonderful night, Lynch."

But Lin Qi's face showed no trace of a smile; instead, his brows were furrowed and his expression was cold and hard.

This scene is strikingly similar to the cold glance Scott Burrell received when he tried to high-five Michael Jordan after lifting the McDonald's Club World Championship trophy in Paris in the summer of 1997—for people like them, this is by no means a time for celebration.

Of course, Lynch didn't have the same aloofness as MJ.

He grasped the hand Kyrie Irving offered, but his frosty face had already clearly conveyed his will.

"It's not over yet, Kerry. The best part of the night is yet to come."

Now, the entire Knicks team knows what to do next.
-
The game restarted with the Knicks leading by 38 points, but they did not substitute all their starters.

Most importantly, Lynch's figure still stands on the field.

But nobody thought there was anything wrong with it.

This is the Eastern Conference Finals, so any caution is justified.

Chris Paul tried to maintain his composure after coming on: "You know Lynch, even if we lose the game, you won't see us give up!"

Lin Qi ignored him completely, not even sparing a glance at him out of the corner of his eye.

CP3 has already said enough nonsense this season in the East.

Lin Qi didn't want to waste any more words with him.

As the game began, Chris Paul orchestrated the play, using a precise bounce pass to create space for Paul George after a screen.

The latter faked a shot and then drove to the basket, but was immediately intercepted by Lynch.

Paul George's immature ball-handling skills were practically nonexistent compared to Lynch's unprecedented four-time Defensive Player of the Year (who is also the Defensive Player of the Year this season).

Without hesitation, Lynch passed the ball to Kyrie Irving, who had already sprinted to the other half of the court.

This top-scoring student knew that the killing spree must not stop until Lynch was completely satisfied.

A powerful one-handed dunk cruelly widened the gap to 40 points.

Paul George gritted his teeth; his will was on the verge of being completely broken.

He has never been down by so many points in any game since he started playing basketball.

However, the cruel abuse did not stop.

Chris Paul attempted a fadeaway jumper against DeAndre Jordan in this possession, but it bounced off the rim.

His height of 183 cm makes it more difficult for him to force a move than for others.

That's why Kobe said years later, "People today have no idea how powerful AI is."

Chris Paul is already the top player in terms of self-created offense for his height, but his output still can't reach AI's level.

Having entered a frenzied attack mode early, Paul's energy levels have increased dramatically, making it extremely difficult for him to score any points now.

The Pacers have slipped up again, which means the Knicks have another chance to stab Chris Paul in the chest.

In this round, Lynch personally picked up the knife.

Paul George was striving for the perfect balance of defensive distance, neither blindly sticking to the defense nor giving the space completely to the opponent.

Lynch was able to dribble freely and drive straight to the basket.

Paul George stayed close to Lynch's side, and the two inevitably collided at the edge of the penalty area.

Lynch suddenly unleashed his power, his cannonball-like body slamming into George, sending him staggering like a torrent breaking through a dam. Then, facing the desperately retreating David West, he raised the basketball high with one hand and slammed it down onto the rim with thunderous force! This unstoppable attack gave the Knicks a 42-point lead. Paul George, knocked to the ground, slammed his fist into the floor, furious at the result, yet utterly helpless.

It wasn't just Paul George; Lynch's completely unreasonable and aggressive attack brought the Pacers' morale to rock bottom.

They simply had no idea how to stop the monster.

Chris Paul was still clapping and roaring, "Heads up, guys! Heads up! We're at home! We can't give up!"

However, the hollow roar was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, failing to create even the slightest ripple.

A leader's value is never just about inspiring words.

You need to truly turn the tide when things are at their lowest point, tearing open a crack in the wall of hope with a series of deadly scores or iron-clad defense, and igniting the flame of "possibility" in your teammates' eyes.

Only when the star player steps up will others believe they still have a chance to win.

But at this moment, even CP3 itself could not change the abyss-like predicament. His roar was like a check that could not be cashed, ultimately pale and fragile.

This simply cannot revitalize the team's cohesion.

"Damn it, you bastard," Chris Paul looked at Lynch, but found no trace of the relaxation or joy that comes with victory in his eyes.

There, there is only a bottomless desire to utterly destroy the opponent.

In the next possession, the Pacers created what was perhaps their best chance of the fourth quarter. CP3 used a screen to tear apart the first line of defense, drawing a double team before delivering a penetrating bounce pass that found David West cutting to the basket.

David West caught a glimpse of the ghostly figure rushing towards the paint like lightning along the baseline, but he didn't hesitate and chose to go for the layup himself.

He couldn't pass the ball anymore; Paul George's youthful arrogance had already been crushed by Lynch. Giving him the ball again would only add another desperate missed shot.

David West was close to the basket and confident he could finish the shot before the ball caught up.

He lifted the basketball high into the air and gently flicked it with a soft touch.

Just as he finished doing all this, Lin Qi finally managed to jump.

Normally, this ball should be a sure thing.

He will stop the bleeding for the Pacers in their most desperate moment.

But what happened next filled him with a deep sense of despair—Lin Qi caught up with the rising basketball in mid-air, swung his long arm like a hawk hunting its prey, and slammed his five fingers down hard. Just as the basketball was about to fly past his fingertips and into the basket, he smashed the ball to the floor with unparalleled power!

The deafening roar was like a death knell, reverberating throughout Indianapolis.

If Chris Paul were white, people would see that his face was completely drained of color.

Lin Qi wasn't just talking trash; he was serious. He was determined to build a bottomless chasm on both the offensive and defensive ends, not giving them even the slightest chance to breathe.

This New York tyrant is pushing Chris Paul toward the precipice of shame that will be etched into the annals of NBA history in the most brutal way.

For the remainder of the game, Lynch remained vigilant for an entire possession.

The traveler's sporadic resistance was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot in the face of the overwhelming slaughter.

The snowball effect of the point difference continued to roll uncontrollably, with every Knicks offensive and defensive play like a hammer blow, relentlessly striking the Pacers' already shattered spine.

Finally, after the Knicks built a 49-point lead, both teams decided to call it a day.

Chris Paul and Lynch were both substituted, but for Chris Paul, the nightmare was far from over.

He was like a lamb to the slaughter, his heart hanging over an abyss.

The Knicks were already being very accommodating, fielding as many non-starting players as possible. Mike Malone didn't even play Ray Allen, instead sending out DeShawn Stevenson.

But CP3 knew very well that Lynch's will represented the will of New York.

Will these substitute players go easy on them?

Chandler Parsons answered the question right at the start of the game with a beautiful layup – the Knicks will do what Lynch wants.

Immediately afterwards, Milos Teodosic hit a jump shot from beyond the three-point line.

The point difference instantly reached 54 points!
In the commentary booth, Pacers legend Reggie Miller clutched his forehead in pain.

This wasn't his game, but watching his team, to which he had poured his soul, being so thoroughly humiliated still pained him deeply.

The live stream camera focused on Chris. His eyes were vacant, as if his soul had been ripped out, and no one knew what he was thinking at that moment.

Perhaps he was thinking about the course of tonight's game.

Perhaps he was thinking about the public opinion he would face after the competition.

Or perhaps he was reflecting on every word he had said since joining the Pacers and regretting those inappropriate remarks.

Whatever he was thinking, Chris Paul learned a crucial lesson in his first year in the East—whether what you say comes true depends on Lynch's mood, and what Lynch says will definitely come true.

The game proceeded in despair, and even the most seasoned Pacers fans were too exhausted to shout or wave their arms.

The rivalry between the Knicks and the Pacers began in the 90s, and the battle between the two sides was full of fierce confrontation and entanglement, with neither side able to completely conquer the other.

But now, the Knicks' new leader has completely conquered this tenacious team on Indianapolis soil.

As the game started, the sound of ice water, like solid ice water, flooded the once noisy Conseco Arena.

The numbers on the big screen at the scene were alarming—138 to 76.

The New York Knicks crushed the Indiana Pacers by a devastating 62-point margin on the road, with Chris Paul setting a new career high!

This is the most direct, ruthless, and resounding response from the King of New York to his arrogance in questioning his MVP award and attributing his personal failures to trades and luck.

Chris Paul sat motionless on the bench, too stunned to even look up and check the glaring score.

At that moment, a tall figure blocked out all the light and enveloped him.

Chris Paul, like a caged beast awakened from its trance, suddenly looked up—it was Lynch.

He was holding a small piece of cardboard that he had torn off from somewhere.

On the cardboard, the alarming number 120 was written in bold marker.

“Congratulations, Chris,” Lynch handed over the cardboard sign. “Congratulations on surpassing Wilt, 58 points plus 62 points. You can hold up this sign to represent your career milestone and let the camera capture this historic moment, just like Wilt did back then.”

Faced with Lynch's merciless humiliation, Chris Paul did not retaliate angrily, nor did he make any further excuses.

He chose to keep quiet.

He finally learned to be quiet.

Lynch was very satisfied with the result.
-
Chris is undoubtedly the greatest point guard of all time because he left an insurmountable and terrifying playoff record in both the East and West. — Kenny Smith jokingly referring to CP3.

This is why advanced data has limitations. There is no single data model in the world that can comprehensively summarize a player's actual performance. Statistically, CP3 is indeed an MVP-caliber player. But in terms of gameplay, Lynch is a true MVP. — Melissa Rowling, Fox Sports writer.

This is a historic moment. — The American media outlet BR posted a picture on social media of Paul holding up a sign with the number 120, along with the caption.

Tonight, after a series of evolutions—from questioning LeBron to understanding LeBron to becoming LeBron—Chris Paul finally surpassed LeBron completely. You know, LeBron has never suffered such a crushing defeat at the beginning and end of a season in his entire career. —Charles Barkley commented on CP3's record-breaking night, reminding everyone that he also holds the record for the largest margin of victory in an NBA season opener.

(End of this chapter)