Champion Rules

Chapter 349-345: Now they are all men, but the dream continues (Seeking monthly votes!)

The NBA Finals have always been the ultimate stage for star players to make their name and achieve fame.

Ray Allen seized this opportunity to write his own legend, and from now on, no one will question the quality of his championship ring.

Lynch seized the opportunity, scoring a record-breaking 63 points in the Finals, a supreme and impeccable performance.

Stephen Curry seized the opportunity.

Before this year's Finals, people only knew him as having incredibly accurate three-pointers, skillful ball handling, dunking skills comparable to Vince Carter, and a penchant for stomping his feet.

But after Game 2 of the Finals, the game that set viewership records, the world saw a completely new side of him – the master of behind-the-back passes.

On Chinese basketball forums, Stephen Curry's nickname has changed from "Baby God" to "Shit-Dai-Fen".

The profoundness of Chinese culture perfectly captures Curry's performance last night, which was both delicious and awful.

People couldn't understand why he insisted on passing it down verbatim at the time.

He could have easily passed the ball in a more secure way.

Charles Barkley's analysis of this was: "Shit can lose, but he can't stop being sassy. I understand him."

Of course, the mistake at the last moment can't be entirely blamed on Stephen Curry.

If a team allows its center to hold the ball for an extended period, it should be prepared for the possibility of turnovers.

At this point, the final score became 2-0.

This is a very difficult situation for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The "Lynch Rule" is once again influencing this team—no team can come back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat the Knicks.

In basketball, sometimes defeat doesn't have to wait until the end of the game.

In the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, veteran writer Jack McCollum pointed out in an article: "If Lynch wins his first game in Oklahoma, we can celebrate the arrival of the four-peat era ahead of schedule."

He believes that this Oklahoma City Thunder team possesses a cohesion and resilience far beyond what people imagine, and they will not give up easily.

But it was only one breath away from complete defeat.

If a team still struggles to win at home, even the most resilient team will be defeated, and even the strongest will be broken in half.

If the Knicks can win Game 3, the Thunder will give up in Game 4.

After all, there are many problems within this team right now.

The maximum salary dilemma, trade rumors, and the countdown to core player contract renewals.
Currently, they can still rely on their shared goal and desire for victory to act as a glue, temporarily suppressing their conflicts.

But once the beacon of hope is extinguished, the tide of despair will instantly engulf all pretense.

At that time, the explosives, which had been forcibly submerged in deep water, would finally detonate, tearing the locker room to shreds.

Victory is as important to a team as sex is to a couple; it can always mask many conflicts and problems.

Therefore, Game 3 of the series is very likely to be the end of this year's finals, and also the beginning of a four-peat miracle.

To this end, Reebok launched a long-awaited marketing campaign globally on the eve of G3 – a simultaneous bombardment of television and offline advertisements.

In the television commercial, Reebok used montage editing techniques to quickly review his career with a few fragmented clips.

Serbia vs. Darko Milicic.

A prodigy swept across Europe.

He put on the New York Knicks hat next to David Stern.

Then he lifted his first championship trophy in New York.

The background music becomes increasingly rousing, and the timeline moves closer to the present.

Suddenly, the screen went black and the music stopped abruptly.

Then, the background noise gradually increased, it was the shouts of the fans.

The screen slowly brightens, and Lynch, wearing the Knicks' dark blue number 20 jersey, stands at the entrance to the player tunnel, about to burst into the stage filled with noise and light.

Just a second before stepping into the light, he suddenly turned around, his gaze piercing through the lens, his voice low and deep:

"Are you ready? Let's make history!"

The advertisement spread like a virus across television and the internet worldwide.

You can watch it on ESPN, on TNT and CBS, on CCTV5, and on Sky Sports.

The accompanying offline posters were also rolled out across major cities overnight with lightning speed.

The poster design is very simple, with only the striking slogan, like a declaration, printed on a pure black background: We will make history.

Reebok poured all its promotional resources into creating an unprecedented wave of anticipation worldwide before the ultimate battle of G3 began.

Fans are ready to witness the birth of the first legendary team since 1966 to surpass the three-peat championship record in Oklahoma City.

The NBA league also went all out to promote it.

On the eve of Game 3, NBA TV, the league's official premium channel, invited Shaquille O'Neal to speak with another legendary center, Beal, during prime time. The central topic of conversation was simply: Lynch.

Shaquille O'Neal started bringing up old grievances right at the beginning of the show:
"I was probably the first star in the entire league to sense the threat of Lynch. Before that bastard even stepped into the league, I heard rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers were going to trade me for him."

My immediate thought was, "What?!"
I, Shaquille O'Neal, won three consecutive championships in Los Angeles, and now I'm going to be traded for an Asian rookie who's not even 20 years old?

I was very confused at the time, so I asked the agent: "Hey, who's that kid? What accolades does he have? What makes him worthy of being traded to me? Freshman NCAA champion? Associated Press Player of the Year? John Wooden Award?"
He then told me: "It's all Shaq's fault. That kid won the EuroLeague title and the MVP."

At this point, the highly performative shark deliberately spread his hands and made a bewildered expression, which amused Bill Russell, who was standing next to him, to slap his thigh and burst into laughter.

"So, I really disliked Lynch back then. I couldn't accept that my value was only equivalent to that of a rookie, and I transferred my hatred for the trade onto Lynch. I wanted the whole world to see that this brat could never be compared to Shaq."

Later I went to Miami and had a few intense matches with that kid, even playing him in the playoffs.

To be honest, I lost badly. I failed to prove my worth, while he proved his.

I knew then, damn it, this league was about to change. Just like when Larry Bird faced MJ in the playoffs, he must have had the same feeling.

And now, it's your turn to feel that way, Bill.

You won eight consecutive championships in a league with fewer than ten teams, and now Lynch is about to win four consecutive championships in a league with thirty teams.

How do you feel?

Bill Russell picked up the conversation:
"I don't have any particular feelings, I'm just genuinely happy for Lynch."

You know, as professional players, we have to accept one thing: history is meant to be rewritten.

No matter how great we were, no matter how remarkable our achievements were, greatness will always be surpassed.

One day, someone will stand up and break the history we have left behind.

Because basketball is constantly evolving and players' abilities are constantly improving.

In our time, no one could score 60 points twice in the Finals.

In our time, no one could win 54 games by double-digit margins in a single season.

In our time, no one could win more than 70 games in a single season, let alone three times.

And all of these have been turned into reality by Lynch.

I have presented the Finals MVP trophy to Lynch five times at the Finals, and each time, the burning desire in his eyes remains as intense as ever.

So, I knew this day would come.

No disrespect to the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are a great team, with Kevin Durant, James Harden, Stephen Curry, and other players who are all excellent.

But I don't think Lynch will allow the Thunder to drag the game back to New York.

Bill Russell is right; the tactics and overall abilities of the players in basketball are constantly evolving.

In the 80s and 90s, Charles Barkley needed to dribble five times to get the ball across the court on a fast break. Nowadays, a player of similar build only needs three dribbles, sometimes even two, to get the ball across half-court.

This is evolution; this is the pace of the times.

Multiple parties combined their efforts to create a powerful momentum, pushing the hype surrounding Game 3 of the finals to an unprecedented peak.

Cameras from all over the world, like searchlights, were all focused on the tiny city of Oklahoma.

The alliance's ambition is clear: to push viewership to new heights!

Although Game 2 of the finals just set a record with a peak viewership of 3700 million, anyone who frequently engages in competitive sports knows that the closer you get to the climax, the more you need to exert yourself, the less you can stop, and the less you can catch your breath.

On the day of the game, when Lynch and his teammates boarded the team bus, the entire hotel was surrounded by crowds.

The bus drove onto the street, and the roadsides were packed with fans.

Some fans held up signs supporting Lynch, while others were clearly Thunder supporters.

It's clear that Oklahoma City tonight doesn't entirely belong to the locals.

Fans from all over the world gathered here, filling the place to capacity.

On the way to Chesapeake Energy Arena, Lynch simply wore headphones and looked out the window without saying a word.

Milos Teodosic looked at his old friend beside him and could imagine how much pressure he was under.

He was under a lot of pressure, starting from G1.

Because expectation can be a slingshot, or it can be a cliff that shatters you to pieces.

In the first two games, the Knicks couldn't beat the Thunder by much, and the last game even went to a buzzer-beater.

So, is the highly anticipated G3 a sure win?

Lin Qi is confident in this, but objectively speaking, it is certainly not a 100% certain thing; there is never a 100% victory on the basketball court.

The commotion instantly brought Milos Teodosic's memories back to eight years ago in Finland, to the Nokia Arena in Tampere.

The Champions League final was a scene he had never imagined.

Just like now, he never imagined that one day he would be standing on the grandest stage of the NBA Finals.

The spotlight during the Champions League final once made him gasp for breath; the suffocating feeling of being in the eye of the storm, the heaviness in his chest under the gaze of all of Europe and even North America, remains as vivid as yesterday.

Tonight, Oklahoma City is just like Tampere at that very moment.

At this moment, Lin Qi's pressure will only be greater, and his tension will only be more obvious.

The bus weaved through the bustling crowd and finally arrived at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The carriage door opened, and a deafening roar of noise instantly flooded in.

Milos Teodosic took a deep breath, and Lynch beside him also took off his headphones, ready to set off.

Milos Teodosic extended his fist and bumped it with Lynch's:
"Don't be nervous. Just like eight years ago, we can make history."

"Nervous?" Lynch laughed. "No, I'm not nervous at all. I'm completely calm. We are the masters of the basketball world, and tonight—"

Lynch looked out the window at the countless cameras:
"We were simply crowned in the eyes of the whole world!"

Milos Teodosic swallowed hard.

There is never a 100% victory on the basketball court.

Perhaps in this man's mind, that theorem simply doesn't exist.
-
If the Oklahoma City Thunder lose this Finals series, they will definitely qualify for the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) award.

In Game 3 of the Finals, with their backs against the wall, the Thunder continued their close-quarters battle with the Knicks, refusing to back down an inch.

The Thunder players firmly believe that God's dice cannot always land on Lynch's side.

In Game 1, who would have thought that Lynch would still make that shot despite being double-teamed by Serge Ibaka and LeBron James?

In Game 2, who could have imagined that Ray Allen would suddenly draw his sword at the crucial moment, and who could have imagined that Stephen Curry would deliver the longest behind-the-back pass in the world?

In the eyes of the Thunder players, they are fully capable of fighting the Knicks to the very end, and the outcome is always decided by the smallest margin.

The key lies in the final decisive blow; they always fall short of Lynch's grasp on that one crucial element.

So tonight, they will seize every possible opportunity.

However, the unexpected turn of events in Game 3 of the Finals came sooner than either side anticipated.

With 1 minute and 19 seconds left in the second quarter, Kyrie Irving switched onto Kevin Durant to defend him after a pick-and-roll.

KD made a strong drive and pulled up for a jump shot in the mid-range.

Kyrie Irving made his usual cut on the ball, and referee Tony Blazes' whistle and Irving's slashing motion fell almost simultaneously.

Amidst the clamor of the fans, Kyrie Irving angrily rushed towards the referee.

This was his third foul of the game.

Lynch, hands on his hips, walked toward referee Tony Brazier and put his arm around Irving, who was clearly out of control, behind him.

"Tony, what's with the whistle tonight?"

“Lin Qi, I absolutely did not target any side, but that was definitely a foul.”

"Are you sure that's a foul? The Thunder are going to get fouled at least three times this quarter!"

“Okay, Lynch, if you think there’s a problem, I’ll be keeping an eye on the Thunder. But listen, I’ll say it again: I’m not targeting anyone, and I’m not trying to extend the series. In my opinion, our officiating has been consistent.”

After Tony Brazes finished explaining, Lynch pulled Irving away.

Because the referee was right, there was no problem with the standards tonight.

Kevin Durant has yet to master his signature move – the indiscriminate standing stick giant swing.

KD did not intentionally draw fouls, and the referees did not intentionally blow the whistle to maintain balance. Kyrie Irving's previous three calls were not serious.

Even if the league really wants to extend the series, and even if extending the series would indeed bring greater benefits, the league must not tamper with the highly respected Lynch.

David Stern isn't stupid. The attention this year's Finals have been far too high, so he can't very well reveal to fans all over the world: "We're a league that doesn't have pre-set endings, our games are unreal."

Even if he really wanted to extend the series, he couldn't.

Lynch's pressure was mainly aimed at letting the referee know that he was keeping a close eye on the rules and that it was best not to overdo it.

Irving's chest, which Lynch had pulled away from him, was still heaving violently, consumed by frustration and the anxiety of wanting to prove himself.

Irving is very impatient; he's been extremely anxious since the last game.

Because he never performed like a second-in-command should.

As a result, he tended to be more aggressive in his defensive approach, cutting the ball down the court, and his shot selection on offense became increasingly poor.

Lynch pressed down hard on Carey Irving's shoulder: "Carey, this won't let you prove yourself!"

Kyrie Irving was too young; between graduating high school and entering the NBA, he only played 11 college games due to injuries.

Ultimately, he didn't know how to face setbacks or how to adjust his mindset.

Since he started playing basketball, he has never experienced such a defeat as the Finals.

Yes, the Knicks are on a winning streak.

But it was more of a victory for Lynch.

Kyrie Irving plays more of a negative role in it.

On the defensive end, he was like a bullseye, getting bombarded by the Thunder.

On the offensive end, the once fluid and efficient play has been replaced by cold and rusty performance, with efficiency plummeting compared to the regular season.

He wanted to change the status quo, but the more he struggled, the deeper he sank into the swamp of mistakes.

Mike Malone finally lost his temper and roughly dragged him off the battlefield, his rebukes raining down like hailstones:

"A stupid decision, a stupid choice, a stupid defense! Damn it, why does Lynch have to make me protect an idiot like you in public!"

Kyrie Irving sat back on the bench, speechless.

The first half ended peacefully in the final minute.

But this calm won't last long.

With Kyrie Irving already carrying three fouls and being specifically targeted for a defensive play, the Thunder will undoubtedly be even more aggressive in exploiting this tempting wound in the second half.

In the second half, Lynch also increased his isolation plays against Stephen Curry.

Although he was still frequently double-teamed, he still achieved some results. Stephen Curry was exhausted on the defensive end and failed to score a single three-pointer in the entire third quarter.

However, in the eighth minute of the third quarter, Kyrie Irving committed his fourth foul of the night with another rash steal.

Five minutes later, at the start of the fourth quarter, it was the fifth time.

Amidst the cheers of the Thunder fans, he ripped off his jersey and slammed it to the floor, the surging blue wave transforming into lava that scorched his back.

Jimmy Butler watched Kyrie Irving leave the court in a disheveled state, but instead of mocking him as usual, he did not.

He knew that this guy was already under a lot of pressure.

Thunder fans cheered wildly. Although Kyrie Irving's efficiency was average, he was a defensive liability.

Now that Kyrie Irving has to leave the game early due to foul trouble, the Thunder can dedicate more resources to defending other players.

Mike Breen expressed his disappointment with the situation: "This is the price of youth, just like Chandler Parsons' pass in the final moments of the last game. Although we all call the Thunder a young team, don't forget that the Knicks are also a very young team right now, with two rookies in their starting lineup alone."

Lynch did not get angry, or rather, he did not get angry on the spot.

That would do absolutely nothing but mess up the team's existing atmosphere.

Mike Malone gave Kyrie Irving another dressing-down, this anger stemming not only from this game but also from the pent-up frustration of the entire season. Because of Lynch's "ban," Malone never criticized anyone in front of reporters, not even rookies.

But that doesn't mean he's satisfied with everyone.

Out of respect for Lynch, Mike Malone suppressed his anger.

Until this moment, all of this completely erupted.

But after the outburst, the problems still need to be solved.

Now, who will replace Kyrie Irving?

Without Kyrie Irving, Lynch will be the only player capable of creating offensive opportunities.

DeMar DeRozan is a finisher; passing is not his forte.

Wilson Chandler was a flank engineer, not suited for the role of lubrication.

Chandler Parsons has the talent to pass the ball, but his experience is a big problem in the Finals.

The team can't just keep Lynch as the only playmaker; if Lynch gets double-teamed, the entire team's offense will come to a standstill.

Lynch absolutely does not want the team to fall into a situation where one player has to play while the other four watch.

Therefore, Mike Malone's substitution objective was very clear, and he turned to look at the European MVP.

"Milos, I need you to hold on!"

Milos Teodosic could never have imagined that he would shoulder such a heavy responsibility at the most crucial moment of the Finals.

But he displayed a composure far more professional than Kyrie Irving: "Hmm."

Lynch glanced at his old friend, the blinding lights of Tampere, Finland flashing through his mind: "Just like eight years ago, huh?"

Theo smiled and nodded; it really does look like that.

Milos Teodosic has proven himself to be a qualified NBA player.

Of course, this also proves that he could not become a star like he did in European basketball in the NBA.

He is a person with very distinct strengths and weaknesses.

The advantages are consistent shooting, excellent ball control, high basketball IQ, and the ability to create opportunities.

The downside is poor defense and a lack of offensive capabilities in the high-intensity environment of the NBA.

After a season, he had a pretty good idea of ​​his ceiling in the NBA – a starter on a weak team, a substitute on a strong team.

This positioning is exactly the same as it was eight years ago.

Lynch is a star at Real Madrid, while he was just a role player.

Another thing exactly the same as eight years ago was that, as a role player, he was called upon at the last minute to team up with Lynch to win the game.

After Mike Malone finished setting everything up, the pause-ending beep sounded.

Lynch stood up and reached out his hand to Teodosic, who was still sitting.

Theo grabbed Lynch's hand with such force that he almost lifted him off the bench, and roared a phrase he had said to him that summer in Serbia:

"Come on, help me win the championship!"

The game restarted, and the camera zoomed in on Milos Teodosic, the bearded European MVP who became the X-factor that would determine the Thunder's fate.

He neatly tucked his jersey into his pants, looking calm and composed.

Milos Teodosic was indeed a little nervous before the match.

But as a seasoned veteran, all tension vanishes instantly when the soles of the shoes step onto this ultimate battlefield.

But Knicks supporters were very nervous.

Only a genius knows how badly the Thunder will beat Theo; his defense is even worse than Kyrie Irving's.

The game continued, with the Knicks leading by 5 points taking the first possession.

Milos Teodosic controlled the ball firmly across half-court, but quickly passed it to Lynch in the low post.

The moment Lynch got the ball, Stephen Curry immediately teamed up with Serge Ibaka and LeBron James to double-team him.

This was Scott Brooks's strategy; he didn't see a guy averaging less than 6 points per game in the playoffs as a threat.

Of course, the Thunder won't completely leave Teo open; he has already proven in the first two games that his open jump shot deserves respect.

But the Thunder believe that a simple rotation of help defenses can neutralize Theo's entire offensive threat.

As expected, Lynch, who was surrounded by three defenders, passed the ball back to Theo at the top of the arc, and the Swiss Army knife Sefolosha immediately rotated in to cover for him.

Teodosic glanced at DeMar DeRozan, who was making a run into the box, and then pressed his wrist down as if to strike the ground.

This is a standard passing option, but it's also an option that's easy to predict.

Kevin Durant had already started running towards DeRozan, his fingertips already anticipating the trajectory of the basketball as it bounced up.

He was confident that he could easily intercept the ball.

Just as the basketball was about to be smashed down, Teodosic twisted his wrist, and the basketball narrowly missed Sefolosha's back, unexpectedly flying into the hands of Wilson Chandler, who was just left open!
This imaginative pass drew gasps from the crowd, and the latter seized the opportunity, calmly sinking a three-pointer.

Tonight, because Lynch abandoned his ball-handling style of play, the whole team was on fire, and this was Wilson Chandler's third three-pointer tonight.

Mike Breen roared excitedly, "Milos! The amazing European MVP! The amazing pass! Don't forget, the boy who swept across Europe at 17 wasn't fighting alone! And his teammates from back then are right here now!"

When the point difference reached 8 points, Milos Teodosic immediately demonstrated his value.

However, every coin has two sides, and his weaknesses soon became apparent. Stephen Curry used a pick-and-roll to get in front of Theo, who then drove to the basket and scored with a high layup.

The Knicks still lead by 6 points, and Mike Malone's current strategy is to go head-to-head with the Thunder on offense.

Since we can't defend, we should maintain our lead with a more efficient offense.

This strategy only worked because Lynch refused to continue being the ball-handling primary.

Otherwise, Teodosic's advantages would be rendered useless against a group of players who were ice-cold and out of form.

The offense continued, and Theo called for Wilson Chandler to run a pick and roll with him. After going over the screen, he faced Chandler Parsons in the right corner, but without giving him any notice, he suddenly made a behind-the-back pass to Lynch, who cut in from the left, and Lynch easily slammed the ball down for a dunk!
The Knicks are up by 8 points!
All of this happened right in front of Stephen Curry, who felt like he had failed his studies.

I'll do the same next time!
Shi Daifen, a man who dedicated his life to perfecting the transmission of knowledge once.

The Knicks maintained their lead, which is definitely not what Scott Brooks wanted to see.

They must capitalize on the window of opportunity when Kyrie Irving is unavailable to close the gap.

So they started calling out Theo's name even more frantically.

This time it was LeBron James' turn to dominate the weaker teams; LBJ has always been very skilled at this.

Play against the opponent's weakest defensive player and defend against their worst offensive player. This isn't cowardice; it's the wisdom of a player with high basketball IQ.

This time, however, when faced with a pick-and-roll, Wilson Chandler chose to go behind, not giving LeBron James a chance to call him out.

Against KD and Curry, Knicks players dared not flank and pass three-pointers.

Are you sure you don't dare to face LBJ?

LeBron James had no choice but to pass the ball back to Kevin Durant, who continued to run pick-and-rolls, but his mid-range pull-up jumper bounced off the rim this time.

While ordering by name is highly efficient, it doesn't always guarantee success.

What the Knicks need to do is capitalize on these few missed opportunities to extend their lead!
Lynch grabbed the rebound and immediately passed the ball to Teodosic. The Thunder retreated quickly on defense, but Teodosic still found an opening and made a long pass.

The basketball weaved through the crowd, landing squarely in DeMar DeRozan's palm. Despite being chased down by Sefolosha, he still managed to score with an even more explosive dunk!

"10 points!" Mike Breen's face flushed red. "The Knicks are up by double digits! For the first time in this year's Finals, the defending champions have built a double-digit lead!"

Cheers, sighs, shouts, roars
Chesapeake Energy Arena was enveloped in a mix of emotions.

At this moment, in the electrifying stands, quite a few European fans were chanting Lynch's former nicknames:
"Caesar! Conquer! Caesar! Conquer!"

All of this makes tonight's atmosphere even more similar to Tampere eight years ago.

Milos Teodosic recalled the Reebok montage ad that played before the game, showcasing Lynch's career.

His own eight-year professional career was also flashing through his mind at that moment.

From high aspirations to injuries, from a rising star to being buried in Europe.

He went through a lot, and at one point he gave up his initial pursuit.

But his old friend woke him up, leading him to ultimately refuse to board the flight to Moscow and instead go to New York.

He had a wonderful dream with Lynch when he was a boy.

Now, they are all men.

But the dream continues.

After one round, Stephen Curry's fangs snapped at Theo again.

Before the European magician could even get his footing, his lightning-fast shot tore through the defense and scored!

But just twenty seconds later, Theo launched a counterattack on the offensive end.

He faked a bounce pass to lure Curry out of position, then flicked his wrist and unleashed a three-pointer that pierced the sky!

The crisp sound of the net tumbling instantly ignited a nuclear-explosive roar!
The commentary booth roared amidst the tremors:
"14 points! My God, the Knicks' offensive efficiency has been terrifying lately. Can the Thunder withstand this offensive surge?"

Lynch pointed at Teodosic, who reached out and gave Lynch a high-five as he ran past him.

The Oklahoma City Thunder faced their biggest challenge since the Finals began, trailing by as many as 14 points, with everything pointing to the worst possible outcome.

In the following rounds, Milos Teodosic continued to be relentlessly targeted.

But his contributions on the offensive end have consistently kept the Knicks in the lead.

The Thunder temporarily contained Lynch with a triple-team, but failed to stop the Knicks' overall offensive momentum.

With two minutes left in the game, Mike Malone walked up to a dejected Kyrie Irving, the sound of his clipboard tapping his knee almost inaudible amidst the deafening roar of the crowd.

Kyrie Irving didn't look up, but simply braced himself for another round of Mike Malone's wrath.

But Mike Malone didn't yell or shout.

"Kid, head to the scorer's table and get ready. The two most crucial minutes are coming up, and the King of New York needs his best helper. Go on, our number two, I'll bring you in after the dead ball."

Kyrie Irving looked up in surprise, while Mike Malone tilted his head and said, "Go ahead."

Kyrie Irving stood up, a moment captured by the cameras. Scott Brooks did the same, his fingernails almost digging into his palms.

It’s over.

At this moment, the Thunder are down by 10 points.

If the point difference cannot be narrowed to single digits before Kyrie Irving comes on to break Lynch's triple-team, then this game, no, this round of the Finals will be over.

Not only will a huge point difference extinguish hope, but it will also severely damage the players' confidence.

From now until the ball dies, this is the Thunder's last chance to fight back.

Knicks fans also know that as long as they maintain a double-digit lead before Irving enters the game, they can celebrate their first four-peat in 46 years ahead of schedule.

The game continued, and the Knicks were on offense. Milos Teodosic passed the ball to DeRozan, who was cutting in. Lynch had already pushed Serge Ibaka out of the paint, so he couldn't protect the rim. DeRozan then raised the basketball high.

But the next second—

"boom!--"

"LeBron James, The Block! A crucial chase-down block, the Thunder's chance has arrived!"

The entire Thunder team surged forward the moment the block occurred, and after LeBron James landed, the long pass instantly tore through the air.

He didn't want to be trapped by this damned curse anymore. He just wanted to beat Lynch once, just once!
Stephen Curry received the ball, surrounded by Thunder players. Meanwhile, in the Knicks' half, only Lynch remained, having retreated to his starting position.

This is a fantastic 4-on-1 opportunity in the frontcourt!
Lin Qi was in his own half of the court, and at that moment he looked incredibly lonely.

New York, North America, the whole world.

All the Knicks fans were glued to the television.

They might be at home, in the school or workplace cafeteria, in the subway station, or in a square or on the street.

Some of them stared intently, some put their arms around each other's shoulders, and some covered their mouths.

They all knew that, regardless of the outcome, the next offensive and defensive maneuver was very likely to be a moment that would determine history.

If the Thunder score, they still have a chance to fight back.

If Lynch can stop the Knicks, they'll practically have their fourth consecutive championship trophy within reach.

Stephen Curry approached Lynch, the guy who was backing away with his arms outstretched, looking like he could cover the entire half of the court by himself.

At this moment, Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant were cutting in, and they both chose to finish the attack in a more conservative way.

Thabo Sefolosha drove to the three-point line, and Stephen Curry didn't shoot himself. He looked at Serge Ibaka and then passed the ball to KD.

Lynch reacted quickly, turning towards Kevin Durant's position, chasing after him, and jumping.

Kevin Durant swung his arm and slammed the ball hard into the basket.

However, he couldn't escape the giant hand that was positioned in front of the basket.

The basketball hit Lynch's palm and bounced back!

Inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena, half cheered and half sighed.

The fans watching on TV remained tense, some even kneeling on the floor.

Because Stephen Curry, who was following behind, picked up the basketball that had fallen to the ground, he didn't hesitate and immediately tossed the ball high into the air.

Stephen Curry's signature high-arcing layup shone brightly in this Finals game.

More than once, number 30's shot sailed past Lynch's fingertips and pierced the hearts of New York fans.

This time, it seems the ending will be the same again.

Although Lynch jumped again almost immediately after landing, Stephen Curry's high-arcing layup was still chilling.

But this time, when Stephen Curry threw the ball, he saw the figure he once admired rise into the air at an incredible speed.

His heart seemed to thaw instantly, because, in his judgment, this ball seemed...
It's insurmountable.

Lynch spread his fingers and caught the basketball that Stephen Curry had just tossed out! He shut down the Thunder's four-on-one offense with two consecutive blocks!

Countless New York fans stretched out their arms and ran through Times Square.

The shouts of countless Chinese fans made the dormitories and canteens boil with excitement.

Someone covered their face on the sofa at home.

Someone is jumping around on the sofa at home.

Someone was excitedly embracing their friends.

Kyrie Irving, who was sitting below the scorer's table, suddenly jumped up, punched his fist, and roared, all his previous displeasure instantly dissipating.

On the Knicks' bench, Ray Allen, unusually composed, was wildly waving a towel.

Mike Brin practically screamed his lungs out:

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment every child has been dreaming of!"

Lynch did it! He stopped the Thunder's almost certain attack!

Lynch made a long pass to Milos Teodosic, who scored a layup, bringing the score to 12 points!
The Thunder have called a timeout; Kyrie Irving is about to enter the game!

No one can stop them now; no one can stop Lynch from making history!
Game 3 of the Finals has already decided the outcome; Lynch will definitely lift his fourth consecutive championship trophy!

Amidst the frenzied and chaotic cheers, the Thunder players left the court with their heads down.

Lin Qi pounded his chest and roared at the group of "running away" opponents.

Milos Teodosic, hands on his knees, watched the guy who was sweeping the basketball world once again, and wearily wiped away his sweat.

Another beautiful dream.

Another magnificent, unreal, yet truly real dream.

The night in Finland eight years ago overlaps with the bustling chaos of Oklahoma City tonight.

That guy gave Teodosic everything he had ever imagined and desired.

Yes, the finals aren't over yet, but in reality they are.

Milos Teodosic gave a thumbs-up towards Lynch in the other half of the court and muttered to himself:

"Thanks, buddy."

Theo watched Bill Russell's show and said that history is always overturned and greatness will always be surpassed.

But at this moment, in Theo's heart...

Lynch's greatness is unmatched.

(Thanks to Z-Taoist and other big shots for their donations)

(One update today, but still no reduction in output, two 10,000-word chapters combined. There have been many long chapters recently, mainly because it's difficult to divide them up during the finals; it wouldn't be appropriate to break them up anywhere. There won't be long chapters all the time after this.)
(End of this chapter)