Champion Rules

Chapter 359-355: A Non-existent Hidden Danger (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

Lynch's first goal of the new season was like a bucket of cold water, dragging many people back to reality from their rosy fantasies.

Because it was a very convincing goal, a goal that showcased individual ability.

Even if judged by the notoriously strict "Nine-Point Man" Wade, Al Horford and Dwight Howard's defense just now would have earned them a perfect score of ten.

But that wasn't enough to stop Lynch.

Everyone was confident before the season that they would challenge Lynch. The Olympic gold medal gave them confidence, and the Knicks' potential decline gave them confidence.

At that moment, Lin Qi used just one shot to remind the world what level of monster he was on the court.

The Hawks' predicament reflects the entire league's predicament: no matter how confident you are or how hard you try, surpassing Lynch's peak remains an unattainable dream.

The Knicks' scoring drought was broken, and Lynch's hot streak spread like a virus to his teammates.

Kyrie Irving then drained a three-pointer after a series of crossover dribbles.

DeMar DeRozan also used his flashy mid-range isolation skills to hit a shot over Josh Smith's head.

Anyone who has been Lynch's girlfriend knows that an orgasm is never just one orgasm, but rather a series of orgasms.

Knicks fans experienced this feeling firsthand.

Lynch's goal seemed to signal the start of a climax, giving the score a 7-0 lead and forcing Mike Budenholzer to call a timeout.

The Hawks players certainly knew that beating the defending champions would not be easy, but their expressions showed that the difficulties were greater than they had expected.

Josh Smith and Dwight Howard exchanged glances, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

These two are childhood friends; they played for the same AAU team during their high school years.

That year they won decisively, remaining undefeated, with only one game ending in a score difference of less than 20 points.

Therefore, Josh Smith was quite excited when Dwight Howard joined the Hawks.

He felt they could replicate their high school glory in Atlanta.

Even if you can't be invincible, you can at least win big most of the time.

As a result, the start of the first game of the new season was quite unpleasant.

Mike Budenholzer tapped the tactics board, seemingly trying to dispel the atmosphere of anxiety:

"Seven points is nothing. The Knicks can't make those difficult shots every possession. We need to maintain our defensive focus and not be intimidated by their consecutive baskets!"

After saying that, he looked at Josh Smith, the player with the smartest shot selection in NBA history.

Most people know the principle of playing to their strengths and avoiding their weaknesses, and they know to hide their bad side and show their outstanding qualities.

It's like how LeBron James always emphasizes his stats to cover up his lack of wins.

Just like Stephen Curry always enjoys showing off his dunks.

Just like Kevin Durant always loves to share his slightly cool outfits.

But Josh Smith seemed to have no concept of the word at all.

Despite being a terrible shooter, Josh Smith is obsessed with mid-range jump shots.

He thinks he's Kobe, but in terms of playing with his best buddies, he's already surpassed Kobe.

When Mike Budenholzer first joined the Hawks, Josh Smith even proactively requested that he need more mid-range plays after playing the three position next season.

This shocked him; the last time he was this shocked was when Duncan smiled and took a T.

Mike Budenholzer's approach to dealing with such intelligent players is to clearly state his requirements as much as possible.

He may not know how to read, but he should at least be able to understand human speech, right?

So he told Josh, "Cut in whenever you have the chance, attack the basket more often. Don't shoot unless it's a wide-open shot. Make good use of Vince's weakness on the wing, exploit that vulnerability!"

On the other side, Vince Carter was wiping away sweat.

The live broadcast cameras also focused on him, and as a key variable for the team in the new season, his performance was closely watched.

Mike Breen's commentary also touched on this point: "Although the Knicks are currently in the lead, the test for Vince has only just begun."

The prevailing view is that he is a weak link on the defensive end.

After all, Vince Carter in his prime was not known for his defense.

In people's minds, he always played with flashy moves but lacked resilience.

There are almost no players in this world whose defense becomes better as they get older than when they are in their prime.

It can only be said that everyone underestimated the extent of Vince Carter's transformation.

What's most admirable about Vince Carter is that he didn't just calmly accept that he was no longer a superstar.

His playing style and energy management have evolved into that of a role player over the years.

This is something his cousin Tracy McGrady didn't do.

Many superstar players seem to accept a substitute role as they get older, but their playing style remains unchanged.

The conflict between playing style and team role is the reason why most aging superstars cannot truly become excellent role players.

Carter's changes were systematic.

He now focuses more on off-ball shooting and has more energy to devote to the defensive end. His years of experience have also helped him develop a better defensive awareness.

He is one of the few players who defended better at 35 than he did at 25.

Of course, the same principle applies: the quality of defense isn't something fans can directly perceive. Furthermore, the teams Carter played for in the past few years weren't particularly competitive.

Therefore, there has always been a misunderstanding about the defensive capabilities of this veteran.

Even though ESPN data expert John Hollinger pointed out through advanced data analysis before the season that "Vince is a competent one-on-one defender and an above-average help defender," his argument did not gain much acceptance because of his status as a "well-known Lin fan."

The only thing limiting Carter's potential right now is the physical limitations that come with age.

After evaluation during preseason training camp and preseason games, head coach Mike Malone believes that to ensure efficiency, Carter's optimal playing time per game should be limited to 25 minutes or less.

And now, the game has only just begun, and Vince Carter still has a lot to achieve.

Anyone who tries to take advantage of him will pay the price.

The game restarted, and Jeff Teague controlled the ball steadily.

Al Horford moved up, set an off-ball screen for Josh Smith, and then quickly moved to the corner.

Lynch switched defense almost instantly, pinning down Josh Smith who was cutting in under cover, seemingly having already sensed their intentions.

Seeing this, Jeff Teague prepared to pass the ball to Al Horford, who had bounced outwards.

But just as he was about to pass the ball, his passing vision was abruptly cut off by a strong body.

Vince Carter completed his rotation almost at the same time Lynch switched defense, precisely positioning himself on the passing lane, as if he had anticipated every thought of the Hawks!
"Damn it!" Jeff Teague muttered under his breath, forced to stop the ball and reorganize the attack.

Ultimately, the Hawks' tactics failed to materialize, and they only managed to secure their first two points of the night through a hard-fought isolation play by Joe Johnson.

From the fans' perspective, the Knicks' defense this time didn't seem to have any highlights.

Only the Hawks players and coaches know how annoying Vince Carter's just-perfect, timely, and precise defensive switch was.

Mike Budenholzer paced anxiously on the sidelines, but thankfully, the Hawks still had their defense as a fundamental asset.

Their excellent defense hampered the Knicks' offense in this round, keeping the score at 2-7.

Unwilling to give up, Josh Smith attempted another cut, but even with Vince Carter's excellent defensive awareness, his physical abilities had inevitably declined.

Even relying solely on explosive power, Josh Smith believed he could overpower Carter.

But Vince Carter cleverly gave Josh some space, so Josh couldn't get away immediately or accelerate to the basket at full speed.

In off-ball defense, awareness and focus are more important than physical attributes.

For example, a player with exceptional physical attributes, number 23, often inexplicably misses his man when defending off the ball because he's distracted or has his hands on his hips.

Once again, Josh's efforts were in vain, and he could only impatiently call on Al Horford to come up and set an off-ball screen.

But the same predicament played out again. Horford's screen had just been set up when Lynch and Carter's shrewd eyes had already seen through the trajectory. As if they had practiced it a thousand times, the two rotated and switched defenses seamlessly in an instant!
Their impenetrable defense completely prevented the Hawks from executing their tactics.

Joe Johnson could only try one-on-one again, but this time the basketball bounced violently off the rim.

These two rounds have proven that the weakness people anticipated simply doesn't exist. While Vince Carter's defense may not be as fierce and agile as Wilson Chandler's, his honed awareness and complete role transformation over the years make him far from an easy target.

With tactics blocked, the game once again cruelly threw the problem back at the star players.

This is a bloody arena where hard-to-dissolve abilities clash.

But it's clear that neither Joe Johnson nor Dwight Howard are as good at breaking down offense as Lynch.

Lynch didn't let the 7-2 lead last long. In this possession, he ran a pick-and-roll with Kyrie Irving, forcing Al Horford to step up and delay the play.

Lynch had already taken the opportunity to run away, received a pass from Irving, and faced the 188cm tall Jeff Teague. He didn't even need to adjust his rhythm, disregarding the height difference, he stopped abruptly, pulled up for a jump shot, and cleanly and decisively pierced the net with a mid-range shot.

9:2.

Finally, after two consecutive failures, Josh Smith used a beautiful back cut to shake off Vince Carter, received the pass, gathered all his strength, and viciously punished the rim.

With a powerful one-handed dunk, Josh Smith narrowed the score to 4-9.

The bloody slam rang out the silence, but it couldn't shake the furrowed brow of Mike Budenholzer.

He couldn't get excited.

Because the success rate of this tactic was much lower than he had anticipated.

The offensives of both sides remained inefficient.

But the score gap has been gradually widening.

Both sides' excellent defense made it difficult for them to execute their tactics and create decent opportunities.

However, the difference in the quality of the star players on both sides makes their ability to solve tough problems vastly different.

With seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Knicks were already leading by nine points.

Dwight Howard is panting heavily, having only scored 3 points so far.

When he lost the ball again under pressure, Mike Budenholzer took advantage of the dead ball to make a substitution.

He replaced Jeff Teague with Lou Williams, hoping that the excellent sixth man could help the team overcome their offensive woes.

Meanwhile, the Knicks also made a substitution, with Jimmy Butler replacing Vincent Carter.

This substitution will undoubtedly severely limit the Knicks' offensive space; now, the only Knicks players who can shoot three-pointers are Lynch and Irving.

This is very unmodern.

Next, the Eagles can use some old-fashioned contraction positions to contain Lynch.

Mike Budenholzer firmly believes this is a good opportunity to close the gap.

Lou Williams, a master of interpersonal relationships, manages to keep two girlfriends harmoniously around him as he approaches the Knicks' defense.

Jimmy Butler stared at him intently, like a stray dog ​​eyeing a bone.

Trade rumors surrounding Jimmy Butler have been rampant during the offseason.

But the Knicks ultimately closed the trade window.

Sam Presti told reporters on media day, "We need him."

Now, all eyes in Madison Square Garden and on every screen are focused on this second-year rookie.

People are curious about just how much the Knicks need him.

Lou Williams first felt the pressure, with Jimmy Butler immediately marking him as he approached the three-point line.

But if that's all there is to it, it's nothing to worry about for Louis Williams.

In the NBA, aggressiveness is a valuable trait, but it's not one that will get you a foothold in the league.

Lou Williams took a step back, saw Jimmy Butler positioned to the left, and then skillfully used a low back dribble to the right to create space before accelerating to break through!
He successfully created a distance of more than half a body length, but in that instant of escape, a huge shadow had already loomed over him.

The King of New York had already blocked his path, as if he knew in advance which way he would break through.

An idea flashed through Louis Williams' mind: Was this a defensive trap?
Did Jimmy Butler deliberately push himself into Lynch's delay zone?
He expressed skepticism, finding it hard to believe that a rough second-year student could have such awareness.

But in any case, he must resolve the current predicament.

Lou Williams is a confident player, but not blindly so; he has no intention of directly challenging Lynch.

He was forced to slow down, then looked up to find Al Horford.

He had just spotted Horford's location when a hand reached out from behind him and stole the ball!

Jimmy Butler, with his quick reflexes, stole the ball the moment the opponent made a mistake!
"Smart and tough defense! Can Jimmy take on a key rotation role this season?! I think he can!" Mike Breen shouted.

The cheers at Madison Square Garden were deafening. Before the season started, the story of Jimmy Butler yelling at Lynch at the top of the pyramid was once revealed by Kevin Durant, who is known for his tight-lipped nature.

Butler's quote, "You will need me," also went viral online.

And now, yes, New York fans admit that this victory-hungry arena desperately needs a fighting dog with such a keen sense of smell.

The Hawks retreated quickly on defense and kept their defense very compact.

Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan were almost completely left wide open beyond the three-point line.

The Knicks' offensive spacing suddenly seemed to have reverted to the early 2000s.

Dwight Howard gritted his teeth and vowed that in the next possession, whoever takes a shot in the paint will have either the ball or the player swatted away!

Kyrie Irving calmly dribbled the ball, his fingers making a few simple gestures in the air, seemingly preparing for a screen.

But Lynch didn't move up to receive the ball; instead, he stood a step behind the free-throw line, backing down to receive it, looking like he wanted to post up.

Sure enough, Kyrie Irving passed the ball.

Dwight Howard pounced on Lynch almost the instant Irving passed the ball, double-teaming him without a moment's hesitation.

At the same time, Joe Johnson completely abandoned DeMar DeRozan and moved closer to Lynch.

The moment Lin Qi got the basketball, three people were already surrounding him.

Even Lynch would find it difficult to force a score under these circumstances.

Pass the ball?

He can certainly pass, but can DeMar DeRozan punish this open shot beyond the three-point line? The chances are slim.

The next second, Lynch passed the ball.

However, the pass wasn't aimed at DeMar DeRozan, but at Kyrie Irving, who darted into the penalty area like a bullet!

With his back to the basket, Lynch delivered a no-look, behind-the-back bounce pass—precise! Swift! A direct through ball into the heart of the paint! This pass surprised everyone; Lynch and Irving essentially executed a spectacular, unbelievable one-two pass!

When Kyrie Irving broke into the paint, Al Horford and Dwight Howard were already drawn to Lynch.

Facing Josh Smith who came over to help defend, Irving easily executed a smooth layup, the basketball floating into the net as lightly as a feather!
The point difference has officially widened to 11 points!
Against this New York Knicks team, defense alone won't be enough.

Because Lynch and Kyrie Irving are like the toughest drills in the world.

They can drill a hole in even the strongest walls of copper and iron!
Although it's not even been a quarter of the game, this Knicks team has already shown the world their current level.

Their wing vulnerabilities are not a concern; Vince Carter's composure and Jimmy Butler's wildness both allow them to rotate effectively on the wing.

There was no conflict between them. Kyrie Irving, despite his burning ambition, always remained clear-headed and adhered to his duties as a middle blocker, and his chemistry with Lynch was also excellent.

Their "championship fatigue" doesn't exist. Every player, even those who have won multiple championships like DeAndre Jordan, and even veterans like Vince Carter who have faded from glory, are still full of passion.

This Knicks team remains the dominant force in the basketball world, and under Lynch's leadership, they are still the worst opponent.

There's only one way to beat this Knicks team: a balanced offense and defense.

Only by mastering both offense and defense can you truly compete with them.

You must ensure that you are a perfect enough team before you are qualified to challenge perfection.

Any subject you are weak in will leave you with no chance of winning.

Inside the arena, Lynch and Kyrie Irving exchanged a handshake. Watching the number 20 player walk away, Dwight Howard, unable to vent his anger, could only slam the basketball to the floor, futilely fighting against the suffocating feeling of impending doom.

In the commentary booth, Mike Brin shrugged as he watched the monster, which was already showing signs of defeat.

"It seems the first candidate of this season is unlikely to pass."

(End of this chapter)