Champion Rules

Chapter 361, Section 357: This will always be my alliance (Seeking monthly votes!)

Kyrie Irving's game-winning shot against the Spurs catapulted him to fame.

For years, Lynch has almost monopolized the New York Knicks' game-winning shots.

Kyrie Irving's game-winning shot in the preseason was considered a warm-up.

No one expected that he would immediately deliver a game-winning shot in the regular season as well.

However, the dramatic conflict that the media had anticipated did not materialize. Lynch told everyone in an unquestionable tone: "This is just a test by the professor."

Previously, Shaquille O'Neal mentioned on TNT that he saw Kobe Bryant in Kyrie Irving. This has led many fans to project the potential crisis of the former OK duo onto the current Lynch and Irving.

But as it turns out, the situation was completely different.

Kobe Bryant was nicknamed "Little Malone" back in the day, and apart from his muscles, he was all about rebellion.

He has never shied away from publicly opposing sharks. Even when he was arrested for getting up at four in the morning to whip a hotel employee, he did not forget to express his rebellious spirit with the phrase "Shaq did it too."

Ultimately, this is because Shaquille O'Neal couldn't completely suppress him.

But Kyrie Irving has always been deeply impressed with Lynch and has never hidden his respect for him in front of the media.

Yes, Lynch also loves to do things and enjoys pushing various models.

There's even a category in the modeling industry called "Lin Qi's Choice".

But he has never let any off-field factors affect his training and performance.

Last night, when Lynch arrogantly said that the game-winning shot was a test for Kyrie Irving, Kyrie Irving did not refute it and accepted it calmly.

This is the difference.

Mark Stein, one of Lynch's mouthpieces, pointed out this distinction in a post on his social media:
"I don't know why people think the crisis of the OK combination will be in Lynch and Carey. I never deny Shaq's greatness, but even at his peak, he didn't have the same locker room control as Lynch."

Professor L defused a potential internal crisis with a high-profile approach, allowing this champion ship, burdened with a heavy mission and somewhat weary, to continue its voyage.

In the following games, the New York Knicks maintained their momentum.

Of course, they also suffered a few defeats.

For example, in the eighth game of the season, they were avenged by the "Big Three" in Oklahoma.

Winning isn't scary; the one who's missing is embarrassing.

In this game, LeBron James was undoubtedly in a more awkward position than Lynch, who lost.

After the game, a reporter brought up this topic: "Professor, do you think the Thunder are stronger without LBJ?"

Normally, Lynch would definitely make a good joke about his half-brother LeBron James.

But tonight, Lin Qi had no interest in it at all.

He replied seriously, "The Thunder did lose some things, but they also gained some other things. For example, an unbelievable number of free throws."

Tonight is the pivotal night for the Thunder's "Three Youngsters" to evolve into the "Three Deflectors."

Kevin Durant's long swing and James Harden's improvisational wrestling performance repeatedly pulled the Thunder's offense back to the free-throw line from the brink of stagnation.

As a veteran who has played in the NBA for many years, Lynch knows that the concept of a whistle is an objective reality in the NBA.

But tonight's whistle was quite different from usual.

First, Lin Qi, as the current number one player, was actually the one who suffered from the whistle, which was something he had never encountered before.

Secondly, tonight's whistle was not intended to balance the strength of the teams, but rather seemed to be a forced intervention to ensure the Thunder's victory.

For a moment, Lynch felt like he was cosplaying Tyrese Haliburton from 2025.

Although it was just a regular season game, Lynch was still extremely dissatisfied with tonight's result.

The bald man's face almost immediately flashed into his mind.

This offseason, besides the US team regaining the Olympic gold medal and various trades, another major event in the basketball world occurred that didn't receive much media attention.

On October 26, 2012, the NBA Board of Governors voted to appoint Adam Silver as the new commissioner of the NBA, after David Stern's retirement, to take over the business empire he had built.

David Carter, executive president of the USC School of Sports Business, once revealed:

"The succession plan is flawless. Adam has been deeply involved in everything from labor negotiations and new broadcasting contracts to global promotion. In fact, he is already the de facto leader of the league, handling most of its affairs. David is more like a semi-retired man, having already handed over many core responsibilities."

Adam Silver has effectively taken control of the league, and David Stern is more of a figurehead, just waiting for his formal retirement in two years.

The new leader has already revealed his most pressing blueprint: "To build a fairer league."

Since the goal is to achieve "fairness," it is impossible to allow one team to dominate indefinitely.

Since we emphasize "fairness," we cannot tolerate an international player suppressing a local star year after year.

Given Adam Silver's less-than-shrewd methods, it's entirely possible that he authorized tonight's outrageous officiating.

After all, in the other timeline, he has never liked teams that win consecutive championships, has always been accustomed to forcibly changing the outcome of games without any pretense, and has always been keen on using unsightly methods to promote rising stars.

Lynch expressed his dissatisfaction without mincing words, believing he was fully entitled to do so.

When Lynch got home that evening, he received a call from David Stern himself.

"Lynch, tonight's game doesn't seem to be going very well."

Lynch got straight to the point: "David, tell me, what's the deal with the whistle?"

“Calm down,” Stern said in a soothing tone. “In 82 games, there are bound to be a few similar ‘accidents.’ I believe Adam wouldn’t be targeting you on purpose. As the face of the league, for your own sake and the league’s reputation, I sincerely suggest that you stop publicly questioning the fairness of the referees in the future. Don’t misunderstand, this isn’t an order, it’s more like a request. You know how much I respect you.”

Lynch understood; Old Deng had come to appease them with Candy.

But Lynch wasn't the kind of child who would quiet down at the sight of candy.

"Why don't you let that idiot come and talk to me directly? He's the de facto president of the alliance now, isn't he?"

“Adam has indeed taken over most of the affairs,” Stern did not deny, “but I am still the nominal president, so listen, Adam may have his policies, but this is still a competitive sports league at the end of the day, and you don’t have to overreact.”

Lynch and David Stern didn't talk for long because David Stern was now more like a painkiller—it could relieve the pain, but it was useless for the real problem.

Lynch finally understood why, even though the president was essentially Adam Silver, David Stern insisted on waiting two more years to retire.

Because Adam Silver's new leadership and subsequent changes to the league will naturally cause growing pains.

This is where David Stear's painkiller comes in.

Lynch wasn't sure if he was the first person to swallow the painkiller, but one thing was clear: the reassurance did nothing to comfort him.

Lynch did not entirely oppose some of Adam Silver's actions.

For example, why wasn't the highly anticipated New York derby scheduled for the opening game?
Because he pursues "fairness," he wants large sports markets to drive small sports markets, allowing small sports markets to also gain exposure in the spotlight.

But any reform that comes at the expense of Lynch's interests would be crossing a red line.

Adam Silver had a million ways to promote the Thunder's Big Three, but he chose the most foolish and unacceptable path.

There was this incredibly powerful bald man who managed to blow his whistle from thousands of miles away into my Madison Square Garden, making the King of New York a stepping stone to support his godson. Damn it, he brought this back door to the battlefield where I shed blood and sacrificed my life.

Lin Qi insisted that his godsons carry the runner-up while he won the championship!

Lin Qicai is not the kind of person who would put pressure on the league by kneeling dramatically when there are no whistles.

He immediately called his agent, Misco Raznatovic.

Previously, Lynch had discussed his retirement plan for 2014 with him.

But that was just a preliminary plan, because Lynch himself had not yet made a complete decision.

But tonight, he decided to specify the time.

2014 was a pivotal year, marking the nominal retirement of David Stern and the formal rise of Adam Silver.

Upon taking office, Adam Silver immediately faced a major event—the signing of a new broadcasting contract.

As one of the NBA's biggest revenue sources, this directly impacts the income of all players and owners.

What would happen if the league's most dominant and most popular superstar announced his retirement at this time?
The consequences are self-evident; Michael Jordan's answer hangs on the wall of history.

Since you don't know how to respect me, I won't willingly become your tool for making money.

He will end his career on the day the David Stern era completely ends, leaving Adam Silver no opportunity to gild his reputation or exploit his position.

Of course, this wasn't being driven away.

Before that, Lynch wanted to use the championship and victory to tell that bald guy—this will always be my league.

He will leave behind a silhouette that never sets.

At the end of the second day of training, the spacious locker room at the Greenburg training center felt cramped due to the gathering of reporters. They bombarded Lynch with questions about his controversial remarks from the previous night.

Lynch's attitude was quite tough.

"In any case, we need a fair playing field. Of course, I am not denying the possibility of defeat."

Because I don't need to deny things that won't happen.
-
The season continued, and the New York Knicks, who started the season with a 6-2 record, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 9.

The whistles for the game were normal, but Lynch remained vigilant.

The league certainly can't target the Knicks every game, but that doesn't mean Adam Silver has given up on his foolish plan.

After all, from Adam Silver's perspective, using Lynch as a stepping stone is the fastest and most cost-effective way to promote a star player.

He doesn't need to worry about damaging Lynch's image, after all, Lynch is already great enough.

But Lynch wanted more than just greatness; his gaze pierced through the dust of history, locking onto that one and only "greatest".

The fundamentally contradictory goals mean that this silent confrontation will continue to be fraught with undercurrents.

After nine games in the new season, the game that New York fans have been most looking forward to is finally here – the New York Knicks will face the Brooklyn Nets on the road on November 21!
This New York derby has been highly anticipated ever since the Nets moved to Brooklyn.

This expectation was raised to its highest point this summer after Billy King transformed the Nets into a super team.

Upon entering the luxurious Barclays Center, DeAndre Jordan couldn't help but whistle:

"Damn, I think this should be our home stadium. The best arena should be used by the best local team, shouldn't it?"

But DeAndre Jordan soon realized that this could indeed be considered the Knicks' home court.

Because when they changed into their uniforms and went on the court to warm up, the stands were filled with fans wearing Knicks jerseys cheering.

In New York, the Knicks' influence is unparalleled.

Because of Lynch's presence, the Knicks' image and the other timeline are completely different.

In another timeline, this Knicks were a disgrace to New York, and James Dolan was considered the most deserving franchisee in the entire league to be sentenced to death.

But Lynch completely changed the world and completely changed the New York Knicks.

This team received unprecedented support, much like in the 1990s and early 2000s when nobody in Los Angeles really supported the Los Angeles Clippers. For New York fans, the Knicks were their only home team.

On the court, Lynch was extending his long arms to send the basketball into the basket, while Mikhail Prokhorov, the Nets' big-spending Russian oligarch, had already strode onto the court.

"Hey Lynch, the Barclays Center is finally witnessing its greatest battle since its completion!"

The well-dressed Russian oligarch warmly extended his hand and shook hands firmly with Lynch.

His voice was booming, and his towering 206-centimeter height allowed him to almost look Lynch in the eye. Even his well-tailored suit couldn't hide his strong physique.

Although he was friendly, Mikhail Prokhorov's eyes burned with undisguised ambition.

His height, which allowed him to stand at eye level with Lynch, seemed to give him extra confidence, enabling him to say in front of Professor L: "I really hope that this greatest battle will end with a Nets victory to be etched in history! I really hope this is the beginning of the transfer of the mantle in New York!"

Russians' confidence comes not only from their height but also from their achievements.

At the beginning of the season, opinions from different media outlets varied widely regarding the Nets' prospects.

Some believe this dazzling team will reshape the Eastern Conference.

Some also believe that this mercenary legion lacks real combat capability.

The Nets' actual performance leans more towards the former.

So far this season, the Nets have a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, just one win less than the Knicks.

LeBron James' performance was particularly outstanding, with all his statistics being more impressive than during his Oklahoma City days.

截至目前，场均可以拿下27.8分8.8个篮板7.3次助攻1.7次抢断和1.5次封盖。

Mikhail Prokhorov believes that LeBron James has entered his transformative season.

He can definitely lead the Nets far enough.

There will certainly be an opportunity to reshape the order of New York.

Lynch wasn't angry about it. As the owner of the Nets, the Russian oligarch's responsibility was naturally to make his team better, and what he said was perfectly reasonable.

But Lynch didn't mince words: "Actually, I've always been curious, why would you be willing to spend so much money to compete for second place?"

"Hahahaha! I like you, Lynch, and I wish we weren't rivals. Listen, I also like the legendary Larry, but that's not a phrase you can use on just anyone, especially not on me. Good luck, Lynch. If the Knicks lose tonight, I might rush onto the court to celebrate, I hope you don't mind."

After saying all this, Mikhail Prokhorov put his arm around a woman whose buttocks looked like they were flying pigs and sat back down in the audience.

Lynch could probably guess where the Russian oligarch's confidence came from. Objectively speaking, Lynch's half-brother's performance in this year's regular season was indeed quite explosive.

With the addition of the explosive Paul Pierce, the Brooklyn Nets are sure to have a great regular season record this year.

The Knicks had naturally conducted a thorough study of the Nets, and all the results showed that LeBron James was still the same LeBron James.

His outstanding stats this season are not because he has made great progress.

If I had to say, his outstanding performance was due to Brook Lopez's incredible and tremendous progress.

Before this season, Brook Lopez was a traditional low post center.

He possesses a full suite of low-position techniques, extending his attack range to at most mid-range.

But this guy's shooting talent is just too incredible.

When the trend towards smaller-ball arrived, and he had to compromise to fit in with other star players on the team, he surprisingly developed a fairly reliable three-point shot in just one summer.

DeMar DeRozan was drooling with envy.

Lopez has transformed from a player who never shoots three-pointers into a sharpshooter who attempts more than five three-pointers per game and maintains a 34% shooting percentage – a top-tier level for a big man.

This is something that Serge Ibaka couldn't do last season. The Congolese player from Oklahoma City, while accurate from mid-range, couldn't extend his shooting range beyond the three-point line.

Brook Lopez's spacing ability created an unprecedentedly wide driving corridor for LBJ, becoming a key booster for his historic offensive efficiency.

Moreover, Brook Lopez is a textbook example of a positioning center.

Looking at the basic stats alone, his rebounding numbers aren't particularly impressive.

However, in actual combat, Brook Lopez's positioning was aggressive and solid.

This allowed LBJ to truly experience the joy of "no worries about rebounding" like Russell Westbrook.

Many times, Brook Lopez helps LeBron James clear the paint. LeBron only needs to leap lightly to easily grab the rebound.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Martin's excellent off-ball skills helped LeBron James, who had finally become the ball-handling mastermind, rack up a huge number of assists.

As a result, LBJ put up some truly outstanding stats this year.

In the latest MVP rankings, he is even temporarily ranked first.

In the past, this would have been something we wouldn't have dared to even think about.

Sometimes, you have to admit that LeBron James' ability to use his teammates to make himself better is truly unparalleled in history.

He does have high requirements for the lineup, but if you give him a suitable lineup, he can at least give you hope of finishing as runner-up.

But the source of all this glory is not LeBron's own super evolution.

He has made some progress; for example, in Adam Silver's league, he was called for traveling far fewer times.

But in essence, he is still the same person.

Tonight, the Knicks will match up Lynch against LeBron James.

This means that he will most likely become the same as he used to be.

Lynch glanced at Mikhail Prokhorov in the stands, who was full of anticipation, and a gloating smile appeared on his face.

“Boss,” Carey Irving walked up to Lynch, “what’s so funny?”

"It's nothing, it's just that the thought of crushing these ridiculous delusions with my own hands makes even the air taste exceptionally sweet."

Carey Irving shook his head; as a compassionate man, he should have prayed for Mikhail Prokhorov.

But as Lynch's teammate.

All he could do was lend Lynch a hand.

"Then let's destroy this beautiful arena, Boss."

(End of this chapter)