Champion Rules

Chapter 377 (373): When the genes of a leader are completely infused (Seeking monthly votes!)

Lynch's interview cemented Chris Paul's status as another footwork master in NBA history.

Following the Euro step, the elusive step, the Shanghai step, the Yugoslavian step, and the crab step.

Chris Paul has once again left an indelible mark on basketball history, creating a negative step.

Based on this contribution alone, Paul will definitely be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after his retirement.

The Pacers canceled their "countdown to the top" event after their game against the Grizzlies.

Chris Paul has also changed his high-spirited demeanor from All-Star Weekend. His statement at the time, "As soon as this weekend is over, he (Lynch) will be in big trouble," now sounds more like a self-deprecating prophecy.

Lynch, on the other hand, received the completely opposite treatment to Chris Paul.

After a brief lull during All-Star Weekend, he once again became the center of attention.

Numerous media outlets unanimously elevated Lynch to the status of "best point guard in the league."

The New York Times front page hailed Lynch as "the biggest threat to Magic Johnson's historical status."

ESPN writer John Hollinger published a lengthy article, using data models to deeply analyze Lynch's offensive performance in his previous game as a guest point guard, ultimately concluding: "Even in NBA 2K, with unlimited skill points, you can't create an offensive player like Lynch."

Magic Johnson himself admitted: "I think Lynch is the first player in NBA history who can truly play all five positions. People always say I'm versatile, but I can't play shooting guard. People say LeBron is versatile, but LeBron never likes to play center. Lynch is the only exception; he's a legend who can have a top-notch impact from any position."

Associated Press basketball reporter Jenny McCauley believes that "making Lynch play point guard was the greatest coaching decision of Mike Malone's career."

Lynch's performance truly impressed everyone; as a forward, he consistently demonstrated excellent playmaking ability.

But like his predecessors Arvydas Sabonis, Vlad Divac, and Hakeem Olajuwon, his support could not directly replace the organization.

But in last night's game, Lynch was a true point guard. He played like a real point guard, and didn't even rely on his back-to-the-basket game like Magic Johnson.

For a moment, people couldn't find a suitable template to define Lynch last night.

In fact, templates do exist.

Ten years from now, people will probably think that Lynch at this stage is like a more handsome, thinner, and more athletic Nikola Jokic.

After defeating the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks continued their winning streak.

Lynch's data also began to become increasingly unbelievable.

2月22日对阵青年军波特兰开拓者，林奇全场26分13次助攻11个篮板。

2月24日对阵费城76人，林奇21分12次助攻15个篮板。

In his final game in February against the Golden State Warriors, Lynch scored 22 points, 11 assists, and 13 rebounds.

Lynch's consecutive triple-double performances continue to shake up the league.

In his ninth season, after he had already accomplished so many incredible things, he still managed to bring a whole new level of excitement to the league.

Triple-doubles are nothing new for Lynch.

Even quadruple-doubles occurred twice in his illustrious career.

A triple-double in a row is quite unusual for Lynch.

He doesn't like ball-dominant, big-man style of play, which may seem unbelievable to many, but this player, who is the most individualistic in the NBA, is a true anti-individualistic hero.

His winning philosophy is that the whole team must participate in the game, and teammates are not just tools.

He only starts taking on too much responsibility when he needs to.

Therefore, Lynch is more willing to give up possession of the ball most of the time.

From Stephon Marbury to Steve Nash to Kyrie Irving, Lynch has always had a partner who handles the ball extensively.

This combination somewhat limited Lynch's data.

This time, with the ball in his hands, the world finally got a glimpse of just how good a ball handler he was.

It's hard to imagine what kind of cumulative statistics Lynch would have achieved if he had maintained this playing style and kept racking up stats until he was 40.

Of course, Lynch had no such intention.

He prefers accumulating honors to data.

His accumulated honors are nearing their end.

After the February schedule ended, the Knicks' gap with the Pacers widened from three games to five.

Chris Paul has taken two solid steps.

However, every strategy has two sides.

Entering March, the Knicks' winning percentage fluctuated.

Lynch's shooting touch has been off; his offensive efficiency hasn't been as good in some games.

After the team's loss to the Miami Heat on March 3, Stephen A. Smith pointed out the problem, believing that the Knicks should reduce the burden on Lynch:

“Every possession, Lynch has to handle the ball and deal with too many things. What’s worse, he can’t be protected like a real point guard on the defensive end. On the contrary, he’s the one who’s responsible for protecting others.”

Yes, Lynch put up impressive stats and led his team to victory, but can you imagine the intensity of that game?

This is like having a phone open countless applications simultaneously. Even if the phone has excellent performance, it will inevitably start to lag after a certain number of applications are opened.

We don't want to see Lynch collapse before the playoffs even begin, Coach Mike Malone, and you certainly don't want that either, right?

In response, Mike Malone said, "I have nothing to say. Anyone outside the coaching staff should shut up and has no right to tell me what to do."

Even when facing media figures like Stephen A. Smith, who were completely on the Knicks' side, the hot-tempered Mike Malone showed no mercy.

He believes that Stephen A. Smith was spouting a bunch of correct nonsense.

Yes, Lynch's style of play is very energy-consuming, which will make him feel physically and mentally exhausted.

But do the Knicks have any other solutions?
This team currently lacks a qualified ball handler.

DeMar DeRozan is not a championship-caliber ball-handler because he can only attack with the ball and cannot connect the whole team.

Milos Teodosic is not a championship-caliber ball-handler. Unlike DeRozan, he can only play as a playmaker and poses little threat when holding the ball himself.

The previous guard who only held the ball and didn't attack was even criticized by his wife for his lack of offensive prowess. Ultimately, it ended in domestic violence, divorce, and a tragic conclusion.

Therefore, if he wants to maintain his record, Lynch is the only option to have the ball.

The price of relieving pressure on Lynch was a significant drop in his performance.

But Lynch himself refused to accept this price.

At the post-match press conference, Lynch told reporters, "For me, the thing I can't compromise on is winning."

A reporter from the Miami Herald pressed further: "Is it really worth it to push yourself so hard for the regular season?"

Lynch laughed: "Where are you from? San Antonio, the city of rest days?"

The reporters at the scene burst into laughter, and Lynch continued, "I'm healthy, and the team is closely monitoring my physical condition every day. So, I have nothing to worry about. For me, every victory is meaningful. I will win as many games as possible, that's all."

Lynch's approach is very old-fashioned by today's standards.

This is no longer an era where playing all 82 games is fashionable. LeBron James's physique is practically sci-fi, but a little-known fact is that he has never played all 82 games in a single season throughout his career.

But in this respect, no one would blame LBJ.

What's wrong with someone who has missed the Slam Dunk Contest for years missing a few regular season games?
Modern leagues are more careful about player load management, with teams often allowing star players to rest during certain games in order to restore their physical condition and avoid injuries.

Star players will also forgo some regular season victories to allow themselves enough rest time.

Although old-school farmers like Tom Thibodeau still exist, overall, this is an era of more meticulous load management.

In another timeline, one of the main reasons why Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant had a complete falling out was that Kobe felt it was normal to play with minor injuries, and even more normal to play when fatigued. He tried to force Howard to do the same, believing that Howard's rest was a complete cowardly act.

This infuriated Dwight Howard and caused him great distress. He felt that it was only natural for him to rest, and that Kobe, as the star player, should protect his teammates instead of using "tough guy logic" to hold him hostage.

Lynch is more like a combination of old-school and new-generation players.

On the one hand, he maintains respect for victory and never takes a break casually.

On the other hand, he never judged others by his own standards.

He never forces any teammate to play while injured, and he never thinks that players who don't play all 82 games are weak.

The New York Times called Lynch’s persistence “the annoyance of a morbid competitiveness.”

But in fact, Lynch did this not just for the sake of winning.

After the interview, Lin Qi went to the physiotherapy room for a full-body massage.

This is something he has to do every day now; after such high-intensity exertion, his muscles need to relax completely.

While I was getting a massage, someone pushed open the door to the treatment room.

It's Mike Malone.

Despite his tough stance on external matters, Mike Malone actually wanted to lighten Lynch's workload internally.

He sat down on the massage bed opposite Lynch, shaking an exaggeratedly thick iron chain in his hand. The pendant at the bottom of the chain bore the letters DPOG.

“DPOG?” Lin Qi cast a curious glance at him.

"Defensive Player of the Game," Mike Malone explained with a smile, "After each game, I award this chain to the player who played the hardest defensively that night. It's a symbol of honor. We have a lot of young players now, and I think this can motivate everyone. It's a brilliant idea, right?"

Lin Qi nodded approvingly: "You always manage to come up with something new."

"How are you feeling? The guys on the medical team swear you're healthy, what do you think?"

"I'm fine. Of course I'm tired, but it's nothing."

Mike Malone seemed to have been waiting for these words. He leaned closer to Lynch and said, "If you're tired, just rest for a few games. Mr. 62 can't catch up with us yet."

Lynch suddenly changed the subject: "Mike, you should know how the San Antonio Spurs played this year, right?"

"I know it all too well, I'm sick of watching their game replays."

"Yes, their offense was fluid and their defense was perfectly coordinated. Most importantly, they were probably the Spurs team that wanted to win the most in the last decade. You could tell from their mentality, their fighting spirit, and their record that their desire for the championship was at its peak."

Everyone says their goal is to be a champion, but few people truly internalize that goal and put it into action.

The Spurs did just that.

Last season, they were just one step away from getting past the Thunder.

If Gerald Wallace hadn't missed both free throws in the crucial moment, if Tim Duncan hadn't missed the putback in the critical moment, and if James Harden hadn't hit that miraculous game-tying three-pointer...
You can imagine how much the Spurs regretted last season, but they have turned all those near misses into a constant source of motivation.

The San Antonio Spurs' hunger is burning bright, and we're already a team that has won four consecutive championships.

Currently, our will and desire are not in question. However, we may face an opponent with the strongest will and desire in the finals!
Therefore, I cannot allow the slightest slackening or complacency in the locker room to fester.

I must ensure that everyone remembers our attitude towards victory!

After saying that, Lynch opened his phone and turned the screen towards Mike Malone.

The screen prominently displayed a pinned post on the San Antonio Spurs' official social media account—not an ordinary announcement, but a concise battle cry:

Here, evolution begins in silence.
Here, passion is also on full display.

Only by not being afraid to fight,

Only then can we never leave the stage.

There are no starters or substitutes.
Only eternal hope.

Although his face was pale and his hair was white,
Yet they were full of fighting spirit.

Transform into the sun of the entire city.
No matter which way the road leads.

New goals

A new direction

Driven by a desire for the Larry O'Brien Trophy,
Our eyes were always on the basket.

These few simple words exude a powerful sense of strength.

This is the San Antonio Spurs this season. They currently have a better record than the Knicks, their strength is undeniable, and their mental fortitude is not to be underestimated.

Spiritual power is a magical thing; it can even make the technologically backward United States stubbornly believe that they can use it to bridge the gap in equipment.

Mike Malone immediately understood why Lynch cared so much about winning the regular season.

Yes, against a team like the Spurs with both fighting spirit and mental fortitude, the Knicks cannot afford to be complacent about winning.

Lynch had to be the one who ended up there.

If the Spurs do make it to the NBA Finals this season, the Knicks must prepare everything in advance.

As long as the Knicks' fighting spirit doesn't waver in the slightest, Lynch can tell himself that everything he's done has been worthwhile.

Mike Malone didn't try to persuade Lynch anymore, but he still set a bottom line: "If you get injured, then rest, even if it's just a minor injury."

“Of course,” Lin Qi nodded readily. “I’m not the kind of person who likes to torture myself.”

Mike Malone left the treatment room without disturbing Lynch's relaxation any further.

He often feels very lucky that a responsible and competitive leader can reduce a lot of internal troubles within a team and keep the team in a strong fighting position.

Lynch's persistence soon paid off.

The following day, Kyrie Irving returned to the Greenburg training center, where he was allowed to participate in some basic training sessions that did not require his right hand.

After all the training was over, Jimmy Butler and rookie Khris Middleton, who hadn't had much playing time this year, stayed behind as usual to practice shooting.

Amid the monotonous sound of basketballs swishing through the net, a familiar figure quietly emerged from the players' tunnel.

It's Kyrie Irving.

Jimmy Butler was surprised: "Karei, you haven't been here for a while, are you lost? The parking lot is on the other side."

Kyrie Irving glanced at Jimmy Butler. Although there was no longer any real conflict between them, they were still rivals who wouldn't give in to each other: "I'm not as forgetful as you. I'm here to practice my shooting."

Jimmy Butler laughed in exasperation: "Shoot? Dude, don't try to be brave. Your right hand is having trouble even taking off your pants now. Whether it's yours or someone else's, it's a struggle."

Kyrie Irving shook his head: "Who said I was going to use my right hand?"

"What do you mean?"

"I can't explain this to someone like you who hasn't even mastered using his right hand yet."

Jimmy Butler:
In the following period, with the help of his trainer, Kyrie Irving practiced his left-handed shooting and finishing extensively.

Kyrie Irving's left-handed shooting and finishing has never been as good as his right-handed shot. Often, defenders would deliberately drive him to the left side to limit his efficiency in attacking the basket.

Chris Paul often uses this method to deal with him.

He has always been eager to make up for this shortcoming, because only in this way can he shoulder a heavier burden of tackling key problems at critical moments.

Now, his right hand injury has become an opportunity, allowing him to force himself to practice his left hand more.

After practicing together for a while, Jimmy Butler gritted his teeth.

He was astonished to discover that on the training field, Kyrie Irving's left hand seemed to be more accurate than his right!
Is this ridiculous?!
Seeing Jimmy Butler's gaze, Kyrie Irving shrugged: "I've already said, there's no point in explaining this to you."

"You bastard! Come out and fight me one-on-one!"

"My hand is injured."

"Then I'll give you a handicap with one hand!"

Mike Malone looked out of his office window at the noisy young players, took a sip of coffee, and once again opened the San Antonio Spurs game video.

This hot-tempered coach may not yet realize that he himself is being subtly influenced by Lynch's will.

A silent, unwavering determination to win has permeated the entire team.

Lynch's emphasis on the Spurs subtly translated into a priority in Mike Malone's subconscious.
-
In March, the Knicks lost four games, bringing their record to 62 wins and 10 losses.

The Indiana Pacers have now fallen six games behind the Knicks.

Back in February, when Chris Paul thought he could top the Eastern Conference, it was another classic example of "overestimating his abilities" in NBA history.

With only 10 games left in the regular season, the Pacers have no chance of overtaking the Pacers.

Kyrie Irving participated in his first competitive practice in April.

His left-hand finishing ability has greatly improved; within the free-throw line, he can use his left hand almost as well as his right.

After the practice match ended, Kyrie Irving, who had performed exceptionally well, roared as he slammed the ball hard onto the floor.

Lynch could sense the same desire in Kyrie Irving as it did in the Spurs players.

It wasn't just Kyrie Irving; with the playoffs approaching, the Knicks, who are aiming for their fifth consecutive championship, showed no signs of fatigue. On the contrary, the entire team was brimming with fighting spirit and eager to get started.

Even a veteran like Vince Carter, nearing 40, expressed his desire in a locker room interview after practice today:
“I’ve never been to the Conference Finals in my career. The closest I came was 12 years ago. I was just one shot away from the Conference Finals then, and then I messed up. But this year, I feel like my career is definitely going to have a breakthrough. Whoever the opponent is, we’re ready.” Carter then glanced at the DPOG necklace hanging on Jimmy Butler’s locker: “Well, if I could, I’d like to get a DPOG necklace in the playoffs, hahaha.”

The entire Knicks team resembled a pack of hungry wolves that had been lying in wait for days, their eyes fixed on the direction from which their prey would appear.

However, they will have to wait a little longer.

With the regular season starting in April, the most anticipated game this month is undoubtedly the New York derby.

The Brooklyn Nets did not become the dominant force in New York as the Russian oligarchs had envisioned.

But they are indeed a strong team in the East, currently ranked fourth in the East.

LeBron James also put up the most impressive numbers of his career so far – 30 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game.

He became the first player since Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson to average 30+8+8 per game in a single season.

Embarrassingly, the Brooklyn Nets lost all three of their previous games against the Knicks this season.

Good news: LeBron James has returned to his younger days.

Bad news: When LeBron James was young, he couldn't even win a single game against Lynch.

In April, the final matchup of the season will be the last chance for LBJ and the Nets to break the deadlock.

Barclays Center, April 12.

Mikhail Prokhorov hasn't been to a game in person for a long time.

Since the Nets and Knicks first faced off, and Lynch proudly donned the crown in front of the Russian oligarch at the scorer's table, Prokhorov's appearances at Barclays Center have become increasingly rare.

The last time he came to Barclays Center to watch a game was in mid-March.

The Nets are a strong team, but their performance is clearly not commensurate with Mikhail Prokhorov's investment and expectations.

He spent so much money, mortgaged nearly a decade of his future, and paid so much luxury tax, not to build a team that couldn't even win a single game in the New York derby.

The Nets' brilliant general manager, Billy King, clearly understands the team's problem: this team has an abundance of offensive talent, but its defense is terrible.

He attempted to strengthen the roster before the trade deadline, with his target being Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Jrue Holiday.

But he had no more bargaining chips left.

Last summer, he sold off almost all his valuable assets, and now the players he has are of average trade value, and he has used up all the draft picks he could trade in the last decade.

Therefore, the Nets had no choice but to continue with this well-known weakness.

This is also why Mikhail Prokhorov's interest in the team plummeted; he felt the team couldn't possibly get any better.

It's like a woman who wears the same outfit all year round; it gets boring for him.

But tonight, Mikhail Prokhorov must be regretting not being there in person.

Because the Nets led the Knicks by as many as 15 points at halftime!
Nets commentator Jim Spanak, his voice hoarse, exclaimed: "Incredible first half! The Nets are raining down threes! Jason Terry, Kevin Martin, Paul Pierce, LeBron, Brook Lopez, Mirza Teletovic—the whole team is hitting from beyond the arc!"

This team, which has secured fourth place in the Eastern Conference and boasts 50 wins solely through its offensive firepower, needs no further proof of its offensive prowess.

The Nets' strength lies in their exceptionally high offensive ceiling.

On certain nights, when the shooters around LeBron James can consistently respond, victory is practically guaranteed.

Today, "certain nights" have fallen once again.

During halftime, reporters interviewed LBJ, who was still on the court.

"LeBron, tonight is undoubtedly the best way to crush the Knicks this season. How will you capitalize on your opportunities in the second half?"

"We need to maintain our momentum and keep the pressure on. We've been listening to that damn losing streak all season, and tonight, we don't want to hear it anymore!"

LeBron James is triumphant. A victory in this game would not only break his embarrassing record but also boost the team's confidence before the playoffs—if the Nets maintain their current ranking, they will face the Knicks in the second round.

They at least need to prove that they can snatch victory from the Knicks.

This will give the team the courage to face the Knicks in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Mike Malone was rushing to the locker room.

Anger burned within him, yet he could find no outlet.

Because the Knicks' overall performance tonight wasn't too problematic.

Lynch's passing and ball control remained solid, DeMar DeRozan efficiently took over some possessions that required one-on-one play, and the other players also performed their duties diligently.

The Knicks were behind because the Nets' three-point shooting was just too incredible.

The team made no mistakes, yet they were down by 15 points.

This kind of backwardness, which is "not a fault of war," is more frustrating and infuriating than the predicament caused by one's own mistakes.

At this moment, he had to forcefully suppress his surging anger. If the team's morale was already low, his appearance in the locker room in a state of impotent rage would only make matters worse.

Mike Malone pushed open the locker room door, but the scene before him made him pause slightly.

None of the players looked particularly tense, though they weren't laughing and joking either; the anxiety and dejection that one might expect simply didn't materialize.

Jimmy Butler was even joking about Kyrie Irving's burgundy suit tonight:

"God, I almost don't want to admit you're my teammate. Dude, your style is starting to resemble Kevin Durant's!"

Lynch clapped his hands: "Don't let your guard down on defense in the second half. I know they just made a lot of contested jump shots, but that doesn't mean our defense is wasting its time. We need to maintain our defensive intensity, and their shooting percentage will eventually drop!"

DeMar DeRozan rubbed his hands together, "Looks like the battle for DPOG is going to be fierce tonight."

DeAndre Jordan threw the towel away: "Dream on! The chain belongs to me, and you can forget about it!"

The team's resilience in the face of a large deficit far exceeded Mike Malone's expectations—after all, the Knicks hadn't experienced a large deficit many times throughout the season.

Lynch's attitude toward victory is the team's attitude toward victory.

No matter the circumstances, they will not easily give up or panic.

At the start of the second half, LeBron James took advantage of the space created by his teammates to isolate and attack Lynch.

He stopped abruptly and leaned back just inside the free-throw line, making the shot and giving the Nets a commanding 17-point lead.

Lynch acknowledged LBJ's improvement in shooting this season, saying it was nothing short of a complete transformation.

LeBron James smiled and shook his head: "Tonight, the crown belongs to Barclays Center."

“Shut up, LeBron,” Lynch responded calmly. “You’re not even qualified to touch the crown, let alone decide who owns it.”

Lynch did acknowledge LBJ's improved shooting, but victory? He absolutely refused to admit that the other was worthy of it.

Lynch continued to orchestrate the offense from the top of the key, and DeMar DeRozan made a cut to the basket, received Lynch's pass, and then dunked over Brook Lopez!
This play sent the Knicks' bench into a frenzy, and the team's morale was officially ignited at that moment.

In the following games, the Knicks maintained their high level of play on offense and were equally unyielding on defense.

Even when faced with the Nets' scorching, almost unreasonable, shooting percentage, they never let their guard down.

Most teams tend to collapse early when facing an opponent in hot form.

Those consecutive baskets can give the defending team the feeling that "I've defended so well but it's useless, we have no chance of winning tonight."

However, this sense of defeat has no place to grow in the Knicks' iron-willed army.

Even Vince Carter was doing his best to chase down defenders and rotate to help out.

In the third quarter, the Nets continued to shoot well and maintained a 14-point lead after three quarters.

But when the Knicks held on until the fourth quarter, the team's expected pullback finally arrived.

Paul Pierce received a pass from LeBron James in the corner, and Jimmy Butler immediately closed in.

Pierce remained confident and continued to shoot as soon as he caught the ball.

Under intense interference, the basketball bounced heavily off the rim and slammed out.

Lynch grabbed the rebound, dribbled the ball past half-court, and, keeping an eye on DeMar DeRozan cutting into the paint, delivered a no-look pass to Vince Carter.

Carter took a decisive shot and hit a three-pointer, making the difference 11 points!
One possession later, LeBron James turned and took a jump shot, but the ball hit the front edge of the rim.

Lynch grabbed the rebound again and was about to run forward when Brook Lopez, standing next to him, collapsed to the ground as if he had been shot by a sniper.

He probably wanted to create a scene where Lynch grabbed the rebound and knocked him down, hoping to get lucky and draw an offensive foul on Lynch.

Diving is understandable.

Brooke Lopez was just a full meter away from Lynch.
This outrageous flopping made Lynch laugh: "LeBron, is this how you instruct your teammates?"

"Stop throwing mud! Listen to me, LeBron James! Never! Flop!"

Good, good, LeBron James is still the same old LeBron James.

Lynch controlled the ball in the frontcourt and continued to look up for someone.

But the next second, he suddenly pulled up for a jump shot at the top of the arc.

LeBron James played aggressive defense and created effective interference.

But when he landed, he still heard the sound of the net tumbling.

"Lynch hits a three-pointer, bringing the deficit back to single digits! Can the Brooklyn Nets withstand the Knicks' comeback?"

Although the Nets still lead by 8 points, the situation has changed.

Right now, the Nets are on the defensive, completely overwhelmed by the Knicks in terms of momentum.

By the fourth quarter, although the Nets hadn't completely shut down their offense, their offensive efficiency had plummeted.

They could only watch helplessly as the point difference was eroded inch by inch, and the scales of victory began to tip mercilessly.

With 37 seconds left in the game, the Nets had possession and were still leading by one point.

LeBron James calmly held down the clock beyond the three-point line, only suddenly launching his attack at the very last moment!

He crushed through the defense like a tank, his momentum unstoppable, his gaze fixed firmly on the penalty area.

Then--

In a classic clutch moment, he drove and passed the ball to Brook Lopez, who had spread out to the three-point line.

The center, whose three-point production has been phenomenal this season, took a decisive shot, and DeAndre Jordan's attempt to contest it was a step too slow.

However, perhaps his physical strength had reached its limit, or perhaps the frustration from that absurd dunk was still lingering.

This wide-open three-pointer, which could have sealed the game, ultimately bounced off the rim.

Without Brook Lopez's help in positioning, Lynch easily pushed past LBJ, leaped up from the ground, and secured the invaluable rebound with one hand!

Mike Malone paused the game, and the Barclays Center erupted in a deafening roar of cheers.

Given that most of the fans in the arena were actually Knicks fans, they certainly had every reason to celebrate.

With 13 seconds left in the game, the Nets were leading by only one point, and the camera focused on LBJ, who had just made the pass at the last moment.

In some ways, LBJ has already won big.

He scored 26 points, dished out 14 assists, and grabbed 7 rebounds tonight, calmly passing the ball to his teammates with better opportunities in the final moments. So, even though the Nets lost in the end, LeBron James didn't lose.

He is now in an invincible position.

The Knicks players gathered around Mike Malone, and even Kyrie Irving, who was sidelined due to injury, couldn't resist squeezing to the edge of the crowd.

This play was quite special for him, as it was the first time the Knicks had to rely on a game-winning shot to win since he lost his game-winning privilege.

Therefore, if Lynch misses the game-winning shot, it means that the playoff game-winning shot will return to Kyrie Irving.

He certainly craved victory, and there was absolutely no way he would secretly hope that Lynch would fail.

But there's no doubt he cares a lot about this round.

The tactics were set up, but the timeout hadn't ended yet.

Lynch threw away the towel he was using to wipe his sweat, stood up, and put his arms around everyone's shoulders.

"I'm glad we held on to the very end tonight, despite the most difficult situation. Rest assured, I will absolutely, absolutely not let your efforts go to waste."

"Beep——!"

The buzzer sounded, the timeout ended, and both teams resumed play.

Commentator Jim Spanak brought up what Lynch said at the press conference after Kyrie Irving's game-winning shot against the Spurs failed:

"If he (Irving) ever submits a blank answer sheet, then it will be my turn to set a good example for him."

At the time, a reporter asked Lynch, "What if one day, the professor also submits a blank paper?"

Lin Qi countered by asking how much alcohol that person had drunk before arriving.

Now it's Lynch's turn to demonstrate.

Chandler Parsons was about to take the inbound pass when LeBron James practically wrapped his arms around Lynch's waist.

Lynch glanced at the exaggerated entanglement but didn't complain. He simply said, "That was a beautiful pass."

Lynch could see with his naked eye that the veins on LeBron James's head were bulging.

Sometimes Lin Qi really couldn't understand why the other person would get so angry when he was praising them.

The referee blows the whistle, gives the ball to the server, and the game continues.

Lynch pushed LeBron James aside and cut to the outside to receive the ball.

This attracted the attention of most of the Nets' players.

Chandler Parsons then passed the ball to Milos Teodosic as planned.

Teodosic controlled the ball steadily and didn't rush to pass it to Lynch.

He passed the ball to Lynch when Lynch reached the mid-range position on the right.

Lin Qi received the basketball on the right side, but instead of turning around and shooting, he turned around and drove towards the middle!

Instantly, Lynch was double-teamed, with the entire Nets lineup collapsing towards him.

The players in white home jerseys, like a game of Go, completely trapped Lynch, who was wearing a dark blue jersey.

Will Lynch's story be published?
not at all.

Lynch has been playing point guard for two months and he has demonstrated his selflessness.

But when it comes to being selfish, he will never hesitate.

Before the encirclement completely shut them down, Lynch used a hook shot to gently toss the basketball toward the basket.

This shot made it impossible for Brook Lopez, who was blocking Lynch's shot, to block the ball. Although the others seemed to be surrounding Lynch, they did not interfere with him.

So, the basketball hit the neck of the rim the moment the backboard glowed red, bounced up, and went into the net!
Jim Spanak roared, "Game-winning shot! Lynch's sixth career buzzer-beater! Four men surrounding him, but they still couldn't stop him! Professor L gave a perfect demonstration! Goodbye Brooklyn Nets, you'll never have a chance to beat Lynch again this regular season!"

LeBron James angrily ripped off his headband and threw it into the stands before leaving the stadium dejectedly.

The next second, his headband was thrown back from the stands by the fans:

"Take your things! Loser!"

LBJ:
Kyrie Irving sat on the bench, smiling and applauding Lynch.

Yes, Professor L has the highest level of authority to make a decisive move.

Now, he doesn't want to dwell on those things anymore.

All he wanted was to win.

He only wanted to wear the real ring.

Lynch didn't celebrate wildly with excessive excitement, as if he wasn't the one who had delivered the decisive blow.

Lin Qi felt that this game-winning shot was not important.

Importantly, he saw the team's resilience in the face of a large deficit and their undiminished desire for victory.

This will be their biggest weapon to continue their run in the playoffs.

The reporters on the sidelines found head coach Mike Malone.

"Coach, it was a tough but exciting victory. The Nets lost, but did they prove they have the ability to fight the Knicks in the playoffs?"

Mike Malone almost burst out laughing:

"The strength to fight us?"
Hey, don't forget we let Kyrie Irving go.

When Lynch doesn't need to handle the ball a lot and focuses on scoring, you all know what will happen.

(One update today, but no reduction in output, combining 10,000 and 20,000 words into one)
(End of this chapter)