Champion Rules

Chapter 380, Section 376: The Pressure of Penetrating Space (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Lynch scored 12 points in a row at the start. A Professor L who can focus on scoring is the most terrifying scorer in the entire league.

Brook Lopez was stunned. He couldn't believe that a guy who was about 208 centimeters tall could do such a move, and it all happened right in front of him.

Although Lynch, at 208 cm, is not considered a "tall man" compared to Brook Lopez, who is 216 cm tall.

The scene he had just witnessed still gave him goosebumps.

Lynch's jumping ability, Lynch's balance, Lynch's flexibility, Lynch's coordination, Lynch's touch.
These abilities enabled him to still manage to put that difficult shot into the basket even when he was off balance due to being fouled, which was simply unbelievable.

Brook Lopez often secretly rejoices that he possesses a shooting talent that is quite rare among big men.

This helped him develop a three-point shooting ability that could be used tactically in actual games in just one summer, making him a so-called modern center.

His brother Robin wasn't so lucky. Although he wasn't eliminated from the league, he only earned a third of Brook's salary and could only play a blue-collar role on any team.

For Brook Lopez, his shooting talent was a gift from God.

But for Lynch, God showered him with boundless love.

He possesses all the talents that a player of his size shouldn't have; he's simply the ultimate answer to the sport.

In fact, Brook Lopez should be thankful that Lynch made that beautiful 2+1 play.

Otherwise, he would surely be remembered for "foolishly ruining a goal that should have been famous throughout history."

The entire first section that followed was Lynch's performance time.

He used almost his entire offensive repertoire, moving with impunity against the Nets' already weak defense, and put on a dominant scoring feast.

With his accurate jump shots, solid post-up moves, and swift dribbling breakthroughs, he's like an experienced director of a European and American sports film, constantly stimulating the audience's senses with a variety of moves.

With Kyrie Irving as the point guard, he doesn't need to think about many other things and can focus on one thing without distraction—putting the ball in the basket.

What about LeBron James, who put up incredible numbers in this year's regular season?

As expected, he reduced efficiency and production.

In the sixth minute of the first quarter, LeBron James drove to the basket with the team creating a huge stretch of space.

LBJ tried to overpower the opponent with his body, but Lynch's tough defense prevented LeBron from gaining speed.

He had no choice but to stop abruptly, switch to a back-to-the-basket move, and attempt a turnaround jump shot.

LeBron James' post-up game has also been considered to have improved significantly during the regular season.

Lynch admitted that LeBron James has gone from a novice post-up player to a mid-level post-up player.

But it's only at a medium level.

Limited by his physique, LBJ's flexibility and coordination were quite awkward in post-up situations.

This gives his back-to-the-back movements an indescribable mechanical feel.

His back-to-the-basket strategy is similar to his face-up strategy; both rely on a strong body to create space.

LeBron James did the same thing this time, slamming into Lynch with a stiff yet powerful punch like a giant statue, even going so far as to swing his elbow to create space.

Having gained a sliver of an opening, LeBron James immediately turned around to prepare for a jump shot.

The way he turned over wasn't exactly smooth and fluid; it was more like a stuttering, frame-dropping motion.

After a very stiff turn, LBJ leaned back and shot.

However, because his turnaround jump shot was too slow, Lynch closed in early and interfered with LBJ's jump shot.

Ultimately, the basketball emerged unscathed from the mud, not even touching the net, and flew directly out of bounds.

“Airballs,” Mike Breen said, not surprised by the result. “LeBron’s post-up game is funny. He can handle 80% of the defenders in the league, but he can’t use it against Lynch.”

常规赛打出历史级场均30+8+8数据的LBJ第一节打到现在只拿了4分，5中2。

It's foreseeable that his stats will plummet in this series.

LeBron James' mid-range shooting skills are still not top-notch, and that's the biggest problem.

In this era where the "Moreyball" approach is beginning to emerge, mid-range shots are considered the least efficient way to score.

That's true. If you only know mid-range skills, no matter how well you do, you can only become the second DeMar DeRozan at best, and you can't become a true superstar.

However, this skill is far from being eliminated; it still possesses some irreplaceable advantages.
It's easier to develop than driving to the basket, as it doesn't require penetrating very deep and has relatively lower requirements for receiving space.

It is more consistent than a three-pointer, although it also depends on the feel of the shot, but its volatility is much lower than that of a three-pointer.

Mid-range shots cannot be the absolute dominant force in offense in this era; you can't play mid-range shots the entire game.

But you absolutely must be able to shoot from mid-range.

Especially in the playoffs, it becomes more difficult to develop an offensive strategy, and it is never easy to get to the basket.

This means that in tense moments, you must have a skill that allows you to easily develop a move that provides a safety net for your offense.

Unfortunately, LeBron James's expertise in this crucial area has never reached the T0 level.

This resulted in LBJ's productivity not being as high as in the regular season when he encountered opponents who countered him, especially in the playoffs where offensive development was more difficult.

Lynch is undoubtedly a relatively effective opponent against LBJ.

They are not in a superior position in the confrontation, but they will not be completely crushed.

They also have advantages in height and speed.

There is absolutely no way LBJ can easily attack the basket against Lynch.

LeBron James watched the basketball fly straight out of bounds and realized how foolish his pre-game comments had been.

Does the Nets have the ability to compete with the Knicks?

hope so.

LeBron James went cold, and he tried to counter Lynch with a face-up mid-range jumper.

However, the results were not entirely satisfactory.

Lin Qi maintained his offensive firepower throughout. In the seventh minute of the first quarter, Lin Qi received the ball in the mid-range, started his drive, jumped, and slammed it down in one go, creating a fast one-on-one opportunity.

Half a minute later, he scored with a pull-up jumper after a triple threat was in place.

Lynch wanted to control the game from the start, so his scoring became completely out of control.

On the Nets' side, without LeBron James's penetrating threat, their perimeter shooters also struggled to find easy scoring opportunities.

In the ninth minute of the first quarter, when Lynch was substituted by Chandler Parsons, ESPN gave Lynch a close-up shot, with his stats displayed below: 25 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.

Even Mike Brin, who witnessed Lynch's astonishing performance in the entire quarter, couldn't help but exclaim, "Wait, are you sure this isn't the stats for the whole game?"

Although it hasn't broken the NBA playoff single-quarter scoring record yet, this stunning first quarter performance is enough for Mike Breen to call it "the greatest first quarter of the 21st century".

The Nets players stared at the data sheets on the big screen, equally astonished.

"Damn it, this is fucking..." Kevin Martin's voice caught in his throat, and he couldn't get the rest of the sentence out.

Jason Terry just kept shaking his head heavily, as if the game was already in the fourth quarter and his team was doomed to lose.

Paul Pierce's gaze was vacant, lost in thought, or perhaps his mind had simply gone blank.

Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins knelt down in front of everyone, his expression somber as if he were giving a final farewell to soldiers about to head to the Normandy beaches.
"Buddy, we have to keep going!"

It wasn't just Lynch's 25 points that created such a somber atmosphere.

The Nets also scored 16 points themselves.

That's right, so far in the game, the Nets' entire team has scored less than Lynch alone!
Throughout the entire quarter, the Brooklyn Nets gave it their all, yet they couldn't defeat Lynch alone!
This is a heavy blow.

NBA headquarters, Commissioner's office.

David Stern applauded Lynch's amazing performance. He glanced at Adam Silver, his successor and the current de facto leader of the league, who was also watching the game, and noticed that the bald man's expression was quite gloomy.

Despite the bewilderment expressed by many sports media outlets regarding the fact that "the league's best team and best players are at a disadvantage due to officiating," Adam Silver has not changed his stance.

He still hopes the league will become the kind of league he likes—competitive, eliminating or at least reducing consecutive championships, allowing small-market teams to reach the top, and ideally, never having a sweep in a series where the least profitable outcome is ever achieved.
His actions in Game 3 of the previous round were indeed too blatant, so Adam Silver revised his strategy: no intervention during regular time, and control of the game with one or two key calls that could change the course of the game at crucial moments.

But tonight, seeing Lynch score more points in a single quarter than the entire Nets team, Adam Silver's calculating heart sank to the bottom.

He knew he might not even make it to the crucial moment.

Lynch has completely taken control of his game!
David Stern didn't want to interfere with Adam Silver's strategy of controlling the league, but at this moment, he still intentionally or unintentionally mentioned Lynch:
"Adam, I think Lynch is probably like Michael, a player who would cause quite a stir once he retires."

You know, he and Michael were like first class on an airplane. Someone who has never flown first class will never know what they've missed while huddled in economy. So for him, flying economy was no big deal.

But if someone has been flying first class for years, getting used to lying back with their legs stretched out, getting used to the more upscale airplane meals, the more luxurious digital entertainment systems, and the more gentle, kneeling service from flight attendants, then asking them to go back to economy class will make them think: "Damn, this is absolutely awful."

Adam Silver remained silent, intending to listen patiently to what David Stern had to say and wait for him to continue.

David Stern continued, "To experience something wonderful and then lose it is more painful than never having experienced something wonderful at all. The MJ era and the Lynch era were the two best eras in the league. Adam, don't let this era end so easily. Otherwise, how will fans who are used to soaring through the skies endure the darkness beneath the clouds?"

Adam Silver nodded: "Of course I won't end this easily, and I don't intend to."

He lied.

He didn't believe Lynch and his team could maintain this level of offensive efficiency indefinitely.

The competition is so long, there will always be a time when he can intervene.

At this moment, the first quarter of the game had ended on the court.

Thanks to the defense led by Jimmy Butler, Chandler Parsons, and Amir Johnson, the New York Knicks maintained their advantage after Lynch left the game.

Furthermore, the Nets' single-quarter score still did not surpass Lynch's individual score.

The Knicks led 38-24 by 14 points in the first quarter, with the Nets' poor defense proving ineffective against Lynch's focused offense.

LBJ is indeed a great defensive player, but no one in this league can contain Lynch one-on-one.

The Nets' overall defense couldn't provide enough support for LeBron James. Their only chance was to break through with offense.

So at the start of the second quarter, Paul Pierce called for the ball and went one-on-one, trying to relieve some pressure on LeBron James.

If LBJ can't break the deadlock, then it's his turn.

He felt that he wouldn't have much difficulty outmaneuvering the 35-year-old Vince Carter.

He wanted the ball, and everyone pulled away.

Paul Pierce lowered his center of gravity, using his thick back to firmly hold off Carter, and of course, he didn't hold back with trash talk:
"Hey Vince, are you serious? They sent a softie like you to guard me one-on-one? How could you give me this opportunity? Lady Luck is practically my dance partner today."

Paul Pierce knew exactly what kind of person Vince Carter was; they were rivals in the 1995 McDonald's All-Star Game.

Carter's attitude towards basketball can be summarized in one sentence:

Ultimately, it's just a basketball game.

This is how Paul Pierce perceives Vince Carter's attitude towards basketball.

Although the Nets and Knicks have faced off four times this season, Paul Pierce has never sensed much defensive grit from Carter.

Such players usually lack the tenacity to grit their teeth and fight tooth and nail on the defensive end.

He can conquer him while spouting trash talk.

But tonight, when Paul Pierce turned and pushed hard, Carter met him with an elbow. The force wasn't great, but it conveyed the message perfectly—the most direct response to his trash talk!
Paul Pierce was surprised by Vince Carter's defensive move.

The Knicks are a place that's said to have a way of turning even Vince Carter into a thug!
Vince Carter was always there for him, and for most of his career, his defense wasn't particularly outstanding. In 99% of his peak games, someone on his team would help him guard the opposing team's offensive leader.

He never needed to do everything himself on the defensive end, from high school all the way to the NBA.

But now, he's not the protected star player; he's a role player.

Now, it's his turn to do the dirty and hard work for others.

Vince Carter's tight defense made it difficult for Paul Pierce to get any space to shoot, but as an offensive virtuoso, he has always been used to attacking under high-pressure defense.

Paul Pierce executed a backflip, displaying great confidence.

Even the most dedicated Vince Carter on defense is still just a 35-year-old Vince Carter.

But in the air, Paul Pierce's shot wasn't smooth. Under Vince Carter's tight defense, the ball hit the front of the rim and went too short.

He seemed to have forgotten that he himself was already 35 years old.

DeAndre Jordan grabbed the rebound, and Vince Carter shrugged at his old rival from high school: "Sorry, it seems Lady Luck doesn't like dancing with bastards who pee and poop everywhere."

Paul Pierce swore this was the first time he had ever heard such vulgar trash talk from Vince Carter.

He didn't know what kind of transformation Carter had undergone in New York.

Lynch certainly didn't brainwash Vince Carter; Carter was simply too eager to win, too desperate to win. Immersed in that atmosphere, he himself didn't realize that he was becoming increasingly combative.

The Nets' attempt to bring in Pierce to open up the game failed from the start, while Lynch's offensive firepower showed no signs of stopping.

He then ran a pick-and-roll with Kyrie Irving, forcing LeBron James to switch on defense because Jason Terry had no chance of getting past the screen.

To be honest, LBJ is tired of cleaning up Terry's messes.

Sometimes he wondered, who could that useless guard possibly defend? Who could that useless guard possibly cause trouble for in the playoffs?
A mismatch was created, but LeBron James didn't think the defense had failed.

He still has a glimmer of hope.

"Kyrie, are you going to pass the ball again? Be Lynch's passing machine? You're clearly capable of doing something, don't be a coward." LeBron James suddenly spoke to Irving.

Having spent the past two years in Oklahoma City, LeBron James knows firsthand the ambitions of this generation of young players.

Kyrie Irving appears to be a more ambitious player than KD, and he absolutely does not believe that this young man who dared to take the game-winning shot from Lynch would be content to merely be Lynch's ammunition carrier.

As a veteran, LeBron James wanted to ignite Kyrie Irving's ambition.

Would he willingly become a passer who feeds the ball to Lynch? Impossible.

But LeBron James was disappointed again. Kyrie Irving, after getting rid of LBJ, immediately passed the ball back to Lynch. Then, he gave number 23 a mocking look, as if he were looking at an idiot.

Lynch used the same trick again. Before the double team could be formed, he didn't even bother with a fake and just shot the three-pointer over Jason Terry, as if to declare: "I'm going to crush you guys!"

"Shh!"

"28 points!" Mike Breen exclaimed, barely able to believe it. This was only the second quarter. "Lynch has already scored 28 points. The Brooklyn Nets' defense is simply... Maybe this explains why Mikhail Prokhorov didn't come to watch the Nets' playoff games."

After scoring, Lynch remained silent, so Kyrie Irving decided to be Lynch's mouthpiece.

He ran up to LeBron James, smiled, and shook his head.

“I know what you went through in Oklahoma City. You wanted to be KD’s big brother, but in the end you became KD’s Scott.”

Why do you think the same thing will happen to Lynch? Why do you think your influence is comparable to Lynch's?
Listen to LeBron, it might sound cruel, but if it were Lynch in Oklahoma City—

KD would also willingly pass the ball to him.

That last sentence shattered LeBron James's pride. This was the second time tonight that he felt like he was making a clown's statement.

At this point in the game, the Nets have no other options.

Lionel Hollins called a timeout and told everyone, "Double him up, double him up at all costs! I don't care how many opportunities the others get, I don't care if there's a sea of ​​water in front of them, we fucking can't give Lynch any more chances!"

Mike Breen heard Lionel Hollins yell and couldn't imagine how desperate a coach must be to devise such a defensive strategy.

But the do-or-die strategy initially worked, and Lynch's exaggerated scoring momentum was eventually forced to slow down.

Other Knicks players were cold-handed due to limited ball contact and failed to capitalize on open looks.

The defending champions' offensive firepower suddenly stalled, and Adam Silver felt that an opportunity had come, a hint of eager anticipation flashing in his eyes.

However, this scoring drought only lasted for a few rounds before Kyrie Irving changed the game.

This impatient young man took up the offensive banner, using Lynch's distraction to repeatedly score one-on-one against Jason Terry.

The Nets didn't have the energy to double-team Irving anymore; all their attention was on Lynch, following his every move.

Once Lynch receives the ball, they must quickly surround him.

Therefore, Kyrie Irving got the opportunity to torment his opponents at will.

Kyrie Irving dominated Terry, and while his efficiency wasn't as terrifying as Lynch's, it was enough to sustain the Knicks' scoring.

Lynch focused more on defense, which caused the Nets' only reliable offense to go cold.

The game remained firmly in Lynch's hands, and Adam Silver saw no hope of intervening.

At halftime, the Knicks led by 18 points.

This was practically a carbon copy of the last time the two teams faced off, except this time the Nets were trailing by a large margin at halftime.

At halftime, LeBron James made a stoic statement during an interview: "The Knicks have superstars, but we have an iron will. We won't let this game end here."

Then the game ended.

The Knicks secured the victory in the third quarter as the Nets' morale plummeted.

LeBron James can't ignite the team's fighting spirit; you can't ignite another person's fighting spirit with just a few words.

Lynch forged this strength through countless victories, leading by example, and at a great cost.

By the end of the third quarter, the Knicks had extended their lead to 27 points.

Mike Malone yelled at LeBron James on the sidelines, loud enough for the entire arena to hear, "We really do have superstars, and I hope that iron will you're talking about really exists!"

Lynch was very quiet tonight, but LeBron James endured just as much humiliation.

New Yorkers adored LeBron James; even if Lynch didn't personally intervene, others would still treat him well.

Mike Breen, looking at Lynch's 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in three quarters, raised his arms and exclaimed, "This is how Lynch controls the game!"

The camera focused on Lynch, who looked at the big screen and realized he was appearing in a live broadcast signal from all over the world—most of the time, the image on the big screen at the venue and the live broadcast were the same.

So he reached out and slowly but firmly clenched his fist: "I am the captain, I am. Without me, this whole ship would fucking sink!"

Fans didn't know who Lynch was yelling at, but some knew who he was referring to.

NBA headquarters, the president's office.

David Stern deliberately stretched, pulling Adam Silver, who was completely stunned, back to reality: "Still want to watch, Adam?"

Adam Silver looked grim. He had been waiting for an opportunity to intervene in the game, and he couldn't believe that the Brooklyn Nets were being beaten so badly that they couldn't even close the score.

To be precise, he couldn't believe that Lynch could completely and utterly prevent the Nets from closing the gap.

He has never played professional basketball, let alone ever actually competed against Lynch face-to-face.

People always talk about Lynch's oppressive presence and his dominance, but these have always been relatively abstract concepts for Adam Silver.

But at this moment, that cold, suffocating power was piercing his throat through the screen, across a distance of tens of kilometers.

He truly felt that oppression and rule.

“I’m not watching David anymore,” Adam Silver touched his neck, as if to confirm that Lynch’s outstretched hand was indeed choking him. “I don’t want to watch anymore!”

After saying that, Adam Silver took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his bald head.

As the president of the alliance, he was surprised to find...

I was actually afraid of a player.

(Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all fathers! One update today, a slightly shortened 3600 words. I'm cooking a few dishes for my family, hahaha.)

(End of this chapter)