Champion Rules

Chapter 383, Page 379: That Day (Seeking monthly votes!)

Once again, Lynch swept LeBron James out of the playoffs.

While Lynch and Kyrie Irving were watching Kevin Durant's "I don't know why we lost" interview video in the locker room, LeBron James was also facing the media cameras alone in another locker room.

The number 23 looked dejected, his expression strikingly similar to the night Kobe ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Clearly, this series defeat dealt him a heavy blow.

If you put yourself in LeBron James's shoes, you'll understand why he has that expression.

In 2003, he was the most anticipated rookie in the entire basketball world. Before he had even played a single game in the league, people were already eager to compare him to MJ.

He did indeed show great potential in his rookie season, with explosive athleticism, excellent court vision, and a variety of mistakes.

And that was the end of his peak.

Since Lynch entered the league, LeBron James has almost always played the role of the loser.

Before leaving his hometown and facing huge controversy to go to Detroit, LBJ had never even won a single game over Lynch.

After being forced to take a shortcut by Lynch and failing, LeBron James, much like Fredo Corleone, the least popular player among fans, betrayed the team in an extremely weak way.

Then came Nike's abandonment, the complete collapse of his league status, and LeBron James' career hit rock bottom.

LeBron James' move from Oklahoma City to Brooklyn last summer was seen by many as an opportunity for a rebirth.

He plays for a very generous owner, and he is the undisputed number one player on the team.

Not everyone has the opportunity to rebuild their career, but LeBron James has played that card.

Unfortunately, the ending was no different from countless other stories in the past.

He remained a tiny puppet in Lynch's hands, completely at everyone's mercy.

From his rebirth to his fall from grace once again, it's easy to imagine how depressed LeBron James must have felt.

What's more, after he lost the game, his boss ran up and raised the opposing player's arm.

This is like rubbing salt into a wound, or dripping Tiger Balm on a wound.

LBJ's pitiful expression even made the reporters at the scene reluctant to joke about him anymore.

A New York Times reporter asked a very formal question: "LeBron, how are you feeling right now?"

LBJ first let out a long sigh, then looked up at the camera:
“I don’t know what else to say right now. Our general manager was fired during the playoffs, Jason just said we are the worst team of the 21st century, and everything has become a mess. I feel like maybe it’s time to make the next decision.”

LeBron James' words stunned the reporters in the locker room for a few seconds. Then, a barrage of flashes went off as if it were daytime, the blinding beams illuminating LBJ's locker in a stark white light.

"LeBron, what decision are you referring to!?"

"What kind of decision? Is it the kind of decision that was broadcast nationwide back then!?"

"Are you leaving the Brooklyn Nets? Have you already requested a trade?"

Although LeBron James is no longer the most watched star in the league, his "Decision" is still too famous.

That was arguably the most infamous show in the entire history of professional sports, and the biggest "highlight" of LBJ's career.

So when LeBron James mentioned the word "Decision" again, the media went wild.

LeBron James ignored the barrage of questions from reporters and instead dropped an even bigger bombshell:
"I will announce this decision on social media at noon a week from now. In any case, it's time for my career to enter a new phase."

LeBron James left the Eastern Conference semifinals with one last suspense, and the whole world wants to know what new tricks LBJ will pull this time.

That night, every corner of the internet was filled with wild interpretations of LeBron James' "Decision".

Some believe that LeBron James may want to leave the NBA altogether. Although he can earn the most money here, he can't find the same sense of accomplishment he gets from playing basketball.

Some firmly believe this was a carefully orchestrated power struggle, with LBJ clearly trying to force the team to trade him.

Some have even boldly predicted that LeBron James is going to latch onto Lynch's coattails!
It's normal to join if you can't beat them; a wise person knows when to yield.

Since you're going to be someone else's Scottie Pippen anyway, why not be Lynch's Scottie Pippen?

Discussions about LBJ are in full swing, and people are eagerly awaiting his decision in a week. He hasn't had such a huge amount of attention in a very long time.

Shaquille O'Neal quickly updated his social media on the matter:

"We should not be misled by this kind of propaganda; it will ultimately just be an advertisement for a certain product."

But few people believed Shaq's words. Was LeBron James announcing the "Decision" with such solemnity just to promote some kind of product?

Even with his astonishingly thick skin, he probably wouldn't have gone this far.

LeBron James' "The Decision 2" captivated countless hearts. And amidst the clamor and turmoil of the playoffs, the relentless gears of the game continued to grind relentlessly forward.

The Miami Heat's tenacious resistance paid off briefly in Game 5, keeping the series suspenseful at 2-3.

But Dwyane Wade was getting old after all. In a 2003 scouting report on Wade, his injury risk was a major drawback.

The report states that "he has difficulty staying healthy, and his peak may be shorter than other players due to health issues."

As it turns out, the report was quite accurate.

Dwyane Wade is only 30 years old, which is the prime of most players' lives.

Your body hasn't completely betrayed your will, and your understanding of basketball is already quite profound.

But for Wade, turning thirty was the beginning of a hero's decline.

In the crucial Game 6, Dwyane Wade had a lackluster performance, making only 5 of 18 shots, a shooting percentage of less than 30%.

Their steps were heavy, and their light was dim.

The Indiana Pacers didn't let the opportunity slip away. They won Game 6 and eliminated the Miami Heat with a 4-2 series score, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year!

The top two teams in the East will finally meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Chris Paul wasn't particularly excited after winning the series; for him, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals was just the bare minimum for the season.

What he needs to do most now is escape Lynch's cage of control.

He absolutely cannot allow himself to become the next LeBron James.

Lynch has already left many shameful marks on Chris Paul. His 62-point performance in last season's playoffs, his 62-point game in this season's regular season, and that infamous "one-step-down" moment etched into basketball history as an eternal laughingstock.

These humiliating marks have even become the most well-known labels associated with Chris Paul.

He knew better than anyone that only a decisive victory, a battle that would crush Lynch underfoot, could wash away all of this.

Otherwise, any other form of victory would be meaningless and ineffective for him.

After the game, during an interview with Craig Sager, Chris Paul put his arm around Mr. Colory's shoulder:

“Craig, yes, I’m certainly happy to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second season in a row. The reason I didn’t show it too much is because I’m a vengeful person. The whole world knows I still have a grudge to settle.”

"When you say grudge, are you specifically referring to the 62-point loss in the playoffs, which allowed Lynch to score 62 points in a single game, or the fact that we ultimately finished second in the Eastern Conference this season? No offense intended, but Lynch has done far too much to you."

Chris Paul:
A fleeting stiffness, as if struck by a sore spot, crossed his face, and that was exactly the kind of pungent effect Sager wanted for the show.

CP3 suppressed his surging anger and slowly removed his hand from Sager's shoulder. The previous intimacy was gone, leaving only a cold, sharp edge.
“Craig, for every single thing you’ve said, I will make Lynch pay for it with utter failure.”

Okay, some of you might think I'm talking nonsense. To show you my determination, I'm willing to bet Lynch a championship ring.

I will win this series. If I lose, someday in the future, when I win my championship ring, I will give it to Lynch. If he's in a hurry, I'm willing to give him my Olympic gold medal from last summer!
Similarly, if I win this round, Lynch has to give me a championship ring on the spot.

You can relay these words to Lin Qi verbatim and see if he dares to agree!

Anger was practically oozing from every pore of Paul's body. If even the usually amiable Craig Sager dared to so brazenly reopen his wounds, it was clear how low his reputation had fallen under Lynch's shadow.

He must break this deadlock! He must tear apart this web of humiliation!

Look at LeBron James, that's the pathetic end result of having his spine crushed by Lynch for too long!

This bombshell, betting a championship ring or an Olympic gold medal, instantly ignited public opinion. Fans' attention was immediately drawn away from LeBron James' unresolved "The Decision 2" and focused on this unprecedented gamble, filled with excitement.

Stephen A. Smith declared on the show, "Lynch will definitely take the challenge! He never misses an opportunity to snatch loot from the loser!"

John Hollinger was quite clear: "Chris Paul's words and actions are extremely bold and risky. This just proves that he has great confidence in the upcoming series, and he is definitely not joking."

The day after the Pacers advanced and CP3 made a betting offer, the Knicks held a press conference.

Of course, this wasn't specifically in response to Chris Paul.

Rather, it was to officially announce that Lynch had become the regular season MVP for the 12-13 season.

This is Lynch's second consecutive MVP award, and his fifth MVP trophy in his career.

With this, he tied the legendary record of Bill Russell and Michael Jordan in just nine seasons, becoming the second most decorated MVP in NBA history.

The NBA MVP selection has always been shrouded in a highly controversial yet fascinating fog—it has no set criteria.

Voters have publicly admitted more than once that the league has never given a clear definition of "most valuable," thus deliberately increasing the uncertainty of the selection process.

Regarding the selection of MVP, there are only two clearly visible rules:
First, we only consider a player's performance in the regular season.

Second, this player must have played at least 55 games in the regular season.

Apart from that, there are no other criteria for selecting the "Most Valuable Player".

Therefore, some voters may refuse to vote for a player because "although his performance is still impeccable, his team's record is not as good as last season."

Some voters may refuse to vote for a player because "his team has a great record, but he is a guy with too many flaws."

Or, like in 1997, simply refuse to vote for him again because "it's Michael Jordan again, damn it."

However, Lynch has won the championship four times in the past five seasons. You could say that he has built a near-monopoly in this field.

David Stern emphasized this point during the award presentation: "By any standard, Lynch is the only, undisputed MVP. Or we could say that Lynch is the standard itself."

NBA commissioners did not hold back in their praise for his greatest achievement, as Lynch fulfilled his final wish to bring the NBA to another peak before his retirement.

Lynch accepted the trophy, and the reporters asked some standard questions, including asking "How are you feeling right now?" in dozens of different ways.

Finally, in the eleventh minute of the long and tedious press conference, a reporter from B/R asked:
"Lynch, did you hear about Chris Paul's bet yesterday? Are you planning to accept his offer?"

Lynch finally smiled, a smile even brighter than the one he wore when he received the MVP trophy.

“I won’t bet with him,” Lynch replied curtly. “I know he’s really looking forward to it, but I’m sorry, Chris.”

"Why not? Are you really worried about losing?"

"No, it's because I know he doesn't have a championship ring at all. Not just now, I'm sure that until the day he retires with a fishing rod, that thing is destined to be out of his reach, because Chris Paul just looks like a championship-caliber player."

I wouldn't be foolish enough to gamble with anyone on something they don't even have.

"What about an Olympic gold medal? Chris is also willing to bet an Olympic gold medal on that."

Upon hearing the bet, Lynch's smile widened: "I don't mean to discredit the Dream Team's efforts. Listen, I respect their games last summer; they put in a lot of effort. But the Olympic gold medal that the Dream Team painstakingly won after 12 years—I already had one before I entered the league. And I won another one after entering the league. I don't need it, thank you."

Lynch refused.

It's not fear of challenges, but utter contempt.

Compared to accepting the bet and taking the spoils, Lynch's attitude of treating what the other party treasured as nothing, or even disdaining to touch it, was truly like a red-hot blunt knife, slowly torturing Chris Paul's dignity.

Lynch's response to Chris Paul generated even more buzz than the MVP award itself.

At this point, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which was to be played the following day, had become the most anticipated day for fans.

On that day, LeBron James will announce his Decision 2.

On that day, Lynch and Chris Paul will clash on the court, settling their feud with real action.

Bill Simmons shared Lynch's response to Chris Paul's video, as well as LeBron James's earlier teaser of "The Decision 2," on his social media account.

"We are all waiting for that day, and we are all guessing what will happen on that day."

Will LeBron leave Brooklyn?
Will Chris Paul win the game?

Or did Lynch carry his unreserved contempt onto the field?
In any case, we all know that.

That's sure to be a fantastic day.

(End of this chapter)