Champion Rules

Chapter 390, Section 386: You Are No Longer a Mistake (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Lynch's incredible layup became the final judgment on the Spurs.

Tony Parker then hit a quick three-pointer, but that was the Spurs' last stand.

Ultimately, the score remained 11 points.

The New York Knicks won Game 1 of the NBA Finals 109-98 at home.

This was a delightful game, with the Spurs' fluid team offense and the Knicks' brilliant individual plays complementing each other, enough to captivate all fans.

However, for both teams' players, the match was far from pleasant.

Boris Diaw lost his temper as he walked off the field. He ripped off his wristband and threw it violently to the ground.

This Frenchman, who has always been mild-mannered, unassuming, and always smiling with a coffee cup in hand, has never shown such an angry side on the football field.

Tonight, his mental state seemed to have suffered an unprecedented torment and shock.

On the other side, Lynch, who had achieved impressive statistics and a victory, simply pumped his fist lightly and did not celebrate wildly.

The 11-point margin doesn't accurately reflect the game's true nature; it was a hard-fought victory. Lynch didn't overestimate his opponents; the San Antonio Spurs played to almost everything they had, and they were indeed a tough opponent.

And this is only the first game.

The battles to come will be no easier than tonight's.

So now is not the time to celebrate.

At the post-match press conference, a Fox Sports reporter expressed curiosity about Boris Diaw's outburst:
"What angered you? Was it tonight's outcome? Or Lynch's performance? Or is it because Lynch, through uh, has dated too many French models?"

Boris Dior's eyes widened instantly upon hearing Lynch's name:

"Damn it, that defensive play with a minute left in the game, we definitely made it! I was sure I was going to block the ball! But..."

Boris Dior paused, seemingly recalling the unbelievable scene in his mind.

"But damn it, Lynch still scored, in such an illogical way! I don't know how to describe that round. You did everything you could—timing, positioning, everything was perfect. You had him cornered, but he still scored in that damn way. Sigh!"

Dio sighed heavily, a deeper sense of powerlessness following his anger. He shook his head, his voice low and weary:
"When something so outrageous happens, you feel like you're destined to lose the game. It's like fate is there, coldly telling you, 'See, Boris, no matter what you do, you're going to be a loser tonight.'"

Boris Diaw's anger and frustration all stemmed from the play in which Lynch made his layup, a play that completely killed the Spurs and also the most unforgettable play of his basketball career.

The feeling that "your efforts are worthless" is really unpleasant.

Tim Duncan suddenly chimed in, "That's why I told Greg last summer to keep Boris. Even though this fat guy doesn't score many points, as long as he's there, people will forget about me getting dunked on. Boris, we need you so much."

The press conference erupted in laughter as Tim Duncan delivered a very unserious remark in a serious tone, the stark contrast bringing a smile back to Boris Diaw's face.

Duncan used the simplest method to calm Boris Diaw's anger and frustration, and took the opportunity to motivate the whole team:
“We knew before the Finals started that it wouldn’t be an easy series. We haven’t lost yet, so we’ll keep grinding and fighting, just like we always have.”

“Yes, Scissors,” Boris Dior nodded, “we haven’t lost yet, we have to keep going.”

Duncan's words lacked rousing slogans, but carried an unwavering conviction. He skillfully used self-deprecation to soothe Diaw's wounds, and with unquestionable determination, he pulled the entire team back from the brink of defeat.

He didn't let frustration spread in the locker room; he knew how to keep the team confident and moving forward.

At the Knicks' press conference, Lynch was asked many questions related to the 60-point score.

"If you dominate the offense for all four quarters of the night, do you feel you have a chance to recreate a 60-point performance in the Finals? Obviously, you have that kind of firepower and stamina because you've done it before. So why refuse a great record?"

“I didn’t reject great records, I didn’t do that, it’s just not my goal. I’m not the kind of person who plays to chase statistics.”

"Don't you feel any regret at all? A chance to go down in history is right in front of you."

"Why should a winner feel sorry for tonight? When I put on the championship ring, when I stood on the podium for five consecutive seasons, when I redefined the dynasty of modern basketball, when I did what Michael Jordan never did, 'what if'. Man, 60 points are worthless."

Lynch's attitude towards scoring 60 points in a single game has remained consistent.

His attitude acted like a mirror, casting criticism on Kevin Durant, who was obsessed with crazy one-on-one plays in the Western Conference semifinals and had several rumors of discord with Steve Kerr this season.

The day after the game, Bill Simmons posted a composite photo of Kevin Durant and Lynch on his social media account, showing two sets of data.

The first set of data is scoring. Kevin Durant once scored 43 points against the Grizzlies, which is not far from Lynch's 44 points last night.

The second set of data is the distance covered on the defensive end, the number of screens, and the number of passes.

In this set of data, Lynch's score in every category—even the lowest one—is at least twice that of Kevin Durant.

The caption for the post was quite scathing: "Both scores are 40 points, but that's the difference between a winner and a loser."

Bill Simmons has always been a sports columnist who dares to offend people. Colleagues joke that "he is probably the only guy in the country who has to be careful of being cornered and beaten up by players in the parking lot when he walks into some arenas."

He has always loved to tell the truth, but for some players, the truth is the most malicious slander.

Kevin Durant is now experiencing firsthand the truth of "telling the truth is being mean," as he mobilized dozens of alternate accounts to relentlessly attack Bill Simmons in the comments section.

Kevin Durant didn't feel relieved because his comments went unanswered, while the most upvoted comments almost all agreed with Bill Simmons's statement.

The overwhelming voices seemed to be announcing: the Thunder's elimination was due to Kevin Durant!
This conclusion made KD even angrier.

He believes that Bill Simmons's nonsense has completely distorted fans' perception of him.

He truly didn't understand why the Thunder had lost to the Grizzlies, but he was 100% certain that the root of the problem was definitely not with him!
When people experience intense emotional fluctuations, they always need an outlet to vent.

KD releases his stress by working out; he likes to use workouts to distract himself.

So Kevin Durant opened the social media pages of those female fitness bloggers, wanting to use fitness to vent his frustration.

But soon, he put down his phone.

He can't do that today; he has to stay in good spirits.

This afternoon, he was invited to participate in the well-known sports interview program "Jump" hosted by Rachel Nichols.

This program will be broadcast live across the United States on ESPN2.

He absolutely cannot appear in front of the national audience with a haggard and dejected face; that would be too detrimental to his appearance.

At 2:30 p.m. sharp, KD arrived at the dressing room backstage.

When host Rachel Nichols was about to shake hands with KD, her professional smile froze on her face.

The show "Jump" strives to create a relaxed and authentic conversational atmosphere, and never makes demands on the guests' attire. The production team's original intention is to allow the players to face the camera in their most relaxed state and open up about their feelings.

But KD's outfit tonight.
A plain black short-sleeved T-shirt with no design sense and childish patterns, paired with a murky pink woolen hat that looks like it was rescued from a garbage dump.

These two items, when combined, create a strange "chemical reaction," making a multi-millionaire like KD look like a homeless drug addict on the streets of Philadelphia.

Heaven knows why Kevin Durant is so fond of these seemingly low-quality beanies; he wears them almost all year round.

Rachel Nichols felt her professionalism was being put to a severe test, and she had to desperately hold back from blurting out, "My God, is he really going to wear this on national television?"

“Hey, KD,” Rachel Nichols extended her hand, her gaze lingering subtly on his “chic” outfit. “Your outfit tonight is absolutely adorable.”

"Thank you for the compliment."

“These are some questions I’ll be asking you later, or topics we’ll be discussing,” Rachel Nichols handed KD something that looked like a script. “You can take a look at it beforehand and prepare.”

KD took it and flipped through it casually: "OK, these questions are all easy to answer. Wait, why is the last question blank?"

Rachel Nichols smiled mysteriously: "If all the questions were pre-set, the show would be too rigid. We leave some room for improvisation in each episode, and talk about unplanned topics."

KD didn't mind; it wasn't his first time on a show. Even if it was an impromptu question or chat, he could handle it with ease.

The program started quickly, and everything went very smoothly. Rachel Nichols is a seasoned sports reporter; women her age are adept at gently guiding their audience, gradually leading them into a comfortable position.

As the show drew to a close, Kevin Durant knew that all the safety topics that had been pre-scripted had already been covered.

Next, there will be a final impromptu exchange.

Rachel Nichols pressed a button on the remote control in her hand, and a screenshot of Bill Simmons's post appeared on the large screen in the studio.

Kevin Durant's relaxed and deliberately maintained composure vanished instantly, replaced by a somber, iron-blue expression.

My breath felt choked, and a surge of anger at being fooled rushed to my head.

He finally understood why the production team hadn't told him the final topic beforehand.

Because if he had known this was the topic beforehand, he definitely would have refused.

"Kevin, did you see Bill's post?" Rachel Nichols' voice was still gentle, but KD no longer seemed relaxed.

Kevin Durant forced a smile, feigning indifference: "I saw it, it's utter nonsense. Bill always likes to grab attention like this. But I don't care what he said at all. Victory and defeat are complex symphonies, and the blame should never be placed on just one musician. Especially not on the best-performing musician."

"If you were in last night's situation, would you choose to focus on defense in the second and third quarters, or would you choose to go for that dazzling 60 points? KD, tell me your honest thoughts."

"Of course I will try my best to defend."

"But Coach Steve Kerr has mentioned more than once that you are somewhat resistant to his passing and cutting system because you are not willing to do too much off-ball screens and runs for those teammates whose scoring ability is, well, slightly inferior to yours."

After Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals just ended, James Harden's mother complained on social media, "Isolation, isolation, this game was all isolation," seemingly criticizing him.

So, are you really willing to give up one-on-one play and focus entirely on defense?

Kevin Durant recalled his teammates' half-joking advice: "Don't get involved with women who are too mature. They may seem elegant on the surface, but you simply can't handle them."

Rachel Nichols's gentleness vanished completely, and Durant felt like a prisoner suddenly stripped naked. Rachel's gaze was like a cold searchlight, illuminating his anger and unease, which he was trying to hide.

“You know, the most contradictory thing about this is,” Kevin Durant’s relaxed smile returned as he came up with a brilliant counter-argument, “that Lynch simply couldn’t score 60 points. Everyone’s creating the illusion that Lynch ‘voluntarily gave up’ the chance to score 60 points and chose ‘selfless’ defense. No, that assumption is wrong. Lynch simply can’t score 60 points. I know he’s done it before, but he couldn’t do it against the Spurs.”

KD leaned forward confidently, staring into Rachel Nichols' eyes: "You can't take 'can't do' and twist it into 'don't want to do,' then repackage it as so-called 'sacrifice' and 'selflessness.' According to your logic, I could also say that in that 43-point game, I could have scored 60 points, but I sacrificed that opportunity for the team. That's what Lynch said. Of course, he has the right to create his own persona. But that's not me. I want to be a more authentic person."

Kevin Durant cleverly shifted the topic, turning the interrogation of himself into an interrogation of Lynch.

Rachel Nichols' eyes lit up; she no longer disliked Kevin Durant's outfit. She swore Kevin Durant was her favorite sports star—he was so outspoken.

"So, you mean Lynch is just using 'selflessness' to cover up his true self?"

"I don't want to comment on Lynch directly; I'm just stating a fact: Lynch is not as perfect as the media portrays him to be."

I don't want to be seen as a clown, forever bound to that clumsy comparison script of 'selfless Lynch vs. selfish KD'.

The show ended with amazing ratings.

The clip of KD criticizing Lynch at the end of the show went viral on YouTube, sparking a massive wave of discussion.

This is not the first time Kevin Durant has defied Lynch. Earlier this season, his "short-trumping" scandal had already exposed his true self.

He's not Stephen Curry or James Harden; he has no interest in being Lynch's little brother forever.

He felt he was one of the best players in the league, and he believed he and Lynch were equals.

Even if there are differences, there isn't such a large generational gap.

When the "alt account scandal" broke, people mocked KD for only hiding online and typing on a keyboard.

Okay, today he'll be a man!
He said what he wanted to say on a nationally televised program!
Kevin Durant's interview added even more excitement to the already thrilling NBA Finals.

Right after the show ended, Kevin Durant received a call from Stephen Curry: "KD, you've fallen into the show's trap! We're rivals with Lynch, but we're also friends. How are you going to explain your attacks this year at the pinnacle?"

“I don’t need to go to some kind of pinnacle,” Kevin Durant said firmly. “I don’t need to attend his training camp to improve! I don’t want to be forever seen as just another ‘little brother’ under his shadow!”

Before he could finish speaking, KD's finger pressed the hang-up button with a forceful release.

Long-suppressed ambitions were unleashed like a beast breaking free of its cage.

He wanted to be the one who ended the era and then used his own name to usher in a completely new one.

That's always been his thought.

If Lynch keeps clinging to the throne and won't step down, then we'll take it from him!

Lynch learned about the controversy caused by Kevin Durant that night, but he did not respond.

There were no pronouncements on social media, nor any aggressive statements in front of reporters.

Even if Kevin Durant is an opponent, he'll be an opponent next season.

Now, Lynch has no intention of getting distracted by other matters.

He only cares about the present moment.

Game 2 of the series continued at Madison Square Garden, where the formidable Spurs finally broke the Knicks' 13-game playoff winning streak this season.

In Game 2, the Spurs finally unleashed the touch and efficiency that has terrified the entire league this season.

In the first quarter, the Spurs scored a solid 41 points.

The last time a team scored so many points in a single quarter in the Finals was in the 1967 season when Wilt Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers scored 43 points in a single quarter.

Both teams scored these historic points in exactly the same way: through exceptional team offense.

Indeed, in that game in 1967, even Wilt Chamberlain, a one-armed man, was very restrained in his scoring, giving more opportunities to his teammates.

Of course, that wasn't because Wilt Chamberlain had a change of heart.

However, scoring had become less interesting for him, who had already averaged 50 points per game in a season.

From 1967 to 1968, Wilt Chamberlain became obsessed with racking up assists, and triple-doubles were commonplace for him at that time.

In any case, the full potential of team basketball was revealed at this moment.

It's difficult for the Knicks to shut down the Spurs by eliminating a single player. When the Spurs are on fire from all sides, you'll experience the despair of being "unstoppable."

In the first half, the Spurs scored 70 points, with all nine players who took the court scoring.

Of course, such incredible touch is often difficult to maintain indefinitely.

In the second half, the Spurs' shooting percentage began to return to normal levels.

In fact, the Knicks held the Spurs to just 20% three-point shooting percentage in the second half.

Unfortunately, the Spurs built up too much of a lead in the first half.

Ultimately, the Spurs defeated the Knicks 111-103 on the road, tying the Finals 1-1!
This is the first time the Knicks have lost in the playoffs since 2011.

The San Antonio Spurs have demonstrated their uniqueness, representing the highest level of team basketball.

When the game ended, there wasn't a trace of a smile on Tim Duncan's face.

He calmly told the gathered reporters, his tone as if stating a long-established fact:

"We proved a long time ago that we are capable of beating the Knicks. They won't get away with it easily. It's going to be a tough battle. Everything is the same as in 2007. Although the rules are different and the game is different, our matchup is still a bloody, physical battle. Nothing is different."

After speaking, he glanced at his teammates in the distance, suddenly remembered something, and then told the reporter:
"Okay, some things have changed compared to 2007. The last time we beat the Knicks in the Finals, Manu Ginobili had about 3000 million times more hair than he does now."

After saying that, Duncan walked over to Manu Ginobili, who was not far away, and rubbed the Argentine's head, which had turned into a desert.

Kevin Durant gained some supporters after the Knicks lost Game 2.

"If Lynch can really do that, why doesn't he score 60 points tonight to save the team?"

Lynch remained unmoved by the situation and flew with his team to San Antonio for Game 3 of the series.

The New Yorkers did not succumb in San Antonio, with Lynch scoring 48 points and grabbing 17 rebounds, including 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter, completely dominating the final quarter and sealing the game.

This is the ultimate display of pure individual dominance at the most suffocating moment of the game.

This was another game that left the San Antonio fans helpless. The Spurs did everything right; they shut down the rest of the Knicks, with DeMar DeRozan shooting just 2-for-8 tonight. They played an efficient offense, not as phenomenal as Game 2, but still quite good.

But Lynch still won.

With a series of unbelievable one-on-one plays, four offensive rebounds in the final quarter, and a game-winning turnaround jumper with 53 seconds left, they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Gregg Popovich's post-game tone carried a sense of helplessness and a barely perceptible hint of respect:

"Even if Lynch doesn't score 60 points in a single game in San Antonio, he will still be one of the most destructive individuals in NBA history. Those who question him are essentially insulting the efforts of our entire team."

I dare say, if we had played someone else in the Finals, we would have won the championship a long time ago.

Just as Lynch admired the Spurs but did not submit to them, the Spurs' admiration for Lynch did not mean they gave up the fight.

In Game 4 of the series, the San Antonio team put on a heroic performance.

No Spurs player scored more than 20 points tonight, but every single one of them, from the bench to the starters, stepped up.

2012年伦敦奥运会得分王帕特里克.米尔斯在16分钟的出场时间里三分6投4中拿下14分。

Boris Diaw had 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists; he was everywhere.

Tony Parker played steadily and scored 19 points, while Tim Duncan only scored 10 points tonight, but his 10 points and 11 rebounds made him the player with the most double-doubles in NBA history.

Every Spurs player who appeared and had a shot attempt had a field goal percentage below 50%.

The Spurs made 380 passes tonight, a full 112 more than the Knicks.

This team, where everyone contributes, makes the people of San Antonio proud. Through their unwavering trust and teamwork, they brought the series back to a level playing field.

Considering that the Knicks had just swept the entire league to win the championship last season with an undefeated record, and considering that the Knicks still maintained a breathtaking undefeated playoff record before the Finals, the Spurs' tenacious comeback was so significant that team owner Pete Holt on the sidelines could no longer contain his emotions. He looked at the court with his mouth slightly open and burst into tears.

Those scalding tears formed a poignant contrast with the deafening cheers of the surrounding fans.

Yes, the Spurs haven't won yet.

But Peter Holt can already be proud of his players.

Last summer, more than one media outlet believed that the Spurs, who had been losing to the Thunder year after year, needed to rebuild.

GDP is a thing of the past; they can no longer return to the finals.

A reporter from the San Antonio Express-News once pointedly asked Pete Holt, "Would you consider trading these veterans to start a rebuild?"

But this tractor tycoon told the reporter firmly, "No, we will die together in the end!"

At this very moment, the weight of this vow is echoing in every corner of the ATT Center.

This group, which was considered to have been disbanded and rebuilt, tied the unstoppable New York team 2-2 in the Finals.

Their perseverance did not betray Peter Holt's trust.

The touching story of Peter Holt and the Spurs players has gone viral online, as has the hypothesis that Kevin Durant put forward on the "Jump" show.

More and more people are repeating the same question: "If Lynch can really do that, why doesn't he score 60 points to save the team?"

Kevin Durant could see that the Spurs' two victories were demystifying Professor L among a small group of people.

The cruelty of competitive sports was on full display at this moment.

No matter how towering your achievements may be, once you encounter failure, you must face the storms of doubt and the sharp blades of controversy.

This is why people often say that Michael Jordan's permanent retirement after throwing "The Last Shot" in 1998 will be the most perfect and romantic farewell in the history of professional sports.

Because he silenced all the doubters with the championship of that last dance, and then drifted away, never giving the world another chance to re-evaluate him.

Unfortunately, he made a comeback in the 21st century, but that dismal comeback damaged his historical status and opened the door for the absurd claims in the following years that "Kobe or LeBron could be better than MJ."

Kevin Durant knows that even if Lynch loses this Finals series, the brilliance of his career will not be extinguished.

But KD is even more certain of one thing: once Lynch's throne collapses, no one will ever again place him on that awe-inspiring, "unrivaled" pedestal.

People will eventually admit that the gap between KD and Lynch isn't that big.

He would very much like to see that day come soon.

G5, the decisive battle.

For players like Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and Chandler Parsons, the "Game 5" was an unfamiliar term.

Their rookie seasons were so smooth that they never even experienced what it's like to lose a game in the playoffs.

Stephen A. Smith is worried that the Knicks have too many young players who won't be able to grasp the significance of Game 5.

So, in his program, he emphasized: "You can imagine that there is a gun and a knife on the table in front of you and your opponent. The person who gets the gun first may not be able to kill the opponent successfully, and may even be killed by the opponent. But without a doubt, getting the gun will greatly increase your chances of survival. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the battle of the titans."

Three hours before G5 started, Lynch arrived at the ATT Center to warm up.

When he walked onto the field, he found that all the young players were already in position.

They have reason to prepare for the match in advance.

A day earlier, Mike Malone had already decided to start Jimmy Butler in place of Vince Carter in the Finals, hoping to further reduce the Spurs' offensive efficiency.

For Jimmy Butler, this will be the most important day of his life.

Kyrie Irving, as the team's second-leading scorer, needs to maintain his form and absolutely cannot falter.

Chandler Parsons is equally crucial in containing the Spurs' deep bench during transition periods.

Of course, there's also DeMar DeRozan.

His poor performance in the previous game made him a controversial figure. When he saw Lynch step onto the court, the other three greeted him, but DeMar DeRozan was still engrossed in his jump shot practice.

Lin Qi didn't bother him or talk to him much.

He knew how sensitive that guy was, so sometimes, letting him be alone was actually a good thing.

It wasn't until just before the game started that Lynch spoke his first words to DeMar DeRozan since Game 4:

"Don't be nervous. I didn't nag you because I trust you. I know you can handle it. Go, Sir Knight."

DeMar DeRozan certainly did it.

In the second quarter, when the momentum shifted to DeMar DeRozan, he scored consecutive baskets with spectacular mid-range isolation plays.

"I know it's a bit unbelievable, but... God, he played like Michael tonight!" Mike Brin exclaimed, marveling at DeMar DeRozan's performance tonight.

Those flashy moves, that consistent shooting percentage, that ever-increasing scoring – DeMar DeRozan's classic style of play is out of step with this era; any team building around him wouldn't go very far. But as a Cavaliers player alongside the Kings, he is undoubtedly exceptional!
In the third quarter, Kyrie Irving was also on fire.

So far in this year's Finals, Kyrie Irving has had a perfect record in all five games.

This is in stark contrast to the dismal performance in every game of last season's finals.

This is what he deserves. Lynch knows how much sweat he has shed for it, and he didn't even stop when he was injured.

Of course, most importantly, Kyrie Irving has learned the "secret" to victory this season.

He defends when he needs to, and unleashes his full firepower when he needs to attack.

At a young age, under Lynch's guidance, he knew the "secret" earlier than Kevin Durant, and even earlier than his counterpart in another timeline.

He fully embraced the "secret" and strode towards the real ring he had always dreamed of.

However, the Spurs certainly wouldn't let go of this pivotal Game 5 at home.

They also wanted to take the gun from the table.

They had another explosive third quarter, with Danny Green hitting all three of his three-point attempts.

He is just four points away from breaking the record for most three-pointers made in the NBA Finals.

In the fourth quarter, Lynch continued to dominate the game, but the Spurs kept the pace.

The score difference hovered between 1 and 3 points at one point, and Mike Brin bluntly stated, "This is the most intense matchup in this brutal series!"

The game remained close until the final 35 seconds, when Tim Duncan's putback tied the score for the Spurs.

Mike Malone paused the game, and Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers.

The crucial play is about to begin!
Lin Qi sat back down on the bench, wiped his sweat, and glanced at the big screen.

With 43 points, this marks the third time Lynch has scored 40 points in five Finals games.

He chuckled as he recalled the recent comments like, "If Lynch can do it, why doesn't he just win by 60 points?"

Next, you'll find out why.

Lynch will definitely settle scores with Kevin Durant.

He is not a magnanimous person; he can never tolerate doubt or slander.

But before that, he would put on the ring and let that jealous soul suffocate completely in the darkness.

On the other side, Gregg Popovich wanted to disrupt the pass from the sideline throw-in stage.

"Surround Lynch, surround him, cut off his receiving routes, he'll definitely take the last shot!"

Popovich knew, and the whole world knew, that there was an agreement between Lynch and Kyrie Irving that "whoever makes the game-winning shot gets the right to make the game-winning shot."

Furthermore, this agreement has been faithfully implemented throughout the season.

Kyrie Irving hasn't had a chance to take a shot in a crucial moment since his early-season game-winning shot against the Spurs went unanswered.

Lynch may be a selfless player, but in moments like these, his absolute confidence in his own abilities is unshakeable.

Furthermore, the right to execute is an extension of royal power, a badge of honor that cannot be desecrated.

"Shut down Lynch, and we'll embrace victory!" Gregg Popovich emphasized.

On the Knicks' bench, Lynch thought for a moment and then said something that surprised the entire bench: "Kyrie, you take this shot."

Kyrie Irving was stunned. His competition with Lynch for the game-winning shot had been a hot topic in the media all season. And now, was Lynch really going to hand over the chance?
Moreover, if Lynch makes the final shot, his night will be perfect.

At this moment, Kyrie Irving recalled his conversation with Lynch about "responsibility" before the Finals began:

“Last time it wasn’t just about missing that shot, it wasn’t about the shot or the pass. It was about ensuring that our first reaction to any situation on the court is one that benefits the team.”

Lynch calmly explained, "The Spurs will do everything they can to block me from receiving the ball; passing it to me is too risky. We need to be decisive, but it doesn't have to be me every time. Kyrie, are you ready?"

Everyone looked at Kyrie Irving, the guy who refused to touch the trophy last season because of his terrible performance in the Finals.

Kyrie Irving smiled. Yes, at this moment, Professor L had given him the right example.

Demonstrate how a privileged player uses their privileges.

Privilege does not mean unbridled behavior.

Privilege means that you have the responsibility to make the right decision.

Kyrie Irving looked up at his teammates: "I'll prove it."

"Prove what?"

"I am not a mistake!"

Lynch stared into Kyrie Irving's eyes, very pleased: "Go onto the court and beat those bastards to a pulp. Can you do that? Say it once."

"I'm going to beat those bastards to a pulp!"

The timeout ends and the game resumes.

All the Spurs players were on high alert, their eyes fixed on the man who had already scored 43 points.

Chandler Parsons stood on the sidelines, ready to kick off.

Spurs players all moved closer to Lynch, cutting off all visible passing lanes.

Lynch activated, tearing apart the defenses.

Chandler Parsons passed the ball, and Tim Duncan immediately reached out.

He soon realized that the ball was not meant for Lynch.

The ball landed in Kyrie Irving's hands!

The Spurs did not double-team; they did not employ a double-team strategy throughout the entire series.

They continued to shut down Lynch's ability to receive the ball, believing that Kyrie Irving would eventually pass it out.

Kyrie Irving dribbled the ball closer to the three-point line, and Tony Parker was on high alert, a bad feeling creeping into his mind.

Irving dribbled between his legs repeatedly, lowered his center of gravity, and made a thrusting motion, but actually took a sudden side step back and pulled up!
"Kyrie Irving is here! It's Kyrie!" Mike Breen shouted, the basketball soaring over Tony Parker's hastily raised hand, without the slightest deviation—

It swished smoothly into the net!

"BANG!!! Beautiful three-pointer! Kyrie put the Knicks up by three with 28 seconds left in the game! This is the greatest three-pointer of his career, bar none!"

The moment the ball went in, Irving roared to the sky, his fingers outstretched, like a wild beast breaking free of its shackles.

He abruptly turned to Lynch, his roar echoing throughout the arena:

"I beat them to a pulp! Boss! I beat them to a pulp!!!"

Lynch smiled approvingly and gave him a thumbs up: "Now you can say that you weren't a mistake."

Jeff Van Gundy was also applauding, but not just for that one play:

“Look at Lynch and Kyrie, their integration, their mutual growth, their teamwork against the enemy. This is one of the most beautiful stories in the NBA.”

That shot cost the Spurs their lives. In the next possession, Danny Green missed a three-pointer, and the Spurs had no choice but to commit a tactical foul on Jimmy Butler, who grabbed the rebound.

Jimmy Butler, making his first Finals start, withstood the pressure and boos, calmly making both free throws, and the Knicks ultimately won the pivotal Game 5 by 5 points.

Spike Lee, who had made a special trip to San Antonio to watch Game 5, excitedly yelled onto the court: "Hey Lynch, when we get back to New York, don't let the game go to a seventh game, don't give them a chance!"

Amidst the immense clamor, his roar was like a pebble dropped into the ocean, failing to create any ripples.

Lynch did not hear him and did not respond.

But Spike Lee knew that this Knicks team, this Knicks team where everyone was closely connected, would bring the championship back.
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Did I get the shot-winning opportunity? Man, that doesn't matter. Whoever Lynch needs to take the final shot, that's who will take it. Tonight, victory is the most beautiful thing. — Kyrie Irving on his shot-taking opportunity in the crucial moments of tonight's game.

I trust him, it's that simple. Of course I'm willing to take responsibility, but I can't risk getting my pass intercepted. Kyrie did it, and you all saw how good he is. — Lynch on Irving's key shot tonight.

We won't drag the series to a seventh game; we have everything we need to win. — Mike Malone on the Finals outcome.

So, when exactly did he score 60 points? Oh, and tonight his teammate's game-winning shot was also packaged as part of his selflessness, right? — A post on social media from what appears to be Kevin Durant's alternate account.

(Thanks to the generous donors who confirmed receipt of the goods for their generous donations.)

(One update tonight, but no reduction in output, 10,000 words combined into one)

(End of this chapter)