Champion Rules

Chapter 412, Chapter 408: Not Close at All (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

When the game ended, Giannis Antetokounmpo stood on the court, looking at the several cameras circling around him, somewhat incredulous.

He did it.

With 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 4 turnovers, these stats may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things in the league, but for Giannis, they are the certification that allows him to step into the spotlight and stay on this top stage.

Kyrie Irving walked up and patted the Greek on the muscular back: "Good job, buddy. I think you're good enough to be in the regular rotation. But this is just the beginning. Next time, don't let Stephen stumble."

Kyrie Irving was referring to an incident that occurred last summer at the "Summit," during the first scrimmage of the training camp, where the Greek Freak mismatched and guarded Stephen Curry.

This seemingly disparate matchup ended with Giannis Antetokounmpo being humiliatingly faked out and watching helplessly as number 30 hit a three-pointer.

For the young Greek Freak, although it wasn't an official game, it was an unforgettable "welcome to the NBA moment."

That game, that particular play, made him realize the enormous gap between himself and real NBA players.

Kyrie Irving's words implicitly confirm that the Knicks and Thunder will meet in the NBA Finals. Because if the two teams were to face off again this season, it would only be in the Finals.

At that time, Giannis Antetokounmpo will inevitably face off against that number 30 again.

This reminded him that establishing himself in the Knicks and making it into the rotation was no great achievement.

The real test he faces is only just beginning.

The Greek man clenched his fists: "Next time it's my turn to bring him down, Carey."

The Knicks' fighting power was finally unleashed tonight.

But people didn't realize this because Lynch was just too dazzling.

When Lynch became the first player in NBA history to record three or more stats in ten consecutive games, the suspense in the MVP race was already gone by 90%.

This is a truly remarkable historical achievement, comparable to Lynch's previous feats such as winning the championship with an undefeated record in the playoffs, scoring 60 points in three Finals games in his career, and averaging 40 points per game in two Finals games in his career. It has essentially reached a level that is unprecedented and is very likely to remain so.

Finding a player who consistently scores in double figures on rebounds every game is easy; finding one who consistently scores in double figures on assists isn't difficult either. Finding a player who consistently scores in double figures on points every game is even simpler.

But to find a player who can maintain these three statistics at double digits for ten consecutive games? That's simply a pipe dream.

Kevin Durant's performance this season has undoubtedly been outstanding, but if he wants to beat Lynch to win the MVP title, he needs to demonstrate something even greater than "outstanding".

Currently, no mainstream media outlet ranks Kevin Durant at number one in the MVP rankings.

This is a huge blow to Kevin Durant, but some of KD's supporters have started to speak out online.

Jerry West believes that KD remains the strongest contender for MVP:
"We're a small team, and a superstar like Robert Downey Jr. would never call the owner and say, 'Hey, save me a suite tonight.' But the reality is, the Oklahoma City Thunder are being talked about all over the world, and it's KD who's bringing that influence. He has MVP-caliber superstar appeal, and I think he's still at the center of the MVP discussion."

Andre Iguodala also continued to strongly support KD:

"We just don't need KD to take on the main playmaking role, otherwise he could easily dish out 10 assists. Stats are only part of the game, and I believe Lynch himself would definitely agree with that. So, who will be the MVP? We'll have to wait and see. The competition is far from over."

Nike is also making efforts, and some Nike media outlets have started to praise KD's performance in games—although Nike's media influence has declined significantly in recent years, it is only inferior to Reebok, which does not mean that they have no strength in this regard.

Lynch paid no attention to these voices; those who supported KD were simply people from the Thunder and Nike media.

What does it prove that people within the same group are praising each other?
This is as meaningless as a paid music teacher telling you that you sing well.

But these voices and support were indeed helpful to KD, and even formed an "information cocoon" around him.

From Kevin Durant's perspective, the MVP race, at least on the surface, remains quite intense.

The Thunder definitely need to stabilize Kevin Durant's confidence, at least to help him maintain his current performance.

The day after Lynch broke the record for consecutive triple-doubles, the NBA officially announced the results of the three rounds of voting for the 2014 All-Star Game.

The lineups on the Western Conference side were pretty much a foregone conclusion: legendary center Stephen Curry, clutch passer Kobe Bryant, construction giant Kevin Durant, five-star citizen Carmelo Anthony, and hair removal expert Tim Duncan formed the starting eleven.

The starting lineup for the Eastern Conference was somewhat unexpected, as Chris Paul was surprisingly replaced by third-year Kyrie Irving.

Furthermore, the vote difference between them is quite significant!
Chris Paul is extremely well-known as the veteran initiator of the point differential unit in the league. You may not have seen Chris Paul play, but you have definitely heard of his incredible 62-point playoff performance against Lynch.

This tall point guard, who has been a low-profile but highly respected player, has been a starter in the All-Star Game for many years. For most fans, seeing him on the All-Star starting roster is a given.

However, Kyrie Irving defeated Chris Paul by a margin of 35 votes this year.

Kyrie Irving's soaring popularity is not without reason. Firstly, his mature performance in last season's Finals finally earned him widespread recognition from fans and the media. Secondly, after Lynch reduced some of his shot attempts this season, Kyrie Irving's stats have risen accordingly.

This season, he is averaging 21.4 points and 4.2 assists per game. Even without Lynch's influence, he is already a true star player.

And if Lynch's influence is taken into account, he could easily oust Chris Paul.

Lynch's other key assistant, DeMar DeRozan, although not selected for the starting lineup, is expected to make the bench.

Overall, Lynch's playing style this season has not only benefited him, but also those around him.

His aura wasn't just focused on him alone; he also shared some of his glory with his teammates.

This "Lynch effect" has even extended to the highly anticipated rising star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Based on his amazing performance in the last game against the Hawks, the media has begun to discuss whether the Greek Freak is qualified to be selected for the All-Star Rising Stars Challenge.

However, all the praise and discussion surrounding the Knicks felt like thorns piercing Chris Paul's heart.

His strained relationship with the entire Knicks team, especially with Lynch and Kyrie Irving, was an open secret.

Last season, Chris Paul's gloating and frantic applause when Kyrie Irving was injured completely shattered the last shred of civility between the two sides.

So Kyrie Irving stepping over him to become an All-Star starter is practically a direct hit to the face.

Even his younger brother Paul George became a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Stars this year, while he was squeezed out by Kyrie Irving.

This is simply stripping him of his dignity.

But when Chris Paul appeared on Rachel Nichols's "Jump," he still maintained an air of nonchalant composure, his tone laced with disdain:

"Congratulations, Kyrie. Of course, I'm not angry about it. After all, I'm way past the age of needing to prove myself as an All-Star starter. What I really care about is being a leader on a championship-contending team. If I teamed up with Melo or Zach, I could easily get a ring and become an All-Star starter."

But what I'm after is 'winning' a ring, not just getting a ring.

There is a difference, and I'm sure you understand it.

Rachel Nichols astutely pressed, "Do you think Kyrie Irving simply 'got' a championship ring by playing alongside Lynch, rather than winning one?"

Chris Paul paused, then nodded finally: "Yes, Kyrie Irving never won anything."

Chris Paul was clearly making sarcastic remarks about Kyrie Irving being just Lynch's underling, which was also a way for him to comfort himself.

This gave him a sense of superiority, that "there's no comparison between me, the leader of a championship-contending team, and a guy who's just riding on someone else's coattails."

Once again, Rachel Nichols' show has produced a bombshell.

This "Queen of Explosive Moments" seems to have had a lucky streak, with star players frequently making explosive remarks in her interviews or on her shows since last season.

It was during one of her interviews that Lynch said, "Being compared to MJ is not such an honor for me; surpassing him would be the greatest honor for me."

During last season's Finals, Kevin Durant questioned Lynch's decision not to score 60 points not because of selflessness, but because he couldn't do it, on his "Jump" show.

Now, Chris Paul has once again publicly criticized newly minted All-Star starter Kyrie Irving.

Since CP3 moved to Indianapolis, the rivalry between the Pacers and the Knicks has been a major highlight in the Eastern Conference.

The tension hasn't dissipated this year.

But for the first time ever, no one from the Knicks responded to Chris Paul.

The Knicks' social media feeds were completely calm.

Even Kyrie Irving, the person directly involved, has not spoken out.

After training the next day, when reporters pressed Lin Qi about this in the locker room, he gave a casual answer:
"What do we have to say to Chris? Even if we meet again in the playoffs, our opponent will be Paul George, who is the leader of the current Pacers team. Let's not talk about him, let's talk about what the Pacers are planning for my retirement tour. I'm grateful and looking forward to it."

Lynch retaliated in kind, effortlessly dismissing Chris Paul from his "leadership" position on the spot.

Less than 20 minutes after Lynch said that, Chris Paul stormed into the door of team general manager Larry Bird.

"Larry!" Paul's voice was strained with anger. "Don't tell me the team is really planning some kind of damn retirement tour tribute for Lynch!"

Larry Bird had just seen Lynch's interview. He slowly closed his laptop, looked up, and said with a calm yet undeniably authoritative gaze, "That's none of your business, Chris."

"No, damn it, no!" Chris Paul seemed to have found the answer, his emotions exploding instantly. "How can we worship our playoff rivals? This is completely against the spirit of Indianapolis basketball! Think back to the 90s, when did Reggie Miller and our fans ever bow down to Michael Jordan?"

Larry Bird, with a serious expression, said, "Play your game, do your job. If you really want to beat Lynch, you need to understand that what you need most right now is focus!"

"Listen, Larry, I don't care what your plans are, I'm not giving him any damn tour opportunities!" Chris Paul could only utter these harsh words before slamming the door and leaving in a fit of anger.

The office fell silent again. Larry Bird leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed.

In fact, Larry Bird didn't know whether there would be a tribute ceremony for Lynch's game in Indianapolis.

The team management certainly has no plans to officially organize a tribute ceremony, but what about the fans' wishes?

If Pacers fans spontaneously pay tribute to Lynch, should the team kick them out?

Therefore, Larry Bird was unable to answer CP3's question.

He knew Chris Paul would be angry about it, but sometimes Bird thought anger was a good thing. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson became friends in 1985.

Prior to this, Larry Bird hated Magicians.

He lost to that guy in the NCAA finals, and that guy was also the one he most wanted to defeat after entering the NBA. Those days of gritted teeth seem like yesterday.

If Larry Bird had led his team to the Finals and found that their opponent wasn't the Lakers, he would have been disappointed, and the thrill of victory would have been greatly diminished.

Because all he wanted to do was defeat the person he hated most.

He knew better than anyone that this deep-seated hatred and anger could sometimes be the furnace that forges steel, creating incredible power.

In particular, the Boston Celtics and Larry Bird reversed an unfavorable situation in the 84 NBA Finals by fueled by intense hatred.

He needs Chris Paul to maintain this anger and let it fuel his playoff campaign.

In the days that followed, Lynch's retirement tour continued, and the away tribute ceremonies never stopped.

He also extended his streak of consecutive triple-doubles to 12 games.

But after a two-game break, he started racking up triple-doubles again.

DeMar DeRozan ultimately made his first All-Star appearance as a reserve player.

This season, the Knicks have three All-Stars. And this wasn't even the goal of the Manhattan Project; it was merely a natural byproduct.

At the All-Star Game, Kyrie Irving won the All-Star MVP award on his first All-Star start with an outstanding performance of 31 points and 14 assists.

Chris Paul was the only person present who crossed his arms, maintained a cold expression, and refused to applaud during the awards ceremony.

They've even stopped trying to hide the tension between them.

This is exactly what Larry Bird wanted; he wanted their competition to go beyond the surface.

After the All-Star break, the Knicks did not make any trades or signings before the trade deadline.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's outstanding performance after entering the regular rotation has led the Knicks to find the best successor to Chandler Parsons internally.

"Boss, you don't need to sign any players. I can fill the last gap, and it'll be quick!"

Giannis Antetokounmpo fulfilled his promise to Lynch.

He continues to hone his skills every day, waiting for the Thunder and Stephen Curry.

Both the Thunder and the Nets are calm, believing that their current rosters can compete with the Knicks.

The Indiana Pacers made a last-minute trade before the trade deadline, sending Allen Afflalo to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for PJ Tucker and Caron Butler's bad contract.

PJ Tucker, the 196cm tall wing player, is a defensive stalwart who has emerged as a dark horse this season, and has even entered the voting range for Defensive Player of the Year.

While he doesn't have the same level of independent offensive ability as Arron Afflalo, Tucker's defense combines speed with steely toughness.

The essence of this trade is that the Pacers sacrificed some offensive firepower in exchange for a significant upgrade on the defensive end.

Two years ago, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were not yet fully developed in ball-handling, so the Pacers needed a second ball-handler who could defend, and Allen Afflalo was undoubtedly the best option at the time.

Now that Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have both become offensive threats, there seems to be an overabundance of ball-handlers.

The Larry Bird trade solved the problem very precisely. PJ Tucker, who doesn't need the ball and has stronger defensive abilities, is considered a better fit for the current Pacers team.

With this roster, the Pacers staged a remarkable comeback after the All-Star break, overtaking the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets to finish the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks have had a very stable season, racking up 66 wins despite Mike Malone strictly controlling Lynch's scoring and playing time.

Most importantly, Lynch made history again—he replicated Oscar Robertson's incredible record of averaging a triple-double in a single season!
本赛季，林奇场均可以拿下26.8分13.2个篮板10.4次助攻2.2次抢断3.2次封盖的恐怖数据。

In addition to his 12 consecutive triple-doubles, Lynch also surpassed Oscar Robertson to achieve a single-season triple-double record of 42.

This is a magnificent, unrepeatable retirement tour.

Of course, these are not considered honors for Lynch.

When these records were mentioned at the end of the last game of the regular season, Lynch simply waved his hand:
"None of that matters. What matters is that the second dynasty is coming. I didn't retire halfway, and I never lost to anyone halfway. Guys, my greatness doesn't need any 'what ifs'!"

Lynch is once again challenging Michael Jordan's authority. Before this, the only thing that MJ fans believed could suppress Lynch was his two dynasties and two three-peats.

At this moment, Lynch, with unparalleled power, is bringing the Manhattan Project, which is about to have its ultimate explosion, to completely destroy the last line of defense that MJ fans spoke of.
-
The 13-14 regular season has ended, and Lynch's triple-double average has gone viral online.

However, Kevin Durant's performance was also impressive. This season, he led his team to a better record than the Knicks, winning 69 games.

He averages 32 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, making him the only player in the entire league this season to average over 30 points per game.

There are still people around him who consider him a major contender for MVP.

In fact, he himself thought so too.

Lynch's triple-double average is indeed incredible, but KD believes he still has three major advantages: win record, scoring, and audience fatigue.

The day after the regular season ended, Steve Kerr gave the entire team a day off. After a long 82-game regular season, it was essential for the players to relax.

But Kevin Durant did not choose to rest; he flew to Los Angeles without stopping and stepped into the studio of the "Jump" program.

Rachel Nichols, the queen of sensationalism, used all her and ESPN's resources to bring together the founding trio of last summer's "Anti-Lynch Camp"—LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul—to a fiery roundtable.

ESPN's intentions are clear: to unleash a massive wave of traffic before the playoffs even begin.

Kevin Durant could tell that the other two shared the same ambitions as him.

Lynch's season was great, but neither of them were invincible in the regular season.

Both the Thunder and the Pacers have defeated the Knicks in the regular season, and although the Nets were swept 4-0 by the Knicks this season, in LeBron James' words:
"Our gap is smaller than our record suggests. This season, we've gone to the final moments with the Knicks almost every night we've faced them. Sometimes, it's just a few possessions and a bit of luck that decide the game."

Kevin Durant and Chris Paul expressed the same view, both believing that their teams are close to the Knicks in terms of strength this season.

Paul expressed confidence in new addition PJ Tucker: "Many people overlook the role of PJ Tucker. He has revitalized us, and we beat the Knicks after adding him. PJ isn't an All-Star, and I'm not an All-Star starter. But look, that doesn't judge our ability. If I could personally send Lynch off to retirement, that would be the happiest thing in my career."

Kevin Durant was the most outspoken among them:

"We are the best team in the regular season, and that has been proven by our record and ranking. In the past, Lynch was always the best in the league, always the MVP, and always won championships."

What about this year? They're second in the league, and his MVP award isn't secure. He thinks he's already building a second dynasty—no, that's not for him to decide.

In response to Kevin Durant's comments, Rachel Nichols asked another question: "Kevin, even with Lynch averaging a triple-double and setting a historical record, do you still think you have a chance to win the MVP?"

Kevin Durant said without hesitation, "Of course, I absolutely played an MVP-caliber game."

"Even if it isn't, the difference is definitely negligible," he added to himself.

All three players displayed unwavering confidence in "seizing the last chance to beat Lynch," and they all believed their team was incredibly close to the Knicks this season.

After the show ended, the three had just walked backstage when David McMenamin, LeBron James' mouthpiece, approached them with a serious expression.
"LeBron, I used my network to check on the MVP voting results, and they're a bit disappointing."

Seeing Kevin Durant standing nearby, David McMenamin didn't continue speaking.

But KD proactively asked, "How close are the votes?"

He knew that he was now most likely behind.

But the voting isn't over yet. If the votes are close enough, then nothing is set in stone.

David McMenamin didn't answer until LeBron James instructed him: "Say it, David, everyone wants to know. Hey, relax, Kevin, the facts will prove that we're not that far from Lynch, we're not that far from victory."

Kevin Durant nodded in agreement.

A very strange phenomenon is that when he was on the same team as James, he looked down on the cowardly number 23, thinking that he was not qualified to be a leader at all.

But after they separated, his attitude towards James changed, and their relationship actually improved.

reason?

This is probably because Kevin Durant's dislike for Lynch has surpassed his dislike for LeBron James.

David McMenamin hesitated for a few more seconds before finally speaking.

He hesitated because he knew.

What I'm about to say will be a public execution for these three NBA superstars.

“No, not at all,” David McMenamin replied. “As far as I know, no one has voted for KD yet; they’re all saying—”

He seemed to have mustered a great deal of courage to utter that cruel pronouncement:
"They all say that Lynch is very likely to become the unanimous MVP for the second time in his career."

In an instant, the air froze.

The backstage lights seemed to suddenly go out, leaving only three statues standing frozen in place, their faces ashen.

For the three who had just confidently declared "we are infinitely close to Lynch" under the nationally televised cameras, this cold reality and the huge gap were nothing short of the most ruthless and biting irony of fate.

(End of this chapter)