Champion Rules

Chapter 414, Section 410: An Embrace of the Century (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

Michael Jordan sat in the front row of the Time Warner Center, with dozens of cameras pointed at his face at that moment.

His expression was so complex that even the best Hollywood actors and the best actresses in the art world could not perfectly portray his current emotions.

He appeared calm, even clapping politely.

However, his tightly pursed lips, the barely perceptible wrinkles between his brows, and his wide, round brown eyes silently betrayed the resentment and anger surging within him.

At this very moment, Charlotte fans are witnessing the Bobcats' final game—after this season, the Charlotte Hornets will revert to their original name, while the New Orleans Hornets will be renamed the Pelicans.

Last summer, after acquiring Al Jefferson, a dominant low-post weapon, the Charlotte Bobcats finally made it to the playoffs.

Unfortunately, on the Bobcats' tenth anniversary, they still failed to win a single playoff game.

Because they, the eighth seed in the East, have encountered their worst opponent: the New York Knicks.

In Game 4 of the first round of the series, the Knicks continued their steady play, effortlessly dominating the Bobcats and leading them to the end of the season.

Despite the home team's crushing defeat, Charlotte fans were not discouraged; instead, they responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

This is something that has happened countless times during Lynch's retirement tour; Charlotte fans applauded this epoch-making superstar who was about to leave the court, paying their respects.

Lynch and the Charlotte Bobcats both entered the league in 04 and retired in 14. The Bobcats couldn't win a single playoff game in ten years, while Lynch had accumulated countless honors. This comparison is enough to illustrate Lynch's greatness.

Michael Jordan stared at Lynch, who was enjoying the adoration of the crowd, his face frozen on a complex and indescribable expression.

That night, amidst the cheers of Charlotte fans, Michael Jordan personally experienced just how immense Lynch's influence had become.

What hurt him most tonight was not the Bobcats' defeat, but the complete collapse of his once supreme status.

Before the playoffs began, every team in the league tried to persuade him to stay.

And even now, in the playoffs, a battleground where honor is at stake and tensions should be high, Lynch still receives respect and blessings from away fans.

Michael Jordan certainly knew that this was just the tip of the iceberg of Lynch's influence.

Ironically, in Lynch's final season, the season he was about to be officially crowned a god, Michael Jordan, the king of the previous era, stood courtside to witness and bid him farewell.

It's almost like a script pre-written by the hand of fate.

Under the watchful eyes of countless fans around the world, Michael Jordan finally stepped onto the court and walked towards the tall figure waving back to the fans.

Lynch looked at Michael Jordan approaching him with some surprise.

It wasn't until MJ opened his arms that Lynch realized he meant no harm.

Michael Jordan was indeed angry and resentful.

This feeling troubled him for a long time.

He thought he was the one who could conquer time, but in the end, he inevitably followed the same path as Bill Russell, Dr. J, Magic Johnson, Bird, and others.

But what could he do?

His anger and resentment could not shake the established reality in the slightest.

The wheels of history keep turning, and in the end, he could only embrace the man who was about to define a new era, just as those legends of the past had accepted his ascension to the throne.

It's difficult to beat time. Even someone as strong as Kwame Brown, who was almost guaranteed to be a bust and GOAT, will face a tough challenge from someone like Anthony Bennett.

You never know how outrageous the next person will be after you.

But at least, Michael Jordan had his own greatness.

Those glorious years are real and will never be forgotten.

Furthermore, everything Lynch won was well-deserved.

He still won't become friends with Lynch, he still won't attend Lynch's Hall of Fame ceremony, and he certainly won't be Lynch's Hall of Fame introducer.

Just as he would never reconcile with "The Smiling Assassin" Isaiah Thomas, nor would he ever speak to Charles Barkley again—it was the stubbornness and edge etched into his bones.

But that doesn’t stop him from acknowledging Lynch’s unparalleled greatness tonight.

As Jordan approached, Lynch instinctively opened his arms. Finally, under the spotlight of the world and witnessed by countless flashes of light, Lynch and Michael Jordan, two giants who each dominated an era, though never truly clashing on the court, were always at odds and served as each other's landmark figures.

They completed a once-in-a-century embrace that will go down in history!

The moment the two embraced, the cheers from the crowd completely spiraled out of control.

This was an unexpected scene for everyone; no one expected that Michael Jordan would actually take the initiative to hug Lynch.

After a brief hug, Jordan patted Lynch on the back twice.
"Congratulations on advancing to the next round. Best of luck!"

Lynch originally wanted to say, "Beating your team is nothing," but considering that Harden had already swallowed his pride and taken the initiative to make amends, he unusually chose to hold back.

A hug, a blessing.

After a brief interaction, Michael Jordan turned and left the court, disappearing into the shadows of the players' tunnel, as if he had completely fallen from his pedestal.

During a live commentary session with the Bobcats, legendary center Dale Curry remarked:

"At that moment, greatness completed the handover of the scepter! Now, I believe that after Michael Jordan has made his stance clear, no one can deny that Lynch is the greatest player in NBA history."

"MOAT! MOAT! MOAT!"

The deafening roar assaulted Michael Jordan's eardrums, and even as he walked deep into the player tunnel, the wave of sound, embodying the will of the era, remained clearly audible.

However, what lingered in his heart at this moment was a long-lost sense of ease.

He was finally free from the annoyance of the cheers dedicated to Lynch.

After the game, videos and images of Michael Jordan embracing Lynch instantly swept the global media, becoming the best evidence for Lynch's "undisputed greatest of all time" narrative.

When asked by reporters, Michael Jordan did not directly acknowledge Lynch's status as the greatest of all time, but he did answer: "Why did I hug Lynch? Because I was paying tribute to greatness."

The "hug of the century" was like Michael Jordan personally putting an end to the long-running battle for historical status.

An epic debate that lasted for many years finally came to an end at that moment.

Kyrie Irving walked onto the court and whistled: "No more gunshots in the valley, man. I think you're probably the only player Michael Jordan has ever acknowledged as better than him."

Kyrie Irving believes that Lynch's career has reached its zenith.

Even Michael Jordan acknowledges his historical status, so what else is there to aspire to in the world of basketball?

But Lynch waved his hand: "The gunfire will continue until we bring our sixth Larry O'Brien Trophy back to New York."

Kyrie Irving smiled easily: "Believe me, compared to convincing Michael Jordan, winning a sixth consecutive Larry O'Brien Trophy won't be too difficult."
-
One can imagine how huge a shock the "Embrace of the Century" was to the "Anti-Lynch Trio".

When Michael Jordan himself acknowledged Lynch's status and willingly took the second-highest position, the opinions of others became insignificant, and Lynch's position became unshakeable.

The trio could no longer stop Lynch from becoming the greatest of all time, but they could still use the greatest of all time as a stepping stone.

The following day, the Nets defeated the Hawks to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

The Hawks dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference due to Dwight Howard's injury at the end of the season, which led to them facing the Nets in the first round.

Despite fielding a full roster in the playoffs, the Hawks still suffered defeats in their two games at Barclays Center.

At the end of the game, LeBron James deliberately yelled in Dwight Howard's direction, "Hey Dwight, now who's the loser?"

Last summer, Warcraft made an unprecedented appearance at Lynch's Summit.

When asked why he didn't participate in the training camp led by James, Durant, and Paul, Dwight Howard bluntly stated, "I don't want to associate with losers."

At this moment, LeBron James finally got his revenge.

He was almost certain that he would face Lynch in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

He will then set an example for the "anti-Lynch trio".

After tonight's game, reporters weren't particularly concerned about the Nets' 2-0 lead. The entire press conference was almost entirely dominated by the topic of the "hug of the century."

"LeBron, Michael took the initiative to hug Lynch. What do you think this means? Does it mean that Michael tacitly acknowledges that Lynch will become the champion this season? After all, for Michael to acknowledge Lynch, Lynch must have also established two dynasties."

"That hug meant Michael acknowledged him, that he recognized Lynch as one of the greatest players in the world, nothing more. As for who will win the championship, that's not something Michael can decide with a hug. Look at our momentum this season, I'm fully capable of competing with the greatest players in the world now. Ultimately, Lynch and I are on the same level!"

"LeBron, are you eager to wash away the 'loser' label with just one series win?" another ESPN reporter asked a more pointed question.

"I don't know why I'm considered a loser. I've had a great career, I've been an All-Star and All-NBA regular. If that's considered a 'loser,' then what is success? I'm not a loser. Like Lynch, I'm worthy of being compared to great names like Michael."

Listen, whether it's five-on-five or one-on-one, even Michael wouldn't dare say he's guaranteed to beat me. Because he knows the gap between me and Lynch isn't that big.

I did lose to Lynch, but we're evenly matched. You'll see what I mean in the next series.

"Hey, this series isn't over yet," a reporter from Atlanta said, clearly annoyed.

LeBron James smiled dismissively: "Yes, it's not over yet. But we all know that the Eastern Conference semifinals are a matchup between players of my caliber, Lynch and me, and have nothing to do with Dwight Howard."

LeBron James has repeatedly and almost obsessively emphasized that "he is on the same level as Lynch".

According to him, if Michael Jordan considers Lynch one of the greatest players of all time, then he is too.

If Michael Jordan believed Lynch had surpassed him, then he had surpassed him as well.

LeBron James certainly knows that his comments are completely unfounded.

But this is Lynch's last season. If he seizes this opportunity to defeat Lynch, Lynch will never be able to win back.

This series victory will become the strongest foundation supporting his "equal treatment" theory.

Lynch did not respond to LeBron James, as he had other things to attend to.

He bought a plane ticket to New York for one of his players from his FMP club.

And he told his old slave Sam Presti:

"Listen, I am indeed the owner of FMP Club, but what I'm about to say is not about promoting my players."

Whatever you saw during your tryouts, please believe that Nikola Jokic will be the greatest player in the FMP club since me.

In the days that followed, the Knicks players were actively preparing, waiting for their next opponent to emerge.

Sam Presti also secretly tried out the chubby Serbian kid recommended by Lynch, and he was shocked by the guy.

This 19-year-old boy displayed unparalleled basketball IQ far beyond his years, and his court awareness was nothing short of extraordinary.

However, his bulky physique and accumulated fat make it difficult to associate him with a top basketball player.

Compared to the currently very popular European prodigy Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic seems to be far removed from the image of a true prodigy.

His talent is undeniable, but his flaws are also quite fatal.

Even though Lynch has always had a keen eye, Sam Presti still associated this guy with "greatness" this time.

While the Knicks were actively preparing for the season and looking to the future, the series between the Nets and the Hawks was tied 2-2.

Back at home, the Atlanta Hawks showed tremendous resilience.

In Game 3, the Hawks secured a home win thanks to Joe Johnson's buzzer-beating game-winner.

In Game 4, Dwight Howard's defensive effort was unparalleled. He could dive out to contest Kevin Love's three-pointers and tirelessly run back to protect the rim.

In the second half of Game 4, after Kevin Love completely lost his touch, Dwight Howard was able to defend from his most comfortable position.

As a result, LeBron James' efficiency in attacking the basket was affected.

Of course, James won't be completely shut down by Dwight Howard now, but a slight drop in efficiency is enough to affect the outcome of the game.

The Atlanta Hawks won Game 4 of the series 97-92, tying the series score!
Dwight Howard has indeed changed a lot this season. His body has not declined from its peak, and his desire to win is stronger than at any time in his career.

Especially after LeBron James yelled at him after Game 2, he became even more determined to win.

Dwight Howard might be able to accept being outplayed by Lynch, but when did LeBron James, his defeated opponent, ever have the right to swagger around?

Clearly, the Nets hadn't anticipated the Hawks' toughness upon returning to their home court. Nets head coach Lionel Hollins, during the post-Game 4 press conference, used the opportunity to address reporters' questions and issue a warning to his players:

"This is the playoffs, and nothing is over until we get four wins. Tonight, they stepped up and beat us with high-energy, high-intensity defense, and we have to be prepared for a tough battle."

But the Hawks had completely gained momentum, and although Game 5 of the series was played back at Barclays Center, the Hawks' offensive firepower was even more intense.

DeMarre Carroll, Joe Johnson, Al Horford, and bench player Lou Williams, as if they had sights on their fingers, combined to unleash a terrifying three-point shooting percentage.

This paved the way for Dwight Howard to dominate Kevin Love in the paint.

Kevin Love is an excellent team defender, but one-on-one defense has never been his forte.

Dwight Howard completely dominated the paint in the second half, scoring 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting over Kevin Love, effectively sealing the game.

In fact, in another timeline, Dwight Howard also had almost the best series of his career in 14.

He's not as naive as he was during his Magic days, and his physique isn't as bad as it was during his Los Angeles days.

Unfortunately, because James Harden, another core player for the Rockets at the time, turned a blind eye, Dwight Howard's lone efforts were in vain.

But now, Dwight Howard's situation is completely different.

He was no longer surrounded by James Harden, who was only focused on practicing back-to-the-basket moves, but by a group of guys who, like him, wanted to win.

The 3-2 series score made LeBron James nervous, as he had become known as the "Clown King" in the eyes of the media and fans.

Charles Barkley spoke on television about the awkward situation James is currently facing:
"Before the playoffs began, he made some outrageous remarks on the 'Jump' show."

After the hug of the century, he said he was on the same level as Lynch.

His actions were full of confidence and aggression, making everyone believe that he would do everything in his power this year to fight an epic battle with Lynch to prove himself.

But now, ladies and gentlemen, LeBron Raymond James might not even be able to meet Lynch!
Now I finally understand why Dwight Howard was willing to risk being labeled an 'unpopular player' last summer to join Lynch's elite team, refusing to team up with LeBron James!

Just reciting this passage made Charles Barkley instinctively tighten his large toes inside his shoes.

This is so embarrassing!
It's like one day the Americans aggressively sail their aircraft carrier out to sea in a show of force, only to have two planes crash into the sea.

Before the other side even made a move, this side was already on the verge of death.

In Game 6 of the series, LeBron James finally pulled one back for the Brooklyn Nets with a strong performance of 38 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists, temporarily saving their shaky reputation.

But next, the Nets and Hawks have a do-or-die Game 7 to play.

The day before Game 7, in the locker room of the Greenburg training center, Lynch, who was being interviewed regularly, was asked: "If LeBron advances and wins one or two games in the series against you, his 'equal treatment' argument might gain traction. Are you worried about that happening?"

Lin Qi looked at the reporter with a puzzled expression:
"Same level? Listen, I only played one Game 7 in my rookie season, and I won. I think that's all I need to say."

Lynch spoke dismissively, not even deigning to directly compare himself to James.

Yes, Lynch only played in a Game 7 during his rookie season, against Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard's Heat.

Since then, no one and no team has been able to push Lynch to the brink of a Game 7.

Compared to James, who is now mired in a mess, Lynch's dominance is evident.

Lynch's words seemed to anger James, who performed exceptionally well in Game 7, scoring 37 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 12 assists with a 48% field goal percentage.

But the Hawks managed to draw an offensive foul on LeBron James thanks to Al Horford's smart help defense in a crucial moment.

Then Lou Williams made two incredible shots in a row to help the Hawks defend their victory at the booing Barclays Center!
At that moment, Atlanta fans experienced the most glorious moment of the 21st century.

LeBron James's "peer-to-peer" argument has become a complete humiliation and a laughing stock.

Before the "anti-Lynch Big Three" even met Lynch himself, LeBron James had already spearheaded a massive movement.

As the game ended, Dwight Howard, still relentlessly yelling at LeBron James who was head down walking towards the player tunnel, shouted, "Who's the loser, LeBron? Answer me, who the fucking loser is!?"

The sound waves echoed through the corridor walls, each word like a knife, piercing the guy who considered himself Lynch's formidable rival.

In Lynch's final season, the guy who clamored to compete with Lynch didn't even have the qualifications to fight him anymore.

Lin Qi turned off the TV screen, slowly got up from the sofa, and stretched his limbs.

He had been waiting for this opponent for long enough, and was even starting to get impatient.

Indeed, the Atlanta Hawks, having been tempered by a Game 7, will fight as tenaciously as a trapped beast.

but--

The problem is not big.
-
As you know, we've had Michael's "Fever Game" in 1997, the Celtics' 148-114 sweep of the Lakers in 1985, the "Anniversary Score-Packing Battle," and many other battles whose names alone are memorable. What should we call this one? I'd call it, "LeBron's Joker Game." — Charles Barkley jokingly referring to James.

LeBron James sprained his ankle before Game 7 but played the entire game despite the injury. —Reported by ESPN reporter David McMenamin.

Why are Under Armour's sales so poor? Because people don't understand why LeBron James always seems to get inexplicably injured in crucial moments after wearing Under Armour. — Bill Simmons's rebuttal to LeBron James's classic injury incident.

With the Lynch era over, we can define LeBron James of this era as: someone who tries to be funny amidst intense competition. —Mark Stein's assessment of LeBron James.

The Atlanta Hawks are a formidable opponent, stronger than you think. When they cornered Lynch, I hope you laughed at him too. — LeBron James making a final attempt to save face at a press conference.

(End of this chapter)