Champion Rules

Chapter 416, Section 412: I'll have James Dolan prepare some balloons (Seeking monthly votes!)

Lynch simultaneously faked out Al Horford and Dwight Howard, then slammed home a one-handed dunk for the score.

This series of changes of direction sent chills down the spines of football fans worldwide.

Modern basketball emphasizes efficiency, so the offensive end often tries every means to find a weakness in the opponent's defense and attack relentlessly.

For example, Yang Hansen in 2025. Once he takes the court, everyone on the opposing team will swarm him like hyenas that have been starving for three days and three nights. He is the weak link.

However, this offensive approach isn't always effective, because the opponent won't be foolish enough to keep giving you their weaknesses. They will also utilize their defensive system to conceal their vulnerabilities as much as possible.

In this situation, you need the ability to still deliver powerful shots even when facing the opponent's strongest defense.

That's what superstars do.

Lin Qi's performance just now was a perfect illustration of this ability.

In the previous Game 7 between the Nets and the Hawks, LeBron James actually encountered a similar defensive sequence.

During James's drive, Al Horford appeared at the right time and suddenly, drawing an offensive foul on number 23.

This crucial call directly led to the Nets losing possession during a close game, marking a turning point in the team's decline.

Despite facing more intense close defense and equally timely help defense, Lin Qi still managed to break through.

James' talent has always been touted, but compared to the taller Lynch, his physical coordination and ball-handling finesse can only be described as "clumsy".

After watching the replay, Mike Breen pointed out, "Look, Lynch is telling the world in every way that he and LeBron are definitely not in the same league."

Lynch continued to score, and the Knicks maintained control of the game.

The Hawks, who were evenly matched with the Knicks in the first half, began to find the game increasingly difficult.

Dwight Howard was a little frustrated after the previous play, but he still rallied and shouted to his teammates, "We're not far behind, hang in there, let's keep fighting!"

He needs to unite the entire team. During the regular season, the Atlanta Hawks were once crushed by Lynch in three quarters. At that time, Giannis Antetokounmpo's unexpected rise and Lynch's triple-double in three quarters completely shattered their fighting spirit, causing the Hawks to mentally give up the game.

Looking back, the Knicks' lead at that time didn't actually kill the game. If they had persisted, they might have been able to change the outcome.

But there are no "what ifs" in competitive sports; the only thing you can control is the game you're playing.

Therefore, Dwight Howard will not allow the same mental breakdown to repeat itself in the playoffs!

The game continued, and the Hawks put up a strong fight. In this possession, DeMarre Carroll drove to the basket and scored.

Dwight Howard effectively shut down DeAndre Jordan in the paint, clearing the way for Carroll, whose value is only a quarter of Jordan's.

Dwight Howard hasn't reached double digits in scoring yet so far tonight, but his influence on the court is ubiquitous.

After helping Carroll score in an extremely blue-collar way on offense, he immediately put all his energy into defense.

For the second consecutive possession, Lynch faced Dwight Howard's tight defense. With LeBron James on the verge of collapse watching the game, Howard's ability to maintain his current form is truly remarkable.

Unfortunately, Warcraft was defeated by Lynch once again.

In this round, Lynch didn't try to break through to a deeper area. After initiating his attack, he immediately created space with a back dribble. He then immediately followed up with a step-back, making the whole process very smooth.

Dwight Howard had to lunge forward; he couldn't give Lynch any space to shoot.

Howard reacted quickly, and his jumping height was certainly not an issue. The little space Lynch created with his step-back was about to be completely swallowed up by Howard's impenetrable defense.

But in mid-air, the monster realized that after Lin Qi retreated, he had only made a feint by raising the ball!
After activating the monster, Lin Qi took a step forward and scored with a layup!

The fans at Madison Square Garden had barely sat down when they had to get up from their benches again to cheer loudly!
Jeff Van Gundy exclaimed, "Is Lynch mass-producing top 10 plays?! The cheers from the last highlight moment are still echoing in the arena, and he's already created another screaming moment!"

Lynch's series of moves would be stunning even if performed by a shooting guard or small forward of average height.

But on him, it looks like a computer-generated special effect.

Lin Qi knew that unless you were a traditional low-post weapon like Shaq or Yao Ming, you absolutely couldn't fight him head-on.

LeBron James possesses unparalleled athletic talent, boasts a top-three rim-attacking efficiency in the league, and weighs an astonishing 120 kilograms or more.

But even he couldn't gain any advantage when going head-to-head with Warcraft.

Howard's strength, agility, reaction time, judgment, and athleticism make any offensive player's drive to the basket a very low-value option.

Therefore, Lynch chose a method that relied more on outside shooting skills to break down his defense.

In the following rounds, Lynch delivered some very impressive one-on-one plays.

Although they didn't score every time, they steadily widened the Knicks' lead.

This match has turned into a meat grinder battle, with both sides playing at a terrifying intensity.

At least the Knicks' frontline is steadily advancing.

In fact, Lynch still exposed his weakness—his acting skills were quite insufficient on the basketball court.

If Lynch possessed the acting skills and thick skin of legendary power forward Joel Embiid, with his current ball-handling style of play, Dwight Howard would probably have fouled out long ago.

Lynch repeatedly delivered jaw-dropping rounds with his incredible physical coordination and ball control.

Warcraft's defense was very hard-working, but they still couldn't completely shut down number 20.

What Lynch is doing now is precisely what LeBron James is most notably lacking.

James' shooting has improved a lot in recent years, but when the paint is shut down, it is still difficult for James to completely carry the team's productivity in other ways.

But this was not a problem for Lynch at all.

Mike Brin was right; the differences between Lynch and James are evident in every aspect.

If you're a basketball fan, you can't possibly agree with LeBron James's "peer theory."

In the ninth minute of the third quarter, Dwight Howard delivered the best defensive performance of the quarter.

No matter how Lynch tried to feint or probe, whether he attempted to drive with the ball or get away without it, Howard was always there for him, keeping a tight grip on him.

Even though Lynch had scored many brilliant baskets for him in the third quarter, and even though he himself was almost invisible on offense in the third quarter, without a single low-post one-on-one opportunity.

But his defensive focus did not drop in the slightest.

With eight seconds left on the shot clock, Lynch had to receive the ball beyond the three-point line.

When all tactics and attempts have been exhausted, the Knicks' offense can only revert to the most primitive mode—get the ball to the damn superstar!

Howard continued to press close to Lynch's skin, and Lynch could even feel the hot breath coming from Howard's mouth and nose.

Lin Qi accelerated and broke through, pausing briefly in the mid-range as if to pull away, but actually accelerating a second time.

However, this change in rhythm did not help Lynch shake off Howard, who also possessed excellent explosiveness and was able to easily keep up with Lynch's sudden stops and starts.

As the shot clock relentlessly ticked away, the Hawks' bench players rose to their feet, holding their breath, ready to applaud Howard's near-perfect defensive play.

There are only three most exciting moments on the defensive end: steals, blocks, and forcing the opponent to take a shot at the last second of 24 seconds.

Dwight Howard is now very close to the third moment. With the Hawks already down by 11 points, forcing Lynch to be unable to shoot within 24 seconds will definitely boost the team's morale.

Lynch had broken through to the side of the penalty area, but still couldn't shake off Dwight Howard.

To make matters worse, Al Horford has already joined the fray.

Lin Qi was forced to turn over and was about to throw a punch while being surrounded by two people.

Lynch's turnaround fadeaway jumper is indeed a killer move, but the Hawks players believe that it won't be easy for him to score under the double pressure of Dwight Howard and Al Horford.

The moment Lynch flipped over, Warcraft's center of gravity shifted, and before he even had a chance to jump, Number 20 had already keenly sensed the change in the opponent's defense.

So, Lynch changed his move at an astonishing speed, making a quick baseline spin dribble and breaking through in the exact opposite direction, instantly leaving Howard and Horford, who were rushing towards him, behind!

Lynch took a big step and leaped to the other side of the basket, then slammed the ball into the basket!
The moment Lynch dunked the ball into the basket, the scarlet number on the backboard timer was reduced to just 0.3!

He cruelly shattered the Hawks' hopes in the final moments when victory seemed within reach!
Dwight Howard, hands on his knees, was panting heavily. This was the first time he had shown signs of fatigue since the start of the game.

He worked hard to maintain the team's morale and prevent the team from collapsing.

But at this moment, he himself began to waver.

He didn't know what else he could do to completely stop that guy.

Lynch's arsenal is so vast that even the slightest opening he leaves can be turned into a scoring opportunity.

With a 13-point deficit, Mike Budenholzer called another timeout.

Howard sat down on the bench and pulled a towel over his head.

He didn't want to look at the scoreboard on the big screen, and he didn't want to know how many points Lynch had scored.

Budenholzer didn't lift the towel; he simply patted Howard's head lightly through the fabric.

"You did a very, very good job, Dwight, but..."
This round, we're not facing LeBron James, after all.

This is a heartfelt compliment, but also a helpless consolation.

At that moment, Mike Budenholzer realized more deeply than ever how anti-intellectual LeBron James's "peer theory" was.

If James were truly on par with Lynch, the game would be very different now.

The Hawks have not collapsed; they are still stubbornly persevering.

As Lynch had predicted, the Hawks were very resilient after the Game 7.

Many media outlets and fans believe that a Game 7 is a drain on a team and is entirely detrimental.

But the truth is quite the opposite. Teams that have been tempered by a Game 7 are usually not so easily defeated because they have survived the most difficult moment and are fearless.

They tend to perform even better in the following series.

Unfortunately, the Hawks' potential cannot be raised solely by their resilience.

In the fourth quarter, Lynch continued to score incredible points against the Hawks' impenetrable defense.

This was Lynch's first time going all out in the playoffs, and his hot hand was on his side.

He ultimately scored 48 points, leading his team to a 113-97 victory over the Hawks.

LeBron James's "peer-to-peer" theory is gaining more and more value; he's truly the one who has defied time. Because even thirty years from now, when people bring up the "peer-to-peer" theory again, some fans will still find themselves laughing.

Dwight Howard was like an unshakeable mountain to James, but Lynch managed to carve it straight through.

The Atlanta Hawks struggled in the next few games.

The Knicks went on a winning streak, taking a 3-0 lead.

But in Game 4 of the series, the Hawks pulled one back thanks to their tenacious defense and Lou Williams's unpredictable outburst, dragging the series back to New York.

Of course, Lynch didn't let another accident happen.

Game 5 at Madison Square Garden saw Lynch finish the series with his second 40+ point game, effectively ending the suspense.

They ultimately defeated the Atlanta Hawks with a total score of 4-1.

During the regular season, after each game, win or lose, Dwight Howard would turn around and walk straight into the player tunnel.

The only promise he made to Lynch this season was "no hugs".

But this time, Howard, just like Michael Jordan did at the end of the previous round, took the initiative to approach Lynch and opened his arms.

“You better be serious, Lynch,” Warcraft’s voice was filled with complex emotions. “If you retire, don’t come back. Don’t come back. Seriously, we’ve all had enough of you!”

Lynch did not reject this belated kindness and gently embraced him: "Don't worry about Dwight, I'm very happy to give young people some opportunities."

"Go to hell, Lynch," Warcraft's voice was hoarse with a hint of weariness, "You've worn us all out of our youth!"

After he finished speaking, he took a deep breath, as if he had let go of a great deal:

"In any case, I wish you all the best in your life after retirement."

Lynch laughed: "Why not wish me good luck and help me win the championship?"

"Good luck? That's the last thing you need."

After saying that, Howard turned and left.

The final showdown between two prodigies who entered the league side by side in 2004 has come to an end.

At the post-game press conference, Howard's attitude towards Lynch underwent a complete 180-degree change.

After failing his final challenge against Lynch, Warcraft readily admitted:

"For me, Lynch is the only player I can't guard. In any one-on-one situation, yes, you just have to give up. Most of the time, he'll score easily. No defense really works against him."

This statement, coming from Dwight Howard, carries significant weight, because it is a widely accepted consensus that Howard is the second-best defender of this era, second only to Lynch.

John Hollinger has repeatedly emphasized: "If it weren't for Lynch, Dwight would have won the DPOY award at least three times."

When such a defensive giant describes Lynch as "undefendable," it is the highest recognition and praise for his dominance.

Then a reporter asked, "What's the difference between playing against Lynch and playing against LeBron, who's on par with Lynch?"

Warcraft didn't answer, but he answered everything with a smile that seemed to come from a comedy movie.

At the Hawks' press conference, Lynch's name dominated almost every topic.

On the other hand, at the Knicks' press conference, almost no reporters talked about Dwight Howard, whom they had just faced.

The media's attention has already been focused on the Knicks' future opponents.

"Lynch, the Thunder are undefeated in the playoffs this season. They swept the equally youthful and invincible Trail Blazers 4-0 in the second round, while you lost a game in the second round. In the regular season, the Thunder also had more wins. Does this mean that the Oklahoma City Thunder are more dominant this season?"

“This question is meaningless,” Lynch shrugged. “Because you don’t need anyone’s answer, you’ll soon find out in the real battle. We’ll have a showdown in this year’s playoffs.”

"You mean you're absolutely certain you can easily take down the Indiana Pacers, who have the best record in the East since the mid-season trade, in the next round?"

Unlike his matchup against Howard, Lynch's next opponent, Chris Paul, is someone he truly hates. Of course, Paul also hates Lynch, and Pacers general manager Larry Bird is even intentionally trying to intensify that animosity.

Big Bird was successful; both teams are now eager to give each other a good beating.

Therefore, Lynch did not hold back against the Pacers, whom he had faced in the playoffs for three consecutive years:

"Let me put it this way, when facing Chris Paul, I'll have James Dolan buy a bunch of orange and blue balloons before the next series starts and use nets to secure them to the dome of Madison Square Garden."

"why?"

"That way we can release these balloons after the series ends and start the celebration. Oh, that will definitely be one of the most wonderful moments of the retirement tour."

"This sounds like the infamous arrogant act of Lakers owner Jack Kent Cook in 1969, when the Lakers also prepared balloons for celebration, but Lynch, the story ends with them losing to the Celtics, and those balloons were eventually donated to a children's hospital."

"That's because the Celtics have the great Bill Russell. What about the Pacers? Are they going to rely on Chris Paul, who scored 62 points in a single playoff game, to turn the tide?"

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to belittle Chris. As an All-NBA First Team guard and an All-Star reserve this season, he certainly deserves praise.

At least he'll see me in the playoffs.

After finishing speaking, Lin Qi put down the microphone with satisfaction.

Recently, Lynch accepted the goodwill of Michael Jordan and Dwight Howard.

But what about James and Paul?
He wouldn't mind deepening the hatred between them.

(Thanks so much to fxui, Z道士 and other great contributors for their generous donations, I'm extremely grateful!)

(End of this chapter)