Champion Rules

Chapter 114, Section 110: The Champion is a Curse (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Carmelo Anthony stepped into the dimly lit player tunnel with his head down. The galaxy of spotlights behind him collapsed into mottled points of light, forming a stark contrast with the dim player tunnel.

Inside the players' tunnel, cameras swarmed at his angular face like bloodthirsty mosquitoes, exposing his shattered dignity to the world.

It wasn't interview time, but faced with the Pistons' unexpected defeat, reporters couldn't help but shout out questions.

"Melo, how do you manage to be in sync with LeBron? You only need one step to dribble from midcourt to the basket. Is this an experience LeBron shared with you?"

"Rasheed Wallace was fouled today and lay on the ground in pain, covering his face. But he deliberately glanced at the referee midway through the foul, and after confirming that the referee had seen him, he covered his face and shouted. How do you explain his behavior?"

Do you still have confidence in Game 6?

Carmelo Anthony didn't care about these issues, but a shout that followed made his fingers twitch.

"Melo, 0 points at halftime, that's terrible. Will Lynch be the one to suppress you?"

Before this, the old-fashioned principal of Towson Catholic High School was the limit of what he considered an "enemy".

While attending Towson Catholic High School, Cameron Anthony's theology grades were particularly poor. To make matters worse, the school's principal was an extremely devout and conservative Catholic who could not tolerate a Catholic school student who could not even learn theology. He reprimanded Anthony's oversized hip-hop style and cornrows with the air of a medieval judge.

He genuinely felt that these damn guys should have stayed on the plantation, not in school.

Therefore, he opposed Anthony at every turn.

Even knowing that Anthony was the best basketball player in the entire school district, the principal still found fault with him at every turn. He refused to allow reporters to interview Anthony at the school, refused to allow television stations to make documentaries about Anthony, and frequently found reasons to suspend him from games.

He even gave Anthony an ultimatum in his senior year of high school: "Either cram for theology or get expelled. Playing basketball? Don't even think about it."

That's why Anthony transferred to Oak Hill High School in his senior year, and from that moment on, his biggest rival in the basketball world disappeared. From then on, only victory and glory remained.

He defeated LeBron James in the first nationally televised high school game in North American history.

He swept the NCAA crown amidst Syracuse University's orange storm.

In the iron-blooded army of Motor City, he personally built two Larry O'Brien Trophys in the first two years of his professional career, claiming the title of "the modern Jordan".

He had no idea what an opponent was; the only person he could be considered an opponent, the headmaster, had long been forgotten.

But tonight, on this most important night on the road to a dynasty, another frustrating opponent has emerged for Carmelo Anthony.

He never expected that his true rival would be waiting for him at the pinnacle of glory.

And it was so cruel.

Anthony didn't answer the reporter's question, but his words were like "win a real ring" 20 years later—simple yet incredibly impactful.

Anthony slammed the towel around his neck to the ground, then kicked several trash cans as if he were possessed by Ron Artest.

He was so angry and so frustrated.

He needs to vent his emotions.

He and his team were leading by 6 points at halftime, in a very good position, and the door to a three-peat was slowly opening.

But in the second half, everything Carmelo Anthony did ultimately became a sacrifice on Lynch's path to godhood.

He failed to score a single point in the second half under Lynch's defense, failing to lead his team to victory and set a good example; it was a moment of public execution.

At this moment, it wasn't just Carmelo Anthony who was in a bad mood.

The overhead light in the locker room swayed violently with each slam of the metal door, casting distorted shadows on everyone's faces with its stark white light.

Everyone is complaining.

Larry Brown launched an attack on the team: "This is your so-called cohesion? It's all bullshit! When your offense collapsed, why did your defense also go soft? Watch the game film tonight, your defense is an utter disgrace! You bunch of damn softies don't deserve a dynasty! You wanted to get rid of me? This is what happened! Without me, and listening to that guy (Anthony), you have absolutely no discipline!"

"Shut your dog mouth!" Chauncey Billups, who had been trying to mediate in the locker room all season, finally lost his temper. He overturned the beverage crate, scattering electrolyte drinks all over the floor. "What were you doing while we were playing our hearts out on the court? All season, you've been like a philandering old slut! You have the least right to speak!"

Ben Wallace, sitting in the corner, picked up the gold belt he had commissioned after winning the championship last season and slammed it onto the locker: "That's enough! I'm not talking to management about money. I chose to endure humiliation for a whole season, not to listen to your bullshit! I'm not talking to them because I don't deserve a max contract, it's because I don't want to disrupt the locker room! If you want to make the locker room explode, then all my forbearance has been for nothing!"

“Me too,” Tyshon Prince raised his hand. “I wouldn’t be a substitute if it weren’t for the team. Enough is enough. Now is not the time for internal collapse.”

"Not a substitute? What do you mean by that? You mean you want to squeeze out Melo? Wake up, idiot! Did Serena Williams' powerful muscular legs make you stupid? Even if Melo didn't score a single point in the second half, he'd still be more valuable than you!" Rasheed Wallace roared.

"Fuck you!" The usually mild-mannered Tyshaun Prince erupted like a tiger whose tail had been stepped on, grabbing the Roaring Celestial's jersey. "Say that again? Everything about me and Serena is fucking a rumor, I've said it more than once! I have a wife, I have a family, you can't insult me ​​like this!"

The locker room was in complete chaos. Carmelo Anthony looked at the scene before him; it was nothing short of a hellish battlefield.

Mike Breen's prediction was correct: the Pistons would collapse completely if they lost just one more game.

Because the team had sown too many contradictions and hidden dangers after winning two consecutive championships, it was Chauncey Billups's words, "Everyone put aside your personal emotions for now," and the players' obsession with the honor of a three-peat, that suppressed all the contradictions.

However, these contradictions and hidden dangers have not disappeared. Once the team's goals are shattered, all the symptoms of "greed" will resurface.

Now, all the contradictions suppressed by the dream of a three-peat are erupting like magma bursting through the earth's crust.

Right now, what's happening in the Pistons' locker room is even more exciting than the game itself.

Anthony had no idea what to do. He sat helplessly in his chair, watching everything spiral out of control.

Meanwhile, the Knicks' locker room was a completely different scene.

Everyone was chatting and laughing during the interview.

Amir Johnson, a former benchwarmer and blue-collar worker, has become a new favorite among reporters, not only because of his outstanding performance in the second half today, but also because he is truly entertaining.

"How can you question me? That was definitely a pass. How could you think a professional player could make such an absurd airball? I love studying Jason, I love studying Steve, and I love studying LeBron. I mean, I'm a team player."

“My role on the team before was to help out the senior players, so this game was a special experience for me. I never knew I could work in professional basketball using the methods of basketball.”

"Oh, Lynch's performance was terrifying. Carmelo Anthony is one of the best one-on-one players in the league, but Lynch shut him out. I wouldn't be so surprised if it was LeBron shut out, but this is Melo."

"What?! I got fined $30,000 by the league for that trash talk I said to a fan (my penis is bigger than yours)? I only got $20,000 for punching him! Why am I being fined for telling the truth? The league should give me an honesty medal!"

"If we beat the Pistons and win the Eastern Conference, would I be considered the second-best power forward in the East after Lynch?"

"Hahaha, this is a very personal topic, but I'm very confident in this regard. Of course, if we're being really serious, within the Knicks, Lynch is more dominant. Hey, I mean in terms of dominance, yes, control! I don't want to get any more fines!"

Lynch:
Although Amir Johnson is known for his rambling, his positive attitude is undeniably impressive.

As a role player brought in during a crisis, his presence not only alleviated rotation pressure but also unlocked a new approach for the Knicks: Lynch playing the small forward position. Against certain opponents, Lynch can strategically sacrifice some help defense and focus all his defensive energy on locking down the opponent's wing playmaker.

This strategy of flexibly switching between single-player and help defense will become the New York Knicks' winning formula in the future.

What is certain now is that this tactical system will continue to operate in the upcoming decisive Game 6, and Carmelo Anthony's "defensive inferno" will continue to escalate.

Therefore, Lynch made no secret of his desire to end the series during the interview.

He even said something unconventional:
"How will Melo handle the next game? No, the Detroiters should be preparing for next season."

This season, Lynch and Carmelo Anthony have become complete rivals, and their antagonistic relationship is extremely tense.

But if you ask the King of New York what his ultimate goal is, he will point to Carmelo Anthony without hesitation.

The person he hates the most is precisely the person he most wants to be.

The position Carmelo Anthony has been in for the past two years is Lynch's target.

Two days later, on June 2, 2006, fans at Madison Square Garden witnessed the final moments of the dynasty's collapse.

Carmelo Anthony's performance wasn't as bad as in Game 5, but it's clear that his scoring wasn't enough to carry the Pistons to victory.

Lynch's defense against him remained excellent, greatly limiting his output and efficiency.

This former Finals MVP is like a beast in shackles, possessing sharp claws but unable to tear open the New Yorkers' iron curtain.

The last glimmer of hope for the Detroit dynasty came from Richard Hamilton, the masked man. Another AJ endorser for the Pistons was on fire, repeatedly cutting through the defense with his superb off-ball movement and shooting as steadily as a machine.

Midway through the fourth quarter, something unexpected happened – Eddie Jones, who had been tormented by Hamilton's marathon-like running and was dehydrated, knelt down in front of the scorer's table the instant the timeout whistle blew, vomiting all the churning liquid in his stomach onto the floor.

Mike Brin covered his mouth and nose: "This is MSG, ladies and gentlemen, a place known for its legendary atmosphere."

But the masked man's lone hero performance was ultimately no match for the thunderous roar that erupted in the car city's locker room.

Apart from him, the other Pistons players didn't seem to have much of a desire to win; they were all busy with their own things.

Rasheed Wallace and Prince's argument on the bench during the "Battle of Falsehoods" pierced through the stadium's clamor.

Ben Wallace, the dominant force in the Dark Ages of defense, has had inconsistent defensive focus. Just yesterday, Joe Dumars officially announced: "Detroit's salary structure cannot afford a max-contract center. We will continue to talk to Ben, but we cannot guarantee the outcome."

Chauncey Billups would pick up the clipboard during certain timeouts, and at those times, Larry Brown, the veteran coach who once built a dominant dynasty, would sneer and retreat to the sidelines, cursing, "I'd like to see how well you guys can play!"

The constant bickering on the Pistons' bench contrasted absurdly with Hamilton's tireless running on the court.

This disorganized team cannot be saved by a classic shooting guard with limited output.

Richard Hamilton was undoubtedly an excellent player, but he couldn't bear the weight of an entire dynasty.

When the final red light came on, the 11-point deficit completely buried the Detroit dynasty, forever sealing the Pistons' brilliant two-peat championship in the dust of history.

Mike Breen was not surprised by the result. He had said before that the decisive Battle of Mount Rushmore was Detroit's last chance and their pillar of strength.

Richard Hamilton collapsed to the ground, his spectacular 28-point performance in a single game now gone.

Golden confetti rained down from the dome of Madison Square Garden, and Lynch spread his arms wide, letting the ribbons fall all over his shoulders.

At this time last year, the scraps of paper clinging to his eyelashes were steeped in bitterness.

And tonight, every scrap of paper gleams with the glory of the conqueror.

Carmelo Anthony stood with his hands on his hips, his eyes glazed over.

Scattered ribbons occasionally dangled from his head, as if the goddess of fate were mocking the crown-loser one's last act.

He couldn't believe that his three-peat had been ended so suddenly, and by Lynch, the very person he least wanted to lose to.

Lynch took the initiative to walk up to Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony snapped out of his daze and gritted his teeth.

"Stop pretending to comfort me, stop with your crocodile tears, I don't need them!" Melo displayed his last bit of pride.

"Comfort you?" Lynch laughed, his eyes not filled with the pity of a victor, but with the fiery judgment that scorched the soul. "Why do you think I would comfort you? Because you mocked me after winning last season? Because you pretended to be my friend but only used me as a foil? Because you didn't pass me the ball in the All-Star game? Because you said I'd be good as Karl Malone? I'm not here to comfort your Melo, I'm here to tell you..."

Lynch leaned close to him, their noses almost touching. The circle formed by countless cameras suddenly contracted, imprisoning the two sworn enemies within a two-meter-diameter barrier of fate.

"In this era, there are no two kings standing side by side, Melo. Your failures are not over yet, and they will never be over! But don't worry, your good brother LeBron will always be the one who is more ridiculous than you."

Faced with Lynch's threat, Anthony grinned like a mentally unstable man.

“You know what? A championship is a reward, but also a curse! You’ll understand!” Anthony recalled everything that happened in the Pistons’ locker room this season. “You’ll understand, maybe next season! So don’t think your success will last. No one can escape the curse! It will seep into your flesh and let the rotting pus flow into every pore of the locker room! Sooner or later, you’ll experience everything I’ve gone through! And I can’t wait to see that day come! You’ll be even more miserable than I was, Lynch!”

Lin Qi stared at him coldly, a low sound escaping his throat.

"Then I will break the curse with my own championship creed."

He turned and left, leaving behind the super genius who was elevated to a godlike status by the champion, and who was also cruelly abandoned by the champion.

He will not become his.

If MJ could break this curse.

Lynch will also try to do that.
-
"I play like LeBron." — Amir Johnson, who assisted Lynch with two seconds left on the shot clock in the fourth quarter, commented on himself.

Boris Diaw's 30 points weren't enough to save the Phoenix Suns; the Dallas Mavericks are heading to the NBA Finals, where they'll face the New York Knicks. — NBA Time and Space

Ben Wallace is 99% unlikely to return to the Pistons' roster next season, and Larry Brown announced his departure after the season. Is the dynasty's collapse irreversible? —Detroit Free Press.

You know, Ben Wallace is my brother, and we both long to play together. — LeBron James in a radio interview.

Lynch is talking like he's already a champion. He's only the Eastern Conference champion; he might not win the Finals. — Carmelo Anthony predicting the season's outcome.

"Wanting to Wear the Crown." — The New York Times used this headline on its front page again after a year's hiatus.

(Thanks to Lin Yu, Love Is Right Before Your Eyes and other big spenders for their donations)

(End of this chapter)