Champion Rules

Chapter 404: No one, no one, has the right to make you put it down (Seeking monthly votes!)
Lynch used a series of one-on-one attacks to target all of the Nets' starters.

This highly provocative offensive choice worked, inflicting massive psychological damage on the entire Nets team.

In fact, they were only down by 2 points at this point.

But Lynch's effortless dominance made the Nets players feel as if the team was already down by 20 points.

This is the oppressive aura of a ruler of the era, and it's what sets him apart from other players.

Lynch is the kind of guy who can really make you feel scared on the basketball court.

Most of the time, people are not afraid of a superstar.

Yes, a superstar may be very strong, and a superstar may also kick your ass hard. But ultimately, it's just a basketball game.

Losing to a superstar doesn't mean death or destruction.

Lynch is different.

He will try every means to make you feel ashamed, and he will try every means to destroy your self-confidence.

In some matches, Lynch doesn't just want to win; he wants to utterly humiliate you.

He was that kind of cruel person, and that was what made him so unique.

Even Lionel Hollins, as a coach, could deeply feel that fear.

In situations like these, it's often necessary for your team's star player to step up like a warrior and dispel the fear.

He needs to make a few morale-boosting plays to get the team back on track.

Therefore, LeBron James became the key to everything.

Lynch is right. Ultimately, the backbone of a team depends on its star player.

Tonight will be a test for LBJ.

Nets general manager Sean Marks, a former Spurs alumnus, assembled a near-perfect team for LeBron James, and the other Nets players proved they were the best pieces of the championship puzzle.

So, does the team's star player deserve all of this?

It's time for him to lift the whole team up.

Basketball is such a magical thing. Sometimes, you can't hog the ball all the time, or it will cause your teammates to lose their rhythm.

The most important thing Larry Bird learned from his college coach Bill Hodges was: "You can't let your teammates down, it will make them lose confidence."

Therefore, Larry Bird of the NBA is one of the best point forwards in history.

But as is widely known, Larry Bird was also a cold-blooded key killer.

You rarely see him pass the ball to a teammate in crucial moments because he's afraid to shoot or worried about his shooting percentage.

As a superstar, you can't be too selfless, nor can you be too selfish.

Finding the perfect balance is a problem that a superstar needs to solve.

The game restarted, and LeBron James knew he couldn't afford to run away tonight.

He can't keep passing the ball, he can't hide from Lynch on defense, and he can't just think about how to launch a fast break.

This season is his last chance in his career to defeat Lynch and shed the "loser" label.

Their decade-long feud, or rather, his decade-long history of shame, had to be reversed at the last moment.

He must break the curse that "he can't beat Lynch without teaming up with a superstar" as soon as possible.

Otherwise, everything will be settled.

So, in the first possession after the timeout, James chose to take the shot himself.

He broke past Jimmy Butler, faced DeAndre Jordan who was helping on defense, and after a strong aerial contest, he scored to tie the game!

In the very next possession, James again displayed his aggressive defense, stealing the ball from DeMar DeRozan. He immediately sprinted forward and finished with a powerful one-handed dunk!
LBJ displayed a strong aggressiveness and determination to win, and the Nets' morale began to slowly rise again.

David McMenamin has already posted on social media: "This is prime LeBron!"

In the age of social media, discussions about competitions are more timely.

Nowadays, a single match can generate countless real-time discussions.

This gave media professionals unprecedented traffic.

Less than 30 seconds after posting this update, David McMenamin posted another update with a photo.

The photo shows LBJ landing right after a dunk. He looks up, staring in Lynch's direction with a fierce look in his eyes, like a lion hunting its prey.

The angle of this photo is perfect, perfectly capturing the burning desire, hatred, and determination in LeBron James' eyes.

For sports stars, every narrative opportunity needs a name.

David McMenamin then captioned the photo, calling it: "The Eye of Death!"

Riding on the popularity of this match, the post began to be shared wildly, further fueling people's anticipation for the game.

People are eager to know what kind of energy LBJ will unleash tonight after refusing to surrender despite being subjected to such a high-pressure "name-calling" humiliation by Lynch at the start of the game.
Reggie Miller, who was commentating on the scene, also saw the video and photos that quickly went viral.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen that look in LeBron’s eyes,” Reggie Miller stared into those murderous eyes. “To be honest, this is also the first time I’ve ever had any illusions about LeBron.”

In the following rounds, LBJ's hot streak continued, fulfilling people's fantasies:
An ugly mid-range turnaround jumper, and it goes in.

The zombie pulls the lever after the strong charge, and it hits.

He broke through a three-man encirclement and passed the ball to complete the assist.

LeBron James was in top form in the first quarter, pulling the Nets out of the water when they were on the verge of drowning!

After the first quarter, TNT displayed the stats for both players at the bottom of the screen:
LBJ13分5个篮板2次助攻，林奇15分3个篮板2次助攻。

This is quite rare; LeBron James, in terms of both statistics and on-court performance, seems to be able to put up a fight against Lynch.

Both players put up impressive stats, and their high scores weren't achieved by simply standing on the SGA line, making the match incredibly entertaining.

During the break, LBJ sat on the bench, his gaze sweeping over the female fan holding a sign that read "LeBron, the most successful loser in history," and the more he looked, the angrier he became.

Finally, he suddenly stood up, like a petite child who had been bullied and was seeking help from his parents, standing up for himself and pulling the referee over: "This sign violates the rules of the field!"

According to NBA rules, slogans with explicit insults are indeed prohibited from being brought onto the court.

NBA rules do prohibit obviously insulting slogans from being brought into the arena, but usually, as long as it doesn't involve serious issues like racial discrimination, referees tend to turn a blind eye; they already have enough to do.

Clearly, the female fan did not expect that LBJ would complain.

She didn't think the slogan was particularly offensive, and she never expected LBJ to be so petty about it.

The referee didn't want to interfere too much, but James had already pulled him in front of the fans, so he could only ask the fan to put down the sign: "Put it away, ma'am, or I'll have to ask you to leave."

The tickets for this match were quite expensive, and the female fan certainly didn't want to be asked to leave.

She had no choice but to put away the sign, but still retorted defiantly: "LeBron, I never expected you to be such a tattletale princess. Whatever, it doesn't change the fact that you're a loser!"

"Shut up! After tonight, I won't be a loser anymore!" LBJ roared as he sat back down on the bench.

This little incident made LeBron James feel triumphant, as if it foreshadowed that he would personally tear off the "loser" label tonight.

Yes, winning just one regular season game isn't enough to completely turn his career around.

But at least this proves that he did have a chance to beat Lynch in the playoffs this season!
LeBron James continued his hot streak in the second and third quarters.

He hit jump shots from the outside, made contributions on the defensive end, finished tough under the basket, and fought hard for rebounds like a blue-collar worker, thus making up for the Nets' height disadvantage in the paint.

Although his scoring wasn't as explosive as in the first quarter, his all-around performance was still impeccable.

Led by LBJ, the Brooklyn Nets also showed resilience.

Kevin Love and Paul Millsap hit consecutive long-range shots after receiving passes from LeBron James, while Trevor Ariza seemed like a perpetual motion machine on the defensive end.

三节打完，LBJ的已经拿下24分10个篮板4次助攻2次抢断3次封盖的全能数据。

林奇26分8个篮板8次助攻1次抢断4次封盖。

The Brooklyn Nets are only 2 points behind the New York Knicks.

They are still evenly matched!

David McMenamin's social media has gone completely crazy. He posted three consecutive updates, all with the same message: "This is what LeBron looks like at his peak!"

At the end of the third quarter, LeBron James let out a triumphant roar, as if he had already won the game.

Lynch's reaction was the complete opposite; the league's ruler showed no alarm at LBJ's outburst. He seemed utterly unconcerned that his dominance over LBJ would falter tonight.

Mark Jackson looked at Lynch's indifferent expression on the big screen, unsure whether he was feigning composure or genuinely confident.

"LeBron was absolutely terrifying tonight; it was probably the best game of his career. I know he's had even more incredible single-game stats. But tonight, he was facing the Knicks. So we can absolutely say that this was the best game of LeBron James' career!"
Lynch's composure seemed somewhat forced in the face of LeBron.

But he did need to deliberately remain calm; he had to convey to the whole team a feeling of 'It's okay, we're in control.'

Reggie Miller immediately countered his commentator partner: "No, Mark, Lynch doesn't need to pretend to be calm. It would be abnormal if a player who has dominated the league for many years started to panic at the slightest resistance."

Mark Jackson stood by his opinion:
"He should be nervous precisely because he has ruled for so long! Seeing his rule about to be shaken, or even cracked, is absolutely intolerable for Lynch, who is pursuing a perfect retirement tour!"

Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson will never get a real answer, but one of the charms of competitive sports is that many things don't need assumptions or arguments; the results speak for themselves.

If Lynch can't handle LeBron tonight, then his composure right now, whether genuine or feigned, will become a complete joke.

LeBron James was thrilled; he had never come so close to beating Lynch without his superstar teammates.

It feels like buying a lottery ticket; LeBron James is just one number away from winning the jackpot.

If he wins, those who flocked to the Barclays Center to watch him fail, Lynch's fans, and the media who trampled him in the dust before the game will all fall into an embarrassing silence!
Thinking about all this, every muscle in LBJ's body trembled with extreme excitement.

Lionel Hollins also knew that tonight was the Nets' best chance to defeat Lynch.

He needs LBJ to maintain a consistent offensive output, so before the fourth quarter began, he specifically emphasized: "Don't actively match up against Lynch on defense! LeBron, we need you to go all out in the fourth quarter!"

LeBron James did just that; at the start of the fourth quarter, he hit a pull-up fadeaway jumper over Jimmy Butler's head.

Number 23's touch tonight was unbelievably hot; despite his signature stiff fadeaway motion still lacking any aesthetic appeal, the basketball fell precisely into the net.

This isn't the first time LBJ has displayed such a hot shooting touch; his shooting skills have improved significantly since his Oklahoma City days.

But this was indeed the first time he had played with such a feel for the game against Lynch.

Goal! The score is tied.

Looking at the score on the big screen and his excited teammates, LBJ felt a strong sense of unreality.

At the start of the first quarter, Lynch's overwhelming dominance almost suffocated him, as if defeat was already inevitable once again.

Who could have imagined that at this moment, he is taking one step at a time, moving towards victory with absolute certainty!
Lynch also started to exert himself. Apart from his consecutive calls at the beginning of the first quarter, Lynch's shots were very restrained throughout the night. Even when LBJ showed excellent form, Lynch's shots remained restrained.

This man, who knew the secret to victory, understood that to unleash his teammates' strongest defense in the fourth quarter, he had to delegate some responsibility in the second and third quarters. Of course, this also conserved energy for the decisive fourth quarter.

So now, it's time to take the sword of judgment back into our own hands.

Lynch responded immediately, hitting a turnaround jumper over Paul Millsap's head and giving his team a two-point lead again.

Paul Millsap's defense was tight enough that he barely gave Lynch a chance to shoot.

But Lynch still made the shot.

In the past, such an unreasonable shot would have dampened the morale of the Nets.

But tonight, the Nets players were all unmoved.

Because they firmly believe that LBJ's response is on the way.

Just as expected, LeBron James blew past Kevin Love's screen and, facing the retreating DeAndre Jordan, scored with a mid-range drift shot!

DeAndre Jordan's reaction was quick enough that his diving tackle created a real disruption.

But he still made the shot; the defensive retreat tactic was completely ineffective against LBJ tonight.

Mark Jackson could hardly believe his eyes: "What are we seeing? LeBron is going toe-to-toe with Lynch! This game will be on TNT's classic games channel, I bet it will! You could even say it's the most exciting game in Lynch and LBJ's ten-year rivalry!"

LeBron James pumped his fist: "The basketball god doesn't favor anyone, Lynch! Now, it's my turn to win!"

Lin Qi still didn't respond, and just ran towards the front of the field on his own.

People will never know what Stephen Curry will feel in 2025 when he sees Aaron Gordon playing at his peak level from beyond the arc.

But it was clear to people that when LeBron James played what he called his "best game of his career," Lynch seemed quite relaxed.

Is he genuinely not worried about LBJ winning, or is he just bluffing?

Soon, Lynch proved that his composure was not just a bluff, as he immediately made a beautiful layup after a turnaround to regain the lead.

This shot was still quite difficult. All the Knicks players were in top defensive form, leaving the offense to Lynch, and the Nets did the same.

LBJ's performance tonight was enough to inspire everyone, so their defensive intensity was at its peak.

Paul Millsap stayed close by, and after Lynch turned and dribbled past him, Trevor Ariza and Kevin Love's arms followed as expected.

Lynch slipped his hand between their arms and completed the lob in the tight space.

People weren't as surprised by Lynch's goal as they were by LeBron James's.

Because everyone felt that Lynch was supposed to do these things.

The back-and-forth between LeBron James and Lynch set the tone for the fourth quarter.

For the remainder of the match, it turned into a superstar extravaganza.

The two sides traded blows, with intense back-and-forth exchanges, and successes and failures alternating.

However, Lynch and LBJ have been the only ones who have made a perfect shot from the fourth quarter until now!
Their scoring wasn't continuous; it was interspersed with attempts from teammates. But whenever LBJ took a shot, he was guaranteed to score, and every time LBJ made a basket, Lynch would immediately retaliate!

The two players were evenly matched, and the score continued to soar.

With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, when LBJ scored again with an abstract, frame-locked turnaround jumper, David McMenamin felt an orgasm that even his wife had never given him.

"LeBron hit 10 straight shots in the fourth quarter! He's already scored 24 points in the fourth quarter!" Mark Jackson exclaimed, raising his arms high. "My God, he truly is one of the indispensable stars of this retirement tour!"

LBJ pounded his chest and roared, his gorilla-like howl echoing throughout the arena. At that moment, he was absolutely certain he couldn't possibly lose!
However, Lin Qi's calm and composed expression made him very unhappy, even though he had already performed so well.

"Lin Qi, I hope you can maintain this composure even when you lose the game!"

Finally, Lin Qi stopped being expressionless and instead revealed a smile as if he had heard a joke: "You don't really think you made me nervous, do you? Don't forget, you guys couldn't stop me in the fourth quarter either."

Lynch was right. Although LBJ missed 10 consecutive shots in the fourth quarter, the Brooklyn Nets were still down by 1 point.

Because in the fourth quarter so far, Lynch has taken nine shots in a row and missed!
This epic duel was absolutely breathtaking!
After LBJ scored, all eyes were on Lynch.

Can he score his 10th consecutive goal?

Kyrie Irving controlled half-court, and Lynch didn't rush to ask for the ball, but instead set a screen for him.

Shawn Livingston forced his way through, not wanting Lynch's attempt to exploit the mismatch to succeed—even though Livingston, at 201 cm tall, could theoretically switch onto the forwards. But tonight, he had been easily outmaneuvered by Lynch on the defensive end more than once.

Physical advantages are relative; for example, the well-built Anthony Davis looks like a short guard next to Victor Wahlbanyama. Seeing that the mismatch hadn't materialized, Kyrie Irving passed the ball back to Lynch.

Paul Millsap spread his arms triumphantly: "We won't give you an easy chance to attack, don't even think about it!"

"Actually, it doesn't matter whether we trade or not, Paul," Lynch replied coldly before driving to the basket.

Paul Millsap blocked his position, but in the instant of physical contact, Lynch used Millsap as a pivot, attempting to turn and break through again.

Paul Millsap didn't give Lynch a chance this time; he moved immediately. But in the instant his center of gravity shifted, Lynch's body, which had almost completed its turn, twisted back in a bizarre manner!

This gave Lin Qi some space, and without hesitation, he flipped over and jumped to shoot.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the basketball, and the basketball did not disappoint anyone.

"brush!"

"boom!"

Lynch also made his 10th consecutive basket in the fourth quarter!
"My God, this is like Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker in 1996, like Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez! They are both so outstanding, and their performances are so magnificent!"

Mark Jackson was completely out of control; this was one of the best star-studded performances he had ever seen in NBA history!

Unbeknownst to LeBron James, a tense expression had already crept onto his face.

He couldn't believe that he had scored on 10 consecutive shots in the fourth quarter.

Even more unbelievable, Lin Qi actually did the same thing!

The Nets called a timeout, and Lionel Hollins decided to change his defensive strategy.

"Double-team early! Double-team Lynch as soon as he gets the ball! The rest of the Knicks barely took any shots in the fourth quarter, so we can gamble on their shooting touch!"

On the other side, Mike Malone issued almost the same strategy:

"We can double-team Loeb now. I think he definitely won't pass the ball easily anymore. He's having his career night, and his desire to shoot is incredibly high. If we double-team him, he'll definitely shoot even with the double-team!"

During the timeout, TNT replayed highlights of Lynch and LBJ making all 10 of their shots in the fourth quarter.

On social media, the topic of this match has become the most talked-about topic.

David McMenamin's palms were sweaty. He knew that if LBJ won this battle, he would be the only journalist to hold the narrative power of "Death Eye" and write an exclusive interview with him.

That kind of traffic is immeasurable.

If they win, it will not only be a breakthrough in LBJ's career, but also a major breakthrough in his career!
"Go LeBron, keep going!" David McMenamin nervously clasped his hands together, just as the timeout buzzer sounded.

TNT gave Lynch and James a split-screen close-up; LeBron James' brow was slightly furrowed, his deathly gaze still menacing. The gravity of the battle was clearly etched on his face—the marks of a battle-hardened veteran.

Lin Qi's expression, on the contrary, was quite abnormal.

He was unusually calm.

He had remained calm throughout the entire game, as if he were possessed by Tim Duncan or Kawhi Leonard.

If Lynch was faking it, his mental fortitude is certainly strong enough.

It's not easy to remain calm on the night your arch-rival is in top form, or even when they've had the best game of their career.

If Lynch wasn't faking it, just how confident was he?
The competition continues, and these arch-rivals, who have battled for ten years with an outcome that has never deviated from the script, face off once again.

LeBron James whispered in Lynch's ear, "I'm going to beat you, Lynch. I'm going to keep making shots, and you're not going to make the next one. I'm going to keep making shots, just like all the shots I've made before."

This is less about trash talk and more about LBJ encouraging himself.

Lynch remained silent, not even glancing at LBJ, but simply raised his hand to precisely direct the defensive positioning.

Jimmy Butler continued to guard LBJ, and Lynch remained calm throughout the night, but Jimmy Butler's composure had long since crumbled.

He gritted his teeth, as if he had been constipated for seven days and seven nights.

Tonight, he was practically LeBron James's toy, and the shame burned in his soul.

Just as much as LBJ wanted to crush Lynch, Jimmy Butler was just as desperate to choke LeBron.

The Nets' offense didn't rely on any fancy tricks. Newcomer Andrei Kirilenko set a screen for LeBron James, who then circled out to the three-point line and received the ball smoothly.

The moment LBJ received the ball, the Knicks players immediately executed the defensive instructions given by their head coach.

Jimmy Butler followed him closely, biting him relentlessly.

At the same time, DeMar DeRozan, who was closest, also joined the attack, and LBJ was immediately surrounded by an impenetrable defense.

Andrei Kirilenko was open, and he immediately drove to the basket. Although the Russian is only averaging 5 points per game this season, he still has a certain finishing ability.

But LeBron James didn't pass, perhaps because he didn't trust the Russian's offense, or perhaps, as Mike Malone predicted, his career-defining desire to shoot completely dominated him.

He actually drifted up amidst a double-team, and forcefully threw the ball over Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan!

Jimmy Butler blocked the shot very well; his fingertips almost touched the bottom of the basketball.

He was certain that LBJ had adjusted the arc of the ball in a split second, otherwise the ball would have been difficult to release.
David McMenamin stood up, and the glory of LeBron James seemed to be shining before his eyes!

Yes, this is LBJ's 11th season. But it's never too late for glory!

"Boom!"

The basketball slammed heavily against the front edge of the rim, then bounced away in despair, flying out of the rim's reach.

David McMenamin slumped back into his chair, and the dazzling lights of the Barclays Center suddenly went out in his eyes.

"Missed!" Mark Jackson clutched his head. "LeBron's 11th shot of the fourth quarter missed. Now it's Lynch's turn. Will Lynch try to shoot?"

DeAndre Jordan grabbed the rebound, and the Nets quickly retreated on defense.

LeBron James felt like he'd been stabbed in the heart, but thankfully, the pain only lasted a moment.

LBJ knew that Lynch might not be able to score his 11th consecutive goal.

As long as you defend well, victory is still possible.

Lynch ran towards the frontcourt expressionlessly, as if it were just an ordinary round.

But in the stands, the fans' emotions had turned into frenzy.

Spike Lee led the charge, shouting, "Finish Him! Finish Him!"

Immediately afterwards, such shouting spread like a virus.

Within seconds, the entire Barclays Center was filled with the same shouts: "Finish Him! Finish Him! Finish Him!"

Lynch remained calm, moved to the low post, turned his back to Paul Millsap, and raised his hand to ask for the ball.

But LeBron James immediately left Jimmy Butler alone and fronted Lynch to defend him.

Lynch was essentially double-teamed without even having the ball!
Kyrie Irving quickly passed the ball to Jimmy Butler, who decisively took the shot.

However, guarding LBJ for the entire game took a huge toll on Butler. His already unreliable shooting was now so bad that he couldn't even make shots from the SGA line, let alone from beyond the three-point line.

"Boom!"

The ball missed, and the entire arena sighed. They were hoping Lynch would end the Nets and James's run, but Lynch didn't even touch the ball.

LeBron James immediately ran to the basket, ready to grab the rebound and personally lead the fast break.

But as soon as he reached the basket, he heard Paul Millsap's voice.

"LeBron! Watch out!"

The moment the sound was heard, LBJ had already jumped and grabbed the rebound, completely ignoring it and having no time to pay attention.

But just as he took off, LeBron James felt a violent impact from behind.

This force far exceeded any collision he had experienced at the Diddy party; it was like a giant mountain crashing down, crushing his upward momentum!

The next second, he heard a loud bang above the basket.

"boom!!!"

Then, an unprecedented roar erupted, unlike anything he had ever heard since arriving at the Barclays Center!
Reggie Miller's shout almost tore his vocal cords apart: "Linche made a beautiful putback dunk over LeBron! My God, he practically rode on LeBron's back! This is Lynch's 11th consecutive basket in the fourth quarter, he did what LeBron couldn't do! He widened the gap again!"

Lynch landed steadily, while LBJ, under the tremendous impact, was thrown out of bounds and crashed heavily to the ground.

Consecutive baskets, widening the score gap, and overwhelming visual dominance—Lin Qi, just as the fans wished, ended LeBron James's reign in the most thorough way!
At this point, the Nets were actually only down by 3 points.

But the familiar yet chilling feeling of suffocation once again overwhelmed the Nets players like a tidal wave.

In the first quarter, after Lynch called out the names of all the Nets' starters, the Knicks were only leading by 2 points. But the Nets players felt as if they were down by 30 points.

At this moment, after Lynch hit his 11th basket of the fourth quarter, the Knicks were only leading by 3 points. But the Nets players felt that their efforts were a completely futile struggle.

勒布朗.詹姆斯打出了生涯之夜般的表现，全场48分15个篮板5次助攻2次抢断3次封盖。无论以什么标准来看，LBJ的发挥都堪称神奇。

He made 10 of 11 shots in the fourth quarter without any turnovers.

Could you ask him to do any better?
Who could do it better than him?
Lynch is okay.

Even on LeBron James's peak night when he gave it his all, Lynch still surpassed him.

Moreover, it looks effortless.

Now people know why Lynch maintained his confidence throughout.

Perhaps, in Lynch's eyes, LeBron James's amazing peak performance is nothing special.

He knew he could definitely do better.

After that play, the Nets' morale visibly collapsed, and they became hesitant on offense.

After being hit by that shot, LeBron James seemed to enter a period of calm, and his desire to shoot plummeted.

The Nets' offense was just passing the ball around, passing it around, with no one stepping up to shoot.

Because everyone knows that if this ball is missed, the game will basically be over.

Some fans are hoping that LBJ can turn the tide and bounce back from rock bottom.

If this great night doesn't end in victory, it would be as bad as if The Shawshank Redemption didn't end with a successful prison break.

But the recent blunder and Lynch's goal brought LeBron James back to the LeBron James that people are familiar with.

He flinched.

With only 4 seconds left on the 24-second shot clock, the ball eventually found its way into his hands. Amidst the fans' anticipation, LBJ once again opted for a pass, deftly dispossessing the hot potato!
Ironically, the pass was aimed at his teammate Andrei Kirilenko, whom he had confidently ignored during the previous round's double-team.

If the order of these two decisions had been reversed, the outcome of the competition might have been completely different.

As expected, the Russian's three-pointer bounced off the rim, and Lynch grabbed the rebound himself.

Upon seeing this, Reggie Miller asserted: "Yes, LeBron may have many All-NBA First Team selections, countless All-Defensive First Team selections, and be a regular All-Star. But he will never be a truly groundbreaking superstar. Because even now, in his 11th season, he still can't find the balance between selflessness and selfishness."

Lynch grabbed the rebound and quickly pushed the ball down the court. Paul Millsap tried to stop him, but Lynch swiftly blew him away with a crossover dribble.

Immediately following was a powerful tomahawk dunk.

In the fourth quarter, he made all 12 of his shots.

Lynch finished with 56 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks, more dazzling, more radiant, and more breathtaking than LeBron!

After dunking, the Nets, trailing by 5 points, hastily called a timeout.

TNT once again focused on Lynch and James, giving them split-screen close-ups.

LBJ's "death stare" has disappeared, and the area around the eyes of this burly man who was once brought to tears by Lynch seems to have regained its rosy hue.

Where is Lynch?
He maintained that same chilling composure that permeated the entire event.

At this moment, no one questioned whether this composure was genuine or not.

The competition has already provided the coldest answer.

The Nets, having lost their confidence, failed to pull off a miracle, and a timeout couldn't heal the blow they had suffered.

Ultimately, the 5-point difference remained until the end.

Lynch won the battle he had to win on his retirement tour!
When the game ended, Lynch ignored the Nets players and walked straight to the stands.

Anjali Ranadev, who had been jumping around, was suddenly frozen in place as Lynch walked towards her.

All of this happened so suddenly; countless images flashed through her mind.

Will he hug himself?
Or how about a bold, NBA-style victory kiss?
Countless imagined scenes swirled in her mind.

The girl stopped moving, staring at Lin Qi with anticipation, waiting quietly.

Lynch drew closer and closer to her, finally standing beside her, and then...
He walked away silently.

Anjali Ranadive turned her head and realized that Lynch's target was not her, but an unremarkable female fan behind her.

Lin Qi walked up to her, smiled, and shook her hand: "What's your name?"

The female fan was flattered: "Lulucia, you can call me Lucia."

After shaking hands, Lin Qi bent down, took out the sign that the referee had ordered to be put away from under the chair, and handed it to the female fan.

“Now, Lucia. Hold up this sign. No one, no one, has the right to make you put it down.”

"LeBron, the most successful loser in history."

This sign reappeared in the stands of the Barclays Center and was captured by live cameras, spreading globally.

Bill Simmons took a screenshot and posted it on social media:
"A harsh truth."
-
No, no, no, please don't say that. LeBron was truly amazing tonight, that's undeniable. But damn it, nobody wants the best game of their career to end in defeat! — Lionel Hollins' answer to the question, "Was this the best game of LBJ's career?"

"I don't know what else we can do, God, I don't know," Paul Millsap shook his head repeatedly at the press conference.

That's just Lynch. It's nothing special for him. I've been his teammate, and I know how far he can go. It's a shame to meet him again in this role. — Trevor Ariza on Lynch's 56 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks tonight.

"The Eye of Death? Hahaha, considering the outcome, it's the dumbest marketing I've ever seen." — Mike Malone's blunt assessment of the "The Eye of Death" narrative.

"I have nothing to say about this evening." — LeBron James on why he declined to attend the press conference.

"Hello Lynch, a great game, a brilliant chapter in your retirement tour. What do you have to say about LeBron's performance?"

"Incredible, unbelievable, outstanding. You can use any superlative to describe LBJ tonight."

"Wait, are you praising him? Did I hear that right?"

“I’m not praising him, I’m just stating a fact, and that’s how he performed tonight.”

"If you think LBJ played so well tonight, why were you so calm during the game? I thought you thought his performance was nothing special."

"It's not that he's not good enough, I just feel that LeBron's best game of his career is my normal level. I can't be nervous about playing against my normal level."

— Lynch in an interview with Mark Stein.

(Thank you so much to Z-Taoist and other big shots for the donations, I'm so grateful)
(It's another two chapters combined today, but as I said before, there won't be long chapters all the time.)
(End of this chapter)