Champion Rules

Chapter 82 078: Legendary Rookie (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Sunny Vaccaro absolutely adores Lynch.

If he were a woman, he would gladly suck away every last bit of weariness from Lynch's body every night!

That buzzer-beating game-winner, coupled with his pre-emptive celebratory gesture, gave Lynch a huge commercial boost, as it will become an unforgettable moment in his career.

Reebok could launch a series of marketing campaigns around this move, and Lynch made Reebok a huge success compared to James, who was already labeled as "the performer who has the chosen one etched on his skin."

In his very first year as a professional, he doubled Reebok’s sales.

Although Reebok cannot shake Nike's absolute dominance in the short term, Lynch's explosive growth has already made the industry sense a changing landscape.

In an article for Forbes, sports brand analyst Steve Lukes wrote: "When Converse dominated the market in the 80s with Magic Johnson and Larry, who could have predicted that Nike would overtake them with Michael Jordan? Now, with Reebok betting on Lynch, we may see another reshuffling of the sneaker market."

Lynch didn't waste this great momentum. In Game 4 of the series, the Knicks crushed the Wizards, who had lost all fighting spirit, with a 24-point blowout to end the series.

With a score of 4-0, Lynch advanced to the playoffs with a perfect record of four wins in his first appearance.

Phil Knight can only watch helplessly; for NBA players, the best stage to increase their fame is the playoffs. While Lynch's commercial value soared during the playoffs, his two biggest endorsers couldn't even get the scraps.

The fact that both Kobe and LeBron were unable to participate in this globally anticipated basketball extravaganza was indeed a huge blow to Nike.

After the game, Stephon Marbury quipped, "Wait, where are all the guys wearing expensive shoes now? The guys in $20 shoes are headed to the Eastern Conference semifinals!"

Nike's nightmare is not over yet, because the upcoming Lynch vs. Shaq series will further boost Lynch's already exaggerated commercial value.

Even before this highly anticipated battle has begun, Lynch's commercial popularity has already surpassed its peak.

If he could actually overthrow his superiors, it's unimaginable how much of a storm he would unleash.

Phil Knight found himself in a helpless predicament.

He still has that nightmare from time to time, the nightmare of not signing Lynch.

The most terrifying thing is that this nightmare has no end in sight, as if it will continue indefinitely.
-
The Miami Heat easily defeated the New Jersey Nets 110-97 in Game 4 of the series, sweeping their opponents to advance to the second round.

The Nets fought hard all season, their Big Three were highly anticipated, but ultimately they failed to make it to the playoffs.

At the end of the game, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade embraced tightly, with the 300-pound behemoth lifting the young guard off the ground.

Reporters carrying cameras surrounded the two men, as if all the sunshine in Florida was focused on them.

全场轰下21分5个篮板4次助攻2个抢断，命中率高达63%的埃迪.琼斯则站在聚光灯之外，默默用毛巾擦着脑袋上的汗水。

Eddie Jones didn't care about the spotlight. Unlike most people who aspire to be like MJ, Jones wanted to be Scottie Pippen from the beginning of his career.

He doesn't care about statistics; he just wants to help the team in every way, like Pippen did.

And that's exactly what he did. His playing style is like Pippen's, and his peak stats of 20+4+4+2 steals are also very Pippen-like.

The only difference between him and Pippen is that he received a multi-million dollar annual salary much earlier.

He knew one thing well: if you only have Pippen's ability, don't try to be Jordan.

He doesn't care about the spotlight, and he doesn't mind Shaq and Wade being surrounded by reporters.

But he cares about his teammates' approval.

Since nearly getting into a fight with a shark in the video screening room, Eddie Jones has lost his place in the locker room.

He was put on the trading block by Pat Riley, and he was kicked out of the team's core circle by O'Neal.

No matter how well he plays, his teammates always revolve around Shaq and Wade, and everything he does seems to be taken for granted.

He watched the young man surrounded by reporters ten meters away. Wade was imitating O'Neal's domineering walk, while O'Neal chuckled beside him.

This scene seems to strangely overlap with my younger self, when he also patted O'Neal's back in the same way at the Great Western Forum.

He silently turned and walked alone towards the players' tunnel. The cheers of victory faded into the distance behind him, as if they had nothing to do with him.

With the Heat, no matter how important the game was, he seemed unable to find a sense of honor.

Because he knew he was someone who had been excluded from the team early on.

He had long been used to this alienation; even PJ Brown, who joined the team midway through the season, felt a greater sense of belonging within the team than he did.

Back in the locker room, there were still some reporters waiting to interview him.

Eddie Jones's earlier displeasure vanished, replaced by a professional smile.

"Eddie, you put up such great numbers tonight, but you seemed to be ignored during the celebration. Are the trade rumors about you from mid-season still damaging your relationship with the team?"

“Of course not,” Eddie’s voice was calm and even. “I get along very well with everyone on the team.”

The veteran's composure perfectly masked his inner bitterness.

"Your big contract has two years left. Do you think Pat will continue to work on your contract and trade you this summer?"

"That's not my job, I have no comment."

Eddie Jones feels it's normal for him to be traded again. Although his stats and performance were still good in the second half of the season, Pat Riley might still trade him for the sake of locker room stability and salary cap space.

His ideas demonstrate his maturity. In the NBA, whether you're Shaq, Jokic, or Doncic, you'll be put on the trading block, let alone Eddie Jones.

"So let's talk about something related to your work. What's your take on Lynch's 4-0 sweep of the Wizards?"

This question, like a dull knife, slowly and deeply pierced Eddie Jones's heart.

He recalled yesterday's Game 4 of the Knicks-Wizards series, a game that was never in doubt. At the end of the game, the son of New York, who had made it to the second round for the first time in his career, shouted in front of the cameras: "I hope our victory will make New York proud!"

At that moment, he felt incredibly proud, basking in the joy of victory. Because he was a part of the New York Knicks, and that victory belonged to him.

But six months ago, Stephon Marbury's situation was not like this.

He was a discarded son of New York, an enemy of the media and fans, and trade rumors about him persisted all summer.

But last night, the Lone Wolf, once scorned by New York, was basking in the glory of the city's adoration.

The locker room lights stung his eyes. If even someone like Stephon Marbury could be redeemed, regain Lynch's trust, and be accepted by the locker room, then why was he, a hardworking team player, being abandoned by Miami?

Just because he didn't make that damn move at the crucial moment, he's going to be ostracized by the stingy shark?
It's not like I was in the final, the game-winning moment, and suddenly gave up halfway through my shot and threw the ball to the floor.

He simply passed the ball to a teammate with a better opportunity during a crucial moment in a regular season game.

He just did what Scottie Pippen was supposed to do.

He felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart, but facing the camera, Eddie simply nodded slightly: "They played a great series."

"Lynch believes he can beat the top seed in the East, what do you think?"

"Anything is possible, but we will do everything we can to prevent it from happening."

After the interview, on the team bus, O'Neal's hoarse laughter echoed through the carriage as he discussed with others which nightclub's VIP box could fit the entire team.

Unsurprisingly, Eddie Jones was not invited.

He sat alone in the last row of the bus, turning his Sony headphones to maximum volume.

The neon lights cast hazy streaks of light on the car window, and he looked very lost in the reflection.

He didn't know what the point of playing for the Heat was anymore, and he really hoped to leave next season and go play somewhere where winning would bring him joy.
-
With the dust settled on the Miami Heat vs. New Jersey Nets series, New York media immediately used a huge banner to stitch together silhouettes of Lynch and O'Neal into a totem of their fated rivalry.

This is the showdown everyone has been waiting for.

The fourth seed in the East versus the first seed in the East – this could be Lynch's stage to make a name for himself, or it could be Shaq's chapter to continue his reign.

The fates of the two, which had been intertwined by trade rumors since last summer, finally clashed fiercely this summer.

The match between the two sides certainly did not disappoint.

The first game of the series was a bloodbath. Dwyane Wade's driving routes were cut off by the Knicks' ironclad defense. The future superstar was repeatedly knocked to the ground and only made 7 of 25 shots.

PJ Brown, Shaq, Mourning, and Haslem, these four interior beasts, didn't hold back against Lynch. Whenever Lynch dared to attack the basket, he would be knocked down by an elbow that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Amidst the blood-soaked mist, two previously overlooked supporting characters quietly take over the stage.

The Heat's top scorer was Eddie Jones, who had a good shooting night, going 3-for-4 from three-point range and scoring 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting overall.

Of course, besides his shooting touch, his high score was also related to the Knicks' defensive choices.

With Marbury and Trevor Ariza focusing all their attention on Wade, Eddie Jones got plenty of easy shot opportunities.

The Knicks' top scorer was Grant Hill, who returned to the All-Star team this season. He transformed into a classic shooting guard today, shining brightly in the mid-range and ultimately scoring 24 points, as if he had traveled back to the pure white days of Duke University.

When the clock stopped at 86-80, Lynch, with 18 points and covered in bruises, walked into the player tunnel amidst boos from Miami fans, winning the first game of the series.

Even after the match ended, the media's excitement showed no signs of waning.

Because they all knew that this Pyrrhic victory, filled with physical clashes and tactical maneuvering, was merely the prelude to an epic showdown.

The second game was a comeback victory because Wade delivered a career-best performance in front of the home crowd, scoring 40 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 8 assists, and making 2 steals.

He had an excellent mid-range shot today, which made defending him almost impossible.

Despite Lynch's explosive performance of 34 points and 12 rebounds, the Knicks still lost 88-95.

The score was tied 1-1, and the battle moved to New York, continuing the bloody script.

The Heat continued their winning streak in Game 3, with Dwight Howard once again demonstrating his superstar-level dominance, scoring 37 points in a single game.

After Eddie Jones's stellar performance in Game 1, Wade chose to return to his most familiar position in Games 2 and 3, continuing to play the role of Scottie Pippen. This was one of the reasons why Wade was able to have a breakout performance.

If Eddie Jones, this "Pippen," insists on playing Jordan, the game might turn out very differently.

Lynch scored 33 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, giving it his all, but Stephon Marbury began to show signs of fatigue in the third game of this high-intensity battle, scoring only 18 points on 19 shots.

Defending against Wade requires a lot of his energy, while Wade's defense on offense continues to put him under increasing pressure.

Sometimes even Marbury doesn't understand whether the Heat's number 3 ever gets tired.

Following Nash and Kidd, poor Stephon Marbury once again appears powerless in the face of truly historic talent.

With the Eastern Conference leader up 2-1, Shaquille O'Neal's Heat seem poised to devour New York.

He himself had already declared victory in advance: "I'm glad to see Lynch dying soon!"

But in Game 4, Lynch scored 28 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots to help the Knicks win a game.

Before this game, Lynch had just made history—becoming the first player in NBA history to be selected to both the All-NBA First Team and the All-NBA Second Team in his rookie season.

In the dazzling constellation of NBA stars, there are monsters like Bird who were selected to the All-NBA First Team in their rookie season, and super geniuses like Duncan who were selected to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Second Team in their rookie season.

Lynch is the first player to be selected to both the All-NBA First Team and the All-NBA Second Team in his rookie season.

He removed KG from the All-Defensive First Team and also knocked Dirk Nowitzki out of the All-NBA First Team.

Tonight, Lin Qi also proved the value of being named to the All-NBA First Team twice in his rookie season with his all-around performance on both offense and defense.

He scored consecutive back-to-the-basket moves against Mourning and PJ Brown in the low post. His agile footwork and the hook shot that was already somewhat usable made his back-to-the-basket game less monotonous.

In the final moments of the game, Lynch blocked Wade's seemingly inevitable game-tying layup, securing the victory for the team.

Thanks to Lynch's outstanding performance, the Knicks defended their home court with a score of 91-89.

With the score tied 2-2, the top team in the East is facing a tougher battle than they had imagined.

Lynch and Wade's exaggerated performances in the playoffs made the media realize that this series had long transcended the realm of a clash of rising stars; these were clearly two monsters writing league history!

In the pivotal Game 5, Lynch, along with Marbury who went 4-for-5 from three-point range and Ariza who suddenly found his rhythm from the free-throw line, led the team to victory on the South Coast.

But in Game 6 in New York, the Heat used their strong defense to keep the Knicks' shooting percentage below 40%, and the Knicks ultimately didn't even score 80 points in the game.

At the end of the game, Dwyane Wade's jersey was soaked with sweat as he braced himself on his knees, while Shaquille O'Neal's chest heaved violently.

Grant Hill slumped on the bench, sweating profusely, while Stephon Marbury lay directly on the floor, and Lynch stood with his hands on his hips, frowning deeply.

The top team in the East is indeed strong, and the fourth-ranked team is also tougher than expected.

Everyone was exhausted, pushed to their limits.

With the series tied 3-3, the Heat and Knicks are locked in a fierce battle for a Game 7.

Under the flashing lights of the interview area, Shaquille O'Neal tugged at the collar of his sweat-soaked jersey; despite winning the game, he wasn't happy.

He didn't expect the game to go this far; he never imagined he'd be forced into a Game 7 by a rookie like Lynch.

He recalled the seven-game battle against the Kings in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, only this time, the opponent he faced was no longer the experienced and glamorous Kings, but a 19-year-old rookie who dared to bite the beast in his first playoff appearance.

When the Heat led the Knicks 2-1, Shaq thought Lynch was about to die.

It's like a boxing match; your opponent is starting to stagger, and you think he's about to be finished.

After several rounds, he was still swaying unsteadily, but he didn't fall down, and he would occasionally deliver a heavy punch.

With the series at this point, Shaq felt that even if he won in the end, there was nothing to be happy about.

He has already wasted too much time and energy on this shaky fourth-place opponent in the East.

Facing the reporter's camera, the shark gritted its teeth.

"We should have ended all of this a long time ago! Damn it!"

Perhaps even Shaq himself didn't realize that his arrogance had vanished without a trace. Lynch proved in six games that he was indeed qualified to be the opponent of this three-time Finals MVP.

At the press conference, the media also praised Lynch highly.

"In your rookie season, you were selected to both the All-NBA First Team and the All-NBA Second Team, and you pushed the top seed in the East and a superstar like Shaq to the brink of elimination. Are you proud of your achievements? You are already a legendary rookie."

Lynch shook his head. The professional principles instilled in him by the old captain Alberto Herreros had long been ingrained in his bones, making him always focus on only one thing.

"No, only victory will make me proud."

His expression was serious; he wasn't just boasting.

All he can think about right now is how to win Game 7.

(Thanks to the generous donations from users like "Sitting Alone by the Sea Watching the Sunrise" and "Lin Yu")
(End of this chapter)