Champion Rules

Chapter 89, Episode 085: The Fallen Flag (Seeking monthly votes!)
At the Palace of Auburn Hills, all the Pistons players entered the arena wearing gold belts, receiving cheers from the fans and being awarded championship rings.

This once-glorious city, which had been dormant in the dark years of the 1990s, has finally regained its glory.

The moment the rings were embedded in the Pistons players' knuckles, five giant banners hanging from the arena's dome were illuminated by spotlights.

1989、1990、2004和2005四面冠军旗帜旁，赫然悬浮着绣有“2006”字样的空白旌旗，他们提前为队史第五冠余留了位置！

Lin Qi snorted, "Another one who publicly took out a loan to become the champion."

And they're even so timid when it comes to loans, only daring to take out one.

True powerhouses are those who take out loans of five, six, or even seven at once.

Lynch was extremely disdainful of this behavior, but the ambitious design drove the entire audience into a frenzy.

Amidst the deafening cheers, Mike Brin shouted, "Looks like the engines of Motor City aren't going to shut down yet; they're going to forge their championship DNA into eternity."

This is exactly what excites Detroit fans the most. They've seen the championship for two years in a row, but they still have the potential to witness something even greater!
They had already experienced the climax, but they knew the next impact would be even stronger.

Compared to the aging Detroit Pistons of 1991, the 2005 Motor City team was radiating a completely different vitality.

Carmelo Anthony's dominance continues to rise, Ben Wallace's ironclad defense remains rock solid, and Hamilton's running and shooting have reached a new level of perfection—the core lineup of this defending champion team has not declined at all, and has even become stronger because of Anthony's growth.

"A defending champion who gets stronger every year is the most despairing opponent for challengers," ESPN commentator Mike Breen exclaimed at the electrifying Auburn Hills Palace. "That's why the entire Pistons team and the entire city believed that a third championship would be a reality."

"The main problem is that the Pistons lack competitors. In the 90s, Michael Jordan, at his peak, completely ended the Pistons' dominance of the league. But this era doesn't seem to have such a god-slayer. Even if there is, that person is in Detroit now," another commentator, Al Michaels, added, turning his gaze to the court.

Yes, that Michael Jordan-esque guy is in Detroit.

After the ceremony, the entire Detroit Pistons team was in high spirits.

Carmelo Anthony gathered everyone together and clapped his hands vigorously.

"On the first night, let those who covet the throne face reality!"

He is increasingly becoming the leader of this team, his star power is dazzling and perfect.

On the other side, the Knicks players were also very excited.

Sam Cassell had everyone gathered in a circle. The ugly guy who was always teased about his appearance was now the focus of the entire team's attention, and everyone was waiting for him to speak.

During the preseason training camp, he had already earned his place on the team through his enthusiasm and selflessness.

Although he is just a new addition to the Knicks, he is more like a senior figure in the locker room. People are willing to listen to him, and he always steps up to speak when the team needs him.

At that moment, his hoarse voice was like flint igniting a fuse.

"The Detroit people are fucking crazy, daring to hang a blank banner for a fifth championship high in the sky?! I know that almost all mainstream media think the Pistons have a high probability of defending their title, but screw them, don't fall into any of the ideas anyone has put on us!"

In 1995, the whole world thought the Houston Rockets couldn't win the championship, but what happened? We crushed all the damn predictions with our actions!

Go, guys, go! They crushed us last season, this season we'll kick them back!
Fvck Detroit!

“Fvck Detroit!”

When the roar burst from the throat of the 36-year-old veteran, the Knicks players were already on the edge of their seats.

He had already instilled this primal, destructive, and precious spark into everyone's blood.

Last season, no one could get the whole team excited before the game.

The refined Hill prefers the private conversations he had with Marbury last season.

The young Lynch preferred to let his actions speak for themselves, motivating the entire team during games.

Sam Cassell leads the team in a completely different way. He knows how to awaken the team's dormant fighting spirit in the shadows, ensuring that everyone is at their best as soon as they step onto the court.

The alien has not played even a single minute of official play for the Knicks, yet his value has already been demonstrated.

So when the players from both sides gathered in the center circle, the referee felt as if he were being scorched by two raging flames.

Carmelo Anthony bumped fists with Lynch, revealing a contemptuous smile: "Still dreaming of beating me, Charles Lynch?"

Anthony's nickname for Lynch, Charles Lynn, was clearly meant to convey his meaning.

Charles Barkley was one of Michael Jordan's best friends, but he never beat Jordan.

With two championships under his belt, Carmelo Anthony arrogantly believes that his current relationship with Lynch is similar to this.

The game began with Rasheed Wallace fighting for the first possession for the Pistons.

Carmelo Anthony tried to shake off the defender with off-ball movement, but Eddie Jones's defense was impenetrable.

Inspired by the pre-game pep talk in Cassell, this three-time All-Defensive Second Team member had a defensive fanatic burning in his eyes and was incredibly focused from the start.

With his keen defensive instincts, he can always anticipate Melo's movement and block the passing lanes to him.

The defensive prowess that gave Grant Hill a hard time in last season's playoffs was on full display at this moment.

Although he is not as big as Trevor Ariza, his defensive experience and defensive consistency are much better.

Anthony couldn't shake off the defense, so Chauncey Billups had to pass the ball to Rasheed Wallace on the left low post.

Rasheed Wallace crouched and lowered his shoulders to block Lynch, but his signature straight-arm turnaround jump shot drew a stiff arc under the interference, and the basketball bounced off the front of the rim with a heavy thud.

The shadow of being suppressed by Lynch to an average of only 8.6 points per game in last season's Eastern Conference Finals still hangs over the head of this two-time All-Star.

But the cheers of the home fans did not diminish at all despite the failed attack.

The whole world knows how the Detroit Pistons won two championships.

Their offense wasn't as uniquely bad as the rock-solid Knicks of the 90s, but it certainly wasn't good either.

Last season's Eastern Conference Finals were a six-game series, and the Pistons didn't even have a single game in which they scored in triple digits.

But they still won in the end.

Therefore, it's okay if the attack fails.

When Rasheed Wallace's shot missed, a more dangerous glint flashed in the eyes of the Pistons' starting five.

A misfire in attack is merely the noise of an engine warming up; next, they will use a suffocating strangulation to let their opponents experience true despair.

"Defend!!!Defend!!!Defend!!!"

Under the steel dome, the shouts and clapping of the Pistons fans tested the players' eardrums, and the entire Palace of Auburn Hills transformed into a devilish home court that devoured the will of the opponents.

Stephon Marbury, dribbling the ball forward, seemed to be on the Denver Plateau, feeling the air was thin.

Last season in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks suffered a crushing defeat amidst this very sentiment.

Chauncey Billups didn't give Marbury a chance to overthink things; he aggressively closed in and pressed him closely.

Marbury quickly passed the ball to Lynch near the free-throw line.

The moment Lynch turned his back to Rasheed Wallace, another AJ endorser, Richard Hamilton, swiftly emerged from the weak side, and the two iron gates slammed shut at a textbook angle.

This scene was a mirror image of last season's Eastern Conference Finals. Lynch struggled to find the weak-side opening before the double team could form, and the Pistons' defensive machine was greedily trying to tear this fatal weakness into a bloody wound once again.

But this time, when Richard Hamilton was about to grab the ball, Lynch seized the fleeting opportunity and flicked the ball to the weak corner with one hand.

There, Eddie Jones, who will be wearing a Knicks jersey this season, is already ready.

He knew clearly that Lin Qi would see him. In the past month or so of training, he and Lin Qi had already used the same strong and weak side coordination hundreds of times to etch their tacit understanding into muscle memory.

Mark Jackson's talent has now become a tangible weapon that Lynch can wield.

Eddie Jones possesses a solid ability to respond to spot-up three-pointers, something the Knicks lacked at the shooting guard position last season.

Last season, even when Trevor Ariza occasionally received the ball on the weak side, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and challenge the ironclad interior defense built by the two Wallaces.

But this season, Eddie Jones doesn't need to go head-to-head with them.

In this great team environment, Eddie Jones felt trusted and respected.

He would never waste such trust.

"brush!"

"Eddie! Three-pointer! Lynch's pass was exquisite, he tore apart the Detroit Pistons' defense! My God, how could Hakeem have taught Lynch even low-post playmaking?" Mike Breen exclaimed. Low-post footwork can be learned, but passing is like the length of three legs—it's hard to make up for later.

This was certainly not something Da Meng taught him, but listening to Mike Brin's commentary, Da Meng couldn't help but smile, his fingertips tapping out a light rhythm on the leather sofa armrest.

Lynch will be the best spokesperson for his training camp.

He rose to prominence in the field of education from that point on.

From now on, no one can ruin his reputation in the education field.

With the score at 3-0, the roar of the Auburn Hills Palace suddenly froze when the Pistons' seemingly impenetrable defense was breached for the first time.

Pistons fans may not care about the offense, but they can't stand the defense having problems.

Carmelo Anthony shouted like a leader: "Don't panic, they can't pull off this kind of connection every possession! Just do our own thing!"

But just yelling and shouting isn't enough; when the team is in crisis, you always have to step up and do something.

Carmelo Anthony received the ball with his back to the basket on the right mid-range. Facing Eddie Jones' defense, he slowly turned to the basket and used a few triple-threat steps.

Eddie Jones extended his right foot, and Anthony keenly spotted the opening. He attacked his opponent's front foot, broke through to the middle, and pulled up for a jump shot.

As if Lin Qi knew in advance that he would break through to the middle, he arrived at the perfect moment and slammed the basketball hard onto the floor.

Eddie Jones and Lynch high-fived; the cunning Jones had just deliberately led Anthony toward the middle lane.

Al Michaels then brought up the Miami Heat, a team completely unrelated to the game: "Pat Riley will regret this. Eddie's arrival has significantly improved the Knicks on both ends of the court. Pat was shrewd his whole life, but he couldn't have predicted how much fuel Eddie had left in the tank."

As Lynch ran forward, he yelled at Anthony, "Your offense hasn't improved at all. Are you getting complacent with the championship champagne?"

"Shut up, Lynch," Anthony said, pushing past Eddie Jones's tight defense and continuing to run forward. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you were up by 30 points!"

Carmelo Anthony may be tough on the surface, but he's actually starting to fall into a nightmare.

His relatively easy offense in the Finals and the FMVP honor made him forget his embarrassing performance in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Averaging less than 14 points per game with a field goal percentage of less than 40%, that's Carmelo Anthony's record against the Knicks' defense.

Now, the familiar feeling is back.

Lynch is everywhere; whenever Lynch is on the court, you feel like you're never safe to shoot. This season, with the addition of the even more cunning Eddie Jones on defense, Anthony will only be in a more precarious position.

On the Knicks' offense, Lynch sets a screen for Stephon Marbury and bounces out to the three-point line. Marbury drives and passes the ball back to Lynch, which is the Knicks' most common offensive tactic.

So the Pistons responded quickly, with Carmelo Anthony almost immediately coming to help defend Lynch, his fingertips just a hair's breadth away from touching the basketball.

In any case, it was a perfect disruption.

But when Anthony landed, the "whoosh" sound was still heard.

While Lynch's jump shot was already quite accurate last season, it didn't represent the full extent of Korver's jump shot talent.

Now, after a summer of hard training, Lynch's accuracy in spot-up jump shots under pressure has greatly improved.

Lynch retreated on defense, his right hand making a gun gesture against his temple, mimicking Anthony's signature three-pointer celebration: "Melo, it's my turn to dominate the court!"

With a score of 6-0, the Detroit Pistons' defense appears to be cracking.

Chauncey Billups passed the ball to Richard Hamilton, who had just shaken off Grant Hill, whose speed had greatly decreased, using an off-ball screen.

However, when the shot was about to be taken, Eddie Jones, with his rich experience, switched onto Hill without any verbal communication, thus disrupting the Masked Man's jump shot.

Eddie Jones enjoys playing the role of Scottie Pippen; the sound of Pippen missing shots is more satisfying to him than scoring. As long as he can gain recognition, Eddie Jones doesn't mind working hard behind the scenes, where the statistics don't reflect his abilities.

Kurt Thomas wrestled with Ben Wallace, while Lynch successfully secured the rebound in a contest with the Roaring Tennis.

The Knicks had possession again, and like a raging torrent breaking through a dam, they surged across the half-court. The 2006 championship banner, unembroidered with stars, on the dome of the Palace of Auburn Hills was swaying violently in the turbulence, seemingly on the verge of falling.

The offense began, and Marbury passed the ball to Grant Hill, who was cutting in. Grant Hill then passed it to Eddie Jones in the corner after driving to the basket.

Hamilton had to rush to the three-point line, abandoning his help defense in the paint.

This gave Lynch room to perform in the low post.

At this moment, the Pistons' paint was wide open, and Lynch, like a shark smelling blood, positioned himself in the low post and opened his massive hand.

The moment the orange basketball spun and fell into his palm, Rasheed Wallace's roar and the boos from the stands blended into a powerful, oppressive sound.

But Lin Qi seemed not to hear, his steel-like back pressed firmly against the Roaring Heavenly Venerable, and suddenly he used his left foot as a pivot to complete a textbook turn, his right hand hooking the net with an elegant arc.

The entire set of movements was fluid and graceful, giving one a fleeting glimpse of Da Meng's elegant figure.

Lynch's movements are smoother and faster than last season, and his hook shot is more consistent.

Of course, better offensive space also made it easier for Lynch to score.

The Knicks are improving in every aspect.

At 8-0, Mike Breen clenched his fist and shouted, "Since the start of the game, the Pistons haven't been able to stop the Knicks even once. The Pistons' proud iron defense seems to have turned into a sandcastle on the beach!"

"Damn it!" Anthony cursed, eager to step forward.

If Anthony were playing for the Nuggets, he would probably have turned into a runaway bull by now, tearing the game to shreds with reckless pull-up jumpers.

As for whether it's the opponent or yourself that gets torn apart, don't ask.

But the commander of the Detroit Pistons is, after all, Chauncey Billups.

He controlled the ball with his left hand, while his right hand pressed down steadily like a conductor conducting a symphony.

"Don't rush, let's try it once for a higher success rate!"

Then he chased down and shot a three-pointer.

Anthony:
This is Chauncey Billups' playing style. As a calm team strategist, he loves to hit pull-up three-pointers, a move that modern basketball coaches despise.

But there's nothing wrong with his choice; he's a prolific and efficient three-point shooter. Last season, 40% of his shots came from beyond the arc, and he made 42% of his three-point attempts. He certainly has the right to shoot pull-up threes.

Moreover, Stephon Marbury was defending inside the three-point line, which gave Billups even more space to start his shot.

You could say his three-pointer was insane, but from another perspective, it was indeed a good opportunity.

Unfortunately, the basket refused Billups's pass.

Lynch grabbed the rebound again. His strength and athleticism are superior to Rasheed Wallace's, so he won't be at a disadvantage in the scramble.

As long as Kurt Thomas plays the role of a wrestler and shuts down Ben Wallace, Lynch can effectively protect the backboard.

With possession of the ball in the hands of the New York Knicks, the team with the best defense last season was in danger of being hit with a 10-0 run at the start of the season.

The shouts of "Defend!" still echoed in the Palace of Auburn Hills, but Stephon Marbury no longer found them frightening.

On the sidelines, Sam Cassell waved a towel and shouted.

"Go! Go! Tear their championship banners to shreds! Double digits, double digits!"

On the court, almost everyone on the Knicks glanced at the 2006 championship banner that the Pistons had prepared in advance, and they all clenched their fists.

Yes, they all wanted to tear that thing to shreds!

The Pistons were also fully alerted; the Knicks' progress was far greater than they had imagined.

Stephon Marbury attempted a crossover dribble, but Chauncey Billups gave him no space.

Marbury's superior strength and height at the point guard position were useless against the equally strong and tall Billups.

He passed the ball to Eddie Jones, but Richard Hamilton, also a master of off-the-ball movement, skillfully bypassed layers of cover and stayed close to him.

Eddie Jones wanted to take on Hamilton one-on-one, but Ben Wallace, who was lurking behind Hamilton, thwarted his idea.

Eddie Jones seized the opportunity and passed the ball to Grant Hill in the mid-range.

But Carmelo Anthony reacted quickly, swatting the ball away from Hill the moment he caught it.

Although Hill immediately picked up the basketball, he was now under intense pressure from Anthony and could no longer break through.

Hill had no choice but to pass the ball to Lynch.

At this point, there was very little time left on the shot clock, and the Pistons' defense showed no weaknesses. The defending champions found their rhythm in crushing their opponents.

The moment Lynch got the ball, the two Wallaces slammed shut like two steel gates, imprisoning the Knicks' ace in a cage built of muscle.

When the Knicks were in such dire straits last season, their offensive gears would have completely rusted away.

Lynch's struggles in the jungle of muscles always ended in failure—either a staggering back turn attack crashing into the steel shield wall, or an unbalanced hook shot bouncing off the rim with a sigh.

Detroit fans stood up, and 20,000 bloodshot eyes, like the sights of a shotgun under a spotlight, locked the trapped beast firmly in the strangulation cage of the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Two digits? Don't even think about it!

A bloodthirsty growl rumbled in Anthony's throat.

Lynch turned his back to the left as expected, and Rasheed Wallace and Ben Affleck moved their feet, ready to protect the rim with a strong stance.

But then, Lynch turned and walked away in the opposite direction. Cassell stood frozen on the bench, the dreamlike dance moves from Houston recreated in Detroit, instantly widening the distance between Lynch and the two Wallaces.

Big Ben and Roaring Celestial simply raised their arms high without lunging forward.

They didn't have time to react at all, because they never expected Lynch to turn around and shoot a fadeaway jumper!

Lynch lifted both feet off the ground, tilted his body slightly in the air, and gracefully threw the ball.

The two Wallaces' hasty lunge was futile; they couldn't block the ball and became nothing more than the backdrop for the jump shot.

Carmelo Anthony ran to the basket to fight for the rebound, and the two Wallaces forced Lynch to shoot in his least favorite way, which was a sign of successful defense.

Lynch was still unable to escape the Wallaces' blockade and break through their defense.

As long as this core group remains, the Detroit Pistons will never be defeated by the Knicks.

Anthony was full of confidence and was already thinking about the next offensive possession.

As a result, after Anthony ran into the paint, he saw the basketball go straight through the net!

The low-post turnaround jump shot is no longer the type of shot that Lin Qi is least proficient at.

"10-0! Lynch hits a turnaround jumper under the double team of Wallace! He broke through the Pistons' perfect defense this time, and the gloom of last season can no longer hold him back! Lynch, he will upset the defending champions on their night of glory!" Mike Breen's shout, accompanied by the whistle for the Pistons to call a timeout, shook the entire NBA.

In this day and age, no one can cause trouble for the Bad Kids Legion?
No, the guy who could end the Bad Kids Legion doesn't seem to be absent.

After scoring, Lynch roared at the stunned Carmelo Anthony like a beast freed from its chains: "Stop your pathetic Michael Jordan impersonation! I'm not your Charles Barkley, and you're definitely not Michael Jordan! Michael Jordan never averaged less than 14 points per game in a series, never!"

The veins on his neck bulged and throbbed, and the anger in his voice made the fans on the sidelines tremble.

Then he pointed to the blank championship banner embroidered with "2006" on the dome and walked to the Pistons' bench.

"Keep that thing to wrap your own corpses, you scum!"

The boos from 20,000 people came crashing down like a tsunami, but they couldn't extinguish the wildfire burning in Lin Qi's eyes.

Although Lynch's arrogant roar at the Pistons' home arena was met with loud boos, it captivated most fans watching on television.

He was too arrogant; they had never seen anyone so arrogant in front of the defending champion.

His arrogance was so exhilarating, so exhilarating, that it made people applaud.

In the world of competitive sports, people don't like to see people kneeling on the ground, bowing their heads in submission.

People will always love those who dare to challenge powerful enemies.

Lynch was persuaded to return by the referee to avoid further conflict.

“Detroit’s dynasty dream is cracking,” Mike Breen said, taking off his headset and wiping his sweat. “If Hakim saw that dream move, he’d probably raise the price of his training camp overnight. He’s right, Lynch’s back-to-the-basket game is on a completely different level compared to last season.”

"Mike, do you think Lynch will become another god to end the Bad Boys' dynasty dream?" Al Michaels was clearly more concerned about this question.

Mike Brin smiled and shook his head.

"I don't know, nobody knows what God looks like."

But even God, no matter how arrogant, can't be as arrogant as Lynch.

Rich Paul stared at the television, determined to send LeBron James to the Hakeem Olajuwon training camp for some training as well.

(End of this chapter)