Just as the Anti-Lin Alliance was busy studying the Knicks, the ambush finally arrived on February 2nd.
At the United Center in Chicago, the Knicks fell 103–109 to the Bulls — their first loss of the new season.
The Windy City Rose hadn't withered yet. Derrick Rose bloomed once more, putting up 28 points and 7 assists while charging through defenses like a man possessed.
But strangely enough, the Bulls' unsung hero that night… was Lin Yi.
Because he played like a super-sized Mamba — just without the accuracy — going cold and missing 15 shots.
In truth, the Knicks were simply exhausted. The compressed schedule after the lockout had turned the season into a gauntlet. If D'Antoni hadn't been so stubborn with his tight rotations, their winning streak might've ended long ago.
Unfortunately, the nightmare stretch of February was only beginning. The Knicks barely had time to breathe before flying back to New York for a back-to-back against the Celtics.
Then came the Nets on the 4th, and the Jazz on the 6th.
Four games in five days. Brutal.
Plenty of players were now regretting the lockout — not just for the lost money, but because it meant everyone had to cram twice the workload into half the time.
The only small relief for the Knicks was that three of those four games were at home.
"Lin, I just discovered something incredible!" Elizabeth Olsen called from the kitchen in Lin Yi's New York villa. "Soybean pudding with condensed milk tastes amazing!"
Lin blinked. "...Soybean pudding with what?"
He looked at her in disbelief. "Liz, soybean pudding is supposed to be spicy! That's how you bring out the real flavor."
He took a spoonful anyway — and froze.
Hold on. Why was this sweet version actually good?
As a lifelong defender of the savory dish, Lin felt his beliefs collapsing. His taste buds were under siege.
Unwilling to admit defeat, he grabbed Olsen and declared, "Forget the food— let's do something more fun~"
Her cheeks turned red.
...
On February 3rd, the Knicks will be at Madison Square Garden to face the Celtics.
As Lin remembered, Boston's Big Three weren't exactly on the best of terms anymore.
He couldn't help but feel a bit amused. After two years of fierce playoff battles, watching the Celtics start to self-destruct was oddly satisfying.
Rumors about their internal rift had been flying everywhere, but regardless of the version, the result was the same — Ray Allen had been frozen out by Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo.
People always say NBA players can be childish, but Lin thought this one took the cake. He hadn't heard a "we're not playing with you anymore" story this big. This was turning into kindergarten all over again.
The whole mess started when GM Danny Ainge tried to use the aging Big Three as trade pieces before their value completely dropped. Ray Allen happened to be on that list.
Unfortunately, he didn't take the news well. After hearing he might be traded, Ray reportedly confronted Rondo — just like he once did Kobe at the pre-draft workouts.
"It's all your fault," Allen said coldly. "Because of you, now I'm being traded too."
Rondo just stared at him.
Was Rondo the type to eat blame quietly? Absolutely not.
The next thing anyone knew, he was venting to Garnett and Pierce.
"Guys, you've got to back me up. Ray's throwing me under the bus!"
"Don't worry," Garnett supposedly said. "We'll take care of it."
And just like that, a long night of "team bonding" began — the kind where everyone left angrier than before.
From that point on, the once-united Big Three started drifting apart. The crack had appeared, and there was no patching it up.
Lin Yi knew this soap opera wasn't ending anytime soon. A lot of people never really understood how the Celtics' Big Three managed to fall apart like that.
Simply put, Rondo's flare-up was just the spark. The real divide came from how much Pierce and Garnett were idolized by Celtics fans — and how much Ray Allen felt left out of that circle. That's what truly tore them apart.
Not that Lin Yi cared to sympathize.
After all, when he had a rough shooting night in Chicago, did Derrick Rose take it easy on him? Of course not.
Besides, after that "15 missed shots" disaster, Paul had been roasting him for almost an hour after the game.
"Hey Lin, why stop at fifteen? You should've gone for thirty — really pay tribute to your idol," Paul had joked, smirking.
Lin Yi rubbed his chin at the memory. Paul's really getting sharp these days — two punches in one line.
So in return, Lin Yi decided to pull out his shooting this time after the rest — raining threes like a man possessed.
Touch really is a mysterious thing. Lin Yi played just 32 minutes, shot 12-for-19 from the field, 8-for-13 from deep, and hit all seven free throws. By the end, he had 39 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists — the full package.
Meanwhile, Paul found himself frozen by Rondo, who was desperate to prove his worth. Paul missed 13 shots that night.
"Chris, looks like you're winning by following yours truly again," Lin Yi said with a grin, whistling as he passed him after the game.
By now, the Knicks were used to the routine. If Lin Yi and Paul didn't banter at least once a day, the locker room would feel strangely quiet.
After the game, the team was all smiles and laughter. Meanwhile, on the other side, Ray Allen silently made his way back to the Celtics' locker room, head down.
...
On February 4th, the Knicks took care of business against the Nets at home. Deron Williams' brief dominance over Paul didn't change the outcome. With that Nets roster — and Brook Lopez turning into a bystander every time Lin Yi showed up — the result was inevitable.
"Chris, man, your stats are only half of Deron's," Lin Yi teased.
"Chris, are you sure you're still the top point guard in the league?"
"Chris, that's two straight games you've won by hitching a ride. Didn't we agree to carry one each?"
And so, the Knicks' locker room once again descended into friendly chaos, their version of normal.
...
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