On the 10th, the Knicks went into Oklahoma City and got a different look from the Thunder.
After getting burned by Lin Yi's quadruple-double the last time, Scott Brooks adjusted. This time, they mixed man-to-man with zone, trying to crowd space and limit easy reads.
Serge Ibaka took Lin Yi one-on-one, while the rest of the defense shaded toward the paint.
It helped, but only to a point.
Kevin Durant looked sharp all night. His rhythm was clean, his decisions simple.
"Just stay in it," Durant muttered after knocking down a mid-range jumper. "One possession at a time."
He finished with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on efficient shooting.
But the problem wasn't Durant.
Ibaka spent so much energy dealing with Lin Yi that his offense never got going. And once the Thunder leaned back into isolation, things stalled again.
Russell Westbrook was everywhere, pushing pace, crashing the glass, creating plays. But the efficiency wasn't there. He went 5-of-26, ending with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.
After one missed jumper, Westbrook shook his head. "Gotta hit that. Can't keep wasting trips."
On the other side, Klay Thompson caught fire.
Every shot he took came from deep. Fourteen attempts, all from three, and he buried eight of them.
Lin Yi jogged past him after one make. "You planning to step inside at all tonight?"
Klay didn't even look at him. "Why would I?"
By the end, the Knicks pulled away, 117–101.
Win number 57.
They had already hit 50 wins before anyone else, and at this pace, they might reach 60 before the rest of the league caught up.
After the game, Durant skipped the media.
No frustration on display.
Because it was the same problem again.
Lose when you struggle, lose when you play well.
During the game on the bench, one Thunder assistant muttered, "We're too predictable."
No one argued.
Around the league, the conversation was shifting. Talent wasn't the issue in Oklahoma City. Structure was.
And then there was James Harden, thriving elsewhere. Every big night from him felt like a reminder.
One executive reportedly said, "We might have gotten that one wrong."
No one wanted to say it too loudly, but everyone knew.
Westbrook sat in a seat, quiet for once. Then he glanced along the court where Chris Paul was wrapping up.
Now, he just muttered to himself, "Must be nice."
From his perspective, Paul hadn't even done anything spectacular.
And yet, the Knicks controlled the game.
…
Post Game
Paul was used to the noise.
Averaging nearly 12 assists a night, leading the league, and still hearing people say he was just along for the ride.
He sat down postgame, towel over his shoulders.
"People see numbers," he said to a reporter. "They don't always see decisions."
Another reporter asked, "Do you feel like you've taken a step back scoring-wise?"
Paul smiled slightly. "I've taken a step toward winning."
The balance worked.
With so many scoring options and Lin Yi taking the bulk of the shots, Paul didn't need to force anything. He controlled tempo, picked his spots, and let the game come to him.
Simple, but effective.
…
On the 12th, back at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks handled the Jazz without much trouble.
Without the altitude advantage from Salt Lake City, the Jazz couldn't recreate the same pressure.
At home, the Knicks were a different team.
The crowd was loud from warmups to the final buzzer. Every run felt bigger, every stop louder.
One visiting player muttered while heading to the locker room, "Man, it's hard to breathe in here."
His teammate replied, "Wait till you see the locker room."
Tight space, no comfort, barely enough room to move. A small detail, but it added up.
Meanwhile, the home side had space, screens, couches, and everything needed to relax.
It all fed into the same thing.
Comfort for one team, pressure for the other.
After the game, Coach Tyrone Corbin faced the media.
"They're just better," he said as a matter-of-fact. "Simple as that."
A reporter pushed, "Nothing your team could've done differently?"
The coach gave a tired smile. "Sometimes you prepare well, execute decently… and still lose."
Many fans of different teams summed it up more bluntly this season.
"It's not that we're bad," he said. "They've just got Lin Yi."
. . .
14th March, 2013 - Knicks day off
The beat sat steady in Lin Yi's ears as he moved through his last set of squats, the rhythm keeping his pace tight and controlled.
"It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life."
The lines looped faintly through his AKG K451, just enough to push him through the last reps. Sweat ran down his arms, his breathing even but heavy, controlled the way he liked it.
He finished the set, held the position for a second longer, then exhaled and straightened up.
A quick tap on his iPod, and the music cut off.
He slid the headset down to rest around his neck, reached for his bottle, and took a long drink. Slow sips as he severed the cool feeling.
Nothing beats water. He thought as he took his last drink.
As he lowered the bottle, his eyes drifted toward the glass partition.
That's when he saw her.
Out on the balcony, adjacent to the empty calisthenics area.
Elizabeth.
She had moved her yoga session outside, where the morning light stretched across the floor. Beyond her, the ocean rolled quietly, sunlight reflecting off the water in soft flashes.
For a second, Lin Yi didn't move.
Then he set the bottle down and walked out, unhurried.
From the gym, through the open area, and onto the balcony.
The weather was fairly pleasant, with the scent of the waters wafting through the air.
Elizabeth was in the melting heart pose. Her form was steady despite the added weight she now carried.
He did yoga himself, which helped with his flexibility and post-game ache. It also served as bonding time with Liz, since she was a yoga buff.
God damnit, some poses need to be banned. Melting heart, more like melting dick.
He could see her camel toe straining against her tight pink yoga pants.
She has to be doing this intentionally.
Lin Yi leaned lightly against the frame and gave a low whistle.
"Beautiful view."
Elizabeth didn't turn immediately.
"Which one?" she asked playfully.
Lin Yi shot back. "What do you mean?"
She sank deeper into the pose. "You know exactly what I mean."
He stepped a little closer, hands in his pockets. "Tell me then."
Elizabeth finally glanced back at him. "You're looking at my butt."
Lin Yi shamelessly said with eyes still on her posterior. "Who said that's the only beautiful view here?"
He tilted his head toward the horizon. "There's the beach. The ocean. Plenty to appreciate."
Elizabeth gave him a look. "Right."
He held her gaze for a second, then smiled, softer this time.
"Yeah. I was looking at your butt," Before she could react, he stepped forward and scooped her up from the mat. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Lin!" she protested immediately, grabbing onto his shoulder. "I'm not done yet."
"Yeah, you are," he replied calmly, already turning back inside. "That's enough for today."
"I had two more sets—"
"You'll survive," he cut in, tone easy.
She frowned, but didn't fight him too much.
As they walked, his hand shifted slightly, resting over her stomach, gentle, almost instinctive.
His thumb brushed lightly against it.
"If I hadn't checked with the doctor," he said, "you'd be buried under twenty blankets right now. No movement allowed."
Elizabeth let out a small laugh despite herself. "That sounds like something you'd actually do."
"I would," Lin Yi said. "No risks."
She tapped his shoulder lightly. "You're overprotective."
"My first time," he corrected. "Don't blame me if I am treating it like the Finals."
They moved downstairs.
"Good morning, you two," Hans Ludwig, Lin's nutritional chef, said with a polite nod. "I've kept it light yet energizing."
On the table were:
A fluffy vegetable omelet stacked with spinach, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes, topped with a sprinkle of low-fat cheese and a side of whole-grain toast. Lin's portion included smoked salmon for extra protein.
Greek yogurt parfaits, layered with fresh blueberries, raspberries, and a touch of honey, topped with granola and chia seeds. Elizabeth's was full-fat for her extra caloric needs.
Peanut butter banana smoothies, blended to creamy perfection. Lin's included oats and protein powder for a post-workout boost.
Avocado toast with poached eggs, garnished with microgreens.
And off to the side, unmistakable.
Ice cream.
Peanut butter.
Elizabeth noticed it first and looked at Ludwig.
"Really?"
"Don't blame the man. It was my idea". He lowered her gently into her chair. "I am adapting to your preferences, Princess. You should be appreciative."
"Thank you, Hans, as always," Lin said.
"The pleasure is mine". Hans said, dismissing himself.
She smiled, shaking her head.
"You're hard to deal with sometimes."
"That's what you said," He replied, drawing close to her ear and whispering the remainder, "... in bed."
Lin took his seat across from her.
Elizabeth's cheeks flushed at once. She met his gaze, eyes narrowing in mock reproach.
"Shameless."
Lin Yi reached for his glass. "Thank you for the compliment."
. . .
Halfway done with a vegetable omelet, Elizabeth then looked at Lin, who was busy sipping his peanut butter banana smoothie, until he noticed her gaze. He held it, returning her stare with a soft smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lin asked, tilting his head slightly.
Elizabeth asked. "Tell me… what do you want? A boy or a girl?"
He leaned back slightly, thinking. "Honestly… a boy. I'd be able to wake him up early every morning, train with him, get him into good habits, and make him a basketball player. Build him up right from the start."
Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head. "You're planning your suffering already, aren't you?"
Lin shrugged. "No… it's called discipline."
She giggled, shaking her head again. "You're unbelievable. But really, don't you want a girl?"
He hesitated, a frown crossing his face. "It's not that I don't… it's just… have you seen those father-daughter videos?" His lips twitched as he started to laugh nervously. "Everyone says dads are scared a boy will take their girl away. That's… kinda why I'm scared."
Elizabeth laughed hard with her hand on her belly. "Aww, my tummy hurts. Looks like what it took was this to put fear in you. Not LeBron. Not KD."
Lin shook his head. "Very funny. You don't understand. The boys—those little rascals—will want to date my daughter. I won't allow it. Never. Maybe...when she is twenty."
Elizabeth smirked, teasing him. "You really have your work cut out for you."
Lin's expression softened. "Yeah… I do. She's probably going to be as beautiful as you, so I have to be very careful with her. Seriously."
Elizabeth shook her head with a smile, not quite able to hide her amusement at his seriousness. They continued their breakfast, the table filled with quiet laughter and the warmth of shared anticipation.
. . .
Please do leave a review and powerstones, which helps with the book's exposure.
Feel like joining a Patreon for free and subscribing to 30+ advanced chapters?
Visit the link:
[email protected]/GRANDMAESTA_30
Change @ to a