Lin Yi really had gotten faster.
Right from the opening possessions, Josh Smith—who'd guarded him plenty of times—was still defending as if Lin were the same player from a few weeks ago. That illusion broke fast. Lin hit him with a tight double crossover, spun off contact, and slid past him like a breeze. Two long steps later, he floated in a clean Euro-step layup for the Knicks' first bucket.
On the bench, D'Antoni rubbed his temples.
"Don, am I imagining things, or did Lin's first step get quicker again?"
Assistant coach Dan thought about it.
"He's been doing those one-on-one sessions nonstop. Maybe the work is kicking in."
D'Antoni nodded, though he didn't fully buy it. Dan's explanation wasn't wrong, but it didn't tell the whole story. Lin's one-on-one bag had expanded, sure—but his speed and flexibility had jumped, too. If they were both around 85 before, they were sitting comfortably at 90 now.
The Diamond-level Ankle Breaker had unlocked something else, something subtle: the ability to read a defender's balance—where their weight shifted, where the crack in their stance opened, the moment they leaned a little too far in one direction.
Most elite handlers rely on intuition for that kind of timing. Harden's famous crossover on Wesley Johnson? Harden admitted later that he didn't even plan it. It just happened.
But in a league full of top-tier defenders, those micro-reads win possessions. When Lin faced Josh Smith earlier, Smith instinctively prepared to cut him off to the right. Lin felt it immediately—and spun left instead. If Smith weren't so experienced, he might've face-planted.
Tonight, the Hawks looked completely out of rhythm defending him. Smaller guards could slip into the paint, sure, but Lin Yi could do it at a near–power forward size with three explosive steps after he broke the first line of defense.
By the time the help defenders reacted, he was already finishing.
Still, Lin knew he couldn't get reckless. The upgrade wasn't a license to play wild—it was an opportunity. And the biggest advantage was surprise. Teams had built scouting reports on the old Lin Yi. They'd need time to recalibrate to the new version of the Great Demon King.
And with the playoffs approaching, the timing couldn't be better. If he had upgraded before the Heat matchup, the Heat might've sensed something and adjusted early.
Now?
The video wouldn't show the micro details—the acceleration, the angles, the timing tells. Not fully.
Watching from across the court, Josh Smith was genuinely baffled.
Did Lin Yi take something illegal?
Earlier in the season, their duels, although a bit one-sided, were competitive. Tonight, Smith felt like Lin could score however he pleased.
Eventually, Smith resorted to sagging off, trying to wall off the paint—but that only opened up Lin's jumper, which had been steady all month. It was a miserable equation.
During the TNT broadcast, Barkley sighed, "Man, Lin's improving way too fast. I remember during his rookie year, Josh used to make him look lost."
Kenny laughed. "Charles, Lin's been grinding nonstop these past few years. Meanwhile, Josh hasn't added much. Talent's one thing, but who puts in work like Lin?"
Barkley shot O'Neal a side-eye. Shaq felt the pressure immediately. If he didn't speak up, they'd start roasting his training habits again.
"Lin's work ethic is legit," O'Neal added quickly. "When I was with the Knicks, I'd see him training every single morning. Four AM. New York will be asleep, and he's already sweating."
Fans listening at home cheered harder. Their MVP wasn't just gifted—he'd fought for every inch.
Meanwhile, Tony Allen and Tyson Chandler were somewhere shaking their heads, half wanting to report Lin Yi for excessive labor. They were the ones who'd absorbed the damage, after all.
But what Lin once told Tijana and Curry held true:
Hard work is just the baseline in this league. Everyone has determination—but reaching the actual peak is something else entirely.
Every player had their story, even the ones with questionable personalities. Behind each jersey were layers of struggle most fans never saw.
"It really is great to play basketball," Lin Yi exhaled as he hit his 20th point.
Josh Smith, having just fouled him again, muttered under his breath.
"Only for you."
Some nights, basketball was nothing but heartbreak.
...
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