The Knicks racked up impressive stats across the board this season.
Alongside Lin Yi's monstrous scoring, Paul had fully embraced his role as the team's orchestrator, averaging 11.3 assists per game and clinching the Assist King title for the 2012-13 season. On top of that, he led the league in steals with 2.6 per game, earning the Steals King crown as well.
During practice, Lin Yi shrugged at him. "Chris... I might have to admit it. You actually do contribute to the team."
Paul remained silent, refusing to dignify the comment.
He will be the bigger guy as always.
Meanwhile, Klay drilled 272 three-pointers this season, surpassing Ray Allen to claim the second-most in a single NBA season.
Unfortunately, even with his career-best shooting, another monster loomed: Stephen Curry of the Warriors, who hit 288 three-pointers, setting a new single-season record.
"Sixteen short… next season, I'm wearing number 16," Klay muttered, determined.
Lin Yi ruffled Klay's hair, though he didn't feel sorry for him. Ray Allen was the one to pity. The Splash Brothers might be rivals now, but the future of three-point records would likely be dominated by them.
Lin Yi still remembered the buzz when Ray Allen retired. Many thought his three-point record would never be broken. History had proven them wrong—there were no unbreakable records in the NBA.
Some records, like Wilt Chamberlain's 4,000+ points in a season, still seemed untouchable. Even with Lin Yi averaging around 25 shots per game, pushing beyond that would disrupt the team's rhythm and likely his own stamina.
Maintaining roughly his size while playing at that intensity was already a challenge; breaking human limits was out of the question.
The 2012-13 Rebounding King was Howard, who secured his crown by grabbing 26 boards in the Lakers' final game, even making a point to pass to Kobe. His IQ was finally in the right place for once.
The Blocks title went to Ibaka, averaging three per game. Lin Yi often found himself frustrated watching opponents willingly get blocked by Ibaka, yet now he wished someone would line up to challenge him again. Even DeRozan stopped driving to the basket when they faced the Knicks. Skills without an outlet—it was aggravating.
. . .
On the 22nd, the Knicks held their final practice before the playoffs. After deliberation, Coach D'Antoni submitted the 13-man playoff roster:
Centers: Tyson Chandler, Yao Ming, Draymond Green
Power Forwards: Markieff Morris, Donatas Motiejūnas
Small Forwards: Lin Yi, Wilson Chandler
Shooting Guards: Danny Green, Klay Thompson, Tony Allen
Point Guards: Chris Paul, Shaun Livingston
Reserve: Tracy McGrady
Marcus Morris and veteran Shane Battier were the last cuts. Playoff spots were tight, and D'Antoni believed Wilson Chandler's chemistry with Lin Yi.
McGrady was included as insurance, given the point guards' volatility.
Choosing the playoff roster left D'Antoni emotional. The Knicks' depth was staggering. Players who'd be stars on any other team were sidelined. Battier and Morris weren't upset; professionalism ran deep. Marcus secretly vowed to make the roster next year.
The first-round opponent would be the Wizards, starting on the 23rd. Many Chinese fans anticipated this Chinese Showdown, but disappointment loomed.
The Wizards simply lacked the experience and firepower to challenge the Knicks in a series. Their early arrival in New York felt more like a vacation. Coach Randy Wittman claimed they were there to gain experience, but no one truly believed that.
That evening, Yi Jianlian had dinner with Lin Yi at his villa.
. . .
As the hottest newcomer in China's entertainment scene in 2013, Li Ruoqi had recently accepted Tencent's invitation to join their playoff reporting team as a special guest.
At 19, Li Ruoqi had a face that hooked in fans. Though she had only been in the industry for a year, her Weibo followers had already surpassed five million.
The prospect of this funded trip felt like a dream vacation. Born in Xinjiang, she had always been curious about basketball, though, like most girls in this era, her knowledge of NBA stars extended only to LeBron, Lin Yi, and Kobe.
. . .
"It's nice to finally go abroad," she thought, savoring the rare freedom.
Over the past two days, wandering New York has been a new life experience. As a Nike endorser, she was also curious about Yi Lin, with whom she would be filming a commercial that summer.
Most in the industry called her a rookie, unaware of how much her agency had invested to tie her publicity to Yi Lin's immense popularity. In China, many celebrities had their own fanbase—but in New York, Yi Lin's reach was overwhelming.
Everywhere Li Ruoqi went, cashiers asked if she was Chinese, and she noticed people in their Knicks jerseys and apparel. The reason was simple: New York was in full playoff mode. Streets and alleys were plastered with Lin and the Knicks posters, Knicks fans crowded every corner, and the city, this basketball mecca, was alive with energy.
The Knicks' playoff slogan this year was: This Place is Witnessing History.
. . .
On the evening of the 23rd, as they arrived at Madison Square Garden, Tencent Sports host Wang Meng reminded Li Ruoqi to wear earplugs.
Li Ruoqi stuck out her tongue. She came for the live atmosphere—earplugs would ruin the experience. Silently, she slipped them into her pocket.
Chinese fans who had attended Knicks games often said: You don't understand Lin's popularity until you see it in New York. More than 20,000 fans had turned Madison Square Garden into a sea of white T-shirts featuring Lin's signature gunshot celebration.
Behind him, a cartoon circle of Knicks players spelled out in English and Mandarin, "We only want the championship."
Wang Meng, curious, asked Li Ruoqi if she watched basketball.
"I love it!" she said, dimples flashing.
"Do you know the nickname of Madison Square Garden?" he asked.
"The Mecca of Basketball," she answered confidently.
"Not bad, Xiao Li, you did your homework," Wang Meng said, impressed.
Then the arena erupted. Li Ruoqi winced, realizing how deafening it was.
She had attended concerts before, but nothing compared to this. Lights dimmed, and Yi Lin led the Knicks onto the court.
The crowd knew exactly what to do—cheers roared, chants of "MVP! MVP! MVP!" echoed endlessly. The noise produced tested the limits of human hearing.
Li Ruoqi clutched her ears.
I won't turn deaf, will I? she thought, overwhelmed.
Yet despite the chaos, her gaze kept returning to Yi Lin. The game hadn't even started, and she couldn't look away.
On the court, the starting lineups were announced:
Knicks:
Tyson Chandler
Markieff Morris
Lin Yi
Danny Green
Chris Paul
Wizards:
Nikola Vucevic
Yi Jianlian
Martell Webster
Bradley Bea
John Wall
It was the Knicks' first playoff game of the season. Coach D'Antoni stressed the importance of momentum.
The game began. Vucevic didn't even jump for the tip—better to retreat and set up defense than waste energy against Lin. On the Knicks' first possession, Paul passed to Lin for the familiar 1-4 clear-out and isolation.
Yi Jianlian stepped up to guard him reluctantly, feeling a twinge of envy.
It's got to be good to play basketball without getting your ass beat, he thought.
Lin backed him down at the high post, then faked left and spun backward. No one could predict his routine. Li Ruoqi's jaw dropped. No, he wouldn't…
Lin Yi's fadeaway at the high post swished cleanly, scoring the first points. As he retreated to defend.
From the cheering fans, it looked like the aesthetic BUFF on difficult shots was real.
The effect made sure Lin Yi drew even more attention whenever he attempted something tough.
Against a Knicks team overflowing with momentum, the Wizards held on for three quarters before finally collapsing.
John Wall, once hyped by Washington media as being too fast for cameras to follow, ran straight into the Knicks' defensive wall and had nowhere to go.
Bradley Beal couldn't find any rhythm either. Danny Green and Klay locked him down possession after possession, leaving him visibly frustrated.
In the end, the Wizards' best performers were their big men.
Nikola Vucevic played with surprising versatility. His development in Orlando had clearly gone in the wrong direction. Back in Europe, his game had resembled a certain future star known for playmaking and shooting touch. Instead, he had been molded into a low-post scorer.
Now, with Yi Jianlian around, he was starting to open things up again. Movement, spacing, decision-making. It gave Tyson Chandler a few problems.
Chandler could handle physical matchups. Vucevic wasn't playing that game. He kept drifting, slipping into space, forcing Chandler to adjust.
Vucevic finished with 18 points, while Yi Jianlian added 20.
Unfortunately for them, none of it mattered.
Lin Yi was in a different state entirely.
Everything he threw up went in.
He shot 15 of 21 from the field, 4 of 7 from deep, and a perfect 6 of 6 from the line. In just 29 minutes, he dropped 40 points, along with 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Knicks spread the scoring effortlessly. Klay added 19, Chandler recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Paul chipped in 10 points with 12 assists.
Seven players reached double figures.
The result was a blowout.
131 to 104.
Fans watching couldn't help but question it.
"Wait… this is the playoffs?"
"Where's the intensity?"
They knew the Knicks were far superior... but they expected more fight from the Wizards.
Washington had tried to make it physical early. Vucevic and Yi Jianlian didn't shy away from contact.
It didn't change much.
Once Lin Yi found his rhythm, everything became simple.
Am I doing reverse load management? Lin Yi thought dryly. Everyone else saves energy for the playoffs. I grind through the regular season and start relaxing now.
. . .
After the game, Wall sat at his locker, quiet.
This was his first playoff series. Of course, he wanted to prove something. Even if winning the series was unrealistic, taking one game would have meant something.
Just one… is that too much to ask?
Lin Yi could sympathize with his situation.
Wall had everything physically. Speed, control, burst. But the shot had always been the issue.
Mid-range in the low 30s. Three-point shooting not much better. The effort was there, the results weren't.
Part of it was mechanics.
Most right-handed players push off their left foot. Wall used his right. His release also hung in the air a bit too long, which threw off his timing.
It was fixable.
Lin Yi had seen players adjust before. Stephen Curry refined his shot early. Paul George reworked his form after injury to speed up his release.
Wall could have made similar changes.
But over the past couple of years, he had kept his distance from Lin Yi, not too interested in dealing with his blunt approach.
Looking at the stat sheet, 4 for 15, Lin Yi shook his head slightly.
Did no one ever point this out to him?
. . .
Two days later, the Knicks won again at home, 126 to 95, pushing the series to 2-0.
From the sidelines, Li Ruoqi watched in a daze.
How can someone be this good? she thought, completely absorbed.
. . .
The series shifted to Washington next.
ESPN analysts gave the Knicks a 99.99% chance to sweep. The missing fraction came from a joke scenario where the entire team somehow fell ill before a game.
It sounded ridiculous, but no one had a better argument.
Washington's young core wasn't gaining much from the series. They were getting overwhelmed, possession after possession.
Coach Randy Wittman even brought in a sports psychologist, trying to keep the team steady.
If things kept going like this, frustration could easily turn into something worse.
So the message was simple.
Defend Washington.
. . .
It made no F**KING difference!
Washington was not built for a last stand.
On the 28th and 30th, the Knicks closed the series with two more wins on the road.
4–0. A clean sweep.
The Knicks advanced without resistance.
After the final game, Yi Jianlian walked over to Yao Ming and let out a quiet breath.
"Big Yao… you made the right call this summer."
Yao glanced at him, then smiled slightly. "You only figured that out now?"
Yi Jianlian chuckled, a bit helpless. "I figured it out early. I just didn't want to admit it."
Yao didn't say much after that. He just patted him on the shoulder and walked off.
Watching Lin Yi and Yao walk ahead, he rolled his shoulder and exhaled.
Alright… back to work.
. . .
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