January 12th, Memphis.
At the FedEx Forum, the Knicks were on the road to face the Grizzlies.
During this winning streak, Lin Yi wasn't just putting up numbers — he was learning. Under constant pressure and tight defense, his Tough Shotmakerbadge had just leveled up to Amethyst.
He'd also been crashing the boards harder this season, trying to speed up progress on his Rebounding Maniacbadge. On offense, he'd been working on his footwork — chasing that Dream Footworkfeel.
As for Limitless Range, he figured he'd have it mastered by the All-Star break if he kept this up.
The lockout-shortened season didn't leave much room for slacking, and Lin Yi knew it. The winning streak didn't get to his head either — he understood the Knicks' success came from a newfound team confidence.
Winning a championship had changed everything. The whole locker room carried a quiet arrogance now — the kind that comes from proof, not hope. It's like watching Real Madrid in football (soccer): you don't ask if they won, you ask by how much.
…
This season, Gasol and Tyson Chandler were seen as the two best rim protectors in the league.
Gasol was looking tougher this year. With a quicker shot release and better spacing from his new three-point range, he was playing smarter — even if lighter — basketball. Losing some bulk had cost him a bit inside, but it probably added years to his career.
That's the butterfly effect Lin Yi had triggered — even LeBron's more stable jumper this season wasn't a random evolution. The rise of the three-point era had quietly rewritten everyone's development path.
After all, the regular season is where you see who put in the work over the summer. And in this era, spacing was king. With those freakishly gifted athletes, every tactical improvement just amplified what they could already do.
If Miami had the Warriors' shooting, the Knicks wouldn't even stand a chance with just one superstar, but if the Heat did shoot like the Warriors… Pat Riley wouldn't be Pat Riley anymore.
"Zhang, how do you see this clash between the Knicks and the Grizzlies?" asked Yu Jia on CCTV's broadcast.
Coach Zhang chuckled. "The Knicks are in great form. Lin Yi's game has become more complete — he's smoother, more decisive. I'd say tonight's result will depend on him. We all know he loves playing Memphis."
Yu Jia grinned. "Like how Yao loved playing against Howard?"
"Exactly. Matchups like these are fun. The league's full of those odd rivalries — some teams just bring out the best in certain players. And so far this season, no one's really figured out how to slow these Knicks down."
On the court, the starting fives were announced:
Knicks:
Tyson Chandler
Morris
Lin Yi
Danny Green
Chris Paul.
Grizzlies:
Marc Gasol
Dante Cunningham
Zach Randolph
Rudy Gay
Mike Conley.
Interestingly, the Grizzlies' bench featured two future CBA legends — Hamed Haddadi and Lester Hudson.
At tip-off, Lin Yi squared up with Marc. Lin Yi's reach easily won out, and Paul secured the ball to start the Knicks' first possession.
Funny thing — years later, people would say Conley's contract wasn't worth it. But compared to Parsons'? It was a steal.
Conley was long, tough, and smart. His one-on-one game wasn't elite, but he made you work for every inch.
As Lin Yi came off the screen, Paul fed him the ball. Memphis dropped into a zone defense. With the NBA's three-second rule, they couldn't fully pack the paint, but they tried to stay compact — Gasol guarding the rim, Randolph covering help lanes, and Rudy Gay taking on Lin Yi directly.
Don't sleep on Rudy. He was Memphis' go-to guy in crunch time — talented, two-way, and reliable… if you could ignore his love for tough, contested jumpers.
Coach Lionel Hollins' plan was simple: make Lin Yi go one-on-one. Don't let him run the offense. Same with Paul — cut off the passing lanes, bump them every possession, force isolation plays.
Ironically, that was exactly what Lin Yi wanted.
Pass button? Lin smirked to himself. Doesn't exist tonight.
He took one step forward, executed a fadeaway, and rose for a jumper—no wrestling, no wasted energy — just pure rhythm.
Swish.
2–0, Knicks lead.
Lin Yi had drawn first blood.
"That was poetry in motion," Zhang Haoli said with a grin.
The Grizzlies, unfazed by the early bucket, got right back to work. Conley brought the ball up calmly, letting the offense set. Once everyone was in place, he lobbed it inside to Randolph through a quick swing pass on the wing.
That bear of a man made Morris feel the true terror of being bullied by a heavyweight. Randolph bumped him once, twice — and before Chandler could rotate over, the crafty vet kissed it off the glass for two.
This pace was no joke.
In a league full of athletes, if a guy built like Randolph dares to bang inside every night, you know he's got something special up his sleeve.
On the Knicks' next trip down, they were forced into a half-court set. Memphis' transition defense was sharp — no chance for a quick inbound.
And to make it worse, Randolph pulled a sly move after scoring — pretending to accidentally touch the ball out of bounds, buying his team a few extra seconds.
These vets and their bag of tricks.
The next possession, naturally, went back to Lin Yi. Ever since his Tough Shotmaker badge upgrade, his balance and release on those off-angle jumpers had reached another level.
He sized up Gay, pulled up over him — a clean, soul-cutting jumper. Gay leapt as if trying to block fireworks, but Lin Yi's shot was already gone.
4–2, Knicks.
The Grizzlies didn't rush. They slowed it down again, feeding Randolph on the block. This time, Chandler doubled early, so the veteran kicked it out to the corner. Marc Gasol caught it and floated one in with that soft Spanish touch.
4–4.
Lin Yi couldn't help but laugh to himself. What is it with Spanish big men and floaters?
Navarro, Gasol… maybe it was something in their breakfast. Still, Marc's touch around the rim was elite — smooth, confident, and annoyingly consistent.
Meanwhile, Morris was starting to feel the pressure. The cockiness he'd shown over the phone to his twin brother a few days ago? Gone. That's just how the NBA humbles you — one night you're on top of the world, and the next, some 30-year-old vet with dad strength reminds you you're still learning.
The Knicks could've switched things up — D'Antoni had Motiejūnas on the bench, after all — but the coach chose not to. This season, the Knicks were all about learning through the grind.
Klay had been burned a few times early on, too — and he came out sharper because of it.
Rookies need the lessons—no shortcuts in this league.
Swish!
Lin Yi hit again. Three-for-three to start the game.
Morris could only stare in admiration. That smooth rhythm, that unshakable confidence… It was easy to forget this was the same guy who once dropped 61 in three quarters.
As the Knicks got back on defense, Paul jogged up beside Lin Yi and gave him a light smack on the back.
"Don't overdo it," he said. "If it gets tight, kick it to me."
Lin Yi nodded. "Relax. Tonight, we're eating bear."
Paul blinked, then laughed. "Actually… there's a fried chicken joint here in Memphis that's way better."
Lin Yi: "…"
The game rolled on.
...
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