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Chapter 133: Knicks vs Lakers 3 (Point Giant)
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 15:07:45 +0000 UTCStaples Center, Los Angeles.
The Lakers couldn’t exactly throw Lamar at Lin Yi. Not when the guy had already dribbled past half court. As soon as Lin crossed the midline, Odom and the rest instinctively tightened up.
To be fair, Lin respected Odom. The guy had never tried to be the guy, and honestly, he was perfect as a second or third option. Super versatile, played with flow, and could do a little bit of everything.
But ever since he got smothered by Kardashian’s full-court press off the court, his game — and life — kinda spiraled. It wasn’t long before he got kicked out of their house.
Then Kardashian linked up with Harden. And Harden liked her. That got under Odom’s skin.
Maybe that’s why he went all out at that “Love Ranch” nightclub — tried to prove he still had that alpha energy. The dude was later found unconscious after stuffing himself with drugs and was rushed to the hospital.
Somehow... he lived to tell the tale.
But back in 09-10, Odom was still a problem on the court. Phil Jackson had him shadow Lin Yi when the second units were in. Odom had the length, the IQ, and just enough speed to maybe contain the 7'2" man.
Still, facing a dude that tall bringing the ball up? Odom wasn’t about to gamble. And when he locked eyes with Lin Yi’s footwork—yeah, he knew this wasn’t some tall guy gimmick. Lin knew what he was doing.
Then it happened.
Darko Milicic and Jared Jeffries suddenly popped up to set a double screen at the high post. Two seven-footers crashing in from both sides like a wrestling tag team.
“Shit—!” Odom muttered, totally boxed in.
The Lakers' bench was confused. What was this?
Right then, Wilson Chandler darted into the paint like he got launched from a slingshot. Vujacic and Farmar scrambled to react. Gasol and Luke Walton had already been pulled out to the perimeter, which left the paint wide open.
On the sidelines, Phil Jackson’s eyes lit up.
Ah... so that’s the play.
The Knicks had baited the Lakers’ bigs out using Lin Yi... then attacked the weak interior with their wings.
Lin Yi spotted Chandler’s cut. Mid-dribble, he sold a fake pass — just enough motion in his right hand to get Gasol and Walton guessing.
Gasol, one of the smartest bigs in the league, immediately moved to cut off the angle.
So did Walton. These guys had seen every trick in the book.
But they hadn’t seen this.
While they bit on the fake, Lin Yi, without even looking, whipped a bounce pass behind them...
...straight to Danilo Gallinari in the corner.
The Second Battalion Commander didn’t hesitate.
Splash.
Knicks up, 33–29.
“Man, no-look pass? Lakers fans know that move better than anyone,” chuckled Barkley.
“That was slick. The Knicks came in prepared. That was a textbook set,” Kenny Smith added.
In the stands, Jack Nicholson looked... conflicted. Kinda like he wanted to cheer, but couldn’t. After all, this was their house.
What the hell was going on?
First, a skyhook. Now this guy’s playing like Magic Johnson? He thought.
Knicks fans were calling Lin Magic to rub salt in the wound. Lakers fans hated that. To them, there was — and always will be — only one Magic.
Sure, Lin Yi looked like a sci-fi experiment. But 7'2" point guards? Come on. That’s not basketball...
...except Mike D’Antoni didn’t believe in limits. Not in his playbook.
Lin Yi wasn’t surprised that people were skeptical. In his past life, Giannis eventually ran point under Kidd. And Lin? He was even taller.
Time for more surprises.
...
Lakers' possession.
Say what you want, but the Lakers’ front office knew what they were doing. Mitch Kupchak had traded the Big Diesel, but he could still put together a solid roster.
This team had brains. Gasol, Walton, Odom — high IQ players who got the game.
The Knicks’ bench lineup had size, but they were slow on rotations. Milicic and Jeffries couldn’t cover the floor like Lin could.
The Lakers sped things up — quick ball movement, constant off-ball cuts.
Walton slipped through a backdoor screen, and Gasol hit him in stride.
Easy two.
33–31.
On the next possession, the Lakers switched to full-court pressure.
“They’re pressing!” Kenny Smith called it.
“They’re trying to force a turnover. Lin might be tall, but his handle... wait, hold on—” Barkley paused mid-sentence.
Because Lin Yi had already inbounded, cool as ever.
As the other four Knicks sprinted ahead, Lin casually took the ball up.
The Lakers couldn’t stop him from getting the ball. Too tall, too smooth.
If Lin couldn’t dribble it up, you think D’Antoni would build the offense around him? D’Antoni thought on the sideline. He knew Phil Jackson had better cards than him.
But Lin Yi? That was the wild card no one saw coming.
...
The Lakers fans started buzzing...
Farmar stepped up to the trap.
Lin Yi spun out of it like it was nothing.
Vujacic came from the other side — Lin spun again.
Odom saw it coming and moved up to stop the break. Near midcourt, Lin jumped in the air — Odom flinched, thinking he’d forced a pass.
Nope.
Lin hung just long enough, then flicked a pass mid-air behind Odom’s back...
Straight to Gallinari.
Same spot. 45-degree angle.
Catch. Fire.
Swish
36–31. Knicks up five.
“Oh my GOD,” Kenny Smith had his hand on his forehead.
“That wasn’t luck. Lin knew exactly what he was doing,” Barkley said, wiping sweat from his brow. “He baited ‘em. That pass was planned.”
D’Antoni just nodded. This was exactly what they’d drilled. Lin as the focal point — not to score, but to manipulate the defense.
Phil Jackson stayed calm. No timeout. He’d been here before.
That was Big Phil. Let the chaos swirl — he stayed Zen.
Back on court, the Lakers executed. Gasol knocked down another jumper.
36–33.
But the press? They eased off. They knew by now, Lin wasn’t rattled. Might as well conserve energy.
Knicks came down again. High pick-and-roll. Milicic set a solid screen, Lin used it, Gasol and Odom tried to switch...
Too late.
Lin split them and burst into the lane.
Luke Walton rotated early — clever positioning, just outside the restricted area, ready to draw a charge.
But Lin saw him. Adjusted on the fly. Glided right past him, and with one hand, flipped a pass behind his head.
Gallinari again. Wide open.
One more.
39–33. Knicks up six.
Timeout, Lakers.
Gallinari was on fire.
Three straight threes — all assisted by Lin Yi.
And at Staples Center, Lakers fans were getting flashbacks.
Except this time, they were the ones being torched.
