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Chapter 119: Game Ten (Warriors vs Knicks)
🕑 Added 2025-05-12 14:11:30 +0000 UTCNovember 13, 2009
New York, Madison Square Garden
LIN—YI!!
LIN—YI!!
LIN—YI!!
The crowd erupted as the DJ hyped up the Knicks’ young rookie. Lin Yi rose from the bench slowly, soaking in the roaring cheers.
Stephen Curry watched on the Warriors’ bench, happy for his friend.
Man, New York treated Lin like royalty.
A part of him wondered... what if? What if the Warriors hadn’t taken that gamble back then?
Still, envy aside, Steph clenched his fists. He wasn’t here to admire. He was here to prove something.
After all, he was the second pick in 2009 — the guy who lit up Davidson, the other half of that college duo.
The cameras zoomed in on the court on TNT as Charles Barkley chimed in.
“First NBA showdown between the Shooting Stars after the NCAA season. Lin and Steph, college teammates, number one and number two from the 2009 draft. Been waiting for this.”
Kenny Smith nodded. “Yeah, but right now, Lin’s the man in New York. Meanwhile, Steph’s... what, the third option in Golden State?”
Barkley shrugged. “And why is that? Because Lin made himself the core. Doesn’t matter where you put him; he’s gonna take over. Gotta give Steph some credit, although not as trusted as Lin, he has been taking his shots well. Being the most efficient player on the Warriors, but the guy gotta tighten his D.”
Even Kenny had to admit, Chuck had a point.
...
Both teams were warming up on the court. Warriors’ big man Biedrins looked over at Lin — tall, fluid, confident.
Yeah, this was going to be tough.
Biedrins was athletic, sure, but Lin was a different beast.
Tonight, Biedrins had the unenviable job of trying to stop him. But Lin? Lin wasn’t even thinking about Biedrins.
He’d watched the tape. He knew exactly where the cracks were in the Warriors’ defense.
They weren’t in the paint.
They were on the perimeter.
More specifically — Stephen Curry.
Coach D’Antoni had seen it too. “That kid can shoot lights out,” he’d said about Steph, “but defensively? He’s Nash without the beard.”
Lin Yi chuckled when he heard that. Harsh, but not wrong.
..
“Hey, Chan,” Lin said before tip-off, pulling Wilson Chandler aside. “You’re on Ellis tonight. Let him drive if he wants. We want him to get hot.”
Chandler smirked. “You want trash talk. You're gonna get trash talk., Lin. He’s gonna lose his mind.”
“Good,” Lin nodded, slapping him on the shoulder. “Let him.”
The game plan was simple: provoke Monta Ellis, let him take over... and let the Warriors self-destruct.
...
Tip-off.
Lin Yi jumped and won it clean.
“The Knicks haven’t lost a jump ball all year with Lin Yi!” Barkley shouted.
“No surprise. Look at his reach. Guy’s a tree with sneakers,” Kenny added.
The Knicks' starting five:
Lin Yi
David Lee
Gallinari
Chandler
Larry Hughes
Warriors rolled out:
Biedrins
Radmanovic
Maggette
Ellis
Curry
First possession, Larry Hughes fed the ball straight to Lin.
Biedrins braced himself. He’d studied the tape, but damn — this guy moved well for a centre.
Old man Nelson had told him, “Do your best. If Lin starts cooking you, we’ll try Maggette.”
Problem was... Lin wasn’t even looking at Biedrins like a target.
Nope. Lin had his eyes on Steph.
...
Meanwhile, Steph kept glancing over at Lin during warm-ups. Lin was laughing with teammates, at ease.
Steph’s mood? Complicated.
The only guy who had his back on the team was Maggette. Most others either ignored him or, in Ellis’s case, downright disliked him.
“Yo! Pass the damn ball!” Ellis barked at him earlier. The guy was relentless.
Ellis was salty. He’d been putting up All-Star numbers, but the media? Kept dragging him — and praising the rookie's efficiency.
He blamed Steph for that.
Still, Ellis didn’t have the guts to challenge Don Nelson directly. He wanted to be an All-Star. He thought he deserved to be.
He didn’t have time for rookies cramping his style.
...
Back to the game.
The Knicks' first pick-and-roll between Lin and Hughes was textbook. The Warriors scrambled, switched... and Steph ended up on Lin.
Bad idea.
Steph squared up, serious as ever.
But Lin just rose over him, effortless fadeaway.
Swish.
0-2, Knicks.
The crowd roared. DJ dropped another bomb: “From downtown New York — Lin YI!”
“First blood goes to the Knicks!” Barkley laughed.
“Lin’s shooting form is just... money,” Kenny added.
...
The Warriors came back down. Steph called for a pick from Biedrins, but Ellis shot him a glare that said, Don’t even try it.
Steph sighed, gave up the rock.
Ellis caught it, and Chandler was shadowing him. “Come on, give the rock back,” Chandler whispered. “We all know Steph is gonna be the cornerstone, Kobe wannabe.”
Ellis fumed.
He jab-stepped, and Chandler backed off. Pull-up jumper.
Swish.
2–2.
“Ellis ties it up!” Barkley announced.
“Yeah, but here’s the thing — he takes the most shots in the league and isn’t even top 10 in scoring,” Kenny said.
Ellis puffed out his chest, glaring at Chandler.
Chandler? Just shrugged. “Huh. Even trash can score sometimes.”
Ellis clenched his jaw.
...
Back the other way, the Knicks hit the same play.
Lin set a rock-solid screen. Hughes zipped the ball back to Lin.
Steph again.
This time Lin spun, powered inside, and kissed it off the glass.
2–4, Knicks.
Curry looked over at Biedrins, gesturing for help.
Biedrins just shrugged.
He wasn’t about to put his name in the paper for getting cooked. Let Steph take the L.
...
Warriors' offense stalled. Ellis wanted it again. Dude was heated now.
Chandler kept jawing.
Ellis waved off everyone — he was going ISO. Steph, being stared down, quietly handed him the ball and slid to the corner.
Ellis drove, pulled up — money.
6–6.
Barkley: “Ellis is getting into it.”
Kenny: “But can he keep scoring like this all game?”
Ellis stared Chandler down.
And right then, Lin walked over, gave Chandler a pat on the shoulder.
“Nice D,” Lin grinned. “But don’t waste your energy. Save it for offense.”
Chandler nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Dude’s just a sideshow.”
Ellis froze. Sideshow?!
...
Next Knicks possession: same PnR again.
Curry ended up on Lin again.
Lin backed him down like they were still in the Davidson gym, turned, easy bucket.
6-8, Knicks.
Biedrins ignored Curry’s plea for help. He had seniority, dammit.
Curry was feeling frustrated about the whole situation. Even Maggette just gave him a half-hearted pat.
This team chemistry? Awful.
...
Back down the court, Ellis was seeing red.
Screw the playbook. He called for the ball before they even crossed half.
Biedrins tossed it to him.
Ellis drove again. Hit again. 8–8.
“That’s three 2 points for Ellis,” Kenny said.
“But that kinda pace?” Barkley frowned. “Ain’t sustainable.”
Ellis grinned at Chandler.
But Lin came over again, calm as ever, and whispered. “Perfect, Chan. Let him cook himself out. We’re good."
That was it. Lin knew he had him.
Chandler’s trash talk worked. Ellis was in full hero-ball mode.
And Lin?
He was just getting started.
