NBA: Journey To Become Unplayable.

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After dropping Game 2 to the Knicks, the Celtics veterans showed remarkable composure.

Doc Rivers was as good as ever at keeping his players' heads straight, and really — what storm hadn't Kevin Garnett weathered by now?

So when reporters asked about the now-viral clip of him getting crossed up by Lin Yi, Garnett just smirked and said:

"Kid's good. I like him. He's a tough dude, man."

It left people a little surprised. After all, Garnett wasn't known for being this gracious. Why was the Big Ticket suddenly so warm toward Lin?

The truth is, it wasn't that complicated. Garnett genuinely respected Lin Yi — and hey, signing a Chinese sneaker deal soon didn't hurt either.

Call it what it was: a game recognizing game.

While Boston stayed low-key, New York… well, New York couldn't have been louder if they tried.

The entire city was buzzing, chanting about knocking off the Celtics and storming into the Eastern Conference Finals. Knicks fans believed they were second only to the Lakers now — and even that was debatable, if you asked them.

Delusion or Confidence. Decide.

Lin Yi's popularity, meanwhile, was off the charts. But he knew the third game of the series was everything.

Game 2's win was a bonus — nobody expected it. Game 3? That one, they had to take.

It was simple math: Boston's aging core couldn't recover physically as quickly as the Knicks' young legs. If they didn't capitalize now, they'd risk letting the veterans drag them into the kind of series only old hands win.

Or as the saying went:

A starving camel is still bigger than a horse.

Even Gallinari, who normally couldn't stay out of trouble, was keeping his head down. He'd been camped out in the training facility, working on his shot.

Of course, Gallo had his own… unique explanation:

"Being single makes you stronger. I gotta keep up with Lin! Bro's been single for 20 years — and it shows. Respect."

Lin just shook his head and muttered to himself:

"I swear, I'm gonna make you feel what it's like to breathe wrong… Just wait, Gallo."

...

On May 7th, after a short break, the Knicks and Celtics tipped off Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.

The energy was electric. Lin could feel it the moment he stepped on the floor for warmups. Every time he touched the ball, the crowd roared.

Even the cheerleaders started breaking into spontaneous freestyles whenever he shot.

"Charles," Kenny Smith said, shaking his head in disbelief, "I don't know the exact numbers, but it feels like every single person in here is wearing a number 44 jersey."

"You're not wrong, Kenny," Barkley replied. "The only time I've seen something like this was at the Quicken Loans Arena with LeBron in the Conference Finals last year."

The Garden faithful were fired up. Even Eli Manning and half the New York Giants squad showed up in the stands to cheer Lin on.

The Knicks' market value had skyrocketed this season, and James Dolan? He couldn't care less about the cost.

If Lin Yi asked for a hundred-million-dollar extension tomorrow, Dolan would probably sign the check before Lin even finished the sentence.

Even Nike's top brass made the trip to Madison Square Garden tonight.

Up in Portland, folks at Adidas were probably kicking themselves — hard. For Nike, though, just knowing that Adidas was sweating bullets already made this night a win.

Lin Yi's signature Death sneakers were expected to officially launch later this month, and with his play getting better by the week, even Nike's execs were starting to feel the hype.

Across the court, the Celtics players couldn't help but glance his way.

Doc Rivers had warned his guys that playing in New York in the playoffs was a whole different beast. But even he hadn't expected this.

Madison Square Garden wasn't just loud — it was unhinged.

This city has been thirsty for a good playoff run for a long time.

What other arena makes you feel like you've already lost before tip-off, just by the way the crowd screams during warmups?

Knicks owner James Dolan stood courtside, soaking it all in. He understood exactly how the fans felt — after all, he was one of them. After years of heartbreak and mediocrity, watching Lin Yi take the league by storm felt like divine intervention.

So when Lin kept breaking records and dropping unforgettable moments, what else could Knicks fans do but stand and cheer?

When the player introductions began, it became the Lin Yi Show. When his name echoed through the speakers, the noise level spiked higher than the last.

"M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!"

Even the Danny Green— tending water bottles at the end of the bench couldn't hide his admiration. He leaned over to Ewing Jr. and said:

"Man… this dude's got it. Doesn't matter if it's the NCAA or the NBA."

Watching from home, Stephen Curry sat up on his couch, grinning.

"If I can even get close to playing in the playoffs…" he muttered to himself. "Man, I could die happy."

On the Garden's big screen, the starting lineups flashed:

Knicks:

Lin Yi

David Lee

Danilo Gallinari

Wilson Chandler

Toney Douglas.

Celtics:

Kendrick Perkins

Kevin Garnett

Paul Pierce

Ray Allen

Rajon Rondo.

As Lin and Kendrick Perkins stepped to center court for the jump, the Garden erupted into one unified chant:

"LIN! LIN! LIN! LIN!"

Lin won the tip easily — and the building roared again.

And not a single person in Madison Square Garden sat down.

Everyone knew what was coming next: the Knicks' opening play was going to Lin.

And he didn't disappoint.

Catching a pass from Toney at the top of the key, Lin squared up, gave Garnett a quick fake, and blew by him into the paint.

Then he soared — both hands high above the rim — and threw down a thunderous dunk.

BANG!

The rim shook. The whole arena shook.

"Wow! Charles!" Kenny Smith shouted, his voice nearly drowned out. "I can't even hear myself through these headphones! This crowd is chanting LIN! LIN! LIN! like it's a rock concert!"

"Same here, Kenny," Barkley muttered. "I think we're gonna have to yell just to call the game. This is the one of the craziest semi-finals I've called!"

On the court, Lin stayed composed despite the roaring crowd. Just as he expected, Boston's veterans still hadn't fully recovered — Garnett's footwork looked noticeably slower than it had in Games 1 and 2.

This was their chance.

The Knicks had to strike tonight and take the series lead.

On the Celtics bench, Doc Rivers crossed his arms and frowned

Celtics coach Doc Rivers's mood? Let's say it wasn't printable.

He thought he'd nailed the game plan. If the Knicks gave Lin Yi some rest, he'd do the same for Garnett and manage his veterans' minutes. But tonight… Lin Yi didn't sit at all in the first quarter.

And now Doc was left muttering to himself.

D'Antoni, hands in pockets, strolled past him on the sideline and quipped, "If we're gonna go down, let's go down swinging, huh?"

Doc just stared at him, speechless.

What kind of maniac keeps his star out there like this?

Him.

Finally, Doc sighed, turned to his assistants, and said quietly, "Alright. We're punting this one."

The Celtics' bench staff shot him shocked looks. Did Doc Rivers say give up? The guy who lives and dies with every possession?

But Doc wasn't wrong. If he kept grinding his Big Three down to match the Knicks tonight, they'd have nothing left for the rest of the series.

So at the start of the second quarter, he pulled them all. Garnett. Pierce. Allen.

Still, Doc's respect for this young Knicks team only grew. "Man… these kids just don't stop running," he muttered, watching Garnett's chest heaving on the bench.

The three veterans understood, even if their pride stung a little. As Doc told them, "Look, I know you could gut it out tonight. I know how much you care. But this is a seven-game series, and I need you fresh when it counts."

They nodded silently, glancing at the Knicks' relentless pace with a faint mix of envy and annoyance.

Doc planned to cap their minutes at zero the rest of the way. He wasn't throwing in the towel completely — Boston's bench still had fight in them, with Daniels, Tony Allen, and Rasheed Wallace battling the Knicks tooth and nail.

And sure enough, the Celtics clawed back. By midway through the second quarter, they'd even snatched a one-point lead whilst Lin was on the bench.

Knicks fans started getting anxious. "LIN! LIN! LIN!" they chanted, louder and louder.

To them, Lin Yi had already become the guy.

But D'Antoni didn't budge. He knew the Celtics needed rest, but so did Lin Yi.

Because, in his mind, Lin was already irreplaceable. And that's exactly why he couldn't afford to burn him out.

Finally, with just over five minutes left in the half, Lin Yi checked back in.

The Garden erupted.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Kenny Smith practically shouted into his mic, "And here he comes — Lin Yi's back on the floor! And hey — look at that — Garnett's coming back in too!"

Doc had wanted to keep Garnett out longer, but the big man had insisted. "Relax, Doc," he said, thumping his chest. "He's young. I've got experience."

That's just who KG was.

On the very first possession, Lin Yi drove and kicked to Gallinari, who missed the open shot.

The crowd groaned.

"What are you doing, SBC?!"

"C'mon, pass it back to Lin next time!"

"Damn it, no New York pie for him!"

Gallinari looked sheepish on the way back down. Lin almost laughed watching him squirm.

Finally, Gallo muttered, "Lin… now I get why you facilitate most times."

Lin raised an eyebrow.

Lin just stared at him. Maybe I'll elbow him later, he thought.

Still, Gallo had a good heart. And Lin knew he'd shake it off.

With the half winding down, Doc sent Pierce and Allen back in to get their rhythm. Sure enough, the rest seemed to help — they started hitting shots again.

Meanwhile, Lin kept exchanging blows with Garnett.

Then, with under a minute left in the half, David Lee swung the ball back to Lin, way beyond the arc.

Lin felt it. That strange rhythm he'd been chasing all series.

Two steps past the three-point line, Garnett crouched, ready to body him up.

But Lin rose and fired.

The Garden fell silent.

Swish.

The place exploded.

Kenny Smith choked back laughter and shouted, "Lin Yi from downtown!"

Almost 20,000 Knicks fans screamed his name.

Doc Rivers just spread his hands and smiled helplessly.

But on the very next possession, Allen calmly drilled a three of his own, reminding everyone why he holds the record for the most three-pointers made.

At halftime, the Knicks led 56–59

Lin had 8 of 16 shooting, including that dagger in the first half — Knicks fans were ready to crown him.

...

In the locker room, D'Antoni and Lin both wore serious expressions.

They knew.

The Celtics weren't done. They were pacing themselves.

If the Knicks let this slip, the series could swing fast.

Lin muttered under his breath, "Man… these old guys are annoying. Playing possum all regular season, then turning into wolves in the playoffs."

But this was the path he chose.

Being the best in the NBA was never supposed to be easy.

And honestly? That's what made it fun.

Halftime was over.

Time for the fight to begin again.

...

In the press area, Qi Jun could hardly hide his awe.

"I can't believe it, Xiao Lei… the whole Garden is chanting the name of a Chinese player."

Wu Xiaolei's eyes were wet. Years ago, Yao Ming had led millions of Chinese fans to dream about the NBA. But now… Lin Yi was climbing to a whole new height.

She could only whisper, through a tight throat, "Mhmm."

Chinese fans and New York fans might have come from different worlds, but in this moment, Wu Xiaolei finally understood why Knicks fans were so fiercely devoted.

They were proud, even to the point of stubbornness, and had paid a steep price for it over the years. So when Lin Yi kept shattering their expectations again and again… all they could do was give him their hearts, and their voices.

A little boy in the crowd, the one who famously owned 365 Lin Yi jerseys, was screaming himself hoarse for his idol. And perhaps in this moment, Lin Yi understood just what it meant to matter.

Lin knew he was still a long way from being a true superstar. But in this series… he was playing free, and playing with joy.

Not just because he was finding his rhythm. But it felt good to go head-to-head with these battle-tested veterans.

He smacked his hands on his cheeks.

Come on. Let's make it a war to remember.

...

Third Quarter.

The lead bounced back and forth, neither side willing to blink. But this time, Rivers didn't keep his Big Three on the floor stubbornly. When Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen came out to rest, D'Antoni also sat Lin Yi.

Because this wasn't just Lin Yi's series. When rookie Danny Green came in during the back half of the quarter, his defense was relentless.

The NBA only has room for so many success stories. Behind every winner are a thousand who never made it.

After three quarters, it was 74-79 Knicks.

Timeout.

Rivers originally thought about letting his starters rest just a little longer. But Pierce and Garnett stepped up before he could even say anything.

Ray Allen gave a quiet nod, too, as if to say: Don't worry about me, Coach. I've still got gas in the tank.

Pierce grinned. "Come on. I've been through worse than this. Remember, they once stabbed me through the lungs and missed my heart by a quarter-inch. You think I'm gonna let this kid have my spotlight without a fight?"

That's why they called him The Truth.

Or as the hood would like to say…The OG still the OG.

Garnett clapped his hands, laughing. "Not gonna just stand here and be his highlight reel all night, either. Kid wants to take our crown? He's got a long way to go yet."

Doc didn't hesitate. These guys knew how to pace themselves. Win or lose, he trusted them to keep the series alive.

On the Knicks bench, Lin Yi stood up to check back in, to deafening cheers.

D'Antoni shot him a quick look, silently asking: You still good?

Lin's eyes flashed back: I've still got plenty left.

D'Antoni nodded. Win or lose tonight, he believed this series was the beginning of something special for the Knicks.

...

Fourth Quarter.

The Knicks came out with Lin Yi at point, flanked by Harrington, Gallinari, Chandler, and Lou Williams.

The Celtics rolled out their full arsenal: Perkins, Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and Rondo.

Charles Barkley shook his head, smiling as he watched. "Anyone who says the NBA's gone soft needs to watch this series. Doesn't matter who wins… this is just brutal basketball."

Lin hit his 33rd shot of the night — a tough jumper — pushing the Knicks to a 74-81 lead.

On the other end, Garnett answered with a big fadeaway, pounding his chest. His glare seemed to say: I'm still here, kid.

Lin grinned to himself. He didn't know if the Knicks would win, but this — this kind of fight was what basketball was all about.

Pierce kept chipping away at the lead, forcing D'Antoni to call a timeout.

Then Lin scored again out of the huddle, and Rivers countered with his timeout after Ray Allen's four-point play.

"We thought Game 2 would be the classic of this series," Kenny Smith said breathlessly. "But Charles — like the old saying goes — it's never over 'til the end!"

With 37 seconds left, Barkley was already leaning forward. "This possession… this could decide the whole series."

The Garden was on its feet. Tied at 98–98. Knicks ball.

D'Antoni kept it simple: Give the ball to Lin.

Amid the roar, Lin worked a hesitation dribble, baited Garnett into the paint, and drew a foul from Pierce.

Two free throws. Both good. Knicks up, 98-100.

"That's 40 for Lin tonight!" Kenny Smith yelled. "And now the pressure swings back to Boston."

On the Celtics bench, everyone was looking at Pierce.

He took a deep breath and nodded.

Out of the timeout, Rondo inbounded to Pierce. The Knicks left Ray Allen lurking in the corner but stayed home on him.

Pierce backed Gallinari down, every move deliberate. Then a quick spin, fadeaway, and — swish.

"The Truth ties it up!" Kenny Smith roared.

Barkley just grinned. "Now it's time for Lin to answer back."

7.4 seconds left. Knicks timeout.

...

On the Boston bench, Rivers started to call for a double-team, but Garnett cut him off.

"I've seen him back in the NCAA and Wildcats days," KG said. "If we double, he'll find the open man. I'll take him straight up. If he beats me, fine — but I'm not letting him pick us apart."

Doc stared at him, then nodded. Sometimes you just trust your wolf.

The Knicks came back with four shooters flanking Lin, daring Boston to choose.

The Garden was eerily quiet now, everyone holding their breath.

CCTV's Yu Jia summed it up as Lin took the inbound: "From the chasing boy at Davidson to the big show of Madison Square… tonight, he stands as the king of New York. With his height, his speed, his touch, his decisiveness — Lin Yi is becoming someone you simply can't replicate."

"Now, let him finish it."

Belinelli inbounded to Lin off a screen.

No double came. Boston had swapped Perkins out for Tony Allen to cover ground faster.

Lin faced up against Garnett.

One deep breath.

He'd thought of a dozen moves. But when the clock started ticking, he trusted the one he knew best.

One hard step forward.

Lin pulled back, just enough space. Garnett lunged, arm outstretched.

Shammgod.

Lin rose, balanced, released.

The ball sailed, the buzzer blared —

— and Madison Square Garden erupted.

...

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