GRANDMAESTA_30
patreon
Chapter 258: Ready Or Not, Miami!
🕑 Added 2025-07-25 14:18:40 +0000 UTCWhen Lin Yi told his teammates about the upcoming documentary, O’Neal was the first to jump in.
“Shameless! Absolutely Shameless!” he shouted, half-laughing, half-crying out in mock outrage.
The big man hadn’t forgotten how he once played through injuries and got blasted by the media for being unprofessional. Now here was Lin Yi, spinning narrative gold out of a sore ankle?
“Man, I didn’t know you could market pain. That’s next-level!” O’Neal grumbled—but with a wide grin.
Truth be told, he loved it.
The rest of the team? Fully on board. Some of them even joked that Lin Yi was doing them a favor by taking more shots—at least it meant they weren’t getting blamed.
Lin glanced around the gym, then up at the rafters of the Knicks’ training facility, and smiled.
What Lin didn’t realize was that his teammates genuinely liked and respected him. A lot of them were only in New York because of him. They knew it. They felt it. And Lin Yi? Always approachable. Never big-headed. You could joke with him, prank him, call him out, roast him—and he’d just laugh with you.
Plus, it helped that Lin Yi wasn’t stingy. After his big payday during the summer—thanks to smart investments during the South Africa World Cup—he splurged on custom gold watches for the whole team. Each one was worth over fifty grand.
Lin didn’t mind the spending. His parents, though? Still frugal, still traditional. When he wired a large sum back home, they barely touched it.
...
Later, when Coach D’Antoni caught wind of the documentary idea, he surprised no one by giving it his blessing.
“Works out. I was planning to sit you out the last two preseason games anyway,” D’Antoni told Lin. “We’ll spin it for the cameras. Use it to build some momentum.”
D’Antoni had a soft spot for Lin. The previous season’s Coach of the Year award? That was with Lin’s help. No way he’d say no to helping the guy who boosted his career.
So they filmed it—ice packs after practice, limping off the court, somber music in the background.
Then came the press conference.
D’Antoni stepped up to the mic before their preseason game against the Sixers and dropped the bombshell.
“Lin Yi sprained his ankle during practice. He’ll miss the rest of the preseason,” he said.
“But we’ve checked him out—he’ll be ready for the season opener. He’s a Knick. He’s coming back.”
The media went wild. Knicks fans? Devastated. Some cried. Others lit candles.
In China, Lin’s fanbase freaked out.
...
The next day, a reporter asked O’Neal for his thoughts. The big man didn’t miss a beat.
“Lin?” he said, eyes full of emotion. “He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever trained with. Injuries don’t break him. We believe in him.”
The delivery was Oscar-worthy. The concern? Convincing. Reporters who’d doubted the story at first started to buy into the idea that Lin’s injury was legit. Even the Sixers showed up with low energy, as if the fight had already gone out of the building.
Back in New York, Lin picked up the phone. It was O’Neal again.
“Yo! You see me out there? That was award-winning stuff! You better give me a bonus for that performance!”
Lin burst out laughing. “If I wasn’t still icing my ankle, I’d give you a standing ovation.”
But really, this was all about the long game. D’Antoni had pulled Lin to preserve him for the real battle ahead—opening night against the Heat. Lin’s endurance would be one of the deciding factors in how far the Knicks could go this season.
What no one expected was how far the narrative would stretch. With Lin suddenly sidelined, sympathy poured in. The Heat—already polarizing—became public enemy number one outside of Miami.
...
October 22nd, 2010
The Knicks wrapped up their preseason with a 94–85 win over the Raptors. Even without Lin Yi, this Knicks squad looked solid. With Lou Williams and Gallinari stepping up, offensive firepower wasn’t an issue.
D’Antoni’s confidence in the team grew by the day. They’d finished the preseason at 3–3—a decent foundation heading into the regular season.
...
“Game’s on the 27th. Heat,” D’Antoni said, as the team locked in their travel plans to Miami for the 25th.
During the break, Lin Yi stayed focused. He was studying game film, thinking about how the Heat might try to defend him—especially if LeBron drew the assignment—and how he could counter.
His biggest advantage? Height and speed.
Physically, he was in the best shape of his life. Over the summer, he’d put on muscle—enough to hold his own in the paint. His stamina had improved too. Badge-wise, his Tough Shotmaker and Ankle Breaker were at gold.
Still, he knew he wasn’t at the next level yet.
Fighting through contact, bouncing back after mistakes—that would be his next step.
Across the U.S., anticipation for the Knicks vs. Heat opener was building. It wasn’t just a game—it was the game. Everyone was watching. Even CCTV had dispatched a full crew to cover it, treating it like an NBA Finals rematch.
...
October 26th, 2010
One day before the opener, the Knicks held their final closed-door training session. D’Antoni went over the rotation and walked the team through key sets and defensive coverage.
“Don’t overthink the offense,” he said, pacing the court with a clipboard in hand. “The Heat’s defense is real. They’ve been solid all preseason. But they thrive off turnovers—runouts, transition buckets. Cut those off, and they struggle to score in the half-court.”
He knew his squad could defend, too. If it came down to a grind-it-out game, he liked their chances.
“They’ve got shooters, sure,” First Assistant Coach Kenny chimed in. “But if we stay disciplined on the closeouts, switch when we need to, we’ll be fine.”
He’d watched enough tape to see why D’Antoni wasn’t panicking. The Heat were very good—but they weren’t unbeatable.
...
After practice, Lin Yi caught up with O’Neal as the team cooled down.
“Shaq, be honest—any regrets coming to New York?” Lin asked, tossing him a towel.
O’Neal chuckled, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“None, man. But Lin—just remember—no matter how confident we feel right now, if we lose tomorrow? That whole energy disappears. Gone in an instant.”
Lin nodded. He wasn’t cocky. He knew exactly where he stood—still climbing, still chasing.
But that didn’t matter.
That’s what this game was for.
Ugly or not, ready or not, it was time to take a swing at the Heat.
