Chapter 148: Trailblazers vs Knicks

As Lin Yi geared up for the Knicks' December 7 home game against the Portland Blazers, something unexpected fired him up.

Back in the NCAA, DeMarcus Cousins—the projected top pick from Kentucky—had just gone viral for grabbing boards and going coast-to-coast like a guard. After the game, a grinning Cousins told reporters, “The big guy in New York? That’s my aspiration of a modern day big! I love handling the ball. I love shooting too.”

Almost at the same time, Georgia Tech’s Derek Favors jumped on the bandwagon. “No question about it—Lin inspired me,” he told the press. “He’s a game-changer.”

Favors even said he was planning to spend more time next season working on his handle and mid-range jumper.

The whole NCAA lit up.

Lin Yi’s playstyle had become contagious. Suddenly, every big wanted to play like a guard.

Naturally, this caused a bit of a stir. Some veteran coaches and analysts were quick to pour water on their excitement. “Lin Yi’s a freak of nature.” they warned. “Don’t try to copy him.”

But others saw it differently. The game was evolving. Big men who could shoot and move like wings? That wasn’t a trend—it was the future.

Lin Yi heard it all, and honestly, he couldn’t help but smile. He knew Cousins would later be labeled a point forward, and Favors? Well, the kid would eventually develop a solid mid-range shot. The three wasn’t exactly his thing, but still, progress.

And yeah... it made Lin feel kinda old. Like seriously he was in the NCAA last year and people now were using him as a reference.

Guess I need to come up with a few inspirational quotes, he thought. Imagine future players saying, “Like the great Lin Yi once said…”

He chuckled at the idea.
Cousins, Embiid, Anthony Davis quoting me? Man, I might actually tear up.

...

December 7, 2012

Madison Square Garden, New York

The Knicks were holding down home court again, this time hosting the Portland Trail Blazers.

Before tip-off, TNT stirred the pot with a panel debate. The hot topic: Are all these NCAA big men trying to play like Lin Yi… and is that even a good thing?

Modern basketball was flipping the old script. With guys like Durant in 2007 and now Lin Yi in 2009, people were starting to ask—why shouldn’t big men play like wings?

Charles Barkley wasn’t having it. Kenny Smith was all for it. The two argued in circles. No winner there, just a lot of shouting and Chuck roasting Kenny’s jumper.

But tonight’s matchup was perfect: a clash of eras. Traditional big vs. modern unicorn.

And right in the middle of it? Greg Oden.

Yeah, that Greg Oden.

He wasn’t supposed to be playing. In the original timeline, Oden had injured himself just a few days earlier in a game against the Rockets, an injury that was supposed to sideline him for the season.

But here he was—suited up and active. Somehow still standing.

No, seriously, Lin thought, watching the Blazers' starting lineup scroll across the jumbotron. Is Portland ever gonna change their team doctors?

Seeing Oden up close again hit Lin differently.

Dude looked way older than his age, like he had a mortgage and a couple of grandkids. And yet, here he was, still fighting.

Oden’s story was basically a walking injury report. His rookie year? Gone. 2008–09? His most complete season, where he flashed serious defensive upside.

So the Blazers had bet big on him for 2009–10. He was averaging 11 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2 blocks in just 24 minutes per game—right before he got hurt again. Only 22 games in, and boom—done. And it would be three long years before he'd play again.

He even ended up in the Chinese league. His fall was brutal to watch.

Lin’s heart ached a bit. Compared to Oden, Brandon Roy—another Blazers star—wasn’t much luckier. Crazy talented, but his knees just couldn’t hold out.

Man, Lin sighed. If Roy and Oden had stayed healthy, who knows what kind of team Portland could’ve become?

That’s the thing about basketball. Sometimes it’s not about talent or work ethic. Sometimes, it’s just about what your body lets you do.

And as Lin stepped onto the court, he felt it—that bittersweet mix of gratitude, admiration, and a quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, he’d keep defying the odds a little longer.

Anyway, the Blazers were no joke. Solid team out West.

Sure, the Knicks were playing back-to-back, but since they’d just wrapped up a win at home and the starters got some rest, Coach D’Antoni wasn’t sweating it. He had faith the team could take care of business tonight.

As Lin Yi strolled toward center court for the tip-off, he gave Greg Oden a once-over. The guy looked... seasoned. Like, life-had-happened-to-him seasoned.

Are you seriously just two years older than me? Lin wanted to ask. You look like you pay taxes for fun.

Knicks starting five:

• Lin Yi

• David Lee

• Gallinari

• Chandler

• Douglas.

Blazers:

• Greg Oden

• LaMarcus Aldridge

• Martell Webster

• Brandon Roy

• Andre Miller.

Lin won the tip—clean and smooth. Even though Dwight Howard had ended his perfect record earlier in the season, Lin still had the best jump ball win percentage in the league.

As he jogged into the halfcourt set, he noticed Blazers coach Nate McMillan had Aldridge guarding him.

Interesting choice.

Anyway, first possession. Lin got the ball from Douglas and immediately called for a pick from David Lee. Here came the Knicks’ bread-and-butter inside screen action.

The Blazers switched—Oden now had to step up. Lin smoothly brought the ball from his right to his left, drawing Oden out. They collided lightly mid-drive, like an awkward dance move.

. Oden lost balance.

Lin pulled it back behind the arc.

Oden: down.
MSG crowd: up.

Lin raised up without hesitation.

Splash!

Just like that, Madison Square Garden was on fire.

“M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!”

▄︻┻┳═ 一!

Lin held up his right hand like a pistol, gently blew off the smoke, and walked back cool as ever.

But Lin wasn’t just hyped about the crowd reaction or the smooth shot.

Finally, he thought, that damn Limitless Range Silver Badge is unlocked!

As if flipping a switch, muscle memory clicked into place. Ultra-long threes felt... easier. Natural. Like he’d done this his whole life.

Now, all five position badges—center, power forward, small forward, shooting guard, point guard—were at silver.

Congratulations to the host! Badge upgrade path to Gold now unlocked.

Not that he had time to check the requirements. Back on defense, Portland was pushing the pace.

Brandon Roy—aka B-Roy—came down cool as ice, shook his defender with a series of slick crossovers, then pulled up...

Time to see if MSG was getting treated to a shootout.