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The NBA playoffs rolled on, and though the Magic fought hard, they couldn't avoid elimination at the hands of the Celtics. This time, though, it wasn't quite how Lin Yi remembered — Boston won in seven.
Watching, Lin could see how much gas the Celtics' aging roster had left. Not much. But the Magic just weren't good enough to capitalize. Tactically, they did the right things — Howard anchored the defense well — but their offense… just wasn't there.
The Celtics didn't even bother doubling Howard. He couldn't punish them consistently in the post, and he couldn't create enough openings for his teammates. If Boston and New York hadn't beaten each other up so much in the semifinals, Orlando wouldn't have lasted seven games.
Over in the West, Lin couldn't help thinking: were the Suns cursed?
After going down 0–2, the Suns rallied at home, locking up Kobe on defense to even the series 2–2. Even the media started believing Phoenix had cracked the code on how to beat L.A. People were saying if the Suns made the Finals, the championship was practically theirs, especially with the Celtics hobbling and running on fumes. Lin didn't know if Perkins would go down like in his memory, but Boston's vets were already held together by sheer willpower.
It was a shame, though. At the critical moment, the Suns just couldn't hold on.
Game 5 of the West Finals, Lin watched with Zhong Muchen and Elizabeth Olsen by his side. The Suns came out swinging — Nash, at 35, showed flashes of his two-time MVP brilliance with dazzling layups, silky shots, and pinpoint assists. Phoenix took the early lead.
But the Lakers kept hanging around. Believe it or not, it was Derek Fisher who kept them alive — his breakout was thanks in part to Nash's shaky defense.
With 3.5 seconds left, Jason Richardson buried a clutch three to tie the game. Suns fans were buzzing — if this went to overtime, the Lakers could be in trouble.
Then came the final play. The Lakers gave the ball to Kobe. Everyone knew what was coming. He rose, picture-perfect jumper… rimmed out.
But once again, it was a role player who saved the Lakers. Ron Artest crashed the boards, grabbed the offensive rebound, and laid it in at the buzzer.
Kobe wrapped Artest up in a huge hug, both of them yelling in relief and joy. That Game 5 win crushed the Suns' spirit — they'd fought back in the fourth and thought they had it.
But that's basketball.
In Game 6, the Lakers shut the door. Kobe dropped 37, Artest added 25, and Phoenix never got another chance. Lakers won the series 4–2.
For the second time in three years, it was Lakers vs. Celtics in the Finals. Even with LeBron's Cavs and Lin's Knicks already out, people were still hyped for another chapter of the classic rivalry.
But Lin couldn't care less about the sequel.
Zhong Muchen was all smiles, telling him he'd scored courtside seats for the Finals. But Lin just shook his head.
Of course, Lin Yi wasn't too eager to tune in—he already knew the Celtics were going to struggle against the Lakers. Sure, the Lakers had just finished off the Suns 4–2, but they'd managed to conserve more energy and avoid any do-or-die moments.
On paper, it might seem like the Finals were still a long way from the grueling East–West semis, but everyone knew: the deeper you went into the playoffs, the more it drained you. The physical toll was nothing like the regular season.
The Magic had pushed the Celtics to the brink in the East, largely thanks to Stan Van Gundy borrowing some of the Knicks' tactics and forcing Boston's veterans to run themselves ragged.
Boston was running on fumes now, while the Lakers looked fresher. Lin Yi respected the Celtics' vets, no doubt, but he also knew miracles don't just happen by chance—they happen when you've still got something left in the tank.
Take the Knicks' series against the Celtics, for example. Game 2, Game 3… sure, on the surface, it looked like they needed Lin Yi's heroics to pull through. But the truth? That was by design. The Knicks wore Boston down. Even if the so-called miracle hadn't happened in Game 2, it would've in Game 3 or 4. They'd stacked the deck.
That said… if Lin Yi remembered right, Kobe didn't exactly have his best Finals compared to last year's. And as a self-proclaimed Kobe stan, he hated watching his idol struggle. Lin Yi preferred the highlight-reel version of Kobe, not the gritty, ugly grind.
…
Still, under relentless persuasion from Zhong Muchen, who wouldn't take no for an answer, Lin Yi finally agreed to go watch the Finals.
But before that, he sat down with Javier Stanford.
"Our 2010 first-round lottery pick… that's already gone, right?" Lin asked. He was pretty sure the Knicks had traded it away ages ago to clear cap space. Didn't even have a second-rounder, if he remembered right.
Javier nodded, looking a little sheepish. "Yeah… Donnie and I tried everything. Nobody wanted to give us a first-rounder back—not even those bottom-feeder lottery teams."
Lin just shrugged. "No big deal. We should be able to buy into the second round with some cash. There are plenty of hidden gems in this class."
It was true. The 2010 draft had some big names in the first round, but it wasn't like Paul George or Gordon Hayward were franchise changers right out of the gate. Even DeMarcus Cousins, as talented as he was, didn't exactly fit what the Knicks needed right now. They didn't need another high-usage player clogging up the paint.
Honestly, the guy Lin Yi liked most in this draft was John Wall. That kind of explosive guard would've been perfect alongside him—Wall could push the pace, run the pick-and-roll, and take pressure off Lin. But there was no way Washington was giving up the number one pick. No chance.
So Lin shifted his focus to the second round. "That's where the real steals are," he said, almost to himself.
Javier nodded quickly. "That won't be a problem at all. We can buy into the second round. Just tell me who you've got your eye on."
Lin had already handed him a list. Javier, who'd spent years as a scout and beat reporter, actually jumped when he first saw the names on it.
"Don't overthink it," Lin said with a wry smile. "I follow the NCAA. I watch a lot of games, same as you."
That explanation made sense. Many young NBA players kept tabs on college prospects—they'd even played against some of them at camps or tournaments. Besides, the Knicks' top priority right now was keeping Lin Yi happy. If he liked these players, it probably meant he saw something in them that would complement his game.
Before Javier could say more, Lin leaned forward, his tone turning serious.
"Oh, and Javier… there's one more thing. I need you to help me get someone."
Javier straightened up in his chair, sensing this wasn't just about the draft.
Lin's eyes narrowed slightly, and he added, "It's important."
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