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...
Downtown Cleveland wasn't exactly breathtaking. All the scenery seemed clumped around Lake Erie, like someone had slapped the city's charm onto one edge and called it a day.
Coming from the bright lights and constant buzz of New York, the Knicks had landed in a quieter setting. There wasn't much distraction here, which was probably for the best. Everyone's focus was locked in on basketball.
Cleveland didn't have many tourist spots, but it did boast one iconic landmark: a massive billboard of LeBron James — the so-called THE KING.
Lin Yi glanced at it as the team bus rolled past.
That thing's coming down soon, he thought.
After "The Decision," it'd be ripped down in heartbreak — only to rise again with Bron's return.
The Knicks had flown into Cleveland a day early. Since this was the final game before the All-Star break, Coach D'Antoni decided not to impose a curfew. No "feet-off-the-street" policy tonight.
But honestly?
Lin Yi thought Coach was being cheeky. There was nothing to do in Cleveland anyway. Even if the Knicks were feeling adventurous... where would they even go?
"If you really wanna give the guys some leash, let them loose in L.A., Coach," Lin Yi muttered to himself. "Send these wolves out in Hollywood — that's danger."
Seriously though, if the Knicks were let out in Los Angeles, Lin Yi had no doubt the "dogs" on this roster could dramatically increase the city's happiness index.
Still, if sightseeing wasn't on the agenda, food was.
Lin knew of a solid spot near Akron — about 40–50 km from Cleveland — a place called Ken Stewart's Grill, It was one of LeBron's favorite local restaurant. It sat near his old high school. Hardcore LeBron fans in his past life told Lin Yi many things.
Fun fact: Steph Curry was also born in Akron, though he grew up in Charlotte. Small world.
So Lin Yi grabbed Gallinari, Lou Williams, Norris, Barron, and a few other teammates and led a mini food raid.
Steaks. Seafood. Pasta. Jumbo shrimp cocktails.
Nothing survived.
NBA players don't just eat — they devour. Even the slim-looking Lou Williams could probably out-eat three regular people combined.
The only thing Lin Yi regretted?
He didn't run into LeBron there.
...
February 9, 2010
Quicken Loans Arena.
This was it. The final showdown before the break.
Cleveland was buzzing. Led by LeBron, the Cavs had been sitting near the top of the league standings. And after the debacle in D.C., they'd just stolen Antawn Jamison from the Wizards — another piece for the title puzzle.
The fans were fired up. For them, this season felt like the one. A chance to finally shake the city's curse.
Cleveland had always felt... hexed.
So many American sports movies used Cleveland as a backdrop — usually because no team from here ever won anything.
When LeBron eventually led the Cavs to a title, it felt like a national sigh of relief.
The curse was broken.
As Russian-American comedian Yakov Smirnoff once joked at a stand-up:
"Cleveland, don't feel bad that the rest of America laughs at you. You know, every country laughs at one city. In Russia, we laugh at Cleveland too."
Even LeBron tried to distance himself, always saying he was from Akron.
Say you're from Akron, and people nod in respect:
"Small-town kid, made it to the top. Inspiring."
Say you're from Cleveland?
People just snicker.
...
Coach Mike Brown had decided to sit both Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas for this game.
After their first matchup with the Knicks, Brown had learned his lesson: slow, traditional bigs were useless against Lin Yi. They just couldn't keep up.
So tonight, the Cavs were rolling out a quicker lineup:
Varejao
Jamison
LeBron
Mo Williams
Anthony Parker.
The Knicks:
Lin Yi
David Lee
Gallinari
Wilson Chandler
Toney Douglas.
...
Beijing
"Mr. Su, the game's about to tip off here in Cleveland. You can see LeBron doing his signature chalk toss — classic stuff," said Yu Jia on CCTV's broadcast. "What are your thoughts going into this one?"
Su Junyang leaned into his mic. "Tonight's matchup is fascinating. No Shaq, no Big Z — Mike Brown's clearly adjusted. It shows how seriously teams are scouting Lin Yi now. Old-school bigs just can't deal with him."
"Right! And speaking of Lin Yi," Yu Jia added, "Did you hear the nickname Chinese fans are giving him lately?"
"Oh? What's that?" Su asked, intrigued.
"They're calling him Naixario."
Su blinked. "Naixario? What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
"Haha, I had to ask myself," Yu Jia chuckled. "Turns out it's from World of Warcraft. 'Deathwing' was called Naixario in the Chinese version. Fans are calling Lin that because of his 'Death' signature shoe series."
Su laughed.
...
Under the roar of the crowd at Quicken Loans Arena, the players gathered at center court.
Lin Yi stepped in to jump against Varejao.
The Cavs didn't want to lose this game. Not after the way things went down in the first meeting. That loss had crushed their momentum a bit— LeBron hadn't even smiled for a few days.
For James personally, Lin Yi was starting to feel like a real problem.
He was grabbing headlines. Winning fans. Drawing comparisons.
Taking the spotlight — from him.
LeBron hated losing. And he wasn't about to let this rookie steal the show again.
Not tonight.
Back in 2007, when LeBron James and the Cavs were swept by the Spurs in the Finals, it hurt a lot.
But the narrative was kind.
"Look how far he's taken them in just four seasons."
LeBron was still young, and he believed time was on his side.
That Spurs team?
A juggernaut.
Too strong. Too polished.
LeBron chalked it up as a valuable lesson. "My time will come."
But then came the next season.
The playoffs rolled around... and so did the Boston Celtics — with their trio of cagey, battle-hardened veterans. KG. Pierce. Ray Allen.
LeBron gave it everything. He fought like hell. But he couldn't shake them.
That was when it hit him: he couldn't do this alone.
The league was too stacked. Too deep. He needed help.
He never said it out loud — not to the press, not to teammates — but deep down, LeBron had always chased something bigger.
Jordan.
Every great player does.
And so, after losing to Boston, LeBron looked ahead. They're getting older. I'm getting better.
He convinced himself: next year, it's mine.
But then...
The 2009 playoffs happened.
And out of nowhere, the Orlando Magic ruined everything.
Not only did they take out the Celtics — they took out him too.
LeBron had poured his soul into that season. Again.
And once again?
It wasn't enough.
He started to ask himself: Is it me? Is it the team? Is it both?
He hated that feeling. Hated how hard he was working, just to be told:
"It's okay, there's always next year."
No.
Screw next year.
He wanted this year.
He still remembered watching the Finals. He'd had to turn off the TV halfway through.
Seriously? We lost to these guys?
To Dwight Howard and "happy basketball"?
The bitterness didn't fade.
So that summer, the Cavs front office went out and got Shaq.
Big name. Big body. Big hope.
And this season?
They came out swinging.
Crushed the defending champs in L.A. on Christmas Day.
But LeBron knew better.
Regular-season wins didn't mean squat when June rolled around.
And when they met the Knicks earlier in the season — and lost — something clicked.
This version of the Cavaliers wasn't invincible.
And that Knicks kid?
Lin Yi... that kid is a problem.
So Cleveland doubled down. After the Gilbert Arenas fiasco in Washington, they swooped in and picked up Antawn Jamison — a steady 20-point scorer.
Now?
Now they were stacked.
Now there were no more excuses.
They had the best record in the league. On paper, this should be the year.
But LeBron couldn't relax.
The more LeBron analyzed the matchup, the nervous he got.
The Knicks were young. Fast. Relentless.
The Cavs had more vets, more experience — but they didn't have the legs for a footrace. They couldn't match the Knicks in transition. They couldn't afford to get drawn into mismatches.
Big Z? Shaq? Against Lin Yi?
Forget it.
If they met in the playoffs, and the Knicks caught fire?
Could the Cavs win four games?
And if they didn't win this year?
What then?
Wait again?
He was done waiting.
If this season failed, he already had a backup plan. The front office knew how much this game mattered to him. It wasn't just about Lin Yi being a rising star. It was the fact that this Knicks team had humiliated the Cavs in their first meeting.
This was personal.
What James didn't know was that Lin Yi looked up to him not only as a basketball player but as a businessman and family guy.
If Lin knew he was living rent-free in LeBron's head, he'd probably beam with pride and say:
"What a thoughtful man— even treats me like a real threat already!"
Respect your opponents, no matter your record.
That was a lesson Lin Yi had taken to heart.
And tonight?
Tonight was Lin Yi's first game since hitting "Silver Tier."
He was curious himself to see what kind of damage he could do now.
..
At tip-off, Lin Yi easily outjumped Varejao. No contest.
First Knicks possession. He ran a clean pick-and-roll with Douglas. Jamison stepped out to contest.
Lin Yi calmly pulled up from deep.
Swish?
Not quite.
Clanked out.
But Lin nodded to himself.
The arc felt good. The release was clean.
Something inside him stirred.
That deep, inexplicable call.
It was silly — but Lin couldn't help grinning.
He was feeling great tonight.
But even with the upgrade, Lin Yi didn't get reckless.
He knew who he was — smart, flexible, never forcing the issue. Attack and retreat — that was his style.
The Cavs quickly answered back.
LeBron barreled in for a powerful finish.
And just like that, his nerves unclenched.
He'd drawn first blood.
It was something. A small victory.
Defense would win championships.
And the Knicks?
Their defense still had holes.
Next Knicks possession. Lin Yi curled off a screen from David Lee. Clean handoff. Pulled up from the right wing — bang.
Three.
"Lin Yi has taken two outside shots right out of the gate," Yu Jia noted on commentary. "Mr. Su, any insight there?"
Su Junyang leaned in. "It's clearly a tactical read. The Cavaliers might look like they're going small, but they're packing the paint. Driving into that congestion won't get Lin anywhere — so he's punishing them from outside instead."
And he was spot-on.
Lin Yi had picked up on that interior collapse instantly. So he stepped back, played the angles, and went to work from range.
Textbook.
The game was just beginning, but Lin Yi already had that feeling…
He glanced down at his right hand.
Yup.
He was cooking tonight.
And when you're in rhythm?
You don't question it.
You just let it fly.
...
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