The Knicks gave the Celtics no breathing room in the season opener.

Boston's veterans looked every bit their age tonight, and unfortunately, they became the first sacrifice to the Knicks' new system.

Coach D'Antoni couldn't help but smile — shifting Lin Yi to small forward had completely unlocked this team. The Knicks racked up 33 assists as a unit, and their basketball was anything but the gritty, grind-it-out style they were known for last year. Tonight, it was pure art — fast, fluid, and beautiful.

After the game, Barkley summed it up perfectly: "The Knicks played team basketball to perfection. They don't have a Big Three like the Heat, and they're not stacked like the Mavericks — but right now, the Knicks are the most complete team in the league."

If Lin Yi had heard Sir Charles Barkley going off like that, he'd probably be grinning ear to ear.

Of course, nobody outside the locker room really knew how absurdly loaded this roster was. Lin Yi didn't mind — quiet praise was still praise, and he'd happily take it.

Final score: 88–121.

The Celtics never stood a chance. Garnett's chest-thumping was love taps now; they couldn't summon the fire from their glory days. By the postgame presser, even he looked drained — no trash talk, no glare, just resignation.

The chatter around the league was shifting, too. More and more people were starting to speak up for Nowitzki. Many believed that if Dirk hadn't run into Lin Yi — a player who dominated the league from the moment he stepped on the floor — the Mavericks' championship run might've rewritten history. Some even went as far as saying Dirk's legacy would've eclipsed Garnett's.

Meanwhile, Boston's front office was already planning for the inevitable rebuild. Danny Ainge wasn't the type to wait until the ship sank completely. Lin Yi noticed something odd during the game — the chemistry between Pierce, Garnett, Rondo, and Ray Allen felt off. Communication was fading.

Not that Lin Yi cared much about the Celtics' internal politics. He knew the real drama in the coming seasons would be in Los Angeles — and that battlefield was going to be something to behold.

Tonight, though, the focus was all on the Knicks. The hype about the Lin Yi–Paul pairing was fulfilled, and any little doubt vanished instantly. Paul's presence had completely freed Lin Yi up.

For the first time in years, Lin had the stamina to crash the offensive glass. Seven offensive rebounds later, he looked like a man unleashed.

In just 31 minutes, Lin Yi posted a casual triple-double: 27 points, 16 rebounds, 13 assists. If Klay hadn't cooled himself off in the fourth, those numbers could've been even more absurd.

And speaking of Klay — what a debut. The kid took fifteen shots, all from beyond the arc, and drilled eight of them. Twenty-four points, no free throws. Unreal.

No one was more amazed than Chris Paul.

"I had 15 points and 6 assists," he said afterward, shaking his head. "And we still won by 33?"

He'd actually spent days studying film, thinking he'd have to dig deep against the Celtics' defense — but the Knicks just blew them away.

When asked about his new team, Paul smiled, "The Knicks are a special group. I came here for one reason — a championship."

A reporter asked the obvious question: Who's the leader of this team — him or Lin Yi?

Paul laughed. "Does it matter? I don't care about being the guy. Lin's an MVP for a reason. I'm just here to win. Call me second, third — doesn't matter. I'm fine with that."

Reporters were stunned. Clearly, they didn't understand how this Knicks team worked. They weren't a bunch of mafiosi who had to answer to their boss. Neither Lin nor Paul cared about hierarchy — only results, though they kept each other accountable.

When Lin was asked the same question, he shot down the alpha narrative immediately.

"Chris and I are grown men. If Klay's hot, we feed him. Simple as that."

No power struggle, no ego battle — because in New York, Lin Yi's throne wasn't up for grabs anyway.

The media couldn't stop gushing about the team chemistry. Even Klay, glowing from his debut, said, "Lin and Chris are both amazing vets." Laughter was heard around the room, "Yeah, I am calling Lin a vet. Feels like he has been here forever. I have learnt a lot from them and am very grateful."

Chauncey Billups had backed Lin on that exact point last season, saying, "If a guy's in the 180 Club and wins the scoring title, why shouldn't he shoot?"

After this opening statement win, most analysts agreed — the Knicks weren't just contenders; they were favorites. The roster balance, the chemistry, the style — everything clicked. With Paul drawing defensive attention, the old Jordan Rules didn't apply anymore.

Lin Yi had his eyes on another MVP, too. With a second star in town, his numbers might dip — unless, of course, he went for the unthinkable: a season-long triple-double. That, he knew, would make the award a lock.

Commissioner Stern couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. The Knicks' dazzling opener was a perfect mix of flair, precision, and pure entertainment.

...

"Klay, what's up with you today?" Lin Yi asked, glancing over from the whiteboard in his New York villa. They'd been going over some Chinese phrases, but Klay's mind was clearly elsewhere.

Klay blinked, snapping out of it. "Huh? Oh—sorry, Lin. I was just… thinking about our next game. We're heading to Oakland soon, and I've been replaying some of my moves from the last game in my head."

Lin raised an eyebrow. "The Warriors, huh?"

"Yeah," Klay said, his tone sharpening a little. "You know, every time I see Curry's 2K rating, it just gets under my skin. I need to show people I'm better than that elementary school kid."

Lin couldn't help but laugh and tease. "Really? You're still hung up on that? You know he is married, right?"

Klay had his mouth agape with a wounded expression. He soon found a couch pillow to chuck at Lin, which soon became a pillow fight with Sakazuki joining, and Wiggles being the cheerleader.

A few minutes later, they could be seen sprawled on the floor in a mess of a living area, catching their breath.

"Hey, it's not about the game. It's about respect." Klay said after some time.

Lin smiled helplessly. He'd seen fans argue about who the better shooter was between the two countless times, but now it wasn't just some barbershop debate — it was actually going to play out on the court.

Tomorrow, the Knicks will fly out west to start a three-game road trip. First stop: Oakland.

"Klay," Lin said, "you don't have to treat Steph like some kind of enemy. Can't you just… be friends?"

Klay snorted. "Friends? With that overgrown kid? No way. Next game, I'm telling Coach I want to guard him more. Trust me, Lin — I'll lock him down. He won't even get five points."

Lin sighed, shaking his head. "You know, that sounds exactly like something he'd say about you."

Klay grinned. "Then I guess we'll see who's right."

"Oh my, what do we have here?" a feminine voice intruded into their conversation.

Both men got up from the floor in haste to find Olsen holding groceries staring at the room and them disappointingly.

...

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