The Knicks-Rockets China Games set the stage on fire—and Chinese fans? They couldn't get enough.
The first game, held in Beijing, shattered viewership records. The Knicks walked away with the win, though most fans weren't all that worried about the score. For them, it was about seeing Yao Ming and Lin Yi on the same court again.
Yao played just six minutes in the first and another six in the second quarter. His minutes were being carefully managed—around 20 to 24 per game—as he worked his way back into the rhythm of NBA basketball.
Still, he looked sharp.
5-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, perfect from the line, and a tidy 15 points and 3 rebounds in limited minutes.
Lin Yi, on the other hand, played only 26 minutes, but left his mark. He went 10-of-15 from the field, 5-of-5 from three, and finished with 25 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.
The Knicks' squad was starting to take shape.
Aaron Brooks, last season's Most Improved Player, had a rough night. Every time he matched up with Livingston, he got locked down. Offensively, he couldn't get anything going—when he pulled up, Livingston's wingspan disrupted his shot; when he tried to drive, Lin Yi and Tyson Chandler closed the airspace like a no-fly zone.
Brooks shot 2-of-11, managing only 7 points and 2 assists. Zhang Xilin, doing commentary, couldn't help but call out his decision-making all game long.
Kevin Martin—acquired from the Kings—struggled too. The Knicks sicced Tony Allen on him in the second quarter, and Martin's quirky shooting form just didn't hold up under pressure. He got most of his 10 points at the line. If it weren't for the fouls, he might've gone scoreless.
Rockets coach Rick Adelman looked a little exasperated.
It's a Chinese exhibition game, he probably thought. Why are the Knicks playing like we owe them money?
Truth was, he didn't realize this was the Knicks holding back. D'Antoni kept reminding his players to tone it down on defense. But with so many young guys fighting for minutes, they weren't about to coast.
...
The rematch in Shanghai was more relaxed. The Knicks won again, 88–74.
Lin Yi played only 10 minutes, finishing with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and then spent the rest of the night chatting with teammates on the bench.
Yao hit one of four from deep, finishing with 5 points and 2 rebounds.
This time, the Knicks let the bench take over. Without Lin on the floor, their offense looked choppy. Lou Williams and Gallinari hadn't played in a while, and their rust showed.
The Rockets were even colder—2-of-21 from three.
Watching from the sideline, Lin Yi chuckled to himself.
"Are the Rockets cursed or something?"
Fans in Shanghai couldn't help but envy those in Beijing—but it wasn't Yao or Lin's fault. The regular season was right around the corner. No one wanted an injury this close to tip-off.
And fans got their share of laughs, thanks to Shaq.
During one possession, he came up to set a screen for Lin Yi.
"Shaq, get that damn pick-and-roll out of here!" Lin shouted exaggeratedly, waving him off like an annoyed point guard.
Shaq stiffened, slapped his chest like he'd been shot, and dropped to the floor in mock pain.
The crowd howled.
O'Neal could take a joke—but he was starting to suspect Lin might have a little too much Kobe in him.
Shaq sighed, then took a jab.
"Man… really should've gone to college."
After the game, Yao treated Lin and Shaq to a proper Shanghainese meal.
Everything was fine—until they reached the tofu.
"Sweet tofu is a culinary crime," Lin argued.
"Salty tofu is a national disgrace," Yao fired back.
Shaq sat between them, looking confused.
"…What the hell are we even talking about?"
...
By October 8th, the Knicks were back in New York, getting ready for the official preseason.
The media was already buzzing about their opener against the Miami Heat. Most analysts weren't giving the Knicks much of a shot.
He wasn't surprised people thought the Heat were unbeatable. LeBron, Wade, and Bosh were terrifying on paper.
Still, Lin knew the truth:
"There's only one basketball. They've got no shooting. And we've got a bunch of hungry defenders who don't care about hype."
...
On October 13, the Knicks hosted the Celtics in a preseason matchup. MSG was packed.
The fans were ready.
Shaq glanced around the arena and smirked.
"You know, Kobe should come watch this. Learn how to go 6-of-20 and still get cheered like a hero."
Gallinari added with a grin:
"Nah, it's 'cause Lin is single. The fans feel bad for him. He makes all this money and still goes home alone."
The team burst out laughing. Lou Williams gave him a thumbs-up. O'Neal clapped him on the back.
D'Antoni sat both Lin and Shaq for most of the game. Pat, Beverly, and Ewing Jr. all got extended minutes.
The Knicks lost, 85–74.
And D'Antoni?
Still rotating like he was conducting a science experiment.
...
October 16, 2010
The Knicks traveled to Boston to face the Celtics once again. With most of the starters resting, it was a chance for the bench to shine. Danny Green caught fire from beyond the arc, draining five threes—his offseason shooting grind was paying off.
But in the end, the Knicks still fell short, losing 83–90. That made it four straight games where New York, one of the highest-scoring teams last season, failed to crack 100 points.
Fans and local media didn't hold back. Some even went as far as calling Donnie Walsh the second coming of Isiah Thomas, branding him a tumor to the franchise.
But D'Antoni wasn't playing their usual rotations. Their firepower wasn't even on the floor. He wasn't worried about form, just wanted the team's new signings to get reps and find rhythm.
The issue? Most of the new guys weren't natural scorers. So yeah, the offense looked rough. But there was something no one else was talking about—the Knicks had held their opponents under 100 points for four straight games.
And they weren't even trying that hard on defense yet.
...
October 17 — Knicks vs. Wizards
Back at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks hosted the Wizards. John Wall, the No. 1 pick, had been solid all preseason. Yi Jianlian was also getting minutes and playing a key support role.
But that night, Wall struggled—just 9 points and 5 assists. Yi was a bit better with 12 points and 7 boards.
Still, the Knicks crushed the Wizards 99–73. And somehow… fans were scratching their heads. They were used to the Knicks being high scoring and smooth plays.
Another game without reaching 100 points. And to some, the Knicks just didn't look as sharp as last season.
"If Dolan's broke, can someone tell him to stop messing with the team?" one fan tweeted.
Plenty of others blamed the lack of offseason spending. Paying the luxury tax was a Knicks tradition, after all. Now? They were one of the lowest-salaried teams in the league.
New York fans weren't used to budget basketball. And journalists? They smelled blood in the water. Donnie Walsh was feeling the heat.
Not that he could go out and explain the team's plan to the media… not unless he wanted to lose his job.
When Walsh dropped by the training facility, hoping to see urgency, he found something else entirely: players joking, laughing, relaxed.
Where was this confidence coming from?
He pulled D'Antoni aside. "Mike, if things keep going like this, maybe Lin should start getting more ball time."
D'Antoni shot him a look. "Donnie… do you trust what we're building or not?"
"Lin's the foundation of what we're doing this season," he added. "We lose a few preseason games and now everyone's panicking?"
Walsh ran a hand through his thinning hair. "You don't understand. If we start the regular season like this, I'm the one they'll crucify."
Even Dolan wasn't staying silent. He gave Lin a call himself—frustrated.
Dolan: "You know what? I'm not broke, okay? Even if I paid luxury tax for 20 years straight, I wouldn't go bankrupt. But this frugal experiment's killing me!"
O'Neal, hearing this since it was on speaker, said: "Should've signed me for $20 million, then."
Lin chuckled while high-fiving Shaq. "Yeah, and just send the other $10 million to me while you're at it."
Too bad Dolan was on mute. He would've had a full-on meltdown.
...
October 19 — Knicks vs. Nets
The Knicks blew out the Nets at home, winning by 58. But since the Nets were widely considered one of the worst teams in the league, no one was particularly impressed.
As opening night inched closer, the outside noise grew louder.
"If the Knicks don't want to win, trade Lin!" barked Buckley on a sports show.
On Weibo and Twitter, Lin Yi's page was flooded with sympathy messages:
"You deserve better, Lin."
"Hang in there!"
"Feels like you're carrying the whole team!"
Lin Yi: "..."
He didn't expect this tragic hero narrative to take off like it did.
But maybe that's just how it is—every country loves an underdog. The only thing they didn't realize?
He wasn't the one doing all the carrying.
He was the one being carried… by a locker room full of quiet, steady legs willing to run through walls for him.
...
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