On November 25th, the Knicks visited Houston to face the Rockets.
To get ready for this one, Harden even scrapped his plan to check out a newly opened nightclub the night before. That alone said a lot.
During the off-season, around Lin Yi, Curry, and the others, Harden usually looked relaxed.
Back in Houston, that edge returned. The college version of Harden showed up again. The guy who wanted the ball. The guy who wanted control.
Under McHale, Harden had full freedom to hunt fouls and dictate tempo. Tonight, the opponent was the Knicks, riding a ten-game winning streak, led by the Showtime.
Harden did not back off. He leaned in. He wanted Lin Yi, head-on, like those dramatic summer ads where the challenger storms the throne.
In the 2009 draft class group chat, Curry, Griffin, and DeRozan were already locked in.
"Pull Lin off that throne."
"James, we are all Rockets fans tonight."
"Make him foul out."
Harden replied with a helmet-smoking emoji.
"Relax," he typed. "Houston on the 25th will feel like war. I already told the guys, beat Lin, and I cover all nightclub bills for a month."
A new contract, and Harden spoke with confidence. Boss energy.
. . .
Today, Space City felt divided.
As McGrady and Yao Ming appeared during warmups, large sections of the Toyota Center applauded the visiting Knicks. Rockets fans had not forgotten Yao and McGrady. Too many memories live in this building.
Lin Yi noticed Harden early. The look. The body language. The intent.
They knew each other too well. Harden had spent off-seasons in New York, running games with Lin Yi. Lin understood what this was. Harden wanted to play the rebel. A challenger aiming for the crown.
On TNT, Kenny Smith set the tone.
"James is averaging 25.7 points this season. Those are great numbers. He went from a sixth man in Oklahoma City to a clear centerpiece in Houston."
Shaq nodded.
"People talk about his defense, but look at the numbers. Sixty point one percent true shooting. That is smart scoring."
Quietly, Shaq was rooting for him.
Barkley cut in.
"If we are talking efficiency, then let's talk about Lin. Lin this season…"
Inside, Barkley was already shouting.
Go, Lin. I have been on this train for four years.
The big screen rolled out the starting lineups.
Knicks:
Chandler
Marcus Morris
Lin Yi
Green
Paul.
Rockets:
Asik
Patterson
Delfino
Harden
Jeremy Lin.
As Lin Yi walked toward center court, Harden clenched his fist and flashed it at him.
A signal.
A challenge.
Another internal clash within the 2009 class, where friendship was put aside for the tip-off.
Lin Yi just smiled.
Asik barely left the floor on the jump ball. Power was his game, not timing. Lin Yi won it clean.
First possession. Knicks ball.
Patterson drew the assignment on Lin Yi. Ironically, this was the same Rockets team that had once lost Chandler Parsons to Lin Yi. Parsons never quite fit in New York, but rumors now say Houston might bring him back via a trade with Indiana.
On the floor, Lin Yi set a screen for Paul. The Rockets opened in man-to-man. With Lin Yi known this season as a dominant interior force, both Patterson and Jeremy Lin dropped back half a step on the pick-and-roll.
That was enough.
Paul read it instantly. A behind-the-back pass hit Lin Yi in rhythm. No hesitation. Lin rose and fired from deep.
Lin could feel it. The release was smooth. He knew this was a bucket when it left his hands.
Patterson closed out late. One step short.
Splash.
Three to zero.
Barkley jumped in his seat.
"Oh ho. Lin opens with a three. Did the Rockets forget this guy led the league in ultra-deep threes over the last three seasons?"
Shaq frowned.
"You cannot defend him like that," he said. "That is a gift."
Rockets ball.
Harden stayed on the perimeter, dribbling in rhythm, selling the step-back. Danny Green bit on the fake and lost half a step. That was enough. Harden lowered his shoulder, turned his body, and drove straight into the lane.
Lin Yi opened his mouth to warn Chandler, but the play had already tipped.
Harden leaned in on purpose, found Chandler's chest, threw both arms up, and let out a sharp yell. The whistle came immediately.
Tyson Chandler froze, then pointed at the big screen, clearly frustrated, asking for a replay.
It did not matter. He had brushed Harden's beard. That was enough.
Lin Yi walked over and patted Chandler on the back.
"Tyson, stay vertical there," he said calmly. "Just contest from your spot. If he shoots a floater from that angle, I'll live with it."
Lin Yi had warned everyone before tip-off. Harden would hunt contact. On Houston's floor, that skill always got a little extra help.
Harden stepped to the line and knocked down both. 3 to 2.
Next trip, the Knicks ran a horns set. Harden, clearly locked in tonight, actually fought on defense. Danny Green could not shake free. Paul reset and swung the ball to Lin Yi.
High arc. Clean release.
Splash.
5 to 2.
Lin Yi thumped his chest as he backpedaled.
Shaq shook his head on the broadcast.
"Patterson has to be firmer there. That closeout is too soft."
On the court, Patterson looked confused and annoyed. He had contested. The shot still went in. Somehow, it was his fault.
Second Rockets possession. Jeremy Lin drove, kicked it out, and Delfino missed a wide-open three. Lin Yi pulled down the rebound and pushed the break himself.
Harden sprinted back, trying to cut him off.
Lin Yi crossed the three-point line and sold the pass. Ball in his right hand, eyes up. Harden reached, trying to jump the lane.
Lin Yi snapped the ball back, rose, and fired.
Swish.
8 to 2.
Kevin McHale called a timeout immediately.
Less than a minute had passed. Lin Yi already had eight points. This was getting out of hand.
On TNT, Barkley sounded pleased.
"Lin is locked in tonight."
Shaq leaned back, uneasy.
He is not about to do something historic, is he?
The building buzzed.
Momentum did not care about logic.