Chapter Forty-Two: The Speed That Breaks Your Opponent’s Bones

"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." I’ve forgotten which famous person first said this, but I do know a certain basketball fan once remarked of him, “Give him enough confidence, and he can break someone’s bones.” That “he” is Lin Fei.

This was a game against the Celtics. Most of their players were of Hall of Fame caliber—All-Stars? They’d have to wait their turn. The Celtics boasted a “Big Three,” a “Big Four,” a “Big Five,” even a “Big Six”—it was almost beyond imagination. Their only issue was that age was catching up to them. Legends like Shaq, Garnett, Ray Allen, Pierce, and still-active All-Stars like Jermaine O’Neal and Rondo—these were fierce opponents for Golden State. The Warriors had just defeated the Bucks and the Spurs, with morale soaring and momentum unstoppable. But the Celtics, as last year’s Eastern Conference champions, were formidable.

For the Warriors, this was a tremendous challenge. Their narrow victory over the Spurs felt somewhat fortuitous, and now, facing the Celtics, there was no doubt this would be a hard-fought battle. Analyzing the starting lineups, the Celtics clearly outmatched the Warriors across the board. As the old saying goes, “Old ginger is spicier.” Despite their years, an old camel is still bigger than a horse. At center, O’Neal in his prime was unstoppable, and even in his twilight, he still possessed a power that Crowder could not match. At power forward, the aging Garnett was superior to Jobs. At small forward, it went without saying—Pierce, one of the league’s most physically gifted, outmatched X. At shooting guard, Ray Allen’s shooting had been consistent for a decade, earning him the nickname “The Gentleman’s Sword,” and was no idle boast. However, Keynes’s defensive skills had improved markedly of late, making his matchup with Allen nearly even, with a slight edge to the Celtics. At point guard, Rondo was renowned, especially for his playmaking, outshining Curry in that regard. If the Warriors had any advantage, it was in their bench depth, but the Celtics had their own formidable reserves in Green and Jermaine O’Neal. The Warriors’ greatest advantage lay in their youth and tactical flexibility, especially with the rising star Lin Fei.

In truth, fans’ attention was focused on one thing: how Lin Fei would fare against the Celtics, and particularly, how he would match up with Rondo—what kind of sparks would fly between the two.

The game began with the Celtics employing suffocating defense. The Warriors’ offense sputtered, scoring only 2 points in the first four minutes—a dismal showing. Spectators were quick to sigh at the Celtics’ enduring strength. The Celtics racked up 12 points, with Garnett’s mid-range shots and O’Neal’s dominance inside proving lethal. On the court, the Warriors seemed to be retreating step by step. Sensing trouble, Coach Nelson called a timeout, substituted Keynes for Lin Fei, evidently hoping to open up the game. Lin Fei entered to the adoring applause of the crowd. Rondo glanced at him—this kid, huh!

There was one thing everyone wanted to see: Lin Fei’s three-point shooting had terrified the league—no one could guard him, his accuracy almost unerring. Ray Allen, for decades, had been one of the league’s greatest shooters, recently surpassing Reggie Miller for the most career three-pointers made, with a nearly 40% three-point percentage that struck fear into opponents. Many compared him and Lin Fei, but there was a difference—over eighty percent of Allen’s threes were assisted by teammates, while Lin Fei created his own shots, using his speed to carve out space. But when they faced each other, who could say what would happen?

Lin Fei took the floor, dribbled to the three-point arc at a 45-degree angle, with the aging Ray Allen defending closely. Lin Fei executed a quick crossover and accelerated; Allen backpedaled furiously, but Lin Fei suddenly stepped back, creating space. Still not satisfied, Lin Fei dribbled right, widening the gap, then rose for the jumper—three points, clean. Allen’s expression changed; this kid’s three-point ability was something even he, in his prime, could not rival. Allen had never been able to create so much space for his own shot, but Lin Fei made it look effortless.

The Celtics’ coach’s face darkened. The rumors were true—this Warriors rookie was indeed the real deal. He quickly called a timeout to adjust his defensive strategy. The aging Ray Allen was no longer capable of guarding this super rookie.

The Celtics didn’t make a substitution, but instead assigned Rondo to guard Lin Fei. Rondo was lightning-fast, with a long wingspan and quick hands; defending Lin Fei would be a challenge worth watching.

Rondo faced Lin Fei, delivering three consecutive assists, while Lin Fei missed three straight shots. The gap between the two teams widened. Lin Fei realized it was time to adjust his approach.

Bringing the ball up at midcourt, Lin Fei crossed over left and right, trying to shake Rondo, but Rondo, one of the league’s best defenders at the one, was not so easily beaten. Even after breaking through, Lin Fei didn’t shoot. Many thought he seemed hesitant, but Lin Fei knew he needed to reset himself.

Then, using a teammate’s screen near the free-throw line, Lin Fei shook off Rondo and scored with a floater. Clearly, he was shifting from his usual reliance on jump shots to more drives and assists, or scoring himself—an evolution befitting a true superstar.

The real highlight came in the second quarter. Lin Fei handled the ball, Rondo pressed close. Lin Fei dribbled behind his back, intent on breaking through on the left. Rondo naturally followed. Lin Fei spun, switched to the right, slipped the ball between his legs, and as Rondo adjusted, Lin Fei made a sudden, dramatic crossover. At that moment, Rondo was already twisted at a forty-five degree angle. Trying to keep up, he turned his body, but Lin Fei’s sequence was so quick that as Lin Fei darted past, Rondo’s ankle visibly twisted. With such close defense, Lin Fei’s move inevitably made contact, and with Rondo already leaning back, the combination of forces sent Rondo tumbling to the floor. Lin Fei seized the moment—jump shot, score. Rondo remained seated on the court, unable to get up, clearly injured his ankle.

Perhaps it was a bit ruthless, but it was reality. The crowd erupted in applause—what a beautiful display. Lin Fei’s crossovers, acceleration, spins, and sudden changes of direction were seamless, impossible to anticipate. Rondo was sent sprawling, his ankle hurt—unimaginable.

With Rondo out, the Celtics lost their engine and collapsed. The Warriors pressed their advantage, came back in the second half, and took the victory.

When people talked about this game, few mentioned Lin Fei’s 35 points. Instead, they recalled that breathtaking sequence of moves, for here was a man whose crossovers could all but break defenders’ bones. In the days that followed, “the man who could break ankles” became a favorite topic among fans. That sequence would surely become a legend, etched into NBA history!