144 Knicks v. Celtics II
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: October 20th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~
~~~(Time: 8:02 PM)~~~
The Celtics start their defense, and I'm covering Tatum. They run some screens and picks to get players free, and the ball finds its way into Tatum's hands. I'm right there as he goes for a wing 3-pointer. I tip the ball, and it soars high into the air.
I grab it on its way down and throw an outlet pass to RJ up ahead. He goes in and hits a regular dunk. That's a Block on Tatum and an Assist for me.
"That's not happening every possession."
Tatum decides that it's time to talk. But I ignore him and get set on defense again since it's Boston's ball. I'm covering Tatum still, and I'm sticking to him like a booger you just picked from your nose.
My entire mission for tonight is shutting down Tatum, and I'm going to take it seriously. However, the Celtics are taking this seriously too. They screen me three times in a row, getting Tatum free as he drives into the paint.
Scoring a basket with a dunk.
They're putting all their focus on me tonight. Both on the offensive end and the defensive end.
It's our possession now, and I get the ball inbounded to me. I called for it. I'm not having this all fucking game. I'm going to show these refs even when they're not calling fouls. It's not enough to stop me.
Tatum and Smart double-team me as soon as I pass half-court, and I have to pass it away. But I get it right back once I make it to the 3-point line.
"You motherfuckers can foul me all you want. I'm still dropping 40 on your asses."
I'm thoroughly heated. I'm not usually like this. But the competition is igniting that fire in me.
I cross up Tatum and get past him. As I elevate for a dunk, I'm knocked out of the air. Literally shoved out of the air by Noah Vonleh.
The shot still goes in as I turned into a layup. But I hit the ground hard, and the refs finally blow their whistles. I can't even hear myself think from the amount of noise coming from the crowd. As my teammates help me up, I see Ellie screaming louder than anyone.
They're calling it a Flagrant 2. Noah is immediately ejected, and I'm given my free throw after making the shot.
"Don't worry. We're gonna get your punk asses back for that."
Jericho speaks up and starts to talk some shit to the Celtics while they're waiting for me to shoot my free throw.
As I sink my shot, Tom calls a timeout, and I head over to the bench as he calls us over.
"Okay, they're not going to let any easy baskets. They're the number one defensive league in the NBA. I expected roughness, but not Flagrant Fouls. If they keep this up, show them some New York hospitality."
Our timeout is over, and I make my way back onto the court and toward the defense.
Tatum brings the ball down the court, and he tries to break my ankles. But I poke the ball free and dive for it. The next thing I know, I feel two other people piling onto me. Whistles blow again.
~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~
~~~(Date: October 20th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~
~~~(Time: 8:04 PM)~~~
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BULLSHIT!!? THIS ISN'T FOOTBALL, YOU STUPID FUCKING REFS!!!"
I've never been so mad in my entire life!! This is one of the most blatant favoritisms I've seen in my entire life. It's taking all I have not to walk onto the court and smack the shit out of these motherfuckers!!
Hannah is right beside me and screaming at them along with me.
"YOU'RE ALL SO FUCKING LUCKY!! IF THE REFS WEREN'T ON YOUR SIDE, YOU WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE!!!"
That's the whole reason they're doing this.
As Ulysses has his teammates help him up, he's been called for a Reach-In Foul. That pick from Tatum was clean and perfect. I don't know how Ulysses is going to win this if they're being so fucking obvious about it.
The NBA won't let this slide. They can't. If they're forcing Ulysses to play like this, they need to hold everyone to the same rules.
