Just when you thought Linsanity was over, the NBA craze pulls you back in. Saturday night, inside Banker's Life Fieldhouse, Jeremy Lin once again showed everyone what all the hubbub was once all about.
Sporting their St. Patrick's Day green uniforms, the New York Knicks coasted to a 102-88 victory over the Indiana Pacers and won their third straight game under interim coach Mike Woodson.
The Knicks are back in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and Lin is looking like the flashy point guard former head coach Mike D'Antoni unleashed before his abrupt retirement last week.
Lin finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and only two turnovers.
The Knicks turnaround since D'Antoni's departure has been amazing. Last night, the team even played defense and held the Pacers to 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Lin was all over the place and sliced and diced Indiana's defense like the J-Lin of old— well... three weeks ago. He slashed his way to the basket and dished passes in traffic even when the Pacers were knocking him around.
On one play before the half, Lin raced down the lane for a tear-drop off the glass, but fell hard to the floor. He seemed light-headed after the play but on the next possession went full-court for another lay-up.
"I'm learning to play in a less spread offense," Lin said. "A lot of stuff is still the same. But there are times when I won't have as many opportunities. I just need to be select about when to go. I think tonight was a big step."
After the 2-and-8 slump before the Knicks' coaching change, the team is 3-0 and play watchable basketball once again.
The retailers better stock the shelves with plenty of green #17 jerseys— Linsanity is back.
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Minggu, 18 Maret 2012
Kamis, 15 Maret 2012
Lin says he owes D'Antoni "a lot" for starting Linsanity
No one was more stunned about New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni's resignation than the man at the center of all of the Linsanity— Jeremy Lin, himself.
"I was surprised," Lin said of D'Antoni's departure. "I know some people were talking about it and what-not, but I didn't know the reality of it. I figured after the shoot-around he's definitely be here."
"What he did for my career, I'm not going to forget what he did for me personally," Lin said. "It's very emotional. I'm sad to see him go and I owe a lot to him."
Lin has many reasons to be thankful for D'Antoni.
The Knicks coach took a chance on the little used and oft-travelled point guard— who was bunking on his brother's couch— when he got the chance to show his skills. Putting Lin in the starting lineup turned New York and the NBA upside-down.
Lin thrived under D'Antoni's fast-paced system and turned the Knicks from a plodding, boring team into a winning sensation. The team was 8-1 after Lin was given the chance to take over on Feb. 4 and brought roaring crowds back to Madison Square Garden.
Interim coach Mike Woodson— a defensive coach— indicated he will make changes to the Knicks lineup and style of play, but after one game, the most noticeable difference was a lull in Lin's game. He finished last night's 121-79 rout of Portland with un-Lin-teresting numbers (six points, six assists and six turnovers).
Whether or not it was Carmelo Anthony's return or if D'Antoni lost control of the team as the reasons for the end of Linsanity, it's a moot point now. D"Antoni is gone and Linsanity has subsided.
Lin, on the other hand, will continue to take the changes in stride.
"It's going to be, including the D-league, like my sixth or seventh system in the last year and a half. It'll be all right," Lin said with a smile after last night's game. "We're not going to change everything. Some things will be the same."
One thing that won't ever be the same is the few weeks of optimism that thing called Linsanity brought to the Garden.
"I was surprised," Lin said of D'Antoni's departure. "I know some people were talking about it and what-not, but I didn't know the reality of it. I figured after the shoot-around he's definitely be here."
"What he did for my career, I'm not going to forget what he did for me personally," Lin said. "It's very emotional. I'm sad to see him go and I owe a lot to him."
Lin has many reasons to be thankful for D'Antoni.
The Knicks coach took a chance on the little used and oft-travelled point guard— who was bunking on his brother's couch— when he got the chance to show his skills. Putting Lin in the starting lineup turned New York and the NBA upside-down.
Lin thrived under D'Antoni's fast-paced system and turned the Knicks from a plodding, boring team into a winning sensation. The team was 8-1 after Lin was given the chance to take over on Feb. 4 and brought roaring crowds back to Madison Square Garden.
Interim coach Mike Woodson— a defensive coach— indicated he will make changes to the Knicks lineup and style of play, but after one game, the most noticeable difference was a lull in Lin's game. He finished last night's 121-79 rout of Portland with un-Lin-teresting numbers (six points, six assists and six turnovers).
Whether or not it was Carmelo Anthony's return or if D'Antoni lost control of the team as the reasons for the end of Linsanity, it's a moot point now. D"Antoni is gone and Linsanity has subsided.
Lin, on the other hand, will continue to take the changes in stride.
"It's going to be, including the D-league, like my sixth or seventh system in the last year and a half. It'll be all right," Lin said with a smile after last night's game. "We're not going to change everything. Some things will be the same."
One thing that won't ever be the same is the few weeks of optimism that thing called Linsanity brought to the Garden.
Rabu, 07 Maret 2012
Knicks better get out the Lin-iment
Jeremy Lin has been getting all the calls since his phenomenal run of Linsanity started but, last night, he got a taste of what life in the NBA might hold after Linsanity.
Jason Kidd smashed a forearm across the New York Knicks sensation in what looked like a flagrant foul to everyone by the Dallas Mavericks point guard as Lin rose for a lay-up. That is everyone except the officials.
Lin's knockdown wasn't the worst part of last night's 95-85 loss to the Mavericks. It was how the defending champions have figured out the point guard's game since getting beat by the Knicks two weeks ago and how the officials looked the other way when Lin got battered by a veteran player.
Expect other teams and officials to follow the lead.
"They trapped him more," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni about the Mav's strategy. "He did OK."
Lin had a good game (14 points, 7 assists and only 2 turnovers) but it was only half of the output in their first meeting (28 points, 14 assists).
There are many more questions surrounding Kidd's "hard-nosed" play. Where were the rest of the Knicks while Lin was crumbled on the floor?
Did they have his back or were they just showing respect to Kidd— one of the toughest and most respected players in the NBA?
It was the Knicks fifth loss in the last eight games and the end of Linsanity is looming.
It looks like there won't be any more free passes for the Knicks best passer. They better do something before he ends up in a s-LIN-g.
Jason Kidd smashed a forearm across the New York Knicks sensation in what looked like a flagrant foul to everyone by the Dallas Mavericks point guard as Lin rose for a lay-up. That is everyone except the officials.
Lin's knockdown wasn't the worst part of last night's 95-85 loss to the Mavericks. It was how the defending champions have figured out the point guard's game since getting beat by the Knicks two weeks ago and how the officials looked the other way when Lin got battered by a veteran player.
Expect other teams and officials to follow the lead.
"They trapped him more," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni about the Mav's strategy. "He did OK."
Lin had a good game (14 points, 7 assists and only 2 turnovers) but it was only half of the output in their first meeting (28 points, 14 assists).
There are many more questions surrounding Kidd's "hard-nosed" play. Where were the rest of the Knicks while Lin was crumbled on the floor?
Did they have his back or were they just showing respect to Kidd— one of the toughest and most respected players in the NBA?
It was the Knicks fifth loss in the last eight games and the end of Linsanity is looming.
It looks like there won't be any more free passes for the Knicks best passer. They better do something before he ends up in a s-LIN-g.
Sabtu, 04 Juni 2011
Mark Jackson On Long List To Replace Walsh As Knicks GM
Mark Jackson, the former NBA point guard and current analyst for ESPN and ABC, is having his name bandied about once again for the position of general manager of an NBA franchise. This time, New York's favorite son, Jackson was on the list of GM candidates to assume control of the New York Knicks for departing team President and GM Donnie Walsh. According to reports, Walsh submitted Jackson's name to owner James Dolan a month and a half ago.
Since 2007, Jackson's name pops up every time there is an opening in an NBA front office or head coaching position and he has still yet to take one of the jobs. The New York-bred Jackson would be a lot more welcome at Madison Square Garden than Knicks boomerang Isiah Thomas. Thomas' shadow is always lurking behind Dolan.
Jackson's name has already been tossed around this year for GM positions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and he is considered a finalist for the Golden State Warriors head-coaching job.
The former Knicks guard had been mentioned as a candidate for the Memphis Grizzlies GM post in 2007 and the Atlanta Hawks last season and has yet to leave the broadcast booth.
The question that is louder than an NCAA women's softball game is why is Jackson in such high demand?
There is no question about Jackson's NBA pedigree. He was the 18th pick coming out of St. John's and was Rookie-of-the-Year with the Knicks in 1987. In his 17-year career, Jackson acquired the third highest career assists total and was known as a tremendous leader on the floor. He even led the sickly Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs...twice!
The 46 year-old Jackson has the court savvy and intellect only an all-time NBA player could gather and has become one of the finest analysts on television--in any sport. The problem, naysayers always bring up, is Jackson's lack any front office or coaching experience whatsoever.
There must be something behind Jackson's curt assessment of what he sees on the court which gets NBA teams' hearts aflutter whenever an opening arises.
Nobody knows the NBA as well as Jackson. After all, Jackson's calls a game like he played it--back to the basket, dribbling, slowly pushing his way to the hoop, then finishing with a flair. They instituted "the five-second rule" because of his get-off-my-back style and it still goes by the "Mark Jackson Rule."
Maybe teams believe Jackson's playing traits and smarts, which made Jackson's transition into a formidable analyst look easy, are the same intangibles which bring success to a GM or coach--even without management experience.
Could Jackson help the Knicks? It could be a rough ride for the Knicks and their fans. Walsh's sudden, but not totally unexpected, departure has left a big void. The team sold playoff tickets for the first time in seven years and, although the Boston Celtics brought broomsticks, there was an exciting buzz around the Garden once again.
Stability and a young guard could take the team to the next level in 2012 said the believers. The Knicks then suckered wishful fans into paying more money for their seats next year. But even more frightening to the fans than that 49% rise in ticket prices is the possible resurrection of Dolan's lap-dog Thomas.
Yesterday, Thomas said words that sent chills all throughout the Knicks nation. When asked if he would return, Thomas grinned and said, "Never say never about anything. All my doors are open."
That sound you just heard was 19,000 fans--including Spike Lee--nailing the Garden's entrances shut.
Jackson may not be a front-runner for any GM position and rolling the dice on a front office newbie is a risky venture especially for the Knicks right now. But it's about time he took one of the offers and put to rest any questions of whether or not he is capable of running the show.
The only qualms holding him back in New York might be personal grudges he has against the Knicks organization.
In 1992, New York traded the popular Knick to, what was then, an eternity in hell--or more commonly known as the Los Angeles Memorial Sport Arena--home of the Clippers. Fast forward seventeen years, when the Knicks needed a head coach, and opted for Mike D'Antoni. Jackson was a little peeved after he found out his name was listed as number three on the Knicks coaching wish list.
When Walsh wanted to hire another St. John's star Chris Mullin as his GM last year, the idea was shot down by Dolan because it was rumored that the owner still had the hots for Thomas. Chances are, he still does.
Funny, that prophet who miscalculated the day of reckoning changed the new day of Rapture to October 21. Isn't that the first day of the Knicks season?
Since 2007, Jackson's name pops up every time there is an opening in an NBA front office or head coaching position and he has still yet to take one of the jobs. The New York-bred Jackson would be a lot more welcome at Madison Square Garden than Knicks boomerang Isiah Thomas. Thomas' shadow is always lurking behind Dolan.
The former Knicks guard had been mentioned as a candidate for the Memphis Grizzlies GM post in 2007 and the Atlanta Hawks last season and has yet to leave the broadcast booth.
The question that is louder than an NCAA women's softball game is why is Jackson in such high demand?
There is no question about Jackson's NBA pedigree. He was the 18th pick coming out of St. John's and was Rookie-of-the-Year with the Knicks in 1987. In his 17-year career, Jackson acquired the third highest career assists total and was known as a tremendous leader on the floor. He even led the sickly Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs...twice!
The 46 year-old Jackson has the court savvy and intellect only an all-time NBA player could gather and has become one of the finest analysts on television--in any sport. The problem, naysayers always bring up, is Jackson's lack any front office or coaching experience whatsoever.
There must be something behind Jackson's curt assessment of what he sees on the court which gets NBA teams' hearts aflutter whenever an opening arises.
Nobody knows the NBA as well as Jackson. After all, Jackson's calls a game like he played it--back to the basket, dribbling, slowly pushing his way to the hoop, then finishing with a flair. They instituted "the five-second rule" because of his get-off-my-back style and it still goes by the "Mark Jackson Rule."
Maybe teams believe Jackson's playing traits and smarts, which made Jackson's transition into a formidable analyst look easy, are the same intangibles which bring success to a GM or coach--even without management experience.
Stability and a young guard could take the team to the next level in 2012 said the believers. The Knicks then suckered wishful fans into paying more money for their seats next year. But even more frightening to the fans than that 49% rise in ticket prices is the possible resurrection of Dolan's lap-dog Thomas.
Yesterday, Thomas said words that sent chills all throughout the Knicks nation. When asked if he would return, Thomas grinned and said, "Never say never about anything. All my doors are open."
That sound you just heard was 19,000 fans--including Spike Lee--nailing the Garden's entrances shut.
Jackson may not be a front-runner for any GM position and rolling the dice on a front office newbie is a risky venture especially for the Knicks right now. But it's about time he took one of the offers and put to rest any questions of whether or not he is capable of running the show.
The only qualms holding him back in New York might be personal grudges he has against the Knicks organization.
In 1992, New York traded the popular Knick to, what was then, an eternity in hell--or more commonly known as the Los Angeles Memorial Sport Arena--home of the Clippers. Fast forward seventeen years, when the Knicks needed a head coach, and opted for Mike D'Antoni. Jackson was a little peeved after he found out his name was listed as number three on the Knicks coaching wish list.
When Walsh wanted to hire another St. John's star Chris Mullin as his GM last year, the idea was shot down by Dolan because it was rumored that the owner still had the hots for Thomas. Chances are, he still does.
Funny, that prophet who miscalculated the day of reckoning changed the new day of Rapture to October 21. Isn't that the first day of the Knicks season?
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