I watched the DVR late last night after reading the comments here and the media's take. Again, from JLin colored eyes, I totally, totally, disagree with 99% of what I hear. This to me was a great game by the team and an unbelievable game by Jeremy:
JLin hit at least 3 jumpers with his toe on the 3 pt line, 3 inches from being 4-5 from 3.
JLin was all over the court and played tremendous D on Jennings at end.
The ball movement was great, thus 29 assists and 55.4% shooting.
The JLin-Baron combo we talked about weeks ago is taking shape.
Amare looks so much better since getting down to 245 lbs over the All-Star break.
He is even playing some help defense for JLin by hedging on screens.
Melo made a great pass to Amare in the last few seconds but traveling was called.
Both teams moved the ball and shot lights out, reminding me of the 80's NBA.
Remember, the Bucks just loss on a last second shot to the Bulls. Obviously, defense and rebounding were not the strong points last night. However, once Tyson and Jeffries are back, and the Knicks work out the right combination of offensive/defense lineups, this team is going to be just incredible. They will be as good as anyone. As I said in the beginning of Lin-Sanity, they will challenge for the NBA title.
The most impressive part of the whole game was after Jeremy's great D caused Brandon Jennings to throw up a brick and the Knicks giving up the offensive tip then put back, Jeremy lit up into the team, yelling right in the direction of Amare and Melo. It seemed like he said "come on, I'm working my butt off shutting down one of the best one on one players in the NBA and you can't box out Ersan Ilyasova!"
Game highlights:
http://www.nba.com/video/games/bucks/2012/03/09/0021100590_nyk_mil_play4.nba
http://www.nba.com/video/games/bucks/2012/03/09/0021100590_nyk_mil_play3.nba
http://www.nba.com/video/games/bucks/2012/03/09/0021100590_nyk_mil_recap.nba
Post game interviews - JLin, Stat, JR:
Here's a good highlight vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlkYuCcY-qk
ReplyDeleteSomething fundamental in their defense has changed and Novak is the most extreme example. During the winning streak, I rarely saw Novak as a major defensive liability and wondered why someone who could shoot so well would be in the D-league and not stick with a team. Now I know. It's his defense. With this switching defense, Novak has been caught guarding Jennings and Parker who blow completely by him. Previously, Novak held his own by defending slower power forwards and centers.
ReplyDeleteAll this switching has killed the Knicks in general and I don't understand the logic behind it.
I think the Knicks had a really good night offensively and Lin had a really good game but the lack of defensive effort kind of cancels out any positive feeling the offensive gave. They will not even be a contender for the 2nd round of the playoffs if they cannot collectively play some hard nosed defensive. They have lost 4 games in a row. You can try to spin it as positive as you want but that doesn't change the win/loss column. I'm sick of hearing about the potential of this team and all the talent blah blah blah. You are what your record says you are! The only positive thing out of last night's game for me was Jeremy Lin.
ReplyDeleteGive carmelo and lin five more games together against bad teams and see how many wins they can get. Last game was good play. If that doesnt work then dantonni has to make a drastic change by sitting carmelo. Coach has to take the leap risk like when he first played lin. It's the perfect storm for dantonni to sit carmelo. If it doesnt happen soon you can never sit carmelo again. I'd trade carmelo back to nuggets for galanari. He'd b perfect for the knicks. Dantoni needs to shake things up soon. New York fans should demand it.
ReplyDeleteDantoni isn't going to sit Melo as great an idea as that is. He will keep starting until he is either hurt or traded. Basically Melo is going down with this ship.
DeleteDude, I couldn't agree more with you!
ReplyDeleteJlin played awesome D down the stretch against Jennings, and it was a good game that the Knicks can continue to grow and learn from. It was unfortunate the the lack of size in the interior prevented the Knicks from finishing off the defensive sequences by securing the rebound.
B-Diddy is playing awesome as well, especially considering he just came back from a serious back injury along with the herniated disk. Having B-Diddy at the same time as Jlin on the floor definitely helps relieve some of the ball handling pressure that Jlin is responsible for--but the key is to have a balance of it, just like last night. We can't have Baron handling the ball all the time because it will hinder Jlin's development as a PG. At the same time, we can't have Jlin handling it too much either because it will take away from Baron's impact when they're both on the floor.
Baron Davis is def getting his legs back but he needs to get his shooting groove back. I didn't like him taunting the Bucks after he made a layup to close the gap to one point. What the hell was he thinking? Your team just lost three in a row and was losing by 15 to the freaking Bucks! Just shut your mouth and play the game. How stupid he must have felt after they couldn't come all the way back. He's lucky the ref didn't T him up. He is suppose to be a veteran and there he goes acting like a rookie. Lets get it together Baron!
DeleteTrade carmelo to bucks for illysova
ReplyDeleteNice going, jlinfan#1. I'm one of YOUR biggest fans!
ReplyDeleteI have a question for you.
Do you think that the Knicks are Lin's team yet?
Even if it was his team Lin wouldn't acknowledge that from fair of pissing off some of his teammates. But he can play by example like it's his team if he wants to make that statement.
Deletefear*
DeleteWhen you can't say its your team....its not your team.
DeleteJLin gif telling his teammates to man up.
ReplyDeletetohttp://assets.sbnation.com/assets/998996/U7lw6_medium.gif
The same NBA scouts who said Lin was too small and too slow to play in the NBA are now saying that Lin is an "average to above average starter at best".
ReplyDeleteThat's just sour grapes to me. Since when was 20 points and 10 assists a game merely "above average"?
As far as I'm concerned, Linsanity is actually getting stronger. Maybe the Knicks aren't winning as much because Anthony and Stoudemire are learning from Lin how to play basic fundamental team ball, but Lin is Lin and is still playing at an All Star level.
Like jlinfan#1 astutely wrote above, it's just a matter of time before Lin leads the Knicks to championship contention.
Thanks KHuang! I love your passion and respect your informed takes.
DeleteI'm a big Lin fan but I think they are kind of far from championship contention right now. Heck they are barely in playoff contention right now after losing to the Bucks. I'll start believing in a possible finals appearance when they start beating the teams they are suppose to beat and start playing some actual defense. Until then I'm just gonna keep rooting for Lin to play his ass off.
DeleteLin had a good game offensively, but 5 TO's and about 5 more fumbles that could have been turnovers if he hadn't recovered the ball. He's attacking the paint again, so that's a good sign.
ReplyDeleteHis defense on Jennings was decent. Went over picks instead of under, but he allowed Jennings to get hot early from outside. Lin defends well against the dribble drive by staying in front of his man, but he he needs to do a better job of getting into their face and challenging shots. Maybe take a few quick jabs at the ball to disrupt the dribble.
Lin was easily the best player in a Knicks uniform these past 4 games, but that's not saying much. A loss is still a loss, whether it was his fault or the team's.
He should be more of a vocal team leader, like Kobe Bryant. Whenever the Lakers do poorly, Kobe will single out players on his team and yell at them to step up.
I agree with you about everything except being vocal. I think it would just rub his teammates the wrong way for him to start singling out people. He is still basically a rookie and it's not his place to do that. He should just lead by example right now.
DeleteThis NY Post author is an idiot, but their site doesn't seem to let me comment. Anyone else have any luck commenting on this newspaper?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/holes-jeremy-lin-game-plain-ny-knicks-linsanity-hit-skids-article-1.1036741?comment=true
Their site won't let me post but here's what I would have wrote:
ReplyDelete----
Mitch Lawrence is downright giddy that the Knicks have been losing, but the only thing he's changed is everyone now knows how much of a moron he is.
Over the past 5 games, Jeremy Lin has still averaged 17.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 2 steals on 44% FG shooting. That is PHENOMENAL for a 23 year old in essentially his rookie season. Even with the "stars" back, Lin is still producing against regular double and triple teams and regular flagrant fouls to the head.
When Amare and Melo were out, Lin led the Knicks to a 7-0 record in which they held opponents to 90 points per game, on 41% shooting. Their great defense included wins over the Mavs, Lakers, Hawks, and T'Wolves.
The problem is Amare and Carmelo don't play defense and don't defensive rebound. For example, against the Spurs Tim Duncan set a pick against Shump (who guarded Parker most of the night), Amare did not rotate at all, and Parker blew by Amare about 50 times for an easy layup. Since Melo and Amare have come back, the Knicks have given up 103 points a game and are now 2-8. The Knicks were 8-15 before Lin started playing. Again, 7-0 without the "stars" and held opponents to 90 a game.
Mitch Lawrence should quit while he's behind so he doesn't make a bigger fool of himself.
------------
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/holes-jeremy-lin-game-plain-ny-knicks-linsanity-hit-skids-article-1.1036741
Forget it. It's just meant to drive up web traffic by posting "outrageous" opinions. By reading and responding, you actually encourage them to write more of these laughably idiotic hit pieces.
DeleteAfter some losses, the media will say: "Lin was a always a fluke." After some wins: "Lin: Better than MJ?" After Jeremy does a charity event: "Is Lin the Most Beloved Figure in Sports History?" After Jeremy leaves a 30% tip: "Why is Lin so cheap and hateful and is he cheating on his girlfriend with Kim Kardashian???"
LOL. All part of being a star in a big city. The best thing to do is laugh and ignore them.
Bitch Lawrence is really getting on my nerves. I can't believe he wrote that bull of an article crapping all over Jeremy. His game is flawed?? If his game is flawed then what about the rest of his teammates? Why are they picking on Lin like this? He is essentially a rookie putting up numbers other nba veterans don't put up! It's just sickening!
DeleteFor perspective on the criticisms of Jeremy Lin as a PG, review the similar criticisms made of Goran Dragic as a PG:
ReplyDeletehttp://cutgorandragic.blogspot.com/
Both Lin and Dragic are combo guards who gained initial NBA success running the D'Antoni system, but struggled when the league caught up to them. I think Lin is a better PG than Dragic, but not that much better.
What is the authority for the Lin-Dragic comparison? No less than Jeremy Lin himself: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2010/07/21/new-warrior-jeremy-lin-draws-the-cameras-says-hes-ready-to-play/
* He thinks the best model for the way his game could develop is Phoenix 6th man Goran Dragic, especially the way Dragic attacks the rim in the pick-and-roll.
“Neither of us is a freak athlete, but we’re both effective and know how to play the game,” Lin said.
Dragic is a crafty, daredevil player who happens to back-up Steve Nash, whom some people believe is Curry’s greatest role model.
That is a smart comparison. By a smart guy.
Add: I'm watching Dragic and the Rockets play the Nets right now. Dragic and Lin ARE similar players.
DeleteLin is a far better athlete imo. I honestly see more similarity to Tony Parker than I do Dragic.
DeleteI also think Lin compared himself to Dragic because he wanted to be humble and if he compared himself to a star PG people would think he's full of himself.
DeleteParker-Lin: I can see it - not a bad comparison. Parker isn't a pure PG either. Parker is quicker with better ball-handling skills than Lin. Lin has better innate court sense, though Parker closes that gap with long stability with the same system, coach, teammates and championship-tempered experience. Parker is a veteran who makes few mistakes. Most importantly, Parker can maneuver where he needs to go on the court against tough defenses to make the simple pass, whereas tough defenses can force Lin to do what they want him to do. Parker isn't rushed and makes the play he wants. Lin gets pressured and rushed into mistakes.
DeleteDamn.
ReplyDeleteLook at all the racist comments from these people about JLin taken from a screenshot from some website. Looks like there are a lot of racist Black, Hispanic, and White NBA fans.
http://i.imgur.com/OOCB6.jpg
This is typical Ghetto; ignorant and uneducated; never will do well in life. They and their generations will forever live in misery and too stupid to even know or care. Advice to the young, strive to learn, get a good education that leads to better opportunities and be thankful that your future will never cross paths with the dregs of society.
DeleteA lot of rich and educated people are racist.
DeleteYou sound like a classist.