Lin lead Knicks over Jazz in first NBA start
By Bi Yu
2/6/12 New York -- A day after the New York Giants win the Superbowl over the New England Patriots, Jeremy Lin just became the heart of New York. Even Giants were celebrating Lin's expertise as he carved up the Utah Jazz for 28 points and 8 assists in his first NBA start. This 99-88 win was center stage Madison Square Garden without Amar'e Stoudamire (personal leave) and Carmello Anthony, who was injured 5:49 into the game.
"The Jeremin Show" tees have already infiltrating the Garden after he went for 25 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds in a 99-92 win over the New Jersey Nets in 35 minutes. Tonight he played an exhaustive game-high 45-minutes in his 10th game as a Knick.
Lin may even save Coach Mike D'Antoni's job leading the team on two straight wins as a penetrating point guard ala Steve Nash, making players better by getting them the ball in perfect position to score without them needing dibbling. Over the past two games Lin had 53 points, 15 assists while shooting 55% from the field.
The Knicks should send Golden State some flowers to thank them for releasing Lin to the D-League since the Warriors backcourt of Monta Ellis and Stephan Curry was too strong. The back of the Lin tees say "We Believe", in reference to the last Warriors Playoffs when they defeated the #1 seed Dallas Mavaricks as a #8 seed.
In fact, if you go to Lin's NBA profile he is still wearing his #7 Warriors jersey. After getting cut from Golden State he was sent to D-League where he played for former Warriors' Coach Eric Musselman. Now he is center-stage as the starting point guard in the bright lights of New York.
The Knicks have scorers but not creators. What a difference a "true" point guard does makes in the NBA. After all that position is analogis to the Quaterback position is football. Jeremy Lin will have some big shoes to fill if he wants to play the quarterback position in New York the day after Eli Manning's second Superbowl victory.
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