Boy, what a story Jeremy Lin has been. Tonight he stepped up in a big way and dropped 38 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on the Lakers, leading his resurgent Knicks team to 4 wins in a row. With NBA fans across the world all the way to Taiwan watching with anticipation, Lin delivered like a boss.
Madison Square Gardens buzzed and cheered loudly for Lin all night as he cut through the defense time after time. With no signs of nervousness, Lin dropped shots without hesitation.
Before the game, when Kobe was asked to comment on Lin, he said, “What?” he said. “No idea. I know who he is, but I really don’t know what’s going on too much about him. I don’t even know what he’s done. I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I’ll take a look at [the game film] tonight, though.” When a reporter alluded to his rising star status, Kobe replied, “Jesus Christ, Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Not sure if Jeremy Lin heard about it, but, it looks like Kobe now knows who Lin-sanity is.
The Lakers had played the previous night and clawed by Boston, so they were a tired squad. It showed on the court as Kobe shot poorly in the first half while Lin had 19 points. Using an array of his offensive game Lin and Landry kept the game in a positive flow for the Knicks all night. The Knicks look like a completely different team on the court. They are not just bumbling around anymore. They’re playing with energy and intelligence. Lin has been great at dishing the ball at the right times and also knowing to contribute with his offense.
The US-born Taiwanese kid that was waived twice, sleeping on a couch, and on an unsecured contract is now the hottest thing in the NBA in a matter of a week. It’s almost like the video game NBA 2K12 comes to life! No one is sure where his game will take him, but one thing is for sure, this kid just needed a chance to play. Jeremy will continue adding to any team no matter where he plays. Teams will have to start studying him and coming up with a strategy to stop him, and he will have to counter by adapting, learning, and growing his game. Right now the world is buzzing wondering how Jeremy came out of nowhere and deliver a story that’s inspiring young Asians basketballers everywhere.
The Knicks play tomorrow on a back to back in Minnesota against Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love, and the Timberwolves. Can he do it again?
Watch highlights of the game below:
