The New York Knicks have desperately searched for players to rejuvenate their sinking franchise. For as long as I can remember, the New York Knicks were built on players with big contracts, even bigger egos and complete disregard for passing the basketball (see Latrell Sprewell).
Entering this season the Knicks managed to assemble three superstars in Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. Three huge contracts, three egos and many more unsatisfied fans with the way they’ve played thus far together.
This formula of Chandler, Anthony and Stoudemire through the first 23 games of this strike-shortened season equaled a record of 8-15. Regardless of possessing their very own core of superstars, the Knicks still could neither score efficiently or play consistent defense.
With their playoff hopes rapidly drifting away, the Knicks turned to their fourth-string point guard Jeremy Lin in a must-win game against the New Jersey Nets. Head coach Mike D’Antoni admitted he had his doubts while ordering Lin to take the floor, well aware that both his job status and team’s playoff chances were diminishing more and more with every loss. D’Antoni knew that Lin was the last guard on his depth chart and reluctantly left the balance of their season in the hands of the player who had only registered a total of 16 minutes in his first two weeks with the team.
He took the floor, dribbled the ball past half court, and the rest is history. Lin scored a career-high 25 points and led the Knicks to a comeback victory over the Nets.
Five games and five victories later, the Jeremy Lin has become the most exciting player to watch in the NBA. Lin has brought the Knicks(13-15)back to life with his stellar play, averaging 26.8 points per game and 8.0 assists per game in those five wins. Not to mention that four of those victories were without Carmelo Anthony (groin-injury) and Amar’e Stoudemire (death in family). In the absence of those two stars, Chandler has flourished with Lin as the catalyst on offense, averaging 14.6 points and nine rebounds per game.
Lin’s pass-first mentality has worked well with coach D’Antoni’s fast-paced run-and-gun offense. He has emerged as a legitimate point guard by creating space on the floor, increasing ball movement and creating high percentage shots for his teammates.
Despite his high number of turnovers and mediocre long-range shooting, Lin’s strengths weigh far greater than his weaknesses. His offensive numbers are impressive and his personal success has translated into victories for the Knicks.
The key to Lin’s success has been his unselfishness. His teammates are thriving when he is on the court, increasing the teams scoring from 94.3 points per game when he is off the court, to over 103 when he is on the court. The offense is now being run by a playmaker who involves all five players on the court, a strategy that has brought the Knicks back into contention.
The arrival of Jeremy Lin couldn’t have come at a more crucial time in the Knicks downward spiraling season. With the return of Anthony, Stoudemire and veteran point guard Baron Davis(back injury) within the next few weeks, the Knicks will have the depth and weapons necessary to make a serious run for a championship.
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