NBA News

Knicks' Lin storms out of nowhere to make Garden fun again

2012-02-11T04:28:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK -- It was a different vibe at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, and when you go back in time and try to find something that compares, you come up with nothing.
There's been hype here before, and buzz, and the kind of energy that fills the place when everyone is standing and craning their necks during layup lines -- when thousands rise from their seats after a big shot, rising in the dimly lit, cavernous corners of the place, such a contrast to the brightly lit court.
You couldn't have expected all of that on this night, because this night couldn't possibly have lived up to the hype, to the billing on the famous marquee, or to the tabloid back pages.
"Kobe vs. Jeremy," they announced, and it didn't seem real. Seemed like the letdown had to be even bigger than the buildup. Seemed like this 6-3 point guard, undrafted out of Harvard, couldn't possibly conspire with the Garden mojo of Kobe Bryant and live up to all of this.

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And then, simply, he did.
Did he ever.
It was impossible, and yet it happened. I saw it happen.
Jeremy Lin, the Taiwanese sensation, has stormed seemingly out of nowhere to command the most brightly lit stage in the sport. The first time was a fluke. The first two starts were against the Jazz and Wizards.
Let's see him do this against the Lakers, against Bryant's Lakers, and then you've got something.
Well ...
Lin, 23, topped all three of his breakout performances Friday night with 38 points and seven assists and led the Knicks -- without their two superstars, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony -- to a 92-85 victory over the Lakers. His 89 points in his first three starts are the most by any player since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77.

"He played phenomenal," said Bryant, who had 34 points.
The headlines in Saturday's papers will be just as over-the-top as the ones from Friday -- "Lin outduels Kobe at MSG," etc. -- and Lin's emergence as a basketball and cultural phenomenon will continue to inspire countless interpretations across the globe. There will be plenty of time for that, to assess Lin's social significance as only the fourth American-born Asian player in NBA history, the first of Taiwanese descent and the first Harvard graduate to play in the league in 58 years.
But for now, there is only one way to put it, only one word that does justice to what transpired on an electric Friday night between Seventh and Eighth avenues, between 31st and 33rd streets.
Fun.
Rip-roaring fun.
"I think it's a great story," Bryant said. "It's a testament to perseverance, hard work, and I think it's a good example for kids everywhere. I'm sure he's certainly put a great deal of work in. He's always had that belief in himself, and he just now has the opportunity to do it. I think it'll be fun for the city here, obviously. Once they get Melo back and Amar'e back, it should be a lot of fun here."
Fun is what the Garden has been lacking for so long, the mere scent of it being sucked out of the place this season just when it seemed that the long basketball nightmare was over. And yes, in case you hadn't noticed, fun has been missing from the NBA, too. The 149-day lockout, the perpetual angst over which stars want to be traded, who wants to play with whom, who wants a bigger market or a stage more conducive to selling stuff -- and themselves.
Enough of that, please, for however long this Linsanity lasts.
"I am not really too worried about proving anything to anybody," said Lin, who has led the Knicks (11-15) to their second four-game winning streak of the season and will go for five Sunday in Minnesota -- against sensational Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, no less. Twitter will break, I fear.
"As a team, we are growing, and I think everybody is buying into it and that is why we are becoming more dangerous," Lin said.
The night before in Boston, where Bryant's Lakers had beaten the Celtics in overtime, Bryant had remarked that he had "no idea what you guys are talking about" when he was questioned about facing Lin at the Garden. He watched video. He learned. And then he, the Lakers, 19,763 at MSG and millions watching on national TV saw what this was all about.
Lin scored nine of the Knicks' first 13 points and scored or assisted on all of their first 15. The Lakers called timeout, and from that point on, they sent one of their 7-footers to blitz Lin's pick-and-rolls, to try to disrupt him. Sometimes it worked. Most of the time, it did not.
It was only the first quarter, but Lin wasn't afraid of the moment. He wasn't afraid of the fourth quarter, either, not even when Bryant started feeling that Garden vibe of his and draining contested jumpers from spots all over the floor.
Mike D'Antoni, whose pick-and-roll offense finally, mercifully has someone to run it, subbed Lin back into the game after the Lakers cut the Knicks' lead to three, 70-67, with 9:26 left. Suddenly, the lead was nine ... 11 ... 13 ... even as Bryant kept doing his dastardly work at the other end. The Lakers never got closer than five the rest of the way.
"I don't know what to tell you," D'Antoni said. "I have never seen this. It is not often that a guy is going to play four games, the best you are going to see, and nobody knows who he is. That is hard to do."
Although it seems that way, Lin wasn't completely unknown. He didn't just take the 5:15 from Ronkonkoma one day and show up at the Garden and start playing. He had short stints with the Warriors and Rockets, but as an undrafted guy, there was no allegiance to him -- no necessity for him to stick. And as with all guys with non-guaranteed contracts, room has to be made for the guaranteed ones.
The Warriors and Rockets already have admitted their mistakes, but what's happened for Lin in New York isn't anybody's fault and couldn't have been foreseen. It was the perfect storm -- a floundering team whose offensively brilliant coach was barely coaxing 80-point nights out of a star-studded roster, while a new wave of malaise and angst hovered over the Garden.
"He's not a fluke," Knicks center Tyson Chandler said.
And he's not afraid. With Bryant unloading on the Knicks with a barrage of daggers -- like a double-clutch fall-away jumper and foul for a three-point play that cut the lead to 86-78 with four minutes left -- Lin kept attacking. And then, with 2:29 left and the lead still eight, Lin dribbled at the top of the 3-point circle and put up his hand to signal for patience. His gestures and body language showed that he was in control, until something good and fun happened, when he'd backpedal down the court with a big smile.
No green Gatorade stain on his tongue this time, but a smile that said it all.
With the floor spaced, he suddenly kicked into gear and drove straight into the heart of the Lakers' defense, all the way to the rim for a reverse layup. A dagger of his own.
"It's a completely different team," Chandler said.
And it is. And it will be again. Which brings us to the question of staying power for Lin, and whether this will run as smoothly as it has for four games once he gets his stars back -- particularly Anthony, one of the best isolation scorers in the game whose biggest strengths don't seem to mesh with what the Knicks are doing now.
"Melo's a hell of a scorer, and he has to do what he does best," Bryant said. "He's a great rebounder, tough on the offensive boards, and he's a handful on the block. I hope he has the stubbornness to stay with it and not let you guys talk him into changing anything about his game, because I damn sure wouldn't."
So that is the next step, the next challenge for the Knicks' new point guard phenom -- whose Twitter followers and newly minted No. 17 jersey sales are growing by the minute, and who's on the brink of becoming the biggest international sensation in the NBA since Yao Ming. His roots are in the most populated region on Earth, where basketball has exploded in popularity, and yet his influence collides with another phenomenon, religion, in a way that -- dare I say -- brushes dazzlingly close to the Tim Tebow effect.
Lin, who is devoutly religious and often mentions God in interviews, already has been called "a sort of Taiwanese Tim Tebow" by theNew York Times.
What happens when Anthony comes back? Will it work? Is it possible that Lin could unite billions of Asians, imbue religion into sports without drawing eyerolls, and yet not be able to play with one of the best scorers and most popular superstars in the game?
That's the drama, because despite this dose of uninhibited fun and raucousness, drama is always just around the corner in the NBA. But for now, spare me. Wake me up when Dwight Howard figures out what city he wants to play in, and with whom. Mail me a postcard when the next update on the chemistry between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade is available.
Let's enjoy this for a minute, shall we? Let's pretend we're Jeremy Lin and have some fun for once.

Lamar Odom has Married Khloé Kardashian

2009-11-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

Nba athlete and member of the La Lakers Roster Lamar Odom has JUMPED THE BROOM but hes not sweeping, Lamar and tv personality and star of her own family's show Chloe Kardashian have gotten married which im sure you already know by now because IM NOT CNN OR TMZ .

They both were believed to have exchanged vowels in september, ALthough me and you werent invented and have never met Chloe or Lamar ill Assure you everyone who was invited are on your tv every day starting with Ryan Secrest, Chelsea Handler, Kelly Osbourne , Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, Alan Thicke, Joe Francis (Does Girls Gone Wild ring a bell??, cous that's him), Joel Silver, Lara Spencer, Brittny Gastineau, Sugar Ray, Adrian Bailon(naked cheetah girl,who's dating Chloe's bro) and Lala Vasquez (Carmelo Anthony's Wife) and a bunch of others who have unfamiliar names.

The wedding went without incident or any pishaps maybe a few stalker poperosty here and there but thats about it im sure...Oh wait remember how Chloe and her stepfather had that big blow up, yeah , well old poppa Bruce walked her down the Isle and the beef was squashed like To-Furkey.(have a sence of Humor,did someone break your funny bone)

Whether or not this marriage will last, well only fait knows(and she aint tellin HAHA) umm sad to say but i guess us normal people will just have to wait and find out.

Congrats To Mr. & Mrs. Odom Baking Sodium haha

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar diagnosed with rare form of Leukemia

2009-11-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

Mr. Kareem Abdul-jabbar stired up the world of sports when he became the lakers all time scorer, an now he his back to tell the world something new but this time its not neccessarily good news, Mr Jabbar has been diognosed with a extremely rare form of Leukemia specificly, its catogorized in the blood cancer catogory which really took me by suprised yet its rare to learn that some one has blood cancer but better yet a healthy athlete at that?

Kareem has been dealing with the new news for a little bit over a year now,not shocking that its been a little bit of time before hes come out to tell the world, as most of us would, asurely not wanting to have outsiders invade our personal space its definately understandable and my prayer truly do go out for Mr jabbar and his family.

Being a man from uptown(Harlem,NY) an a former Lakers athlete, which is way across on the other side of the american globe, has been to a lot of places and seem a lot of things an one thing in particular that really bothered kareem was seeing that a lot of people ignore the symptoms of their obvious discease an never once see a doctor Kareem naturaly being a person who really cares about others felt it in him to share his story with the world.

Jabbar broke the news yesterday on GMa's Good MOrning America with Anchor RObin Roberts, saying he could no longer keep silent and let others suffer.

During the talk with Ms.Roberts he shared that the Leukemia is controlable and how he is not going to be a victim, SO jabbar has been taking all his meds daily to avoid any harsh side affects that he may have suffered if he'd choice not to.

His words really touched me, He seemed so heartFelt and sincere Kareem really cares about others and I'm personaly encouraging all of you out there who are reading this to make sure you stay on top of all your health issues, Ignorance and Ignoring the problem will only make it worst, Thank you and God bless.

Highest Paid Players in The Nba

2009-10-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

1. Kevin Garnett $22,000,000

2. Shaquille O'Neal $20,000,000

3.tie) Jermaine O'Neal $19,000,000

3.tie) Jason Kidd $19,000,000

5.) Kobe Bryant $19,000,000

6.tie) Allen Iverson $19,000,000

6.tie) Stephon Marbury $19,000,000

8.) Tim Duncan $19,000,000

9.) Tracy McGrady $19,000,000

10.tie) Baron Davis $16,00,000

10.tie) Shawn Marion $16,000,000

James Naismith Biography

2009-10-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

James Naismith is the man who invented basketball in 1891 he was a physical education instructor. James Naismith was born in Almonte,Ontario and went to Mcgill university and prebyterian college in Montreal.

He worked asa physical ed teacher at Mcgill Unverity from 1887 to 1890 and then went on to work at springfield college in Springfield,Ma from 1890 to 1895. James Naismith was told to invent a sport for the class by Luther halsey Gulick in 1982.

Initialy players dribbled a soccer ball up and down a court and points were earned by throwing the ball inside a peach basket. until 1893 when basketball hoops were made but another 10 years would pass before a
basketball net was introduced and but a end to retreiving the ball manually each time a basket was scored. Over the years basketball has really overcome many obstacles and generating major revenue for the
united states with over a billion dollars made from ticket sales and sponsership.

The Nba has really going from a peach basket to a net. and over the years we have been introduced to hero who have won our hearts
with players suck as magic johnson and michael jordan. Basketball was created over a hundred years ago and i cant wait to celebrate another great 100 years of wonder.

Steve Nash back injury spasms

2009-10-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

Steve Nash leaves game with back spasms. Nash only played a little over 9 minutes before getting replaced by Leandro barbosa. Its the second game this year so far that nash has left because of his back, but five days later in the Suns last visit to Oklahoma City, nash begined with 20 points and reaching his season high with 15 assist and 8 rebounds.

Raptors vs Nuggets

2009-10-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

O'neal, who also has a sore knee, is still averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds in 28 games. He missed only 3 games last month because of injuiries he substained to his left knee and ankle. O'Neal scored his season
high with 36 points in a win against the sacramento kings, although o'neal isnt letting his injured knee get the best of him he only played nine minutes against the golden state worriors because of flu like symptoms.
Kapono who has a bruised thigh is averaging 8 points and 2 rebounds in 31 games. Kapono replaced Anthony Parker in toronto's starting lineup on december 10th and has started in 11 consecutive games. Forward
Andrea bargnani and raptors placed O'neal and Kapono in toronto's starting lineup. So with Kapono and O'beil both out, Hassan Adams was put in.

shaq all time scoring

2009-10-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

Shaq scored 28 points and had 12 rebounds which moved him into the 9th place in the Nba's career scoring list, and the Suns still won the game against the oklahoma city thunder 110-102 on monday night.

Nash ony played nine minutes before experincing a back spasm. although the Nash left, the suns still had firepower to leash on the thunder. Jason Richardson only scored 20 points and Matt Barnes scored 19 for Phoenix also rookie russell westbrook scored his career high with a

Los Angeles Lakers Nba Finals

2009-10-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles lakers have come a long way this year especially if you consider there previous run in the playoffs but hey who are they to complain teams like the Los Angeles clippers only wish they could be a quarter as great as the lakers OK no more clippers jokes every one makes fun of them just had to give it a shot but any the lakers have shown growth this past especially as a team, the lakers have really been passing the ball around a little more and with players like Derek fisher on the team who wouldn't want to the pass the ball to bad Rick Fox is off acting or he could come in handy for a few buzzer beaters too .

Though as i said before the lakers are really growing as a team an even though the whole state of California seem to be in love with the Lakers every since shaq left to me they just never been the same i don't care what no body has to say about that one because that's the truth and you have to admit it, since shaq left Kobe has been loosing so many games that darn well he should of been a blow out for the lakers, shaq was always the starter and Kobe was the finisher but since there's no more shaq Kobe has to start and finish every play and lets keep it real kobe is better off following a strong alpha bball player as appose to leading all by himself but not to take away from young Kobe hes still young and learning even though hes been in the league for 10 or so years he is still actually learning if you watch any of his interview he will always talk about his mistakes and talk about how he is going to fix them, so to end this off ill leave you with this, watch the NBA finals from front to end and cheer on the game not your favorite team and lets see who wins without having to have there fingers crossed.