Sports

Tebow for the NBA? Harvard Grad Jeremy Lin Delivers Memorable Performance at MSG Friday

Harvard Knick Jeremy Lin Drops 38 on Lakers in MSG

(The Blaze/AP) It’s been the year of the underdog in professional sports. First Tim Tebow in the NFL, and now it would seem Jeremy Lin in the NBA. Both went from benchwarmer to sudden star with the only difference being Lin’s stats in the last four games have been as prolific as any other scorer in the NBA.

In front of a sell-out crowd in the world’s most famous arena Friday night, the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent and Harvard graduate dropped 38 points on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Unsure if he would be cut by the team as the fourth-string point guard, Lin crashed on a teammate‘s couch when his brother’s place wasn’t available last week.

Seven days later the guard is the toast of the town and a starter.

“The level he is playing at right now, I have never seen it,” Knicks forward Jared Jeffries told AP. “It is weird for a guy to come in and be a team leader who has bounced around like he has. He has inspired us to play harder because he gives it his all every day. There is nothing he doesn’t do on a daily basis.”

Lin’s career-high 38 points Friday night led the Knicks to a 92-85 victory over the visiting Lakers. After scoring 28 and 23 in his first two NBA starts, he outplayed Kobe Bryant in front of a national TV audience, leaving delirious fans without their voices and his coach without the words to describe it.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Mike D’Antoni said. “I have never seen this. It’s 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.”

Lin is drawing comparisons to Denver quarterback Tim Tebow, with the way he impacts his teammates during games and talks about his faith afterward.

Forget Tebowing. Linsanity is the new sports sensation.

Saturday night, he’s taking his show on the road to Minneapolis, where the Knicks will try to win their fifth consecutive game.

Lin was perhaps on his last chance, and maybe a last resort, when D’Antoni put him in last Saturday against New Jersey. The Knicks had lost on the previous two nights to fall to 8-15, and another defeat that night would have dropped them behind the Nets in the standings and might have made the cries to fire D’Antoni even harder for team management to ignore.

Lin had slept on teammate Landry Fields’ couch the night before, still refusing to get his own place as he headed into the week the Knicks would have to decide whether to cut him or guarantee his contract for the rest of the season.

Lin scored 25 points that night, and D’Antoni promoted him to the starting lineup for the next game.

A sensation was born.

The Knicks haven’t looked back, even while playing without leading scorers Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. They’ll be back soon, and if Lin gets them to play at their potential, watch out.

“I think it’ll be fun for the city obviously,” Bryant said.

There was nothing fun about the Knicks before Lin, as fans blamed D’Antoni, Anthony and team management for the disappointing start. But as they screamed for Lin throughout Friday’s game, especially after a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that was perhaps the biggest shot of the game, Madison Square Garden was again the place to be in the NBA.

“I thought that the Garden was rocking, and it was a great atmosphere,” said the Lakers’ Metta World Peace, who grew up in New York as Ron Artest.

Too bad the fun is being missed by so many in the city. A dispute between MSG and Time Warner cable is keeping Knicks games off that system for now, even as Asian networks line up to add Knicks games to their broadcast schedules.

The Knicks began selling Lin merchandise Friday, and one souvenir stand on the concourse level ran out before the game even started. The NBA says Lin has been the top selling jersey online since last Saturday, and the Knicks are the top-selling team this week.

All-Star Kevin Durant and Memphis’ Rudy Gay were among the players tweeting about Lin afterward, and most of the questions Bryant faced were about a player whose game he‘d said he wasn’t familiar with only 24 hours earlier.

The only one who isn’t talking about Lin is the point guard himself, a spiritual and humble person who gives credit to God, D’Antoni and his teammates.

“When I’m on the court, I try to play with all my emotion and heart,” Lin said. “I just love the game, playing with this team and coach.”

His heartfelt sentiments and enthusiasm on the court also captured the attention of Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.

“The excitement he has caused in the Garden, man, I hadn’t seen that in a long time,” Johnson told The Associated Press earlier this week after watching Lin’s first two games. “When you get a spark a like this, especially in a season like this, this could carry them for a long time because they needed something to happen positive. Everything has been really negative.”

Lin was waived by Golden State in December after splitting last season between the Warriors and the NBA Development League. Houston picked him up for a couple of weeks before cutting him, and the Knicks decided to give him a look.

New York had just waived its point guard, Chauncey Billups to free up money to sign center Tyson Chandler. Three point guards couldn‘t run D’Antoni’s offense, so the Knicks were stuck waiting on Baron Davis to recover from a herniated disk in his back. There was no indication D’Antoni would try out a fourth point guard, let alone Lin.

Now there’s no rush for Davis. Not with Lin running D‘Antoni’s offense better than anyone.

“In D‘Antoni’s offense, he is looking a lot like (Steve) Nash, except a little bit more aggressive in going to the basket and scoring,” Lakers center Andrew Bynum said.

D’Antoni has mentioned Nash, too, in his excitement to talk about Lin. And the Phoenix point guard is a fan as well.

“If you love sports you have to love what Jeremy Lin is doing,” Nash wrote on Twitter this week. “Getting an opportunity and exploding!!”

And creating a whole new vocabulary.

At the Garden, it’s Words with Lin instead of Words with Friends: Linderella; Lincredible; Super Lintendo; and of course, Linsanity, the Twitter trending word of choice.

Expect more puns as he continues to prove himself as a bona fide NBA player.

“He’s not a fluke,” Chandler said. “Just the confidence he plays with, the pace, the understanding of the game. You can tell when a guy isn’t really that skilled but is just having a good stretch. This guy is skilled.”

Comments (20)

  • TEE-PAR-TEE
    Posted on February 15, 2012 at 7:00am

    He’s had a really good run, and it’s been a blast to watch, BUT you really can‘t consider him an ’NBA STAR‘ until he’s at least had four illegitimate kids with four different mothers.

    Report Post » TEE-PAR-TEE  
  • RP10scoachAIA
    Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:03am

    Lin is what everyone (most) here whether saying positive or negative things about him would give an arm or a leg to be I’d guess.
    Jeremy Lin is a player who rose from relative obscurity to fame through hard work and dedication and yes, his faith in Christ seemingly automatically puts critics on his map… a “bullseye” so to speak.
    Why not just say, “Good for him” rather than the “hate” that shows up some of the time? He has enough talent to make him a media star such as here. Is it because he has an Asian heritage, American-born? He went to Harvard? He plays for the Knicks? Oh, b/c he shows his faith?
    WHY any of this?
    In full disclosure, I’m a former Sports Management Co. founder and President / CEO, a Christian and oh yeah, an American-born Chinese meaning I’m full-blooded AMERICAN! Stereotype me now! I know some of you will, soooo…. I’m proud for Jeremy Lin and am a die-hard Orlando Magic supporter!
    Just say, “Good for you kid!” It won’t hurt, I promise you.

    Report Post »  
  • Git-R-Done
    Posted on February 12, 2012 at 10:07pm

    I hope he makes the 2012 Olympic team b/c he would represent the US with dignity.

    Report Post »  
  • Never Offended
    Posted on February 12, 2012 at 1:45pm

    He can‘t be because he’s not white & it’s not football. The “conservative crowd” loved Tebow because he was an old fashioned, white, american good ole boy who praised “the lord & savior Jesus Christ”. & he played America’s game, football.

    This kid, though he also praises christianity, is asian with foreign parents. Plus he plays in the NBA which is thought of by the ignorant as a “black sport”.

    But screw those people, I’m a huge Knicks fan so I love this kid. He’s bringing back skill & smarts over talent & freak athleticism. The NBA needs that.

    Report Post » Never Offended  
    • rangerp
      Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:07pm

      being Christina is not synonomous with being white., Jesus died to save all. It is the Chrisian that travels to the four corners of the earth to share the gospel with peoples of all colors, cultures, and backgrounds.

      Us real deal christians get just as excited about seeing an asian Christian as we do a white one. Same goes for black christians and hispanci one. Not so long ago had an African man come to my chruch and share his testamony, and show us his missionary work he is doing in remote areas of Africa. Had to be one of the best services in a while.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • drmbvm56
      Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:43pm

      You are obviously pretty confused about things. I loved the Tebow story because he is a good kid and has strong faith…..and because he doesn’t fit into the normal qb mold yet he did succeed. Look at his numbers and then look at Eli Mannings numbers during his second year. Then tell me why everyone is all over Tebow for being so “terrible”.. That being said I am pretty white and my absolute favorite NFL player is James Harrison because he plays hard and I think he gets a bad rap for playing ball the way it was supposed to be played a few years ago. So am I a racist?????

      The only racism that will be obvious when looking at the Tebow/Lin stories is that Tebow was killed by the national media for his faith…and they don’t feel the least bit bad about it because he is white and all the things you say. Lin will not get near that kind of harsh treatment because of his race…because “minorities” in America are untouchable. That is the racism of the 21st century. It’s usually against us white dudes who did nothing and do nothing to anyone yet we get trashed all the time for being racist.

      Report Post »  
  • SnowKalBebes
    Posted on February 12, 2012 at 11:22am

    You do realize he went to Harvard right? I thought Beck’s sheeple hated the Ivy League

    Report Post »  
    • Rainbow Dash
      Posted on February 12, 2012 at 11:58am

      We don’t “hate” anyone. And I have no negative stigma towards the Ivy League.

      Report Post » Rainbow Dash  
  • Marine25
    Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:57am

    How is he anything like Tim Tebow? Tebow was a national champion at a football powerhouse in college and was drafted in the first round. Tebow posted historically bad statistics for a professional quarterback. Lin played in obscurity at Harvard, was not drafted, and has had more professional success in two weeks than Tebow has had in two months. If Tebow was not an evangelical Christian he would be every other incapable backup quarterback.

    Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on February 12, 2012 at 10:22am

      I would argue that Tim Tebow had a whole lot of sucess in come from behind wins towrds the end of the season. Tim is hated for his Christian beliefs. Watch a little Bill Maher

      If Lin is a real deal christian, he will be hated also. I do not watch pro sports, but he should sure be a breath of fresh air in a world of heathen and thugish behavior.

      Report Post » rangerp  
  • mikee1
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 11:26pm

    Funny he did not get a his shot before this. Was it because he is CHINESE? The guy looks like a tall Earl Monroe with a better jumper and more speed. He should have been starting somewhere for the last year.

    Report Post » mikee1  
    • GeoInSD
      Posted on February 12, 2012 at 1:58pm

      I am Chinese descent and I was certainly skeptical until I saw the Knicks-Lakers game. I am now convinced that Mr. Lin does have some skill. This streak wasn’t just luck. But I do think he needs to work on his free throws and cut down on his turnovers.

      I don’t blame anyone for being skeptical about someone of East Asian descent being an NBA star. It is an exception to one’s experience. Yao Ming was effective when he was healthy but he was a bit of a freak of nature. (7 1/2 feet tall with giants for parents.)

      Report Post »  
  • Git-R-Done
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 10:56pm

    There could be an NHL version of Tim Tebow once he graduates from college.

    His name is Rocco Grimaldi and he was a second round draft pick for the Florida Panthers in 2011.

    Report Post »  
  • ESmith7
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 9:12pm

    This kid is so fun to watch!!!! He’s exactly what New York needed!! Ever since the Ewing-Starks-Oakley days basketball has been dead in New York. But this kid is so exciting, and combine him with the stars they already have and the NBA might be back in NY.

    Report Post »  
  • BetterInformed
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 8:59pm

    I wounder how long it will bw before Bill Maher or Lawrence O’Donnell make fun of him?

    Report Post »  
    • Hankstwocents
      Posted on February 11, 2012 at 9:36pm

      all he has to do is give praise to Jesus, and they will be on him like a duck on a June bug.

      Report Post »  
  • am123
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 8:15pm

    This young man lead his high school team to the state championship in California, but no scholarships came his way. He was a star at Harvard, but no one picked him the NBA draft. This preseason, he was cut by two different teams. The Knicks picked him up, but were planning on cutting Lin, as he didn’t have a guaranteed contract. But this young man, who is being touted as a Taiwanese Tebow, never gave up. His favorite Bible verses are:

    “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
    —ROMANS 3:5

    So just as the Knicks were on the verge of cutting him, what has transpired this past week is the result of something called grace—the favor of God. Lin persevered in obscurity and kept his faith, and angels of the LORD opened up a way for him, an open door that no one can close on him. The Knicks were literally days away from cutting him, but he came off the bench last Saturday and stunned the sports world with his outburst this past week, which has played out like a Hollywood script. The world is witnessing something very special in this humble young man of faith, Jeremy Lin. It is refreshing and a joy to watch.

    Report Post » am123  
  • Winedude
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 7:52pm

    Not surprising, my Warriors screwed up and passed on this guy. That’s not quite as heart wrenching as the 49ers passing on Cal Berkley alum Aaron Rodgers and take Alex Smith. Neither made it to the Super Bowl this year…

    Report Post »  
  • blackstone22
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 7:34pm

    Lin is fantastic, so exciting to watch !

    Report Post »  
  • GdHUs
    Posted on February 11, 2012 at 5:19pm

    My Houston Rockets gave him away because they thought he wasn’t NBA material. That one’s going to haunt us for a long, long time.

    Report Post » GdHUs  

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