Knicks’ Iman Shumpert Supports Charity As He Readies For Second Half of NBA Season

Knicks’ rookie Iman Shumpert had a stellar first half of the season, despite not being the answer to his team’s point guard woes.

The Georgia Tech product is averaging double-figures in points per game with 10.3, and also grabs two steals per game. His rebound and assists numbers are solid for a rookie, but there’s no doubt Shumpert’s game has been elevated by Jeremy Lin’s presence on the court, just as much as anyone else’s.

“Jeremy just brings that swag,” Shumpert said while attending the John Starks Foundation’s charity bowling tournament. “He’s always smiling and is passionate about what he does. We all feed off his great energy, so having him on the court is a great image.”

Aside from his energy, Lin’s presence on the court has allowed other guards like Shumpert to play within their means, not forcing up shots or playing out of position. Lin orchestrates the offense beautifully, finding teammates like Shumpert for solid shots in the flow of the offense.

With less pressure now on the rookie, and Lin cementing himself as a starter, how will Shumpert continue to help his team in the second half of the season? The young guard said, “I’ve got to be that defensive presence whenever I enter the game. I’ve been working on my shot form too. I want to be more consistent. Even though I’ve been hurt, I still haven’t been taking every day off. I was working, and hope to come back and get some wins.”

Of course, Shumpert has been sidelined for the Knicks with knee tendonitis, and was furthermore, prevented from participating in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend. That said, the high-flying rookie said aside from the much talked about dunk featuring Landry Fields’ famous couch, not many other big surprises would have been in store.

Though Shumpert was bummed about missing the contest, he said if he participated, there would have been some behind the back type theatrics on display. So what did the Knicks’ rookie think of the contest? After lifting his shoulders for what has become known as the “Shump Shump Shrug,” he smiled, lamenting, “I thought Chase [Budinger] should have won, but I was happy for Jeremy [Evans]. I was just glad no one got hurt.”

Despite his strong play thus far, Shumpert was left off the Rising Stars Challenge roster(s), even before suffering his injury. However, the rookie wasn’t fazed, insisting individual awards don’t necessarily give him motivation heading into the second half of the season. So what does?

“As long as the Knicks continue to win, I’ll be happy,” he said. “I want to win. The sky’s the limit for us. We can go as deep as we want to. I think everybody needs to lock in, but it’ll be a fun ride. Everyone seems focused in practice, so we hope to build upon that.”

Shumpert was in fact the lone current Knick representative at the John Starks Foundation’s event, taking the “place” of former Knick Ronny Turiaf who attended last year. Instead of bowling, the 21 year old interacted with fans, hamming it up and posing for pictures with Knicks greats Starks and Charles Oakley.

The John Starks Foundation raises money to provide deserving teens from the tri-state and Tulsa, Oklahoma areas with scholarships for college, in addition to building community programs that aid the educational, recreational, and career development of children and their families. The foundation has been running strong, making an impact since 1994.

Other celebrity attendees of the event included former NBA players Cliff Robinson, Scott Burrell, Giants Super Bowl Champion Ramses Barden, and former NFL players Ottis Anderson and Rodney Hampton.

Shumpert and the Knicks resume play tonight vs. the Cavaliers at the Garden.

Be sure to stay tuned for exclusives with Knicks great Charles Oakley and Assistant Coach Herb Williams at Knicks Journal.

Eventful Time at NBA All-Star Weekend For Knicks

From the moment LINsanity grabbed all of the NBA by the horns earlier this month, the league scrambled to insert Jeremy Lin into any and as many events during All-Star Weekend as possible.

Though voting for the big game had already taken place, and rosters for the Rising Stars Challenge were already set, the ever popular Lin could not be held out of the star-studded weekend.

Joining Team SHAQ for the Rising Stars Challenge, Lin was paired up with Knicks teammate Landry Fields. As a result, it became official: LINsanity was about to take Orlando by storm.

And that it did. The national media was understandably intrigued by Lin, enough so for the young guard to warrant his own press conference. The only other person to do that over the course of the weekend? NBA Commissioner David Stern.

No surprise to Knicks fans or anyone else who has followed him especially closely thus far, Lin carried himself as the consummate pro during the press conference; praising God, his teammates, and also displaying humility, giving credit where it was due to his teammates for his recent surge. You can watch the conference here.

As far as the actual game, though the media attention still followed Lin, he was actually given an opportunity to rest. The Harvard grad played only nine minutes in the Rising Stars Challenge, sitting after scoring two points and tossing a sweet alley-oop pass to Blake Griffin. Lin, Fields, and the rest of Team SHAQ fell to Team Chuck by a score of 146-133.

But the weekend certainly wasn't over, and Fields was determined to make sure the Knicks didn't go home empty handed. Participating in the Haier Shooting Stars Competition (which groups a current NBA player alongside an alumni from his team, as well as a WNBA representative from that city), Fields took the court with former Knicks' sharpshooter and current Assistant G.M. Allan Houston and New York Liberty star Cappie Pondexter.

Though Fields and Pondexter shot well, it was Houston, who in addition to giving Knicks fans a pleasant blast from the past, propelled Team New York to victory by nailing two half court shots that secured the competition's quickest times.

While Houston is usually all business as an executive for his former team, his impressive outing was enough to warrant questions about a potential comeback from the media. Houston quickly shot down such a suggestion. That being said, his stroke from long-range did in fact look much better than the other former NBA players who participated, including Dennis Scott, Kenny Smith, and Steve Smith.

Following the various competitions, it was time for superstar Knickerbocker Carmelo Anthony to take the biggest stage at the actual All-Star Game on Sunday evening. Not to disappoint, Anthony played well, scoring 19 points and grabbing 9 boards through 30 minutes of play.

Unfortunately, the East fell to the West by a score of 152-149. Though his team lost, Anthony's strong outing lasted until the very end, with him open for a shot that would have kept his team in the game during the final seconds. Needless to say, he wasn't passed the ball, and the East lost.

Nevertheless, the weekend should be considered an overall success for the Knicks. Their participating members represented them quite well. Lin, Fields, and Anthony are all bright spots on a team looking poised for a big run. Hopefully the three can lead the charge towards a successful second half of the season.

Keys to the Knicks Beating the Heat Tonight in Miami

Perhaps the most hyped game of the night heading into NBA All-Star break, the Knicks and Heat are sure to put on a good show tonight as LINsanity makes its way into Miami.

Though the Knicks are 9-2 in the Jeremy Lin era, the Heat represent perhaps the most dynamic competition the Knicks have faced all month. Although the Knicks beat the defending NBA champion Mavericks earlier in the week, the Heat matchup much better with them in terms of player for player talent and/or skill set.

The Knicks have previously matched up quite well with the Heat over the past two seasons, as their games have gone to the wire with both teams competing at a high level. As shown in the past, the Knicks are quite capable of winning such ballgames. Will LINsanity prevail over King James and the Heat? Here are a couple of things that need to happen in order for the Knicks to send Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, and Landry Fields to Orlando this weekend in high spirits.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1) Make quick decisions. Act fast. The Knicks need to catch the Heat's defense off guard, switching things up and featuring different players on offense throughout the game. Of course, the glue that holds all of this together will be Jeremy Lin.

The Harvard grad needs to look to attack the basket with all his might. Lin's skillful penetration has been what's propelling the Knicks to victory as of late. If he's given the opportunity to do so, Lin needs to take it inside against the likes of Chris Bosh and the Heat's center-by-committee.

With that said, should the Heat chose to pressure Lin, trapping him with the ball up top, he needs to move with great haste and act accordingly. Don't let the defense trap you for long. Instead, Lin needs to look for the open man, whether it be the likes of Landry Fields or Steve Novak on the perimeter, or Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler via the pick and roll.

If all else fails for Lin, the Knicks can always opt to run the offense through perhaps Carmelo Anthony and/or J.R. Smith, with the hope they have better luck getting to the hole.

2) Make necessary adjustments. Over the last week, much has been said about the Knicks' elevated depth with the additions of Baron Davis and J.R. Smith, as well as the return from injury by Carmelo Anthony. One key to a potential Knicks victory tonight will be Coach Mike D'Antoni's ability to juggle his rotation effectively.

With so many different options (new and old) in his arsenal, D'Antoni will need to react to the different matchups tonight, making sure the ideal players are on the court in order to come away with a win. If the defense is pressuring Lin and other Knicks guards up top, sub in the team's better big men to capitalize on the pick and roll. If the Heat decide to guard the three ball, let Lin and Anthony penetrate. Should they instead decide to swarm STAT and Chandler down low, put in your best shooters from deep to spread the floor.

Whatever the situation calls for, D'Antoni and the Knicks need to shake things up throughout, making sure there is no lull in their offensive flow.

3) Let the Miami Heat shoot the ball. Of course, a team's defensive strategy going into the game may also need to be adjusted accordingly, depending on how the opponent's offense reacts. That being said, the Heat have two of the better penetrators in all of the NBA in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Seeing how Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire are two of the Knicks' better talents, it would make sense for the Heat to choose to attack the basket, going at both big men in an attempt at forcing them to rack up the fouls. What makes things worse for the Knicks, both big men have been known to have flaring tempers, among the league leaders in technical fouls. Take either one out of the game due to foul trouble and/or frustration, and things could get ugly for the Knicks very quickly.

What's the solution here? How do the Knicks prevent this from occurring? Allow the Heat to shoot the ball around the perimeter. Lin and Fields are both capable man to man defenders, and can, of course, apply some pressure to distract shooters. But the main goal tonight should be allowing the Heat to shoot the basketball, rather than driving to the hoop.

With such explosive offensive players, there's no one easy way to stop the Heat from hurting you. That said, the Knicks can attempt to throw off the opponents' game by tempting them to shoot from deep, rather than going inside for easier buckets. The Knicks' pressure, along with the Heat's prior strategy and/or first instinct, will decide what happens here.

Either way, tonight's matchup should be an exciting one. Needless to say, should they come away with a victory, the Knicks will be carrying quite the amount of momentum with them into the second half of the season.

Knicks Take Control Early and Cruise Past Hawks

Thursday night's Knicks vs. Heat game is the one everyone keeps talking about. Stars will collide as LINsanity soars into Miami, attempting to send the Knicks into the All-Star break on a high note.

But before the well-hyped game, the Knicks had other business to take care of in the form of a matchup vs. the Hawks at home. Catching a break, the absence of Joe Johnson for the Hawks was surely to make things a little easier for the Knicks.

JJ or no JJ, no one would have guessed things would have been that easy.

Capitalizing on a sloppy game by the Hawks early on, the Knicks took control of the contest and never looked back. The Hawks' offense looked stagnant and confused, unable to connect on passes and furthermore, simply allowing the Knicks to take the ball away from them time and time again. Five Hawks committed three turnovers or more as the team fell to 6-9 since point guard Kirk Hinrich returned to the floor.

J.R. Smith led his Knicks' defensive charge against the Hawks with an impressive five steals. Of course, good defense often leads to solid offense. This was certainly the case Wednesday.

Though Smith did add 12 points of his own, Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak scored 17 points apiece to lead the Knicks to a 99-82 victory. Helping his team bounce back from a frustrating loss to the Nets on Monday, Lin dished out 9 assists as he found his teammates for easy buckets.

With the Knicks' rotation almost at full strength (Baron Davis and Smith are playing, and rookies Josh Harrellson and Iman Shumpert are set to return after the all-star break), the team is beginning to get a sense of what they are truly capable of.

With Lin running the point, things just appear much simpler. The young floor general also helped Landry Fields hit all the right spots on the court, on his way to scoring 16 points as well.

What's more, as Fields looks to attack the basket to convert on passes from Lin, he has also been raking up the rebounds too. This should remind fans much of the way Fields played last season. Following a double-double performance Monday, Fields added seven boards.

Also worth noting in the Hawks-Knicks matchup was the play of Baron Davis, who appeared in just his second game as a Knick. Getting a little more burn than he did in his debut, Davis played 14 minutes, dishing out 6 assists and grabbing two steals, despite committing 5 turnovers and missing all three of his shot attempts. All things considered, this should be recognized as a positive outing for Davis, who has been off the basketball court for nine months.

Clearly, he needs time to adjust, not only to playing with brand new teammates, but also to re-acclimate himself to play full speed basketball once again. His six assists signaled he was actively looking for his teammates on offense, often connecting with them for solid shots. His court vision will prove to be invaluable for the Knicks, who obviously ride and die with their floor generals.

As Davis finds a rhythm with his teammates, the amount of turnovers will gradually come down. Even if B-Diddy continues to struggle early on, those who are panicking can look to New York's 6-1 record when Lin commits six turnovers or more as a means of calming their nerves.

The Knicks won this game due to an all around strong effort from the team as a whole. That said, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony combined for 22 points in the victory. Though that's not ideal production, their lack of scoring proved the Knicks can still rise above to produce wins.

With a much fuller rotation in the weeks to come, the team has an array of different options to go to on offense to get necessary scoring. This will take pressure off the stars, as they won't always need to rack up the points in order for the Knicks to win. Wednesday night proved this quite well.

Will Rotation Adjustments Help or Hurt The Knicks?

Just over two weeks ago, the Knicks were reeling. Fans began calling for Coach Mike D'Antoni's head while questioning whether or not Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony could ultimately mesh well together in the long run. Fingers were being pointed in every which direction as the team's fans, the media, and just about everyone else, criticized the Knicks for their frustrating struggles.

Of course, everyone and their mother knows what happened next. LINsanity overtook the entire nation as Jeremy Lin delivered on an opportunity granted by the combination of the Knicks' void at point guard, as well as the absences of Stoudemire and Anthony.

Ever since, Lin has led the charge as the Knicks have come surging back, rising as the toast of the town. Moving forward, however, the Harvard grad will not only continue to embrace role of starring attraction, but also be the glue that holds his team together.

This may prove more difficult to do as the Knicks will make adjustments to their rotation moving forward.

With Anthony expected to return to the court tonight vs. the Nets, fans will get their first look at how (and if) he and Anthony can not only co-exist, but succeed on the court. What's more, Baron Davis, finally dressing in uniform, is set to make his debut any day now. J.R. Smith will also demand substantial minutes as he looks to provide a spark off the bench for the Knicks following his stint in China.

All three players are obviously especially talented and can elevate a team's rise to contention. That being said, after experiencing so much success with their current rotation, how will the Knicks adjust to playing with these different yet notable players in the mix?

Though Coach D'Antoni has asserted Davis will be gradually welcomed back onto the court, Anthony and Smith are surely to aim towards making instant contributions. This will likely signal a decrease in playing time for the likes of Jared Jeffries, Steve Novak, and Billy Walker (among others), all of whom have been instrumental during the Knicks' impressive streak.

Though it would be nice for Coach D'Antoni to find the perfect balance of minutes for each and every player, that is not likely to happen, at least for a little while. As the Knicks make the necessary adjustments to their rotation, the key will be not so much who is on the court, but rather still playing with a certain fluidity.

The players stepping up big for the Knicks lately have displayed the most efficient ball movement. Whether it's Novak and Walker positioning themselves in either corner to catch a pass and drain a three, or Jeffries transferring the ball quickly out of his hands and into someone else's, these players have played their roles well through the flow of the offense, purely for the betterment of the team.

Anthony and Smith will not only take minutes away from the players who have succeeded as of late, but also have been known to play a different style. Anthony is clearly an isolation type of player, and Smith demonstrated more of the same in his debut, the Knicks' 104-97 win over the defending NBA champion Mavericks. The former Nuggets swingman added 15 points, but shot 3 for 9 from long-range in the victory.

As both are very talented, it's important they also buy into the way the team is playing now. This is imperative to the impending future success of the Knicks. Keep the ball moving, hit the open man, and continue to play team basketball, even if it means sacrificing your own shot. This is the mentality every Knickerbocker needs to play with if the team wants to make noise, roaring towards the playoffs.

With the emergence of Lin, Davis will be the one out of the three who will not have to do as much to fit in. The pressure is no longer mounting, which will make anything Davis provides simply gravy. If he and Lin can form a two-headed, ball moving monster at point guard, the offensive flow will continue and the Knicks will further improve. All the players need to buy into this and execute accordingly, no matter who is on the court.

A Bonanza and Extravaganza of New York Knicks Links!

Though many Knicks and NBA fans are disappointed utter LINsanity hit somewhat of a wall Friday night with the team's 89-85 loss to the Hornets, there's still plenty to be excited about in the land of the Knickerbockers.

The team has been busy the last couple of days, moving and grooving to start improvin', and actually received a bunch of exciting news along the way. Let's take a look at what has gone on in a jam-packed couple of days for the Knicks.

First things first, it's worth noting that the NBA just simply could not deny LINsanity from taking over NBA All-Star Weekend. Though Jeremy Lin's amazing rise to the top came too late for fans to have a chance to vote him in to the star-studded game, the league still made arrangements for fans to see plenty of him over the course of the weekend.

Perhaps propelled by Lin's remarkable play, Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert was selected to participate in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, and the rumor is that Lin will hope to help elevate his teammate to victory in the competition by providing some sort of flashy assist, ala Baron Davis to Blake Griffin in last year's contest.

But the LINsanity simply won't stop there. After much uproar, "Honorary Commissioner" of the Rising Stars Challenge, TNT Analyst Kenny Smith, added the Heat's Norris Cole to the contest, dramatically asserting Lin needed to fill a spot to then even out the rosters. This year's game has a bit of a different format, mixing rookies and sophomores to play with and against one another. The teams were divided up in a draft between former NBA superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley. Though Lin was a late addition to the draft pool, Shaq selected him with his second pick (behind Blake Griffin). Team SHAQ later also drafted Landry Fields, keeping the Knicks' starting backcourt on the same contending team.

In searching for role(s) for Lin during the league's big weekend, it was rumored that he would compete in the Haier Shooting Stars Competition. Instead, Fields will represent the Knicks, forming the first "Team New York" ever in the contest, joining former Knicks' sharpshooter and current Assistant G.M. Allan Houston, as well as New York Liberty star Cappie Pondexter.

The Knicks didn't let the league make all the splashes with these ongoing exciting announcement, however. After much speculation, the Knicks made a big acquisition in the form of J.R. Smith. Smith signs with New York after having spent some time in China throughout the lockout. Props to my pal Tommy Dee for being first on the scene with this call for weeks now. In order to make room for Smith, the Knicks waived Renaldo Balkman.

Enough with all this breaking news--now it's time for some editorial opinion. Though Lin could not help the Knicks come up with another victory Friday, the fact is his impact on his teammates has been truly remarkable. In my latest contribution for The New York Times' NBA blog, "Off the Dribble," I examine Lin's fine play, pondering whether he can have the same effect on Amar'e Stoudemire moving forward. Check it out here.

Also from "Off the Dribble," an interview with Knicks Journal friend and recent NBA Hall of Famer, Brooklyn native Chris Mullin! Mullin admittingly plays a bit of "Monday Morning Quarterback," adding his thoughts on the trade that brought Carmelo Anthony to New York City, among other things.

With LINsanity rapidly spreading across the nation, my friends at Iowa State University's "The Sports Binge" had me on to talk all about Lin's rise to instant stardom, the Knicks' playoff hopes, and more. You can check out the interview in full right here.

Finally, to help Knicks fans lighten up their sprits following a tough loss, Howard Beck takes an in-depth look at the budding friendship between Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields. How nice!

When you're done reading all of these, perhaps it'll be time for the Knicks take on the Mavericks tomorrow at MSG!

LINsanity Comes to Halt as Knicks Fall to Hornets

While still in awe of all the LINsanity surrounding not just New York City, but all of the NBA nation, many have pondered how long LINsanity will last. How long can Jeremy Lin continue to carry the Knicks with his heroics and remarkable play? How much longer will the Knicks' winning streak continue?

On Friday night, certain questions were answered, as the Knicks fell to the lowly Hornets, 89-85.

The Hornets ended up snapping the Knicks' exhilarating streak at seven games, delivering them a lost that coincidentally, got the struggling Hornets their seventh victory overall this season.

The Hornets simply looked like a team prepared to cope with LINsanity, swarming Jeremy Lin early. They played tight defense on the Harvard grad, not only preventing him from penetrating to the basket, but also throwing off his court vision. New Orleans forced eight turnovers from Lin in the first half alone.

Landry Fields, Steve Novak, and even Iman Shumpert all had off games for the Knicks, which obviously contributed to their downfall. The question is, did they all struggle due to Lin's own difficulties, or vice versa? Lin has truly elevated almost all of his teammates during this winning streak, showcasing their abilities to make them look like starring attractions. With Lin unable to find his teammates effectively Friday, everyone came back down to Earth just a little bit.

Amar'e Stoudemire did lead the Knicks with 26 points of his own, as did Lin. Many who have jumped on the LINsanity bandwagon may say that it's all coming to a close, but really, perhaps it just came to a halt last night with the team unable to adjust to the Hornets defense. Lin and Stoudemire both led a charge as the Knicks looked to soar back Friday, but it was simply too little too long. Winning seven of eight still just isn't that bad, either, though. All things considered, the Knicks played hard, but a win alluded them in this one.

Trevor Ariza led the Hornets with 25 points. The former Knick connected on an array of shots from long-range, displaying the shooting ability the Knicks had oh so desired from him during his tenure in New York.

The Knicks will look to bounce back and resume LINsanity Sunday afternoon vs. the defending NBA champion Mavericks at home.

Iman Shumpert to Participate in NBA Slam Dunk Contest

In a bit of a surprising move, Marc Stein reports that the Knicks' Iman Shumpert will be participating in the NBA's "Sprite Slam Dunk Contest" during All-Star Weekend.

Knicks fans were disappointed to see Shumpert was passed over for the Rising Stars Challenge, given his early success. Though he hasn't been a high-flyer with his dunks during games too often, it's known the rookie has some legitimate hops, and now has the perfect platform to show them off.

The selection was undoubtedly influenced by the Knicks' electrifying seven game winning streak. If that's the case, it would only be fair that the man who has propelled the team during this stretch would join Shumpert, right?

Indeed. Jeremy Lin will apparently be bringing LINsanity to Orlando during NBA All-Star Weekend. Lin will be assisting Shumpert during the contest, in essence, guaranteeing a win for him, many would assert. The electricity surrounding Lin's presence may be too much for everyone else to play down their excitement, rooting for Shump to win.

What's more, there have also been rumblings the NBA is trying to add Lin to their pool for the "Haier Shooting Stars Competition." The contest, of course, groups a current player with an alumni from his team, and a WNBA player from that city, together to compete.

A bit of an interesting debate--which Knicks sharp-shooting alum would compete with Lin? Allan Houston, John Starks, and Trent Tucker (among others) all stand to be decent candidates, but to me, there would be no one more exciting to watch hoist up long-bombs during the contest than Mr. 4-Point Play himself, Larry Johnson. More on this if and when it comes to fruition later.

Jeremy Lin Gets Job Done as Knicks Keep Rolling

Following Jeremy Lin's heroics in Toronto, the Knicks came home to host the Kings. As expected, the fans celebrated Lin's ongoing impact, recognizing him with loud, roaring cheers, as well as an array of signs, jerseys, and custom made tee-shirts. Everyone has gone utterly lin-sane, desperately hoping the LINsanity will continue.

Though Lin did in fact play well Wednesday night against the Kings, he left the fireworks to others. And by others, I mean just about everyone else.

His Knicks teammates connected the dots on a bevy of alley-oops from the Harvard graduate, with players like Landry Fields and Tyson Chandler powering home multiple slams.

New York ran away with the victory, pulling away early on as they finished with a 100-85 win. Though he has helped the Knicks win by serving as a dominant scorer as of late, Lin instead assumed the role of a true orchestrator tonight. As a result, Fields led seven teammates in double-figures with 15 points, in addition to his season-high 10 boards.

Fields' points came in the flow of the offense, as they often did with Raymond Felton running the show last season. Not trying to do too much, Fields is at his best when he's set up efficiently. Much of the same also applies to Steve Novak, who likes to position himself beyond the arc to cash in on long range bombs. He added 14 points in the win.

Though he only scored 9 points, Tyson Chandler was also efficient as he made the most of his possessions on offense, giving the Knicks a threat inside. Amar'e Stoudemire added 11 points in the win. While that number is low, STAT is surely still getting acclimated to playing with Lin. At the same time, he benefitted from not having to dominate on offense as many of his teammates had great nights.

Bill Walker was another one of those teammates, having received another start and scored 14 points of his own. Possibly his best game of his team's seven game winning streak, Walker played well by making smart decisions on the court. Jared Jeffries had a near double-double, grabbing 9 rebounds and pouring in a surprising 10 points off the pine as well.

All of these strong performances came as a result of Lin's career-high 13 assists. Lin found his teammates in the right spots all night long, powerfully leading the team, rather than just helping them win with his own offense. This should only give everyone around him the faith needed to believe he can elevate a team with multiple offensive weapons. His passing display Wednesday should prove more about the Knicks' future potential success than any of his previous six remarkable outings. He too, however, added 10 points of his own.

Lin and Stoudemire will continue to develop chemistry. STAT has excelled with steady points guards in the past, and Lin has shown during this winning streak he has the ability to make other players around him better. The two will benefit from one another with time.

The Knicks will look to continuing rolling as they take on the revamped Hornets on Friday night.

Jeremy Lin Wins It Again for Knicks: The Different Prospectives

Opposing teams have certainly begun to figure what the LINsanity is all about. Teams like the Lakers, Timberwolves, and the Raptors have all devised different strategies to try to put an end to Jeremy Lin's remarkable and mind-blowing streak of greatness.

Though Lin seemed to dominate early on, taking early opponents by surprise, he has had to find ways to adjust the past few games. Seeing him excel at driving to the basket, the Lakers defense dropped back, allowing him to shoot. The Timberwolves pressured him intensely, barely allowing him to really put the ball on the floor at all. Last night, the Raptors appeared to have found a more perfected formula, doing a little of both--pressuring Lin enough to prevent him from driving excessively, while still contesting open jumpers.

It's obvious Lin will only get better by continuing to adjust to what the defense gives him. But just as the Raptors' looked as though they had gotten Lin and the Knicks' number, LINsanity came roaring back with a vengeance.

The Knicks' rising star made a bold move by calling for an isolation, but did indeed sink the fairly uncontested bomb from long range to give his team their sixth straight victory.

Was the game-winning dagger the most exciting moment during the team's streak? Take a look at the electrifying moment from some different prospectives.

First on the call here is MSG Network's own Mike Breen, also known across the league as the voice of the NBA. The play-by-play man's signature, "BANG!" puts the stamp on the victory.

Next up is Toronto's team at TSN. The announcers were still shocked at the ongoing LINsanity. What's great about this clip is the better close up (with audio and all) Knicks fans get of Lin's post-shot celebration with his teammates.

Now that both broadcast teams have been heard, an interesting prospective here is that of a fan who is front and center for the play at the Air Canada Center. Even the opposing crowd goes bonkers with excitement and astonishment at the shot, which sank the hometown town.

And of course...the aftershock. MSG Network's post-game crew breaks down the final play, adding their own amazement at the dramatic play.

Will the LINsanity continue tonight as the Knicks take on the Kings at home? At this point, who knows if it'll ever stop?

Will the LINsanity Continue This Week for the Knicks?

Jeremy Lin descended back down to Earth, only a bit, of course, with his 8 for 24 shooting performance against the Timberwolves on Saturday.

Though he had a difficult third quarter (in which he shot 1 for 10), Lin did finish with with 20 points, 8 assists and 3 steals. The Harvard grad was clearly fatigued, but the Knicks made sure they overcame it, rallying behind his performance to come away with a 100-98 victory.

To me, "LINsanity" hasn't solely been the production and/or the numbers Lin has put up, though they too have been sensational. Moreover, what's been even more key to the Knicks' success has been Lin's effect on everyone around him.

There's obviously been an aura of euphoria and positivity around the Garden as of late, but Lin's great play has elevated his teammates' play on the court as well, rather than simply their emotional states.

Lin has impacted Steve Novak, who too has become somewhat of an overnight success. Having an efficient point guard on the court makes a player like Novak relevant, enabling him to showcase his talent by being found in the right spots to knockdown a three. With Lin attempting to triumph over his fatigue Saturday, it was Novak who came up in the clutch with a late basket from down town to keep his team in the game.

Without Jeremy Lin, however, there is no Steve Novak for the Knicks. Without Novak's recent surge, who's to say the team would currently be riding their current five-game winning streak?

Lin has also continued to make the other players around him better. As Jared Jeffries continues to see time on the court as a big part of the Knicks' defensive pulse, Lin has worked well with the forward to try to hide his imperfections on offense. Though fans may gasp and groan every time Jeffries aims to shoot, Lin has found him in good spots, allowing Jeffries to at the very least, position himself under the basket and potentially draw the foul.

Iman Shumpert has also begun to benefit from Lin's presence on the court. Aside from being able to push to the pace together as two speedy guards, Shump feeds off of Lin's energy. With Lin playing the role of floor general, the rookie out of Georgia Tech is able to look for his own offense. A potential scoring machine, it's been clear early on that Shumpert likes to shoot the ball. Lin certainly allows him to do that more often, which has helped the Knicks obtain a boost off the bench.

And then there's Tyson Chandler, the fringe all-star, who arguably would have gotten a nod to the star-studded game if the Knicks had began their winning ways a bit earlier. Chandler has seen a spark in his offensive production over the course of the winning streak, posting 14.6 points per game. That impressive number is largely in part due to Lin's ability to find him in the paint. Chandler has been converting on a bevy of rattling slams and explosive alley-oops. While the shots themselves may be easy, finding Chandler effectively has not been for Knicks point guards so far this season. Lin's impact has continued to speak volumes.

Thus, Lin's ongoing sudden success begs the question of how long it will last (and/or continue). Will he being able to mesh with the team's soon returning stars, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony? Lin's ability to elevate Chandler, paired with STAT's great success in the pick and roll with an efficient floor general, suggests playing with one another will ultimately do wonders for the both of them. Lin will finally have a true offensive presence to pass the ball to, diverting the defense away from himself. What's more, Stoudemire will find himself exactly where the Knicks need him to be on offense in order to cash in on easy buckets, truly in the flow of the offense.

Anthony's potential success with Lin seems to be more of a concern. The 2012 all-star tends to excel more in isolation situations, thus dominating the ball throughout the game. This was fine, and even worked well in the past, given that the Knicks hadn't in fact had a real point guard all season long. But now with Lin in the fold, Anthony may have to make a few adjustments to his game for the betterment of the team.

Nevertheless, a great deal of good can come from this. Despite his remarkable play, Lin has been racking up the turnovers. Whether this be a result of fatigue, defensive pressure, etc., the fact is Anthony could potentially provide some relief. The two should work together to find a happy medium for the amount of time each one holds the ball. Lin can run the offense effectively and still find and/or give up the ball to 'Melo when the time comes. By alternating possessions between the two, the Knicks could keep defenses guessing.

The team will begin to explore the endless amount of possibilities, figuring out a way to balance all their talents, as they take on the Raptors on Tuesday. Stoudemire is expected to have rejoined the team by then.

Think Kobe Bryant Knows Who Jeremy Lin Now?

Though the rest of the NBA has been quickly learning of Jeremy Lin’s great heroics through an array of national headlines this past week, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant claimed not to have heard much of the Knicks’ up and comer.

Having even comically dismissed the notion that he may in fact have to guard Lin, Bryant seemed to be a bit too cocky, even for his own good.

A Knickerbocker win and 38 points later, think Bryant will remember who Jeremy Lin is the next time he comes to town?

I'd hope so. For his sake.

This Is Linsane! Jeremy Lin Leads Knicks Over Lakers

The man, myth, and the legend that is Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin has led the charge during the team's three game winning streak this week.

Lin's unbelievable, eye-popping play has made national headlines, with the Harvard graduate going from zero to hero in just a matter of days. After seemingly saving the Knicks' season (as well as perhaps Coach Mike D'Antoni's job), it's safe to say Lin has Knicks fans everywhere gleefully bouncing on Cloud Nine.

But even New York's fans are able to power past these euphoric feelings and realize the "Linsanity" might not last forever, right? With no Carmelo Anthony or Amar'e Stoudemire, Lin has put the team on his back and carried them ever since. As exciting as its been, fans have been waiting for him to hit a wall, because no one quite knows the ceiling for his success.

If Lin and the Knicks were ever to hit a more understandable wall, that wall would have been Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers strolled into the Big Apple for a matchup with the Knicks on Friday, and although all the momentum was clearly in their opponent's favor, the championship-contending Lakers seemed like a good candidate to deflate the Knicks' spirits a bit with a loss.

Instead, the legend continued.

Though Bryant and the Lakers dismissed having to prepare too heavily for Lin's apparent greatness, the team's strategy was to allow Lin to shoot the ball. The Knicks' young stud has taken the league by storm with his flashy and efficient playmaking ability, in addition to the skill-set needed to drive to the basket with ease. Lin has found success by consistently finding his teammates in the paint as well as around the perimeter. When he can't find them, he goes to the hoop for easy layups, often drawing the and-one.

Seeing as how much of his success has come from the inside, the Lakers challenged Lin to shoot from the outside. But boy, did he accept that challenge. The phenomenon displayed a new facet of his game, converting on jump shots from around the perimeter and beyond the arc. Lin's rise to the top continued as the nation watched Friday night, with the young guard pouring in 38 points (a new career-high) on his way to leading his team to a 92-85 victory, truly stinging the Lakers.

Though the Knicks owe their resurgence nearly all to Lin's emergence, the point guard is quick to try and distribute praise all around. Lin gave much credit to many of his teammates, whom he also dished out 7 assists to. The fact is, Lin has been finding them all in the right spots, making it easy for them to cash in on easy buckets. That's what a true floor general does.

What's more, the Knicks have looked more like a well-structured squad (without Anthony or Stoudemire) than they have all season long with Lin taking the reigns. Each player seems to understand his role and executes it well. Tyson Chandler has continued to rebound the ball and has also played well offensively down the stretch, though he did finish with only 9 points last night to go with his 11 rebounds.

Another key cog in the lineup, Jared Jeffries has played a vital part in the Knicks' winning streak, doing all the little things; diving for loose balls, grabbing rebounds, and playing even better defense, drawing charges left and right. Not only did Jeffries grab 9 boards himself and swipe two steals, but Jeffries added an impressive 11 points as well.

Though his stat-sheet wouldn't suggest he had a great night, Landry Fields recognized his role against the Lakers and did it pretty well; trying to throw off Kobe Bryant. Although Bryant had 34 points and tried to match Lin shot for shot down the stretch, he finished the game having only made 11 of his 29 total shot attempts. Fields made sure Bryant did not play efficiently, which certainly helped the Knicks stay competitive throughout.

Through it all, Lin's play has been remarkably amazing. When was the last time the league saw such a player take on similar burdening challenges, and come out so victorious? Has there ever been a player that has matched Lin's recent spurt of excitement, explosiveness, and overall success in such a short amount of time?

Clearly, fans are pumped up, roaring with "M.V.P" chants for Lin, half-joking he should have made the All-Star Game for his sudden accomplishments. While that's certainly taking it to the extreme quite a bit, would it be that farfetched for the league to ride Lin's momentum for what it's worth, and find him a place in the star-studded weekend somehow?

Able to run his team more efficiently than any other point guard has this season, the way he breaks down the defense would suggest Lin would do well in the Skills Challenge. However, there just might be a few other point guards a bit more established up for consideration.

To be fair, though, he certainly deserves the opportunity to fill in as an injury-replacement for any young player forced to sit out the Rising Stars Challenge. After all, it's hard to believe the league finds a player rising more rapidly into a star than Lin.

NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Talks Growing Up in NYC, Carmelo Anthony, and More

Truly the definition of an NBA legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still stands tall as the league’s all-time leading scorer. Although he retired over twenty years ago, his legacy has proven to be absolutely timeless.

The fact is Abdul-Jabbar could have ridden off into the sunset after his playing days and let his astonishing NBA career simply speak for itself. Instead, he has continued to build up the accolades, becoming a filmmaker, a best-selling author, and was most recently appointed a U.S. Cultural Ambassador.

Though he cemented his basketball legacy as a member of the Bucks and Lakers, it’s worth noting the six-time NBA champion and M.V.P. grew up and learned the game in the heart of New York City. This week, the legend returned to his hometown to promote some of his off-the-court ventures.

Abdul-Jabbar took time to reflect upon his fond memories of growing up in the Big Apple, saying, “I realized very early in life that basketball was a blood sport by growing up here. I got recruited in the eighth grade to play in high school. That doesn’t happen very often, but being in New York City, everyone wants the best team. What I remember fondly was the chance to go to Madison Square Garden back when they had double-headers. I was able to watch Bill Russell play, whom I learned a lot from. He really understood things about the game, and how to win, which helped informed me of how I should model by game.”

He went on to talk about his appreciation for the Harlem Rens, an all-black basketball team in New York City that was discriminated against and kept from competing in established leagues. Says Abdul-Jabbar, “In 1939, there was a tournament that invited all teams regardless of race. The Rens went on to beat the Harlem Globetrotters in the semi-finals, and then later ended up winning the entire tournament. They did try and get into the NBA, but the league still wouldn’t let them in. Growing up in Harlem, though, they were still remembered very fondly because they set a standard. Coach Wooden played against them at one point and actually called ‘The Rens’ the best professional team he had ever seen.”

As it just so happens, Abdul-Jabbar’s new documentary, “On the Shoulders of Giants,” centers all around the Harlem Rens, the history of the early days of basketball, and the Harlem Renaissance. The NBA legend reached out to a plethora of celebrities, legends, and current athletes to contribute to the documentary to help put a focus on such great history. One of those notables happened to be none other than Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.

Abdul-Jabbar sang praises for Anthony, having nothing but great things to say. Talking glowingly about Anthony’s contribution, he noted, “I was able to get to know Carmelo a little bit. He was very gracious and gave us a great interview. He came to our premiere and has helped us promote the film too. He’s just a wonderful guy. Carmelo felt it was his duty to just acknowledge the people who made it possible for him to have the wonderful opportunities he’s had.”

When asked about Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks’ other resident star, and his early season struggles, Abdul-Jabbar recognized that big men in the league today do not use as many post-up moves.

It’s clear that Stoudemire has had difficulty creating his own offense, unable to cash in on a bevy of arrant jump shots. That being said, the NBA Hall of Famer, who is arguably the best big man the league has ever seen, asserted “I think having a post-up game would definitely enhance a player like that. It would give him a lot more versatility, as opposed to when he’s simply facing the basket. But somebody has to be willing to show it to him, and he has to be willing to learn it. I don’t know if that’ll happen, but it would be beneficial. A guy like James Worthy learned a lot from Dean Smith by understanding a post-up game would enhance his play. He could easily post-up smaller defenders thrown at him, and then use his speed to blow by the bigger ones. Having versatility is just a great asset to have.”

A big man with decent speed and footwork, it seems as though Stoudemire could benefit from the advice Abdul-Jabbar has.

In addition to keeping up with the league today, he also enjoys interacting with younger generations through social media, active on both Facebook and Twitter. Abdul-Jabbar says the key to his long-lasting impact has been, “just keeping my eyes and ears open at all times. I don’t try to limit myself at all. If you do that, you might miss out on what’s going on.”

What’s more, he is also the author of a new children’s book entitled, “What Color is My World,” which recognizes notable black inventors dating back to the 19^th century all the way to present day.

Though he did not have any predictions pertaining to the Lakers-Knicks matchup Friday night at the Garden, the Lakers legend did add, “I think the Lakers are trying to hold onto their dominance this year, but they’ve got quite a challenge. Their conference has certainly improved. You see teams like the Grizzlies, Clippers, and Thunder are definitely on their way up. As far as the Knicks, I’m a big fan of Carmelo’s now after getting to know him. He’s a special player. I wish him success and also wish the Knicks success. I really hope they get a good team going here, because when there’s a good team in New York, it benefits the whole league.”

Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire Left Off NBA All-Star Team

The full NBA All-Star Game rosters were announced Thursday night, with the reserves for each squad being revealed on TNT.

Though the rosters included proven veterans who have previously cemented their legacies (like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash), as well as up and coming first-timers (such as Luol Deng, Andre Iguodala, and Marc Gasol), Carmelo Anthony remained the only Knicks representative, as Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler were not selected.

For a look at both complete rosters for the star-studded contest, you can click here.

Aside from being hurt earlier in the season, Amar'e Stoudemire has struggled throughout the season, not quite able to find his rhythm on the offensive end. Without an efficient point guard running the floor for the Knicks (up until recently), Stoudemire's production has visibly taken a hit. He has looked lost on the court, and has furthermore been unable to create his own offense. It's no surprise the big man hasn't been able to convert on the array of off-balance jump shots he's hoisted up this season. Bottom line is, Stoudemire has not been himself, so it's not a big shock to see him left off the roster.

What was a bit more of a surprise, however, was seeing Tyson Chandler omitted from the Eastern Conference's squad. The Knicks' center has been a dominating force, quarterbacking his team's defense and lately exploding on the offensive end. It's arguable that Chandler is having the best season of his career, and furthermore, has elevated his team's play more than any other player on the entire roster.

The problem, though, is that perhaps Chandler has not elevated his team simply quite enough, as the Knicks have only a 11-15 record on the season. The NBA coaches who vote for the reserves have a tendency to reward winners, and on a team currently four games under .500, Chandler unfortunately does not currently qualify as one.

That notion was evidenced in the two other selections for All-Star squad centers. Marc Gasol (whose Grizzlies are 13-13), was selected to represent the Western Conference, and Roy Hibbert (whose Pacers are an even more impressive 17-8) both have similar numbers to Chandler, but were recognized more so because of their presence on winning teams.

Comparing Chandler and Hibbert a bit more directly (because Hibbert was seemingly selected over Chandler on the Eastern Conference squad), the two big men do in fact average the same amount of rebounds per game with 9.9. Hibbert's 13.6 points per game edge out Chandler's own 12, but Chandler happens to average more steals. The pair's block average is also similar, but Chandler happens to shoot nearly 20% more than Hibbert from the field.

Chandler has done well as he continues to work towards meshing with Anthony and Stoudemire, but no one can argue that Hibbert has had a big impact on the Pacers' 17-8 record to date.

It's difficult to dismiss a winning record's effect on a player's positive credentials. There is no doubt Hibbert deserved to make the team, but had the Knicks have had a stronger record through Monday, it's also likely playing in the Big Apple may have influenced a potential selection of Chandler as well.

A surprising caveat to the "we pick winners" mindset this season was the omission of any deserving Denver Nuggets player to the Western Conference's squad. Despite boasting a 15-11 record in the tough conference, the Nuggets were left without a representative on the team.

Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari have both led the way, exploding onto the scene with career seasons. However, Gallinari just suffered an unfortunate injury, and Lawson's competition for a spot included guards Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, and Tony Parker---all of whom were selected instead. Not rewarding the Nuggets' impressive start is a bit odd to say the least, as the voting coaches seemed to instead reward and recognize the legacies of various veterans.

Should Tyson Chandler Garner All-Star Game Consideration?

Last season, Amar'e Stoudemire took all of New York City by storm, leading the Knicks' early success and becoming the first player to represent the team as a starter in the NBA All-Star Game since Patrick Ewing in 1992.

This season, however, it was Carmelo Anthony who, by helping keep the Knicks' heads above water, was voted an Eastern Conference starter for the star-studded contest. Though his groin injury should not keep him out through All-Star break, it is unknown at this point how Anthony will feel and if he will prefer to instead use the break to rest the various injuries that have plagued him all season long.

Though Anthony has already been voted in, and Stoudemire's placement in the game seems unlikely given his early season struggles, there is one other Knick who deserves consideration for a reserve spot heading into tonight's announcement of the full All-Star Game rosters on TNT.

No, folks---that man is not Jeremy Lin, regardless of how many Knicks fans may desperately beg to differ at this point. The New York Knick deserving All-Star Game consideration is none other than reigning NBA champion Tyson Chandler.

Since first donning orange and blue, Chandler has almost single handedly elevated the Knicks into one of the league's top 10-15 defensive squads. It's no secret that he was recruited by New York to be the quarterback of their defense, elevating an effort of the team's game that was otherwise non-existent in recent seasons. The big man has certainly cemented his presence as an influential force both on and off the court for the Knicks, which is exactly what they had hoped for.

What's come a bit more unexpected, however, has been Chandler's offensive production. In addition to filling up the stat sheet on a nightly basis, averaging 9.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals, he is also averaging 12 points while leading the league with a shooting percentage that nears 70%.

With all that said, it may be true that Chandler's point average simply doesn't do justice for what's to come. The big man, along with many of his teammates, is rapidly reaping the benefits of playing with a floor general like Lin, as the point guard has found Chandler inside over and over again for easy buckets. The NBA champion has been powering home dunks above the rim, igniting fans and more importantly, uplifting his team during their recent three game winning streak.

I examine the benefits of featuring Chandler more on offense in my latest contribution for the New York Times' NBA Blog, "Off the Dribble:"

Though the Knicks have struggled, they are 5-1 when Chandler scores 17 points or more. In a league with fewer big men dominating the way they used to (Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum being exceptions), the Knicks are poised to help Chandler, one of the game’s best defensive centers, elevate the other side of his game.

Pounding the ball in to Chandler would not only give the Knicks an opportunity to throw off opponents, but it would free up Lin. The defensive pressure on the young guard has been mounting quickly. To prevent Lin’s being overwhelmed, the Knicks need to lighten his burden. More offensive output by Chandler would help. And if the Knicks are given the opportunity, Lin and Chandler can continue to develop a two-man game to keep defenders guessing.

The fact of the matter is that with Howard already starting in the All-Star Game, Chandler deserves to represent the Eastern Conference as its backup center. He is having a career year offensively, which only stands to improve with the presence of Lin. Furthermore, his defensive contributions have been on par with the skills that made him an NBA All-Defensive Second Team member, perhaps even having a greater impact on the Knicks than they had on the championship-winning Mavericks.

His impressive play all around is perhaps resulting in a career-year for Chandler, and for that, he should be recognized. With the Hawks' Al Horford out with a long-term injury, there should be not question at all that Chandler's production should warrant him a spot.

Unfortunately, for him, however, being selected as an All-Star reserve doesn't always come down to simply statistics. Due to the Knicks' early struggles and slow start, the team only boosts an 11-15 record. NBA coaches tend to normally reward "winners" with All-Star selections, and the Knicks' record would suggest that perhaps Chandler is not one this season.

In addition, though a backup center is mandated on each All-Star squad, sometimes power forwards will get selected in lieu of a true center, weaseling away from what has in the past been a poorly enforced technicality.

Knicks fans will have to tune in to TNT's selection show later tonight to find out if Chandler is granted some well-deserved props. Regardless of the choice(s), however, Chandler can rest easy his play is helping right the Knicks in a more positive direction as of late.

The "Linsanity" Continues As Knicks Win Third in a Row

No Carmelo Anthony and/or Amar'e Stoudemire is proving to be no problem for the New York Knicks.

In fact, the team is playing its best basketball of the season without its two All-NBA members. One man has stepped up to seamlessly connect all the dots on the court for the Knicks, and that of course is Jeremy Lin.

Lin continued his marvelous play in Washington as he led the team yet again to another victory, their third in a row. Defeating the Wizards by a score of 107-93 not only came down to great fluidity on offense, but also Lin's astounding aggression on the court.

The young guard simply gets it. Lin runs Coach Mike D'Antoni's offense like a true floor general, finding teammates in the right spots and elevating their games. He's the man all of New York City has been waiting for, because his ability to control the tempo and play intelligently has uplifted the Knicks higher than ever before this season.

Posting the first double-double of his career, Lin finished with an electrifying 23 points and a flashy 10 assists. Not only was he able to keep up the pace, matched up with John Wall, but Lin found his supporting cast of players again and again for easy buckets.

Tyson Chandler continued to see his offense surge, excelling at the pick and roll with Lin the entire game as he powered home 25 points of his own. In addition, Steve Novak once again was a pleasant surprise, pouring in 19 points, hitting five shots from long-range. Novak's sudden spark off the bench should further prove that if the members of the Knicks continue to be set up within the ease of the offense, good things will come.

Speaking of good things, Landry Fields added 16 points just hours after being named to the Rising Stars Challenge game during NBA All-Star Weekend for the second consecutive year. Iman Shumpert, who many fans felt was snubbed by not getting selected for the game himself, provided a boost off the bench with a rather efficient 17 points.

It's clear that the key to any success of Coach D'Antoni's offense is having a point guard who can effectively move the ball. Jeremy Lin is rapidly cementing his place as savior in that regard for the Knicks, finding his teammates when they're open and driving through the lane to score himself when they are not.

One thing worth noting about Lin's performance, is the amount of minutes he played in the contest. Seemingly getting some rest tonight, Lin was spelled by Mike Bibby off the bench.

Coach D'Antoni turned to the veteran guard after keeping him on the bench over the last week, instead sitting struggling guard Toney Douglas the entire game. Bibby shot 0-6 from the field, including 0-4 from downtown, but did allow Lin's minutes played to be limited to 35.

As the Knicks relish the electrifying momentum surrounding the team and their three game winning streak, they will come back home to the Garden charged for what will surely be a tough matchup against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Friday.

Jeremy Lin Show Will Have to Continue Without Carmelo Anthony

The "Linsanity" continued at Madison Square Garden last night, as Jeremy Lin roared and soared, helping the Knicks to a 99-88 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Though Lin finish the game with eight turnovers, he displayed strong fundamental play once again, finishing with 28 points and 8 assists. Anyone considered with the amount of turnovers, however, should clearly understand that Lin played 45 minutes after not sitting down nearly the entire second half vs. the Nets on Saturday night.

The fact of the matter is that Lin represents the most efficient and fluent point guard the Knicks have had since last season. A true floor general, Lin looks for his teammates and knows exactly how and where to find them in the right spots. Not only has his play elevated Tyson Chandler's own production (the big man finished with 10 points despite only playing 23 minutes due to foul trouble), but Lin also helped another somewhat overlooked Knick, Steve Novak get involved last night as he finished with a season-high 19 points of his own off the bench.

Lin simply makes his teammates better, but just when things look to be going the Knicks' way, it looks as though things will get hard again before they become easy.

In addition to seeing Amar'e Stoudemire take a leave of absence due to the tragic death of his older brother, the Knicks were also left to fight off the Jazz without Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks star strained his groin nearly six minutes into the game and did not return.

And it appears as though the "Jeremy Lin Show" will have to continue without 'Melo for quite a while, as he appears to be sidelined for a couple of weeks.

Ironically enough, it is obvious that Lin's game could be that much better with Stoudemire and Anthony both at the top of their games, or at the very least, on the court. Fatigue setting in, in addition to the added defensive ball pressure he's receiving may continue to throw off Lin just a bit, but unfortunately he's all the Knicks have right now. They will have to continue to ride the immense amount of momentum surrounding him to get through the week with another couple of victories.

Can Jeremy Lin Follow Up Huge Performance By Helping Knicks Win Again?

First off and foremost, Knicks Journal would like to send deepest condolences to Knicks superstar Amar'e Stoudemire, who flew to Florida today to be with his family following the tragic death of his older brother. Our prayers are with him during this tough time.

With Stoudemire out tonight and his return date unknown, Jared Jeffries will be starting in his place. Jeffries certainly deserves the bump up after tallying 9 points and 10 rebounds (while also taking three charges) off the bench in the team's exciting 99-92 win over the Nets on Saturday night. His defensive presence will most definitely help the Knicks front court contain the Jazz's formidable duo of Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson (should he play).

Along with Jeffries, Jeremy Lin also earned the right to start following the best night of his young career on Saturday. As such, Lin will be inserted into the starting five in lieu of Iman Shumpert, who the Knicks hope can instead provide that much needed boost off the bench.

Along with the strong Jazz front court, Devin Harris may also prove difficult to hold down for the Knicks. Though he hasn't displayed the same explosiveness that made him previously an all-star with the Nets, Lin is surely to have his hands full guarding the talented floor general.

With STAT not on the court tonight, Lin may once again be looked upon to provide his team with some scoring. With that said, Lin's bigger strengths this weekend included his ability to get his teammates involved and elevate their offensive production. Look for the Knicks to run through Lin tonight and hope he has efficient enough organizational skills on the court to add to the fluidity of the team's offensive game.

For more on the Knicks' upcoming challenge(s), and why Lin may be just the man who could help, make sure you check out my first piece on KnicksNow.com.

Jeremy Lin An Unlikely Hero as Knicks Take Down Nets

When the season began, the Knicks were expected by many to contend at a higher level, potentially chasing a championship.

The problem with that expectation is that it may prove difficult for a team (especially any coached by Mike D'Antoni) to chase a title with no true efficient point guard on the roster.

The Knicks have tried desperately to find their floor general, with Toney Douglas and Iman Shumpert sharing the most minutes. Douglas, to the dismay of fans everywhere, struggled mightily as a starter, and the jury is still out on whether point guard will be Shumpert's ideal NBA position.

Mike Bibby has also failed to play with any heavy level of consistency, and the bad back of Baron Davis has left the Knicks living on the prayer that he returns soon all season long.

Following heartbreaking losses to Bulls and Celtics, it was clear the reeling Knicks sorely needed a pick-me-up victory. Who knew that Coach D'Antoni was going to have to look all the way down his bench to finally help secure one?

On the third night of the Knicks' only back to back to back set of games this season, the coach called for a player that has been buried deep on the bench all season long: Jeremy Lin.

Though Carmelo Anthony (who shot 3 for 15) has been looking to build up some momentum as he tries to fight off his lingering injuries, the man who has often carried the Knicks this season was clearly fatigued against the Nets. The spark needed to come from elsewhere.

Although Amar'e Stoudemire continued his string of strong outings, tallying 17 points, it was Lin who ignited the Garden crowd and propelled the Knicks to a 99-92 victory.

The Harvard grad had a career night of all sorts, pouring in 25 points, dishing out 7 assists, grabbing 5 rebounds, while also coming up with 2 steals. More important than the numbers, however, was what exactly Lin did on the court. He penetrated to the hoop again and again, drawing fouls and finding his teammates inside for easy buckets. Lin's play elevated the production of Tyson Chandler, among others, as the Knicks' big man powered home 17 points of his own.

With each and every basket, and/or alley-oop pass, the Garden crowd rose to their feet in pure excitement, as well as astonishment, for the unlikely sung hero. Lin proved to be exactly what the Knicks have needed.

As MSG Network analyst Alan Hahn tweeted following the win, Lin's big night wasn't so much about his own individual production as it was how greatly he elevated the Knicks. With a skillful point guard on the floor, the team's offense is organized, intelligent, and the members of the team play together, remaining in sync throughout.

While it's be too early to recognize Lin as "The Chosen One" just yet, it is clear that with no one else having stepped up to date, the Knicks need to give him the opportunity to really show what he can do and how he can help the team. Thus, look for Lin to start at point guard tomorrow at home vs. the Utah Jazz. Not only is this the right move, but it should be the only move of action at this point. The Knicks need victories and Lin began to prove what almost everyone else already knew: an efficient floor general will help produce them.

STAT's Big Night Not Enough For Knicks To Beat Bulls

This season has so far been difficult for Knicks fans to endure, watching the team suffer various losses to squads they should be expected to beat on a nightly basis.

Because of this, it has proven difficult to expect anything positive from the Knicks on a more consistent basis. The question of what kind of overall effort the team will show still exists with each remaining game.

Though the Knicks have failed to become a powerhouse in the East, through all of the nonsensical losses, the team has surprisingly stepped up, playing competitively against teams like the Celtics, 76ers, and Heat.

With that in mind, it wasn't as surprising to see the Knicks put forth a valiant effort against the Bulls with the likes of Spike Lee, Steve Schrippa, and Mariano Rivera watching at the Garden. What was a pleasant surprise, however, was who led the charge.

On the same night that Carmelo Anthony got named to his first All-Star team as a New York Knick, it was co-captain Amar'e Stoudemire who appeared to regain some of his all-star form.

The man otherwise known as STAT powered his way to a season-high 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. What was even more impressive than the amount of points Stoudemire scored, though, was how he got them.

While he has struggled mightily without a point guard to set him up in the pick and roll this season, STAT's teammates found him inside again and again as he cashed in on some buckets. Helping Stoudemire find easy looks, rather than off balance jump shots, paid dividends for the Knicks.

Though Anthony struggled from the field once again, he did pour in 26 points of his own. Landry Fields also continued his two week long tear, scoring 17 as he found shots in the comfort and ease of the offense.

The ball movement was there throughout the game, as it was during Tuesday's win against the Pistons. Iman Shumpert led the team with eight assists. Though the Knicks have struggled finding an efficient point guard all season long, the rookie has shown flashes of intelligence that suggest he may have the potential to become a solid NBA floor general.

Many things went right for the Knicks on Thursday night, but losing to one of the East's best teams is more understandable than disappointing. The team was closing in on pushing the game to overtime as Anthony's last second shot attempt, an arrant three-point field goal, would have tied the game. Instead, he missed, and the Knicks fell short 105-102.

Falling just short to the Bulls, who were led by reigning MVP Derrick Rose's 32 points, is something the Knicks can build on. At 8-14, the team is looking to bounce back from a slow start. With more outings like the one they turned in on Thursday, the Knicks should come away with more wins than losses.

The team will look to rebound from their loss by taking down the struggling Celtics in Boston on Friday night.

Knicks Blast Pistons in Attempt to Build Momentum

After losing nine of their last ten games going into Tuesday, it's clear the New York Knicks had been reeling, and no end to their misery seemed to be in sight.

Aside from Carmelo Anthony playing through pain before sitting out the last two games, the team has also been slowed by a severe lack of ball movement. Their stagnant offense has constantly led to their demise in demoralizing losses this season, even against the weaker teams in the league. Thus, no matchup has nearly guaranteed the Knicks an easy win this season.

With otherwise no momentum in their favor entering Tuesday's game vs. the Pistons, the Knicks received a big boost in the form of Anthony, who decided to play in a game-time decision.

Though Anthony did end up leading all scorers with 25 points in the Knicks' 113-86 win, his scoring was not what ultimately propelled the team to victory.

Ball movement turned out to be the Knicks' friend rather than foe, Tuesday. The team distributed the ball, perhaps displaying their most fluent offensive game of the season. Teammates were hitting each other in the right spots, finding one another in ideal places.

While Anthony can create his own offense at all, Tyson Chandler and Landry Fields provided sparks as well. Chandler attacked the basket, grabbing rebounds that started fast breaks, as well as dunking the ball for an array of sweet, easy hoops. His teammates found him again and again as he made it to the charity stripe ten times. He finished with 17 points and 8 boards.

Fields has been on a roll over the last two weeks, and last night was no different. Letting his solid defense lead to strong offense, Fields also led the fast break often by stealing the ball five times, running and gunning as he dropped in layups and dunks. What's more, he also sank in four shots from long range, all coming in the flow of the offense. Nothing was forced from Fields, who poured in 18 points and also dished out three flashy dimes in the victory.

In addition to his 25 points, Anthony was tied with Iman Shumpert for the team-high in assists with six.

The only Knick who really didn't seem to find his flow completely was Amar'e Stoudemire. Though he added 15 points in the win, STAT still seems to struggle, his jump shot flat with no floor general to set him up. With that said, he did seem to attack the basket a tad bit more last night, helping him get to the free throw line quite a bit. As he searches for his rhythm, perhaps the Knicks should look to help him capitalize by finding him inside more often.

Aside from their impressive ball movement, the Knicks continued to step up their defensive game, finishing with 12 steals and 6 blocks in the win.

Though the Pistons now stand meekly at 4-19, any win is a good win for the Knicks at this point. They should take positives from this game and hope they can carry those with them, providing some momentum going into their matchup at home vs. the Bulls on Thursday.