2012 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Nets
February 4th, 2012 by Jim Cavan | @JPCavan | Comments | Permalink |
Earlier today, not long after I’d managed to remove my lamp from the television screen, Devin from Nets Are Scorching sent out an email looking for KnickerBlogger’s take on tonight’s game for their 3-on-3 series.
“Sure,” I wrote back. “Can I cry on camera?”
Mr. Devin then informed me that this wasn’t for video, but rather for digital print. Which is probably for the better, considering my “no showers until the Knicks win two straight” policy has resulted in an odor I’m pretty sure is capable of transmitting by airwaves through computer screens.
…. Anyway, check out NAS’s 3-on-3, then come back here to kvetch ‘n wax morbid on tonight’s game. Or wake. Or funeral. Whatever this is.
Beyond his work for KnickerBlogger, Jim is a contributor to the New York Times Off the Dribble NBA blog and ESPN's TrueHoop. He also writes about green issues and commerce in and around the Seacoast, New Hampshire area, where he currently lives with his wonderful wife, Deana. Jim leads his old man rec basketball league in technical fouls. Follow him on Twitter @JPCavan.
Pringles Pringles.
Lin Lin
Win Win (please?).
I’m going old skool – SHUMP SHUMP!
Wow. I was going to post a nice optimistic ditty about the game tonight when one of my eight cats, truly born under a bad sign, a crazy black one with half an ear named Bela, simultaneously jumped behind the damn computer screen. Must have hit a connection. I don’t believe in hexes, but I do believe in spooky action at a distance. Go Knicks. Go away Bela.
Hey, I resemble that remark. Maybe you should have named the cat Thomas.
Watching the Knicks shoot around during Breen and Clyde’s opening all I saw was bricks left and right lol
Also, go Bulls!
By the way, do you think Woodson has learned enough from D’Antoni to still run some semi-balance of his offense if D’Antoni is fired? It occurred to me that Alvin Gentry, no system whiz he, was able to run SSOL after Terry Porter was fired. Gentry was with D’Antoni for a few years, though…hmmm…I dunno…
Cleveland hosting Dallas. That better be a Dallas win, too.
I like that they are attacking Sheldon Williams.
I have a really bad feeling about this game.
I don’t like the three-pointers they’re allowing.
I do like the rapport that Melo and Fields seem to be developing.
So you’ve watching a Knick game then. ;)
Seriously, 4 for 5 from 3 in the first five minutes of the first quarter? Ouch.
The crazy thing is that they could lose this game and still be just 2 out if Chicago and Dallas take care of business. That won’t save D’Antoni’s job, but it might save the Knicks season eventually.
Wait, that three wasn’t by New Jersey? Is that allowed?
I mean they freaking show D’Antoni during pre-game telling the team about the 3pters the Nets will take and they come out and allow open 3pters left and right.
I get the Knicks are probably exhausted but still c’mon.
Yeah, it is quite disheartening. Still, all that barrage and they’re only down three.
I love it when they run that double screen with Chandler setting the screens on the high post for Melo and Amare. It forces the defense to communicate very well to help correctly, and last time let Amare get a good look
Knicks are not bothering to chase the shooters around the screens at all.
Im loving this debate about Kris Humphries’ portrayal in “Kim and Kourtney Take NY” lol
I don’t like that they didn’t try to maximize the amount of Williamses on the court.
Lin coming in early!
Who’s coming in for Shump?
The Knicks are flat as hell right now.
Lin!
Come on, Lin, don’t suck.
Not to play armchair psychologist, but they look depressed
Nice little Garden ovation for Lin. That should do wonders for He-who-shall-not-be-named’s confidence.
Balkman!
I think right now any combination of 5 of us could score on the Knicks with as slow and disinterested they look on defense right now.
This is humiliating.
Ive turned the game off, I cant watch this right now. I will check the score in a few minutes and see if its worth turning back on.
You know I like Balkman, but Balkman and Jeffries at the same time? That seems silly.
Ugh, the prospect of Mike Woodson as the Knicks head coach is nauseating.
Lin making a difference.
Sweet pick and roll, Lin!!!
The Chinaman is not the issue here…
I’m going to miss Lin when he’s cut to sign JR Smith…
Which is worse?
A) Woodson’s .419 career regular season w-l pct. as a head coach.
B) Woodson’s .379 career postseason w-l pct. as a head coach.
C) Woodson’s relationship with Isiah and the lingering suspicion that he is an Isiah plant/recommendation
D) All of the above
…Dude, Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. “Asian-American”, please.
He certainly looks house broken.
Toney Douglas is just so dreadful. THROW IT UP.
Bill Walker, please never attempt a fade away 20 footer again.
Thomas B.–My next cool dark cat (no stink’in calico), will be named Thomas or Thomasina. I promise. Did anyone honestly believe the Knicks would be this bad? Even THCJ. I’m so glad I’m a Giant’s fan, but this feels like bad Karma. My Magical thinking is that since the Giants did so well recently, the Knicks would suck. The Magical thinking continues to dictate that I must suffer for the Knicks to allow the Giants to win. Perhaps it’s old age, but I am not that old. Can you guys imagine what it was like 1969-1970. At that time, I was a 13 year old Knicks, Mets, Jets and Ranger fan. Back to the game.
Chandler was like “dude, why didn’t you just throw the ball in the air for the alley-oop. This hit ain’t rocket science, Toney!”
_________ leading the Knicks in +/- somehow…
Why do they have Lin playing off of _______? Why?
When 1 D-leaguer on the court simply isn’t enough…
By virtue of not being ________, Lin already looks like a huge step up.
Wouldn’t it be Novak who’d go?
Lin 11 min
Shump 9 min
_____ 6 min
So should Jeremy Lin announce his candidacy for mayor right now?
I actually think it would be Bibby.
Oh duh, yeah, you’re right. Still, Novak is eminently cuttable, too.
Billy Walker reminds me a little of Kadeem Harrison in White Men Can’t Jump. I keep expecting to hear him scream: “I thought we going to Sizzler!”
Their bottom 8 is imminently cuttable.
Lin is the easiest to cut because his contract is not guaranteed. Bibby and Novak are both signed to the vet minimum so they get their money if they are cut.
Jesus, get a goddamn defensive rebound.
Get a rebound!!!
Jeremy Motherfuckin Lin.
Lin!!!!!!
Jeremy Limb!!!
Not after this little display.
Way to go. Lin Lin
This is a nice mix here between offense (Lin, Melo), defense (Shump, Jeffries) and, of course, the all-around awesome Chandler.
Time for Knickerblogger to make a Lin shirt!!
Also how about the hustle from Chandler on that loose-ball off the Jeffries full-court pass to Melo.
Knicks could care less about guaranteed $
This is the Knicks – money is no object.
I was just about to say something to that regard. I think it’s worth a few Dolan Dollars to cut Bibby if Lin keeps this up.
Ouch. You get my vote for “Cringe worthy comment of night.”
Lin’s on some folk hero shit right now.
It was a playful Big Lebowski allusion. I’ve been beating the Lin drum for some time now.
Oh the shame of having my auto correct ass up on my first post of the game. I thought Lin would come to earth, so to speak, when Deron Williams came back in but now…a bucket, helps force a shot clock violation, alley pop to Chandler and a traffic rebound consecutively.
I love those “in-traffic” alley-oops.
If that Lin jumper had gone down, the crowd would have exploded.
Knicks played great D in that 2nd quarter – holding the Nets to 18
JEREMY LIN IS BETTER THAN CHRIS PAUL!!! SHUMPERT IS A YOUNG DWYANE WADE.
Mike Breen should get extra pay for having to use first names for all the Williams.
The starters seem tired, except Chandler, because he is, of course, a basketball god/robot.
Wouldve been nice if Fields hit that 3pter to give the Knicks the lead at the half.
It’s kind of cute having a novelty act in New York again. On a good team Lin could be the next Greg Butler.
Unfortunately on THIS team he’s the best Point Guard.
If ____ gets Lin’s second half minutes I am going eat an entire sleeve of Oreos. The second half will either feature decent to good guard play or decadent deliciousness.
When we run out of 21 Shump Street shirts, we’ll get on it
Amar’e should be fresh for the 2nd half. Considering how much he loves D’Antoni it would be nice if he came out and dominated the 2nd half to ensure a Knicks win and D’Antoni’s job status lol
Can’t wait to have Jorts and Lin in the second unit together. If I had a banjo I might write a folk song about them.
Melo needs to stop going to Jared
Now that should be a shirt
It’s also kind of cute how hard these guys are trying. Against the Nets. At home. And only down by two at the half. Moral victory!
D’Antoni is such a fucking STIFF. Took him the Garden crowd shouting it at him to give Lin some burn. And he’s still playing ________. Smh I won’t feel sad when he gets fired.
Jeremy Lin is trending on Twitter. Not surprisingly, ____ is not. That’s really all D’Antoni should need to make an informed decision on a PG rotation for the second half.
Lin is the only point guard on this team that is healthy right now. It is nice (understatement) to see players in the natural roles. When players are existing in their natural roles, they don’t need to be great, because minimally, they know how to play the freaking position. They are competent. Why does this team always try to square peg guys? So even if Lin isn’t Clyde, he is an NBA point guard. God bless him.
Hopefully that is the plan for the second half.
By the way, I have a column about Lin coming up on the Knicks’ site – this will make that a lot more topical. ;)
Just Lin, Baby
This team is making me have anxiety
Now that’s a tee-shirt.
Why not try some 3-2 zone?
What a play!
Stat with the beast o board for a three point play and the lead. Edit: short lived lead.
Only Amare goes for Humphries fake
STAT is gonna have to sit…
You know what else I dont like about MDA. Keep Amare in the game. let him figure it out
I’m late on this, but “Chinaman” is a racial slur. Don’t use it again. Ever.
Shump is ice cold. Give me some Lin.
To clarify this again, I was quoting an incredibly goofy exchange from a Coen Brothers movie. I meant no harm whatsoever. If I offended anyone, I apologize.
Man, we’re only a half game up on the Nets?!?
I thought they would struggle to win 10 games this year.
And I thought we’d win the Atlantic.
It’s been a strange six weeks…
Lin and Fields: I suppose we can expect a few high IQ plays from this backcourt.
Really 3 games 3 nights. Venture to say all-time win % for all teams in that scenario is under 30.
Nice steal by Fields.
How is Lin not a great free throw shooter?
Sorry if I missed the reference that made that a joke. I’ve never watched that film. People keep asking me to watch it. I guess what you were doing would be the same if I posted a line from Blazing Saddles. I get what you’re doing, but you must understand that for those that don’t get the reference–and perhaps some that did watch the movie–that was a bit unsettling.
If you say you meant no harm, I will take you at your word and leave it at that.
Unfortunately Lin shoots 3pters like TD.
How can no other Knick points do that?
Yeah, but win% is low because teams tend to phone it in on the 3rd game in a row. The Knicks are actually working really hard out there.
Moment of tone-deafness on my part. I apologize again.
Lin came to the NBA as a good shooter, but he’s been terrible in the NBA as a shooter.
I’m glad that they seem to finally realize that their first option pretty much every time down the floor is lobbing it to Chandler.
Unfortunately Jeffries has a better shooting stroke than Lin.
Phone it in?
More like no energy, man.
I was about to ask that, but someone’s already been reprimanded for being culturally insensitive, so I held back. Seriously, though, the mind reels…
Wide open shot after wide open shot after wide open shot
If Melo isn’t making shots like that, it’s going to be tough to score.
Wow Fields forces a travel on D-Will and Lin with the alley oppose to Chandler. If Lin could get his jumper to fall…
Huh?
He moves so well – how many more points could he get per game just by having competent point guard play on a regular basis? Can you imagine him and Nash? It’d be amazing.
Lin gets into lane, draws defenders in, then dishes to open man for score.
Wow that’s new. I wonder if it will catch on around the league?
Oof.
Amar’e being in foul trouble vs this horrible team is inexcusable.
Lin has taken 2 fewer shots than Carmelo Anthony. Yikes!
Make that 1 fewer shots.
Hold off on those Lin shirts.
Yeah, I don’t like how willing Lin is to shoot. He’s open for a reason, ya know?
Actually, Clyde just took the lead on the cringe worthy comment of the night with his “Chandler KFC feasting” comment. Shaking my head.
You’re trying to make a distinction between teams somehow giving up and teams not really having anything in the tank to give in the first place.
Teams don’t lose 3rd game in 3rd night because they
phone it in.”
LIN! And my heart swells with Asian pride.
You have to let Amare play through the fouls here. If he picks up his 5th then fine.
I guess someone can check his stars with Paul @ NO.
(Exhales)
Jeffries seems to actively run away from the basket when he has the ball.
+1
They were great, but NO wasn’t as fast paced as the Knicks, so he didn’t get as many points overall. With a fast paced team, he should score a lot. As an aside, with Chris Paul on your team, why did they play such a slow pace?
Nice finish to the quarter
Jeremy Fucking Lin!!!!
Breen “Jeremy Lin looks spent.” Driving layup and 1.
I am glad he and Toney are driving instead of shooting jumpers.
How can a fundamentally sound player like Jeremy Lin who I believe is Harvard’s all team leading scorer not be able to shoot wide open 15 foot jump shots? That’s what I don’t get. Guys in the Y can shoot those shots.
Seeing how much difference a borderline nba pg can make in the offense is making me hopeful that Baron might really help if he gets healthy
Prediction we will be down 5 with 2 minutes to go.
Can you belive that Jeffries is our second best 3P shooter this season? Jesus…
And he was such a good shooter coming into the NBA! It makes no sense.
Amar’e, time for you to win this game.
Give him more than 5 or 6 open shots to make that claim.
IF he starts knocking down the Knicks have a player.
There you go with the J Jeremy Lin!!!
Cleveland playing Dallas tight. Grrrr.
Like that Lin. You know he hit that shot all day in college.
Was he a good 3pt shooter in college??
Exactly.
You like to argue, don’t you?
Even if he doesn’t, he looks like a rotation player on this team.
WHO SAID LIN COULDN’T SHOOT THE OPEN JUMPER
WHO, I ASK YOU
I’ve said it all season long: If we would just run our offense through Jeremy Lin and Jared Jeffries, we’d be fine.
Lin is the leading scorer for the Knicks tonight?
Something is wrong there
Humphries is a beast.
As the lore of Jeremy Lin grows…he’s such a good passer that even JJ can score off his assists
Fitting for D’Antoni to lose his job if the Knicks lose this game due to Amar’e playing like utter garbage.
Until he hit that shot at the top of the key, he made Jeffries and Shumpert look like long distance marksmen.
Lin is shooting at 40%, Melo is around 25%
A month ago who woulds thought Jeremy Lin would (I hope) spark the team to a win?
Douglas gets beat 2x by Jordan Farmar to start the 4th. Awesome.
Yeah (40% and 34% in his two full years at Harvard) but also a good outside shooter period.
Is Melo still injured?
Looks like he re-injured his wrist today.
Yeah, and probably really tired from playing 3 games in a row
Wow, Jeffrightened’s third drawn charge!
lol
9 boards for JJ
I’m not going to make excuses for Melo’s poor shooting tonight. But you can all the starters have tired legs tonight. That’s why you have a uh.. bench
Seriously, Jordan Farmar is kicking their ass?
9 Points and 10 boards actually. If JJ gets a double-double and the Knicks lose…
I take that back, Knickerblogger definitely needs to make Lin shits ASAP.
You’re surprised by this? He’s exactly the kind of player that torches the Knicks.
It is not just Melo – Fields looks tired tonight, as well.
Luckily Chandler never tires, as he was sent from the future to play basketball and save John Conner.
March can’t get here too soon. When are we all going to start saying that JR Smith is going to come and save us?
Dribble drive, dish. They must only teach that at Harvard. But I like it.
As MDA said last night. We are just snake bit. Guy is hitting pull up 3s like he does that.
The bench is finally doing its part. Granted it is against the Nets, but this is probably the most productive it has played thus far.
I believe Breen said he is 9th in the league in 3pt % so apparently he has been shooting good this season.
“Come with me if you want to win.”
Wow.
Why not keep Farmar in and pair him with Deron? I mean, not that I’m complaining…
Holy Crap! Lin!!!
Winning and grinning!
This game feels like one, giant Bethlehem Shoals post.
Jeremy Lin says FUCK YOUR ZONE
I’d buy that T-shirt
Dribble, drive, finish. They must only teach this at Harvard. But I like it.
I think that was the first time it went Amare-Melo-Chandler (in any order)
Amare to Melo to the Terminator !
oh I LIKE THAT
haha
Chandler is UNREAL. We haven’t had a player this all-around good since Camby.
This has been a frustrating, agonizing season to watch so far. But Lin has made this one of the funnest nights in a long time. Funnest individual performance to watch since Mozgov’s breakout vs the Pistons last year.
You are right in a very existential and fulfilling way.
I think calling Tyson Chandler “The T-1000″ might just catch on.
Oh, Farmar should not be on the bench? Shocking!
Jeremy “The Man Who Saved Mike D’Antoni’s Job” Lin.
What’s funny is that Lin is just playing NBA-level PG tonight. We haven’t seen that in a while. It’s a relief just see a ball handler moving through the lane.
Agreed.
Lin is getting MVP chants, lol!
Dribble, drive, draw the foul. They must only teach this at Harvard. But I like it.
How is not a good free throw shooter?
Is there any question that Lin should get the start over Shump on Monday?
Was that a Russ Meyer movie?
LIN!
Silly Extra E, you can’t shoot 3′s off the dribble.
Jeremy Lin is outplaying Deron Williams. I never thought I would type those words.
I’d probably still start Shump, just let Lin play a lot.
Im picking up Lin for my fantasy team right now.
Lin should start from now on
Was just going to say the same thing… in utter seriousness. The offense is 8000 times better w him in there
LIN. I bow in respect to you. I forgot what a team looks like when it has a competent point. Bless you. Bless you for reminding me of how beautiful basketball can be.
This is quite the development. This is not a fluke. Lin is showcasing real NBA skills here.
The offense is better with a real PG
Lin saw the Nets and thought he was back in the D-League.
Who remembers that time when Jeremy Lin pulled a double move on Deron Williams and then split the defense and finished for an and-1?
I just tweeted this to Jeremy Lin:
You are gonna get some pussy tonight!!
Is there a grade above A+ to give Jeremy Lin for his performance?
Radio dude: “Jeremy Lin is owning Deron Williams!”
Dwill is frantically trying to out score Lin
Tonight is a Lin-Lin situation for the knicks
Those Harvard guys….
I think he just wants to be sure he gets an A+ in the Knickerblogger recap.
The Nets broadcast team Ian Eagle and his partner do a really nice job. Very even keeled and knowledgeable for anyone who cares.
Yes sir.
Rut Roh, the Knicks haven’t won it yet
I am GIDDY. This is one of the best Knicks games I have ever seen in my young life.
Ok, too much lag on the posts. Nevermind
Thank you Jeremy Lin!!!!
That’s sad…
So Mike D’Antoni is going to trade game checks with Jeremy Lin tonight right?
LOLOLOL Pearl Jam.
They do, but it comes from them not caring about the Nets. Eagle would much rather be a Knick announcer.
Who’d have thought barely beating the Nets could be so much fun?
I think Lin gets a 4.0 for tonight’s performance
Damn, Im sorry.
Makes me appreciate the fact that I grew up with the 90′s Knicks lol
Shut up. Don’t ruin my moment.
Well, at least a win, so much needed. And some good signs from the bench.
Doubtful JR smith could ever bring a tear to my eye like Jeremy Lin did tonight. Aint no way you can cut him now.
6.0, this was an AP class.
The Cavs freakin’ beat the Mavs! Annoying.
LIN-CREDIBLE!!! I can’t believe how easy it was for him to score on his drives..it doesn’t surprise me that he got in the paint cuz thas his game..but id did surprise me to see how he easily absorbed contact and converted on his drives. An considerin he’s not the most fleet of foot..it was refreshing to see him repeatedly blow by Nyet PG’s. Awesome. Love the bow with Melo..wrong culture, but I get it and love that comraderie.
If you need to cut someone, I think it has to be the corpse of Mike Bibby
I gotcha, Doug, I know this means more to you than most Knick fans.
I’m not THAT young. I grew up with Starks and Ewing. I don’t remember much of those games, though.
Jeremy Lin it trending #2 worldwide!! lol
One of my earliest memories of the Knicks is watching Reed coming out of the tunnel at halftime of the Finals
Thanks, Brian. You get it.
Thanks. “I’ll be block” also came to mind, but I like the first one better.
I’m going Shump’lin all night. That’s right.
Jeremy Lin is now trending worldwide at #2.
I feel you man. I’m also a Chinese American Knick fan, and this is one of the few games that actually almost brought me to tears of joy. Don’t get me wrong– I remember LJ’s 4 point play, houston’s floater in Miami, etc…but this game was really special and I hope it’s just the beginning for Lin.
Once the Bucks lose (which seems like a lock), the Knicks will be 1 1/2 game out of the #8 spot and 1 game out of the #9 spot. While also playing a heck of a lot better, with Lin looking like a real answer to their ball movement problems. You can’t fire D’Antoni now, Dolan!
I remember all those games play-by-play like it happened yesterday lol
Aside from the obvious (Jeremy Lin), the best thing I saw tonight was that Amar’e lowpost to a cutting Melo to Tyson.
Im still not scoreboard checking yet. Knicks just need to get back to .500, right now thats all I care about.
Whoever does the quick reaction tonight better give Lin a 100%. None of this letter-grade BS where A+ = 98%. dude even deserves extra credit for amazing defense on Deron.
One of the ESPN New York beat writers just tweeted that “Deron has feet in ice bucket knees wrapped and a wrap on his right hand” That’s apparently what happens when you go toe to toe with Lin.
T those who think that our problem is Melo Amare or anything other than piss-poor guard play, I give you Jeremy Lin.
Funniest post of the year
Look how MD is smiling at the press conference. Lin might well have saved MD’s job tonight! :))))
Its the most retweets Ive ever gotten for one of my tweets lol
Rooting for your G-Men tomorrow, hate the Brady Bunch.
What a difference watching a guard who can attack the basket on the pnr. And he defended pretty well too. Also, JJ deserves some credit- he was all over the floor on D, trapping out high and still getting back underneath to draw charges.
I hit 7 3-pointers in my pick-up game this AM, yet the ladies weren’t lined up for my 53 yo thang…
My career high in my adult rec league career is 9 pts twice, all came on 3pters lol
As an aside Amare is playing a much more controlled and consistent game. He’s hitting those twisty floaters near the rim that are so hard to defend.
Linsanity!
I’d just like you call to know that the Knicks aren’t this bad at all. If you look at how Carmelo and Amare are shooting, it’s well below their career averages, and there’s no reason it should be that bad. If they shoot as they did in the past three years, or even close to it, the Knicks will be a very good team. I’m not saying they’ll be Miami, but New York has a decent defense and when their star players shoot as well as they should they can easily get to the playoffs. If you want to know more, I have details on something I wrote up:
http://ascreamingcomesacrossthecourt.blogspot.com/2012/02/hope-in-new-york.html
Please don’t fret, and don’t call for the coach’s head. It’s a weird season, and there’s no way Anthony and Stoudemire will keep shooting like this.
Schedule:
Utah
@Washington
LA (coming off a b2b against Boston)
Minny (coming off b2b against Dallas, Knicks will be on b2b)
Sacramento (coming off b2b @ Chicago)
New Orleans
Dallas
New Jersey (on b2b)
Atlanta
Get 7-8 wins in 10 game stretch. 7 wins gets you to 16-18, 8 wins gets you to 17-17.
I like the blog post.
I was screaming and laughing tonight along with the rest of you, but you need to learn more about JR Smith:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200904130DEN.html
I don’t think he was getting cut anyway, but now he will probably get a few starts at least.
Wow. I can’t believe I missed this game. But reading this thread is like some sort of karmic return on 5 years of internet/blog fanhood. That it comes courtesy of Jeremy Lin is unbelievably awesome……
http://knickerblogger.net/quick-reactlin-knicks-99-92/
GREAT LIN TONIGHT GUYS!
Thank you ruruland. You can help by having other Knicks fans read it.
Imagine next year if the Knicks get Nash and they have Lin and Douglas off the bench. That’s a little better, huh? And Nash may be 80 years old, but he’s playing as well as he has for the past decade. He hasn’t slipped yet.