Five ways Jeremy Lin has impacted the Knicks
New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin reacts after a making a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers. (Feb. 10, 2012) Credit: AP
1. Galvanized his team
The Knicks have been playing with more energy and more confidence since Lin started running the offense. A primary example was the execution on Steve Novak’s game-tying three-pointer with 36.2 seconds left Saturday night in Minnesota. With Lin at the end of the bench, they had struggled to get shots off late against Boston and Chicago earlier this season.
2. Made other players better
Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire have played a combined 66 minutes during the five-game winning streak. But with Lin at the point, Tyson Chandler has been a presence inside, Jared Jeffries is producing, Landry Fields looks like the player he was early last season, Iman Shumpert is more comfortable and Novak is getting — and making — open looks.
3. Helped his coach’s job security
There is no real proof that Mike D’Antoni was coaching for his job last weekend, but the speculation running rampant was that he was on his last legs. D’Antoni’s job security has not been a topic since. He looks more at ease, is smiling more and is back to sounding confident about where his team is headed.
4. Helped his coach’s rep
D’Antoni is known as an offensive genius who develops players and gives them confidence. But without a true point guard creating pace and tempo and players playing out of position, the offense stumbled and confidence waned for some guys. With Lin now in control, the pick-and-roll is back to being the top play and the Knicks’ scoring is up.
5. Energized the crowd
Kobe Bryant was at the Garden on Friday night and was outplayed by a certain former Harvard point guard. Lin received the “M-V-P” chants and the standing ovations. He has created a buzz that could give the Knicks the home-court advantage they had when they were a perennial playoff team in the 1990s.
