Jeremy Lin wasn't ready for Rajon Rondo's class
New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin, center, holds on to the ball between Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo in the fourth quarter. (March 4, 2012) Credit: AP
BOSTON -- The education of Jeremy Lin continued Sunday in the shadow of his alma mater as the Harvard product and the Knicks were schooled by Rajon Rondo.
The Celtics point guard had 18 points, 20 assists and 17 rebounds in Boston's 115-111 overtime victory at TD Garden.
Lin, who was in early foul trouble, used a strong fourth quarter to finish with 14 points, five assists and six turnovers. Early on, he was booed by the jazzed-up crowd when he touched the ball, but after picking up his second foul just three minutes into the game, Lin became just another player in the entertaining affair.
"I didn't have a great one today," said Lin, who played 31:50 and shot 6-for-16. After scoring six points in the fourth quarter, Lin took seven of the Knicks' 16 shots in overtime and made just one.
"The thing about Jeremy is that he's going to make some mistakes," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He's got a learning curve . . . Just a matter of going through some learning experiences."
Professor Rondo's class was open. He shot just 7-for-20, but his 20 assists were the most of any player this season and he was high-rebound man. He also played a game-high 47:47.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player to record a triple-double with at least 17 in each category was Magic Johnson (24 points, 17 assists and 17 rebounds on April 18, 1989). The last player to exceed Rondo's performance in each category was Wilt Chamberlain (22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists on Feb. 2, 1968).
"He's just unconventional, but like I said before the game, he's one of the best in the league," Lin said. " . . . There aren't many guards -- maybe there's no guard -- who can put up something like that."
Lin played only 12:32 in the first half after picking up his third foul late in the second quarter. At halftime, he had two points and two assists with four turnovers. "I was a little more comfortable ,'' he said, "but still not where I want to get to."
Lin, who called the Boston area "kind of my second home," met with Harvard president Drew Gilpin Faust before the game. His coach at Harvard, Tommy Amaker, sat in the front row. But the Celtics-Knicks rivalry was more important to the home fans than cheering for their sort of native son, who said he didn't hear the extra booing.
Once Rondo got going, Lin and Baron Davis had a tough time. Boston, meanwhile, employed a now-familiar strategy on Lin, sending multiple defenders at him early in possessions and attempting to force him to pass. "It was what we expected," Rondo said. "A lot of picks-and- rolls. He got into early foul trouble and that's what my intentions were early -- just try to go at him and be aggressive and try to get him out of the game."
Next up for Lin? Another point guard who knows something about triple-doubles: Jason Kidd and the Mavericks Tuesday in Dallas. The education of Jeremy Lin continues.
