LINSANITY AT THE KNICKS, SHORT BUT SWEET
Nobody really cared when Lin signed with the New York Knicks on Dec. 27, 2012.
Amazingly, there was a time in history when Lin’s every move wasn’t a cause for endless scrutiny.
Here’s how ESPN’s Marc Stein explained the Knicks’ thoughts the day they signed Jeremy Lin:
“Just how long the Knicks plan to keep Lin is unclear. His contract is not guaranteed, so the Knicks can waive him at any time prior to Feb. 10 without having to pay the remainder of his contract. If and when Shumpert returns from his injury, he will likely resume his role as one of the team’s three point guards, leaving Lin as the odd man out.”
Feb. 4, 2012: The arrival of Linsanity
After logging only 55 minutes of court time all season, J-Lin came out of the fog to log 36 minutes against the Nets on Februrary 4th, 2012. New York had lost 11 of their last 13 games, so perhaps coach D’Antoni was in dire need of some kind of change.
Lin tallied 25 points, dished out 7 assists and pulled in 5 rebounds in a 99-92 New York win. As would be the case in the coming weeks, Lin found himself in front and center trying to explain what had just happened to the media
That was the beginning of what would come to be know as “Linsanity”.
It takes a fair amount of balls for an unknown to clear out the vets for an isolation at the end of regulation for a potential game winner, but that’s what we loved about Linsanity.
All balls, no shits given.
March 14, 2012: The End Of Linsanity
In what was the beginning of the end of Linsanity, coach D’Antoni resigned after the Knicks finished a 2-6 stretch with Carmelo back in the lineup.
Lin had been putting up solid stats lines, but nothing like his game logs in mid-February.
Adding to this, New York had lost 6-straight games to start March. When the Knicks went out and dominated Portland that night by 42 points, Lin scored just 6 points to go along with 6 turnovers.
It’s hard to defend the timeline of D’Antoni’s resignation and the end of Linsanity, but one thing was for certain: Linsanity was over.
Whether or not Carmelo had a tinge of jealousy over losing his stature as the focal point of the MSG crowd, or whether it was just not meant to be a long term moment for Jeremy Lin we will never know, however….
