By now, I'm sure the name Jeremy Lin has popped up either in your local newspaper, your Facebook, and all over your local sports channels. Ever since Lin has been getting playing time, the New York Knicks are 9-2 and tonight try to continue their (or his) once in a blue moon story against the Big Three in Miami. Jeremy Lin in his last 10 games is averaging 23.8 PPG, 9.4 APG, 3.8 RPG and 2.4 steals per game. That's the positive side. However even with those mind blowing statistics considering this overnight celebrity who came out of nowhere, Jeremy Lin is also averaging 5.1 turnovers this month. The Knicks' most notable wins were against the Lakers where Lin dropped 38 points and had 7 assists, and against last year's champs the Mavericks where Lin had 28 points and 14 assists. Coming to Miami and facing the Big Three and the rest of the Heat is no easy feat, but is not impossible for this Knicks team. The match ups for this game is almost perfect: at center Tyson Chandler/Joel Anthony, power forward Amar'e Stoudamire/Chris Bosh, small forward Carmelo Anthony/Lebron James, shooting guard Landry Fields/Dwyane Wade and at point guard Jeremy Lin/Mario Chalmers. Miami is on a 7 game winning streak, and at home I think they continue that winning streak. The Miami Heat have a tendency in games like these where they get national coverage and show up to impress. Lebron James has already stated that if it becomes necessary, he will guard Jeremy Lin. Jeremy Lin's weakness in his game is his turnovers, and Miami's strengths are their defense, and their transition offense with two of the league's best running the wings. I think Miami wins this game straight up, with a good possibility of covering the spread. The Knicks are still trying to cohere their team chemistry, and I think Miami's big three overwhelm the Knicks with their defense and transition offense.
Result: From 1997 to 2000 the New York Knicks and Miami Heat had one of the most historical rivalries in the game of basketball. Legendary Knicks players like Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, John Starks, Pat Ewing and Heat players like Dan Majerle, Jamal Mashburn, Alonzo Mourning, and Tim Hardaway all were in the borderline violent games of this rivalry. Today the Knicks and Heat game reminded me of that rivalry; for the first half anyways. Although it wasn't NBA on NBC, there was a playoff vibe to this game and a new rivalry will emerge from today. The Knicks kept it close in the first half closing it off with a score of 51-47 in favor for the Heat. In the second half, the Heat started to heat up and ended the 3rd quarter with a 12 point lead. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole did a good job in defending Lin keeping him to 8 points, 3 assists and 8 turnovers. And because of Lin's borderline horrible performance, Bron didn't have to guard him. Miami's Big 3 had a big game, scoring 67 points combined with Chris Bosh leading their scoring with 22. Carmelo lead the Knicks scoring with 19, but it wasn't enough as the Heat won a well played game 102-88.
4-1
No comments:
Post a Comment