by Micah Hart
A few weeks back we linked to a how-to infograph on how to execute Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields‘ pre-game handshake. It was humorous and informative, but it was just an illustration. Some people are learn better with video than audio, which is why we are fortunate Lin and Fields took it upon themselves to show you how it’s done themselves:
Try it at home, kids.
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by Micah Hart
In case you were thinking the NBA, its fans and its media had become incapable of paying attention to anything other than Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks, I hope All-Star Weekend put that notion to rest. Lin made an appearance Friday night in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, but that aside the weekend was mostly Lin free. I say that not to complain or to be smug — just to note that when Lin is not part of the storyline we all seemed capable of avoiding trying to shoehorn him into it.
Having said that … with all of our attention on Orlando, there were a few Lin-related items that slipped through the cracks, and now that we are back to regularly scheduled programming, here’s a rundown:
I think that about catches us up for now. At least for the next few hours.
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by Micah Hart
I saw this photo a week ago, and haven’t stopped chuckling at it since. The internet has taken a shine to the young man in the picture, Jack Blankenship, as the video of him on YouTube has been viewed over a million times. I was so wishing I had a reason to post about it here, and like manna from heaven, my prayers have been answered.
After appearing on The Today Show on Monday (really?), Blankenship took in the Knicks-Nets game, and we have photo proof, via Deadspin:
I wonder if he will have to pay Beaker royalties.
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by Micah Hart
As everyone knows by now, the compressed NBA schedule will force every team to play three games in three nights at least one this season (42 times in total). With only 66 games to stake a claim to a playoff spot or seed, how teams perform during these killer slates could have a large impact on how their seasons turn out.
With that in mind, we’re going to keep track of each of the 42 three-plays to see which teams take advantage and which teams fall apart. Up next, the New Jersey Nets, who played three straight from Feb. 18-20.
This hasn’t been the best season for the Nets. In a season full of injuries, they’ve been perhaps the most afflicted, suiting up the minimum eight healthy bodies for several games. They put up only 2 points in their first three for all challenge, and that is mainly because they got to play one of the only teams worse than they are. Playing this threeplay would be just leading lambs to the slaughter, right?
Game 1: Nets 97, Bulls 85 - Say what? Yeah that’s right. The Nets, behind 29 points from Deron Williams and a huge 24 and 18 rebounds from the guy you love to hate, Kris Humphries, came into the United Center and put it on the Bulls, jumping out to a 34-19 lead after one and never looking back. The Bulls were without Derrick Rose, but still — they’d only lost one home game all season before this spanking. Didn’t see this one coming. 3 points (1 for win, 1 for road, 1 for +10 margin)
Game 2: Bucks 92, Nets 85 - Naturally, after the road win in Chicago, the Nets returned to New Jersey and promptly lost to the Bucks, despite the season debut for center Brook Lopez (nine points and two rebounds in 12 minutes) Game ball goes to Bucks F Ersan Ilyasova, who had perhaps the most surprising stat line of the season with 29 points and 25 rebounds — and fouled out as well! -1 point
Game 3: Nets 100, Knicks 92 - Oh sure, the Nets go right into Madison Square Garden, overcome Linsanity and the return of Carmelo Anthony to drop the Knicks, who had only won eight of their last nine coming in. Makes perfect sense. I gotta say, people were dogging on D-Will for getting an All-Star nod, but let’s not forget how freakin’ talented this dude is. A career-high eight 3-pointers and a season-best 38 points stole the show in this one. 6 points (5 for win, 1 for road)
No question about it, this is the surprise result of the season in the three for all. 8 points for the Nets, impressive regardless but especially so considering who they beat. Tip o’ the cap.
Up next: The New Orleans Hornets play three straight Feb. 20-22.
Three for all Top Ten:
– Miami Heat (15 points)
– Chicago Bulls (13 points)
– OKC Thunder (12 points)
– New Jersey Nets II (8 points)
– Atlanta Hawks (8 points)
– Houston Rockets (7 points)
– Portland Trail Blazers (6 points)
– L.A. Clippers (6 points)
– Philadelphia 76ers (6 points)
– Denver Nuggets I (6 points)
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by Micah Hart
Jeremy Lin has made himself a home with the Knicks, and if you need proof of that (aside from you know, his ridiculous performance over the past two weeks), I give you his pregame handshake with Landry Fields:
Wondering how to execute such a complex maneuver? Here is a step-by-step guide, courtesy of @IamaGM by way of @SportsGrid:
Remember to seal it with a pat kids, or the whole thing is invalidated.
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by Micah Hart
I promise we won’t post all of these Jeremy Lin tributes, because at this point we probably wouldn’t be able to leave the computer for days on end if we did, but I did enjoy this 80′s-style rock ballad (by way of Jockular):
This seems like it would have fit in nicely over the credits of an 80′s teen movie, or perhaps as part of a training montage of some sort.
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by Micah Hart
You have officially arrived when you are the subject of a Late Show Top Ten List:
Unlike the previous offering by the NY Dailies, I would wager the writing staff at Letterman had a blast trying to outdo each other for worst Jeremy Lin puns.
Can you top any of these?
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by Micah Hart
Via Best Week Ever, an accounting of every Lin-inspired (Linspired?) headling at the New York Post and New York Daily News during the fortnight of Jeremy Lin mania:
I like to think there is a big easel in someone’s office at each paper with a written list of every Lin pun they could come up with. I imagine they are going to have to start brainstorming again soon.
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by Micah Hart
By way of the always-hilarious Sports Pickle, a Q&A to determine if you are worthy of supporting Jeremy Lin:
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by Micah Hart
Like the rest of the NBA, we are slowly (or not so slowly) being overtaken by coverage of the Jeremy Lin phenomenon, but the story is so awesome, I really have no regrets on that front. It doesn’t seem like anyone else is tiring of it either, as yet another Lin tribute song has made its way to YouTube:
I gotta say — that ain’t bad, MC Jin, and I give you bonus points for making the pun in the title about the Knicks and not Lin’s name itself, as everyone else on the planet (myself included) seems to be incapable of avoiding.
H/T PBT
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Catch up on every single game-winning buzzer beater during the season and see how it rates on the Horry Scale.
