Amar’e Stoudemire is an afterthought, and Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler are hurt. So meet the new “Big Three” of the New York Knicks – Jeremy Lin, J.R. Smith and Steve Novak. The trio combined to lead the Knicks to a nationally televised 104-97 victory over the defending champion Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, their eight win in nine games. Remember the calls for coach Mike D’Antoni’s job and the blind hope that Baron Davis and his balky back would be the season’s savior?
We interrupt Linsanity with this news bulletin: The San Antonio Spurs are playing even better basketball than the New York Knicks. And they are being led by a guy who didn’t go to Harvard and wouldn’t go there unless there was a symposium on internaional geopolitical trends, with wine served afterward. Good wine. Gregg Popovich does not sleep on a couch on the Lower East Side, does not have a weakness going left (political joke), and does not move merchandise at the
NEW YORK — Linsanity has been rewarded by the folks working in commissioner David Stern’s office. Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 12. Lin led the Knicks to a 4-0 week, averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 assists and 2.0 steals. His 109 points over his first four career starts are the most by
BARCELONA — Latavious Williams misses American food. Ask him what he craves most and there’s no hesitation. “My Auntie’s barbecue,” says Williams. But as his Auntie fires up the grill in Starkville, Mississippi, Latavious is playing power forward for Joventut Badalona of the Spanish League. When his two cousins visit later this month, odds are they won’t be sneaking any ribs through customs, either. No matter. The 6-foot-8 Williams, who says he lost a ton of weight upon his arrival in Spain, says he
The Thunder have found a knack for finishing off close games, as true championship contenders do, thanks to MVP candidate Kevin Durant. (Have you voted yet in that MVP poll to your right?) After winning a closely contested and controversial game one night earlier against the Trail Blazers, Durant scored 33 points for the second consecutive night and hit the game-winning bank shot with 14 seconds left against the Golden State Warriors in a wild game. Russell Westbrook also had a
// Who will be snubbed in All-Star reserve voting? Someone from the Sixers? Someone from the Cavs? One of the more productive power forwards in the West? CineSport’s Brian Clark & SheridanHoops.com’s Chris Sheridan discuss that question, along with the significance of Kobe Bryant’s scoring milestone and whether the Oklahoma City Thunder are potential champions.
The Oklahoma City Thunder may have revenge on their minds. On Jan. 3, the Thunder took their only home loss of the season, a 103-93 setback to the Portland Trail Blazers. On Monday night, the Thunder visit the Trail Blazers in the NBA’s best game. There are just four teams with one home loss: Chicago (9-1), Oklahoma City (9-1), Portland (11-1) and San Antonio (13-1), which handled Oklahoma City in a 107-96 victory Saturday night. That was the opener of a five-game road
Although the Oklahoma City Thunder deserve the gushing praise that has been dispensed on their behalf, it would seem slightly premature to begin measuring for ring sizes. The Thunder are young and exciting. They have the youngest scoring champion in NBA history and he has a superstar guard as a sidekick. The third scorer has improved markedly from last season and unquestionably has star qualities. And none of those three – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden – has yet to