Well. :evil: me. I was listening to the game and I think I crapped a brick.
I just double checked NBA.com and... I still wasn't expecting ANY of that.
Cheers for NY in DC? Another 20+ game for Lin? Chandler scoring 20+?? Steve Novak EN FUEGO~!? TEN assists?!?
Sure, the Wizards weren't at 100% either, but they had a good line-up of their own, including an energetic PG and a real full-time center.
Sure, it wasn't Howard or Perkins, but McGee provides pretty smash-mouth defense.
But Lin. Lin. Lin. Linning. 10 assists. You cannot measure how excited I am about that. Ten assists (and still, a 20+ point game). And those were just direct passes to Walker, Chandler, Novak, and Fields. A bit sad that no one else had more than 2 assists tonight, but it's comforting to know they could have if they weren't busy torching the Wizards tonight.
"(My son texted) me that (his Cornell team in college) did a much better job guarding (Lin) than we did tonight. (The game wasn't even over yet.) Makes dad feel good." -- Wizard's coach Randy Wittman
This is as academic as Lin's SLAM DUNK. (Pretty sure I saw him dunk the ball against the Nets too.) Without a shadow of a doubt, the Knicks have a reliable PG. And I'm knocking on wood D'Antoni doesn't burn him out (like everyone else) with his 40-a-night workouts when we're behind; this isn't going to be the Jeremy Lin Show, the Carmelo Anthony Show or the STAT HOUR -- they're the Knicks. They're a team. A damn good one.
That said, I think the Lakers will provide some trouble this Friday; they'll be pretty well rested after that loss to the 76ers and you never count out Ron Art-- MWP. But just the sight of a complete-looking Knicks team (even with injuries to Davis, Jorts, and -- probably a good thing in the long run -- Melo) is a sweet sight. I'm pretty sure STAT will have a great time on offense now that he has a reliable feeder, and I hope Melo integrates well too.
Congrats also to the Cavs, who managed to swat away the Clippers (who are still reeling from their CB loss) without their own star-guard, Irving.