Over and Back: A look at Linsanity, five years later
By Jason Mann
In 2012, a fringe NBA player Jeremy Lin was given a chance to start for the Knicks when all other options failed. He thrived to lead New York with flair, pushing the Knicks to a winning streak and a few thrilling weeks in a global phenomenon that became known as Linsanity, before it came to just as quick of a halt.
We look at what Linsanity means to us and the NBA world five years later with Kenneth Drews and Dan Filowitz, the hosts of the dearly departed Disciples of Clyde, on the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.
We look at how close Lin was to being out of the NBA before coming to New York, the league coming off bad feelings from the lockout and needing a feel-good story, the Knicks struggling despite having Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, the first moments where it seemed like Lin would be special, how Lin appealed to many people who weren’t normally NBA fans, how Lin being Asian American set him apart, how Linsanity marked the only time where the Knicks played Mike D’Antoni’s typical style, and how Lin handled his success as he’s trying to figure out the NBA.
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We also discuss the key moments of Linsanity: a 22-7-5 line coming off the bench vs. the Nets to kick off his burst, scoring 38 points vs. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, being Eastern Conference Player of the Week (27.3 points, 8.3 assists and 2.9 steals), and a dramatic game-winning 3-pointer vs. the Raptors. Then how challenges arised: 1-for-11 and 8 turnovers against LeBron James and the Heat, a losing streak that leads to D’Antoni resigning and Mike Woodson becoming coach, a season-ending knee injury, and the Knicks not matching an offer sheet from the Rockets.
We also dig into whether Lin could have worked long-term in New York, how Lin has done during the rest of his career, Anthony’s evolving reputation, and talk about how Ken and Dan started the Disciples of Clyde and the good and bad of podcasting about the NBA.
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