Knicks-Heat Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Feb 23 2012 2:49PM

The NBA's All-Star game may be looming, but the New York Knicks and Miami Heat may be delivering the marquee matchup of the season thus far.

In the toughest test yet for the phenomenon that is Jeremy Lin and the rest of the Knicks, they'll try to prove worthy of the astounding hype as they face LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Eastern Conference-leading Heat on Thursday night.

New York (17-17) has seen its season revived behind a complete unknown. Lin is averaging 23.9 points and 9.2 assists in helping the Knicks win nine of 11 while gaining global notoriety that's been dubbed "Linsanity."

"It's a great rags-to-riches story," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That's the bigger story. And hopefully years from now it'll be about that, not about the ethnicity."

The hype has garnered some criticism, however, since Lin and the Knicks have played eight of those games against teams with current records at or below .500. However, they're 3-0 against teams with winning records following Wednesday's 99-82 victory over Atlanta, during which they led by as many 30 points.

Now, the stiffest challenge awaits New York before the All-Star break as it visits Miami (26-7), which enters as the NBA's hottest team with a seven-game win streak.

"It's going to be a high-energy game," Wade said. "The crowd is going to be into it. Fans around the world are going to watch the game, obviously, for many different reasons, so it'll be great."

The hype, as well as the Knicks' resurgence, has provided motivation for the Heat - atop the East by percentage points over Chicago - to prove Lin and the Knicks are just upstarts.

"It's the game right before All-Star," James said. "But it won't be like 'that' game before All-Star, like people are accustomed to. Everybody always says, you know, the game before All-Star, people are ready to get to All-Star weekend. I don't think so. Just knowing the rivalry, knowing the history between the Heat and Knicks. It could be one of the most watched games we've had in a long time, especially with what Jeremy Lin is doing."

While Lin's emergence has captivated the league, James and Wade are averaging 27.6 and 22.4 points, respectively.

The duo combined for a 59 points in a 99-89 win over the Knicks in Miami on Jan. 27, while Lin didn't get off the bench.

Wade is averaging 24.1 points while the Heat have gone 13-2 since, including 30 points and 10 assists in a 120-108 romp of Sacramento on Tuesday. James finished with 18 points and eight assists, as Miami's home winning streak reached eight games with a 14-2 record on the season.

The Heat aren't the only team swept up in the anticipation of this matchup.

"We're playing a great team, and it's going to be a good evaluation of where we're at," said Lin, who had 17 points and nine assists Wednesday. "So from that end obviously we're excited and ready for the challenge. But besides that, we're just going try to stay consistent."

Carmelo Anthony could help in that regard. The All-Star forward has totaled 26 points while making 11 of 27 shots from the floor over the last two games after sitting out seven with a groin injury.

He missed last month's meeting with the Heat due to wrist and ankle ailments, but he's averaged 26.0 points in 15 career games against them.

"It's going to be a lot of, a lot of anticipation about this game," Anthony said. "We're going down there to win. Miami is playing great basketball right now. One of the hottest teams, if not the hottest team in the NBA."

Heat contain Lin, roll to 8th straight win, 102-88

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Feb 23 2012 11:17PM

MIAMI (AP) Jeremy Lin offered no excuses.

He and the Knicks had no answers.

Lin's rapid rise from unknown to superstar was slowed big-time Thursday night by the Miami Heat, who overwhelmed the NBA's hottest story with a swarming defense that the Knicks' new starting point guard could not solve.

Forcing Lin into easily the worst game of his remarkable run as New York's newest star, Miami topped the Knicks 102-88 - the eighth straight win for the NBA-leading Heat, all by at least 12 points.

Chris Bosh scored 25 points, Dwyane Wade added 22 and LeBron James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Miami, which will go into the All-Star break with the NBA's best record (27-7).

Lin's final line: 1 for 11 from the field, eight points, three assists - a long way from the 23.9 points and 9.2 assists he had been averaging over his first 11 games in the Knicks' rotation, when he breathed immeasurable life into a team that was floundering.

"First of all, he deserves all of the credit he's been given," Wade said. "We knew it was going to be a tough task guarding him. ... He's a good player, but we put a lot of pressure on him and it was a success."

A big success.

Lin turned the ball over eight times, saying afterward that the Heat defense made it difficult even to dribble. His last shot - like most of his others - bounced off the rim with 6 seconds left, the outcome already decided, and he simply walked quietly off the court into the locker room.

"A learning experience," Lin said. "A tough one."

But for a while, the game lived up to the hype.

Spike Lee, Floyd Mayweather and Chad Ochocinco all sat within seven seats of each other on one sideline, Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison of the Miami Marlins were on another sideline, and members of the New York Mets' front office reportedly jumped aboard a helicopter for the quick trip from the team's spring-training home in Port St. Lucie down to Miami.

Even the First Fan took note of the hubbub surrounding the game.

"In another life, I would be staying for the Knicks-Heat game tonight, then going up to Orlando for NBA All-Star weekend," President Barack Obama told cheering students at the University of Miami earlier in the day. "But these days, I've got a few other things on my plate. Just a few."

When Air Force One was headed to Orlando for a Thursday night fundraiser, yes, there were televisions tuned to Heat-Knicks on board.

And the Heat put on a show.

"We have some work to do," said Carmelo Anthony, who led the Knicks with 19 points. "Nobody said it would happen overnight."

J.R. Smith scored 14 for New York off the bench.

"I'm sure they were all geeked up for him," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said of the Heat defense against Lin. "And they took the challenge and they did a great job. It's hard to be Peter Pan every day."

James became the NBA's first player since 2008 to finish with at least 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, five steals and two blocks. The last one to do that? James himself.

"This has been about a three-week push for us and it's a good way to end before the break," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think everyone in that locker room needs a handful of days. We've been really focused ... to make this push. We played a team that with more time they're going to improve and become a very dangerous team. They already are right now."

If proof was needed that the Heat wanted to make a point against Lin, there was some clear evidence.

Exhibit A: Mario Chalmers stole the ball from Lin and went in for a two-handed dunk in the early minutes. Exhibit B: Norris Cole, Chalmers' backup at point guard, did the same thing in the second quarter.

Combined dunks this season for Chalmers and Cole entering Thursday? Zero.

Those strip-and-scores were part of a six-turnover first half from Lin, matching his third-highest total in any half this season. Amare Stoudemire also had six turnovers in the first 24 minutes, the Knicks were outscored 30-16 in the paint, 12-1 on fast breaks and 12-3 off turnovers.

Nonetheless, Miami's lead was only 51-47 at the break.

For all the fire the Heat were playing with, the Knicks were up to the task. Steve Novak came off the bench to make all three of his shots - all from 3-point range - and New York was right there even though Lin had two assists in the first 1:26 of the game and no others in the final 22:34 of the half.

"He's a good player, a really good player," James said of Lin. "And they're going to do some great things. But for us, we come in and take care of business."

James lowered a shoulder into Lin on one of Miami's first fast breaks of the night, sending the guard back about 10 feet. In the second quarter, Wade pounced on a miss by James for a two-handed put-back slam, a play quickly followed by a James dunk - courtesy of a Lin turnover. On the next Heat possession, Stoudemire accepted a pass from Lin, not seeing Wade get behind him for an easy strip that led to a layup and 43-40 Miami lead.

Back and forth they went, just as everyone wanted.

"It's always big when the Knicks come in," Bosh said. "They have that New York-Miami thing. The crowd enjoyed it. And we enjoyed it."

It was classic Knicks-Heat stuff, just like those playoff battles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Bodies were flying, tempers were flaring, Tyson Chandler and D'Antoni picked up technicals arguing the same play in the first quarter ... and more than a few Knicks fans who paid big money for tickets - the average price for the game on the resale markets was over $700, by one estimate - made their presence known loudly and often.

"It's one game," D'Antoni said. "And we're not there yet. They're there. They're the team right now to beat for everybody. They're playing better than everybody. And we're trying to get our team together."

He's right. They're not there yet.

Lin never got rolling, either. James, Wade and Bosh combined for 25 of Miami's 29 points in the third quarter, James hitting a jumper with less than a second left to push the Heat edge to 80-66.

Lin checked back in with 7:06 to play, trying one last rush with the Heat lead then at 90-76. And the outcome was never in doubt after that.

"I'm not going to hang my head or anything like that," Lin said. "I know I went out there and I played hard. Can't win `em all. Can't have a great game every game. But at the same time, I need to understand, `OK, what'd I do wrong? How can I improve?' I think that's going to be exciting."

NOTES: Wade spoke to the sellout crowd before the game, thanking them on behalf of the NBA and especially the six All-Star weekend-bound Heat players for their support the first half of the season. ... A number of arena workers snapped photos of Lin as he warmed up on the court about two hours before game time. ... In Orlando, where All-Star festivities were getting underway, NBA Commissioner David Stern said "it's fair to say that no player has created the interest and the frenzy in this short period of time, in any sport, that I'm aware of like Jeremy Lin has."

Notebook: Heat 102, Knicks 88

Posted Thursday February 23, 2012 11:14PM

By Shandel Richardson, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks 102-88 Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena. It was the Heat's eighth straight victory.

Heat forward Chris Bosh led four players in double-figures with 25 points and eight rebounds. Dwyane Wade had 22 while LeBron James added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Rookie guard Norris Cole had 10 points off the bench, but it was his defense that deserved more credit. He and Mario Chalmers helped slow Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, holding him to eight points on 1 of 11 shooting. Lin also had a game-high eight turnovers.

After leading by four at halftime, the Heat took control in the third quarter by outscoring the Knicks 29-19. Miami limited the Knicks to 39 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers.

With Lin struggling, the Knicks were led by Carmelo Anthony's 19 points but he shot just 7 of 20 from the field.

QUOTABLE: "It's not a specific plan," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of how the Heat defended Lin. "What we wanted to do was treat him with the adequate respect he deserves."
-- Spoelstra on defending Lin

THE STAT: The Knicks shot just 31 of 79 from the field. Lin, Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire combined to shoot 12 of 38.

TURNING POINT: The Knicks were able to stay close in the first half because of offensive rebounding and second-chance points, but the Heat slammed the door with defense in the third quarter. While Spoelstra said no specific plan was used, Chalmers and Cole played aggressive defense against Lin.

QUOTABLE II: "He didn't have the legs. He played last night. It happens. It was a learning experience ... We probably just played maybe arguably the best team in the NBA."
-- Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said of Lin's struggles.

HOT: Bosh struggled during the first six games of this winning streak, but he came up with his second straight strong game, shooting 11 of 17 from the field.

NOT: So much for the Linsanity. He had his worst game as a starter. He lacked confidence after allowing two early steals that led to breakaway dunks for the Heat.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat turned up the defensive pressure from the get go. Cole and Chalmers played in-your-face defense, causing Lin to pick up his dribble often before setting up the offense.

BAD MOVE: The Knicks needed more from Stoudemire and Anthony. The Heat geared their defense toward stopping Lin, leaving it in the hands of the starting frontcourt. Neither contributed enough to pull off the upset.

NOTABLE: All eight of the Heat's consecutive victories have been by double-digits.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Thursday Mar. 1 @ Trail Blazers, Mar. 2 @ Utah, Mar, 4 @ Lakers. For the Knicks, Wednesday Feb. 29 vs. Cavs, Mar. 4 @ Celtics, Mar. 6 @ Mavericks.

• Knicks: Harrellson, Shumpert, Walker
• Heat: Harris

• Knicks: Chandler, D'Antoni
• Heat: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #36 David Jones, #58 Josh Tiven
• Attendance: 20197
• Duration: 2:21