Lin’s Knicks fail to find chemistry in loss to Nets
Lin and Co fail to find the right chemistry to beat Nets
NEWYORK: Jeremy Lin flirted with a triple double but the New York Knicks struggled to find the right chemistry with the return of Carmelo Anthony, losing 100-92 to the New Jersey Nets on Monday.
“I need to come out with more energy and the team needs to come out with more energy. That is why we lost,” said Lin. “We are not in panic mode. We are going to have to work through some struggles but as long as we are all committed and buy in, we will be fine.”
It marked just the second loss since Lin’s amazing run began on Feb 4 against the Nets when he blitzed New Jersey’s defence for 25 points.
The Knicks have eight wins and two losses since the NBA legend of Lin was born with that 99-92 win over the Nets.
Lin finished with a team-high 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as all five Knicks starters reached double figures in scoring in Monday’s loss.
“Jeremy still got 21 and nine and he still had a great game, a good game,” said Knicks coach Mike D’antoni. “Our energy wasn’t right the whole night. We got some sorting out to do.”
Lin’s incredible season began when the former benchwarmer was called up with two starters missing and answered with the most points of any NBA player in his first five starts since the NBA and ABA merged in 1976.
The fairy-tale rise of Lin, the first American-born NBA player of Taiwanese and Chinese heritage, is all the more remarkable considering he was cut by two clubs before joining the Knicks. The Knicks welcomed superstar Anthony back into the lineup from injury on Monday but he struggled to find a role in their revamped offence.
But the Knicks had no answer on Monday to Nets point guard Deron Williams who finished with a season-high 38 points.
Derrick Rose made an immediate impact on his return to the Chicago Bulls lineup on Monday as last season’s Most Valuable Player scored a game-high 23 points in a 90-79 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
The All-star guard missed five consecutive games with lower back spasms but showed little effect of the layoff, contributing six assists and five rebounds.
“He makes the game easy for everybody,” Bulls guard Ronnie Brewer said.
Rose, who played almost 35 minutes, said he was not experiencing new problems with the back.
“It feels good,” he added. “I have got to put a little ice on there, but I should be alright.”