Linsanity Continues: Jeremy Lin Scores 38, Knicks Beat Lakers

Since the merger, actually. Since the 1976-1977 season — which ended with the Portland Trail Blazers' most recent championship — no NBA player has scored more points in their first three starts than Jeremy Lin a.k.a Linsanity a.k.a The Harvard Hurricane a.k.a. Super Lintendo.

Jeremy Lin has 89 points thru his first 3 starts, most pts by ANY NBA PLAYER in his first 3 starts since the merger (1976-77) via #Elias

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 11, 2012

Those are some Lincredible numbers. I'm not going to play the comparison game, though. I mean, who cares how many points Michael Jordan scored in his first three starts (74)? Does it matter what Karl Malone, who scored the most points of anyone since the merger, did those first three starts (35)? How about the game's active leading scorer, who also happened to be Lin's opponent, Kobe Bryant (41)? Hmm, would it matter if it was more recent, and played Lin's position, like Derrick Rose (55)?

It doesn't matter at all, we think. He can't possibly continue this, we believe. But if leading the New York Knicks to four wins in the four games he's made his contributions doesn't convince you he's making real progress as a starting NBA point guard and doesn't convince you he's around for the long haul, maybe some history will.

For more on Linsanity in all its forms, check out Knicks blog Posting and Toasting and SB Nation New York.

Jeremy Lin put on a show on Friday night, scoring a career-high 38 points in a seven-point Knicks win over the Lakers, and Linsanity has hit a fever pitch. Friday's matchup at The Garden was Lin's first real test as the Knicks' starting point guard, and he passed with flying colors.

Now is probably a good time to recall this quote from Kobe Bryant on Thursday night, the day before the Lakers played the Knicks.

"What? No idea," Bryant said last night after the Lakers' 88-87 overtime win over the Celtics. "I know who he is but I don't really know what's going on too much with them ... I don't even know what he's done. Like, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I'll take a look at [the tape] tonight though."

All Bryant could do was laugh when asked if he would cover Lin if need be - "I appreciate the question, though," he said before walking off to the shower.

It was understandable at the time: the question came after a win over the Celtics and kind of came out of nowhere. The quote was also an easy point of ridicule directed at Kobe after the events of Friday night.

But Kobe had plenty of kind words to say and took everything in stride after the Lakers' loss, thanks in large part to Lin's performance. He praised Lin for his ability to knock down shots and break the Lakers' gameplan, then spoke about the Knicks' point guard's sudden rise to stardom (Via SI.com)

"I think it's a great story," Bryant said. "I think it's a testament to perseverance and hard work. Good example for kids everywhere."

He also added that New York should enjoy it because "they'll receive judgment next season," in perhaps the most Kobe quote ever.

For his part, Lin refused to take the bait. Asked after the game if he thought Kobe knew him now, Lin scratched his ear nervously, told the reporter he'd have to ask Kobe, then joked, "He helped me up today during the game, so he might know who I am."

At least for one night, though, Lin topped Kobe on national television at The Garden. And he's certainly on Kobe's radar now.

The Jeremy Lin Experience is less than a week old, but the young Knicks guard has already captivated just about everyone paying attention. On Friday night, he turned in his best game yet, notching 38 points in a 92-85 win over the Lakers at The Garden. It was quite the show in a nationally-televised ESPN matchup.

But how close was all this to not happening at all? Marc Stein reports.

Sources w/knowledge of New York's thinking say Knicks were leaning strongly toward releasing Lin before his breakout game last SAT vs. Nets

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 11, 2012

It had to do with contracts, which makes plenty of sense, Stein also reported.

Tuesdy, remember, was deadline to release players w/unguaranteed contracts before those deals became guaranteed. Lin was in serious jeopardy

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 11, 2012

Assuming this will add to the ever-growing list of storylines about Lin and his sudden success. It's impressive how quickly things have turned for both Lin and the Knicks. Before Saturday, the Knicks had lost 11 of 13 and looked to be in deep trouble. Now, they've won four-straight, and Lin Fever has taken off at a breakneck pace.

And it sure doesn't look like Lin is going anywhere, at least in a contract sense, anytime soon.

The New York Knicks hosted the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night and once again, the newly-minted superstar Jeremy Lin gave the home crowd plenty of reasons to cheer as he picked up a new career-high 38 points en route to leading the Knicks to the 92-85 win.

The Knicks pulled ahead to a 10-point lead in the first quarter and really never looked back, despite ridiculous acrobatics from Kobe Bryant, who wound up with 34 points and 10 rebounds. Pau Gasol also managed a double-double for the Lakers with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Lin shattered his previous career-high of 28 points -- which was only a few games old -- by leading all scorers with 38 points. He added seven assists, four rebounds and two steals, with six turnovers. Jared Jeffries contributed 11 points and nine rebounds to the winning effort. Iman Shumpert put up 12 points for New York, while Tyson Chandler and Steve Novak each had nine points.

With the win, the Knicks improve to 7-7 at home and 12-15 overall. The Lakers fall to 4-10 on the road, with a 15-12 record.

For more on the Lakers, be sure to visit Silver Screen and Roll. For more on the Knicks, check out Posting and Toasting. For more on professional basketball in general, check out SB Nation's NBA page.

I know Kobe is Black Mamba, but I'm thinking this Jeremy Lin sign wasn't necessary.

via 30fps.mocksession.com

Let's just stick to the Lin puns, guys. Yellow Mamba can tossed in the trash now, thank you.

There are signs, jerseys, shirts, shirseys, and now, there are masks. Oh the Lin-manity. The signs and shirts and the like are cool, and getting the fever is all well and good, just your standard, run-of-the-mill fandom. These masks, though, are creepy. Not in the "wearing someone else's face on your face" kind of creepy either.

via @cjzero

I think what really does it is the eyes. Cold. Devoid of emotion. Like an automaton bent on running an effective pick and roll and bucking every convention of analyzing players coming out of college. I mean, if you're going to go with a face to hide behind while you're cheering, at least use a moment like this.

Blue tongue masks are the way to go, man.

For more on Linsanity and his teammates, too, visit Knicks blog Poasting and Toasting and SB Nation New York. For updates and info on their opponents tonight, visit Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles.

The Jeremy Lin show just keeps on rolling through the first three quarters of Friday night's game between the New York Knicks and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. Entering the fourth and final quarter of play, the Knicks hold a 66-60 lead.

Lin is leading all scorers with 27 points, one point shy of his previous high with the Knicks. He also has five assists and two rebounds. Jared Jeffries has 10 points. Steve Novak and Tyson Chandler have nine points each for New York. Kobe Bryant has put up 20 points after a slow start.

There were already chants of "M-V-P!" aimed toward Lin near the end of the third quarter as he knocked in a free throw.

For more on the Lakers, be sure to visit Silver Screen and Roll. For more on the Knicks, check out Posting and Toasting. For more on professional basketball in general, check out SB Nation's NBA page.

The Los Angeles Lakers are continuing their road struggles so far as they face off against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Through the first half of play, Jeremy Lin is leading the Knicks to a 49-41 lead.

The Lakers seemed to keep things a bit more together in the second half but still face an eight-point deficit with play resumes. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have each put up 10 points for the Lakers as Los Angeles is shooting just 34.2 percent from the floor, including 3-for-12 from the three-point line.

Jeremy Lin continues to have another sparkling game through the first half, leading all scorers with 18 points and five assists.

During an interview right after the half ended, Lin claimed he was heading to the locker room to look at film right away. That type of attitude and determination is part of what is hopefully going to make Lin a star to watch for a very long time.

For more on the Lakers, be sure to visit Silver Screen and Roll. For more on the Knicks, check out Posting and Toasting. For more on professional basketball in general, check out SB Nation's NBA page.

The Los Angeles Lakers are visiting the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden while the nation's eyes and all basketball news are focused on the amazing story of Jeremy Lin. The young player who was dropped by two teams in the strike-shortened season continues to put up the big numbers.

The Linsanity continued as Lin quickly put up 10 points in his first nine minutes of play, including dropping a trey and adding three assists and a steal in that time. The Knicks jumped out to a 16-6 lead with five minutes left in the quarter, but the Lakers battled back. As the first quarter ended, the Knicks led by a score of 22-15. Kobe Bryant Has six points and a rebound. Matt Barnes has five points.

For more on the Lakers, be sure to visit Silver Screen and Roll. For more on the Knicks, check out Posting and Toasting. For more on professional basketball in general, check out SB Nation's NBA page!