G64 Jeremy Lin Leads Surging Brooklyn Nets against Dallas Mavericks
Although the Nets lost the game to the Hawks 105-110, Jeremy Lin has brought leadership and his sharp-shooting (51.7% from 3 in the past 7 games) to make his Nets teammates believe they can win any games they previously had no business of winning. His 9 straight points in the fourth quarter helped the Nets to break down one of the best defense in Memphis Grizzlies and his valiant attempt in the 4th quarter to rally his teammates against the Hawks gave the Nets a chance to win a game. Lin’s leadership has made the Nets exciting to watch in competing hard against two opponents that are playoff-caliber teams being ranked 5th in the Western and Eastern conference.
Steve Lichtenstein from CBS wrote that one should never count out Jeremy Lin
It’s because I have learned that one should never count out Jeremy Lin.
The Nets point guard, who missed 44 games this season due to multiple hamstring woes after signing a three-year, $36 million free agent contract last summer, has a way of making a believer out of the most pessimistic curmudgeons like me.
That Lin missed the potential game-tying desperation 3-pointer on Wednesday is of no consequence. The Nets had no business being in that position given that they were down seven points with 3:11 to play.
However, in the ensuing 30-second span, Lin hit a jumper in the lane and then created a steal that led to his assist on a transition hoop by Sean Kilpatrick. In the final minute, Lin executed a perfect pick-and-roll bounce pass to an open Brook Lopez for a dunk that cut the Hawks lead to 104-102. Then, after Kilpatrick’s costly turnover seemingly put the game out of Brooklyn’s reach, Lin nailed a corner 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to make it 106-105 and re-open the door.
After getting a horrible record of 2 wins and 24 losses in the first two months of 2017, the Nets currently has 2 wins and 3 losses record in March since Jeremy Lin played in the 4th quarters. No wonder many of his fans called him Mr. 4th Quarters. And the beauty of his game is he did not try to do it himself but it is all about empowering the team and making his teammates believe. It starts with his ability to break down defenses with his drives and to find open teammates to make their jobs easier to score in the offensive end.
Building ‘Nasty’ Nets Defense
On defense, he has talked about building on nastiness or toughness as the Nets identity. He lead by example by being willing to foul to prevent easy score by the opponents. He has averaged 3.4 fouls per game in the past 5 games. Hopefully his teammates will follow his example to play tough brand of defense in order to win tough games.
Hot Lin, Hot Teammates
It is not a coincidence that Sean Kilpatrick has averaged 16.8pts with 52.6% 3pt shooting in the past 5 games. Randy Foye averages 6.6pts with 69.2% 3pt shooting in 14.6 minutes per game in the same period. They no longer had to try to be a point-guard to organize the offense which resulted in so many ugly turnovers and easy score by the opponents. They can simply play their natural position as shooting guards to score when they are open.
It is notable that Lin averages 17 points per game when playing 22+ minutes in the last 5 games. A 100% healthy Lin would play 28-32 minutes per game according to Coach Kenny Atkinson and we can’t wait to see what Lin can do.
Since returning (7 games), Jeremy Lin has averaged 13.1 ppg (17 ppg w/ 20+ mins), 3.5 assists on 51.7 % from 3 (15 of 29).
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) March 10, 2017
Nets vs Mavs Matchup
The Mavericks has been playing well winning five of their last six games and are 16-9 since mid-January. Yogi, ex-Nets player, has been playing very well for them to replace JJ Barea who just started coming back from injury.
Coach Rick Carlisle acknowledges how dangerous Jeremy Lin’s game can be and will game plan against him
The Mavericks (27-36) have also won five of their last six and are 16-9 since mid-January to make a run on the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Dallas trailed No. 8 Denver (29-35) by 1.5 games going into Friday.
The Mavs are coming off a two-day break having beaten the Los Angeles Lakers 122-111 on Tuesday. Nowitzki led the way with 25 points, and became the sixth player in NBA history to reach the 30K-point plateau.
Dallas gets another boost in its pursuit to go 4-0 on the current five-game homestand with the return of J.J. Barea. The veteran guard has missed much of the season with a nagging calf injury.
Brooklyn (11-52) concludes its annual “Circus Trip” in Dallas. The Nets are 2-5 so far on the eight-game trek and are coming off a 110-105 loss at Atlanta.
Jeremy Lin pulled the Nets within 106-105 with 13 seconds left, but the Hawks were able to close it out at the line. Brooklyn was trying to win consecutive games for the first time since last March.
“We are definitely getting better,” said Brook Lopez, who scored 18 in the loss but also sprained his ankle. “We have to take what we did well from this game and keep improving, learn from what we did wrong.”
Sean Kilpatrick scored 27 in 30 minutes off the bench and is averaging 23.3 points over his last three games. Lin added 16 points.
Brooklyn has success against the Mavs, especially in Dallas when the Nets have won four of their last five trips. The teams have yet to meet this season.
KEY OF THE GAME: Cut down turnovers, tough defense and more than 25 min of Jeremy Lin. Nets can’t afford losing the TO battle like it did vs the Hawks 22-15 and gives up on key rebounding to lose close game.
Let’s hope and pray JLin will stay healthy as his body adjusts to the rigor of NBA physical games and help the Nets believe they can win more games!
Let’s go, JLin and the Nets!
Game link
