Lin

At points during last nights Knicks-Raptors game it appeared the Jeremy Lin saga had run its course. Lin was being torched by Raptor point guard Jose Calderon. He was turning the ball over with alarming frequency. The offense had stagnated with the return of Amar'e Stoudemire and the Knicks were just not making their shots. The Knicks looked pedestrian against the 9-20 Raptors, and it appeared that the strategy of taking away Lin's right hand and doubling off pick and rolls had neutralized his effectiveness. The Knicks trailed the whole game and it appeared that their best efforts at a comeback were thwarted by their inability to make free throws.

And then just as the deal seemed sealed, Iman Shumpert came up with a steal in the open court and the Knicks were back in the game. After a defensive stand, Lin came free at the three point line, he pump faked drove imperviously to the hoop and made a miraculous "and one". The Knicks got another defensive stop, and with the score tied and about 30 seconds left Iman Shumpert missed off the backboard. But Tyson Chandler back tapped the rebound to Shumpert who passed to Jeremy Lin at the top of the key. The shot clock was turned off and the game was going to come down to this one possession. Lin dribbled as the clock ran down, every Knick fan, and Jose Calderon, expected Tyson Chandler or Amar'e to come set a screen, but the screen never came. The clock counted down 5 seconds...4...3...2..1, Lin launched a three...nothing but net...pure Linsanity.

Just like that the cult of Jeremy Lin exploded into new heights. Twitter went absolutely berserk and ESPN ran a myriad of segments about Lin. Linsanity had a signature moment. Lin isn't known for his jump shooting prowess, but as he dribbled at the top of the key he looked serenely confident. It's been that kind of two weeks for Lin, everything he's touched has turned to gold.

Two weeks ago I was writing horrible things about this Knicks team. I argued that the 2003 talentless Knicks were far more fun to root for. I've always enjoyed rooting for untalented, scrappy teams, and the 2012 Knicks have been reinvented as just that. Instead of relying on superstars, the Knicks are a ragtag bunch which relies on a collection of role players. Jared Jeffries has been reinvented as the leagues best help defender, his scrawny body flopping to the floor as he draws yet another charge. Steve Novak is the spark plug off the bench, his silky smooth shooting augmented by a surprising ability to defend and rebound. Last night it was Iman Shumpert who played the hero, his strip of Calderon led the Knicks back from the brink of defeat. If this run has been at all bittersweet it's because of the depressing regression of Toney Douglas. Last year Douglas was a crowd favorite, I can still picture him making 9 threes in some peacocking orange shoes against Memphis. I had high hopes for Douglas this season, but it seems that he hasn't been able to put the effects of an offseason shoulder surgery behind him. I hold out hope for Douglas, but D'antoni seems to be a coach who holds grudges and it doesn't seem like Toney is getting off the bench anytime soon.

The NBA is a league of genetic freaks, they are bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone you've ever seen in real life. In contrast, Jeremy Lin looks like someone you might see on the subway. He's an everyman, because he looks like an everyman. He isn't physically imposing, his strength is surprising for his slight build. Lin has led the Knicks back from the brink, and his every achievement whips New York into a bigger frenzy. The Knicks take on the Kings tonight with a chance to return to .500. Two weeks ago it seemed unthinkable to imagine the Knicks rattling off 6 straight wins, and yet here we are. It feels like a dream, it feels Linsane. We wait with baited breath to see what Lin and the Knicks do next.