Jeremy Lin #17 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers during their game at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2012 in New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK – The New York Knicks, and Jeremy Lin, continued to thrive under interim coach Mike Woodson Friday with a 115-100 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers.
It was the Knicks’ second victory since the departure this week of coach Mike D’Antoni, a move that many predicted would spell the end of “Linsanity” – the rush of excitement in February when one-time bench-warmer Lin emerged as an NBA sensation.
Lin said Friday morning that Woodson had assured him he would keep his starting point guard role.
But one of his main tasks now is to make sure Knicks stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are fully involved in New York’s offense.
“We’re just building as a team,” Lin said. “We’re improving and I think we’re developing our chemistry right now.”
Lin has been the Knicks’ starter at point guard since February 4, when he came off the bench and led the Knicks to a victory over New Jersey.
Lin, a former bench-warmer who was waived by two teams before getting his chance with the Knicks, became an NBA revelation, his global reach increased by the fact that the California-born player’s parents are from Taiwan.
D’Antoni’s favored pick-and-roll offensive system was a perfect fit for Lin, who shone during the Knicks’ seven-game winning streak in February.
However, with Anthony and Stoudemire back in the lineup after absences, Lin was less productive and a six-game losing streak spelled the end for D’Antoni.
On Friday the Knicks looked focused as they followed up their 42-point win over Portland on Wednesday in Woodson’s debut as coach.
Tyson Chandler and J.R. Smith scored 16 points apiece. Lin had 13 points and five assists and Anthony had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
“I think now with the change, we had to come together as a team and really figure out, ask ourselves what we really want,” Anthony said. “Right now we want to win basketball games. We want to get to the playoffs. Why not start now and burn that intensity and keep going?”
Although Woodson’s offensive system will be different, he said that doesn’t mean Lin’s starting job is in jeopardy.
“Jeremy is a big part of what we do. He’s our starting point guard,” Woodson said.
Anthony, too, said before Friday’s contest that he didn’t expect D’Antoni’s departure to spell the end of “Linsanity”.
“Lin is about doing things to help this team win,” Anthony said. “As far as the ‘Linsanity’ thing goes, it’s still there. That’s not going nowhere.”