This was a statement game

Lin led the Carmelo Anthony less New York Knicks to the win again. It wasn\'t just any other win, it was at Sunday afternoon at the Madison Square Garden, against the visiting depending champion Dallas Mavericks. This win was achieved against one of the current best defensive teams in the league on a 6-winning streak. More importantly, it was a big bounce back win after the embarrassing loss against the bottom feeder in New Orleans. This win was a statement game, proving that Jeremy Lin is for real, and he\'s legit.

In previous loss, the Knicks looked awful, and Lin looked bad too. Yes, Lin scored 25 points, but he also had 9 TOs. Moreover, those TOs were caused by Lin forcing the action. He tried too hard to hit those home-run passes, or he went up too much with one-against-three in the paint. Instead of being the floor general to anchor the offensive game, Lin took upon himself to attempt to win the game single-handedly. He is a smart kid, and he can learn and adjust really well. After the Lakers game, Lin wasn\'t a nobody any more. He\'s on scouting report of every opposing team, and his strength and weakness are studied and analyzed. From the opening tip, Marion, the Matrix, jumped on Lin with his long arms and quick hands, trying to give Lin pressure to rush. Lin has learned from the NO game, and boy, he was patient. He continuously kept the dribble live, and he was very calm and unselfish. Instead of forcing, he let the game come to him, and he finds open man.

Basketball is all about percentage. When one player gets hard-doubled, if the rest four players keep moving, one will be open eventually. Open shots in NBA are high-percentage shots. Lin found open teammates in JR Smith, Tyson Chandler, Fields, Shumpert, Amare, Jefferies, and Steve Novak. Lin has 14 assists today, a new career high for his short career. He also had some so-called hockey assists (passes lead to assists). Lin only had 1 TO in the first half.

The Knicks started the second half in a very sloppy way. Mavs jumped on them with trapping and quickly moving hands/feet. Dirk was Dirk, shooting with a hand in face, managed to knock down his shots from anywhere on the floor. Kidd, VC, Odom, Terry, the big name list goes on, and the Mavs are a great offensive team and a very good defensive team under coach Rick Carlisle.

Jeremy delivered a big game with 28 points and 14 assists. He played the entire 2nd half, for the Knicks couldn\'t afford to put him on the bench. Not only did Lin deliver a wonderful stats line, but also led a wonderful game for the entire Knicks team. Novak was hot, for Lin trusted him, even after he went 0-3 in the first half. In the crucial 3rd quarter, when Knicks was behind, Novak moved quickly to open spots again and again. Lin found him again and again, rewarded the sharp shooter. Novak repaid the trust with timely 3 after 3. Lin rewarded big guys running with him with nice feeds in the paint; Lin rewarded Landry and Smith with assists in breakouts.

That\'s your point guard, as Magic said - pass to open teammates, shoot with high percentage, and penetrate through the paint. Lin did all very well in this game. Notably, he was very active at the defensive end. I wasn\'t happy with his defense in last game, for he missed too many assignments, and always went under the pick for a shooter. Today, it was a totally different Lin. He fought through the pick, and stayed with the roller all the time. His hands were moving to deflect, and his legs were moving to cut passing lanes.

JR Smith was a great addition to the team, for he can create for himself. At this point, Knicks is officially on the radar again. It will be harder and harder for Lin to penetrate. That\'s where they need Melo back. As much of a ball-hog as Melo was in the past, he can create his own shots, and he can also play with his back to the basket, occasionally. That\'s so important for the team, for opponents can\'t just hard double Lin even without the ball. Amare is very good at finishing around the rim, but he can only play facing the basket. He has no post skills. He used to complain about touches, but he hasn\'t so far. Winning cures everything, and good passing is contagious. They are winning, everyone is buying in the system. Lin is leading and winning, so everyone is believing in him.

This was a statement game against the defending champion. As Lin\'s former Harvard teammate said, Lin is a big game player. Oh boy, what a big game on national television. It\'s safe to say, Lin is legit and Lin is for real.