New Jersey Nets coach Avery Johnson credits Deron Williams with putting an end to Linsanity – NBA Update
The New Jersey Nets enjoy a healthy rivalry with the New York Knicks, which is set to be taken to a whole new level once the franchise moves to Brooklyn. Perhaps to get the ball rolling, Nets coach Avery Johnson took a shot at the Knicks before Wednesday’s
clash.
Avery mocked Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin; saying that New Jersey Nets star Deron Williams put an end to the furore surrounding him.
“I think early in the year (Jeremy) Lin kind of comes out and catches fire and then you have the ‘Linsanity’ stuff and everybody’s going crazy,” Johnson said. “Then Deron put the kibosh on that in the Garden.”
“I can’t say it any better or differently than that.”
Linsanity swept the USA and indeed the whole basketball world early in the year as the little known Harvard grad took the NBA by storm. Jeremy Lin had been around for a year, and he had been an unwanted man.
That however changed when the asian-american set fire to the court, taking his chance in the Knicks uniform when injuries forced his inclusion. Jeremy never looked back, taking the Knicks to 7 straight victories, in the absence of super star teammates Amar’e
Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.
He hit buzzer beaters, made acrobatic plays and even outperformed Kobe Bryant at the Madison Square Garden. His legend looked unstoppable for quite a while, but that was before he came face to face with Williams.
Jeremy’s fantastic run had started in a game against the Nets, where he put Williams in the shade. Deron had to hear a lot about that on social media as well as in the local press. That is why when he faced Jeremy again, he made sure people stood up and
noticed.
Williams utterly outperformed Jeremy in the game, in front of the latter’s home support, piling on 38 points in a dominating display.
Avery Johnson has now suggested that it was then when Jeremy’s momentum broke. Others have argued that it was because of Mike Woodson’s appointment as the head coach, who has focused on a slower approach.
Others still argue that it’s the return of Carmelo Anthony that has resulted in lesser ball minutes for Lin.
Lin and Williams both won’t be present in the next encounter between New York and New Jersey, but Avery’s comments are sure to add spice to the affair nevertheless.
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