Photo by Kimberly

Jeremy Lin is the talk of Madison Square Garden, Chinatown, New York Knick fans, and the NBA the past three games. Lin has become a top trending topic on Twitter regularly and the phrases #Linsanity and #Linning are now popular. People on YouTube also created a special Lin remix called “All I Do Is Win.”

As the Knicks struggled losing 11 of 13 games in a recent stretch coach Mike D’Antoni made a move that has saved the Knicks season from completely tanking and possibly his job. D’Antoni gave Lin a chance against the New Jersey Nets on February 4^th at MSG. Lin played 36 minutes off the bench scoring 25 points with seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. At that point it was uncertain if Lin was a one-hit wonder, but after the Giants won the Super Bowl the next day, coach D’Antoni named Lin the starter against the Utah Jazz at home. Some called the move desperate, but D’Antoni felt he struck lightning in a bottle.

Lin was indeed the jolt of energy the Knicks needed as he played 45 minutes, scored 28 points and dished out eight assists. After the game D’Antoni said, “I’m riding him like secretariat.” The comment drew laughs inside the press conference room, but Lin’s affect on this team was no joke. Lin finally gave D’Antoni the point guard he needed to run his offense effectively. D’Antoni said, “He has an attacking mentality, he can get in the paint and he is a point guard… he has an innate ability to see guys.” Even Utah Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin of the Jazz was impressed with Lin. Coach Corbin said, “You talk about that Lin kid… guys are feeding off him… he was splitting the pick-and-rolls which we don’t allow guys to do.”

Lin has earned the respect of his fellow teammates in the locker room who praised his work ethic. Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said, “He (Lin) won the game for us,” after the Knicks beat the Nets at MSG when Lin came off the bench. After the victory against the Jazz forward Jared Jeffries said, “He’s the first one every day and he does his workouts with Kenny Atkinson and he deserves a lot of the credit right now on what he’s been able to do.” Knicks center Tyson Chandler also praised Lin and said, “He doesn’t get rattled out there. He plays with a different confidence than I have seen from young players like that. He understands what the coach wants and he does it out there.” Lin, a humble young man, shared the credit with his fellow teammates. Lin said, “Basketball is fun when you play on a team that wants to work together, work through tough times.”

On Wednesday, Lin took his game to a new level, both literally and figuratively, against the Washington Wizards. Lin carried the Knicks without their two superstars, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, to a victory. Lin scored 23 points, had 10 assists, and a crossed former top overall pick John Wall at the three-point line and took off halfway in the lane for a dunk that had the crowd buzzing at the Verizon Center.

The Knicks look like a basketball team again with Lin running the show. Lin has brought needed energy, sparked the team, and a winning swagger since getting quality minutes the past three games.

After getting cut by the Knicks in training camp a two years ago, getting cut by the Warriors and Rockets this year, Lin has found a home at the mecca of basketball, MSG. After a brief stint in the NBA Development League and his continued Christian faith in God, Lin has answered the prayers of Knicks fans and D’Antoni by filling the role of playmaker the team desperately needed.

Follow me on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

Once again the Nets are at the center of trade rumors. This time DeMarcus Cousins is the target, but what are the chances he joins the team? The answer is slim to none.

Nets GM Billy King knows he must do everything in his power to keep superstar guard Deron Williams happy and lock him up for the trip to Brooklyn and beyond. To keep the current face of the franchise the Nets must win now and surround Williams with more talent.

Cousins is a talented rebounder and good inside post scorer, but his immaturity and public disputes with the Sacramento Kings have proven that he’s a head case. This is the second incident involving Cousins’ lack of discipline after he was kicked out of practice by the team last season.

King and the Nets are better served putting all their eggs into the Dwight Howard basket. The Nets can offer young talent, expiring contracts, draft picks, and are willing to absorb players like Hedo Turkoglu and Chris Duhon to facilitate a deal.

This is a developing story that will surround the team until the trade dealine.

Follow me on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

Photo by Keith Allison

When was the last time you heard Knicks and defense in the same sentence? Then again, when was the last time you heard of the Knicks and title contenders in the same sentence? New York hasn’t had a dominant man in the middle since Patrick Ewing, but all that changed when Tyson Chandler traded in his cowboy boots from Dallas for the bright lights of New York. In doing so, Chandler has the NBA and Knicks fans in a New York state of mind.

Chandler transformed the Mavericks, a perennially “soft” team, into a defensive minded unit that shut down the Heat for their first NBA title as a franchise. New York hopes Chandler can do the same for the Knicks and help restore the “D” in coach D’Antoni’s name.

For the Knicks to succeed he must play the role of Dennis Rodman. Chandler must do all the dirty work by locking up opponents top big men, rebounding, and blocking or altering shots at the rim. Make no mistake, Chandler is being paid $56 million over four years to be the defensive coordinator as much as new assistant coach Mike Woodson.

As owner James Dolan and coach Mike D’Antoni unveiled their early Christmas gift both were in a New York state of mind. Dolan said during Chandler’s press conference, “We made a commitment to our Knicks fans that we would put together a team that would compete for an NBA championship. The addition of Tyson along with Amare (Stoudemire) and Carmelo (Anthony) is another important piece of that (championship) puzzle.” D’Antoni echoed Dolan and called the Knicks trio “(on paper) the best in the league.”

For the Knicks to fulfill their lofty expectations Chandler must be worth every penny of Dolan’s $56 million investment. Chandler is up to the task and said, “I know what my job is in coming here. I know I came here to defend. I’m going to defend the rim and I’m going to rebound. I’m going to get extra shots. I know if we play on both ends, and we play as a team, the sky is definitely the limit.”

The Knicks officially unveil their new toy on Christmas Day as New York at Madison Square Garden at noon.

The new NBA labor agreement created an amnesty clause, which will play a major role in salary cap and luxury tax relief, as well as free agency. According to the impending Collective Bargaining Agreement each team can waive one player prior to any season of the CBA. That player’s subsequent salary would be removed from the salary cap and not count for luxury tax purposes. The player however would be paid the full amount of his waived contract.

Below is a list of the Top 10 candidates that face the amnesty clause ax:

1. Gilbert Arenas (G), Orlando Magic: 3 years, $62.3 million
   This new amnesty clause should be named in his honor. Arenas used to be one of the most entertaining guards in the league as Agent Zero. Then he channeled too much James Bond and brought guns into the Wizards locker room and mocked David Stern by pretending to shoot guns during team introductions. Since then ironically he can’t pull the trigger on his jump shot as well as he used to. Orlando will do everything they can to keep Dwight Howard and waiving Arenas is the first step.
    
2. Rashard Lewis (F), Washington Wizards: 2 years, $49.5 million
   Washington is in full rebuilding mode and loaded with a young roster. Lewis was overpaid by the Magic and has failed to live up to his huge contract. Lewis takes up slightly over $22 million of the Wizards current $40.7 million payroll. By cutting Lewis the Wizards would save nearly $19 million in cap space.
    
3. Brandon Roy (G), Portland Trail Blazers: 3 years, $49 million
   There was a time in Portland when Roy was the face of the franchise, but that is no longer the case. The Blazers are now LaMarcus Aldridge’s team now and Wesley Matthew has taken the bulk of Roy’s minutes. Injuries have taken their toll on Roy, a former All-Star, and it appears both want a fresh start.
    
4. Baron Davis (G), Cleveland Cavaliers: 2 years, $28 million
   Cleveland just drafted Kyrie Irving with the first pick overall to be the new face of their franchise. Davis is on the downside of his career and could take valuable playing time away from Irving. All signs point to Davis being waived and handing the keys to the franchise over to Irving.
    
5. Josh Childress (G/F), Phoenix Suns: 4 years, $27 million
   In July of 2008, Josh Childress made headlines for pioneering the move from leaving the NBA to play overseas. Two years later, in 2010, Childress was back in the NBA with the Suns. After getting a large payday to return to the USA, the Suns probably wish he stayed in Greece. This is a chance for Phoenix to get out of a bad contract for a reserve player.
    
6. Travis Outlaw (F), New Jersey Nets: 4 years, $28 million
   When rod Thorn signed Travis Outlaw, and then left the Nets, he should have took Outlaw with him. Since coming over from the west coast Outlaw has been a major disappointment and landed in Avery Johnson’s dog house this past season. Look for the Nets to waive Outlaw to free up more cap space to keep Deron Williams and build more talent around him.
    
7. Al Harrington (F), Denver Nuggets: 4 years, $28 million
   With Carmelo Anthony long gone, Kenyon Martin, JR Smith, and Wilson Chandler in China, there’s no reason for Denver to keep a veteran like Harrington. Denver is beginning a rebuilding mode on the fly and getting rid of Harrington’s contract would help speed the process. Harrington can then sign with a contender to chase a ring.
    
8. Brendan Haywood (C), Dallas Mavericks: 4 years, $34 million
   If Tyson Chandler stays with Dallas it could signal the end of the high priced backup. Haywood provides a safety net for Dallas in case Chandler gets hurt and is a solid backup center that has started in the NBA. His price tag however is too much to pay when retaining J.J. Barea is a higher priority.
    
9. Luke Walton (F), Los Angeles Lakers: 2 years, $11.8 million
   Walton has had injury trouble like his father Bill. He’s been a non-factor for the Lakers the past few years and this gives both a fresh start. Walton is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers and this waiver would allow him to maintain his current role.
    
10. Richard Hamilton (G), Detroit Pistons: 2 years, $25.3 million
    Hamilton is coming off his worst year since his rookie year. After heated arguments with former coach John Kuester and diminished playing time it’s time for Hamilton to leave the Motor City and head to a contender where his elbow jumper and knack for moving well without the ball will be appreciated.

Photo by Alexa Scordato

Brandon Jacobs might as well be Bran-done Jacobs. The Giants running back has put his mouth to more use than his legs this season. Instead of picking a fight with opposing teams and their linebackers he’s ripped Giants fans for booing.

Last time I checked he played football, arguably the toughest professional sport, and he’s crying over fans booing him? New York fans tell it like it is, they cheer when you perform and boo when you don’t. If Jacobs returns to the force that was a back-to-back 1,000-yard runner fans will cheer him instead.

Granted, the Giants lost veterans Shaun O’Hara and Rich Seubert before the season started, but both were old and declining. Injuries have also hurt the Giant as center David Baas has been in and out of the lineup, now William Beatty may miss the rest of the year, and Kareem McKenzie’s knees aren’t getting any younger.

Yet, Ahmad Bradshaw still found ways to be productive out of the backfield before his injury by using his speed and cut back ability to gain yards. Bradshaw also is useful for screen plays, unlike Jacobs who couldn’t catch a pass if he had Super Glue on his gloves.

It’s time for Jacobs to return to the brute force that no linebacker, much less a cornerback, wanted to see rumbling for yards. Even though Eli Manning has put “man” in Manning, he needs a running game to keep the defense honest and hit his homerun threats Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Mario Manningham off play-action passes.

Jacobs complained about a lack of carries to start the year. Now there are no more excuses, including booing from fans. On ESPN and Monday Night Football the spotlight is on and Jacobs must be the x-factor that carries New York on his 260 pound back to a win. If Jacobs has another “pathetic” effort as Tom Coughlin called it, it’s time to refer to him as Bran-done Jacobs.

Follow me on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

Photo by cool13902008

Coming off two straight AFC title game appearances the New York Jets were poised to take flight this season, but the fuel in their engine is running out for a flight to the playoffs. With Rex Ryan as the pilot, the Jets have gone through a turbulent flight thus far.

At 5-5 New York has been a streaky team. After a two-game winning streak to start the year the Jets were flying high, but then an unexpected loss to the Raiders, a blowout in Baltimore, and a loss to their archrival Patriots started the turbulence. With the Jets experiencing major turbulence Ryan took the Jets out of cruise control with three straight wins over the winless Dolphins (at the time), road weary Chargers, and slumping Bills. Feeling confident, Ryan put the Jets back in cruise control as New York was embarrassed at home by the Patriots, and left “Tebowing” to Tim Tebow after he rallied the Broncos by himself to a fourth quarter rally.

It’s time for co-pilots Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes to help Rex Ryan minimize the turbulence and land safely at the NFL playoff airport. In his third year as a quarterback pilot Sanchez hasn’t earned a shiny flight pin from Ryan. His completion percentage remains under 60% while committing costly turnovers that have killed long drives. Holmes, the $50 million man, hasn’t earned his paycheck this season. He’s on pace for career lows in yards and yards per catch after being paid to stretch the defense vertically.

The Jets head into Week 11 with an easy game on paper. The Bills put star running back Fred Jackson on injured reserve, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled mightily since signing a contract extension, and the team is coming off three straight losses. This game is a cloud the Jets must pass through to get to clear blue skies and the NFL playoffs airport. It’s time for Ryan, Sanchez, and Holmes to take the Jets out of cruise control once again and pilot a direct flight to the playoffs without any more turbulence.

Follow me on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

Photo by Keith Allison

Whether Jose Reyes leaves or David Wright is traded, or both remain in New York, the “true” face of the Mets franchise is Johan Santana. Since 2007 the Mets have been filled with injury prone players, bad contract investments, failed to meet expectations, and enter 2012 with an uncertain future. Granted, the Mets have other nominees for these dubious distinctions such as Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, and now Jason Bay, but none come close to the stature of $151 million stature of Santana.

Since joining the Mets in 2008, Santana has battled injuries in 2009, 2010, and missing all of 2011 due to shoulder surgery. Following the surgery Santana had setbacks in his rehabilitation towards the end of the season. The injury setbacks have placed doubt throughout the Mets organization that Santana can live up to the remaining guaranteed two years and $49.5 million left on his deal with a $5.5 million buyout option for 2014. As of the first four years of the deal, and nearly $78 million, Santana has won 40 games. That averages out to $1.94 million per win, which is the type of math that only Bernie Madoff would approve. With Santana anchoring the rotation the Mets have failed to make the playoffs since 2006 and his highest win total was 16 wins back in 2008. The bottom line is that Santana hasn’t been worth the large investment the Mets made to make him the ace of their pitching staff.

Heading into the winter and into the 2012 season the Mets future forecast is cloudier than ever. It’s anyone’s guess if Santana can return from shoulder surgery, if Reyes or Wright will be with the club, and what exactly are the financial restraints from the Madoff fall out. Santana will look to prove his critics wrong and show that he can return to his Cy-Young form as the face of a Mets franchise that’s in need of a facelift makeover.

Follow me on Twitter: @MikeAScotto