Knicks Lose to Miami Heat as Jeremy Lin Finally Has Bad Game: Fan’s View

The New York Knicks lost to the Miami Heat, 102-88, last night, Thursday, February 23, 2012, in Miami with Jeremy Lin finally having a bad game.

Jeremy Lin Finally Had a Bad Game for the Knicks in Loss to Miami Heat

Over the Knicks previous 11 games prior to last night's game vs the Heat, Jeremy Lin led the Knicks to a 9-2 record while averaging 23.9 points and 9.2 assists per game, and shooting 50% from the field.

Last night vs the Miami Heat, Jeremy Lin scored eight points and had three assists, while only making one of 11 shots he took in the game. Lin also committed eight turnovers. Since leading the Knicks to a 99-92 win over the New Jersey Nets on February 4, 2012, Jeremy Lin had played nothing but great basketball.

Even in the Knicks two losses in the 11 game stretch (prior to last night) vs the Nets and the New Orleans Hornets, Jeremy Lin played well averaging 23.5 points and seven assists over the two losses. But last night the Miami Heat made a concentrated effort to force Jeremy Lin into getting rid of the ball by double teaming and trapping him.

Jeremy Lin Said It was Hard to Even Dribble the Ball vs Heat

After the game Jeremy Lin admitted that was hard to even dribble the ball against the Heat. Dwyane Wade, who is a first-class act, said right after the game that Jeremy Lin deserves all the credit he has been given. Wade said the Heat wanted to put a lot of pressure on Lin the whole game, and it worked.

Despite the bad game by Jeremy Lin, the Knicks were in the game through halftime, where they only trailed by four, 51-47. But in the third quarter all the pressure on Jeremy Lin took its toll and the Heat outscored the Knicks, 29-19, to take a 80-66 lead into the fourth quarter. The Knicks behind Lin's poor shooting, along with backup point guard Baron Davis' poor shooting, just couldn't close the gap in the fourth quarter.

Baron Davis and Jeremy Lin Combined to Make One of 18 Shots in the Game

For the game, Baron Davis missed all seven shots he took, so the Knicks point guards combined to go one of 18 from the field and score eight points. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 19 points, but Melo, who is my favorite NBA player and why I root for the Knicks, missed a lot of open shots and only made seven of 20 from the field.

Steve Novak and J.R. Smith both shot well from off the bench for the Knicks, they combined to make nine of 20 shots from the field, including six of 10 threes, and scored 26 points. For the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh made a lot of outside shots and scored a game high 25 points, while Dwyane Wade had 22 points, and LeBron James added 20. LeBron had a great game, as he also had nine rebounds, eight assists, and five steals.

Miami Heat Have Better Players and Their Pressure is Tougher Than Most Teams

The Miami Heat showed why they are a great team last night. Other teams had tried to put pressure on Jeremy Lin before, but when LeBron James and company put pressure on you it's entirely a tougher matter.

I thought the absence of rookie Iman Shumpert really hurt the Knicks last night. Shumpert can handle the ball really well, and I think his presence on the floor would have really helped Jeremy Lin handle the pressure applied by the Heat.

The Knicks are off for the weekend for the NBA All-Star Game. Camrleo Anthony is playing in the game, and Landry Fields and Jeremy Lin are playing tonight, Friday, February 24, 2012, in the Rising Stars Challenge.

After the all-star break, the Knicks are home at the Garden to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. February 29 only rolls around once every four years.

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