Williams added, “I don’t really watch SportsCenter, I don’t really watch too many games, but I do see Twitter. And every three lines was, ‘Jeremy Lin destroys Deron Williams’ in the first game. “And like I said, I had it circled.”

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: In the words of James Brown, it was The Big Payback.

Deron Williams wasn’t happy Jeremy Lin pulled a little ‘Lin-sanity’ magic and led the New York Knicks to victory over the All-Star’s New Jersey Nets.

Williams was especially upset Lin’s play went viral, so he got revenge dropping 38 points on the NBA’s newest sensation last night.

It’s great Williams was motivated to play his best and have success. However, the source of his motivation, twitter, is interesting.

Williams didn’t like getting called out by Lin’s followers on the social media platform, and he was especially upset after reading some re-tweets.

So he got his revenge. And chances are, Williams will circle every meeting with Lin in the future.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Jeremy Lin offered no excuses. He and the Knicks had no answers.Lin's rapid rise from unknown to superstar was slowed big-time Thursday night by the Miami Heat, who overwhelmed the NBA's hottest story with a swarming defense that the Knicks' new starting point guard could not solve. Forcing Lin into easily the worst game of his remarkable run as New York's newest star, Miami topped the Knicks 102-88 - the eighth straight win for the NBA-leading Heat, all by at least 12 points.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It was a rather rude awakening for 'Linsanity'.

Yesterday, the Miami Heat used superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, physical play, and full-court pressure to neutralize sensation Jeremy Lin and defeat the New York Knicks 102-88.

Lin had his worst game as a starter, going 1-for-11 from the floor and turning the ball over eight time.

The key: the Heat rotated defenders on Lin. And  Mario Chalmers did an especially good job picking up Lin full-court and making the second year table-setter work.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

So will D’Antoni look into tinkering with the starting five, even bringing Lin off the bench? It could [change],’’ D’Antoni said. “I’m trying to find the right combos. But it’s got to be determined over time. It’s not going to be over one game. Not going to just throw people under the bus for one or two games. Over a length of time, if they prove they need to be out there, they’ll be out there.’’

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Experience could trump youth.

New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is right to say there’s a possibility Baron Davis could eventually replace Jeremy Lin in the starting line-up.

Sure, Lin sparked a turnaround that likely saved D‘Antoni‘s job. Sure, Lin is a media darling. And sure, fans love Lin, the NBA’s Cinderella.

The NBA is a results-orientated business, though. And D’Antoni’s only loyalty is to the player or players who provide the Knicks with the best chance at winning.

Davis, a former All-Star who struggled with conditioning and injuries, is wonderfully talented, but will still struggle if given extended minutes.

The best case scenario: a two-headed point guard monster with Lin and Davis splitting time.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Knicks fell to the Mavericks, 95-85, last night to go 2-4 since Anthony returned to a new structure created by Jeremy Lin, whose emergence stoked a 7-0 spurt with Anthony missing most of those games with a groin injury. “I think any time you go from the early part of the season and having the ball and distributing and now waiting for it to come to me, it’s quite an adjustment for myself,’’ said Anthony, a minus-18 and 0-for-3 from 3-point range.

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“It’s everybody’s ball club,” Woodson said after practice Thursday, when he was asked if the Knicks were once again Anthony’s team, as they were before Jeremy Lin briefly took over. “I want everybody to feel comfortable. When I put a guy in the game, if he’s got a shot, I want him to feel comfortable about making that shot.”But then he spoke more bluntly, saying that he wanted everybody to know that when “I’ve got to get a big shot, I’m going to go to Melo and Amar’e and guys that have done it,” a reference to Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.“A lot of these guys are young,” Woodson said in reference to their teammates. “They’re still trying to figure it out.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: ‘Linsanity’ was fun while it lasted, right?

Two days ago, Mike Woodson was named interim coach of the New York Knicks after Mike D’Antoni resigned. And he’s made two major decisions since taking over the bench at Madison Square Gardens.

First, Jeremy Lin’s role will decrease. And second, Carmelo Anthony’s role will increase.

Bottom line: Woodson gets who his meal ticket is.

After all, D’Antoni left, in large part, because he challenged Anthony’s authority, even attempting to trade him to the New Jersey Nets for Deron Williams.

Woodson won’t make the same mistake. He’ll turn the team over to Anthony, running iso’ after iso’ for the small forward.

This, of course, was the plan one year ago when owner James Dolan forced GM Donnie Walsh to break up an emerging team and acquire Anthony from Denver

And Lin, who a month ago was the buzz of the sports world, will watch these changes while, in all likely-hood, on the bench.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

But that’s not what I’m talking about, I am talking about next season — Lin could leave the Knicks. He could. But he won’t. The Knicks will overpay to keep him. However, Lin will have some options (we like to call that leverage) and those will put more money in his pocket. And every dollar he gets will make it harder for the Knicks to make upgrades this offseason.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Jeremy Lin is finished for the year with a knee injury. Is his career finished with the New York Knicks?

Well, not exactly.

According to cap experts, the most an NBA team can offer Lin is $5 million. The Knicks, who have cap issues, can keep the Taiwanese table-setter but only by tendering him their full Mid Level Exception.

Of course, Lin probably isn’t a $5 million per annum player. At least his play on-court isn’t worth $5 million bucks.

It's very different off-court -as Lin sells memorabilia and, because of his background and Cinderella story, puts MSG’s favourite team in the global spotlight.

This is too much for any club to pass up. The Knicks have to sign Lin; however, giving him the full Mid Level Exception would make it virtually impossible to ink, say, Steve Nash.

Nash is also a free agent this July. He has a home in New York. And the future member of the Hall of Fame would be able to keep both Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire happy with regular touches.

So keeping Lin could prove costly.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

On the chances of him staying in Phoenix: "Honestly, I have no clue. I couldn’t predict. I don’t know what the future holds at this point. And I’m actually OK with that. I think now’s the time to maybe get some distance from it and try to find a clear perspective on where I am. Until I do that, I couldn’t put a number on it or take a guess on what the chances are on whether I’ll be back or not."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This is the end of the line for Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns.

Although fit and productive, Nash is in his late thirties and the window to win a championship is quickly closing. In fact, that window is shut if he re-ups with the Suns -as Robert Sarver’s club is starting to rebuild.

So expect the two-time MVP and first ballot Hall of Fame table-setter to head elsewhere for the Mid Level Exception in July when he hits free agency.

A few possibilities:

• The Miami Heat could use a veteran point guard; however, Nash would, at times, have to play off the ball if he wanted to successfully partner with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
• Mike D’Antoni, the architect of Seven Seconds or Less, is gone, but the New York Knicks could use help even if Jeremy Lin makes a full recovery and re-signs in 2013.
• The Raptors need some sort of shtick to sell tickets and keep fans interested. Nash, a patriotic Canadian, could be open to heading north of the border despite Toronto being thousands of miles from his home of Victoria, British Columbia.

There’s an argument that Nash will re-sign with the Suns because his three children live with his ex-wife in Phoenix, Arizona. Of course, family matters. But Nash is, and always has been, highly competitive. His drive took him from being an unheralded Canadian prospect to one of the faces of the NBA.

And his drive will force him to leave Phoenix and most likely sign with a competitive squad next season.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Jeremy Lin going to the Houston Rockets.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: What's Linsanity in Texas sound like ya'll?

Jeremy Lin looks to be the next starting PG for the Houston Rockets.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: The Rockets have much more to gain; the Knicks can only lose.

Smith tells a group of kids he's going to kick Jeremy Lin's ass.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: J.R. repping everything we love to hate, mostly just him being a douche. 

For the first time since the Knicks traded him to the Rockets this past summer, Jeremy Lin will be stepping on the court in New York City's Madison Square Garden.
 
Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Tonight's game could possibly be one of the most significant games of Jeremy Lin's career.