Linsanity strikes even the Knicks’ practice facility
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J.R. Smith was apparently in with the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony was expected to continue to sit out.
One constant remained Friday morning at the Knicks’ practice facility: Linsanity.
The media crush was so great that as reporters stood in front of a door that point guard Jeremy Lin was expected to enter, one reporter quipped: “Guys, you can block the door. He’s going to descend down from heaven.”
Lin eventually entered through the door like other worldly creatures and addressed a variety of topics, including his relationship with Yao Ming and his addition to the Rising Stars Challenge involving rookies and second-year players as part of the All-Star Game festivities later this month in Orlando, Fla.
‘I thought the rosters came out a while ago, but people started telling me I made it yesterday,’ Lin said. ‘They must have done something to get an extra guy in there.’
Lin said he didn’t think participating in the game would be overly taxing, noting that he would ‘probably stand around half-court and throw a couple of alley-oop passes.’
As far as his relationship with Yao, the Chinese sensation who retired last year, Lin said he participated in Yao’s charity game after Lin signed with Golden State in 2010 and the pair have remained in touch ever since, texting and calling each other. ‘Obviously, he’s been through what I’m going through times 100,’ Lin said, ‘so I consider him someone who I can go to for advice.’
Lin apparently could have a new teammate soon after Smith tweeted ‘New York Knicks it is!’ earlier in the morning and Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni, while not directly confirming the acquisition, talked about the logjam he would face with Smith in the fold. Smith became a free agent after the Chinese team he had played for during the lockout ended its season.
D’Antoni said Anthony, who has missed the Knicks’ last five games with a strained right groin, would probably not play against the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. Anthony had experienced a little tightness during the Knicks’ day off Thursday, D’Antoni said, though he was expected to test it before the game against the Hornets to see how it felt.
‘We’ve waited this long,’ D’Antoni said. ‘We’ll wait until he’s 100%.’
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-- Ben Bolch in Greenburgh, N.Y.