NBA: Warriors finalizing deal with veteran Jeremy Lin -- report

The Golden State Warriors are finalizing a deal with veteran guard Jeremy Lin, The Athletic reported Friday.

The deal is pending a letter of clearance from the Chinese Basketball Association, per the report.

Lin, 32, began his NBA career with the Warriors in 2010-11 and played for seven other teams through 2018-19, when he won a championship as a reserve with the Toronto Raptors.

He played last season with the Beijing Ducks.

Undrafted out of Harvard in 2010, Lin has averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 480 career NBA games (221 starts). He is a 43.3 percent shooter from the field, 34.2 percent from 3-point range and 80.9 percent at the foul line.

The Undefeated reported that Lin will join the Warriors' G League team, the Santa Cruz Warriors.

-reuters-

Hornets break through while cooling off Heat

After dismal performances in two opening losses, the Charlotte Hornets knew they needed to regroup quickly in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Miami Heat.

The Hornets did precisely that on Saturday, and the result was a 96-80 Game 3 victory that puts them in position to even the best-of-seven series in Game 4 on Monday.

The Hornets went on an 18-0 run midway through the third quarter, holding the Heat scoreless for a span of 6:37, and then they went on to lead by as many as 24 in the fourth.

It was a complete reversal from the Heat's 106-80 win in Game 1 and a 115-103 win in Game 2, both in Miami.

"Our intensity, our defense, our communication was so much better," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. "So it's a good win and if we can come back and play better in some areas Monday night, it'll give us a chance to tie the series."

The Hornets clearly benefitted from a return home to Time Warner Cable Arena, where they went 30-11 during the regular season.

They were crisp offensively, committing only four turnovers, and they came through with a brilliant defensive effort in limiting the Heat to 34.2 percent shooting from the field.

"The thing tonight was, we were more intense, we were more disciplined, and our defense was a ton better," Clifford said. "I mean, we had two of our five worst deflection games all season in Miami and that all changed tonight. We played a lot harder. We played a lot smarter. We were a lot more organized."

Jeremy Lin led a balanced attack with 18 points, as six players scored in double figures. The Hornets also got 17 points from Kemba Walker, 15 points from Frank Kaminsky, 12 points from Cody Zeller, 12 points and 14 rebounds from Marvin Williams, and 10 points from Al Jefferson.

Kaminsky and Jefferson found themselves in the starting lineup as Clifford went with a starting combination that he had not used any time during the regular season.

The score was 53-53 midway through the third quarter when the Hornets went on their 18-0 run for a 71-53 lead. The 7-foot Kaminsky, often finding himself matched up against 6-4 Dwyane Wade, keyed the spurt with 13 third-quarter points. And the Heat missed nine straight shots during the run.

"It was 51-51 and it looked like it was going to be a possession game, and the next thing I looked up and it was 14 before the next time out," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

"You have to give them credit. They came out with great energy during that spurt. I think all three games have had a big burst of energy and momentum when one side has been able to separate. That's what happened tonight.

"They played with great energy particularly during that stretch."

Kaminsky said, "I was just playing for pride. They came at me to start the game, I didn't do well on defense and I started hanging my head.

"At halftime I was like, 'Well, it can't get any worse than this so you might as well go out there and play your game and see what happens.' I was just able to get some buckets and it went well."

The Heat had actually hit 10 of their first 15 shots and finished 27-of-79, so they were 17-of-64 in the final 40 minutes. The Heat's bench combined to go 3-of-17 from the field.

"(Miami president) Pat Riley gets the credit for saying it, it's a make or miss league," Clifford said. "The nights when you make, you look good. The nights when you miss, it looks bad.

"I'm sure they feel like they missed some open shots. The difference for us defensively was our attention to detail. We did the little things right tonight."

Luol Deng led the Heat with 19 points. Wade scored 17, Hassan Whiteside had 13 points and 18 rebounds, and Goran Dragic scored 11.

"This is a series, best of seven," Deng said. "We knew at some point they'd have a good game. They're competitive and they play hard and it's not by accident that they had a good season.

"It wasn't going to be one of those where you keep them quiet the whole series. They're good players and they responded."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

NBA star Jeremy Lin says 'surprised' by Chinese fans support

Jeremy Lin, the NBA's first Chinese-American player, said Sunday he was "surprised" by Chinese fans support as he and his team Charlotte Hornets beat Los Angeles Clippers in a preseason game in Shenzhen.

The 27-year-old, whose ancestry is from Taiwan and China, in July signed with Hornets in a free agent deal worth $4.3 million over two years.

He had previously spent two NBA seasons with Houston after leaving the Knicks and last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Playing an NBA game in China for the first time, he said he felt "thankful" for Chinese fan support after his side won the match 106-94.

"I feel thankful and blessed...It's the first time for me to play professional basketball in China," he told reporters in Putonghua at a press conference following the sold-out game attended by 17,400 at the Shenzhen Universiade Centre.

"I am surprised that fans treated me so well...no matter in the hotel or when I was walking around, they'd bring up posters and the jerseys," he said.


In 28 minutes of play, he scored 16 points.

Lin inspired "Linsanity" in 2012 when he came off the bench to spark a win streak by the injury-riddled New York Knicks.

It is also the first time an NBA game was played in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong.

Fans, who cheered and shouted his Chinese name "Lin Shuhao" throughout the match, said they were "thrilled" by the atmosphere and have been paying more attention to the Hornets because of Lin.

"The match was terrific. Jeremy Lin was terrific, he repeatedly hit three-pointers. I came here to watch him. He'd made me watch Hornets games more." Tu Chingbuo, a 26-year-old spectator who lives in Shenzhen, told AFP.

"I like Jeremy Lin because he is Chinese. It doesn't matter who wins when it's a good match," 35-year-old Zhang Danfeng , also from Shenzhen, told AFP.

Clippers's all-star Blake Griffin scored 13 points and JJ Redick snapped up 23 points. Guards Chris Paul and Austin Rivers pulled out due to injuries.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lin says he will join Hornets

CHARLOTTE -- Jeremy Lin has agreed to a contract with the Charlotte Hornets, the free agent point guard announced on his Facebook page Wednesday night.

Lin spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 assists per game.

"Going into my first true free agency as an NBA player this offseason, the one thing that mattered to me the most was finding a team that would be a good fit for me," Lin wrote on Facebook.

"I wanted to be on a team where I would be able to play freely and truly play the game I love with joy again.

"That has always been the most important thing to me. After a LOT of prayer and long discussions with family and friends, I wanted to personally let you guys know I'll be joining the Charlotte Hornets."

Free agents are allowed to sign contracts after midnight Thursday when the NBA lifts its moratorium.

In five NBA seasons with Golden State, the New York Knicks, the Houston Rockets and the Lakers, Lin has career averages of 11.7 points and 4.8 assists per game.

He appeared in 74 games with the Lakers last season but played just 1,907 minutes, his lowest total since he played 34 games and 940 minutes with the Knicks in the 2011-12 season.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Linsanity' meets 'Kid Kulafu' at Wild Card Gym

LOS ANGELES – Manny Pacquiao received a visit from fellow Christian athlete Jeremy Lin of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Pacquiao, coming off 12 rounds of sparring, had only words of praise for Lin, who was similarly complimentary of the "Pacman."

"I can relate in some ways, just being a Christian athlete, being an Asian athlete or just being in the spotlight," said Lin.

The two spoke about their Christian faith and life as two of L.A.'s most high-profile athletes, and even discussed another recent visitor – Tim Tebow, another athlete who is vocal about his faith.

"Tim Tebow is a strong guy," said Pacquiao.

"I'm not that close to him, but when I was in New York, I talked to him for a little bit," said Lin.

Of course, they also talked about basketball.

"It's cool to cross over to different sports and expand the game, whether it's coaching, playing or being in management and what he's done," said Lin.

"I've been able to follow and see that it's really cool, great for the country, great for the sport," he added.

While Los Angeles is a sports hubbub, it is also an entertainment capital, and Pacquiao was thrilled with the recent Philippine premiere of "Kid Kulafu," the Paul Soriano-helmed biopic about the boxer's early life.

"Maraming salamat sa lahat ng sumuporta at nanood ng 'Kid Kulafu.' 'Yan po ang story ni Manny Pacquiao before boxing, ang pangalan ko. Ako po si Kid Kulafu," said the "Pacman."

There's also been some Hollywood buzz that Pacquiao could appear in the next "Expendables" sequel.

On Monday, one of the stars of "Expendables 3," UFC champion Ronda Rousey, paid the boxer a visit.

"It would be amazing if he was on there. He'd probably beat every one up on there though. There would be no story, because Manny is just the end card," she said.

However, Pacquiao would rather leave the violence in the ring rather than portray it on screen.

"Depende, depende. Gusto ko naman ng Christian movies," he said.

The speculation could be traced back to Pacquiao's fight against Chris Algieri last year, when "Expandables 2" leading men Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone visited him in his locker room.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LA Lakers notch first win of season

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin scored 21 points apiece on Sunday as the Los Angeles Lakers nabbed their first win of the NBA season, a 107-92 decision over Charlotte.

The Lakers, whose 0-5 start was the worst since the club moved to Los Angeles, hadn't lost six straight to open a season since the 1957-58 Lakers -- then based in Minneapolis -- lost their first seven.

While the current Lakers have avoided a repeat of that dismal start -- or worse -- Bryant and Lin both said they have a lot of work to do if they want to win consistently.

"The one thing about today is we were talking, we were engaged, we were moving, we were trying to make it difficult (for Charlotte)," Lin said of the Lakers' improved defensive performance.

"We were just trying to make them take some tough jump shots."

Offensively, Lin said, he and Bryant are still adjusting to each other.

"It's just a process," said Lin, who was traded to the Lakers by the Houston Rockets in July. "He's got to learn to continue to trust me and I have to learn to trust him and what that looks like in terms of when to give the ball to the other person.

"It's not like we're both coming in inherently trying to be selfish. We both want it to work, we just have to figure out how and today was a step in the right direction."

Carlos Boozer finished with 16 points and Jordan Hill added 12 with a career-high seven assists for the Lakers.

Al Jefferson paced the Hornets with 23 points, while Kemba Walker added 17 and Marvin Williams chipped in 11.

The Lakers trailed throughout the first half, but out-scored the Hornets 34-13 in the third quarter to seize control.

Boozer scored eight points during a 16-1 scoring run, with his last basket giving the Lakers their first lead of the night.

Lin and Bryant then both hit three-pointers as the Lakers built a 67-59 lead.

Ed Davis' layup with 2.4 seconds left in the third helped Los Angeles take a 76-64 advantage entering the fourth, and the Hornets never got the deficit below eight in the final period.

Bryant, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, wasn't ready to call the victory a turning point, even if it was a positive sign.

"You've got to start somewhere," he said, but noted that the Lakers face a tough stretch of games against Memphis, New Orleans and San Antonio in the coming week.

"The task just gets harder and harder," Bryant said, and was echoed by Lin.

"We've got to play harder every night," Lin said. "If we play harder every night, we have a chance."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lakers lose again despite Kobe's 39 points

Gerald Green came off the bench to score 26 points, and Markieff Morris added 23 points and 10 rebounds as Phoenix beat Los Angeles.

The Lakers, who are 0-5, are off to their worst start since the club moved to Los Angeles for the 1960-61 season.

Phoenix reserve Isaiah Thomas had 22 points and nine assists.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 39 points with nine rebounds. Point guard Jeremy Lin finished with 18 points, while center Jordan Hill had 15 points and 15 rebounds.

- - -

Trail Blazers 101, Cavaliers 82

Withstanding a white-hot Cleveland start, the Portland rolled to a victory.

Guard Damian Lillard produced a game-high 27 points plus seven assists and six rebounds to lead the Trail Blazers.

Portland also got 21 points and six rebounds from guard Wesley Matthews. Center Robin Lopez added 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting to go with six rebounds.

Forward Kevin Love collected 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

- - -

Pelicans 100, Hornets 91

Forward Anthony Davis scored 12 of his game-high 24 points in the third quarter, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead New Orleans past Charlotte.

After entering the game tied for last in the NBA in field-goal percentage at 39.1 percent, the Pelicans had their best-shooting game of the early season, converting 38 of 81 from the floor for 46.9 pct.

Davis made four mid-range jumpers to go along with a one-handed, alley-oop dunk in a 26-17 third quarter, as the Pelicans turned a 48-47 halftime deficit into a 73-65 lead.

- - -

Wizards 98, Knicks 83

Forward Paul Pierce scored 17 points as Washington rode a dominating third quarter to a victory over New York.

Shooting guard Garrett Temple continued to provide a spark for the Wizards in place of injured Bradley Beal by adding 17 points. Backup forward Kevin Seraphin chipped in 15, while reserve guard Andre Miller added 12.

Guard Iman Shumpert led the Knicks with 19 points. Forward Carmelo Anthony added 18 points, but was 8-of-23 from the floor and committed seven turnovers.

- - -

Bucks 87, Pacers 81

Milwaukee ended their 16-game road losing streak with a win over Indiana.

Point guard Brandon Knight's 20-foot jumper with 22.3 seconds remaining extended the Bucks' lead to five points.

Knight finished with a game-best 23 points, and added seven rebounds. Forward Chris Copeland led Indiana with 19 points, 18 during the final half.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeremy Lin lands endorsement deal with adidas

MANILA, Philippines – Houston Rockets star Jeremy Lin has landed an endorsement deal with adidas, joining the apparel company’s basketball roster that includes seven-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard and Chicago Bull’s superstar Derrick Rose.

On Monday (Tuesday, Manila time), adidas announced its partnership with Lin, who first turned heads while playing for the New York Knicks.

“I’m really excited to join the adidas family,” Lin said in a statement. “They’ve changed the game with new technology and style and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Unheralded as a high school player, undrafted from Harvard University and cut twice from NBA rosters, Lin made global headlines when he led the New York Knicks to an improbable seven game winning streak in 2012.

Dubbed “Linsanity,” his rise to stardom was fueled by elite playmaking ability and clutch shooting as he became the only NBA player in modern history to tally 20 points and seven assists in his first five starts.

“Jeremy’s relentless drive, passion for the game and background of leading winning teams throughout his career makes him a perfect fit for the adidas brand,” said Chris Grancio, adidas head of global basketball sports marketing.

The first Asian-American player in the NBA, Lin joined the Houston Rockets in 2012 and has helped them become one of the Western Conference’s top teams while averaging over 14 points, four assists and two rebounds per game this season.

Lin will be featured in a variety of upcoming adidas marketing initiatives and will play a role in the development of basketball footwear and apparel.

Other adidas athletes include WNBA MVP Candace Parker, FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi FC Barcelona and six-time tennis Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rockets hang on for win over Knicks

NEW YORK CITY - The Houston Rockets withstood a 45-point barrage from Carmelo Anthony on Thursday, holding on for a 109-106 NBA victory over the New York Knicks.

Houston's James Harden scored 36 points in his return from injury, and Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin enjoyed another triumph at Madison Square Garden.

Houston's triumph came despite Anthony's outstanding performance. His 45 points were the most scored by one player in a game this season and he also brought down 10 rebounds.

It wasn't enough to prevent the Knicks from suffering a fourth straight home defeat.

Chandler Parsons added 22 points and Lin had 21 for the Rockets, making up for the subdued seven points and 15 rebounds from Rockets big man Dwight Howard.

Anthony had two chances to tie the game in the final minute.

He missed one three-pointer, and on his second opportunity he was fouled by Harden and though the ball went in referee Scott Foster ruled the foul came before Anthony got the shot off and it didn't count.

"The initial contact is way before what probably everybody else thinks," said Foster, whose call was greeted by boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd. "It's a push, a slap and then another slap, but we've already called the foul on the initial contact. Now he turns and throws it up. It's not able to be scored that way."

J.R. Smith's last gasp heave from midcourt bounced off the backboard as time expired.

It was a welcome win for the Rockets, who had dropped three of their previous four.

Lin added five rebounds and three assists in the arena where his exploits as a Knicks reserve-turned-star sparked "Linsanity" in the 2011-2012 season.

"I was just having fun out there," Lin said. "You know, I miss playing at the Garden."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Houston wins 1st NBA pre-season game in PH

For the first time, Filipino fans were given a taste of NBA action as they saw the Houston Rockets rout the Indiana Pacers, 116-96, in the first preseason game to be held in the Philippines at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday.

A crowd of nearly 13,000 fans started oohing and aahing as the Rockets and the Pacers threw down several dunks before the game, but reserved the cheers - and some jeers - for the biggest stars of the team.

Jeremy Lin, the Taiwanese-American sensation who launched "Linsanity" with the New York Knicks in February 2012, drew the loudest cheers as he scored 14 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists. James Harden led all scorers with 21 points, and showcased his ability to draw fouls as he shot seven of 10 from the line for the game.

The Rockets raced off to a 12-0 start and led by as much as 15 points, 23-8, in the opening period, with Indiana unable to get their big men -- Roy Hibbert and David West -- established early.

"We wanted to get off to a good start defensively," said Rockets coach Kevin McHale after the game. "We had some defensive goals, and I thought the first unit did a good job of establishing us defensively. It really started on defense."

"Our defense was phenomenal in the first quarter," added Harden, who scored 10 points in the opening period. "Dwight (Howard) helped us out in contesting shots. We got stops, created turnovers, got easy points. It was a variety of things."

Houston built a 31-24 lead after the first quarter, but the Pacers got back in the game in the second, with Luis Scola providing a spark. His lay-up at the 7:46 mark of the period brought Indiana to within two points, 37-39.

It was the closest they would get, however, as Aaron Brooks converted a three-point play, and Donatas Motiejunas scored back-to-back baskets to put Houston in control again.

Houston led 61-55 at the half after shooting 58.3% from the field. Indiana, meanwhile, struggled with 12 turnovers, something that plagued them even in the previous season.

In the third period, Indiana established West in the block against Terrence Jones, and the All-Star responded as he scored eight points in the period. But his baskets were quickly answered by the Rockets, especially Harden and Chandler Parsons, as they dissected the Indiana defense en route to shots at the rim.

"I just wanted to get good shots on the offensive end," Harden said. "Find Dwight if he's open, feed him the ball in the post, make easy passes. Chandler, Patrick (Beverley) and even Terrence made some passes to create opportunities for us."

Buckets from Orland Johnson early in the fourth quarter allowed the Pacers to claw their way back in the game, but Omri Casspi found his stroke from beyond the arc and Motiejunas provided inside points as the Rockets went on to lead by as much as 25 in the final frame.

"Tough loss. It's early in the preseason, and our guys struggled a little bit with our transition defense," said Indiana head coach Frank Vogel after the game.

"We did some good things offensively, moved the ball pretty well, but it just wasn't enough," he added.

The Filipino crowd, who had given both NBA teams a warm welcome this week, cheered loudly for Harden, Lin and Parsons, who has been linked to Kapamilya star KC Concepcion. They also cheered for Indiana's Paul George, an All-Star who made a name for himself during the Pacers' exciting seven-game series against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

But they had mixed reactions to Howard, cheering when he was called for offensive fouls and booing him when he shot free throws.

The Filipino fans were at their loudest during breaks in the action, when the Indiana Pacemates danced and the teams' mascots, Boomer of Indiana and Clutch of Houston, threw t-shirts to the crowd.

"We are delighted to be here," NBA Commissioner David Stern told the crowd before the game. "We thank you for your hospitality, and we look forward to coming back."

The scores:

HOUSTON 116 - Harden 21, Casspi 17, Motiejunas 16, Parsons 15, Lin 14, Beverley 12, Howard 9, Jones 5, Brooks 5, Brewer 2, Canaan 0, Covington 0.

INDIANA 96 - George 17, West 14, Johnson 11, Hill 10, Scola 10, Granger 9, Watson 9,  Hibbert 6, Stephenson 4, Armstrong 4, Copeland 2, Mahinmi 0, Sloan 0, Butler 0.

Quarter-scores: 31-24, 61-55, 79-67, 116-96

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dwight Howard, Jeremy Lin arrive in Manila

MANILA - The NBA team Houston Rockets arrived in Manila Monday on board a chartered Boeing 747 plane of Atlas Air.

Led by coach Kevin McHale, they disembarked at around 10 am Monday at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

The team is scheduled to play against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.

Houston Rockets star players Jeremy Lin, Dwight Howard and James Harden got the most attention from the fans upon their arrival at the tarmac area of NAIA.

From the airport, the team went directly to Sofitel Philippine Plaza for their four-day stay in Manila.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs' lead trio ground Rockets in win

San Antonio's Big Three delivered a vintage performance to lift the Spurs to a 122-116 victory over Houston on Friday.

Tony Parker had 31 points and 10 assists, Tim Duncan scored 30 points while Manu Ginobili added 23 off the bench in an outburst that was reminiscent of performances when the Spurs won four titles from 1999-2007.

San Antonio snatched a 41-29 lead after the first quarter then had to hold off Houston as the Rockets' James Harden (33 points) and Jeremy Lin (21) helped them pull close in the second and third quarters before losing ground in the final period as their five-game win streak was snapped.

San Antonio (23-8) led just 101-97 early in the fourth before going on an 11-0 run.

Houston shot 52 percent from the field but were outdone by the deadly accurate Spurs who made 57 percent of their shots and knocked down 12 three-pointers.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Harden, Lin power Rockets to win in opener

DETROIT, Michigan - Asian American star Jeremy Lin was a winner in his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets, but it was fellow newcomer James Harden who lifted the squad in a 105-96 triumph on Wednesday at Detroit.

The Rockets obtained Harden Saturday in a deal with Oklahoma City and signed a five-year contract extension worth a reported $80 million with Houston only hours before he took the court with his new teammates.

Joining Lin in the Rockets backcourt, Harden scored 37 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the field and passed out 12 assists while grabbing six rebounds.

Lin, who sparked "Linsanity" last season with the New York Knicks in a last-chance longshot star turn off the bench, signed a free agent deal with the Rockets that New York failed to match to find his way to the former club of retired Chinese star center Yao Ming.

In his regular-season debut with the Rockets, Lin scored 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting while passing out eight assists and pulling down four rebounds.

Carlos Delfino came off the bench to add 15 points for the Rockets, who trailed 58-55 at half-time and 81-72 entering the fourth quarter before Houston outscoring the Pistons 33-15.

Brandon Knight led Detroit with 15 points while Greg Monroe added 14.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao To Meet Lin In New York

MANILA, Philippines — Plans are afoot for Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Taiwanese-American Jeremy Lin to meet up on Wednesday in New York, a day before the Filipino’s scheduled press conference there and the New York Knicks guard’s match with the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.

Pacquiao is now in the US to fulfill a myriad of commitments from having his deposition taken in relation with the defamation suit against Floyd Mayweather Jr., an endorsement gig with Nike, and holding press conferences in Los Angeles (Beverly Hills Hotel, Feb. 21) and New York (Chelsea Piers, Feb. 23) to promote his June 9 fight with Tim Bradley in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum, is moving heaven and earth for the meeting to take place in the light of the meteoric rise of the 23-year-old Lin, who has taken the NBA by storm by virtue of monster numbers in the Knicks’ last seven games.

Arum, a native son of Brooklyn, New York, is at the forefront of leading Pacquiao to greater heights even though Pacquiao’s ring exploits have actually made him an immortal sports hero.

Rubbing elbows with NBA stars has become a practice for Pacquiao, who has met with the likes of Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce and Hollywood stars through the years in the US and the Philippines.

Pacquiao is a hoops junkie and owns a team, the MP Gensan Warriors, which he regularly trains with during his free time.

Lin, like Pacquiao, was passed over when he was trying to make a name for himself in the US.

Lin was released by two NBA teams before finding a home in the Big Apple, while US promoters hardly took a second look at an obscure Asian puncher when he went to the US in 2001.

But after a smashing debut underneath an Oscar De La Hoya-headliner in June, 2001, the US fight scene went gaga over Pacquiao.

Meanwhile, Top Rank said tickets to the Pacquiao-Bradley world welterweight title match at the MGM Grand will become available to the public starting Feb. 24.

The premium ringside seat costs $1,200, while others are priced at $900, $600, $400, and $200.

Meanwhile, the leadership in the House of Representatives is still impressed with Pacquiao despite official records revealing that the Sarangani lawmaker has only attended 38 of the total number of 59 plenary sessions held last year.

“That’s a good record considering his absences were for his fights, which projected the country positively,” said House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. (With a report from Rio Rose Ribaya)

source: mb.com.ph

Knicks legend: Melo can fit it with Lin

Earl “The Pearl” Monroe feels the New York Knicks finally have the floor leader they needed in Jeremy Lin, and from his unique perspective predicts high-scoring Carmelo Anthony will have no trouble fitting in when he returns from injury.

Monroe, a Hall of Famer and member of the Knicks’ last NBA championship team of 1973, is delighted by the emergence of the Taiwanese-American point guard and sees golden times ahead.

“He’s scored a lot of points, has a lot of assists, but more so than anything else, he’s given the team a real leader,” Monroe, 67, said before New York beat Sacramento on Wednesday for their seventh consecutive win since Lin took charge.

“That’s the real thing that they had been lacking so far in this season.”

Lin rocked the NBA world with a sensational run that was made possible because of a rash of injuries, including the groin strain that has sidelined five-times All-Star Anthony.

After being cut by two teams this season and languishing on New York’s bench, Lin seized his opportunity with a stunning string of games that made him the league’s most prolific scorer in 35 years through his first five starts – eclipsing former NBA MVPs Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan.

“I’m kind of amazed, happily amazed, to see a guy, really an underdog, come out and show that he can play,” said Monroe, who is promoting a campaign to add diabetes-friendly menu items in U.S. restaurants. “There’s no real miracles in this game, but this is one that’s close.”

The winning streak lifted the Knicks to 15-15, but some experts wonder whether the new team chemistry will change with the imminent return of Anthony, who tends to hold the ball and put points up with his one-on-one prowess.

Scoring wizardry

Monroe, who joined a well-established Knicks team in 1971 after dazzling the NBA with his scoring wizardry with the Baltimore Bullets, was not concerned.

“Carmelo can go get his stats,” Monroe said. “He can put the ball on the floor, he can go to the basket or pull up and shoot a jump shot. I don’t think it’s going to be that big of an adjustment. The big thing is how the shots are distributed.

“Having one guy controlling the ball and getting it to guys in the places where they can do things with it, I think it minimizes all those kind of things.”

Monroe said taking in the ‘Linsanity’ from the bench would help Anthony blend into the new-look attack.

“The good thing is that he’s been on the sidelines watching this. As a good ball player, he knows what he needs to do. He knows that it’s a winning formula out there,” said Monroe.

“You don’t want to rock the boat but you know what your talents are and his talents are being able to finish. He’ll be able to finish games for you and for certain times can put you on his back. In the meantime, just let things roll. As the game goes, you’ll be able to get yours.”

Monroe said it was a little different for him working into a Knicks group that had won an NBA ring three seasons earlier.

“You’re used to taking over certain points of the game,” he said. “When I came to the Knicks I had to kind of curtail that and see where I fit in.

“I had to kind of pull back, and try and visualize the game,” he said, foreshadowing Anthony’s challenge, before adding, “It was a lot different in terms of the kind of team I came over to which already had four or five Hall of Fame players on it.”

source: interaksyon.com

Lin happy to smash stereotypes by living the NBA dream

NEW YORK - New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin is trying not to get caught up in the buzz generated by his explosion onto the NBA scene but the Taiwanese-American point guard is glad to be helping break down stereotypes.

The league's only Taiwanese-American player was neither recruited by a major college basketball power nor drafted by any NBA team and after playing only 29 games in the league last season, was cut by two clubs before being signed by the Knicks.

After using his pinpoint passing to extend the Knicks' winning streak to seven with a 100-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Lin said he was happy to show that Asian-Americans could thrive in the NBA as could players from elite academic institutions such as his alma mater Harvard.

"There are definitely stereotypes, obviously," Lin said about preconceived notions about Asian-Americans being able to compete at the NBA level.

"There's a lot of them. The more we can do to break those down by the day, the better we'll become. Hopefully in the near future we'll see a lot more Asians and Asian-Americans playing basketball in the NBA."

California-born Lin said he was looking forward to returning to the homeland of his parents after the NBA season to host a basketball camp.

"I did that last summer as well," the soft-spoken 23-year-old said. "I have a strong passion for the game and I have a strong passion for Taiwan. I would love to do that.

"The kids were awesome. It was one of the highlights of my summer, so it's something I definitely want to do again."

Lin, who was not recruited by any U.S. college basketball powers, went to Harvard and earned a degree in economics.

Elite snub

Despite shining on the Ivy League stage, he was not drafted by any NBA teams. After playing less than 10 minutes per contest in 29 games last season for the Golden State Warriors, he was cut by two clubs this season before being signed by the Knicks.

He said he would also like to dispel the notion that players from elite academic universities could not compete at the highest level.

"That's another stereotype," Lin added. "Ivy League basketball is definitely on the rise. Harvard basketball is on the rise."

Lin said he was trying hard to stay focused and not get caught up in the excitement generated by his dazzling results since getting a chance to play.

"I want to be the same person, before and after. I don't want to let anything affect me or this team. Playing in New York is a big stage. That's obviously a temptation and the danger.

"We need to make sure we're sticking together. We put our egos aside, and when we put our egos aside and really buy into coach (Mike) D'Antoni's system we're going to win games."

Lin said the most surprising thing to him had been the way the Knicks (15-15) had bonded as a team.

"We were losing games and could have started pointing fingers," he said about losing nine of 10 before this winning streak.

"It's unbelievable right now. The camaraderie on this team is just ridiculous. It's just a joy to be around them every day. You show up to the practice facility and it's all smiles across the board. That's the beauty of team sports and that's the beauty of basketball."

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Chris Tiu recalls encounter with Jeremy Lin

MANILA, Philippines – About two or three years ago, athlete-TV host Chris Tiu had the opportunity to play in a pick-up game against Jeremy Lin, the NBA’s latest breakout star.

“We were in Las Vegas with Smart-Gilas [the Philippines’ national men’s basketball team]. We were training in a camp there and at the same time, at the same venue, nandu’n din sila nagpa-practice...

“I think at the time, they were about to join the NBA draft. So they were preparing for the NBA draft, ‘yung mga prospective rookies nagte-training din do’n,” Tiu related in a taped interview aired on “24 Oras” on Feb. 15.

He admitted that he wasn’t able to see “anything super spectacular” from Lin then, but added that his injury may have had affected his performance.

Lin is the first American of Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA. Previously “overlooked” and "undervalued," he had been making waves in the professional US basketball league scene over the last few weeks for guiding the New York Knicks to their now seven-game winning streak. Lin joined the team on December last year and made his winning first game only on Feb. 4 against the New Jersey Nets.

Tiu expresses his admiration for the Harvard-educated player.

“Jeremy, of course he can score. But ‘yung talagang kakaiba sa kanya is his ability to create [opportunities] for his team mates. Ang galing niya pumasa, fast break, or ‘pag dum-rive siya.

“Oo magaling siya mag-assist, and para sa ‘kin ‘yun talaga ‘yung hinahanap ko sa mga players,” Tiu shared.

He added, “’Yung kanyang faith in God, I think it’s something that… I mean, that was one of the main reasons why he was able to succeed despite everything he went through.”

source: mb.com.ph

At The Buzzer, Lin Delivers

TORONTO — The clock was running down – on the game, on the Knicks and on Jeremy Lin’s mystical streak, which was teetering on the edge of disappointment. The seconds kept disappearing until Lin stopped his dribble, pulled up and launched from the 3-point arc.

The ball swished with a half-second remaining, setting off pandemonium at Air Canada Centre, which momentarily adopted the NBA.’s newest star as its own. The crowd had just witnessed another fantastic chapter in Lin’s growing legend.

The shot broke a tie and completed a furious comeback against the Toronto Raptors. And when Rasual Butler’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed badly, the Knicks had a 90-87 victory, and their Lin-inspired winning streak had reached six.

“You just watch and you’re in awe,” Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni said.

This was not Lin’s best night, to be sure. He forced a lot of shots, was 9 for 20 from the field, committed eight turnovers and struggled to contain Jose Calderon. But the night ended as so many have since Lin became the Knicks’ unlikely star – with giddy elation. Lin finished with 27 points (his sixth straight game with at least 20) and 11 assists.

Lin had tied the score moments earlier with a 3-point play, after driving into Amir Johnson in the lane. On the final play, he dribbled casually with Calderon in front of him before taking the shot.

On the bench, Amar’e Stoudemire could not stop smiling.

Stoudemire rejoined the Knicks after taking a week off following the death of his older brother. He was a bit erratic, going 8 for 22 from the field, but finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds.

The Knicks (14-15) have their longest winning streak since last March and April, when they won seven in a row.

The Raptors (9-21) rarely let Lin get to the basket without a bump, a bang or a bruise. He spent a considerable amount of time on his back. The Raptors also kept him occupied defensively, with Calderon (25 points) and Leandro Barbosa (13 points) repeatedly challenging him.

Lin and Stoudemire fueled a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 78-76. Other than a pair of missed free throws, Lin was superb, converting a tough driving layup and penetrating and dishing to Stoudemire for a powerful dunk. The Raptors responded quickly, with an 8-1 run that was capped by two driving Barbosa layups. But Lin kept attacking, and Tyson Chandler kept possession after possession alive with his rebounding.

source: mb.com.ph

NBA: Jeremy Lin, Russell Westbrook named Players of the Week

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced via press release Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) that a pair of point guards, New York Knick Jeremy Lin and Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook, have been named Players of the Week.

The award recognizes individual player brilliance through the week of February 6 to February 12 (February 7 to 13, PHL time).

Lin, named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, started at the point guard spot during his squad's four games and led them to a perfect slate, defeating the Utah Jazz, the Washington Wizards, the LA Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Over that span of games, he averaged 27.3 points, 8.3 assists and 2 steals, and scored a career-high 38 against the Lakers.

According to the release, his 109 points over the course of his first four starts are the most by any NBA player since the 1976-77 season.

Lin also became the first player in the NBA history to log a minimum of 20 points and seven assists through his first four stints as a starter.

Westbrook on the other hand, the Western Conference Player of the Week, helped the Thunder post a 3-1 record, while boasting of an average of 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals.

Westbrook, who signed an extension with the Thunder last January, scored 28 or more points in all four of the Thunder's games. He also converted a career-best 15 attempts from the field, albeit in a loss, against the Sacramento Kings.

Also up for the award were Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki, Golden State Warrior Monta Ellis, and the Miami Heat duo of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. - AMD, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com