The LeBron James-led Miami Heat orchestrated a funeral to the “Linsanity” craze. R.I.P.: February 23, 2012
Lake Show Life spent the majority of last season torching LeBron James for his lack of defense. Unfortunately for Jeremy Lin, James played for the Miami Heat, where defense was a high priority.
LeBron James was on a mission after the Heat suffered an embarrassing loss in the Finals the year before to the Dallas Mavericks. Long story short, LeBron James was focused and at the height of his powers.
While Linsanity was the craze over the NBA, LeBron James was still learning how to wear the black hat after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to go to South Beach.
On this night, LeBron James found the hat that fit him and BOY was it comfortable.
It was reported that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were arguing in the locker room on who would shut down Jeremy Lin. It bears a striking resemblance to what Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen did to Toni Kukoc during their Dream Team Olympics run back in 1992.
It was almost the same result.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel looks back to that fateful night.
"I’m not sure Feb. 23, 2012 was the end of Linsanity, but it certainly started a reverse clock that ticked down to Jeremy Lin’s signing this week in China. Of course, injury certainly had far more to do with it, but it almost was as if Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and the Heat set out to steal Lin’s soul amid the hype surrounding the then-Knicks guard. What that night showed was that an elite team was superior to an elite player. It was as if every shining moment of Jeremy Lin’s basketball career was inflated into a glorious balloon that burst that night on the floor of AmericanAirlines Arena."
Maybe Jeremy Lin’s meniscus tear had something to do with it, but LeBron and co. made it a point to send a message to the NBA world about the difference between a “Johnny Come Lately” and a dominant championship team.
In front of a nationally televised audience, Jeremy Lin was reduced from an NBA darling to an exposed player whose qualifications were questioned.
Jeremy Lin finished the game 1-11 with eight points and eight turnovers. Lin himself admitted that he had troubles just dribbling the ball up the court.
The night Linsanity died was the night LeBron James reminded the basketball world that there were levels to the talents of NBA basketball.