INDIANAPOLIS — The Jeremy Lin Show hit the Midwest again, and the Knicks guard turned Bankers Life Fieldhouse into the Indianapolis Speedway.
Linsanity is rising from the grave. With a couple of thousand Lin fans in the house, many wearing his jersey and all cheering his every move, Lin looked like he was playing for Mike D’Antoni again. He busted to the basket and finished in traffic, guiding the Knicks to a 102-88 win that moved interim coach Mike Woodson to 3-0.
Woodson hasn’t corralled him, though Lin admitted he has to pick his spots. He finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two turnovers.
“I’m learning to play in a less spread offense,’’ Lin said. “A lot of stuff is still the same. But there are times when I won’t have as many opportunities. I just need to be select about when to go. I think tonight was a big step.’’
The streets of Indy were filled with fans wearing every type of Lin shirt. And there were signs aplenty. Even the famous Pacers Sign Man chipped in with his own rendition: “Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 … Lin Dynasty, 2012-?”
“On the team bus I saw a lot of people wearing Melo, Stoudemire Knicks shirts,’’ Lin said and teammates Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.
What about Linsanity?
“Oh yeah, I saw some of those,’’ said Lin, whose jersey still is the best-seller on NBA.com.
He was roughed up by the Pacers all game, hitting his head once after a spill on a driving layup. He came up woozy, but scored again on the next possession. Paul George crushed him on another play and he flew out of bounds.
“I like it when they pound me because I go to the foul line,’’ Lin said.
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There still is hope for Baron Davis (hamstring) to play Tuesday against the Raptors, but his return is more likely to come Wednesday in Philadelphia.
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The Knicks had their full complement of coaches as new assistants Darrell Walker, a former Knicks first-round pick, and Jim Todd joined Woodson on the bench. Bill Smith, Woodson’s high school coach from nearby Broad Ripple, Ind., was hired as an advisor.
Todd has local college-basketball ties. He was on the staff at Marist when Rik Smits graced the Poughkeepsie campus. He also coached at Columbia and Manhattan College and lived in Harlem, right behind the Cotton Club.
Todd, who worked with Woodson in Atlanta and Milwaukee, was on the Kings staff through Friday’s win over Boston before officially signing his contract with the Knicks.
Donnie Walsh, who technically is a Knicks consultant, attended the game in his home state.