Jeremy Lin missed his 28th game this season — and his own Bobblehead night.
When informed the Nets were giving away Bobbleheads in the likeness of his former guard, Houston coach Mike D’Antoni quipped: “With the hairdo? Can [they] change the hairdo any way they want?”
As the Knicks coach during Linsanity, D’Antoni looked back on that time fondly.
“It wasn’t kind of fun. It was really fun. As a coach, it was fun doing it. Was really proud of him and what he’s done; and it couldn’t happen to a better person. It goes deep. That’s why you coach, for moments like that and people like him,’’ said D’Antoni, adding that Lin’s injury has hamstrung the Nets.
“That’s your brains, and he’s the one who’s going to be the motor; and when he’s not out there, it makes it tough. The league is a lot about injuries. If you can stay injury-free and have a good team you have a chance: Only a chance. If you’re injured and you don’t have a good team, you have no chance.”
Which was D’Antoni’s defense of former protégée Kenny Atkinson, whose Nets fell to an NBA-worst 8-32. But he admits it’ll be hard to convince outsiders Atkinson is doing a solid job with what he has.
“That is, because you guys are paid to do y’all’s job, so that is hard,” D’Antoni said. “He’s a very good coach and hopefully he gets a chance. A lot of coaches are in that position where they just don’t have a chance. Just not yet. If you hang in there, he’s a good coach. Got to get lucky a little bit where guys got to stay healthy and he’ll get over the hump. It’s a tough business. But Kenny will do a good job wherever he goes.”
The Nets are participating in a day of service for Martin Luther King Day. Trevor Booker and Sean Kilpatrick will help build and paint benches and bookshelves for reading nooks from 2-3 p.m. at Brownsville Ascend Lower School. They’ll participate in activities with kids, like drawing King and other civil rights leaders, and talking about social justice.
Atkinson talked about the importance of MLK Day.
“It’s great,’’ said Atkinson, “We’ll address it with our team. We’ll talk about it. Historical American figure, and I know our guys talk about it and think about it, and we’ll talk about it as a team. It’s great that the NBA celebrates it. It’s a special day. I know it’s an American holiday, but the NBA really celebrates it with the great games on, and the fans. A special day in the NBA.”
Brook Lopez was rested for Sunday’s game.
Spencer Dinwiddie got another start, going scoreless but notching a season-high eight assists with just two turnovers. Randy Foye added a season-high 13 points in 17 minutes. The Nets had a season-high 29 assists.