GREENBURGH — The developing relationship between Jeremy Lin and Baron Davis appears to have reached a new level.
The two point guards played together for a stretch during practice Friday — and head coach Mike D’Antoni could opt to utilize them more often together in game situations going forward.
“It might happen in the game, we might have both of them in,” D’Antoni said. “So they’re just getting used to each other, playing with each other.”
This marks the latest turn in the soap opera that has been the Knicks’ point guard situation this year.
At first, Davis was supposed to be the Knicks savior at point guard after he healed up from a herniated disk in his back.
Then Linsanity emerged and Lin became the savior.
Then Davis came back from his back injury and began to shake the rust off.
In Wednesday’s 120-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lin and Davis combined for 23 points and 21 assists and Davis had his best game yet with four points and eight assists.
On Thursday, D’Antoni did not rule out the possibility that Davis could ultimately replace Lin as the starting point guard.
Now, he’s looking at ways to pair them together.
For Lin, it gives him an opportunity to play off the ball more.
“Actually, that’s how I played in college,” Lin said. “I’m comfortable doing it and at the same time I don’t have to have all the ball-handling responsibilities. Hopefully, maybe we’ll do something like that later on.”
Lin has been a fan of Davis since the latter led the Golden State Warriors to a first-round upset of the Dallas Mavericks in 2007.
“I just sound like a fan when I talk to him about that series,” Lin said. “I was a freshman [at Harvard] watching him do what a lifelong Warriors fan was hoping and waiting for. Things are different now. We’re no longer with the Warriors.”
No, now they’re with the Knicks and Davis says Lin has the ability to play off the ball at times.
“In this system he’s more so a combo guard,” Davis said. “Whoever has the ball is making plays and everybody else is spacing, waiting for our opportunities to make the secondary play.
“So you put Jeremy on the ball he’s going to make plays. You swing the ball to him with somebody running at him he’s even more dangerous…because the defense has already been broken down. When I’m out there you can see me handling a lot and then swinging it to him. Once the defense is broken down and scrambling he’ll be extremely effective.”
On top of his developing chemistry with Lin, Davis also has history with both J.R. Smith (with the New Orleans Hornets) and Steve Novak (Clippers).
That chemistry manifested itself Wednesday when Davis fed Smith for a one-handed alley-oop pass, and also helped Novak on his 17-point night.
“They know if they just move without the ball I’ll find them, I’m always looking to pass,” Davis said.
Davis added that “it would be fun” to share time in the backcourt with Lin, and that he’s impressed that Lin hasn’t changed despite all the Linsanity and the fact that he’s in contention for the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month award.
“He’s been the same person,” Davis said. “He respects the game. He has an appreciation for the game. He didn’t work this hard to get all these accolades to start looking for endorsements.
“He’s playing because he loves this game and wants to get better at this game and he pays his dues every day in practice. My hat goes off to him. for all the Linsanity and all the media hype that’s going on he’s pretty much remained the same person and stayed focus throughout the process and even gained confidence in the process.”
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