Knee didn't K.O. Linsanity, it was D-Will: Avery

Knee didn't K.O. Linsanity, it was D-Will: Avery

Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News

Deron Williams blocks Jeremy Lin on his way to 38 points at Madison Square Garden last month.

Avery Johnson has found the killer of Linsanity. And it wasnt knee surgery or Carmelo Anthony or Mike Woodson.

According to Johnson, a dominant performance from Deron Williams halted the craze that swept the nation.

I think early in the year (Jeremy) Lin kind of comes out a nd catches fire and then you have the Linsanity stuff and everybodys going crazy, Johnson said. Then Deron put the kibosh on that in the Garden.

I cant say it any better or differently than that.

Johnson was referring to the Nets 100-92 victory over the Knicks on Feb. 20, when Williams torched Lin for 38 points on eight 3-pointers. Linsanity had started against Williams 16 days prior when Lin came off the bench to finish with 25 points and seven assists just before the Knicks were going to release him.

Williams took it personally because of the backlash from fans on Twitter, and carved up Lin in the rematch.

Neither, however, will play in Wednesdays rubber match at the Prudential Center.

Williams will miss his second straight game with a sore right calf, an injury that wouldnt preclude him from playing if the Nets had anything to play for. Lin, meanwhile, has been shelved after knee surgery. The Nets Gerald Wal lace (strained hamstring) is questionable for the first time in five games.

With just eight days left in their final season in New Jersey, the Nets (22-40) are searching for small victories, Johnson said. The coach felt his team notched one by hanging with Miami in Mondays 101-98 loss, despite its collapse to Le-Bron James who scored Miamis 17 final points and 11 unanswered in the final five minutes.

We didnt win, but Miami has looked like an NBA team against us and weve looked like a high school team, Johnson said. (Monday night) was the first time since Ive been here where we actually looked like an NBA team. We didnt win the game, but thats a small victory for us.

Winning the three-game season series against the Knicks would be another one, Johnson said.

PHOTO OP
The Nets invited the media to a photo shoot commemorating the teams final season in New Jersey. However, the teams three best players Wil liams, Wallace and Brook Lopez declined to speak after the photo session.

In their final game in New Jersey against the Sixers on Monday, the Nets are planning to bring back the following former players and coaches for a ceremony: Kenny Anderson, Otis Birdsong, Darwin Cook, Derrick Coleman, Kendall Gill, Albert King, Kerry Kittles, Chris Morris and Mike OKoren.

Jason Kidd (point guard for the Mavs) and Buck Williams (assistant coach for the Blazers) have job commitments.