Heat will be a major test for Lin

Jeremy Lin has done the impossible so many times over, including making the Miami Heat a secondary story -- at best -- in the NBA.

The Heat has won seven in a row, by an average of 16.9 points. The Knicks are in Miami Thursday night, hoping to put an end to that streak, and coach Mike D'Antoni was told the Heat is waiting for Lin.

"At the airport?" D'Antoni said. "We got problems."

Lin has gotten the Heat's attention, though. LeBron James told reporters in Miami that he's going to end up guarding the undrafted point guard from Harvard at some point Thursday night.

"That shows maximum respect if that happens," D'Antoni said. "Jeremy will handle it and hopefully the Knicks will handle it."

Lin said, "LeBron is a great player and a great defender. Just got to continue to be aggressive and not change anything on my end."

This is the Knicks' last game before the All-Star break and their first against the Heat this season with Carmelo Anthony. He missed the Knicks' loss in Miami on Jan. 27. For Lin, this will be the point guard's biggest challenge to date.

The defending-champion Mavericks posed one on Sunday. They put 6-7 Shawn Marion on Lin and all he did was register 28 points, 14 assists and led the Knicks to their most impressive win of the season. But the Heat is bigger, more physical and more athletic. Lin could be guarded by James and Dwyane Wade.

"He's winning ballgames," James told reporters in Miami. "That's ultimately what it comes down to . . . You should realize how good of a player he is and not get caught up in everything else. He's a really good player."

D'Antoni said he's not worried about teams targeting Lin. He said Lin has to get used to being the "marked man." But D'Antoni said against the Heat everyone is marked.

"What they'll do is they'll defend the heck out of him," D'Antoni said. "They've been doing it to every team in the NBA and winning by 15 points almost every game. That's what they're going to do. You're worried about them. Not what they're going to do.

"They're just really good and they're playing really well. You know they're going to try and jump all over you and double team you in almost every place and be quick as heck. I'm curious to see how Jeremy will adjust to it.

"What I've seen and everybody's, tried a little different, he's doing well."