Nets Vs. Knicks: Deron Williams Takes Over, Carmelo Anthony Rusty, New Jersey Leads At Half

The storylines for the New York Knicks entering their Monday night game against the New Jersey Nets were too many to count: Linsanity, Carmelo Anthony's first action in eight games (save for eight minutes) due to a groin injury, and Baron Davis' debut among them. After the first half, none of them seem quite as loud, as Deron Williams and the Nets were able to silence Madison Square Garden and lead 50-42 after one.

Anthony has been quiet, scoring on a pick and roll with Jeremy Lin early and a good-looking drive in the second quarter, but nothing more. Lin has been good, not great, getting almost all of his production (nine points, four assists, three steals) on the fast break. The Knicks' halfcourt offense hasn't been bad — Landry Fields in particular has been effective off the dribble, though his numbers (four points, six rebounds) don't exactly bear that out.

What hasn't helped the defense is Tyson Chandler playing just nine minutes because of foul trouble. After going out with two fouls halfway through the first quarter, he left a minute after his return in the second with his third foul, of the loose-ball variety, on Kris Humphries. Jared Jeffries has played his typical sound defensive game, but is, as always, largely useless offensively.

Really, the story of the first half has been Williams. He's scored 18 points to go with four assists, and has played lockdown defense on Lin. He's been singlehandedly more effective that the Dallas Mavericks' double teams on Sunday. Rookie MarShon Brooks has also been terrific, scoring 13 points on a combination of deep jumpers, including a four-point play, and crafty finishes. He's capitalized every time he's touched the ball when Fields hasn't been on him.