I think that with Isiah Thomas (great to be able to type THAT name again

), his Kings haven't had the same amount of success as NY has lately, as far as wins.
They also don't have the same "Star" power that NY has, with Melo and Stat. I love DeMarcus as a future dominant Center, and Tyreke as a future All-Star, but they are simply not in the same arena as Melo and Stat, yet.
The franchises have a totally different place in the world-view, with NY having Spike Lee, and numerous other stars and personalities that could be found at games.
Additionally - with the exception of the Chris Webber-Vlade Divac-Peja Stojakovic-Bibby years of the Kings, they haven't had much success.
And of course - the race issue is key - BUT - Lin has game, no doubt. He isn't a one and done sensation, here. Some may view that fact negatively, but it is what it is. Lin looks different from most people in the NBA, plain and simple...that's not a bad thing. It's to be celebrated, especially after Yao's unexpected departure.
I was hoping to see Yao whip up on Dwight for a few more years, but now I have Lin.
Don't let last night fool you...Lin is real. I like Isiah Thomas, too - but he hasn't raised the level of expectations with Sacremento like Lin has with NY.
With Lin, NY has a shot to do somethings...with IT, I just don't see that, yet.