Fresh off the N.B.A. scrap heap, possible future Knicks hero Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin in college. gocrimson.com
1:10 pm Dec. 28, 201111
The New York Knicks, though blessed with perhaps the best front line in the N.B.A., have a point guard problem.
Starter Toney Douglas, still unfamiliar with many of the basics of running the position, took more shots than any other Knick in Sunday's win over Boston. Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, it is safe to say, were not acquired to watch Toney Douglas miss shots.
Former standout Baron Davis is still some time away from a return to health, with no guarantees that his back will hold up once he does recover.
Talented rookie guard Iman Shumpert, already a problematic fit at the position due to a skill set that doesn't include running an offense, is out for the next two-to-four weeks with a knee injury sustained in the opener. And Douglas' nominal backup, veteran Mike Bibby, is largely a spot-up shooter at this point, with his own health issues.
As a result, the Knicks signed point guard Jeremy Lin on Tuesday to serve as depth at the position. At first glance, this would seem to be a relatively inconsequential basketball move. Lin, after all, was only available because he'd been waived by the Rockets, just weeks after he'd been waived by the Warriors. Chris Paul, he isn't.
And yet it's a big deal. Lin, who who happens to be the first Asian-American to suit up for the Knicks since Wat Misaka back in 1947-48, and a Harvard graduate with a degree in economics, may be a perfect fit in New York.
What can he do well? For one thing, despite being 6'3” and 200 pounds, Lin is deceptively quick, particularly with his first step. This should allow him to get into the lane regularly, creating opportunities for the other Knicks scorers. He's also a better finisher than Douglas, so his drives won't result in a succession of teardrops clanking off the side of the rim. And he's got good passing skills, giving the Knicks the legitimate offensive operator they've been missing from their roster.
On the defensive end, Lin is extremely good at forcing steals, which should create stops before a leaky Knick defense is forced to operate in the half-court set. And his size allows him to stay with most larger point guards, blocking more shots than a typical player at his position.
Interestingly, Lin's weaknesses—the aspects of his game that have kept him from finding regular N.B.A. work since graduating from Harvard in 2010—might not be as much of a problem with the Knicks as they would be on other teams.
Lin is not much of a shooter away from the basket, in the mold of a Rajon Rondo. (In fact, Rondo is the most similar player to him, according to Pro Basketball Prospectus 2011-12.) But the Knicks don't want a point guard to be shooting—neither Lin, nor Douglas, should ever come close to leading the team in shot attempts in any game.
Lin also has some trouble staying with the smaller point guards, but having Chandler behind him to swat away the attempts of those smaller players should help there, too.
And Lin has been susceptible thus far, in limited minutes, to aggressive defensive pressure that leads him to turn the ball over more than he should. But it is hard to imagine most teams will try and pressure Lin, if doing so leaves a member of the Knicks' front line wide open. It make take a while for New York to find out just what Lin is capable of doing for them, since it's not clear yet how much playing time he'll get. Coach Mike D'Antoni declared Lin to be the team's third point guard entering Wednesday night's game against the Warriors, behind both Douglas and Bibby in the pecking order.
“If somebody wakes up with a cold, he’s playing a lot,” D’Antoni told the Times Tuesday. “If not, we’ll see.”
Maybe D'Antoni was being coy, or maybe, in fact, it's going to take a bout of illness for Lin to get into the game in a significant way. But with the shortcomings of other players on the roster, it shouldn't be a surprise of he proves to be much more useful to the Knicks than he was to the teams that let him go.
Nice story, fairly right on but Lin because of constant badgering about his shooting and the way his shooting stroke/technique looks, he is much much improved as a spot up shooter or even one that can get his own shot off from 3 point line and in.
He never really had a chance to shoot because of such little playing time or complete garbage time when he was put in, in GS. Look at what he did at Reno, shoot the 18-21 footer pretty well.
Also, his lateral speed is his best asset. Vertical is actually pretty good too. Lastly he is 6' 3" without shoes, check his Portsmouth Invitational measurements. John Starks was just 6 3 or 6 3 1/2 as he claimed but listed at 6 5.
Lin overdoes the honesty bit there because height is a major deal for point guards. At 6 4 200 or 210 which he might be now ( the weight at 210), he is a big guard. Teams want big guards with his skill set. Remember Sherman Douglas, 5 10 in shoes measured at a Chicago Bulls workout prior to his draft/his being drafted, in the NBA, Douglas changed his height to 6'2" for contract reasons.
Lin needs to list himself as the same 6'4" or 6'5" with shoes on. Look at Ray Allen, 6 3 1/2, without shoes, he lists himself incredibly at 6 6. Take a look at Luke Walton ( 6 3 1/2 no shoes), same thing there, except he lists himself as even taller.
Now re Golden State Warriors--Mark Jackson made a huge mistake letting go of Lin and going with Jenkins. Jenkins is a guard that can make most of the passes but can't make the subtle passes. It's funny that that was what Mark Jackson could do but he can't see that Jenkins does not have one iota of that ability. Jenkins over dribbles and over penetrates-- who does that remind any casual fan of--other NYC schoolboy stars Stephon Marbury, Telfair and some others.
That is the second obstacle Lin faces, there is no one to vouch for his abilities in the NBA coaching circles. Rarely is there anyone from the Ivy Leagues ( except Pete Carrill ) who carried weight with their basketball philosophy(ies) in NBA circles.
The writer Megdal is right on, this person Lin is a real point guard in a league that is desperate for real point guards. Even Telfair is not a real point guard ala Mark Jackson, Calderon, Cousy ( now I am not saying Calderon or Jackson are of the same cloth as Cousy) and Rondo. Yet Telfair is given chance after chance after chance simply because that name carries or carried weight with the NBA, NY basketball circles. Everyone in those circles saw Telfair play at all of the 5 star camps, his 70 point game in h.s., college games, etc.
Almost every team in the NBA has point guard issues. So why don't they give Lin a chance to play, regular rotation playing minutes and a healthy contract that will allow him to develop.
By the way, I am from back in the day, when Alex Broadway and Christ the King H.S. ruled NYC b ball.
J of the C in a Golden State of Mind,
If Obama is considered the first Black President, I think it's only fair to state that Jeremy Lin isn't the first Asian-American since Wat Misaka. Rex Walters played before him and was actually drafted, and he indeed does acknowledge his Japanese/Asian heritage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwN1WSpLtjY
This has nothing to do with Obama. It's perverse that the first thing you think of reading a story about Lin is about Obama or politics. Since you're being dense let's point out that Rex Walters wasn't subject to the "one drop rule" in this country, which as a legacy of Jim Crow dictates that any black ancestry makes one black. Ergo, although Obama really has no "African American" heritage (his mother being white and his father being African but neither being "African-American") we consider him a "black President."
Generally speaking we understand that being half Asian isn't really the exact same thing as being "Asian" not least because of how people view your face and your identity. For evidence look at Keanu Reeves or Dean Cain, are those "Asian" actors? Do they get the same stereotyped roles as Ken Jeong? When you look at Erik Spoelstra, is the first thing you think: "Asian!" Lighten up.
There have been several partially Asian players in the NBA, one is Nate Robinson, the guard that the Knicks chose not to bring back so they had a roster spot for Lin. By your definition Robinson is Filipino.
Try to see the forest from the trees. Lin is 100% Taiwanese which is a significant distinction for millions of Americans. And if you're going to nitpick about "Asian" players make sure that you're not wrong that Rex Walters is significant as the "Asian" who preceded Lin.
Give the kid a chance! The game is played on the court not in the wacko heads of media people and their devotees.
Seriously, I am not trying to be rude but you seriously think Lin can outplay the other two guards?
Long story short, all three of those guys are horrible. I am not talking about, they just had a bad game horrible, I am talking about atrocious.
Secondly, Knick fans have to stop assuming, "hey dont worry, if someone gets by, TC is back there to defend the goal.
That kind of thinking is creating a lackluster effort on defense all around, AND it keeps TC out of sync with the flow of the game due to foul troubles.
All I can say is, did anyone see Lin blow a wide open lay up during garbage time last night against the Lakers?
Someone should pull that play up. I am not sure how Lin made it to the NBA but he is there now and unfortunately he is on my favorite team.
The Knicks should have actually signed Nate Robinson. He is not the model citizen but at least the guy can play ball over these three sorry guards.
In retrospect, this article was right on! Jeremy is now the starting point guard for the NY Knicks!
Ken Solano, oh how you have lived the day to rue you words. LINsanity son!!!! HEYOOO!!!!!
Wow.
He hit everything on the head!
When "Linsanity" started, he wasn't shooting well. We all, at least us Knicks fans that saw the games, saw that he had problems with his outside shot. Of course, by the 3rd or 4th game, he started to shoot confidently from the outside.
He produces more turnovers than usual, which is why i think most teams DIDN'T give him a chance.
He has a good knack for driving, first step, and also having the court vision to pass it once he drives.
Oh, and it took a rash of injuries and the coach about to get fired (seriously, 2 or so more games, and D"antoni was GONE) to get him on the court.
wow ken solano looks like a complete IDIOT NOW!!
Howard, I just happened to come across this article and I almost couldn't believe what I read, particularly after I checked the date of your article. Incredible foresight! Amazing.
Hahaha Linsanity has ruled the world! Oh how these writers can predict but not even close to reality!! Jeremy Lin has taken over NBA n still is ...........while this article can rest in peace.