Wojnarowski agrees with us.
A few thoughts:
1. JLin himself never said that he "destroyed" Deron Williams. Deron is referring to reporters and others who made that claim. Further, Deron had 21/11 with 3 steals in that first game so it's not like he had a bad game. Obviously Deron wasn't reading our site. And he should! All we said is that JLin had a "breakout" game; not that he destroyed this player or that.
2. Interesting that even with JLin's breakout game against the Nets, it wasn't until his performance against Utah that the Knicks themselves became believers. Wojnarowski notes:
The Feb. 7 deadline for guaranteeing contracts for the season was 72 hours away, and outplaying Williams still hadn’t sold Knicks executives. After that Saturday night game, league sources said a Knicks official was still making calls about whether the Detroit Pistons planned to keep NBA Developmental League call-up Walker Russell for the season. The Knicks would’ve signed Russell over Lin, sources said. The Pistons had no idea this was happening, but the Knicks were still rooting for Walker to become available. Until Lin had 28 points against the Utah Jazz on Feb. 6, and, well, it was over.JLin was tearing it up in practice, from what we heard. So the Knicks' skepticism is puzzling.
3. We're also curious about the continued skepticism expressed by Jason Terry and others. While it's true that certain systems will fit certain players and bring out their best, it's not like Mike Bibby was tearing it up this year before JLin starting getting minutes. Why is it so difficult to believe that Lin is simply a decent player?
i think the pundits have speculated about jlin at nauseum. people are getting fired for making dumb headlines, and people will keep having this debate, but let's talk about the facts. JLIN IS the starting PG for the NYK. JLIN IS scoring and distributing the basketball at an all star level. JLIN IS in his first meaningful year in the NBA in the MOST difficult position on the court. JLIN is getting double/triple/quadrupled teamed EVERY SINGLE TIME HE HAS THE BALL. WHO DOES THAT? i mean, when you have teams that are doubling you as soon as you touch the ball, that's MJ territory. skeptics are what they are...skeptical. But we talking real here, and on the real, this kid means business. I mean, Dwill dropped 38 on the knicks TO MAKE A POINT...the fact that he had to do that already speaks volumes.
ReplyDeletegreat reply. It's been a while since I've seen the ferocious double teams on Lin. But TBH it makes sense since he's known for his TO's. They're probably thinking "better to double and try to force a TO than have him cause havoc in the lane."
DeleteShump probably could have helped overall D last night, but he got burned badly in first quarter against D-Will during previous Knicks - Nets game.
ReplyDeleteShump could probably match up well one on one defense if Williams just kept the ball and started attack, but he would weave through picks set by teammates to get himself free (and then have teammate pass ball to him), both in last game and this game.
Lin, who I am guessing was a step or two slower this time because of extended minutes, just couldn't nimbly navigate all of the obstacles Nets put in place to free up D-Will. And that guy shot the ball really, really well (last game he seemed more focused on assists).
Last time, Lin did a great job of containing Williams at initial point of attack, but it was great team D that game. He was able to nimbly dart his way through all obstacles Nets put in place to free Williams, and I think had a lot more spring in his step then.
Avery Johnson said Nets planed to run same 3 plays over and over again, and part of the game plan was to make Lin work a lot on defense.
Derron said he doesn't watch tv (apparently stopped watching after he was in Turkey previously), but said he kept seeing on his Twitter feed how Lin destroyed Williams and he, understandably, didn't take kindly to that.
In the small fish tank all profesional athletes live in...the common fundamental sequence is that the media will build something up and then tear it down. It's happened over and over and it's the cycle of the public eye. People love reading about an underdog or a great success story and then people love and are interested more in other people's misery or failure. Get ready for the media to start trying to unravel Linsanity - it's just the nature of the business of selling magazines, headlines, papers....Other players are already envious and jealous of Lin because of his media attention and his story so they will be looking to get a piece of him more and more and take publicity that way. Deron Williams was elated getting the attention last night and I'm sure others will be that way - especially Thu vs. Miami..Miami is gonna try to destroy linsanity and they will bring their Playoff intensity level to that game - will be a disaster for lin and knicks in that game - inevitable.
ReplyDeleteI think Lin needs to stay away from post game interviews with the TV after games...just by him being there is not modest and it puts more of a target on him the more and more he gets tv interview time...he's already proven his play so now he can just keep low profile for a little bit and concentrate on point guard position (less turnovers, more assists, less shots, better defense)....
"In the small fish tank all profesional athletes live in...the common fundamental sequence is that the media will build something up and then tear it down. It's happened over and over and it's the cycle of the public eye. People love reading about an underdog or a great success story and then people love and are interested more in other people's misery or failure. Get ready for the media to start trying to unravel Linsanity - it's just the nature of the business of selling magazines, headlines, papers...."
DeleteI posted my comment below before I read yours. But you are right on the mark. While the media and public love underdog-achieves-success stories, they probably love famous-people-crashing-and-burning stories even more.
JLin just needs to keep his head down and focus on basketball. All the interviews, commercials, and media appearances need to be kept to a minimum.
NBA contracts require players to be available to talk to the media upon request after games like most pro sports. As for the ABC, ESPN, & MSG one-on-ones those are probably from the team wanting to pump up their numbers. I honestly don't think it is affecting his play much though.
DeleteI think he deserves to be in front of TV Camera's after great games like Nets, Lakers, Toronto, Dallas...but he's being interviewed after EVERY game and that's counterproductive for him (Jealousy, Envious, More of a Target, takes away from his teammates) -it's all part of media agenda to build him up so high so that he gets taken down. He needs to guard against it and protect himself as well as his situation and keep his teammates from getting envious (They will eventually if this keeps happening). He's getting paid now off the court which he deserves and he's getting deserved recognition (Sports Illustrated x2, on NY post headline everyday, superstars praising him)...again he needs to protect himself from Media and others putting him in a spot to be more of a target. Hard enough to play in NBA at high level without having to fight against all these other things (i.e. Deron Williams trying to embarrass him, media creating elitist situation bypassing his teammates for interviews, other players really coming after him to embarass him because they think he's getting too much attention, credit).
DeleteBTW...I really like this site...been reading since last year and you (Guy who created this blog) predicted Jeremy's rise if just given an opportunity. I like your positive visualization throughout this LInsanity consistently calling for more and more sucess for Lin and it's happening before our eyes....The mainstream media should latch on to this blog they would learn a few things about the game. Jeremy is Great Player and I've been following him since he was Sophmore in HS - wanted him to get a scholarship to Pac 10 School and was shocked that none came esp from Stanford literrally (one block) right across from his HS. But look at Jeremy now - he's the most famous Asian American Athlete ever in History. Congrats Jeremy!
ReplyDeleteThe thing about the American media is that they just LOVE to build people up ... only in order to tear down them.
ReplyDeleteFor JLin, he should be careful not to get caught up in in all the media-driven hype about Linsanity.
The American media beast (and especially New York media) will turn on you in a heartbeat and devour you, just as quickly as they "embraced" you.
If I were an All Star and some undrafted waiver wire reject scored 25 on me and won the game, I'd want revenge too.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is totally awesome that NBA opponents are feverishly trying to stop Linsanity. Nobody wants to be Linbarrassed. Everybody is lining up to test the newcomer because he can play.
The more teams go at Lin, the better he'll be. Lin is getting the opportunity of a lifetime to be challenged at basketball's highest level. Amazingly, Lin is getting better with each game.
By the time this season is over, Lin will be a totally battlehardened NBA veteran who's head and shoulders above other 1st or 2nd year players. Then the REAL Linsanity will begin!
I totally agreed. It seems Jeremy gets better when the challeng gets tougher. Godspeed Jeremy.
Delete"The Feb. 7 deadline for guaranteeing contracts for the season was 72 hours away, and outplaying Williams still hadn’t sold Knicks executives. After that Saturday night game, league sources said a Knicks official was still making calls about whether the Detroit Pistons planned to keep NBA Developmental League call-up Walker Russell for the season. The Knicks would’ve signed Russell over Lin, sources said. The Pistons had no idea this was happening, but the Knicks were still rooting for Walker to become available. Until Lin had 28 points against the Utah Jazz on Feb. 6, and, well, it was over."
ReplyDeletethe knicks thought lin's breakout game was a one hit wonder so that's why they were still looking for a pg. lin's game against the jazz showed he was the pg the knicks were looking for and like they say, "the rest is history."
d'anotni has a good system but not every pg can succeed in it. you need to have talent and intelligence and lin possesses all of it to be successful.
As is the case with subtle bigotry Lin has faced at every level, Lin has to do it over and over again 100 times more than a black or white player would need. It's hard to overcome prejudice and stereotypes. Scouts and "experts" dismiss good plays and amplify mistakes to fit their prejudice. They even ignore their own eyes or even cold, hard numbers.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't get all this beef that people have with Lin. He's just a great player!
ReplyDeleteFound this cool shirt online! Can't wait to get it!
http://www.stackclothing.com/super-lintendo/
Novak’s detour to the Bighorns was a footnote on his résumé. And getting a chance to play with someone from Harvard did not seem like a big deal.
ReplyDeleteBut that game, on Feb. 4, 2011 in a small arena in Boise, Idaho, hinted at what would later happen in front of sellout crowds at Madison Square Garden. With Lin playing point guard for the Bighorns, Novak hit 5 of 7 attempts from 3-point range in a little more than 20 minutes. Lin finished with 17 points and 9 assists in nearly 30 minutes.
“I never as a coach felt so relaxed,” said Eric Musselman, who was in charge in Reno at the time. “I figured I might as well just grab a Coke and some popcorn and sit in the stands and watch.” He said that he thought Reno “might not ever lose another game.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/sports/basketball/knicks-novak-and-lin-are-flourishing-together.html
Remember that game well, and too bad it is no longer available in D-League Futurecast archives.
Third part of that beautiful ad lib offense was Danny Greene, who is known to make great reads and cuts without the ball (hopefully Landry Fields can fill in this role with the Knicks).
Coach D'Antoni looks like he is putting in both J R Smith and Novak at same time with Lin.
DeleteJ R may not know Knicks plays yet, so sounds like it may still be instinctive, ad lib JLin time.
:)
I would imagine that most of us on this site are Asian American, likely Asian American males.
ReplyDeleteSomething that can be hard for Asian Americans is accepting the reality that America is a fighting country where the only way to gain respect is to fight off guys until that respect is earned.
America is a land of individualists. The team concept embraced in Asia is not practiced here. People have to prove their worth not just by being skilled, but by battling enemies successfully and showing everybody around you that you will stand your ground when the going gets rough.
Jeremy Lin did not become "Jeremy Lin" by being meek and subservient. He outplayed and outhustled all challengers that came his way. Every time a newer bigger challenger came, Jeremy Lin beat that guy down and kept going. Now Lin is taking on the NBA's best and is doing pretty well.
The lesson to learn here is that people are challenging Lin to see if he is worthy of celebration. So far, Lin has emerged victorious even in defeat. Even the detractors are admitting that Lin has turned out great. And that's why Lin is probably America's most popular athlete right now.
We Asian American males should learn from Lin. Stand your ground and defend your turf. Be gracious in defeat and victory. Fight valiantly, but know when to walk away.
Who cares what the skeptics (e.g., Jason Terry) say about Jeremy. If Magic Johnson and Jerry West are convinced that Jeremy is the "real deal", that's all that counts.
ReplyDeleteAnd here is what D.Will thinks of JLin:
ReplyDeletehttp://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/02/williams-lin-still-real-deal-not-hype-despite-payback-deron-williams-jeremy-lin-new-jersey-nets-new-york-knicks-nike/1?csp=hf#.T0SdR4eP9hE
Jason Terry went to Franklin High in Seattle where throughout the years has had a large Asian student population. So that disappoints me a bit in Terry. Franklin also had a world class Asian-American athlete back in the 80's- Rick Noji who high jumped 7-4 1/2 in high school. His career best was 7-7 which was about 2 feet over his height. Another interesting note is Trent Johnson current coach of LSU went to Franklin. He played ball against Cleveland HIgh which had a Japanese-American starting point guard which had former NBA player Jawann Oldham on their roster. Trent Johnson failed to recruit Jeremy Lin when he was right across the street from Stanford. Trent had seen up close and personal an All-Metro Asian-American basketball player Doug Nikaitani.
ReplyDeleteWell, let's not be too hard on Jason Terry.
DeleteAs a member of the opposing team, it is his job to stop Lin. Every opponent Lin faces in the NBA has it in his mind that Lin or Lebron or Wade can be stopped, even if it doesn't happen.
Do not confuse basketball bravado with racial rejection.
I think as asian americans, jeremy gives us a voice. this article explains the significance of his impact and what he's already done for all of us, who have been silently opressed and not being respected among our peers.
ReplyDeletehttp://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/20/sports/la-sp-plaschke-jeremy-lin-20120221
...every asian who supports and cheers for JLIN every single game, isn't cheering for his dazzling play, but THANKING him for making all of us RELEVANT. Thank you JLIN, you've already done so much.
Jeremy Lin to do list:
ReplyDeleteOk...if I were his agent or PR person, I would ask Jeremy Lin to consider these things:
1. Praise the Garden Crowd saying something like, this is the loudest, most intense atmosphere I've ever played in! These Fans are the best and most intense anywhere in the world. That's why it's the Mecca. They've been behind Jeremy the whole way, he should acknowledge them more.
2. He should look to shoot less and distribute more to the Veterans....No need to take 18 shots in a game like last night. He's proven himself to be a great player/scorer (38-lakers, 28-dallas)...he now should defer to Melo, Amare a little bit and even if they lose it makes him look good and it won't be his fault. But they can be NBA title contenders if he gets those superstars in sync and scoring. Jeremy lin scoring 25 a game - he's not Derrick Rose (at least yet).
3. He should show more respect to other players in the media (not on the court). He said he came out flat defensively and that's why DWill scored 30 (actually 38). That probably pissed off Williams again. He should have said Dwill had great game (Williams said LIn had great game) and gave him his due as established vet rather than diminish it in the media. Of course, you never respect your opponent on the court, you try to attack him and beat him and destroy him but in the media you should otherwise you are setting yourself up to go against a more motivated soldier on the battlefield (disadvantage to you).
4. He should be staying humble, yesterday he seemingly put himself in same class as Melo saying they both can make plays. I'm sure he didn't mean it but he's got to watch what he says cause Melo is perrinial all star and has won NCAA championships, gold medal....He's got to pay respect to veterans more - like what he said about Jason Kidd or when he did say Melo voughed for him (dantoni said Not really).
5. He's got to keep deflecting credit and praising his teammates - even if he says this, we all know LIn the Big reason they are winning.
And keep taking blame in losses even if not his fault...builds respect among his peers.
6. Stay out of the Race Card discussion...he may have impact on saying things or being politcally correct but he should avoid it for now and let others deal with it....Just him beiing in the spotlight is enough responsibility and brings creditbility to Asians.
7. Finally, he needs to keep saying and emphasizing the message that he's only 23! Say something like I never get tired out there, I can play all day - I'm only 23! Veterans respect that and it will make opponents ponder cause it's true, when you are young like that you can play all day and not get tired, injuries not a factor at young age, you are strong, fearless and more care free...he needs to emphasize this to his opponents cause all athletes feel invincible around that age. It's a great trait to keep pounding to the media. I'm young, I'm not afraid and I can play all day all night 48 minutes cause I have a love for the game and I'm young!
i agree with everything. hire a PR rep because all this is new to him and it takes time and experience to talk the media and game them. some athletes are never great interviews to begin with but lin is doing ok.
DeleteLin does not have to defer to anybody out of humility.
DeleteAlready Lin has proven himself the leader of the Knicks. If he defers, the Knicks will lose big.
This is America. He who bows too much to others gets stepped on.
Lin needs to keep shooting, keep dominating, keep leading, keep WINNING.
Are you saying Lin is not modest and humble enough?
DeleteI say Lin is doing exactly what his mind (and God) is telling him to do, and everything is done right at perfection. Asking Lin to defer more would only make everything sound that much more PR-like and crony, and undermining the beauty of his character.
If we look back to everything Jeremy has done and said so far (youtube videos, espn interviews, post-game conferences) throughout his basketball career, Lin has been Lin. That's why everyone is embracing this kid like his their boy/son.
I've met Jeremy in person at one of his high school games and we've exchanged emails on basketball advice for my son's. He's absolutely humble and fine young man. Has that Asian cultural respect and politeness and you can tell he was raised by a strong family. Again, I'm saying he just has to be careful what he says (how he's perceived/portrayed) because I feel the Media will try to take him down eventually just as they built him up to the Mountain Top. He's smart Man (Harvard) and he knows what to do and say. I think he just needs his people to remind him and navigate the potential pitfalls out there so he can just concentrate on basketball.
DeleteJason Terry is an idiot. It's like someone saying Terry is playing well only because of the Mav's system, 100%. He doesn't getting any credit. Well look, the Mav's are a running team just like the Knicks. We're almost comparing apples to apples here. Terry is on the bench and Jeremy is excelling. Now where is the system in play? System is the control and the players are the real tests. In this case Jeremy wins. Case closed. Terry is a sore jealous loser.
ReplyDeleteJason Terry is an idiot. It's like someone saying Terry is playing well only because of the Mav's system, 100%. He doesn't getting any credit. Well look, the Mav's are a running team just like the Knicks. We're almost comparing apples to apples here. Terry is on the bench and Jeremy is excelling. Now where is the system in play? System is the control and the players are the real tests. In this case Jeremy wins. Case closed. Terry is a sore jealous loser.
ReplyDelete