Thank you Coach Mike D'antoni for giving Jeremy the initial chance to play and then riding him through Lin-Sanity. Even with Melo back and Baron asking for more minutes, you stuck with JLin knowing his heart, will, and team play.
Instead of focusing on his few weaknesses, like many out there, you focused on his many strengths. We are just so gratetful that you could see what we knew here for a long time, that Jeremy is not a backup or just an average point guard.
The many naysayers you hear and read are the exact reason why he was overlooked at all levels. They look at him and can't see the actual output that he produces. Instead, they see his mistakes and magnify them to the point of overlooking his overall value to the team. Yes, he can look bad at times, his decision making is a work in progress, and his ball handling needs improvement. But the numbers don't lie and Jeremy's numbers under D'antoni are staggering for any young point guard.
Lin-Sanity Era (including coming off bench vs Nets):
8-1
25 points
9.2 assists
2.2 steals
Melo Era:
2-8
16.2 points
7.8 assists
2.5 steals
Before tonights game, remember this is with only 26.6 minutes per game:
Steals:
-JLin 1.71 steals per game 10th in the NBA
-Ahead of Derrick Rose (.9 spg) and Kyrie Irving (.92 spg) both not even in the top 70.
-JLin 3.11 steals per 48min 5th in the NBA
-Ahead of Chris Paul 6th (one of the greatest thieves of all time)
Assists:
-JLin 6.4 assists per game 15th in the NBA
-Ahead of Russell Westbrook (5.5 apg) and Kyrie Irving (5.4 apg)
-JLin 11.5 assists per 48 minutes 4th in the NBA
-Ahead of Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Tony Parker, Deron Williams
Please, please, please, don't talk about Jeremy being an average point guard in any fashion. He wants to be great and is on his way to becoming great. If you can't see it by his play, the numbers show it. The numbers don't lie. He is only 23 years old, the statistical peak of most point guards are from 27-30. Steve Nash didn't start putting up his great numbers until about 30 years old. Nash averaged only 8.6 pts, 4.9 assists in his fourth year! His turnovers are on pace to set a record too. However, if history is any indication, he will be joining good company. Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas are near the top of the list for most turnovers per game in a career.
So folks, please remind yourselves this is like the 2nd chapter in a 30 chapter thriller. There is so much more ahead. There will be more bumps in the road, but this is what we're here for. To support our guy and to make sure that he is well taken care of. Again, thank you to Coach D'antoni for helping write an incredible early chapter in the book of Jeremy Lin.
Do you think Lin should/will stay with the knicks? I think he's gonna be buried by Woodson.
ReplyDeleteYes he will cause Woodson was there when the whole Linsanity happened and he knew what LIN can do... Look this was a blow out games so it not a good back to used if Woodson will continue to start LIN or not... we have to wait for at less five games.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that Jeremy is a restricted free agent. This means the Knicks can match any offer from other teams. Because of the Gilbert Arenas rule, Jeremy can only make up to the mid-level exception, so about 5 million. My guess is that Jeremy will sign a one year deal and become a free agent the following year.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who are a new Knicks fan (as I was), here's an informative and insightful article titled 'Coach Was Doomed Without Walsh' by NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/sports/basketball/mike-dantonis-resignation-tied-to-james-l-dolan.html
DeleteI think it's important for Jeremy to read it (a bad light on Dolan & Anthony).... After reading this I hope Jeremy will request a trade, if Dolan insists on resigning him for one year to ride further on the gravy train .... Wait - I think the Knicks are not 100% protected just because Lin is a RFA; that's why GS Warriors tried (in vain) to aquire someone who was a RFA (a tall center from Clippers - I think).
nicely put jlinfan. there's definitely haters coming out in the media saying that now. even haters here are saying he didn't play all that well the last 6-7 games. in those 6-7 games i thought he had a some great games and some decent ones but not anywhere bad they were making it out to be.
ReplyDeletehe didn't put up those linsanity numbers because
you gotta realize he was playing with a cancer in melo on a team with defenses triple teaming him and opposing pgs all wanting a piece of him. he got flagrant fouled so many times it's ridiculous he's still putting out good numbers. sure not every game is going to go his way but he contributes more often than not in other areas of the game such as defense and the desire to keep on fighting making clutch shots putting his team in a position to win.
looking forward to the next chapter of linsanity.
Thanks JLinfan#1 for the touching words, I felt goosebumps sprouting out of my skin reading it. Thank you for bringing us the Jeremy followers together all through the years! Just like you mentioned, this is just the beginning of another chapter in one of the most important books in the history of basketball.
ReplyDeletePraise God for his glory! We are blessed to be the witnesses!
No worries. Baron Davis won't last too long.
ReplyDeleteI'm very inspired by your post jlinfan#1, and I'm hoping that all of what you are saying is true and we are seeing the birth of one of the greatest nba point guards ever. It almost seems like a dream that we could have an Asian American point guard come from nowhere to take the NBA and the nation by storm. No matter what happens at this point, the impact he's made on shattering Asian stereotypes and all the discussions his rise to fame has created with respect to bigotry will never be forgotten. That being said, I hope that he will one day be held in the same regard as a Stockton or a Nash. The biggest concern I have is that his idiot teammates will stunt his growth. This is fairly speculative since it's hard to believe everything that's being written in the media, but I'm fairly certain Carmelo and Amare have both been jealous of Jeremy's successes. Carmelo has a huge/sensitive ego and it looks like Dolan fully supports him. With the new coach trying to prove himself, it looks like a toxic situation..let's hope I'm wrong and this will just be the next phase of linsanity.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Amare is jealous of Lin. If anything, he needs Lin and D'antoni's pick and roll offense. Amare thrives under that system, just like he did with Nash. Carmelo, aka. Melonoma, aka Melodrama, is more toxic. And of course Dolan, who has to protect his reputation, is going to support Melo. A rich guy doesn't spend millions to get a player from the Nuggets, and then trade him away. That shows that the owner is stupid, and he can't have that.
DeleteWho is @plummerstash, and what exactly did he say ?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, glad to see Jeremy Lin representing and calling out the racists.
Jeremy Lin @JLin7
Im proud to be asian!!!
1h Jeremy Lin @JLin7 n
This happening in 2012? Jesus loves you bro and i do too RT @plummerstash: @JLin7 chink
baron davis is just a bad point guard right now... he can't barely move anymore
ReplyDeleteSad to see it go down this way. D'Antoni was not a coach without his negatives but I destest player power with the heat of ten thousand burning suns. It's not right, I don't care who you are. No player should ever be above reproach and able to dictate who coaches the team. That is what has happened here. Carmelo and his 'this is the most fun we've had in a long time' comment after the game? Has he already forgotten the buzz-beater Lin shot and made against the Raptors? Joy like I've not seen in ages. But oh yeah, Melo was at the sidelines, arms crossed and watching while everyone else went ballistic.
ReplyDeleteIn a lot of ways, it was inevitable that Lin would be sidelined as Melo grew more and more uneasy with his role in the team. He says all the right things in the press, leaks the right tidbits ('Lin is his favourite player on the team...') but never for one second forget who this guy is. He is a me first player and always will be. And he will not allow anyone to ursurp his number 1 position in the team. D'Antoni tried and look where he is.
JLin should just forget about leading this team and use this time and the offseason to catch his breath, calm his game and work on improving. Less minutes? Fine. Less control of the ball? Also fine. I think he's smart enough to know exactly what's going on and why. I can only hope he uses this period to better himself as a player and as a potential leader. He will lead a team one day, maybe even the Knicks. He JUST needs to bide his time. Because it is only with great play that team power can overcome player power.
Reading this article about Carmelo Anthony not being a franchise player, and chuckled that author, either intentionally or subconsciously, also didn't include Lebron James with that label:
ReplyDelete"Tim Duncan is a franchise player. Kobe Bryant is a franchise player. Paul Pierce is a franchise player. Dirk Nowitzki, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose."
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=dw-wetzel_carmelo_anthony_knicks_james_dolan_031412
At Lebron James is perhaps too unselfish with his passing, or just gun-shy in truly pivotal moments of meaningful contests, but Melo is just poison...
Oh, and article yesterday said D'Antoni wanted to trade Melo for Derron Williams, so Lin could run in a three guard rotation while is continued to adjust and develop as NBA starter.
DeleteSounds like D'Antoni was going to make Lin centerpiece of franchise, give him time to develop by perhaps renting Derron Williams (later trade him) to take some of the load off him.
Knicks might have had a really nice run in playoffs with Williams instead of Melo.
Now, if Woodson goes all Iso with Melo, Knicks are probably going to get really beat down by Bulls in first round, little to no penetration, moving the ball side to side, and shooting a lot of jumpers.
Can Stephen A Smith please get fired? This blatant racist keeps absolving Melo of all blame, keeps saying he was right all along that Lin is a marginal NBA player at best, and also trashes D'Antoni while ignoring the Knicks played well when Melonoma didn't play!
ReplyDeleteYeah I was listening to his rant yesterday. It really sickens me. He is def a Melo superfan.
DeleteInstead of Linsanity, now we get MELOdrama.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Knicks!
Remember that old crappy B-movie starring Kurt Russell called Escape from New York?
I think JLin should make the title of that movie his credo....
Lin is trapped for another yr because he's a restricted FA. Knicks also don't have draft picks for a few yrs. Just a bad situation with another Keith Smart 2.0 catering to his "stars"
DeleteI'm hoping that New York decides not to match any offer to JLin from another team.
DeleteGranted, that would be a stupid thing to do, but this is New York, after all. ;-)
lxy, the Knicks have been a historically STUPID team.
DeleteI have watched the Knicks for decades. They are even more inept than the Clippers who at least had the good sense not to give high salaries to overrated players. The Knicks are #1 all time in overpaying malcontent misfits that are kicked off other teams.
The city of New York is famous (albeit overrated) for putting its point guards OFF the street while the Knicks franchise is famous for putting its point guards ON the street.
If Lin is anything like Rod Strickland or Mark Jackson (actually Lin is head and shoulders better than those two ever were), Knick fans will be giving him a standing ovation every time he returns to the Garden with a different team.
I extracted this from Stephen A's article today: "In Coach's system, the point guard is the man," one Knicks player told me. "He runs the show. So long as Coach is happy with him, the point guard can do whatever the hell he wants, when he wants, to whomever he wants, including the stars. Even if the dude was just in the D-League around Christmas time."
ReplyDeleteI want to know who Stephen A was talking to when a "Knicks player" said this. I feel whoever that was, there's no respect for JLin on the Knicks team. Was it Baron, JR, Stat, Melo? I'm freakin pissed.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7688873/new-york-knicks-mike-dantoni-was-victim-own-stubbornness
Actually, that player was RIGHT.
DeleteLin was the only one making anything happen for the Knicks. Of course he has a friggin' green light.
Great players like Lin that create for others should not be given the same treatment as other players on and off the court.
The problem arises when players are not great but THINK they are. Time and losing has a way of outing those guys (Ellis in GSW, Bosh in TOR, Anthony in NYK, Cousins in Sac, etc).
Similarly, Lin could be benched as the 12th man and STILL he'd get triple teamed because he'll roast people.
I think once Linsanity started, a lot of jealousy started with other players on team.
DeleteI would guess that quote came from either JR Smith, Baron Davis, (doesn't sound like Melo even though he may think that), or possibly even Iman Shumpert.
As for Stephen A Smith being a racist, I think he just makes sensational and controversial statements to try and get more eyeballs for his blog postings and tv appearances. It is probably just part of the business to him.
This is the NBA.
DeletePlayers ALWAYS are jealous of each other even if they have no right to be (e.g. Shaq Kobe).
I couldn't care less what a journalist like Stephen A Smith has to say. Anybody like him can scour forums and blogs in order to rehash "popular opinion". That's why he's a journalist, not an NBA player or scout. Smith sincerely does not care about Lin or Anthony or anybody else he pretends to cover.
More importantly, I hope Lin makes easy passes and stays injury free.
I prefer to call him A. Stephen Smith aka ASS
DeleteScreamin' Stevie Smith is trying to divert blame away from his boy Melo. He doesn't want people to think it was Melo that basically got D'Antoni fired.
DeleteAs for that quote, it is pretty disrespectful of JLin. After all, it was this D-leaguer who played a major part in helping the Knicks get back in the playoff chase when all their "superstars" were out.
And JLin did try to defer to these self-styled stars when they came back, even though they (mis)led the team to an 8-15 record before Linsanity was born.
Jealousy is part of pro basketball.
DeleteThe 1986 Celtics had an incredibly bitter feud between Larry Bird and Scott Wedman even though they played great together on the court. Bird was insanely jealous and fearful of Wedman who was a terrific former All Star that went on an 8-1 tear when he replaced an injured Kevin McHale in the starting lineup. It was Bird that was afraid of Wedman, not Wedman afraid of Bird.
Jeremy Lin's as a pg IS to defer. Besides, 16 ppg on low percentage shooting is not really deference to me. If Lin shot any less, the entire Knicks team would get on him for not attacking and creating.
ALL NBA teams have jealousy issues. As long as it doesn't spill over onto the court, nobody cares. I see the Melo vs Dantoni feud not so much as "jealousy" as I do a player simply rebelling against a system that he cannot succeed in.
I agree with you all. I just was just pissed about how it was conveyed by this Knicks's player. It sounded like JLin was reckless or something. I just cant stand his own teammate(s) sayihg it the way it was said. All about jeolousy and ego. In retrospect, I'm so proud of Jeremy for always crediting his team during the Linsanity period. He kept saying how fun it was to play as a team. Anyway, Stephen A is a bigot and we all know that so I take his words with a grain of salt, but finding out what that Knick player said just got my blood boiling. Peace out.
DeleteIt doesn't matter who it is. It sounds to me like a player had no respect for the coach or his system. There is no reason to believe he would have any respect for the new coach, Mike Woodson, and his system.
DeleteAlso, I think Jeremy Lin playing big minutes off the bench did not create the rift between players and the coach. That kind of disdain was already there from the beginning. Jeremy was a non-factor in getting D'Antoni ousted.
good piece on d'antoni in nytimes
ReplyDeletehttp://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=925500&f=27
:slow clap:
ReplyDeletenicely put, sir. i salute you.
Very nicely put JLinfan#1!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Linsanity is really over... Coach Woodson said and Amare validated that the new offense will result in more touches for Amare and Melo and less to none for Lin. Especially during crunch time, the ball is going into Melo and Amare's hands. Lin can't be the freewheeling, improvise on the fly, attack and dish point guard we saw at the height of Linsanity. The days of Lin throwing up 18 shots per game is over.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to figure out how Lin can be effective in this new role and I think he really needs to improve on his outside shooting. When Melo and Amare gets doubled, he needs to be able to hit the open jumper or he'll be yanked if he keeps going 0 for 4. Woodson made sure to mention Bibby and Toney Douglas as well which sounds to me like Lin's minutes are not at all precious or guaranteed. Woodson also pretty much implied that he doesn't have much faith in "rookies" so Baron Davis may likely be the starting PG at some point.
A new challenge for Lin and another occasion where he needs to prove himself that he is not just a system player but that he can actually thrive and put up numbers in any system. Truth be told, I'm not even sure D'Antoni really thinks Lin is that great of a player even in his system as reports are that he actually wanted to trade Melo for Deron Williams. I guess the bottomline here is it's once again "show me" time for Lin. Whatever feel-good things happened during Linsanity is over and it's once again about what have you done for me lately.
I have this uneasy feeling that nasty D-Leaguer quote in comments above might have actually come from STAT now.
DeleteThat being said, Lin's decision to choose Golden State over Dallas is again haunting him, because, yes, Linsanity probably wouldn't have happened, but I also think Lin has too much talent to not eventually break into back-up point guard spot at least with Dallas, and Mark Cuban seems to be good owner in good organization.
Hope Lin can just focus on being good team player, and continue to develop more conventional point guard skills, biding his times with Knicks next year, then bolt to another team with a better owner and organization.
If Woodson is dumb enough to play Bibby and Douglas over JLin, he will make Keith Smart look intelligent in comparison.
DeleteDidn't Bibby play for Woodson in Atlanta?
Let's hope that Mike Woodson doesn't become Keith Smart 2.0, as many people fear.
I think I read somewhere that Woodson is going to run a flex offense, which, at least the version Smart ran, looked like incoherent gibberish when Lin was still with Golden State.
DeleteAt least he is already familiar with the new offense...
Just saw woodson post practice press conference. You are absolutely right. Baron Davis is number one point guard clearly and Lin will be competing with bibby and douglas for minutes. He may even the fourth guy in the pecking order from the looks of it. amazing!
DeleteBad news for jeremy but let me tell you this, the knicks will suck and jeremy can find a new team next year.
If the idiot knicks want to keep him, they will have to pay 5 million so no matter what, lin will get paid or play with a team in a good situation.
by the way, it WILL be a real tough year for lin. He is going to have real thick skin because the knicks are really going to disrespect him this year. He will persevere. Frankly, give him more time to work on his left hand and jump shot.
DeleteIts funny that woodson emphasized that during crunch time the ball will be in melo and stat's hands, because that's kind of how its been already since melo and stat came back. Celtics game- who took the last shot of regulation? and all those other losses- who was being fed the ball at the end of the games.
DeleteAnd The problem really hasn't been the offense- it has been the defense. If that part doesn't improve, all the other changes Woodson implements won't change the outcome of the games.
Start the losing and Woodson will feel what the wrath of Melo Stat running the offense will do to a team :p
ReplyDeleteI almost cry for your touching words. I am so proud of being as one of Lin's fan, we only have appreciation and love, not hate.
ReplyDeleteI hope Lin goes to another team and let Knicks fail without him. I hope he goes to Lakers, because they need a better PG.
ReplyDeleteI hope Lin goes to another team and let Knicks fail without him. I hope he goes to Lakers, because they need a better PG.
ReplyDeleteI hope Lin goes to another team and let Knicks fail without him. I hope he goes to Lakers, because they need a better PG.
ReplyDeleteI hope Lin goes to another team and let Knicks fail without him. I hope he goes to Lakers, because they need a better PG.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very well written piece of summary of Jeremy's performance!The writer got the sound data and very balanced, broad perspective on the young point guard. Appreciate your down-to-earth sharing! Jeremy, keep up the good work ^^
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to D'antoni!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/sports/basketball/for-the-knicks-linsanity-has-left-the-building.html
ReplyDeleteThis article sounds like groundwork is being prepared for Lin to be marginalized, coming off bench if he can beat out Tony Douglas and Mike Bibby.
Positive is, hopefully, that means Knicks won't use his restricted free agent status to match any other teams offers (I think he is eligible up to about mid-level exception around $5 million).
Problem is don't know how that Chinese tire company that signed advertising agreement with MSG will take it, plus Acer apparently signed advertising contract with MSG on Wednesday (don't know if they knew about D'Antoni leaving that same day).
And Lin has already proven with Big Horns, if given playing opportunity, he can function quite competently as point guard in convention, non-D'Antoni speedball freelance type of offense; it just doesn't take advantage of that skill set that could potentially make Lin a very special point guard in future.
DeleteHubie Brown on ESPN always raves about Lin's tremendous court vision, and I agree.
DeleteHe does seem to have that God-given field sense to in some sense see play before it actually unfolds, and this manifests itself, over and over again, in just how precise his alley-oop passes to Chandler, Fields, and Shump are, and how the ball always just seems to drop in perfectly on long-transition passes so other player catches in full rhythm, no adjustment, and can just explode to bakset (Erie Bayhawks game announcer said same thing about how Lin always in slasher to basket on inside shoulder so that player could keep moving at full speed with no hesitation to basket).
It is some coarse sense reminds me of how Eli Manning when under heavy pressure just seems to chuck the ball up in air downfield, but ball gets precisely to spot where his receiver can easily catch it.
On the other hand, one might think that Jlin has incredible value and should have been traded by today. If he is sent to the bench, he loses a lot of value. Just trying think positively.
DeleteYou're talking about Maxxis right? It's a Taiwanese company, it's known for it's sponsorship in teams with Taiwanese athletes.
DeleteAs long as Lin is still a Knick, even with a reduced role, he will still flourish. You can't take away the quickness, the intensity, the court vision, the knack for deflections, all those things away from a player.
Dolan loves money-generating stars, I highly doubt he'd let Jeremy slip away this summer. Heck, if D'Antoni was forced to play Melo, maybe there will be pressure on Woodson to play Jeremy as well, if you think about it.
Season Recap:
ReplyDelete1) Jeremy almost single-handedly saves the Knicks' season.
2) Jeremy then has his role reduced to accommodate Melo's ego.
3) Jeremy's production drops to "mere" Top 10 PG caliber as a result of fewer touches and better defense.
4) Jeremy is now being marginalized for his "struggles" during that stretch.
What a nightmare.
Dear Jeremy,
DeleteGet the heck out of New York ASAP. Woodson is Smart 2.0. Whether it's this year or next, go to a team that wants to win instead of babying its so-called "stars."
There are plenty of teams who would LOVE to have Linsanity reign night in and night out. The wins, the money, the excitement.
I hope Nash signs with the Knicks over the summer...and Jeremy replaces Nash in Phoenix. Then they can build around him as he runs the PnR with Gortat.
My biggest concern is that the Knicks won't let Jeremy walk until after next season. They still want to exploit him for financial gain while underrating his talent (yet again).
For pete's sake, how many times does he have to prove himself?
Problem is don't know how that Chinese tire company that signed advertising agreement with MSG will take it, plus Acer apparently signed advertising contract with MSG on Wednesday (don't know if they knew about D'Antoni leaving that same day).
ReplyDeleteTaiwan's Acer computer only signed for the remainder of the NBA season. I don't know what the terms were for Maxxis Tires ... but it's probably similar, not a multi year contract.
Corporations are smart with their money to reduce risks.
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Arthur+Dysfunctional+Knicks+back+Broadway/6303324/story.html
ReplyDeleteI like how the above article puts it. Linsanity was pure and unselfish and beautiful to watch. What's happening now, with Coach D'Antoni being forced to resign because players are unwilling to adjust and buy into the system is just disgusting. The politics is disgusting. I mean we all know the NBA is a business and that this happens all the time...but it's still ugly to watch. This has just completely turned me off rooting for the knicks. Their top management deserve to have their team losing.
And I dislike the way the new coach Woodson said that "rookies should just sit and listen and learn". That's disrespectful to rookies like JLin, Fields and Shumpart who played their hearts out for the team. Even if you feel or think that way, you shouldn't say it out publicly. It's just demoralising for your team to know that they'll always be sidelined and playing 2nd fiddle to your star players. The scenario, with the coach leaving so that melo can stay, says it enough...you don't have to add fuel to fire.
I just hope Jeremy Lin won't be discouraged and will just keep his faith and hope in God, take the opportunity to learn and improve as much as possible.
Coach D'Antoni should just go coach another team and bring in the players he wants, not players being forced onto him aka melo. And JLin should follow him and hopefully the two of them can win a championship in future!
Go Jeremy!
This tells you that Woodson may be aged but he is a rookie dealing with the media. He should just sit, listen and learn.
Deletehe will - the only question is when.
Eddie and anon: nicely put! :)
DeleteRight now I'm just watching the Knicks for Jeremy Lin, a tremendous player on and off the court, the unheralded player who brought the Knicks back to Playoff conversation, and that is really all what I'm rooting for.
Sorry guys, is there any legitimate statement by Woodson or the Knicks which state Lin is being reduced to a bench role? All I've read so far is that Woodson is changing up the offense to accommodate melo and stats style of basketball. Are we all overreacting??
ReplyDeleteEither way it's another chance for Lin to prove the doubters wrong!
"Woodson referred to the 23-year-old Lin, a virtual rookie, as being “in a learning stage.” He then invoked Red Holzman, “who taught me that rookies were to sit and listen and learn,” when Woodson was a Knicks rookie in 1980. "
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/sports/basketball/for-the-knicks-linsanity-has-left-the-building.html
Looks like Lin will be benched, if following is not rumor. I am sad, my prayers go to him.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/jeremy-lin-starting-role-ny-knicks-coach-mike-woodson-point-baron-davis-guard-article-1.1040128#commentpostform
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of Woodson, especially after his press conference. When he said, "He (his coach) taught me that rookies were to sit and listen and learn....Again, Jeremy's in a learning stage...", I think he was hinting that he wants experience on the floor, meaning Baron starting over JLin. He's not going to make that switch now because it would be too risky. The fans would immediately turn against him, especially if the Knicks don't win. He also knows that Dolan is pro-Lin, and their vision is for JLin to be the Knicks point guard of the future. So before Woodson makes that switch, he going to make sure that there's a good rationale behind his decision. Right now, Baron is shooting less than 32% on the floor and about 20% on 3s.
ReplyDeleteFrom here on, JLin will not have the opportunity to score 20+ pts/game because Amare and Melo will be taking most of the shots. At this point, JLin just need to take good shots, drive through open lanes, cut down on those turnovers, make plays, and he should be fine.
But does this also mean an end to the Lin/Chandler and Lin/Stoudemire pick and rolls ? Because that's how most of the Knicks points were scored.
DeleteWithout that, Lin doesn't score. Melo gets doubled in the post and coughs up the ball. Amare becomes a jump shooter. Basically the same pre-Linsanity team with Lin in the role of Tony Douglas or Shumpert.
I really dislike those words that Woodson said about how a rookie should just sit and listen and learn, as if Lin isn't listening and learning...Lin is playing because he's being asked to play.
DeleteHowever, I've always preferred a disciplined coach who emphasizes defense and has zero tolerance for BS, for now I'm just gonna wait and see. If Baron flourishes better with the first unit, I would have no problem with him starting over Jeremy. That's how a fair world should function anyway.
On the other hand, I don't see Jeremy having problems playing full-court press, hard-nose defense, or passing the ball to the iso guys. For all except for his virtually rookie status or whatever prejudice out there that he can't control, Jeremy pretty much has all the tools of a pg. So what if the system is changing against Lin? If he's a survivor than he'll be fine. There's only 20 something games left this season, and for Jeremy being Jeremy, he will only continue to grow. So what if he comes off the bench in the future, for the benefit of the team? I don't think there's any other way to cover his unique talent anymore.
Let's wait and see.
Lin made a comment about how if Melo or Stat is double or triple teamed, then I think it is his job to try and break down defense, make them play everyone honest, and hopefully open up space for the so called "stars" to shoot.
DeleteIt kind of sounds like reverse of D'Antoni offense, where Melo was isolation option after initial D'Antoni set didn't work.
I don't care about his individual stats, more about his real impact in ways that don't show up on simple stat sheet, and really determine who wins closely fought games down the stretch (rebound, steal, blocked or altered shot, charge, just someone getting extra possession like Musselman always praised him), and intangibles like coming up with big shot when other team is starting to pull away and they need a score to stabilize things and counterpunch.
Even though it was "lesser" competition in D-League, stat where Lin stood out above every other player he was with Big Horns was his impact in terms of score differential when he was and wasn't on court (forgot what actual stat was, but he led whole D-League in that very important stat.
I don't think Knicks is foolish enough to sideline Jeremy. Dolan is a business man and he is crystal clear that Jeremy makes more money for MSG than the rest of the team combined.
ReplyDeleteHe is making the least amount of money.
What is that translates into? Profit!
Why would any idiot substitute Lin with Baron Davis, who is going downhill anyway?
Jeremy may not be the best PG in the league but he is the best PG for Knicks at the moment. It is ultimately up to Nolan, the owner.
Just my few cents worth. I've been following and watching Jeremy Lin's career from Asia since the birth of Linsanity a month ago, after my American cousin raved like a lunatic on his facebook.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a NBA fan or know much about basketball but I like D'Antoni's TEAM oriented, attack minded, spacing/lots of movement off the ball system during the all too brief era of Linsanity.
It reminded me of the outrageous 1982 Brazilian (soccer)World Cup team and likewise made the Knicks fun to watch. Of course that Brazil team didn't win the world cup and sadly lost to a defense oriented Italy. Well you know what, I don't remember that Italian team at all but the memory of the Brazil team remains cherished in my mind after all these years. Same with the Jeremy Lin Knicks.
Sad to see that the Knicks are reverting back to the superstar oriented iso type of basketball. Anyway all the shenanigans in the Knicks have really turned me off and I'm basically tuning out NBA again. But I'll continue to follow of Jeremy's career through news report and this website. I hope he will succeed and continue to prosper in his career.
Cheers.
I understand what you mean...cos I feel the same way too :)
Deleteunfortunately I'm ashamed to say that my interest in the NBA has declined somewhat after this incident. If coach D'Antoni and Jeremy had continued to play I would have rooted for them even if the team is losing. As long as you know that the team is trying hard. But I find it hard to root for a team now that is so obviously divided and full of egos. As the vancouver suns article stated, it's no longer fun even if they win.
I DO like to see a team that is good both offensively and defensively though. Defence is not as glamorous as scoring points so am full of respect for players who play it for the team.
After seeing Indiana's Roy Hibbert blossom into an All Star after training with Bill Walton at the request of Larry Bird, I would like Lin to be summer coached by an ex NBA champion who can teach him how to handle himself in the league.
ReplyDeleteThere is a darkhorse choice I would select for Lin as an NBA mentor. That would be ex Lakers assistant coach Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Even though Kareem is not a guard, he is an NBA champion who is one of the greatest players of all time. I suspect that Kareem could teach Lin a lot about how to play in the NBA, just as he taught Magic Johnson.
I know that Kareem is not a guard and is stereotyped as a big man coach. However, that may be exactly what Lin needs. Kareem would teach Lin how to play alongside a dominant player without sacrificing his own game. Plus, there are individual skills that Kareem can impart to Lin (i.e. Kareem taught Magic how to properly execute a hook shot among other things).
I get the sense that Abdul Jabbar would not try to push Lin down. I think that Abdul Jabbar would welcome the chance to work with the NBA's most promising point guard. Given that Abdul Jabbar won championships and had phenomenal rapport with two all time greats in Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson, he might be exactly what Lin needs to become a NBA superstar.
My dream is for Magic Johnson to coach Lin! I have orgasms thinking about this.
DeleteBut Abdul Jabbar is an incredible option as well. Plus he was Bruce Lee's student so that is so awesomesauce!
DeleteJust wanted to thank the website owner and all the fans on this website for all their informative comments. This website is awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteDolan couldn't afford to trade Melo. That would make him the laughing stock of the NBA, trading away SIX players and draft picks to get this one guy, the "face of the franchise" who now refuses to play team ball.
ReplyDeleteMelo has the front office by the balls. He is in every way above the coach, GM, and the Knicks team. I predict the rest of this season will suck. But I'll watch it anyway, I am loyal to Jeremy Lin.
Lin will get better. Right now he should just concentrate on fixing his weak spots. Outside shooting, passing, perimeter defense. He has improved a lot since those 9 TO's in the Hornets loss. He is improving by leaps and bounds every game to become a more complete player.
This offseason he will come back an All-Star caliber player. And then the Knicks might consider trading Melo.
If Woodson does the totally idiotic move of making Lin a DNP, Baron Davis and his backup had better be GOOD and the Knicks better win.
ReplyDeleteThe NY fans will turn on Woodson if Lin falls out of the rotation, especially if Lin continues to play well. NY fans are merciless and will boo anybody out of town.
Benching Jeremy Lin would be just as bad as when Kurt Rambis benched Kevin Love for Ryan Hollins!
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ReplyDeleteMike D’Antoni Leaves Knicks Fans With Only Carmelo Anthony to Blame
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-knicks-annoncers-turn-carmelo-anthony-article-1.1040144?localLinksEnabled=false
I don't know about you guys, but I'm really hoping for this season to end and for jlin to get the hell out of New York if thing's don't get cleaned up. James Dolan seems like a Grade A scum bag who can never be trusted. I don't think Woodson will ever be the coach to take jlin to the next level of being a true superstar. He's just a pawn to Dolan's wishes to make Carmelo the man so he doesn't look bad. Jlin will still play because the coach sees value in him and Dolan doesn't want to alienate all those fans, but I'm guessing 20 minutes a game will be normal. I see only two really good options here (1) The Knicks tank (I'll be praying for this one!) and Carmelo gets traded. A new coach is hired and that coach will be dedicated to building a team oriented offense with Jeremy at the helm (2) Through some miracle, he either get's traded or the Knicks don't pick up the MLE. I'm sure teams will be lining up to sign him- Dallas would be a great place to land or possibly Houston. I'd love the warriors to get them, but they have been awful the last 20 years (save for a few years here and there).
ReplyDeleteI hope the Knicks can get Jerry Sloan as coach He can flat out coach and develop point guard He also has the credentials not to listen and back down fron any so called superstars
ReplyDeleteI read the article about Woodson wanting a rookie to sit and learn... I'm thinking... Even if it's sad, I think it would be best FOR NOW. Jeremy has been outplayed by other PGs as his popularity grows and it's hurting the knicks because the others are not helping. If they publicly say that they will now start focusing on Amare and Melo, the other players will now focus on them. JLin will be back as underdog (while practicing his weak points) then after some time, he will burst back to the scene again.
ReplyDeleteI am not too worried about JLin's career because God has proven that He is faithful to those who is faithful to Him. and like JLin said, he believes in God's perfect plan so I also know that there's a purpose in all these (d'antoni leaving, him might be on the bench again, him being outplayed etc) because God has a supreme plan for him and that's what I'm excited about. :)
Jeremy Lin has outplayed PGs MORE than he has been outplayed.
ReplyDeleteWhen Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday score lots of points on poor ahooting percentages, that is NOT outplaying Lin. Besides, the Knicks refuse to play help defense for Lin or even catch his passes.
Mike Woodson comes from the Larry Brown school of benching young players out of the NBA game. That kind of thinking gets guys like Brown and Woodson FIRED because young players who get benched just for being rookies usually lose so much confidence that they cannot be effective in the NBA even in later years.
God's supreme plan is to get Lin OFF this pathetic Knicks franchise. If God has mercy, he'll shut down Lin for the season and let him walk to a real team in free agency.
yep
DeleteIt is April 2012 and Lin indeed has bern.shut down for the season.
DeleteFree agency is next.
It doesn't look good for JLin with Woodson in charge. But no matter, he's made his mark. We all know what's happening. The narrative is already shifting to Jeremy is falling back to earth to 'Carmelo snuffed out Linsanity'. In the long run, that might work in Jeremy's favor, especially when people finally realise that the Knicks are going nowhere with ME-Lo dominating everyone else. I can only hope that once this season is done, Jeremy will take his services to another team, but hopefully not another superstar-based one. I'm thinking a lower profile team, where there will be no egos to kill his game all over again. As long as it's not the Bobcats or the Wizards of course.
ReplyDelete