Wow, I mean WOW! What can you say? This is as crazy as Acie Law getting PT ahead of Jeremy at Golden State. This is crazy like giving up JLin because you draft Charles Jenkins to replace him. This is crazy like cutting Lin instead of Jeff Adrian in Houston. This is crazy like having an over the hill Mike Bibby play in front of Jeremy. Now the topper, giving up JLin for nothing! What's another 6 million + luxury tax for a Billionaire?
This was not about money. It couldn't have been. That wouldn't make any sense. This was about Melo, Dolan, and Jeremy. Make no mistake about it, this was about power and ego's. The Knicks said from the beginning it was about business. We won't offer you Jeremy. Go see what you can get in the open market. Then the Knicks offer Jeremy's starting point guard position to Steve Nash, offering him 12 million a year. This must have really surprised JLin. So what is Jeremy to do? Well, he needs to get the best offer for himself, as everyone is saying the Knicks will match no matter how much he is offered. Seeing that business is business, the Rockets up their offer from 4 yrs/28 mil. to 3 yrs/25.1 mil.. Now all of a sudden, Jeremy is the bad guy? How can it be? Wasn't it about business?
After Jeremy's business team made that shrewd move, Dolan had his feelings hurt. Just like Melo during Linsanity. Big ego's can't take it when someone else is getting theirs. Don't get me wrong, Jeremy has a big ego as well. You can't be a great player without it. However, you'd think they could all work it out if they really wanted to win. But just winning is not what Dolan and Melo are about. They need to be the men. They both couldn't take Jeremy one upping them. But we all know what Jeremy Lin is all about. He is about winning and about playing team ball. I can't wait to see the start of the next Chapter to this great unfinished story!
It will also be fun teasing the lame NYC sportswriters as they have to watch IsoMelo while we get to watch the relaunch of Linsanity 2.0! By the way, their great max (next 3 yrs /$64,470,000) Melo was 1-7 for three points last night. How ridiculous is that contract? LOL!
I can already see the quality of writing compared to the NY pens (except for Howard Beck):
http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/stop-insanity
well said!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the Lin family and to the Rockets. Amazing turn of events; total absolute unparalleled shock! Already, Jeremy is in the lead for All-Star votes.
ReplyDeleteWOOOOOOO. Now I'll celebrate.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic turn of events for Jeremy. He gets to play and develop HIS game (not Melo's) with a supportive, intelligent head coach in Kevin McHale...and very possibly Dwight Howard. Even if D-12 doesn't arrive, the Rockets have some nice young pieces who will be fun to watch and may complement Jeremy very well.
I admit I'll really miss Jeremy lighting up MSG on a regular basis, but this is what's best for his long-term success and the Rockets will love their new, young, exciting, all-around, franchise PG. So excited for next season...
Good luck to Lin. I can't believe my Knicks picked fatty Felton over a rising player with upside. You are spot on, it is about Dolan's ego. if he can afford to throw money at players like Eddy Curry and Isiah Thomas, he could've taken a "risk" on Lin. I hope Lin averages 22 and 8 next season just to prove a point. but it might be hard cause the rocket's next best player is Kevin Martin so all the attention is gonna go to Lin.
ReplyDeleteNY may be a media capital but there's a good number of Asian in Texas and Houston too. I know one blogger out of Texas is going to happy.
ReplyDeleteu r right. this was not about $. melo was so defensive by saying it was not his fault. thats because he must have asked for lin to leave. so glad jlin got out of this clumsy team. jlin, welcome to houston!!!
ReplyDeletecan't wait for houston v knicks next season. jlin will be relentless!
ReplyDelete30++ points, 10++assist, 2 steals from kidd and melo. That sure will make me happy.
DeleteJust have to watch out for Kidd's cheap shot again, but something tells me Lin will be ready for it this time...
DeleteAwesome!!! Going to go celebrate, you go Lin!!! Go Rockets!!!
ReplyDeleteBTW apparently Knicks have managed to single handedly create a ton of new BKNets and Rockets fans overnight...Never seen this happen b4...2 teams benefit from one decision...Hahahaha...
Creating two birds with one stone! Only Dolan can do it.
DeleteJeremy, please don't change your number to 7...that's China's national number. As hard as it is to see you go to the Rockets, it feels like you're following Yao Ming's footsteps rather than creating your own legacy. Asian Americans and Chinese people from China are the same make, but have completely different philosophy, idealism, compassion and humanity. I know a lot of it is about the Asian market, but please don't sell out like so many others...the next thing you know, you're signing a contract to play for the China's National team rather than the USA Olympics Dream Team...that would be such a sad sight to see...
ReplyDeleteHuh? I've never heard of 7 being affiliated with China. I'm pretty sure God had dibs on the number 7. lol
DeleteBesides, this way he won't have to change his twitter username. =)
Jeremy Lin likes 7 because he is a Christian. He plays for God and not for China or any political body. Please allow Lin to pick a number whatever he likes.
DeleteBy the time, Jeremy Lin can be enlisted. He probably will be enlisted to serve the community such as charity basketball games. ^_^.
DeleteYou are so annoying! I can't stand your comment! so you want the only Asian to like Jeremy lin is Taiwanese? you just make me feel disgust being all hype and following Jeremy lin. Just keep in mind not necessary the only people who likes Jeremy lin is all Taiwaness. You are very insulting to the people from China. There's no need explanation from you. I can feel and see what you means underneath your words. yao help lin a lot. it's an honor.and last, don't get too hype. the Chinese not necessary want him to play for them! no need your worry for!have your pride !
Deleteall the Knicks players specifically JR Smith talking about how there would be issues in the locker room have very tiny brains. anyone playing along side Jeremy immediately boosts their world brand. Of all the guys, JR should have known this having played in China. idiots like him will play for small money contracts and completely bypass what they could make in overseas endorsements. Damon Jones was smarter than these fools and sold massive amounts of gear in china. congrats to the new young houston team who can build their world brand and build a team.
ReplyDeleteAn idiot who panders to the sheep:
DeleteJR Smith @TheRealJRSmith
Say what y’all want about me I love all my teammates! #justlikedat
JR Smith @TheRealJRSmith
Who gone die loyal! #kiss
Retwitteado por JR Smith
RT @SportsCenter: Report: Knicks WILL NOT match Houston’s offer sheet for Jeremy Lin. @JLin7 will join Rockets
With team mates like this...smh
Glad JLin's out of that locker room
Heh.
DeleteThe one player who's really going to miss Lin is JR Smith.
People think of JR Smith as some sort of high flying trampoline specialist, but he's not. JR Smith is a smallish shooting guard who can't create his own shot and plays best alongside a dynamic point guard like Lin who looks for him.
JR Smith with his unrefined court sense and limited athleticism is going to MISS Jeremy Lin.
Congrats to JLin and the Rockets!
ReplyDeleteLin wisely got out of the train wreck of the Knicks just in time.
Now I can sleep well tonight. Very, very happy for Lin.
DeleteI am happy. Jeremy played better without Melo.
ReplyDeleteKnicks just dumped him, because Melo doesn't need Lin.
Only thing is, I wish Lin still had Tyson Chandler. Oh well, there are so many talented players, and they will play more like the heat with the multidimensional players.
CONGRATS to JLin! Congrats to the Lin family! & to the Rockets!
ReplyDelete...Can't wait for the season to start.
Very excited to Jeremy. Rockets must also feel that they got a great value because Dragic got 4 yrs/ $34 mil from the SUN and Jeremy is ONLY about the same cost but only guaranteed for 3 year. What a DEAL!
ReplyDeleteI believe Jeremy will be much better on the court than Dragic too because he can play with the BIG names, the role players, and with the energetic rookies, which Rockets have a good number of them. He will make everyone better, even D. Howard!
Linsanity 2.0 is ready to launch. Godspeed Jeremy!
I'm still scratching my head. Wow! Losing Lin for Dolan is like "insane in the membrane"!
ReplyDeleteThis deal is the perfect example for how people can do the best offer in the NBA. And it is the perfect example for how managerS can do the worst decision in Harvard's MBA course later.
ReplyDeleteLet's think this way: As long as Knicks had Woodson and Melo, JLin couldn't reach his potential. Therefore, in some strange way, this was the best thing that could happen to JLin and Knicks. I definitely could not see Melo and JLin thrive unless Melo changed his way of playing. And to be fair, why should Melo change his way of playing, when Knicks owner and management support him. Let's see who wins the NBA Championship first: Melo or JLin.
ReplyDeleteReached his full potential? No, in the sense that a student doesn't reach his full academic potential in any one grade, either. Eventually, Lin would have had to 'graduate' to taking over his own team. Playing with Anthony and under Woodson for at least the next season, though, Lin would have improved.
DeleteAnthony may have continued to be a prima donna, but Woodson would have been good for Lin.
And McHale will be 100000x better than Woodson.
DeleteLin is better off playing for a Hall of Famer who'd already openly demonstrated that he understands and respects his game far more than Woodson ever could.
Restricting Lin's game is not what he needs. FREEING Lin's game is what McHale will do.
I would this is a win win situation in term of financial aspect between Jlin and Knicks; Dolan do not have to pick his pocket for the additional lux tax on Jlin and Jlin earns a big paycheck with Rockets.
DeleteIn term of bb, whether the Knicks will become a strong contender for next season with the well stock veterans players on the roster, is yet to be seen. As for Jlin, there will be plenty of work set out for him; improving his game, cutting down his TO, bringing in the team together and to mesh well in order to win games. He need a lot of back up from the team management, coaches. Trainers to prepare the raw team for next and subsequent seasons. Rockets and Jlin should rally along with the team for better and for worse, for rain or shine.
The Rockets are a shapeless rebuilding team that's ready for a player like Lin to define its identity. The Knicks are a win-now team already defined by veteran NBA stars. Different expectations and needs to consider Lin's role with either team.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the Knicks made a mistake. They need Lin's abilities more than they realize now, and more than Felton and Kidd can provide. When the time comes, they'll have to hope Prigioni can surprise the NBA like Lin did. The Knicks will miss Lin's energy, playmaking, high basketball IQ, and creative isolation scoring. Winning in the play-offs requires multiple isolation scorers, ball movement, and a knack for clutch plays - Lin would have provided the Knicks all three.
Ready or not, Lin now has his own team. The Rockets roster is in upheaval with no veterans and no stars. He instantly becomes the team's centerpiece and leader. It's like a draft do-over for Lin. Being undrafted in 2010 was a mistake. Lin is joining the Rockets essentially like a #1 over-all draft pick, like a Kevin Durant or Derrick Rose, who is anointed the team's savior. Lin should be comfortable in the familiar role of leading an underdog team. He'll fit in well with the Rockets offense that Goran Dragic shone in last season.
With the Knicks, Lin would have been subjected to the fan expectations of a win-now team and judged on his play-off performance, but he would have been insulated by his star veteran teammates and his coach. On the Rockets, Lin faces a different kind of pressure as the team's resident star. The spotlight will be on him. However, Rockets fans have low expectations right now and perception is calibrated by expectation. If Lin can deliver a feisty fun style with good 'Linsanity' vibes, pleasantly surprise with a few upset wins over contenders, lead his team into the 1st round of the play-offs, and play competitively there, Houstonians will be happy and Lin's rising star will be secure.
I hope Lin is working hard to get ready, especially with running set plays, man-to-man defense, tightening his combo-guard handle into a PG handle, reading defenses, and court awareness (his court vision is fine). Last season, Woodson took over as head coach just in time, at a point where the top defenses had sussed out Lin's limitations as the dominant ball-handler, playmaker, and decision-maker in D'Antoni's system. Woodson protected Lin by reducing his responsibilities as the PG without taking away his strengths as a clutch playmaker. On the Rockets, Lin will now be thrust back into the dominant PG role that Woodson had eased him from. Lin will continue to outplay average NBA teams and PGs, but the good teams and PGs will challenge him hard next season. I hope Lin's knees are cured and he'll be physically ready to endure the full NBA grind.
I look forward to Lin establishing his NBA star in Houston and proving the Knicks made a stupid shortsighted mistake by letting him go. Who knows. Maybe in 3 years, Lin will return to New York as an established star to take over the post-Anthony/Stoudamire Knicks.
I agree with almost everything you said.
DeleteLin didn't do very good against Tony Parker. We've never seen Lin vs. Ty Lawson, Russell Westbrook, or Chris Paul.
DeleteI can't wait to see these matchups, but I fear he's not at that level to beat them.
ABC Baller, that's definitely a concern. The top PGs will come after him. I believe he has the potential to compete on par with them, but he may be leaving the Knicks prematurely, before he's fully capable of it. But then, younger #1 over-all picks are asked to carry teams when they're drafted, and Lin is entering year 3 of his career, so jumping into the deep end will have to do.
DeleteNext season, I was hoping for an efficient, balanced 33-35 MPG where Lin would learn to shift gears like Kidd discussed. Coming off his knee injuries (concern: Lin jumps off his left leg), improving his durability is a must. With the Knicks, Lin would have had help. The Rockets roster worries me. Their guards are not good and, as of now, Douglas is the back-up PG.
I worry Lin will be asked to carry the Rockets from the start without enough help from his teammates and he'll be overloaded like D'Antoni overloaded him. With Lin intent on establishing his career, proving he's worthy of his contract, and winning games with a young team, will he learn to shift gears and protect himself?
Stop with the bashing of Lin, Eric.
DeleteMany PGs have trouble against Tim Duncan and the Spurs. Chris Paul is supposedly the best PG in the league and he got totally shut down in the playoffs. But you wouldn't DARE call out Chris Paul because he has the "reputation" that you're in awe of.
I also dislike how you set Lin up for failure by holding up Goran Dragic's performance last year as the standard. Goran Dragic had veteran players to work with that have since been jettissoned in the rebuilding process. Lin has a much more difficult job of working with unproven players than Dragic did, but you seek to minimize that.
Just because Woodson is the Knicks coach does not make him the ideal pro coach for Lin. An All Star talent like Lin should be set free to show his stuff and win games. DAntoni did that, and he'd still be Knicks coach had Anthony not engineered that mutiny. Long term, a coach like McHale who respects Lin's game is way better than a coach like Woodson who doesn't.
If Lin is getting paid all that money, he will be expected to carry that Houston team. Unlike you, I firmly believe that he CAN.
Folks, I will be the first to admit my prediction was wrong. I thought there was no way that the Knicks would let Lin walk away. He was too good, made them too much $$$ for them to let him go to another team. But some of you were right on. Knick's management is a complete mess. They couldn't tell a duck from a chicken even if the duck was quacking in their faces. Unbelieveable, now the Knicks will be a sorry mess for probably another decade. Anything Knick related is officially off the bookmarked pages.
ReplyDeleteFor the good news, we are all excited for JLin and his family. Can't wait till the season starts! Welcome to Texas!!
3 years, not a decade. That's when the big contracts expire and the Knicks will have the option of rebuilding from scratch or re-signing their stars. Lin will be a free agent at the same time.
DeleteKnicks fans upset about losing Lin are now calling this Knicks team the NY Hawks and it's an apt assessment. The best prediction for this Knicks team is making the play-offs as a 4-6 seed, maybe making the 2nd round, and maxing out there. Lin was the X-factor hope for Knicks fans for a higher seed and getting out of the 2nd round.
The Knicks took the 'all in' philosophy of filling out their roster with sure-thing veterans to an extreme. They're going to regret losing Lin because, apart from his developing conventional PG game, they'll need his strengths in the play-offs.
I was being sarcastic about another lost decade for the Knicks. :) But you're right on Eric.
DeleteGosh, I would hate to be a Knicks fan right now. MSG was abuzz with JLin around. Now it's just an abyss. The world's attention will now be turning to the Rockets! :)
gokusays, I pointed out the 3 years because Lin's contract was lumped in with the kind of bad Knicks contract that could sink the franchise for a decade, when the truth is Lin's contract and all the current big Knicks contracts end in 3 years.
DeleteThe outcry for fiscal sanity as a reason to not match on Lin entirely missed the point that this Knicks team has that defined 3-year window limit. Before Lin, a big luxury tax penalty in year 3 was already designed into the 3-year window. The Knicks would have paid the luxury tax with the 1st offer's 9 mil in the 3rd year.
The Knicks will still make the play-offs next season and may go as far without Lin as they would have with him. But for Knicks fans, Lin takes with him a special bright light that made the team endearing and the unpredictable hope that, as his star rose, the Knicks might do better than expected. With Felton in his place, fans know what this team is.
Am kinda disappointed he won't be doing his thing in New York. Linsanity just doesn't seem as BIG if it's not in the bright lights of the Big Apple. Nonetheless, it does seem like he should be able to play his game the best in Houston. They have a very young team though so I don't know... losing eventually gets to you. Look at John Wall in Washington. When your team is losing, it doesn't matter how talented you are. You are forgotten very easily.
ReplyDeleteYup,this , John Wall and the Wizards scenario. Could it happen to Jeremy too?
DeleteThis is just one stage in his career. Lin will be a free agent again when he's 26. He will need to prove himself with the Rockets, though. It's sad watching Wall play so joylessly with the Wizards. It will be a leadership test for Lin to raise his Rockets teammates rather than be dragged down by them.
DeleteLin doesn't have to win 62 and reach the WCF right off the bat like Nash did. Winning .500+ and reaching the play-offs with a 7th or 8th seed should be enough. If he can establish himself and bring order to the team in a way that fans expect the wins will come the following season, he should get 1 season's leeway if the wins aren't there immediately.
Lin does need to build up his post-season resume.
No, Jeremy Lin is a far more cerebral and hardworking player than John Wall is.
DeleteJohn Wall is a fabulous raw athlete (on par with Lin and Russell Westbrook) whose game is running up and down the court flying past people. But he is still learning the nuances of team basketball, which is typical for Calipari UK draftees who come out early.
Lin is a finished fundamental player whi's weathered the minor leagues and led underdog teams to victory. He's not going to get down about his team the way Wall does.
I scoff at the Lin vs Kyrie Irving comparisons too.
DeleteKyrie Irving is NOWHERE near the athlete Lin is. He doesn't have the quickness, speed, or explosiveness Lin has.
You don't have to double and triple Irving to stop the Cavs. You do have to double and triple Lin to stop him formerly on the Knicks and now Rockets.
i remember seeing an old interview of Jeremy admiring Dragic's game way before dragic was really known. it's kind of ironic how it's all played out now and he's filling that spot under the same coach that gave dragic a chance paralleling how D'Antoni gave jeremy a chance. despite houston dropping him before, i do remember those summer league games when jeremy played mchale was commentating on a few of those games and was very impressed with jeremy from back then. mcchale is jeremy's D'Antoni 2.0 and this is such a blessing for him.
ReplyDeleteDoes everybody think that Jeremy Lin was just going for the big money $$$ ?? It seems to me that everyone is convinced that Jeremy Lin was greedy and wanted some bigger paycheck.
ReplyDeleteYou think he abandoned his team, that brought in Jason Kidd to mentor him, after he was the biggest star on the biggest stage for only $6 million more for the 3-year deal ?
First and foremost, Lin sees himself as a Christian, more so than an Asian American, more than a basketball player.
How about this theory ...
He heard that the Rockets have a bigger fanbase in China because of the legend of Yao Ming. Jeremy wants to be more popular in China, and use basketball as a tool to convert more Chinese people to Christ.
Why is that so hard to believe ?
Uh. That's exactly what the world doesn't need: yet another American Christian crusader with delusions of "saving the souls of the benighted heathens" around the world--for their own good of course.
DeleteThese Christian missionaries--particularly American missionaries--are hella creepy.
There are many kinds of Christians. Some believe that just being one is enough, some believe that one is not a Christian unless he/she spends life preaching to others. Jeremy Lin is the latter.
DeleteJust to let you know. We'll probably hear more about that later in his career.
I think he just wants to play ball without all the drama, that's his way of glorifying the Lord: Doing his absolute best everytime, while remaining faithful, compassionate, humble, and supportive of others. All I can say is, someone was looking out for him, how he ended up on Rockets, which is the friendliest environment for him bar none, when everyone expected Dolan to keep him on a short leash and milk him for all he's got because of the RFA...I mean Dolan pissed off and let him go out of spite, think about it...I think Dolan knows better than anyone how Lin was instrumental in MSG's 36% rise in value this year...Just sayin...
DeleteLin did what he was supposed to do, and the Knicks asked him to do, as a RFA.
Delete"Even though Lin is so religious, I like that he has never seemed obnoxious about it. I don't think getting out the word of God had much to do with choosing Houston over New York"
DeleteHave you seen his twitter profile : JLin7 ?
Btw, Jesus was not as White as shown in the picture.
As usual, I have NO IDEA what Jeremy Lin is going to do for the Houston Rockets.
ReplyDeleteI know that he'll still be "Jeremy Lin" with a high PER and good individual stats. But how far forward (pun intended) can he take the young and unproven Rockets?
One thing's for sure. Lin will become the most underrated AND overrated player in the NBA.
After seeing Morey's brilliant power play in getting Lin, I feel pretty confident he'll land Dwight.
DeleteOrlando is running out of options and they want picks and young talent...which the Rockets have and the Lakers don't. Meanwhile, the Rockets can leverage Lin and their Yao/China connections to snag Dwight the super-lucrative shoe deal he's been seeking.
Dwight doesn't give an F about selling shoes in China. He wants either a Championship, or to be in a big media market like NY or LA.
DeleteIMO, Rockets should have made moves to get some solid players, to surround JLin with talent. Instead they are going all out to get ONE GUY !
Yes he does. The reason Dwight wants to be in a big media market like NY or LA is that his $200M Addidas shoe deal is contingent upon it.
DeleteThat's what I've read anyway...
This is the best situation for JLin. I wanted him to play for the Knicks, but with Iso-Melo and that idiot coach from Indiana, Jeremy would have been stifled from playing his best ball. Houston is a great market for Mr Lin. I wish he was in the Bay Area, but they don't deserve him choosing Charles Jenkins and and that overrated big from Texas DeAndre Jordan that they couldn't sign over a Bay Area Product and the rookie coach who never even saw him play- that would be Mark Jackson who is a bunch of hot air and doesn't know about studying tape of a player...
ReplyDeleteAnthony and Lin had the potential to develop into a special G/F pairing, but doing so would have required Anthony and Lin to adjust to each other. I believe Lin would have adjusted; I don't know about Anthony. Woodson was trying to develop their 2-man game when Lin was hurt last season.
DeleteNot playing for Woodson will be a loss for Lin. I was impressed with his use of Lin in the 7 games Lin played for him last season. A full season under Woodson would have improved Lin's game.
@Eric,
DeleteThe funny thing is, Woodson doesn't think very highly of Lin. It won't be a loss at all, since Lin will be going to a place where he won't be marginalized.
At this point, the Knocks are probably the worst team in the Atlantic division.
Lin wasn't marginalized when playing under Woodson last season and Woodson talked up Lin going into next season.
DeleteThe Knicks should be 2nd maybe 3rd place in the Atlantic.
I agree with TVN and #1 j.
DeleteWoodson is not the ideal coach for Lin, but Lin made it work.
The only way to stop Lin is to bench him - which Woodson wanted to do but couldn't.
# 1 j, look again more carefully at the plays they actually ran together. Woodson may be forced to simply his offense given the guards he has now, but I suspect his offense with Lin would have been more diverse than people think.
DeleteFor one, even if Woodson didn't care about Lin, he has to care about Stoudemire and Chandler, and that would have meant pick-and-rolls with Lin.
Lin would have benefited from running Iso-Melo anyway because his off-the-ball game is strong - better than he could show under D'Antoni. Based on their current roster, it doesn't appear Lin will be able to show off his off-the-ball game much with the Rockets next season, and that'll be a shame.
A team averages, what, about 80 FGA a game? And the top scorers, all of whom are iso heavy, average about 20 FGA? Somebody has to take all those other shots. Remember, Iso-Melo means kick-outs and swing passes on the perimeter. And that means Lin catching the ball with the advantage, unlike when he's handling the ball facing down a defense focused on him.
Lin would have feasted in Iso-Melo.
I suspect when Lin, Anthony, Chandler and Woodson had their June dinner in LA, where Lin left happy about Woodson's plans, they talked about good things like fast-breaks, PG/SF 2-man games, off-the-ball movement, pick and rolls, kick-outs, and swings. Add a viable Kidd (or Nash) to the mix and it could have been poetry.
Oh well. The Knicks front office screwed it up by not matching. Felton can't do what Lin can do.
I'm Extremly excited, can't wait to see JLin on my NBA League pass. I'm in L.A Cali... :)
ReplyDeleteHouston was ABSOLUTELY the best decision for him. There's no question in my mind that Jeremy wanted this. Anyone whose ever dealt with serious office politics knows that this fiasco was office politics 101. The question is would you stay at your current employer that "sort of" sees your value, but thinks your replaceable or someone who says" (Les Alexander, owner of Houston Rockets):
ReplyDelete"We are thrilled to have Jeremy back as part of the Rockets family," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. "In his limited opportunity last season, Jeremy showed that he has all the skills to be a great player in this league for many years to come. In addition to being a great passer, he is also exceptional at driving to the rim and finishing plays. He also showed a poise well beyond his years by making winning plays at the end of numerous games last season. Jeremy is a winner on and off the court and we view him as an important part of our plan to build a championship contender.
I could never image Dolan ever doing this. The Rockets are a classy organization with great ownership...congrats jlin!!!
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/07/17/excited-lin-joins-rockets-from-knicks/
Good stuff. I have my doubts about the Rockets current roster, but there is talent there. Another PG to share the load would make me feel better.
DeleteRockets needs time to build up their team again scratch and I hope the players in the team will come together and carry out the task with fervour and enthusiasm.
DeleteDarn, the Rockets owner actually watches preseason games!!!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow i'm torn. Anyways good luck Jlin. Im hoping its for the best.
ReplyDeleteNY fans show their true colors, sickening.
ReplyDeletehttp://i.minus.com/iMwgDXADHwS4c.jpg
Odd, why do all the different comments read like they were written by the same person?
DeleteFor real Knicks fan reactions to losing Lin, I recommend checking out the discussions at knickerblogger.net and postingandtoasting.com.
DeleteI just want to wish Jeremy the best. I don't even mind if he will struggle at Houston and I think he will probably be at the start. But this is an excellent opportunity and environment for him to develop. My only hope is that Morey truly values him and won't deal him like an asset like Lowry and Dragic. I think Jeremy can prove himself to be a franchise PG and have a long career in Houston.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/07/linsanitys-arrival-in-houston-still-in-limbo/
ReplyDeleteJosh Harrellson, now on the Rockets via the Marcus Camby trade:
“This offense is guard-oriented,” said Rockets forward Josh Harrellson, Lin’s teammate with the Knicks. “He’s going to have the ball the majority of the time. If you look at our roster, he’s going to be our superstar. In New York, you can’t say the same. Hopefully, he can come here, the offense can run through him, and he can make all the decisions for us.
“As you can see, we don’t have a point guard right now. Right now, it’s instant minutes for him. For a kid that wants to play basketball and be part of a team and make it successful, hopefully he can come and do that for us.”
Great article; I know it breaks my heart. I will follow Jeremy to the ends of the earth because I just love him as a player. This is NYC loss. You made the Knicks and the NBA better and showed them what it was like to be unselfish. You did not loose this fan. -Allie
ReplyDeleteThrilled for Jeremy- I'm glad he's out of NYC, this will be good for his development, though I hope he gets some back up so he doesn't hurt himself going full tilt all the time.
ReplyDeleteThe best opportunities in life are the ones we create. Goal setting provides for you the opportunity to create an extraordinary life.....
ReplyDeleteIndeed Jeremy will face a daunting task ahead of him in a totally new /built from scratch team. The fundamental of a basketball team is the team which and bind together to pursue for a common goal. Rhetorically Rockets has to rebuild their foundation to accommodate the challenges ahead for the next and subsequent seasons. Yes, Houston is not a media hub and without the limelight and hype he gained in MSG but Jeremy has take on all the trials and obstacles to proof the is a solid PG in the making. Furthermore, Jeremy has to strings and bond with his new team mates and be versatile in dealing with on and off court frenzy. Whether you are Jeremy's supporters or Rockets fans, we need to step back and allow some room for the team to build rapport and mesh well together in their games. Remember Rome was not built overnight.Bless you all that with the heart of gold and mouth that only spread good words.
ReplyDeleteNY Fans can suck on my nuts!!!! Disgusting comments left on his facebook feed, lol....
ReplyDeleteJust ignore creepy crawlies and brush them off. They are insignificanteven to be mentioned and set par with some of God's wonderful creation.
DeleteI do understand how some bb fans and anti Jeremy quarters are questioning his decision to move his career from the sacred and glamorous garden to a backwater state (please forgive me for the comparison). I was employed by a multi national company before I decided to join my present employer that is small in our line of business but I am extremely happy because my work is plan around me at my own discretion and without much interference from management because I am executing my tasks with confident and eventually I produces results from my hard work.
ReplyDeleteI do understand how some bb fans and anti Jeremy quarters are questioning his decision to move his career from the sacred and glamorous garden to a backwater state (please forgive me for the comparison). I was employed by a multi national company before I decided to join my present employer that is small in our line of business but I am extremely happy because my work is plan around me at my own discretion and without much interference from management because I am executing my tasks with confident and eventually I produces results from my hard work.
ReplyDeleteIn my two lines of work, NY is the backwater state!
DeleteJust because NY has the name doesn't mean it has the game.
It's just like Chinese food. People from Phx tell me all the time that the Chinese food is better in NY and California while the people from NY and California tell me all the time that Chinese food is at least as good in Phx as it is over there.
I have lived longer in NYC than in Phx, so I know exactly what's in Queens and Chinatown. Plus, I used to go to Boston all the time and know what's there too.
DeleteMy brother lives in Palo Alto and in LA. He knows what good Chinese food is too.
I can't speak for all of the West Coast, but the food I'm eating in PHX doesn't taste any different from what I ate for decades up and down the East Coast.
Cfu, Tao Garden, and Golden Buddha are but 3 of the great traditional (if not necessarily popular) places around here.
DeleteThere are so many more that I haven't had to try.
Phx is growing not just in Chinese, but SE Asian.
Don't look down on Phx just cause you're from CA and NY.
No problem.
DeleteI should also add that taste is subjective. I don't necessarily like the same foods as others, just like I don't like the same basketball players that others do.
Some of the best restaurants I've been to have horrible reviews. My favorite Italian place in Phx got a B minus, but that's where the Italians I know go.
In all my life, I've never gone by reviews for anything. Otherwise I'd have overlooked Jeremy Lin too.
DeleteI only know what I like, and I know EXACTLY what I like. As a kid, I ate my way up and down NYC and Queens. That's why I like the food in Phx.
An entire continent of Chinese could yammer at me for liking the food in Phx just as much as I liked the food in NY and still they couldn't convince me. There are only so many ways to cook fried rice or steam fish, just like there are only so many ways to put the ball in a hoop.
I've been negatively reviewed all my life. Let's just say that reviews aren't necessarily gospel.
I don't eat at those Westernized Chinese places. Too much oil, too much salt,.too much corn syrup.
DeleteI enjoy the little mom and pop places, the hanging roast pig, the dim sum, the unique dishes, and the good old Taiwanese dishes that I grew up with.
Generally I can't handle heavy flavors. Many of the foods I like would be considered bland by others. I eat sashimi with no soy sauce or wasabi.
Similarly, I don't like loud music and don't like big events. And when I watch basketball in games, I block out the crowd and look strictly at the players. Most of the time I don't even look at the name on the jersey. I see shapes and action, not stereotypes and marketing.
Hey, what can I say. I was wrong. 100%, totally completely wrong. Turns out that the Rockets are knuckleheads, and Melo was a problem. Sorry guys. You were right. I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteLin was the only reason why I was rooting for the Knicks. I will root for the Knicks no longer. Instead, I will buy my tickets immediately for when Lin and the Rockets come to my 'hood, as my kid is a huge Lin fan (Lin is the only NBA player he knows actually, but that is another issue for another day).
Oh well. This stress-inducing period is over. Can't wait for the season to start!
I meant turns out the KNICKS are knuckleheads. Not the Rockets. The Rockets are smart. The Knicks are idiots. Ugh. I can't even get a mea culpa right. Oh well. Again. I was wrong. You guys were right. Go Lin. And Go Rockets.
Delete(P.S. Be glad that the Rockets didn't land Dwight Howard. Lin and the Rockets are better off with his being another team's problem. There are big men that the Rockets can get in the draft and free agency that the Rockets will do just fine with.)
FREE DARKO!!!
DeleteDarko rebounds and defends as well as Howard does, though Darko's played on much worse teams that funnel everything toward him instead of guarding their own men.
Put Darko with Lin and Houston would have its passing pivot that could also score inside. At worst, Darko would score 5-10 points a game with Lin feeding him. I honestly believe that with McHale/Olajuwon's coaching and Lin's leadership, Darko could easily be an efficient 15-20 ppg All Star center.
Darko is the guy Houston should target, not Dwight.
All Darko needs is a team that believes in him.
DeleteThe first game after he was traded from the Knicks, he had a +35 in a loss to I think Durant's Thunder.
Darko was on the verge of retiring out of the NBA to play in Serbia. But David Kahn (a guy whose decisions I normally disagree with) embraced Darko and so did coach Kurt Rambis. Darko did great the next year but was knocked out by injury since MNs guards couldn't guard the perimeter and Darko became a human trash bin. Then Rick Adelman came and benched Darko permanently in favor of one of the movie villains from Christopher Reeve's "Superman II".
Darko really just needs some love - and a real point guard. Jeremy Lin can provide both.
Darko was kicked off the Knicks as a young player. See a Knick pattern here?
#1j:
DeleteHoward is a 1 year rental, but the Rockets would still have to give up something to get him. Better that they keep what they have and go get someone who isn't a total mess off the court, a distraction in the locker room, a destroyer of coaches and GMs, and overrated on the court (seriously, the Magic did a lot of stuff on offense and defense to make him look better than he actually is).
Ya, Dwight Howard would make Carmelo Anthony seem like the greatest teammate in the world.
DeleteI couldn't think of a worse player for Houston to get. Not only would he blow up Lin's Rockets in his single season, he'd cost the Rockets valuable young talent and burden the salary cap with expensive old nonproducing talent (i.e. Glen Davis who's more baby than big and Hedo Turkoglu who is being paid an insane $12 million a year).
Eric has brought up that Houston's real purpose in pursuing Lin was to get Dwight Howard. I say it's the OPPOSITE: maybe Houston pursued Dwight Howard to throw teams off its interest in Lin!
Since Lin was acquired, Houston has been SILENT about Howard. May it stay that way!
Never doubt the power of Lin to breathe life into downtrodden players.
DeleteBrandan Wright, Steve Novak, and Jared Jeffries are all veteran failures who Lin resurrected with his rejuvenating leadership.
Lin can do the same for Darko, especially since Darko has never played with a real point guard.
#1j:
DeleteBig Baby, yes. Hedo, not a chance. I just think that Dwight Howard is the past and Jeremy Lin is the future. Howard had his chance to be the face of the NBA, and he screwed it up on and off the court. (Go read the Orlando papers to see what I am talking about.) I want the Rockets to surround Lin with guys that have similar values, just like San Antonio did David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Let Howard go to the Nets and play for Jay-Z's team. (Seriously. That is why he wants to go there. Because a foul-mouthed rapper who promotes drugs, prostitution, murder, etc. in his "music" owns the team.) Let the Rockets pursue guys that aren't total traitors to their solid, middle-class backgrounds.
#1j:
DeleteLet us just say that I was a fan of rap music before the "gangsta" genre blew up and leave it there. Jeremy Lin likes rap music too, but he prefers Shai Linne rapping about the Holy Trinity to Jay-Z rapping about how to turn teenage girls into ... well you know. Get guys like that and put them on teams for me to root FOR, and let the people who want to glorify crime and social dysfunction to root AGAINST. Hopefully Lin's Rockets will play the Nets' glorification of the criminal lifestyle and family breakdown in the NBA Finals and sweep them 4-0.
Well, we all get far more corrupted watching the unending sex and violence on TV than we do listening to rap.
DeleteSimilarly, I hope all these guys do well regardless of where they play. I'm an NBA fan with no allegiance to any one team or player.
Unknown, the Knicks screwed up alright. The tragic thing for the Knicks is that the outcome looks hasty rather than planned from the beginning.
DeleteOn the team level, Lin was set up for success with the Knicks. Today's SI interview article says Lin and Woodson were on the same page after the June dinner in LA. Presumably, that included Anthony and Chandler, who were also at the dinner. The 7 games with Lin, Anthony, and Woodson last season were promising. I expect Lin would have had a shining year because he would have filled critical holes for the Knicks. Contrary to popular belief, Lin is a better fit for this Knicks team than Felton. The other moves, especially Kidd, make more sense with Lin than without him.
But the Knicks front office and/or owner screwed up. The team is going to pay for it, more likely in the post-season than regular season.
The Houston Summer League team looked great. The announcers questioned whether trading these promising players for Howard was good idea or not.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't trade Jeremy Lamb for Dwight Howard straight up, that's how high I am on Lamb!
DeleteHmmm ... Lin and Lamb running the court. Sounds interesting!
DeleteJeremy Lamb is a beast in Summer League right now.
DeleteThe Jeremy Tandum!!!
I feel so relieved. No more notorious NYC media, haunting and consuming Jeremy. To be a Rocket will be a good new start for him.
ReplyDeleteEric,
ReplyDeleteI applaud for your non nonsense and impartial comments on either Knicks or Jeremy Lin. You are right on the spot and rehabilitated bb fanatic, rooted for Larry Bird, Michael Jordan in my teens years make me appreciate the 'old timer' more! Is pure joy watching them on court without much media fan fares such as internet, twitter, blogs or Facebook. Anyway, I hope Jeremy will grow and glow as a true pgin years to come.
And I hope that Knicks is getting what they wish for and a fair and just decision to let Jeremy go.
Thanks, Michelle. Lin is a sophisticated serious NBA player. He deserves sophisticated serious fandom.
DeleteThe Knicks made a big mistake in letting Lin go. And I don't mean for marketing or even his popularity. The Knicks need him on the court. They'll still win enough regular season games to reach the play-offs, but in the play-offs, the holes that Lin would have filled will bite them.
Sup guys.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think the Starting Line-up will look like for Houston Rockets?
Who's going to be the back-up PG behind Lin?
I have NO CLUE how the Rockets lineup is going to shake out, other than Lin is the starting PG.
DeleteBarring some wild trades, I expect to see a lot of Lin, Lamb, and Martin on the court at the same time.
Yeah I agree, should be exciting to see those 3 run the court together. Going to be a fast paced offense.
DeleteRoyce White has potential to develop a mean 2-man game with Lin.
DeleteWhen people say Jeremy Lin is decent or average, I think it's because they're not used to the type of play style of Jeremy Lin. He doesn't have a flashy style or flashy athleticism. He has a very deceiving way of playing the game, that makes it seem like he's not athletic and not as savvy as some players make themselves look. But for people who understand basketball mechanics, he has a lot of fundamental moves, that make defenders have a hard time guarding him. If you pay attention in detail, he makes a lot of ball head fakes, jab steps, hesitation moves, to create opportunities for him to score, penetrate, and get fouls. It's just not as flashy as some players make.
ReplyDeleteHe's only going to get better in Houston. He's going to have even more confidence and more motivation to prove his critics wrong. He's going to play to win, to win as a team. Can't wait to watch the Houston Rockets this season. Jeremy Lin is going to show the world what Linsanity 2.0 is all about.
I get pissed when people bash Jeremy Lin's game. It brings back memories when I was a high school Varsity Basketball player. I was the only Asian guy in an all African American team with an African American coach. I was in the Varsity team since Freshman year (only reason I made the team was because of a Junior High School coach recommendation and the players voted that they thought I deserved to play in the Varsity team), and only being 5'2" in 9th grade, I was proud to represent for my Asian peeps. First summer league game(thank God the coach let me play for 4mins), I played decent and somehow impressed an All-American Team scout, and got asked to try out for All-American Junior Team. I was so excited, but got screwed over by my coach and assistant coach by interrupting the scout from talking to me and my father. The coach interrupted the conversation and said that he'll take it from here, but instead, of trying to promote me, he turned the scout around and walked him over to my 6'6" teammate. He turned the scouts interest to one my other teammate (which I wasn't hating, I just thought it was weird he didn't try to promote me). He was basically, telling the scout, to look at this guy instead of me (which I overheard standing 10ft away from them as I was walking with my dad to the car to go home). A few days later I asked the coach about the try-out, and he said it was too late, they already had it. All 3 years in the Varsity team, they never played me, made me feel like that Asian movie, Better Luck Tomorrow, the token Asian Guy in the basketball team. My senior year I was so excited that I would finally get my chance to start, just to find out the coach quit because all the good players have graduated and he didn't want to coach a scrub team. So the Janitor took over as coach and made all his nephews start over me.
ReplyDeleteSo I know first hand about discrimination in the African American dominated basketball culture. That's why I am a big Jeremy Lin fan and he makes me proud that he has overcome all the negativity, racism, and stereotype. I hope he becomes an NBA all-star. So he can open doors to the Asian Americans who dream to play college ball, professional ball, and the NBA.
You were Jeremy Lin in a way, Etymology.
DeleteI am sure you were a good player in your day. No racist coach can take that from you.
Thanks man. Yeah I get emotional when I watch Jeremy Lin play because he makes me feel like I am living my passion & love for the sport through him and I'm sure that is how a lot of underdogs and basketball players feel all around the world.
DeleteIt's the way he plays and how he's overcome so much that makes people love him. I wish kids watching him, being the role model he is, take after him (by going to college, getting a degree, respecting people, caring about family and friends, and never giving up on their dreams), than selfish ego-centric thugs like Carmelo.
I have faced the exact kind of racism you faced, only in nonbasketball areas.
DeleteOver time, I learned to scout out places before I participated. My experience is that when people hold my race against me, nothing I do can possibly change their minds. So I no longer participate in activities where I am not allowed to succeed - which is ALMOST EVERYTHING.
I am an entrepreneur who does his own thing. My businesses are affected by race, but not so much that I can't survive. Similarly, I've become self contained in a lot of things because I can't always rely on others the way people of any other race can.
The difference between Jeremy Lin and me is that he kicked down the door while I made my own door and then kicked it down.
My hat to you my friend. I'm glad you persevered and did not stand up to that bullshit. Wish most people our race do the same thing, but I notice some people just accept that discrimination as most of us were brought up to be passive and obedient by our elders. Or discriminate among each other, due to our different Asian cultural background.
DeleteThat's why this whole JLIN thing is like a big Asian cultural movement in my opinion. Not just in the basketball world, but in everything that we Asians still face in today's modern society. I hope JLIN's story can unite all the asian brothers as one, and see ourselves as one Asian community and not divided by our Asian ancestral differences and break the down the door of Asian discrimination in all areas of society.
Etymology,
DeleteYou are not the only one who has that experience.
I can empathize.
"That's why this whole JLIN thing is like a big Asian cultural movement in my opinion."
DeleteAgreed. That's why it's not easy for me to balance my concern for his physical well-being and my Taiwanese American male desire for Lin to put the pedal to the metal to dominate every game as our representative and hero.
It was a lot easier to root for Lin to play 'hero ball' during Linsanity when there was no evidence he couldn't play that way indefinitely. But since his injury, I think it matters for his fans to show him that we don't hold him up to expectations that will push him past his physical limits. He needs to learn to shift gears, just as Kidd advised, even if that means he won't break down social-cultural doors and impress the world every night.
Yeah I agree with your point Eric that he doesn't have to push himself over the top to prove his critics wrong every game.
DeleteI hope his body will hold up through all 81 games this season without injuries and have a long NBA career.
"I hope his body will hold up through all 81 games this season without injuries and have a long NBA career."
DeleteThat's my biggest concern about Lin on the Rockets. I'm confident that Lin would have learned to shift gears, among other things, with just 1 more season as a Knick. On the Rockets, he'll be pressured to push himself hard every night and carry his underdog team, like he did during Linsanity. He can do it, but for how long? There's a greater chance Lin will be hurt again as a Rocket than he would have as a Knick. He'll need to figure out the right balance with less help.
Add: "I hope his body will hold up through all 81 games this season" + the reputation-making play-offs.
DeleteREAD IT & SPREAD IT!! TRUTH NEED TO BE TOLD!!
ReplyDeletehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/basketball/nba/07/18/jeremy-lin-exclusive/index.html
What's frightening is that we on this board knew more about what was going on with the Knicks and Jeremy Lin than Jeremy Lin did.
DeleteI remember some astute member writing that Lin probably was as clueless about the Knicks intentions as we were. The Knicks gave him zero information after the LA meeting and only talked to him to tell him he was gone.
Lin took the ONLY contract offer he had. Even puny Ramon Sessions drew more interest around the league.
I am thrilled to see that Houston apologized repeatedly to Lin for cutting him. That's TRUE loyalty.
Thank you for posting the link, 777am.
DeleteIt would be hard for people to doubt Jeremy's perspective on this.
"But there also wasn't much choice: He had all of one offer sheet in front of him to consider."
The truth is simple. The Knicks gambled that noone would make an offer that they couldn't stomach, and they lost. They assumed Linsanity would not sell in other place than NY so they put him last in the priority list.
They should have put a decent offer before pursuing Steve Nash and Jeremy would have signed it because it tells him he's #1 priority.
Knicks played chess with Rockets and made a blunder. Simply amazing!
IMHO, this has God's hand written all over it. A few months ago no NBA teams thought they can snatch Jeremy out of NY because he is their cash cow. I'm guessing God has a bigger plan in Houston for Jeremy to reach out 1.3B people in China like someone in the board mentioned. Noone knows what it is including Jeremy. So let's enjoy the ride!
Psalm234, except the Knicks seemed happy with the 1st Rockets offer, which was higher than the Knicks could have offered him out the gate.
DeleteI believe Lin and the rest of the Knicks free agents were backburnered while Nash was pursued. None of them got offers out the gate. I believe Nash would have started over Lin. (Interestingly, though, Lin's name didn't come up in sign-and-trade rumors regarding Nash, unlike fellow RFA Fields.) But by the point of the 1st Rockets offer, with Nash to the Lakers and Kidd emphasizing his support for Lin, Lin was the Knicks #1 priority.
Whatever happened to change the Knicks position on Lin happened with the 2nd offer. Morey didn't put Grunwald in checkmate. The Knicks always held the ultimate checkmate move: matching the offer. What happened is more like the Knicks forfeited the game rather than use their checkmate.
What the SI article shows is that whatever the state of communication, Lin believed what the rest of us believed: his free agency was on track, the Knicks would match any offer, and he would return to the team. He was assured he was in the team's long-term plans. The article also shows Lin preferred to be a Knick and was pleased ("excited") with Woodson's plans discussed at the June LA dinner.
Then the Felton trade blindsided Lin like it blindsided the rest of us.
Unfortunately, what's missing for those of us interested in refuting the meme of a disloyal (or alternatively, naive) Lin taking insider (yet public) info from the Knicks to the Rockets, then using his magical jedi powers to convince them to change the offer, the article is conspicuously light on the circumstances of the 2nd offer. The only telling detail is the lack of direct communication between Lin and the Knicks during that time apart from the public assurances they would match. In another article, Morey implied the Rockets initiated the re-negotiation.
Something happened to the Knicks related to the 2nd offer. Grunwald's phone call avoided an explanation. Lin believed the Knicks would match the 2nd offer. Either the Knicks were bluffing all along and had secretly set a ceiling for matching up to, say, a 10 mil poison pill. Or as Bill Simmons and many Knicks fans have speculated, Dolan simply reacted badly and did something stupid and unnecessary.
Except, Lin is more than a Lin fan reflavoring morsels of sports media gossip. Lin could judge Woodson's intentions from actually having played for him and interacting with his coach in more substantial ways than media quotes.
DeleteNash would have started over Lin, but that's the exception. Past Nash to the Lakers, Lin needed a back-up regardless. Kidd wouldn't have started over Lin, unless as I've discussed before, starting was the only way for Kidd's shrinking game to be useful, in which case Lin likely would have started with him, and/or to set the guard rotation in a way that allowed Smith to play heavy minutes off the bench.
I don't know what the deal is with the lack of communication going either way. An unfortunate effect is that it doesn't appear Lin and his agent realized the Knicks would balk at the 2nd offer.
A check-mate implies a position where the opponent is out of moves, and that wasn't the case with the Knicks. What's puzzling Knicks Lin fans is that the Knicks weren't in a different position with the 2nd offer than the acceptable 1st offer except for a larger luxury tax, which was thought to be the least impediment given that the 3rd year of the 3-year window was already designed - before Lin - to carry a hefty luxury tax. Plus the 1st offer would have had a luxury tax hit. Plus the ways (trade, stretch) to mitigate the risk.
I'm not saying Morey didn't win. He got Lin. But it's still a mystery why the Knicks gave Lin up seemingly with little pressure to do so.
WTF about the Knicks front office, not about Woodson.
DeleteHAHAHA YOU GUYS GOTTA LISTEN TO THIS JEREMY LIN REMIX: THE JEREMY LIN THAT I USED TO KNOW
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/jeremy-that-i-used-to-know-lin-parody-song_n_1682821.html?utm_hp_ref=sports
DeleteIn some weird way I am going to miss JLin play as a Knick. But I'm also glad he's out of that drama.
DeleteAgreed.
DeleteLin is fortunate to have been a Knick. If the Knicks weren't totally dysfunctional, Lin would never have gotten his chance.
Good people have a way of being kicked out of dysfunctional situatuons. Knick screwiness is not good for Lin on a long term basis.
What's the next thing the JLIN HATERS will say about Jeremy Lin as a rocket when he does well?
ReplyDeleteThat he's avg. 25pts 10ast a game because there's no one else that's good in the team?
That because all the offense is running through him?
That if he was in NYK he'd only be an avg. player?
No matter what, JLIN will be discriminated despite of him becoming an All-Star and proving his critics wrong. His game will be microscopically analyzed more than any other player, that when he does have bad games, haters will dissect it, more than any other NBA player and will always say his game has been exposed.
No one is going to talk about John Walls, Kyrie Irving, & Ricky Rubio's bad games.
So as JLIN fans, we might as well get used to it, because we know the truth, haters will always hate. But stats and Wins will tell the truth.
Yep, good numbers by a dominant ball-handler and volume shooter on a bad team, a la Francis and Marbury.
DeleteTo succeed in Houston, Lin needs to do both: establish his individual rep with tangible numbers AND his intangible team leader rep by leading the Rockets to a successful season, which relative to current expectations, means a 7 or 8 seed in the play-offs. It's not a must to get into the play-offs in year 1 - although I think he can do it; the Rockets moving in the right direction and building hope in year 1 followed by a play-off berth in year 2 should be sufficient.
That's the bar for Lin in Houston.
Pfft. Whatever.
DeleteThis is the NBA. There is no "bar" for anybody.
Guys come in, play their best, collect the money.
If Lin plays his hardest and the Rockets don't quite win the way people think they should, it's not going to stop REAL FANS like me from appreciating his hard work.
Yeah I agree, true fans will stick with JLIN no matter what.
DeleteYeah, Lin fans will stick by him, but you were talking about his critics and general NBA fans.
DeleteYeah I was, and those critics and bipolar fans are going to go by Stats and Wins
DeleteIf you want a Jeremy fathead, they dropped the price down to $16.36 from $99.99. Not a bad deal if you don't mind him w/ knicks uniform.
ReplyDelete1636 apparently is when Harvard was founded.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/07/jeremy-lin-fathead-reduced-to-1636/1#.UAb1Q6MoNzg
Jalen Rose comment on Jeremy Lin. Interesting comments, he makes. He see's Lin for the player he is.
ReplyDeletehttp://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8176255&s=espn
Chris Rock: If linn were a 23 old black kid who came straight from high school and had tat on his neck that said thug life and happened to score 38 points on the lakers I don't think anyone would question his contract.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/chrisrock/status/225645087663730688
Unfortunately, not all sports fans - not all people - are thoughtful. Many fans form their opinions based on crude generalizations and, yes, selective bias. Understandable given sports fandom is a tribal activity and the mob mentality will always be a subset of the tribal mindset. We see the same traits on this website and any fansite, even the more sophisticated ones. And in elite universities for that matter.
DeleteThe simple themes of the greedy disloyal mercenary player and the undeserving overpaid Knick with the albatross contract are ingrained complaints of Knicks fans in the Dolan era. So it's easy to shoehorn Lin into that frame.
The most sensible argument for not matching the Rockets offer is only partially related to the size of the contract: the belief that Lin simply isn't good enough to be the starting PG of a win-now team, not at 5 mil per in years 1-2 nor 9 or 15 mil in year 3. That explains the Stephen A Smith types.
But otherwise framing Lin's case based on the 2 money-based themes doesn't hold up when his circumstances are compared to past, and current, bloated Knicks contracts. Different players, different team expectations, different short- and long-term impacts on the salary cap, different options for dealing with the balloon years. Some fans, though, simply are uncomfortable considering too much nuance; they prefer to stick with the simple themes.
The frustrating thing for Knicks Lin fans is that the Knicks were not out-maneuvered by the Rockets in any chess check-mate sense. Dolan had the option to match until the end. A poison pill offer was a known possibility from the start, plus the Knicks were fine with matching 4/28, which was also a poison pill offer. From the basketball, PR, and business perspectives, the right move was to match the 3/25 offer. The Knicks said they would match all along and then at the 11th hour (hasty trade for Felton), chose not to, leaving a lot of serious fans shaking their heads.
As Rock points out, race, class, and culture are also simple themes that guide fan opinions. Like I said, sports fandom is a tribal activity.
msg stock lost another $40 million in market cap today... nice move dolan looooool
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStephen A Smith is an idiot. On ESPN Radio today, he kept citing that J.Lin doesn't pass the "eye test." Hmm, I wonder if anybody has made that mistake before?? He couldn't wrap his pea sized brain around Jeremy clarifying he meant he was 85% of READY during the playoffs. He kept insisting Jeremy meant he was 85% of full-strength. Even if J.Lin WAS saying he was 85% of full-strength, Ryan Ruocco should have just asked that fool - What percent should he have played at, then? 1%? 50%? 70%? 84%? Besides, Amare, Melo, and JR would have sunk their playoff ship anyways! That bufoon thinks he's right simply because he's loud. I will definitely not miss listening to ESPN Radio NY. The Rockets are, of course, rebuilding, but at least are not a franchise infected with ego on all levels - the front office, the players, to their pundits. Good riddance ... Escape from NY.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the SI article, Lin meant 85% of his minimum threshold for playing, not 85% of his full strength.
Deletenice comments from dantoni
ReplyDeletehttp://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/07/jeremy-lin-on-move-i-preferred-new-york-dantoni-surprised/1#.UAcGVrSvJ8E
with quotes from melo, kobe, chandler
Deletehttp://www.contracostatimes.com/warriors/ci_21101081
The Olinpic Select Team as Khuang would design to take on the 2012 Olympic Team:
ReplyDeleteStarters:
PG: Jeremy Lin
PG: Kyrie Irving
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Zach Randolph
C: Roy Hibbert
Bench:
PG: Tyreke Evans
SG: Evan Turner
SF: Danny Granger
PF: David Lee
C: DeMarcus Cousins
11th man: Greg Monroe
12th man: Shane Battier
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich
Assistants coaches: Jason Kidd, Bobby Knight, Hakeem Olajuwon, Rick Carlisle
Pretty good picks.
DeleteJust curious:
Could you explain your logic on the 2 PG starters vs. having a pure SG with Jeremy Lin?
Could you also explain your starting lineup and why you picked Rudy Gay & Zach Randolph to start and play at the same time? I think the starting lineup would need a 3 point threat.
Here's my picks LOL:
Starters:
PG: Jeremy Lin
SG: Iman Shumpert
SF: Ersan Ilyasova
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Roy Hibbert
Not sure if Ersan LLyasova is American Citizen, I guess he's not. So I might have to pick a new SF lol.
DeleteTo me, the way to beat international teams is to win the paint.
DeleteI'm the total opposite of Coach K who wants to outrun and outshot teams. I'd jam the lane with big time bruisers and low post players even if it meant sacrificing a bit of outside shooting and speed. My thing is that American basketball's strength is its strength.
I erred on LaMarcus Aldridge. Portland's season was so bad that I forgot about him. I'd put LMA as my backup 4, keep David Lee, and bump off Monroe.
In international ball, I like big guards like Irving and Lin who can make decisions from anywhere on the court. I don't like small penetrating point guards or one dimensional shooting guards because international teams completely shut down driving and passing lanes.
The US tendency with Coach K is to scramble on defense after ballhandlers, use a low zone to neutralize big men down low in favor of jamming the perimeter, outrun the bigger international teams, and shoot 3s over the zone. The problem is that opponents know this and are adjusting accordingly. Any team with a smart PG that can break the high defense of Team USA can easily attack the undersized US front line where there is puny interior resistance.
Thus my strategy is the opposite. Send in bruisers like Randolph and Hibbert and Cousins to control the paint even against Spain with the Gasol brothers and Ibaka and Reyes. Give them hard nosed long armed interior help in Gay and Granger. Use big athletic guards like Turner, Lin, and Evans to bully less physical international guards while also dropping down low to protect the inside.
I have always believed that basketball should be played inside out if one has the brutes to do it.
Your logic makes sense. I could see how that would be effective.I think that's how the Dream Team use to run their offense, just how you explained it.
DeleteMakes me wonder why Coach K doesn't utilize bigger players in the front line. My guess is that maybe he thinks FIBA's leniency on physicaly play might prevent bruisers from dominating. But I think it would only benefit bruiser NBA players like Zach and Cousins to dominate the paint.
I think Coach K is trying to play too much like an international team.
DeleteIn FIBA, the emphasis is on perimeter play. The formerly trapezoidal lane and shorter 3 point line were the main reasons why. Post up players were not able to set up near the lane, especially with perimeter defenders dropping back from the shorter 3 pt line to help. Thus international big men tend to have no low post skills but can step out and hit the short 3.
Thus Coach K wants a team filled with versatile defenders and scorers who can play perimeter ball. Even though the trapezoidal lane has been abolished (I think), Euro big man mentality is still there.Coach K feels that the best NBA perimeter athletes will beat FIBA in its preferred perimeter.
The problem with that thinking is that FIBA teams are beginning to outmaneuver Coach K in the perimeter. Plus, they're starting to send their own brutes down low to punish our undersized frontcourters. It caught up with Coach K in 2006 and nearly in 2008 when we narrowly beat Spain.
With US bruisers like Randolph and Cousins and Hibbert and LMA down low, international big men would not be able to withstand the barrage of muscle brutes fighting for position all game long. Even a team like Spain would not be able to withstand a gamelog wrestling match against waves of fresh American big men. Foul trouble, fatigue, and fear would set in and the perimeter FIBA guys would be squeezed to the perimeter. Plus the American perimeter guys would drive to the rim at will and shoot open shots with impunity.
Indeed the FIBA rules favor American physicality. But as long as Jerry "I hate big men" Colangelo is running USA basketball, we'll continue playing small ball until somebody is smart enough to overpower us inside.
another angle, taken from reddit:
ReplyDelete"From the Knicks subreddit (context was discussion over why Stephen A. Smith is a dickwad):
Here's what you need to know about Stephen A. Smith: Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has become a huge player very quickly in the representation of NBA players. This started with Lebron James, but now includes many if not most of the league's superstars along with lots of other smaller fish. You may have heard of William Wesley. He is a part of CAA.
CAA represents Carmelo Anthony, Mark Warkentien (advisor to Glenn Grunwald). The Knicks forced Woodson to switch to CAA before extending his contract. JR Smith is also represented by CAA. MSG itself uses CAA to attract sponsorships. Eddy Curry and Renaldo Balkman were also repped by CAA, and Isiah Thomas has close ties to the agency.
Getting back to Steven A. Smith -- Smith knew a full week before anyone else had confirmation that Lebron was going to Miami. How did he know this? CAA of course. He traded his journalist soul (if he ever had one) in exchange for information about perhaps the biggest sports story of the millennium. In return, all he has to do is sell the angle that CAA wants him to sell.
CAA, of course, wants to grow the brand of its clients and to keep its clients happy. Before revising their statements, Smith and Melo seemed rather unhappy about sharing the spotlight with Lin, so that's one factor. Likewise, it doesn't behoove Anthony and therefore CAA to have Lin drawing all the popularity in NYC. Anthony, like Lebron, wants to be a legacy player, the kind of guy who still has his name on a shoe a decade after he's retired. That's the modern NBA goal -- to be the next Jordan, not necessarily on the basketball court (unless it's absolutely necessary), but definitely from a marketing standpoint.
Its a natural repercussion of media insanity. It makes everything seem about image, the game taking the backseat. Dwight Howard, for example, doesn't want to go to a contender. He wants to go somewhere he can build his brand. Carmelo could have picked lots of better teams if he wanted a championship, but NYC was a place you could have a marketing legacy.
My opinion, first of all, is that Dolan still believes that the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony was a steal, probably because CAA gave him the impression that it was only through his kindnesses to their agency (and not because NYC gave up a ton of assets) that he was able to acquire Anthony. JR Smith's cheap deals, too, were probably payback for Dolan's kindnesses to CAA. Who knows what level of under the table stuff there is going on between MSG and CAA.
So, when CAA's plans for Carmelo to be that Jordan level guy get threatened by Jeremy Lin, who has other representation, my guess is not too long after the gears were already turning to re-engineer the team so that Anthony could be front and center. First, it was D'Antoni, another guy not represented by CAA. His preferred style of play was A) Allowing Lin to thrive, and B) Preventing Melo from getting the requisite 28 PPG. As that plan was in danger of failure simply due to massive fan interest, Lin had to be removed from the equation entirely. Again not realizing he was being played, Dolan accommodated CAA and let Lin go for nothing. So that's a big part of why all this has happened, and why the media, especially Stephen A (whose profile, thanks to CAA, is much bigger now) is slandering Lin and really has been slandering Lin ever since he broke out. Go look. You'll see he held out as long as he can with "flash in the pan" theories. You'll also see he called for D'Antoni's head before he was fired. here's a little love fest he gives for J.R. Smith. Here he already Knows MDA will be gone, and although he denies it, the headline and article's content clearly intends to portray D'Antoni as being at fault.
Credit to maxmax."
Here's the only problem for SAS and haters like him:
DeleteBall don't lie.
Jeremy Lin gonna used all the doudters and haters as a motivation next year. I'm happy to see JLin in Houston.
ReplyDeleteJeremy Lin - SPARTA athlete
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWJ458aYhF0
Check this video out. True knicks fans will be sad watching JLin bury jumper after jumper in a "New York Basketball" T-shirt...
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