Posted on 08/17/2019 9:24:34 AM PDT by rebuildus
You said Lin’s never been that good. Not true. Do you know his career?
Leads his high school team to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division II state title (beating Mater Dei, a team with multiple players who would play at higher levels). Named first-team All State and Northern California Division II Player of the Year
At Harvard, he was a two-time unanimous All-Ivy League First Team, setting numerous school records.
So he yes he was a very good player. Just overlooked, likely because he was Asian, and thus not expected to be very good, and not one of the “crew.”. The way he played in New York and Brooklyn proved what he could do when his talent was allowed to flourish.
Of course he turned the Knicks around. You HAVE heard of the “Linsanity” season, right?
As I’ve said to others, when Lin has been given the freedom to play his game from the #1 guard position, he has excelled (Knicks and Nets, for two examples).
Div 2 state title. Ie, not division 1. Ie not that good.
In the 80+ year history of the NBA 45 Ivy League Players have made the roster. Ie not that good.
No he wasn’t a very good player. But he did get picked up, so you can’t claim he was overlooked. He played well for TWELVE games. And then got hurt. NOT THAT GOOD.
Yes, the knee injury happened, but the key is that the Knicks replaced D’Antoni (the guy who put him in in the first place, backed him, opened the floor, and gave him the ball!) as coach.
No more pick and roll, just boring, selfish, post up, clogged lane, momentum killing basketball. Totally unsuited to Lin’s game. Obviously had a huge impact on a player like Lin, anywhere it was tried (and it happened to him on several teams).
None of us (not even you!) know how good Lin would have been with fewer injuries and the right environment. And to say great players make their way, etc, is partially true, but not completely. Otherwise coaches like Phil Jackson, who great players went to to become champions, wouldn’t matter.
The key is that the Knicks suck and a 12 game stretch of not suck didn’t make the Knicks not suck. And remember D’Antoni RESIGNED. Sure he probably would have been fired, and definitely should have been fired, but he resigned.
No, we DO KNOW how good Lin is. He’s a bench player that had 12 great games. And made a bunch of money because of those 12 great games. And got an NBA championship. The fact of the matter is you’re living in pipe dream land completely ignoring the facts on the board. The facts are in. Lin has NEVER been a better than pretty darn good player for any useful length of time. He has NEVER shown any ability to be more than that. Don’t know why it’s so important for you to believe some frankly mediocre athletes are picked on for reasons not related to their talent. But you are quite simply WRONG in all aspects. Celebrate how well Lin capitalized on his so-so talent, don’t whine that he had more. He didn’t. It’s a plainly obvious fact to anyone that doesn’t where rose colored glasses. He is a bench quality player, has been his whole life. And he got 25 million and a ring for that. Good for him.
The main point of the article is being missed: That when someone stays in their “zone” (where their talents are), they excel. When they try to do things they’re not well-suited for, they don’t do well. Period.
This is true for Jeremy Lin, it’s true for you, and it’s true for me. We can argue about how good a basketball player (or not) Jeremy Lin is, but these principles are rock solid.
This principle has certainly been proven true for Jeremy Lin in his career, and it has shown itself many times on several team, over much more than 12 games.
No. The article has NO point. It’s bitching and moaning and whining and saying a player that has been so-so his ENTIRE LIFE could have been so much more if only... It’s a bunch of malarkey.
If you want to write an article about people excelling in their zone pick somebody that wasn’t mediocre their whole life. Look at Tom Brady (6th round draft pick, wasn’t great in college, nobody expected him to be a starter in the NFL, then Bledsoe gets hurt). THAT’S a story about somebody excelling when they get to be in their zone. A bench player having a 12 game stretch that even HE knew was beyond expectations tells us NOTHING about the zone.
Sorry bub. You’re not a good judge of talent, and not a good writer. And you definitely can’t parable for crap. Better luck next time.
Wow, what a bitter man (I’m assuming you’re a man, might not be) you are. Have a good life.
Not bitter at all. Funny how the folks who insist mediocre players are put upon always assume anybody telling the truth is bitter. Just because I don’t let liking a guy blind me to his obvious faults doesn’t mean I’m bitter, just means I’m honest. Lin’s a nice guy, and a bench quality player. I’m glad he managed to parlay his skill set into fat cash and a championship. Nice guys should get that once in a while, even on the bench.
Now, really, grow up. Learn that most of the time when athletes hang out around a sport for years and years and never make the big time, it’s because they aren’t that good. You’ll be better off with a more realistic view of the world. And you’ll write better parables.
Ok, discostu, I’ll take you at your word and assume good intentions on your part. I do see a great talent in Jeremy Lin, you can (and have) call me blind. And I believe we haven’t seen the last of him by any stretch. Time will tell if that is to the be case.
As for me, never claimed to be a great writer, but I enjoy it, and believe I have something to offer. I’m gonna keep at it, and we’ll see where it goes. I appreciate the conversation.
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