Because they were not sure how well it would translate into actual games. It is one thing to light it up in practice and a totally different thing to handle your business against guys who are not your teammates. His teammates always said they knew he was good but they didn't know he was that good. Also believe it or not, the coach D'antoni was unsure as to how Lin would be defensively. I know that there is a common perception that D'antoni doesn't value defense. He actually does just not as much as offense. He wasn't sure if Lin would be able to hold his own on the defensive end. Lin is alright defensively, makes a lot of rookie mistakes but he held his own reasonably well.
he's been trying to do that forever, hasn't he? get a star i mean. i'm not a Rockets fan, so i haven't been following it day to day since Yao, but that's my impression from afar.
Addition: Also Mike James was a member of the Detroit Pistons squad that won an NBA title. The new HC and former assistant coach (mike woodson) was the defensive coach of that Pistons squad that won the title. So there was the connection between James and Woodson. There was a rumour going around that the Knicks were going to fire Mike Dantoni and give Woodson the interim HC job. Woodson and James would have been in and Dantoni and Lin would have been out. Funny that Dantoni would eventually quit and Lin's offer would not be matched in the long run. Huh.
Lin didn't fit in Mike Woodson offensive system. Mike wanted a half court PG, and Lin was definitely a scrub to him...
Lin's strength is pick and roll cutting angle, which will fit in McHale system. Half-court game and play-making skill are relative less important in McHale system. Lowry vs Dragic is a great example.
An other example will be Rollz. In Adelman's system, Rollz probably will earn 5min - 10min, but in McHale's system, Rollz probably will be sent to D-League in the beginning of the season.
The funniest thing is that you have guys like Jason Terry, James Harden and Manu who spent most if not their whole career as a bench player. Yet you never saw so called scouts labeling them as "bench player". New flash: if you're not a No 10 pick and/or the team heavily invested in you, chances are you usually start your career on the bench. But it doesn't mean you would stay there forever as your career progress. Hell even Kobe and McGrady spent their first few years on the bench and which HOFers were they beating in practice for their starting jobs? What's the big deal? Lin's from bench to starting progress is just as healthy as anyone. The amount of Lin and Asik hating is simply ridiculous.
Like how Patterson started the season benched and didn't play even 1 min until game 10? Mchale gave Parsons the starting job over C-bud. He plays who is good, period.
Sorry I disagree with you. Lin can play in system. The only reason he didn't shine in GS or early in NY is because of his draft position and people's perception of him. He was never given a fair chance.
But how can anyone show his strength if he can fit in or not when he's never given more than 10 minutes a game and played once every 10 games? GSW were simply clueless. Why do you think they were in the lottory forever? You know they even refused to play young players in garbage time after they're elimated the playoffs in that year?
All I'm saying is that usually player does what the coach tell them to do, and different coach has different preference and belief. Therefore, player usually run in a different effective rate.
Well if we don't land Dwight, don't we want to fall? Tank for that lottery pick and play the young guys would be the best option.
This ^^^^ Kobe said it the best, "Players don't usually come out of nowhere. If you can go back and take a look, his skill level was probably there from the beginning, but no one ever noticed..." No one in the world can play like Linsanity in NBA without a certain set of skills. PERIOD! The biggest mis-perception on Lin is his draft position. Throughout college, he showed he can play. Harvard set all kinds of school records his senior year. Lin also set all kinds of Ivy League records; points, rebounds, assists, and steals. So why wasn't he drafted? IMO race is the only reason. Let me break that mis-conception by asking you this: What if Lin were a top 5 draftee coming into NBA? If many people considered last season as Lin's rookie year, many would considered Lin had a 'normal to good season.' - Linsanity would never happen. - No one would call Lin 'flash in the pan.' - Rocket would never have him for free. Perception has a funny way of playing with people's mind, doesnt it?
People shouldnt care as soon as you read the words. "Eastern conference GM as source." we all know since he is closest to the Bulls and Knicks that is who he means. Therefor his bias account from those sources is irrelevant since he cant provide the source for everyone to know its from a better source than those two.
Please tell me you're not referring to Royce White? Royce is a Mchale pick(even tho Morey calls the shots). Royce is a 'Sota boy, born and raised. Of course Mchale's MN roots had him tracking Royce since his HS days. Royce will be Mchale's project, and Mchale has produced some damn good results developing/eyeing PF talent(Garnett & Love).
People will soon realize that Felton is an average pg at best. Knicks better pray Kidd stays healthy and plays well.
