[ClutchFans] Jeremy Lin after playing just 18 minutes vs. Mavericks

I've read about that incident but didn't actually watch that particular game. (Was traveling on business and the game was blocked out on League Pass as Murphy's Law dictated.)

Feel free to call me crazy but I actually think Sampson likes Lin (or at the minimum, respects him as a player). Besides, assuming Sampson wants a head coach job somewhere down the road, he should be smart enough to set his personal feeling aside. Not sure what to make of that incident but it's now in my book as an isolated anomaly pending further evidence... lol.

 

I saw it and was repulsed. I thought to myself, good guys don't finish first. But I agree that Sampson is warming to Lin. I think he genuinely likes Lin and is not as hard on him as before. As long as Lin eventually gets a fair shake, I am good. Maybe Lin is just too unselfish to a fault. He tries so hard to get everyone else into the game that he forgets about himself. There are worse traits than that for a PG.

 

Well I think he is entitled to his beliefs. I happen to think that Lin can become a Nash/Kidd type, and he makes passing enjoyable for me to watch(except those cross half court line and pass to Harden ones). And when people tell me there's no chance of that, I just shrug and say 'That's just your opinion.'

But I get that you think Lin can be a good player. Just how good do you think he can be?

 

Lin doesn't create spacing for Harden opposing teams know he's in a shooting slump. Why do you think he's getting so many wide open looks at the 3? Teams want him to take a 3, knowing right now there's a 3-in-4 chance he's gonna miss.

Action speaks louder than words. Just re-watch the Mavs game and see how often Douglas is guarding Mayo. I mean, just watch 2Q where Mayo didn't play much. If TD was in to guard Mayo, wouldn't they have pulled him out & put Lin back in since Mayo was on the bench most of 2Q?

I for one think saying it's defense is better than saying "Yeah, our famous backcourt is struggling to play together offensively."

 

That is true. One thing I would like to see more of out of Harden (and the coaching staff) is to take advantage of Lin's penetration to force single coverage on Harden. It may only be for a second or two, but it is enough to run a brush screen for Harden or a play to get him a shoulder advantage on his defender, which is all he needs to get a clean look or contact for the foul, making Harden's life much easier. I think we'd all (including Lin) be thrilled to see Harden score 30 or 40 without straining himself.

Lin blew right by Fisher on the very first play without even a pick. Lin could've also posted up Fisher (I'd also like to see the staff utilize Lin's size on smaller PG's). This is easier also in Lin, with the intention not necessarily to score but to force attention to either get an open look or a single team for Harden with an off-the-ball screen.

 

Our coaches are trying so hard to promote TD's moster defense to increase his value.

Smell a trade?

 

Borderline all-star.

Similar position as Lowry was last year.

 

Thanks, my biggest concern for Lin is getting the reps in pressure situations. Otherwise, they will never develop. Lin is already 24, not old, but also not young. I wouldn't care so much if I didn't see the potential and willingness. Only a few guys I remember in my life actually dominated in their first Finals appearance from the small guard or even wing position, and those guys had plenty of reps early on in their careers as acknowledged stars. Even Lebron didn't dominate in his first Finals appearance, and many are calling him one of the best of all-time.

I made the call about Lin after only seeing Lin in college, and from what I have seen, I still stand by it, health permitting. We shall see.

 

Perhaps it's tough love? Not sure. Popovich was reportedly REALLY harsh on Tony Parker when he first joined the Spurs, but look at their relationship now.

In the opening game against Detroit, Lin was elbowed on the throat while drawing a charge. Feigen (Chron's beat writer) tweeted that "Kelvin Sampson with the best first step of the night. Was flying after Jeremy Lin drew a charge." Granted it's just one incident, but I always think little things like these tell more about a person/relationship than formal interviews or press conferences.

I think Lin will eventually get a fair shake, but he honestly needs to find his shots first. Lin's not gonna command respect from his defender when his airball is so off that Asik caught it & put it back in, and the commentator was jokingly calling it an assist from Lin.

 

I agree - it appears Lin can get into the paint most of the time. He doesn't finish often because the bigs are waiting for him but he does dump it off to Asik or Patterson or pass back for a 3 point shot.

 

No disrespect to TD (I like the guy, seriously!) but who in the league do you think is gonna fall for it? Unfortunately for him, his struggle as a PG was magnified big time during Linsanity. Granted, if he continues to develop his shooting, it's a different story. But right now, I don't know... I mean, the Knicks is paying his salary right now!

 

I was going to say the Knicks, but they already had him. And the posts about TD during his stay were NOT kind.

 

Well, if they did retained Lin back then, there will be no Linsanity and Lin will be just a bench warmer and there won't be LOFs vs LOHs in here nowadaus. You think the coaches will play Lin when they still have Lowry and Dragic?

My 2c

 

The Rockets coaching staff actually do...

 

They don't even want to play him when they have Toney Douglas...

 

McHale probably didn't realize Mayo was out.

 

If you re-watch the 3Q after Lin pass to TD for a layup and +1 and Dallas called TO, Sampson pad Lin on his head kind of like congratulating him. I like that.

 

I thought of that also - Mayo was out a lot of the 2nd quarter. So either McHale is lying about the defense, is totally clueless about who is in the game, is concerned about offensive spacing or there is some other reason. Personally I don't go for the offensive spacing theory because Harden has had plenty of big scoring games playing with Lin.
Whatever it was it didn't work. We lost the game.

 

Sad but possibly true. Though Mchale did "notice" that Dallas was going small at one point, hence his decision to go small (to the ends of the earth).

 

Actually Sampson pats Lin on the head quite often (small part of reason why I never believed it when folks said Sampson hates Lin).