I've generally supported the idea of Lin becoming an all star if voted in, and I've also expressed the benefit to his image/legacy if he would decline it. The fact that becoming an all star has an affect in various players' contracts in the league in terms of incentives, might help support the opinion of those who believe he shouldn't be in the ASG. Jealousy from an ego perspective alone, this might actually affect someone's wallet. This includes his teammate Harden who has such a clause (although it stipulates that he make at least one ASG which I'm sure he will either this year or multiple times in future years).
keep on voting for James Harden guys! http://allstarballot.nba.com/ballot?referrer=asb12_ad_content&cid=asb12_ad_content
They are going to call him overrated, overhyped & a gimmick with or without the all star games. That is what happens when you are asian in a sport where few asian have had success. Particularly after what happened in NY it was bound to be like this. If Lin want's to avoid the exposure & doesn't feel comfortable I would see him drop out. An no other PG said they were going to destroy Lin that is false. People comparing Lin to Tebow in terms of there ability in there sport aren't very bright. This is fair. But I don't think Lin thinks as much about the games as fans/detractors are making a big deal about it. If he doesn't seem comfortable participating in it I wouldn't be shocked to see him drop out to be frank a lot of other players who were injured & got the votes have done the same. If he does decide to do it likely it will be for his fans benefit or for the city or for his own enjoyment. And really as a Rocket fan would I be upset at my player doing something for the city or because he thinks it will be fun? Lin's life since NY has been dealing with off court distractions LOL. I think he knows how to handle them by now while being productive on the court.
Haha Lin's gets so much hate and hype anyway. I don't see what more the media can do to him. Even before the voting took place, the media and haters were already criticizing any potential outcome and after the initial votes were shown, once again the media started their ciriticism. If Lin does make the AS team as a reserve, and he declines it, there will be even more criticism of him for declining it. Either way, he will be criticized. I think if the fans vote him in, he should just go regardless. Popular injured players who haven't played a single game are voted in quite frequently (ie. Yao his rookie year and also the year he was injured) and more deserving players are often overlooked every single year. I think you all are making too much out of this. Lin's a big boy who gets criticized no matter what he does or doesn't do. IMO, it's not that big of a deal.
Also the fact that the AS game is in Houston should mean something...the hometown players often get more votes despite being less deserving.
No. People compare Tebow to Lin because of that Linsanity and Denver winning. Lin can play the PG position but Tebow cannot play the QB position (the guy can't pass)
Clearly we can now drop the charade that the allstar game is anything other than a popularity contest. I feel sorry for people who actually think that hard work and good basketball will be rewarded with an invitation to this circus-like farce of an event.
You know whats funny, seeing Lin thread the needle with some half court passes makes me think he could have been a decent QB if he tried football. Plus the fact that he studies the game and works as hard as he does, he might ahve been decent if he started young.
What distractions? He's the best player in the NBA and the Heat still made it to the Finals. He got over it quick. These guys are pros, if Lin can't overcome something like being voted into the All-Star, that's weak-minded and he shouldn't be our starting PG. This game is in Houston, I want Lin, Asik, Parsons, Tjones, and of course Harden participating one way or another. All-Star, Rookie/Soph, Skills, 3pt...
I feel like I have to defend my comments, so here I go... This may be true, but without the overexposure and supposed justification his selection in the All Star game will bring, his criticism will be on a much smaller scale. His selection will likely cause a lot of media backlash in addition for general fan backlash. "An no other PG said they were going to destroy Lin that is false" Well, maybe no PG said it explicitly and perhaps it was part of the rumour mill, but it is no coincidence that Rondo dropped 18/20/17 on him, Deron William dropped 38/6/4 their second outing etc. As Kevin Garnett suggested a lot of PGs will be over excited to play Lin and it'll give them extra motivation (to prove their better than him). This came due to his Linsanity overexposure. It'll obviously happen again if he were an All-star, as, this is pure speculation, other PGs would like to torch him to suggest they are better than him, however, this won't always work (see: Raymond Felton). In Houston, being away from the big media market in NY he's been able to struggle without overbearing criticism, he still gets criticism, but if he played the same as he has this season in NY, he would be absolutely crucified. The main point I was making is that this game will do no good for him if he's selected and will probably do a lot of damage. The guy has just started getting his confidence back. People compare Lin to Tebow, because they both are christian, sort of came out of nowhere, are overhyped, overrated and supposedly cannot play their position. Everyone was calling Linsanity a fluke, saying he's a joke etc. If I recall you were one of the people speculating that his poor play earlier this season was "the real jeremy." The comparison is used to put Lin down, and many people believe, echoing SAS "he's an average PG" or whatever. Your quote is your opinion, but that does not make it the consensus. I just don't understand how people cannot see how this will blowup in his face.
You guys can vote using facebook: https://apps.facebook.com/nbaallstarballot/?fb_source=search&ref=ts&fref=ts of course NBA.com: http://allstarballot.nba.com/daily?referrer=asb12_ad_content&cid=asb12_ad_content and using your Iphone,iTouch, iPad and other gadgets by going to www.nba.com/asb
Sorry for the double post. I missed this comment, so I shall defend this also. No he didn't, have you not watched his victory speech's and interviews post-championship. He said it did get to him, he played the 2011 season angry, he embraced his role as "the villain" and he suggests that this is the reason for his collapse in the finals. So, yes, I would classify the media and fan backlash as "distractions."
Speaking purely as a Rockets fan, I think it would be a huge plus for the team, and at most a temporary step back for Lin. Given how little FAs have cared about the team in today's age of max contracts(can't outbid anyone), Lin all-star controversy would be a huge lift. I subscribe to the "any press is good press" theory, and this would be huge press that NBA players and agents would take notice. As for Lin, this will not affect him long term. He went through Linsanity and still plays the same way today. But when it comes to luring in potential FAs or disgruntled stars, can't beat this type of publicity.
Er... I thought it was widely known that the Allstar Games were always about popularity? It's the All-NBA First Team that rewards great play.
All of what you said in your second paragraph is last year & old news. People aren't as interested in him this year (nor are they that interested in showing him up) as they were last year surprised you don't see that. The Harden trade changed things. And if he was in NY he wouldn't be getting crucified because the Knicks would still be winning. The Knicks are winning in spite of Felton who is worse than Lin, not because of him & nobody in NY is talking about Feltons terrible play. Winning changes everything. And if him getting selected damages his confidence then I am sorry he is p*ssy. What RollsRoyce said is accurate 100% if he can't "overcome" being selected to a circus like farce of an event (credit to Aruba for that one) then he is weak minded & I don't want him to be my starting PG. I can understand a player loosing confidence because of poor play, but to lose confidence over the all star games LOL what a bit*h. And in regards to what clutch said about it being awkward for him that is silly. Linsanity was awkward something as trivial as the all star games really isn't. But like I said all of this is highly unlikely he won't be in the games, he will be in the skills competition & frankly I think he would be a perfect fit there. Would be really interesting to see him participate in that. He better take it seriously, keep that trophy in Houston.
I was talking with some of these fans some time ago.what i get behind their motivation to vote is rather to show that lin has a huge fanbase rather than his performance or such.there are some minority having the same belief as yours but as i said,it's a minority.
Being uncomfortable about being overhyped due to one's race does not make him mentally weak. It makes a normal human being who wants to be judged by his ability. Frankly, I'm disgusted to hear a woman use such misogynist language. I expected more sense from you.
