I don't know what you're watching but Lin's handle is definitely below average for a PG. He stops his dribble way too much, and loses his handle in traffic. For a NBA player it MIGHT be considered above average. But there are no stats to measure how good a player's handle is ,therefore its just my word for your word, so I digress.
I don't measure one's ball handle skill only on fancy dribbling, as you shouldn't, just like how you shouldn't measure one's athleticism only based on how high one can jump, but too many people do it anyway. Yeah, picking up his dribble when he shouldn't gets a bit frustrating at times, and that grandpa dribble he does in the paint doesn't look pretty at all but it's effective, and he's improved from last year. He's added that Steve Nash dribble under the goal and remember when every PG would press him last season? They don't do that anymore. As you said, there's no stat that measures one's ball handle skill my eye test says he's average to above average for an NBA point guard. There are what, around 90 point guards in the NBA? I'd say he's in the upper 45.
Lin reminds me of a young Devin Harris. Similar size and build. Both more scoring guards who focus in getting into the paint Not good outside shooters Gamble a lot to get steals Harris better defender but Lin better facilitator
Yeah his handles are for sure not good, and probably bad, for a PG. You can just see by the way the ball rides up his palms at times.
Again, I dont buy the race thing in the NBA. Scouts make their living off discovering hidden talent like Lin. It's not like these guys are raking in 6 figures and telling their GM's not to pick him because he's Asian. That's asanine. College, no question. I'm not saying in hindsight he shouldn't have been (he's a top 15 pick in a "do over") just saying that it didn't at all shock me that he ended up an UDFA due to the circumstances (good point on Harvard)
82games.com has those stats. Lins Hands rating is 23.3 so that is actually pretty good. http://www.82games.com/1213/12HOU2.HTM http://balltillifallblog.blogspot.ca/2007/10/nba-point-guard-preview.html
I don't know what you're seeing but even Bob Cousy likes Lin's potential as a PG. He's even seeing something special in Lin. I don't want to be branded as LOF because of my joining date but I think I trust Cousy's and Magic's eyes better than I trust yours, at least for now.
There are only 9 players that are currently active in NBA that have 17/8 per game.... It's not a poor man's Steve Nash, man... If you restrict to active players that have at least two season with 17/8 records, there are only 4 players and Steve Nash barely makes that list...
I thought Lin made his name from keeping the dribble alive... At least Keith Smart thinks he is good at that... I do not see many guards dribble into the paint area a lot, and Lin definitely stops in the paint which could be good and bad...
Chauncey Billups 2005-06 DET 18.5 8.6 Baron Davis 2005-06 GSW 17.9 8.9 Baron Davis 2006-07 GSW 20.1 8.1 Baron Davis 2001-02 CHH 18.1 8.5 Jrue Holiday 2012-13 PHI 18.5 8.7 LeBron James 2009-10 CLE 29.7 8.6 Jason Kidd 2002-03 NJN 18.7 8.9 Steve Nash 2005-06 PHO 18.8 10.5 Steve Nash 2006-07 PHO 18.6 11.6 Chris Paul 2009-10 NOH 18.7 10.7 Chris Paul 2006-07 NOK 17.3 8.9 Chris Paul 2011-12 LAC 19.8 9.1 Chris Paul 2007-08 NOH 21.1 11.6 Chris Paul 2008-09 NOH 22.8 11 Russell Westbrook 2010-11 OKC 21.9 8.2 Deron Williams 2011-12 NJN 21 8.7 Deron Williams 2010-11 TOT 20.1 10.3 Deron Williams 2008-09 UTA 19.4 10.7 Deron Williams 2009-10 UTA 18.7 10.5 Deron Williams 2007-08 UTA 18.8 10.5
Just to back you up. It is NOT borderline all star... It is much better than all star.... If you are talking about per 36, then it is a different story. Lin is already there although it is not a full season for him so I would not count him. But there are only active 18 players who made that list... It's not borderline all star at all...
Active players who have made 15/7 per 36: Jose Barea Chauncey Billups Baron Davis Raymond Felton Devin Harris Jrue Holiday Mike James Jason Kidd Jeremy Lin Andre Miller Steve Nash Tony Parker Chris Paul Derrick Rose John Wall Russell Westbrook Deron Williams
82games hands rating 2012-2013 Jeremy Lin 23.3 Stephen Curry 22.3 Deron Williams 25.6 Mario Chalmers 17.8 Russel Westbrook 27.5 Christ Paul 35 Dragic 22.4 Lowry 23 So, Lin is about average. Better then Dragic and Lowry, but not elite yet. On the other hand, Harden is at 16.6.
Andre Miller at ~27 Parker at ~27 Felton at 20.5 Kidd at 19.5 John Wall at 24.4 Kyrie Irving at a surpsing 19.. so there you go.
IDK how they find that "Hands" rating but it's obviously BS if Kyrie is down at 19. Probably a stat that also encompasses fast hands for things like steals as well, I'm guessing.
That hands rating is BS. You need to watch the games in combination with stats to get the entire picture. Lin's handles are below average for NBA starting point guards but about average for all PGs in the league. It's not something that's hugely detrimental to his game.
Whats the formula? Sounds sketchy at best. It's odd that you can devise a well formed formula for handles. If anything Lin's handles have improved this year. He would get the ball stripped from him in the backcourt almost every game while playing for D'antoni. I want to know how they calculate this. It seems like its weighted towards assists. I take anything with a grain of salt that has Lin's handle's rated higher than Mike Conley, Jason Kidd, Kyrie Irving, Ricky Rubio, oh and Derrick rose during his MVP season.