2012 NBA jersey sales Top Ten 1. Derrick Rose (Bulls) 2. Jeremy Lin (Knicks) 3. Kobe Bryant (Lakers) 4. LeBron James (Heat) 5. Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) 6. Dwyane Wade (Heat) 7. Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks) 8. Kevin Durant (Thunder) 9. Blake Griffin (Clippers) 10. Rajon Rondo (Celtics) Are you Sure?
I think Harden has a chance to be picked by the coaches as a reserve, especially if Lin isn't voted in by fans, because the All-Star game will be played in Houson. As for Lin, most people still have the misconception about Lin's fan base. Lin's fan base is different from Yao's. Yao's fan base was made of almost exclusively China and Houston. Lin's is not. Lorenzo is correct to say Lin's popularity in China can't compare with Yao's. Some Chinese hold his US nationality against him. BUT, Lin's fan base is much broader than just China. As far as I can see, the most passionate support Lin gets is from Taiwanese, Asian Americans and New Yorkers. He has many fans in other parts of the U.S., China, other Asian countries, even other countries. Of course, a lot will depend on his performance on court. As long as he puts up decent numbers on court, he'll be voted in by fans. BTW, Nash may not get in. I think his numbes will dip due to how he's used by Mike Brown.
Just because Jeremy's Chinese/Taiwanese doesn't mean everyone in China/Taiwan is going to vote for him. He has his fair share of critics there. Yao's more popular in China than Lin is. And to answer about Harden, I think he'll be fighting for a reserve spot. There are too many good/popular guards in the West.
Just a quick math: The number of Lin's core groups of support = Taiwanese (23 MM) + Asian Americans (17 MM) + New Yorkers minus Asian Americans (7 MM) = 47MM Kobe got 1.5 MM votes and Chris Paul got 1.1 MM votes to be the starting guards in the West. All the others got less than 400K. Lin will need 2.5% from his core group of fans to beat CP. We'll see.
I was thinking the opposite. No way he makes it as a starter, given the competition. But, since he's good and the ASG will be in Houston, the coaches will include him.
i didn't mean china and taiwan are the same country, i mean japan fighting for the islands with china and taiwan, sorry to confuse you
There are many many New Yorkers who love Lin and see him almost as their own kid, who got "exiled" by the evil Dolan (Can't you say Cinderella and her stepmother?). Lin got many New Yorkers who haven't being watching the Knicks excited about basketball last season. Many Knicks fans swore off the Knicks after the Lin decision. New Yorkers are far more emotionally involved with Lin than just the front of his jersey. Just see how many New Yorkers are frequenting the Rockets sites.
