Jeremy Lin Appreciation Thread, Rockets 2012-13 Season

I think a thread like this is long overdue, especially given the rabid hate that exists on this site at the moment. Lin did not contribute in the playoffs because of injury and when he was on the floor, he was a non-factor. That has been discussed ad nauseum by now.

However, fans here either have very short memories or very selective memories. Lin was a major contributor through the season to help the Rox get into the playoffs. Harden is Harden, he'll get his production and be a dominant force in nearly every game. Win, lose, or draw, he's the one constant. But recognize that when Lin plays well, many of the games this past year weren't just wins, they were blowouts.

I will be the first to say that I was disappointed by Lin this season mainly because of his inconsistency and his timidity. He is unselfish to a fault. I think he played reactionary... reactionary to some of the talk back in NY last year that he was too ball dominant and at the same time buying in (perhaps too much) on McHale's instructions to be a facilitator first. 6+ assists a game is not bad considering he only plays PG part of the time, people here lose sight of that. No one asks why Mario Chalmers doesn't lead the league in assists with the big 3 in Miami!

I have no doubt Lin will work hard this offseason, shoot a million jumpers, work on his floater, and learning to play off the ball. I anticipate a "bounce-back" year from him next year, either as the starter or as the 6th man (if the organization wants to go in that direction).

But for now, for those with the short memories, Lin's very good games this year, and there were plenty of them:

21 / 7 / 10 against ATL second game of season
16 / 10 against Tor at home (dominated against Lowry's return)
19 / 8 against UTA at home
38 / 7 against SA at home
22 / 9 against NYK at MSG
18 / 6 against PHI at home
15 / 11 against MEM at home (blowout win)
20 / 11 against CHI on Christmas
21 / 8 against SA (close game but loss)
16 / 8 against ATL at home (remember the block on JSmoove?)
20 / 5 against CLE (Kyrie going nuts but Lin played critical D on him in final mins)
19 / 5 against LAL at home (Kobe: "I don't know why he always has good games against us")
19 / 4 against DAL (blew up in 4th Q, but fell short)
22 / 5 against DEN (close game but another lost at mile high)
28 / 9 against GS (record tying game, outplayed Curry)
16 / 4 against POR (finally beating POR)
14 / 10 against GS in GS (and zero TO)
29 / 7 against OKC at home (outplayed Westbrook, 2 critical 3's in final min)
21 / 9 against DAL (finally beating DAL)
24 / 8 against MIN (huge comeback)
24 / 6 against UTA
19 / 11 against ORL at home
15 /10 against SAC at SAC
22 / 8 against POR at POR (outplayed Lillard)
23 / 8 against DEN (loss but quite frankly the only one who showed up)


The idea that Lin is a scrub is outrageous. Lin has shown he can play very well in this league. I look forward to his being more consistent next year and hopefully there will be twice as many performances as the ones above.

 

Like I said I was disappointed as well, because I thought these types of games would be the norm rather than the exception. But 25 games or roughly a third of the season is not insignificant considering the Rox only made the playoffs by a game and, more importantly, with the way the haters are out these past couple of weeks, you would think Lin was Brian Scalabrine this season.

This is not a LOF thread. I've never said Lin was a HOF, a Tony Parker/Steve Nash clone, or perhaps even a future All-star. But that is very different from posters who say he is an absolute zero or that even they can beat him one on one at the playgrounds.