I always thought the trend was Rockets start slow, take Lin and Asik out, and Douglas comes in and the team goes on a run. I think TD was like +5 early on.
Lin's team's winning percentage pretty much correlates with how much he has the ball in his hands, so no wonder he turns the ball over more when his team wins.
Steve Nash is Nash he scores points against everyone. Credit to him I didn't think he would be so aggressive offensively but he was. I underestimated him because he rarely does that. I guess he brought his a game tonight because of the lack of Howard & Pau & with Parsons doing such a solid job on Kobe defensively makes sense. That is the most I have ever seen Nash actively look to score. I have seen Nash hit those shots against CP3 back in Phoenix last season. Are we going to say he lit up Chris Paul. Tony & Lin did as good of a job as you could ask against one of the greatest shooters to play the game.
You know, looking at his development so far really makes you think how much of an insult this was that Lin wasn't even an 2nd round pick. His speed was on par with Rose and some of the other quicker NBA PGs when they tested him at Portsmouth invitational. Several records broken in Ivy League as well, even though competition wasn't anywhere near the other D1 conferences. Then he goes out and kills it against UCONN, GEORGETOWN, and Boston. Imagine if Lin actually decided to walk on to ucla or stanford. Or actually got D1 offers at the schools he wanted to play for. The UCLA coaching staff said after watching Lin develop at Harvard he most likely would have made the starting lineup. Imagine if he played at one of these schools and developed under those coaches. Imagine if he actually got drafted! But people could argue if he wasn't misjudged because of his race, and if he wasn't completely ignored in the draft he wouldn't have had the drive to do what he did in NY and in Houston now. Linteresting thought.
It's not like he was not given the chance, but he refused. So this thread will go on forever............................
I've thought about what you've been questioning but in hindsight and as Lin would say, it all ended up being a blessing in disguise. That first year at UCLA, as a walk-on he would have probably battled it out for guard spots with future NBA players Darren Collison,Russell Westbrook, and Aaron Afflalo. Another reason why Westbrook played off the bench, so there's no guarantee that if truly the race did play a part or just trying to get playing time in general, that he'd back the following years either. In 2008-2009, UCLA also had Jrue Holiday and Collison. http://bruinball.com/ucla-basketball/roster/2006-2007 UCLA has had a few Asian walk-ons, 5'11" Korean-American Kelvin Kim (transferred to UCSD after one season) and then 5'8 mixed Asian kid named Spencer Soo, but both of them barely played. 2009-2010 is where UCLA had no guards drafted, so that's when Lin probably gets a sure spot as starting PG if he stuck around and developed. However at Harvard, Lin was already averaging around 31 MPG as a Sophmore in 2007-2008. Stanford may have been the better situation for him to seek to play PG, with Landry Fields sharing the backcourt and the Lopez bros up front. http://cardinalupdate.com/stanford-basketball/roster/2006-2007 One thing that helps going undrafted is that he automatically becomes a free agent and is allowed to play for any team he so chooses. This resulted in his choice of playing for the Mavs in the summer league and holding his own against John Wall. It was rumored that Lin was told the Lakers were going draft him with 1 of their 2 first round picks (which ended up to be Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter - I remember that draft clearly because I thought maybe Lin goes with that last pick). However, again if he goes to the Lakers he plays under the triangle. By going undrafted, he plays in the summer league for the team of his choosing or gave him the invite (Mavs) but signs with another NBA team (Warriors) where him and his agent probably thought was the best situation given that it was his hometown and the guard situation. Also we have to consider that coach Wright didn't give him significant playing time his first year and there's no guarantee Mark Jackson gives it to Lin his 2nd year. He gets it by playing in NY with Mike D'antoni, as all the PGs are either injured or don't play his style. Blowing up in NY gets him tons of hype, but because the Warriors originally only gave him a 2 year contract, Lin becomes a restricted free agent. That enables the Rockets to offer him the $25 mill. That second year and Linsanity was huge because there's no guarantee that happens if he is drafted by some team like the Spurs, Lakers, or signs with the Mavs. So long story short, ya Lin probably should have got drafted, but it all worked out for him.
Here's Jeremy's last T.O. tonight. A very nice try of posting up Jodie Meeks down low with a few twists and dribbles. With his mix of strength, speed, and size, he could be bullying other PG's if his post game is more developed, and have a couple plays a game designed for him.
*I also meant Coach Smart when Lin was a rookie with the Warriors. I mixed up last names with the player Dorrell Wright and Head Coach, at the time, Keith Smart who were both there with Lin.
OLD POST but figured I would reply.....note that I SAID "FIRST FEW YEARS". I am not talking about NOW. Jeremy Lin is in his third season but first "full season". Lowry has played in the NBA a little bit more than Jeremy Lin.
