I was waiting for it, the "genetic predisposition" reasons Jeremy Lin is actually just as fast as Derrick Rose and Kyrie Irving if you believe the tests http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/03/life-in-the-fast-lane/ He doesnt have the strength and lift for the high verts. The "fast twitch muscles" can apply there. And he's not near as fast WITH the ball as a Derrick Rose, John Wall are. (Or Goran Dragic). But Lin is NOT slow footed at all. And in bball brain, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul aren't fast in footspeed, but are fast MENTALLY with the ball. I forgot the study I saw posted on CF how there's certain brain types who can process simultaneous bits of activity better than others, "multi-process" I can you can say. Lin can probably make the X-Os passes well through learning, but maybe isnt as naturally INSTINCTUAL as some others who are just more adept at processing all the moving parts. Maybe its why low intelligent athletes have a knack for running plays, while smart guys like Shane Battier are clueless. Battier knows spacing and anticipation and positioning, but not play generating. Anyway its about Harden. He took on the chance to be the man and to expand his brand with more money. I don't hate on him for that. People bash Trevor Ariza, but Ariza came here for the same reasons too and even though it was past his capabilities I totally respected that
I agree everything except for the parts about Lin, if you are going to let Harden develop, and they are because of a 5 year contract. You should have the same mindset about Lin too, a 3 year contract. You made clear about the "5 whole games together" and willing to give our star player more time but same should be done for Lin also know as "5 whole games together". Just to be fair, it's only 5 games into the season
A lot of good PG's in this league.. Add a legit PG, sign a max player and you run with it. Lin is best served in a Steve Blake role.
He's slow with the ball. Open court sprints translate more defensively where you can look at a player's lateral movement (ala if he can stay in front of his man). Combines don't mean too much - KD didn't even bench. Chauncey and Deron have a bounce step and very good jumpers - a result of fast twitch muscle fibers. Bounce and rhythm (come from fast twitch muscle fibers) are what a lot of "slower" african american players have, like Sam Cassell and Andre Miller, but it allows them to be very effective. Or you've got to be ambidextrous, have an insane shot and a great ability to keep your dribble alive like Nash. I would compare Lin to Blake and Calderon in that aspect. None of this matters if you can ball. Anyways, let's let it play out until the trade deadline.
I disagree with the OP on his Lin assessment. Linsanity was his ceiling moment and this is his floor moment. His shot isn't falling but since he's shooting extremely well at the free throw line, it's only a matter of time. The reason why I believe this is his floor moment is because he's still making plays, playing great defense and rebounding. Skills that are more based on natural ability then mechanics.
i posted this in the "Jeremy Lin is a joke!!!!" thread and will post it here too. in the 4th quarter at the 5:51 mark right when Lin and Harden was put back in.. -Lin contested Allen who misses a 3 -Lin misses a mid jumper -Lin blocks Allen -Lin defends Lebron -Lin drives into 3 defenders. ugly assist to PPat -Harden isolation misses a 3 -Rocket's timeout -Taco Bell's new XXL Steak Nacho commercial. yum -Harden drives and assists to Morris for a 3 -Lin knocks the ball out of bounds (Lebron intended a pass to Allen for a 3) -Harden assists to Parsons for a 3 -Harden isolation misses a 3 -107 to 110 Rockets lead at 54.8 seconds -Harden isolation drives into 2 defenders in the paint. misses a layupt -111 to 110 Miami leads at 18.6 seconds -Lin airs a 3 -113 to 110 Miami leads at 7.1 seconds -Harden ignores the play to get Lin the ball (probably to get Harden a better look), instead Harden holds onto it and goes for the isolation misses a 3 so, with basically Lin's defense and 1 assists and Harden's 2 assists for 3 points from Parsons and Morris kinda equals out. But Lin's 1 air ball certainly does not warrant the 30+ pages of bashing when Harden's 4 missed isolation shots. on top of that you make this thread begging not to hate on Harden, instead bash Lin further. i guess that's fair.
Thanks for the recap there, missed that commercial though lol. I think Chandler said it best in his post-game interview, something to the tune of: "We lost the game for everything that happened before that(Lin Airball), it was just a little tiny piece of the game, that everyone is going to talk about I guess, that doesn't know anything about basketball." I don't think he was being insulting, more like the reality of it all.
Ive been saying this everywhere and even earlier in this thread. I'm inclined to believe that Lin is currently an average point guard that will develop into a very good point guard. I agree he played to his ceiling like you say. He hasn't played a full season and is now trying to figure out how to play at a high level when everyone expects it from him and defenses scheme to take away the paint. Memphis, and Portland were able to really shut down the paint and minimize Lin's ability to score and run the offense. At this point in their careers Harden has more experience and so he is more effective and the offense should flow through him more until Lin can get himself going and adapt to the ways teams are playing him. Once the Rockets are able to make teams pay regularly from 3 like they did last night teams will have to guard the perimeter and both Lin and Harden will find it easier to drive and find the cutters without being swatted and turning the ball over religiously.
Well, during the Lakers championship run, Gasol was playing really well. But since then, Gasol has been terrible. His stats drop from that on. He has gotten more soft, settles for jumpshots instead of being aggressive, and pass up open shots. One of the reasons why he's been on the trading block ever since. Gasol is just terrible. Melo only got past the 2nd round once but ever since then, has been really unsuccessful in the playoffs. I mean, he's 1-8 in the last 2 years. Melo may be a better scorer than Harden, but James Harden knows how to get his teammates involved better. The Rockets starting lineup is still young and are still trying to figure out each other. But people are expecting too much out of this young team. Harden by himself isn't going to make this team that much better. Besides Harden and Patrick Patterson, everyone else is a 2nd round pick or undrafted. Patrick Patterson has been incredibly soft lately. I really wished the Rockets had ship him out last year for the Nuggets first round pick for Faried
