Rubio vs Lin

[dogrufus]

Jesus...let the dust settle a little bit. Yeah, Lin the last 4 games has absolutely produced better than any 4 best games from Rubio because if Lin kept up that production he would be the best point guard in the NBA. Based on the fact that he was waived by two teams last fall and he started the season as a third stringer forgive me if I believe that he is going to come back down to earth at some point. Maybe "coming back down to earth" means he averages 16 points and 7 assists, which is obviously very good. I don't know. But he's not going to go from third stringer to MVP overnight. I'm not saying that he's a flash in the pan who's secretly going to start sucking soon, he may be a legit starter maybe a future all-star, I don't know. I'm just saying let's let the dust settle.

Also, no matter how good or bad Lin ends up, it doesn't take away from the fact that Rubio has been one of the best rookies this season and is an incredibly bright spot for the Timberwolves.

He was supposed to come back to Earth in the Lakers game. You know, because he hadn't faced a great defense, couldn't shoot, couldn't go left, etc. etc.

Then he dominated the Lakers, outdueled Kobe, and pushed his MVP-like numbers even higher.

What am I supposed to think? If 16 pt 7 assist guys could just randomly go off for MVP-like stretches, why haven't any of them done it before? Lin's 89 pts in the first 3 starts has NEVER been done. Not by MJ, LBJ, Iverson, Kobe, ANYONE.

Everyone keeps saying the league is going to figure out. What if what actually happens is Lin figuring the league out?

[Piecake]

Jesus...let the dust settle a little bit. Yeah, Lin the last 4 games has absolutely produced better than any 4 best games from Rubio because if Lin kept up that production he would be the best point guard in the NBA. Based on the fact that he was waived by two teams last fall and he started the season as a third stringer forgive me if I believe that he is going to come back down to earth at some point. Maybe "coming back down to earth" means he averages 16 points and 7 assists, which is obviously very good. I don't know. But he's not going to go from third stringer to MVP overnight. I'm not saying that he's a flash in the pan who's secretly going to start sucking soon, he may be a legit starter maybe a future all-star, I don't know. I'm just saying let's let the dust settle.

Also, no matter how good or bad Lin ends up, it doesn't take away from the fact that Rubio has been one of the best rookies this season and is an incredibly bright spot for the Timberwolves.

He was supposed to come back to Earth in the Lakers game. You know, because he hadn't faced a great defense, couldn't shoot, couldn't go left, etc. etc.

Then he dominated the Lakers, outdueled Kobe, and pushed his MVP-like numbers even higher.

What am I supposed to think? If 16 pt 7 assist guys could just randomly go off for MVP-like stretches, why haven't any of them done it before? Lin's 89 pts in the first 3 starts has NEVER been done. Not by MJ, LBJ, Iverson, Kobe, ANYONE.

Everyone keeps saying the league is going to figure out. What if what actually happens is Lin figuring the league out?

Who thought he would come down against the lakers with Fish and Blake guarding him?

[dogrufus]

Who thought he would come down against the lakers with Fish and Blake guarding him?

Ah, I see, you were the one man in the world who knew 38/7 was coming.

[Piecake]

Who thought he would come down against the lakers with Fish and Blake guarding him?

Ah, I see, you were the one man in the world who knew 38/7 was coming.

Did I say that? But anyone who thought that Fish and Blake were going to shut down Lin is just absurd. Those two are the two worst defensive PGs in the league

[dogrufus]

Who thought he would come down against the lakers with Fish and Blake guarding him?

Ah, I see, you were the one man in the world who knew 38/7 was coming.

Did I say that? But anyone who thought that Fish and Blake were going to shut down Lin is just absurd. Those two are the two worst defensive PGs in the league

Yes, but it's not the interior defense people were worried about, it was whether Lin would be able to get inside and finish against that massive frontline, and whether he'd be able to punish the Lakers if they went under screens.

Both questions were answered.

[big3_8_19_21]

Oh my god...I'm having one of those moments where the protagonist of the movie takes his glasses off in a moment of realization...Knicks fans truly believe that Jeremy Lin is going to keep up his 28.5 PPG and 57.5% FG production. I got the same reaction when I made a similar post on the Knicks board. I am the one that is being ridiculous for suggesting that Jeremy Lin might ONLY put up Chauncey Billups like numbers.

This is how new religions start.

[dogrufus]

Oh my god...I'm having one of those moments where the protagonist of the movie takes his glasses off in a moment of realization...Knicks fans truly believe that Jeremy Lin is going to keep up his 28.5 PPG and 57.5% FG production. I got the same reaction when I made a similar post on the Knicks board. I am the one that is being ridiculous for suggesting that Jeremy Lin might ONLY put up Chauncey Billups like numbers.

This is how new religions start.

Don't see where a Knick fan has said that in this thread... I certainly haven't. I just said that if he did maintain that production he's an MVP candidate.

[rrravenred]

tsherkin, can you get in here and explain to me why this is all a mirage and bound to fall apart embarassingly pretty soon? I don't know how much longer I can take this.

As a Bucks fan who copped some abuse for asking my fellow fans not to assume that Jennings' 55-point game meant he was a lock for stardom, I feel your pain.

[dogrufus]

As a Bucks fan who copped some abuse for asking my fellow fans not to assume that Jennings' 55-point game meant he was a lock for stardom, I feel your pain.

Hehe... to be fair to Jennings, and I've been one of his harshest critics, he might still turn out to be pretty damn good. He's made big strides this season and he's still as young as an old school rookie. He might be a legitimate All-Star caliber PG by the time he's ready to leave for a bigger market. Skiles' offense certainly hasn't done the kid many favors.

Superstar games don't always portend superstardom, but it's not like they point away from it either.

[big3_8_19_21]

Oh my god...I'm having one of those moments where the protagonist of the movie takes his glasses off in a moment of realization...Knicks fans truly believe that Jeremy Lin is going to keep up his 28.5 PPG and 57.5% FG production. I got the same reaction when I made a similar post on the Knicks board. I am the one that is being ridiculous for suggesting that Jeremy Lin might ONLY put up Chauncey Billups like numbers.

This is how new religions start.

Don't see where a Knick fan has said that in this thread... I certainly haven't. I just said that if he did maintain that production he's an MVP candidate.

Yes, if he does keep up his production, he IS an MVP candidate, but what is it you were trying to say in the bolded part below if not that I am wrong for insinuating that he might ONLY produce at a Billups like level long term?

The part where I state specifically that Knicks fans believe he will maintain his exact production that he is putting out now was a combination of some of what it sounded like you were saying below (maybe you weren't, that's fine), but I had also just responded to a post on the Knicks board where the only response I got to saying that we need to wait out this hot streak to see what he is like long term was being called ridiculous and asked "what hot streak?" I realize I didn't make that clear and the feeling of that post ran into this one in my head.

I'll buy into the hype when he does this for 10 games. Maybe not to the full fever pitch that it is already reaching with some of the more rabid Knicks fans (not necessarily you), but I think 10 games is more than fair.

He was supposed to come back to Earth in the Lakers game. You know, because he hadn't faced a great defense, couldn't shoot, couldn't go left, etc. etc.

Then he dominated the Lakers, outdueled Kobe, and pushed his MVP-like numbers even higher.

What am I supposed to think? If 16 pt 7 assist guys could just randomly go off for MVP-like stretches, why haven't any of them done it before? Lin's 89 pts in the first 3 starts has NEVER been done. Not by MJ, LBJ, Iverson, Kobe, ANYONE.

Everyone keeps saying the league is going to figure out. What if what actually happens is Lin figuring the league out?

[StyLeD]

Oh my god...I'm having one of those moments where the protagonist of the movie takes his glasses off in a moment of realization...Knicks fans truly believe that Jeremy Lin is going to keep up his 28.5 PPG and 57.5% FG production. I got the same reaction when I made a similar post on the Knicks board. I am the one that is being ridiculous for suggesting that Jeremy Lin might ONLY put up Chauncey Billups like numbers.

This is how new religions start.

Don't see where a Knick fan has said that in this thread... I certainly haven't. I just said that if he did maintain that production he's an MVP candidate.

Yes, if he does keep up his production, he IS an MVP candidate, but what is it you were trying to say in the bolded part below if not that I am wrong for insinuating that he might ONLY produce at a Billups like level long term?

The part where I state specifically that Knicks fans believe he will maintain his exact production that he is putting out now was a combination of some of what it sounded like you were saying below (maybe you weren't, that's fine), but I had also just responded to a post on the Knicks board where the only response I got to saying that we need to wait out this hot streak to see what he is like long term was being called ridiculous and asked "what hot streak?" I realize I didn't make that clear and the feeling of that post ran into this one in my head.

I'll buy into the hype when he does this for 10 games. Maybe not to the full fever pitch that it is already reaching with some of the more rabid Knicks fans (not necessarily you), but I think 10 games is more than fair.

He was supposed to come back to Earth in the Lakers game. You know, because he hadn't faced a great defense, couldn't shoot, couldn't go left, etc. etc.

Then he dominated the Lakers, outdueled Kobe, and pushed his MVP-like numbers even higher.

What am I supposed to think? If 16 pt 7 assist guys could just randomly go off for MVP-like stretches, why haven't any of them done it before? Lin's 89 pts in the first 3 starts has NEVER been done. Not by MJ, LBJ, Iverson, Kobe, ANYONE.

Everyone keeps saying the league is going to figure out. What if what actually happens is Lin figuring the league out?

10 games is a good sample size to start with. I think he'll go for 17/7 for the next 7 games, average.


NBA is a changing environment. While the defending team will be figuring out ways to mess Lin up, Pringles will be figuring out ways to maneuver around the defense.

[ElGee]

I think from the 4 games I've roughly seen of Lin...
I already made the comment that he has Nash-like mannerism... he doesnt pick his dribble when defenders check him, which is good, he moves similar to Nash too, except less crafty but stronger to the basket.

What I like from Lin is his shot selection, he knows his limits... he picks them just right.

Rubio cannot shoot.... Jason Kidd all over again.... Thats his weakness...... he needs to watch more Nash.... even Curry or Lin.. lol.

But Rubio will improve.... and I think Lin will eventually come back to earth, because right now the dude is playing like a man possessed....

My predictions..

Lin as 17-18ppg 8-9apg 4rpg 1spg player for an uptempto system.... bigger and stronger slower Tony Parker with Nash like mannerism.


Rubio as a 13ppg 9-10apg 4rpg 2.5spg player for a similar system. A craftier Jason Kidd-lite

He reminds me of Nash in the way he uses the dribble and the pick and roll. It's a perfect system in that sense, to maximize use on the ball, but here's the thing: he is a really good athlete. And he's really smart. And he uses one of the best screeners in the league in Chandler. He doesn't have to be the next coming of Magic Johnson to be a big impact player. 16 pt 8 ast decent efficiency would be plenty lovely for what the Knicks have (no PG!) and right now, their offense without him is a crappy 99 pts/100 and with him it's near a league-leading 108 pts/100...and he's playing without Amare, a fantastic pick and roll.

The book is still out, but he doesn't look like a flash in the pan.

[ahonui06]

You'll find out today. Not looking good for Lin early.

[rrravenred]

Hehe... to be fair to Jennings, and I've been one of his harshest critics, he might still turn out to be pretty damn good. He's made big strides this season and he's still as young as an old school rookie. He might be a legitimate All-Star caliber PG by the time he's ready to leave for a bigger market. Skiles' offense certainly hasn't done the kid many favors.

Superstar games don't always portend superstardom, but it's not like they point away from it either.

You keep dreaming of that Jennings/Lin backcourt, then.


FWIW, Jennings still has significant holes in his game in relation to game management and shot-selection. But the gaps are certainly closing.

[PostKeynesian]

well...NY won with a team effort today, but that officially means linsanity will continue...

[big3_8_19_21]

well...NY won with a team effort today, but that officially means linsanity will continue...

They won that game because of Shumpert and Novak, not Jeremy Lin. The media won't care, though. They'll bill it as Linsanity.

[Piecake]

well...NY won with a team effort today, but that officially means linsanity will continue...

They won that game because of Shumpert and Novak, not Jeremy Lin. The media won't care, though. They'll bill it as Linsanity.

No, they won because Adelman went full on stupid and took pek out of the game and stuck in a 3 pg lineup for 10 minutes in the 4th even though Pek was destroying the knicks and Barea and Ridnour sucked hard core

[bastillon]

lol, how can you blame Adelman when in fact Rubio made 2 turnovers on the last 2 possessions ? did Adelman tell him to do that too ?

[Zeitgeister]

lol, how can you blame Adelman when in fact Rubio made 2 turnovers on the last 2 possessions ? did Adelman tell him to do that too ?

Well for one, Nikola Pekovic was 10-11 from the field with over 20 points and didn't play a single minute in the fourth quarter. The Wolves scored something like 11 pts in the 4th. It should never have been close. Rubio had a couple bad turnovers, he also had a layup that put the Timberwolves ahead with less than a minute to go. There's no reason they shouldn't have won.

[Piecake]

lol, how can you blame Adelman when in fact Rubio made 2 turnovers on the last 2 possessions ? did Adelman tell him to do that too ?

It shouldnt have gotten to that point. You dont think benching a dude who has 21 points 13 boards on 9-10 shooting for 10 minutes in the fourth quarter is not stupid? You dont think playing 3 pgs together, 2 of which are undersized, suck, cant make a shot or play D is not stupid?

Im sorry, but Adelman was the reason we lost. Rubio definitely did choke (had a nice layup and block on lin a few seconds before that though), and was a small reason why we lost, but sitting our 3rd best player for the 4th is just dumb, especially when you stick a smaller and less athletic lineup than the other team