If Lin gets traded, will you follow the new team?

[DocZaius]

Trademelo, what race am I?

[SonOfMars]

With a name like Paco, i thought you were Mexican

No racial though

[Knicks80_20]

trashmelo is trademelo and every other guy with a similar name. Also, I'm not hispanic...at all. I don't get what that dude's problem is.

Aren't you Jewish? . Why can't you guys IP ban trademelo?

Jews might as well be hispanic/black. They're the biggest black sympathizers in this country and the most hateful anti-white group next to blacks. And before you ask, NO, Jews are not white.

[duetta]

Maybe one of Hitler's clones did escape to Argentina...

[NBA Fan 1234]

With a name like Paco, i thought you were Mexican

No racial though

It's not my name lol. Just my handle here.

[Clyde_Style]

It is strange. The other diversion I have online is playing Hearts against 3 anonymous people. Many of them are psychotic and start cussing you out if they are losing. So many times they use the N word and I always scratch my head. I'm from NYC. I never felt like calling anyone a racial slur.

But it seems the internet is populated by a lot of knuckle draggers who have internet connections in their trailer homes. Not that I have anything against trailer homes, but that kind of behavior is what keeps the term white trash alive and kicking. It's pathetic and you just have to ignore pathetic people because I'm not going to get into a fight with them.

If anyone lives in the South and has to hire a white handyman, you discover half of them use the N word too. They grew up with it.

I was told that just 20 years ago, there was a billboard in a neigborhood near me here in Florida that said something like "After sundown, N's better not be seen around here." I couldn't believe it. 20 years ago. Makes you realize there are still generations of people around who raised their kids with these attitudes.

[KnicksScholar24]

I will likely always remain a Knicks fan, but there is only so much bad basketball I can watch, especially if it doesn't result in rebuilding through high draft picks.

The most I would do is stop watching basketball until the Knicks put together a REAL team.

I'm not talking specifically about Lin not re-signing, but if this newly Knicks team continue to suck, especially in the playoffs.

I became a Knicks fan, when the team as a tough, hustling, hard-nosed, bruising defensive bunch, and that style of play attracted me to the team. I've bamboozled for a while now, and if they aren't designing the team to get back to that type of winning basketball, my interest in watching Knicks games falls significantly. I want to watch a group in the playoffs that I feel I can go to war with, as a fan. A team that I know is going to battle and do whatever it takes to win, even if their shots aren't falling. I've yet to see that from this team in decades.

I'm not a Knicks fan just to be a Knicks fan. I expect results or at least heading the direction of results.

[KnicksScholar24]

LOL is this trashmelo guy for real? Yeah, I'm black, and proud, but I love Jeremy Lin and don't want Steve Nash if it means letting go of Lin.

GTFO YOU IDIOT.

Pick an asian guy over a white guy? Must've been a tough choice for you there blackie. If I had to guess, I'd say you thought Wilson Chandler > Gallo.

Wilson Chandler was/is DEFINITELY BETTER than Danilo Gallinari, and I'm not even a "blackie."

[Brooklyn53]

this is a dumb question . i will always root for the knicks regardless but if lin were to be traded or anything i would root for him as a player/individual but not the team he's on. why are we worrying anyway, he;s going to remain a knick for a while

[21shumpst]

Anybody that follows Lin to a new team is an asian . Lin is a solid starting PG but let's not treat this guy as a franchise player.

What the fk does being Asian have to do with it? So if you were African American and Melo was traded than you would follow Melo to the new team? The ignorance of some people. SMH.

[gethigh]

Why would Lin get traded?

[GettinitDone]

Lin will be a failure in NY and ruin the knicks worse than before.

Here is why.

There is no way in hell he is going to live up to the expectations that are being placed on him. Like many young knicks before him. The sky walkers and lavar postels of the world. Even the lampes and milos's that never play. No one will ever let a young player just be who he is naturally. Takes years. Look at Landry. Everyone has forgotten he was a second round pick that got a shot by default. He was viewed as the replacement lottery pick that went to utah after being booed. Top 3 rookie drafted in the bottom half. Now he stinks and should walk. No he's not that good. He never really was though. Just a solid ass second round pick. Best in years. But its forgotten because the bar was set above his reach.

The next reason is the most important and dangerous to the franchise. He is not a basketball player to ownership. He is a international money maker. Not only is the pressure on Lin. The pressure is on coaching to feature him from up top. Up top cares more about profit than wins. If Lin turns out to be nothing more than a solid rotation player, there maybe pressure from up top to feature him as a star.

Kid already got hurt being pushed. Its bad enough we have to drop the MLE on a player we got for the minimum and played a few amazing games. Now the fans expect him to be a super star. And the front office expects a super star international money maker. If he proves to be a solid rotation player and nothing more,..he might be forced to be something he is not at the expense of the team. So where are the "team ball" cry babies that hate melo and love lin? The money over basketball **** dolan people? Yall really think Lin is a basketball decision and not a business move? Just like carmelo was?

Dont think so? Ok. Why else would grunwald been given security? What is his claim to fame?

I think its funny. We signed him as a free agent after being cut. Didnt draft him. Sent him down and almost cut him. D'antoni runs out of options. And lets him go. He produces for a few weeks. Now all of a sudden he is a home grown talent. This fell in our laps. We didnt grow it. Thats a contradiction to the linsanity yall loved. We bought this. Just like amare. Just like melo. We didnt grow it. He was waiting for the chance. We didnt mold it. We ran out of options and took a swing in the dark. For once it was a base hit. Not good enough. Push it to a triple before he crosses second.

Im happy for him and happy he did this as a knick. But knick fans need to learn. Its us the fans who are killing these players. Because the expectations are set way to high. People hate amare because he dont rebound and defend. Well? When did he ever do that? Im mad at him for other reasons. Not for not doing what I knew he couldnt do to begin with.

Like I said its bad enough he is going to suck up our only resource to add a decent player. But now people want to set the bar so high. Why dont we just wait and see if he comes back from his injury. Then wait and see if he can play a full season or 2 and contribute before we set expectations? You know. Like normal fans?

Maybe its the NY impatience. You wont know till you leave. That high strung impatience is making you and those around you miserable.

Just let the kid be. As far as trades and the team. Ewing was the franchise fixture. First in a long time. Another one who never lived up to the expectations set on him. He was traded. How many sonic fans are here? Curse of Ewing? Yall dont know what your talking about. He demanded money. Demanded minutes. Didnt get it when he wanted and demanded a trade. No curse. He asked for it. Ewing messed us over by being greedy and demanding. And he knows that.

If anything it was the starks and oakley trades that hurt most recently. The frazier trade. How many knick fans jumped ship then? Mark Jackson for charles smith. Rod strickland. How about mason. Everyone loved LJ. He took a nose dive and was never the all star he was. Mason became a all star. Do people forget that mason was the primary defender of teams best big men? And how he helped lead us to the finals in 94? How he was always a 6th man of the year candidate?

I dont recall many knick fans jumping ship after some of these deals. Starks was so real, and such a knick, he refused to play for the bulls after being traded. REFUSED!!

The starks trade dont hurt? Why cause of spree? Mason cause of LJ? People crying over gallo and his flimsy ass. Chandler and his broken ass. Mozgov and his confused ass. Felton and his fat ass. And they hate melo. Like any of those guys did more for the knicks than oakley. Who was traded for camby. And his fragile ass. Who was traded along with nene for dice. And his damaged ass.

I dont mind people following the knicks because they have something in common with lin. But listen. Know you position. And shut the hell up. You dont fall off the wagon in these parts. You get tossed off. Keep a low profile and enjoy the show you came to see.

Sense when did new yorkers become so sensitive to loss? I can give you a few examples of loss we have suffered outside of sports. But wont out of respect. I dont recall that breaking us. If Lin breaks you as a fan, then you was not a fan. And if you love Lin so much then maybe you just figured something out about yourself you didnt know, pink ass. And that shiny prong sticking out of your ass is a spoon. Pull it out and eat the scoop. Mmmm. Taste your reality. **** happens. Stand firm or stand down.

I agree to your post if Lin was just like most players who crumble under pressure. There are only a few players who rise to the occasion consistently. Not even LeBron James, 3 time MVP, can ignore pressure, he chose the easiest route in Miami rather than stay in Cleveland or go to New York. He avoids pressure of winning championship by himself.

However Lin is not just like most players if you consider:

1.) He's essentially a rookie this season, having never played significant minutes in Golden State. How do teams normally treat their talented/ prized rookies? In Cleveland, folks there tell their rookie PG: "you can take it easy Kyrie, we are not expected to win, take it easy, game by game, we want you to grow into superstar eventually, but we would understand and tolerate growing pains." To Irving's credit, he blossomed into a star quickly, but that was in a setting with little to no pressure with green lights to play through bad games.

In New York? "Jeremy, Toney can't play PG, Baron won't play for another month, cmon let's go, let's go, this is your ONLY ONE shot, show us what you got." Scored 25 pts against Nets. "Scored 25pts? Good, good, you're named starter next game vs. Jazz. We don't have Amare. Melo needs someone to give him the ball. We're gonna give you the ball a lot." Responded with 28 pts & 8 assists vs Jazz. And then went on the road to dominate Wall & Wizards with 23 pts & 10 assists. Returning home to face the Lakers game in a highly-anticipated, front-page NY Daily News, nationally-televised game 38 pts and 7 assists, and then Raptors with 27pts & 11 assists. And we know the rest.

In small-market teams, he would have been their God, loved and protected. In NY, however God you are, it seems like the Knicks fanbase is still eager to dissect God with knives any chance it got. "Oh Jeremy was another player who was almost cut and desperate to prove he belonged in the L. He HAD to have those games to prove he belongs. He plays in desperation, he's nothing special. Anyone in his situation would have done the same." But lost in the shuffle was they're forgetting the fact that Lin was essentially a ROOKIE thrown straight into FIRE, playing 40 MINUTES, playing BRUTAL lock-out SCHEDULE, playing for a coach who has lost his players, a coach who practically begged him to take the team, and he somehow did, rallying the team to 7 straight wins and playing with one of the most fun/ best camaraderie a team had this season, opposing PGs/ teams increasingly TARGETING and PHYSICALLY ABUSING him, playing in BIGGEST MARKET/ most HUNGRY/ IMPATIENT-PSYCHO-ANGRY/ WIN-HUNGRIEST FANBASE on earth with BILLIONS OF FANS WORLDWIDE (most being asians) expecting and hoping he would play well. No tolerance, no taking it easy, no growing pains like Cleveland nurtures Kyrie or even LeBron back in 2003. Just straight HELL FIRE. So, you're a rookie? So, we're New Yorkers, we DON'T CARE you're a rookie. You're a PG, you're young, so (we ASSUME) you CAN penetrate, pass, shoot, and do EVERYTHING for our team, we want to WIN NOW, we EXPECT NO LESS. New York acknowledges no rookies, New York only acknowledges players: good and bad. There's no excuse for "bad". Bad game against Heat, what bad player! Rookie? They don't even know the word. Play through mistakes?? No such thing. You're either Ewing or Curry... Frazier or Toney.

Despite all typical New York PRESSURE/ ABUSE, he quietly had the most points (136) and assists (44) in any player's first 5 starts. More than Isaiah, Oscar, Magic or Stockton. And fanbase still wants 39 year old former (yeah that was 7 years ago) MVP Nash over him.


2.) He plays better when it matters most. It all went back to his first breakout game, and the "hidden" pressure that he faced without fanbase realizing the gravity of pressure that Lin had to face every game.
- Against Nets: 25 pts & 7 assists while being fully aware that if he didn't produce he'd likely be cut on the same day.
- Against Jazz: 28 pts & 8 assists fully aware that he was named starter for the first time (pressure to perform), and FO still skeptical about Nets "fluke" game and still strongly considering cutting him.
- Against Wizards: 23 pts & 10 assists, fully aware the Knicks went to him on every play with Melo/ Amare out.
- Against Lakers: 38 pts & 7 assists in his toughest test, front-page-news pre-game off the roof anticipation/ expectation wise and performance wise, fully aware that if he didn't play well he'd be labeled as any other player who has 3 breakout games and fades when it matters most. He didn't.
- Then, in another nationally-televised Mavs game: 28pts & 14 assists with Marion, who had shut down Rubio and other opposing PGs for the 7-straight-winning Mavs on him all game.
- Against Bucks: 20 pts & 13 assists, and barked at Amare for not boxing out Ilyasova, who put in game-sealing tip in. The courage of a rookie to yell at a maximum-salary All Star veteran for failing to do little things that win games.
- Against Pacers on the road: clutch free throws in 4th to seal win.
- Against 76ers: 1-10 entering 4th quarter and straight ballin in 4th to win game. And it went on and on...

Here's the thing, instead of feeling sorry for himself "I'm just a rookie, I'm not supposed to play at this level yet, they'd understand", he says "this is the level of play New York wants me to play, so that's the level I'm going to play."

As they all say, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. He made it as a rookie.


3.) He has mad work ethic. He's too busy working out to notice pressure.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAHTdxBzEGg[/youtube]

2:14 - "My biggest fear is coming back being as good, that's my biggest fear, I need to be a lot better, and make sure I am a lot better and a lot healthier, and that's my focus for the off-season."

A lot of players would have said, "I had a pretty good year (14 points, 6 assists per game). My focus is just to get healthy now". Lin actually fears going into next season not improved. Few players have concerns if they do not improve in the off-season, let alone "fear". He pretty much makes improvement his priority.

2:35 - Reporter: "what do you need to do to take that next step?" Lin: "A lot, a little bit of everything, I don't think I've mastered anything, first and foremost is my health, getting everything right, getting balanced in my body, getting everything healthy, becoming explosive, and then from there catch-and-shoots, passing, limiting my turnovers, reading the game, imagining the flow of the game, getting stronger, defense. I have had some highs, and I have also had my struggles that remind me how much further I have to go."

If you look at his response, I like that:
1.) It's a straight answer. That he already KNOWS the answer to that question. A lot of players would think the question in their head and come with answer a few seconds later. The reason why Lin already KNOWS the answer? He ALREADY planned what he needs to do to take that next step.
2.) I like that he went into details on the "plan", because a real plan is a summary of elaborate strategies. It just means Lin ALREADY has a real plan to take that next step.


Based on that, I know Lin is not only a hard worker, he's a smart worker. He has a vision of where he wants to be and how he needs to get there. You combined both into a genius, Kobe-like tireless gym rat.


Like Arne Duncan, the guy who did Lin's 100 most influential Time entry said, "Contrary to what you might read, Jeremy, 23, is no overnight sensation. In fact, he achieved success the old-fashioned way: he earned it."

He earned it on gym, and if he has game plan what to improve, he will surely become a better player.


Have faith, kane, for if there was one guy who can stand up to New York pressure, based on 3 points I made above, I would have to say it's Lin. He has responded well to hype and pressure so far as a ROOKIE. And if there was one player who would not be driven mad to New York fans' unforgiving, absolutely conditional-love opinions, it would be Lin, for he cares not about people's opinions but his God's (this is coming from non Christian).

[kane2021]

Im glad I came back in here. Great post GettinitDone.

I called Lin a bum. Something along those lines. Then he got his shot. I called it a fluke. Then he kept on I called it a lucky run. After a few games I stopped talking and started grinning.

He proved me wrong. I do believe in him. Its not really Lin. I just dont invest much into young players until I see a few years of consistent service. I seen guys come into the NBA like a storm. Then fall off hard. I have seen guys play the bench for the duration of their rookie contract. Learning. Then one day figure it out and become allstars and playoff fixtures.

Its best to take a wait and see approach with these young players. In Lins case this goes for fans, and the organization.

[Knicker23]

This thread is full of stupid by definition. Oughta be able to enable public voting so we can see who the player fans are over Knick fans.

[Livingthedream]

Yep ill still follow the knicks cause im hoping we package him and Stat up for Deron and filler.

I know im dreaming but a man can dream right

NB: It makes sense for both teams, Nets get a franchise player in Stat to carry the brooklyn team and a young point guard who will fill seats in Lin. Much better than losing Deron for nothing.. Knicks get Deron which gives them much better balance.

NYKforever

[KnickSon75]

If Jim Dolan grows a second head will I be twice as worried?

If Michael Jackson rises from the grave will I be thrilled?

If the world's supply of chocolate vanishes will I eat dirt sundaes?

If another thread hypothecating events that won't happen appears will my head explode?

[bfpri]

Don't need a poll for this, it's already obvious who the Lin only fans are.

[spre8well]

Lin will be a failure in NY and ruin the knicks worse than before.

Here is why.

There is no way in hell he is going to live up to the expectations that are being placed on him. Like many young knicks before him. The sky walkers and lavar postels of the world. Even the lampes and milos's that never play. No one will ever let a young player just be who he is naturally. Takes years. Look at Landry. Everyone has forgotten he was a second round pick that got a shot by default. He was viewed as the replacement lottery pick that went to utah after being booed. Top 3 rookie drafted in the bottom half. Now he stinks and should walk. No he's not that good. He never really was though. Just a solid ass second round pick. Best in years. But its forgotten because the bar was set above his reach.

The next reason is the most important and dangerous to the franchise. He is not a basketball player to ownership. He is a international money maker. Not only is the pressure on Lin. The pressure is on coaching to feature him from up top. Up top cares more about profit than wins. If Lin turns out to be nothing more than a solid rotation player, there maybe pressure from up top to feature him as a star.

Kid already got hurt being pushed. Its bad enough we have to drop the MLE on a player we got for the minimum and played a few amazing games. Now the fans expect him to be a super star. And the front office expects a super star international money maker. If he proves to be a solid rotation player and nothing more,..he might be forced to be something he is not at the expense of the team. So where are the "team ball" cry babies that hate melo and love lin? The money over basketball **** dolan people? Yall really think Lin is a basketball decision and not a business move? Just like carmelo was?

Dont think so? Ok. Why else would grunwald been given security? What is his claim to fame?

I think its funny. We signed him as a free agent after being cut. Didnt draft him. Sent him down and almost cut him. D'antoni runs out of options. And lets him go. He produces for a few weeks. Now all of a sudden he is a home grown talent. This fell in our laps. We didnt grow it. Thats a contradiction to the linsanity yall loved. We bought this. Just like amare. Just like melo. We didnt grow it. He was waiting for the chance. We didnt mold it. We ran out of options and took a swing in the dark. For once it was a base hit. Not good enough. Push it to a triple before he crosses second.

Im happy for him and happy he did this as a knick. But knick fans need to learn. Its us the fans who are killing these players. Because the expectations are set way to high. People hate amare because he dont rebound and defend. Well? When did he ever do that? Im mad at him for other reasons. Not for not doing what I knew he couldnt do to begin with.

Like I said its bad enough he is going to suck up our only resource to add a decent player. But now people want to set the bar so high. Why dont we just wait and see if he comes back from his injury. Then wait and see if he can play a full season or 2 and contribute before we set expectations? You know. Like normal fans?

Maybe its the NY impatience. You wont know till you leave. That high strung impatience is making you and those around you miserable.

Just let the kid be. As far as trades and the team. Ewing was the franchise fixture. First in a long time. Another one who never lived up to the expectations set on him. He was traded. How many sonic fans are here? Curse of Ewing? Yall dont know what your talking about. He demanded money. Demanded minutes. Didnt get it when he wanted and demanded a trade. No curse. He asked for it. Ewing messed us over by being greedy and demanding. And he knows that.

If anything it was the starks and oakley trades that hurt most recently. The frazier trade. How many knick fans jumped ship then? Mark Jackson for charles smith. Rod strickland. How about mason. Everyone loved LJ. He took a nose dive and was never the all star he was. Mason became a all star. Do people forget that mason was the primary defender of teams best big men? And how he helped lead us to the finals in 94? How he was always a 6th man of the year candidate?

I dont recall many knick fans jumping ship after some of these deals. Starks was so real, and such a knick, he refused to play for the bulls after being traded. REFUSED!!

The starks trade dont hurt? Why cause of spree? Mason cause of LJ? People crying over gallo and his flimsy ass. Chandler and his broken ass. Mozgov and his confused ass. Felton and his fat ass. And they hate melo. Like any of those guys did more for the knicks than oakley. Who was traded for camby. And his fragile ass. Who was traded along with nene for dice. And his damaged ass.

I dont mind people following the knicks because they have something in common with lin. But listen. Know you position. And shut the hell up. You dont fall off the wagon in these parts. You get tossed off. Keep a low profile and enjoy the show you came to see.

Sense when did new yorkers become so sensitive to loss? I can give you a few examples of loss we have suffered outside of sports. But wont out of respect. I dont recall that breaking us. If Lin breaks you as a fan, then you was not a fan. And if you love Lin so much then maybe you just figured something out about yourself you didnt know, pink ass. And that shiny prong sticking out of your ass is a spoon. Pull it out and eat the scoop. Mmmm. Taste your reality. **** happens. Stand firm or stand down.

I agree to your post if Lin was just like most players who crumble under pressure. There are only a few players who rise to the occasion consistently. Not even LeBron James, 3 time MVP, can ignore pressure, he chose the easiest route in Miami rather than stay in Cleveland or go to New York. He avoids pressure of winning championship by himself.

However Lin is not just like most players if you consider:

1.) He's essentially a rookie this season, having never played significant minutes in Golden State. How do teams normally treat their talented/ prized rookies? In Cleveland, folks there tell their rookie PG: "you can take it easy Kyrie, we are not expected to win, take it easy, game by game, we want you to grow into superstar eventually, but we would understand and tolerate growing pains." To Irving's credit, he blossomed into a star quickly, but that was in a setting with little to no pressure with green lights to play through bad games.

In New York? "Jeremy, Toney can't play PG, Baron won't play for another month, cmon let's go, let's go, this is your ONLY ONE shot, show us what you got." Scored 25 pts against Nets. "Scored 25pts? Good, good, you're named starter next game vs. Jazz. We don't have Amare. Melo needs someone to give him the ball. We're gonna give you the ball a lot." Responded with 28 pts & 8 assists vs Jazz. And then went on the road to dominate Wall & Wizards with 23 pts & 10 assists. Returning home to face the Lakers game in a highly-anticipated, front-page NY Daily News, nationally-televised game 38 pts and 7 assists, and then Raptors with 27pts & 11 assists. And we know the rest.

In small-market teams, he would have been their God, loved and protected. In NY, however God you are, it seems like the Knicks fanbase is still eager to dissect God with knives any chance it got. "Oh Jeremy was another player who was almost cut and desperate to prove he belonged in the L. He HAD to have those games to prove he belongs. He plays in desperation, he's nothing special. Anyone in his situation would have done the same." But lost in the shuffle was they're forgetting the fact that Lin was essentially a ROOKIE thrown straight into FIRE, playing 40 MINUTES, playing BRUTAL lock-out SCHEDULE, playing for a coach who has lost his players, a coach who practically begged him to take the team, and he somehow did, rallying the team to 7 straight wins and playing with one of the most fun/ best camaraderie a team had this season, opposing PGs/ teams increasingly TARGETING and PHYSICALLY ABUSING him, playing in BIGGEST MARKET/ most HUNGRY/ IMPATIENT-PSYCHO-ANGRY/ WIN-HUNGRIEST FANBASE on earth with BILLIONS OF FANS WORLDWIDE (most being asians) expecting and hoping he would play well. No tolerance, no taking it easy, no growing pains like Cleveland nurtures Kyrie or even LeBron back in 2003. Just straight HELL FIRE. So, you're a rookie? So, we're New Yorkers, we DON'T CARE you're a rookie. You're a PG, you're young, so (we ASSUME) you CAN penetrate, pass, shoot, and do EVERYTHING for our team, we want to WIN NOW, we EXPECT NO LESS. New York acknowledges no rookies, New York only acknowledges players: good and bad. There's no excuse for "bad". Bad game against Heat, what bad player! Rookie? They don't even know the word. Play through mistakes?? No such thing. You're either Ewing or Curry... Frazier or Toney.

Despite all typical New York PRESSURE/ ABUSE, he quietly had the most points (136) and assists (44) in any player's first 5 starts. More than Isaiah, Oscar, Magic or Stockton. And fanbase still wants 39 year old former (yeah that was 7 years ago) MVP Nash over him.


2.) He plays better when it matters most. It all went back to his first breakout game, and the "hidden" pressure that he faced without fanbase realizing the gravity of pressure that Lin had to face every game.
- Against Nets: 25 pts & 7 assists while being fully aware that if he didn't produce he'd likely be cut on the same day.
- Against Jazz: 28 pts & 8 assists fully aware that he was named starter for the first time (pressure to perform), and FO still skeptical about Nets "fluke" game and still strongly considering cutting him.
- Against Wizards: 23 pts & 10 assists, fully aware the Knicks went to him on every play with Melo/ Amare out.
- Against Lakers: 38 pts & 7 assists in his toughest test, front-page-news pre-game off the roof anticipation/ expectation wise and performance wise, fully aware that if he didn't play well he'd be labeled as any other player who has 3 breakout games and fades when it matters most. He didn't.
- Then, in another nationally-televised Mavs game: 28pts & 14 assists with Marion, who had shut down Rubio and other opposing PGs for the 7-straight-winning Mavs on him all game.
- Against Bucks: 20 pts & 13 assists, and barked at Amare for not boxing out Ilyasova, who put in game-sealing tip in. The courage of a rookie to yell at a maximum-salary All Star veteran for failing to do little things that win games.
- Against Pacers on the road: clutch free throws in 4th to seal win.
- Against 76ers: 1-10 entering 4th quarter and straight ballin in 4th to win game. And it went on and on...

Here's the thing, instead of feeling sorry for himself "I'm just a rookie, I'm not supposed to play at this level yet, they'd understand", he says "this is the level of play New York wants me to play, so that's the level I'm going to play."

As they all say, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. He made it as a rookie.


3.) He has mad work ethic. He's too busy working out to notice pressure.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAHTdxBzEGg[/youtube]

2:14 - "My biggest fear is coming back being as good, that's my biggest fear, I need to be a lot better, and make sure I am a lot better and a lot healthier, and that's my focus for the off-season."

A lot of players would have said, "I had a pretty good year (14 points, 6 assists per game). My focus is just to get healthy now". Lin actually fears going into next season not improved. Few players have concerns if they do not improve in the off-season, let alone "fear". He pretty much makes improvement his priority.

2:35 - Reporter: "what do you need to do to take that next step?" Lin: "A lot, a little bit of everything, I don't think I've mastered anything, first and foremost is my health, getting everything right, getting balanced in my body, getting everything healthy, becoming explosive, and then from there catch-and-shoots, passing, limiting my turnovers, reading the game, imagining the flow of the game, getting stronger, defense. I have had some highs, and I have also had my struggles that remind me how much further I have to go."

If you look at his response, I like that:
1.) It's a straight answer. That he already KNOWS the answer to that question. A lot of players would think the question in their head and come with answer a few seconds later. The reason why Lin already KNOWS the answer? He ALREADY planned what he needs to do to take that next step.
2.) I like that he went into details on the "plan", because a real plan is a summary of elaborate strategies. It just means Lin ALREADY has a real plan to take that next step.


Based on that, I know Lin is not only a hard worker, he's a smart worker. He has a vision of where he wants to be and how he needs to get there. You combined both into a genius, Kobe-like tireless gym rat.


Like Arne Duncan, the guy who did Lin's 100 most influential Time entry said, "Contrary to what you might read, Jeremy, 23, is no overnight sensation. In fact, he achieved success the old-fashioned way: he earned it."

He earned it on gym, and if he has game plan what to improve, he will surely become a better player.


Have faith, kane, for if there was one guy who can stand up to New York pressure, based on 3 points I made above, I would have to say it's Lin. He has responded well to hype and pressure so far as a ROOKIE. And if there was one player who would not be driven mad to New York fans' unforgiving, absolutely conditional-love opinions, it would be Lin, for he cares not about people's opinions but his God's (this is coming from non Christian).

mail a copy to Woody..maybe he'll reconsider starting the kid.

[GettinitDone]

^^
I initially believed media and thought Woody didn't like Lin and would bury him on bench. But his use of Lin suggested otherwise, e.g. letting him start 4th quarter of Sixers game when he had shot 1-11 entering the 4th. A coach with agenda to bury him on bench would have not played him at all, yet Lin started the 4th quarter and made 8 straight free throws to seal W. He put ball in his hand in Pacers game. In playoffs, his update on Lin's injury sounds like a coach who's genuinely hoping he can play, not otherwise. He keeps saying Lin's a big part of the team, which is encouraging.

Im glad I came back in here. Great post GettinitDone.

I called Lin a bum. Something along those lines. Then he got his shot. I called it a fluke. Then he kept on I called it a lucky run. After a few games I stopped talking and started grinning.

He proved me wrong. I do believe in him. Its not really Lin. I just dont invest much into young players until I see a few years of consistent service. I seen guys come into the NBA like a storm. Then fall off hard. I have seen guys play the bench for the duration of their rookie contract. Learning. Then one day figure it out and become allstars and playoff fixtures.

Its best to take a wait and see approach with these young players. In Lins case this goes for fans, and the organization.

I think Knicks fanbase has a tendency to take (great) things for granted.

I just watched his first break out game (vs Nets). We were down by 10 pts to the New Jersey Nets, in the 1st quarter! We could not score. Could not defend. Amare and Melo were of course in the game. We were still down 5 in 3rd quarter, but by then you can see Knicks were starting to play with hope of a W and purpose.

Come to think of it, from that Nets game to people believing we would actually knock out the Heat in first round (before series started), we have come a long way. Kid gave us hope. You may say it's Woodson who gave us hope. But Woody didn't give us hope. He gave us continuation of hope. The path was not started by Woody. I don't care if Lin had never been discovered, and Woody replaced D'Antoni sooner, the Knicks would have still sucked. Lin gave us hope by inspiring the team to believe in ball movement. The whole team was inspired of that hope he gave us in the Nets game. You may say it's Melo who gave us hope, but we were 7-15 before Lin and why would anyone in their right mind hand the franchise to a player who admitted he didn't give all for a coach he didn't believe in? What happens if one day Melo stops believing in Woody and no longer feels like playing for him?

I like it that you're not skeptical but rather take a wait and see approach. But if you want to ask me why I believe in him NOW:
1.) He has skills and talent. He makes things look so easy at times. Alley-oop passes in traffic, bounce passes, contested threes, twisting lay-ups, turn around fadeaways off penetration, etc.
2.) He rises to occasion and play in big moments.
3.) He has faith in God and has great attitude. Again, I'm not christian, but I do acknowledge the importance of faith when the fanbase is as ruthless as Knicks fans. One day the treat you as savior, and the next day they do not believe in you. Only player with strongest faith can put things into perspective, e.g. blocking out non-sense BS such as unfair criticisms by largest NBA fanbase.
4.) He has great attitude and is a natural born leader. Even LeBron James in 2003 deferred to Ricky Davis and Darius Miles. He deferred so much the Cavs had to trade Davis so he can take over. When was the last time a rookie stands up to what he believes him and yells at an All Star veteran for not making little plays that win games? E.g. barking at Amare at Milwaukee game, directing Melo during free throw, and possibly many more we didn't catch on video. To Lin, stuff such as stepping on someone's toe is trivial/ petty, and in fact has to be done if the people do not set right example. It's what leaders do: "do the right things" as opposed to "do things right".
5.) Lastly, he is a gym rat. He has high level of work ethic. Combination of workouts, practice, and plays every day in summer:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLzrLXQIbwM[/youtube]

Duncan was right when he said he is no overnight sensation, that he earned it. Talent without work ethic: Darius Miles, Eddy Curry, Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom (could have been an All Star), Nene (could have been an All Star) don't get you very far.