Jeremy Lin: Knicks Savior or Bust?

Not a bust, but definitely not a star.  Lin will have a career much like Howard Eisley.  Solid player but no star.  

Lin-sanity was a great story for the NBA last year.  Jeremy Lin's meteoric rise was timely considering that the NBA had recently emerged from an ugly lockout that robbed fans of over 30 regular season games.  I am not a conspiracy theorist at all, but it is "funny" how certain things happen at certain times in the NBA.  When the Knicks needed a savior in the mid 1980's, they magically received the top pick and drafted Patrick Ewing.  When Cleveland needed to draft the best player, who happened to be from Ohio, they magically won the lottery.  Of course they drafted Lebron James and the rest is history.  I am not saying occurrences in the NBA are pre ordained by the basketball gods, but certain things happen at perfect times.  I digress.  

Jeremy Lin did not emerge from the dark.  He was released by a few teams before playing in New York.  He was given the opportunity to compete for a spot in Golden State and Houston, but he came up short.  Now, when he was provided an opportunity to shine in New York, he did.  He posted great numbers during a very small sample size of games (25 I believe).  He did much of his work while Carmelo and Amare were out of the lineup.  He was given the keys to the team and provided the freedom to take almost any shot.  Most NBA players when given that kind of freedom would be capable of posting solid or all star numbers for a limited amount of time.  The truly elite players, however, are able to put up outstanding numbers despite game plans designed to stifle them.

Jeremy Lin is now a member of the Houston Rockets.  He leveraged his moment in the sun with the Knicks into a 25 million dollar contract with the Rockets.  That is what a Harvard educated person is supposed to do.  In the words of Jay-Z, "I can't knock the hustle . . ."  But, as for any notion of him being a super star, or an all star, that should be squashed.  He is a very average player.  This guy is averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists in about 34 minutes per game.  If that is not "average" enough for you, he is also shooting a putrid 34% from the field, and 24% from behind the 3 point line.  Meanwhile, his replacement at the point guard position, Raymond Felton, is having a very good year.  And, he is getting paid a fraction of the salary.  I'd say the Knicks got the better of the deal.


Peace