by John Levasseur
Two years ago, #17 swept the nation. It was an incredible story even non-sports fans could appreciate and love. For anyone chasing a dream, and who was being pushed to the limit by that dream, it was the encouragement they needed to reach the next step. This kid from an Ivy League school, schools that don't usually produce star athletes, was making waves in the NBA. His streak of games took the world by storm, and made GM's drool. Daryl Morey in Houston was one of those GM's.
Two years ago, #17 swept the nation. It was an incredible story even non-sports fans could appreciate and love. For anyone chasing a dream, and who was being pushed to the limit by that dream, it was the encouragement they needed to reach the next step. This kid from an Ivy League school, schools that don't usually produce star athletes, was making waves in the NBA. His streak of games took the world by storm, and made GM's drool. Daryl Morey in Houston was one of those GM's.
When Lin became a restricted free agent, Morey offered the young sensation what became known as a 'poison pill' contract. First two years were reasonable, final year was $15 million which is obviously an exorbitant rate for a relatively unproven guard like Lin. Originally, Lin was going to be the principal star of the Rockets which would have suited his ball-dominant style fairly well. Unfortunately once the Rockets picked up Oklahoma City Thunder reserve guard James Harden, and Head Coach Kevin McHale shifted the ball handling duties out of Lin's hands, this made a significant negative impact on Lin's game.
With Harden and Lin playing together in their first year, after some growing pains the star backcourt was actually one of the better ones in pro basketball for a stretch. They figured out how to play together and put up around 50-15 for about two weeks. However, Lin's individual performance greatly improved with Harden on the bench. During a game against the Spurs when Harden was out with an ankle injury during the 2012-2013 campaign, Lin exploded for 38 points in an overtime loss. This was a consistent trend, with Harden on the court, Lin averaged 13.5 PPG per 36 minutes (according to NBA.com's statscube tool). With Harden on the bench (either due to injury or rotation) Lin averaged 17.2 PPG. He did this despite only averaging 2 more FG per game, and did it almost exclusively through three point shooting, his average going from a very pedestrian 30% to a stratospheric 45% which would have been good for fourth in the entire NBA if he had kept it up. A large reason for this is because as a point guard, most of Lin's shooting practice throughout his career likely involved him taking the shot off a dribble as opposed to being a catch-and-shoot player.
In fact, these deficiencies are a large reason why Lin became a bench player and was eventually traded. Lin will always be a high risk-high reward player in the NBA, along with the ability to blow up the points and assist columns, he also can be incredibly turnover prone. During his first season when he took the league by storm, he had the ball in his hands a lot, almost 30% of the knicks possessions ran through him according to basketball-reference.com. Along with this, he assisted on 41% of his team's total shots which (with enough minutes) would have put him just below Chris Paul and just above Tony Parker. However, to go along with this he turned the ball over 21% of the time (per 100 possessions) which made him the 55th worst player in the league at controlling the rock. Not a great statistic for a point guard.
Despite all this, the reason Lin fans should be thrilled is obvious. Lin is in a great situation with the Lakers. Expectations for the team couldn't be lower so the pressures of retaining ball control won't be a crucial as it was for the Rockets who fancied themselves championship contenders this past season. He will be mentored by one of the greatest PG's to ever play in Steve Nash, and one of the greatest scorers to ever play in Kobe Bryant. Lin has the physical gifts, at 6'3 he's a good size for a point guard, and he possesses great athleticism. Back in 2012 when he first joined the Rockets, he was compared to other point guards in the league and had a faster starting speed then any other starting point guard (13.93 MPH compared to John Wall's 13.25) as well as a faster average speed (16.66 MPH compared to Derrick Rose's 16.6). Not to mention the fact that he was second in top speed to John Wall, he obviously possess great linear and lateral speed and quickness. Indeed, even his vertical is above average. In his combine in 2010, he hit 35.6” but that increased after working out with his S&C coach Phil Wagner to 39” (Jeremylin.net). So he's obviously a special athlete, and has shown anyone who has watched his tape that he can use that athleticism to score the ball fairly effectively.
However, what happens when he's matched up with a team that has an similarly athletic defender capable of slowing him down? Or a team that pressures him like the Heat did in the playoffs and removes his ability to pick up speed approaching the half court defense? Cue Kobe and Nash. Lin has shown great court vision in transition, color commentators in Houston have long joked that his Harvard degree comes in handy figuring out trajectory on his passes that rocket all over the court on the break. Nash will only push those skills further, and teach him how to use those currently useless travels through the lane Lin loves taking into assist opportunities. Kobe would be the guy that everyone would love to hate to learn from. Imagine that teacher in high school or college who expected a lot out of you and approached verbal abuse at points, yet you learned more from them then any other teacher you've ever had. That's Kobe. Lin has the work ethic and attitude to work well with Bryant, or he would never have gotten off his friend's couch and into the starting ranks of the NBA. If Lin learns even half of the footwork mastery Bryant possesses, and can learn a quarter of the basketball wisdom from the legendary player, we could be looking at the next great point guard to pilot the Lakers.
Jeremy Lin is on to the next stage of his journey, no longer couch hopping, but still bouncing around the league trying to find a home. The bright lights have served him well before, and the show-time Lakers could easily become the Jeremy Lin show in LA. He brought hope to hundred of young basketball players, as well as shouldered a hefty amount of criticism as well. He's stood for hope, and has one of the most gleefully rabid fan-bases of any player in the NBA. He likely will never lead his team to a championship, and Lin will never be Magic Johnson. Well, probably not. He's broken expectations before.
With Harden and Lin playing together in their first year, after some growing pains the star backcourt was actually one of the better ones in pro basketball for a stretch. They figured out how to play together and put up around 50-15 for about two weeks. However, Lin's individual performance greatly improved with Harden on the bench. During a game against the Spurs when Harden was out with an ankle injury during the 2012-2013 campaign, Lin exploded for 38 points in an overtime loss. This was a consistent trend, with Harden on the court, Lin averaged 13.5 PPG per 36 minutes (according to NBA.com's statscube tool). With Harden on the bench (either due to injury or rotation) Lin averaged 17.2 PPG. He did this despite only averaging 2 more FG per game, and did it almost exclusively through three point shooting, his average going from a very pedestrian 30% to a stratospheric 45% which would have been good for fourth in the entire NBA if he had kept it up. A large reason for this is because as a point guard, most of Lin's shooting practice throughout his career likely involved him taking the shot off a dribble as opposed to being a catch-and-shoot player.
In fact, these deficiencies are a large reason why Lin became a bench player and was eventually traded. Lin will always be a high risk-high reward player in the NBA, along with the ability to blow up the points and assist columns, he also can be incredibly turnover prone. During his first season when he took the league by storm, he had the ball in his hands a lot, almost 30% of the knicks possessions ran through him according to basketball-reference.com. Along with this, he assisted on 41% of his team's total shots which (with enough minutes) would have put him just below Chris Paul and just above Tony Parker. However, to go along with this he turned the ball over 21% of the time (per 100 possessions) which made him the 55th worst player in the league at controlling the rock. Not a great statistic for a point guard.
Despite all this, the reason Lin fans should be thrilled is obvious. Lin is in a great situation with the Lakers. Expectations for the team couldn't be lower so the pressures of retaining ball control won't be a crucial as it was for the Rockets who fancied themselves championship contenders this past season. He will be mentored by one of the greatest PG's to ever play in Steve Nash, and one of the greatest scorers to ever play in Kobe Bryant. Lin has the physical gifts, at 6'3 he's a good size for a point guard, and he possesses great athleticism. Back in 2012 when he first joined the Rockets, he was compared to other point guards in the league and had a faster starting speed then any other starting point guard (13.93 MPH compared to John Wall's 13.25) as well as a faster average speed (16.66 MPH compared to Derrick Rose's 16.6). Not to mention the fact that he was second in top speed to John Wall, he obviously possess great linear and lateral speed and quickness. Indeed, even his vertical is above average. In his combine in 2010, he hit 35.6” but that increased after working out with his S&C coach Phil Wagner to 39” (Jeremylin.net). So he's obviously a special athlete, and has shown anyone who has watched his tape that he can use that athleticism to score the ball fairly effectively.
However, what happens when he's matched up with a team that has an similarly athletic defender capable of slowing him down? Or a team that pressures him like the Heat did in the playoffs and removes his ability to pick up speed approaching the half court defense? Cue Kobe and Nash. Lin has shown great court vision in transition, color commentators in Houston have long joked that his Harvard degree comes in handy figuring out trajectory on his passes that rocket all over the court on the break. Nash will only push those skills further, and teach him how to use those currently useless travels through the lane Lin loves taking into assist opportunities. Kobe would be the guy that everyone would love to hate to learn from. Imagine that teacher in high school or college who expected a lot out of you and approached verbal abuse at points, yet you learned more from them then any other teacher you've ever had. That's Kobe. Lin has the work ethic and attitude to work well with Bryant, or he would never have gotten off his friend's couch and into the starting ranks of the NBA. If Lin learns even half of the footwork mastery Bryant possesses, and can learn a quarter of the basketball wisdom from the legendary player, we could be looking at the next great point guard to pilot the Lakers.
Jeremy Lin is on to the next stage of his journey, no longer couch hopping, but still bouncing around the league trying to find a home. The bright lights have served him well before, and the show-time Lakers could easily become the Jeremy Lin show in LA. He brought hope to hundred of young basketball players, as well as shouldered a hefty amount of criticism as well. He's stood for hope, and has one of the most gleefully rabid fan-bases of any player in the NBA. He likely will never lead his team to a championship, and Lin will never be Magic Johnson. Well, probably not. He's broken expectations before.