Jeremy Lin gives Knicks hope for being a contending playoff team

Why would he continue to improve? He has played maybe 10 quality games in his career. He has played poorly over the years, getting cut regularly, and playing against inferior competition in college.

 

By that definition, he has no choice but to improve. And it's not that he played poorly, he just never played. And he played well against UConn his senior year at Harvard (30 points, 9 rebounds). He might have played in the Ivy League but he was 1st team in the league. He was also All-State as a high school baller in Cali and they won the DII state title, which is no small feat. The only difference is he hasn't been given the same opportunities as other top high school/college players.

 

Was it purely racism that got him cut from other teams?

 

He wouldn't be the first athlete in a professional sport that was cut by multiple teams who then goes on to have success later. Perseverance, continued physical and skill maturation, and finding the right niche for your skill set can all be factors in the late emergence like Lin. Even if he is considered an average guard by NBA standards, his high IQ may allow him to be really successful in the right situation. I, for one, am glad he will be given the chance to see what he can do on a consistent basis. It should be fun to watch, at the least, interesting. Hopefully, the situation will be such that he won't be asked to do it all, but rather have good support pieces around him, and be set up for success. I may actually follow the Rockets now, something I have cared less about since Olajuwon's days.

 

No. Not everyone gets a chance in the professional leagues. For those who had to work their way up, it's all about opportunity and being ready when it comes.

 

i dont understand that logic. clearly he could get worse. there has to be a reason he didnt get playing time, and was cut so many times. am i to assume that he is good based on a tiny sample size? wasnt he playing for mike d'antoni, a coach that inflates everyone's offensive numbers?

my bet is that lin has a very average career.

 

i dont agree. i doubd there are many NBA level talents out there that are not given a chance. i doubt the d-league and the foreign leagues are stocked with guys who would be all-stars if given the chance.

 

I was referring mainly to guys who are already in the NBA.

 

those guys dont really exist either. by the time players make the nba, their coaches and such have a very very good idea of how good they are. guys that can dominate dont sit on the bench, because they have been dominating every level their entire lives.