Jeremy Lin Is ON FIRE In the NBA

[Jerry Del Colliano]

Are you guys following this story?

This guy, Jeremy Lin, is the new Tim Tebow as he was signed and then WAIVED by TWO NBA teams this year. Coming out of Harvard, the guy gets signed again to the Knicks (not my favorite team being from Philly but still a great story) because of injuries.

He's a 6 foot 3 inch point guard and as soon as he gets some playing time for the Knicks he basically starts going 20 and 10 in every game. The Knicks are winning everything. The guy fits in the coach's system perfectly.

Last night some of the stars come back and the game comes down the the last shot (or it goes to OT). The coach, Mike D'antoni, makes a BRILLIANT call to basically isolate Lin at the point and give him the ball. If he makes it - they win. If not - they go to OT. He makes it (see video) like a TOTAL STUD.

Is this a bigger story than Tim Tebow? Tebow is a great guy and a man of faith but he can't throw like a top NFL quarterback. This Lin kid can BALL.

Will this last or is this a "prisoner of the moment" story that will be gone as fast as it took up the news cycle.

Personally, I don't like NBA basketball much but I love this story. Smart kid that can play if given the chance. Hell, he was sleeping on his brother's sofa when he got signed by The Knicks. Now he has a contract for the rest of the year. Moreover and possibly because he's asian - he's going to get Ming-like endorsements. Good for him.

[TrippleJ]

Ever since he came onto the scene, I have been trying to watch his games. I am very impressed with his knowledge of the game and ability to score and pass when needed. He is exactly what the NBA needs. He is very likeable.. very smart, talented, and very humble. I have yet to see any interview where it was about me me me.. it is always about his coach, team mates, the knicks organization, and most importantly his faith.. It is refreshing to have someone like him in the NBA when you have all the it's about "me" players in the NBA.

They are now on a 7 game win streak since he started .. I am sure the team will not win every game but it is refreshing for sure to see someone like him in the NBA.

I wish him lot of success and hope to see him improve over time.. His turnovers are high so that is his only weakness that I can see..

[NoUDont]

He is exactly what the NBA needs. He is very likeable.. very smart, talented, and very humble. I have yet to see any interview where it was about me me me.. it is always about his coach, team mates, the knicks organization, and most importantly his faith.. It is refreshing to have someone like him in the NBA when you have all the it's about "me" players in the NBA.

They are now on a 7 game win streak since he started .. I am sure the team will not win every game but it is refreshing for sure to see someone like him in the NBA.

I wish him lot of success and hope to see him improve over time.. His turnovers are high so that is his only weakness that I can see..

By like him you mean a Crusader, right?

The NBA has been doing just fine without Linsanity. And the majority of players are not all about me types:

Ray Allen
Derek Rose
Dwayne Wade
Chris Bosh
Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Steve Nash
Tim Duncan
Dirk Novitski
Jason Kidd

If you like him because he believes in the same fairy tales you do, that's fine. But to say its what the NBA needs is a bit of a stretch.

I wish him all the success he can get. Since I hate anything from New York, sports wise, the team can continue not having won a playoff game in over 10 years!

It looks like you are crowning him the cross bearer of the NBA ala Tebow for the NFL and Santorum for the Republicans. The NBA doesn't mind having him on a loop on ESPN for now...

[David Vaughn]

I disagree that the NBA is doing "just fine." Outside of Miami, LA, Chicago, and Boston, take a look in the stands and you'll see a bunch of empty seats. The NBA has been so badly mismanaged that they've lost a lot of their past fans due to the player strike/lockout and overpriced tickets catering to corporate customers. I used to go to a few Kings games a year, but for a family of four to try and go now (with acceptable non-nosebleed seats), it costs over $400 for 2.5 hours of entertainment. That's simply ludicrous. Furthermore, when King James and company decided to collude between each other and end up in Miami, I was appalled. Give me the NHL over the NBA any day of the week IMHO.

[TrippleJ]

To clarify, when I say "like him", I meant someone who because of his skills doesn't think he is all that and that is why he is worth the millions. This guy got rejected everywhere he went. After leading his high school to a state championship over a much better high school, he didn't get any offers from basketball heavy college programs. At Harvard he struggled and eventually became starting point guard and even then after a successful run he didn't get drafted by any NBA team, etc. He continued to be the underdog everywhere he went..

After the lockout, the nba is in need of good PR. Prices are very high and way past what a middle class family of four can purchase. Most of the time, the seats are empty due to the high prices.

[David Vaughn]

His high school coach was on a local show this past week and he supposedly is a very down to earth kid, which is a great thing. I wish him nothing but the best, but he would look much better in a Kings jersey

[TrippleJ]

I wish he didn't get cut in the preseason when Houston had him.. Oh well..

yeah. He is a good kid and that is why I like him in the NBA.

Only bad thing is that he has high turnovers. He needs to develop his game more .. Hopefully he can do that over time..

[David Vaughn]

More playing time will help the turnovers. He needs to learn what works and what doesn't on the NBA level.

[Jerry Del Colliano]

I agree with David in that that NBA is NOT doing fine. Maybe in LA (especially thanks to David Stern's help with the Clippers), Miami, Chicago and Boston but in cities like Philly (major comeback there since Comcast sold the team - clearly they are better at running my Flyers in the NHL) New York and elsewhere have been sucking. They are looking to Ok City and have a team in Sacramento? Ouch. Players are thugs. End up broke after MAX NBA contracts. Selfish too (think: the decision). Their revenue isn't much higher than my beloved NHL despite having a much better TV contract.

I think the NBA is in big trouble and a story like Lin is something that came at the right time and in the right city.

[Jerry Del Colliano]

Good to see such a robust sports thread here on HTE!