Tackling the Lindemic

Why?

Why has the entire sports world come to a screeching halt for an undrafted basketball player from Harvard?

Why is the Leader of the Free World making public comments about this mystery man? (For the record I nearly gagged when I got a text from ESPN NBA saying that President Obama said that this man's recent success "transcends the sport.")

Why did I just get a text from ESPN saying that he just got 10 points and 13 assists? And why does he get the front page on ESPN.com for this "accomplishment"? This was against the Sacramento Kings. I do not care who you are but that should not get that much attention, but again...he is Jeremy Lin (I refuse to use the term "Linsanity."Any take on the word "insanity" is trademarked by Vince Carter. This is "Vinsanity.")

Jeremy Lin is being hailed as the Messiah of Basketball for New York. I know for a fact that he single-handedly saved Mike D'Antoni's job. He has been the biggest part of a desperately needed 7 game win streak for the Knicks while both Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire were not playing. I cannot argue that he has brought a consistant buzz and excitement to Madison Square Garden that has not existed there for years. In these 7 games he has averaged 24.4 points and 9.1 assists per game. That's very impressive. The teams he's played though over that same span are about as good as Nicki Minaj's Grammy performance. They have a combined win percentage of .383 with the only good team, and I use that term very hesitantly, is the Los Angeles Lakers. I will give him all the credit in the world for inducing a Mike Breen "BAAAANG!" on Asian Heritage Night in Toronto (strange how they plan things that way...).

Did it only take us a week with football to become so deprived that we needed to create a folkhero? I am very happy for Jeremy Lin and his recent successes but let's stop drinking the purple Kool-Aid for a second and step back and really examine this thing. Is there a chance he can come even close to sustaining this kind of stat-line for 5 games? Sure I could maybe see that. But 15? Or 30? Or into the playoffs? There's just no way. Teams will start to get film on him and play him to his weaknesses like going left or they will try and counter his exceptional ability to split the high pick and roll and go to the basket.

The obvious comparison that has been brought up is Tim Tebow. Both guys were just "not suppose" to succeed in their respective sports but both of them succeeded when they were actually given a fighting chance to show the world what they could do in the spotlight.  Now having said that Lin is producing on a much, much higher level on a much more consistant basis. Lin actually had the same field goals made to attempted (9-20) in his sixth start as Tebow did completions in pass attempts in his sixth start (wait why am I bringing this up...thou shalt not speak of Tebow in vain). Anyways what I'm trying to say is that this level of play can only last for so long. People figure you out pretty easily and then it's the player's job to beat the defender when the defender knows what you are going to do. And you forget that The Center of the Galaxy has yet to be on the same floor as Lin. Carmelo Anthony is a black hole. Lin will NEVER be able to shoot the ball more than 12 times a game at most, which means he will not be able to get to the free throw line were he has thrived so far.

Listen I want Lin to do well and this Linsanity has legitimate legs thanks to the vomiting ESPN has done since this has started. I mean I guess there is only so much you can talk about in today's 24/7 news cycle. But give it a little rest, a little time to marinate before we are crowning Lin as a "miracle" or "savior" for the sport. Come talk to me when he CARRIES his team to the Finals. Or even the playoffs. Or even this level of play for 10 more games.  He has done nothing to deserve any of this over the top credit yet. He's playing well and was misevaluated by NBA scouts. He will never be more than a run-of-the-mill starting point guard. Everyone needs to calm down and breathe, it will all be okay. It will all be over before you know it.

(If you have wondered why my blog posts have been lacking in quantity lately, 3 tests and a 6 page paper in one week will do that to you. School does actually exist despite popular belief. I also received a bid from Delta Kappa Epsilon and have started the pledge process. It has been the best decision in my life and I'm looking forward to the lasting brotherhood that I am now part of, after initiation of course. Expect a more consistant posting schedule in the future)