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'Linsanity' a boon for NBA in China

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I'm no NBA expert but this kid seems like a real good player from youtube clips I watched. Can he become the Asian Michael Jordan? If he promotes the game in Asia the NBA will be grateful - there was even a piece on him on Japanese TV the other night.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

China is such a huge market. The NBA has been searching for another "Chinese" superstar to take the place of Yao MIng and got really lucky that Lin fell into their lap. Also, because of the recent squabbles between FIBA (i.e. the NBA) and the CBA over the contracts of Kenyon Martin, etc., Lin-sanity allows both sides to focus on something positive.

If Baron Davis had been ready to play at the start of the season, Lin might not even had made the Knick's opening day roster. He's made the most of his opportunity so far but only time will tell if he can keep it up until the end of the season. It going to be interesting to see what happens if/when BD comes back. Will D'Antoni go with the "star" or stick with the "kid"?

Maybe it's an unfair comparison, but too bad Tabuse-mania never really got off the ground.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I have little doubt that had Jeremy Lin who is an American grown up in China his sports talent would be stifled and he would be made instead to focus on test scores. Jeremy Lin: A real American success story.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

OH What's that? Just a flash in the pan.

-8 ( +1 / -8 )

Lin, whose parents were born in Taiwan

Lin’s followers on China’s Twitter-like microblogging service, Weibo, have soared this week from 150,000 to 1.4 million by Friday.

So a Taiwanese nobody is a traitor but a Taiwanese hero in American sport is a role model for the Chinese people?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

NetNinja,

I'd have to disagree with you. Jeremy Lin has never been given his full due, in my opinion, because he's Asian. He was the California basketball player of the year and got zero division 1 scholarships. The best high school basketball player in California didn't get a basketball scholarship and had to walk on at Harvard. If you take a look at his college career, his numbers are impressive. Again, he flew under the radar however. I think being at Harvard also added to the problem.

Jeremy's always had game. He's just never been given the opportunity to prove himself until now. I expect the rest of the league is going to figure him out a bit, but he will be a better than average point guard for the Knicks for years to come and for the price they paid to get him, it was a steal.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Laker fan:

OH What's that? Just a flash in the pan

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/11/jeremy-lin-is-no-fluke/.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This is what I HATE about pro sports, not this guy Lin, but the rush to max merch sales & crap, pro sports, all of it has gone down hill for a few decades now, its only about a few primadonnas trying to jump teams as fast as possible to get a championship or get more $$$ because so & so got XXX amount of $$.

I liked it when it used to be about team sports, but pro sports are so far gone those days are history. To enjoy sports watch kids, young people, but even in places high schools are bet on, all the scumbag scouts etc

Good on Jin, bad on the nba trying push swag!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@yagura:

Maybe it's an unfair comparison, but too bad Tabuse-mania never really got off the ground.

It's unfair and irrelevant. Lin has real talent for the NBA that Tabuse never had. Based on ability, Tabuse had no business ever being on an NBA roster.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Another reason for Jeremy Lin's present popularity is the fact that so many Americans are sick and tired of all the "punks" that populate NBA rosters.

This "Linsanity" mirrors the incredible popularity surrounding Tim Tebow in the NFL last year. People get tired of the many multimillionaires in both leagues who act like fools far too often in their daily lives, and the constant stories of them ending up bankrupt after making so much money. (Terrell Owens and Allen Iverson come to mind lately.)

Lin's real test will come in the next few weeks as he finishes making the rounds of the league as a starter. Can he adjust to the different defensive schemes that will come his way? Will he be able to hold up physically to the NBA grind as he plays so much?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

But a five game sample is enough to point out that Lin's not playing this well by accident. Lin's certainly not perfect, and he won't keep playing this well once the league starts to figure him out. He as weaknesss in his jump shots. Eventually, opponents will start to go underneath ball screens and dare him to make the outside jumper. This is what teams do to adjust, and it's why he hasn't be as effective this season. Also, Lin's not a very good finisher going left. While he can compensate for that with his quickness, there will be some teams that will cut off his right hand. Better defensive teams like the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and many more will cut off Lin's angle to the right elbow far better than the Wizards, Jazz and Nets. When that happens, Lin will need to change his game a bit.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Taiwan and China are totally different. Lin was born of Taiwanese parents not China. Ask any Taiwanese and they'd tell you they're not China.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Taiwan and China are totally different. Lin was born of Taiwanese parents not China. Ask any Taiwanese and they'd tell you they're not China.

well lin said he was proud to be chinese. i guess he's the exception.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

How many rings does he have?

You guys are all on his tip like he's the best thing since sliced bread. Only time will tell. Everybody has moments, not everybody has a ring.

I'm glad the Knicks have something to be excited about. It's really GREAT for the league after that awfully long strike. Go figure.

Seriously, how many of you were P/Offed after that long strike over millions of dollars? Now the NBA gives you this!! Sorry, but I'm not buying it. He's a good player but the slogan fits - Linsanity, you've clearly lost your minds for a minute or two.

Jason Williams - Sacremento Kings aka Jay Will Blake Griffin Many have come and many will go. But to win Game 7 and get a ring, they'll never know.

-5 ( +2 / -6 )

^wah wah wah i want attention

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

He's not just a boon for China

Forbes Mag:

New York Knick point guard Jeremy Lin is a one-man economic recovery that even Ben Bernanke couldn't dream up in his Federal Reserve meetings. Lin-sanity has taken the country by storm and as a result created a spending frenzy that's benefiting a broad range of companies, tax rolls and even the stock market. Lin's salary this season is a modest (by NBA standards) $800,000, but by some calculations, he's turned into the $170 million man.

The most tangible impact has been on the market cap of Madison Square Garden (MSG), whose stock has jumped 7 percent to close Thursday at $31.87 from its close at $29.77 on Feb. 7 when Lin first entered the Knicks' starting lineup. That translates to a $170 million to the company's market cap to $2.4 billion.

I'm lovin it. You have people who call themselves fans of the game who still insist this all a fluke.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I live in the New York area, have watched the Knicks on TV and even been to a game. Lin isn't the most gifted player and it's possible his point totals will decline. But you know what? He actually passes the ball and makes plays happen. Not like the overpriced one man show ball hogging "stars" that teams live and die by game to game.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Puns are stupid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

# ferrariboy69Feb. 18, 2012 - 05:42AM JST

Taiwan and China are totally different. Lin was born of Taiwanese parents not China. Ask any Taiwanese and they'd tell you they're not China.

Taiwan's official title is Republic of CHINA.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It was very smart of this young kid to say "I'm proud to be Chinese." He now has the support of over 1.5 Billion people - and China is a basketball-crazy nation. Young Lin is going to make a fortune!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I am a Taiwanese and all of us've been really proud of Lin. Both of Lin's parents were born in Taiwan, his father's family have been in Taiwan for more than 300 years and his mother's family were moved to Taiwan in 1949 from China after civil war. Lin was born in America so he's actually an American! Please don't connect this naive young man to those sort of political Taiwan/China/Independence ... issue. How can he understand all those complicated history? Please just give sport a peaceful environment!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Agreed, Yosun. His parents had lived in the US almost 20 years before he was born. Palo Alto has a very strong Asian culture, but it is an American Asian culture - i.e., it is pan-Asian, where similarities between cultures are emphasized and differences somewhat ignored. The Chinese people may love him, but the Chinese government might do to be a bit wary: this man is nobody's toy.

The man is absolutely resolute - amazingly so. Great HS player but not recruited by college teams; great player at Harvard, but not recruited by the NBA. He persisted throughout, and no matter what happens in the future, his present success is testimony to his depth as a human.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The man is absolutely resolute - amazingly so. Great HS player but not recruited by college teams; great player at Harvard, but not recruited by the NBA. He persisted throughout, and no matter what happens in the future, his present success is testimony to his depth as a human.

I wish him luck. He is outspoken about his religious faith ( it ain't Buddhism) and for that the mainstream media elites and the commentariat will have the knives out for this kid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'd like to bring this topic back up cause of recent developments.

All though I still reserve judgement on his basketball skills today I'd like to give him some respect.

It has come to my attention at ESPN recently reprimanded some of it's headline writers for being extremely insensitive (euphemism) after the New York Knicks first lost.

Jeremy Lin had 9 turnovers in the game and the reporter thought it best to describe his performance as this -

WARNING These are NOT my words and I do NOT share the opinions of this ESPN writer ****

The reporter described his performance as a "Chink in the Armor". Under normal circumstances this would fly over like any other report. However in the case of Jeremy Lin it is offensive to use this term. I'm saddened that Mr. Lin has to endure such hardships even in the year 2012.

I don't think anyone doubts the basketball abilities of Asian players. It's has always been about how marketable they are. Jeremy Lin is going to have to brave this out. Furthermore, he better keep playing ball like his career depends on it right now. If he shows them any less they'll show him the bench, then the door.

Now if the ESPN's reporters had read MY post they would have said "Flash in the Pan" which is much safer. It still would have been accurate. No matter what, racial slurs and harassment should not be tolerated in this day and age. I commend ESPN on their quick response. Link below if you don't know.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/daily-take/201202/espn-fires-lin-headline-writer

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Man, finally JT posts something about JLin! Haters go away, JLin is here to stay!..repping the bay!

Kid is for real. Sample size is growing people! sample size is growing!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@unreconstructed. Yes, he is a strong man of God. That is who he plays for and much admiration and respect for that. He will not be affected by all the hoopla in NY.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Patrick Hattman is right on. Tabuse didnt have the talent for the NBA. too short, shots were easily blocked. Couldnt shoot. JLin is legit..great size, 6 ft 3, 200lbs..he has got the package for the NBA.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

A 'chink in the armour' is a common phrase that has nothing to do with ethnicity. From the very brief video I saw, the use of English was accurate. A 'flash in the pan' means something entirely different and would be used in a different context.

But either comment would mean that Lin was not a very good basketball player. His fans could take exception to that, I suppose.

I would say that moving from discussion of one player who happens to be 'Asian' to pontificate that 'no one doubts the basketball abilities of Asian players' is far more racist - as if one player represents everyone who happens to have a similar (very) broad genetic background and an interest in playing ball games.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I hope he continues to do well. I also hope that his family in Taiwan is left alone, as they seem to be being hounded by the media.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Follow Up Post - Well, it's nice to see that we are getting back to normal. Everyone jumping on the J-Lin bandwagon will be getting off soon cause he's being shut down. New Jersey Nets D-Will made it very clear that Jeremy Lin has a long way to go.

ESPN's quip about a "Chink in the Armor" was just another example of being overly PC. It is a common expression and the reporter who used that particular expression has used it before in many other situations before J-Lim. In context, it was not intentional at all.

If he changed his voice to sound Chinese and said something "Itta looka pretty DIM for SUM tonight" then maybe that would be considered insulting. He did not make such a joke and I really think the ESPN reporter should get his job back. Everybody has a few chinks in their armor but we don't usually picture a Chinese person.

Anyway, you guys had better listen to Amare Stoudamire. He's a bit more realistic when it come to playing in the NBA. This was all hype to get you guys watching the NBA again after that disgusting strike over millions of dollars.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Follow Up Post - Well, it's nice to see that we are getting back to normal. Everyone jumping on the J-Lin bandwagon will be getting off soon cause he's being shut down. New Jersey Nets D-Will made it very clear that Jeremy Lin has a long way to go.

you dont know jack about basketball. well maybe you read the backpages of a newspaper left on a subway seat. shut down? 21,7,9? he almost put up a triple double while trying to incorporate two stars who were recently injured and a new teammate into their offense. he just has no defense.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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