Predictably, with the New York Knicks at 2-0, observers have already begun to crow about how the Knicks are better without Jeremy Lin than they were with him.
Based on personnel, and how that came to pass, such a conclusion is ridiculous.
Remember, the Knicks are a better team in 2012-13 so far than they ever were in 2011-12 for a pair of reasons: improved offensive production, and greatly improved defense. The former is largely a result of more passing, something Lin arguably does more effectively than his replacement, Raymond Felton, while defensively, the improvement is on the roster, top to bottom.
Look, this is all too small a sample to come to any conclusions. But the Knicks are 2-0, despite Raymond Felton’s 13.4 Player Efficiency Rating, on par with last season’s 13.4. Jeremy Lin, through three games, is at 17.0, down a bit from his 19.9 last year, but well above average. So no conclusions should be drawn; but if using purely the available evidence, the Knicks would be better off with Lin than Felton. It doesn’t matter, as long as they are beating everyone by 20. But it’s worth keeping in mind.
Or as I told my wife yesterday afternoon, “They didn’t trade Jeremy Lin for this bunch of new players. They could have had all of them, and Jeremy Lin. They didn’t trade Lin for Carmelo Anthony’s defensive effort.”
But then I considered that last statement some more. Isn’t there a good chance that trading Lin for Anthony’s defensive effort might be exactly what they did? There’s been little question that Anthony didn’t like sharing the spotlight with Lin, nor that Anthony realizes this is absolutely, fundamentally his team now. An unprecedented focus and effort at both ends of the floor has followed.
Nor is that difference in Anthony alone. Listen to J.R. Smith: “It’s really contagious when you see your star player going out there, diving in the crowd, giving up open shots, going for loose balls,” J.R. Smith said. “It really filters throughout the team, so as long as he keeps doing that, I think everybody won’t have a problem doing it.”
It’s that second part- “as long as he keeps doing that, I think everybody won’t have a problem doing it”- that gets me. A focused Anthony has the entire team playing great defense. Now, Tyson Chandler would anyway. But could letting Jeremy Lin go, no fault of Lin’s, be responsible for the great Knicks defense we’ve seen so far?
In a perfect world, Carmelo Anthony would have been mature enough to go play elite defense, even with a better point guard around to get him the ball in better spots (and yes, share some of the spotlight). But Anthony, for nine seasons, didn’t do what he’s doing so far this season.
It may be that the Knicks didn’t give up Jeremy Lin for nothing in return, after all. Or, Anthony’s effort will soon return to career levels, and they gave away a young star point guard. It’s the drama that will animate much of this Knicks’ season.
9 Comments
This article is just ridiculous. Lin was not a good passer and had poor ball control. I like Felton on D over Lin and you have to factor in the salary cap issue Lin would have created. Lets see maintain his success. Also knicks needed passing out of the PG spot not a guy looking to score like Lin. Kidd fills the role greatly and Felton is just fine for half the price.
Whatever your smokin’ Low Hud, put the pipe down. Get over JLin already, Linsanity is dead.
BigDan,
1. Lin’s assist percentage was 41% last year. He is a tremendously effective passer. It is 32.3% so far this season, playing with lesser shooters.
2. There is no salary cap issue with Lin. The Knicks couldn’t add players with Lin; they can’t add players without him. Same either way.
Hope this clarifies.
You are right, the sample size is too small, and I bet Lin’s efficiency rating has benefited from James Harden’s torrid start. Lin was about to be exposed big time until the Harden deal rescued him. Now he doesn’t have to shoot or go to the hole as much.
We should be able to make a better assessment by calendar year-end. I’m still of the opinion that the Knicks made the right move letting him go.
Hey Howard, why don’t you go and be a Nets or Rockets fan. Why are you still crying about Jeremy Lin. I’m sure I told you before, that majority of real Knick fans don’t give an F about Lin at this point. Are you a Knick fan or a Lin fan? I don’t care if the Knicks trade all of our starters for retired players, you won’t hear me crying like you are for Lin. Come on man, move on with your life. I rather have our collection of point guards than just being about to afford Lin alone. No player is worth that for just a month of playing, I don’t care if the player ended up being the next LBJ. Everytime we do that the player end up being someone just like Jerome James.
It was Lin’s fault, he did not have to sign that deal. He could have stated that he would only sign the original offer only. So, he didn’t have to sign it if he really wanted to be a Knick. Again, what would that have meant to the other players that came back for a reasonable amount of money. That would not have allowed the team to jell later on. So, please make this be the last article that we see with you crying over Lin. MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE, LIN WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE A KNICK AGAIN. GET OVER IT!!!!!!!
Oy, Cereb7, just briefly:
1. To write about the team, and point out where the roster can and should be better, isn’t just compatible with rooting for the Knicks, but also my job.
2. The choice wasn’t Lin or Felton/Kidd/Prigioni. Actually, it was Lin/Felton/Kidd/Prigioni, or Felton/Kidd/Prigioni, though with Lin back, there’s probably no need to trade for Felton.
3. You may believe that no one cares about Lin anymore. But respectfully, I have no reason to think that is true, and have heard plenty from fans who are capable of rooting for the Knicks AND seeing how the biggest decision of the past offseason plays out. I’d suggest you do the same; holding two thoughts in your head at the same time is a worthy pursuit.
Howard, how’s that Lin deal looking now? It’s still early, but how much more time will you need to concede?
Hopefully soon! Would dearly like to be wrong, as it benefits the Knicks. But the real answer is: nothing justifies letting Lin, an asset who in no way changed the team’s flexibility relative to the salary cap, go for nothing. And as to who is better, we need a lot more than six games to determine it.
Which is a shame, because I sure wouldn’t mind if the playoffs started… right now.
Howard, are you ready to concede that the Knicks did the right thing in letting Lin (at the offer sheet that Houston offered) go and picking up Felton? They are 16-5 at this writing, a quarter of the season. Come on man, don’t be that guy who concedes when the campaign is over.