In his first season as a part-time starter, Kawhi Leonard averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Three years later, Leonard's the reigning Sports Illustrated cover star, the NBA Finals MVP and an ascendant franchise player.
In his first season as a part-time starter, Jeremy Lin averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game. Three years later, Lin's no longer a starter, he's routinely ripped by basketball bigots and he's easy trade bait.
Kawhi Leonard is what happens when a coach displays real belief in a player, when an organization puts team over stars, when player development is a real mission rather than just a convenient soundbite mantra. Jeremy Lin is what happens when a coach shows his doubt nightly, when it's all about promoting a few select superstars, when young players are nothing more than trade pieces.
Read more:
http://houston.culturemap.com/news/s...h-level-coach/
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Obviously a little bit absent of the potential and natural gifts Kawhi has that Lin doesn't, however, Lin has always been a solid guy and could have seriously developed with the right coaching. Still could. I think overall the article is on point. Coaches are still chasing superstars -- they haven't realized that the game is passing them by as coaches like Popovich and Thibs reinvent the next phase of development in the NBA.
The player needs to fit how the team plays. When Lin was with the Knicks he happened to be the only guard and there was nobody who could score (Melo was out). When Melo came back in, the offense stagnated and Lin was no longer effective.
Kind of like Diaw with the Bobcats.
WTF was that writer thinking?
This Chris Baldwin can write. Lin has a lot of potential, but it's up to Lin to earn the coach's respect. He needs to be more consistent. It one thing for Kawhi to play within a system that doesn't even have his number called, but Lin is in a different situation and needs to step up.
"Basketball bigots"!
That chasing superstars instead of developing your talent from within is stupid. Which is accurate.
Because as we all know, NBA coaches are elite evaluators of talent.
That was one of the dumbest things I have ever read in my life. Leonard was a ridiculous athlete with enormous hands and a crazy work ethic when drafted. Lin was a borderline NBA player who rode D'Antoni's offense into a ridiculous payday. I nearly died laughing when I read the line about it not being hard to imagine Lin as a Finals MVP.
Lin could be much better, I agree with that, but he was never in Leonard's class. Leonard always had more potential.
Lin? What?
Well of course it's a homer piece, it's from Houston. He's a poor man's Bill Simmons but makes some salient points. I absolutely think Lin is or could be a starting quality PG.That was one of the dumbest things I have ever read in my life. Leonard was a ridiculous athlete with enormous hands and a crazy work ethic when drafted. Lin was a borderline NBA player who rode D'Antoni's offense into a ridiculous payday. I nearly died laughing when I read the line about it not being hard to imagine Lin as a Finals MVP.
lin could be a nice backup pg in the spurs system, if only he can shoot
Lin would be Finals MVP if only his coaches believed in him
wtf wrote that lin ain't got on leonard. Leonard is a ing super saiyan, lin ain't even over 9000
Coach Pop benches players all the time when they're hot. Manu was an All-Star in his prime. He could've had Kobe like numbers if he got Kobe minutes. He came off the bench his whole career and didn't complain. Pop still calls Manu's number in crunch time because he earned it. Lin can't complain. If he's good enough, he'll get minutes, shot attempts, and play late in the 4th. If the coach is to blame for Lin's underachievement now, Lin will blame coaching his whole career, even outside of Houston.Because as we all know, NBA coaches are elite evaluators of talent.
They are missing the most important thing: Leonard actually having star talent.
lin clearly did not receive fair treatment in Houston, if someone wants to believe that he gets less opportunity for lack of talent is kidding himself
Yeah, Lin never really got any type of support in Houston, but he could have stayed in NY if he wanted right? No one forced him to take more money and go to Houston. He should be working on his handles and 3 point shooting instead of being depressed about not getting support from McHale.
This is such a funny story.. Lin could be a serviceable PG even a starter on some squads but the talent isn't there to be compared to Kawhi especially a Finals MVP
FIFYlin could be a nice backup pg in the spurs system making $3 million per, if only he can shoot
Right here...this says it all.Lin was a borderline NBA player who rode D'Antoni's offense into a ridiculous payday.
The article just points out a team that develop players vs another that doesn't.
I agree that Lin is better than what he showed in Houston. Theres no way someone can keep performing like he did in the Knicks during Linsanity time. I still hope that this guy get minutes and confidence. In a contender he would be a killer backup PG.
Regarding the Kawhi comparison I say: Lin is not Kawhi, we all know that. In fact, they even have different names.
Blacks > s in the armor
Lol le didnt read
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