“Things may come to those who wait but only the things left over by those who hustle.” (Abraham Lincoln)
In a forgettable performance, Jeremy Lin missed all his field goals (6) last night. To add insult to injury, he had to guard the amazing Steph Curry as Curry drained three point shot after three point shot. But that was only part of the story of Lin’s offensive and defensive woes. The numbers failed to explain the narrative or answer the entire question: was he aggressive? Did he punish defenders who were in his way? Only your eyes could answer that question with a resounding no.
Oct 29, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (right) with guard Jeremy Lin against the Phoenix Suns during the home opener at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-99. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
At any given moment, Jeremy Lin’s aggression changes the arc of the game as he explodes to the rim and creates opportunities for his teammates. But his talent in that area of the game often disappears and it makes you wonder does he trust it? It’s hard to get an idea of what this Lakers team really is with Lin’s aggression in up and down mode. Clearly, when he is passive the Lakers suffer from poor spacing, bad shot selection, miscommunication and turnovers. And when he is the driven, strategic point guard the Lakers expect, the team as a whole is able to execute and play well.
Last night, the Warriors took away Lin’s perimeter shot and his driving angles, leaving a mid-range game that Lin admits is not his strength. Afterwards, he dejectedly said, “I didn’t give the team what they need from me.”
An aggressive Lin on a consistent play-by-play basis is the major talking point for Byron Scott. He is urging Jeremy Lin to think less and to be aggressive at all times. Don’t worry about mistakes. Be less cautious.
Kobe Bryant was more blunt about what he expects out of his point guard. “I don’t want chumps and I don’t want pushovers”, Bryant said on Friday night. “If you are a chump or you are a pushover, I will run over you.” He then added, “It’s important for him (Lin) to have that toughness, to say I believe in myself. I can step up, I can make these plays. I can perform.”
Of course, we know he can perform. But Jeremy Lin is being asked to reinvent himself in a hurry, to bury the last two years and a style that pretty much reduced him to just giving James Harden the ball and watching Harden get to the rim. Or Dwight Howard dunk.
November 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
This Lakers team has a more basic need. They are desperate for an offensive creator, a ball handler and communicator, someone who can think ahead, has vision and forces the defense to commit to him while seeing where everyone is spaced on the floor. On every team’s scouting report is Kobe Bryant and how to defend him. Jeremy Lin’s name should be there too. How to contain his explosiveness. How to take the game away from him.
Jeremy Lin’s age (26), his explosiveness, his intelligence, make him the primary candidate to lead. But this is where it gets complicated. There is an inherent selfishness in taking the game plan and executing it at your highest ability, using everything you have. It’s hard to lead in the NBA, to be a starting point guard, without relying on self-interests.
Humility is appropriate off the court but on the court you have to be the coach on the floor, a communicator who doesn’t have the luxury to be reactive. Besides court vision, Lin has to think several steps ahead. He has to be the initiator and counterattacker. Because isn’t basketball just another word for fight?
After four games, it is apparent the refs don’t respect Lin. He gets the benefit of nothing as defenders brutalize him in the paint. There hasn’t been blood yet but you know it’s coming one of these days. One of the reasons for the lack of respect is that in the NBA players earn their reputation and the calls they receive. Jeremy Lin’s last two years have been up and down so the refs don’t really know his game. Is he a driver? A three point shooter? A penetrator and disher? Does he flop? Does he finish through contact?
Some games, Jeremy Lin uses his explosion to the rim with a damn you attitude and games like last night in Golden State, he sits back and assesses the field. It’s a disaster on this particular team. They don’t have a seven footer so they can’t rely on multiple offensive possessions. They only grab 38 rebounds a game. Jeremy Lin, leading by example, is a requirement. He has to be relentless, and dare I say, ruthless.
In some ways, Jeremy Lin is a secret that Jeremy Lin is keeping to himself. When the NBA is talking about Jeremy Lin is when the Lakers will be on the right track.