I'm not a fan of LeBron James but also don't hate him. So having James and the Miami Heat winning this season's NBA championship is no big deal. Congratulations to the Heat for a good season and they will definitely enjoy the championship experience.
LeBron winning the title reminded me of my adult league championship during the summer of 2011. Some of the guys on my team had never won any type of championship while playing in various leagues. I was fortunate to have been part of five different teams. The experience probably helped me to do well last summer as my team won the championship 73-72 in overtime.
That feeling of winning last summer still resonates even a year later. The game itself was one of the best I played on as it was a nail bitter. Some of my teammates from that team still see each other every now and then. We still talk about that game when we see each other.
So as LeBron celebrates his first NBA title, I am reminded of my team's reaction to winning our title last summer. Even though the NBA title means more than our adult league championship, it was a great experience to be cherished. For LeBron, I hope he enjoys this one. While he will do his best to win more, there is never a guarantee for another one.
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
What Happens When Linsanity Ends?
Actually Linsanity ended when Carmelo Anthony returned from injury. However, any chance of Linsanity returning when out the door when New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni resigned today.
The Knicks blew out the Portland Trail Blazers as Jeremy Lin had 6 points, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers in 24 minutes of play. What might raise eyebrows is that Baron Davis had 10 assists in 18 minutes of action. The scary thing for Jeremy Lin fans is that the new interim coach (Mike Woodson) may not favor Jeremy Lin as much as D'Antoni.
What happens next to Jeremy Lin remains to be seen. However, as I wrote on a message board yesterday, Jeremy Lin has learned more about the BUSINESS of NBA in the past few months (being waived by the Warriors, Rockets and now the coach quits). Also, big money players like Carmelo hold a lot of sway over how basketball should be played than just the coach.
Best wishes to Jeremy Lin as he navigates another challenge in his career. I do have confidence he will be fine.
The Knicks blew out the Portland Trail Blazers as Jeremy Lin had 6 points, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers in 24 minutes of play. What might raise eyebrows is that Baron Davis had 10 assists in 18 minutes of action. The scary thing for Jeremy Lin fans is that the new interim coach (Mike Woodson) may not favor Jeremy Lin as much as D'Antoni.
What happens next to Jeremy Lin remains to be seen. However, as I wrote on a message board yesterday, Jeremy Lin has learned more about the BUSINESS of NBA in the past few months (being waived by the Warriors, Rockets and now the coach quits). Also, big money players like Carmelo hold a lot of sway over how basketball should be played than just the coach.
Best wishes to Jeremy Lin as he navigates another challenge in his career. I do have confidence he will be fine.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Good Learning Lesson For Jeremy Lin
By now, everyone knows that the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks 102-88 tonight. Jeremy Lin was harassed the whole night and played his worst game since became a starter two weeks ago.
As I write this though, I am not particularly disappointed or upset by this performance. Like many fans, I have been glad that Jeremy Lin has shown Asian-Americans can compete at the NBA level. It would have been good to do well against a championship contender such as the Heat.
However, I think this bodes well for Jeremy Lin's future. As it's well documented, he was a small guy entering high school and grew to 6'3". I'm pretty sure it took a little while for Jeremy to adjust to this. At Harvard, he didn't start until his sophomore year and he didn't really break out until his junior year.
Jeremy Lin has shown that he is able to adjust and adapt his game over time. Tonight will be a blip and he will be much better off the next time the Heat and Knicks meet. Not many players (even highly drafted ones) can simply get on the court and do well. Jeremy Lin has done pretty good over two weeks.
After playing in the rookie-sophomore game tomorrow, Jeremy Lin will get a break from playing and prepare for the second half of the season. He'll have a chance to practice with his teammates, work on improving his game and be ready to help the Knicks for their playoff run.
As I write this though, I am not particularly disappointed or upset by this performance. Like many fans, I have been glad that Jeremy Lin has shown Asian-Americans can compete at the NBA level. It would have been good to do well against a championship contender such as the Heat.
However, I think this bodes well for Jeremy Lin's future. As it's well documented, he was a small guy entering high school and grew to 6'3". I'm pretty sure it took a little while for Jeremy to adjust to this. At Harvard, he didn't start until his sophomore year and he didn't really break out until his junior year.
Jeremy Lin has shown that he is able to adjust and adapt his game over time. Tonight will be a blip and he will be much better off the next time the Heat and Knicks meet. Not many players (even highly drafted ones) can simply get on the court and do well. Jeremy Lin has done pretty good over two weeks.
After playing in the rookie-sophomore game tomorrow, Jeremy Lin will get a break from playing and prepare for the second half of the season. He'll have a chance to practice with his teammates, work on improving his game and be ready to help the Knicks for their playoff run.
Monday, February 06, 2012
Jeremy Lin: WOW!
As I have blogged about Jeremy Lin before, it should come as no surprise that I am a fan of his career. I remember reading about him during his high school days, followed him throughout his college career and was thrilled when the hometown Golden State Warriors signed him to a contract. Alas, Jeremy's NBA career hadn't taken off as anyone expected and many people wondered if he would ever get a chance to show his skills.
However, even the most die-hard of Jeremy Lin fans would have never expected Jeremy Lin to do what he did in the last two games. He led his team to victories over the Nets and the Jazz. He had career highs in points in both games (25 / 28), assists (7 / 8) and minutes (36 / 45).
I don't think it's completely sunken in for Jeremy Lin OR his fans. I think most of us fans would have been happy if he played 15 to 20 minutes and became a consistent bench player. Instead, in two games, he has been the star, outshining his more heralded teammates.
However, if you look at Jeremy's career in high school, college and even D-League, Jeremy has always been a leader of men (or teams). In many ways, we shouldn't be surprised at what he did the last two nights. He has done it before after all.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Life of An NBA Player is not easy (just ask Jeremy Lin)
I haven't been blogging too much recently but watching Jeremy Lin bouncing from team to team in recent weeks gave me a topic to discuss.
There are probably many young basketball players / athletes / kids out there who look up to the various NBA players and dream they could be out there. However, I would be willing to bet that most of the players young athletes idolize are the stars: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Kevin Durant, etc, etc.
There's nothing wrong with idolizing stars but their lifestyle and basketball careers are remarkably different than fringe / borderline NBA players like Jeremy Lin. Stars don't have to worry about where they will play for or if they will make money. Teams will pony up a ton of cash and sign a star at a moment's notice.
What most young athletes don't see is that mid to lower level NBA players have to work really hard and even then there is not a guarantee they will play in the league. It's perfectly fine for young athletes to dream about playing in the NBA but the reality is STAYING in the NBA takes a lot of work for players who are not stars. Plus there is a ton of uncertainty to deal with. But if a young athlete has some ability and the dedication to improve, they might be able to make it.
How does this relate to Jeremy Lin? Well, Jeremy is a player on the fringe at this point of his career. He is now with the Knicks after being cut by the Warriors and the Rockets. He hasn't gotten a ton of opportunity to show what he can do and it remains to be seen what will happen with the Knicks.
No matter what happens to Jeremy in the future, I hope Asian parents will take note of Jeremy's example and not other Asian NBA players like Yao Ming. While there is nothing wrong with Yao as an example, Yao is/was a star much like the Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Jeremy's career path is much more realistic (if not as interesting) path that the MAJORITY of NBA players have to go through.
Unfortunately, Jeremy's current career path may actually cause parents to discourage Asian parents from letting their kids from playing sports. They might say "Look at Jeremy, he's jumping from team to team and doesn't know where he might be a few weeks from now".
All of this is true but nothing in life is ever set in stone. Just having a good education these days is no guarantee that you will get a job. These days, experience and connections matter more than just pure education. The flip side is that Jeremy loves basketball and wants to prove he can play in the NBA. He is more than willing to put the work in.
I'm a believer in pursuing whatever you're passionate about. That's why I support independent Asian-American movies, musicians and artists. They might not be big names but there is stuff I like. I support Jeremy Lin not just because he is Asian but because he is basically a "regular guy" that people can relate to. I hope that Asians (and others) take note of Jeremy's example.
There are probably many young basketball players / athletes / kids out there who look up to the various NBA players and dream they could be out there. However, I would be willing to bet that most of the players young athletes idolize are the stars: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Kevin Durant, etc, etc.
There's nothing wrong with idolizing stars but their lifestyle and basketball careers are remarkably different than fringe / borderline NBA players like Jeremy Lin. Stars don't have to worry about where they will play for or if they will make money. Teams will pony up a ton of cash and sign a star at a moment's notice.
What most young athletes don't see is that mid to lower level NBA players have to work really hard and even then there is not a guarantee they will play in the league. It's perfectly fine for young athletes to dream about playing in the NBA but the reality is STAYING in the NBA takes a lot of work for players who are not stars. Plus there is a ton of uncertainty to deal with. But if a young athlete has some ability and the dedication to improve, they might be able to make it.
How does this relate to Jeremy Lin? Well, Jeremy is a player on the fringe at this point of his career. He is now with the Knicks after being cut by the Warriors and the Rockets. He hasn't gotten a ton of opportunity to show what he can do and it remains to be seen what will happen with the Knicks.
No matter what happens to Jeremy in the future, I hope Asian parents will take note of Jeremy's example and not other Asian NBA players like Yao Ming. While there is nothing wrong with Yao as an example, Yao is/was a star much like the Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Jeremy's career path is much more realistic (if not as interesting) path that the MAJORITY of NBA players have to go through.
Unfortunately, Jeremy's current career path may actually cause parents to discourage Asian parents from letting their kids from playing sports. They might say "Look at Jeremy, he's jumping from team to team and doesn't know where he might be a few weeks from now".
All of this is true but nothing in life is ever set in stone. Just having a good education these days is no guarantee that you will get a job. These days, experience and connections matter more than just pure education. The flip side is that Jeremy loves basketball and wants to prove he can play in the NBA. He is more than willing to put the work in.
I'm a believer in pursuing whatever you're passionate about. That's why I support independent Asian-American movies, musicians and artists. They might not be big names but there is stuff I like. I support Jeremy Lin not just because he is Asian but because he is basically a "regular guy" that people can relate to. I hope that Asians (and others) take note of Jeremy's example.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The conundrum that Jeremy Lin faces..........
(Hadn't blogged too much recently and in the span of 30 minutes, I have done three blog posts on different topics.....call me MOODY....hahahaha)
The Golden State Warriors have started their preseason and with all the recent changes (new owners, new coaches), there is excitement in the air. However, to many local and Asian-American fans, there is only one change that matters: Jeremy Lin.
Lin had a nice game in some garbage time duty against the Clippers Friday evening. However, according to reports, he struggled mightily (3 turnovers in one minute) against the Kings tonight that he was benched by coach Keith Smart.
Not knowing the specific circumstances of what happened tonight, I can't comment on exactly what happened. However, one thing I sense is that Lin is pressing to impress in limited minutes he is getting.
In high school and college, Lin had more free rein and tons of opportunity to gain experience and iron out his kinks. Plus, it was obvious he had the talent to compete at the high school and college levels. Things are not so clear cut in the NBA.
Many lower tier NBA players ride the pine and gain experience from practice. Once coaches feel the players are ready for the rigors of the NBA, they start to play more. I think this will be a BIG adjustment for Lin. It's hard to go from being a star to a bench warmer.
However, I think Lin is feeling the pressure of his personal expectations and perhaps the fans as well. I think Lin needs to step back and play within his game in the few minutes that he gets during the preseason. I have a very strong feeling that Lin can play in the NBA. However, just like his high school and college days, it takes him a while to get adjusted. After all, Lin is not the strongest of most athletic players out there. He is an intelligent player who reads situations and adapts.
I think Lin's still reading situations like he used to. The biggest different is the window of opportunity to execute the right moves can be closed VERY FAST because NBA players are so athletic. Lin's adjustment is to find counter moves. We all saw this in summer league, so it shouldn't be a surprise. Lin can drive by people but help defense in the NBA comes quickly. That is why Lin tried adding some spin moves during the NBA Summer League with limited success.
Many people have said this may be the biggest challenge for Jeremy Lin ever. Indeed it will be. He's never had to face the level of athleticism he will face in the NBA. This is not something you can just simply practice or train for. It's hard work and Lin will need to prove that he can play in the NBA.
The Golden State Warriors have started their preseason and with all the recent changes (new owners, new coaches), there is excitement in the air. However, to many local and Asian-American fans, there is only one change that matters: Jeremy Lin.
Lin had a nice game in some garbage time duty against the Clippers Friday evening. However, according to reports, he struggled mightily (3 turnovers in one minute) against the Kings tonight that he was benched by coach Keith Smart.
Not knowing the specific circumstances of what happened tonight, I can't comment on exactly what happened. However, one thing I sense is that Lin is pressing to impress in limited minutes he is getting.
In high school and college, Lin had more free rein and tons of opportunity to gain experience and iron out his kinks. Plus, it was obvious he had the talent to compete at the high school and college levels. Things are not so clear cut in the NBA.
Many lower tier NBA players ride the pine and gain experience from practice. Once coaches feel the players are ready for the rigors of the NBA, they start to play more. I think this will be a BIG adjustment for Lin. It's hard to go from being a star to a bench warmer.
However, I think Lin is feeling the pressure of his personal expectations and perhaps the fans as well. I think Lin needs to step back and play within his game in the few minutes that he gets during the preseason. I have a very strong feeling that Lin can play in the NBA. However, just like his high school and college days, it takes him a while to get adjusted. After all, Lin is not the strongest of most athletic players out there. He is an intelligent player who reads situations and adapts.
I think Lin's still reading situations like he used to. The biggest different is the window of opportunity to execute the right moves can be closed VERY FAST because NBA players are so athletic. Lin's adjustment is to find counter moves. We all saw this in summer league, so it shouldn't be a surprise. Lin can drive by people but help defense in the NBA comes quickly. That is why Lin tried adding some spin moves during the NBA Summer League with limited success.
Many people have said this may be the biggest challenge for Jeremy Lin ever. Indeed it will be. He's never had to face the level of athleticism he will face in the NBA. This is not something you can just simply practice or train for. It's hard work and Lin will need to prove that he can play in the NBA.
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