Competition is always a good thing. Lin definitely needs a reminder that nothing is guaranteed for him. But if you're Knicks management, I'm sure Lin is seen as better long-term solution than Davis.Apollo wrote:
Competition is always a good thing. Lin definitely needs a reminder that nothing is guaranteed for him. But if you're Knicks management, I'm sure Lin is seen as better long-term solution than Davis.
"I don't lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation." - Fox Mulder
Lin wasn't seen as anything only a week ago. I don't think it's safe to assume anything yet. 30 turnovers in the last five games is a huge total. 20 over the last three is a huge total. Again, if he does that in a prominent role during the playoffs they get bounced early.
Its because aside from Leafs fans there are very few real Toronto sports fans in the city. Most just jump on the bandwagon of the next big thing (Linsanity, Miami Heat), and there is even a larger group that get tickets, probably for free from someone, and go there to openly and loudly cheer against the Raptors.
MLSE is to blame as well with these Italian/Spanish/South Asian themed nights basically inviting non-Raptors and for that fact probably non-sports fans to come to the ACC and cheer the opposition. It is the most least hostile environment in the NBA. Don't believe me just watch tonight when Bonner is in town how the "home" crowd makes another opponent feel right at home.
This team is an embarrassment. I am borderline ashamed to be a fan of this laughingstock of a franchise.
Deadallus
You're probably right, but would the Knicks be on pace to even make the playoffs without Lin? 7 wins in a row is hard to accomplish by accident.
At the end of the day, if the Knicks win more games than they lose (with Lin playing a prominent role), I think his job is safe. The odds of Davis have a career resurgence is less likely than Lin's miraculous rise. And really, what other options do they have at PG?
Even if the Knicks get bounced in the 1st round with Lin committing 6-7 turnovers per game, I think they bring him back next season and say, "we've got our PG of the future. We just need him to work on his turnovers this offseason."
"I don't lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation." - Fox Mulder
Maybe you're right and they end up overpaying to the full MLE to keep him and then one day that contract looks as bad as Beno Udrih's contract signed by the Kings or Marco Jaric's contract signed by the Timberwolves or Rafer Alston's contract signed by the Raptors.
It's better the Knicks overpay for his services than the Raptors
"I don't lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation." - Fox Mulder
I agree 100%. That's my preference. Let's see how long Linsanity lasts if he's turning the ball over six times a night even in a game like last night where some in the media said he "proved a lot but not shooting much and delivering 13 dimes". Again, that's awesome but those 6 turnovers are going to start happening an inopportune times. Its not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Whoever draws the Knicks in round one are going to craft a plan to feast on Lin's numerous mistakes. The media loves to build guys up and then tear them down. I see that for him one day and once the Knicks "faithful" turn against you suddenly everything becomes a lot more difficult.
I have no problem with a lot of Chinese people cheering for a Chinese kid. For any extra sensitive people, yes I realize he's Taiwanese. BUT, the problem to me is not the presence of these fans, it's the general behavior of Raptors fans. Too many people are there without being true fans of the game, or of sports enough in general. You can see it on tv especially in the courtside and platinum seats: people spending the night eating, schmoozing and telling people on bbm and facebook "oh my god! so much fun at the Raptors game!"....It makes sense too when you think of it, because how many real sports fans can afford to fill that lower bowl. Hell it's even pretty bad in hockey games compared to other meccas like MSG for a Rangers' game and the Bell Centre for a Habs game. I don't know what it is with Toronto....
I will also say this though, when the team does win, the crowd gets better and better. I remember seeing a triple OT game in the Carter years against Sacramento (Divac, Webber, Stojakovic) and there were easily as many Serbian fans in the stands as there were Asians at the Lin game. And for the record, these fans are much crazier than the Asians at the Knicks game. BUT, it was when Toronto cared about the Raptors, when we had hopes they would compete and win. The Toronto element fought back with their own noise and it was a great atmosphere....If the team was winning, the crowds would be louder and more supportive, even in the face of someone like Lin coming through with his own crowd.
I was at that Raps/Kings game (sitting in the upper bowl with the "real" fans, of course
"I don't lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation." - Fox Mulder
Marked. I disagree though, I think D'Antoni will ride him as long as he keeps winning. One more way this story is similar to Tebow: they both throw lots of interceptions and still win.
"When Life gives you lemons, you clone those Lemons to make super lemons!"
-Scudworth
I used to work for a company that had a platinum lounge at the ACC and would often get last minute tickets. I was probably a little more of a hockey fan back then (2000-2004), but I soon found that the Raptors games were much more fun to attend than hockey. At Leaf games, the lower bowl was full of bay street suits who were there for the schmooze-fest and could care less what was happening on the ice. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, or at least hear the clicking of dozens of blackberry keys within earshot. I think in Toronto, there is such a "status" attached to being in the expensive seats and luxury boxes for Leafs games. Raptors games were much more enjoyable, as it seemed that the corporate tickets were typically given out to employees and their familes for basketball games. Of course, when I got company tickets for the playoffs against the Knicks, those families were suddenly nowhere to be seen, as the corporate suits were slumming it at the Raptors playoff games...
The bottom line is that the only way to avoid this is for "true Raptors fans" to buy more tickets, to prevent non-basketball and non-Raptors fans from being able to get tickets - the same holds true of any team in any sport, if you want to provide an effective 6th man. The only obstacle for Toronto fans, thankfully slightly less for NBA, is the curse of the corporate seats in the lower bowl.
ya there are stupid spoiled bitches at my school who would go to raptors games every other year with lower bowl seats. They don't know the first thing about the raptors, or basketball for that matter, whats the point of going when your not even a fan? to show your friends how cool you are? you don't even know the players first name or what position he plays. I just hate those kind of people. Its not about not being able to afford a ticket, i could go if i wanted to but i just don't have the time. But i made a vow to go to a home game when we make the playoffs. Alright i'm done with my rant
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