Jeremy Lin: Why Lin Makes New York Knicks One of the Most Dangerous Teams

The Jeremy Lin experiment is only three games old, but it has already taken the NBA by storm.

The New York Knicks find themselves only one game out of the Eastern Conference playoffs and are 3-0 since the American-born, Taiwanese player began receiving extended playing time.

Prior to this stretch, Lin had seen only 55 minutes of court time and had been sent down to the D-League for a brief stint.

On January 17, the Knicks assigned Lin to the Erie Bayhawks.  Three days later, he posted a triple-double in 44 minutes with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

Thanks to a mid-January slump that saw New York lose nine of 10, including six in a row, head coach Mike D’Antoni was almost forced into trying something new.

Lin had long been recalled from the Bayhawks, but now was called upon to lead the Knicks.

In his first game with meaningful minutes, Lin was matched up against New Jersey Nets All-Star point guard, Deron Williams.  All he did in 36 minutes off the bench was post team-highs of 25 points, seven assists and two steals, while converting on over 52 percent of his field goal attempts (10-of-19) and turning the ball over once.

This prompted D’Antoni to insert the 6’3” Harvard graduate into the starting lineup. 

The Knicks were already without forward Amare Stoudemire (personal reasons), so when All-Star Carmelo Anthony was forced to leave the first quarter with a groin injury, Madison Square Garden grew uneasy. 

Without their top-two scorers, Lin proved to be more than a one-hit wonder by leading the team with 28 points, two rebounds and eight assists—while shooting free-throws to a chorus of surreal yet genuine chants of “MVP!” from the home crowd.

The result of Lin’s two-game successes extended way beyond the box score and the win column.

In his first start away from the comforts of his brother’s sofa, the undrafted point guard was pitted against last year’s No. 1 overall pick, John Wall. 

Instead of being booed, Lin was welcomed with signs and cheers.  And instead of disappointing, he put on a 23-point clinic that saw him shoot 9-of-14 from the field, including 10 assists and this highlight dunk.

Although it has been an incredible week for Lin, he offers the Knicks more than Tim Tebow comparisons and a pun-able name.

Even with his small sample size, Lin has proven to be the best point guard of D’Antoni’s time in New York.

His ability to run the pick-and-roll to perfection is what makes the Knicks an extremely dangerous and efficient team. 

Utilizing a quick first step and subtle hesitation move, Lin is able to freeze help-defenders—which either results in an easy basket for the screener or an open lane to the hoop. 

Even when the defense collapses around him, Lin has proven that he can identify his shooters on the perimeter and get them the ball.

In this highlight video, watch Steve Novak become the beneficiary of Lin’s penetration and court-vision at the 2:13, 2:37, 3:30 and 3:56 marks.

On drives to the basket, Lin rarely puts his head down yet is able to finish at the rim with uncanny strength, while using both his right and left hands.

The two things that have made him successful are intelligence and effort.

In the same video, Lin opens his highlights with two layups.  While they aren't glamorous plays, they are incredibly smart and indicative of his court awareness.

Instead of going straight up on both attempts, Lin maneuvers his body to the opposite side of the basket—which eliminates the threat of potential weak-side shot-blockers.

And although he’s been credited as the catalyst of New York’s offense, Lin is no slouch on defense either.

At the one-minute mark, No. 17 picks up Jazz point guard Earl Watson as the ball crosses half court.  He immediately identifies the isolation set and begins calling out defensive orders. 

Before Watson can enter the ball into the post, Lin deflects the pass and chases down the loose ball. It is this kind of energy and hustle that the Knicks were lacking during their January slump.

Aside from his contributions on the court, Lin affords D’Antoni a new kind of roster flexibility.

With his sudden emergence, the Knicks find themselves with one of the deepest guard rotations that the league has to offer.

Even though New York has given rookie Iman Shumpert extensive minutes, they will still have the luxury of relying on experienced veterans Mike Bibby and Baron Davis, while their young starters from last year, Landry Fields and Toney Douglas, receive retuning. 

For those who doubt the effectiveness of a multi-guard rotation, look no further than the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that has played four point guards for the majority of the season.

Ironically enough, it was now-injured Clippers guard Chauncey Billups—who the Knicks waived—that helped establish this blueprint.

If the Knicks have any hopes of returning to the playoffs, the formula is simple: Lin, Lin and Lin some more.