Jeremy Lin: Comeback Performance Won't Erase Doubts About Long-Term Success

Jeremy Lin is an NBA point guard, and there is nothing you can do about it. 

Haters are going to hate, even when the most blatant showing of future success slaps them in the face. The over hype will turn into an exorbitant showing of nitpicking and over-analyzation shortly. 

On the Thursday before the All-Star break, Lin was torn in two by an unrelenting Miami Heat defense that feeds on point guards that aren't prepared, and Lin was not prepared. 

By the end of Wednesday after the break, he was back to dishing dimes and getting and-1's at the bucket. 

You can almost sense half of the nation on the edge of their seat with something smart to say about Lin the moment he has another horrible game, and he will. 

There is absolutely no reason to think he will continue to collect games like he did on Wednesday, one that was absolutely top notch, according to ESPN.

"

Jeremy Lin: 19 pts, 13 ast, 1 TO. Only other player this season to finish with at least 19, 13 & 1 TO or fewer is MVP Derrick Rose.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 1, 2012"

Rewind back to the Heat game before we broke for the mid-season snooze-fest. Lin went 1-for-11 from the field and had eight turnovers on the way to a Knicks loss. 

The boo birds were out in full and ready to point out that Lin was just Tim Tebow in disguise, a great story with no real substance behind him. 

This will be the same notion that will follow Lin for some time, even when he rebounds to show that he is a solid player that will continue to get better and continue to fit into the Knicks offense far more seamlessly. 

This brings us to the immediate future. 

Lin was tasked with playing Kyrie Irving, a favorite for the Rookie of the Year award, and he passed. He now gets the Boston Celtics and Rajon Rondo, the Spurs, the Mavericks and the Bulls not far down the road. 

There are more tests for Lin to pass and he will be far more prepared for them than he was stepping into Miami. 

That doesn't mean he won't fail here and there. 

As we have seen, Kobe Bryant can have a bad game, and even Carmelo Anthony can look uninspired during a game. 

For the best story in basketball, those types of games get far more scrutiny. For many, one game does not mean Lin is back to being the Linsane player we all love, but that's being far too cynical. 

Lin has done enough to warrant some cushion in his performances going forward. Boo him when he fails, and I know Madison Square Garden will. 

But do not doubt that he is anything less than a solid starting point guard in this league, because that is exactly what he is. 

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