Nash, STAT and Alvin Gentry spent time learning the system and of course they could continue to run it perfectly without MDA being there. That doesn't mean that the man who created it gets no credit for having created the environment for them to succeed.
Isn't it odd that we see Lin doing the same kinds of things that Nash did in this system? It's that way cuz that is what the design of the system is purposed to do. Lin looked shaky and out of control when he 1st got here. After putting in work and learning the system he got comfortable and is really using his talent and developing chemistry with his teammates. He didn't just luck into this. He actually did spend some time working on what his job was in this system and what they wanted him to do. To Lin's credit he picked it up faster than they expected. That was the purpose of sending Lin to our D League team cuz they actually run this system.
That's the miracle of Lin so far. I hope he can continue to develop in this system and be here for a long time. Just remember that Lin did have to learn to operate in this system and he got help to do so. He's not just out there making it up as he goes along. He's playing the system, but he's just really good at it.
“This is a system that really is beneficial for attacking point guards,’’ Lin said late Saturday following his Garden heroics in the 99-92 victory. “That’s what I was just trying to do.’’D’Antoni’s speedball system needs a penetrating point guard who can run pick-and-rolls and draw defenders in the lane to create passing lanes. Stoudemire, a pick-and-roll beast, could benefit most from Lin, as he thrived last season with Raymond Felton.
“He played smart,’’ Stoudemire said of Lin. “The way he reads things, he takes what the defense gives him. He’s never out of control. Obviously, teams are now going to be aware of his play, so it’s going to be a little tougher for him.’’
“I still was weighing things,’’ D’Antoni said when asked if Lin had carved a permanent rotation spot. “We’ll go back to the well because he can give us something we can’t do without.’’
The Knicks claimed the undrafted Harvard guard and first Chinese-American to play in the NBA off waivers after the season opener, and his minimum contract is not guaranteed until Friday. Lin played 29 games last season as a rookie with the Warriors.D’Antoni was impressed at Lin’s workout before the 2010 draft, thinking he could develop into a point guard who could run his system but needed a better jumper and more defensive quickness.
Lin defended Williams well for one Saturday night, and surprised his coach with his composure.
“He missed three, four wide-open shots,” D’Antoni said. “At his position without a lot of experience, that could have crumpled some people, but he took it again and took it again and got it right. I think he showed a lot of mental toughness.’’
After his big night, Lin made two selfless gestures. He praised the starters for defending tenaciously despite it being the third game of a back-to-back-to-back. Then Lin went out of his way to credit Knicks assistant Kenny Atkinson.
Atkinson, unaware of Lin’s plaudit, said, “He’s the hardest worker we have.’’
Lin was disappointed the Knicks sent him to the D-League for two games last month. But Lin posted a triple-double at the new D-League affiliate in Erie that runs D’Antoni’s offense. The Knicks brought him back to face Davis in scrimmages on non-practice days, and a funny thing happened — Lin outplayed Davis.“It was rough for me,’’ Lin said of the D-League demotion. “Looking back, it was exactly what I needed. Inside it gave me confidence just because it was first time I played in Coach D’Antoni’s system. Just to get a feel for it.’’
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/lin_it_to_win_it_QTfLvSyckoIrvFOSHczXJL#ixzz1laDMUFms
2/10/2012 2:33 AM