In my eyes the only PG's in which deserve a standing ovation from Madison Square Garden faithful come later tonight are both Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd. Felton himself is only 28 years of age while still improving as a veteran PG.
I just don't understand why (some) Knick fans are still stressing the importance of pulling for and/or giving Jeremy Lin a standing ovation instead of embracing our very own talented PG in Raymond Felton. If the season were to end today, our Knicks of 2012-2013 would then set an all-time NBA record for fewest offensive turnovers per game. Both Felton and Kidd have been our main ball handlers too. Jeremy Lin, who?
Some fans seem to forget that Raymond Felton averaged 17.1 points, 9.0 assists and only 3.3 turnovers per game during his first stint with our Knicks. It wasn't a small twenty six game sample size either, because Felton put up those numbers during 54 games leading up to our trade for Melo. Not only were Felton's numbers of 2010-2011 stronger when compared to Lin's numbers during "Linsanity" but Raymond Felton has also out performed Jeremy Lin with just about each and every statistical category known to the PG position here in 2012-2013.
Ray: 18-5 overall. 16.3 points, 6.7 assists & 2.4 turnovers per game. FG% of .403%. Player Efficiency Rating of 16.9.
Lin: 11-12 overall. 10.8 points, 6.0 assists & 2.7 turnovers per game. FG% of .395. Player Efficiency Rating of 13.2.
Just my personal opinion but the only PG's in which deserve a standing ovation are Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton. Why support Jeremy Lin come gamenight, why, to make him feel comfortable in our building? I truthfully hope our fan base gives Lin the business for four quarters strong, while also treating Lin as if he's a rival and/or opponent.
As a fan base, we owe Jeremy Lin nothing. Not even a standing ovation. In my eyes he used our New York Knicks as a stepping stone in order to land his current (gigantic) contract and/or salary. But now as a fan base we're expected to give this man a standing ovation? Not only did Jeremy Lin leave the only team, fan base and/or franchise in which gave him a chance in life, but he also left the only franchise in which changed his life (for the better), for the same exact Houston Rockets franchise in which let him sleep on his "brothers couch".
Jeremy Lin himself the person, not the basketball player but Jeremy Lin the person first used our Knicks team as a stepping stone before later (more like immediately) signing with the same exact franchise in which treated him like practice folder. Houston gave Lin his pink slip. And now, I'm supposed to give Lin a standing ovation? Houston handed Lin his walking papers before not only running Lin out of town, but also kicked him to the curb at the same time. But yet, Jeremy Lin was still quick to sign with Houston without seond thought. I look at Lin as being nothing more than a little sneak. A snake in the grass.
Lin did have a strong run as an underdawg yes, but he wasn't "incredible". Far from it too. Lin was a turnover machine at times, played a whopping 26 games of regular season basketball before sitting out the final 17 games of our regular season. He then continued to sit out during the entire first round of the playoffs while Miami destroyed our team. I have my own belief, but I believe that Jeremy Lin sat out for his contract. He could've been scared of being exposed by Miami's athletic defense. If Lin would've been exposed against Miami during the playoff as in exposed during his first meeting with Miami during the regular season? He then loses out on millions upon millions of dollars. He was supposedly at 75%-85% healthy for that Miami series, but yet failed to even attempt a single minute of play against Miami. So, when Lin supporters state he was "incredible"? I'll have to agree to disagree. A turnover machine at times, only 26 regular season games played, sat out the final 17 games of the regular season due to an injury before sitting out the entire first round with zero postseason experience moving forward. Nothing more than an overall 16-10 record.
Last but not least, everyone talks about our seven game win streak during "Linsanity". They refuse to talk about the rest. No mention of our six game losing streak under Jeremy Lin. No mention of an average record of only 16-10 overall during Lin's time in New York. Far from impressive and as a Knicks fan, I've seen much greater over the years. Now we're talking about having Lin develop before returning to New York? Well, Linsanity has been dead for quite some time now. It's a thing of the past in which may never re-surface. As or right now Lin's looking more and like a product of a Mike D'Antoni led offensive system when compared to a player in which can flourish within any system (his own teammate in Harden for example).
When I read this topic of discussion? I had alot to get off my chest. Now I'm ready to leave Lin as a thing of the past and focus on our current team. The only two PG's in which deserve a standing ovation are Felton and Kidd. We're 18-5 overall and aren't turning the ball over. Record setting pace.
12/17/2012 7:19 AM