Is Jeremy Lin's race still a handicap? (rational responses only please)

This is not a "McHale is a racist!" thread nor am I a LOF, far from it, I've been harsh on Lin in many posts, I've been a Rocket fan since I was like 10 and didn't even follow Linsanity until he came to Houston. I don't believe for a second that McHale is racist whatsoever, but he obviously doesn't trust Lin as his starting PG nor does he think very highly of him (not of him as a person, but as a basketball player). That I think everyone on this board can agree with, regardless if you're a LOF or LOH.

Although I've made it clear McHale isn't racist by any means, the possibility that Lin's race could have something to do with his benching can't be completely ignored. And as much as Lin homers get on my nerves, his critics that are ignorant and can't even do basic research are even worse. Let's look at the facts:

- Lin leads his high school team to a state championship and is named North California D2 Player of the Year. Zero scholarships and a lot of D3 schools wouldn't even look at him. His own Harvard assistant coach said Lin was a D3 player.

- Lin has an outstanding college career, drops 30 against lottery pick, Kemba Walker and UConn, and is one of 11 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, an award given to the country's best point guard. Goes undrafted.

- So after he gets his shot in New York, we all know he puts up record breaking and historic numbers, and averages 23 and 9 his first 13 starts. Yet after his first bad game against Miami, instead being a 23 year old PG with a huge upside, everyone was quick to analyze him like he was a 36 year old finished product.

- When Mike Woodson became the coach, the media even questioned if Lin should still remain the starter. Larry Brown calls him a back up. I have never ever seen a player get analyzed like Lin before. I find it VERY HARD to believe that an athletic black or white, 23 year old PG that averages 23 and 9 his first 13 starts, would get viewed as a career back up by many "experts".

Is it possible that McHale doesn't trust Lin because of his race, not because McHale is racist, but because of what Lin has gone through his entire life, and that is having his abilities being doubted because of his race? Also, keep in mind Lin was known to be a very good practice player in New York, and I think Melo was the one that encouraged the coaches to play him. We're still not used to Asian PG's in this league (hell, even the Asians that play with us during pick-up games never run point), and that could factor in McHale's decision to stick with Beverley.


Before anyone brings up Yao Ming, it is not the same at all. When you're a 7'6" skilled center, it doesn't matter if you're Asian or purple, you're gonna be a scout magnet. Even talentless Sun Mingming got some NBA looks. Shawn Bradley was the same size as Yao, but not nearly as skilled, and was one of the best prospects in the country.

I realize Lin isn't a superstar nor do I think he will ever be a superstar, but he has established himself to be at least an above average starter with great upside, yet he's getting pulled for Patrick Beverley, who's been with the team for a few weeks. Don't get me wrong, I love having Beverley as a back up and definitely want to resign him, love his energy and defense, and although I don't think Lin is miles better than Beverley, Lin has earned his starting PG spot. It's almost like even after what Lin has accomplished, McHale's PG spot is still by committee. Every time McHale gets questioned about pulling Lin, it's either "defense" or it get brushed off, and isn't Lin statistically our second best defender?

Now I've noticed that most of the veteran members here are hesitant to criticize McHale's benching of Lin, and I wonder if that's because they truly support McHale's decision and think Beverely is the better player or it's because being critical of a coaching decision is a big no-no for one's reputation here. Even if you are self-conscious about coming off as an armchair quarterback, I'd like to hear your honest opinion over beating the bush. And if you're a LOF, please give a rational response instead of jumping straight to "McHale is a racist!"

 

Read the full post, I never said McHale was racist, I said there could be a possibility that Lin's abilities are being doubted because of is race, big difference. I don't understand why some people find that ridiculous, it's followed him his entire life, Lin tore it up in high school and college, he wasn't a scrub back then lol. Tears it up his first year as a starter, still being doubted.

Because because Morey and Les gave him 25 million doesn't mean McHale was on board with it.

 

Why is it so hard to believe his abilities are being doubted because of his race when it was already like that for him in high school and college?

 

No it's not, I'm sure McHale adores Lin as a person. You are in effect calling just about every scout, coach and GM a racist then. The facts support that Lin was wrongfully overlooked in high school and college. Why is it so hard to believe his own coach can doubt his abilities because of his race when every coach in high school and college did it, including his own Harvard assistant coach? Why is that so hard to believe when even after Linsanity, the media called him a career back up?

If you average 18 and 8 your first year as a starter, you've earned your starting spot and it's yours to lose. And by yours to lose, that doesn't mean you should sit out the final 15 minutes or get pulled as soon you go on a little cold streak. Especially for Beverley, who's been with the team for a few weeks. If it was for Dragic or Lowry, that'd be a different story...

 

How is there no proof when the facts support he was wrongfully overlooked in high school and college, and even after Linsanity, the media called him a career back up, including well respected coach in Larry Brown?

Do you play ball? You've never doubted an Asian on the court? Hell, I have.

 

^ and the "racist" tags were not added by me.

 

My bad, I thought you were talking about high school and college.


I wasn't accusing McHale of anything, I just brought up the topic that it's not irrational to think it could be a possibility, given Lin's history.