Harvard to the NBA: Lin-Sane

Can Golden State get a do-over on Jeremy Lin?

A week ago, it looked like Knicks Head Coach Mike D'Antoni was about to lose his job. So, with nothing to lose, D'Antoni gave Jeremy Lin, a youngster from Palo Alto High School, a chance and it has rewarded him in spades. D'Anotni now has no choice but to say, "I'm all-Lin."

Last week this card was worth $3. Now? $75.Lin's story is an interesting one. A kid from Palo Alto High, whose most famous alma-mater previously was James Franco. Lin became a star point guard at Harvard. Yes, that Harvard. Then undrafted. Next the Summer League in Las Vegas with the Dallas Mavericks. Nothing. Crickets. Lin latched on with the Golden State Warriors. Cut. He's now showing his skills in NYC on one of basketball's biggest stages, Madison Square Garden. His first 3 games as a starter look like this: 25 points, 7 assists. 28 points, 8 assists. 23 pts, 10 assists. Not bad. 

With all the IPO buzz going on for Facebook, I cannot help but draw comparisons between Lin and Mark Zuckerberg. Let's take a look at their paths. Facebook's Zuckerberg: Harvard, Palo Alto, Bay Area, Wall Street and NYC. Jeremy Lin: Palo Alto, Harvard, Bay Area, Wall Street and NYC. The difference in money is vast as Zuck should make a ho hum $5 billion when Facebook goes public. Lin's salary is $788,000. Lin can shoot better. Both are viral sensations. 

Next up, it's the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. If Lin can do it again against the Kobe System, he will have won 4 straight games for the Knicks and maybe even saved his coach's job. Oh and by they way, he's doing all of this without Carmello Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Doesn't matter. As Knicks fans say, "Just Lin!"

Update on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 9:16AM by KevinRehberg

Prior to the Knicks game, Kobe Bryant and Lakers Head Coach Mike Brown commented they didn't really know who Lin was and that they were unimpressed. 38 points, 7 assists, outdueling Kobe and a Knicks win might have their attention now. 

Up next: Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love and the T-Wolves.

Nash and the Suns v Kobe and the Lakers

It's all smiles with these guys, til they tip it off.

The show must go on. Expectations wise, each of these teams have fallen far since their 2010 Western Conference match-up. The Lakers aren't even the hottest show in LA right now. That title belongs to the Clippers. The Suns and Lakers are aging ball clubs, struggling to get out of their own way due to poor front office decisions. Still, they feature two players who light up the stage and make you tune in every night. Nash and Kobe. 

The last time the Suns and Lakers played, LA won, although it took triple overtime to do so. In that game, Phoenix rallied from a 21 point deficit, only to lose 139-137. Channing Frye led the Suns in scoring with 32, although Nash chipped in with 19 points and 20 assists. Bryant had 42 in the win. Ho hum. Just Kobe being Kobe.

This season, Nash is just plain Nash-ty. So far in the month of January, he is shooting nearly 70% from the field. Nope, not a misprint. And we're talking about a guard here who loves to shoot threes, not some 7-foot center who only dunks. 

Statistically, the Lakers and Suns are nearly dead even. Phoenix is 4-4 and starting to play well. The Lakers too, have recently turned it on and hold a 6-2 record. They are both averaging 95 points per game, while the Suns give up 91 ppg and the Lakers 90 ppg. Expect a close one, with the Lakers pulling it out in the end, just as they usually do against Phoenix, with Kobe leading the way.

Shannon Brown makes his return to tinsel town, only this time the purple on his uniform will be trimmed with orange rather than Laker yellow. Throw it down, Shannon Brown!

NBA: Pre-Season Ends; 66 games begin

Courtesy NBAE/Getty Images

Today marks the final preseason games. I know preseason doesn't matter, yet this year something is a little different. Yes, there are only two games and yes they started them 3 months late. Still, they are exciting as each team plays one of it's biggest rivals, twice. They will face them again in the regular season, 4 times. Things are bound to get a bit chippy.

Out West, the following Pre-Season Matchups are taking place:

Houston Rockets v San Antonio Spurs (yuck and pooh)

Sacramento Kings v Oakland Warriors (Jimmer Time. Expect lots of scoring from both these teams this year)

Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets (Suns got worked in Game 1, let's see if they can respond tonight)

LA Lakers v LA Clippers (ClipJoint won both games.... look out Lakeshow)

Portland Trailblazers v Utah Jazz (Blazers sans B-Roy; retired, will be missed)

Dallas Mavericks v Oklahoma City Thunder (The Champs take on Durant and the up and coming Thunder)

And finally, get ready for a crazy, fast-paced, breakneck 66 game NBA season. I honestly believe anything can happen this year.

Dec 19: Clip Joint v Lakeshow, Los Angeles, CA

I understand. It's a pre season game. Before I get too crazy. Still, looks like suddenly the new show in town is the Los Angeles Clippers. Chris Paul. Chauncy Billups. Blake Griffin. Caron Butler. I could go on. That roster is stacked. Although someone might want to let the Clip Joint know they have about 50% of their payroll tied up at PG. $41.3M to be exact.

Then let's take a look at the Los Angeles Lakers. Still pretty stacked, but definitely on the wrong side of 30 over there, boys. I know Phil is gone, Lamar Odom too, but damn, you guys are still old. And yet, you have Kobe Bryant. Andrew Bynum. Pau Gasol. And Meta World Peace. Yes, you can imagine my surprise when looking at the Lakers roster. For those of you who don't know, now you know. Ron Artest is now Meta World Peace. Dude has straight lost his mind.

In other news, WestSide Culture thanks Malcolm Thomas from San Diego State for apparently playing for free this year.

(Oh and by the way the Lakers should have Chris Paul. Instead his soaking up the LA rays with Los Clippers. Still not sure how that trade got vetoed. NBA has issues).

Needless to say, the two teams who share the Staples Center in LA, are creating a little sibling rivalry. Hold on to your $4,000 Laker seats and $40 Clipper seats (soon to increase by 80000%). Things are about to get real interesting in Los Angeles. From a PR standpoint, the Lakers need to do something to answer this. Dwight Howard is now off the table. One name I'll throw out there.... I don't want to say it.... and it is strictly a rumor.... Steve Nash? It would kill me as a Suns fan. And really what could they offer Phx? Meta World Peace?

Come to think of it, that's a pretty solid bargaining trip for the Lakers. "And we'll throw in Meta World Peace." I mean who can veto world peace of any kind, meta or otherwise?