Knicks · Grunwald is the man - And Did you know 16 teams passed on Lin recently?!?!?!!!!!! (page 1)

Must read (at least 1st page of 3): http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/in...

Grunwald is like that "Intel Inside" sticker. Many of us don't realize how important he has been.

From the article:

On Dec. 24, Jeremy Lin hit Grunwald’s greaseboard after he was cut by the Rockets. D’Antoni and Grunwald discussed Lin’s impressive pre-draft workout in Westchester on June 7, 2010, his penetration ability and knack for the pick and roll.

Grunwald had recommended bringing Lin in for training camp last season and earlier in December, but Golden State and Houston had gotten in the way.
“I remember Glen saying after Lin got waived, ‘He can run the pick and roll and be a playmaker better than anybody we had,’ ’’ D’Antoni recalled.

But the Knicks had enough point guards on the roster by then. In the season opener on Christmas Day, rookie Iman Shumpert sprained his knee and went out for at least two weeks.
The decision, ironically, was made the next day when Grunwald told D’Antoni this was the Knicks’ chance to claim Lin — at least as a stopgap because his $788,000 contract wasn’t guaranteed. After 16 teams passed in waivers, Grunwald sprang.

I wonder who those 16 teams are and what some of them are thinking right now? (I think we can easily find out. I believe the waiver process is dependent on salary cap?)

And to add some perspective to Lin's value:

**Linsanity continues to have an impact on the bottom line as well as the win column. Saturday’s win in Minnesota scored a season-high 4.17 Nielsen rating, the highest Knicks game on MSG since Anthony’s debut last Feb. 23 (6.75). Through four games with Jeremy Lin starting, the averaging rating on MSG is up 70 percent (3.08) from the previous 20 games (1.81).

According to Forbes, Lin is the fastest-growing athlete brand in the world — worth an estimated $14 million, tied with Kobe Bryant for sixth-best. Since Feb. 4, MSG’s stock price has increased 6 percent, adding $139 million to the company’s market value.

***Lin’s presence prompted the Raptors to stage its annual “Asian Heritage Night’’ for tonight – an event staged even more his stardom. Toronto’s population is 11 percent Chinese and many here have followed him since he played at Harvard.

Read More: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/ph...

Separated at birth? Grunwald:

Lutz:

If Lin's contract had been guaranteed and Iman had not gotten hurt, we probably would have passed on him. Sometimes it better to be lucky than good.

TheGame wrote:If Lin's contract had been guaranteed and Iman had not gotten hurt, we probably would have passed on him. Sometimes it better to be lucky than good.

Us getting Lin was pure luck. If things don't fall into place the way they did Lin isn't a Knick.

CashMoney wrote:

TheGame wrote:If Lin's contract had been guaranteed and Iman had not gotten hurt, we probably would have passed on him. Sometimes it better to be lucky than good.

Us getting Lin was pure luck. If things don't fall into place the way they did Lin isn't a Knick.

About damn time we were on the receiving end of some good luck.

can't win in the nba without a litte lin, i mean luck

listen i love jeremy lin and i think he has a bright future here with us, but some credit has to be given to d'antoni and the type of offense that he runs. what lin does very well just happens to be the backbone of d'antoni's offense so i think that plays a huge part in all the success he's had here so far. the kid is a gamer, obviously is a very hard worker and those are huge factors in his play as well.

If the Knicks surge into the playoffs, Grunwald deserves executive of the year. If the Knicks DIDN'T pick up Lin and they still surged into the playoffs, he deserves executive of the year anyway, for getting Chandler.

Either way, he's been awesome.

I can see a lot came together for the "Lin Thing" to happen. The cuts, the injuries, the waiver wire, etc.

Clearly Dantoni's offense is a big part and so much as has gone out of his way to keep bringing it and Dantoni as a coach up, as well as Melo and Stat putting a word in (or was it pressure) for the coach to play Lin.

I'm not sure if this was all luck or meant to be. I guess it's not important to know.

To add to Lins credibility as a great and upcoming player, has received great words from:
Magic Johnson, Hubie Brown, Hurley brothers and I forget the others.

But what about those teams that passed on Lin? Who were they and how many could have used him?

kip3f wrote:Separated at birth? Grunwald:

Lutz:

I thought he looked more like Alexander Godunov of Die Hard and Witness fame.

nyk4ever wrote:listen i love jeremy lin and i think he has a bright future here with us, but some credit has to be given to d'antoni and the type of offense that he runs. what lin does very well just happens to be the backbone of d'antoni's offense so i think that plays a huge part in all the success he's had here so far. the kid is a gamer, obviously is a very hard worker and those are huge factors in his play as well.

It really is the perfect storm. Lin has the talent and drive. MDA has the system and a great offensive genius. We have players that play defense now. Our stars being away for 1 week to see what the kid can do.

It is the perfect storm.

earthmansurfer wrote:
To add to Lins credibility as a great and upcoming player, has received great words from:
Magic Johnson, Hubie Brown, Hurley brothers and I forget the others.

Jalen Rose and Steve Smith also has been very pro-Lin. 2 PGs.

Its not luck guys its destiny.

Well, here it is, a list of the teams and their salaries that passed on Lin: (Clearly not all of them could have used Lin, but which teams are kicking themselves right now?

8. Dallas Mavericks $71,082,003
9. Chicago Bulls $69,232,500
10. Atlanta Hawks $68,461,376
11. Philadelphia 76ers $66,664,413
12. Cleveland Cavaliers $64,840,792
13. Phoenix Suns $63,420,407
14. New Jersey Nets $63,399,348
15. New Orleans Hornets $61,568,081
16. Golden State Warriors $60,291,496
17. Milwaukee Bucks $60,015,168
18. Los Angeles Clippers $59,393,003
19. Charlotte Bobcats $57,483,343
20. Denver Nuggets $57,290,246
21. Minnesota Timberwolves $56,634,346
22. Oklahoma City Thunder $56,503,018
23. Houston Rockets $56,418,208
24. Washington Wizards $56,023,221
25. Toronto Raptors $51,728,902
26. Utah Jazz $50,877,672
27. Memphis Grizzlies $50,492,218
28. Indiana Pacers $50,165,981
29. Detroit Pistons $49,322,687
30. Sacramento Kings $46,527,569

if it wasn't for Shumpert going down opening day vs the Celtics Jeremy Lin would not be a Knick right now. Perfect Storm of events CRAZY!!!

NYKBocker wrote:

earthmansurfer wrote:
To add to Lins credibility as a great and upcoming player, has received great words from:
Magic Johnson, Hubie Brown, Hurley brothers and I forget the others.

Jalen Rose and Steve Smith also has been very pro-Lin. 2 PGs.

Two PGs is a stretch, but it was good to hear Jalen's take.

Let's not forget another waiver claim - Steve Novak shooting a ridiculous 51.6% from 3 since Linsanity began. 15.5 points/4.5 rebounds over the same stretch. Not the mind numbing performances Lin has turned in, but he's just another guy signed for the very end of the bench that's turning into a VERY serviceable player.

And we haven't even see Baron Davis play a game yet!

Can we PLEASE remove the "interim" from Glen's title?!

The guys we have are flawed players or unproven.

Steve Novak is a defensive liability. His stroke is smooth but he does little else.

The Knicks are ultra thin so we play guys that wouldn't sniff the floor on a contender.

Exactly & to think that both guys were rotting on the bench while we were subjected to watching the Douglas, bibby, walker shit fest for 23 games. With Melo & Amare having their worst year without a PG and shooters around them etc.

Of course they're flawed or unproven. Complete players with strong resumes don't wind up on the waiver.

It's about finding value and pieces that can mesh together. Novak is not on the floor for his defense. He's on the floor for the spacing he creates, which this team sorely needed. The Lin/Chandler pick and roll is a thing of beauty, especially with Novak out on the perimeter keeping the defense honest.

Guys were pumped for the Chandler trade, but as an overall offseason, this may have been one of the least flashy/most productive years we've seen in some time, despite the lock out craze.

I Believe in Glen Grunwald!