Knicks · 38 at the Garden - Reliving Linsanity (page 1)

Just watched the doc on HBO Max - 38 at the Garden.

To start things off here, the doc is more than just about fun times for Knicks fans, it's about the impact felt within the Asian community. If you haven't watched, fully encourage you to check it out.

But, on a much more trivial level, it has gotten me all fired up reliving Linsanity. Doc only goes through the Toronto game, which has to be my favorite moment, superceding Lin showing Kobe who the f*ck he is. Also an excuse to again share one of my favorite edits of any Knicks game.

I jumped on the Knicks train at the worst time as a fan. 2002 - missed all the grit of the 90s, but joined just in time to take in some Shandon Anderson/Howard Eisley/Clarence Weatherspoon before Isiah took over. To be honest, I have no idea why I'm a fan, but at least no one has ever accused me of being a bandwagon fan.

For me, Linsanity was the ecstasy I had missed for 10 years at that point as a Knick fan. What he was able to do with a lineup consisting of Tyson Chandler, Jared Jefferies, Steve Novak, Landry Fields, and Bill Walker? Had a superstar feeling, you anticipate them taking over because it's almost a certainty.

Turned into some divisive times on this board and others, but still question what could've been if he came back during that Miami series is the playoffs, if we gave him an offer before Houston's poison pill. The 54 win season to follow was great, but could've had the same success with Lin instead of Felton easy. Still believe it was the James Harden trade that weighed down his career trajectory.

Missed the 10 year anniversary, but watching highlights of those couple weeks still ring in the nostalgia.

He was a great underdog story. Probably one of the best in NBA history. He proved that even a donkey can look like a race horse for a couple of months. Got paid really well for doing so. Awesome time to be a Knick fan. Did not like the fact he didn't resign with us though. Could have shown a little bit more appreciation for the team that gave him a chance. But don't blame him for taking the pay hike.

It was one of the biggest teases in Knicks history when you think about it. It was incredible and a lot of fun! Without a doubt the best time I've ever had as a fan as an adult. Remember the Giants won the Super Bowl during this time too. But Linsanity was such a jolt of excitement. I thought he was going to be our PG and star the next decade. Thoughts of him having a Kurt Warner type of run where he would lead us deep into the playoffs did cross my mind foolishly. It sucked it only lasted a few weeks and it was over.

100% worth watching. Its a short watch, but was such a fun time, even if we didn't go anywhere.

Thumbs down

This doc was extremely boring and had more to do with Asian pride than actual Knicks/Lin basketball. Now...if that's your thing then great, not knocking it but it wasn't at all what I (personally) what was expecting, and that was an in-depth look into the season. Before, during, and after.

Lin will forever go down as the most OVERHYPED, OVERRATED basketball event that has ever happened and probably wouldn't have received HALF the exposure if it would have happened anyway else other than NY or LA.

In short...unless you have 45 min to spare, you would be much better entertained watching grass grow.

I enjoyed Linsanity, but I knew it wouldnt last. Posted early on that other teams would scout him, and his game would come down to earth. Then came the "Lin Hater" accusations. Mostly who came and left the board with Lin. And a few regulars who are no longer posting (thank God)

From what I remember, Dolan told Lin to get the best offer he could, and he would match it. Which Dolan did. Then Lin fired his agent (guessing he advised against it) and went back to Houston to get yet another offer, then tried to go back to Dolan, and extract some more $$$$. Dolan wasnt having it, and I dont blame him.

The kid went from heroic underdog, to whiny Diva in the space of a few months. Telling the media that he was sitting out the playoffs because he was "only 80 percent".

I admire those who advocate for their race, religion, beliefs etc, in the face of discrimination. But most interviews he sounded like he was only advocating for himself, not the Asian community. Which is an admirable cause,

Lin is an example how important fit and timing can be.

And don't get it twisted, Lin was nice in college (granted comp was weaker vs other conferences). But personally I wasn't too surprised at his individual skill set, because he showed those skills in college. I was surprised how some was saying he's better than Melo and we are better with Lin than with Melo. And as soon as Melo came back, Lin wasn't the same.

But during his hype, he had the right coach, the right system and the right timing. It was a perfect storm. Damn poison pill contract derailed his NBA career. He could've became much bigger if he stayed in this NYC market instead of chasing the bigger contract.

But he's a system player that needs the right environment to shine. Lin was the man. Eventhough his knick career was short lived, Linsanity was trending world wide.

Swishfm3 wrote:Thumbs down

This doc was extremely boring and had more to do with Asian pride than actual Knicks/Lin basketball. Now...if that's your thing then great, not knocking it but it wasn't at all what I (personally) what was expecting, and that was an in-depth look into the season. Before, during, and after.

Lin will forever go down as the most OVERHYPED, OVERRATED basketball event that has ever happened and probably wouldn't have received HALF the exposure if it would have happened anyway else other than NY or LA.

In short...unless you have 45 min to spare, you would be much better entertained watching grass grow.

Yeah, I didn't like it I don't mind the focus on Chinese pride, but how about we get some actual Chinese or Taiwanese people. Lisa Ling is cool and is keeping tight for a woman her age, but I would've liked to have heard from more people of Chinese heritage about their experiences. Also, Hasan Minaj is cool and all, but when did he become the defacto fan expert of Insanity. My final gripe is 38 minutes is too little time to tell the story of Insanity. All in all, it was an OK doc, but it should've been much better.

Maybe the most fun month I ever had watching the Knicks and that includes all the 90’s playoff runs

BigDaddyG wrote:

Swishfm3 wrote:Thumbs down

This doc was extremely boring and had more to do with Asian pride than actual Knicks/Lin basketball. Now...if that's your thing then great, not knocking it but it wasn't at all what I (personally) what was expecting, and that was an in-depth look into the season. Before, during, and after.

Lin will forever go down as the most OVERHYPED, OVERRATED basketball event that has ever happened and probably wouldn't have received HALF the exposure if it would have happened anyway else other than NY or LA.

In short...unless you have 45 min to spare, you would be much better entertained watching grass grow.

Yeah, I didn't like it I don't mind the focus on Chinese pride, but how about we get some actual Chinese or Taiwanese people. Lisa Ling is cool and is keeping tight for a woman her age, but I would've liked to have heard from more people of Chinese heritage about their experiences. Also, Hasan Minaj is cool and all, but when did he become the defacto fan expert of Insanity. My final gripe is 38 minutes is too little time to tell the story of Insanity. All in all, it was an OK doc, but it should've been much better.

Lin was a great story for all groups of ethnicities you never see in the nba. I have a lot of middle eastern and Indian friends who loved Lin along with obviously people of Chinese background.

I wonder when the media finally realizes Yuta Watanabe exists and is a good player. But then again he might as well be playing in Oklahoma

Philc1 wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

Swishfm3 wrote:Thumbs down

This doc was extremely boring and had more to do with Asian pride than actual Knicks/Lin basketball. Now...if that's your thing then great, not knocking it but it wasn't at all what I (personally) what was expecting, and that was an in-depth look into the season. Before, during, and after.

Lin will forever go down as the most OVERHYPED, OVERRATED basketball event that has ever happened and probably wouldn't have received HALF the exposure if it would have happened anyway else other than NY or LA.

In short...unless you have 45 min to spare, you would be much better entertained watching grass grow.

Yeah, I didn't like it I don't mind the focus on Chinese pride, but how about we get some actual Chinese or Taiwanese people. Lisa Ling is cool and is keeping tight for a woman her age, but I would've liked to have heard from more people of Chinese heritage about their experiences. Also, Hasan Minaj is cool and all, but when did he become the defacto fan expert of Insanity. My final gripe is 38 minutes is too little time to tell the story of Insanity. All in all, it was an OK doc, but it should've been much better.

Lin was a great story for all groups of ethnicities you never see in the nba. I have a lot of middle eastern and Indian friends who loved Lin along with obviously people of Chinese background.

I wonder when the media finally realizes Yuta Watanabe exists and is a good player. But then again he might as well be playing in Oklahoma

I get the impact he had on people from all Asian backgrounds. But there is no disputing the fact that Lin's success hit deepest within the Chinese and I think the doc could've done a better job with that.