jon abbey: I know, you’re not a fan of anything you can’t quantify. unfortunately, since basketball isn’t especially quantifiable as of yet, that would leave us little to talk about here, which maybe is why you don’t post much here anymore.

Just like with veteran presence, you’re taking two things that sound reasonable and trying to fit them together. And just like veteran presence you’re wrong. I do a lot for this site behind the scenes (ask Jim & Rob), this has become a more complicated task than it was than when I first started, and I don’t have the free time I did 8 years ago. Also my commenters are for the most part intelligent, and most likely someone will bring up the same point as I would have. So often I don’t feel the need to comment as much.

Mike Kurylo: Maybe. And maybe not. It could happen. Or a million of the things that separate people could happen as well. Lin doesn’t like the way Kidd chews his food. Kidd can’t stand that Lin takes up both arm rests on the plane. People are strange creature. You know those two friends that you like that annoy the shit out of each other. It could be Kidd and Lin. Or they could be best buddies.

I know, you’re not a fan of anything you can’t quantify. unfortunately, since basketball isn’t especially quantifiable as of yet, that would leave us little to talk about here, which maybe is why you don’t post much here anymore.

jon abbey: exactly, and Lin and Kidd seem to be ideal for this kind of relationship. it’s not like you hear about ‘mentoring’ in the NBA very often, but in this case, all else being relatively equal for reserve PGs, I think Kidd brings a bit extra to the table.

I don’t know if “mentor” is the right word for it. The way I see it, Kidd is an all-time great PG with a ring. That’s a lot of muscle backing up Lin to keep the vets around him in line.

Nick C.:
Kidd could be good, but I recall all the talk of how Marbury would or was benefitting by having HOF PGs to learn from in Isaiah and Wilkens. We all know how that turned out.I don’t think you can just fluff that off with something along the lines of “Marbury ate vaseline.” Crawford would always have comments about being coachable or whatnot but come gametime and it was the same old same old. Like most things it depends on the individuals.

Come on. We’re comparing Jeremy Lin — universally considered a humble, hardworking good guy — with legendary prima donna Stephon Marbury? We’re comparing Jason Kidd, who’s been basically universally loved by his teammates and coaches for 18 seasons to a coach/GM who, in addition to being considered a bit of a jackass as a player, was in the midst of what we now know was an impending psychotic breakdown with the Knicks? It could not work out, but seriously. Apples and oranges doesn’t do it justice. Apples and Toasters or something.

Frank: Just like most things, I think making a blanket statement about the usefulness of player mentoring is not particularly useful. Maybe Favre didn’t sit down with Rodgers every 12 minutes to discuss things, but Rodgers got to sit and watch how one of the all-time greats prepares for games, what kinds of questions he asks in meetings, how he leads a team. All this can be done even without Favre sitting down for kumbaya talks.

And where did Favre learn such a thing? The Majik Man?

Again what you’re saying could be true. Or it could be nice copy for sportswriters. We don’t know. It’s all speculation.

jon abbey: Lin and Kidd seem to be ideal for this kind of relationship.

Maybe. And maybe not. It could happen. Or a million of the things that separate people could happen as well. Lin doesn’t like the way Kidd chews his food. Kidd can’t stand that Lin takes up both arm rests on the plane. People are strange creature. You know those two friends that you like that annoy the shit out of each other. It could be Kidd and Lin. Or they could be best buddies.

Nick C.:
Kidd could be good, but I recall all the talk of how Marbury would or was benefitting by having HOF PGs to learn from in Isaiah and Wilkens. We all know how that turned out.I don’t think you can just fluff that off with something along the lines of “Marbury ate vaseline.” Crawford would always have comments about being coachable or whatnot but come gametime and it was the same old same old. Like most things it depends on the individuals.

exactly, and Lin and Kidd seem to be ideal for this kind of relationship. it’s not like you hear about ‘mentoring’ in the NBA very often, but in this case, all else being relatively equal for reserve PGs, I think Kidd brings a bit extra to the table.