Jeremy Lin's weaknesses, strengths

When New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, it served as an exclamation point on his meteoric rise to stardom over the last two weeks.

He finished with 27 points to give him 136 in his first five starts. That's the most by any player who began his career after the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77. He's among such lofty names as Shaquille O'Neal and Dominique Wilkins. On Thursday he added 10 more in a 100-85 win over the Sacramento Kings, dishing out 13 assists as well.

It was hardly what coaches and scouts thought he'd become after his career at Harvard University. He was an excellent collegiate player, but he's made himself into a highly effective NBA player. He filled up stat sheets in college, and he is doing the same thing with New York. Without question, the Knicks and Mike D'Antoni's system are perfect for Lin.

He's done so well former GMs and coaches are apologizing for cutting him or not utilizing him properly. However, like every other player in the league, Lin owns a set of weaknesses that correspond to his strengths. So let's break him down.

To read the full scouting breakdown on Jeremy Lin, become an ESPN Insider today.

• Recommend0
• Email

John Carroll

Scouts, Basketball Recruiting

• Archive

John Carroll joined Scouts Inc. after nine years as an NBA coach, including a seven-year tenure with the Boston Celtics that concluded with a four-month stint as interim head coach in 2003-04. Before joining the NBA, Carroll spent six years as head coach at Duquesne University and seven years at Seton Hall as an assistant to head coach P.J. Carlesimo.