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Linehan makes up in effort, what he lacks in size
By Johnathan Kendrick |
Guys like John Linehan cannot just exist. You will never see them
slide under the radar, or just play a game and leave quietly.
Anytime you look at a battlefield of giants and see a guy much
smaller then the rest you immediately have a preconception. You may
chose to cheer for him seeing him as a hard worker or an underdog,
or you may just look at him and think he has no shot at making it in
the NBA. At 5 feet 9 inches, John Linehan is not just short by NBA
standards, he would be a short guy in the world you and I live in.
It’s easy to Stereotype a guy like Linehan and put him in a category
with Spud Webb, and Mugsy Bogues. Linehan doesn’t mind that. In his
own words, “ Those guys paved the way for little guards, and give us
hope.” John Linehan is relying on more than hope. He comes to the
NBA after having a spectacular college career. In four years at
Providence, he proved to everyone he belonged by setting the NCAA
record for steals with 385, including a Big East record of 11 steals
in one game. Several publications named him as last year’s Defensive
Player of the Year.
In three games thus far in the Rocky Mountain Revue, Linehan has
been the starting Point Guard for the Utah Jazz Twice. A spot that
Jazz Assistant Coach Gordon Chiesa assures he earned because “He
plays well and understands our offense.” Chiesa also notes that
Linehan and Collins are the team’s defensive leaders.
Chiesa also knows that there are places for John Linehan in the NBA.
“On every team there is a position for one guy to be a tempo
changer”. Pointing out guys like Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue, and
Chucky Atkins, he adds, “They come in and cause havoc.”
The Toronto Raptors started 6 foot 4 inch Jemaine Jackson at point
guard on Tuesday night. Linehan gave up 7 inches to his opponent.
Asked if he gets Intimidated Linehan is quick to respond, “NO – I
don’t get intimidated. I impose what I do on a person.” What Linehan
does is play in their face and frustrate them the entire time he is
in the ball game. To Linehan, the game is 90% mental “I visualize
everything” he says, “I have to adjust to everybody.”
Going beyond not being intimidated, Linehan admits he prefers to
defend bigger guards. He knows there is a risk that guys might want
to post him up, but is not too worried about it knowing that if they
do “It takes away from their game, and their teammate’s game.”
John Linehan is serious about playing in the NBA. In April he was
the #1 pick in the USBL draft. He chose not to play; instead, he
worked on his game and prepared for the NBA camps. Linehan knows he
can put in the work and play at the next level, but knows that after
he gives his all it’s still up to the teams. He gave his all in the
predraft camp in Portsmouth, and a couple teams noticed – the Jazz
being one of them. Playing in two summer leagues this year, last
week for the Clippers, this week for the Jazz, has given him
exposure to most of the NBA teams. “You just need some team to
notice you,” he says, and as funny as it seems, at 5 foot 9 inches
on a basketball court, someone will.
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