Jeremy Lin: Practice Equals Physics

I'll set the stage for you.

It's Valentine's Day in Toronto, Ontario. Millions of Ontarians are enjoying a relaxing and romantic evening with their sweethearts, their love a warming solace betwixt Canada's brutal winter and the Leafs' 5-1 loss to Calgary (Hey, 1967!).

Yes, I do bring up 1967 at least once a day. Why do you ask? ...via Wavy

And while the evening turns to night, Toronto's sporting passion is crushed again. This time by an Asian American who would hit a 3-point shot with less than a second on the clock to seal a New York Knicks comeback victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Impressive is an understatement. If you haven't seen this video, you really should devote 30 seconds a watch it.

Of course I'm talking about the global phenomenon that has become Jeremy Lin. He never received a college scholarship, he went undrafted while playing for Harvard, yet today he has become an NBA star.

We're going to take a look at the mechanics of the 3-point shot and the physics of that Va-LIN-tine's Day Massacre. Oh, and because this is 'media,' expect a large number of "Lin" puns.

Shot Mechanics

When Dr. James Naismith nailed a peach basket to the wall in 1891 Springfield, Mass., it seems improbable he would expect a slam dunk. Sometime around the emergence of Air Jordan however, the slam dunk became basketball's equivalent of the home run. It was the play people paid to see. (Side note: Jordan is one of the best shooters to ever play.)

Naismith determined that a 2 foot high basket was rather easy. ...via B Smith

That's not to underestimate the value of shooting in basketball however. It is, without a doubt, more valuable to a team than any amount of dunks. It is also, without a doubt, exceptionally more difficult.

The 3-point shot can be analyzed biomechanically. A shot can miss left or right, or be too short or too far, so the most important aspects of the shot are straightness and distance.

A player achieves a straightened arc by rolling the ball off the tip of his or her index finger upon release. Straighten your arm in front of you and look down it like you would a rifle. Only two fingers remain in this straight line: your index and middle finger. Correct positioning of the ball so it rolls off these two fingers last is imperative. As the ball is released, the wrist flips downward to create a quality backspin on the ball, providing it minimal Magnus effect and reducing bounce if the shot hits the rim.

...via Sweatband

To accurately judge distance a player needs to have a consistent, straight shot. Repeatable motions allow the player to build confidence in their ball placement, so they can begin to focus and 'feel' distances more accurately.

It's pretty clear that Jeremy Lin has shooting down. Do you need to see more of his play? Yes, you do.

PHYSICS FOR THREEEEE!!!

In the NBA, the 3-point line rests 22 feet on the floor from the basket's base. Using computer measurements and anecdotal evidence for distances, Lin's straight line gap between him and the rim is about 26 feet.

However, Lin cannot shoot the ball in a straight line. The ball needs gravity to provide a down force, so it must be shot in an arc. Lin also compensates for his defender, so he takes a jump shot that will provide him with additional power and elevation.

Estimations place his ball release at 9.8 feet above the ground, or roughly the same height as the basket. The ball's travel time based on the official game clock is 1.3 seconds. Lin also shoots the ball at about a 46 (degree) angle. Using all of this available information it possible to ascertain that his shot accelerated to nearly 20 mph. While his shot is nearly a perfect parabolic arc, it descends at a steeper grade than it ascended. This is due to air resistance on the ball (which also slows the shot speed). The balls volume displaces nearby fluids; its air displacement actually helps keep it buoyant. Its slight backspin also helps project a small cushion of air in front of the ball further aiding distance. Finally, an NBA ball weighs 22 ounces, which is subject to gravity's pull.

Based on this, Lin accelerated the ball to 20 mph to afford appropriate distance with his shot reaching a maximum height of 16.6 feet above the court. His shot slows to 17 mph during its decent, due to fluid resistance.

...via John Eric

"SWOOSH!"

Game.

The Lin Dynasty

Jeremy Lin has had plenty of practice to get his shot down. The New York Knicks are his third team this season, but only the first team to start him in a game. He's spent a couple years in the NBA's minor leagues, and when he moved to New York City he at first lived on his brother's couch.

Nothing breeds motivation like homelessness, I suppose. ...via Sports Pickle

But Lin's practice has yielded an interesting understanding for his game. He's had ample opportunity to refine his measures and muscle memory, and when it came to prove he's learned his physics lessons, he aced the test.

Resources

John Eric: Jeremy Lin's Shot to Beat the Raptors

Wikipedia - Jeremy Lin

The Physics of Shooting

Vizard, Frank, and Robert Lipsyte. Why a Curveball Curves. ; The Incredible Science of Sports. 2009. Print.