[ClutchFans] An NBA Nightmare: The James Harden-Dwight Howard Pick-and-Roll

Uh, you haven't backed anything you've posted with any sort of statistical proof. "Lin is just as good as Harden in the PnR" is just a laughable premise. Furthermore, your "analysis" of the points the Rockets could get with Lin running the pick and roll and Harden watching on the side is likewise bereft of any sort of proof. You make all these shaky unproven assumptions and then conclude on such basis.

Needless to say, you haven't convinced anyone with the non-arguments you keep putting forward.

 

Rep. Both Lin and Harden will get plenty of PnR opportunities, plus its easier for Lin to be in the back so people wont be putting so much pressure on him. I think the article is great, makes logical sense for Harden and Howard to utilize thr
e PnR effectively.

 

Dwight Howard

 

Therefore, Lin would be a better option? FYI, Lin turns it over at a higher rate when running the pick and roll.

Perhaps, but the fact remains that Harden gets to the line at an elite level. Getting points at the FT line is one of the most efficient ways to score in the NBA. The PnR facilitates this Harden skill. This is one of the reasons Harden is the main PnR guy.

And Jeremy Lin, the guy who can't run pick and rolls as well as Harden, is the answer here? Please.

So you'd take one of the best PnR players in the league in Harden and tell him to spot up while having 43rd in the league Lin run it instead? You haven't even factored in the turnovers that will ensue from this configuration. Those turnovers will likely be live ball turnovers. Against the Heat or OKC, you can bet that will mean destruction.

Harden is a good 3 point shooter but he's definitely not so good that you'd take away 2 overwhelming strengths, PnR decision making and getting to line, in favor of one. Lin is just not as competent and it will hurt the Rockets if they reverse that configuration. I'd like to see you prove otherwise. For all of your bluster, you have not proven a single point.

 

Yes, Harden is a very good shooter, that is why I would have him at the 3 pt line rather than do PnR. However, it is all about the ability to maximize scoring so if Lin can get close to what Harden did last year, top teams in the league should watch out.

 

Not saying Harden spotting up is a good idea, but I think people are using economics 101 to argue for Lin running the pnr...basically it's called "comparative advantage"

Harden > Lin at pnr, but Harden >>> Lin at spot up 3s.

 

Lin's groupies make a good point. It's probably better for a good shooter to able to play off the PnR handler. For that reason it makes sense to start Beverley who is an excellent 3 point shooter:



Lin can come off the bench to relieve Harden, and run the PnR, while feeding Garcia. That way you get a good PnR'er and a good shooter in both situations.

 

good article! and big thanks to everyone who helps make the site click...love the steady diet of podcasts and articles this summer, just hope it continues throughout the season!

 

The setup is to address the inefficiency of having the best 3pt shooter on the team do PnR when Lin can do pretty well in that role (According to Morey, Lin is top 5 in PnR). His turnover last year were mostly because Asik can't catch his passes. I think we have been through this already. With DH and Asik having time to turn his catches over the summer, his turn over should go down even more this year.

For most teams, either Lin or Harden at PnR probably won't matter, but when you play against elite teams that defends the PnR well and forces you live or die at the 3 pt line, I would rather Harden take that shot.

 

An excellent 3 point shooter? When the heck did he become Reggie Miller?. Fact is that Bev's sample size is not yet large enough to determine whether he is a good 3-point shooter, especially if he logs more than 25-30 minutes and his legs become tired from his high octane style defense. Take a look at his Euroleague stats. Sadly, these stats indicate that he is not a good three point shooter when he gets starter level minutes.

http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=001927

 

^ Cool, I never want to hear about Jeremy Lin's final two months of the season ever again if you want to go that route.

 

Plus, if you have Harden as the strong side shooter with the Harden/Lin PnR, there's no way Harden's man will cheat off him to trap Lin, resulting in a open look for Harden...can you say the same for Lin's or Parson's man?

 

Not sure what you mean. If Harden's man does not cheat off of him, how does Harden get a open look when his man is still defending him?

 

Don't worry guys, Brooks will handle the shooting.

 

So the only solution is to trade Lin. Thank you sir. The path is clear.

 

Yeah, you think with Morey as the GM that he hasn't looked around? Either no team wants Lin or someone smarter than you realize there is real potential for Lin to play at a much higher level within the current group and is worth at least trying things out. Either way, if you trade him and he gets better just don't go and beg him to come back like last year.

 

it's more to do that no one wants him. Harden and Lin are not a good fit.

 

Why did Morey say Harden and Howard want to play with Lin... which was one of the reasons he gave as to why he will not be traded (unless a superstar deal comes along)

Is it because Harden and Howard like to party with Lin?

OR

Harden and Howard think Lin is a good match for them and the team over whatever role players we could get or reserves we already have (beverley)?

 

No, Harden has a high TS%....not from his 3's but from driving to the basket. He's a 37% 3 point shooter, but his TS% is 60%. It's coming from his 2 point fg's. You want Harden to drive to the basket where he is MOST effective.

It makes no sense to turn Harden into 3 pt shooter and have Lin do the PnR. You'd score LESS points overall. You need to crunch the numbers and not just try to apply arbitrary logic.

 

I still think a pick n pop guy would fit better with Harden. Harden needs space to drive in which is what he does best, if he draws defense in the paint kick it out to the wide open shooting big man, that's what you call NBA nightmare!