[ESPN] Hollinger: Evaluating the James Harden Deal

good read.

 

I think it speaks to a lack of a decent backup point guard as well, but I totally agree that so far our offense hasn't been setup to be the most efficient when they are both on the floor.

 

Hollinger has the Rockets ranked 11 on his power rankings

 

Yea, Lin is definately not a good long term fit and will probably be moved for a better fit eventually. He does bring some rebounding and defense, but in the long run, we need to upgrade.

A spot up shooter would be ideal. A defender would be a nice bonus. Playmaking not really needed.

Aaron Brooks anyone?

 

Dragic is probably a better fit tbh

 

I have seen a lot of improvement these last 2 games, when they are next to each other spaced out at the top, one drives, draws D, kicks to the other. Not a lot of lin camping out in the corner

 

Very neat, thanks for posting

 

Wasn't this roxxy's idea like after 4 games?

 

Brooks is good at spotting up but basically it means you have to get him to mentally concede that he's a 5-9 3 pt specialist.

If he's capable of comprehending this and playing like Bulls-era Steve Kerr, than cool enough. He'd be a productive add.

If he plays like he tried to play last stint in Houston (I haven't watched him this season so I don't know what he's doing this year) and play like a PG by dribbling and driving and etc it's counterproductive unless you have literally no other options because he's very limited under the hoop.

 

No. I think you need to pair Harden with a plus defender. Think Kyle Lowry, prime Chauncey Billups.

Then again Lin has looked good these last few games and I don't think the Rockets are at all in a rush to trade him.
Morey has said he likes "attack guards" and the team obviously wants to push the pace. Bledsoe isn't a great shooter, but he might fit that bill. Llull is having his best season yet in the ACB, but unless there's a buyout we don't know about, he won't come over for a while and as good as he's been playing he's probably still best suited as a change of pace combo guard off the bench.

 

That's a point which I and many others on this board have been harping on since the trade. Two ball-dominant guards? Then stagger their minutes!

Part of the problem has been that Delfino is out and Cook isn't trusted yet. Sampson seems to loathe putting leaving Lin in to anchor the offense w/ TD or Cook (for good reason).

 

I think this at least somewhat puts to rest the myth that Jeremy Lin makes things easier for Harden. That was a silly sentiment all along.

I agree with Hollinger that if you have two players who are proficient at one thing and one of them does it quite a bit better than the other, he should have the ball.

I do however think that putting Lin in pick and roll situations more often so he can prosper will fare better for the team overall by keeping the defense honest.

 

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Brooks is an excellent 3 point shooter so this wouldn't be a complete stretch.
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To be fair though, Brooks has always been good at driving to the hoop because of his quickness and his ability to change pace exceptionally well.

That's a dimension the Rockets absolutely need from a PG that spots up. When a defender is closing in to contest the 3 point shot, that player has to be able to drive past him. I think that's actually part of the reason Chandler Parsons has been playing so well lately. He's not afraid to drive past his defender anymore. When the defense realizes he can score in more than one way, it makes it harder to defend.

That's one of Brooks' strong suits imo. The ability to drive past the defender and hit the "stop and pop" a la Calvin Murphy.

I wouldn't say he's completely unproductive under the hoop either. IIRC he was fairly adept at those "kiss off the glass" type layups, but more importantly at drawing fouls under the basket. And since he's a ~90% ft shooter that means a lot.
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But then again, I don't know if the liability he brings on defense would be worth it or not.

 

The key is to get them both moving really, keeping them both threats so that it is harder for the entire defense to just key in or collapse around either of them.

I still see a lot of spotting up...I think though that the defenses are now giving Parsons, Asik, and the rest of the players more respect though. Those other guys, even Patterson because he will fill it up if left open have stepped up the last two games really.

With all that said. I'm glad Hollingers number say what they do about Harden. I've said it over and over, dude is a star player.

 

Bill Simmons, who is of course not always right, has long said that Lin is the perfect 3rd guard offensive spark off the bench -- along the lines of Barea when he was in Dallas. I think Hollinger's analysis supports this view. Unfortunately the team does not have a starting point guard that would really allow Lin being used in that way, but I think Lin coming off the bench and the Rockets thus maximizing the talents of both Lin and Harden is the ideal solution for this team.

 

Kyle Lowry and prime Chauncey Billups are not available.

 

If Lin can shoot the 3 more consistently, it would open up the entire Rockets offense completely. Usually the 2nd player guarding Harden is Lin's man daring him to shoot the jumper. It would improve Harden's game also. FG%, APG, and cut down on his TO numbers.

 

Are you sure? What about prime Jason Kidd? Mike Conley or Dragic would be decent fits, too.

I'm with durvasa. Let's give Lin some time. Aaron Brooks should always be available.