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

Lin seems to like that corner 3. Needs to work on the wing.

 

Lin's clear strength is PNR, passing ability, court vision, and the ability to drive to the basket. because of all the talent that the coach is trying to involve, Lin does not get the kind of usage he can be getting.

clearly, overall, no question that Harden is a better player. but if we're not going to use Lin's talent, he's definitely depreciated in his salary range. Lin becoming a spot-up shooter doesn't develop his career or provide much value to the team.

 

Yea my thinking is that if Lin can get a nice little step back for the PnR and hit at a decent rate we can run more off ball screens to get Harden different angles at the defense

 

Unless Morey gets what he believes is good value in return I don't think he is going to just move him. True Lin isn't going to get as many opportunities as he could get on another team, but I still think he can play an important part on our team. Having 2 great PNR ball handlers isn't a bad thing, kind of like having 2 great defensive big men isn't a bad thing. One might be under utilized, but a player can't play the whole game nor will he get all of the PNR opportunities.

 

Even if the things you say are true, why is that a reason for the Rockets to move him? The Rockets goal is rightly to do what is best for the Rockets. Increasing Lin's salary or developing his career are not goals of the Rockets. Their goals are to use Lin in a way that best helps the team, including moving him if and when it is advantageous for the Rockets, even if it is detrimental to Lin.

On contending teams, role players have to take on a lesser role.

 

McGrady and Yao were pretty good PNR players IIRC. I used to enjoy watching those two play off each other for easy baskets, but then that offense would break down and be replaced by TMac ISO ball.

 

i agree with you; on contending teams, role players have to take on a lesser role. but so do stars -- even Lebron sometimes took on a lesser role when he needed to. and is getting paid less than he deserves as the best player in the league.

but even the fact that it is hard to move Lin, or might not be good for the Rockets, supports my point... i truly believe that Lin can be properly utilized so that he is worth the money he earns. that means that the Rockets organization might be able to get a better piece in return if Lin plays better -- we develop value for the Rockets by developing the players -- in fact that's what the Rockets have been doing for the past few seasons.

how can the Rockets utilize his talent? let him run the PNR! i know he will, and i know Harden will. but can we also be excited about Lin's ability to run PNR, esp with how last season went?

here's an article that describes what i'm talking about, but less topical to PNR.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/nba/houston-rockets-trade-jeremy-lin

 

At this point, I think the Rockets primary motivation has to be to win games, not to develop players. Of course, it could be possible to do both. Also, eliminating a weakness in 3pt shooting would be beneficial to both Lin and the Rockets.

 

I disagree to a certain degree. Asik and Lin's contract is expiring in 2 seasons. Most likely or not, they're going to get offers from many teams. If Morey is truly Morey, he would need to trade for high return this season. The reason being they will be expiring contracts AND high production value at the same time.

I don't believe Rockets are at a win now mode yet. But surely pretty close. The problem here lies if Lin doesn't play up to his contract or if he plays even worse, then Morey will get nothing in return for Lin as an asset.

If anything I'd like to think this next half season is a season to showcase Lin and Asik to get as much as possible in return. Hence why he signed Camby and Brook because he's ready to deal his cards at any moment when the values are high.

 

LeBron only takes a lesser role when he's not making his shots. If Stars took lesser roles there would be no reason to give them max contracts and there would be more teams with a bunch of good and solid role players and no star win championships. Good role players play their role and do it well.

 

Is Dwight ok with the PnR? He doesn't have much range, I wouldn't think he'd want to spot up anywhere but on the block.

 

Bosh took a much descreased role. Is he a "star"? Dwyane Wade took a lesser role. He is definitely a star player. And Harden will probably see decreased usage this year because of Howard. There is only one ball.

i never really understood the "role" player thing (or labels in general like "my team", "his team", "the man", etc.). What would Parson's role be?

Defense, scoring, 3 pointers, running the floor, passing, rebounding?

A "role" player to me is more so someone like a 3 point specialist or the big white stiff with 6 fouls to give. Most guys are just players. Just because you are not a "star" does not mean you subjugate your own game to fit some sort of defined "role".

 

Lin ran the PnR PLENTY and he will continue to do so. But he's not going to run it more than Harden who is a better PnR player. And he has to hit that 3 or he's not going to be running much of anything.

 

Lin is more effective running PNR and scoring for his roll man.
Harden is better running PNR and scoring for himself.

If you are Dwight, whom you would like to run with?

 

One would hope it's whoever gives the team the best chance to win. If it turns out that the Lin PNR with Howard is more successful than the Harden and Howard PNR then so be it.

 

This. Just do what's best for the team. Who cares about who is "the man" or who should only have a certain "role"? Stars joining other stars would seem to indicate that a lot of them care less about being "the man" and care more about winning.

 

I have seen great shooters like Ray Allen struggle in big time games, we cant rely on Lin improving when we can win now. Rockets need a legit shooter and someone who can defend. they had it before in Goran Dragic but Morey let him go

 

I didn't see this posted so, here's our own Carl Fudge (aka GBRocket) in an interview at SportsRadio 610:

Interview Link

There's been quite a bit of back-and-forth on the execution of the PnR between Lin and Harden.
I suggest listening to GBRocket's take on it around the 4:05-4:10 mark. He's stated it in his follow up response on this thread but it seems like several people completely missed the analysis.

Thanks again GBRocket.

 

I hope we play Harden, Dwight, and Chandler less during the season by keeping Asik and Lin. The Spurs and Heat were flat out tired after by the 6th and 7th game.

My only challenge with Lin running the PnR with Dwight is his ability to finish in traffic and at the rim going to his left. Teams have scouted him and know that he doesn't finish well going left. When he goes left he picks up his dribble and tries to shoot a fadeaway or stops in the lane and looks for a pass out. His right hand is a different story, if you let him go right he will kill you.

 

Not true, Harden had to score because Asik couldn't catch a cold naked in Alaska. Harden is a very willing passer when he has finishers. Check him with OKC and Ibaka. Lob city all day everyday. With Dwight this only improves 1000% versus PnR with Asik. I may have seen Asik catch one alley oop, one!!!