http://t.co/xNRlnhRI <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rockets' open scrimmage underway. 15 seconds in, here's @<a href="https://twitter.com/gforbz3">gforbz3</a> feeding @<a href="https://twitter.com/chandlerparsons">chandlerparsons</a> for an alley-oop jam <a href="http://t.co/xNRlnhRI" title="http://www.nba.com/rockets/video/chandler-parsons-alley-oop">nba.com/rockets/video/…</a></p>— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/RocketsJCF/status/254630218772385794" data-datetime="2012-10-06T17:12:29+00:00">October 6, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen I've been hearing all week about how well Kevin Martin has played, but he is absolutely killing it right now. Hitting just about everything. Expand Reply Retweet Favorite ClutchFans.net @clutchfans Donatas Motiejunas is back playing in today's scrimmage. Expand Reply Retweet Favorite
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rookie pg @<a href="https://twitter.com/_scottmachado">_scottmachado</a> building off strong start to camp, with back-to-back buckets, pace and passing <a href="http://t.co/aBSP3ZfV" title="http://www.nba.com/rockets/video/scott-machado-pull-jumper">nba.com/rockets/video/…</a></p>— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/RocketsJCF/status/254631692340445184" data-datetime="2012-10-06T17:18:20+00:00">October 6, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kevin Martin on fire in the first quarter. This was the bucket that got him going: <a href="http://t.co/ZHO8xkn1" title="http://www.nba.com/rockets/video/k-mart-fire">nba.com/rockets/video/…</a></p>— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/RocketsJCF/status/254632343468392449" data-datetime="2012-10-06T17:20:56+00:00">October 6, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Here's @<a href="https://twitter.com/_scottmachado">_scottmachado</a> pushing the pace, finding open @<a href="https://twitter.com/jlin7">jlin7</a> for three: <a href="http://t.co/VVzktetM" title="http://www.nba.com/rockets/video/jeremy-lin-3">nba.com/rockets/video/…</a></p>— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/RocketsJCF/status/254635479901827072" data-datetime="2012-10-06T17:33:23+00:00">October 6, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Then it's @<a href="https://twitter.com/pdpatt">pdpatt</a> scoring over @<a href="https://twitter.com/asikomer">asikomer</a> in the post; later on great passing leads to and-1 for @<a href="https://twitter.com/chandlerparsons">chandlerparsons</a> <a href="http://t.co/zmuEUcdb" title="http://www.nba.com/rockets/video/pat-post-great-passing">nba.com/rockets/video/…</a></p>— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/RocketsJCF/status/254635689730269184" data-datetime="2012-10-06T17:34:13+00:00">October 6, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Terrence Jones tweaked left ankle before scrimmage, so he's not participating in today's scrimmage</p>— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/RocketsJCF/status/254636245492301824" data-datetime="2012-10-06T17:36:26+00:00">October 6, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If Omer could actually hit a 15-ft jump shot consistently, he could be very useful for us in the high post since he passes very well.
As bad as the win total for this season might be, this team is just fun to watch with a bunch of mostly really likeable guys.
ClutchFans.net @clutchfans Been interesting watching the combinations. McHale running @JLin7 and @_ScottMachado together, with Lin playing the two guar Lin 2 lamb 4 three http://t.co/LsKXAz36
Very impressed with Patterson's handle nad post up. If he can actually dribble the ball and make post up moves, that's a major, major step forward for his game. Also impressed with Asik waiting for the play to develop and making nice passes. Very nice.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>This open practice/scrimmage has been very competitive. Night and day difference from the open practices at the TC the past few seasons.</p>— ClutchFans.net (@clutchfans) <a href="https://twitter.com/clutchfans/status/254637449475665921" data-datetime="2012-10-06T17:41:13+00:00">October 6, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Jason Friedman Jason Friedman @RocketsJCF @htown747 Heavy favorite to back-up Lin, in my opinion.
Lin is not a subpar defender but rather a very solid, smart defender with very quick hands and excellent anticipation. I think you'll see that soon enough. Having said that, he does slack off his man more than I'd like and he does get burned as a result (he's done it several times in training camp as well), BUT it's still definitely a NET POSITIVE as he disrupts, gets steals (yes, he'll lead the Rox in steals, and probably be in the top 10 in the NBA as well) and stymies the defense more often than he gets burned by his man. This is not to say that I wouldn't prefer him not to lose his man at times (I've screamed at my TV a time or two over just that), but overall, IMHO, he is a solid defender at worst. And the term "cognitive bias" has been getting thrown around and disregarded by several posters, but it is definitely present all around us. Machado quite obviously played Matador D, Lamb is quickly worrying me in regards to his sleepy effort on D, and even last year, Kyrie was perhaps one of the poorest defenders, yet, only Lin gets singled out for his "poor" defense when advanced stats and results show otherwise. The same goes for his turnovers. I wouldn't put 4-5 TOs a game past Lin if he has to be running the offense the majority of the game as he did in NY. It will probably only come down after a couple of more years. BUT, what about all the other great PGs who have had similar if not worse TO rates? Nash? Rondo? They're not singled out every time they make a turnover. It's because we are not looking for it, like we do with Lin. For me, I won't judge Lin by his TOs (although it would be lovely to have it eliminated, especially the dumb ones), I'll judge him by his ability to get the team rolling as the point guard of the team.
ClutchFans.net @clutchfans Patrick Patterson is just killing it today. Probably has 14 or 15 points now, early third Q.
I absolutely agree with you that Lin likes/tends to slack off his man on perimeter to help with the guy who has the ball. He's gambling for a steal, and it sometimes does work out how he wants, hence his averaging 2.3 steals per 40 min. Yeah, but if the ball goes kicked out to the perimeter, it's an open shot, burned and toasted. It's not for lack of effort though; it's not as if he's just standing around doing lazy defense. But this is hardly a serious obstacle that can't be changed. It's just a change of mindset to do something -- stay with your man on perimeter -- that doesn't require special athleticism. Whether he has the lateral quickness to keep in front of quick guards is the more salient question.