In the first game of the season, as everyone knows by now, the Lin/Harden backcourt scored 49 points and got 20 assists..not to mention 8 steals also. Assuming that they are both able to stay relatively healthy for the entire season, and knowing that Lin will have to produce more because it is unlikely that Hardin will average 37 and 12 for the year, what do you think this duo will have averaged in points and assist by the end of the season? My guess is Hardin will average over 25 points and 7 assists per game and Lin will average over 18 points and 8 assists. So going with the overage, my prediction is 45 plus points and 15 plus assists per game. Your opinions?
That's definitely a possibility and why I rated them at 8 and 7. But I think ultimately Hardin will get keyed in on by defenses more than Lin, and with Lin being the actually PG, I gave him the benefit of the doubt assist wise.
I also believe that they have to average 45 plus point and 15 plus assist in order for the Rockets to have a chance at making the playoffs. Anything less and we are probably on the outside looking in...barring another major trade of course.
I think 40/15 as an average between the two is a very reasonable expectation given the lack of support players at this point. There is some upside of course, assuming the rooks can develop reasonably well. Anything above that is gravy.
Too bad you don't have an option where they are averaging less points but more assists. As the other teams figure out how to restrict their plays their scoring will go down but it is likely that they would then dish more to their team mates
I thinke 25/8 for Harden is a reasonable expectation. But I go a little higher like 18/10 for Lin. The other teams will double team, trap,etc on Harden first. Lin will be able to do a little more assist and scoring. Obvisously, they must be healthy in order to achieve this level.
Agreed. It wouldn't be unreasonable to believe that Lin could get back to Linsanity and average 20/10 and by doing so open up the floor more for Hardin who could then even average 27 and 8. So a possible 47 points and 18 assists average is possible from this backcourt if you are looking on the positive side of things and staying healthy.
Lin was scoring in NY because he had too... Harden is a scoring machine... Lin will feed him like there is no tomorrow... but to take the pressure of Harden he will have to take it in more I like it... because Harden will take the double teams off Lin... as he was facing hard doubles during his Lin sanity run last year... and Lin will help take the double teams off Harden win win for both players...
It's going to be amusing if/when Lin does well and the haters show up saying that Lin is only doing that good because of Harden. But what player doesn't benefit from having a superstar team-mate?
I think that Harden will have a positive effect on Lin's scoring and their averages should be quite similar if Lin could keep up. I'd say 25/5 for Harden; 18/8 for Lin. FYI, before Harden I thought Lin would get around 14/10 but it seems like the defense can't focus on Lin that much anymore so I'm jacking it back up. Wouldn't be surprised if he goes ham more often than expected.
If Lin gets 50% calls and shoots 6 FT per game, and gets 15 shots per game, 18 points is very doable. Harden, even with the defense keying on him, he should get 25 shots per game, so 25-30 point average seems doable. I also see Lin getting more assists than Harden, 9 : 6. 45 points and 15 assists got my vote.
Jesus. Not one player did that last year. Only chris paul and deron williams have managed that in the last 3 years.
