Excellent post. Want to add that they also have not learned to set screens. Several times in the preseason games Asik tried to screen 4 Lin but did so incorrectly negating the points and possessions. In the regular season games so far don't remember ever see him screen 4 anyone yet. It will take some time.
Let's not be too hard on McHale. Harden has been here LESS than a week, who showed up TWO days before the start of the regular season, MISSED training camp, did NOT play a single pre-season game with us, on a team with 13 (THIRTEEN!) new players, with an average age of 23, where more than half of the team are in their rookie/sophomore years and STILL adjusting to the NBA. How many playsets do you really think he had time to teach them? And where was the time to practice? It's probably significantly LESS risky to just give him the ball and tell him to do what he felt was comfortable than to try to call a play and watch it implode due to poor execution.
why is patterson camping out at the 3pt line is a better question, isnt he supposed to have a better post game this year?
you do know we have a coach and a player who's been playing out of his mind right now, right? Mchale pretty much ran plays to get the ball into Harden's hands and had bigs screen for him to get him a head start into the lanes. pretty smart of Mchale. simple, safe, easy and effective. BUT Harden was tired, it was a bit overused, and thus became a bit predictable. personally, i would have mixed it up a bit. Lin was just following Mchale's orders, he's not the type to go against the coach's game plan.
the only problem i have with Mchale right now is how he's always running plays to get the ball into our Bigs down low. i can see him doing it with Asik who has been practicing it and needs to get it going, but i don't see why he keeps trying with Morris and PPat, they obviously don't have a low post game. also, i don't like that he hasn't ran any plays for Lin, Parsons, and Delfino.
I like to see Lin attack the basket more. He only go to the line 1 time tonight...that's inexcusable. He often attack hard and go to the foul line. Also the Kings should run play through him as much as Harden...especially when Harden is having an off night tonight.
I hope this is the case because it would be a travesty if McHale continues this for the rest of the season. Lin needs the ball to be effective - and McHale needs Lin to be effective as well in order for this team to be successful. Playing Cavalier Lebron ball may be effective short term but it will never be successful in the long run.
they've played what, just 3 games now? it takes time, some more practice with each other and more experience before plays can actually be executed successfully. right now, Harden is the hottest player on the planet so you go with it. and you go with the simplest and safest bet until the team is able to execute more complex plays. so far we're 2-1 and playing extremely well, i'm pretty happy with the direction we're going.
I more pissed that they didn't try to move the ball toward him during the 4th when the other team kept leaving him wide open. Part of it maybe because his offensive game is subpar but even with that he was still open enough that he could have just ran in and jammed it.
Short answer: if he is not the ball-handler, then that is where he suppose to be. Long answer: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=228514
I seriously do not know why someone asks this question without really wanting to know the answer. I can answer this if you want. But you don't care to know. This is the GARM. This isn't a question...this is a b****.
didn't you just contradict yourself. You clearly desire the ball in Lin's hands vs the "Cavalier Lebron ball" which just won Lebron a freaking ring, when everyone said he wasn't dominating the ball enough. Or do you want to rephrase your statement. And what the hell are you talking about anyway wrt the rockets. This thread is so transparent as you are jealous of Harden.
I'm very reluctant to be critical of mchale. I have so much respect for him it's ridiculous. He's one of my favorite players of all time. I'm a huge fan and want to see him succeed as much as anyone else posting here, if not more so. Having said that, an iso clear out offense is very boring to watch, and becomes all too predictable for opposing defenses. The rockets don't have a lot of scoring options outside of their starting backcourt, but there's been a stark contrast between the first two games, where ball movement was superlative, and this last game, where the offense bogged down to harden iso's all too often. This is the same problem carmelo and the knicks had in new york, and I would hate to see the rockets saddled with the same. The rockets have to keep the ball moving and keep everyone involved; the threat of every player on the floor as a scorer will make harden more effective both short and long term. It's very tempting to allow harden to iso iso iso. That's what the early bulls with jordan did for years and years. That's what the knicks have done. That's the norm in nba offenses. But it was so nice seeing the ball move like a hot potato the first two games. That was real basketball.
Lin actually had two three-point plays today (which accounts for the two separate free throws). I don't mind Lin attacking a bit less, taking more pull-up midrange shots and teardrops when he gets his legs bak more, as that saves wear and tear on him--he takes some hard hits and bad falls when he goes all the way to the hoop. Here and there is fine, but save it for when it really matters, late in the season, playoffs, etc. His and-1 at the end of the game today was nice.
