I agree this is much of the problem. However, Harden had an absolutely horrendous preseason shooting the ball with OKC. I think Harden will come around and find his shooting touch, but it's going to be a difficult year for him because the other teams are really going to be focusing on him.
This is probably who Harden really is. Good player but not worth $80M. He got to hide behind Durant and Westbrook. But we'll see as the season plays out.
Harden has looked terrible more often than not the past 3 games, with his point totals matching his shot attempts, and turn overs galore, to go along with Kevin Martin level defense. I have to wonder if the ankle sprain from a few games back is bothering him a lot more than we know. There is a drastic difference in his play from the first 2 games to the last 3, and it isn't just missing the shots, but the quality of shots he has gotten and the lack of ability to blow by his guy. Yes, he has been doubled more, but even when he isn't being doubled he has struggled to get good looks or get to the basket strong where the first 3 games he was playing above the rim on his drives. And his defense the past 3 games has been equally poor.
One big difference is the quality of picks and screens. The OKC offense has alot of layered screens and solid player picks from guys like Perkins and Sefolosha. Ball handlers are almost never expected to generate offense with NO help breaking free to shoot or drive. I'm thinking alot of this is due to lack of offensive plays being integrated. Picks, screens, curls, and cuts are all needed to maximize a PnR player like Harden. On the bright side, there were more cuts and curls today than last game, on the down side, the screens and picks are woefully lacking still. This makes the game dramatically harder for both Harden and Lin. What makes them good offensive players is how they play off a screen or pick. Driving past a defender without a pick or screener makes any PnR player less effective. A significant part of Harden and Lin's game is their ability to turn the corner off a pick or screen. Without those picks or screens they're basically handicapped.
Fans just go way to one side or way to the other... The reason that he's struggling is he's having a little bit of an adrenaline hangover... to me it seems like the whole team is. I don't think it's anything to worry about. I don't think anything I've seen so far is anything to worry about other than Mchale being stubborn with regards to letting Jones play. The team is super young and they've been in every game and in the last two they haven't been as good as they really are. Y'all just need to chill.
You guys are nuts. Our offense is in shambles right now & you are blaming players calling them busts or trash or overpaid. Craziness. Torocan is right, Patterson should be killed for not coming when Lin called him to set a pick.
That's just how it goes around here. A lot of posters overreact after games. Harden will be alright, he's still a top 5 SG in the NBA at 23 years old. Right now there are a lot of problems with this team, the question should really be. "Why are the Rockets struggling?" instead of so much focus on Lin or Harden....but that is how it will go here, it's unfair but that is how it will be.
I don't understand how people expect Lin to create for himself when his teammates refuse to set screens. That was how he was able to get his shot off in NY by calling for a screen. Lin's USG% is also WAY to low. In the two games that we won his USG was 24 & 27 respectively. In the Portland loss it dropped 20 & in Denver game it was 17. League average for starting PG's is 22%. That is ridiculous he is not involved in the offense enough. Players have to get in a rhythm & if you aren't being used sufficiently you will never get into that rhythm. This offense is a major work in progress.
Win baby, win. I'm not the one who is being paid 80 million dollars to play basketball. If I were then you may have a point.
Good observation. In addition, about one or two possession earlier, Patterson was supposed to set a pick for Lin. But rather than truly set the pick, he faked the pick and dived. Now, Lin was trapped by two defenders. Patterson was open but there is no angle for Lin to pass the ball to Patterson. Some times, coach will draw a play for the big man to fake the pick and dive into the lane. Then the ball handler will pass the ball to the wing and then having the wing player pass to the wide open diving big man. But from the reaction of Lin, it is clear it was not a set play. There wass no wing player in position for the pass. It was just a selfish big man who wants to get his. I was so mad when that happened.
This is what McHale means by guys taking shortcuts. He also got out rebounded by Lin. How the hell does the PF get out rebounded by the PG. I get that Lin is a great rebounder for his position but I am sorry that is inexcusable.
why is Harden struggling? i'll tell you why! because after averaging 40+ points per game in his first two games, teams notice.. hello Mchale! why is Lin struggling? because as a point guard who is most effective at making plays for himself and his teammates, he needs the ball in his hands. (same deal with Nash) why is Asik struggling offensively? because he's still learning the low post game. don't force the ball into him like he's Hakeem or something. let him play his hustle/defense/rebound game and when he feels ready and wants the ball, give it to him. the problem is not the players, it's clearly the coach. he needs to maximize the player's strengths, not expose their weaknesses. he needs to stop forcing the ball into our bigs like they're Keven Love. he needs stop forcing Harden iso's all the time.. gotta mixing it up, be unpredictable. he needs to put the ball into Lin's hands so that opponent's defense is focus on him instead of the others. lastly, he needs to play Jones.. an absolute must right now.
