It's pretty we're a better team when Toney Douglas is the primary ball handler.

I should have portrayed my thoughts more clearly. I am not a fan of ISO ball if and when it isn't effective. I do cringe when Harden gets the ball and holds on to it killing the flow of the game. But, it isn't like I haven't been through it before. T-Mac never ISO'ed.

 

saying knick fans didn't think much about toney is an understatement. they despise him ... literally. they were wishing bad things on the dude.
things were not looking pretty before lin showed up.

he was kinda nice in his rookie year though, scored 30pts against d. rose

 

glad to hear you feel that way. Let's hope they play Fri like they played against Utah. If they try to go ISO against Duncan he will swat their shots all day regardless of how old he is.

 

TD is a non-factor to me before this season started and he continues to be a non-factor to me after 18 games. He is a career backup PG who has very little PG skills.

For the record, I don't believe any of the LOHs truly believes TD is a better option either. The only reason TD is even in these many threads is their strong dislike for Lin.

 

Lin is only that low because of his extremely low usage rate for a starting PG (18.2).

If you scale his assists/36 to the average usage rate of the top 5 passers (24.3), he is top 5 in that category. The reason you have to scale, of course, is that Harden has the ball far more than he does.

 

Lin usage rate last year: 27%; this year: 18.2%. That's a drastic drop and I'm not surprised his production has dropped as well. He needs to learn to play more off the ball though. I think this year will be good for him in terms of developing a better all around game.

 

+1
I also prefer team ball; it's so much more fun to watch.

 

Agreed.
Funny thing is, as I was reading this I realized the exact same thing can be said of our starter.

I'm eager to see the evolution of this squad.

 

There's more to play-making that assists and assists/turnover ratio.

I think of a playmaker as someone who can be relied on to generate a good shot for himself or a teammate when you give him the ball. Typically, the play is initiated with him having the ball.

So, just because a player gets an assist on a player, that does not necessarily mean he "made" the play. Not all assists are equal, after all.

In the half-court, the Rockets are most successful with their pick-and-rolls, and Harden has been a much more effective scorer off a pick and roll than Lin. Harden has also been a more effective scorer in isolation than Lin (Lin is only 3-17 from the field for the season when isolating against the defending).

These speak directly to playmaking ability. If Lin is struggling scoring as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll, and he's struggling in isolation, that gives him much less opportunity to make a play for others. If he was a better spot-up shooter, that would also help because it would be easier for him to fake the shot and create a play off the dribble.

 

His usage rate is directly linked to his level of play. Or more specifically his shooting. If he shot better, then the Rockets would go to him more, allowing him to have higher usage. Lin isn't like some role player who relies on others to create for them. He starts the plays. If he's not successful enough at doing so, then it's natural for the Rockets to rely on others instead, like Parsons and Harden.

If Lin ever gets his confidence and shooting touch back, you'll see his usage rate skyrocket.

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but I think something's wrong with Lin. I just don't see the same explosiveness and agility as last year. Sure, new team, new role, whatever... but just his drives to the basket are not the same.

His lack of confidence could have to do with his lack of trust in his knee. I still wonder if he had more wrong than just the meniscus. Like, if his knee is arthritic.

 

I thought he was starting to mover a little better against the Lakers.

 

like your signature, Dexter

 

he was, hes got a re-occuring booboo in his mind

 

The stat master does it again!

 

It's called coming off of knee surgery and not playing for a few months. He is definitely still a step slower, but each game he's getting better. I think he'll probably be back at 100% february....speed wise.

 

Some coach go sits their starter when they are off, some stick to it even if they know that could cost their game. MDA stick to Howard when Hack.A.Ho started and had he went to Hill, Lakers would came out winning. Players shouldn't b!tching much about this benching thing. Lin needs to earn his minutes, for now.

 

HOFs are like, yo my *****s wazzup cracka 3 fo 19 dat's nothin but a thin maine. 4 TOs? I wuz juz hollerin atcho momma - aww yea foo!

 

"It's pretty _____ we're a better team when Toney Douglas is the primary ball handler."

Do you mean it is pretty...surprising, sad, clear, amazing, obvious, or etc?