[DIMEMAG] The One Major Difference in Jeremy Lin's Game this Season

He just needs to play cocky and with that swagger more often.

But he does also need to implement some mid range game to him. Fake it, one dribble and shoot. Instead homeboy either only takes the long shot or dribbles into a wall. He's fast and quick but he doesn't have the short area quickness to navigate the lanes and create shots in the lanes like Parker or Paul.

 

You said star, not superstar. Lebron is on a different tier so that's a unique example that doesn't apply. I think it depends more on the offensive system, not the stars.

Lebron gets his own offense tailored around him. The Rockets definitely seem to me like they want a more balanced approach with a leading scorer in Harden, so I think Lin definitely needs to play the PG position.

Honestly, you don't need Lin if you want a PG who plays off the ball or camps out. Felton and Melo are different. Melo iso's like a mo-fo. I mean that was the problem they had in NY. Don't particularly care for it myself.

Personally, I loved how they played their first 2 games honestly when they were not even trying a particular system. They mixed it up and it was natural. That seemed to work best.

Lin should feed Harden when he's playing good and whoever else has the hot hand. Then he should take his shots. If Harden's inefficient, he should take more shots.

We also need to keep in mind we went from that, to Sampson's offense and now back with McHale making adjustments. It's still a work in progress and they are probably tinkering with a lot of things every day.

 

I don't understand the Melo hate because that guy is a freaking Beast. He is hands down the best iso player in the league and he is efficient this year because he is playing with a level head.

I don't look at it as Superstars and stars and etc.. to me its Stars, Starters, 6th man, role, and bench. But if you want to look at it as Superstars and Stars than Harden is the Superstar (personally he is a number 2 option in a regular team, Lin would be 3) so more sets and plays run of harden, he will dominate the ball. That is what happens for superstars, they dominate the ball.

Lin needs to learn how to play off the ball and dominate for him to get the ball and dominate. The thing is, once he catches the ball, he needs to be more aggressive rather than settling for a 3 pointer or driving into traffic.

There is so much a PG can do playing off the ball and still being a PG. Once Harden Passes the ball to Lin, he can fake and take a mid range jumper. Fake and drive. Fake and dish the ball. He doesn't necessarily need to dominate the ball to play better.

 

The Rockets are trying to avoid those mid range shots. Seems like they are stick with 3's, shots & the rim & FT's. Those are the most efficient shots.

 

melo hate has been around since his Denver days

 

the point of my post is - he's attempting more 3's than before

 

and my point is that he is not shooting a high percentage so he doesn't need to take that many shots.

 

A PURE PG like John Stockton or Jason Kidd didn't have to "dominate" the ball. They were great playmakers who assisted their teammates.

Jeremy Lin is a combo guard like D.Rose, Westbrook, or Parker. He's not a Chris Paul or Raymond Felton type, guys who utilize their playmaking first (which opens up their scoring opportunities). Lin looks to score every time he runs a pick and roll because that's his best asset.

Unfortunately for Lin he's not on the level of a D. Rose or Westbrook so there will be times he can get shut down.

To do well off the ball you need to be able to catch and shoot, not a great strength of Lin's. This is also why LeBron and Wade struggled so much their first year, because neither of them could play off the ball.

 

Agree with some of your other points, but Westbrook does get shut down plenty (mid-range shot seems pretty inconsistent). Lin is up there in the top tier on at least the potential to drive and create.


I wonder how Harden can play better off the ball to feed off Lin. Saw him standing in one spot on the perimeter quite a bit in some highlights last week.

 

I don't think you know much about Felton. LOL. Knick fans are upset with Felton because he shoots to much & doesn't keep the ball moving well. Which is why they usually play Felton with Kidd because Kidd keeps the ball moving.

And if you are a great playmaker that assists their teammates then you have to dominate the ball.

People saying that Lin hasn't been trying to play off the ball aren't really paying attention. He had 4 really great cuts last night (off the ball). Twice Harden missed him. Once Parsons saw him & passed but Parsons passed to late Lin was already way to far under the rim & Lin missed. And there was a final cut that Patterson caught him & Lin converted. Cutting off the ball & being a improved catch & shoot player constitutes playing off the ball. Lin needs to improve his catch & shoot game but his cuts have been pretty good. He never used to cut in NY.

Just a few thoughts.

 

This but also when he does catch the ball. He doesn't necessarily have to shoot. Its not like the shot clock is down to 2 when he catches the ball right?

Playing off the ball doesn't necessarily mean you won't touch the ball, cause once you do you can attack right off the bat. Defense are usually on their heels coming at you when you are playing of the ball.

Durant, Harden, and Westbrook for example last year all played off the ball from time to time. They were productive although both Westbrook and Harden love to dominate the ball.

Some of it has to do with coaching but some of it has to do with Lin (his confidence and his killer mentality and the jumper).

 

How are 3's the more efficient shot? Calvin Murphy came to my practice last year and said that 3's are the worst shots to take. You should always pull up for mid range or attack the rim. So how are 3s more efficient?

 

That is something McHale stressed during the preseason, for the rebounder to initiate the break themselves for the uptempo approach. (The "Royce White" attribute even)

Its why the Rockets lead the NBA in pace factor, it is mostly by design.

It does take some playmaking out of the PG's hands, not many half-court sets. Though Lin is a decent rebounder himself and very fast on the open break.

 

But McHale also emphasized passing in transition also. The ball moves faster than the body. Rockets need to pass more in transition.

 

haha, you're a joke. what are you 'trying' to refute this time?

 

Hmm... Felton was 9-for-30 in the CHI game and again 9-for-26 in tonight's game against the Lakers. Perhaps these 2 games are just anomaly but when you're on a team with so many offensive weapons (3pt-shooter in Kidd/Novak/Smith, not to mention PnR big in Chandler), jacking up 26, 30 shots doesn't seem like a guy who utilizes playmaking first.

 

Because three points are more than two. You make 2-3 two pointer mid range shots = 4 points 2-3 threes is 6... If you shoot roughly the same percentage at both then the three is a more efficient one scoring wise

 

Jeremy Lin shot 46% last year from midrange and corner three's last year. That's corner three's. hooroo's original post said Jeremy Lin shot 46% on midrange shots and corner three's, which is correct.