I have to disagree. Those would count as assists. Most of his assists don't come from the PnR. Like I said, most of his PnRs are resets. I don't have a count, either, but I can say that from watching the games.
Got to be kidding. Seems Lin plays worse not better when he has to play along side super stars and defer to them. Lin has got to be more aggressive. That's what he has to learn, plain and simple. He seems to only be aggressive when he's the best player on the floor, and defers too much when he is not. I think he has to play with more reckless abandon. Just a little more would make a big difference.
Once again this is factually incorrect. He averaged 18 & 8 as the 3rd option behind Melo & Amare, Tyson was the 4th option. I don't understand where this notion is that his issue is deferring to superstars. People are sensationalizing this & trying to psychoanalyze a player feelings. Don't by into all that nonsense. If he averaged 18 & 8 as the 3rd option behind two multiple time all stars & multiple time Team USA partners you telling me that Lin has a issue being to deferential with Harden? It is bigger than that. Lin & Harden play the same. They are redundant. And the coaches are more comfortable playing Harden as the PG over Lin & Lin as the SG over Harden. Lin isn't a SG. Just a few thoughts.
Harden and Lin redundant??? I'm sorry that is silly. There have been plenty of teams with two strong playmakers who dominate the ball and have been very successful. Parker and Manu is the best example. But even here before there was Francis and Mobley. Further more, Lin's numbers dropped off a lot last year. After MD left New York, Lin put up 14.6/6.4 on 40% shooting. Not far from where he is at right now. He's got to be more aggressive, I see the timidity on the court. It's a lack of confidence and it's plain and simple It shows on and off the court. He's young, he'll grow, and not sure McHale is handling it the best way, but you got to let him have time to handle it.
Hold on. On what planet is 15 & 7 not far from 10 & 6. There is a big difference between the two. Also Lins numbers dropped off but lets add more to the story. His FGA also dropped down as well as I said. He went from being the first option on offense to the 3rd option. And did you seriously expect him to keep averaging 20+ points & 10+ assists with Carmelo Anthony & Amare Stoudemire as his teammates, with increased scouting etc. If he did that he would be the second coming of Magic. That is delusional. Seriously. When MDA left Woodson significantly dropped the pace as well. I would take the Mike Woodson version of Lin any day over this current version of Lin. Anyway I don't want to argue about the past lets stick to the present and the rockets. Lin & Harden are redundant in that they both play the same. Everybody sees this not just me. Noamschiller is a blogger on twitter & tweeted out as much that they play the same. Lin & harden both score on the PNR & in ISO. Harden can spot up & shoot at a very high level Lin is meh as a spot up shooter. Neither can post up (something they both should learn in the off season) & neither can cut (they should also work on that). It isn't a coincidence that when Harden is out & Lin gets to play the Harden role (what he was supposed to be pre trade) he drops 38 & 7. Players don't do that by fluke. So let me get this straight you say that Lin is not playing with confidence right now (I agree) & in NY he was. Tony Douglas in NY was not playing with confidence at all (that is a fact) & in Houston he is. Isn't it interesting that Tony said as much the other day that he has coaches who have confidence in him so he has been playing well. So wouldn't you think that hey maybe why Lin isn't as confident anymore is because he feels that the coaches don't have faith in him. It really isn't rocket science (drum roll). Lin is a PG he needs to facilitate the offense more (spot up less), Harden is a SG he needs to play off the ball more (facilitate less). Harden is a lethal wing Lin is a lost on the wing. THe way that the Knicks use Felton & Kidd in the back court together is how the Rockets should use Lin & Harden. Would it not make sense to simply make that adjustment & let both players play there national position. It is funny people on reddit have been saying as much that he is being misused & yet others on this board don't see this. But what do I know, I am not the coach. Yes the coaches need time I totally agree with you. But frankly simple adjustments could be made to improve the situation but those adjustments are not being made. Why, because the Rockets are winning & Lin is playing well enough so the coaches likely aren't motivated as much to tinker. Just a few thoughts.
The Big Picture McHale's contract is up at the end of this season, right? I don't see the Rockets renewing it. So this is just about the rest of this reason - 60 or so games. Lin's had a rough start this year; yes, injury, new teammates, new role, and it hasn't helped that everything he does receives such attention. But the fact is he hasn't played as well as he needs to. Not yet. He seems to be turning a corner recently. - with his shooting, his speed, his confidence. His teammates - including Harden - support him. He will be fine. He will learn from this adversity. Things usually shake out for people like him in the long run. LOFs: don't rise to the bait. and try to be a little bit more considerate. LOHs: the LOFs support the team too - or most of them do. Who could not like this team? They are young, fast, with tons of potential. They have far exceeded expectations thus far. They are good now, and are going to be very very good in the future.
First of all, Lin isn't playing badly. And that's important to note. The coaches aren't yanking him from the starting role. They are trying to win games and feel in the 4th quarter TD is a better compliment. Notice that TD shoots a lot more than Lin despite playing less minutes by the way???? I don't buy that these are the same two players. Nearly every guard in the NBA lives off the PnR. Every player in the NBA is a catch-and-shoot-player. That's the easiest play there is. The reason you have guys who just catch-and-shoot is because they can't create their own shot, not the other way around. Lin has to grow and learn, he's basically a rookie. I think the coaching staff is thinking that way. TD is a vet compared to lin. As for Lin's confidence issue - the responsibility of that is somewhat on the coaching staff, but it's primarily on the player - a guy has to grow up and mature when you have a big contract like Lin does. That comes with the pay day. It may not be fair, but thats the burden he has to carry and overcome.
I don't understand how you cannot buy that they are the same two players to be frank. Even a few NBA draft people said that the closest player to Lin was James Harden. John Hollinger said the same thing that Lin & Harden are quite similar. Even Jason Friedman said as much. Like I just don't know what to tell you. Yes TD shoots more than Lin but what else does he bring to the table? Does he make anybody better? Is he better defensively? Is he the long term solution in the back court. I have always been of the opinion that a player will only be a successful as a coach permits them to be. It is no coincidence that Douglas is playing a lot confidently under this coaching staff vs the old one & Lin is playing a lot less confidently under this coaching staff vs the old one. And it is also no coincidence that Douglas essentially came out & said as much that I am playing better because the coaches have more confidence in me. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Lin's TS% wasn't identical to what it was in GSW under Keith Smart when we all knew that the coaches had no confidence in him. Now that I think about it Lin in Houston is being used almost identically as Lin in GSW with similar average results & untapped potential. Spot up shooting, defense & marketing. And it is also no coincidence that Lin plays his best against the Spurs when he is running the PNR 50% of the time, is getting screens set for him left & right & is shooting jumpers off the dribble as opposed to catch & shoots. Honestly the two of us are never going to agree on this topic. What we can agree on is that the Rockets are winning which is great. The coaches need more time & Lin is playing well considering everything. Thank you for the stimulating conversation.
Roxxy...don't waste your breath. Either Lin has to go or Mchale and his crew have to go. I think the coaching staff are too thick-headed and stubborn and are gonna continue playing Lin this way unless he becomes more selfish and takes 15-20 shots a game and goes HAM. As the season progresses, the complaints from the fans and analysts will continue to grow and a drastic change will come.
felton said it the best: but i don't get it, lin is obviously struggling with his confidence, yet they bench him all the time, how can this coaching staff be so clueless?
If the Rockets keep play like that, there is no chance Lin want to re-sign with this team 2-3 years later. He didn't expect that when he went to HOU this summer.
Exactly! Confidence is always key and if anything Linsanity showed us it's that Lin needs to have confidence in himself and not worry about playing time. Last year, it was the 'I don't care and just play my game' attitude that he played so well and kept a spot on the roster. Now he's already worried that Harden gets his, that he plays at his best and that he doesn't do too much or too little so he gets benched. He should at least have the confidence from the coaches to finish games and if he's bad on defense according to the coaches, let him learn from it and play through. The goal is to have a Lin-Harden backcourt for the future right? The problem is that it looks like we're trying to win now (again!) and not about developing guys.
Think about it....when a new head coach comes in he usually brings his staff with him. Mchale and his entire crew are fighting for their jobs. They know they need to get as many Ws as possible to stay here in Houston. They don't care about the development of their young players...they want the Ws. They will go with the players they THINK can get it done. They lack the confidence in Lin and a few others. The 3 players they trust the most are Parsons, Harden, and TD.
Agreed with your post lin played well with Melo & Amare. As much as i like Harden and i think he is a great player but he is no where near Melo's calibre ( they don't play the same position). So that myth about Lin not being able to play with a superstar is getting old. Damnit Woodson knew how to use him with Melo & Amare.
Man it is sad but if the coaching staff doesn't know what they're doing then maybe they might want to trade him.
