Has it just only been 21 games? I hope Lin puts in the work in the off season and figures out how to tap into his killer game without having the ball in his hands to build a mental rhythm.
I agree, he is basically a rookie and he still needs to learn how to not have the ball in his hands at times.
These are all fine sentiments indeed, but the bottom line is that jeremy does not want to be a part of this organization any longer. His body language is horrible. Even during his "linsanity" game against the spurs, he didn't look like he was having any fun. There are a ton of teams which could use an exciting, scoring point guard. No one is in jeremy's corner in the rockets' organization. It's best for everyone that jeremy move on to a franchise where he'll have a bigger role. JLin isn't meant to stand in a corner doing nothing 30 feet from the basket. Really, let him go.
Harden is judged harshly, he just performs better. It's not Lin struggling once in a while. It's him struggling every game. Not the case with Harden. Also Harden has proven himself in the playoffs. While he struggled with the Heat, he was a huge part of OKC's win obey the Spurs. Look at yourself, your criticizing Harden for driving in, and drawing fouls. Really? Because he needs to shoot better? It's a good thing that's what he's been doing the last few games. While at the same time you're wondering why a guy whos struggling to shoot, drive, draw fouls, is being criticized.
Why would anyone want to turn a pretty good PG with the ball in his hands into a spot up shooter without the ball in his hands?
Harden has NEVER had to carry a team with the ball in his hands, as the primary defensive focus for the opposing team, a majority of the time logging this many minutes in his career. It's unknown if what role he's trying to fill in Houston is a role he's capable of filling yet. You take him and replace him with Durant and the Rockets are a top 4 seed... and soon they'll be making similar coin and bearing similar responsibility. Morey jumped too soon.. and didn't have the basketball accumen to know that Harden's style of play would clash with the player you had already brought in to do what you're asking Harden to do now... handle the ball.. especially late.. facilitate.
Morey jumped because it's not like players of Harden/Durant/LBJ/D12/foundational player calibre were lining up to come to Houston. As a GM, you take what you can get, and the price we paid for Harden was actually not very steep for a Top-3 SG in the League. Harden is asked to facilitate because he is the MAN in the Rocket's organization. He is the only legit top-flight talent on the team right now. He's a ball-centric player and basically the onus is on Lin to adapt, not Harden.
Morey is not going to turn down someone who he believes top be a franchise player beside a mediocre PG struggles to fit in. Harden is a 23 yo who had potential to fill that role or at least play the part of second fiddle to someone else.
He was a pretty good pg for 17 games. Brooks was a pretty good pg for an entire season and the playoffs before and he was benched and traded. What's ur point?
Before you score Jeremy Lin on his performance against the Raptors yesterday, please read my post 'Raptors' Dirty Little Tricks Exposed' posted on Page 59 of ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Raptors 11/16/2012, post #1169. It may drastically change your view.
We know how good Lin can be,.... so his wort the wait... unlike some young players who never played elite....
Of course we would be a top 4 team if we had Durant, he is one or the top players in all of basketball
the real question is why? is it all his fault, or is the team, the coaching staff, bad offensive system etc...
Could I ask you if the fact that Harden is currently playing in a system that is designed entirely to cater to his strengths (even at the expense of his teammates) while Lin is being asked to do the opposite, play in a system that completely ignores his strengths and turns him into a spot-up 3-point shooter, (something he isn't good at) has any bearing on the discussion as far as you are concerned? Never mind the issue of full support for Harden by the coaches off the court (we never see coach chewing him out and rarely criticising his weaknesses) as opposed to Lin who is benched even when playing well and chewed out at the sidelines repeatedly? Do you think it's possible that you are guilty of the very thing you are accusing others of doing in your post? I.E. Applying gross double standards?
Because he was somewhat one-dimensional and he's young so they want to make him better by forcing him to learn how to work on his weaknesses.
The cream rises to the top. Great players will flurish no matter who coaches them or how they are used. If a player has talents people will see it and this year Lin shows no improvement or development of his "game". Lin doesn't attack the basket and draw fouls. He can't shoot for ****. He can't fight through screens on defense.
Nonsense. That's a weak excuse for poor coaching. These people have never had any faith in Lin and it has been clear from day one in both their words and their actions. You don't develop a player by constantly destroying their confidence and benching them when they are playing well.
