ClutchFans Game Thread: Hornets @ Rockets 1/2/2013

I think so too, I have him in my fantasy team:grin:

 

I agree with you. He has flaws but he also has a lot of upside. He still has long way to go and with more experience he will get there. I hope he can become a good player for the Rockets.

 

Agreed. He has plenty to work on, but he has a good base that he's starting from, I think. There are not a lot of guards with his level of experience or less that are clearly better than him.

The only point guards I can think of who are in their 3rd season or less that I would clearly put above Lin right now are Kyrie Irving (2nd year) and Damian Lillard (1st year). Then you could think about Kemba Walker (2nd year) and Vasquez (3rd year). I would include Ricky Rubio (2nd year), as well, but we've got to see how he comes back from the knee injury.

Lin has only played slightly more than a rookie's number of games. He has plenty to work on, but he should be able to improve steadily, I would think.

He's already a solid player. He just needs to keep working so he can get to the next level, and beyond. It will take some time.

 

I agree with you on Irving, Rubio is good traditional PG but can't shoot that well. I'd like to have your thoughts on Lillard please.

 

He's very good. Excellent 3 point shooter and already averaging 18+ in his first season. Clutch. Smooth.

.....

3 other guys I should mention in the 3-years-or-less point guard club:

* Eric Bledsoe (LAC; 3rd year; definitely better than Jeremy)
* John Wall (3rd year; extremely talented but struggling in WAS, injury issues)
* Brandon Knight (DET; 2nd year; don't know a ton about him but team high on him)

Also, Isaiah Thomas of SAC (2nd year; many people high on him)

 

Why can raskol start a thread but not shuh? They both joined this year after JUN?

 

Oh I would take Lin before Bledsoe. Eric struggles to run an offense & he hasn't proven that he can run a team by himself, Lin can & has. And defensively both players are about the same.

 

Thank you for your explanation.

 

Great information. Thank you.

 

You might be right, Roxxy. But Bledsoe is so explosive and he has won me over this year.

It's close, no doubt. And you're right, Lin probably has shown more team leader qualities (running an offense qualities) than Bledsoe has. I may be jumping the gun on Bledsoe. But he's got a ton of potential.

All told, here is how I see the 9 other top PG prospects who are in their 3rd year or less, in comparison with Lin:

* Irving ------ CLE --- 2nd year ---- Better
* Lillard ----- POR --- 1st year ----- Better, but teams will adjust to him
* Rubio ------- MIN --- 2nd year --- Better, but...
* Bledsoe ----- LAC --- 3rd year --- More talented, but still more to prove
* Wall -------- WAS --- 3rd year --- More talented, but...
* Knight ------ DET --- 2nd year --- ???
* Walker ------ CHA --- 2nd year --- Better scorer, but...
* Vasquez ----- NOH --- 3rd year --- Bigger; unclear
* Thomas ------ SAC --- 2nd year -- ???

All things considered, Lin is not in a bad spot in relation to these other players. Especially since he was sleeping on his brother's couch last year.

 

How do you know Morey isn't looking for an upgrade?

 

You're welcome.

What Lillard has not faced, fully, yet that Jeremy has is when teams have more tape on him and start making defensive adjustments and gameplans for him, to shut him down. Jeremy has already been through that.

I know Lillard is already in the scouting report for opponents, but some teams have only seen him once so far, so there will still be more of an adjustment in the time to come. That will make Lillard have to work to overcome the new defensive strategies.

 

I am not going to say that Lin isn't criticized, because he, as he is often praised more as well. However Harden also is regularly criticized in the game threads.

 

Did we watched the same game?
Lin was tremendous on defense against Vasquez. I wasn't impressed by Vasquez as some of you. What exactly did he do good in this game?

 

True, and part of the problem is that Lin fans take every bait. And it is a bait because it's usually completely silly and unduly harsh criticism. If everyone around you is getting double digit scoring, you play excellent defense, you protect the ball, and your team wins, you did a good job as a PG. 18-14.

 

Not sure if any of you noticed, but we won a game with very little transitional points.
There was even a low post set play for Asik. These are the type of games that's out of the Rocket's comfortable zone. Great to see them win a game this way.

 

Bledsoe has a lot of potential. I think he could develop into a Lowry type giving time or he could just be a Nate Robinson type really depends on his work ethic. But nope I would take Lin over Eric any day.

Damian hasn't proven anything at all. He has been great thus far don't get me wrong & like you said he still has to go through the aggressive scouting process. Damian also needs to learn how to pick his spots better, match his shooting with his playmaking. But he will get a lot better no doubt about that. And Damians defense is atrocious.

Rubio has elite playmaking skills & his passing is terrific with excellent vision. But individually he isn't a threat to score at all so the Minny offense runs better with him off the floor than on. Rubio's biggest strength is his defense but Lin is pretty damn good on D so I would take Lin over him just because as an individual offensively Lin is more of a threat.

I would take Lin over John Wall any day & twice on sunday. John Wall has really poor decision making really not high on him. He needs to get out of Washington though I think the franchise he plays for really holds him back.

Kyrie is fantastic offensively but my god his defense is just awful like hands down worst in the NBA. Kyrie has recently run into a bit of critics for his inability to make anybody better. Don't know if I fully agree with it but there maybe some merit to the critique.

Can't speak on the other guys don't watch them enough.

 

Great point.

We crushed them on points in the paint. Nice to see that we can grind out a win rather than always have to get in transition to win.

Schedule is going to get a lot tougher now. Really hope we can stay healthy and that James Anderson can help the bench depth.

 

Great info, thanks.

I'm a big Rubio fan, but it's going to take him time to get back from the knee. Time in which Lin can continue to improve. Certainly Rubio is an elite playmaker, though. And an excellent defender.

Bledsoe, yeah, jury is still out. Just love how he's playing this year. But he will have to show he can lead his own team, in time. And he will have to keep working.

Wall has really struggled in Washington. Injuries, bad team, etc. I would also take Lin over him, at least for now.

I haven't watched Irving a ton, but his numbers are great and he has a lot of talent. Didn't realize his defense was so bad. That's definitely a downside, as is not making teammates better.

Lillard is in the "honeymoon" period right now. But that won't last. Still, I like his game and poise. He's having to do a lot on Portland because they lack talent.

I'm very happy with Lin and am confident he can and will improve steadily. Biggest thing for him is his long-range shot, and he may have to rebuild his shot from the ground up. Besides that, as long as he stays healthy, I think everything is looking better and better from this point forward.