Staggering Harden and Lin's Minutes & Possessions

I've asked myself that question too. Douglas is better at spotting up and cutting for some sick layups with old english of the glass. No need to worry though, they will figure it out sometime in the next 20 games.

 

Yes many ppl have noticed it, but then again there have been numerous things Mchale and his crew do that leave ppl scratching their heads. Your suggestion would be the most obvious and logical way to do it especially since Lin is a better playmaker and is not shooting well from downtown, and Tony Douglas has since changed his last name to Tony Novak. I'm assuming the great McHale must have a reason behind the madness. Maybe McHale's fans can shed light on the topic...

 

Maybe they're practicing their weakness?

 

I thought the idea is Jeremy's in Harden's role there, and if there is nothing in the PnR, you can kick it out to Lin who presumably can create his own shot. From what I saw, it was more of a nod to Lin as the better iso player.

 

I really don't get this either. I did not enjoy watching TD bounce pass straight to a Hornets defender on the pick and roll with Greg Smith yesterday.

 

Let's wait for games 40 to be complete and then McHale will see this. I still need to see mcHale start to try something new. Maybe once we have a comfortable place in the playoffs... like a Dmo/Smith Frontcourt perhaps?

 

Fire Mchale. Makes the worst decisions sometimes. We really need a competent coach.

 

Based on every post game interview I've seen, the coaching staff is very high on Douglas. I get what they are doing, but Douglas just is not able enough in a half-court setting to play the point. Looking at several Golden State games, you can see Steph bring up the ball after crossing the half court line nearly every time, same goes for Nash, and CP3. Whether it's because they are slotting him in the Harden role and playing him as the iso guy or they feel TD is the better pg playmaker, clearly they still do not understand Lin's game. It seems that they may be too close to the situation to see things clearly sometimes, as many posters here seem to point out clear points and weeks later the coaching staff makes adjustments.

 

Maybe it will take another ESPN article and some direct question from reporters before they realize this is not exactly the optimum game plan.

 

Eh, Jeremy's game is still evolving to be completely known. He has a lot to work on. If he gets minutes to play the off guard and the opportunity to just think about getting his own, I don't think it's a bad thing.

 

Maybe, thy want them to work on their weaknesses. I don't understand their decision either.

 

Maybe it because the ball handler should be able to shoot from behind the screen or the 4 man can just cheat off and cover the roll man.

What made Stockton and Nash deadly PNR ball handlers was the fact that they were deadly (over 50 percent) shooting behind the screen. This forces the defenders to scramble to cover them which opens everything up. If all it took was court vision, then Ish Smith and Mercado would be starting in this league.

 

For me it's not so much about Lin...it's about TD running the point while Lin camps out at the three. TD already ran the point with the Knicks and as hard as they tried, it was a failed experiment. He needs to just play his natural position at the 2 and jack the treys and play defense. He excels at only those two things.

 

But even before that, you need the ability to pass in the PnR which TD is terrible at. If you can't make PnR work in the D'Antoni system, you're not ever going to get it. I like him ok, but TD is a SG who can't finish at the rim. That's what he is.

Basically when TD and Lin are out there, they are much less version of Lin and Harden. If you switched the roles, they would be same Lin and much much less Harden. Pick your poison. I think they're doing ok for now.

 

Just because something doesn't look good in game doesn't always mean it's the wrong play. Asik was a terrible finisher early in the season. They kept with it. Now he's quite good. Parsons was playing poor early in the year, but they kept doing it and he's looked much better now. Same with Lin. Same with Douglas and his shooting, which had improved over time and even better penetration now.

There are honestly very few plays where Douglas is the primary ball handler. Sometimes it's just a matter of giving defenses different looks. It's why Delfino sometimes initiates the offense, or Morris does. These guys are still growing. I think the coaches just want to give them some freedom to grow.

 

it happens when harden and douglas are out there together too. That is the time that the coaching staff should be drawing up the teen wolf set for harden everytime up the court, but nooo douglas is handling the rock going iso.

 

It is impossible to know the reason the coaching staff is using a certain tactic with a specific rotation. However, they certainly have a number of different experienced coaches working on the tactics and their implementation. It is not like the JVG days when the head coach ruled like an egomaniac. The coaching staff has done a stupendous job of bringing this young team together, establishing a winning culture, and tactically implementing a more than adequate offensive strategy. Basketball reasons I guess.

 

I disagree. You have to be able to shoot from behind the screen or the PNR doesn't work consistently. That is why you don't see Rondo doing as much PNR as the best passer in the league should. Its because people don't respect his jump shot.