ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Bobcats 1/21/2013

Well isn't that the point of my comment? The reason Lin would be good coming off of the bench is because Harden is a starter, therefore he wouldn't be playing with the bench squad without the dominant #1 option Harden. When Melo was injured Lin played great because he was the #1 option. But when he came back Lin started declining. As a previous poster said, I just don't think Lin can play with a player that dominates the ball like Harden or Melo, or Kobe or whoever. Like the Lin only fan's say, "Lin needs to handle the ball at all times, he needs to run the offense, and be the #1 option". Maybe his ego can't take playing with someone like Harden or Carmelo Anthony. He seems like a humble guy in his interviews but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a complex.

 

couldnt watch the game can anyone give me a clutchfans biased recap not the espn one

 

? I don't see this at all. In fact, in all of the games in our losing streak, we weren't able to execute plays...many of them ended up broken. In fact, this game Harden went free style and 1v1 A LOT with minimal pick and roll. Luckily, Ramon Sessions could not stay in front of Harden so it was just easy feasting

 

The problem here is coaching once again.

Fans aren't the only people that feel that Lin's minutes should be staggered with Harden. There were a LOT of basketball analysts arguing that Lin and Harden would need a LOT of time to work out how to co-exist, and it would be wise to stagger their minutes for significant parts of the game until the team could develop the plays and balance needed for such a pairing to work well.

Toney Parker also noted the same thing. That there would be a significant adjustment period for Lin and Harden, just as it took a long time for Parker and Ginobli to figure out how to balance each other on the court. You just can't have two primary ball handlers on the court and expect them to suddenly find magic.

The problem is, McHale is burning Harden at 40+ minutes per game (even during this brutal January), and is staggering them very inconsistently. Some games you see Lin and Harden and never staggered (like tonight), other games you see Lin playing with the 2nd unit (Lin, TD, Parsons, Delfino, Asik) and it looks very good.

There's just ZERO consistency from McHale either in terms of minutes or line ups. His constant search for "just looking for a spark" sounds more like grasping than actual coaching.

I would *like* to think that McHale has grown as a coach from his Minnesota days, but some days I wonder.

4 years ago, Anthony Carter of the Nuggets said this about being Coached by McHale...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ba...n-McHale-not-an-X-s-and-O-s-ty?urn=nba,128193

I'd like to think he's not that Coach 4 years later. I'd like to think he's got some master plan.

Every night I see his bizarre minutes and rotations and I'm left wondering...

 

Man, McHale needs to give Harden longer rests during the game. He is dead tired, you can see it in his abysmal three point shooting as of late, only 26% for the month of January and 17% for the last five games.

 

That's funny because last year we were stacked with power forwards. We had way too many power forwards and now this season we need a decent one who can step up

 

Like a kid just messing around?
LOL, you will be banned. Now everyone knows that. Morey will be pissed.:grin:

 

LOL, what a accomplishment! James Harden! Five for you!:grin:

 

Most likely not. Beverly brings the energy that Lowry once brought to this team. He hustles like Lowry did and knocks those threes down. And he penetrates and knows how to make the pass. The way he dribbles all the way under the basket and draws defenders on him definitely reminds me of Lowry so I don't know what roxxy is talking about.

 

He hit two threes and had 2 assists and 2 turnovers. Also, their backcourt abused ours. So, not that good compared to anyone really. He shot well enough though.

 

That is why McHale needs to defer to his assistants like Phil Jackson and KC Jones have in the past. Neither guy regularly called plays, but deferred to their assistants unless they strongly wanted a particular play.

McHale is there to oversee the whole operation and deal with issues such as talking to Douglas about the cut minutes, and knowing the feel of the team. He is more of an administrator than Adelman or MDA.

He is a very likable person, with a lot of practical life experience and has played at the highest levels. He is not stupid, but he does not need to be drawing up plays, that is for Finch, Bickerstaff and Sampson.

 

Wrong Answer bud. Lin struggles with dribbling to his left, can't lead a team with one hand, I'm a beast with my right also but if you play my right you defiantly will neutralize my talent. As a point guard handles are one of the most important attributes when leading a team. He needs to holla at Rondo but these are the basics you learn while growing up in school, if he doesn't learn to dribble strong or finish off his left, he will be in a World of trouble all season. I'd probably lock him down if hes going to play like that, I'll play him to his right and if he goes left well like you see in the game its going to get sent to the rafters I wouldn't have to worry about his left at all, he probably fumble the ball or leave his feet soon as I reach for that left side. The guy also can't shoot... nothing to fear there, just play back and chill in the paint and wait for the right hand. Crafty Harden definitely would take me to school but Lin is a one trick Pony. Maybe he can become a starter, but he definitely isn't ready or earned the position/money hes making...

 

Its like they are going away from what was so successful a couple of weeks ago.

Beverly was the one who got minutes without harden. I have to agree with you as well. I don't mind the Lin benching tonight because harden was getting most of the attention on offense and Beverly/td are both better spot up options. Now, if they were playing the way they did against Dallas, then yeah, play Lin. But that is the exception rather than the rule lately.

 

Why do you resist my cuddles?


Jeremy wiping the shame off his face.


_ames HarDen has regained his D.


hmm dat boy sexy


One of the many times Harden blocked Biyombo.

Good God the Nuggets who just bullied OKC are next. This nightmare has no end in sight!

 

Man, in our offense, if being able to knock down 3s basically determines your performance and if you get benched. When 2pat was drilling a few 3s few games ago, he looked good and he got his starting job back. When Morris unable to hit any 3s recently, he looked terrible on the court. But today, he knocked down three 3s and he suddenly looks good. Parson, too. When he failed to hit his 3s for a previous consecutive games, he looked struggled there. Same can be said about TD and Beverley.

Live by 3, die by 3. Same can be said about our players play situation. Anyone who wants a role on this offense must be able to drill 3s, it's that simple. If I were 2pat or Lin, I would forgo my sleep time to practice my 3s.

 

Your post said Lin would be good coming off the bench and I disagreed because I believe Harden and Lin don't mesh well. Harden is your #1 option and the more he plays the more likely the Rockets will win. With that in mind, if Lin comes off the bench he'll likely still have significant minutes with Harden which reduces both their effectiveness. Since Harden is a combo guard and dominates the ball, it makes Lin largely useless on the court, while if Lin dominates the ball then you're not using Harden to his maximum potential.

 

Hah, just noticed I keep replying to you.

Anyway, they HAVE shown flashes of co existing. Most recently, in the fourth at Dallas. They were both included in most of the possessions, they both got good shots off/attacked the basket, and they used the harden/lin pnr pretty consistently down the stretch. Harden was ( and still is ) in a bit of a funk and misses shots and layups that he would make the majority of the time. Then there are games like this. Its confusing, kind of heckle and hydeish.

 

I think Mchale's personality doesn't match well w/ Lin's for some strange reason. I think Mchale is uncomfortable w/ the run and gun offense. Notice in this Bobcats game that the Rockets were closing in on that 11 point deficit w/ the run and gun offense, which Lin excels in, and then in the 4th, they went away from it. The only difference in the 4th was that the Bobcats weren't making the shots while Houston made a couple more. If we played the half court set throughout the whole game like we did in the 1st quarter, we would have lost this game. The run and gun offense in the 3rd brought us back, and then in the 4th, it seemed like a combination of both, though it was favoring more towards the half court set.

We will see though. Perhaps there is a trade coming up and Lin will be part of it.

 

I have put him on the ignore list. Give it a shot.

 

The synergy of a Harden-centric team would be much improved if his teammates consisted of 1 pick and roll big and 3 spot up shooters. Something like Tyson Chandler or Kevin Love, along with Parsons, Morris/Patterson, and a Steve Blake-type. Pick and roll, spread the floor with shooters, then Harden either scores on the pick and roll, passes to the big, or passes out to a wide open 3 pointer. As long as his 4 teammates can all hold their own on defense and the bench is solid, that team can compete for a title.