+1, Agreed. Can we at least give them a separate sub-forum, like "GAJLM - Game Action and Jeremy Lin Moves" or something like that. I get that they like Lin, but this is ridiculous. When I was a teenager, my favorite Rocket player by far was Robert Horry, but I didn't go around tearing down Hakeem or Drexler when he struggled to try to make him look better.
You don't think Lin fans are Rockets fans? What you think all Lin fans would rather have Lin put up 18 and 9 and lose over the team making it to the playoffs? Ill admit I follow the Rockets heavily because of Jeremy. But its not like I didnt give a crap about the Rockets before he signed. I actually really liked the Rockets during the TMac era. But you think Lin fans are that shallow that theyd rather have Lin pad his stats to the detriment of the team? As Lin fans we dont just him to play well we also want him to make the playoffs and win a championship. That is the ultimate goal. Even though we may have started following the Rockets this season because of Lin, that doesnt mean we dont care about the Rockets. I actually highly respect this franchise and really like all the players (harden, parsons, asik, bev, etc.) And who cares if Lin fans only follow Rockets because of Lin? What, you dont think the increased fan base in Miami was caused by Lebron? This happens consistently among sports. Instead of just bashing Lin fans by alienating them, why dont we all just cheer for the Rockets as a team, because we all want them to succeed. I understand some LOF trolls who blame everything on everyone except Lin. Just ignore them. Believe it or not there are actually some Lin fans like myself who are objective. And I can say that along with the rest of the team, Jlin has been playing like s**t this week. So please do not insult a whole group of people by saying we dont care about the Rockets. Besides, if anything you should be happy by all these "LOFs" because they increase ratings and team revenue. And a lot of the reason more and more Rockets games televise nationally is because of Lin.
It is utterly pathetic that whenever people here try to engage in some constructive criticism of anyone not named Lin they are branded as LOFs. People here acting like Harden This topic has absolutely nothing to do with Lin. Stop patting each other on the back over your straw man arguments.
You are acting as if Harden has been suffering like Christ on the cross when all the OP suggested was that McHale went too far in his punishment. Get over yourselves and stop derailing every thread into a **** show to make yourselves believe you're "real" Rockets fans.
LMFAOOO at LOH and older posters thinking they have some imaginary power that allows them moral authority on what a fan is. smdh trying to redefine what a fan is. You guys are just posters who have been here longer. THAT IS ALL. YOU HAVE NO REAL POWER AND YOU ARE NO ARBITER OF KNOWLEDGE OR MORAL COMPASS OF FANDOM. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEADS.
As for the coaching staff, that is the only thing I dont like and keeping us back imo. I like McHale as a person and really feel for him about daughter's death, but as a coach, he is pretty bad and doesnt really know what he's doing. And im not just saying that as a Lin fan. This team's not making a deep playoff run with this guy in charge.
SVG, JVG, maybe even Lawrence Frank. Some coach that will stress defense and actually utilize some plays instead of just going iso when everythings going downhill. I like the job Mchale has done with this young team but as a playoff coach when you're having a 7 game series against top defensive teams, he doesnt have the versatility not creativity to contend and maybe even beat these teams.
Don't take this as bashing of you, just as a general response to some of your points... If you liked the Rockets during the T-Mac era, then that's great. You are clearly not one of the dudes who simply watch the Rockets because of Lin. Maybe you watch them heavily because of Lin, but not entirely, so that's fine, I suppose. It's the dudes who are 100% Lin followers that Rockets fans have problems with. It's the one's who hopped on the Knicks bandwagon when Lin popped up, and now have migrated to the Rockets now that he plays for Houston. Whether they say they care about the Rockets success or not is irrelevant, because it's clear that they are only watching the team because of one player, and wouldn't have any interest in the team without him. Those are the ones that cannot be considered real Rockets fans. They want the team to do good, simply because Lin would, in turn, be doing good. Also...as you said, there are some Lin fans who really just cannot accept criticism of Lin. They openly blame others on the team, even if he is doing specifically poor. It gets kind of ridiculous hearing nothing but defense for Lin when it's obvious that he's a detriment on certain nights. And lastly...Lin definitely does bring revenue to the Rockets, but I would definitely argue that Harden + the team's success is more of the reason for the Rockets getting nationally televised games. If you remember...the Rockets only had 2 games, the Bulls Christmas game and the 3rd Warriors game, as their original nationally televised games, and they got 4 games picked up midseason. Clearly Lin was part of the reason, but majority of it has to be due to Harden being acquired and the Rockets outperforming expectations and being in the playoff picture. But as I said...if what you said is true, then you are not one of these people.
You think coaching really has that big of an effect on an bottom tier playoff team to allow them to make a deep playoff run?
I'm not talking about this year. But say this summer we do sign D12 or someone. Do you really think this team can even make it to the finals with McHale? Forget even next year. I would bet they wouldn't even make it in 3 years. Unless Mchale can change his coaching strategies I just dont see it.
Even with Dwight, maybe, maybe not because you still have strong teams but you'll definitely be seeded way higher. Look at Scotty Brooks and Erik Spol, they weren't exactly thought of as great coaches at first. I just think talent is just a way bigger factor than coaching.
As i said earlier. Its not about you liking Lin, if you are a Lin only fan and post rational unbiased posts, then we are all happy. Its the overtly bias LOF's that we have an issue with.
Personally I don't think any coach in the NBA would have gotten the Rockets to a play off run THIS year. However, I believe a top tier coach would have gotten the Rockets more wins and potentially better play off seeding (6 with a shot at the 5 seed). As for the future, the coach will impact the development of the team. I don't think McHale is a terrible coach, but I do believe he's a below average coach. Not enough to prevent the Rockets from winning some games, but not enough to maximize the Roster he has available to him. In the end, I go by the analysis of Wages of Wins, that most coaches have a minimal impact in terms of wins and losses, with below average and bad coaches having a negative effect and actually holding the team back. McHale has done a decent job in many ways, but his in-game management of minutes in terms of resting his players, lack of an understanding of X's and O's, lack of coaching experience, and knee-jerk substitutions make it clear in at least my mind that he has serious limitations. That said it's not likely that we'll get a coach of Popovich's caliber on the Rockets any time soon (there's only 1 Pops), but I don't doubt that this team could upgrade it's coach to one with more creativity, better minutes management, stronger strategic fundamentals and more experience.
May I ask which coach you think would be better fit for the current team? I prefer Larry Brown although he did not think Lin is a starting pg during Linsanity. he may change his mind after meeting Lin and coaching him. your thought?
