What's a good defender? Staying in front of your man, contesting shots? Sure. Lin does that. Gets steals, makes some blocks. Sure Lin does that. What's a great defender? Forces the opposing pg to use up precious time off the clock and delays the entire opposing offense from getting into its sets and thus forces a general lower shooting percentage from the entire team. Lin is not that. PB does do that. That's what we're talking about. Got it?
Unfortunately whenever Bev is at the point Rox offense turns into Harden ISO ball. No ball movement whatsoever. Happens every time. Fact. Also, with Lin as one of the best PnR points in the league, and Howard as the best PnR finisher at the league...it's tough to put JLin on the bench (unless Howard comes off the bench)! Somehow we need to match up Howard with Lin and at the same time keep Lin away from Harden. And trading Lin is not going to solve anything.
What people forget is that Lin is only 24 and he keeps improving. He is still two years away from his prime. Last year he was better defensively at the end of the year than at the beginning; and this year he will be better then he was at the end of last season. Lin has the intelligence to learn and become a better defender.
Maybe Lin doesn't want to get into foul trouble. Just because of that one difference makes Bev such a great defender over Lin? I think they are both good defenders, but just different, a lot of it due to their position, Lin as a starter doesn't want to get into foul trouble, while Bev as a back-up doesn't matter as much.
that video where lin gets the block on josh smith, well if you continue watching, you'll see why he is the best opt at pg. He makes the pass to delfino, instead of taking the shot, then that leads to delfino finding smith wide open. This is what people overlook. Not to mention all the passes for free throws for our big men
Yeah, Bev does foul like crazy. It's part of his aggressive play, he likes to take chances. There's a reason not many starters play at that frenetic defensive pace he does, and yet there are still many great defenders.
Well trading him solves having to do anything with him so it really solved everything. But if the team came at Lin and said we want you to be our Manu, do you think he would be offended? With Harden and Howard we need a PG that will just get out of their way and that's not Lin. I think he starts but I am crazy intrigued with him being the man on the second unit. I think it could be pretty formidable.
It's definitely interesting to think about. But I also want to see how he does with an elite center, and how it impacts his playmaking. I agree with you that he'll start the season, and maybe depending on everyone's play, we'll see some changes. Hard to make too many judgments when we haven't seen how Dwight will impact the offense.
not sure if posted already.. good read http://www.bsports.com/statsinsights/nba/dwight-howard-and-omer-asik-who-is-the-better-defender
Not selling Bev short at all - but it remains to be seen if he could maintain that defensive intensity while consistently averaging 30+ minutes a game. Lin was sort of that guy in GS and NY (until Linsanity at least). He would have tired himself out or fouled out a lot if he maintained that sort of intensity.
NO MELO. D12 would be demanding a trade by midseason. Harden too. MELO can only stunt Harden's growth.
Harden is a bull, but can be easily gameplanned for with the right team. he is a bit one dimensional and can get turned over. Lebron proved it two years ago. Lin is defintely more versatile, but is not quite as confident in his abilities or assertive enough to take a leadership role. It's quite ashame. I saw the talent in NY. He is letting McHale run the show. And I know McHale wants no part of Lin.
'IF' Beverley started, do you ACTUALLY think he would run the offense? That's the whole point, Harden WILL run it no matter who the PG is. The reason Lin looks great from a bench perspective, is that it makes sure one of the two is on the floor at all times, so we have a lead man to run the O, and Bev won't have to, because let's be honest, he can't. Beverley wouldn't get MORE minutes just because he starts. We aren't clamoring for Lin to be a bench or role player, just a 6th man. It still gives him twice the minutes of Bev, but more time w/o Harden on the floor. Also, it puts the better defender (be honest LOF's) on the better PG for a full 16-18 mins, and lets Lin totally DOMINATE the 2nd unit guards of opposing teams for a full 16-18 mins. Lin would average 18-22 and 6 a game if he were a 6th man. Quit acting like Rockets Fans want him on the court for 10 minutes and Bev on for 38, that IS NOT the case! Damn....
You can simply stack Harden and Lin's minutes that way. Harden will play 40 min anyway, 8 min stacking is not much. If Lin plays 32 min, Bev 16 min, then what's the point....
JVG would disagree with you about Alston. Alston was a bonehead but he had some playmaking skills. But let me rephrase my statement "Howard needs someone that knows how to get him the ball inside and is willing to keep at it until he gets it inside". There is a certain amount of effort to getting the ball down in the post. The Lakers didn't achieve it because it doesn't mean just trying to throw it in to Howard. It means getting it there and then if he is not in the best spot than reposting and basically being committed to getting it down low because you know teams have to double and triple team Howard and everyone else is open. Just look at Hakeem who you referenced, he said it was work to get him the ball and Rudy worked on it everyday in practice and they tried to vary it up all the time. When Hakeem went to Toronto Vince Carter never gave anywhere near the effort of getting the ball into Hakeem. I trust that Lin will make that effort and has the ability to get the ball to Howard. I do not trust Beverly so much and I do not believe Harden will make that effort as much. If Hardens handling the ball his instinct is to look for himself first and then look for others. That just doesn't work if you are trying to run your team inside out. You need someone like Lin who will work hard to figure out the best way to get the ball to Howard. The Rockets know this. Parsons even mentioned it in his interview when he said the attention dwight is getting in the post and James is getting in the opposite wing he wants to be a knock down shooter. So it seems to me the Rockets plan on working between Dwight and Harden and it makes more sense to not have the ball in Hardens hand. The thing is there is no absolute answer here. As much as you are trying to make it sound like you are right and I am spewing my position. It's not either or. Sometimes Parsons will work the ball into Dwight and even harden but overall you are better off with a better passer and more cerebral player who is dedicated to getting the ball into the post to do it. You can overcome that if you do like Rudy T and keep insisting to everyone that Dwight has to get his touches and if they don't you pull them. Soon players like Beverly will get it. But it makes it easier is if you have someone who gets that from the start. I think Lin will get it from the start and is the better choice for now. I do agree it is helpful if Lin has improved his 3pt shooting. And I think he has. he finished the last few months near 40% and I expecthe will improve on that. So all in all I think Lin is the better choice but again it is not an absolute.
