Who has to go beyond expectations/ ceilings to win it a championship

If lin shoots 40% from 3/downtown, keeps up his 2 point FG% and A:T/O ratio, or perhaps improves it, which will definitely happen with Howard and more experience, then do u really think he should be the 4th option given his other abilities as well?

(please do not read with condescending tone)

If he can do all that, i'm sure other teams will gladly pry Lin off of Morey's hands.

 

Defense

 

harden's defense.

last season, he was doing no defense.

 

I don't think our offense is built around 1st option, 2nd option etc. Obviously the name of the game is efficient scoring. And Harden gets you that better than anyone else. After that, it's really a matter of just the offense adjusting to the defense on any given night.

All I want from Lin is for him to hit 40% from 3's. The other stuff I am not too concerned about. Just hitting 40% doesn't make you a hot commodity in the NBA - about 20 guards do that and not all of them are considered elite.

Will it increase Lin's trade value - absolutely. Will that make Lin more likely to leave? Not sure. If he hits 40% he has the starting job locked down, and if he is happy here he is likely to stay. I don't think he'll command more than his current salary even at the end of his contract.

 

Terrence Jones, Patrick Beverly and Isaiah Canaan.

 

Lin, and I say that without any desire to stir up his haters and defenders. Simply put we know roughly what we're getting from Harden and Parsons. We know exactly what we want to get from Dwight, and we pray that it's not beyond his ceiling. Lin, though, could give us a lot of different possible seasons. He could shoot horribly from the field and lose his starting job, he could re-pass Parsons as the second-best perimeter guy. I expect 12 points and 7 assists on solid efficiency with 36% three-point shooting and average defense, but if he can bump that to 15 and 8 with 40% from range and above average defense, I think that brings the team to contender status if everyone else plays to their average.

 

Usually it's the superstar/stars of the team that needs to step up and carry the team to victory.

But here in clutchfans it's Jeremy Lin, who most CF claim are no where near stardom. Such irony is hilarious.

 

For me it's Jeremy. Having a good point-guard is VERY important in the western conference. And if Jeremy can compete this season at a high level, and if he is able to knock down open jumpers at a consistent rate our team will be VERY hard to stop.

A honorable mention for me is gonna be our wing shooters (Casspi, Garcia, Wiliams) if one of these guys can emerge as a consistent contributor off the bench than watch out!

 

Harden definitely. He's the face of the franchise. He's our max player (along with Howard). He still has a lot of potential to improve, and he's young. He should be able to make better decisions and cut down on the turnovers. He should become more efficient and do more team-oriented offensive plays. His defense could get better as well.

 

I expected Howard and Harden perform in their expected level.
But if Lin can get 16/8 or 15/8, with 38-40% on 3's, we will be in good shape!

 

Basically every player on this current Rocket's team needs to drop their turnover rates. Seriously the top 3 teams in the NBA(Heats,OKC,Spurs) dominate when their opponents turn the ball over. Every player the Rockets have including Dwight has high turnover rates. We must keep this stat down next year and especially in the playoffs.

Defense is also a big problem, Rockets need to stop sending help defense when their man is just one pass away. Less gambling and foul heavy defense is required for the Rockets to win a ring.

Parsons need to be able to dribble without losing the ball. Being able to create his own shot would help alot. Lin needs to find some of that old "Linsanity" and bring it when needed. Harden needs to keep his turnovers low and get a post game. Dwight needs to be the defensive behemoth that's he capable of being and work on his offense. We just need anyone from the power forward spot of step it up. Beverley needs to stop doing silly fouls. Garcia gotta shoot.

 

It's called spacing and it's more important this year with Howard. Teams are going to sag off our teams fourth and fifth option to double and Lin and our 4s need to make them pay. Kenny and horry were the rockets fourth option and they are now considered heroes

 

Tough poll question .... cant decide between the 4 spot , and the bench. Lin also gets some consideration but I believe if he repeats last season and everything else falls into place , they can win.

We all know the 4 spot is the main (if not only) question in the starting lineup. Jones , Motiejunas , Smith .... maybe Caspi and a dose of Mad Chicken at that spot.
I'd really like to see one of them seize the position and claim it as their own .... but with as much versatility as the team has there , and the matchups they can dictate .... I think we see another season of PF by committee ...

The bench Im not sold on especially at SG and SF. I expect a high level of play at C and PG with Asik and Beverley .... but the other three positions are questionable at best.


Im going with the bench thinking that they can get enough out of the 4 spot by committee.

 

It's between Lin and TJ.

If Lin can shoot 40% from 3PT, increase his assists and lower his turnovers that would be HUGE for us.

TJ if he develops a consistent outside shot, provides rebounding and above average defense.

We already know what we're gonna get from the rest of our players.

 

There was a lot of praise for all the work Terrance has put in when they all worked out so I put it on him. Sounds like he wants to be the surefire starter and is working for that 4 spot. My second would be Jeremy. He just needs the game to slow down more so we wont make as much silly mistakes, also knocking down that open J at a decent clip.

 

I think it's easily Harden. Need him to be a super DUPER star wing player to win the ship.

 

It is very difficult and tough choice. We need Lin and TJones to do well.
If one of them do well, we'll in the WCF playoff. If both of them do well, we are in the Final!

 

The answer can only be Harden or Howard, a role-player does't win a championships for their team.
Imo it's Howard. He has to be more like his 2011 self to push the Rockets over the top.