ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Pacers 10/10/2013 in Manila, Philippines (PRESEASON)

Shouldn't Lin being the 6 man make his fans happy? He could be a 15ppg scorer off the bench. Isn't that what they want to see? Lin putting up numbers on the score card?

It's a win win if the team plays well with Bev as the starting pg.

 

D-Mo fell extremely awkwardly after that dunk. We all know he came back in later and played amazingly, but I hope he's okay. That wrist looks like it needs to be iced. D-Mo was absolutely fluid in the paint today. Some days I feel he should be in the starting line up and some days I think he shouldn't. But I think overall, he should. He fits in.

Anyways, hope he's okay.

 

So you weren't reading?

Lin has fit with Howard and 2nd unit.

Beverley has fit with Harden.

Both have certain fits, which much be causing you the fits.

 

Anyone know if the game replay will be shown in Houston at 1:30 pm CDT on NBATV? Or still blacked-out?

 

This is twice you have failed basic reading comprehension, and apparently you don't understand what sarcasm is either.

Let me help you out.

Summary: Bev is a good fit in the starting lineup because we have already have offensive weapons.

Summary: Bev can't be a starting PG on other teams but he can because of "FIT" on Houston.

I agree with both points. Please learn to read, and learn to understand what sarcasm is. Maybe you won't trolled as much then.

 

While its much to early to tell how things will work out by opening day, it does strike me that the 2nd unit has some difficulty scoring and play-making. If Bev can make the 1st unit run effectively, it does seem win-win except for those that take it as some kind of demotion for Lin if he doesn't start.

 

Nope, you haven't bothered to read.

I already mentioned Beverley's fit defensively.

But you have not considered Lin's fit with Dwight, who you might recall was our biggest acquisition since TMac, and who needs someone to feed him the ball properly.

I just said to consider both sides of 'fit'. Not just the one side you prefer to see, so you can ignore the other side.

Show me Beverley dropping the ball off on assists to Dwight leading to easy baskets? Actually how many times did we see Lin do this for Asik last year vs Beverley for Asik? And Lin for Tyson Chandler on PnR? Or Lin for Greg Smith on hard cuts, and even some post ups?

You guys are making this about Lin, when it is really about Dwight Howard.

Harden can pass, but he's better at kicking out to 3pt shooters after collapsing the defense on drives. Not so good at rim-shot passes. Unless you want Howard shooting corner 3s. You can look up Lin vs Harden vs Beverley's assists charts if you want. Common knowledge here.

So ... learn to look at things from both sides. Which is all that I wrote above.

 

How about now?

 

He has played 2 games so far. He has outplayed 2 starting PGs so far. Not saying he is better than every PG, but he could start on some teams regardless of fit.

 

Hence, the key, as I wrote, is not so much Beverley's fit defensively as starting PG, but which one Morey/McHale sees as more important between Lin's fit with Howard vs Lin's fit with making the 2nd unit better than Beverley.

There was no overall defensive or plus/minus difference between Lin and Beverley starting in the first two games. But there was a significant difference in:

1) How Dwight did between the two games, because as is the case with most big man, they need to be delivered the ball properly
2) How the second unit did, with a better playmaker in Lin.

Hence, if the first two preseason games is a sign of things to come, it is Lin that holds the card, or rather, Morey/McHale's view of what matters more to them out of Dwight getting good feeds or the second unit functioning properly that holds the card. NOT BEVERLEY (despite him playing very well, and functioning quite well as a starter).

Comprehendo, Karolik?

 

It is clear that when bev is with harden and howard....there is lots of harden isos....not fluid. And howard doesnt look good. Lin is clearly a much better player. I feel that howard doesnt look happy...but well...its only the preseason...

 

That's unfortunate. I think Lin would definitely look better playing a back-up role, with similar minutes and free rein of the offense. Similar to what he did with the Knicks. And he'd arguable be facing weaker defense (or tired starter who's been harrassed by Beverley before him) given he'll still project to play 25-30 minutes at least.

But from the Rockets perspective, Morey/McHale also needs to consider whether:

1) Dwight's time on court offensively is best utilized by having one PnR player and a spot-up shooting 3pt shooter, or two PnR players (with Lin being a similar 3pt shooter to Beverley if the last 2-3 mths of 2012-13 is any guide) and a far superior PG in terms of feeding the ball into the post is more important; or

2) Lin's ability to elevate the play of the second unit by being the primary playmaker there;

is more important.

So to me, this is not about Lin's individual stats. It is about what's better for the Rockets.

The first two preseason games, there was no meaningful different in the overall team plus/minus or defense with Lin vs Beverley as starter, but there was a big difference in Dwight getting post feeds (remember how we marveled at how Dwight seemed to have settle in to the offense great in his first game, at one point getting 4 straight post feeds in 4 possessions and also getting great assists for easy buckets), and there was a big difference in second unit scoring.

So to me, it's not about Beverley 'fit' at all, it is about Lin's fit in these two areas, and which one Morey/McHale values more.

 

Why were Dwight's stats so low?

 

I wouldn't say Howard was unhappy. Far from it. And it's only game two of preseason.

But the sequence that stood out was Howard not really touching the ball for about the first 4 to 6 minutes of the 3rd quarter, and then committing a silly pushing foul coming down the court in transition. That was clearly a sign that he was frustrated, at least at that time.

 

Yup, teams with playmaking perimeter players lik Miami, Houston and the Lakers.

Perhaps teams with combo PG/SGs playing at SG.

Or the Toronto Raptors because Rudy Gay thinks he's playing at Lebron's levels and takes away all the usage despite being one of the worst players in terms of efficiency-usage combination.

 

How is it not a "demotion"? Otherwise Harden won't be looking for a "promotion" in Houston, he would have been happy playing in O-city.

If the team value Lin's skills, they can always stage Lin and Harden's minutes.
And remember the team roster has changed, we have DH12 now, Lin starting will help Howard offensively. This adding to the merits of starting Lin.

 

1. Roy Hibbert is a good center.
2. Dwight basically only touched the ball in the post. He had a couple of surprisingly good post moves but there's a limit to how efficient he's going to be trying to go 1 on 1 against a good center
3. the rockets didn't run very many pick and roll plays with him since its preseason and nobody runs a ton of set plays
4. On the defensive end he made Hibbert a non-factor for most of the game which is impressive all by itself

 

Calm down everyone.

"I've told Jeremy (Lin) I will alternate him with Patrick (Beverly) because I want to see what comes out of it and the synergy between D-Mo (Motiejunas) and Omri Casspi looked pretty," - McHale

 

Not the same. Harden was going to be the 2nd or 3rd option most of the time in OKC, whether he's starting or coming off the bench. In Houston, he'd be a clear-cut 1st option as a starter. So that was a promotion in every sense. More minutes, more touches, more responsibility, more acclaim.

Lin is not a 1st option or 2nd option or maybe even 3rd option in the starting group, but he could be a lead option at times with the second group. Lin could carve out a super-sub role for himself coming off the bench which could actually lead to more accolades compared to being a role player with the starters. So, calling it a "demotion" really just depends on how you look at it and what Lin makes out of the situation if it should arise.