Through 5 games it's Lin. Don't want to underestimate Asiks importance, but if I had to say right now it's Lin. If I had to guess the importance for our team for the rest of the season I would go... 1A - Harden 1B - Howard 2A - Lin 2B - Asik 3A - Parsons 3B - Beverley 4A - Casspi 4B - Garcia After that who knows...
I never pictured Casspi even being as effective, even after that preseason showing. Really impressed by him.
There is no after that. We're on a tight 8 man rotation and I'm surprised no one questions whether or not we can play 82 games without going deeper into our bench. I don't want us to end up last last year's Portland, start out hot and couldn't finish the race. We'll make it to the playoffs, but will we be healthy and rested enough in the post-season? Also, as of now, 3A - Bev/ Parsons/Casspi/Garcia on any given night.
he thinks a little too highly of himself. 6'9" and handle the fast break? he ain't magic or lebron. maybe that's why he's struggling; instead of playing his game, he's trying to be that "3rd" guy and forcing things that are not there. and of course, mchale continues to give him the minutes to do so.
morey is not the coach, so whatever he says doesn't really matter. he will not make mchale do whatever he doesn't want to do. i don't think he influences what goes on on the court as much as we think he does.
Maybe just me but sounds like Parsons wants to be a point-forward type of player, like Gordon Hayward. Difference is Hayward actually has playmaking skills and is on a team that lacks legit PG so he's had all of last season to develop his ball-handling, playmaking skills. Whereas Parsons is on a team that has 3 really good playmakers so the skill is nice to have, but not necessary.
It's going to be Parsons in the long run but his recent play is discerning. I don't want to accuse him of enjoying the Hollywood lifestyle after he rose to fame but it's human nature. He is young and probably had a lot of fun this off-season. Parsons is not a natural talent; he works for everything he has, except height, so I would expect for him to kick it into overdrive over the next month.
If Lin can play like he did in Portland regulary he should be number 3 because Parsons is struggling. Last season even if Chandler was struggling, you could say he had his defense to hang his hat on. This season his defense has been at times appaling especially against the Clippers. I think some of our wing defenders are thinking well I got Dwight and Asik there so I don't need to be to aggressive on the closeouts or extert to much energy.
There's way better chemistry and picking Lin in spots now to ensure the ball doesn't stick as much with the "old" starting line-up. If Howard is your number 2 option, Lin is your number 2 option of getting him the ball and they are building a chemistry that can pay off later in the season. Just because McHale wanted to experiment before the season started, doesn't make the timing of a change sensible now. I think some of you just want to see the change because you like the idea of Lin as 6th man and it has been debated to death. But at this point, for reasons of chemistry and continuity, I would hope McHale may work Beverley back to a starting role or just really look at the starters and then adjust rotation and whoever is needed will become your 2nd unit with some starters always being on the court.
Role players are not hard to replace. But I agree with you that this forum incredibly overrates Beverley's defense. Bev fits Harden to start Rockets games does not make him a better player. Parsons or Lin for the 3rd man in terms of impact on Rockets games.
This wasn't meant to be a Lin vs Bev thread, nor a Lin thread. Something seriously wrong with you if you whine that it is when in fact it is your whining that stirs people to inadvertently make it such. Anyway, the way defenses are structured these days, having a 3rd reliable guy simply makes a team much more potent and makes winning more sustainable. Bosh for the Heat, Allen for the Celtics, Ibaka for the Thunder -- these guys know they are expected to step up and be a major contributor because the two main stars will not always be at the top of their game. It's not just about scoring, but having an overall impact. Great to read that Parsons wants to be that man (seems he finds it important enough to discuss himself), Asik speaking his mind in the preseason is also a good thing because it shows he wants to remain relevant, Lin has obviously worked on his game to erase the playoff nightmares plus now has to prove how he can contribute whether as a starter or from the bench and Beverley has had chips on his shoulder all his life and as the named starter he again has to live up to that on a loaded team. Lots of people with so much to prove just makes for a very interesting season..
dude's playing like the #3 guy what do you expect? Of course Parsons has a legit claim to it too based on last year...but he's gotta pick it up this year.
