[ClutchFans] Rockets to begin season with Beverley, Asik as starters; Jeremy Lin off bench

Harden plays like 40 minutes each game, he also runs the offense of the 2nd unit.

 

Because a center like Asik is harder to find. It makes sense to try and keep him.

It would be pretty funny if they let go of Lin and Asik the same way their previous teams let go of them... And then they start playing even better on another team

 

There is no such thing as offense of the 1st and 2nd units. It's all about
Jame Harden's offense. Others guys are just waiting there to catch the ball
if JH could not shake off him man with 3 seconds left on the clock.

 

They probably will. Let Lin play PG and he will probably be putting up better assist numbers and now that his shot seems to be more consistent, he'll probably be at least a 20p/8a guy. Staying with the Rockets is most likely stunting his PG development more than anything since he's switching off between PG and SG. If he has to play with either Bev or Harden on the floor all the time, he's mostly playing SG. Asik is not a 20min center. He's a starting center for any team. His offensive development is getting stunted with the Rockets because he's not getting enough shots and I'm not sure how much the coaches are working with him on his catching ability now that they've got Dwight.

 

I have no doubt that they will play better on their next teams. Which sucks to let them just go. Their next contracts will be nowhere close to 15 million a year. Imagine Asik and Lin on the Miami Heat, Spurs, or Mavericks. That would be terrible for us. Would Bosh for Asik and Lin work out for both teams?

At this point though, I think they both want to leave. And Morey's poison pill makes them difficult to trade.

What I don't really get is that they are arguably the third and fourth best players on the team. And they should both be utilized better. I don't know what the "real" fans here are seeing - but Lin has been playing at a high level since last year.

I would definitely start Lin over Bev at this point. Harden is a shooting guard first and his ISO tendencies prove that he should not be the point guard. I have a feeling though that both of them are going to be marginalized to the end of the bench as the season goes on.

I grew up watching Norm Nixon and Magic Johnson both starting, making All-Star teams, and winning championships. I know it is a different game now - but I would also argue that the Nixon/Magic backcourt would be very effective still today. If anything, Harden and Lin compliment each other better than Magic and Nixon.

 

Something the Bev fans here don't realize is that letting Harden play point is also stunting Beverley's development as a point guard. I'm not sure if he's ever even run a PNR with Howard. A lot of the Lin-backers claim that Lin is a lot better offensively and that may be true. But we wouldn't know if Beverley is told to defer to Harden all the time.

I really want to see the team put on some nice runs with Bev and Lin both playing and Harden sitting on the bench. Maybe that would open up some eyes. No matter what people say about Lin, he is at the very least "active" on defense.

I know I sound very anti-Harden. But his defensive effort this year is really pissing me off. And that ISO last game was hero-ball at its very finest. If it is "his" team (as a lot of ppl like categorize it), then he better not allow Reddick or Steve Blake light him up again.

 

point guards don't just develop out of nothing, yes they can improve their skills and add other skills but point guard skills are something that have to always have been there... there is a reason Beverley bounced around the league so much before finding a home in Houston, because his lack of playmaking is masked by a guy like James Harden. He is ideal as a PG with a SG's role.

 

This is the only team in the NBA Bev would be a starter on.

 

I have to respectfully disagree to a point. I believe that Bev can become a good facilitator. At the very least - I would like to see him given the chance. I do agree that there is a per-individual limit. Maybe Bev's limit is low .. I have no idea though.

 

And this might be the only team where Asik is a starting power forward. Maybe that says something about our coaching staff.

 

Young PGs making lots of TOs is actually a good thing, so I don't mind when it happens. It usually means they're trying new things, difficult plays etc. A lack of TOs may seem like a good thing, but from a young PG it's a sign of not taking risks.

 

McHale can finally be trolling the opposing teams' PGs.

Great post!!! Agreed, especially with the Harden being the weak link in the TT defense! With TT clogging the lane, the other three have to close out on he three point shooters and make them shoot midrange. That's a huge problem and this team isn't going anywhere if Harden only wants to score. I'm glad the witch hunt (to be contrarian to whatever Lin fans say) is finally dissipating and knowledgeable posters are speaking up about this. (there is still some German man carrying out the pogrom and blaming Lin fans for the criticism on Harden but it's really much much better than a while ago)

 

That would be Dh not Asik.

 

ok now can we agree the offense is stagnant at the start of games where P Bev is running the show?

 

Why is the Rockets' coach so stubborn. Start Asik + Howard just does not work. Get a damm clue. You see how much better the offense is when Casspi and Lin are in the lineup?

 

Bev played like an all star tonight. Shows he has real potential.

 

Bev needs to stop with the over-agressive fouls. He was playing well and had to be taken out.

 

Heat, Lakers, Knicks, pretty much any team that prefers to have their wings do most of the ball handling could start a guy like Bev.

 

no no, shush, you can't say this, or you'll be crucified as a LOF.

Please change your rhetoric to reflect:
- how Lin can never be worse than Bev; after all, he is a liability from the start with his turrible contract
- how Lin needs to carry on his consistent performance, because he needs to prove that he is competent enough. Oh, but he should do that from the bench, and without the ball in his hands.
- that Lin needs to play with 0 TOs, >5 assists, and >16pts to have a good game. Oh but again, he has to start from the bench and play limited minutes with limited touches too.
- that Harden should run the point and shoot as often as he can, after all he is our max contract superstar
- that our superstars don't need to take on responsibility, well because, pffft which superstar actually needs to be responsible for their performance, their talents are sufficient.
- and lastly, that McHale's lineups, idiosyncrasies, and management are good enough, just give him time to improve.

 

bev should not be playing 38 min.

NO PG should play 38 min.