Should we look to Jeremy Lin to be our closer as opposed to James Harden?

Lin>Lebron>Durant>koby>Harden


This what sadly some think in cf..

 

I think that is true. Harden starts on a higher plane, but Lin elevates his play in the clutch. I don't think he is an every game option there, but on his good days he can definitely play the closer. And switching it up every once in a while would keep the opponents off balance instead of knowing that Harden was going to be the guy.

 

Short and sweet. This post sums it up.

 

koby = Kobe

This is what sadly some think is how to spell Bryant's first name.:grin:

 

I disagree. Harden has had soo many clutch moments this year.

Lin had a chance to ice the game last night and threw up a layup that wasn't even close.

 

I'm a Lin fan, although Rockets fan first, but I have to agree with you.

The problem is that neither of them should be the "closer" because that suggests ISOs, but rather what they should be doing is running PnR with Lin/Harden or Harden/Lin to initiate the offense during crunch/closing time, while running back screens for Parson with DH and/or TJ to either get a layup to the basket, open shot for Parsons, or a mismatch for Jones or DH on a switch.

It really isn't Rocket science, PUN INTENDED.

 

No but he should be an option instead of sitting on the bench

 

Harden also takes 90 percent (exagerrating obviously) of the potentially clutch shots, so of course he's going to make some. I'm not saying harden isn't clutch but I don't believe the difference between harden and lin is that huge. Lin's been one of the most consistent players in the clutch for the rockets, when given the chance, citing one shot does not change anything. The numbers proved it last season, as well as his season on the Knocks, and I'm sure they'll prove it this season as well.

 

You need a guy who can iso, run the pnr, can hit a 3, can hit the mid J, can dribble, drive, and score or kick out the ball for a 3 or drop off to a big man, create a shot for himself or his teammates, is a good passer, and, above all, has experience and a good resume during clutch time.

Harden is all of that and is the best at all of that on the team, but when he is out, Lin is then all of that, though he is inferior to Harden. And when both are being utilized to their fullest potential throughout the game and particularly down the stretch, then the offense becomes unpredictable and beastly.

This is why you need these 2 to play together, this is why you need to maximize both players, especially together as a back court tandem, and this is why Lin needs to be in the game come clutch time, if not for the sake of Lin, but for the sake of the team.

 

Last 5 minutes, 5 point difference or less, ahead or behind, per game

Harden
GP - 19, Min - 4.2, PTS - 4.4, FGA - 2.4, FG% - 41.3%, 3pt% - 40.0%,
FTA - 2.5, FT% - 81.3%, AST - 0.5, TO - 0.6

Lin
GP - 17, Min - 3.7, PTS - 2.2, FGA - 1.4, FG% - 50.0%, 3pt% - 57.1%,
FTA - 0.6, FT% - 90.0%, AST - 0.2, TO - 0.1

Someone else posted similar stats before and people complained that the last 5 minutes aren't the only time that's considered clutch, the whole 4th Q should be taken into account, stats can be distorted, etc. If you feel that way, feel free to post your own stats. Also if I can a mistake in posting these stats, let me know, using my phone right now and it's hard to keep track.

 

How did you get these stats? Typically people use last 2 minutes for clutch stats.

 

probably from NBA.com

you can do it yourself and change the metrics to last 2 minutes, down by 3 points etc etc.

but the results don't change much, Lin has much higher efficiency than Harden does in those times, but then again Harden takes like twice as many shots as Lin

 

Yea, that layup ...

But: Lin came in with about 6 minutes to go, and was responsible for 9 of the Rockets' 17 points from then til end of game. 6 on FGs and 3 from a drive and kick assist for a Bev 3PT shot. The other 8 Rocket points came from FT's (Dwight's mainly.)

I was amazed actually, cause he never does well on B2Bs, and played 40 mins the night before.

On the topic of this thread, Harden should and will be the closer. But Lin has certainly made a case to get PT in the 4Q after his 9 pt 4Q against the Spurs and then his good showing last night.

 

The lin-harden pnr should be used more often in the final minutes of games. It seems to be a successful play more times than not.

 

I have an idea. Let's alternate playing Harden and Lin. Lin will play and Harden will continue to rest until Rockets lose, and then vice versa. That way they never have to learn how to play alongside each other.

 

I seriously think this is the answer, because both of them makes the defense commit on one of them. Once the defense commits on one of them, you know Lin or Harden will find a way to get to the basket, draw a foul, or dish to an open teammate. Namely Chandler since his off-the-ball movement is the best on the team (in my opinion, hopefully there are probably stats to back this ). If not Chandler then whoever else is open, of course drawing an extra man also might help Dwight down under. If there are bigs around Dwight then Lin and Harden can find another way. So many things you can do with the two-headed monster in Lin/harden PnR. Or switch it up with Dwight running PnR with both in crunch time 4th quarter games. So many options, pick your poison. You'd think coaching would figure it out by now

 

From stats.nba.com, here are the stats for the last 2 minutes.

By the way, the reason why Harden averages more than 2 minutes per game is probably because of the overtime periods we've played, just in case that 's confusing.

Harden
GP - 15
Min - 2.1
PTS - 2.0
FGA - 1.5
FG% - 30.4%
3PT% - 12.5%
FTA - 1.3
FT% - 75.0%
AST - 0.1
TO - 0.3

Lin
GP - 15
Min - 1.8
PTS - 1.4
FGA - 0.7
FG% - 60.0%
3PT% - 50.0%
FTA - 0.5
FT% - 87.5%
AST - 0.1
TO - 0.1

 

I never said he wasn't clutch, Lin has been plenty clutch the last few years and certainly has hit his fair share of big shots.

Although you have to consider that some of those big shots were created by Harden. Being clutch doesn't just mean hitting big shots, it's about making the right play at the end of the game.

 

WOW...Lin is super clutch when it matters. Now, we have to account for the best defender guarding Harden, but Lin needs to have the ball in his hands during the last 2 minutes of the game if Harden is a decoy.

 

Yes you definitely do have to take into account the kind of attention and defense Harden draws, but the numbers are still quite surprising.