There is a principle of comparative advantage to think about here. While Harden is a better player than Lin at both the PG and SG positions, Lin is better than Bev at the PG and not really effective as a spot up SG. So, a lineup of Lin at PG and Harden at SG is better than Harden at PG and Bev (or Lin) at SG.
What does Parsons mean by, "he got the plane"? Does Harden have his own plane or did he buy the plane tickets? I have to know this.
Thing is, Harden is probably the best play maker on the team too. I think in time Harden will learn to play more off the ball, and trust his teammates more -- and that will make him and the team even better. But he is where he is right now. What I would like to see though is Lin having the rock more. TJones, even Parsons, Bev... should not be handling the ball more than Lin. That's when things start to fall apart a little for the Rockets, I think. When there is no sense of order or structure regarding roles.
The team scores and gets to the FT line easier when they push the tempo in transition. Harden likes to walk the ball slowly up halfcourt and get into an ISO-play set. When Lin gets the outlet pass, he is always looking to drive or dish before the other team can get set defensively. This results in better shot opportunities because our young team is not very good at half court plays (McHale almost never draws up any plays).
Parsons is one of the oldest tenured Houston Rocket on this team, and he has a right to state something if he sees is hurting team performance. This entire talk about Parsons calling out Harden was totally overblown by the Houston media. Infact, Parsons just stated what is obvious to everyone else: The Rockets play way too much iso bball. This isnt a shot at Harden's game...its a reminder that he doesnt have to do everything by himself like he had to last year. This team is much more balanced, and everyone has their roles. Certain players often need certain buttons to be pressed in order to get their best effort. Parsons may just be trying to get Harden's attention. After being called out for shoddy defense, Harden responded with a complete performance. Perhaps, as a means of getting Harden to play more within the system, Parsons said something that may just motivate Harden to play at a level that could make our team very dangerous come playoff time.
Instead of scared, I would call it deferring. Lin knows Harden is the man. But he needs to not let it stifle his own game. Lin acts as though Harden will get mad at him if he demands or controls the ball too much. Yet, to some extent, this is where Lin's game is at. To me, this plays into the theory that Lin is better on the second unit where he does not have any self imposed restrictions on dominating the ball more.
You do it by letting Lin play the point, where he can call a play and everyone does what they are supposed to do. Lin can also drive to the hoop and dish off to an open Harden (or even if not open, not covered as tight or doubled like he usually is when he has the ball) or at the very least, defenses will react to Lin when he moves with the ball and he can create some spacing for Harden. Then when Harden gets it, he doesn't have to spend 20 seconds trying to create spacing or find a seam and he doesn't expend as much energy but gets a better quality shot.
If Lin simply give the ball the Harden every time. That's deferring. It not just deferring. There were many times when Lin had the ball and drove to the lane. But instead of his usual going hard to the hoop, he hesitated. He pulled back. He jumped without knowing what to do. That's not just deferring. That's playing scared. Making boneheaded turnovers he doesn't do when he plays well is not just deferring. It's playing poorly. It's not playing with confidence.
Lock this up. This quote was COMPLETLEY taken out of context and in no way reflects what many are trying to construe this as.
It's true, usually howard gets more looks. The ball gets moved around more and they actually let the point guard run the offense as he should. Harden needs to play more team basketball and take less one on one shots but it would be silly say we would do better without harden speacilly come playoff time.
When Lin goes into the lane and is apparently stopped it is usually b/c he has more than one defender collapsing towards him. Rather than put up a bad shot, he attempts to see where the open man is. Unfortunately, because of McHale's offensive system, there are too few times where the open man is cutting to the basket like TJ does on occasion and instead they stay put on the perimeter making it harder to pass off the ball to them effectively.
So once again, one of his deficiencies is actually not Lins fault at all. Lin jumping in the air with no where to go resulting in turnovers is in fact a by product of McHales crap system.
Anything to avoid it being Lin's fault right? He's not the only player who gets trapped, they find a way out most of the time, Lin's problem is he jumps in the air giving himself almost no time to release the ball, the only player in the nba who successfully pulls that off with frequency is Chris Paul. It also isn't unique to Houston, he did it in NY as well, and no system can make a mediocre point guard look like a star more than D'antoni's (heck, fat ass felton put up 17-9 over half a season in d'antoni ball).
Can't wait til Lin gets traded or his contract ends after next season. LOFs need to stop debating, if Morey can't trade him, he'll be gone after next season.
You mean it's not beneficial to hold the ball at the top of the key for 23 seconds, then dump-pass to a teammate for a shot...............clock violation?