If Lin could learn to pass (and remember he was Harvard's SG in college) then Canaan can too. We saw glimpses this game. That kickout to Garcia at the end of the half that he made (unfortunately after the buzzer) was textbook Lin. Canaan is a rookie, and these minutes now can only help him in years to come.
This post shows you don't kmow much about this Houston team. Exactly what they need is 3 point shooting. They need a minimum of 3 3point shooters on the floor at all times. They automatically lose 2 spots at the center and the 4 and if Parsons and Lin are off we lose games with that shooting bunch. As far as Canaan being years away, Lin may be years away as well. The bottom line is you go with what you have and on this team all we have is Lin and Canaan. And Canaan works better on the floor with Harden and Lin works better on the floor without Harden.
From watching this game, I feel like lin is a very willing and unselfish passer but he doesn't really play with the same peace of mind he had in NY. In Houston, I think he feels some pressure to do something with the ball when it comes to him because he doesn't know when he'll get his next touch.
I tend to agree with this thinking. I'm a big fan of Lin but I think anyone can see that he and Harden just arent good fits. Harden's got superstar talent, so Lin's just going to have to take a seat to him.
Wow. That certainly was a disparaging remark. Do I really need to go back and repeat the 1.56 shots per minute therefore the offense is shot starved analysis? For the umpteenth time? One of the main reasons Bev starts is that he does not need the ball in his hands to be effective. At this point in his career the only thing Canaan brings to the table is shots. Every shot Canaan takes is one that Harden doesn't. And Bev is the perfect fit with Harden. You do need to look beyond scoring on the Rockets team. The Rockets have two super stars and fit around Harden and Howard is the most important thing. Offense is after all just half of the NBA game.
The second half of last season is when Jeremy Lin played his best basketball. Forget New York and Linsanity. Last year he showed that when it actually mattered, and when he had a team with longevity ahead of him, he could be a very productive player. Maybe he didn't score as much, but that's not the point. He was a better player than all around. I'd much rather see that player come back, than Linsanity Jeremy Lin.
I would like to add that NBA coaches instruct their players that they must aggressively close out on any 3 point shooter who hits 32% or more of their shots behind the arc. The last I looked every Rockets player hits above that % except the centers and power forwards. Canaan is not 6'9" and cannot play the PF spot. The most important offensive philosophy for the Rockets is keeping the driving lanes open. And Bev does that. Plus he brings a defensive presence that the young Canaan may develop in the coming years. Lin also. You are falling into the typical homerism fantasy common on CF. Canaan is who he is. Not who you want him to be.
Should continue to get more minutes than Lin, amirite? I'm using the eye test here. Canaan looks more comfortable than Lin.
Thank you, you just made my argument. Lin needs the ball in his hand much more than Canaan. Can you not even admit that. Because if you can't there is no point in discussing anything. You are either too blinded by your love for Lin or can't analyze basketball. Do you actually believe every shot anyone takes is a shot Harden doesn't take. Part of Hardens game is he makes it easier for those around him. He creates open shots for others and open shots require decent shooters. If Harden passes the ball with 4 seconds on the clock who do you prefer takes that shot Canaan or Lin. Canaan does not need the ball in his hands to be effective at least compared to Lin. Canaan does what we need. Dribble the ball up the court and get it to Harden. Shoot an open 3 when he has one. Again for the umpteenth time is not about who is better it's who is a better fit with Harden. I agree it's not just about offense but it's not like Lin is this amazing defender and Canaan is complete trash. Besides you have to score some points to win and in an offense were Morey wants guys to score in the paint and at the 3 it seems having a better three point shooter on the floor and one who does not need the ball in his hands as much to be effective is the better fit for this team. I would throw all of this out the water if Lin's game got back to how he ended last year but it's not. I don't know why he isn't playing as well as he did ending the season but he's not. Even some LOF's have admitted that. I expected more from him. I thought in the beginning of the season he deserved to start. I was wrong Lin has not improved this season. And his game requires he have the ball. On a team with Harden that doesn't work. Brooks knew that, which is why he benched Harden in favor of Westbrook. Lin ain't no westbrook. By the way Bev is not the perfect fit for Harden. He just happens to be better than Lin. If Bev could distribute the ball better and shoot threes better he would be a near perfect fit. But just like right now Canaan and Lin is all we got, Bev is the best we have alongside Harden. P.S. I am a Rocket fan and not a LOF or a Canaan only fan. I am not blinded by favoritism to one player and like Lin but want what's best for this team. Again it's not about taking minutes from Lin it's just about lessening his minutes on the floor with Harden. Can't you see Lin and Harden have similar games that demand ball dominanance. Every time Lin is on the floor with Harden he has to adjust his game. I am not sure this is why his game has dropped but it's easy to see it has. Canaan is not better than Lin just a better fit for now. Until Bev comes back. That's not homerism that's logic.
Bev's defense, Lin's playmaking, Canaan shooting would be perfect with Harden...I wonder if Morey follows the analytics of Dr. Frankenstein.
Of course I know Lin needs the ball in his hands. That is why I have been such an adamant supporter of Bev in the starting role since day one. Realistically as long as Harden is on this team the PG position is his. Another guard will never have major ball handling duties, will never be needed to put up a bunch of points or assists. That leaves what? Defense?
Yup another good second round pick up. Hopefully he'll develop well and provide some good minutes next year.
Glad he's picking it up well. I thought after watching footage of him in college his shot would translate well. I haven't seen enough of him on defense though (I missed the last few games leading up to last night), and naturally there wasn't any defense being played last night. Hopefully Beverly is good to go, but he should still get some meaningful minutes. I think we're going to beat Portland (or Golden State if it's them), so he should be at least playoff tested before it's all said and done. I remember the last time we had a decent rookie pg get battle tested in the playoffs...hopefully this guy has the same magic.
He looks to me like a three point assassin off the bench. I believe that was the reason Morey drafted him. I view him as a critical asset going forward. There is no way to over estimate the value of 12 or more efficient bench points in the NBA. Damn Morey is good.
Thank you finally you agree with me. Well except for that last defense comment. It also leaves spot up three point shooting and what it doesn't leave is ball dominant pg's like Lin and Westbrook. You would never ask Westbrook to adjust his game for Harden. But Lin needs to do just that because he is by far the lesser player at doing what he does. I think it hurts his game starting alongside Harden. He doesn't play as well without the ball. So lessen that situation. That's all I'm saying. People get so caught up in who is starting but isn't supposed to be about winning. Lin plays better with the ball so give him more opportunity to do that. Take some pressure off of him as well. It didn't take much for me to see that problem with both Lin and Harden on the floor which is why I said I've seen enough. Not because Lin sucks although at times he does make stupid boneheaded plays. But that's also the result of an attacking pg. I can live with that as long as he is not taking away from Hardens game. More time on the floor without Harden curttails that. That's all I've been saying.
Canaan is a better all around player than Lin. He's a better shooter, defender and passer. Lin is going to have to show me something in the play offs because if he plays like he's been playing I don't think he can be in the rotation of a team that wants to win a championship. Just hasn't been nearly good enough.
The problem is that Lin isn't good enough. Harden DID share the court at times with Westbrook and Durant...Lebron Shares the court with Wade..And Bosh has adjusted his game since being in Miami... Boston with KG, Pierce, Rondo and Allen meshed together well enough to win a title... Ginobli and Parker have played well together at times. Lin isn't good enough to adjust his game and still be consistently effective playing with a guy like Harden. It's not about their styles not meshing as much as it is that Lin just doesn't have much versatility to his game to do other things and contribute to the team. He's a limited player and the fact that Canaan is even in the discussion to play over him is damning. People want to sugar coat it with fit, but two ball dominant ball handlers can co-exist and thrive together if they are good enough.
Let us look at this analytically. Brooks could not get minutes behind Bev and Lin. Yet Brooks went to Denver and is lighting the league up. Morey and McHale are two of the sharpest tools in the shed. Therefore I believe that if Lin was on another team he would be performing at a similar or better level as Brooks. Harden is the Rockets point guard by default. Talented NBA point guards will get marginalized playing next to Harden. Is there anyone other than Durant and LBJ you would rather see pounding the rock out there than Harden? Not me. Historically great shooting guards do not have great point guards playing next to them. The overlapping skill sets diminish each player, much like the Howard/Asik situation. It is important to understand who Bev is. And Canaan. They realistically are not point guards. Their entire contribution will be from the three point line and on defense. Harden covers the rest for 38 minutes a game.
