I think Lin gets more into a groove, and, is more confident, when he's taking 15 shots (game 5) per game then when he's taking only like 5 shots per game (either game 3 or 4). His timing, I notice, is better, the longer he plays. For example in game 4 the great drives to the basket by Lin and then he misses the easy layup! Parsons missed some easy ones tonight too. God--Parsons, has got to start showing up for second-halves!
Lin deserves one quarter a night from McHale to show what he's got at pure PG. All season he's been off guard most of the time behind Harden, Bev and even Parsons. It worked tonight when we needed it. We just need one quarter of Linsanity from him every game. if he can give more, then great.
I wish I had more time to watch these games in full. I want to know if there is a pattern to his inconsistency... like did they do something different? Did they set more screens? Were there certain lineups where he simply excels in? I'm not trying to deflect blame away from his poor performances, but I like to think that there is more to this than just he got hot/cold, or he's a confidence player, etc. Figuring out a pattern to this can suggest ways to maximize his contributions to the team, and hopefully to more wins for the Rockets.
I have been getting my ass kicked by school, so no time to watch the entire games but have been able to catch the final quarters and OT's. I know, it's reprehensible... but have to prioritize in this stage of my life
One difference is he was brought in much earlier in the first quarter and developed a rhythm. This was probably because PB was sick/exhausted.
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It's not rocket science. You trust him, give him the ball, he will perform and contribute. you don't trust him, play him as the 8th guy with a short leash, he plays timid and shaky. Tonight, he knows he is going to get big minutes and play major role because of PB's illness, that's why we see the extra mojo and confidence in him penetrating and taking those three. It was like during the linsanity run in New York. It happened also during regular season when Harden was not available for games. This is just Lin's psyche, hate it or love it.
Lin ran point for a lot of the time while Harden was benched. He got in a rhythm and he just couldn't stop scoring. Theres a lot of time he would go off and then the next shot would be an airball. Rooting for him is such a roller coaster. Rockets in 7!
I think if you asked Dwight Howard in a private moment, he would say that he wants Jeremy Lin running the offense for longer stretches of games (much like Game 5). Lin has been consistently delivering the ball into the post in positions where Howard can be effective.
but that's assuming you know what you're gonna get from harden consistently. lin is an insurance policy for harden (injury, attitude problems, etc). but an expensive one. this could make him both a "can't-have" on the team or a "must-have". it's no coincidence that he played his best game of the series on a night when harden played the least amount of minutes. but i'm also not going to pretend that there weren't many games last year when they combined for over 50 pts and 20 assists. i really don't believe harden and lin are mutually exclusive. however, it would take the right system, and buy-in, for the pair to be effective together.
when milk hair let PG play PG, then the PG can be trusted as he is trained that way. when milk hair let PG play something else, then certainly he cant be trusted as the PG is playing something he is not trained, and milk hair cant be trusted either for as if he is not doing something in his profession either.
