I guess I must have missed where we heard exactly what McHale said to Lin. Sorry, I didn't hear what he told him. Can you please transcribe it for me? Also, I missed the part where Harden demanded the ball. I do see where he stands there and Lin immediately throws him the ball, but I don't see any demand. I do see where McHale waves his hand and turns away, but that could be more towards Lin than Harden. Lin didn't even give Harden a chance to demand the ball. Lin could have simply started dribbling up the court but chose to immediately pass the ball to Harden. Since we are not privy to the conversation McHale had with Lin, then we don't know exactly what happened and everything is pure speculation. If it is as you say, then Lin needs to learn to listen to the head coach. Kind of like when the head coach tells his team to call a time out after getting a rebound during a critical point of an eventual loss and Lin chose to ignore him.
NO NO NO NO.... Harden is a terrible lazy monster that demands all shots and completely bullied Lin and McHale. After the game Harden put out his cigarette (he smokes to ensure he has poor stamina) on McHale's face. Just on the bandwagon.
I thought its well known superstars ignore coaches plays. Wasnt that one of the frictions between Williams and Sloan, that Williams would do what he wanted rather than what Sloan had called as a play?
It is a players league, not a coaches league... and yes, players ignore coaches plays often... The Heat do it all the time, so does OKC and even Rose in Chicago before the injuries.
i've also heard bullard tell stories about hakeem where he questioned Rudy on why he had to go and guard the PnR. "I'm big man. I belong in post." But he was dream freaking Olajuwon, a once in 100 years type of player. Harden, til he proves other wise, is just mahmoud abdul rauf in an era where they call every foul. Hoping Howard can improve his post game even more than he did last season. He needs more shots to dominate.
I look back at that last play of 0.9 seconds of play. Harden stood there and let Lilliard run by him (he looked frozen) and did not try to contest the play. I know he was guarding his man, but he stood there looking at Lillard. Lillard would not have time to throw it to someone else if Harden made the effort to run up to him. Anyways up until then he played alright in this game.
Do tell, what other reason could there be for a coach to flail his arm after a pass in the back court, 70 feet away from the basket after a freethrow. If it is looks looks like a du... ahh forget it, can't explain away stupid. And who cares whether he is mad at Lin or Harden, end result is the ball in Harden's hand and coach isn't happy, 2 + 2... oh again, dead horse... I'm sure you'll come back tell me you are die hard fan from 99, nothing is wrong with coaching, harden or anything else, we just need to trade Lin and win... AMIRIGHT!
All in all that's not on Harden it's on Mchale. Grow some balls and bench him let this franchise know I'm the coach and he is the player. If you get fired oh well it's better than being a puppet. He should be showing Harden why he earned 5 championship rings and he currently has none. End of discussion.
He does have a choice of listening to the coach over the star player. Last time that happened, his coach resigned and he wasn't given the offer to return to town.
Lins job as the PG is to execute the play. Unless the play is broken he should wave off Harden and run the play. Unless the play McHale called for was an ISO??
Sorry, I missed the part where he flails his arm. I do see a wave of his hand, but no flailing of his arms. Would you please screen capture it for me? Again, if it is as the OP says, then why did Lin immediately pass the ball to Harden? Is Lin that non-compliant to completely ignore his head coach (well he did ignore him when his head coach told the team to call a time out after a critical rebound earlier in the series, so perhaps he is un-coachable)? I am a fan from way before 1999 (actually a fan since the San Diego Rockets days), but that has absolutely no bearing on anything.
come on guys. it can be that Harden was not aware the McHale pulled Lin to run a specific play. He can be on the zone already on how the next Rockets possession will be. it is a 48min ballgame and you can not have the coach always pulling and specifically calls play every possession.
Hakeem didn't bring 2 championships back in his first 2 years as a starter or even in his first 5 years in the league, as Harden is now.
