But I think it's more than just performance - he's probably dealt with the up and down for as long as he is in the NBA. I'll hold my speculations until I have a better sense of why.
We get that, but I don't get why Lin, or Asik are benched in the final minutes. Your best players are your starters, right. If they aren't your best, why bench them in the final minutes.
I will tell you that McHale is an opportunist. He is trying to win by riding the hot hands. However, there's big problems coming with that. Just like trading in the stock markets, you can't trade by riding the up-and-downs. You gotta have some principles which in this case is to believe that your best players are going to give you the best outcome most of the nights. Some have figured out that Lin has to earn his minutes. Very true. So does PB, Harden, Parsons, and Asik. Harden, Lin, Parsons, and Asik give you the best results most of the night so you start them and close game with them. PB may be able to give you some surprise out of bench but his overall quality is behind Lin most times, so PB should be a backup. Similarly, I'm perfectly fine with Harden and Parsons play extended minutes even if they are not performing that well in a slump, because they most times are better players. Lin should get his benefit of doubt here too. That's why you can close your game occasionally with backups but NBA coaches don't do it often, unless you have a great 6th man like Menu or Harden back in OKC days -- which the Rockets don't have. Another reason you don't close game with backups often is that starters are human not robots. So I see Lin not happy with the situation as natural and the way McHale handling the rotation as shortsighted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>feels good to be back in Cali! Also checkout my new blog on my website... <a href="http://t.co/q8uwazmm0B" title="http://bit.ly/XWp4oh">bit.ly/XWp4oh</a></p>— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLin7/status/319257203339063296">April 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The blog entry is pretty entertaining, he describes some of his teammates at the end of the post:
He ended his blog...... And I want to leave you guys with a verse that I have been meditating on this month. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Yeah. From what I see in the post game interviews, he does not have style. I would give it to Harden.