Harden wanted help over the off-season at the other guard spot to help him carry the playmaking duties. I commented back then that Houston would not be able to do that for him since any PG with above average playmaking ability would not additionally be a 3&D guy as well unless you're talking about paying a max salary for an all-star. So we have to ask ourselves. If we had to have either a 3&D guy or playmaker with no D, who would we rather have? I think the obvious answer is to start Bev after he comes back healthy.
or how about Harden actually go back to showing he can play some defense so he can actually play with a guy that he wanted to bring here.
Lin can play, he showed that...& is showing that. The problem is that he was put under enormous pressure when he got here to change his game & he was also a work in progress that would take a few seasons to fully mature. The reason why we lost patience with him so quickly was the demigod status given to him by the LOF, and their insane posts here & on social media.
If effort was such a problem, why not play an unproven Rookie. Dekker would have went super duper saiyon with the effort level.
It's so simple. weird that a mind like morley hasn't figure it out yet. Get a shooting guard ala rip hamilton early 2000s. You will have to accept what you've known deep inside for some time, that harden will always be the PG.
The ideal is a player like Derek Fisher in his prime next to Kobe, or Steve Kerr/John Paxson/BJ Armstrong next to Jordan. Defense, good 3 pt shooting, good decisions with the ball, and no need to be the primary ball handler. Harden loves to dominate the ball and unless that changes, a ball dominate PG is not going to live up to his potential.
sacrifices are needed when you're trying to when a championship. Will Harden adjust and hold himself accountable now to better the team? We'll see.
Like I said a year ago in the ridiculous "Beverley is garbage" thread, any pg next to Harden is relegated to being a spot up shooter. You said our lack of playmaker had forced Harden into single handedly carrying this team (which is more Harden choosing to ballhog). Now that we got a legit playmaker, he's still only used as a spot up shooter next to Harden. So is TY is garbage like Bev apparently was last year?
Bev is who he is a 3 and D guard. nothing more. Most of his criticism stemmed from his defense dropping off from what it once was. Atleast that's what my main issue with him was. If he wasn't doing those two things at a high rate then what's he doing. He isn't a ball handler and isn't a playmaker. However Lawson is, that's the difference. Beverly wasn't relegated into a spot up shooter. that's who he is as a player. nothing wrong with that if he plays that role well but often being injured has seemingly made him struggle a bit. Lawson has the ability to do so much but it's also on harden to help make it work. He has to sacrifice just like any other player on the team especially for someone he wanted to bring here and called for.
Looks like, with our present roster, Haren needs to be the 1, with Thornton and JET at the 2. And I wonder if Ray Allen is taking care of himself these days.
The solution is in the coach. If the right coach comes in and demanded harden to move without the ball and let lawson handle more, its easy. If the wrong guy is coaching and his continues to let harden kill any concept of fluidness with his shot selection,over dribbling, and turnovers, then it doesnt even matter.
The rest of Harden's career will always rely on a PG like Bev, Chalmers that kind of player whose tough on D and willing to take his craps and cover for his man.
Just don't jump the gun and think it through. Lawson will be fine. I promise you that he will get better as a Rocket. Guaranteed.
