Isiah on Harden and Lin: Could be the best backcourt in the NBA

I very much disagree. Jordan won nothing until Pippen. Shaq won nothing without Kobe and Wade. Kobe won nothing without Pau. Lebron won nothing until Wade. It's completely irrational to have Harden do everything and expect wins. We should expect more out of Harden? I disagree. He's doing enough on the offensive end. It would be better to conserve him a bit on offense so we can get better defense from him. And once again, Hardens efficiency drops considerably when he plays too much point. It's a recipe for a worse team oriented game which is exactly opposite to what we're trying to accomplish. So you want Harden to do more and play more minutes? I see where youre going with this but I completely disagree.

 

With his post-playing career track record, it is amazing that anyone would value anything Isiah Thomas would have to say.

 

I wouldn't say he sucked at talent evaluation, but yes, he was terrible at all the other parts of the job.

I don't think the Rockets need to move Lin.... however, if a better player becomes available you better believe Morey will help him empty his locker.

 

Why would they do that when they already play so well together. I would play them both together as much as possible. Besides its proven to win

 

Nope... Carmelo is every bit as bad, if not worse than Harden defensively. Further, Harden is the more efficient scorer, better passer and makes his teammates better. Carmelo is essentially in the mold of Adrian Dantley, Kiki Vandeweghe and Mark Aguirre.

 

he wont' trade lin for a better pg, but he will trade him to get d12 and probably only d12.

 

Ohh I am not saying he WILL trade him for a better point guard... but if Chris Paul or another elite talent came available, you better believe Morey would pull the trigger. Morey is cold blooded.

 

who wouldn't? we traded sammy and robert for a hof. Daryl would be an idiot not to make a trade like that. It's not being cold blooded, just smart.
while we're at it, we can trade harden for Lebron and wade. it would solve two positions, if we play lebron at the four.

 

Probably the highest upside backcourt in the league is Cleveland. Irving/Waiters is very dynamic. Golden State also has a nice combo between Curry and Thompson.

Today, San Antonio is the best by far. No one is better than Parker/Manu when healthy.

Lin needs improve his reliability and 3 before the Rockets can enter the conversation.

 

I disagree. While Morey hasn't been shy about how he wants to build a contender, I think going after the wrong elite player could trap this team in cap issues for years to come.

I said in an earlier post, is Lin the best pg out there? no, not even close, but when you consider his current production + his ceiling at his current contract, he's more than fair value. His value becomes even less by year 3 (unless he's an allstar) and if he signs an extension (which, after working in pro sports for a number of years, I hate to assume things about players) which I think he would if they can keep the "core" together, he'd take a discount. (I think he'd have signed a 4 year $8 mil with the Knicks had they offered even anything).

A guy like cp3 would be great, but then you hope to trade Lin + young players + picks to get that 4 (which d12 would work, but you wouldnt be able to fit him under the cap unless you moved Asik as well) which I don't know if Morey would do.

My main point here is that cp3 would def improve this team (probably just short of being title contenders), but at the expense of taking a hit on the cap for a position he already has great value at. Hard to see this move.

 

I agree with Thomas. But his status as a HOF player is irrelevant to me. He's shown himself to know less about how basketball works than a lot of people. The fact he was insanely talented as a player doesn't make his brain any better.

 

Stopped reading after Isiah

 

Isiah wants McHale's job? Whhhat

 

There were only two guards that gave Jordan fits playing him one on one... Dumars and Maxwell.

Joe D, was the ultimate class act...

T_Man

 

While Maxwell was just bat**** crazy. I had a few friends that met him out at clubs a few times. That Mad Max stuff was more than an act .

 

lin's contract is something isiah wouldve gamble on, lol
isiah is a lin fan. he always spoke well of lin and his upside

it's only yr1 with lin and harden, and so far, so good.

 

Harden
OWS 9.9
DWS 2.9
WS 12.6
WS/48m .214

Lin
OWS 2.9
DWS 2.3
WS 5.3
WS/48m .101

Backcourt Total WS 17.9

Curry
OWS 7.5
DWS 2.2
WS 10.2
WS/48m .173

Thompson
OWS 1.4
DWS 2.5
WS 4.1
WS/48m .073

Backcourt Total WS 14.3


OWS-Offensive Win Share
DWS- Defensive Win Share
WS - Total Win Share
WS/48m- Win Share per 48 min./.100 is avg.

other backcourts
Jennings/Ellis WS-9.0
Paul/Crawford WS- 18.3

Lin/Harden are #2 in the League behind Paul/Crawford

C.Paul WS -13.2
L.James WS 18.8 WTF

 

ginobli-esque- harden

and if lin gets his friggin j more consistent, then parker-esque

i would say this backcourt looks good. natural slashers, and with more training, better shooters in the future.

the guys over at golden state arent really good slashers, excellent shooters though, but slashing brings you a higher % to gain those FTs

 

I think he's factoring in potential and ability as well. Harden and Lin both possess the means to become lockdown defenders while Kevin Martin will never will no matter what he does or how hard he tries.