Lin should be the one taking clutch shots at the end of the game, not Harden. I think Sportige put it best, "For the Rockets to be more than an afterthought in the first round, they’re going to need and go back to mixing up the roles between James Harden and Jeremy Lin again, because making the obvious choice seems more and more like making the wrong one".
Except the Rockets didn't run 5 straight isolations. Half-court & early offense possessions from 3:25 to 0:00: 7.) DHO off High Pick&roll -- well executed. Conley slightly over-helped -- Lin 3 6.) DHO off High Pick&roll -- well executed. Bayless didn't stop penetration -- Harden fouled 5.) Floppy Out -- Gasol recognizes the play early, comes out to down the ensuing pick&roll, ignoring Asik. Beverley sets a horrible screen. Asik's screen isn't great either, Jones is a little late for the ball-screen. The play bogs down to Harden iso on right wing. Harden makes a great individual move, Lin hits the semi-open 3 4.) Hand-off off Single (Wide Pindown) -- Memphis switches the hand-off. Spacing is bad. Tony Allen completely ignores Jones and comes over to help on Harden drive, which may or may not have bothered Harden -- Harden tries to draw the foul, refs call it out of bounds off Harden 3.) Drag -- Spacing again isn't great. Jones takes his man (Z-Bo) right into Harden's driving lane, not recognizing what's going on. Harden gets in the paint and draws contact, but no whistle -- Z-Bo is there to block Harden's shot 2.) Elevator Doors -- Asik and Jones again set poor screens, don't close the doors. Play is busted up with 12 seconds on the shot clock. -- Harden misses 3 over Allen 1.) Iso 1-4 Flat -- you already know.
When you have the lead or are tied in crunch time, iso ball makes a lot of sense. At the end of the game, you go with your best player - you put it in their hands and let them create. Kobe, Jordan, T-mac, Lebron, KD, etc... Harden is on that list.
But is it the only option? Especially failed repeatedly in the immediate previous plays? I didn't know coaching is so easy, especially at crunch time.
I failed to recognize Sportige supporting Lin takes clutch shots. I can't believe coaching basketball is so easy, you just have to choose who will take the shots at critical time. Xs and Os, drawing plays are overrated.
It is silly, the thread creator has a opnion already. He is using this poll to support himself. It is almost saying: Between the better way and a certain way, which would you chose?
Yes I had my opinion as stated. However some people still think ISO is better. Jorden, Durent, Kobe, etc ISO and pretty successful at it and it's true. So not everyone thinks one is better than the other.
A lot of coaches would put the ball in their best players hand in crunch time. Then sometimes they run designed set plays in crunch time. Hey I guess it all determines on the flow of the game...
I think you have to stick with it more than a few failed plays in a row. You have to put the ball in your best players hands. Not just as part of being the most efficient, but also to let that player grow into a super star. Kobe is kobe because of all the times he failed to make the crunch time play. Through that process he got better and better.
Though Mchale has done a phenomenal job, this is definitely his Achilles heel. He should have more options when Harden's shot isn't falling. I'd like to see more cutting & ball movement down the stretch
Agree. To say Harden is not Curry's level is the biggest joke of all jokes. Is that a post from a fan of the Rockets?
LOL but yeah, they shud set screens for harden during crunch time i dont see this team do it that often our bigs need to step up a bit
Depends on best matchup, highest percentage, who's hot, and what Morey said. And that answer is usually Harden. Not his fault. When we play spread offense to open lanes for Harden, Lin, Parsons, it's an ISO by default. Whoever has the ball in his hands is ISOed. The team is too spread out to run screens/picks. That's why movement only happens at the top of the arch, at the beginning of the play, before they get settled for spacing. You want more movement and less ISO, you get less open 3's and a closed lane. And they are running several different variations like HMMM pointed out. It's just magnified in some eyes because 1. They are all spread plays. 2. Some are as obsessed with pointing out "ISO hero ball" every time Harden gets the ball as those calling out Lin as a 'turnover machine'. Exaggerated, out of context, and overblown. Fixate on one thing and that's all you start to see. (i.e. Boobies are hangin out everywhere I go). Substitute any all-star who uses the dribble to create with Harden, and you get the same story. Yet for some reason Lin's ISOs are called "team ball" because he has to pass/bail out of the same road blocks Harden plows through. He's looking to score first, too, you know? I only mention Lin cuz I've read a lot of your posts and he's obviously your main concern. (Not hating, all good.) Time, experience, and a strong post scorer should change things up. Right now, we can't go in and out, just out and around, and that limits a lot of options. The FO and coaching staff are keeping things simple stupid. (I hope they are not all just simple and stupid! loljk). You can't expect a group of youngins in their 1st year of playing together to stick n move like a well oiled machine just yet. Teammates will gradually learn each others' wants, tendencies, spots, and trust each other more. They'll begin to freelance, improvise, cut, and move off the ball to create more passing opportunities for each other and themselves. The ball should 'stick' less as more of these opportunities open up. At least that's what I'm hopin for. This is more of a necessity b/c the youth, inexperience, unfamiliarity, and talent the Rockets have to work with at the moment. And they've progressed pretty damn quick, it's a shame to have to see so much complaining up in here. To address the poll... You might just wanna cut through the bs and state you want others to be involved in the closing plays, aka "run plays through ball movement", (which I'd agree with), instead of taking a dumb swipe at Harden's "trying to draw foul by extending his arms". (still, that sounded kinda funny). Just callin like I see it, correct me if I'm wrong!
