Some statements I don't agree with: - "We have to start the best players in each position". Although that seems reasonable, I don't think it is always the best. You can have an extraordinary 1st unit that can achieve a differential of +15 regarding the opposing team. However if you lose by -16 with the 2nd unit, all the good things done by the 1st unit are neutralized/lost. So, for me, it's a matter of having a way to have more points than the opponent by the end of the game. Some teams, as SA Spurs, don't put their best players as starters. Ginobili is arguably one of the 3 best players on that team, and he is a 6th man, making sure that the Spurs can keep some sort of intensity (offensively and defensively) throughout all match. Same as Harden at OKC, and it worked well (OKC was much better with Harden than last year, and the starters were basically the same). So, for me, you have to allocate the players during the game minutes in a manner that will give us the optimal point differential at the end. Being honest, for me it's more important who are closing the game and his overall contribution than who are starting it. - "Lin is better with the 2nd unit"/"Beverly is more fitting with the 1st unit": At this point, any analysis of this kind is speculation or at max a longshot. Sure, we can base our opinion on the players skillset and project how would this could serve the other players in each formation. However, it will always be an opinion due to: lack of knowledge about how they will actually mesh (Howard is a new and very different factor from last year, for instance), basing your assessment on previous performance (the team was new, and getting to learn how to play together, the players are young and they could change a lot during the offseason, the coaching staff can learn an adapt the system better, etc..), not knowing peculiar issues that can occur with a lineup change (players confidence, specific matchups that could or could not benefit each lineup, overall competitiveness and chemistry inside the locker room, etc..). How can anyone affirm what would be the best? We really doesn't have the sample size to do that. If we had several games with Lin and Beverley alternating the starting position, maybe we could measure point differential for each configuration and come out with a conclusion that this or that could be more beneficial for the team. But, this team has 1 year (without a proper preseason in the first year) old, and this year Howard joined. No way we can affirm anything at this point. - "It would be best for Lin to be the 6th man": It may or may not be the case. We can have arguments that reinforces any of the 2 scenarios: Lin can be more ball dominant with the 2nd unit. Lin can have much more assists with the 1st unit and maximize the PNR with Howard. Lin can be the primary scoring option in the 2nd unit and improve his stats. Lin can be most easily defended with the 2nd unit being the focus of the opponents best defense players at the moment. - "Beverly is a better fit with Harden": well, yeah, if you consider that a "better fit" is the one who let Harden get most of the offensive burden. On the other hand, it will just make opposing defenders' life easier, making them focus and double-team Harden/Howard, not having to deal with Lin drives to the basket. On the other hand, with Lin, maybe there is a little bit defensive pressure on Harden. Who knows? If they can learn to adapt, after 1 year and a proper off-season, Lin and Harden can be a killer backcourt. Or not. The fact is that we can not assume Beverly is the better fit with Harden just because he will "step back" and pass/catch and shoot. It can either make Harden's life harder with opposing defenses, or easier, with more time with the ball. "Lin as a 6th man will have less minutes/less playing time with Howard)": Being a starter only assures one thing: he will be there at the opening tip. Not anything more. He can be a 6th man and play 47 minutes. It all depends on the rotation, and not on the fact of being a starter or not. Lin can be a 6th man and coincide with Howard most of the time. I could go on and on, but my point is that we are not able to make any statements so far. The team is to new, the players are to new, and the improvements/adjustments potentially made are still unknown. In my opinion, the analysis could be done like: Point differential for the 1st unit: - Lin in the 1st unit: +/- X1 - Beverly in the 1st unit: +/- Y1 Point differential for the 2nd unit: - Lin in the 2nd unit: +/- X2 - Beverley in the 2nd unit: +/- Y2 So, if X1+Y2 > X2+Y1, let's keep Lin as a starter. Otherwise, Beverley. If Lin can make the 2nd unit improve their differential higher than when we have him in the 1st, maybe he can be better starting on the bench. And even that is highly dependant of the rotations. Conclusion: we cannot know. But it's nice to discuss and wonder about it, though.
And in addition to Roxxy's point, things got much better as the year progressed; particularly the last three months. More importantly, this year Howard is in the mix. If it were the same cast as last year, I could see a stronger argument for Beverley starting this year. However, I think Lin is a better fit with Howard - better passer, better playmaker, better PNR partner. At least enough so that I think it would be better to try to see how Lin fits as a starter before moving him to the bench. Given that Lin started all last year, and this year's starters is better for him, I think he deserves a shot to start and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, move him to the 6th man role. I'm in the camp that he starts and you stagger him and Beverley so Lin goes out early and comes back in at the start of the second quarter.
Pretty good post that shows why there are so many reasons for either side of this issue. For myself, Lin is a proven starter so I'd rather stick with what is known then test sample size on Beverley unless their is clear reason to do so. I think there is an argument for Beverley starting but given that Lin has not done anything to lose his job I'd go the safer route and see how things shape up with Dwight in the starting 5 before changing things up. For all we know, the Lin-Harden-Howard set could be dynamite - there was the Sloan article everyone mentioned that showed that those three skill sets working together is very effective. If it were just Harden and Lin and no Dwight, I would be more inclined to start Beverley (although I'd frankly still keep Lin as the starter initially).
Why should Lin be the 6th man? It think this is not the issue. The issue is that the 2nd unit needs a leader, a producer. The best line-up is obviously : Lin, Harden, Parsons, PF, Howard But of course, these players need a break. So it is McHale's duty to stagger Lin's and Harden's minutes so either Harden or Lin can lead the 2nd unit. To be honest, I rather have Harden (great offense) + Beverly (great defense) + Asik (great defense) + T-Jones (better defense than D-Mo) + Casspi ( rebounds ! & shooter) & Lin (PnR-offense) + Beverly (great defense) + Howard (PnR-offense + great defense) + Parsons (shooter + shlasher , feeded by Lin) + Garcia (shooter) Why Harden with Asik, Beverly & co. (and not with Harden) ? Because Harden is a superior player who can create his own shots easily. He can draw fouls. In this 10-15 minutes without a Howard, Harden can be the only offense. He doesn't need to feed Howard in the post. And in the 10-15 minutes without Harden, Lin can do his PnR-stuff with Howard. He can feed Garcia/Casspi or Parsons. Or he can attack the rim. But nevertheless, the best line-up is Lin, Harden, Parsons, PF, Howard. AND: never let the second unit without either Harden or Lin on the court.
tl;dr can we agree that it sucks to watch harden play iso ball and kill a play when there is a perfectly hot JLin just waiting in the corner or on the wing?
This I wholly agree with. 2nd unit expands or sustains leads, or throws them away and loses games for you.
Yeah agreed. I am of the opinion that either Lin or Harden should be on the court at all times. We shall see if McHale executes that this year.
justbuckets pls stfu. You clearly just joined to start trouble and sadly the clueless internet "vets" won't know you're trolling and take the bait. Stop it, just stop it!
i keep questioning why coach rest both Lin and Harden on beginning of 4th quarter last season. it was such a ridiculous rotation.
Lin needs to be in the starting unit, and other things. Ironically it's because of Harden that he needs Lin more than he needs Beverley. Harden's defense has improved this season judging from some of his preseason games. If anything, his defensive aggression is way better than last season's when he would stroll around at times on the defensive end. Harden can not handle all of starting unit's play-making duty, it's just too much for him to handle himself. Beverley is not a play-maker. He is amazing defensively, has active hands, and gets under opponent's skin. He is a valuable piece to the Rox, but he is not a play-maker, period. Parsons is a pretty good play-maker in his position, but his handle gets shaky at times, which you can see from time to time. I don't see him as a reliable play-maker for the starting unit. By the way, I have heard people saying Parson is going to be an All Star, but I don't ever see an All Star who can't create for himself. When was last time you see him playing ISO can scored on the opponent. Parson is a great all around player who is particularly good in spot up shooting. He's got some handles, and he can rebound, that's it. He is at best an above average starting SF in this league, nothing more nothing less. Look, I don't mean to diss Parsons, but it's just my thoughts on him. I think I am being pretty fair in terms of describing his game. Got off topic there. Going back to why Lin needs to be in the starting unit, because the starting unit needs another good play-maker like Lin in order to bring out the best of the Rox. Unless you want to see Harden carrying too much offensive load and start to slack on defense again this season, and you want to see Howard playing a lot of ISOs, then bring Lin off the bench would be the right decision. Although I am intrigued how Lin would do if McHale brings him off the bench, I think we shall wait and see what happens. As long as Rox wins, no Rox fans should care who starts. If anything, Lin is a team guy. He has huge part of Rox culture that's being created now. All of his teammates seem to like him, and it's all about the team. Lin wouldn't care if he comes off the bench, obviously anybody would prefer to start, but I think Lin is selfless enough to do what's right for the team. But is it right to bring him off the bench? We will see. Red Nation all the way to the final!
I agree with your assessment of Parsons...as for lin let's wait until the preseason is over but I have to admit so far it's looking like he should hold on to his starting job.
Solid analysis The main problem though was Howard, thought the core Rockets looked incredible so far chemistry wise
Parsons can create his own shot you'd be surprised, he has probably the most deceptive pump fake in the league and a solid jumper, he can slash and finish at the rim with both hands, he is an all star imo, he's the 3rd scoring option behind 2 superstars and can create his shot better than Lin, who relys mainly on his first step. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2yI871TtWu0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Forget the PnR and ball movement. ISOs in the starting unit is fine. We have enough talent and the two stars are in good enough shape enough to deal with heavy usage. Let Bev pass off to Harden so that Harden can attack the hoop; or, let Bev lob the ball into Dwight so that he can destroy all double teams in the post. Lin comes off the bench with DMo and that unit can pass and run to their heart's content. Two totally different styles of offense will screw with the other teams' minds to no end. It's like having a fast ball pitcher in baseball mix in a few knuckleballs, you knuckleballs.
I think we need to trade Beverley for a PG that can run the offense/pass the ball to Dwight ... So we can more comfortably play Lin as 6th man Or trade Lin for a guy that shot like he did post the all-star game last season but that can't actually do anything with the ball in his hands or run the offense properly, so that he may be interchangeable with Beverley so it wouldn't matter who started or came off the bench, so we wouldn't need to have these discussions about PG 'fit' on the Rockets Sarcastic post ... although I wonder if it was really a sarcastic post given a not immaterial portion of posters here actually do think along these lines
