[ClutchFans] Rockets to begin season with Beverley, Asik as starters; Jeremy Lin off bench

You don't honestly prefer that he stubbornly stick with a lineup that isn't working, do you?

 

it is not smart to question his own decision after just one game.

 

The thing that really bugs me about this decision is that there was never any consistency at the PG spot and we never got to see exactly what we had in Lin. Last season Lin & harden never had a training camp to get to know each others tendencies and the rockets never had a PNR big to run it with. And now we have those two things & instead of letting the rockets have a full season to really see whether Lin is our PG of the future McHale moves him to 6th man. So now its like we may never know if Lin could have been successful as a starter when he had a training camp with james, was fully healthy and had a PNR big. Now its like why spend the money if you aren't going to fully test the product. Also I think this settles the notion that a lot of people felt last year that McHale was never sold on him. I kind of had that feeling from some of Mchale's comments and the way he handled things thus far.

 

Harden was hurt. Beverley was hurt. CP had an uncharacteristically poor shooting night is unlikely to be replicated. Asik had about the same offensive contribution as he did the whole preseason, which is OK since defense is his primary role.

A little soon to start throwing them under the bus, I think.

 

benched, 6th man finishs.

 

I don't read it as him questioning his decision at all. Nothing he said is the least bit surprising to those of us who already knew that as a coach, he would do what's best for the team and not stick to something that wasn't working for the sake of his ego.

 

McHale can't win with that crowd. Period.

 

Of course it is fluid, at least we are winning while he figures it out

DD

 

what's wrong with having an exit strategy? wouldn't you have one if you were in his shoes?

 

they say he doesn't play that good defense what does he do, hold Kemba to 0 points vs him

They say oh he's not a good spot up shooter, what does he do go 100% from 3

they say he's not consistent, what does he do have the most efficient fg% opening night out of his team mates

it's not stoping him, time & time again they try but it's only energy to him, don't expect him to complain like asik and get to start, he just gets better and does what's best for the team

 

My opinion on the whole "Lin as the 6th man" is that it is indeed a demotion, but not because Mchale doesn't trust Lin, it's that Lin hasn't separated himself from Bev in the qualities needed for a pg.

I think it's pretty clear at this point that Lin overall is better than Bev, but the problem is we already have Harden on the squad who is better at creating plays. In this case what's needed for a pg is just someone who can hit shots and defend, not unlike the pg situation in Miami with LBJ and Wade. In this two respects Lin isn't really all that superior to Bev, and based on perceived effort you can arguably say Bev is the better defender of the two.

This IMHO is the main reason why Lin is benched, because his playmaking capabilities aren't needed in the starting unit and his shooting/d isn't different from Bev's. So you start Bev, and then have Lin create the offense for the entire 2nd unit. If Lin wants to regain his spot then he has to become a better shooter and defender, so he'll be the best complimentary piece to our 4 starters.

 

Yeah exactly. This could have been handled a lot more tactfully in my opinion.

God I hope not. But I don't think he will admit that he was mistaken and make a change if it doesn't work out. McHale is kind of stubborn imo. If he does make the change I will gladly admit I was wrong. My big thing is that guys need consistency. I can't stress that enough. You can't be changing line ups based on match ups or every game like some high school team. In a perfect world if Beverly or Asik don't work out in starting positions make the change in the line up and stick with it. Don't change things night in night out.

stop painting people with the same brush its not constructive.

 

they say he doesn't play that good defense what does he do, hold Kemba to 0 points vs him

They say oh he's not a good spot up shooter, what does he do go 100% from 3

they say he's not consistent, what does he do have the most efficient fg% opening night out of his team mates

it's no stoping him, time & time again they try but it's only energy to him, don't expect him to complain like asik and get to start, he just gets better and does what's best for the team

 

If the shoe doesn't fit, go barefoot.

 

If my favorite player was treated the way like Lin is being treated, I will probably feel upset, too. Especially he's not losing his starting job due to poorer performance or injury or anything, their crying and whining is fully understandable.

 

I agree!

 

I don't think it was that far.
ppg playoffs:

05 - 20.8
06 - 18.4
07 - 16.7
08 - 17.8

05 and 06 he started most games, 07 and 08 he was the 6th man, they won the championships 05 and 07. He averaged more points in 08 regular season but that was it.

Sure, obviously, but it's not exactly:

 

LIN ISN'T BEING TREATED POORLY !

HE IS GETTING PAID TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ROCKETS.

FOLKS NEED TO STOP WHINING !!! IT IS TOTALLY UNMANLY !!!

DON'T MAKE ME KEEP YELLING !



DD

 

And what if the lineup he changes to works even worse? Still stick with it, or change it back?

I do agree that lineups should stabilize at some point. But IMO its not necessary its figured out from game 1. 82 games is a long time, and its not a bad idea to get players comfortable playing in different types of lineups early on. After all, you never know what could happen later on due to trade or injury.

 

That is my point the line up needs to stabilize at some point. Sure it doesn't have to be now but it does have to be soon. And injury/ trade is part of the reason why I want the line ups to stabilize, so that even if guys get hurt or pieces move they already have some sort of chemistry to rely upon.