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

I agree with this, your playing Lin and Harden together for MAJOR minutes in every game so far, removing Lin from the starter spot was essentially pointless. Why do it? People say it shouldn't matter because as 6th man Lin is still getting 30+ minutes. So why shouldn't it be a big deal that Lin starts then? It is a slight to him, this kid is proving that hes improved significantly since last year. (And an injured year at that) People say its for fit, but it sounds like a coaching thing to me. Harden and Lin can co-exist. Find a way. This can be one of the best NBA back courts.

 

Does anyone still think Lin was just a flash in the pan? At worst, people say that he's merely an average player, which still means there are tonnes of players he's better than.

I've been hearing more and more praises of Lin from sports commentators. The question is no longer whether he deserves to be in the NBA. It's whether he'll "merely" be an above-average player or a key component of a championship team.

 

The talk of the Spurs is interesting because I think in many ways the Rockets (like many other teams) aspire to be like the Spurs someday. And in particular, in their style of offense, Parsons and Lin both said last year that the Spurs are who the Rockets model themselves on.

 

They do have the best team culture. Journeymen players frequently talk about how the culture is different and that all 15 players are treated alike.

Pops and Presti are a big part of that, but I think another big factor in their team culture is that they've had two stand-up franchise players in place over three decades to set the tone: Robinson and Duncan. Rookies and journeymen are naturally going to look to the best players to set the tone.

I remember reading in the mid 90s about how a long-time ticket holder of the Jazz with seats behind the visitors' bench finally decided to move his seats. He said that the language on the visitors' bench had just gotten worse and worse, until he felt he couldn't deal with it any more. The one exception he said was the Spurs, who "behaved like perfect gentlemen." What that really probably meant was that the Spurs players used language appropriate to any other work or business environment (even when their coach was giving them hell).

And I think the lack of curse words and slurs reflects a general businesslike attitude that has kept them so good for so long. (Meanwhile, the culture may not produce the kind of charismatic stars that sell a lot of sneakers or produce high viewer shares during the playoffs.)

 

RC Buford is Spurs' GM. Sam Presti is OKC's GM. We should all know Presti because he gifted Harden to us. Presti was assistant, never GM, to the Spurs.

 

Keep in mind that this is a Rockets forum, not Spurs, not Lin's.

 

I would LOVE this.

 

Right. Buford and Pops.

 

Lin will be coming off the bench to Tony Parker...
But it will be great to learn from Coach Pop, Tony, Manu, Tim
AND he would be treated the same way as the other players.
Why not?? I'm starting to like the idea.

 

He plays for the Rockets, and pretty well too.

 

"Jeremy needs to go to a team that will start him. He has earned it, it's what's best for his financial future and what player in the league wouldn't want to start!"

So let's trade him to the spurs where he will come off the bench at least for the rest of his contract. Lin, Parker and essentially the entire Spurs teams contracts end after next season. Lots of uncertainty there... Duncan, Ginobili even Pop could be out the door.

I guess you could hope that Pop doesn't retire, they decide to not re up Parker's contract and sign Lin to an extension to start their rebuild with Lin, Leonard and Splitter, but the spurs just seem like an interesting team choice after hearing all the complaints about Lins current situation and all the talk of what would be best for Lin and his future.

 

Right, mentioning other teams is heresy here. Guys, don't say Sp*** or Kn*** or He*** or Okl*** Th*** here.

 

I agree.
I wanted Lin to stay in Houston and be comfortable (not be a journeyman) but now I'm entertaining other thoughts.

 

Lin coming off the bench is not that hard to understand.

Here is the Short Version: If you set aside personal interests of the players, biases of fans, this is really simple. Evaluate the Rockets roster and imagine the optimal performance of the team against the top Western Conference teams. You want Beverly hounding and wearing down opposing Elite PG's and Lin going full Linsanity when Harden is out. That is optimal team performance against the top contenders in the West.

Here is the Longer Version:

1. These are the teams the Rockets will have to beat in the West.
Spurs: Tony Parker
Clippers: Chris Paul
OKC: Russell Westbrook
GSW: Stephen Curry

2. Our defense last year was bad and our offense was good. Coming into this season, our long term focus is on improving the defense.

3. Beverly is better defensively against ELITE guards. Lin has dramatically improved his defense, but Beverly just has better raw defensive athletic ability. That is not really debatable. If you can't see that, then you're evaluating this with Lin colored glasses.

4. Good defensive teams set the tone right from the start of a game.

5. If you want Beverly to be ready come playoff time, you better start him during the year. He needs to learn to pressure the ball without getting into foul trouble, and hit spot up 3's with the starters. He is a second year player. He needs to work at this and improve, just like the rest of the team, including Lin.

6. Lin gets to come in and attack the starting PG when they're tired, and attack RELENTLESSLY. Full Linsanity.

Lin deferred way too much last year, was not 100% top start the season, and needed to get his attack mode on. He got healthy, worked on his game this summer, was given orders to attack, and boom ... look at him now. I'm a HUGE Lin fan and I couldn't stand watching him play tentatively last year. I want to see Lin hit another level with the Rockets and really take on the persona of an elite 6th man. Someone the other team has to game plan for, make opposing fans go "S--t, Lin's checking in" or "For the love of all that is holy, would someone please freaking guard Lin!".

Some of you Clutchfans know what I'm talking about. Some Lin fans don't.
Vinny the Microwave Johnson
Ricky Pierce
Detlef Schrempf
Kevin freaking McHale
Manu Ginobli
Jason Terry
Michael Cooper

With sustained success as the 6th man, I think this will come.

7. Could Lin ever get his groove back starting with Harden? Be serious people -- I don't think so. Harden has his flaws, but he is the absolute No 1 option on this team. Lin would be too tentative starting next to Harden. But when Lin checks in off the bench, it's on. Harden had his 6 minute starting run, now Lin brings his swagger into the game.

8. Who closes the game? Right now, it's Lin at Linning time. But we have a bunch of chances to see how it will play out against Parker, Westbrook, CPieceofs--t3, and Curry. If Beverly wants to take the closers role, he better step up his game. If Lin wants to strengthen his hold, he better keep fighting over picks and attacking and shooting.

Super short version: This shouldn't be a debate. The answer is obvious.

 

Are we still talking about this? I think Lin coming off the bench is awesome. His numbers are up, the offense doesn't suck when the reserves are in and he's finishing games.

What's the problem here?!

 

The problem is that Lin is better than Beverley, and that Lin would prefer to start.

 

Difference is that you're a Rockets fan first. If you're a fan of the player first, then the title of "starter" is important because implicitly it means a lot of things to "most" people.

 

You have several good points, but I disagree. The difference in defense this year is not really that big between bev and lin. Lin's improved numbers is because of his hard work and not because he's coming off the bench. I will guarantee you McHale will leave Lin on the bench if Bev is playing well in the 4th. His minutes will fluctuate.

Lastly, Lin says he wants to start. He's not happy which leads to bad chemistry. Omer is on the way out because of starting, Lowry left because of starting, why treat Lin differently? Everybody knows he's not happy about being benched. Rockets will lose Lin to free agency once contract is up.

 

some of points you made may be wrong or may be right. I am going to argue with you on those points.

here I offer one thing you missed. it is harden's offense efficiency.

as someone posted in one of threads, harden's offense efficiency was worse without lin in the last season. to increase his efficiency, to save his energy for defense, and to help him to be better closer, either play him less minutes or unload some his duties to lin. no one wants to play less minutes. harden, as our main guy, won't accept to play less than 38 minutes. unloading his duties is a more reasonable approach. he should mainly take SG role during 1st 3 periods to save all his energy and in 4th he should be the main guy to handle the ball.

moving lin back to the starting lineup may worry about our bench's contribution. think about bev has every tool to look good on offense. it just depends on against who. against bench I really doubt he won't have good offense games. against starters, he may have trouble.

 

Stopping elite guards isn't the job one one player. it takes a team to stop an elite guard. Not sure if you have been watching the games but Bev as well as the entire teams defense has left a lot to be desired. And why do people act like Lin & harden can't play together? They played well last year and we made the playoffs and that was despite a training camp and with Lin unhealthy for half the season. Everyone just seems to forget that last season happened.