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

I agree we disagree about the desirability of Lin camping at the line and watching harden. To me, It's not worth it if he can burn the team more off the bench.

Shooting 44 percent for the season is near impossible. I can see Lin shooting a 40percent, and that would be outstanding. The rest of the team will start hitting threes at a reasonable percentage. I think the team has to think what works long term.

The question is if Beverly can spot up from three about as well as Lin. If so, that plus his pg defense make him more ideal to start vs the elite teams. If not, I may take back everything I said. But the Optimal team performance is w Beverly providing D and three, and Lin attacking off the bench.

Lins left hand and defense are also substantially improved, not just his jumper. They will be consistent through the season, whereas it's very hard to sustain 44 percent shooting from three.

 

You got a good point.

 

You are confusing how they treat the players as individuals and as team assets. It is possible for them to do the very best they can for the players on the team, and to treat them well as individuals, while still looking out for the interests of the overall team.

What the Rockets organization wants is for every player leaving the building to tell everyone else they run into that it was the best organization in basketball.

 

38% from 3 will be fantastic. Anything over is gravy.

 

So let's assume (and you disagree) it is better for the team for Beverly to start and Lin to be 6th man for the reasons I said. You still want Lin to start b/c you care about his feelings and him potentially leaving? I just want to understand people's views on this.

 

This is an argument based on emotions. Do you even follow professional basketball, and do you realize that teams handle that in house and don't hold hands like that.

Do you have any response to the actual merits of the debate as to what is the best use of the team's resources:
whether Beverly's 3 and D potential better works with the starters,
whether Lin's Linsanity potential better works with him coming off the bench

Or maybe you don't really care and just want Lin to start? If so, that's your right, it's just hard to understand what people are thinking with this debate (and I'm late to it) and how well thought out the opinions are.

 

this makes sense. i dont see mchale keeping JLin on the bench for the next two years though at the rate he's playing. i just cant fathom.

if he does, he's asking Jeremy to walk.

 

I don't care if you hate the Rockets. I am appreciative that you are honest about your point of view and what's important to you.

I do disagree with you about what's better for Lin given the realities of this team.

From me as a Lin fan, Lin starting with Harden is like looking at a caged bird. Bring him off the bench and let him soar. It's best for him and the Rockets.

 

You make decent points but you thinking that you are so completely right is making you miss one of the biggest reasons for starting Lin. Many feel, as I do, that a Harden-the-pg led offense will be more stagnant and less efficient than one led by a run n gun attacking pg and that right there was our biggest advantage last year!! You're wondering why we're struggling (compared to expectations), it's because our offense has been crap as we are out of sync ball watching and this our balance on defense is crap cuz we dropped like a million fgs thus far this season in comparison to least year and have only scores decently due to free throws.

If starting off with Bev is the best strategy for the Rockets, then do you also advocate benching Lin in the fourth?? You know everyone will be Harden iso watching even more in the fourth right. Then, you're saying that Bev is better than Lin in this current lineup. If true, just say so. Instead of pretending that you're being fair and only thinking of the Rockets when we all are.

 

I am not sure I agree, but I respect your position. The Spurs game later this month should provide a good test.

In my opinion, the Rockets are watering down their greatest strength, their dominating offense, for incremental improvements on defense, which may or may not end up being significant enough to make a difference.

 

You'd be wrong. He's more like a dragon with a short dog leash on him. When he grows up, he'll snap that leash like it wasn't even there.

 

Thanks. I'm really late to this thread and just got curious as to why it kept going and going. I rarely get animated or pointed with my choice of words, but I think I'm a pretty good student of the game, and this whole Lin starting/off the bench thing just boggles my mind because the answer seems so clear.

The only reason I would want Lin to start is so that ignorant ass fans and people (who don't understand the importance of a 6th man and assume you aren't as good if you come off the bench) will realize that an Asian dude can start for a great team in the NBA.

But that's more social commentary than hoops talk, and I try to remember not to care about what stupid people think because there are so many of them.

 

1)There is absolutely nothing wrong w/ Lin camping out at the 3 point line waiting for the kick out from Harden or Howard. The more Lin proves he can hit those shots the better because teams defend him tighter and there is more room for him to penetrate and attack the basket which opens things up for him and the rest of the team. Both are interrelated and you can't have one without the other.
2) The jury is still out on whether Bev can hit 3's at a solid level just like the jury is still out that Lin can hit 3's at the rate he is hitting them now. But the truth of the matter is that why not start Lin and ride the hot hand until he hits stops hitting shots or until Bev hits 3's at a better average.
3) my entire point isn't start Lin. my point is to say that Lin can't play and be successful with harden is false and that there are no cogent arguments to make him a starter is also false.

 

I don't care whether Lin starts or not. I think the biggest for the Rockets and Lin is that whenever Harden is on the bench, Lin needs to be on the court. If McHale ever has a lineup without either, I'll have to say mean things about McHale, probably regarding how he doesn't know wtf he's doing.

 

If he is only a good player, you are probably right about the damage to his personal value. If he is an all-star caliber player, the point becomes moot. People will recognize that level of play, and he has a wide enough popularity to be voted to the all-star game whether he starts or not.

 

He did it all year last year. Never staggered their minutes. Could never understand why.

 

This is not my opinion.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/nba/nba-rumors-rockets-celtics-working-jeremy-lin-trade#

"The only thing that’s really changed since earlier this summer is how well Lin has adjusted to his Sixth Man status. That being said, if you have the opportunity to bring in a Rondo, and all you have to give up for that is a backup point guard and an unhappy, nonessential big man, it’s hard to say no to that swap."

 

For others on this board- see this is a real discussion, not as much poor Jeremy got his feelings hurt. (By the way, I think Jeremy is a grown ass man who has already overcome a ton of adversity and won't get slowed down in this league by anyone, and is mentally tougher than you Lin fans give him credit for. If you ever played ball in the hood as the only Asian guy on the court, you know what i'm talking about.)

Steady - yep, the games against the good teams will really tell us where we are. The Clippers games offered a glimpse, but we were still mucking around with the Twin Towers stuff, and we had all kinds of foul trouble in the game in LA.

I think it boils down to whether Bev can be really good at 3 and D. I think the Rockets are betting on it, and that the increase in defense will be more than any dropoff in offense.

 

To my eyes, Bev is good at the 3 and D. The question is, is the current offence philosophy of the Rockets good enough with Harden iso ball watching as a number one strategy followed by Dwight the Dream posting people up. I personally believe NOT. A real pg is what's needed to get our run n gun back in order. And when fools are taking the ball out the basket, our defense will look better as well. Crikes. Even outsider observers are noticing that we need a pg and now you want to make Lin a sg?? A bench sg, at that?? smh. Come on, try listening to other people for once instead of telling us lowly fans what the right strategy is.

 

I think they are killing more than one bird with that stone. If Lin hasn't improved enough then it also lessens the disruption if his 8m contract is traded.