In an effort to get more consistent play overall, Rockets center Dwight Howard said players might have to ask out of games more often. James Harden is fourth and Chandler Parsons is seventh in the NBA in minutes played per game. Howard has played an average of 35.2 minutes, the 31st most in the NBA. “We have to play four consistent quarters of basketball,” Howard said. “It can’t be one quarter or two quarters or three. It has to be four. Guys have to know their limits, know when they need a break, be humble enough to raise their hand and get somebody else in to play those minutes. A lot of times, guys cruise. I’ve cruised a couple times, wanted to stay out there longer. “You can’t do that if you want to be a great team. You have to go out there and go hard and play 48 minutes as hard as you can, whether that’s 20 minutes, five minutes, 30 minutes (each), we have to all give it all and trust that the guy off the bench is going to give us the same effort or more. We all have to get to that level where we trust each other and trust that the guy that is going to come in for us will come in with the same intensity. Once we get there, we’ll be a tough team to beat.”
You make a valid point - assumptions about Lin's potential must be addressed if there is any reconciliation of opinion. I think that the "huge chasm between LOF's and most Rocket fans" about Lin's potential is exaggerated. Most Rocket fans should be able to see from statistics and the old eyeball test that Lin is in fact a very talented guard. Whether he will be a star is up for debate, but the trajectory he is on should easily land him somewhere around 18 PPG/3 RB/7 AST with 45-38-80 as long as he gets to play a consistent role in the offense. These numbers may not necessarily equate to "star," but they do scream "talented." Statistics aside, just looking at his track record will tell you something about his "intangibles." 1) Lin is a guy who can and has made big shots in high pressure games in high pressure environments (i.e. when Harden is out, as "the man" at MSG, last minute shots). 2) Lin plays a "team-oriented" style of basketball (so his stats aren't empty stats like Marbury/Francis, etc) and consistently makes the team offense flow better (good passing inspires the extra pass). 3) Lin has excellent court vision and basketball awareness that will only improve with time. Guys like Beverley has yet to display such instincts. Counterarguments for Lin typically stem from either his defense, turnovers, or "fit" with Harden. 1) Lin's defense is underrated, but he definitely does have trouble with PnR along with guarding quick PGs. However, his playmaking and scoring prowess should be more than enough to overcome such liabilities SO LONG the team can play decent help defense. Nobody every complained about Nash or Steph Curry's lack of defense because they brought something else to the table. This is the same case with Lin. The fact of the matter is that in today's NBA, no guard can shut down another talented guard without decent help - something that the Rockets have yet to solidify. 2) Turnovers and sometimes poor decision making is a function of being young and not having enough in-game experience. This will all be remedied with MORE playing time and letting him play through mistakes, not benching with only 17 minutes played. 3) Fit with Harden is usually brought up as an end-all to discussion. Sure, Harden might love the fact that without another ballhandler on the floor, he can chuck up 2-3 more shots per game. This tactic might work against the mid-tier teams that we can smother with our pace and talent, but against the Spurs/Heat/Thunder/Clippers/Pacers, we will get dominated. Every good team needs at least 2 elite to semi-elite playmakers. Barring a trade for Chris Paul or Westbrook, Lin is probably the closest thing to us developing an all-star guard in-house. Seeing where we stand in terms or our championship window (~ 3-4 years?) and how young and inexperienced our top players are (Lin is 25, Harden is 24, Parsons is 25, Jones is 21, Howard is 27), we can afford to develop our players instead of trying to rush in with a foolhardy plan to compete with the big boys. Of course, we should winning should always be our priority 1A, but finding that elusive second elite playmaker needs to be priority 1B. That is the difference between a few conference final appearances and winning championships.
What does Harden's defense have to do with Lin giving up 36 points on 75% shooting to a D League player? Why is it none of you can discuss Jeremy Lin's game on its own merits? No question Harden's effort hadn't been there on defense every game and yet he's yet to give up 36 points to a D Leaguer. If Lin is giving max effort and giving up 36 points then he sucks defensively. Effort we can fix, suck is hard to fix. Harden has played solid defense in the past but it's probably hard for you to notice when you're obsessed with constantly b****ing about all the imaginary slights to all-star Jeremy Lin.
Dude this HAK guy hasn't been watching the Rockets for 35 years. I doubt even if he is 35 years of age. He has multipale id's and all are dedicated to bashing Harden and the Rockets over this lin fiasco. Remember the guy who used to bash tmac to propup yao with is tmac a point forward?. that's him.Look at his post count in 4 years he has just over 800 posts. I will bet once yao retierd most of his posts stopped and now he is back.
Lol these larkin scrub guy was abusing lin against Dallas and Anderson says hello. Harden is a incompent yes, but Lin is not much better.
Lol using two examples to classify someone as a good or bad defender is futile. I can list so many examples of Lin shutting down PGs on the opposing team. How about when Lin held Calderon to 0 points in the first Mavs matchup when we won and Bev being abused by Calderon in the last matchup? Does that make Lin the better defender?
Everyone one of you'r posts proves my point about you being a YOF/LOF.All you do is bash harden to propup lin.
If you want to play this cherry picking, than how about Lin holding Jose Calderon to 0 pts in our first game against Dallas? Lin is a super elite defender! There is a reason people don't look at a one game performance.
Because Calderon is great. Hey Harden shut down Derozan. Whats the big deal. He held him to 6-22 shooting.
It really sucks that I cannot open new threads. Well, I wish Harden's defense were as good as his offense. And I also hope that he could learn something from James LeBron who plays both ends of the court. Right now, Harden's defense is like the shortest plank of a wooden bucket. The water the bucket can hold goes to the level as much as Harden's defense goes.
Lol, so you can say that about all the opposing pg's that Lin has put up good against. Tony Parker is an even bigger defense liability then Lin, because he let some D-league scrub put up 38 points on him. Russel Westbrook? Defensive liability too. He let some D-league scrub put up 29 points on him.
haha i kno i said same thing above. Lin the dleague scrub has dropped 20+ on many. and it wasnt even just linsanity days too, did this year too.
the LOH hate on this forum is disgusting, how do you guys live a positive meaningful life, data mining at every possible opportunity
It's very possible Lin felt sick/didn't feel good for the last game and asked to be subbed out... just saying. >_> If he's continuously being subbed out for the next 10 games, we can make a better conclusion, but until then... he's actually been closing games, NOT Beverley (also can't count the big Celtics blowout game).
