By that logic. Lin is only avg'ing 4.2 assists per game as a point guard and Harden is avg'ing 5.2 assists per game as a shooting guard. E'nuff said about who is more of a team player. Now not using that logic you would realize that Harden is a very good and willing passer, however I coach fails in 2 major area's. 1) His playbook is atrocious and consists of the smallest amount of set plays in the league. When you absolutely need a bucket you have the standard pick and roll and nothing else. That is just not going to cut it when trying to win a championship. Utah ran the pick and roll strickly for years with flopton and malone, however it was a very very very well ran pick and roll that was more than just 1 pick and roll to the cup. 2) Holding people accountable. Harden's still very young, and with the lack of actual plays called/practiced/ran we only really have 2 options. Run a pick and roll or isolate and free flow it. This free flowing offense tends to have the ball get sticky. Players just stand there and pass it back to each other with no movement, no cuts, no anything but standing around. Thus we see the Harden ISO and get mad at him. I like McHale, but we need a legit coach if we want any shot of taking this team deep into the playoffs.
I think he's pretty good in the clutch, but that's just how I perceive it. What do the numbers say? That should end the discussion. What's his 4th quarter scoring numbers? Last 3 or 5 minutes? Etc. I'm sure these numbers are out there somewhere. Honestly, I think Harden, Lin and Parsons are all capable of great, clutch plays. But in the game last night Harden was scoring best, so it was his opportunity to put the game away. He didn't, obviously, but it was the logical thing to do at the time. That loss sucked. A lot. But it's hard to overcome subpar games by multiple guys on your team.
Just go to stats.nba.com. This discussion is off base and just an attempt by some folks of prop up their hero.
Why are you using per game assist to put discredit his point when he's using a per minute basis. The per minute basis is obviously more relevant because you can give a player 10 minute and they get you 5 assist compared to a player playing 40 minute and giving you 6.
We need a real Point Guard to go with this current core. James Harden is great but we need to take him out of his primary ball handler situations. Get a point guard in here that will call the right play and put this team in the best situations. A game manager. Our leadership is horrible. I think that is the reasons we start slow at the beginning of games. Leadership either comes from the coach or the players, and we don't have a leader at neither.
Our PGs play better when Harden is off of the floor. To be honest, when Beverley played without Harden (and Lin) for I think the first time in the starting unit, he scored 10 in the first quarter before breaking his hand. Lin does a nice job when Harden is out, the ball moves well. And PGs call a play? Harden has taken it upon himself to manage the game. The only thing the PG can do is get in a power struggle with Harden but once Harden gets the ball, he tends to hold it.
but if you like we can figure out the assists per minute if you like and compare them that way. Harden is avg'ing .135/min Lin is avg'ing .139/min How does that make lin a "better" team player?
With our current RnR system, all players are position-less except center. Harden just happens to be better at initiating our offense, and he also DEMANDS the ball more than others who have a less of a ego. If Harden doesn't have the ball in his hand, he wouldn't know how to contribute any other ways. He doesn't even do his baseline cut anymore, nor will he cut to the basket when Dwight is posting up. Casspi, Jones, Parsons doing most of cutting. He only stands and watches when others are initiating our offense. Rondo is a true PG (pass first) and a terrible shooter but useless without the ball, and Harden doesn't know how to contribute w/o the ball. If we have Rondo, their egos will be on a head on collision course.
harden still has his 6th man mentality, just with more mins, which equals more shot attempts & more points, last year he was more efficient with ASIK SMITH PPAT setting picks, he doesn't get those as often from HOWARD & JONES which effects his efficiency & more one on one ISO bball
here's a crazy thought... let lin be THE point guard for ONE game, just ONE, and against a bad team like the knicks or bucks... People here like to point to Harden's ability to play with ball dominant superstars when he was in OKC; with that said, Lin has proven to be able to be a great PG and lead a team in NYC. just an idea...
Lol hardens not clutch cuz of one game.. Lol last season people we're complimenting harden for his 4th quater take overs and clutch shot
I thought fans were supposed to support their players rather than hate on them. We should leave the harden hate to OKC fans or something like that, not rockets fans. He messed up that game, it doesn't mean he's "awful in the clutch". He actually has a lot of really clutch games. Anybody remember xmas?
Second in the league in 4th quarter scoring yet so much complaining, especially from LOFs. What does he have to do, be first in the league? Will that make it all better.
