Defensively, Lin didn't inspire much confidence this game, but then again Brooks can't be considered a better defensive option in any situation. Maybe McHale's thinking was that he was going to ride Harden for offense, and Brooks's 3-point shooting was a better complement. Obviously Lin's bad series of plays in the 3rd quarter rubbed McHale the wrong way. During last season, I looked at how Lin's minutes game-to-game correlated with his +/- in a given game. There was a much stronger relationship for him than other players. Meaning that McHale is more likely to limit his minutes in a game when the team isn't playing well with him on the floor (or, conversely, when the team is playing really well with him off the floor), compared to other players. Honestly, it wasn't a major surprise to me that Lin didn't get back in the game.
the issue is that it leads the team in a bad direction regardless of whether you are a Lin fan or not. you have players who are not held to the same "standards" as others. Lin doesn't turn the ball over more than Harden or Howard and if you look at PPS, he scores just as well as Harden and Howard (well Howard is a bit higher but he's a BIG and they generally have higher PPS). so what is the reason that he did not play? Feel? here's the thing. Lin played well during the first half but he still got subbed by AB during normal substitutions. AB didn't play well in the first half and his run was actually shorter than normal. I see that. but when your (current) starting PG didn't play well to start the second half and his replacement was really not providing that much more, you have to provide more than "Feel" as an excuse not to bring in your starting PG back in the game. if AB was hot and scoring a ton, there's no reason to take him out. he wasn't. as I mentioned, when the Knicks went small, McHale could have used Lin instead of Garcia. Was Garcia on fire? No, he hit 1 three and made the foul that allowed NY to tie the game. So there was absolutely no other sub player that was "on fire" or "hot" that would merit Lin sitting unlike DMo against Memphis where he was doing such a good job that Howard said to leave him in there. BIG Difference. Now, as I also mentioned, if you were concerned, you could have played offense/defense. I think Lin is a bit better defensively than AB and I think Lin is a bit better offensively than Garcia. but yep, it's the coach that makes the decision.
See ton, this is where there's some misconcept... Players know they are always a play away from being replaced.. Unless you are that quote on quote superstar player. This has been going on for ages... Back in the day the Cleveland Browns coach would yell at another player when he was talking about Jim Brown. We as fan see one thing and feel one thing, but the fact is it's not always true. I can see how a lot of Lin fans get pissed that Harden can do something and Lin doesn't have the same right... Again, that is the coach right and again that has been happening for years; it's a part of the game no matter if you like it or not... So I get where the anger is coming from, but it boils down to what you and Durvasa or both saying... No player has a right and it's the coach that makes the decision. T_Man
Actually, I'm not sure you can make a causal determination from a correlative relationship. Going back to your semantics argument. The reverse could also be true: Lin plays better when McHale does not limit his minutes. And no, no player has a "right" to be on the court. And yes, McHale's substitutions often has me scratching my head. Mostly because Harden and Parsons are playing 40+ minutes a game these days. I hope something happens soon because this is unsustainable. Either you trade Lin for a wing that can help Harden and Parsons or you start playing him bigger minutes (and even then you still have too many minutes for Harden and Parsons). Not doing either is going to screw up our key franchise pieces.
There are explaination and there are explainations. Back in 1950 and before w many minority groups were given many explainations why they were not chosen to attend certain universities when their credentials were the same as the majority group. The answers were not honest or forthright based on the minority groups performance (credentials). Action had to be taken by higher authorities. Mchale's answer indicates poor judjement and his supervisors should form a plan to attempt to correct his poor judgement. I hope I answered the what then question. If Mchale's judgement does not get better in situations such as this and other situations (handling of minutes,choice of sets and plays, coordinating defense)we will not come close to contending for a championship. Harnecek is doing great things with the Suns in his first year because he makes rational decisions and follows his players peformance ,and alots time for those who are performing well. Don't excuse McHale's bad choices because of your feelings toward Lin, you will ultimately hurt the Rockets. Bleacher report just came out with an article entitled "The Suns got their mojo back the minute Hornecek took over".We did not get our mojo back under McHale's supervision. This is not just a problem between Lin and Mchale. It speaks to the fundemental competence of our coach.
Maybe, but it doesn't make as much sense to me going in this direction. For a single game, the allocation of minutes seems to me to be more naturally a response to what happens in-game, rather than the other way around. Its not like McHale pre-declares how many minutes Lin will get each game.
I was watching the Linsanity highlights against the Mavericks where he had 13 assists and scored 38 and what jumped out was his confidence, fearlessness and joy playing the game. A lot of that was not only was he in a great rhythm, but he had the coach's and the team's back. At one point in the highlights the announcer Mike Breen says Lin just had 3 turnovers in a row before he made a really impressive drive and finish on a pump over Marion and Dirk. He had something like 7 turnovers in that game but he forged on and just had an incredible game. The lesson that McHale just doesn't seem to learn, and maybe some CF members haven't either is, Lin can go from looking like garbage to gold in just a few possessions. If you play him and show confidence in him, you're often rewarded. In a way Harden is like that too. He doesn't look like garbage, but he may have a few turnovers in a row and then the next play make a bunch of impressive shots and plays and buckets in a row. Of course both Harden and Lin have had total nightmare games, but came back strong after in the following games. You're right about the minutes, too many for Harden and Parsons, both of which look like they have chronic injuries.
Also, that particular casual relationship would imply that as long as Lin plays a significant number of minutes, he will play well.
Do you ever wonder why bother? We both know this is only an issue because it's their chosen one, you know it, i know it, everybody knows it, they will try and kill us with verbosity but ultimately no element of reasoning will resonate with them. It feels like a religious debate at times, complete with as deckard (or was it someone else?) said, where opinion is labelled fact. The Knicks aren't a bad team, they're actually a very good team, their record reflects what they're like without Chandler for most of the season so far.
The team came back from a 3rd quarter deficit and won, i don't particularly care which player is on the court.
I believe you. It's a pity that you don't care. Also, I believe it is sister KlutchKT, not brother. Check it out.
Someone should let San Antonio and Dallas know that, our neighbours seem to be having an awful lot of trouble with them.
My point is that no answer McHale gives would be satisfactory to you. And again, to compare (1) a guy who has millions on millions of dollars, magazine cover after magazine cover, and his own biopic not being put in for Q4 of a basketball game, and (2) minorities who were not permitted to obtain an education during systemic segregation -- that is both absurd and completely insulting.
Not really. The regular lineups could not get it done in the first three quarters. McHale made a change and we won the game. That really is all there is too it. Ultimately it was the right decision to acheive the desired result.
Yup. This is where the fundamental disconnect lies, and why the two "factions" (for lack of a better word) will never see eye to eye.
What type of player is Lin to you? Let's cut to the chase? And let me ask you this and I asked someone else this as well. What happens if Harden is out 3-5 weeks? Barring going anywhere else for any other player, who do you think is going to fill in and pull up at least a part of the slack and may keep the team from sliding out of contention?
