Agreed with most of your points. However, one problem people don't really understand is that Lin and Harden don't play the same position so they can both still thrive at it. In basketball, the glory usually goes to the player scoring the most points but that doesn't necessary mean that player is the most impactful player.
Listen, Harden is a HUGE offensive talent. He could average 30 a game if he wanted to (though his efficiency would drop). The problem is not with Harden. It's with the way the coaching staff uses him. All the ISOs wear him out, make the Rockets easier to defend, make it harder to get offensive rebounds, make the other players lose interest in running and cutting hard and defending, etc. When Harden is out, the coaches are forced to coach (or forced to make Lin run the offense). Team ball is ALWAYS better. Harden would be even more dominant playing team ball, catching at the triple threat position and making quick decisions. The only justification for all of the crappy ISO plays is if they want to make Harden into a "superstar" and get him highlights, videos, star calls, and to get the NBA and refs to treat the Rockets better. This might be working. But it sure is painful, ugly, boring, and just bad basketball. Can an exciting team ball system work to bring in fans? Well, Linsanity sure worked. If the NBA is willing to accept that team ball can draw in fans (previously laughed at as being an unathletic/European/Ivy League style), maybe the Rockets can just play team ball and be a great offensive and defensive machine at its finest, with Harden a critical centerpiece. My feeling is that Stern and the NBA have all been blinded by the MJ isos and think that is the only way to make money. Well if that is so, let's have more Harden isos until Stern is booted out of the office or finally forced to step down. It's a new international world, and the NBA sorely needs new leadership with a new vision.
We are all just expressing our opnions based on limited information, and we might be subjective. None of us can claim our own opnion is better than others. I laugh when people claims that "I know better than you". I appreciate posts with information/data/analysis, etc, regardless what conclusions they draw. What I don't enjoy though, is labeling people this and that.
You are right. The title of this thread is an invalid one. The real issue is how McHale can use Harden and the whole roster more effectively so to benefit the team as well as each individual player's development.
He pretty much has willed us the whole year, those times when lin is a no show Harden was always there getting it done. Inconsistency is a major problem for lin, he may show flashes but his jumper is still broke at times and struggles to keep his dribble. Harden is a whole different breed than lin, up there with the Melo types. Lins a borderline starter who tried to get into the all star game and ride his wave by silly LOFs. Harden actually earned his spot. If were talking D.rose or some legit star such as D.wade then there's a debate, but lin himself is weak and doesn't have the mentality or enough skills to carry a NBA team. The Rockets are young but aren't a terrible team, our bench fairs well and a few of them can light it up. Lin wasn't the only one scoring on the floor, Asik and Greg put together some points to help out the young wonder. Hardens an excellent passer and once he begins to see the floor better and stop running Mchale's isos a lot of you will have a different opinion. You don't give away superstars people, especially ones at Hardens age, Get ReaL!
Tonight was a better managing of his minutes was spot on 35 instead of 40 something. Got kind of worried when they were icing his legs in the middle of the game. Black Amish looked like his efficient self.
Those are heat pads, not ice packs. He's averaged ~38 minutes for the year, so I'll let you in on a secret: As many 41 minute games as he's had, he's had the same amount of 35 minute games :grin:
this is should be shown to all new members when they must learn how to NOT start knee-jerk threads. One game happened, in this game, one thing happened. That game was good for us, thus that one thing must have caused the good to happen. LET'S DEEM A TOP 3 SHOOTING GUARD AS A LIABILITY ON THIS TEAM. sound good?
