Oh, we'll always be under the radar. If we smash the Lakers, NYK, Chicago or other big market teams on national television, they'll talk about how the other team needs to fix certain problems as if it was THEIR fault that they lost, not the Rockets. I'm looking forward for title contention THIS SEASON. It's going to be tough, but we have the talent to do it.
Thanks! It turned out it worked well. For some reason, I needed to refresh it after posting to make it visible for me.
Well said. When 3's aren't falling and the paint is packed, you have to take some midrange shots to create plays and get hands hot, particularly in the first half. Keep bricking 3's is the fastest way to freeze the whole team.
I just wanted to add that this whooping was done on a playoff team, in the West, that has been playing well. Man, when we roll, we roll hard!
YES! elbow hit up under his chin... could have easily been to the neck easily and crushed or damaged his windpipe. totally intentional. should have been flagrant foul.
Didn't watch the game, but Jeremy's help defense was intense in that game. Why didn't his man jack up some 3's? He left him open the entire night. I thought he might have over help.
The coaches should put the tape of this game in a good place and replay it to the team in the afternoon before each future game as a warm-up.
This is a great highlight ... could watch it over and over again, together with Geraldd's Lin + team highlights one showing the bench drillings 3,3,3,3,3,3,3 at the end. Being a long clip, with highlights showing defense, it is worth taking your time to watch the whole clip with your eyes focused on Lin fully, on defense. Just look at how disruptive his help D was. Easier this game because the Jazz was missing Williams & Hayward and the Rockets could really pack the paint. The numbers work this way. Let's say Lin's help D on average gives up an extra 2.5 3-pointers per game (roughly, I think somewhere around 2 to 3 makes sense), and because it is more open, the opponent shooting percentage goes from 35% to 55% (I think reasonable guess). Basically you're giving up ~1.5 points per game more. But in this game, Lin had 1 charge taken, 1 jump-ball that we won, 3 steals (with good chances of leading to fast-breaks that have high PPS + opponents don't score ... the kind of 4-pt swings that gives you momentum), and numerous times where the big man is bothered on his shot or had to pass the ball out that led to lower shooting percentages due to his help D. I think it easily adds up to being worth more than 1.5 points per game, EASILY. And most of them don't even show up in his Synergy defensive stats, because it is help defense. I used to think Lin just needs to learn better which players to leave, and which not. But if he's this effective on help defense, the number probably backs him playing as much help defense as he can. Especially with our style of turning D into O via transition and pace. ................... And ASIK ... amazing D on Jefferson, but that is more obvious because fans generally follow the ball when they watch.
I think Lin will get the blame more with all that Help D. Then again, maybe that dude can't shoot three's so that was a good move to leave him open like that.
It was clearly part of the defensive plan. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap can dominate if they get a mismatch. However, Jeremy Lin is a good enough help defender, and more important he's Quick enough that he can help on Jefferson and Millsap and STILL close out to his man to contest the shot. Tinsley wasn't going to score going to the rim with the paint packed, and his 3 point shooting is average so he wasn't going to punish the Rockets excessively, especially with Lin's ability to close. Not only was he helping when Tinsley was relatively close, but Lin was actually leaving the weak side Entirely and leaving Tinsley completely alone while NONE of the Rocket players rotated on to Tinsley. Even then, the one time that Jefferson managed to pass cross court, Lin was fast enough to STILL close the entire court and STILL decently contest. This is where Lin's crazy fast acceleration becomes a huge asset. Essentially the Rockets were daring Tinsley to shoot, saying that if Utah was going to beat them Tinsley would have to carry the team. And Tinsley is not that kind of player.
You're correct, I saw the same thing too. It seem Lin likes doing that help defense stuff, probably will be try more often from coaches with green light. Also notice they can't high pick and roll any more on Lin, Asik comes out and Lin goes high, Asik traps the guard from driving.
Ya, I saw that play by Lin running across the entire baseline to contest the 3 by Tinsley. Also, Lin will only go full force on help D when the shot clock is down to single digit. It really disrupt the flow of the opponent's play.
