None of our rookies will really help the back court except machado who I think isn't ready. Pat, Morris, Asik and Smith are all doing fine without needing our rookies to help yet. What we need is a vet backup pg that can run an offense regardless of who Mchale wants to play.
You're exactly right. It's unsustainable. If you watched last night's game, Harden was gassed at the end of it. He still carried us over the finish line with a couple drives to the hoop, but he was having to take possessions off and let Lin work the PnR and clank the 8 footer. He was standing out there with his hands on his shorts. He was gassed. And that's only the second game of the season. It does look good. But we haven't played a good team yet. And I suspect we may hit a brick wall tonight if Portland decides to collapse the D on Harden and not let him get off. And once that happens, that will be the league model. Any opposing team would do well to take Harden out of the play and make our other players beat them. Harden is not fool's gold. But this team is fool's gold until they prove they can win with teams taking Harden out of the game.
Just because you are a talented rookie, doesnt take the fact away that you are still a rookie...and you'll have to learn from those around you...If his vets dont deliver...I am sure that Mchale will make the right moves to get Jones/ white in(especially Jones)...but this is the NBA...over time...every player will get his number called upon...and he has to be ready...this is what being a professional means...you cant pout...cant cry...Santa isn't gonna give you minutes...unless youre a lottery pick...thats why... The bigger issue is the back PG...till that is fixed...Lin and Harden are gonna play way too many minutes...and that is extremely dangerous...Have to find a way...to accelerate Machado's growth or get someone here that can run a break...
First off, these were road games. Solid playoff teams like Lakers, Boston, Memphis and Clippers had losing road records last season. Second, most of the guys we are playing are second and third year guys. We should develop those young guys first, and look at the rookies later. None of the rookies have done anything to deserve to be bumped up in line.
This thread wouldn't even exist if we didn't get the 2 W's, we all prob saying fire Mcfail or something if he played the rookies
this thread is fool's bronze. It's basketball. You just can't say well if harden doesn't play we lose 64 to 102. It doesn't work that way. Even before harden, we were going to be one of the highest scoring teams. I don't know if you've noticed Mr. langhi, but we've been good at assisting. Mctalky, before pre season got underway, said he wanted more ball movement. And what did we see during it? a lot of ball movement. When harden comes back to earth and only scores 24 a game, shots will find the cutting and open man. ***** still fearing our lack of a backup pg. guess we've been spoiled at having two good ones at a time(insert juvenile joke here)
Yes the coaching staff is going to gas Harden, Lin, Parsons and Asik. You would do the same in their situation. So the back to back games are going to be brutal. And the Rockets are going to lose quite a few of them. We all knew that even with Harden playing, this was going to be an up and down season. When your starting 5 average about 24 years of age it is just going to happen. The O/U is still about 37 games. About right IMHO. The first rookie I want to see in the game is Machado. He certainly could become a live wire assist machine with the second team, but he is going to need to develop other facets of his game. That is our biggest need at this time. If Machado can do that, the rest of the rookies can gather pine splinters for quite a while.
The rookies wil play when we have a blow-out game, up or down by 30. In the meantime, it's important to secure as many W's early in the the season as possible, to create some breathing room, to bring a positive atmosphere, to showcase our talents, to sell tickets....etc. It'll be more difficult to get the W's when we're no longer under the radar and after other teams have figured us out and come up with better game plans to contain us.
We beat two teams on the road with Harden being here 5 days and a team consisting of only 2 rotation players from last season. These are not small accomplishments.
Howabout we let the STARTING unit gel before we worry about getting rookies playing time? Idk... maybe AT LEAST 3 GAMES! ....smh...some people....lol
Not to mention our 3 centerpiece players are playing season starters for the FIRST time in their careers, and the average age of the team is 23 chock full of rookies. Seriously, if we'd lost the first 2 games or split them 1 and 2 would anyone have been really surprised? Talent/chemistry of the starters is what's willing us to Wins, because the Bench sure as heck hasn't contributed all that much...
The rooks will get their time.... Garbage minutes. Let's hope for some blow outs (wishful thinking I know).
Besides maybe Delfino and Asik, we literally have nobody who DOESN'T need development right now. Morris earned his minutes by keeping mouth shut and going to the D-League when told to. Now he's looking decent and setting a benchmark for the rookies. What have they done to earn any minutes? That's the question McHale wants them asking themselves.
I don't think it's a good idea to rush the rookies this early. Let's get our starting lineup clicking, so that when the rookies do get their shot, they will be playing with teammates who know what they're doing. Fill the court with rookies and it will be a mess, and they may not learn as much, or as quickly. Keep in mind, Morris is almost a rookie, Lin doesn't have a ton of experience....even Parsons is still a bit green. All these guys need PT to grow. Im excited to see our rooks too, but give it a little time. They'll get their chance.
I personally believe in developing players but not to the point where we give them playing time because they are either young, old, black, white, etc. I agree that you can only develop skills from playing time, but you don't develop the mental aspect that way. The young players need to understand that if they cannot outwork the current starters of the team, they certainly won't be able to do that with the better more elite players in the league. If they want to get PT, they have to earn it. Work harder and COMPETE. They need to have that burning desire if they will be part of the future of the team. Jordan always said that what drove him to become a better basketball player was when he was cut in high school. Humbling somebody can be a positive experience. Morris is another example of this. Not saying he will be a superstar but there appears to be a huge difference in his attitude towards the game, and hence.. more PT
Almost everyone is the rotation is young, there's no need to play the rooks just because they're rooks. We've got youth out there developing, I'm sure if Mchale had a stud backup C that was a rook he'd get plenty of burn.
