Jeremy Lin and Beverley, who fits better with the team and James Harden

Funny how the evidence works. 17.3pt per 36 is equal to 16.8pt per 36, and no mention of Lin's higher turnovers.

I guess it goes to show you that if someone has an agenda, they can't resist massaging the data.

 

What is "ABL"?

 

LOL the current NBA champion is a DL team

 

And according to him Lin is a superstar. "I'mareallballa" is another LOF living in fantasy land.

 

I assume he meant American Basketball Association (ABA), but thought it was called American Basketball League (ABL).

 

So I noticed a huge part of the argument for Lin as 6th man wasn't addressed. It's not so much how each of them plays with Harden that is a concern, but what each of them can do with the 2nd team. Lin's impact there would be much greater than Bev's. Lin would also be more effective in that role because he needs the ball to be effective, whereas Bev doesn't, and without Harden on the floor Lin gets alot more touches.

You can't ignore this.

 

Oh its been addressed, x100

 

It has been addressed a bunch of times. And a very simple response to that is that Harden is still going to play a ton of minutes so this whole concept that Lin being a 6th man will negate the whole Lin Harden overlap is false because Harden will still be playing a significant amount of minutes with Lin even if Lin comes off the bench. Nobody is ignoring what you are saying, a lot of people are just saying that the overlap will always be there irregardless of Lin coming off the bench or being a starter.

 

McHale isn't going to play Harden a ton of minutes if the team has a significant lead, especially if the 2nd unit could increase the lead.

There will be around 1 quarter worth of minutes (or even more, depending on the lead) where Harden wouldn't be on the court, and you could bet that if McHale is trying to use Lin as a 6th man, then Lin would be on the court in all of those minutes.

 

even in blowouts last season, Harden played 36+ minutes.

 

That didn't happen.

 

Last year didn't Mchale say that he wanted to stagger Lin & harden's minutes? And how long did that last? We would see McHale sit Lin first & then sit Harden & then instead of putting Lin back in first he would put in Harden. Weren't there games where the Rockets had a sizeable lead close to the end of the game & McHale still left Harden in there & fans were like ok sit Harden. Weren't there a bunch of games where he had Harden out there leading the 2nd unit with Lin or without Lin & with Tony Douglas? I do not see McHale letting Lin out there on the court by himself for an entire quarter without Harden for an entire quarter that isn't happening. And honestly I don't see Harden going for that considering that he is in the MVP conversation and has a strong case to make the all star games again.

 

just stop it with the harden is a stat stuffer conspiracy theories

 

Don't you think there is a huge difference between this year and last year? McHale couldn't afford to have Harden on the bench for long because the team did not have any strong scoring options.

Sure, there were games where McHale left Harden in the game longer than he should have, but those were the exceptions.

Last season, there are at least 10 games where the Rockets blew out their opponent and Harden played 35 or less minutes. In those games, the Rockets were up by at least 15 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400277805
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278114
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278175
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278385
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278438
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278605
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278748
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278856
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278920
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278681

Also, you don't need to play a ton of minutes to be in the all-star game or MVP discussion.

If the Rockets are extremely talented, and have a convincing lead, why would McHale leave Harden on the court?

 

I foresee Howard/Asik/Harden/Lin all going to the bench at the 6 minute mark in game one.

 

Who is talking about stat stuffing? Stop reading things into my posts. Good lord not everything is a slight against Harden.

Players want to play, guys don't want to be off of the court. Yes this team has more talent but guys are still going to want to be out there. And back to the main point realistically this team only has three guys that can create for themselves and other effectively & two of them are in the back court. It isn't like we added a plethora of shot creators & shot distributors. I do not see McHale leaving Lin out there for an entire quarter by himself without Harden it just won't happen just like I didn't see Mchale being truly committed to staggering Lin & Harden's minutes last year. NBA coaches historically would rather go for the short thing than take a risk & right now Harden is the sure thing & Lin is a risk cause night in & night out he is a different player.

 

It really doesn't matter what you "see" or "think". If the team is able to protect or extend the lead with Harden on the bench, McHale would have no reason playing Harden 38 minutes. It makes no sense for a coach to risk overworking and injuring his player.

McHale's job is to win the championship. He is concerned with both the long term and short term issues on this team, so Harden's health is a concern. If Jeremy Lin can lead the 2nd unit and extend the lead with Harden on the bench, McHale (or any other coach) would have no reason to throw their best player back on the court immediately.

 

If Harden requested to play more, what do you think Mchale will do?

 

In a large lead/ blowout? Please name me one player in the history of the NBA who has requested more PT when he's not needed on the court. I'll wait.

 

Say no?

Do you think Harden would be upset he only got to play 28 minutes in a blowout game against another team?