His play has improved from November to December, just look at his splits, and although he seems to have taken a step back in this losing streak, he still playing better than he was in November. He's more aggressive, he's finishing stronger and playing better overall. His shot is improving. Even if you didn't watch the games and you just looked at the stats alone, you'll notice an upward from start of the season to now. I take it you're not seeing his improved play over the course of the season?
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG, a player in his first full year as a starter is inconsistent?!!!!!!! Go join a gossip circle, you middle school girls.
If you judge Lin only by scoring, you will be understandably disappointed. One of Lin's biggest offensive strengths is his midrange game. He can hit 10-20 foot jumpers with regularity, has a few post spins, and has an excellent runner. Too bad he is being instructed only to take 3's (which few players can make when cold) and drives all the way to the hoop. His defense, rebounding, nose for loose balls (trust me this is huge in winning gams), passing, and transition game still make him an asset regardless.
The team is obviously told not to take midrange shots whether they are capable or not. Look at a few shot charts for the games. They are obviously all told to take 3's or at the rim. There was a recent study about those being higher value shots. This is obviously a Morey imposed experiment. Has statistics written all over it. We will live or die by 3's... check out the resent shot chart for the 76er's game. Notice the huge difference in midrange shots http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=400278264
I have watched all the games. He does not shoot enough midrange shots to get into a rhythm, and a good percentage of his midrange shots are forced shots to beat the shot clock, rarely ever in the rhythm of the offense. Whenever he gets a midrange look, he almost always tries to get a better shot for a teammate, or drives it all the way in. His midrange games was one of his strengths at Harvard and with the Knicks last year.
This is exactly my point. Lin suggested this in an interview earlier this year--wish I had the link. Even Drexler was begging for Lin to take a step or two inside the 3-point line and applauded him when he drained one from about 21 feet recently. When you are cold, you might be 25% (or less) from the 3-point line but able to shoot 45%-50% from 20-21 feet. Obviously then the midrange shot becomes the better shot, by anyone's calculations.
I love how Lin gets up and down the floor in transition. Yeah he has a lot still to learn and is going to have good games and bad games but he is putting an effort out there and trying to get better. I thought his numbers would be better scoring this season but I am not upset by his overall progress.
Kobe's teamball game has been horrible this year...yet hes considered top 5 players having one of his best seasons...
JLin is playing like what he is _ an inexperienced player with not a lot of games under his belt... The Rockets have a $24 million point guard who needs time to develop. Power Forward is not the only position the Rockets are weak at.
That is true, unfortunately for Lin, he usually needs a good screen to for Him to be more effective which the bigs haven't been setting much.
You made the call before the season? Did you also call that Lowry and Dragic are nothing more than backups? Last 10 games are listed below and you can see how close they are playing but Lin has the slight edge overall. Lin 12.8 ppg / 6.3 assist pg / 4.1 rebounds pg / 3 steals pg / shooting 42.5% Lowry 9.3 ppg / 6 assist pg / 3.4 rebounds pg / 1.2 steals pg / shooting 41.2% Dragic 13.4 ppg / 6.1 assist pg / 2.1 rebounds pg / 1 steals pg / shooting 44.5%
Dragic and Lowry are no longer Rockets. I don't care what they do. i understand you're not a Rockets fan and only care about Lin, but most of us have a different perspective
This is a problem that McHale needs to address. This seem like whoever the ball handler at the moment has to drive the ball in and draw the defenders, then pass out the ball for a 3. Great, if the 3s are consistent as there were back in December. But in the last few games when the 3s were not consistent, they will lose the game. They need need to do some pick and roll so their games don't easily read by the other team.
