Damn, you LOFs are delusional...McHale will never start Lin, and he will never play him like you want him to do. Its been like that for 82 games...why can't you just give up?
Nothing wrong with bringing a little humor into the fold. We can all use a good laugh or two to take our minds off of the Rockets' woes. Lol, good one Rockness.
I would have a TON of respect for McHale if he regulated Harden to the bench to start game 3. He could come in at the 8 minute mark; but bench to start the game in order to make a statement.
This type of stuff is what makes the NBA playoffs so compelling. There are moments in a playoff series where a team has to get desperate and throw out all previously held assumptions and think outside the box in order to survive. Some do it, some don't. It's like watching Game of Thrones. The Rockets are at that moment now. We'll see if McHale has that survival instinct that a successful NBA coach needs to have. He has to be able to sell out one of his own 'guys' in order to change things up. My guess is that Parsons and Jones draw the short straw.
You're supposed to do that during the regular season, not the playoffs. Instead McHale has let Harden acquire all these bad habits instead of holding him accountable. Play like ****? 45 MINUTES. Play no defense? 45 MINUTES Keep turning the ball over? 45 MINUTES sick with the flu? 45 MINUTES
That was my preferred starting unit, but I agree to ask that unit to carry the load against a good team when that group hasn't played together at all is a bit much to ask.
Start Twin Towers, get the rebound, outlet, and let Harden, Parsons, and Bev run it up and leave the bigs behind. I think it is finally going to happen. (Hoping)
Wait, I have more information; two surprise players will suit up at half time and run on the court in the third quarter: McHale and Willis Reed! You heard it here first.
Play Harden Sparingly on first half to conserve energy. Then let him dominate on second half. 1st half: Mainly, Lin/Bev/Parsons/DMo/Howard (Subs - Harden/Asik/TJ/Garcia) Play inside out with Dwight and run at every opportunity. Set the hustle tone. 2nd half: Mainly, Bev/Harden/Parsons/Asik/Howard (Subs - Lin/TJ/Garcia) Harden/Howard PnR with Lin/Asik PnR
Beverley - Harden - McHale - Hakeem - Howard Since nothing else is working, might as well go for shock and awe.
What if Harden goes out again and has a 4-30 shooting night? Still start him? I'd say that something is wrong at that point.
