I'd let Lin handle the ball 85% of the game and create for everyone else. That's where all his value is and why he was so good in NY. It's true that he might not ever get as "hot" as he was in NY, but his skills thrive when he is able to create instead of standing and shooting threes. At the end of the 4th quarter, I'd want Harden to have it though. He's proven that he can still come up clutch without having the ball in his hand the whole game while he was in OKC. They would let him take over in the 4th quarter with KD and Russell still on the floor.
So how do you explain that we saw few screens in the game. if the coaches are not calling the screens to be set, who is? Morey? li should not be excused for having poor catch and shoot. But if you just want to play he blame game, you can have the all you can eat stuff whenever you want.
All I know is that he cant shoot the 3 when he trys to make somthin happen it ends up in a turnover or bad shot from his teammates then he starts playing timid but he'll give 2 nice no looks passes and then Mchale goes to TD or PB ...
I do no know much about shooting... I feel Lin has a weird way of shooting the ball. Perhaps Nook know more about it?
I had my doubts the first 7-12 stretch of "no democratic ball" whether it's Lin or the coaching, then the post-San Antonio 12-3 stretch happened when they were actually allowing some PG play. The difference was dramatic, almost as dramatic as our recent return to "no democratic ball." Now that we are in our second 1-7 stretch of our return to "no democratic ball," yeah, I will stake my bottom dollar on it: It's the coaching.
I am not so sure if it really just coaching. Over this most recent losing streak, many of this team's weakness were exposed. Poor team defense. Too much ISO plays on offense. Worn-out players because of excessive MPG. Coaching can only fix so much. Could it be that Rockets don't have the right personnel?
No way in ****ing hell should harden be a spot up shooter. Maybe on some possessions sure, but not for the most part. Should be a balance. They have shown flashes, other backcourts better than ours do it. Look at the end of the Dallas game. Alot of the games during the winning streak.
I agreed with you, but as you have see, Lin's job no longer a PG now. His new "job" under McHale is takes the ball to half court and then pass it off to Harden within a second or two after crossing the half court Lin. If this is McHale's plan for Lin, he will as well just bench him the whole game.
I'm hearing Douglas hasn't been playing much at all, does anyone have an idea why? Unfortunately, I can't see the games BECAUSE...get this! I'm a Uverse customer...
Probably because TD is not in our future plans, and Beverly is...we're grooming PB to be the future backup PG, and likely letting TD walk at the end of the year. I do believe that a healthy TD is better than PB at the present, while PB definitely has more potential.
Hey kid harden shoots ALOT better when taking setshots than shooting off dribble. Did you watch him play before he was traded here. Guys that don't jump high when shooting are almost always excellent spot up shooters ........ Kmart, novack, Thompson etc etc
You guys are like the Lakers. Talented personnel but no clue how to use them. Lakers this year: - Got one of the league's pnr guard/shooters in Nash and made him pass the ball before the 3 line and backdoor cut in the Princeton never to receive the ball again - Got an elite rollman dominant 5 in Dwight and made him camp the high post and try to playmake in the Princeton - Have a versatile 4 in Pau who can do damage in the low post but can't figure out how to make him coexist with a dominant 5. So they made him camp the 3 line and top of the key for the last 2 years and now he's coming off the bench - Had no clue how to use slasher Matt Barnes last year (they basically made him camp the 3 line where he looked like garbage). Now he's on the Clippers, allowed to slash, and playing awesome basketball Rockets - Above average pnr guard in Lin but can't make him coexist with a dominant 2. So they have him acting as an initiator pg and spotting up regularly even though that's the one thing he sucks at. I wonder how many losses this has translated to - TD, got his shot back this year and has won games (something Knicks fans would've gone nuts over if it happened last year). His reward is getting benched - Now you guys want Zach Randolph, which will totally kill your transition game
Lin's situation is a chicken or egg situation. If he doesn't do well, he should not handle ball more. If he doesn't have ball in his hands, he can perform well. No easy solution for him.
If you do PG comparison with 1st and 2nd highest scoring team in NBA. JLin stats are pretty much at par with Westbrook except his 3pt%. JLin only downfall is he doesn't take enough shots and his 3pt% needs improving but that should be over time. If he takes more shots his EFF will go up because EFF is offensive bias. So people should stop blaming JLin for high TO look at westbrook! Yes westbrook plays approx 3 min more than JLin so its higher...because he plays 3 min more his other stats will be higher also!!!! If the coach wants to play high pace game he should expect high TO% and stop benching him for every stupid TO. Mistakes will be made...and by benching JLin...you're making a negative impact on JLin and the team as a whole. Don't you see that Mcfail? If you want to play it fast expect TO!!! If Jlin defense is pretty much at par or better compared to Westbrook why is Houston struggling? Well....guess what!!! It's not all JLin fault!!! It's the entire team with poor defense because JLin defensive stats proves he's doing his part. McFail everytime you bench JLin you're hurting JLin confidence and his leadership role!!! How is the guy suppose to get out of the shooting funk when you bench him for silly TO with your type of playing style??? Like seriously man!!!! Look at OKC highest scoring team now...yet no one talks about Westbrook TO%!!!! Why because the team is number one!!! The only thing thats lacking with JLin is his shooting he needs to shoot more FG and work on his 3pt game!! Jlin defense is comparable to Westbrook so what needs working is the rest of the team on D!!!
I think Lin would make a good backup point guard. He's not good enough to be a starter for any team that wants to win. Neither were Dragic or Lowry. The Rockets have had very mediocre point guards over recent years.
Here's a thought: in early Dec Morey's been saying that Lin's knee was finally nearing 100%. And then the Rockets started winning. Then there was the January marathon of back-to-backs, most of them on the road; now, I'm not a doctor, but I'd think that that would put major stress on a knee right? Especially a healing knee? And guess what, Lin's play have looked like it did at the beginning of the season... ie. when his knee wasn't all the way back yet and he couldn't complete curving drives or hesitation/twisting moves. It's just a theory, but it's as sound as any speculation on what's being said by the coaches, given that none of us are actually any of the organizations confidants.
This is absolutely correct and plainly obvious. Sampson in particular plays favorites, and TD in particular is one of them, while Lin is the odd man out. It's completely appalling. What's even more so is Morey's hands off style, which allows this insanity to continue. Aside from morey's skills at player acquisition, the rockets are a mess. The term 'embarrassing' comes to mind. And we can't blame the fans for their apathy. Iso ball is incredibly dull to watch.
Eeeeeh, the month before the trade deadline is pretty much fair game for GM's to make requests of the coaches' rotation. Or at least more than at any other time in the season. Coaches would hide players or showcase players and that does strange things to the lineups sometimes. etc. So I'm not putting weight to any weirdness in the rotation until after the Feb 15th.
