Sunday, December 16, 2012

Rockets @ Raptors Game #23 Pre-Game Thread

Sun 12/16 Rockets @ Raptors 10am PT

Next 3:
Mon 12/17 Rockets @ Knicks 4:30pm PT
Wed 12/19 Rockets vs 76ers 5:00pm PT
Sat 12/22 Rockets vs Grizzlies 5:00pm PT

31 comments:

  1. ugh.. I might not be able to see this, but I'll be posted here for updates. hope I can get video highlights..

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  2. Lin and the Rockets have won all the games that they could've won.

    As much as McHale and Sampson are being criticized for limiting Lin's role, I'm still pleased at Lin's season and am happy that he's making quality winning plays.

    This Toronto game against Kyle Lowry should be good. Last time, Jeremy Lin thoroughly outplayed Lowry who most people outside this forum thinks is a vastly superior player to Lin.

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  3. Lin will have 6 pts 7 assists today .

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    1. in 20 mins, and will be benched in the 4th quarter. SMH

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    2. Sounds about right. I'll go two further further 6pt 6ast 5 reb, excellent defense on Tor's PG so 4 steals. Team win. Jlin being diplomatic post game.

      That's the script so far, no reason to change.

      What we probably don't see: Jlin working on jumpers and other things with Finch (coaches with international experience more colorblind) @ night before sleep. Building up those skills so that when the opportunity comes, he will MAKE those low percentage plays if he so chooses.

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  5. My prediction of Lin's minute :

    1st quarter : start the quarter and benched around half of the quarter

    2nd quarter : start the quarter and benched after around 2/3 to 3/4 of the quarter

    3rd quarter : start the quarter but benched early or before half the quarter

    4th quarter : "I thought putting Jeremy back in again but Douglas is playing so well"


    I'm really hoping that I'm wrong about this

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    1. pretty spot on. dropping 38 points on the spurs means nothing. fuck mcfail and sampshit. keith dumb clones.

      on another note, anyone see isiah thomas (currently benched in favor of aaron brooks. wtf?) tweeting against smart lately? ha.

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    2. i think so. Douglas is going to outplay the shitty raptors anyway

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  6. I see the value of some posters here that says Lin should take the more selfish play over the more team play because this coaching staff really see no value in him. Don't care how many post game conferences that would say otherwise, the actions of this staff--benching Lin repeatedly in the 4th qtr--makes clear this unwritten rule of the NBA: you're not a starter if you're not closing. This has some resemblances to the GS Warrior situation, not a full blown Keith Smart 2.0, but very strong correlations. The more I watch the HOU coaching staff, the more Kabuki theater I get to see.

    A superstar in the NBA is having that killer mentality.

    Doc Rivers' comment is a nice gauge of Jeremy's reputation right now: great team guy, solid to good NBA basketball player, and no threat to be demoted to the D-league. A "coaches player" and someone who plays the right way is not a superstar. It's not a pejorative by any means but in Western culture, they celebrate the superstars, not the behind the scenes guy.

    I think it's between Jeremy and God right now: will he make the biggest impact, spiritually and personally, as a 11 year player who will be the solid rotational 6-9 player while making occasional superstar glimpses. This is LOWER RISK

    --OR--

    as many of us fans want, the HIGHER RISK: develop that killer mentality--choose the lower percentage play **AND** make it, therefore breaking even more stereotypes so as to be recognized as an ALL-STAR/franchise player type of guy.

    For example, a nice pass to a HOU big men is a higher percentage play, logically, over a jump shot by Jeremy himself. In fact, it'll be what the coaches teach...but when the HOU big men blows the layup/dunk/shot...we all sigh. Some might applaud the right choice, some get angry that Jeremy should have taken the shot himself.

    However, taking and MAKING higher risk options is an entirely different story than just taking the higher risk option as some posters here have advocated.

    How many times have we seen in NBA history where Jordan takes his shot with a triple team in his face? The fact we celebrate the shot going in (the result as opposed to the process) is opposite of what probably fundamental basketball coaches teach--if you draw three defenders, you should pass the ball for higher percentage shots by teammates. It makes sense logically but superstars are superstars because they make successful low percentage plays.

    If Jeremy doesn't MAKE the lower percentage choice plays (aka more selfish plays), it will turn off his teammates, turn off other coaches, gain labels that will be very hard to shake, and a whole host of unintended consequences. Jeremy does have a guaranteed 25 million contract, yes, but he doesn't have that first rd lottery pick status. In the NBA, capital gained from contract is LESS than a lottery pick status. If Jeremy's result from playing more aggressive aka higher risk ("selfish" as some like to term it) is not successful, his small reservoir of capital will certainly dwindle. John Wall has more capital to fail. Same with Kylie Irving. Jeremy Lin does not. Is that fair? No, but that's where the chips have fallen. Continuing that metaphor--It's the same thing with poker players when they have smaller amount of chips to play with. Go all in or wait to accumulate chip by chip?

    Whatever Jeremy and his inner circle decides, I'll respect it and continue to support his very lonely trailblazer status. History in the making is very, very rare to witness first hand.

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    1. You don't see too many Asian-American dude in the NBA that actually have a good chance to be more than average. When you have everything lined up for you..why wouldn't you want to go all out? Jeremy need to question himself..do I want to go down in history as an All-Star/franchise Asian-American dude or just an avarage Asian-American dude that play in the NBA? Either ways we are still happy for him living his dream because the kid work hard to get where he is at right now. We will never know because maybe the people who is signing his check is making him playing like that.

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    2. Pierrot, thanks for your post. I agree with most of what you say but would like to clarify the difference I see with your comment regarding the superstar MJ and Lin. Lin is nowhere the offensive player that MJ was, so I don't want Lin trying to make certain type of shots that only MJ would be able to make. I am talking about pretty wide open shots that are available to Lin but which he still does not take but instead chooses to pass to Asik or Harden or whoever. That's what I am complaining about. Lin should take those shots precisely so he could improve his offensive game. If he did that without hesitation and also tried to get more open by moving without the ball, I bet you, Lin would end up taking at least 3 to 4 more shots than he has been taking.

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    3. One more thing. I absolutely see the possibility that Lin could be the kind of PG who is slightly worse than Rondo in assisting ability but slightly better than Rondo in the scoring ability, which means Lin would be equivalent to Rubio in the passing department but better than Rubio in the scoring department. No knock on Rubio, but no way Rubio could score more than 30 points against good teams even if you let him play 48 minutes and let him handle the ball 100%.

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    4. Put Rondo on the Rockets and he'd look like a total SCRUB without those Hall of Famers to catch those 3 foot bailout passes for 20 foot contested jumpers.

      Rondo on the Rockets would make Jeremy Lin look like Magic Johnson.

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    5. Lin would sure fit better with Celtics, no question.

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  9. Hopefully the Asian-Canadian community will come out in full force to support Jeremy. Kyle Lowry will be like ... what? Why are all these Raptors fans cheering for them instead of their own team?

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    1. Opportunity for Lin to be the play maker and bring the struggling team back on its feet

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  10. Jeremy Lin is battling more than just coaches unsure of his ability.

    He's also battling teammates that are trying to marginalize him, opponents that are headhunting him, and referees that are trying to officiate him out of the league.

    Against the backdrop of that total hostility, I marvel at Lin's prowess. I've been in Lin's shoes as the hated lone Asian guy all my life, so I know what it's like for everybody including his teammates to be going against him. I also admire how mature his game has been, as all the negativity has really forged him into an incredible player.

    Lin's already has his breakout GAMES (not just one, but several). Now it's just a matter of him learning how to not play nice and just BULLY people. Lin's got it in him to be a bully who pushes around not just opponents, but teammates and coaches. Lin HAS to be that way to be the sole Asian guy holding his ground.

    Jeremy Lin is the only player in NBA history who gets flamed more for doing well than for doing poorly!

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  11. YOU guys do know the reason for Mchale benching Lin right? Hes not making the shots that he should be making. He rather have Douglas who can play much BETTER defence than lin. Douglas also can make certain shots and is much more aggressive. he doesnt hesitate to shoot. One thing i like about Lin v, Dogulas is that he can make better plays for his team.

    Unless Lin starts getting those open shots more often and playing decent defence i dont see why Mchale would not continue to play Lin.

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    1. That's why Lin should take more shots rather than passing. Lin can already pass, so the only way Lin can improve his shooting is taking more shots during live games as long as he's reasonably open. Let Rockets' coaches start Dougie over him if they wish.

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    2. Rob, you should go post at the Tony Douglas site. I'm sure your input be greatly appreciated.

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  12. 2 turnovers already within 3 mins. Lin sucks

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  13. Douglas comes in and everyone starts getting their shots in. Having a feeling that their teammates want Lin out lol

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  14. Where are the fans here? I guess you guys gave up on Lin too huh? Man, Lin needs to go back to D league and redeem himself.

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    1. Wow, the team is doing so well right now under Douglas' command.

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