Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Rockets vs Sixers Game #25 1st Half Game Thread

175 comments:

  1. Allen Iverson will own Jeremy tonight. Don't waste your time.

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  2. Geez start the tip off already. Is there any delay with the game?

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  3. No Jrue, which can only help the Rox

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  4. oh, that's nice coach, creating a play on the drawing board while making no eye contact with Lin.

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    1. Lol yep, totally saw that. His eyes were like all over Harden's beard

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  5. Wow Lin's family is there close to front row behind the bench again.

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    1. Yeah - this way if they snap they can storm the bench - take McHale down. Papa Lin can hold McHale as Mamma Lin beats the crap out of him :)

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  6. The rook is doin' full court defense on Lin. Not really the best idea I think.

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  7. Just a quick idea to the rockets management...

    Remove the 3 top seat rows + make audience sit on the site where the cameras point to + raffle off tickets to people in Houston area :)

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  8. Asik got the and-1 but a reverse lay up? Really? haha

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  9. need to accept that this is how the rockets play. minimal pg play. they're winning this way, they're not gonna change it.

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  10. Haha yeah its no screen iso ball all over again. Jeremy is dishing a bit but looks like its bring up give to harden and parsons.

    Theyre sticking to lin like glue though might be why they go back to motion offense.

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  11. TO all you fool out there. The games against the Knicks and Spurs where Jeremy is given the ball are once in a while events. You know.. similar to how Americans like to only eat Chinese food once in a while... but not everyday. This is how they view our hero Jeremy Lin as well! LOL

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  12. Lin is being much much more aggressive than in prior games - he is trying to drive and force the action which can be good or bad. He won't always get to score because of how this team is constructed, but Lin can be effective. Linsanity can happen but it won't often on this team unless Harden is injured.

    Lin is working that rookie on 76ers

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  13. Lin is playing really well the ball, btw. So much movement. He's killing the poor rook.

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  14. harden creating/playmaking for everyone, including LIn...

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    1. If Lin and Harden can learn to free themselves from the defender without the ball, the other can and will get the other person the ball.

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  15. Harden is a unique player. He's actually consciously trying to keep Lin involved in the game. It's a coaching fail when the team's best player is responsible for single handedly making that happen.

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    1. I dont know if thats Hardens or coaches decision. However - Harden has to find ways to play with Lin (and so far I like it). I always said -> 40 minutes a night iso-Harden is no good. Hes gonna die of exhaustion if he keeps on doing it. Also - its killing Lins game. By sharing ball handling and offense with Lin his scoring goes down but so does his TOs. The HardLin combo - if they find ways to play together - can give Houstons offense some real depth. They gotta keep developing this way.

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    2. agreed...you can see Lin could do a lot more than he did in Q1 but I guess they are all sacrificing. Harden could be jacking up those shots or driving like he was earlier in the year to force a shot or dish to Parsons or Morris keeping Lin frozen like he was at the start of the year.

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  16. When the Rox prefer to give the ball to Parsons up top and have Lin hide in the corner, it's a freaking fail.

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  17. Lin takes a break after playing a very good 8 mins.

    TD defending Turner? That's a lot of height given up.

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    1. Wow, that's telling.

      They see TD as that great of a defender? mmm...k.

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  18. looks like flashes of linsainty are sparking

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    1. if i hear the word aggressive one more time, i'm going to puke my brains out. stop people, stop.

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    2. Hahaha, I understand.

      Not setting conditions for him to play effective, but "be aggressive! be aggressive!" LOL

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  19. Lin/Harden PnR - nice.

    Lin/Anthony PnR was a go-to play I wanted to see develop (the other was Lin weakside with Kidd/Anthony) if Lin was retained by the Knicks, so I'm happy to see the Rockets try out the Lin/Harden PnR to good result.

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  20. Sign that McHale is not taking 76ers too seriously - He's playing one of the rooks in the first quarter! D-Mo!

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  21. It's a bit frustrating how the Rockets coaching staff still refuse to make Lin at least a 2nd option. Harden I can understand, but I can't understand how anyone wouldn't think Lin is better and has more potential as an offensive option than Chandler Parsons. Let Parsons hide in that corner damn!!

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  22. uhm, that guy for the sixers has a mullet and he looks about 40 years old.

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  23. 1Q thoughts

    - Pretty good 8 mins played by Jeremy.

    - Seemed like Wayns was told to guard Jeremy closely and try to deny him the ball where possible. Always thought that was not the optimal way of guarding Lin. Lin can accelerate like no other person, and if you are behind him there's no catching him. Quite a risky strategy.

    - I really liked Lin's off the ball movement. He was constantly trying to get himself open for the pass, and had no problem getting into the paint when he had the ball.

    - The Philly bench is outplaying the Rox bench. Is it me or does the Rox bench tend to slack off when they are ahead, but play well when they need to claw back points?

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  24. Dmorey said on jason freedman's podcast that they want to keep lin/harden on the floor at all times, even when one is off the court...uhm, they're not doing that, even right now.

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    1. The deadly TD/Delfino backcourt lol

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    2. Clearly it's all talk. Wish I knew where it was coming from...quite honestly, I think Mchale is told how to coach. I wouldn't put this on Mchale. Usually these decisions come from up above. However, I do recall Lacob claiming he wanted Smart to play Lin and Smart refused.

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  25. more Parsons as PG over Lin...

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  26. McHale wants to give the backcourt a longer rest after a tough Knicks game (I don't want to see Lin play more than 33 mins tonight) but this bench performance is making it hard.

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  27. man.. they got him on the bench again.. sorry but J Harden is good but his a ball hogg.. unlike LBJ who involves other team mates.. look at OKC they got lots of stars and they involve them all.. thats the difference..

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  28. Wow a pretty no look pass by Lin. Lin's best passes never ends up as assists.

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  29. Why play scrubs at the beginning of 2nd? Lead is blown now.

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    1. agreed. ask the Rox braintrust...there's something incompetent about all this...and it has nothing to do with Lin and Harden.

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  30. mchale and red nation's going to blame that run on Lin even though he was only in for 2 plays.

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    1. that is 100% bad subbing patterns. Anyone with eyes can see

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    2. Nah, CF has been pretty upbeat on Lin lately. No one who watches the game would blame that on Lin. It's only the usual fans who don't watch/the trolls who do such nonsense.

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  31. bad subbing my Mchale led to the come back by Philly/ Took Lin out too early and put Lin in too late.

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    1. He can do 1 or the other but not both....

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  32. Replies
    1. he goes to them because believes in his scrub teammates too much. i kid.

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    2. LOL I mean the continual naming of Harden as a ball-hog. You can't agree with me because I disagree with you! :)

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    3. His a great player Harden, just would like it if he passed it more - maybe because i enjoy watching Lin - basically why I watch his games =)

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  33. I really really don't understand why the Rockets management and coaches rate Parsons so highly (who is a solid player imo but hardly has any tools to be a potential offensive star). And that they play him 40+ minutes every game and rather him lead the 2nd unit without Harden on the court than Lin.

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    1. Cara, you answered your own question....we all see it ,dont worry

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  34. This crap doesn't work for Lin OR for Harden. Lin needs the ball...he is a high usage player who makes mistakes and needs high volume to make up for it with several good plays. In isolation, he can't do as much.

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  35. McHale experimented again despite a winning combination on the floor.

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  36. didn't nick young leave the clippers to be a starter on the 76ers? Why is he a bench guy?

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  37. Lin's plays on transition are a thing of beauty.

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  38. Replies
    1. I saw him at the Knicks game in person for the first time... man his speed is even more impressive LIVE!

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    2. LUCKY!! What was that experience like?

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  39. Man I really liked that play. Lin and Asik pick and roll, compresses the whole 76ers team inside. Then Lin with a behind the back pass to Morris, who now has all the space in the world to get to the basket.

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  40. Harden is great at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. He's crazy good.

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    1. If he doesn't force shots, he really is crazy good.

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    2. I think Harden is a worthy 1st option as long as he gets ref's back like that becasue FTs are really like the best kind of shot lol. It's just that he still shouldn't handle the ball that much as while Harden is great at getting his own shot, Lin is still a better PG, better getting everyone else involved and making teammates better.

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  41. Well, I am seeing Lin get the ball up top more. As long as I continue to see this, I can live with this crap. It literally use to feel like Lin got zero legit touches, now he gets like 20-30% while Harden gets 60% and Parsons gets like the other remaining 20-30%. Lin should be getting 40% and Parson's 0% then I'll be happy.

    Parsons can even score more than LIn but don't initiate with Parsons stupid Rox. They really want him to shine..I swear Mchale loves him like a son...

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    1. Agree - Parsons can shoot but initiating - no no no. He should leave that to Lin.

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  42. ugh, morris. could have been an easy assist for Lin.

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  43. Lin on Turner, he's doing a really good job.

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  44. Lin is defending Evan Turner really well right now.

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    1. ET decided to just shoot it over Lin just now. Nothing much Lin can do when ET has 4 inches on him.

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  45. what's going to happen when we play teams that pack the paint/lanes to prevent Lin from getting in? Are you guys a little worried about his J?

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  46. dayum Mr. Fou Fou Fou Moses is in the building

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  47. stop trying to force it to harden when someone's on him like that.

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  48. dont give up that dribble lin =)

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  49. his god dam good good at getting to the rim Harden as much as i hate to admit it

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    1. it's okay, you can appreciate Harden and still root for Lin. :)

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  50. Douglas 3 fouls and McHale still wouldn't take him out?!

    I swear McHale has a thing or 2 with Douglas and Parsons...

    I wouldn't blame Harden on iso-ing as without Lin on the court with him, he really has no choice.

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    1. Douglas is a reserve (though McHale seems to love him). Reserves can get 3, 4, 6 fouls.

      This is a fair substitute. Two early fouls on your starting PG who needs to be aggressive? Gotta yank him if you're winning.

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    2. I was thinking that myself. Who cares if TD fouls out.

      I do kind of care that the bench is giving up points at a frightening rate tonight, though. Where's the defence?

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    3. So, last time Lin got bench because of how many fouls? See! This is what gets fans!!!!!!!!!

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    4. Benching for fouls is not a punishment, it is to ensure that the player is able to be on the field at the proper moment. Generally, a bench player's number of fouls isn't THAT important.

      However, sitting Lin to protect him from getting fouled out... and then not playing him later... would be pointless.

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    5. I think Lin is being seated to rest him, though. But I might be wrong.

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  51. BS foul on Jeremy! Refs refuse to believe Jeremy can guard forwards. Nice shot by his old friend Dorell, but no Jeremy has to sit with two fouls.

    Lin and Harden mostly look good today! Is McHale learning???

    People should know that the Sixers usually force the opposing PG to score and the opposing SG/SFs to distribute. That's what Doug Collins does against the most dangerous PGs.

    Last year, CP3 had only 4 assists against Philly...but 24 points.

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    1. I didn't know that about the sixers, thanks for sharing.

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    2. Yeah, Philly and Miami do that a lot. Which is why they're J-Lin's hardest matchups.

      Not having the PG depth of Holiday & Lou Williams and Mr. Stopper, Andre Iguodala, makes the strategy less effective though.

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    3. On the other hand, Harden didn't even defend as hard as Lin did so far thus 0 personal foul

      Too safe IMO

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    4. Not that J-Lin has trouble scoring, but he has to do it in transition, attack off the catch instead of just running high pick-and-rolls. And get the "hockey assist" as PG.

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  52. the announcer said : the problem with Houston is that they give up many points to shrink the lead towards the end of the quarter...go figure out the reasons, Houston coaches.

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  53. T-Doug at the half :

    10 minutes 0-3 FG 0 points 3 personal foul -7

    Delfino at the half :

    10 minutes 0-2 FG 0 points -14

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  54. D. Wright was still lighting TD up when he came in for lin

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  55. Lin on pace for 28min...i'd like to see him with a little more than that. I know it doesn't mean anything but well, I prefer watching him over TD.

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    1. @k.smith obviously aren't we all want to watch Lin over TD lol

      If T-Doug and Delfino can't get their shit straight for this game yet still given major minutes from the coaches, I can see the Rockets slip this game

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    2. Lin gotta play more than or at least 34 minutes and must also finish the 4th

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  56. Until jlin is out of Houston or the coaches are replaced look for this routine all year. I'm happy if jlin keeps his %fg high as possible, efficiency rest of the year is key. He can request a trade if these bonehead coaches are still around.

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    1. We just wait 3 years and hope and pray 1 team out there will be the most desperate team in the league willing to hand over the reigns to Jlin when he is seasoned at 27...injuries happen, just remember Harden is a high usage player and he could get hurt. If he gets hurt, they will have no option but to play through Lin. I don't wish ill on Harden, but tonight's game is what we will see 90% of the time with Harden dominating the ball 90% of the time by design.

      We would like to think Lin could do bigger and better things with the ball, but you don't really know Lin could do much better in terms of winning games or keeping the lead if the ball were in his hands than Harden. We just assume this.

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  57. Steve Novak has no playing time today. Probably got grounded by Dolan after his long hug with Lin after the MSG game.

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    1. True, that Dolan is cold blooded. At least Novak got a nice contract too.

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  58. I am going to have cerebral hemorrhage.. how does LIN not get to finish the half. Where was our line-up with Harden at small forward ??? ... C'mon we just did this last game!!!

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    1. Lin picked up his 3rd foul and had to sit

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    2. seriously? 3?? ... totally missed that... Thanks.

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    3. He only has 2 fouls. No reason to take him out.

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  59. Lin lookin good from 3pt line during the shoot around

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  60. Half-time thoughts

    - Lin is playing very well on limited minutes tonight. I wasn't expecting him to play too much, so I don't have any issues with that. If his knee is still swelling I am pretty sure it must have swelled a lot after the beating he had to take to beat the Knicks. 4/4 from the field.

    - I don't think he took a single jumper tonight, though.

    - He defended ET well except when ET decided to shoot the ball over him. Evan Turner, not Extra-Terrestial.

    - I like TD. I like Delfino. But the TD/Delfino backcourt is a sign of the coming apocalypse.

    - Parsons looking a bit out of sorts on offence again tonight. Harden is picking up a lot of the scoring slack, although he hasn't taken that many shots tonight.

    I was hoping the Rox would blow out the Sixers so the starters can properly rest and prepare for the tough matches next week but I guess that's not happening.

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    1. aren't you a little worried that Lin hasn't taken a single jumper?

      Good analysis.

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    2. Result good or bad? Blow out? Seems like if they can get a win will enough to be great!

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    3. I might have to retract the bit where I said "I like Delfino" at any moment, though.

      HOU is ahead but not by much.

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  61. Plays for only 13:57 in the entire half, with Douglas losing big leads both times he's subbed in.

    WTF is McHale's love affair with sitting Lin for TD all the damn time.

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    1. ease up. Lin would have played more if not for the fact he picked up fouls

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    2. Foul trouble. This is the one time all season I agree with Jeremy sitting early. Not his fault (it was BS 2nd foul), but if he can't be aggressive, you should probably rest him.

      Better save him for the 3rd and 4th. Now if McHale benches Lin for the 4th quarter again...I'm going to spew venom.

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    3. Well "people" have been saying TD's defense is superior. I personally don't see that. There must be some motive...maybe the coaches really think jlin will take away from harden scoring. I know they really want james harden representing houston as an all star. perhaps that's the reason behind it.

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    4. Lin have to compensate for our other guards almost non existing defense

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  62. Lin's going to have to be careful on D so he doesn't pick up another foul

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  63. Wow, Lin still on Turner. Wasn't that Parson's job?

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  64. I told ya'll Lin lookin good from 3pt line during the haltime shootaround

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    1. Hehe. You did call it.

      Maybe Jeremy won't miss a shot tonight (no jinx!).

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    2. @k.smith lol yeah, he is feelin it

      @zxcvb lol wth bro, no jinx!

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  65. Well, Lin just took a jumper, and he sank it. :)

    Three. Lin with 11 pts now.

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  66. Parson's is kinda sucking it up on D.

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  67. Aww, I just saw Lin's dad in the stands.

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  68. Lin took Turner out, strong defense!

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    1. Any team that has to play Kwame Brown as a starter should be pitied...

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  69. whats going on? No Jrue Holiday, the back court is doing well, and its not a blow-out??!! Who's to blame here??

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  70. Lin has 1 TO, he will be benched for TD soon. Lin also not getting to play PG again...because he sucks and has 1 TO and Harden has none...great Rox logic.

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  71. Marcus Morris should start over Patterson hands down. He actually forces you to spread the floor out.

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    1. I actually think he should start over Parsons but hell would freeze over first.

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  72. Smith is really good, i like him

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    1. Does he have a fan base forum like J Lin? might get on it

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  73. Ahhh...life is so much better when Mchale is doing the right thing....

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