Saturday, March 30, 2013

Rockets vs Clips Game #73 Pre Game Thread

103 comments:

  1. Last time these teams faced off, there was no James Harden.

    Lin TORCHED Chris Paul in the 1st quarter, but McHale benched and screamed at Lin for playing selfishly. THAT waa bad coaching by McHale.

    That was also the game where Ryan Hollins kicked Lin after tripping Lin from behind. I didn't think the kick was that hard, plus Lin and Hollins met after the game.

    I expect Lin and Harden to put up a good fight and come out firing. That's because Griffin and Jordan are not the intimidating bruisers that Randolph and Gasol were last game. The Rockets big men are not as intimidated by Griffin and Jordan as they are by Randolph and Gasol, so they should be able to resume their standard level of play.

    What is devastating about the Clippers is their depth. They essentially have two starting lineups.

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    2. Clippers' good bench is their weapon - the same as the Spurs. I don't think they can afford to give Bledsoe a contract extension.

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    3. Lin can't stand McHell either. Here's hilarious diss by Lin in pictures (Thanks to Hy for the pics and his take - from the Rockets @ Griz Game #72 Pre Game Thread....a sort of late; i almost missed it).

      Hahahaha..... Jeremy looks so disgusted and uncomfortable sitting next to McHell.

      Here's my interpretation:

      Pic #1: http://tinyurl.com/cekszwr
      Lin: Here comes a spin photo op; wouldn't work, I'll avoid eye contact.

      Pic #2: http://tinyurl.com/cfbzu6r
      Lin: Awk'... ward...... I don't want to be here.

      Pic# 3: http://tinyurl.com/ca2xyl9
      Lin: Damn.... I wish I had eaten a ton of beans. My mind is out of here!

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  2. Good analysis KHuang. Lin should get a longer leash because McHale gave the second team more minutes last night to rest the starters.

    If Lin doesn't get quality PT, then McHale really does have something against him.

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  3. Jlin had a great game on christmas, hopefully he'll have another great game on eastern :D

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    1. Hello.... Blemished mind from Italy! (;~) A long time no post.

      A good thinking, Spotless!

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    2. Sorry, i meant Easter :D Hahahahahaaha.... Sorry for my english :D

      i do read you every day but sometimes i find difficult to write cause i haven't much time these days.

      Let's pray God will give strenght to jeremy to succeed and to reach his goal and with his efforts on and off the court could convert people.

      Go jeremy, c'mon, shut this Clippers down! :D

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    3. hahaha.... we all make typos. we knew what you meant.

      The weather is getting nice too. I love the outdoors.

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  4. Bench depth aside, the Clippers main offense seems fairly simple to me. So much revolves around the inside-out game between Griffin and CP3. Griffin is excellent about passing out of the post whenever he is double teamed -- he reads and responds to it quickly -- which generates an open three either directly or a hockey pass away. (Griffin is also great about spotting cutters in the paint when he has the ball in the post.)

    The coaches have had Lin double team postup threats all year, with no adjustment I can see according to each team. If they do that tonight, the Griffin inside-out game will get them open looks all day. (I think Lin is way too predictable with how he double teams. He should make it more a mind game, for example, by signaling it but not necessarily committing to it every time, and also waiting to double team only when the post player puts the ball on the floor and turns his back, so there is the element of surprise. Instead Lin just telegraphs his actions every time.) I'd like to see DMo take on Griffin in single coverage instead of letting Griffin open up their entire offense by passing out of double teams.

    The Clippers-Mavs end game was really interesting. Trapping CP3 and forcing everyone else but him to shoot or generate offense.

    Something I look forward to is seeing CP3 trying to take Lin in the post. Last time, CP3 punked him by facing up and ripping the ball under Lin's armpit/elbow; Lin needs to back off of CP3 when he faces up like that, and keep his outstretched arms from being easy targets. (Lately, CP3's been doing that practically once each game to guards defending him in the post. The true master of this punk move is Durant, who is so deadly with it since his arms are so much longer.)

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    1. My prediction: lin and harden will be asked to play help defense to stop jordan and griffin. Of course expect cp3 and bledsoe to have good games on the perimeter. And harden not able to defend anyone anyway will get greyhounded...again.

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  5. This is a team with a strong power forward since the game with Pacers. The rockets got hammered in each of the two games. I don't expect the rockets with the home court advantage can turn this around w/o successes in the 3 pointers.

    I would expect Lin and Harden start shooting 3 points. It must be a blown out either by the rockets or by the Clippers.

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  6. TD and Patterson helped the Kings to demolished the Clippers recently in the fourth quarter.
    The rockets is going to deal with the Clippers w/o TD & Patterson.
    Good Luck.

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  7. I would like to ask Jeremy's fans to please refrain from calling McHale "McFail" and saying things like he should be fired, or that he is racist, etc. Why? Because it is hurting Lin's career now and possibly in the future. Please hear me out.

    Like Pavlov's dog, people can sometimes associate things subliminally. With McHale, maybe every time he thinks of Jeremy, he subconsciously processes all the negative criticism and focus that he receives from Jeremy's fans. He probably has a strong, negative emotional reaction each time when it comes to Jeremy.

    I really don't think that McHale does not like Jeremy. In fact, I bet he likes him as a person. Who couldn't like Jeremy? But at the same time, human nature being what it is, no one likes to be proved wrong. McHale already looks bad for being the one to cut Lin before Linsanity. It made him look bad to his boss and it made him look bad to the rest of the basketball world. And now, it makes things so much worse when Jeremy's most fanatical fans heap more indignity on him by calling him names and insulting him. For a Hall of Famer and someone who probably had nothing but tremendous respect his whole career, McHale must have a deep resentment.

    I see a parallel in this situation as in the Tim Tebow and Rex Ryan situation with the New York Jets. Ryan stubbornly won't play Tebow because to do so would seem to be catering to Tebow's fans. Human nature being what it is, no one wants to be told what to do and if we are, then we want to do the opposite. I don't think Ryan dislikes Tebow, but I am sure he dislikes Tebow's fans.

    The problem with all this is that both Jeremy and Tim will have short careers, ironically, because of their fanatical fans. No team will want the distractions and the drama that comes with that kind of following and fame. It's sad because I had the most fun ever in sports with Tebowmania and Linsanity, but they seem doomed to die not because of the failure of the players, but because of those of their most rabid fans.

    All I ask is that Jeremy's fans lighten up on the over-the-top venom aimed at McHale. It's okay to criticize, but don't make it personal and resort to name-calling. It will make Jeremy a polarizing figure and ultimately will not be good for Jeremy's career. Thanks for listening and reading this long comment.

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    1. Sorry no can do. Your reasoning comparing Lin to Tebow is flawed. As a Jets fan, I can tell u straight up that it wasn't because of tebows fans that Rex didn't play him. It's because Tebow can't throw. And he didn't want a qb controversy.

      McHale is ruining Lin's career and I will be vocal against it. It's your defeatist type of attitude that keeps status quo.

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    2. @tuan vu lol at your words n logic. You truly think these things you mention about Lin fans are the reason lin got that kind of treatments from Mchale and you really think Lin fans refrain themselves from calling Mchale out will help change mchale's attitude toward Lin? You truly think Mchale or the team cares about Lin fans that much?

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    5. McHale's incompetence goes beyond his treatment of Lin, or any supposed bias against Lin. His nickname is deserved.

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    6. I do not say to refrain from calling McHale out when he is wrong. I do ask that you not resort to name-calling and escalating things.

      And it is not defeatist to seek the higher and better way. Was Gandhi or Martin Luther King defeatists?

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    7. You can be vocal and even provocative without stooping to using inflaming and unseemly language.

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    8. @Tuan Vu:

      Just so you know - the people over at CF coined that term. The "Fire McFail" thread has been in existence there before JLin even joined the Rox. Is the penny dropping?

      I know that there is a CF member who stated many times that he doesnt want to deal with all the Lin fans and that because of the fanatic Lin fans he would rather see Lin leave the team. But - dont fall into that trap. He (and others) hate Lin for being asian and they hate the fans for being asian (many of them are). They will always find a reason to hate - no matter what.

      Funny enough - these haters nag about the threads/conversations revolving around Lin but they are always the first ones to reply to Lin related threads. They could ignore them and go about their day but they wouldnt. They have to click, read and spread hatred. And when they are done they complain about the Lin fans. It makes them happy. You dont get that?

      Believe me - no matter how well JLin behaves (coach) and how friendly JLin fans are -> there will always be hostility towards Lin and towards LOFs.

      McHale was a great player but a great student doesnt always become a great teacher. If McHale utilizes Lins talents right he will prove critics wrong and make them look like idiots. If he fails to utilize Lins talents people will rant... and thats OK.

      But honestly - you think he cares? You think all he does all day long is read this site? I dont think anyone reads this except for LOFs and maybe some PR geeks. And even if he did - how many people do you think are there who actively post critique and insult the man on this site? Ten people? Twenty? Should a coach let twenty people (who posted online) get between him and his player?

      Dont be naive. Stick to the signing :)

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    9. Tran vu, u can be as quiet and laid back as u want to be. But don't tell me how to act. This is not name calling out if no where, this is based on a season worth of angst and frustration that has been building up due to McHale's boneheaded moves.

      Your logic about fans affecting McHale subconsciously and then using Tebow as a parallel is so ridiculous I don't know where to start.

      So u do your ghandhi approach and I will stick with my mine. But don't use such naive logic to justify your point. U sound really naive.

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    10. I forgot:

      Eventhough there are haters on CF there are also many Lin-fans among the long time members. They defend Lin on a regular basis.

      And of course - Tuan Vu is not entierely wrong. Some people overdo it. Too much name calling and really really bad insults ruin the atmosphere for all of us.

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    11. Solidz75: I never tell anyone anything. I only ask respectfully. And I ask you to consider: what does name-calling accomplish? Nothing but ill-feelings. And in the end, it makes one look kind of foolish and immature.

      As for my being naive, perhaps you are right. Perhaps I am naive to think that people can be won over by doing what is right and that in the end, all will come out well (although I am fully aware that many times good guys don't finish first). Still, it's that aspect of life that inspires me. Maybe that is why I like movies like "Rudy" and "Rocky" and now "Linsanity: The Jeremy Lin Story".

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    12. Tuan vu

      I take your POV but i disagree.even before the fans started calling mchale names, he has been hurting jeremy's career.he was called names after he repeatedly showed his prejudice against him.he deserved all the criticisms he is getting and even the name calling.

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    13. Tran. U asked and I said no. And it looks like many other people did as well.

      And what does name calling accomplish? It's called venting. It's therapeutic. U should try it.

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    14. I don't like Mchale but even i don't like When it's called differently. I think what Khuang thinks but after this season if Mchale is still in charge i'd hope for a trade to a team that can let jeremy to his best. That doesn't mean i want jeremy get 20 shots per game but just let him play and give him the ball.
      Lin and tebow are suffering same treatment not cause their fans but it seems like there's the Hunting Christians out there. Unfortunately it's a sign of times. But that's good. It means jeremy is a good person and still humble

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    15. Totally disagree with this Tran person.

      Why should we be kind to someone like McHell. It's his family, friends, Morey, Harden, Parsons, Dragic, and others job to be kind to McHale - NOT Lin and his fans.

      McHell has a lot of power bestowed on him by the forces of Morey and the Rockets' organization. Dissing and calling out McHell is the only thing us helpless folks can do, SO WHY NOT..... Duh.

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    16. There is more injustice in McHell's way of rotation. There are too much venom in his disposition that the term McFail could not even come close to describe his character.

      McFail, McHell!!!!

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    17. I agree with Tuan Vu.

      While I won't ask anybody to restrain their language about McHale because I don't order people around, I certainly understand his sentiment about not going crazy with insulting McHale and others.

      Personally, I think McHale is doing an OK job with Lin. I saw absolutely nothing last game that reeked of prejudice or improper usage. His players simply weren't good enough, that's all.

      I am the only openly admitted McHale fan on this board, and I still maintain that he's been a flawed but positive coach for Lin. I can also understand why people dislike McHale too, and I don't even dislike anybody for it either.

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    2. So when did u start erasing all the posts for swearing? Do u have a lot of free time today?

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    3. Solidz75!

      Go easy on Jlinfan#1, our esteemed moderator.

      It is a privilege to be here. Without Jlinfan#1, this place would not exist.

      Show him some due respect, as it's actually good for all of us to restrain our bad language around here.

      Just go with the flow and be good. We are GUESTS of Jlinfan#1 in this place, so let's show our host the courtesy he shows us!

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  9. If Lin continues to get yanked and benched again for 10 full mins in the first half, he should yell harshly at McHale this time when he's taken out in the first quarter. I don't care how humble he is and how 'turn the other cheek he is' being a 'good Christian' and all that, but he needs to show some balls and get angry at McHale publicly so that McHale realizes he's no pansy goody two shoes wimp. Lin needs to stir the pot a little, being in some controversy and argue back, because the only thing white boys like McHale understAnd is an eye for an eye. Trust me this treatment of Lin is purely a race thing--McHale is a racist . He can't believe a Chinese guy can be any good at basketball. And when he sees day in and day out that Lin is damn good he can't and won't accept it--therefore the continued misuse, abuse and denigration of poor Jeremy Lin. Have some fire Lin and yell at McHale today--trust me, that's the only way things may remotely change!

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    2. I understand where your frustration comes from. But this is a case that working the behind-the-scenes or in private is more effective than a public spat.

      And, as a general rule, making your boss lose face is not the best way of getting what you want. People would rather by appear stubbornly, even willfully, wrong than accept being publicly shamed. That is just human nature; the exceptions to this are rare.

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    3. I hope Jeremy never becomes another NBA diva. His popularity would plummet with his fans (much of his likability is because he is a good guy) and I would think most teammates don't like playing with guys who make drama, and and no GM or coach would want someone like that on their roster (unless they are super talented like Dwight Howard).

      I just hope Jeremy can get better each year, work hard and be a team player (and yes, he will have to take a little abuse along the way). Then, when he becomes an all-star one day, he will be someone kids can look up to as a role model and see how he did it the right way. To me, he can be the Jackie Robinson of basketball and one day be a legend.

      To Linfinity and beyond!

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    4. Spencer, I like your suggestion.

      After the Griz game, Lin did another (only the 2nd that I know of) subtle diss of McFail. In a post-game interview, Lin referred to the grizzlies as "A team that is well disciplined and WELL COACHED." LOL (;~)))

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    5. Lin is intelligent; probably the most intellgent team player. He's willing to give up himself so much for the team that raise concern of his fans like us.
      The problem is he understands the scam and the motives behind the moves of McHell. He suffers more than any other teammates. He is real. Linsanity is real. Magic Johnson have agreed on this. I do think Magic knew about the game at least as well as any other did.

      McHell and the company is putting on a scam to discredit Linsanity. That's unacceptable!

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  10. I think Rox still need around 6 wins to be at 7th or 8th spot. Let's hope we get those.

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    1. let's not. the earlier mcfail is gone, the better. lin's going to benched anyhow! might as well lose em all!

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    2. I'm predicting they finish with 5 wins rest of season with lakers putting the nail in the coffin.

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    3. LOL, missed playoff by just a half game is really just terrible.

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  11. I really don't get anyone who wants the Rocket's to lose. Do you think that's going to make JeremY Lin look good?

    Are you trying to say you dislike Mchale so much that you want him to look bad even if it makes Jeremy look bad?

    Wake up: Jeremy is the starting poing guard averaging well over 30 minutes a game. If the Rocket's don't make the playoffs people are going to say that Lin didn't have what it took to help pull the team into the playoffs. And if they do, he will get some of the credit. The credit will not all go to Harden.

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    1. The Rocket's were NEVER expected to make the playoffs... Lin, even though his substitutions are sometimes wacky, he's still on the court more than the backup. If the Rocket's make the playoffs he shares in that credit. There is absolutely no way around that, period. If they fail to make the playoffs, he shares (as the starting pg), in the blame.

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    2. "I really don't get anyone who wants the Rocket's to lose. Do you think that's going to make JeremY Lin look good?"

      +1

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    3. I don't get anyone who continues to support this coach despite all that has gone on this year. Are u trying to ruin Jeremy's career?

      Wake up! McHale needs to be gone in order for Lin to succeed. The only way is if continues to lose and not mak the playoffs.

      The last thing I need is for people to start praising McHale for a brilliant move last night resting the starters in anticipation of this game. And I certainly don wanna see Jeremy get marginalized again in the playoffs.

      If the rockets makes the playoffs, the credit will go to McHale whether its true or not.

      So u can be a McHale supporter all u want but remember this is not a rocket fan site. I do not have to root for this team especially if I feel that losing benefits Jeremy in the long run.

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    4. Wanting the Rocket's to win is supporting Jeremy Lin in my opinion.

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    5. I can see what you're saying if many losses guarantees that McHale will not be the coach next year. However, I don't think the W-L performance here on out has much impact on whether he stays or not. From the perspective of the front office, the team is already overachieving; on the basis of the record so far, even if Rox lose many more games, that is already sufficient to keep McHale.

      I think McHale will be exposed in the playoffs. Teams will be finetuned to exploit the weaknesses of the Rox, but McHale will still just be talking about energy and spark, and saying that adjustments are overrated.

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    6. Right that is your opinion. And this is mine. As hard as it is to root for Jeremy while hoping his team to lose, I feel that we've gotten to a point the only way for Jeremy to succeed is for McHale to be gone.

      So we can agree to disagree, but if I agreed with your view, we'd both be wrong.

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    7. I agree McHale needs to go, but I disagree about the conditions under which that happens. I don't think the cause-effect trigger is nearly as cut-and-dry as you make it out to be.

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    9. In practical terms, I think McHale will be ousted if Harden wants McHale gone. The key is not the team W-L but Harden's view of the coach. If the Rox win tonight, that does not necessarily elevate McHale in Harden's eyes. Harden may well think that the players got the win, in spite of the coaching. If McHale pulls this stunt of benching the starters in the 4th quarter again, that will be a nail in the coffin.

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    11. No but if they lose tonight, the issue will be crystal clear. There are so many people who support McHale for the move last night that I'd go mad if he gets the accolades for giving up on a winnable game and not trusting his starters. Just like when he trusted bev in stead of Lin to close out games.

      The current outsiders view of McHale is that he is the one responsible for getting the least experiences players and getting them to the playoffs. Enough to consider him for COTY.

      There is no way McHale would survive if the team collapses two years on a row and not make the playoffs. If we can point out some of his decisions that led to this collapse, no doubt in my mind his fortune will change and he will be gone.

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    12. Bamboo

      If rockets dont make the playoffs, people would put it on lin, and those people are the same people who wouldnt credit him if rockets make it.Do their opinions matter? I am not wishing for rockets to lose because i know lin is all abt winning but i dont want him to lose the credit he deserves after all he has contributed to this team because of poor showing lately ( not due to lin but due to mchale).if they make the playoffs, i'm ok, if they dont, my feeling would be the same ... What im hoping for which might not ever happen is to see lin play quality PG minutes again...

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    13. "There is no way McHale would survive if the team collapses two years on a row and not make the playoffs."

      Morey's team is not complete. The team is missing and has room for an allstar at the 4. Morey even took away two servicable 4's and gave McHale two rookies. Morey and Alexander won't fire McHale if the Rox misses the playoffs.

      Lin will get some blame if he misses the playoffs. Playoffs are a different intensity which he needs to experience. Missing them puts him that much behind.

      His place on the Rox or elsewhere should be sorted out after the season.

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    14. Lol who cares rox will lose with or without Lin.

      I'm predicting they don't make playoffs. Of all playoff bound teams rox has the worst coaching staff trying to integrate a full 3rd of their team in 2nd half of the season.

      Unless they give the reigns to lin there is no chance of them beating the clips with this gimmicky offense and token defense.

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    15. And bamboo jlin is not a starting pg. There are no pgs in this system.

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    16. When Lin is not given a fair chance of success, the rockets' winning will be a mockery of fairness,
      They have a great winning team blowing out teams like GS, Utah off the court with record breaking 3 pointers. They played together really well. Everyone was improving. Suddenly Morey traded away many of these players who were responsible for the team success and took credit of what they did.

      Then McHell placed Lin in unfair position of taking blames and let Harden do whatever he want making exceptions as he wished. what he did should reflect on the team's record. It's the players who created exceptional record! Not the coach and not the GM. with what the coach and GM gave to the players, they were expected to lose a lot more games. They went through hardship and overcame and achieved more than expected. The reward was deplorable. We couldn't say enough how the players helping each other. We couldn't say enough how the coaches and GM manipulated them unfairly.

      Morey moron and Mcfail McHell attempted to create statistics to cover up the true performance of players. It's a marketing scam exploiting the fans and players. The team record should reflect the truth and the injustice. Basketball is a team sport. When the GM and McHell is screwing the team, we think the result should be reflected truly what they did!!!!

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  12. Harden is as big if not a bigger problem for Lin as McHale is. If they have a new coach next year, which I seriously doubt, do you think Harden will just vanish to another team? NO!!! Hero ISO selfish ball by Harden will never go away!! He is being annointed by Rockets as 'the man', so he'll still be there to the complete detriment and development of Lin. Harden is a cancer like Melo and you see what happened to Lin once D'Antoni was fired? Est thing for Lin is to strongly demand a trade once the season is over to get away from both Harden and McHale. Otherwise, Lin is ruining his career!!

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    1. I can see why you say that Harden is selfish, but I think the same thing can be described in alternate ways, perhaps even more accurately than calling him selfish. For example, we can describe him as not trusting his teammates to make plays, or believing that the team can only win if he carries them. Harden will eventually realize that all-Harden is not going to make the team a contender even if it sometimes wins individual games.

      As for Lin, his development absolutely requires that he learn to play with an elite player such as Harden. The alternative -- being the best player on a lousy roster -- is unacceptable, and not good for Lin either.

      Harden is not ruining Lin's career, though certainly his presence limits Lin's individual stats. But stats -- aside from garnering recognition from casual fans -- are not actually important; it is winning a championship that ultimately matters. The proper ending to Linsanity is not nice season stats but making it deep into the playoffs. That will not happen this year, but once you accept that is the best ending to this story, you will see Harden differently. He's not a cancer but a necessary part of the picture.

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    2. My opinion is that Harden is by far the man that Houston makes him out to be. He is an offensive machine but a defensive liability so pick your poison when he's on the floor. Stats may not tell how bad a player's defense is... That's why harden is padding his stats because ultimately your legacy is determine by numbers.

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    3. Harden sucks he has some skills and decent numbers from playing 40min a game but he is also a problem on defense. He causes more problems by disrupting offensive flow and is a one trick pony, easily shut down by traps or good defender with reach. If he doesn't get into a rhythm top of the key he is done.

      Problem isn't lin should work better at bailing harden out but for harden to play teamball.

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    4. Harden in many circumstances prefer to throw up bricks rather than passing the ball to the open player, Lin. He knows the scam and he has no objection as long as he is the beneficiary.

      Playing ISO was an insult to the basketball game as a team sport. He might as well playing 1 on 5 himself. If Lin was accused of selfishness, what was Harden doing? They're all guilty everyone Morey, McHell, Sampson, Harden.

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    1. I think everyone know that Rox still need one or two more pieces to be a contender. That been said, under the current rosters, it is absolutely McHale's job to figure out how to make those guys work.

      For now, on Rox's O, every team knows they should stop Lin and Harden, and it is ok to let other guys go off. On Rox's D, obviously, there is no D there at all. Traps were not working, help D was not working, PnR D was not working. The only thing worked more consistently (sort of) was Lin's D on his man and Asik's D in the paint.

      Eventually, Rox need not just from Harden and Lin to step up, but all other 3 guys that are on the floor with them. Otherwise, it will always be a 2 on 5 game in O and 5 on 2 in D for the Rox.

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    2. That's why Rox will lose easily in the playoffs. They'll be playing against truly strong teams without weaknesses and with smart coaches able to exploit the cheapest team in the comp.

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  15. Lin needs at least 8-9mins of burn to get it going per quarter. 34-36 mins a game.

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  16. Prepare to see Lin on the bench and have pb guard Christ Paul.

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    1. This scenario is not far from happening and If rockets win in this situation, who among lin fans would be happy? How would this be positive for lin's career? Just asking...,

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    2. Oh I wanna see cp3 break pb's ankles all night

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    3. Not only break them figuratively but literally ( and definitely, physically!) lol... JK.,

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  17. Here's an analysis of Chris Paul

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1586656-is-chris-paul-the-most-polarizing-point-guard-in-the-nba-today

    Altho CP has definite skills, he's the antithesis of Jeremy Lin: ultra competitive, a flopper and a very dirty player. Those clamouring for CP to replace JL should be more careful.

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    1. Nothing wrong with playing dirty...it's part of the game and an art form. Not everyone can do it. Bruce Bowen was pretty good at that and so was Dennis Rodman.

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    2. Not deliberately hurting someone dirty...

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    3. I think Chris Paul is a wonderful point guard who simply plays to the extent that his superstardom allows him to play.

      He can get away with stuff? Then PUSH THE LIMITS.

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    4. I don't consider Chris Paul the anti Jeremy Lin.

      Actually, Chris Paul reminds me of Isiah Thomas - just as much as Jeremy Lin reminds me of Micheal Sugar Ray Richardson.

      And so people know how I feel about how they match up, I'll also present this anecdote:

      Isiah Thomas FEARED Sugar Ray more than he feared any other player.

      Sugar would go in, stutter growl at Isiah "You little s---", and steal Isiah's dribble and score on him.

      When Chris Paul was hollering for his guys to help him guard Jeremy Lin, I thought of Micheal Ray terrorizing Isiah.

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  18. Does anyone know how much Kevin McFail is making?

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  19. Harden apparently out tonight with sore foot.

    James Anderson to start in his place.

    Greg Smith to start in place of DMo.

    At least for tonight, gotta hope for Linsanity 1.0 Redux.


    Go Jeremy, go James, go Rockets, let's get this win!

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    1. Let's hope McHale just lets Lin be Lin this time around.

      I am unapologetically a McHale fan, but I don't consider McHale perfect either.

      I think there's A LOT of room for improvement, as far as McHale's usage and treatment of Lin goes. That's why I totally respect and sympathize with people's unhappiness with McHale here.

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    2. It is Lin vs CP3 then. That's see what will happen. I can already imaging some XXX announcer say Lin stand no chance guarding CP3.

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    3. Hope the Rox doesn't get off to their customary slow start and behind by 10 points in the first quarter..

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    4. The Rockets must DEFEND.

      Lin and Asik defend, but the starters do not.

      As I've said all season long, scoring is not the problem but DEFENSE is.

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    5. Agree Khuang.. I hope Jlin just guard his man and freelancing too much

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  20. KHuang

    Thank you sympathizing in the open.hopefully, those who are criticizing jlin fans who are frustrated with mchale may realize why we feel the way we feel .

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    Replies
    1. I totally understand how people feel that McHale is undercutting Lin's career.

      I also think that if McHale really were the basketball idiot that people think he is, the Rockets would be woefully bad and wouldn't be battling for a playoff spot.

      Here are my positives of McHale as relates to Lin:

      1) Nitpicks Lin's game, thus forging Lin into a technically perfect BASKETBALL BEAST

      2) Runs a free flow offensive system that forces Lin to become a great decisionmaker

      3) Doesn't overplay Lin, which means that Lin is going to play a stress free 86 games - albeit a little TOO comfortably

      4) Toughens up Lin so that Lin can withstand any kind of pressure and perform under any type of situation.


      Is it pretty? NO.
      Is it ideal? NO.
      Are there others who could do better with Lin? Probably.

      Is it working? Pretty much.
      Is there room for improvement? Yeah, LOTS.

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  21. I'm on the fence with Mchale right now, but I don't have any hatred for him. Nor do I think he hates Lin. If he's limiting Lin in any way, in my opinion, it's because he believes this is the best choice to get a W. Mchale makes millions of dollars and loves his job: I just don't see him giving Lin a hard time for some projected reason.

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    1. I've posted before that I'd like to sit down with McHale and point out on video how Lin is not the selfish player that McHale mistakenly thinks he is.

      I'd point out how Lin likes to dribble into a trap to suck the traps toward him so that he can dish off the pass. I'd also point out how Lin surveys the court before making any moves and deliberately probes the defense in order to elicit reactions.

      On defense, I'd point out how Lin usually turns his man away from the rim even though Lin gets no credit for that. No defender, not Avery Bradley or Toney Allen or Grant Hill or Lebron James, is as defensively gifted as Lin is.

      I wish McHale would understand Lin better, as I feel that would lead to McHale utilizing Lin better too.

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  22. Last game.... Lin had a couple quick turnovers and he wasn't prematurely taken out of the first quarter. Let's hope Mchale lets Lin play through any mistakes if they happen.

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  23. No matter how many mistakes Harden make, he is the exception. He stays in the game unless the whole team goes to bench with him. He is made to be above all.

    In the last 2 games, we see Harden's limit as a basketball player. They myth of him being the franchise player is just a scam. He should play for the team and not vice versa.

    As to Lin, McHell's unfair practice should stop. He should let the players play their game. They are starters and they should be treated likewisely. They aren't robots. They play with their emotion and that's exciting. The cold-blooded mechanic rotation has nothing to do with basketball. McHell is redefining the game of basketball to shit.

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