Yup. Amazing defense (as always). 2 TOs were pure ref BS. One was especially hilarious...I still don't know what they were even accusing him of. Also, he was hacked all night HARD and McHale did his usual cool-off routine when he was hot early on.
Harden choked FOUR TIMES in a single minute. Unacceptable. You get TWO CHANCES because you are an elite scorer. I get that. But after that, it MUST go the the hot hand and top clutch performer Mr. Jeremy Lin.
Jeremy's clutch 3s were plain nasty. He was perfectly defended and he still buried them after a rough, physical game. The only silver lining? All but virulent racists (i.e. 50% of Clutch Fans, ha) saw who the REAL CLUTCH PLAYER on the team was. Just in time for the playoffs.
Yes...agreed that only silver lining was showing once again how clutch and cold-blooded Jeremy is in high-stakes, close games during the 4th quarter. Too bad Rockets when with same iso-play at top of the key four times unsuccessfully.
Glancing at game thread they thought what I thought: refs screwed us this game.
Personally, I thought Lin had an incredible game, even if it doesn't show up in box score. Except for a few minutes in fourth where everyone, including Lin, struggled on offense, Lin really had an amazingly good game, both on offense and defense.
Also have no problem with how McHale managed game, including Harden going iso as closer in final minutes of game (looks like he should have gotten a few foul calls he didn't get and thus were turnovers).
I almost think Lin's performance this game was better than his performance against L. A. Clippers.
Harden seemed over amp'd to start game, but settled down in second half and his shots started to fall. Few careless turnovers by team in first half that helped cause deficit we had to dig out of.
Can also see some of the older members (join date from years ago) are being converted from skeptics to believers (not that Lin is the best period, but that he is obviously already very good, and has potential to become much better over time).
Refs were atrocious, but thanks to Jeremy's heroics they had a chance.
Too bad Harden blew it. Not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR times!!!! Horrendous. I don't mind harden taking that last shot per se, but it was the three shots earlier that annoyed me. He was totally covered for two of them.
I hope Harden learned a hard lesson tonight. You can't do it on your own. You need Jeremy as much as he needs you (a lot moreso actually, but whatever).
don't agree khuang. one cannot judge a game by the past. if you have a tie, you win or lose from there. that's the mentality of competition. foc on now.
harden choked four possessions. he lost it then.
so did mvhale, caliing it to hardrn out of two timeouts. he just saw a harden kicjout for s the to lin. then Linn re for asik slam.
Last shot goes to Harden, hit or miss, but it's the other three earlier possessions in which Harden didn't make good decisions. When you are not getting calls all game, esp after you have given enough attitude to the refs for them to hit you with a technical, and now you think you are suddenly going to get those calls? That's just dumb.
Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. There's been an entire game of non calls -- some pattern recognition please hehe.
"Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
This is exactly why McHale should be fired. Or any coach for that matter. It's the one thing that is always 100% unacceptable -- trying the same failing strategy over and over again.
@yamslinfan mo ... yes, agree. Harden's scoring gets really elevated when he's given the fouls, from both FT and because people start defending him with less aggression.
Who gives a xxxx about Clutchfans, mostly morons there anyways. Most are defending Harden's last possession while completely in denial about the three failed attempts before it. Did I mention that they're mostly morons?
Yeah Lin should've let him get thrown out. So the baby didn't get the calls he usually doesn't deserve.. He needs to realize the " leader" doesnt have to be the one to take the last shot- not to mention last 4 shots. As long he doesn't realize, this Rox team will go no where.
However, a simple boxscore read told me the obvious: that James Harden had a HORRIBLE game.
If that were Lin with a game with such selfish bricks and turnovers especially with the game on the line, we'd TRASH LIN and call him the scrub of all scrubs. But no, Lin plays the game the right way.
Harden didn't even deserve to be on the court in the final minutes. There is no excuse for McHale plowing the ball theough his WORST PLAYER in Harden!
I envy you -- you didn't have to watch this car wreck of a game. Cheated by refs...then cheated by Harden & McHale. Jeremy' clutch 3s were something to behold.
I just know he's gonna be a Final MVP in the future (if/when he gets control of his own team). The man might be -- even statistically speaking -- the most clutch player in the NBA over the past two seasons.
Harden looked over amp'd in first half and lots of his shots were rimming out. He didn't look selfish or trying to freeze Lin out; he was letting Lin be point guard and he seemed to settle more into shooting guard mode. His shots just were not falling in first half.
He looked much better in second half, and some of those turnovers in second half probably should have been fouls.
First half was frustrating, second half was really enjoyable.
If you have NBA League Pass subscription, I highly recommend viewing it from archives.
Harden kept us in the game, as well as out of the game (8 TOs). He is always looking for the whistle, but that's his game and what got him here.
I know you don't like Bev, but the dude is so disruptive to the opponents D. I saw the game, I am looking for reasons NOT to play Bev... but just with the eye test, he is a complete pest on D.
Got to totally give it up to JLin for his clutch 3s. We seriously need to draw up a play for him in the final minutes.
Remember also that we don't have Chandler Parsons out there, though he will be in lineup closing out games in playoffs.
In addition to good 3 point shooting, he is great at slashing to basket when Lin's initial drive gets stopped and Lin spots him for pass, where Parsons can either finish himself of pass.
Plus Delfino not in rhythm because he has been sidelined last few games.
Team defense starting to look much better with T Jones (vs. T Rob or DMo), too. T Jones can really leap too.
agree on this. lin was the only one focused on the game flow and score gap. he only made that one mistake down the stretch leading to his foul on gasol. harden inthat stretch made four mistakes. that'snot even closing. game tape . sos.
The low score indicates that this game was a slugfest that could've gone either way.
I've seen too much Beverley's slow reaction time having a horrific effect on team defense. I've seen too much bad selfish game losing Kobe ball from Harden, and his defense is even worse than Beverley's. I won't use this single game to say that either player has turned the corner.
as a game goes, it was good. if they had won, the glory. a slugfest yes. flow ... lin concentrating on stops and deficit. sneaking up. harden giving to lin for thst three well beyond the arc. only failed when harden and mchale realized was about to win it without them.
Are you kidding me? Harden not only had 8 TO but going from 7-24 from the field, 5-10 from 3, that means only 2-14 from 2pt range? Honest to god McHale, CONTROL HIM!
His status as Alpha dog on our team is too secure. He is given plenty, plenty of latitude. He was firing up contested bricks like he was building a house.
That's always Harden's problem. He has no in between game. If the opposing team pack the paint and the refs don't call fouls in crunch time, he will always struggle.
On these nights, it looks bleak for Harden, but he's considered an Elite SG because he plays like this.
Everyone has nights where they focus on you and can mess you up (T Allen is considered by some to be the best perimeter D in the league - by Zach Lowe).
The refs were clearly horrible tonight but the Rox still had a chance to pull it off. I don't mind harden taking the last shot of the game but last FOUR shots?! That I have a problem with. Harden has to learn to trust his teammates especially Jeremy. It just can't be a one way street. I also fault McHale for being so scared to call his "superstar" out despite his tough guy demeanor. This guy will never get my respect.
Jeremy made some clutch clutch shots in the fourth. He should've had at least one opportunity to win the game. Really a waste of everyone's effort.
I have no problem with Harden jacking up 27 shots but it's how he uses possession is the biggest issue. The offense is stagnant when he does his iso, cut you up or draw a foul play. This type of play should be incorporated at the right moments instead of the primary offense. A lot of people think a point is a point but it's really the same is it? Having people standing around would make all other players look like they're not making an effort.
So what are peoples expectation in CF? JLin has to be a spot up shooter who is aggressive, gets 8 assist and only takes 12 shots, making 8 of them while not standing in the corner. All this in 30mins without being used in the 4th.
What are their expectations from Harden? Dominate the ball every possession because he'll bound to make a shot or get a foul. Don't worry about other players, you are the man. Don't worry about D cause that the scrubs job. Your job is to put the ball in the hole. Just take the shot even if it's bad.
The feeling is like the step child vs the actual child. Two sets of standards. I'm going extreme on my example and Harden is a prolific scorer but he has to see the court better and get others involved if he wants to be the primary ball handler. Harden wants to be the PG and the SG. Right now he's passing to himself and others are a second thought. It's kind of like when you are at the park playing basketball. There is always this one ball hog that is really good and win a lot of time but no one likes playing with him because they don't even touch the ball.
First half Lin was THE point guard and Harden really did seem to settle into a more traditional shooting guard role. Unfortunately, Harden's shots were just not falling, at all, in first half.
Harden did become more ball dominant in second half, but he also had offensive explosion to justify that. He also didn't look like he was intentionally trying to freeze Lin out.
The way they played off of each other in second half, and especially when they were making their final push that came up just short, it reminded me of OKC and Spurs victories. where big shot by one seemed to inspire other to do the same.
Lin and Beverley seemed like two who started out game at right temperment, motivated to play great, but not over amp'd. Harden came across as over'amp'd and DMo looked like he was really rushing things (way too much adrenaline?)
T Jones also looked really good, and he can really leap. Looks so much better after time in D League.
I understand but it's not just CF and we cant always live in a bubble. Now you can happily do that if you like. I'm just throwing it out there for those that do give crap. It's good to see the other side and debate differences. I don't post there because of the idiotic responses. At least here you can have a open debate.
I wasn't talking about this game but his style of play in general. My opinion is that he lacks trust and is the jealous type that doesn't like to share success unless it was the reason for it. Nothing wrong with it, a lot of greats are like that but eventually they have to start trusting players. To be honest, a lot of times it has to do with how certain players naturally gel with others. Lin's style of play would benefit most role players. Players that does not like to handle the ball. Ones that like to get into position and take a few dribbles to the rim or those that like to cut. Rick Hamilton would complement JLin quite nicely if you ask me. He loves to go off screens and JLin would see him every time for an easy shot off a screen.
KHuang - I like CF because of the rich variety of cool stuff there. I don't bother to absorb the sniping there because life is too short. Just sayin' ... Torocan and many others are really cool and know their stuff. TTNN gave us some good stats. deAleck was 10/10. They have some v funny photoshops that deal with the painful parts of the season by making fun of people (and it's not on Lin). And so on. CF is not a nasty place if you don't get stuck in the nasty stuff. Just like here sometimes.
As for Clutch himself, I don't worry about how he feels about Lin. I bet he just cares about his own rep in HOU and the $ coming in on CF. So sure he's going to amp for and against lin, to support the clicks. So what? Google does it, and so does FB, Bing, and everybody else making $. That's how we get 'free' content. So, I mostly ignore trying to figure out Clutch except to say, he's out there making money and so are we. His opinions on JLin matter nothing, because he's after longevity in his franchise, and Lin just helps him make cash as long as he's controversial. If Lin were in his 8th season at Rox, then I bet Clutch would be his biggest supporter, since that's his cash cow. So, Clutch is not an unbiased guy - he has a business to run. That's fine. So is the WSJ and NY Times.
Joeteam, you are one of the coolest people here and I am your fan.
I'm totally OK with you appreciating Clutchfans and don't get irritated when you write about it here.
It's when people are REPEATEDLY COMPLAINING about Clutchfans that I get irritated.
As for my personal opinion of Clutchfans, I don't have one because I don't go there. This site and the experts here like you are more than I can handle already!
It's simple then, don't read it... so I cant complain but you can complain when people disagree with your views? Why can't I vent here? Is it against forum policy. I like to read opposing views. If you read my post, it was borderline sarcastic. If you are uptight about it then don't read it.
Look, we are all fans and we all have our ways of venting frustration. This is mine so let me be.
I like to read different points of views and form my own opinion of things. This site while great sometimes tend to sway one way and CF is to the extreme.
Hey KHuang, thanks for saying what you did. Cool guys ... well, that's a pretty high standard. Me, I'm kind of hot ... I play it low key until I get mad, then I bust a move and the weak ones are all ... 'yo, I thought you waz my friend.' The strong ones say, 'Alright, man! Let's get 'em.' So I'd like to be cool, so everybody can go get 'em with me without feeling unsafe. I love seeing people realize they can win something they never imagined was possible. I love beating the odds and getting there with friends intact. I does take courage, though, to take on hard things.
I suppose that's why I love it when Lin decides to go get 'em. If you see the highlights, you'll see his head swagger after his 3 + a dish to Asik at the rim. He unleashed the dragon then, and if Harden and McHale didn't decide to put their own mark on the game, it would have been another Toronto or Lakers. Just like 2 dogs on a walk. You can tell Harden and McHale I said so - not name calling, just calling the behavior.
Let the crouching tiger, hidden dragon out sometimes, my friends.
The last shot in the previous game against the sun was also a missed shot but Harden and the Rocks got lucky with the goal tending call. Not sure if Harden is a great clutch guy. The previous play before that last shot was also all Jeremy. McHale just don't realize who the true clutch shooter is.
seriously, i think mchale is losing sleeps over whether to put Lin or harden in for the last shot...his deepset eyes today looked even more tired than before. mchale's still not Lin's believer, yet.
MEM 82, HOU 78 - NOT LONG TIL PLAYOFF TIME "Looking back, the growth we’ve seen over the course of the season from Jeremy Lin has been amazing. Back in pre-season and in the early games, he looked wild on the drives and couldn’t hit a shot from the outside to save his life. He has gradually tightened things up over the course of the season and now looks like a completely different player. He’s developed an excellent ability to change from a full-on drive to a dead stop in an instant that gets him a lot of short jumpers in the lane (which he has started making), and he no longer looks out of control if he does take it all the way to the hole. The outside shooting has come a long way too – without his late three pointers in tonights game the Rockets would have been nowhere near close enough to create the crunch-time situation, and generally it seems like a much safer option than it used to for him to play the role of set shooter from Harden’s drives."
Khuang, I have never called you hating on another because your opinion varies from them. And truth is: That's happened a lot with you. Just because I may disagree with someone doesn't mean I'm hating on them. It means that I disagree and I voiced my opinion. You saying I'm "hating" on someone because I merely have a disagreement lacks all credibility.
I'm not so sure I've said that people don't know the game. However I have myself said that I'm no expert on basketball (but that doesn't preclude having an opinion).
Yes, absolutely, I have called some people on this forum unobjective. That's my opinion. So if you told me, KHuang, that I'm not being objective then you're hating on me? Please.
Harden's turnovers were atrocious.... no doubt about it.
You can say I judge people negatively until you're blue in the face: But I'm going to call you out as being absurd.
If I say someone isn't objective that's my opinion and isn't an ad hominem attack as you really desire it to be. It's an opinion and saying it's name calling is quite the stretch.
So let me get this straight: If I disagree with someone on this forum that means I'm whining? That's lame.
The whole point is I never fired on people. The unfortunate thing is that you interpret a disagreement with firing on people. And you do so VERY selectively I may add, because you "violently" disagree with people all the time.
Come on Bamboo Forest, sign up for another account and create a new name. Everyone knows you're a troll who defends Harden. You don't post during the game, but instead post when Harden fails, gets attacked and you want to defend him.
redking.... I'm certainly not a troll. I just call out absurdity when I see it instead of remaining silent. A better man would remain silent and go about his day.
Oh, so I didn't post during the game somehow means that I have an agenda? That doesn't seem logical to me.
Hmmm.... I said Harden's turnovers this game were atrocious... more than once after this game: How is that defending Harden?
I'm done with this debate...... Everyone... EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion. and EVERYONE is entitled to speak up if they disagree. Maybe what bothers people is that when I disagree I speak up.
I was looking forward to you expanding on the criticism that you were firing against me in your opening post here.
Another unspoken rule of Internet flame warring: people think you're a COWARD if you start a fight and then walk away from it after you get retaliated. You get made fun of, too.
So keep it coming. You have a lot of negative opinions not just about me, but people on this site. SHARE your thoughts with us, as that why you post here in the first place.
OK, since you're so disappointed.. I will continue this debate with you that you say was getting GOOD.
In my opinion if someone thinks another is a coward because they walk away from a debate than they need to think more critically.
You charged me with being a hater and I opted not to remain silent from your charge. From that perspective, you are the one that started this whole thing.
I don't have any negative opinions about anyone here. Again, while it may be convenient to say that just because I disagree with someone I have a negative opinion of them: It's still not accurate.
Solidz75, you are right. I agree with you here! It's a waste of time, and it's one of my character flaws that I always feel a need to speak up. Actually, sometimes it's intelligent and wise to let things go even if you believe you're in the right.
OK, KHuang, now you've taken it too far.... Claiming I'm trying to discredit this forum and its members is over the top. Disagreements with others doesn't mean I'm trying to discredit the forum.
I have no beef against anyone here! And I have no beef against you.
And I continue to agree with Solidz75 on what he said.
IMO, bamboo is not a troll but just a really annoying dude who is in love with the sound of his own voice always arguing for the other side. He almost does it for shock value.
Bamboo.. Really... U'd fit right in in clutch. Just go there and save yourself the angst.
Doubt it. Parsons and Bev will take Lins minutes in the 4th. Morey recently said that Bev plays the way they need someone to play at the PG position. He's never said that about Lin. He's only complimented Lin on his individual strengths.
With Harden taking so many posessions, they're gonna go with Parsons, someone they've trusted all season and Bev on D.
I say this because Parsons can shoot assisted 3's (that's pretty much his game) and that's mostly where Harden's assists come from when he doesn't have anywhere to go. That role can easily be taken up by Parsons.
Did anyone hear that BS commentator say that Harden had no one to pass the ball to with CP out? That made me boil. Rox won a bunch of games without Barbie's boyfriend Ken. So glad Jeremy shut them up wit those clutch 3s. He was a defensive beast too. Jeremy played over 40 min tonight and he was on fire in the 4th. I still think McFail will cut his minutes when Don Juan returns. Also sparky Bev lost the game just as much as Harden's iso brick by those 2 stupid fouls.Bev's bug eyed "who me's? " after those two fouls made me laugh. Too bad Jeremy held Harden back after that first T. If he had gotten ejected, maybe McFool would have come up with an other play for a change instead of iso Harden. Ok , thanks for providing this place to vent. Truth is, all these guys can play really well together. If they had a good coach, this team, with Jeremy, can go far.
Don't know why there is a need to nit pick at teammates or even coaches this game, as this was probably an expected loss.
Lots of positives for team this game, plus playoff type intensity hopefully helps prepare team to come out with right temperament at start of game (highly motivated, but not over amped).
DMo didn't looked scared with his shot, like he has in past, but he did look like he was playing at 100 mph, really rushing his shot.
We're not expected to legitimately contend this year, so this type of experience is valuable for team next year. Any sustained noise in playoffs we make this year is just icing on the cake.
Enjoy the ride because Lin looks to be peaking (sustained Linsanity 2.0) going into playoffs.
There are times, when JLin isn't as aggressive on his drives. He can turn the corner on almost any defender (esp going left), but then we can feel he isn't going to shoot - that he's looking to pass.
That's when he gets into trouble. He is sometimes tentative to shoot in the restricted area going left. Especially, if he has missed his few prior shots.
He had some TO's in the 4th because he didn't shoot on his drive to the left.
I hear you, jakemaverick. Jeremy was doing a lot more of that driving to the basket and then instead of shooting when he is at the rim, he tries to pass and turns it over. Very frustrating. He did that a couple times tonight. I hope that doesn't start creeping back into his game. Better to take the shot and possibly get fouled than throw the ball away.
Stretch in fourth quarter where Lin helped Rockets close the gap (before two clutch three pointers) prove what Coach Eric Musselman said of Jeremy during his stint in D League with Reno Big Horns:
1) he is an incredible loose ball getter
2) he gets you extra possessions (defense stops, steals, rebounds, etc).
He may not be lock down on ball defender, but his impact on team defense, particularly in crunch time, can not be denied.
Makes me so sad and pissed at the same time. The coaching staff has 2 guys in Harden and Lin that can penetrate at an elite level, pass (although Lin is better at this) and breakdown defenses yet they only utilize one of them. Stopping 2 of these guys is harder than 1 so why the hell don't they utilize Lin a little more!? A couple of those possessions before the final shot were terrible. We couldn't haven't done anything else?!
I wasn't mad about this game, in fact, I was quite amused.
1. I guess McHale couldn't decide who to play in the 4th quarter, so he played both Lin and Beverley. LOL! Fine by me, I don't care who's out there with Lin as long as Lin is.
2. I rarely complain about officiating, but it was really bad all game long. On a related note, I predict that Harden will struggle in the playoffs because he won't get the calls he's used to. The refs will probably let a lot more contact go in the playoffs.
3. Jeremy showed everyone that he a 4th quarter closer, with 2 huge 3 ptrs.
4. I kind of didn't want the Rockets to win anyways, to avoid Denver. =)
This late in the season, Jeremy Lin has fresh legs and bright eyes. And I'm NOT going to give credit to McHale for limiting Lin's minutes, as I usually have.
Lin is in great shape and is playing wonderful team basketball. He's not taking any plays off and is playing just as hard in the 4th quarter as he is in the 1st.
Kudos to Lin and the Rockets staff for staying injury free and having great conditioning.
You're right to not give any credit to McHale. He wasn't limiting his minutes to save him... he was trying to find a "better" player than Lin or an alternative.
Last summer, I was hoping that Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats would offer Lin a big contract.
I wrote that I wanted Jordan to draft Jeremy Lamb with the #2 overall pick and work Lamb into the lineup either as a starter or a highly prized bench player.
My thing is that I view Jeremy Lin as a game changing superstar who can singlehandedly take a downtrodden team and instantly turn them around if the coach is smart enough to simply let Lin play his stellar game.
I wanted to see what the ULTIMATE WINNER in Lin could do with the ULTIMATE LOSER in Jordan's Bobcats.
If I were Michael Jordan, I'd offer Kemba Walker and some other players for Jeremy Lin. I'm sure Daryl Morey would make that trade in a heartbeat, though I'm not so sure that Les Alexander would.
Could Houston win more with Kemba Walker than with Lin? I seriously doubt it. Could Charlotte win more games with Lin than with Walker? Heck, I think Lin could lead Charlotte to the Eastern Conference playoffs if he had a coach that appreciated him!
Hey KHuang, if you have access to a buddy with league pass and they put this in the archive, you gotta watch this for the commitment it takes our Lin to tie together a tough comeback with his 3 from 3-4' beyond the arc. Then, you can see what Rose calls out as Sparky's 2 fouls, McHale's 2 useless time outs, and Harden's 4 dumb possessions.
What a great game, to be serious. I can put myself in lin's mind ... we gotta come back we gotta focus on another 2 another 2. Everybody here whose played bball competitively knows that feeling. And then it's happening before your eyes.
Like I said before on my badly spelled mobile ... the glory had Rox won. And then, McHale and Harden had to get their 'input' into the game, and all that winning Qi just diffused out. Strange - McHale knows how to be a champion. Maybe the Celts during that era had too many people holding it together, so McHale never had to monitor the Qi of winning. He just did great. Maybe it was Bird, or whomever was playing alongside or coaching. You would know. For sure Harden and McHale, and Bev, etc ... they are in a dimension that doesn't see the human spirit. If you can see that, you can crush the opponent's teamwork at will. which.lin.did.tonight.
I suspect I won't need League Pass to read the "chi" of this game.
When I see Lin, I see a confident guy whose only failing is that he sometimes looks over his shoulder too much. I'll attribute that to the coaching, not Lin himself.
When I see Harden, I see a SCARED guy who is afraid of playing a subservient role. It's as if Harden still thinks he's in OKC where Russell Westbrook wasn't going to pass and Kevin Durant was so unstoppable that he shouldn't pass. That fear is negatively impacting all of Harden's game.
I would like Harden to understand that he can't win games by taking every single shot, that there's more to passing than simply tossing the ball to teammates when he's unable to score, that he must start playing defense for real.
Then again, there are guys like Kobe Bryant who still don't understand those things. No wonder the Lakers might not even make the playoffs despite their NBA leading salary.
Yes, KHuang, I agree ... it's insecurity that drive egoism. It's not jazz. A corp coach once told me, to do great things, you have to be a jazz ensemble. One note leads to another. Big companies are a symphony. I always didn't like symphonies - the music is too tight to me.
I like what you say here about Harden. Today, it was like he banged his head against the wall 4 times trying to be the guy who shot the winning bucket a few games ago, and the guy who happened to release the goal-tend against your not-beloved Phx.
Hope he outgrows that. Find him a good churchgoing woman so he and Lin can have fellowship :-)
If the Rockets really wanted to win (which they said they did), the game was so stupid for 3 main reasons:
(1) Lin was never allowed to play without Harden or Beverley.
(2) Lin and Harden played way too much. Lin especially had to be tired, since he's not used to playing that much.
(3) I was afraid of Harden looking to draw too many fouls, particularly down the stretch or during clutch time.....He had the Rockets last 3 possessions and they came away with ZERO points during that time. He's been spoiled by the refs living on the free throw line, but he needs to be careful and not overdo it now on, and especially during the playoffs.
Yours is a dumb replay comment in my opinion because everything I said were plane facts.
Having said that I think it's good that they lost because the standing in WC is going the way it should be. The Rox just need to win one of the last 3 games (vs MN at home).
Harden would be at Eric Gordon level, if he didn't have so many fouls called for and Gordon plays a lot better defense than Harden. Harden avg 8.7-10.1 FT So minus the FT he avg 17.2 ppg on 16.9 FGA. Let's be honest half of the foul called is a superstar/phantom calls. There is no way Harden is a better player than Lin. If Lin get the same freedom and treatment from McHell and the referee as Harden did, he would totally eclipse Harden stats.
For playoff sake, I'm so glad the game ended the way it was.
After Lin, our Mr. 4th Quarter, made a string of clutch plays with a 3PT, no-look pass to Asik, the Rockets cut the lead to 73-76.
Then Harden did the RIGHT thing to get 2 FTs and fed Lin who had the hot hands for another 3PT to tie the game for 78-78.
Unfortunately, in the next 3 possessions Harden failed to get fouls and missed shots.
Good teams and coaches will figure out ways to feed the hot hands and involve Lin because he got the hot hands.
But I saw McHale talking only to Harden about what plays he will run. Lin stayed behind the huddle and had to say, "Wait, wait. ..." to chime in after the conversation was over.
There was nothing wrong about trusting Harden to make plays in the end as long as he tried to get his teammates involved. How come Lin who got the hot hands were not involved in the last 3 plays?
Hopefully, McHale as a young coach in experience would draw plays for the last 2min for the playoffs not to rely on Hardens and involve the hot shooters (i.e. Lin, Parsons, Delfino, TJ, Asik, etc.). Depending on Harden ISOs for 3 straight possessions when he didn't get the calls and not having the best shooting night was very painful to watch.
On the positive, I'm on board with real-dsb of avoiding Denver at all costs as the 6th seed. It's just a bad matchup against George Karl who had tons of playoff experience and makes quick game adjustment.
George Karl is DIVA POISON. His teams have a way of embarrassing divas, even if those divas are playing for Karl!
Lin is the only Rocket with enough game to play against Karl's Nuggets. It would be Linsanity against the Nuggets, simply because Karl shuts everybody else down!
Agree.. While we have a tough road ahead either way, I think it would be better for the Rox to avoid Denver in the playoffs. There is a reason we got swept. They are young. They like to run. Graet in transistion. They look like the better version of us. Most importantly, Iggy will shut down harden and harden will destroy this team trying to force himself when things are not going his way. This loss may be a blessing in disguise.
I think it's good that they lost. If they win the game vs. MN on Sunday and lose the last 2 games on the road - which I think they will - the Rox would stay in the 7th place.
Denver is also a bad matchup for Lin because Lin's effectiveness in the paint is reduced by athletic big men like Faried, McGee, Wilson Chandler and even Iguodala who can lock down Harden effectively.
Their bench plays from Miller, Corey Brewer are always lethal to produce points. And Ty Lawson might be back for the playoff.
I saw a glimpse of the game when they beat the Spurs easily 2 days ago. If they're almost unbeatable at home with high elevation of Denver, the Rockets had less chance to beat them than the Spurs with unhealthy Parker and Ginobili.
I'd say bring on the Spurs to have a chance to run and gun with older vet teams. Thunder can beat them last year and I don't see why the Rockets can't if they neutralize Parker.
Hmm, I can't decide on a "best case" matchup -- there's pros and cons to every team.
So I'll just hope for the Thunder. Might as well play the best, win or lose. It's that kind of experience that will help this team grow up and show McHale/Morey why Jeremy and defense are the keys to future success.
Hopefully, McHale as a young coach in experience would draw plays for the last 2min for the playoffs not to rely on Hardens and involve the hot shooters (i.e. Lin, Parsons, Delfino, TJ, Asik, etc.). ---- You know this isn't happening. C'mon.
Yes psalm, great post. I see what you mean by Lin being ignored even with the hot hand. Yes, he did bring them back in the game, and then, Harden/McHale decided to go with the mefirst act. It's always the same with AAs in leadership positions - let's draw up a play so it ain't so. Happened to me 3 times in my 20s. Well, that's a youth group testimonial for another time.
Have u guys noticed how Jeremy is really notching up his level of play while harden is going in the opposite direction? 17 TO's in the last 2 games? Don't care how many points harden scores, he seems to be regressing since he returned from the foot injury.
Sure the team may have lost tonight, but on individual level, Jeremy has gone up another notch. This is really a great sign as we head into the playoffs.
True, Harden might not be 100% with his ankle and not get the calls from the refs. His shooting was also not as sharp as the beginning of the season.
Lin has stepped up his game and hit big shots after big shots after being the "true PG" in Magic/Clippers game. Kudos to him and we can expect he will step up even more for big games in the playoff!
He plays his best when the lights shine the brightest!
Yeah if Lin continues to shine under pressure, McHale will ultimately need to acknowledge that. Whatever the case, i love that Jeremy is letting his play do the talking. All I hear these days from other announcers is how "excellent" of a pg he is.
And as long as harden makes those cringe worth TO's trying to pad his stats, he will amount to nothing more than a better paid monta Ellis.
In the NBA, nobody can succeed in his own. Jeremy Lin is gaining the trust of his teammates, and they are seeing him as a worthy leader.
Franchises can artificially anoint players like Harden as leaders, but that gets exposed over time.
Harden cannot get stellar stats without teammates helping him. If he's not playing defense or passing or being a good teammate, his teammates are less likely to help him. Contrast that to Lin who is being embraced more and more by his adoring teammates.
For Harden to have better individual stats, he needs to play more team basketball. More passing. More cutting. More defense.
The problem with Harden is basically the problem with the Rockets -- what works against bad and mediocre teams may not work against good and great teams.
Parsons has been clutch hitting 3's in the final minutes of games too. Yeah, Lin can score in other ways but the ball has to be in his hands for that to happen. We all know the ball continues to be in Harden's hands at the end of games.
Kevin McHale is more pathetic and a bigger racist than I thought! He really should be fired for his coaching in the last few minutes of the game. Despite Lin's two clutch 3s in the waning moments (one to get the Rox within 3 and the next one to tie it at 78), as well as a gorgeous no look pass leading to an Asik dunk, McHale would rather tank/ lose the game to spite Lin than run a play for Lin to win it. It's so obvious to me now that Lin has absolutely no support from his head coach at all, but it goes to show you how mentally tough and gutsy Lin is. But he was pissed at the end of the game because of McHale's racism. Did you see the last two timeout huddles? McHale completely ignores Lin, and Lin is lookin into the huddle from a distance as McHale is only drawing up a play for ballhog Harden. And in the last time out huddle again the play was only called for Harden even ignoring Lin so much as to have his only role being throwing the inbounds pass into Beverly who was told to then throw it to Harden! And in the last timeout huddle Lin was so frustrated with McHale not instructing Lin anything that you caught it on tv Lin screaming at McHale as the huddle was breaking up, "where am I supposed to be, where am I!!" (you could read Lin's lips!! There are never any plays run for Lin-- only for Harden and Parsons. Lin knows his only chance at shining is just playing his game but he can't do much in the last fee plays of the game if he is completely ignored by the coach's play calling strategy. So although on the surface I blame Harden for single-handedly losing the game the last four possessions, Lin and the rest of the team is being instructed by McHale to give the ball to Harden and hope for the best. Lin needs to get out of Houston at the end of this year. Just think what he would do next year if he has a coach that believes in him. That racist scumbag McHale will get his comeuppance because Lin and Lin's faith is too strong for Lin to be suffering like this long-term.
McHale is angry old white man! Asian man not supposed to win game for angry old white man or be shining star. Just like Parstons think Jeremy Lin not GQ and very jealous. Not sure how Jeremy Lin get out of this mess but keep fight and make big plays especially clutch time since James Hogden turn into Lebron james of 4th quarter.
Spencer, I didn't watch the timeouts and thanks for writing this. I agree - he's probably acting biased/blind here. It's happened to any of us who look different and lead something. It's happening now to somebody ...
That foul on curry to give Blake ft was sooo bullshit. Lakes play spurs next. Utah plays minn and has the tie breaker advantage. Loos like it may come down to rockets lakes game on Wednesday.
Yeah, the refs kept sabotaging GSW's momentum when they started to pull away. I'd be mad if I were a GSW fan. But I'm glad GSW lost. Rox have a good shot at #6 spot now.
Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine Kobe Bryant can do a lot of things, but playing on torn Achilles ain't one of 'em. If that's the diagnosis, industry standard is a year out. 10:20 PM - 12 Apr 13
This is what happens when you are doing what your body is NOT supposed to be doing at this age. U can't beat Father Time. I bet he was on PED. Yeah I I said it. As competitive as he was, I would not be surprised if this is a result of some illicit "rejuvenator".
Great point. Curry was double teamed so he gave his teammates a better shot. Landry just choked. If that was harden, u know he will force up a shot praying that he will get a call.
We can see how ineffective harden is if he doesn't get ticky tacky calls. Wonder what will happen in the playoffs.
would have been nice if Harden called for offensive foul against T.Allen. i always imagine if Curry and Lin could form a good backcourt, my only worries is on the defensive end but clearly Lin has shown that he is excellent in defending the 2 position.
The right play is the right play, no matter the results.
If Curry chucked that and hit it, that's not praiseworthy. In the long run, playing the right way and trusting your teammates is what gets more wins.
About that last GSW possession though, I don't know why GSW had Landry set the screen for Curry. It's obvious that Lakers would double Curry off the pick, conceding the pick and pop. Did they really want Landry shooting the final shot?
How many possessions does the Rockets average a game and how much of it is used up by Harden? For example, If the average is 100 and Harden uses up 33 of them, it would be 1/3 of the total. I have a feeling its higher than that. Do you know where I can get that data?
Harden SHOULD be shooting the most; that by itself is not a problem. It's the context of his deciding to shoot that matters. That's not a story you can get by mining stats.
Nate Robinson has the 9th highest usg among pg's and he's only averaging 13.2 pts? Maybe usage rate doesn't matter. If you're an average player, even with high usg, you'll still be average and if you're a superstar player, you'll get your superstar numbers even if your usg rate is lower.
Kinda makes me wonder about Lin then. If he had a higher usg rate, would he really be that much more effective? Maybe he's just an average player and not a star player.
I'm in a bad mood tonight. Those last couple possessions before Harden's final shot really pissed me off.
Lakers season playoff hopes going to come down to last game against Rockets. Right now 1 ahead of Utah. Most likely Utah will beat Minesota and lose to Memphis. Lakers will lose to SAS if they beat Rockets they are in, if not Utah in.
Jeremy Lin then orchestrated a 10-2 Houston run, with the guard bookending the flurry with a pair of triples to knot the contest at 78-78 with 1:33 to play. The Rockets, though, were never able to score again. . . .
"All the guys (on our team) are just on the same page. When you've got five guys out there with the same goal, fighting hard and playing together, this is the outcome -- you get the win," Grizzlies guard Tony Allen said.
JLin's 17 pts [5-13 FG, 5-6 FT], 5 boards and 5 assists tonight marks his 5th game this season of at least 15 pts, five rebounds and five assists. [The Rox were 4-0 in his first 4 such games this season.] -JF
U know it wasn't just harden. It was everyone else.. Bev, ASik whoever was on the court. During crunch time, everyone tries to get the ball into Harden's hands. This has to be the mandate from McHale. Give our "superstar" the ball and get da hell out of the way.
U may have success once in a blue moon (eg San Antonio game). But more than not this shit doesn't work. Especially when you use this scheme for the last four offensive possessions off the game .
Notice also that Conley was out of position, had his eyes on Harden, and didn't even notice that Lin got open. Bayless was staying with Bev, and was not rotating over to cover Lin.
Maybe we should be glad that if harden pass to Lin on this possession and Lin miss it. He will be blamed massively for sure. But now everybody just blame on the refs instead of the hero Harden
If Lin hits the shot, great. If he misses it, that's how it goes sometimes. You cannot guarantee the outcome, but you make the best decision given the circumstances. The right play is the right play, no matter the result.
You play to win, not to avoid blame, especially the blame of haters who don't understand bball.
And what da hell happened to Asik's offensive game? I know he is not great to begin with but my god the last few games, he's been woeful. He needs to be able to make those shots underneath the basket. I hate when he tries to finesse that ball in there. He just needs to dunk it.
good gsme by lin
ReplyDelete:) It was.
DeleteYup. Amazing defense (as always). 2 TOs were pure ref BS. One was especially hilarious...I still don't know what they were even accusing him of. Also, he was hacked all night HARD and McHale did his usual cool-off routine when he was hot early on.
DeleteHarden choked FOUR TIMES in a single minute. Unacceptable. You get TWO CHANCES because you are an elite scorer. I get that. But after that, it MUST go the the hot hand and top clutch performer Mr. Jeremy Lin.
Jeremy's clutch 3s were plain nasty. He was perfectly defended and he still buried them after a rough, physical game. The only silver lining? All but virulent racists (i.e. 50% of Clutch Fans, ha) saw who the REAL CLUTCH PLAYER on the team was. Just in time for the playoffs.
JLin the KING of CLUTCH!
Deletez you are right. as long as Lin is in hou, cf will feast on the real clutch.
DeleteYes...agreed that only silver lining was showing once again how clutch and cold-blooded Jeremy is in high-stakes, close games during the 4th quarter. Too bad Rockets when with same iso-play at top of the key four times unsuccessfully.
DeleteNot "when" ... went
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewhat's the sentiment on clutchfans?
ReplyDeletedon't know, don't care, don't go to that god forsaken place
DeleteExactly! Who cares?
DeleteGlancing at game thread they thought what I thought: refs screwed us this game.
DeletePersonally, I thought Lin had an incredible game, even if it doesn't show up in box score. Except for a few minutes in fourth where everyone, including Lin, struggled on offense, Lin really had an amazingly good game, both on offense and defense.
Also have no problem with how McHale managed game, including Harden going iso as closer in final minutes of game (looks like he should have gotten a few foul calls he didn't get and thus were turnovers).
I almost think Lin's performance this game was better than his performance against L. A. Clippers.
Harden seemed over amp'd to start game, but settled down in second half and his shots started to fall. Few careless turnovers by team in first half that helped cause deficit we had to dig out of.
Can also see some of the older members (join date from years ago) are being converted from skeptics to believers (not that Lin is the best period, but that he is obviously already very good, and has potential to become much better over time).
DeleteRefs were atrocious, but thanks to Jeremy's heroics they had a chance.
DeleteToo bad Harden blew it. Not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR times!!!! Horrendous. I don't mind harden taking that last shot per se, but it was the three shots earlier that annoyed me. He was totally covered for two of them.
I hope Harden learned a hard lesson tonight. You can't do it on your own. You need Jeremy as much as he needs you (a lot moreso actually, but whatever).
Harden was 7-24 and had 8 turnovers.
DeleteHe was losing this game long before the last minute.
don't agree khuang. one cannot judge a game by the past. if you have a tie, you win or lose from there. that's the mentality of competition. foc on now.
Deleteharden choked four possessions. he lost it then.
so did mvhale, caliing it to hardrn out of two timeouts. he just saw a harden kicjout for s the to lin. then Linn re for asik slam.
Who give a crap about clucthfans. Even hate when someone bring posts over from cluthfans. Why the hell someone always bring up clutchfans?
DeleteSee, I can forgive a bad boxscore if the team is playing unselfishly.
DeleteBut when a guy like Harden goes rogue and plays selfishly while refusing to defend, the Rockets can't have that.
As has been the case all season, Harden trying to win games by himself often results in him LOSING games all by himself!
should have give a chance to JLIN for last shot.....
ReplyDeleteLast shot goes to Harden, hit or miss, but it's the other three earlier possessions in which Harden didn't make good decisions. When you are not getting calls all game, esp after you have given enough attitude to the refs for them to hit you with a technical, and now you think you are suddenly going to get those calls? That's just dumb.
DeleteAlso, not passing to Lin when he was open. You have to make the right play and trust your teammates.
Deletetrue!
DeleteStupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. There's been an entire game of non calls -- some pattern recognition please hehe.
Deletemaybe this is only way he can score. try to get fouled
Delete"Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
DeleteThis is exactly why McHale should be fired. Or any coach for that matter. It's the one thing that is always 100% unacceptable -- trying the same failing strategy over and over again.
Completely agree... good grief, everyone knows it going to be an ISO-Harden. McHale doesnt even need to draw that up.
DeleteJLin just shot you back into the game... give him a chance to close.
@yamslinfan mo ... yes, agree. Harden's scoring gets really elevated when he's given the fouls, from both FT and because people start defending him with less aggression.
DeleteWho gives a xxxx about Clutchfans, mostly morons there anyways. Most are defending Harden's last possession while completely in denial about the three failed attempts before it. Did I mention that they're mostly morons?
ReplyDeleteeven Drexler said Jeremy has hot hand and harden should consider to kick it out and let Jeremy shoot.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteVery , very true!
DeleteHe did it once, and JLin scored the clutch 3. He should try feeding the hot hand until he gets a free look from doing it.
DeleteI had the volume on mute. When was this said?
DeleteFxxxing refs fixing the game, this fxxx is why I quit watching the NBA before Linsanity.
ReplyDeleteJLIN HOLDING BACK HARDEN FROM REF
ReplyDeleteLOL the asshole elbowed Lin trying to push him off.
DeleteDuring the playoffs, Lin should let Harden get T-ed up and hopefully get a few suspensions.
Yeah Lin should've let him get thrown out. So the baby didn't get the calls he usually doesn't deserve.. He needs to realize the " leader" doesnt have to be the one to take the last shot- not to mention last 4 shots. As long he doesn't realize, this Rox team will go no where.
Deletemwp is coming!
DeleteI did not see this game because I was working.
ReplyDeleteHowever, a simple boxscore read told me the obvious: that James Harden had a HORRIBLE game.
If that were Lin with a game with such selfish bricks and turnovers especially with the game on the line, we'd TRASH LIN and call him the scrub of all scrubs. But no, Lin plays the game the right way.
Harden didn't even deserve to be on the court in the final minutes. There is no excuse for McHale plowing the ball theough his WORST PLAYER in Harden!
I envy you -- you didn't have to watch this car wreck of a game. Cheated by refs...then cheated by Harden & McHale. Jeremy' clutch 3s were something to behold.
DeleteI just know he's gonna be a Final MVP in the future (if/when he gets control of his own team). The man might be -- even statistically speaking -- the most clutch player in the NBA over the past two seasons.
LOL I went to do some spring cleaning instead of watching this TRAIN wreck.
DeleteHarden looked over amp'd in first half and lots of his shots were rimming out. He didn't look selfish or trying to freeze Lin out; he was letting Lin be point guard and he seemed to settle more into shooting guard mode. His shots just were not falling in first half.
DeleteHe looked much better in second half, and some of those turnovers in second half probably should have been fouls.
First half was frustrating, second half was really enjoyable.
If you have NBA League Pass subscription, I highly recommend viewing it from archives.
Harden kept us in the game, as well as out of the game (8 TOs). He is always looking for the whistle, but that's his game and what got him here.
DeleteI know you don't like Bev, but the dude is so disruptive to the opponents D. I saw the game, I am looking for reasons NOT to play Bev... but just with the eye test, he is a complete pest on D.
Got to totally give it up to JLin for his clutch 3s. We seriously need to draw up a play for him in the final minutes.
And Harden was the one who assisted to Lin on those final 2 3s...
DeleteRemember also that we don't have Chandler Parsons out there, though he will be in lineup closing out games in playoffs.
DeleteIn addition to good 3 point shooting, he is great at slashing to basket when Lin's initial drive gets stopped and Lin spots him for pass, where Parsons can either finish himself of pass.
Plus Delfino not in rhythm because he has been sidelined last few games.
Team defense starting to look much better with T Jones (vs. T Rob or DMo), too. T Jones can really leap too.
agree on this. lin was the only one focused on the game flow and score gap. he only made that one mistake down the stretch leading to his foul on gasol. harden inthat stretch made four mistakes. that'snot even closing. game tape . sos.
DeleteThanks guys.
DeleteActually, I would have enjoyed seeing this game.
The low score indicates that this game was a slugfest that could've gone either way.
I've seen too much Beverley's slow reaction time having a horrific effect on team defense. I've seen too much bad selfish game losing Kobe ball from Harden, and his defense is even worse than Beverley's. I won't use this single game to say that either player has turned the corner.
as a game goes, it was good. if they had won, the glory. a slugfest yes. flow ... lin concentrating on stops and deficit. sneaking up. harden giving to lin for thst three well beyond the arc. only failed when harden and mchale realized was about to win it without them.
Deleteever seen that in work life?
Are you kidding me? Harden not only had 8 TO but going from 7-24 from the field, 5-10 from 3, that means only 2-14 from 2pt range? Honest to god McHale, CONTROL HIM!
ReplyDeletemaybe mchale tanked the game? i kid.
DeleteHis status as Alpha dog on our team is too secure. He is given plenty, plenty of latitude. He was firing up contested bricks like he was building a house.
DeleteBut he is what he is.
That's always Harden's problem. He has no in between game. If the opposing team pack the paint and the refs don't call fouls in crunch time, he will always struggle.
Delete(sigh)... well, thats Harden's game.
DeleteOn these nights, it looks bleak for Harden, but he's considered an Elite SG because he plays like this.
Everyone has nights where they focus on you and can mess you up (T Allen is considered by some to be the best perimeter D in the league - by Zach Lowe).
The refs were clearly horrible tonight but the Rox still had a chance to pull it off. I don't mind harden taking the last shot of the game but last FOUR shots?! That I have a problem with. Harden has to learn to trust his teammates especially Jeremy. It just can't be a one way street. I also fault McHale for being so scared to call his "superstar" out despite his tough guy demeanor. This guy will never get my respect.
ReplyDeleteJeremy made some clutch clutch shots in the fourth. He should've had at least one opportunity to win the game. Really a waste of everyone's effort.
I have no problem with Harden jacking up 27 shots but it's how he uses possession is the biggest issue. The offense is stagnant when he does his iso, cut you up or draw a foul play. This type of play should be incorporated at the right moments instead of the primary offense. A lot of people think a point is a point but it's really the same is it? Having people standing around would make all other players look like they're not making an effort.
ReplyDeleteSo what are peoples expectation in CF? JLin has to be a spot up shooter who is aggressive, gets 8 assist and only takes 12 shots, making 8 of them while not standing in the corner. All this in 30mins without being used in the 4th.
What are their expectations from Harden? Dominate the ball every possession because he'll bound to make a shot or get a foul. Don't worry about other players, you are the man. Don't worry about D cause that the scrubs job. Your job is to put the ball in the hole. Just take the shot even if it's bad.
The feeling is like the step child vs the actual child. Two sets of standards. I'm going extreme on my example and Harden is a prolific scorer but he has to see the court better and get others involved if he wants to be the primary ball handler. Harden wants to be the PG and the SG. Right now he's passing to himself and others are a second thought. It's kind of like when you are at the park playing basketball. There is always this one ball hog that is really good and win a lot of time but no one likes playing with him because they don't even touch the ball.
Hear me now, everybody -
DeleteI and many others here DON'T GIVE A CRAP about Clutchfans.
Now jeremylin.net? I care very much about what goes on here.
First half Lin was THE point guard and Harden really did seem to settle into a more traditional shooting guard role. Unfortunately, Harden's shots were just not falling, at all, in first half.
DeleteHarden did become more ball dominant in second half, but he also had offensive explosion to justify that. He also didn't look like he was intentionally trying to freeze Lin out.
The way they played off of each other in second half, and especially when they were making their final push that came up just short, it reminded me of OKC and Spurs victories. where big shot by one seemed to inspire other to do the same.
Lin and Beverley seemed like two who started out game at right temperment, motivated to play great, but not over amp'd. Harden came across as over'amp'd and DMo looked like he was really rushing things (way too much adrenaline?)
T Jones also looked really good, and he can really leap. Looks so much better after time in D League.
I understand but it's not just CF and we cant always live in a bubble. Now you can happily do that if you like. I'm just throwing it out there for those that do give crap. It's good to see the other side and debate differences. I don't post there because of the idiotic responses. At least here you can have a open debate.
DeleteI said I DON'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT CLUTCHFANS.
DeleteIt ain't livin' in a bubble for me to get irritated when members here write gleefully about the racism that they're constantly hunting for there.
I wasn't talking about this game but his style of play in general. My opinion is that he lacks trust and is the jealous type that doesn't like to share success unless it was the reason for it. Nothing wrong with it, a lot of greats are like that but eventually they have to start trusting players. To be honest, a lot of times it has to do with how certain players naturally gel with others. Lin's style of play would benefit most role players. Players that does not like to handle the ball. Ones that like to get into position and take a few dribbles to the rim or those that like to cut. Rick Hamilton would complement JLin quite nicely if you ask me. He loves to go off screens and JLin would see him every time for an easy shot off a screen.
DeleteWhat so gleeful about my response?
DeleteIf you truly dislike Clutchfans, you wouldn't be going to that site let alone talk about it here.
DeleteKHuang - I like CF because of the rich variety of cool stuff there. I don't bother to absorb the sniping there because life is too short. Just sayin' ... Torocan and many others are really cool and know their stuff. TTNN gave us some good stats. deAleck was 10/10. They have some v funny photoshops that deal with the painful parts of the season by making fun of people (and it's not on Lin). And so on. CF is not a nasty place if you don't get stuck in the nasty stuff. Just like here sometimes.
DeleteAs for Clutch himself, I don't worry about how he feels about Lin. I bet he just cares about his own rep in HOU and the $ coming in on CF. So sure he's going to amp for and against lin, to support the clicks. So what? Google does it, and so does FB, Bing, and everybody else making $. That's how we get 'free' content. So, I mostly ignore trying to figure out Clutch except to say, he's out there making money and so are we. His opinions on JLin matter nothing, because he's after longevity in his franchise, and Lin just helps him make cash as long as he's controversial. If Lin were in his 8th season at Rox, then I bet Clutch would be his biggest supporter, since that's his cash cow. So, Clutch is not an unbiased guy - he has a business to run. That's fine. So is the WSJ and NY Times.
Joeteam, you are one of the coolest people here and I am your fan.
DeleteI'm totally OK with you appreciating Clutchfans and don't get irritated when you write about it here.
It's when people are REPEATEDLY COMPLAINING about Clutchfans that I get irritated.
As for my personal opinion of Clutchfans, I don't have one because I don't go there. This site and the experts here like you are more than I can handle already!
It's simple then, don't read it... so I cant complain but you can complain when people disagree with your views? Why can't I vent here? Is it against forum policy. I like to read opposing views. If you read my post, it was borderline sarcastic. If you are uptight about it then don't read it.
DeleteLook, we are all fans and we all have our ways of venting frustration. This is mine so let me be.
Oh, you can vent all you want.
DeleteAnd people like me can be like "Thou dost complaineth too much about the forum that you cannot teareast thine eyes away from".
You my friend is a scholar and a gentleman...
DeleteJli, I'm actually your fan and rarely disagree with you.
DeleteIf you don't like Clutchfans, DON'T GO THERE. It really is that simple.
This site here is positive. It's enough for me, and I hope it's enough for you.
I like to read different points of views and form my own opinion of things. This site while great sometimes tend to sway one way and CF is to the extreme.
DeleteHey KHuang, thanks for saying what you did. Cool guys ... well, that's a pretty high standard. Me, I'm kind of hot ... I play it low key until I get mad, then I bust a move and the weak ones are all ... 'yo, I thought you waz my friend.' The strong ones say, 'Alright, man! Let's get 'em.' So I'd like to be cool, so everybody can go get 'em with me without feeling unsafe. I love seeing people realize they can win something they never imagined was possible. I love beating the odds and getting there with friends intact. I does take courage, though, to take on hard things.
DeleteI suppose that's why I love it when Lin decides to go get 'em. If you see the highlights, you'll see his head swagger after his 3 + a dish to Asik at the rim. He unleashed the dragon then, and if Harden and McHale didn't decide to put their own mark on the game, it would have been another Toronto or Lakers. Just like 2 dogs on a walk. You can tell Harden and McHale I said so - not name calling, just calling the behavior.
Let the crouching tiger, hidden dragon out sometimes, my friends.
The last shot in the previous game against the sun was also a missed shot but Harden and the Rocks got lucky with the goal tending call. Not sure if Harden is a great clutch guy. The previous play before that last shot was also all Jeremy. McHale just don't realize who the true clutch shooter is.
ReplyDeleteseriously, i think mchale is losing sleeps over whether to put Lin or harden in for the last shot...his deepset eyes today looked even more tired than before. mchale's still not Lin's believer, yet.
DeleteMEM 82, HOU 78 - NOT LONG TIL PLAYOFF TIME
ReplyDelete"Looking back, the growth we’ve seen over the course of the season from Jeremy Lin has been amazing. Back in pre-season and in the early games, he looked wild on the drives and couldn’t hit a shot from the outside to save his life. He has gradually tightened things up over the course of the season and now looks like a completely different player. He’s developed an excellent ability to change from a full-on drive to a dead stop in an instant that gets him a lot of short jumpers in the lane (which he has started making), and he no longer looks out of control if he does take it all the way to the hole. The outside shooting has come a long way too – without his late three pointers in tonights game the Rockets would have been nowhere near close enough to create the crunch-time situation, and generally it seems like a much safer option than it used to for him to play the role of set shooter from Harden’s drives."
Khuang, I have never called you hating on another because your opinion varies from them. And truth is: That's happened a lot with you. Just because I may disagree with someone doesn't mean I'm hating on them. It means that I disagree and I voiced my opinion. You saying I'm "hating" on someone because I merely have a disagreement lacks all credibility.
ReplyDelete*If* we were to use your definition, then you hate on quite a few people.
DeleteBut you DO hate on people.
DeleteYou call people on this forum "unobjective" and openly write that people here don't know the game.
People know the game here better than you think.
By the way, Harden STUNK.
hmmmm...
DeleteI'm not so sure I've said that people don't know the game. However I have myself said that I'm no expert on basketball (but that doesn't preclude having an opinion).
Yes, absolutely, I have called some people on this forum unobjective. That's my opinion. So if you told me, KHuang, that I'm not being objective then you're hating on me? Please.
Harden's turnovers were atrocious.... no doubt about it.
C'mon, Bamboo.
DeleteDon't you know that this is an Internet forum where if you judge people negatively, you're gonna be retaliated against?
Let me put it this way: Welcome to jeremylin.net where if you fire on people, be ready to TAKE THE HEAT.
Whining about being retaliated against will only make people retaliate against you HARDER, Bamboo.
KHuang....
DeleteYou can say I judge people negatively until you're blue in the face: But I'm going to call you out as being absurd.
If I say someone isn't objective that's my opinion and isn't an ad hominem attack as you really desire it to be. It's an opinion and saying it's name calling is quite the stretch.
So let me get this straight: If I disagree with someone on this forum that means I'm whining? That's lame.
The whole point is I never fired on people. The unfortunate thing is that you interpret a disagreement with firing on people. And you do so VERY selectively I may add, because you "violently" disagree with people all the time.
Come on Bamboo Forest, sign up for another account and create a new name. Everyone knows you're a troll who defends Harden. You don't post during the game, but instead post when Harden fails, gets attacked and you want to defend him.
Deleteredking.... I'm certainly not a troll. I just call out absurdity when I see it instead of remaining silent. A better man would remain silent and go about his day.
DeleteOh, so I didn't post during the game somehow means that I have an agenda? That doesn't seem logical to me.
Hmmm.... I said Harden's turnovers this game were atrocious... more than once after this game: How is that defending Harden?
I'm done with this debate...... Everyone... EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion. and EVERYONE is entitled to speak up if they disagree. Maybe what bothers people is that when I disagree I speak up.
DeleteWHINE WHINE WHINE.
DeleteThat's what I'm hearing from Bamboo Forest.
I've battled a lot of people here, but the vast majority of them knew or learned that when they fired on people, they would get fired back on.
Me? I fire at people like Bamboo in retaliation, yes. The difference is that I can TAKE THE HEAT.
It's like the video game Mortal Kombat. I love it when the game goes "Toasty!!!"
It's all good KHuang. I have no ill feelings toward anyone on this forum. I'm pretty sure I can also take the heat.
DeleteAnd I have no problem with you having a strong opinion. That's cool.... you're like me: We have strong opinions.
I'm done with this for tonight.
Goodnight all.
You're done with this debate that YOU STARTED?
DeleteDarn. It was just about to get GOOD.
I was looking forward to you expanding on the criticism that you were firing against me in your opening post here.
Another unspoken rule of Internet flame warring: people think you're a COWARD if you start a fight and then walk away from it after you get retaliated. You get made fun of, too.
So keep it coming. You have a lot of negative opinions not just about me, but people on this site. SHARE your thoughts with us, as that why you post here in the first place.
OK, since you're so disappointed.. I will continue this debate with you that you say was getting GOOD.
DeleteIn my opinion if someone thinks another is a coward because they walk away from a debate than they need to think more critically.
You charged me with being a hater and I opted not to remain silent from your charge. From that perspective, you are the one that started this whole thing.
I don't have any negative opinions about anyone here. Again, while it may be convenient to say that just because I disagree with someone I have a negative opinion of them: It's still not accurate.
What is wrong with u two. Who cares if someone thinks you are troll. You keyboard worriers just need to let it go.
DeleteThank you for spilling more hate, Bamboozled.
DeleteI am totally enjoying the sound of your whining and crying.
You have been trying to discredit this forum and its members by criticizing them as people and criticizing their basketball judgment.
I know you have more hate to spill. Why don't you rehash some of your irritation with some of our specific members that you have a beef against?
I agree with you, Solidz75z.
DeleteBut Bamboo has a major beef with me and lots of others here. That's why he STARTED this round of flame posts.
I'm just giving Bamboozled a chance to FIRE.
Solidz75, you are right. I agree with you here! It's a waste of time, and it's one of my character flaws that I always feel a need to speak up. Actually, sometimes it's intelligent and wise to let things go even if you believe you're in the right.
DeleteOK, KHuang, now you've taken it too far.... Claiming I'm trying to discredit this forum and its members is over the top. Disagreements with others doesn't mean I'm trying to discredit the forum.
I have no beef against anyone here! And I have no beef against you.
And I continue to agree with Solidz75 on what he said.
I have NO beef with anyone on this forum. If you think I'm lying, KHuang, then there isn't anything I can say that will persuade you otherwise.
DeleteSolidz75 is absolutely right in his assessment.
Lastly... I'm leaving this debate for realz. If you want to claim that means I'm a coward, so be it.
IMO, bamboo is not a troll but just a really annoying dude who is in love with the sound of his own voice always arguing for the other side. He almost does it for shock value.
DeleteBamboo.. Really... U'd fit right in in clutch. Just go there and save yourself the angst.
I have a feeling Lin will let all his frustrations out by wreaking havoc in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteUNLEASH THE LIN!!!
Yeah baby!!!
DeleteLet's go , Jeremyyyyyy!!!!
Doubt it. Parsons and Bev will take Lins minutes in the 4th. Morey recently said that Bev plays the way they need someone to play at the PG position. He's never said that about Lin. He's only complimented Lin on his individual strengths.
DeleteWith Harden taking so many posessions, they're gonna go with Parsons, someone they've trusted all season and Bev on D.
Book it. Embrace it.
I say this because Parsons can shoot assisted 3's (that's pretty much his game) and that's mostly where Harden's assists come from when he doesn't have anywhere to go. That role can easily be taken up by Parsons.
DeleteDid anyone hear that BS commentator say that Harden had no one to pass the ball to with CP out? That made me boil. Rox won a bunch of games without Barbie's boyfriend Ken. So glad Jeremy shut them up wit those clutch 3s. He was a defensive beast too. Jeremy played over 40 min tonight and he was on fire in the 4th. I still think McFail will cut his minutes when Don Juan returns. Also sparky Bev lost the game just as much as Harden's iso brick by those 2 stupid fouls.Bev's bug eyed "who me's? " after those two fouls made me laugh. Too bad Jeremy held Harden back after that first T. If he had gotten ejected, maybe McFool would have come up with an other play for a change instead of iso Harden. Ok , thanks for providing this place to vent. Truth is, all these guys can play really well together. If they had a good coach, this team, with Jeremy, can go far.
ReplyDeleteagree for sure on sparky' s first foul. harden and bev gave away stops.
DeleteLin played an incredible game.
DeleteDon't know why there is a need to nit pick at teammates or even coaches this game, as this was probably an expected loss.
Lots of positives for team this game, plus playoff type intensity hopefully helps prepare team to come out with right temperament at start of game (highly motivated, but not over amped).
DMo didn't looked scared with his shot, like he has in past, but he did look like he was playing at 100 mph, really rushing his shot.
We're not expected to legitimately contend this year, so this type of experience is valuable for team next year. Any sustained noise in playoffs we make this year is just icing on the cake.
Enjoy the ride because Lin looks to be peaking (sustained Linsanity 2.0) going into playoffs.
There are times, when JLin isn't as aggressive on his drives. He can turn the corner on almost any defender (esp going left), but then we can feel he isn't going to shoot - that he's looking to pass.
DeleteThat's when he gets into trouble. He is sometimes tentative to shoot in the restricted area going left. Especially, if he has missed his few prior shots.
He had some TO's in the 4th because he didn't shoot on his drive to the left.
joe ... I pick on behavior that causes my guy's team to lose becsuse I believe in chances, and doing one's best.
Deletewhen I can't see, ill give harden a pass.
I hear you, jakemaverick. Jeremy was doing a lot more of that driving to the basket and then instead of shooting when he is at the rim, he tries to pass and turns it over. Very frustrating. He did that a couple times tonight. I hope that doesn't start creeping back into his game. Better to take the shot and possibly get fouled than throw the ball away.
DeleteI've watched the game. And one thing that this game showed for all the world to see was the undeniable TRUTH that Jeremy Lin is CLUTCH!
ReplyDeleteYeah! JEREMY LIN is CLUTCH , baby!!!!
Stretch in fourth quarter where Lin helped Rockets close the gap (before two clutch three pointers) prove what Coach Eric Musselman said of Jeremy during his stint in D League with Reno Big Horns:
Delete1) he is an incredible loose ball getter
2) he gets you extra possessions (defense stops, steals, rebounds, etc).
He may not be lock down on ball defender, but his impact on team defense, particularly in crunch time, can not be denied.
Makes me so sad and pissed at the same time. The coaching staff has 2 guys in Harden and Lin that can penetrate at an elite level, pass (although Lin is better at this) and breakdown defenses yet they only utilize one of them. Stopping 2 of these guys is harder than 1 so why the hell don't they utilize Lin a little more!? A couple of those possessions before the final shot were terrible. We couldn't haven't done anything else?!
DeleteI just don't understand it.
Yeah his clutchness is not just those two 3s, but his defense and rebounding at the end. Whatever it takes.
DeleteJLIN'S SWEET NO-LOOK DIME TO ASIK
ReplyDeleteSweet indeed! :>
DeleteThis was after his first Clutch 3 , if I'm not mistaken...
That was totally a sweet play. It should've been an And 1.
DeleteZach Lowe wrote a comment a few months back that JLin's no-look is a true "no-look" (where he doesn't telegraph or just look-off).
Sweet. Pass. By. Lin.
DeleteI wasn't mad about this game, in fact, I was quite amused.
ReplyDelete1. I guess McHale couldn't decide who to play in the 4th quarter, so he played both Lin and Beverley. LOL! Fine by me, I don't care who's out there with Lin as long as Lin is.
2. I rarely complain about officiating, but it was really bad all game long. On a related note, I predict that Harden will struggle in the playoffs because he won't get the calls he's used to. The refs will probably let a lot more contact go in the playoffs.
3. Jeremy showed everyone that he a 4th quarter closer, with 2 huge 3 ptrs.
4. I kind of didn't want the Rockets to win anyways, to avoid Denver. =)
JLIN POSTGAME
ReplyDelete[CF]
HARDEN POSTGAME
Delete[CF]
MCHALE POSTGAME
DeleteI want to compliment Jeremy Lin's conditioning.
ReplyDeleteThis late in the season, Jeremy Lin has fresh legs and bright eyes. And I'm NOT going to give credit to McHale for limiting Lin's minutes, as I usually have.
Lin is in great shape and is playing wonderful team basketball. He's not taking any plays off and is playing just as hard in the 4th quarter as he is in the 1st.
Kudos to Lin and the Rockets staff for staying injury free and having great conditioning.
You're right to not give any credit to McHale. He wasn't limiting his minutes to save him... he was trying to find a "better" player than Lin or an alternative.
Deleteding ding ding, jakemaverick, you nailed it.
DeleteLast summer, I was hoping that Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats would offer Lin a big contract.
DeleteI wrote that I wanted Jordan to draft Jeremy Lamb with the #2 overall pick and work Lamb into the lineup either as a starter or a highly prized bench player.
My thing is that I view Jeremy Lin as a game changing superstar who can singlehandedly take a downtrodden team and instantly turn them around if the coach is smart enough to simply let Lin play his stellar game.
I wanted to see what the ULTIMATE WINNER in Lin could do with the ULTIMATE LOSER in Jordan's Bobcats.
If I were Michael Jordan, I'd offer Kemba Walker and some other players for Jeremy Lin. I'm sure Daryl Morey would make that trade in a heartbeat, though I'm not so sure that Les Alexander would.
Could Houston win more with Kemba Walker than with Lin? I seriously doubt it. Could Charlotte win more games with Lin than with Walker? Heck, I think Lin could lead Charlotte to the Eastern Conference playoffs if he had a coach that appreciated him!
Hey KHuang, if you have access to a buddy with league pass and they put this in the archive, you gotta watch this for the commitment it takes our Lin to tie together a tough comeback with his 3 from 3-4' beyond the arc. Then, you can see what Rose calls out as Sparky's 2 fouls, McHale's 2 useless time outs, and Harden's 4 dumb possessions.
DeleteWhat a great game, to be serious. I can put myself in lin's mind ... we gotta come back we gotta focus on another 2 another 2. Everybody here whose played bball competitively knows that feeling. And then it's happening before your eyes.
Like I said before on my badly spelled mobile ... the glory had Rox won. And then, McHale and Harden had to get their 'input' into the game, and all that winning Qi just diffused out. Strange - McHale knows how to be a champion. Maybe the Celts during that era had too many people holding it together, so McHale never had to monitor the Qi of winning. He just did great. Maybe it was Bird, or whomever was playing alongside or coaching. You would know. For sure Harden and McHale, and Bev, etc ... they are in a dimension that doesn't see the human spirit. If you can see that, you can crush the opponent's teamwork at will. which.lin.did.tonight.
I suspect I won't need League Pass to read the "chi" of this game.
DeleteWhen I see Lin, I see a confident guy whose only failing is that he sometimes looks over his shoulder too much. I'll attribute that to the coaching, not Lin himself.
When I see Harden, I see a SCARED guy who is afraid of playing a subservient role. It's as if Harden still thinks he's in OKC where Russell Westbrook wasn't going to pass and Kevin Durant was so unstoppable that he shouldn't pass. That fear is negatively impacting all of Harden's game.
I would like Harden to understand that he can't win games by taking every single shot, that there's more to passing than simply tossing the ball to teammates when he's unable to score, that he must start playing defense for real.
Then again, there are guys like Kobe Bryant who still don't understand those things. No wonder the Lakers might not even make the playoffs despite their NBA leading salary.
Yes, KHuang, I agree ... it's insecurity that drive egoism. It's not jazz. A corp coach once told me, to do great things, you have to be a jazz ensemble. One note leads to another. Big companies are a symphony. I always didn't like symphonies - the music is too tight to me.
DeleteI like what you say here about Harden. Today, it was like he banged his head against the wall 4 times trying to be the guy who shot the winning bucket a few games ago, and the guy who happened to release the goal-tend against your not-beloved Phx.
Hope he outgrows that. Find him a good churchgoing woman so he and Lin can have fellowship :-)
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ReplyDeleteB/R: Why Jeremy Lin Will Be the Key to Houston Rockets' Post-Season Success
ReplyDeleteIf the Rockets really wanted to win (which they said they did), the game was so stupid for 3 main reasons:
ReplyDelete(1) Lin was never allowed to play without Harden or Beverley.
(2) Lin and Harden played way too much. Lin especially had to be tired, since he's not used to playing that much.
(3) I was afraid of Harden looking to draw too many fouls, particularly down the stretch or during clutch time.....He had the Rockets last 3 possessions and they came away with ZERO points during that time. He's been spoiled by the refs living on the free throw line, but he needs to be careful and not overdo it now on, and especially during the playoffs.
I don't Lin can play too many minutes. Nothing is guaranteed for him.
DeleteHe also plays better and controls the game with more playing time.
I would have no problem if he played the full 48 - it just means he's more involved and depended on.
Dude, there is soooo much down-time between games and after practice. Look at his youtube video.. he's picking up piano on his own.
If he gets to Lebron, Wade, Durant, Kobe, etc. status... then OK, we can talk about limiting his minutes.
Yours is a dumb replay comment in my opinion because everything I said were plane facts.
DeleteHaving said that I think it's good that they lost because the standing in WC is going the way it should be. The Rox just need to win one of the last 3 games (vs MN at home).
reply, not replay
Delete6:41 JLIN HIGHLIGHTS VS MEM - 4/12/13
ReplyDelete[RockLin Roll]
Harden would be at Eric Gordon level, if he didn't have so many fouls called for and Gordon plays a lot better defense than Harden. Harden avg 8.7-10.1 FT So minus the FT he avg 17.2 ppg on 16.9 FGA. Let's be honest half of the foul called is a superstar/phantom calls. There is no way Harden is a better player than Lin. If Lin get the same freedom and treatment from McHell and the referee as Harden did, he would totally eclipse Harden stats.
ReplyDeleteFor playoff sake, I'm so glad the game ended the way it was.
ReplyDeleteAfter Lin, our Mr. 4th Quarter, made a string of clutch plays with a 3PT, no-look pass to Asik, the Rockets cut the lead to 73-76.
Then Harden did the RIGHT thing to get 2 FTs and fed Lin who had the hot hands for another 3PT to tie the game for 78-78.
Unfortunately, in the next 3 possessions Harden failed to get fouls and missed shots.
Good teams and coaches will figure out ways to feed the hot hands and involve Lin because he got the hot hands.
But I saw McHale talking only to Harden about what plays he will run. Lin stayed behind the huddle and had to say, "Wait, wait. ..." to chime in after the conversation was over.
There was nothing wrong about trusting Harden to make plays in the end as long as he tried to get his teammates involved. How come Lin who got the hot hands were not involved in the last 3 plays?
Hopefully, McHale as a young coach in experience would draw plays for the last 2min for the playoffs not to rely on Hardens and involve the hot shooters (i.e. Lin, Parsons, Delfino, TJ, Asik, etc.). Depending on Harden ISOs for 3 straight possessions when he didn't get the calls and not having the best shooting night was very painful to watch.
On the positive, I'm on board with real-dsb of avoiding Denver at all costs as the 6th seed.
It's just a bad matchup against George Karl who had tons of playoff experience and makes quick game adjustment.
typo: "plays for the last 2 min not to rely on Harden's ISOs ..."
DeleteMaybe getting Denver ISN'T so bad.
DeleteGeorge Karl is DIVA POISON. His teams have a way of embarrassing divas, even if those divas are playing for Karl!
Lin is the only Rocket with enough game to play against Karl's Nuggets. It would be Linsanity against the Nuggets, simply because Karl shuts everybody else down!
Agree.. While we have a tough road ahead either way, I think it would be better for the Rox to avoid Denver in the playoffs. There is a reason we got swept. They are young. They like to run. Graet in transistion. They look like the better version of us. Most importantly, Iggy will shut down harden and harden will destroy this team trying to force himself when things are not going his way. This loss may be a blessing in disguise.
DeleteI think it's good that they lost. If they win the game vs. MN on Sunday and lose the last 2 games on the road - which I think they will - the Rox would stay in the 7th place.
DeleteDenver is also a bad matchup for Lin because Lin's effectiveness in the paint is reduced by athletic big men like Faried, McGee, Wilson Chandler and even Iguodala who can lock down Harden effectively.
DeleteTheir bench plays from Miller, Corey Brewer are always lethal to produce points.
And Ty Lawson might be back for the playoff.
I saw a glimpse of the game when they beat the Spurs easily 2 days ago. If they're almost unbeatable at home with high elevation of Denver, the Rockets had less chance to beat them than the Spurs with unhealthy Parker and Ginobili.
I'd say bring on the Spurs to have a chance to run and gun with older vet teams. Thunder can beat them last year and I don't see why the Rockets can't if they neutralize Parker.
Hmm, I can't decide on a "best case" matchup -- there's pros and cons to every team.
DeleteSo I'll just hope for the Thunder. Might as well play the best, win or lose. It's that kind of experience that will help this team grow up and show McHale/Morey why Jeremy and defense are the keys to future success.
Lin's had some terrific games against Denver this season.
DeleteYes, the Nuggets do have athletic shotblockers. I would venture that they bother the other Rockets more than they bother Lin.
Lin is the one guy on the Rockets that the Nuggets have no answer for. That's why George Karl respectfully calls Lin "the catalyst".
Parker is not that healthy going into the playoffs. He has a multiple injuries that are being babied but he'll be playing semi hobbled.
DeleteThe Nuggets and Warriors will tire each other out, hopefully. LOL
Great post Psalm!
DeleteHopefully, McHale as a young coach in experience would draw plays for the last 2min for the playoffs not to rely on Hardens and involve the hot shooters (i.e. Lin, Parsons, Delfino, TJ, Asik, etc.). ---- You know this isn't happening. C'mon.
Yes psalm, great post. I see what you mean by Lin being ignored even with the hot hand. Yes, he did bring them back in the game, and then, Harden/McHale decided to go with the mefirst act. It's always the same with AAs in leadership positions - let's draw up a play so it ain't so. Happened to me 3 times in my 20s. Well, that's a youth group testimonial for another time.
DeleteHave u guys noticed how Jeremy is really notching up his level of play while harden is going in the opposite direction? 17 TO's in the last 2 games? Don't care how many points harden scores, he seems to be regressing since he returned from the foot injury.
ReplyDeleteSure the team may have lost tonight, but on individual level, Jeremy has gone up another notch. This is really a great sign as we head into the playoffs.
True, Harden might not be 100% with his ankle and not get the calls from the refs. His shooting was also not as sharp as the beginning of the season.
DeleteLin has stepped up his game and hit big shots after big shots after being the "true PG" in Magic/Clippers game. Kudos to him and we can expect he will step up even more for big games in the playoff!
He plays his best when the lights shine the brightest!
Yeah if Lin continues to shine under pressure, McHale will ultimately need to acknowledge that. Whatever the case, i love that Jeremy is letting his play do the talking. All I hear these days from other announcers is how "excellent" of a pg he is.
DeleteAnd as long as harden makes those cringe worth TO's trying to pad his stats, he will amount to nothing more than a better paid monta Ellis.
Love the optimism guys. Good to know that you think he'll be finishing games.
DeleteExcellent observation, Solidz75z.
DeleteIt's a TEAM thing.
In the NBA, nobody can succeed in his own. Jeremy Lin is gaining the trust of his teammates, and they are seeing him as a worthy leader.
Franchises can artificially anoint players like Harden as leaders, but that gets exposed over time.
Harden cannot get stellar stats without teammates helping him. If he's not playing defense or passing or being a good teammate, his teammates are less likely to help him. Contrast that to Lin who is being embraced more and more by his adoring teammates.
For Harden to have better individual stats, he needs to play more team basketball. More passing. More cutting. More defense.
The problem with Harden is basically the problem with the Rockets -- what works against bad and mediocre teams may not work against good and great teams.
DeleteYet they refuse to try anything different.
K smith.. I totally get your pessimism but I just can't imagine McHale not respecting lin's clutch gene. That is something u can't teach.
DeleteIf McHale chooses to sit Lin, he will be called out and look foolish when ow everyone will be watching. Either way a win win situation for us.
I never liked Lin not speaking out against McHale. But if he lets his playmaking speak for itself. I'm perfectly okay with that.
Parsons has been clutch hitting 3's in the final minutes of games too. Yeah, Lin can score in other ways but the ball has to be in his hands for that to happen. We all know the ball continues to be in Harden's hands at the end of games.
DeleteHmm...who will Mchale go with down the stretch?
Kevin McHale is more pathetic and a bigger racist than I thought! He really should be fired for his coaching in the last few minutes of the game. Despite Lin's two clutch 3s in the waning moments (one to get the Rox within 3 and the next one to tie it at 78), as well as a gorgeous no look pass leading to an Asik dunk, McHale would rather tank/ lose the game to spite Lin than run a play for Lin to win it. It's so obvious to me now that Lin has absolutely no support from his head coach at all, but it goes to show you how mentally tough and gutsy Lin is. But he was pissed at the end of the game because of McHale's racism. Did you see the last two timeout huddles? McHale completely ignores Lin, and Lin is lookin into the huddle from a distance as McHale is only drawing up a play for ballhog Harden. And in the last time out huddle again the play was only called for Harden even ignoring Lin so much as to have his only role being throwing the inbounds pass into Beverly who was told to then throw it to Harden! And in the last timeout huddle Lin was so frustrated with McHale not instructing Lin anything that you caught it on tv Lin screaming at McHale as the huddle was breaking up, "where am I supposed to be, where am I!!" (you could read Lin's lips!! There are never any plays run for Lin-- only for Harden and Parsons. Lin knows his only chance at shining is just playing his game but he can't do much in the last fee plays of the game if he is completely ignored by the coach's play calling strategy. So although on the surface I blame Harden for single-handedly losing the game the last four possessions, Lin and the rest of the team is being instructed by McHale to give the ball to Harden and hope for the best. Lin needs to get out of Houston at the end of this year. Just think what he would do next year if he has a coach that believes in him. That racist scumbag McHale will get his comeuppance because Lin and Lin's faith is too strong for Lin to be suffering like this long-term.
ReplyDeleteMcHale is angry old white man! Asian man not supposed to win game for angry old white man or be shining star. Just like Parstons think Jeremy Lin not GQ and very jealous. Not sure how Jeremy Lin get out of this mess but keep fight and make big plays especially clutch time since James Hogden turn into Lebron james of 4th quarter.
DeleteSpencer, I didn't watch the timeouts and thanks for writing this. I agree - he's probably acting biased/blind here. It's happened to any of us who look different and lead something. It's happening now to somebody ...
DeleteGSW lost to Lakers tonight!
ReplyDeleteGreat great game. Wow. Kobe looks badly hurt. PED time???
DeleteI'm sad to see Kobe hurt; hope it's not serious. I really want to see him perform in the playoffs, even if they won't make it past 1st round.
DeleteThat foul on curry to give Blake ft was sooo bullshit. Lakes play spurs next. Utah plays minn and has the tie breaker advantage. Loos like it may come down to rockets lakes game on Wednesday.
DeleteYeah, the refs kept sabotaging GSW's momentum when they started to pull away. I'd be mad if I were a GSW fan. But I'm glad GSW lost. Rox have a good shot at #6 spot now.
DeleteKobe status - probable torn achilles... will have MRI tomorrow
DeleteThe look on Kobe's face -- it's like he knew his postseason was over. That's what it looked like to me.
DeleteMarc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
DeleteKobe Bryant can do a lot of things, but playing on torn Achilles ain't one of 'em. If that's the diagnosis, industry standard is a year out.
10:20 PM - 12 Apr 13
And there goes another player D'Antoni has run into the ground. Ride him!
DeleteKobe says that it feels like a torn achilles. Says he can't walk.
DeleteRight...
DeleteThis is sad. Kobe's never been injured like this before, if this is what he/they think it is.
DeleteLos Angeles Lakers @Lakers
DeleteAn emotional Kobe: "I made a move I've made a million times, and (the Achilles) just popped."
D'Antoni rode Kobe like a freakin' secretariat and he eventually broke down, so predictable!
DeleteThis is what happens when you are doing what your body is NOT supposed to be doing at this age. U can't beat Father Time. I bet he was on PED. Yeah I I said it. As competitive as he was, I would not be surprised if this is a result of some illicit "rejuvenator".
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs9esdFRlS0&feature=youtu.be
DeleteKobe sums it up as "pissed and sad." =(
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ReplyDeleteNoticed that Curry passed to the open man for the last shot even though Landry missed.
DeleteMelo did that with JR too.
DeleteGreat point. Curry was double teamed so he gave his teammates a better shot. Landry just choked. If that was harden, u know he will force up a shot praying that he will get a call.
DeleteWe can see how ineffective harden is if he doesn't get ticky tacky calls. Wonder what will happen in the playoffs.
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Deletewould have been nice if Harden called for offensive foul against T.Allen. i always imagine if Curry and Lin could form a good backcourt, my only worries is on the defensive end but clearly Lin has shown that he is excellent in defending the 2 position.
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DeleteWholeheartedly agree, Occupati0. Win or lose, it's about making the right play.
DeleteOne would think Harden would know better considering he probably has the most playoff experience on this team.
The right play is the right play, no matter the results.
DeleteIf Curry chucked that and hit it, that's not praiseworthy. In the long run, playing the right way and trusting your teammates is what gets more wins.
About that last GSW possession though, I don't know why GSW had Landry set the screen for Curry. It's obvious that Lakers would double Curry off the pick, conceding the pick and pop. Did they really want Landry shooting the final shot?
There's a conspiracy theory floating around about getting the Lakers into the playoffs...
DeleteFoul called in the game 30 vs 13 .. Guess which is which
DeleteSome highlights here on today's game
ReplyDeleteNBAshowtimeHD (3:55)
RockLin Roll (6:41)
How many possessions does the Rockets average a game and how much of it is used up by Harden? For example, If the average is 100 and Harden uses up 33 of them, it would be 1/3 of the total. I have a feeling its higher than that. Do you know where I can get that data?
ReplyDeleteHarden SHOULD be shooting the most; that by itself is not a problem. It's the context of his deciding to shoot that matters. That's not a story you can get by mining stats.
Deletehttp://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/sort/usageRate
DeleteNate Robinson has the 9th highest usg among pg's and he's only averaging 13.2 pts? Maybe usage rate doesn't matter. If you're an average player, even with high usg, you'll still be average and if you're a superstar player, you'll get your superstar numbers even if your usg rate is lower.
DeleteKinda makes me wonder about Lin then. If he had a higher usg rate, would he really be that much more effective? Maybe he's just an average player and not a star player.
I'm in a bad mood tonight. Those last couple possessions before Harden's final shot really pissed me off.
Lakers season playoff hopes going to come down to last game against Rockets. Right now 1 ahead of Utah. Most likely Utah will beat Minesota and lose to Memphis. Lakers will lose to SAS if they beat Rockets they are in, if not Utah in.
ReplyDeletePretty good recap. Noting the following:
ReplyDeleteJeremy Lin then orchestrated a 10-2 Houston run, with the guard bookending the flurry with a pair of triples to knot the contest at 78-78 with 1:33 to play. The Rockets, though, were never able to score again. . . .
"All the guys (on our team) are just on the same page. When you've got five guys out there with the same goal, fighting hard and playing together, this is the outcome -- you get the win," Grizzlies guard Tony Allen said.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/04/12/gasol-does-it-all-as-grizzlies-top-rockets/#ixzz2QJrlECQ2
CSN: ARE THE REFS TO BLAME?
ReplyDeleteJLin's 17 pts [5-13 FG, 5-6 FT], 5 boards and 5 assists tonight marks his 5th game this season of at least 15 pts, five rebounds and five assists. [The Rox were 4-0 in his first 4 such games this season.]
ReplyDelete-JF
For those who missed it, I made a screenshot of the possession in which Harden would not pass to Lin even though he was wide open.
ReplyDeletehttp://i.imgbox.com/acmR49oF.png
U know it wasn't just harden. It was everyone else.. Bev, ASik whoever was on the court. During crunch time, everyone tries to get the ball into Harden's hands. This has to be the mandate from McHale. Give our "superstar" the ball and get da hell out of the way.
DeleteU may have success once in a blue moon (eg San Antonio game). But more than not this shit doesn't work. Especially when you use this scheme for the last four offensive possessions off the game .
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DeleteThis screenshot should be named
Delete" The hero of Rockets"
Notice also that Conley was out of position, had his eyes on Harden, and didn't even notice that Lin got open. Bayless was staying with Bev, and was not rotating over to cover Lin.
DeleteYou could not ask to be more open than that.
Maybe we should be glad that if harden pass to Lin on this possession and Lin miss it. He will be blamed massively for sure. But now everybody just blame on the refs instead of the hero Harden
DeleteEff that Lin would've made it. No doubt. The kid is as clutch as anyone I've seen.
DeleteIf Lin hits the shot, great. If he misses it, that's how it goes sometimes. You cannot guarantee the outcome, but you make the best decision given the circumstances. The right play is the right play, no matter the result.
DeleteYou play to win, not to avoid blame, especially the blame of haters who don't understand bball.
Lin is money at that spot on the court too. OKC and SAC games come to mind where he drained crucial 3's, at the end of the game, from that spot.
DeletePICS - JLIN VS MEM
ReplyDeleteHOUSTON ROCKETS - BIG
ReplyDelete[wapsteer]
And what da hell happened to Asik's offensive game? I know he is not great to begin with but my god the last few games, he's been woeful. He needs to be able to make those shots underneath the basket. I hate when he tries to finesse that ball in there. He just needs to dunk it.
ReplyDeleteHOU VS MEM FANCAM - 4/12/13
ReplyDelete