Beverley returns tonight

[fan4321]

McHale's belief (and long leash) with Bev has given him the confidence to make some plays. Let's see if he can do it consistently. Lin will be fine. It's a long season. We can't shoot 48.5% from the 3 every night (or on most nights). When we can't, we are going to need a confident Lin to help us make plays with ball movement. And I believe he will.

I don't like McHale/Sampson at all. Bev is a great guy, great energy, great grit, great hustle, great mental fortitude, did a really great job last night. No doubt. He did fit the starters well last night with a good result. But that's only part of the story.

McHale has not developed DMo or Lin and he's taking one of the top 5 in talent on the team in Lin's qualities and trying to reshape and minimize them. Lin has taken the team on his back and carried the team too many games for McHale and others to conveniently forget what he's capable of doing when he has his A game. How do you get to Lin's A game? Seems that's not a priority for him. Whether off the bench or starting, McHale has provided nothing but inconsistency to Lin while propping up Beverley. That's bad coaching and bad character. He's done the opposite of bringing out Lin's A game. That doesn't help the Rockets against opponents and situations where Lin's A game combined with other team mate's effort would get them over the top and win them games that without it, they would lose. And if Harden ever goes down, he sure needs Lin to step up and provide a good part of the production Harden does.

I am 100% agree with you.

[13th Man]

You have to understand that Harden's A game trumps Lin's A game, so that's where the coaching methodology lies. Lin can be a very good player when he's at his best but unfortunately his style takes away from how Harden likes to play. I'm starting to see how Bev could a better fit with the starters on this team, but only on THIS team lol.

[bws94]

You have to understand that Harden's A game trumps Lin's A game, so that's where the coaching methodology lies. Lin can be a very good player when he's at his best but unfortunately his style takes away from how Harden likes to play. I'm starting to see how Bev could a better fit with the starters on this team, but only on THIS team lol.

They've played outstanding games together. One was the OKC game last year Harden got 46 points and Lin 29. They recently played a game where they played PnR with each other on a late game play perfectly. A good coach would challenge Harden and Lin to get assists for each other, work off of each other and with the other starting 3. Yes, Harden will have to give up some playmaking but 2 different looks of playmaking these two could have been a very potent and dynamic back court. And their minutes could be staggered, but Harden plays too many minutes currently. Lin should be playing with both 1st and 2nd unit players as he was quite successfully in November.

As good as Harden is he has weaknesses. He slows down the flow when he gets the ball and jab steps opposed to swinging it around and getting good quick, decisive ball movement. His team play and awareness of offensive flow can improve.

Bev is a better fit with an uncreative offense that puts heavy loads on Harden. Lin is a more difficult but perhaps more rewarding and more potent fit with a more creative offense if they learn to work off of each other better. There have been games where I've seen Lin and Harden play amazing together. Maybe not many, but it is certainly possible.

[13th Man]

You have to understand that Harden's A game trumps Lin's A game, so that's where the coaching methodology lies. Lin can be a very good player when he's at his best but unfortunately his style takes away from how Harden likes to play. I'm starting to see how Bev could a better fit with the starters on this team, but only on THIS team lol.

They've played outstanding games together. One was the OKC game last year Harden got 46 points and Lin 29. They recently played a game where they played PnR with each other on a late game play perfectly. A good coach would challenge Harden and Lin to get assists for each other, work off of each other and with the other starting 3. Yes, Harden will have to give up some playmaking but 2 different looks of playmaking these two could have been a very potent and dynamic back court. And their minutes could be staggered, but Harden plays too many minutes currently. Lin should be playing with both 1st and 2nd unit players as he was quite successfully in November.

As good as Harden is he has weaknesses. He slows down the flow when he gets the ball and jab steps opposed to swinging it around and getting good quick, decisive ball movement. His team play and awareness of offensive flow can improve.

Bev is a better fit with an uncreative offense that puts heavy loads on Harden. Lin is a more difficult but perhaps more rewarding and more potent fit with a more creative offense if they learn to work off of each other better. There have been games where I've seen Lin and Harden play amazing together. Maybe not many, but it is certainly possible.

While some of this may be true it's become clear to me that Harden prefers to have Bev starting because Bev caters to him like a servant, he also helps him out a bit more the defensive end. What max players or people with VIP status want, they get that's how the real world works. I'm sure that other coaches would have Jeremy starting but not this coach so Lin just has to deal with it or find a way to get out if opportunity presents itself.

[ChokeFasncists]

You have to understand that Harden's A game trumps Lin's A game, so that's where the coaching methodology lies. Lin can be a very good player when he's at his best but unfortunately his style takes away from how Harden likes to play. I'm starting to see how Bev could a better fit with the starters on this team, but only on THIS team lol.

They've played outstanding games together. One was the OKC game last year Harden got 46 points and Lin 29. They recently played a game where they played PnR with each other on a late game play perfectly. A good coach would challenge Harden and Lin to get assists for each other, work off of each other and with the other starting 3. Yes, Harden will have to give up some playmaking but 2 different looks of playmaking these two could have been a very potent and dynamic back court. And their minutes could be staggered, but Harden plays too many minutes currently. Lin should be playing with both 1st and 2nd unit players as he was quite successfully in November.

As good as Harden is he has weaknesses. He slows down the flow when he gets the ball and jab steps opposed to swinging it around and getting good quick, decisive ball movement. His team play and awareness of offensive flow can improve.

Bev is a better fit with an uncreative offense that puts heavy loads on Harden. Lin is a more difficult but perhaps more rewarding and more potent fit with a more creative offense if they learn to work off of each other better. There have been games where I've seen Lin and Harden play amazing together. Maybe not many, but it is certainly possible.

While some of this may be true it's become clear to me that Harden prefers to have Bev starting because Bev caters to him like a servant, he also helps him out a bit more the defensive end. What max players or people with VIP status want, they get that's how the real world works. I'm sure that other coaches would have Jeremy starting but not this coach so Lin just has to deal with it or find a way to get out if opportunity presents itself.

That's true especially in light of Melo and something like this: http://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/this-weird-on-court-exchange-between-james-harden-and-jeremy-lin/
However that's not necessarily maximizing the talents on the roster (Dwight's offense) and it doesn't bode well for Harden as a leader on court and McHale on the sideline. Another thing one should take into consideration: Harden has often been injured and fatigued and at least a third of his game depends on getting hit. Every player wants to play as much as possible; let's consider the tail-end of the careers of the two best SGs of the past era. After Kobe played with full burden and pt under MDA with no restraint, his career might be done dead now while Manu has been taken care by Pop and he's still gunning for another championship.

[13th Man]

To be fair to Harden, he's been playing pretty well since Sacramento Kings hero-ball disaster. Because he has more help this year with Dwight and the emergence of TJones he doesn't have to ISO as much and I've noticed that he's been playing more team ball than before and even giving some more effort on the defensive end as well. If the team continues to play like it has in 2014 (except for the OKC 2nd half), then I have no complaints.

I agree that McHale should cut down the minutes of his favorites once everyone is back and healthy, notably Harden, Parsons, Beverley and sometimes Howard. Most likely he won't though.

[tedb]

Harden needs to be a bigger part of the flow of offense....come off screens and hit the shot. When he isos this team ends up on trouble......when they are moving the ball they are hard to beat....Harden is a very overrated player. Plays ZERO defense, an average shooter who scores from the line....He could be great if he were unselfish.

Carmello Anthony will never win a championship because hes so selfish, the rockets are in that place with Harden playing the way he does

Oh and by the way,....when Harden has been hurt and didnt play Lin averaged 24 and 10.....

Theres something goin on here.....theres something wrong

[ChokeFasncists]

To be fair to Harden, he's been playing pretty well since Sacramento Kings hero-ball disaster. Because he has more help this year with Dwight and the emergence of TJones he doesn't have to ISO as much and I've noticed that he's been playing more team ball than before and even giving some more effort on the defensive end as well. If the team continues to play like it has in 2014 (except for the OKC 2nd half), then I have no complaints.

Let's hope the trend continues!

I agree that McHale should cut down the minutes of his favorites once everyone is back and healthy, notably Harden, Parsons, Beverley and sometimes Howard. Most likely he won't though.

Yes, minutes and usage. Can't run them like horses. (last season)

[tedb]

Harden has been playing better....