Analysis the Pivot TO by LIN at Game 4

[sutton]

This analysis does not intend to blame anyone, just try to give a full picture about what has happened on that play.



Lillard PnR with Aldridge , 2 pts lead, 41 sec



notice Metthews sneaks through baseline, Howard delays Lillard.



Aldridge is 20% 3pt shooter, rarely make a 3 attempt.
Both Bevs and Parson went to cover Aldridge.



Two wide open 3pt shooter, about 40% chance they make the shoot, this play setup spends only 4.6 second.



Lin had the ball, he had a chance to call a timeout. He made the decision not to.






"When we have a plan you just have to stick with it, we said when we get the rebound, we said unless we have a clear break, we're going to take a timeout" -McHale

Why Mchale sub in Lin? 2pt lead with 33.7 sec left is not safe at all , if rockets milk the clock without score pts, it left 10 sec to Blazer to make the last shoot, could be a 3pt kill.

Mchale sub in Lin in order to run a fast break, if there is a clear chance, it would potentially seal the game.

Parson and Beverley was preparing the run, Parson was clapping his hand waiting for the pass from Lin.
Either run a break, or just pass the court and milk the clock.





Mahale had chance to call a timeout up until this moment,




Howard set a pick for Lin at baseline, Mo and lillard chasing Lin. Howard very often set a weak pick, and left very quick. This time, if he could hold his position a little longer, Mo may not be able to catch Lin.


THE steal and save by Mo,





Blazer missed the 2pt shoot again, Lillard got the rebound eventually...

[sutton]

edit...

[victorhe]

It just sucks that Rox lost the game. So much anger and frustration. Anyways, Portland is a very dangerous team, they could probably go very far. It's probably not just Rox that cannot stop them.

[bws94]

Looks like Parsons was wide open. Lin usually has better court vision and advances the ball quickly. I guess he felt the pass might be intercepted so he wanted to speed away from the defender and he really didn't know Mo Williams was behind him. In hindsight he beats himself up and thought he should call time out. One to file, kid.

It was sort of the opposite of the chaotic play in Game 3. Where Harden turned it over his team mate Lin got the ball, drove it a few steps and got it to Daniels for that big 3. Here he got a rebound, got stripped, but Portland recovered. They then missed a shot but got the rebound and after passing it around the perimeter they made a big 3, and it was Mo Williams to make it.

But Houston tied the game so they had a chance to win in OT. McHale decided not to play Lin although he did well in other OT periods. I would have played him especially because he probably wanted to make some good plays after that late TO. Anyway, down 3-1, and it is game by game now and I hope they can at least take it to 7. Game 7 on home court makes the impossible possible.

[90sAllDecade]

I can't claim to know McHale's mind or know for sure, but my understanding was Lin got put in for defense and to match quickness, because Portland was playing small ball LMA, Lillard, Batum, Matthews and Mo Williams.

If that was the case, then it was a good adjustment that actually worked defensively initially.

What I don't like is, why would you even try to fast break? In the playoffs the game slows down as transition defense tightens up. Tell your team to get the ball, we have the lead so call a timeout Yourself (player or coach, hell anybody tell the ref).

Then you run a play on the other end. The basic offensive failing was not calling a timeout himself and not stopping the game to run a set play.

Yes we could potentially run the clock and score, but sometimes a bird in hand is more valuable. Be conservative with the lead, as things have gone wrong free wheeling late in games. And they did go wrong again this game.

Our running problem is Late game execution and planning.

We don't run plays and aren't conservative while holding leads. We have to be versatile enough to play fast or slow depending on the situation imo.

[13th Man]

Lin is like the anti-Beverley, he takes way too many risks resulting in TOs. High risk-high reward comes with huge downfalls as well. What I've learned despite being a huge Lin fan is that when you need to play it safe, do not put Lin in there, he's too much of a gambler. Both games he gambled and lost in late game situations.

I think that Lin is still learning the game, his basketball IQ is not as high as most people expect. I hate the fact that people think that because he came from Harvard his basketball IQ is supposed to be higher than everyone else's. As with everything it all comes down to experience which Lin is still NBA immature having played a bit over 2 full seasons.

He's learning the hard way, unfortunately making glaring mistakes at the worst times possible which is during the final minutes of big games. After the blown layup the game before, his mindset should have been to listen to the coach, play it safe and call a time-out as soon as he got the rebound. What he tried to do along with the blown layup was Lin's version of "Hero Ball", there's a time for that, not within the last minute of a close games where you're trying to protect a slim lead. Lin has to learn to play smarter in these situations or he won't be put there anymore.

[ChokeFasncists]

^
Truly, his IQ is probably high when he has time to think. In the NBA, things need to be reacted, he's still a beat slow. IMO the best way for him to learn is to make mistakes and learn, ideally with some good people pointing them out along the way.

[bfpri]

He has a very low Bball IQ, the foul in game 2, the layup in game 3, and finally this garbage. Felton is a smarter basketball player than him and thats coming from a Felton hater.

[texasholdem]

This play has now been analyzed more than the Kennedy assassination. Jeremy is the scapegoat for this team's failures.

[ChokeFasncists]

He has a very low Bball IQ, the foul in game 2, the layup in game 3, and finally this garbage. Felton is a smarter basketball player than him and thats coming from a Felton hater.

Well, Felton has been around quite a bit longer; and Felton has been coached by real good coach.

[Lorenzomax7]

[baki]

Rockets lost, not just Lin. Stop trying to centre everything on Lin.

I could go on all day on why Harden, arguably our "Lebron" of our team, failed to come through with his useless ISOs, flops and cheap touch fouls not to mention the usual lack of effort.

Or why Howard struggles so much against a role player like Lopez or is so scared of getting showed up by Aldridge.

Or why Parsons, our X-man/x-factor/best SF in the league, has been so in-effective during these playoffs.

Or why the rest of the team aren't playing.

Or why McHale still hasn't left Houston yet.

Fans who keep going on and on about how terrible Lin is have not been watching the Rockets at all and don't remember anything that Lin has accomplished for the team, despite playing for such an inept coach.

[baki]

He has a very low Bball IQ, the foul in game 2, the layup in game 3, and finally this garbage. Felton is a smarter basketball player than him and thats coming from a Felton hater.

OMG, you know the Knicks regret letting Lin go once they saw how bad Felton was.

What is low Bball IQ?

[texasholdem]

Or why Parsons, our X-man/x-factor/best SF in the league, has been so in-effective during these playoffs.
.

I think that's taking it too far calling him ineffective. Unless you mean in the 4th quarter but his 20 ppg has kept us in the games. He's shooting 47 percent vs 35 percent for Harden.

[quatin]

I can't claim to know McHale's mind or know for sure, but my understanding was Lin got put in for defense and to match quickness, because Portland was playing small ball LMA, Lillard, Batum, Matthews and Mo Williams.

If that was the case, then it was a good adjustment that actually worked defensively initially.

What I don't like is, why would you even try to fast break? In the playoffs the game slows down as transition defense tightens up. Tell your team to get the ball, we have the lead so call a timeout Yourself (player or coach, hell anybody tell the ref).

Then you run a play on the other end. The basic offensive failing was not calling a timeout himself and not stopping the game to run a set play.

Yes we could potentially run the clock and score, but sometimes a bird in hand is more valuable. Be conservative with the lead, as things have gone wrong free wheeling late in games. And they did go wrong again this game.

Our running problem is Late game execution and planning.

We don't run plays and aren't conservative while holding leads. We have to be versatile enough to play fast or slow depending on the situation imo.

Lin and defense do not go together. I would think Hamilton or Garcia should be put in for defense stops.
Lin is there for offense. During the final minutes, you often see McHale sub Bev on defense and Lin on offense. You don't put Lin in the game unless you're expecting fouls for free throws or you want him to score.
I actually liked the call to make a fast break and score. Winners want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line. I'd rather we try to seal the deal than pray that Portland chokes on the game winning shot.

However, Lin was terrible all game. He slipped several times, like he was on ice. He was unable to get a first step on anyone and just dribbled the clock out at half court. There was no reason to put him back in the game after the 3rd quarter, he was obviously struggling.

[13th Man]

I can't claim to know McHale's mind or know for sure, but my understanding was Lin got put in for defense and to match quickness, because Portland was playing small ball LMA, Lillard, Batum, Matthews and Mo Williams.

If that was the case, then it was a good adjustment that actually worked defensively initially.

What I don't like is, why would you even try to fast break? In the playoffs the game slows down as transition defense tightens up. Tell your team to get the ball, we have the lead so call a timeout Yourself (player or coach, hell anybody tell the ref).

Then you run a play on the other end. The basic offensive failing was not calling a timeout himself and not stopping the game to run a set play.

Yes we could potentially run the clock and score, but sometimes a bird in hand is more valuable. Be conservative with the lead, as things have gone wrong free wheeling late in games. And they did go wrong again this game.

Our running problem is Late game execution and planning.

We don't run plays and aren't conservative while holding leads. We have to be versatile enough to play fast or slow depending on the situation imo.

Lin and defense do not go together. I would think Hamilton or Garcia should be put in for defense stops.
Lin is there for offense. During the final minutes, you often see McHale sub Bev on defense and Lin on offense. You don't put Lin in the game unless you're expecting fouls for free throws or you want him to score.
I actually liked the call to make a fast break and score. Winners want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line. I'd rather we try to seal the deal than pray that Portland chokes on the game winning shot.

However, Lin was terrible all game. He slipped several times, like he was on ice. He was unable to get a first step on anyone and just dribbled the clock out at half court. There was no reason to put him back in the game after the 3rd quarter, he was obviously struggling.

I agree that he was a bit shakey in the 4th of that game and probably shouldn't have been put back in. I don't think Lin's D is as bad as some make it out to be. I notice that they have been using him for defensive purposes as well probably due to his length at pg. It proved to be effective when he affected Mo Williams buzzer shot at the end of the 4th. McHale is not creative enough to sub in a Hamilton or Garcia at the guard spots even in final posession scenarios.

[bws94]

I can't claim to know McHale's mind or know for sure, but my understanding was Lin got put in for defense and to match quickness, because Portland was playing small ball LMA, Lillard, Batum, Matthews and Mo Williams.

If that was the case, then it was a good adjustment that actually worked defensively initially.

What I don't like is, why would you even try to fast break? In the playoffs the game slows down as transition defense tightens up. Tell your team to get the ball, we have the lead so call a timeout Yourself (player or coach, hell anybody tell the ref).

Then you run a play on the other end. The basic offensive failing was not calling a timeout himself and not stopping the game to run a set play.

Yes we could potentially run the clock and score, but sometimes a bird in hand is more valuable. Be conservative with the lead, as things have gone wrong free wheeling late in games. And they did go wrong again this game.

Our running problem is Late game execution and planning.

We don't run plays and aren't conservative while holding leads. We have to be versatile enough to play fast or slow depending on the situation imo.

Lin and defense do not go together. I would think Hamilton or Garcia should be put in for defense stops.
Lin is there for offense. During the final minutes, you often see McHale sub Bev on defense and Lin on offense. You don't put Lin in the game unless you're expecting fouls for free throws or you want him to score.
I actually liked the call to make a fast break and score. Winners want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line. I'd rather we try to seal the deal than pray that Portland chokes on the game winning shot.

However, Lin was terrible all game. He slipped several times, like he was on ice. He was unable to get a first step on anyone and just dribbled the clock out at half court. There was no reason to put him back in the game after the 3rd quarter, he was obviously struggling.

I disagree. Lin's defense hasn't been bad at all and it is certainly better than Daniel's defense. In so many games, Lin has made big defensive plays, whether it is steals, tips, rebounds, etc. Game 3 was a defensive hustle play when Harden was stripped and Lin dove on the floor to get that ball. During the regular season Lin made a huge play to break up a lob against these same Portand Trailblazers in a 4th Q, last second situation.

There is a definite, proven reason to put Lin back in the game and have him in crunch time. In the one game that Lin was allowed to play the whole 4th and OT, the Rockets won. And he was the co-hero of that game along with Daniels. Daniel's is co-hero for hitting that shot but Lin did the dirty work to get him that shot. Lin also took a shot to his face in OT in the game yet sank 2 big free throws and made a huge lay-up in that OT to help win that game. So Lin played big when it counted. Here Lin got stripped, it happens, yet why didn't Harden get on the floor and sacrifice his body to get that loose ball like Lin did in a similar play the previous game? Lin will save Harden, Harden doesn't pick up his team mate? That's why I like Beverley. Bad knee, fever and all he would have dove on the floor in an eyeblink to at least try to. In fact, in a rebound after a missed shot when Portland gained the possession, it was Bev and Lin diving on the floor for a loose ball rebound. They didn't get it, but the effort was there. What bothers me about this play was Harden's lack of effort in trying to get the loose ball. I'll take Lin's effort and will to win any day, he's not lazy out there and he's proven he can make big plays in big situations.

[cw3k]

I agree that he was a bit shakey in the 4th of that game and probably shouldn't have been put back in. I don't think Lin's D is as bad as some make it out to be. I notice that they have been using him for defensive purposes as well probably due to his length at pg. It proved to be effective when he affected Mo Williams buzzer shot at the end of the 4th. McHale is not creative enough to sub in a Hamilton or Garcia at the guard spots even in final posession scenarios.

Lin sat out almost the entire 2nd half and OT. There is no reason to bring him. The only reason why McHale put Lin in probably have a scapegoat when needed one. McHale is probably the only coach that never take blame for any losses, always the player's problem.

[6_Rings]

He has a very low Bball IQ, the foul in game 2, the layup in game 3, and finally this garbage. Felton is a smarter basketball player than him and thats coming from a Felton hater.

that's a stretch award goes to....

[ChokeFasncists]

Lin and defense do not go together. I would think Hamilton or Garcia should be put in for defense stops.
Lin is there for offense. During the final minutes, you often see McHale sub Bev on defense and Lin on offense. You don't put Lin in the game unless you're expecting fouls for free throws or you want him to score.
I actually liked the call to make a fast break and score. Winners want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line. I'd rather we try to seal the deal than pray that Portland chokes on the game winning shot.

Lin's D is underrated. He's a sort of tweener for a guard. He can guard PG and SG but sometimes have problems guarding the real quick and small PGs. He's pretty good defending slightly bigger guards.

However, Lin was terrible all game. He slipped several times, like he was on ice. He was unable to get a first step on anyone and just dribbled the clock out at half court. There was no reason to put him back in the game after the 3rd quarter, he was obviously struggling.

Maybe his back is hurting him again, he needs to be careful when driving and falling.