Mavs @Rockets Dec 08 Game Thread

[Durant Durant]

It is now obvious that Houston coaching staff don't know how to use Lin.I say trade him to the Lakers.

[Krodis]

It is now obvious that Houston coaching staff don't know how to use Lin.I say trade him to the Lakers.

You're assuming the Lakers would take him.

[Mr. E]

What would the Lakers offer?

Please note that "Pau Gasol" is not a valid answer.


Just be patient.

[kill3rmus]

Douglas just played better than lin period. Defense is the reason Lin got benched. I dont think lin ever was put on mayo but when douglas played, he was the primary defender on mayo. And he did very well in the 2nd quarter when we made that comeback.

This is what I don't understand. In the 35 mins that Douglas was in the game, Mayo had 29 pts on 11-15 fg (3-4 3pt), 4-4 ft. How is that good defense?

When Douglas entered the game with 4:56 left in Q3, the Rockets were up 80-75. By the end of the game, the Rockets lost 109-116. I don't get it.

According to Mark T.

You can't reason with stupid, they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Anyway Mchale tried is experimenting, and it did do so well.

If talking about defense, I'm calling out Harden, this guy just let people blow by him and score, he doesn't want to commit fouls or a chance of it so he could pad his stats. (most of the time, just watch the game).

[kill3rmus]

What would the Lakers offer?

Please note that "Pau Gasol" is not a valid answer.


Just be patient.

yep, this guy is getting old and slowing down.

[Guy986]

Yea Harden is not moving his feet on Defense. He's kind of lazy on defense. Its obvious he's conserving energy on the defensive end. The Rockets had him play 45 minutes, be the primary ball handler, shooter and scorer. He has too much responsibility.


I think its obvious Douglas is our best perimeter defender on smaller guards. He moves his feet very well and is quite adept fighting over screen.

Lin has quick hands but he's not as good moving laterally. He gets "stuck" on screens often.


Like i said the reason Douglas played over Lin tonight was because he defended Mayo during the stretch when we made that major run. Look at the game film. If you dont want to believe that, thats on you.

[Guy986]

Douglas just played better than lin period. Defense is the reason Lin got benched. I dont think lin ever was put on mayo but when douglas played, he was the primary defender on mayo. And he did very well in the 2nd quarter when we made that comeback.

This is what I don't understand. In the 35 mins that Douglas was in the game, Mayo had 29 pts on 11-15 fg (3-4 3pt), 4-4 ft. How is that good defense?

When Douglas entered the game with 4:56 left in Q3, the Rockets were up 80-75. By the end of the game, the Rockets lost 109-116. I don't get it.

Defense is not about shutting a player down. Defense is about contesting shots.

Players make shots. Even the best defense can't stop players who are hot from making shots.

Douglas was moving his feet, he kept Mayo in front of him, he fought over screen and he contested every shot. Thats all you can ask. He guarded Mayo tightly. Better than anyone on the team.

Only 3 people were assigned to defend Mayo tonight. Douglas, Delfino and Parsons. Douglas did the best job. He didn't shut him down but he was the only one who contested him jumpers and kept him in front.

[MKL]

It didn't help that Asik refuse to leave the paint on defense. Anytime a big set a screen from Mavs, it's a wide open 3. McHale and coaching staff failed big time.

When the team lose because of defense, the coach should be blamed.

Rockets were throwing players out there that can guard 1 on 1 and see if it stuck. Obviously, Mavericks have a real coach and we didn't.

Both Asik and Lin are great help defenders that work well in a system. McHale favors 1 on 1 defenders that flap their arms a lot.

[madbucky]

Defense is not about shutting a player down. Defense is about contesting shots.
Players make shots. Even the best defense can't stop players who are hot from making shots.
Douglas was moving his feet, he kept Mayo in front of him, he fought over screen and he contested every shot. Thats all you can ask. He guarded Mayo tightly. Better than anyone on the team.
Only 3 people were assigned to defend Mayo tonight. Douglas, Delfino and Parsons. Douglas did the best job. He didn't shut him down but he was the only one who contested him jumpers and kept him in front.

Ok, thanks for your answer, I can understand that.

[kam_soluusar]

Douglas just played better than lin period. Defense is the reason Lin got benched. I dont think lin ever was put on mayo but when douglas played, he was the primary defender on mayo. And he did very well in the 2nd quarter when we made that comeback.

This is what I don't understand. In the 35 mins that Douglas was in the game, Mayo had 29 pts on 11-15 fg (3-4 3pt), 4-4 ft. How is that good defense?

When Douglas entered the game with 4:56 left in Q3, the Rockets were up 80-75. By the end of the game, the Rockets lost 109-116. I don't get it.

Defense is not about shutting a player down. Defense is about contesting shots.

Players make shots. Even the best defense can't stop players who are hot from making shots.

Douglas was moving his feet, he kept Mayo in front of him, he fought over screen and he contested every shot. Thats all you can ask. He guarded Mayo tightly. Better than anyone on the team.

Only 3 people were assigned to defend Mayo tonight. Douglas, Delfino and Parsons. Douglas did the best job. He didn't shut him down but he was the only one who contested him jumpers and kept him in front.

I beg to differ Guy986. Like Offense, Defense can be oppurtunistic. Good team defense is about removing or at the least, minimising these oppurtunities. Olajuwon for example, knew how to force people in a certain direction, (usually one that he dictated through superior footwork!) and then either alter or block their shot. You look at Battier when he was in his prime here in Houston, the way that he would force LeBron into taking long mid-range jumpshots when LeBum was a Cav. He did this, by removing options. Great players are usually going to get their points. But great defenders will make you work twice as hard to get them. Great defenders get into the psyche of opposing teams. "We won't score as much in the paint tonight, because X player is a shot blocking monster, and a fantastic rebounder...." I can use other numerous examples.

Asik, is a great individual defender. He is very similar to Olajuwon, in the sense that he can contest shots, or switch on the high P & R, and still get back, switch off again. that can be seriously game altering.

I actually think that the art of the blocked shot is leaving the NBA. It seems that a block, is only worth making, if it will end up on the highlight reel at the end of the game.

[zapatasblood]

Yeah if Harden is the one holding Lin back, which something I have heard a lot, then Lin needs to learn a new style. Lin Is nowhere near Hardens leave and will never be. Was not a fan of signing someone that only played 16 games of great basketball. He played out of his mind and beyond his talent. Less happy that he got such a big contract. Lin this season has sucked in large part he get lost in the paint and can't finish or make a bad choice with ball, reminds me of Brooks, and his jumpshot is horrid. I wish we could trade him but his value drops the more he plays. If he needs D'Antino he be halfway decent then that goes to show you it was just the system.

Still young and still room to grow but not much in my opinion.

[Zubby]

wow another high scoring game

btw
jeremy lin is not popular in china
i'm in china now
they are only showing hornets vs heat and celtics vs 76ers on tv
no rockets

Max while you are there go see a Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles games!!
Let us know how it is haha

[BaYBaller]

Yeah if Harden is the one holding Lin back, which something I have heard a lot, then Lin needs to learn a new style. Lin Is nowhere near Hardens leave and will never be. Was not a fan of signing someone that only played 16 games of great basketball. He played out of his mind and beyond his talent. Less happy that he got such a big contract. Lin this season has sucked in large part he get lost in the paint and can't finish or make a bad choice with ball, reminds me of Brooks, and his jumpshot is horrid. I wish we could trade him but his value drops the more he plays. If he needs D'Antino he be halfway decent then that goes to show you it was just the system.

Still young and still room to grow but not much in my opinion.

The "system" he used in NY was mostly the PnR, something every PG in the league runs, so yeah. Lin's strength lies in the PnR and decision making. Overall Lin makes great decisions and runs the offense pretty well. His weakness is as everybody knows is he is horrid going left and is a bad spot up shooter. And while he's fast downhill, he's quite slow laterally which makes him a poor man defender (though he is a good help defender). This was even seen in NY as well. The majority of his bad decisions comes from him being forced left.

But if you look at our offense so far this season, there is a clear trend that we are avoiding 2-pt'ers outside the paint. It is why we are 2nd in the league in 3pt attempts. But 2-pt'ers were a big part of Lin's offense as well. I'm pretty sure the coaching staff has dissuaded the team to shoot 2-pt'ers. But that isn't a bad thing because we actually have the highest TS% in the league, believe it or not.

What it boils down to is that Lin is having to adjust his game big time on offense. He's being asked to be a spot up 3-pt shooter and play off the ball. We'll see if he can adjust, but I wouldn't give up on him quite yet. The only thing that I'm surprised about regarding Lin this season is that he took it to the hole and drew a lot of fouls last season in NY, something he is not doing this season. The coaches might be discouraging 2pt'ers but they are def not discouring taking it hard to the hole.

[madbucky]

But that isn't a bad thing because we actually have the highest TS% in the league, believe it or not.

That's not currently true. Rockets are currently 8th in TS% at 53.7%. Still very good though.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamst ... hootingPct

What it boils down to is that Lin is having to adjust his game big time on offense. He's being asked to be a spot up 3-pt shooter and play off the ball.

While his jump shot is struggling, Lin should play like Rondo and refuse the open jump shot. Just slash. If you draw the double team, kick it out. If no double team, then take the easy layup.

On the other hand, TD should only take corner 3s. TD is shooting 38% from 3pt, but only 33% from 2pt!

[BaYBaller]

Hmmm I'm almost sure our TS% was tops at one point. I guess it makes sense it dropped since we've been pretty bad the last couple of games. Point still stands though.

And you can't compare him to Rondo because we run different offenses and Rondo has the ball in his hands most of the time (and also Rondo is a much much better player). For example it's totally different because if you have the ball in your hands you are facing strong side defense, and if you beat it (e.g. with Lin's quick first step, one of his strengths) you in a good position.

But Lin is getting the ball weak-side, so he's attacking in a recovering defense. Generally speaking, attacking from the weak side is better, since it is easier to get into the paint, but you have to have good finishing ability at the rim to take advantage of this, which Lin does not have.

It's, as I said, an adjustment process for Lin. He's being asked to do something he has never done before in the NBA. I don't think people realize this. Everything stems from his horrible shooting and his inability to go left. If he had a lights out 3pt shot, I bet you they would run more PnRs for him, because Harden is a beast on the weak side as well. And if he had a stronger left-hand it would dramatically improve his ability to finish around the rim, which would improve his ability to drive it in vs weak side defenses.

[Durant Durant]

Now taht the coaching somewhat figured out how to use Lin, it will all be moot if they shove the ball down Harden's throat again when he comes back.