yosemiteben wrote:People should not be surprised that Lin is not going to take Kemba's minutes. This is Kemba's team, he's just kicking of the first year of an extension, has full support of our coaching staff and FO, and has been the face of the franchise since he was drafted. Lin will only take Kemba's minutes if he clearly outperforms Kemba.
Preseason we heard that the way Lin was going to get PT was by playing backup PG and then playing next to Kemba. Right now Lin is competing with Lamb for those SG minutes.
That shouldn't be the case (Lin competing with Lamb for minutes). Lin and Lamb play well together on the second unit and are being noticed by other teams as a force to reckon with. Lamb probably plays his best with Lin and Batum, not Kemba and Al.
I think Kemba and Lin aren't working together as in Kemba doesn't play well with other PGs. Lin tends not to do all that much on the court with Kemba and might think of asserting himself more. Kemba/Lin could be in for small ball or two attacking PnR guards, Clifford is trying to overlap their minutes and when he does, the scoreboard favors the other team.
Lin is the one that is targeted by the other teams as the guy to stop. Minnesota's coach, Chicago's coach, they want him contained. Not just for his scoring, but getting guys good shots. Sometimes if he's pressured he's contained. Sometimes not. That's where Lin seems like he can either be in that winner's strong players mode or look timid. To me last night he wasn't in that strong player's mode. Lin is the guy to finish because he can draw fouls, charges, is a proven 4Q guy, is clutch, and makes the defenders worry so he's a very effective decoy that can draw defenders away from their men and open other players up (a la Cody under the basket play in Knicks game).
I think Clifford was right to follow his instincts and have Lin close most games and that should continue. If it is a case where it works to have a different player in it due to how the game unfolded and matchups, he won't play. I think last night was that game and also, Lin wasn't playing his game all game.