The Rockets Daily – February 11, 2014

Beard is Melo, Melo is Beard - James Harden is 24 years old.  He averages over 23 points per game and dishes out 5.3 assists.  He is one of only 38 players in the league to average over 18 ppg, and only 15 of those 38 manage over 5 assists.  Of the 21 players to average more than 20 ppg, the number of players with at least 5 apg shrinks to 10.

The Houston Rockets average over 105 points per game, good for 3rd most in the league.  And while the Rockets play fast (7th overall in pace) and take a lot of shots, they still manage to remain remarkably efficient, coming in 6th overall in offensive efficiency.  They do so by ranking 3rd in both effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage (53% & 56.8% respectively).

James Harden is a very effective, efficient player playing in a very effective, efficient offense.

So when Truehoop’s David Thorpe compares the Beard to the ball-stopping Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks – who, for the record, are the 29th team in pace, 15th in efficiency, 13th in eFG% and 17th in TS% – it may come off as a little bit of a slap in the face to Rockets fans.  (It’s also a little funny because if the Rockets keep Asik through the end of this year and Melo decides to leave the Knicks, I could absolutely see a universe in which Anthony becomes a Rocket).  Thorpe’s breakdown is somewhat of a two-parter: the article making his case and his discussion with Henry Abbott.  From the article:

Possession after possession, Harden catches and holds the ball, maybe adding a shot fake and some jabs or pivots before he makes a move. According to NBA.com/stats, among all NBA players who are not point guards, only LeBron James has had the ball in his hands more than Harden this season. Correspondingly, Miami has the best offense in the league, and Houston is fifth, so it works for each team.

In defense of LeBron James, he does play out of the post a significant amount more than Harden; scanning the defense from an advantageous position deep inside enemy territory as opposed to thirty-feet away from the basket, which is more Harden’s modus operandi.    

Some may see Thorpe’s claim as an attack on Harden, whereas really it’s just pointing out some disturbing trends for a player that, prior to coming to Houston, was one of the best team-oriented playmakers in the Association.  Now he sees a player that burns precious seconds off the clock jabbing and stabbing at his man before attempting a difficult shot at the rim or with a hand in his face, afraid to pass the ball for fear it won’t come back from one of his high-usage teammates.  In the video, Abbott makes a convoluted analogy comparing Harden’s ability to make difficult shots to a policeman who is an excellent in high-speed chases.  Is the policeman good at his job because he’s so good in such extreme situations, or could he be a better peace officer if he prevented the chases in the first place?

Even through all of this, Thorpe really makes a point of calling Harden an elite 0ffensive talent.  However, he also points out that like Melo, Harden is becoming known as a scorer and nothing else.  But it goes beyond just lazy defense; Thorpe also questions Harden’s leadership.

Anthony’s reputation is that of a killer scorer but not much else. Harden is that guy now as well, famously taking off multiple plays — even quarters or games — on defense, and completely lacking in his willingness to set an example of how to play hard. Leadership can come in many forms, and Harden, like Anthony, only fulfills the “best scorer on the team” role that some leaders fill. But neither guy is gifted at inspiring teammates, on the court or off of it, which leaders are also expected to do.

Instead, Harden is now known for his moodiness, likely the result of the challenges a new superstar faces nightly on the floor, as well as the weight stars feel when their teams lose. Those issues have plagued Howard for years, and together he and Harden have not figured out how to join forces and become a duo that can overcome them. Not yet, at least.

This part is much more disturbing than the actual offensive strategy of Harden’s new found approach.  As I said, Harden is an efficient player in an efficient offense, and perhaps that offense could be even better with a few tweaks to Harden’s game, but that’s just a case of the rich getting richer.  The leadership aspect seems much more relevant, primarily because it’s becoming more obvious. Neither Harden nor Howard seem to run as much of the franchise as players of their stature typically do – that role seems to be filled more and more by Chandler Parsons.  He’s been in Houston the longest, he was a main cog in the Dwight recruiting-team and he generally just seems to be the voice of the locker room.

As I discussed in the Daily a few weeks ago, Parsons had an interesting quote regarding the difference in the way the Rockets play when Harden is in the lineup versus when he sits.  I thought it was curious to state it so bluntly, and wondered if Parsons might be subtly reminding Harden how the team can play when it runs as a machine.  Well, last night in a post-game interview with the NBA TV studio crew, Parsons reminded us (and Harden?) what that machine can do. The first question Matt Winer asked was what has been the theme to the Rockets’ six-game winning streak.

“Just moving the ball offensively.  I think early on we were pressing, taking tough shots.  Now we’re playing with a lot of fun, moving the ball, making the extra pass, getting out in transition; that all starts with defense.”

Doesn’t that sound like like the antithesis of how Thorpe describes Harden?  Last night the Rockets’ starters all scored in double digits, although Harden did go 4-14 and had only the fifth highest +/- on the team.  Again, maybe Parsons’ comments are coach-speak and he is just playing the good soldier, but he seems to be pretty Harden-centric when discussing how the offense should be run.

There haven’t been too many teams in the modern NBA to win a title without its best scorer also being the leader on the team.  Magic Johnson certainly led, and he was the third option on the Showtime Lakers.  The 2004 Pistons – the poster child for defying typical championship team hierarchy – probably didn’t take all their cues from Richard Hamilton, but they had at least four guys who all had specific leadership roles on that team.  And I’m not saying the Rockets don’t, but Dwight Howard doesn’t exactly carry the same weight of Rasheed or Ben Wallace.  No other team in my lifetime won a title with a secondary option on offense leading the locker room.

The Rockets have a lot left to sort out for a team with such high aspirations, maybe more than any other contender.  But they certainly have the pieces.  And if Parsons or Harden or Howard or anyone else in that locker room can get all the parts moving together, there is no goal the Rockets can’t achieve.  And that’s something Carmelo Anthony definitely doesn’t have in common with the Beard.

Stein Line Week 15 - Marc Stein’s latest rendition of the weekly power rankings is out and the Rockets have achieved new heights, rising to number five.

Not too many problems in Houston at the minute. Dwight Howard is averaging 26.2 PPG and 10.8 RPG during the Rockets’ five-game win streak. They’re up to 12 straight wins when Dwight scores at least 20. And they’ve quietly welcomed Omer Asik back to the lineup after a 31-game exile.

The Rockets leapt the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies, who fell a whopping six spots after going 1-3 last week without Mike Conley.  The Blazers seem to be coming back to Earth a bit after scoring so easily the first part of the season.  They’re just tied for 21st in Hollinger’s offensive efficiency metric.

If the Rockets can ever get passed the Clippers, there’s a real chance they could finally crack the top three of the West standings and avoid a first round match-up against the Clips or Warriors, instead getting the Mavericks and Suns of the world.  Portland is only 1.5 games up on Houston, and San Antonio has replaced the Rockets as the team that just can’t get healthy.

There really aren’t too many problems in Houston right now.

Being Relevant is Fun - The NBA and ESPN have swooped in and saved us from another dreadful nationally televised Lakers game, this time against Brooklyn.

So it looks like we’ll get to tune in to “KJ Dunk Night“, and relive the glory of that time a Phoenix Sun dunked on a Hall of Fame center in a series the Suns would go on to lose to the eventual champs.  Isn’t that nice.

 

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Total comments: 37
  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago I view comments like these dangerous since they could be misconstrued by the other player, but unless there's enough evidence for a pattern to emerge I assume nothing negative was meant.
  • Buckko says 3 months ago

    He's around 6'10" but probably closer to 6'11"

  • thejohnnygold says 3 months ago

    Oh, there is a segment where McHale gushes over Durant and how he trusts his guys and is always willing to make the pass etc. etc. I figured if people took Parsons' talk to be Harden bashing they would definitely twist McHale's words the same way. It starts around the 8:00 minute mark.

    McHale said Durant was a "legit 7' tall"--has he grown that much? I know he was 6'9" at UT with the possibility of still growing.

  • Incubus2803 says 3 months ago Johnny, I didn't hear anything that made me understand your parsons/harden comment...what'd I miss?
  • feelingsupersonic says 3 months ago

    Thanks johnnygold, I always like McHale's interviews. I think he is hilarious and very likable.

  • thejohnnygold says 3 months ago

    And here is an interview from our actual leader, McHale, on Mike & Mike. It's about 10 minutes long....They don't actually start talking Rockets until about the 5 minute mark.

    LINK

    If y'all thought Parsons was taking digs at Harden...You're gonna love this.

  • thejohnnygold says 3 months ago

    :lol: All this talk about who the leader is...Personally, I don't care--I'm sure that stuff works itself out naturally. Besides, I have definitive proof of DWIGHT HOWARD'S LEADERSHIP IN THE LOCKER ROOM RIGHT HERE! LINK

    [media>http://instagram.com/p/kQvcuNCEHU/#[/media>

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    Bingo Chen. Couldn't have said it better

    I do love KG. He is a warrior and would have been successful on the court, battlefield or anywhere else. He is a true leader of men. It's a tired expression but his guys would go to war with him 100 times out of 100. And none of this is too belittle Dwight. But to knock KG and inflate Howard is preposterous. KG has one title because he didn't bitch his way off the team that drafted him, ditch the team that traded for him and choose to join a team tailor made for him. He stayed and fought with his guys.

    Again, I love Dwight and am glad he's a rocket. But the guy has warts, and I'm skeptical of the leader thing. Playing hard is not leadership. Or Reggie Evans, Nick Collison and Patrick Beverley would be respected league-wide.


    Like I said in other posts this morning, a lot of the negativity about D12 and James Harden, in my opinion, are coming from disenchanted Thunder and Laker fans. They are just trying to drive a wedge where there is no place to drive a wedge. Thanks for visiting our boards and stating your opinions. Champions prevail, whiners wail.
  • BrentYen says 3 months ago

    Harden did not have a good game, he will bounce back I think. Just like Lin's shooting, it will come back. I do hope Harden and D12 can assert more to lead the team tho, making more right plays, setting examples, etc.

  • goRockets says 3 months ago

    On the issue of leadership, I'm not sure you can teach someone to be a good leader or force them to be one. I agree with this article that body language wise Harden and Howard are not the leaders like Kevin Durant of Lebron James, maybe that's just their personalities, both are kind of laid back, chill type guys. Except Harden does seem to get mad once in awhile when his teammates don't pass him the ball (but that's like negative leadership). I'm hoping as the season goes along, these two will assert themselves more than just by holding on to the basketball, they need to lead with their effort and willingness to put your team first, not your own stats or touches first. This is a very young team and still growing together. I agree that having other guys like Parsons and Lin who are more natural leaders helps this team, even though they are young too. They might be the 3rd and 4th options on this team and not going to have the big stats every night, but these two (Parsons and Lin) move the ball well and for now at least, are comfortable with their role on the team, just doing whatever they need to do to help the team win. I know Jeremy Lin's stats from game to game are not always consistent, but what is consistent is that he's not forcing anything, he knows when to shoot and when not to. If you look at nights he's not scoring a lot of points or shooting poorly, he typically takes very few shots in those games, so even though he's not scoring a whole lot, he's still passing well and not taking bad shots, therefore not wasting many of his team's possessions if he's not feeling the hot hand. Last game against Minnesota, he actually played more minutes than James Harden, who sat out the entire 4thQ even though Harden scored 20 points in just 3 quarters. Why is that? Because it was so obvious (even to McHale) that JLin was helping to move the ball, run the fast break and just generally making smart decisions with the basketball even though he's not scoring much. He missed 5 shots and had 1TO, so really just wasted 6 possessions. If you look at Harden, he missed 10 shots, had 5TOs, which means he wasted 15 possessions. So even though Harden scored more points, he also wasted nearly 3 times more possessions compared to Lin, which is probably why McHale decided to keep Lin in the game despite his few points, because his presence helped the "team".

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago At this point, I would simply point interested people to visit the new topic "NBA Trade Deadline is 9 Days Away." Scroll down on the link provided, an exceptionally well written article in great depth by Zach Lowe. Then scroll down to 8. near the very bottom of the article to see Lowe's comments on Harden.

    I agree wholeheartedly with Lowe's take on Harden and the OKC Thunder's fans and media throwing darts at him and I would add that perhaps the same is being experienced with D12 and unhappy Laker fans and media. Some of that negativity has obviously affected our boards as well.

    Believe me, I have no doubt that Harden and D12 and Parsons and McHale and everybody else on the Rockets are fully aware of all of this and in my opinion this is simply just further impetus and ammunition to prove the naysayers wrong.
  • Mitchell Felker says 3 months ago

    COUGH - The new Daily is posted - COUGH COUGH

  • Incubus2803 says 3 months ago Bingo Chen. Couldn't have said it better

    I do love KG. He is a warrior and would have been successful on the court, battlefield or anywhere else. He is a true leader of men. It's a tired expression but his guys would go to war with him 100 times out of 100. And none of this is too belittle Dwight. But to knock KG and inflate Howard is preposterous. KG has one title because he didn't bitch his way off the team that drafted him, ditch the team that traded for him and choose to join a team tailor made for him. He stayed and fought with his guys.

    Again, I love Dwight and am glad he's a rocket. But the guy has warts, and I'm skeptical of the leader thing. Playing hard is not leadership. Or Reggie Evans, Nick Collison and Patrick Beverley would be respected league-wide.
  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    I think McHale has the tendency to pull Lin sooner than he pulls Harden, even when Harden isn't playing well. Because of that, I suspect it is harder for Jeremy to get into a rhythm, which for someone like him, who plays up and down according to his emotions and flow, can wreak havoc. I don't think (unlike many LOF's) that McHale doesn't like Jeremy- in fact he's been generally very nice in saying things about him. However, I suspect he doesn't trust him and doesn't like all the fans and hoopla that come with him. He strikes me as a very Average Joe/Cut the Crap kind of guy, and I wouldn't be surprised if all the attention placed on Lin (not that Jeremy particularly craves the attention) annoys him and perhaps affects how he treats him.


    Keep in mind, 6th men are going to have a much shorter leash than starters depending on the flow of the game, has the opposing team come from a 10+ point deficit in the last couple of minutes and it's time to put the starters back in, etc. There have been times where Coach McHale has sit his starters the entire 4th quarter because the bench was playing effectively. Harden sat out the entire 4th quarter in the last game vs. Minnesota. Parsons recently sat out an entire 4th quarter in a competitive game. Same goes with D12.

    That's the sign of a good Head Coach. McHale wants to ingrain even more confidence in his bench players when the opportunities arise and those bench players have proven to be effective that particular game. I believe McHale believes and trusts in all of his players, but obviously when it's the opposite and the bench players including the much valued 6th man Jeremy Lin has seen a big lead shrunk by 8-10 points in just a couple of minutes, well, pretty much every successful NBA Head Coach is going to put the starters back in when that scenario occurs.

    So I don't think at all it's that McHale doesn't trust anyone, it's just the situation that has developed and of course the starters are going to be called back in. It has been proven to work the other way, too, this season in many instances.

    As far as Coach McHale supposedly not caring for the Lin fans and all the hoopla surrounding Lin, that just makes me kind of chuckle. Coach McHale and the Rockets players and the team and the franchise have only one goal in mind. That is to be the best possible team and win the most games and go as deep in the playoffs as possible.

    Everything else is secondary and has no bearing.

    Only those who are actually experiencing the NBA life can really explain this.

    I hope to see a real in depth article on Lin with his specific quotes after the season, maybe better even after next season.

    I have no doubt Lin is focused on being the best player possible and contributing to the team goals.

    Everything else is pure speculation on fans part.

    You and I just have different opinions and attitudes on this. Sometimes I think Lin is being over emphasized in some of the posts on this board. It's not about Jeremy Lin, or Dwight Howard, or James Harden, etc. it's about the success of our team as a whole that will determine our eventual destiny.
  • Chunkychen says 3 months ago

    Agreed- I think that Dwight has matured a lot since a few years ago, but he's probably never going to be the "I'm going to single handedly drag this team to the championship" kind of guy. But I think that's ok- I don't think he has to be and I don't think any less of him because of that. I think Lebron got a lot better when he didn't feel like he had to be the man all the time.

  • Incubus2803 says 3 months ago Who said going through the motions? I never said Dwight doesn't play hard. I just don't see him as a field general.
  • feelingsupersonic says 3 months ago

    Game 7. On the road. Rockets down 4 with a minute to go. Do you really think all eyes are on Dwight in the huddle waiting to hear what he has to say? That's Michael Jordan's huddle, not Phil's. It's Chris Paul's huddle, not Doc's. And it's damn sure Kevin Garnett's huddle over anyone.
    I just don't see Dwight as that guy.

    Sure you might be right, Garnett owned a good number of his huddles but I'm sure Pierce, Rondo and Marberry took over huddles sometimes, truth is we'll never know. I personally find Garnett annoying and I remember him being a little less enforcer like with out Perk but that's another debate.

    Back on topic, leaders come in all shapes in sizes. There are a dozen leader profile types that are probably nothing like Garnett. Also, nothing is set in stone, we are privileged to be watching a Rockets team growing before our eyes and leaders are emerging.
  • Chunkychen says 3 months ago

    Yeah, I agree w/ you RocketRick re: the McHale/Lin dynamic. I personally think Jeremy is at his best when he plays aggressive, high risk/high reward basketball w/ team mates moving when he drives so he can kick it out for an open shot and giving him more screens. Sometimes, as you referenced, I think McHale has the tendency to pull Lin sooner than he pulls Harden, even when Harden isn't playing well. Because of that, I suspect it is harder for Jeremy to get into a rhythm, which for someone like him, who plays up and down according to his emotions and flow, can wreak havoc. I don't think (unlike many LOF's) that McHale doesn't like Jeremy- in fact he's been generally very nice in saying things about him. However, I suspect he doesn't trust him and doesn't like all the fans and hoopla that come with him. He strikes me as a very Average Joe/Cut the Crap kind of guy, and I wouldn't be surprised if all the attention placed on Lin (not that Jeremy particularly craves the attention) annoys him and perhaps affects how he treats him. Jeremy is not one to complain (most Asians tend to be more keep the head down and work-types of people) so we are stuck in this kind of holding pattern.

    Hopefully Lin's improved play in recent weeks (and the Rocket's corresponding improved play) will encourage McHale to let Lin play through his inevitable mistakes and the Rockets will continue to thrive. Benching Harden for a little bit hopefully help him to see that he'll be a better player overall when he is playing team ball. I personally don't mind that Lin is the 6th man as long as he gets his minutes and respect, though I'd love to see more of him and Bev playing together.

  • feelingsupersonic says 3 months ago

    You are right that there does seem to be some perception that Coach McHale and Lin have "poor chemistry" and that Coach McHale treats different players (Harden, for example) differently than he does Lin.I would bet that if Jeremy Lin had a deep discussion with a major writer (Zach Lowe?) about his experiences as the first Asian player in the NBA, that Jeremy would have a lot more positive comments about Coach McHale and his staff than some would realize or expect.Coach McHale to me strives to get the maximum out of his players. At the same time, he treats players not as the same, but as individuals, with individual goals as well as team goals, and how all that fits in as a whole.No doubt, Coach McHale pushes Jeremy Lin a lot but to be truthful I believe Jeremy would say in that great interview that McHale's insistent pushing Lin was and is so important in his continued development as an NBA player. It is extremely competitive in this league, these are pretty much the best 450 basketball players in the world, give or take. A world of 6-7 billion people. Kids dream and shoot baskets on their driveways and backyards thinking perhaps they will get a shot in the NBA. What is the percentage 450/6.5 billion chance that a youngster will accomplish his dreams? Further, once a player makes it to the NBA, many only last a season or two, maybe three then fade away. The competition level is so fierce that I don't think the rest of us can truly have an appreciation for what is required to be a successful player in the NBA.So getting back to Coach McHale and Jeremy Lin, the way I look at it is that Coach McHale is treating Lin as his son who McHale wants to see exceed Lin's own expectations as an NBA player. Most would call this tough love. Popovich in San Antonio and Tony Parker immediately come to mind. Each comparison of coaches and players are always imperfect, yet, hopefully you and others who feel that Coach McHale treats Lin "badly" might possibly get a different perspective.Again, it would be awesome if Lin himself could one day have a deep discussion of all of this so more can understand what he is going through personally. The time for that probably is not now as he continues to develop and play an instrumental role in the Rockets success this season.In regards to why does Coach McHale seemingly treat Lin differently than say James Harden?For one, Harden is simply more talented and further along in his development. Yes, Harden is imperfect. There are no perfect NBA players. Even MJ (Michael Jordan) had his shortcomings and had games where he came up short, shot a poor percentage from the field, didn't make the right pass, etc. However, it is not fair to expect Coach McHale, who has extensive experience and success in the NBA as both a player and a coach to treat everyone exactly the same way. Instead, as the ultimate leader of the Houston Rockets it is Coach McHale's job to push the right buttons. It is necessary and sometimes frustrating for true Rockets fans see that Harden is given more rope, so to speak. Harden realistically is near the top of the game and the best way for him to continue becoming a better player perhaps is by him personally having to experience devastating losses, bad decisions, etc. Jeremy Lin is on a different level and thus Coach McHale is pushing him in a different way which ultimately should make Lin an even more successful NBA player in my opinion.Time will tell the truth in all of these matters.Go Rockets!!



    I have always agreed with this point view. Great thoughts rocketrick and very well written.
  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    Game 7. On the road. Rockets down 4 with a minute to go. Do you really think all eyes are on Dwight in the huddle waiting to hear what he has to say? That's Michael Jordan's huddle, not Phil's. It's Chris Paul's huddle, not Doc's. And it's damn sure Kevin Garnett's huddle over anyone.

    I just don't see Dwight as that guy.


    If you are being honest with that scenario, you would agree that eyes are on Harden, not D12.

    Still, believe me, D12 is ready to grab the rebound with an emphatic dunk in case Harden misses and to go on the defense and block that next shot to lead the Rockets to an improbable comeback victory. Or just simply make the right plays without costing his team a possession.

    Anyway, the vast majority of Game 7 huddles in that scenario are going to be focused on the coach and the play being drawn up. For sure, an MJ would speak up and say I want the ball and I want it here, etc. But c'mon, KG and Noah aren't going to be interrupting the huddle demanding the ball, etc.

    You obviously like KG. He only won one ring. He is done unless he gets traded to a real playoff contender before his career comes to an end. Noah hasn't won anything yet, hasn't even made it to the NBA Finals. Chris Paul, never been in the Finals, much less won a ring. Much of D12's destiny is yet to come in my opinion.
  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    But I must respectfully disagree with you on the KG/Noah comment. There's obviously no doubting that Howard plays on a more talented team than either of them, but you are talking about two of the greatest warriors in the game in Noah and KG.

    They each display the effort and drive that you credit Dwight with, but in the entire 20+years of their combined careers, I'd be willing to bet that they never once let their teammate get off the gorund by themselves after a fall. They are the first off the bench after any timeout and are always in people ear on the sidelines. That's leadership to me. Dwight plays hard, but hes still a goof-off

    I love Dwight's talent, but watch him after he and T-Jones or Parsons interfere with each other and fumble a rebound out of bounds that they were fighting for, or when Harden tries to instruct him after a failed pick-and-roll. Bad body language all star as Bill Simmons likes to say. I still see enough petulence in him to make me nervous.

    I use this comparison (with a giant Omer Asik-sized grain of salt): He's a little like Terrell Owens. Hear me out....Best body in the game, obviously works as hard as anyone but you wouldn't call him "blue-collar" and he would probably cry in a press conference after a tough loss "That's my shooting guard". He's not near the diva TO was, but there are some of those same troubling traits.


    As true Rockets fans, we will just have to agree to disagree on each other's take on D12.

    As the season goes on, I see D12 becoming more and more determined in his actions on the court. Each player is different. Is D12 similar to KG? No. But that doesn't mean that D12 is less impactful on the court and in the huddles, in the lockerroom, in practices, on the team plane, etc. Just running over to pick up a teammate off the court doesn't automatically make someone a better leader than another player. There is way much more to consider than just that.

    You have to go see the Rockets play in person and sit courtside and concentrate on D12 and how he runs the court, etc.

    As I have mentioned in other posts, simply trying to figure out D12 by watching him on a TV screen you just can't get the true picture of D12's heart and effort.

    D12 is leading primarily by example this season. I can't think of a better way for one of the top players in the NBA join our team than what D12 has clearly shown me so far this season.

    The best is yet to come. No doubt, there will be disappointments to come as well. That is part of the equation. Still, I see much promise going forward and I am already committed to renewing my season tickets for as long as D12 remains a Rocket.

    D12 is a warrior and the best way to visualize this is to attend a Rockets game and sit close to courtside. Then I dare you tell me that he is just going through the motions.
  • Incubus2803 says 3 months ago Game 7. On the road. Rockets down 4 with a minute to go. Do you really think all eyes are on Dwight in the huddle waiting to hear what he has to say? That's Michael Jordan's huddle, not Phil's. It's Chris Paul's huddle, not Doc's. And it's damn sure Kevin Garnett's huddle over anyone.

    I just don't see Dwight as that guy.
  • Mitchell Felker says 3 months ago

    The Daily loves Jeremy Lin!

  • Incubus2803 says 3 months ago

    Trick, Thanks for sticking up for us. I love Jeremy Lin, perhaps not as a starter, but he is a top 6th-man.

    But I must respectfully disagree with you on the KG/Noah comment. There's obviously no doubting that Howard plays on a more talented team than either of them, but you are talking about two of the greatest warriors in the game in Noah and KG.

    They each display the effort and drive that you credit Dwight with, but in the entire 20+years of their combined careers, I'd be willing to bet that they never once let their teammate get off the gorund by themselves after a fall. They are the first off the bench after any timeout and are always in people ear on the sidelines. That's leadership to me. Dwight plays hard, but hes still a goof-off

    I love Dwight's talent, but watch him after he and T-Jones or Parsons interfere with each other and fumble a rebound out of bounds that they were fighting for, or when Harden tries to instruct him after a failed pick-and-roll. Bad body language all star as Bill Simmons likes to say. I still see enough petulence in him to make me nervous.

    I use this comparison (with a giant Omer Asik-sized grain of salt): He's a little like Terrell Owens. Hear me out....Best body in the game, obviously works as hard as anyone but you wouldn't call him "blue-collar" and he would probably cry in a press conference after a tough loss "That's my shooting guard". He's not near the diva TO was, but there are some of those same troubling traits.

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago Last sentence should have read

    "....which ultimately should make Lin an even more successful NBA player THAN LIN HIMSELF THOUGHT POSSIBLE in my opinion."
  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    I've been reading this site for years- I think this is the first time that I've posted. Part of me wants him to be traded because I think that he and McHale have poor chemistry for some reason that I don't fully understand. I'd also like to see how the Rockets do without him- as much as a Rockets fan as I am, I don't think that the team has treated him well.
    Personally I think that Rahat does a great job of being even minded about Lin and I like his balanced articles. Anyways, thanks for the comment- hopefully now that I have an account, I'll be able to add to the dialogue more often.


    You are right that there does seem to be some perception that Coach McHale and Lin have "poor chemistry" and that Coach McHale treats different players (Harden, for example) differently than he does Lin.

    I would bet that if Jeremy Lin had a deep discussion with a major writer (Zach Lowe?) about his experiences as the first Asian player in the NBA, that Jeremy would have a lot more positive comments about Coach McHale and his staff than some would realize or expect.

    Coach McHale to me strives to get the maximum out of his players. At the same time, he treats players not as the same, but as individuals, with individual goals as well as team goals, and how all that fits in as a whole.

    No doubt, Coach McHale pushes Jeremy Lin a lot but to be truthful I believe Jeremy would say in that great interview that McHale's insistent pushing Lin was and is so important in his continued development as an NBA player. It is extremely competitive in this league, these are pretty much the best 450 basketball players in the world, give or take. A world of 6-7 billion people. Kids dream and shoot baskets on their driveways and backyards thinking perhaps they will get a shot in the NBA. What is the percentage 450/6.5 billion chance that a youngster will accomplish his dreams? Further, once a player makes it to the NBA, many only last a season or two, maybe three then fade away. The competition level is so fierce that I don't think the rest of us can truly have an appreciation for what is required to be a successful player in the NBA.

    So getting back to Coach McHale and Jeremy Lin, the way I look at it is that Coach McHale is treating Lin as his son who McHale wants to see exceed Lin's own expectations as an NBA player. Most would call this tough love. Popovich in San Antonio and Tony Parker immediately come to mind. Each comparison of coaches and players are always imperfect, yet, hopefully you and others who feel that Coach McHale treats Lin "badly" might possibly get a different perspective.

    Again, it would be awesome if Lin himself could one day have a deep discussion of all of this so more can understand what he is going through personally. The time for that probably is not now as he continues to develop and play an instrumental role in the Rockets success this season.

    In regards to why does Coach McHale seemingly treat Lin differently than say James Harden?

    For one, Harden is simply more talented and further along in his development. Yes, Harden is imperfect. There are no perfect NBA players. Even MJ (Michael Jordan) had his shortcomings and had games where he came up short, shot a poor percentage from the field, didn't make the right pass, etc. However, it is not fair to expect Coach McHale, who has extensive experience and success in the NBA as both a player and a coach to treat everyone exactly the same way. Instead, as the ultimate leader of the Houston Rockets it is Coach McHale's job to push the right buttons. It is necessary and sometimes frustrating for true Rockets fans see that Harden is given more rope, so to speak. Harden realistically is near the top of the game and the best way for him to continue becoming a better player perhaps is by him personally having to experience devastating losses, bad decisions, etc. Jeremy Lin is on a different level and thus Coach McHale is pushing him in a different way which ultimately should make Lin an even more successful NBA player in my opinion.

    Time will tell the truth in all of these matters.

    Go Rockets!!
  • Cooper says 3 months ago I definitely think Howard is the main guy the team looks to when things get tough. He's done the most and has the most experience. While Lin seems like a great teammate similar to parsons they don't have the experience yet to lead a team.
  • Chunkychen says 3 months ago

    Yeah, thanks for the welcoming reply- I've actually been a Rockets fan since Yao Ming, and am definitely not just a LOF. It drives me crazy some of the things that some of his supporters say- some are just not even minded or rational about things. That being said, I also think that there are a lot of haters out there- I suspect more because of some people are primarily annoyed by the tenor of some of his fans, not because they don't like JLin as a player or person. I've been reading this site for years- I think this is the first time that I've posted. Part of me wants him to be traded because I think that he and McHale have poor chemistry for some reason that I don't fully understand. I'd also like to see how the Rockets do without him- as much as a Rockets fan as I am, I don't think that the team has treated him well.

    Personally I think that Rahat does a great job of being even minded about Lin and I like his balanced articles. Anyways, thanks for the comment- hopefully now that I have an account, I'll be able to add to the dialogue more often.

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    I personally think that Jeremy Lin has the characteristics of a leader that team would gel around. He is willing to sacrifice his stats for others, he has a good mind for the game of basketball and the ball flows so much more smoothly when he is the primary ball handler. JLin's been playing really well these past 7 games and McHale has been finally letting out the leash a little bit. Honestly, the Rockets are a lot more fun to watch when they share it, kinda like it was back in the Linsanity days in NYC before Carmelo came back. I'm not sure why the Red94 columnists don't note this and give him a little more respect. Its easier to buy in on team ball when you see someone demonstrating it like JLin does- night in and night out.


    Welcome to the best Rockets forum in the Universe! Really!

    I believe the more you explore, especially some of the past articles and topics, you will discover that there is a pretty even take on Jeremy Lin here. Keep in mind, many of the opinions you are reading here are not from Red94 Columnists, but rather die hard Rockets fans.

    In regards to Red94 Columnists, again, please take some time and read through a variety of prior topics to learn who the more active members are, the most often published Red94 Columnists, etc. and I believe you will come away with an even more positive feeling about how Jeremy Lin is treated and debated on this most intelligent forum.

    You will most definitely not agree with every opinion here. That is what makes this forum the best around. Differing opinions discussed in a civil and intelligent manner.
  • Chunkychen says 3 months ago

    I personally think that Jeremy Lin has the characteristics of a leader that team would gel around. He is willing to sacrifice his stats for others, he has a good mind for the game of basketball and the ball flows so much more smoothly when he is the primary ball handler. JLin's been playing really well these past 7 games and McHale has been finally letting out the leash a little bit. Honestly, the Rockets are a lot more fun to watch when they share it, kinda like it was back in the Linsanity days in NYC before Carmelo came back. I'm not sure why the Red94 columnists don't note this and give him a little more respect. Its easier to buy in on team ball when you see someone demonstrating it like JLin does- night in and night out.

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    He's the locker room leader, he's always the first one off the bench to congratulate teammates, he's never shown a sign of immaturity, he's getting his work done including FREE THROWS. Honestly if I were to rank locker room hierarchy, I would say Howard, parsons, then harden.


    I agree with that assessment. Harden is not the type of player that craves media attention so a lot is unknown in terms of Harden's leadership qualities inside the lockerroom.
  • Buckko says 3 months ago He's the locker room leader, he's always the first one off the bench to congratulate teammates, he's never shown a sign of immaturity, he's getting his work done including FREE THROWS. Honestly if I were to rank locker room hierarchy, I would say Howard, parsons, then harden.
  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    I've never seen anything from Howard that would indicate he's in control of his team in the same way as Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett or Joakim Noah


    Interesting that you believe KG and Noah are better leaders of teams that are sinking, not swimming in comparison to D12 and the Rockets.

    Let's see, D12 has been a Rocket about 7 months now, 50 games. A sign of a strong leader is to become acquainted with other players on the team, the coaching staff, etc. before making statements that could rock the boat.

    One of the things I believe some people don't realize is how hard D12 plays off the ball when the camera is not focused on him. I really enjoy going to the games and seeing other views of the court not available to strictly TV or internet viewers. It's so very obvious that D12 is battling for position, giving extra effort every possession, etc. when you focus on him live.

    Probably the best leader of any team is one that leads by example. I can't think of anyone I would rather have on our frontline than D12. You can see it in his eyes, he really wants a ring. He's not here just for the paycheck.
  • 08huangj says 3 months ago

    How is Dwight Howard not a leader?? Well, if Dwight Howard was not a leader, who led the Magic to the NBA finals?? Also, the Warriors are not a problem for the Rockets. Houston is 2-0 against them!! Yes, you can argue that Iguodala was injured in those games, but Iguodala has played badly this season and won't be a serious game changer. I think a healthy Rockets are only going to fear the Clippers or the Thunder(Not possible to meet in 1rst round anyway unless Houston drops to 8th seed) I completely agree with Parsons, though.

  • Incubus2803 says 3 months ago I've never seen anything from Howard that would indicate he's in control of his team in the same way as Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett or Joakim Noah
  • Buckko says 3 months ago

    I personally, have no problem with a first round against the warriors and I disagree greatly on Dwight not being the leader. Harden is young.

  • Mitchell Felker says 3 months ago

    Sorry these haven't been getting out in the morning. Communication error on our part.