Friday night’s Houston Rockets loss to the Memphis Grizzlies appears to be a microcosm of the Rocket season. James Harden took almost all the fourth quarter shots in a tight game.
He took seven shots in crunch time and hit none of them. Yet he kept taking them. Meanwhile the Rockets third option behind Chandler Parson took five shots and hit two three pointers. On this night, Parson was out nursing an injury so Lin really should have gotten more shots.
The Rockets loss 82 to 78. Greg in Sportige says the Rockets will need to vary their play if they are to succeed in the playoffs. That means using Lin as a viable option, not an afterthought or as a spectator to Harden.
The Rockets need to give opposing teams something more to think about, and that means utilizing Lin. You can read more in Sportige.