Who do you want on the floor defending opposing power forwards down stretch in crunch time?

Harden unless the PF has a good mid range shot, then Dmo.

 

Verses the Clippers we may want to pair Asik and Howard up quite a few times through the game.

 

Otherwise, McHale may use hockey strategy and just throw Jones, Dmo, Parsons, Casspi, and Garcia. Hopefully we'll see more Parsons at the 4, but a front court of Parsons, Howard, and Asik is a lot of length against the Clippers (who scare me the most in the west).

 

Your poll is missing Casspi.

Check out videos & game logs against top PFs like ZBo, Griffin, LMA and Dirk and pay attention to the timespans when Omri is guarding them - You will be surprised.

If you even included Harden & Garcia (SGs) - Casspi should have certainly been on your list.

 

Unless Jones or DMO received an overnight epiphany and suddenly develop into dependable PFs (thus drawing weak side defenders from the paint like Griffin, Ibaka, etc..), I believe McHale will go back to small ball in the playoffs.

To that end, I would alternate Harden, Parsons, and Hamilton to the play the PF position. While they may not have the size, they have the speed to stay with Griffin. More importantly, all those guys have respectable outside shooters, to the extent that the opposing PFs would need to come out and defend the perimeter, thus unclogging the paint for Howard.

Jones and DMO will see a lot of pine during the playoffs.

If you want to increase variance against teams that we have a tough time against (0-6 against the Clippers and OKC), McHale has to try the above.

 

I would go small ball, let there PF get shots, elite PF will get there shots either way so we will need more offense. whoever is guarding the PF needs to be physical try to deny ball and just talk them out there game. Let them know yeah we going small but I'm not backing down F-u

 

Dmo played 8 mins and got one shot, he needs to be playing more.

DD

 

Asik

Jones and DMo are god awful,especially Jones and both of them eat space

 

Basketcaseahollic at it again. You really need to seek help dude. This is the definition of OBSESSED.

The funny thing is, Jones and D-Mo didn't even really play bad against OKC... they just simply DIDN'T PLAY because the star players weren't playing well with them on the court, its not that D-Mo and Jones were necessarily playing bad.

OKC is a match-up nightmare for EVERY TEAM IN THE F-ING LEAGUE. The Rockets are not immune to this.

However unlike alot of teams, McHale employs very effective small ball which is a way to to combat a team like OKC that is packing the paint and running off shooters from 3.

Jones and D-Mo will be fine against other teams, and will eventually be taught how to do things that can combat the freakish teams that can actually defend the Rockets the way OKC did last, and previously before. Small ball is only a temporary solution.... eventually Jones and D-Mo can be the solution if they keep on improving.

 

Next year: Melo

Because the best defense, is a good offense. Let the other team start a thread like this.

 

You know, this is something McHale is definitely trying to figure out. He's using different combinations and seeing what works and what doesn't. Sometimes though, there just isn't a good option if the opposing player is more talented.

 

There is no single right answer.

Having said that...... most of the time go small....

We will lose the PF battle defensively, so lets make them pay the cost on the other end of the floor..... allows us to run before the defense is set.

Hamilton, Parsons, Harden all should get minutes.... increase the minutes for Lin at the 2..... have Beverley on the floor 40 minutes......

 

Sigh. Howard is not defending anyone out of the paint. Asik either. The TT experience has shown us fans that power forwards with range just eat up Howard/Asik.

D-Mo on big or mobile power forwards. His defensive rotations are very good. He also cannot be moved in the low post by anyone short of Hibbert.

Jones on any athletically mismatched power forward. Jones feasts on those less imposing players.