There is probably a lot of truth in this. Dwight definitely had some difficulty getting up early on and combined with the fact that D-Mo hardly had any playing time with Dwight that season, D-Mo probably wasn't as comfortable just throwing the ball up for Dwight. Either way, a high post PnR lob would be devastating for teams to guard.
Here's what they bring Skill set - DMo Rebound - Smith Defense - Smith and DMo Post play - DMo 3 point shot - DMo and a few more Ability to create their own shot - DMo ability and willingness to set screens for teammates - DMo highlight reel blocks - Smith and Jones Dunks - Smith and Jones
You forgot the following: Playmaking - Smith and D-Mo Handles - Smith and T-Jones Passing - Smith and D-Mo
Too bad that size doesn't seem to help him much outside his hook shots. He still gets pushed around all the time it feels like.
Donatas Montiejunas the NON-FACTOR. He'd been with the Rockets how long, attempting those slow-motion floaters in the post, and the team still had a hole at PF (sorry Terrence) until the acquisition of Josh Smith.
He should probably get points for showing up to mentor the young guys at Summer League too. The "team player" factor seems to be fairly high.
From a win perspective the ideal rotation would be having D-Mo backing up both Smith or Jones at the PF and Howard at center. Three players getting 32 minutes a night at the 4 and 5 and then Jones and Capela acting as catastrophe insurance maybe? Just an idea.
This back injury was a real negative for us as a team. Instead of spending the summer bulking up to become an adequate rebounder, he's rehabbing a back injury which really limits what you can do from a training perspective. Missing him in the playoffs obviously hurt the team, but it also hurt him in that we never got to see how his offense would hold up over a 7 game series against high-level competition and defensive schemes. My belief is that this guy is part of our future. When healthy, he is our 2nd playmaker. He can beat his man one on one. He puts defenses in a position that they must double and it seems he has the passing ability (if not the polished IQ) to make them pay with either a kick out or an inside pass to Dwight. We're attached to the idea that our second guy needs to be a PG or at least a wing, but i think it would be ideal if he were a big. He could play with Harden on the court (spreading the defense for a 3) or while he sits (captain hook) without either taking away from the other's game. And maybe most important, we can run plays with them together which put our two best playmakers on the same side of the court. Harden, DMo, JSmith is a good rotation to run the offense through. Smith as #2 option is terrifying but how many teams have a player as skilled as he is as their 3rd creator? kinda rambled here but yeah - i like this guy, get well soon, etc.
Donatas Montiejunas. Rebounds like a SMALL FORWARD. Blocks shots like a POINT GUARD. A little offense in a slow tempo game, but not much else. One-way player and a stiff, poor fit with Dwight. Okay backup, but too soft and one-dimensional to start.
Rockets best options on offense: Starters: 1. Harden 2. Howard 3. Smith 4. Ariza 5. Beverley Bench: 6. Brewer 7. Jones 8. Montiejunas
Are you saying Montiejunas is a rebounder and shot blocker? Indeed he rebounds like a SMALL FORWARD and blocks shots like a GUARD. He's a little offense in a slow tempo game, but nothing more. Certainly not the answer at the PF position except in a backup capacity.
I'm saying that you should probably stop trying to follow basketball because you are failing. If you can't see DMo's talent, then you're just about the only one. The Rockets coach, the Rockets GM, the Rockets players, and pretty much any Rockets fan along with most basketball fans could point you in the right direction and stop you from embarrassing yourself.
He is an outstanding post defender. He has a large array of offensive weapons in the post. He has a terrific 3pt shot. He is an outstanding passer. He always hustles back on the break. Yes his rebounding is not great and he is not a shot blocker. A lot of bigs are not shot blockers. He is most definitely not a little offense in a slow tempo game. Maybe if you actually watched a game or two last season you would have known.
