The 9 guys who played tonight are: Paul Harden Capela Luc Tucker Gordon Anderson Nene Green Ariza is out with injury Johnson is about to join. Wright, too. Black isn't playing when Nene is available. D'Antoni is probably not gonna play more than 9 guys, so who loses out on a rotation spot?
My guess would be heavily reduced mins for green if any when Ariza comes back. Nene will get more rest so wright will play. ISO joe will play situationally or 10-15 min a game somehow. It’s gonna be tough.
Green will get a reduction, although I don't think he should. Coach will expand the rotation to 10 if he can. Johnson and Wright don't sniff the court unless an injury
I think Wright will get a lot of PT and Nene will get a lot more rest. I think Ariza will see reduced minutes and Jo will be used situationally.
Wright takes Black's place, JJ takes Green's. Ariza, Luc, and PJ get regular nights off. Need our defenders to have fresh legs in the postseason.
I'm for playing the guys who have earned it .... Green deserves minutes over IsoZhou. One of them has played very well for a team contending for the #1 seed while the other one has been meh on a team that will be lucky to be the 8 seed. Green's shot .404 from 3 point land while IsoJoe has shot a lackluster .274. Yeah , when Ariza comes back Green will lose some minutes but he's earned any he gets .... those minutes should be his to lose.
Even more than his grade 1 hammy strain, the Rockets are probably keeping Ariza rested because we’ve seen what happens to his shooting numbers at the end of the season for the past five years. The man has seemingly endless stamina and shares Russell Westbrook’s ability to never pant or sweat, but that doesn’t mean we can’t see his fatigue borne out by his efficiencies. For the remainder of the regular season our rotation will be expansive and highly variable night to night. By the playoffs given full health you shouldn’t see Green or Joe Johnson on the floor much if at all. Wright will battle Nene in practices to lock up the backup C position. And Ryno gets treated like Punxsutawney Phil: let him out early in games, give him 10min to sniff around, see if he has his shot for the night, and if yes then ride that hot fiah, if no then back in the cage he goes.
johnson and wright are definitely getting regular minutes. nene will be put on sabbatical a la ariza. green will get minutes the nights we rest any of beard/paul/ego/luc/tuck
MDA has gotta realize that we have options now and if someone isn't playing well then on to the next guy. No more being forced to play anyone. What a luxury.
