Do we need another PF?

We need someone that can slow them down as much as possible ,and to prevent Yao from getting into foul problems.By the way, Bozzer is not unstoppable ,but he looked unstoppable playing against us during the playoffs, just because we didn't have any decent defender to stop him (Yao is too tall and slow to stay with him).

About the subject of this thread: I really want Mutambo to rejoin this team , otherwise we will need a tall PF that can play at the center position. If Yao will lose another 30 or more games this year, due to injuries ,and we will stay with this Roster ,then we will have to rely on some small-ball, and I don't think we can match well with the other top teams ,with this kind of game.

 

That is exactly what Foster is. He is an even better rebounder than Hayes and offers a bigger body. I think he might be a little less effective than Hayes at some things but it gives you two options at PF/C that are big time hustlers, rebounders, and can at least finish around the basket. It would be something more like this though.

Yao/(Foster or Butler)
Scola/(Hayes or Foster)
Batter/Snyder
TMac/Bonzi/Head
James/Francis/Brooks

 

Not a priority with Scola and Hayes on board. Butler can play PF, below are his stats from when he played for the Knicks.

Position FGA eFG% FTA iFG Reb Ast T/O Blk PF Pts PER*

PF 14.9 0.532 5.2 66% 12.7 0.8 3.1 2.7 9.3 19.7 18.1
C 13.2 0.551 4.8 70% 11.2 2.0 4.4 1.6 7.4 18.2 14.2

 

I forgot about Butler. I can see Butler playing both PF and C as a backup. I think having Scola, Butler, and Hayes at PF, the Rox are already much better than last year at that position.

Francis/James/Brooks (assuming Rafer & JL3 are waived/traded)
TMAC/Bonzi/Kirk/Head
Battier/Bonzi/Novak
Scola/Hayes/Butler/Reed/Landry
Yao/Butler/Deke


Outside looking in: Landry, Reed, Novak, Harris

With between 17-20 players on the roster, it will be interesting to see what Adelman goes with for his 12 man lineup.

 

There is no way we have Yao, Deke, Butler, and another center on the roster. Even Hayes can play spot minutes at the 5. We are deep at the PG, the wing players (SG and SF), and center assuming Deke resigns.

 

I think we're ok at the 4. With Scola, well, we have to hope he's the real thing. Hayes is an adequate back-up. And Shane can play the 4 if things go bad.

I see Butler being more groomed as Deke's eventual replacement.

No, the only thing we really need to do is trade away Rafer and Lucus, preferably for draft pics.

With the following....this offseason has been enough...now we need to play a season and take stock:

Yao/Deke/Butler
Scola/Hayes
Wells/Battier
Head/T-mac/Synder
James/Francis/Brooks

That's 13 guys already, a deep rotation, maybe too deep. Rafer and Lucus gone. the rest will be bench warmers or cut. Or better, trade for future picks.

 

We got Hayes on radar at 4 spots, that will do the job!!

 

1. The team has a lot of bodies up front, many have potential to help, but few certain contributors.
2.Morey knows he can't all the guys under contract, but he seems in no hurry to finalize his roster any time soon.

I am guessing he only makes very obvious deals until October, at that time Adelman gets a good look at the rosters and he'll know who has more value to him better. Right now, it seems he puts value even on redundant guys. He'd rather keep a spare Rafer around than make a less than optimal deal.

 

Is Foster much better than Butler?

 

seeing as Hayes was our starter last year and Scola was told he'd be contributing immediatley, I don't think we are really in desperate need for a "starting PF." If there's one available, ok great - but I don't think we're desperate for one. Frankly, I'd give Scola a shot over installing Foster as a starting PF for us - if Foster is going to start we may as well start Hayes! That being said, it would be good to get a veteran power forward in exchange for our excess guards. I wouldn't mind having a little more insurance if Scola doesn't pan out - but I think its unreasonable to expect a player who can stop Boozer or Duncan.

Moreover, I'm not sure anyone can contain either of the guys - including each other. During the Jazz/Spurs series Duncan averaged 22 points and 10.2 rebounds. Boozer averaged 21.4 points and 12 rebounds. I guess you can say Duncan "contained" Boozer because Boozer's playoff averages prior to the conference final were 24 and 14 and you could say that Boozer contained Duncan because Duncan averaged 26.8 and 13.7 against Pheonix...but that's a stretch. Bottom line, you can't "contain" great power forwards out there that much - they can't even contain each other. We're not going to get a Duncan stopper...but I'd like to get some insurance on Scola.

 

I agree with your assessment, but I will say that the Foster idea is the most reasonable PF trade on this board.

 

Butler has been a lazy defender......we still need Deke back. Mutombo solidifies our defense in the 2nd unit and can sub for Yao in a pinch as a starter. Deke is still one of the best per 48 minute rebounders and shotblockers. Butler is neither. Butler will have to prove that he can play....he's been tantalizing coaches with "upside" but we can't afford to wait for what little he has...we already know what we can get from Mutombo. Also, Foster would be great as the temporary starter till Scola develops. Scola would have to be the most amazing quickest learner for him to jump into a different league and be able to start at power forward in the western conference on day 1. Foster brings a lot to the table. He averaged 9 rebounds in only 23 or so minutes for several years. Hayes averaged 6.7 in his 20 something minutes. There's not many players that can stop Duncan, but at least we should get someboyd in there that's more than a speed bump or at least somebody that will grab some of the rebounds away. Foster is one of the best per 48 minute reboundeers....he would be a good guy to battle inside and grab rebounds away from Duncan and Boozer.

 

butler is not a pf. he is an offensive machine. slow and dumb on defense. yes we need another pf...we have stockpiled alot of mediocrity there

 

Can't believe I agree with an Aggy, but Scola should definitely be our starting pf... If we acquire Foster, he would definitely be our backup pf. Foster is an outstanding rebounder, and an excellent defender. Essentially, he is a taller Chuck Hayes. Foster is exactly what this team needs, and we have assets that can make him a Rocket.

 

Yeah. Somehow, I would sleep much better at night knowing the Mt. Mutombo is back there blocking shots rather than Butler who coaches compalin misses his assignment. There's a reason Butler was planted on that San Antonio bench. If you don't play defense, you don't play for Pop. God, I hope Morey re-signs Mutombo quickly.

 

I think Foster in the starting lineup is a great idea. Not only is he a big body to wear down Duncan, Boozer, Amare, Brand, but he can also play some C if needed. I don't think Scola is quite ready for the league, I'm sure he'll catch up to speed faster than most rookies but even at his best I don't see him being an elite rebounder, or even better than Foster. He will undoubtedly be a much better player due to his offensive touch. That's why Foster on the first team and Scola on the second team seems like good balance to me.

1st team: Francis, Bonzi, T-Mac, Foster, Yao
2nd team: James, Head, Battier, Scola, Deke

That second lineup with James, Head and Scola will still be able to score. With the first lineup you don't necessarily need your PF to score points, with the other four guys. Foster could do all the dirty work for Yao on the glass and it would mean that many more touches for the other guys.

This way it lets Scola ease into the NBA and not be expected to perform at starter level. I don't know, Foster as a specialist rebounder surrounded by offensive players seems like a good fit to me.

 

Excellent defender--excellent rebounder...6'11"... that's what we need. Let's get him ASAP. Anyway, Adelman will be shuffling power forwards in and out of there dependiing on matchups and what he wants to accomplish. He might have Foster in there to battle and pick up fouls and then have Scola come in and present more of an offensive threat and vice versa. The only two starters that are written in ink are Yao and Tmac. I think we seriously need another good power forward in there just because they will have to battle a great power forward almost every night...

 

Foster at 6'11" and his boxing out skills would be a great force to have in there battling for boards. I like your idea of Foster wearing down Ducan and Boozer who will have to spend extra energy pushing and grappling with him. Anyway, there will be an overlap, where Scola plays some of his minutes with the second unit and some of his minutes with the starters. Scola would give the second unit a post scorer when Yao is out of the game. Foster would also give us a lot of second chance opportunities which would be invaluable....if you give Yao, Tmac, Francis....a seond chance, they most likely will score on you. I see Foster as giving us a lot in terms of playing d, rebounding, being a good sub at either the 4 or 5. He would be more useful than some of the excess guards like Alston.

 

Yup, the team doesn't need anymore prime-time players, we just need role players, and thats exactly what Foster is. The overlap you mention makes this team so dangerous. We could go all out defense:

James, T-Mac (who is a good defender when he puts his mind to it), Battier, Foster, Deke

to all out offense:

Francis, Bonzi, T-Mac, Scola, Yao

and then any combination of the two. Throw in the speed of Brooks and the hustle of Hayes and the Rockets will be every teams worst nightmare.

Sign Foster up, pick up some draft picks and lets wreck shop.

 

I like what you're saying. We can go in many different directions depending on match ups and tempo. We can even have an all-shooters unit with Brooks, Head, Novak, Battier, Yao...maybe James thrown in there. I think Francis used to be a pretty good defender when he was with us, so maybe he can be that when go d again. James was good when he was with the Pistons. Foster would fit in anywhere because we always need rebounding. I love the fact that we're so versatile now...we have scorers and penetrators that can create their own shot or break down their own man. Last year, we just had Yao and Tmac. This year we also have: Francis, Bonzi, James, Brooks and Scola....