9 man rotation we're running. Up to 11 guys are gonna see consistent game time every night, but minutes will vary. We're starting the same 5 from last year. Mike James and Steve Francis can come in based on matchups and whether we go small ball. Bonzi obviously gets a piece of the pie. Mutombo will give Yao his spot minutes. Scola and Hayes will most likely share even minutes at PF. Luther Head will be the one to take the hardest drop from last year. Expect him to see up to 10min/game. Snyder, Novak, and Butler are bench warmers and will be coming in during blowouts. The rest will be seeing Vspan time.
IMO Yao Scola Battier T-Mac Alston Francis James Wells Head Hayes/Mutombo (whatever is a better match up or neither ) Scola can play C a little when they really want to run and put Battier at PF(if the other PF is slow of not important)
I think (I know it is early) that Scola has the size, strength and smarts to handle 80% of the Centers in the league. I also think sliding him over to backup C will open up more minutes at PF for Hayes and possibly Battier and even Bonzi. It could have a trickle down effect that will ultimately help ease the logjam at the guard positions. If our SFs (Bonzi, Battier) are getting some time at PF it will open up minutes at SF for Tmac and thus free a little bit of time at guard. So we have: Yao: 34 at C = 34 minutes Scola: 18 at PF + 10 at C = 28 minutes Hayes: 20 at PF = 20 minutes Battier: 20 at SF + 6 at PF = 26 minutes Bonzi: 20 at SF + 4 at PF = 24 minutes Tmac: 24 at SG + 8 at SF = 32 minutes Francis: 16 at SG + 6 at PG = 22 minutes James: 24 at PG = 24 minutes Alston = 20 at PG = 20 minutes Head: 6 at SG + 4 at PG =10 minutes Of course, this is just an idea and I know the numbers don't add up to 48minutes at all positions but it gives you an idea of how sliding Scola up to C will free minutes at PF which frees minutes at SF which ultimately frees up minutes at both G positions without anybody playing a position that they cannot handle (at least for a few minutes a night). Guys like Deke and Harris (I hope) will get minutes now and again but will not play regularly. Can you imagine playing against Phoenix or GS with: Scola Bonzi Tmac Franchise James
Just ban those ppl that didn't select TMac or Yao, unless they screwed up or something and voted for zero players. And isn't it inspiring to see that no one in this system will have to play more than 34 minutes a game barring injuries? Think about how fresh we'll be in the playoffs, regardless of how many wins we get.
Pg: ShaneBattier1 / ShaneBattier6 Sg: ShaneBattier2 / ShaneBattier6 Sf: ShaneBattier3 / ShaneBattier7 Pf: ShaneBattier4 / ShaneBattier8 C: ShaneBattier5 / ShaneBattier8
Francis(30min)/James(18min) Tmac(18min)/Head(16min)/Wells(14min) Battier(16min)/Tmac(18min)/Wells(14min) Scola(20min)/Hayes(12min)/Battier(16min) Yao(33min)/Scola(8min)/Hayes(7min) This gives James/Head/Battier as shooters to go with Yao and Tmac. Francis/James/Wells will be slashers. We will get many more free throws and some fouls on opponents big guys, which will indirectly help Yao and Scola. Reounding of Francis/Wells will be additional bonus. If Scola/Hayes can contain the bigger PF and Francis/Tmac/Yao can cut down thier turnovers, this line up will give up a lot of headache to the opponents. If Alston remains with the team on the opening night, he will steal Head's min. Mutombo may get some playing time at the expense of Hayes, whenever required. This is the team for now. However things might change by trade deadline and a combination of Alston/Head/James/Hayes and some expiring contracts may be exchaged for a good/rugged 4/5. Go Rockets. Just Rock. Cheers.
I like what Rick Adelman did to the rotation during the game against Greece. He started out with Yao Scola Battier James (in place of Tmac) and Rafer. And like what JVG did, he rested Yao briefly well before the 1st quarter end...like with 3 or 4 mins left....so he inserted Chuck and move Scola the center position..this is a good move because it keeps the team competitive. So the lineup is Scola Chuck Battier James (in place of Tmac) and Rafer. Then later before the 1st quarter end (1min left or so), he inserted Yao back in again and take Scola out and put in Bonzi Francis and Rafer (still in because of his ball handling skills). I like these rotations because it keeps the team staying competitive.
I think Head Motombo Snyder and Brook will probably not getting any minute at all (based on what i observe last night). I just don't see them helping the team much...as oppose to playing the other players. Head is not good attacking the hoop...he's not strong enough...he can only shoot. Snyder has a better chance than Head actually just because he has the size to attack the basket...although i don't like his IQ. Brook show me nothing during the Greece game...he can't shoot and i thought he's a good shooter...i mean he even miss free throw. The only thing i am impressed with is his speed...probably the quickest player on the roster along with Rafer.
I am impressed with Harris more than any other rookies so far....beside Scola of course. Harris look and move like Josh Howard out there....
I agree with Dave78. Scola is our backup C with Deke coming of the bench for key matchups. Most teams employ either a 7ft scrub(Collins, Diop), a 7ft over-the-hill center(Ratliff), a PF masquerading as an undersized center(Diaw, Stromile Swift). Dallas-Desagna Diop Phoenix-Sean Marks/Diaw(6'8) San Antonio-Elson Utah-Jarron Collins Lakers-Mihm/Kwame Brown Nuggets-Steven Hunter Grizzlies-Stromile Swift Kings-Mikki Moore Seattle-Kurt Thomas Minnesota-Ratliff Portland-LaFrentz/Przybilla? New Orleans-Hilton Armstrong? Now for the eastern teams, it gets even shorter for their backup centers at 6'9". Well, even their starting centers are less than 7 ft for most of the teams. It's gets worse as the season goes on, and the starting C's get injured.
hmm good thread..i went with Yao Ming Tracy McGrady Shane Battier Luis Scola Chuck Hayes Bonzi Wells Rafer Alston Mike James Steve
it's because, yao and tmac is automatic, they shouldn't even be in the poll, battier should be left out too
