Orlando's offense + Houston's defense (combining the best of both?)

How about Houston Offense + Orlando defense =

 

The question is whether our new Magic players can play defense. T-Mac should be no problem. He now plays in a system with low # of posessions and doesn't have to expand as much energy on offense. With JVG as the coach, I'd expect him to return to his defensive level during the Raptors days.

Lue is definitely a defensive liability. Although perhaps no more so than Francis. Howard can't patrol the paint the way Cato did, but Cato's only an average on-the-ball defender, and isn't a great help defender. So it's conceivable that Howard isn't going to be much of a dropoff from Cato defensively.

I think the low TOs by our new additions is definitely important. With our conservative style, posessions are such a premium that TOs matter more to us than most other teams.

 

That's alot of work you put into this thread. Thanks!

 

I knew that the Rockets were up there in TOPG, and that they also weren't good at creating TO's, but I didn't know they were the worse in the differential. So we have a lot to work on in that category alone that could dramatically help the team out IMO.

 

I find it interesting that Utah with those "great" point guards that everyone wanted Arroyo and Lopez that they were third worst in TOs/game. Hmmm....

 

I had Arroyo on my fantasy team last year. His a/to ration was good early on, but later in the year he had some good scoring games, but some terrible turnover games, like killer b/c i needed that category.

Defensively, T-Mac has mad abilities. He was on my fantasy team when he was with the Raptors. Without the offensive burden, he blocked shots, got steals, rebounded....great all around fantasy player. He has the quickness and length and basketball learning ability to become a top defensive stud under Van Gundy in my opinion.

Lue is fast. That's about it. I watched a handful of Magic games last season. Lue cannot be the primary decision maker. He's fast and can shoot okay and has a few moves.

I haven't read the Kittles thread yet. But I love Kittles' stats (another former fantasy player of mine). Good steals and consistent enough scoring. I wouldn't mind a Kittles' T-Mac backcourt at all. With the zone defense, and their length, Kittles and T Mac could cover a lot of space and really disrupt the passing lanes.

 

insightful thread. thanks davids.

 

Kittles and McGrady play the same position, don't they? How can they be in the same backcourt?

 

DavidS, you need to either get a job or start working at the job you have! You have entirely too much time on your hands, and if the Rockets take off this year, and I think they will, you are going to wear out your fingers. Very good post.

 

It's not about positions to me. On Defense, I'd rely primarily on a zone with JJ, T-Mac, and KK harping defenders and playing the passing lanes. Each one of them, imo are great on ball defenders too. Kittles is so surperb that he can shut down most opposing PG's. T-Mac can take a swingman and so can JJ, who is very smart and agressive defensively.

Yao (who sucks at on ball defense, but a better help defender) can roam the middle and area rebound, which i think he does anyways (as opposed to boxing out much).

Offensively, the system will be either dump it in to Yao or 2man with T-Mac and Yao or another player. You can station KK on one wing and JJ on the other. They both are reliable 3 pt shooters and can put the rock on the ground and take it to the whole when necessary.

T-Mac would be the primary ball handler at the top with Yao on strong post and Howard on weak post.


Everyone wanted Brent Barry b/c he is 6'6", can hit the trey, put the ball on the ground and is smart. Kittles is everything Barry is except for his passing skills, but KK makes up for that by being a better defender.

The Rocks don't need PG who could create; he just needs to hit the jumper, not be dumb, play good D, and drain the open trey. KK is not a PG, but he can fill the described role.

 

Hey Kim,

Who won that fantasy league again? I forgot.

 

We already have Jackson we dont need KK to play that position, we need a real PG .

 

davids,

great stuff, very appreciated research

the majority of the Orlando offense part of the equation sure now is in Houston, but what about the Rockets D from last year.... we have trade away our 2 best defenders that resulted in those great defensive stats... of those remaining Jimmy is smart but really servicable at best, Mo is a liability at best and for me the jury is out Yao... lue may may not be outstanding but for me Yao's D is the reason the 4/5 spot is rockets priority.... why did JVG persist with starting Cato.. given his hands of stone and ability to assist opposition defense to double and sag on Yao... he brought the tough interior D and rebounding that Yao couldn't supply..... unless Yao can step up his D a whole pile of notches our defense is going to take a step back..... Lue is better defensively than the Matador and Tracey when switched on will more than replace Cat... and Howard is a nice player and certainly a big upgrade over Mo defensively and rebounding wise and offensively should be almost a perfect fit with Yao, but we need some grunt and support for Yao instead of subbing Juwan with Juwan light (mo)

love your stuff.. for me the key to the rockets is Yao playing amazing D and/or the rockets at some grunt at the backup 4/5 position

 

So you want to play Kittles as PG? I can understand your reasoning on defense. But will JVG play 3 SGs on offense?

 

He kind of did last season, didn't he?

 

only if you are stupid enough to think francis is a sg