I just thought about this... We can't have all these guys in the rotation T-mac Yao Ron Ron Shane Rafer Scola Barry SF3 Brooks Dorsey Landry? Deke? I assume we get rid of Head. or hopefully we do.
From your list, T-mac Yao Ron Ron Shane Rafer Scola Brooks Landry or Dorsey The list could change based on whether AB is up to being the first guard off the bench and whether Landry is re-signed and healthy. Barry and Dorsey will get minutes too but probably won't be in Adelman's tight top 8. I doubt SF is even on the team. If Luther is in the rotation, that means we have a huge problem at backup PG.
Ditto on top eight. Barry will get a lot of minutes as well and would be in if the rockets run a 9 man rotation.
Assuming we don't move Head or Hayes, I think Hayes is ahead of Dorsey for spot minutes at least to start the season.
i seriously doubt that head nor hayes will be out of the rotation, they were a big part of the 55 win team from last year. we have better options now, but they are still around. deke on the other hand might not play because of his age and RA wants to keep him fresh.
When the playoffs roll around, I see this: Starting 5 Yao Scola Artest TMac Alston Landry Barry Battier Brooks (spot minutes) Dorsey (spot minutes)
Luther will be on the squad or will get traded before the season starts. Count on it. Morey knows his overrated value (and underrated value here).
My guess is Barry gets a good chunk of backup PG minuts if the Rockets can deal with it defensively. I would also imagine that, with the newly added depth, the Rockets will try to reduce the minutes of last season's starters (particularly Yao, McGrady, Battier, and Alston) to lessen the injury risk. Artest also pulled very heavy per game minutes last season, I think it will be reduced this year. It would be good if these guys can average in the low-30s in minutes rather than the high 30s. Hopefully, with a stronger team, there will be more blow-outs, too, to rest the regulars. Assuming no significant injuries, I think/hope that the rotation in a non-blowout scenario near the start of the season would look something like this. PG: Alston 28, Barry/Brooks: 20 (depending on matchup). Wings: McGrady 32, Artest 28, Battier 28, Barry 8. Bigs: Yao 32, Scola 24, Landry (if he returns) 24. 16 minutes leftover is kind of a free-for-all to be distributed to Mutombo, Hayes (or maybe Scolar or Landry) depending on what is needed. The rest of the guys will warm the bench unless injury happens (and most likely, injuries will happen).
Regular rotation Yao T-Mac Ron Ron Scola Shane Rafer Barry Brooks Landry Spot minutes, mainly for defense and rebounding; 6 fouls each to give Dorsey Hayes Veteran leadership/Mascots/Insurance unless there are special situations or injuries SF3 Deke Out of the rotation unless there are special situations (3-pointer needed, garbage time) and injuries Head Novak Considering injuries, etc., the minutes should approximately play out as follows: PG: Alston (22), Barry (18), Brooks (8), Francis (0) SG: T-Mac (34), Battier (14), Head (0) SF: Artest (34), Battier (14), Novak (0) PF: Scola (30), Landry (14), Hayes (4) C: Yao (30), Dorsey (10), Mutombo (8)
Yao 30+ Mutombo / Hayes (rest) Scola 30+ Landry / Dorsey (rest) Artest 30+ Battier 30+ Mac 30+ Barry / Head (rest) Alston 30 + Barry / Brooks or SF3
there will be 9-10 man rotation during regular season, if SF3 plays well then 11, but in the playoffs, it won`t be more than battier, barry + hayes or dorsey, and deke.
I can't imagine Barry off that list. Other than that, it's all good. Somebody's going to find spot minutes at center, which should be Deke or Dorsey. You can count Francis, Head, Harris, Chuck and whoever doesn't have minutes at the backup 5 out.
