This. Dalembert isn't going to play better if he's starting. It would just be about giving him more minutes... which both of them are probably going to get in between 20-30 minutes the whole season so it doesn't really matter. Starting Dalembert could screw with Hill's confidence though. He's putting in solid play so far (not better than Dalembert though), not killing our team on the defensive end too much. In the future we might want to consider the switch but I don't think now is the time.
I think the Rockets eventually plan for Dalembert to start, but he's not in good enough shape and doesn't know the system well enough yet. Maybe he will start against LA.
Sam should start to offset the lack of D by Scola n KM... then JHill comes in with second unit when we dont have our two best offensive weapons on floor... seems to be a no brainer to me...
J Hill is young and needs a chance to develop. Hill needs the confidence and he has been playing well. It would be a bad move to potentially stunt the growth of a rapidly improving young big man. J Hill has one of the highest ceilings on the team.
Dalembert is foul prone anyway. Unless they're switching for matchup purposes avoid anything that'll knock Hill's confidence.
This is what Jordan Hill thinks of your suggestion... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F7SGyYhW2FU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If we don't start Dalembert, Hill will be facing the likes of Bynum and Gasol? Comfortable with that idea? I am not.
Send one of our scrubs on a mission to put a blindsided forearm shiver to crack a couple of Bynum's ribs. courtesy of Barea, Beasley, GWallace... I remember when Bynum couldn't do anything to Chuck. I miss him.
The problem is i don't see the fiery eyes /no fear that I see in dalembert's and other nba bigs in Jordan Hill's eyes and hence Jordan Hill ends up being inconsistent last season. This could be due to experience and as he gains more experience he will gain more confidence. But other than that I haven't seen it in Jordan Hill's eyes during the game so far. I am not saying Dalembert is a huge upgrade from Hill but I see more consistency in defense out of him which proves more important in my book. I am not saying Dalembert can outhustle Boozer, Deng, zach randolph, Ibaka, Joakim Noah, Tyson chandler, bynum, nene hilario (all the above average bigs) but he sure as hell can hang with them better than Jordan Hill could. And besides, Hill might flourish against the 2nd unit bigs better..i mean he'll be playing against the Troy Murphy's and Chris Kaman, Haslem, Glen davis's, and Magliores and he would be able to hang with them lol.
This. And while your timing is probably right, it might be closer to three or four weeks, but in any case before the end of January.
I agree with those saying that Dalembert will eventually start once his conditioning rounds into regular season form. Also, anyone saying that Scola shouldn't start needs their head examined. He's far and away the Rockets' best (and maybe only) low post threat. Without him, the Rockets would not be able to score in the first quarters of games. And if his defense is a concern, then they should start a better defender than Hill next to him. You know . . . like Dalembert! :grin:
I think the conditioning thing may be a smokescreen. We need a motivated JHill, and that 2nd unit is horrible on defense, they need Dally at the rim more than our starters do. DD
I think when Patterson gets into full game shape, the second unit will have some more defense, further allowing for Dalembert to move to the starting five.
This is great J Hill might have the most potential of any big man on the team and people want to bench him. J Hill is coming off a career best game but lets bench him right now. Great idea guys.