Preseason- practice and competition = prooving time Francis, Wells, James, Brooks, Head, Alston, Mutombo, Battier,Landry, Harris, Reed, Hayes, Scola, James and Butler will be trying out with a new Coach and a new system. they will fill the remaining 13 spots. Only Mc Grady and Yao Ming are assured places on the team. I expect Coach A to recognise that Brooks is the superior Point Guard.
I hope Francis is not the starter or we are in deep trouble. He's not much more than a scrub at this point in his career and he sucked at the end of games when he was an allstar. Man I hope Brooks can beat him out. I know I'll get a lot of crap from you guys, but I think Alston is better at running the team than Francis. JUST SAY NO TO FRANCIS!!!
I am almost positive that Novak WILL PLAY. Novak is just like a Stoyak (probably equal shooting, maybe less athlethic overall but very similar). Adelman will find a spot for him. Head may not get minutes, I don't remember 100% but Adelman likes big players, look at his team in Sac, he had Hedo (6'8") playing the 2 as a backup, rather than any of his other 2s (he had Wallace and Bobby Jackson who mostly subbed in only as PG). I think we will have Francis, TMac, Scola, Ming, Battier (Starting 5) Bench: Wells, Novak, James (him and Francis will pull the Jackson/Bibby bit), Hayes, Deke will play VERY LITTLE, Brooks also will play sparingly *unless james or francis messes up then he may get more time, Head i think will be used very little also. I really do believe this will be a 8/9 man rotation: Francis, Tmac, Battier, Scola, James, Wells will take up most time. Then Hayes will get 15 min or so, Deke 5-10 min, Brooks 5-10 min, Novak 15 min (like hedo used to unless he proves himself then he may get more) , and rest of ppl will just be put in when Adelman feels like it.
if alston hasn't been ship out by season start, i expect him to start. Because that way we will be able to show case his game and get his trade value up. However, that doesn't mean he will close the game with us or login anything over 10 to 15 mins. it also give the guys like SF, MJ, or Brooke something to fight for. starting 5: Alston Tmac Battier Scola, I think Scola would have no problem and beat hayes in training camp for starter role. He is a rookie, but a very veteran BB player. Yao Bench: SF Wells, Hayes MJ Head, Deke, Novak or Synder IR Bulter, Brooke (novak or synder) DL - landry waived - Mike Trades: JL3 - second round + cash Sura - picks or combine with another player/filter Alston - for another player,
That doesn't make much sense. Why would they put him in the starting lineup just to try to make him look good to trade him? All that does is mess up the team chemistry. I am sure once a team loses a PG to injury, they will call Daryl Morey about Rafer.
My starting lineup: James - PG Francis - SG TMac - SF Yao - C Scola - PF and one heck of a bench, best in years If the Rockets could only afford to throw Marion in the mix, he wants out, but has huge contract.
The Rockets would have the shortest backcourt in the NBA with your proposed starting lineup. Could thing you are not the head coach!
Here's the thing, I would assume that Ricky wants Yao and T to get in the groove before the rest of the team (reasonably so). With his offense I see them being number 1 and 2 options respectively. SF3 is more about creating points when there is none to be had, not necessarily playing well when his teammates are hot. Plus, with this new style we are gonna be left a little weaker in the defensive department and while SF3 can rebound particularly well he's not the best defender. I see him being 6 times as productive being a bench player or coming in when T and Yao are cold. I love SF3 and have been dreaming about the day he'd come back, but I don't think he'll coexist with T and Yao if he's a starter. Who knows? Ricky is the coach and I'm not.
Francis or James will be a dogfight Tmac Battier Scola coach A said he was looking for perfect compliment to Yao he is it. Yao Scola starts becasue he can pass the heck out of the ball from the high post and hit a 10-15 footer. Hayes comes in off the bench as a undersized high-energy guy, think a young Bo Outlaw Francis played very well the last five games, and I heard his knees are back, and if we get a Toronto Mike James or James with Rockets, this will be the toughest competition battle.
