Rockets turn to Mutombo inside with Yao sidelined Houston at New Jersey, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Damien Pierce Rockets.com Staff Writer HOUSTON -- Dikembe Mutombo slowly shuffled his way towards his locker following Saturday night's setback to the Clippers and started muttering to himself after finally reaching his destination. The 40-year old center couldn't believe that he had just played a season-high 25 minutes. "I'm getting too old for this," Mutombo said. He'd better get used to it. With Yao Ming out at least six weeks with a fractured right tibia, the Rockets will likely be asking Mutombo to play more and more minutes and might even have the big man in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the New Jersey Nets. Mutombo's role, in any case, will be considerably different than the one he had as Yao's backup. During the first two months of the season, Mutombo was averaging 7.7 minutes per game and did not appear in nine of Houston's first 26 games. He is now expected to provide the Rockets with his size and defensive presence over significant stretches. Mutombo must adapt to his new role. "I have no choice but to figure out how I can maintain myself to come out and give the team some defense and rebounding and blocking shots," Mutombo said. Mutombo obviously isn't expected to replace Yao. He isn't a scorer and he isn't going to set up teammates for a lot of open looks. However, the Rockets need Mutombo's 7-foot-2 frame. Houston doesn't have a roster loaded with big men and their best low-post defender is 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes. Mutombo clearly will be needed to defend the league's oversized centers whether he's starting or coming off the bench. He has shown in spurts that he is more than capable of playing solid defense and blocking shots. During Saturday's loss to the Clippers, Mutombo had a season-high four rejections. Since Mutombo isn't a scorer and can play defense, the Rockets will have to search for a new identity. "We're smaller now," Rockets point guard Rafer Alston said. "We can't replace Yao Ming's scoring and rebounding, but if we have to keep games in the 70s and 80s to win it, that's what we have to do." The trick for Van Gundy is finding the right lineup with Mutombo. The Rockets coach noted after Saturday's loss that he probably can't get away with playing Hayes and Mutombo together because neither player is much of an offensive threat. Hayes is better finisher around the basket than Mutombo, but, like the center, doesn't have a mid-range game. "I'm going to have to really think about the rotation," Van Gundy said. "When we started the second half with Chuck and Deke out there together, that's just not enough offense." Van Gundy could insert Juwan Howard into the starting lineup instead of Mutombo since the power forward has a mid-range and post-up game. Mutombo, however, is well aware that he'll be seeing more minutes no matter how the lineup is altered. "It's very sad that we lost Yao because he was playing at an MVP-level," Mutombo said. "But the coaches are going to figure out what we have to do to play well. We can't put our head down because Yao is gone and give all the games up. We need to fight night in and night out." _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Link: http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_turn_to_Mutombo_inside-201971-34.html __________________________ Deke said it himself ... just like Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon "I 'm too old for this sh*t!" CD it 's time to do something, dude!
Clearly he thought about that BEFORE the Clippers game because Juwan and Deke were the starters. So JVG clearly thought to himself that starting Chuck and Deke is a disaster. I can't disagree.
The Clippers game is when Yao went down in the first half... so in the second half, Deke started in his place. Hence the comment after the game that Chuck and Deke on the floor at the start of the second half was a bad idea. Which is how everyone knew that Chuck wouldn't start last night against the pacers
Ok but Hayes and Deke started the second half of the clippers game but after that game he said that meant too many non offensive players. To me that sounds like he only figured it out after the game.
After reading all of the above I have to ask the question! And the fans should demand an answer from JVG!! If JVG uses Mutombo as a limited specialist player for defence with blocks and rebounding. If JVG uses Hayes as a limited specialist player for rebounding and putbacks. Why can't JVG use Novak as a limited specialist player as a spot up three point shooter??????
That is how I understood it, yes. I was just pointing out to krosfyah when it happened. After the Clippers game, when all was said and done, is when JVG realized that Deke and Chuck on the floor at the same time was a really bad idea.
Sigh! He called an early timeout in the second half to put Howard in when he realized having them two in at the same time was not working. So, in other words, he realized it at the moment. Geez, people will try to find anything to make JVG out to be the most inept coach.
I haven't seen the game yet mogrod (still trying to dl it - not many people are seeding it lol guess they didn't want to watch it over again!) so thank you for letting us know. There have been a few times this season where Deke and Chuck were on the floor at the same time, but it has been very limited (and for good reason)... like around 2-3 minutes max.
Like mogrod says, JVG put in Howard at the 9:18 mark in the 3rd Q. Took him all of 2:42 minutes to rethink playing Hayes and Deke together.
If Van Gundy's gonna stick with small, he might as well play Padgett and Novak some too. Padgett, in particular, would be a good mismatch for many 4s, 5s because of his shooting ability, plus he can rebound effectively.
You didn't really have to ask this question, did you? You already know the answer is that Novak is a defensive liability. Chuck and Deke are not.
The last couple looks he had were contested so I understand why he is trying a pumpfake or passing on the shot. I should say the last couple looks I saw him have.
