Here's a new way to view the recent threads regarding distributing minutes/player? Ask yourself: are you an 8-player or 9-player, or 10-player rotation coach for these Rockets[/b]? So far from looking at the other threads, everyone is a 10-player coach or 11 belying real stats in the league last year. To make it tougher: consider ONLY who you'd field in the "real season"...the playoffs. (Like Moochie would get 8 minutes...yeah!) A couple of Tips I pulled a DoD and looked over some stats. Most all NBA teams used a 9-10 player rotation during the season, (spot checking important games for each team--not season stats). However, during the playoffs teams like Miami went from 10-players to 8. LA went to 8 against Portland. Suffice it to say, everyone went down a player, at least. So what are you and why...8, 9 or 10. I'm a 9 for these Rockets, but only because I think Langhi is super...otherwise, I'm an 8.: Starters OH, MT, WW, SA, SF Bench CM, KC, DL, KT Both moochie and Rogers get benched in the playoffs for scraps...sorry boys. Unless of course, Rogers outplays someone, then they are benched. My reasons, quickly: Cato, Mobley, Langhi in for Hakeem, MO and Walt...at the 8 minute mark for speed. You redo this set in the 3rd. Never let Walt or Hakeem get tired, and never let MO get lazy. It's playoff time [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited August 28, 2000).]
I agree HP, except i think if Mo gets hot KT's minutes will also drop and either Langhi or Walts minutes will also slide depending form, thus getting closer to a 8 man rotation. For me even in the regular season Rodgers, Mooch and Collier and Bull will only ever see minutes in garbage time and possibly during the typical NBA bench clear out time in the second quarter. I also agree with your other post that Cat should see some mintues at back-up PG, and ideally Walt will be gone opening more minutes up for someone. ------------------ Discombobulation Imminent
During the season, I'm 10 players, but 8 during the playoffs. I think that, realistically, we will have to be at least 10 deep because of injuries and just to keep players fresh. Outside of Francis, Mobley, Anderson and Taylor, I don't see anyone playing more than 35 minutes per game. My rotation would be: Olajuwon Taylor Williams Anderson Francis Mobley Cato Norris Rogers Langhi Bullard and Langhi can be interchangable. I think, though, that you go with Langhi first because this team has to learn one another and they could be together for quite sometime. Better to do it now and take lumps if necessary than to wait and try and rack up the wins and lose a shot at long-term chemistry. I think that Thomas has a good shot at getting into the line up on a consistent basis but a lot will have to do with injuries which will happen. It is inevitable. ------------------ Save Our Rockets and Comets SaveOurRockets.com
Jeff, Forget injuries, I'm asking what your per game rotation is. This is not a season-long min/player question I'm asking. You said 8 for the playoffs. What is that? btw: in my look at stats, I considered players with <5 minutes not part of the rotation (for reasons Smeggy said).
I agree 100% with your 9 man rotation with Moochie giving Steve rest when needed,so I guess its really a 9.2 man rotation.Dont get me wrong i love Mooch but i love Steve even more and think he should be on the court ALWAYS!Sorry but i do not want to see Cat back at the point,i would rather see the Wizard! ------------------
I'd go with the 9 deep rotation, simply because I think that the Rockets will have stiff competition to get into the playoffs, and I think this is best done by sticking with the best, and PRAYING that nobody gets hurt. Realistically, if any meaningful part of the Houston rotation is hurt, we're screwed. I'd actually rather open with Cato, and let dream come off the bench... for this reason: Dream will be a finesse player, but may not be able to take the full brunt of a physical starting center's game. Cato can wear them down, until our jump shooting dream can take advantage. Starters: KC, MT, WW, SA, SF. Primary bench: DL, KT, HO, MN Jeff: Langhi and Bullard interchangeable? I think Langhi is a better player RIGHT NOW. He'll be infinitely better before too long. Langhi looks like he has more D, better dribbling, more moves, and perhaps even a better shot. ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
Surprising. without spot-checking I would have guessed more of an 8-to-9 player rotation for most teams. On a related note, I have always felt that coaches with deep teams who do tighten their rotation for the playoffs or "big games" or even for periods within games generally hurt themselves by doing so. I don't know how many times the Rockets have seemed to tire greatly in the 4th quarter (in the process giving up big leads as has been our penchant for what seems like forever) as Rudy sticks his "4th quarter five" in (remember Scott f'ing Brooks?) and lets them take it home. This strategy seems particularly dangerous to me when the team is (a) young (b) athletic and (c) an up-and-down the court bunch like the Rockets were last year and should be this year. When depth and speed are your strengths, don't hurt the team by reducing the size of the rotation. This year's Rockets are easily 10-deep, although I would advocate more of a 9-man rotation with Moochie as the tenth / "injury or fatigue" guy for the backcourt and Carlos filling the same role for the frontcourt. This should go for regular season games as well as playoff or "big" games. ------------------
Do you sacrifice Dan's development for the three guard set of SA, Cat and Francis? Every minute in the 3 guard is a minute less for Dan. They had a bit of Walt, SA, Cat Francis and Cato together at times. Would they tinker with Dan, SA, Cat, Francis and Cato on the floor together? Either Carlos or KT is gone in a trade as is Drew. I am expecting the Rockets to carry some beef in Washington or Pig because Dream is very iffy from my point of view. Dream/Cato Mo Walt Sa Francis second wave Cat Cato (if not starting) else Pig or Washington Dan KT or Carlos (the one still on the roster) Mooch Playoffs (the power of positive thinking) Drop down to a 9 man rotation with Mooch probably losing out. Mango ------------------ 1. Put new topics in the proper forum. Things happening in the rest of the NBA 2. Use clear wording for new threads. 3. No duplicate threads 4. Conduct yourself as an adult. The Serious Police are watching. Donate Blood or be assimilated! [This message has been edited by Mango (edited August 29, 2000).]
"Would they tinker with Dan, SA, Cat, Francis and Cato on the floor together?" I'd bet my left nut on it . Rudy is famous for tinkering... Tho I wouldn't expect that to become a regular rotation. At first, only as an experiment (maybe we'll see that in preseason against a small team?), and if succesful when a mismatch or two can be exploited. Sounds like a dangerous offensive combo... As long as the enemy's big man/men is taking a pine break. "Either Carlos or KT is gone in a trade as is Drew" I agree Drew is gone (for his own good), but why give up Los or KT? Unless we get an attractive offer this offseason (looking less likely every day), why part with either of them now? Next offseason is a different story - at least one and maybe both of them will almost certainly have to go, if for nothing else than cap room - but why now? ------------------ [This message has been edited by treeman (edited August 29, 2000).]
I think if we had a 1 point game with 4 to 5 min left in the game, I would want this lineup on the floor. Francis Mobley Mo Taylor Shandon Dream This gives us 3 go to playersin the crunch time, while Dream can hit the occasional outside shot or post up and hit the dream shake. Shandon can fill the lanes and play D. ------------------ "See they pick and pick and pick. Man they picked me to death." -Steve Francis on the Utah Jazz
LilStevie3, That sounds tight except for the 5 position. Could go either way between Cato and Dream - they're both unknown factors at this point. Collier is too unknown to consider... ------------------
JR, You're right. In the playoffs, teams were 8-9. During the season, 9-10. I agree with Treeman, the 3 guards with Walt/Langhi and a big man will still be used. Especially in the early parts of the season. This was the April offense. You know, they did 3 guards, Walt and KT. Hell, I remember seeing 3 guards, Walt and Bullard. Talk about tinkering. Of course, the radical sets were injury-driven.
Heypartner, is that Othella as your starting center? ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
I would go with a 10 man rotation, assuming the roster stays as is. Hakeem Taylor Walt Shandon Steve 2nd 5: Cato KT Langhi Mobes Mooch The thing is, I think Rudy, at least to start the season, will give significant minutes to Bull. I don't think I would, but he will. Also, I think Carlos will get more than 6 or 7 minutes if he is here. That being said, I agree that Drew and Los or KT need to be traded, preferrably for a draft choice. I like all three, but I think that's the best move for now. Also, NO Brad Miller. Collier needs at least a few minutes per game to develop. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Moe (edited August 29, 2000).]
I am going with a pseudo nine man rotation in the playoffs. The big minutes at the 4 and 5 will go to MO, Cato, KT, and Hakeem. The big guard minutes will go to Francis, SA, Mobley. At the SF position, I go with who's hot between Walt and Langhi. You'd see both in the first period, but after that one's playing and one's not. ------------------ "You've got 6 fouls, use them well" -Derrick Coleman
Here's another tip: Don't count Dream. If he does show up, it's a great luxury. Otherwise there's one hell of a hole behind Cato. It can be hidden w/ lightning quick lineups, but it's still a hole. Many people are ignoring Dream's history of injury during the past few years. These people say "what if Dream does x". Then when they further dreamcast they create arguments that assume that he'll most certainly do 'x', though they never say why. It's a hole. Honor it. Honor thy hole. Season: KC, MT, WW, SA, SF JC + CR + ?, KT + CR + WW + DL, DL + SA + CR + CM?, CM + SF, CM + MN Playoffs: KC, MT, WW, SA, SF ??, KT, DL, CM I guess I'm a 9 man, unfortunately I don't know who the 9th is. ------------------ I've posted so much that what I say must be true. The latest on Maurice Taylor
Achebe, I think it is reasonable to assume if the rockets are in the playoffs, Hakeem is atleast playing some minutes, maybe well maybe not. If hakeem is hurt, I see Rogers playing limited minutes when the big guys are in foul trouble or really need a breather. I don't think it is reasonable to just drop him, unless you are talking longterm. ------------------ "You've got 6 fouls, use them well" -Derrick Coleman
Joe Joe: I think the addition of Mo means the Rockets could make the playoffs without Hakeem. I mean, many people were predicting the 8th seed w/o Mo... with Mo, I think Hakeem is the difference between the 6th and 8th. BTW, I guess I *would* support a 10 man rotation during the regular season... I left Mobley out of my 9 man for some reason, and while I think Mobley is overrated... I certainly wouldn't go that far . Anyone who has seen Langhi play much: is there any hope that if he beefed up, he could play a few minutes as the backup 4? ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
haven, I saw Langhi probably 6 games at the revue. He's thin. I mean a rail. I'm not sure that he even has the frame to put on too much more weight. He did handle his own out on the wing, trying to deny the entry pass. For pfs/sfs that have a jumper, or driving game he could play scant minutes. I saw a rotation where he guarded Fizer. He did fine 22' away from the basket, but was killed, obviously, when Fizer played his post up game. Depending on the 4/5 match up I think it may be used. I doubt that you'll ever see Cato + Langhi guarding Sheed and Sabonis though. ------------------ I've posted so much that what I say must be true. The latest on Maurice Taylor
