Ok, we have all read and heard that JVG is planning a center oriented offense. Here are my questions: What position do you feel would best be suited to compliment the center in a center oriented offense and why? And, what players do you feel could fill that roll best if they played with or are playing for the Rockets? Personally I feel that the SF position or possibly a tall SG would be best suited to compliment the center in a center oriented offense. 1. The best place to feed the post from is the wing. 2. If the point is bringing the ball up and we have the SF or SG set up on the wing two passes get the ball in the post early in the shot clock. 3. If the defender of the wing player colapses on the center after a post entry pass your SG or SF are normally 2 of your best 3pt shooters and have the height to get their shot off. Here is my list of (fastasy) players that would fill this roll well. Dirk Nowickski SP? Shawn Marion TMac Kobe Ray Allen Peja Carmello Anthony Paul Pierce Not that we could get any of these guys but...
Do you see SFrancis playing the roll that Spreewell played? Slashing to the basket while Cuttino is more the ALLAN HOUSTON shooter? I think the biggest improvement will simply bring EG from beyond the line our rebounds per game should climb by 3~5 Esp on the offensive end Rocket River
Screw trading our whole team for Shawn Marion or Mello, dude. The point will bring it down court and get it into the center at the low post quick enough. Franchise has the handles to work it into there. Yao can work his magic in the post, but if the defense collapses on him, we have plenty of options. Rice, Pike are great spot up shooters for the open shot from the wing. Cat isn't bad at 3's/long range shots. Francis is a superb slasher and I can see him either cutting to the basket for the finish or taking the first pass from Yao and dishing to the open man. The other players are on rebounding/play action duty as part of offense 101.
The problem with Francis and Cat is that they are best suited to play in a guard oriented offense. A guard oriented offense and a center oriented offense are opposed to each other. Steve and Cat are most effective when the post is fairly clear and they are a threat to drive, pull up, or drive and dish. With Ming in the center he needs to clear out the lane for Steve and Cat to be most effective. This does not allow us to exploit our "biggest" mismatch. I see a SF on the wing playing two man with Yao and our PF playing the backside for easy putbacks. This leaves our guards cutting and setting picks for the SF and each other. The center and SF have to be good passers. We have the center part covered but right now Nachbar looks like the only guy we have to potentially man the SF postition that I am thinking about. Pike might be ok in this roll but the guy playing SF with him needs to be tall and defense oriented which could be A. Griffin except for the tall part. We always count Eddie out as a SF because he lacks the ball handling ability to play SF in most peoples minds but he might be able to play SF with Pike on the floor, the question then becomes who guards the opposing SF and SG. There is a "trade rumor" in another thread with Utah. Matt Harpring would be another SF that could fit well. Mello would be sweet though. Maybe Steve, Cat and a pick for Mello and Miller.
