When Sura gets back, during certain periods of a game, can we try something that the Suns have done: fast breaking small ball? PG: Sura SG: James SF: Wesley PF: McGrady C: Yao Other than Yao, this team is extremely small but fast. It basically has one giant center goes with 4 guards. Defensively, we might have some problems (an understatement) with TMac guarding the post at 4. Although he's 6'8 with long arms, he'll have a hard time matching up against some of the elite power forwards in the west. We might also gets killed on the board. While Yao/Sura/McGrady are all decent rebounders, we lose the rebounding by a true PF. However, offensively, we might be more explosive than the Suns and Sonics. If we fastbreak at every opportunity(with four guards charging forward while Yao drags alittle bit behind), with all the speed and shooting on this team, I can't imagine any team that can stay with us. If the fastbreaks don't work, and we wait until Yao catches up and gets into the post, we form a halfcourt set. This is also very hard for the other team to matchup. I don't see how the Duncans, the Boozers and the Randolphs can stay with TMac as our power forward. The three point shooting and pick'n'rolls will simply kill everyone. Here is what's making this different from the Suns/Sonics: 1. We won't be solely relying on outside shots. We do have a dominant post player who demands double-teaming inside. 2. It opens up offense for Yao. If the other team doubles Yao, you are leaving one of Sura/James/Wesley/McGrady, and the result won't be pretty. 3. It creates tons of matchup problems that force the other team to make changes. For example, the Spurs, if you don't want Duncan to chase TMac around, you have to put him on Yao and get Nesterivich(one of their shotblocker/rebounder) out of the lineup. 4. we don't have to make this our main offensive philosophy, we can start the game with a traditional lineup with Howard at 4, but switch to small ball at certain junction of the game and force the other team to change their lineup to avoid matchup problems.
I think this is a good idea, but not to be ran for a long period of time. I'm sure T-mac could defend a few PFs in the league better than Mo T could have... lol.. but that would be our only hole, it's almost garunteed an offensive run on our part though. It could be done just to change the pace of the game if things aren't working right, it would also be highly entertaining.
Yao will be fouled out in 10 min of play. Also we will be outrebounded badly. The opposing 4s can post up TMac all night even if they get killed by Tracy on the other end of the floor. This is a lineup that we can go in the playoff for short period of time. It won't work out if DVD uses it as a regular lineup.
Although I agree that TMAC could play PF, I don't ever see Wesley, at 6'-2" as a forward. If anything, put Sura at the SF and Wesley at 2.
1. why would we want to? We tried this numerous times under Rudy. It was a quick fix for brief stints of time but otherwise was ineffective - and the team is scoring points as it is. 2. I'm sorry, but Yao Ming and "fast breaking small ball" means you're going to be playing a lot of 4 on 5 - remember a few times vs. Phx this year where Amare would be underneath the Rockets basket at about the time the 24 second clock ticked to 21 - while Yao was barely clear of the key on the opposite side of the court? If you want to create those kinds of situations this is a great way to do it.
You might be better off having Howard or Padgett at center so they can outrun and possibly outposition the other centers before they settle.
I think it would work against Phoenix. Yao usually defends Amare pretty well. T-Mac could definitley take Marion. The team would just have to get back and help Yao when Amare gets out on the break.
I think that a Yao, Padgett, T-Mac, & 2 of James, Sura, Barry or Wesley would be better. That way T-Mac plays his natural position & isn't used up guarding a 4. Padgett can guard a 4 almost as well as T-Mac & still has the firepower needed fore this scheme. We have the shooting to run smallball, our problem would be the rebounding needed to get out on the fast break. For that reason, I think that Sura is the 1 player that has to be in that lineup.
In NBA Live maybe....Wesley at SF would be a disaster due to his height or more precisely the lack thereof and Tmac at PF would kill him due to his fragile body and chicken legs. Besides Tmac is doing extremely well at the 3 position so far and why leave 4 PFs on the bench.
Its already been done at times by JVG. He went with a three guard lineup against Portland and Washington for periods of time. It was pretty effective. Of course Bob Sura will have to be part of the three guard lineup to help balance out the lack of rebounding you may get from the 4 but sure it can be done and I think we will see it used more often now that Mike james is aboard and playing so well. like you said, against phoneix, dallas, and seattle is when it can be really effective because of the perimeter style of game each one of their power forwards play. Mcgrady is the best matchup we have against players like that. and to say that Wesley is too short to guard small forwards is not accurate, he is the one guy in the league becauese of his bullish strength and speed who can effectively guard much taller players. I think you just have to find a way to have your best players on the court together at times and if that means playing sura, wesley, james together with yao and mcgrady, you find ways to do it and i think jvg being the great coach he is will find a way to do it.
I don't see the need to. We are already not a good rebounding team and this would make things that much worst. Also, Yao gets winded just playing a regular game, I doubt he could last more than 6-7 minutes playing a run & gun game. We showed good balance lastnight. Yao and Howard were effective down low (when Yao played), and we also played one of the best perimeter games as well. The fast breaks really opened up because of the D.
I think this lineup would work against dallas, seattle and phoenix, mainly since tmac can prolly guard dirk, rashard lewis, and shawn marion pretty well, since these are primarily perimeter players who dont like to have the ball on the low post.
I would like to try this lineup for short stretchs and see how it works. We could score some serious points with those guys out there.
