What I'm MORE interested in seeing is whether we use the Swift/Howard combo the same way we utilized the Cato/Taylor duo, with Swift sliding over to play the 5 and he and Howard seeing playing time together. I doubt it will happen, as he neither has the bulk nor the low post defense of a Kelvin Cato (or, for that matter, a Dikembe Mutombo) but seeing as JVG likes to play a tight rotation, it could happen.
I agree- there is no way Swift came here for less money to sit the bench, where he has been languishing for the past 5 years. He at least gets a shot at starting. J
I think this is the key reason why Swift will start. The most important job of the 4 spot is to help Yao stay on the floor. Swift takes a lot of pressure of Yao on the defensive side. I do think if JH is fully recovered, he will play close to 1/2 the PF minutes. Swift will take the other 24, plus can pick up another few minutes at the C spot. Deke can be really conserved for maximum effectiveness (10-12MPG). So Swift starts, and plays mostly with Yao. JH plays a lot and most of Deke's minutes are with him. Occasionally Swift and JH are both on the floor together. Whoever finishes games in the 4 sot just depends on how they are doing that game and the match-ups. I do think our offense might be inferior in some respects with Swift (JH is the more consistent mid range shooter), but Swift is a very offensively efficient player overall who gets to and converts at the line. Playing Swift at the 4 is nothing like playing Cato or Bowen at the 4. Further, I think the better way to pick up our offensive half court game is through guard play, putting guys who can are deadly shooters when open and can drive like Stoudamire is far more important than having JH's mid-range game versus Swifts. BTW This is a good problem to have.
I'll do a tip jar bet because i dont think swift came here as a back when he could have went to Seattle and been a starter. I like Howard and anyone know that he really fits this team, but i think this is a reinventment of sort with Howard coming off the bench. If Swift cant beat out howard, then really why are so many people pinning their hopes on him. Howard plays better when he gets 30mins and hopefully Swift can prove he can play alot better with 30+ mins.Unless swift gets in foul trouble and the Rox dont resign Deke, i see Swift satrting and playing 35mins a night.
I suspect the Rockets will trade Howard once they have Swift signed. I don't know what Howard's contract/salary situation is, but like most of you, I don't think Swift took a pay cut to come to Houston and ride the pine. He's been doing that for years in Memphis. I don't think Howard will like the backup PF position since he's used to being a starter. I don't see the Rockets having Howard and Swift compete for the starting position. This only leads to bad team chemistry. It's better to designate one player as the starter and the ohter as the backup from the start. If the Rockets were to trade Howard, his value may be lowered by the uncertainty of his health.
I think this is a myth. All I heard was Seattle had one preliminary meeting with Swift/agent and then Seattle went on talking to other FAs in every further media report. I could be wrong, but I really doubt they offered him a starting job and a contract that dwarfed an MLE. Howard has 4 years left averaging a little under 7 mil a season. Unless you have a Duncan, KG or Amare to give you 40+ minutes, you better have two decent PFs. I really doubt we went to all this trouble to land Swift to kill our PF depth. JH played 26.5MPG last year, Swift's most ever was the same. Given JH age and healthy, asking him to give you 24 minutes of all out effort off the bench is probably best for him, and for the Rockets. Swift can play the other 24 minutes at PF (and start), and pick up a few extra minutes at C. It will be all good with Swift/JH--there are plenty of minutes to go around and they are very complimentary in their skills. I am sure JH will adapt to whatever role the Rockets want him to.
I voted for Stro as the starter, purely on defensive considerations. But Juwan is a much better passer, and was a big part of our wonderful chemistry last season. I don't know if Stro will be able to keep that chemistry flowing. I'm still giving Stro the nod because he gives us so much more defensively than Juwan does, and everybody knows that JVG loves defence.
I also believe this will be the case. I would prefer to have Swift start though. Like a lot of people have said, we need Howard's scoring off the bench. This could all change if we sign a scoring guard/bench player though.
I'll take you to the candy shop for a second.. Ok bad reference but if I'm out there buying something I buy Yao+SS. If I'm a poor , say teacher or military, guy I buy Deke+Howard. I see it like this. Howard is a mini-Yao of sorts. Yao and Howard actually have very similar skill sets. Long, soft midrange touch, decent albiet not dominate low post game (Both can dominate in short spurts.) but both are lacking in quickness and toughness for their respective positions. Neither one rebounds particularly well for their size/postiong but both can be a force. They are troubled by quicker/less traditional players. SS on the other hand is much more similar to Deke. Take no BS kind of attitude. Both are ideal weakside defenders, love to dunk (ok so Deke's getting up there a little in age), and neither is afraid of the physical nature of playing down low. Correct me if I'm wrong but last year wasn't it often said that if Deke were 5 (or 10 or 15) years younger he would be the perfect compliment to Yao? I know the similarities are somewhat simplified in this post but seems to me that SS can make Yao better. Or at least prevent him from spending the last 8 mins of the first half on the bench. Then on the other squad we have mini-yao and mega-howard (deke) filling basically the same roles as there counterparts on the starting squad. Basically JH/Deke is a poor mans version of SS/Yao. Mike
I don't see Howard as a good compliment to Yao. Sure he has the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers. He does not defend his man well which expose Yao to a lot of unnecessary fouls. IMO, if we still have Cato, who provides help defense and capable of D up his man, Rockets would be better off.
Why put the Spoon/Baker option in? I voted for Swift, but would like to remind everyone how much less effective Howard was coming off the bench. When Mo was benched, Howard's game got better and better. I guess what I'm saying is if Howard relieves Swift, he will not only be a defensive liability, but also an offensive liability. He won't have enough time to get into any scoring rhythm and that will make our offense more predictable. I hope I'm wrong.
Couldn't agree more. When you look at how the frontcourt pairings complement each other (Yao/Swift, Mutombo/Howard), it becomes clear that the addition of Swift will be a big boost.
I think some of you guys have forgotten the orginal question. The question posed by the poster was "Who do you want to start?" not "Who will JVG start?" Plain and simple, I want SS to start, no doubt. The only concern I have is what some have already mentioned, can JH find his flow off the bench? I have some confidence in JH, being the professional that he is, that he would give his best off the bench, but that doesn't mean he'll be as productive. Anyways, back to SS. One of my main arguments for SS is how SS will be able to protect Yao. Last year, it seemed like Yao was always saddled with 2 fouls in the frickin' 1st quarter, and this happend way too often with JH playing by Yao's side. SS is quicker, has better hops, and is way more athletic than any or all of our current PFs (possibley combined jk). And this equates to: More Minutes for Yao & More Energy for Yao on the Offensive End!
I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that JVG didn't have a set rotation at the time. He would give Howard and Mo minutes based on matchups or who was playing better so they were always looking over their shoulder. If JVG sets up a solid rotation where Howard knows that he'll come in at, say the 3 minute mark of the first quarter and play for about ten minutes and then the same time in the third quarter, then I'm sure he'll play much more consistently. Howard is going to see a decrease in minutes eventually. He's getting up in years, and can't be expected to log in significant minutes for the rest of his contract.
JH has been terrible off the bench in the past. On paper, Yao+SS with JH+Deke off the bench sounds strong. But we'll see how JH responds. My bet is JVG sticks with JH because JVG hates mistakes...that's why he goes with vets and not youngsters. But Stro will know the starting spot is his for the taking.
