Duncan is clearly taller than T-mac in that pic, but on the 2nd hand T-mac is closer to 6'10 than he is to his listed 6'8 i really hope we pick up a big body to throw down in the paint and bang along side Yao because Juwan, Chuck, and Shane aren't going to supply us wit all the help we will need with blocking and rebounding.
Seriously? First off, Duncan is clearly taller than Tmac in this picture, even though Duncan isn't even standing straight up. (You can see his left knee bent). I suppose you believe KG is 7'3 as well, because he is standing straight like Tmac and clearly a bit taller. I'm sorry if it took you a while to dig up a picture that makes you look like you might have an ounce of truth to Tmac being 6'10. But he is not. And the idea of putting Tmac on Duncan? Yes Tmac is long, but use common sense. Putting Tmac on Duncan would 1) ensure a big night from Duncan 2) risk injury of Tmacs back 3) lower Tmacs offensive production from getting beat up down low. Name one very good low post player that Tmac has defended well in his career. You cant say Nowitzki, b/c he isnt low post. Guess what, there are no names of talented low post players Tmac has defended, the next one he defends will be his first. You know why? Because coaches in the NBA aren't idiots and wouldn't put a 6'8 (or barely 6'9) SF down in the low post.
Most coaches in the league dont have Yao in the post. Duncan knows if he posts in TMac thats an automatic invitation for a double team of Yao and Mac who will make it one hell of a time to try and get a shot off. If he passes out of the post, Battier is on the perimeter doing his thing on defense. Yao allows for that kind of flexibility.
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Why don't you stop speculating and coming up with these insane ideas that would never work in a real game. I am glad you know exactly what would go through Tim Duncans head if Tmac were guarding him, you sure are smart. Oh, and you didn't even mention the fact that Duncan in the picture you provided wasnt even standing up striaght, or that if you think Tmac is 6'10 that KG is around 7'2 or 7'3
So anyway, the Rockets need another PF in the post and a defensive presense on the perimeter. Its clear alot of ppl find it insane that TMac or Battier guard the larger PFs in the league... Chuck Hayes playing 20 minutes at PF is even more insane.
There's a big difference between guarding Duncan and Nowitzki for McGrady. In that Dallas series, Nowitzki habitually received the ball at the top with TMac backing him. But Duncan receives the ball in the low block. That's a huge difference. McGrady cannot guard Duncan out on the floor like that. The good thing about the trade for Battier and the signing of James would be the ability then to go after a big, long power forward defender that could actually cause Duncan problems in the post. We wouldn't need offense from the 4 if we have Yao, McGrady, Battier, and James all on the floor together. Chuck is going to be our best post defender on Duncan because he has the strength to make it tough for Duncan to move hiim and the quick hands to pop the ball when Duncan turns.
Im gonna repost for you knuckleheads that dont read. Im not saying that McGrady would do an excellent job, Im saying hes probably our best option over Chuck Hayes, Shane Battier, Juwan Howard. I think most people are missing the point of my posts. I want to show that Battier is capable of guarding at the PF spot with the exception of all-stars like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, in which case I feel McGrady might be the better option.. not necessarily the sufficient option. I still think we need a banger inside to take that role of guarding the big all-stars and am in agreement with most of you that what we have now wont cut it with these big guys. I wanted to expose the weakness of playing Chuck Hayes so many minutes and show strengths of playing Battier at 4, but everyone seems to be blind to that and is getting really caught up in my McGrady comment when my proportion of minutes do not even have McGrady playing minutes at 4. Again, with the exception of all-stars, I think Battier would be a capable option at 4 and fits JVG's system well and meets his intention of spreading the defense for Yao. I think more than matching up the teams with traditional power forwards, JVG is building his team to beat PHX and Dallas. I think JVGs intent is not to play Battier at 3, but more at 4... because (1) he wants to free up Yao as much as possible; (2) TMac is playing well at SF and playing SG will wear down his legs and back from crouching and chasing smaller and quicker guards. I think JVGs bought into the rotation of 4 athletic guards and 1 center because of the clear advantage on the perimeter with respect to league rules. I dont even want to argue this anymore, IMHO Shane Battier will play minutes at 4 because Chron and McGrady says so... ok? Battier's ability to play three positions could be especially beneficial to the Rockets, especially his ability to play power forward. They have lacked 3-point shooting between McGrady and Yao Ming, a skill that would bring big men away from the lane where they have cut off penetration and double-teamed Yao. With so many teams down-sizing at the position, the Rockets had only traditional power forwards. "When they told me that's the deal we made, I was so happy," McGrady said. "Shane is a solid player and the type of player we need, a player that can inspire the team with hustle plays, a defensive presence. He's smart and can shoot outside. But I really like that when we match up with Phoenix or Dallas, we can match up with Shane at the four. And I still dont think Chuck Hayes will break 20 minutes and I dont think Mutombo will break 13 minutes like my original post was supposed to point out.
I think everytime I try and make my point, some new person posts with the same gotdamn argument... IM NOT SAYING MCGRADY SHOULD GUARD THESE GUYS... Im saying he might be our best option given that we only have Chuck Hayes, Battier, Novak and Howard at the 4... all too soft for 4. Hell, its probably better off playing McGrady to defend the 4 than these guys. Again, for you guys that missed it the first several times, Im not saying McGrady SHOULD guard these guys. Lets get back to the original topic of how many minutes Hayes will play at 4. damnit.
umm... sorry to break it to you but Duncan is about 7'0, KG (as it is widely reported) is 7'1 and T-mac is around 6'10... he came into the league at 6'8 out of high school and he has grown and the same for KG (except he came in at 6'11). Dallas wont get Mike James though, at least i hope they dont
Having trouble reading? Missed this part? http://www.82games.com/0506/05MEM9C.HTM It is you who's picking the stats to support your argument, I'm looking at seasons 02-03 thru 05-06, not just one season like you. Nobody's arguing Battier has the ability to play PF FOR STRETCHES, but he won't do it most of the time and he won't start there.
i agree that we can now go small with either shane or tmac at the 4, and that we need help on the perimeter (MJ, claxton). we do need a big PF for the times that we have to play bigger teams. hopefully we can use our TE to bring that in.
TMac is our 3. He is more effective playing taller, slower players at the SF than he is chasing 2s. His length and defense also benefits us at 3 where he would be playing closer to the basket to rebound and to offer help defense for the PF (Battier). By that reasoning, I feel Battier is the 4 by default since we cant expect him to do any better than TMac guarding quick 2s.
Thank you. Its not like I pull these suggestions out of the air or that I necessarily agree with Shane starting at PF. Its just what I understood from Chron articles, interviews, and comments from McGrady and other Rockets via public articles.
J.R. Smith and PJ Brown is all it takes to get Tyson freakin Chandler? what in the hell are the Rockets' brass thinking? there is the answer to the Rockets hole at the PF position as well as interior defense and rebounding. they could package the T.E., Sura, Head and i hate to say it, but Deke and any other filler or expiring contracts to get the deal done. Chandelier in Houston would be awesome.
Chandler would be a financial disaster in Houston... like Stromile Swift but paying twice as much. On the other hand, I would love to get JR Smith and PJ Brown. Note: Brown is 8 Mill Expiring. I actually thought it might have been a good idea for Indiana and NOLA to try and work a trade exchanging Jaske and Peja for Claxton and Brown.
You're missing my point again. Like one poster said it nicely last week, T-Mac's our 2 on offense and that's the way it's always been. That's T-Mac's style of play, ever since he established his superstar status in Orlando. Whether he's paired with Wesley or Battier, that other guy spends his time on the wings, and playing off the ball. The difference now is that two 6-8 guys at 2/3 are much tougher to cover than 6-8 guy and 6-1 guy. The other advantage of two 6-8 guys at 2/3 is that T-Mac can always guard offensively weaker opposing player at 2/3, which wasn't really the case with Wesley. And Battier has a history of guarding 2's and is pretty good at it. Sure that leaves only Juwan & Hayes as only 'true' 4's. But hopefully we'll add someone else in the offseason... if not, 20 minutes for Juwan, 15 for Hayes and the rest is Battier. If Juwan/Spoon/Padgett got us to 50+ wins in 2004-05, I don't see why this rotation couldn't.
What about Kurt Thomas??? Good rebounder, decent shotblocker, good defense, enforcer-type, has good range for a PF. He is a gigantic improvement over Juwan Howard. His contract is relatively expensive but it will expire soon. 2006/07 2007/08 $7,355,625 $8,091,187 We will never be under the cap anyway and itll expire soon so its not that big of a problem. Plus i think he can be had for cheap cuz Phoenix's frountcourt seems a little crowded now with the return of Amare Stoudamire. They would have Amare, Kurt, Marion, and Diaw.... One of them have to go and theyre in love with Diaw. Also Kurt has fallen out of favor of Coach D' Antoni(remember in the playoffs after his foot injury he never played much). He is also the type of guy we were looking for someone who is interchangeable and could play the 4 and the 5. I think if we give Juwan, (and anyone to make salaries match, most likely an expiring contract). Throw in Head or a future first round pick(they need these to save money and for next offseason to sign diaw and other young players.). Make sure it is lottery protected also. The only problem is I dont know if they want to take on Juwans contract.... But Kurt's contract is bigger so they would be getting some salary relief. Juwan would also fit in with their system cuz they like PF's with range and juwan has a reliable 17-footer. Then sign mike james and this would leave us with a line-up of: Rafer/Mike James Tracy/Head(if hes not traded) or some scrub like Wesley Battier/Novak Kurt/Hayes Yao/Mutumbo/Kurt
Okay i know you did not just suggest that we trade Luther for kurt thomas! Dude get outta here!!!!!!!!!!!
