he is a rookie and as a freshman jumping out to the nba i still see him as young and in need of learning the game. Kobe started off the bench and some other rookies. When he grows up and improves a great deal I see him fitting into the starting lineup soon. kenny is doing ok. Rudy knows what he is doing and so do the training crew. Just chill...
Matchups. Matchups. Matchups! Rudy has had no choice but to go small the last two games. Phoenix and Denver(without Mcdyess) are resorting to smaller, quicker, guard/foward oriented offenses. To try to counter Denvers small lineups with a two big men wouldnt makes sense especially when Rudy knows he has complete mastery over most teams who dare him to go small by going small. I think we'll see Eddie more when we play teams like Portland, Minnesota, San Antonio, Miami, and probably thursday against Philedelphia. It really just depends on what teams do and what matchups Rudy feels is best for his players at the time.
But Rice and Walt aren't really small. When people 'go small' that typically means small and quick, right? Rice and Walt are more like 'middle aged and chubby'. Is it me or is it his uniform or is Walt looking almost Barkleyesque in the middle? Maybe its the double chin that give the appearance of being heavier?
I didn't see the game last night, and don't know who was hot, etc., but I don't see why Rudy wouldn't play Eddie in a small ball lineup. Eddie's perfect for small ball. He has the outside shot and the interior defensive presence (and offensive, in time) we need. As long as the game isn't close, I don't see why he'd worry about putting Eddie in. I guess his top priority is acclimating Rice, and then after that, maybe he wants guys in who fit and/or know the system best after that (i.e. - KT, Walt, Willis)
Backwardhead- I agree totally. I thought when you go small it means small and quick, but when we go small with Rice and Walt we get real slow. Thats when Denver started to come back because neither Rice nor Walt could guard anyone. Thomas, I hate to say it is quicker than both of those guys, plus if you have willis or Cato, that makes him adjust and bring Raef or Williams back in. Would you rather get layups and dunk from Willis/Cato or long jumpers from McCloud and Lenard? I know if we would have kept Kenny and Willis out there, Issell would have kept his big guys out there because we would have been killing them inside.
The idea of KT playing C, and Rice at PF for more than 1 second makes me wonder... Are we in a wheel-chair basketball league or something?
