R. Adelman: It's About Time To Ponder on My Rotation Roster

Sorry I forgot Landry ...

 

I wouldn't say Yi's interpretation is inaccurate but the wording was changed enough that along with the title it makes it seem Adelman is very serious about considering a rotation change and that's not what I got from listening to the interview.

What I got from the interview was more of an afterthought of the possibility of a rotation change by Adelman. His response was in rebuttal to the question. "Did he think the team let up after they got the lead." He said "No", they didn't let up and that they just need more production and more consistency in the beginning of the 2Q and 4Q's from their substitutions.

SO IMO what he was talking about the effectiveness of the subs and not the starters and that maybe they needed to look at the rotation of subs. From his words I don't get the sense he intends to make any major rotation changes in the near future and only maybe some slight changes in the substitution patterns. Which doesn't necessarily translate into some minutes for Francis but might. Actually more of the problem is the title which when I saw it made me think Adelman may be ready to bench Rafer which after listening to the interview I can clearly say that is not the case.

 

i wish u were coaching with adelman because he still does not get

 

I think he knew it also but somehow, something .. I am not sure what
cause him to stick with the same starters and rotation. I think it's
probably of getting blame if he make changes and the changes fail to secure
a win because of the transition.

He saw a strong performance during the summer practice and pre-season (many hours of practice and a couple of games) as well as this is the same team with JVG. In his mind he kept hoping that the recent slide is that the team need time to gel or they are in slump and do not need a change in starters or rotation but just need to execute better.

Well, that's the mentality of an NBA coach. Only Popovich dares to change
rotation and starters to play the best combination. Manu was a starter
last time but he is now the 6th man but he was and probably is an all stars.

 

I don't necessarily agree with all of what you said although I understand your reasoning. I tend to agree with Adelman that he needs to put in his best rotation and give it time to gel and learn his system. WHAT I DON'T AGREE WITH IS HIS ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE BEST ROTATION OF STARTERS AND BENCH PLAY ARE!

I think talent in this league is what comes first. You have to put in your most talented players barring injury and fouls. Most championship teams are teams that have learned to play together and know where each other will be on the court in crucial offensive and defensive possessions. We can't get that if we don't play our best players mostly and allow them to learn each other.

I do recognize that you are still saying to start to do that after the allstar break, but I think it is clear who our most talented players are now based on their histories, and not what did or did not happen in practice or preseason. That being said, I once again prompt my championship lineup for this team

STEVE FRANCIS
TRACY MCGRADY
BONZI WELLS
LUIS SCOLA
YAO MING

Once Adelman reads this boards and gets this message, then starts to play these guys as starters and all getting over 35 minutes per game, we will gel by the end of the season to a championship caliber team that is formidable.

READ MY LIPS ADELMAN!

 

I agree with your starters. I have them in sig also. Usually, the most talented get to start and I believed when Steve join Rockets, Adelman thought Steve
would start too. Well, something happened during the summer and I guessed Steve did not give a good first impression. Anyway, I just wonder if there is
anyway to change that impression.

 

A couple of observations:

** Despite attempted changes in our offensive scheme, we are still totally "TMac centric." - especially at crunch time. With the present rotation we look totally lost when he is out. Our record over the past couple of years validates that we can win without Yao, but win only about 25% of the time without TMac. Same thing happens as a microcosm within games...build lead with TMac...lose lead when he sits. No question, we need another dependable "igniter" on the floor when he rests.

** PG issues: you know what you're getting with Alston. Decent handles and poor shooter, despite being left wide open game in and game out...it's not like his shots are even being challenged. And he is simply too shot-happy...witness his ill-advised shots in the Dallas loss as we pissed away the lead. Combine this with Chuck Hayes' lack of offensive skills...we simply can't afford to have them both on the floor at the same time as it allows teams to cheat/double TMac and Yao with impunity.

** So what to change? The Chuckster has proven to me he plays incredible defense, rebounds like a demon, and may be a savvier player than Battier. He must get his minutes - just see what happened when Scola tried to guard Dirk. Scola will get more minutes depending on matchups, and increasingly backing up Yao. Soooooooo, Adelman must sit Rafer and insert Stevie as starting PG and leave him there...with Brooks as a learn-as-you-go backup. Both can break down defenses and are willing passers. I know Brooks can light it up, and I think Francis will figure out a way to still be an effective scorer.

All I know for sure is that the rotation we have now will get us no further than we went last year...that's obvious to everyone. James and Head can be effective 2 guards, but neither is a point - let them do what they do best, be off the ball shooters. They'll get their minutes when we go small with TMac moving to SF.

Just my thoughts..

D R

 

This thread is just a cleverly disguised "play SF3" thread.

Anyway, I'm in agreement with Dallas Rocket. Hayes, despite his lack of offense, brings so much in every other area that's he has got to get minutes.

Rafer on the other hand...sheesh.

 

I will be appreciated if OP could stop posting any news or reports from sohu.com or sina.com or tom.com or whatever Chinese major websites. As far as I know, all of their NBA news are BS*, especially when it comes to Yao or Rocket. Those reporters are notorious for making up stories. They know SH*T about NBA and they dont care. They just want to get the job done and get their pay check. Even Chinese B-ball fun don't believe a single word they wrote, then why OP bother to translate them and post it in Cluchfans?
Please save it and enjoy the game tonight.

 

I think Morey should of been more persistent to get rid of Rafer's ass. We could of had a up-and-coming PG who could of rode the bench for a bit before contributing to the team.

 

Is there anyway (training/practice/hypnosis) to improve a NBA basketball player (I mean Chuck Hayes) offensive skills ?

 

It would be nice to see a three-man game played on the offensive end at the end of the game: SF/TMac/Yao... That way TMac doesn't necessarily have to handle the ball at that time, but be a decoy or cutter or even spot up on the wing when Francis drives. Needs to be tried out.

Picking up Mike James might have screwed up the whole rotation consideration, since it doesn't allow Francis to play his way into shape, or give Brooks some burn when they're foul trouble. Not being able to trade Alston was another roadblock to a smooth rotation.

 

I'd put Rafer in inactive list instead of AB.

 

Sometimes, the Sina articles aren't fake.

Sometimes, they are just wildly inaccurate.

 

We do have 1 too many guards and not aquiring James would have freed up some minutes for Stevie to get back into his groove. Trading Rafer would have served the same purpose. But it's not an absolute that Steve is the answer. I am certainly rooting for him and hoping he can help. But no guarantees he will work out. Still I have to believe he will be an improvement over Rafer and time will tell because one thing I am almost certain of is sooner or later one of our PG's has to go.

 

RA should make some changes and I like what you have typed out and coming off the bench should be the following players:

Battier, Hayes, AB, and Snyder...Screw Rafer and Luther.

 

It's Time for a change of the guards. Rafer will always be Rafer, you can not become something your not. I'm still not for trading anyone just yet, just a change in the rotation. A big, quick PF/C would be nice, but the PG seems to be more of a priority at this point. Rafer then Steve, Steve then Rafer. Steve then James then Rafer, Steve and Brooks, Head. Anything Rick! Just make some changes and let's get a look at all the guards, fairly and equally before it's to late in the season, then we can make a fair assessment and a fair trade to clear up all the guards and bring in a back up for Yao, Hayes and Scola. The ball is in your court! The question is do you plug the right holes or just wait until the boat is full of water.