[Chron] Feigen makes case for retaining starting lineup

Starters are fine. But this team won't go far unless they find themselves and the most minutes go to a lineup of Yao-Scola-McGrady-Bonzi-Steve.

Three of those guys need to get better and more reliable to justify that, but that's the lineup (with Battier coming in and out) that will take us to where we want to go.

I pray they find their feet.

Evan

 

I like Feigan, but the guy would back up Osama if he was coaching the Rockets.

He never criticizes ANYTHING the organization does, he tows the company line.

Again, I like his writing but think he is too soft as a reporter.

DD

 

The point of the starters is to get the team off to a good start. Last year, the combination worked. This year...not so much.

 

well we also had a MUCH more difficult schedule this year to start, and we are learning a new offense, not to mention Tracy being injured for part of that stretch. Certainly there have been some games where we should have played better regardless, but the good news is that we will have a softer schedule down the road having gotten those tough games out of the way. If we have a similar record against the softer stretches of the schedule then I will be alot more concerned.

Steve and Scola have shown the potential to perhaps move up in the line up, but their defense needs to improve and their fouls need to go down. Steve with 7 fouls per 48 minutes and Scola with 6.1 means they both would foul out before reaching their theoretical per 48 minute production potential.

 

Feigan acts like as a coach agent, but Fran becomes much better writer for the fans.

 

I don't think Feigan ever said JVG was a bad fit even after he left. In fact, when the decision was made, my memory is that the Houston Chronicle writers were generally more critical of the organization than they were of Van Gundy.

 

All I know is Rafer's plus/minus #s didn't help the rockets during the playoffs last season. I expect at somepoint the PG position will be changed no matter what Feigen thinks. A trade to ease the PG glut may do the trick for turning around Mike James's play, I'm pretty sure it's not to comforting to know that you have a Steve Francis, Luther Head and Aaron Brooks waiting in the wings.

 

I'll tell you why Francis only played 9 minutes and didn't return in the second half last night. It's because of the play where T-mac curls around one side and receives a pass on the other side on the elbow. Francis was INEXPLICABLY BOUNCE-PASSING it to the player (in this case Bonzi) on this play, and Bonzi had to reach down and bend to catch the ball, which gave ample time for the defense to recover. Why the hell would Francis bouce pass when a fast, direct, and accurate pass is most needed on this play? It just boggles my mind. You NEVER bounce pass unless you NEED to. This is the where Francis struggles, his lack of bball IQ, and where Rafer flourishes, which is why Rafer will be starting every game this season and be the primary PG.

 

Not only does Rafer need to GTFO of the starting lineup, but he needs to be either traded or GLUED to the bench.

If he's not going to go, though, then maybe we should look at moving James at some point.

 

Steve Nash bounce passes.

Anyway I'd say he got benched cause of the 2 missed shots and 2 fouls he got in that period.

 

I agree with him 100%. As Scola gets used to NBA and the officiating rule, picks up defense, he will get more minutes than Chuck, but it's still better to start Chuck. Since we need a good big man from the bench, which is Scola.

Rafer is good except his shooting. Eventually, Francis might beat him. But I would hate to replace Rafer by MJ. We should trade James, he is a ball hog, and he is the same type of player as Francis. If we want Francis to play big minutes, then trade MJ for some decent big man.

 

I think Feigan specifically tends to defend Van Gundy even after he left and don't remember him saying Van Gundy was a bad fit. Perhaps I remembered wrong.

 

This might be the dumbest thing you ever said. Benched for making a bounce pass? LMAO. It would have been a fine explanation if you said it was because of fouls, his bad shooting, or because Skip was playing well but benched for a bounce pass that wasn't even a turnover? Wow. I think this one takes the cake. Seems like you much rather have Francis play bad more than the team doing well. Where were you when Francis got lots of time in the other games and was dishing out assist and giving us easy buckets like candy?

 

Exactly, and using a plus minus as justification is sad. Now the reporters are blinded by cheap stats, when everyone can see Rafer is best suited as a 3rd string guard.

This starting lineup is the same one that lost in 7 games to Utah, and it won't be any different this year.

 

One possible concern... if you swap Scola and Hayes, scoring when the reserves comes in would take a hit. Same thing if you move Skip to the bench.