Without revamping the roster or re-installation of heart, here's the quick temp fix for the Rockets: Start Scola and Bonzi (yes, you hear it right, Bonzi), or revert to play JVG ball. Pick one. And encourage Scola to stay on the floor without stupid fouls, and Bonzi to pick up defensive intensity.
Bonzi needs to come off the bench as a sixth man. He is most effective when he comes in for Yao and Scola moves to center, allowing him to be a quick four. What I do agree with (as Dwyer pointed out in the article) is that Scola needs to start. His +/- stats rival Chuck Hayes' and he knows how to make opponents pay for cheating off him to double Yao. He has been one of the few bright spots so far. And we need Rafer back. ASAP.
This is not as easy as you make it sound. JVG established his defensive toughness through lots of hard work and drills. We can't just revert back. Plus, thats just not Adelmen's way of playing. Also, Scola learning how to not foul won't happen overnight. He needs to get adjusted to the game. His physicality is just his style of play and it'll take awhile for him to get it.
then, just start Scola and Bonzi. They are much better fit with the motion offense thing. And Bonzi is most effective with Tmac in the lineup.
Yao Scola T-Mac James Rafer 6th-8th-Wells/Battier/Francis Hayes will see time as well, many three gaurd lineups with Yao on the floor
quick fix...get yao in the post early and often. Run PnR with yao and tmac and yao and hayes. Spot up everyone else. No, its not "exciting" or running and gunning...but it works
It's time to hold these players accountable from top to bottom. If you're a coach and you don't enforce your game plan; who will?? Rick need to bench players fail to perform or do things that detrimental to team success including Yao and Tmac. Lack of accountability will result in pointing fingers which will damage the chemistry. If I were Rick, give the minutes to players who play HARD, SHOOT WELL, and PlAY WITH SOME LIFE unlike MJ. Bench MJ, SF call AB from D-league and give him some minutes because he has the tangibles(speed, shooting). DO SOMETHING!!! Bench Tmac or Yao if they play like crap...SEND A MESSAGE BE THE BOSS FOR ONCE!!!!
Not a bad idea right now. I think Chuck is close to getting benched. His minutes have gone down drastically. And Battier is just ... eh, I don't know. I've been a big supporter of his, but he's simply not doing enough on the offensive end this year. The three point looks are less frequent, and less accurate. He's less involved as a passer. And his foot speed seems to have drastically reduced as well. With all that said, Bonzi's defensive lapses can be really frustrating, and there's some nights where he's absolutely dreadful on either end of the court. With Battier, you at least know what you're going to get. But I'm not sure if replacing Chuck with Scola will be enough. We need another scoring option out there, so Bonzi in place of Battier is at least worth a try. We need to get this thing figured out quick.
Battier has to start over Wells...he is our best 3pt threat besides Head, so he really gives the Rockets floor spacing that they wouldn't get with Bonzi. He is also the best perimeter defender on the team, taking a ton of pressure off T-Mac in that regard.
I say let Scola play until fouled out (if ever) every night. what's the big deal about getting fouls? He'll get over it.
Bonzi is an adequate on the ball defender, I think. He has lapses defending off the ball, though he's pretty good at picking off passes now and then. And I'm not sure how important floor spacing is in Adelman's offense compared to moving without the ball. Bonzi gives you that movement. With Battier, things tend to stagnate.
From the look of current play, it would be better to play JVG style. IMO, JVG style basically focus on defense rotation, slow, half court and play with intensity. Adelman should have introduced his offensive scheme slowly .. very slowly and let JVG system continues. Recently poor performance showed that the team is still disarray and lost in his offensive scheme.It would great if we have JVG defensive system with Adelman offensive system. I reckon the problem is JVG system include well-planned, strict and detail game plan for different opponent. Adelman does not consider those. So who is supposed to do those preparation and ground work now ... Yao?? I thought he tried with Hayes in informal way
I would agree with half of your fix..... Putting Scola in at the PF in the starting five would be a good thing since his offense is better then Hayes and as a result would keep his defender from cheating down on Yao.
