With the recent injury to Steve Francis and the good play from Bryce Drew I started thinking, why not let these two be the Rockets backcourt? We can have Drew running the point. He has handled it well, not only in recent days, but the majority of the year. He can score when needed and has proved to be a good passer as well. Francis can move over to the SG role, get more shots and still get his teammates involved. I'd really like to see this sometime since the Rockets chances of making a run at the playoffs are slipping away. One thing would need to be solved quickly. Should Williams or Anderson be given the SF starting position? The argument against this is that we'd have a very small backcourt. ------------------ The key for the Rockets is a winning attitude and mentality which can only be had by winning basketball games.
Since you bring up the "Small Backcourt" issue. Id like to say that doing that: Making Drew a starter, giving Francis the SG position and Anderson the SF spot, would make the Rox as small as a college team next year and for the remaining year. C-Cato/Hakeem Both 6'11" PF-Kenny Thomas 6'7" (Bullard seriously needs to come off of the bench) SF-Shandon Anderson 6'6" SG-Steve Francis 6'3" PG-Bryce Drew 6'3" Thats a tiny team. Which is begging for an identity. Not really faster. Not really a rebounding team. Not a whole lot of offense (I think that Anderson would really struggle against larger SF's over the course of a season). Except for the Center position, absolutely no D. Id much rather Rudy start C- Hakeem 6'11" PF- Cato 6'11" SF- Rogers 6'11" (have we all forgotten how well this kid played) SG- Anderson 6'6" PG- Francis 6'3" Now that is a team that is very big. Has a great Defensive feel. Could post up at any position, grab some serious boards, run. And has the necessary role players in Rogers, Anderson and Cato. With decent offensive power inside and out with Cato, Hakeem, Francis, and SA. Plus our Bench (assuming Kenny T continues to develope) Would have a nice mix in Mobley, Drew, Kenny T. TMass and Williams. I love this Idea. I hope to the AllMighty himself that Rudy goes with this lineup once everyone is healthy.
First off Francis wants to play PG. End of discusiion. Unless you want to put drew at SG where the opponent would feast on him. Also the best lineup is: Francis, Mobley, Anderson, Rogers, and Cato. Remember Dream and Cato CANNOT function well together becuase they both like to hang around to block shots which leaves one guy open to shot jumpers all day.
Rogers is too light weight to bang around for an entire season at Power Foward. Cato doesn't do anything better than Hakeem, so why start Cato at the Center position? Having Hakeem and Cato patrolling the lanes is 1,000,000 times better than watching guard after guard in the Rox paint, like I have for the last 2-3 years. Lets not forget the transgressions of John Crotty last year. Id rather have Cato and Hakeem patrolling the paint, and each others back, over giving up 15 footers. Who's to say if Cato was a starting Power Foward that he couldn't handle the proper defensive aspects of the position. It seems to work for San Antonio. I agree on the Drew and Francis issue.
