Yes, it's only one game - But Griffin started at the three. A large portion of our topics have been on the assumption that Griffin plays the 4 or 5 hence a logjam at the 4 and a feeling like we should trade a 4. Most likely for a 3 or a 5... but Cato has been playing well. No more need for KT/MoT trade speculations, no need to debate if KT/MoT/Grif deserve minutes or who is better, no need to consider how to get Rashard Lewis and his contract. And Cato has been playing better. Griffin is starting, no need to spend time asking if he should start. Our team is starting to gel - it can visibly be seen (mainly due to execution) so the blame on players in the final minutes ceases as the merriment of the BBS increases. Rudy suddenly looks smarter... he's not the only one. Mobley as well. That includes Cato, who has improved. Whatever will this board talk of now? Dramatization aside, what did we notice from this game and what can we expect if the Rockets continue with this lineup. Where should the Rocks be looking for upgrades? Is it time to be content with what we have and start playoff posts instead of tank posts? Where do players fit next year - Morris, Rice, Torres? Of course, if the Rockets go back to the original lineup, this post and the new speculations are moot.
Agreed. I don't see Griffin as a wise choice at 4 or 5 for some time. Not only does he not have the strength to man those positions, he lacks the ball-handling and post-up abilities to be effective there. Sure, "he can take his man outside", but is that really playing as a 4 or 5? I don't consider a "big man" with no inside game "evolutionary". Moving Cato from the C or Kenny from the PF position to make room for a player without ability to man those positions (yet) is subtraction by, well, subtraction. The most impressive thing about Griffin, to me, is his ability to do his damage within the flow of the game. Nearly all of his points come from the perimeter. Most of his blocks come from the weak-side (as do most of all blocks, period). Cato has a knack for playing around the basket, while Kenny has a killer face-up game. Why not add Eddie's abilities instead of claiming Eddie can do it better? At this point, Eddie Griffin is a better Robert Horry-right now. He adds weak-side defense/shot blocking, and long range shooting. When Eddie adds a low-post game, we can talk of moving him to center. Until then, what's wrong with leaving him where he is now?
The thing is that Griffin actually guarded Walker tonight and KT got drilled by Pierce. It was a really interesting lineup and I think we will see it again but it wasn't always adventageous depending on the matchup. Putting KT on someone like Pierce isn't going to be the best idea most nights but there aren't many like Pierce thankfully.
Rudy T's interview on 950 AM coach's corner said that they are trying Kenny as the SF and Griffin at the PF. Eddie doesn't have the quickness to guard a SF. He is either a 4/5.
When does any team have an advantage against Pierce and Walker? That was the best lineup the Rockets have put on the floor all season. I hope that Rudy uses it the rest of the year.
I agree with you ZRB (did I just say that? ). My point was really that this is NOT a good matchup against a traditional SF. Now, against NJ, it should work to the Rockets' advantage. Putting Griffin on Van Horn and Thomas on Martin is a much better situation than Thomas on Pierce. There are also going to be nights where it works in the opposite direction when KT has a big size advantage. Ultimately, this is probably the best way to go for now because both KT and Griffin have been playing so well. Hey, anything that helps us put W's on the board.
i think both kenny and eg were just the forwards tonight. kenny did happen to be guarding paul pierce (small forward) more often where as eddie didn't at all. as he has been showing defensively, eddie has to be near the basket and not chasing around fast threes. we need that shotblocking.
BigM: I think you are right. I don't know how many of you guys remember but positions used to be defined as small forward, power forward, point guard and shooting guard even in boxscores and for all star games. Now, it is just forward, guard and center.
good post crossover, I also noted that all of a sudden on the bbs Cuttino is smarter, and Cato is better. Not sure if the bbs will suddenly find Rudy is smarter or wait for a win streak to do so. However, the KT hatas who have been on his back with merciless fat jokes, lazy jokes, short jokes from the day he was drafted haven't given up. As long as KT is not 6'10" they will never give up. (I say 6'10" because he handled 6'9" tough guy Antonio Davis, who most of the KT hatas would have give their left nut to acquire last summer.) KT could probably make the All Star team, or average 20 points per game or be a candidate for 6th man of the year and they would still be talking about how Gasol and Garnet can shoot over him. Moochie has not gotten any slack yet for his game winning three pointer. I guess being 50% on game winning threes doesn't cut it. EG, Franchise, Mobley, KT, Mo T, Oscar, Moochie, Cato, Morris if he can shoot. Rudy. Can anyone name a team with a better 9 young players rotation and the coach and organization in the NBA? Aside from a season or two of continuity and growth the only improvement is that we need one more inside player who is tall. As OP said we're in the driver's seat, no need to panic but wait for that piece to fall either through the draft or a trade. Rejoice and be confident.
