Ron has already been doing that throughout this playoffs regardless. You just have to have faith that the Rockets will learn how to beat the doubleteam on Scola if the Lakers choose to do so. Phil Jackson doesn't like to doubleteam in the post anyways, doubt he will for Scola. I seriously doubt Adelman will try to come up with the Sasha dilemma by starting Von. Lowry is in the game instead of Von in the latter part of the games anyways. You diminish roles of struggling role players, not elevating them.
We have so many young and inexperienced guys out there that the Rockets can't afford to bench experienced big game players like Scola. He will be unfazed by the atmosphere of a game seven. While I like your outside the box thinking, I think Wafer is not the best guy mentally in that situation. He gets too hyped up.
You're correct,Artest does not have the low post footwork that Luis has be any means, and he relies on bullying his way but he does need to operate at times there because if he is close to the basket he can put it in. He isn't good at drawing fouls,but that's better than just jacking up shots. Ron needs to mix it up,by taking good percentage shots and posting up when he can.
jopatmc, I respect you, but you are crazy this time. Wafer hasn't shown he has the maturity, handles or common sense to succeed in a high pressure environment like this series. I will go the opposite way and say the best situation is for Wafer to not play at all in game 7. He just doesn't belong out there unless there is a desperate need. At the beginning of the game tomorrow, the Lakers defense will be at peak intensity and we don't need a flaky, low basketball-IQ, turnover-machine like Wafer out there giving away easy baskets and making bad decisions. The Rockets need to be steady and sure coming out of the gate. Wafer is neither. This is no time for him to learn on-the-fly. Ever since he was inserted into the starting lineup last season, Scola has been crucial to the Rockets getting off to good starts. Game 6 wasn't the first time he nearly had a double/double in the 1st quarter. Not starting him in game 7 would be totally insane. Your assumption that Ariza will leave Artest to double AB is also flawed. It may happen some, but Kobe is more likely to leave Shane. I admire your guts to start a thread and say what you think, but this time you fell off the tracks. I could have made a very lengthy reply, but it ain't worth it. Adelman should go with the same starting lineup and hope Chuck doesn't get into early foul trouble. If he picks up 2 early fouls, we better not see Brian Cook. I would leave Chuck in the game because taking him out could open up the floodgates to a blowout.
LMAO. That's fantastic. I'm right, because if the Rockets would have done what I said, I have no doubt I would have been right. Well, I have no doubt you're wrong. In my mind, or anywhere else.
I would like to see more Wafer in game 7. He won't start. And I guess you know that because you know you are radical. But I do think he will see the floor, and if he plays well, he will stay out there a bit. You can also bet that if he doesn't play well, he won't be out there long. AB and Lowry laying together has been effective against the Lakers (because OUR PROBLEM AGAINST THE LAKERS HAS BEEN TURNOVERS) and having both of those guys in reduces our turnovers. I'm betting Von being so aggressive creates lots of good things, but less turnovers I bet is not his strongest argument for playing time -- its attacking the basket, which he does beautifully. Scola does not come out for Wafer. If anything Wafer comes in when AB goes out so that we can have someone in there to create. Landry comes in for Scola. Landry comes in for Scola.
Ok. Watch this game and see if what I am saying doesn't happen. If the Rockets start Scola and Brooks, which is very likely, see if they make it diffiicult for Scola to even catch the ball, except up high from 18 feet. That will be where the Lakers let him catch it. Then they are going to use Odom to crowd him so he can't get off the jumper, or if he does get it off it is highly contested. (They are already doing this now.) My point is, the Lakers are going to take Scola out of the low post, and that means Artest gets the ball on the perimeter. Because they are going to take Brooks out of the game as much as possible. The Lakers focus on our starting unit is to take away Brooks and Scola. With that effectively done and Hayes' man cheating off him, that leaves us with Hayes in the middle and Artest and Battier on the wings. I think it is critical that Battier and Artest shoot lights out from the perimeter. Because if they don't and if Ron puts the ball on the floor and the Lakers then help out and close on him, we are left with the ball being funneled to Hayes. And Hayes is going to be going to the basket, right where Scola's defender is, because Hayes cannot shoot it. I am not against Scola. Just as I am not against Yao. They are two of my favorite players on this team. It's all about what is going to work and not going to work. It is all about the adjustments from game to game in a playoff series. The Lakers.....unless they are a lot stupider than I think they are....are not going to allow Brooks and Scola to go off on them. Watch them shade Brooks. And watch them make it difficult for Scola to even catch in the post, much less make a move with the double already on him with the catch. Scola is going to be turned into a passer. So Artest and Battier need to be ready to fire, that is......catch and shoot. And they'd better hit the shots. Whoever said Artest is not good in the post is crazy. When you give Artest the ball, with his back to the basket from about 10 feet away and he hasn't taken a dribble, isolated against any defender, he is one tough customer to deal with. He's too quick for bigs and he's too strong for smalls. He's a mismatch that forces the opponent to swarm him. The problem with Artest is he needs to recognize when he is being swarmed and give up the ball quickly. And the reason why we don't want Scola receiving the double is because it is all a part of the process of jamming up the paint. Chuck will have to step out high to receive the ball. And he will be standing there with no defender within 5 feet of him, looking for somebody to pass the ball to. I love Chuck and he is smart enough that I would look for him to start dribble driving against that set up and he will get to the rim and get fouled but because of his reputation of being such a poor offensive player, he won't get those calls and the Lakers will be running the other way. Yes, Wafer has been terribly inconsistent this series. And no, he doesn't deserve a bunch of minutes. And yes, if he stunk it up for the first 5 minutes, I am in total agreement that he should be lifted for Lowry. And yes, we do need Lowry and Brooks on the floor together for at least 20 minutes or so this game to have a chance to win it. I tossed around in my mind starting Lowry instead of Wafer. This game for us is all about creating space space space for guys to operate, moving, moving, moving, and passing, passing, passing. And it is critical that we get off to a good start. I just do not see us being able to dupicate the way we started game 6 in game 7. I just do not see that we are going to get 17 points out of Scola on 100% shooting in the 1st quarter after the Lakers have had 3 days to strategize. And if I was the Lakers, I would be looking to force the ball to the other 3 guys. And if I was the Lakers I would not mind Ron catching and shooting a few because he has been off. And I would continue to do what they have done to him this series, which is close out on him when he puts the ball on the floor. The Lakers are enticing Artest into those plays. They know his offensive efficiency goes in the toilet the more dribbles he takes and they recognize it jams up our entire offense. So, they are going to put those situations out there that entice Artest to do just that. He takes a couple 3 point shots and misses, what is he gonna do? Put the ball on the floor. And then here comes Hayes' defender with the double and Artest either continues to dribble around mad or he loses the bball. That is exactly where LA wants us. Artest has been terrible from the perimeter this series. He is going to have to hit 3s or drive and finish if he is going to working from the perimeter. He is capable. I sure hope he does.
Again, Wafer is the last player that should be in the game if the Rockets want a good start. He's not bright and is immature and turnover-prone. It would be putting him in a strong position to fail. The Lakers won't be able to keep the ball away from two Rockets players at the same time, even with Chuck in the game. It just isn't possible. If the Rockets' ball-movement is poor enough to allow that to happen, they should mail in game 7. If the Lakers are dumb enough to give Battier wide-open looks in the corner early on, I'm fine with that. What happened last time they did that? The Rockets will not start game 7 the same as game 6. Get that out of your mind. The goal in the 1st quarter today is to withstand the Lakers initial burst of energy without falling too far behind. If the Rockets are within 4 or 5 after 12 minutes, that will be a victory and could cause the Lakers to doubt themselves. Scola will not start the game shooting 100% from the field. All I want him to do is hit half of the elbow jumpers and work over Odom from the post when he has the chance. Not too much to ask for. Game 7 will be a completely different animal from the other games. The amount of tension & nervousness will be greater and it will take a toll on both teams' stamina. Starting the game, if the Rockets don't turn the ball over, get decent looks and get back on defense when they miss, they will have a chance. 6 games have been played and one thing is obvious: There is no need to do anything radical to the starting lineup. The "looseness" and lack of mental preparation we saw in game 5 cannot repeat itself. GO ROCKETS!
Here's my suggestion: Artest needs to hit Kobe with elbows and stop on him with Battier choking him. Wafer needs to grab Vujacic by his hair and drag him across the floor while stomping on his head. Scola needs to headbutt Fisher so hard he will get knocked the f out. Then Luis needs to grab Odom by the neck, kick him in his back where he is really hurt and make him collide with Walton. Yao should then grab Joey Crawford by his bald head with one hand and crush his skull. Hayes can then go to work on Phil Jackson and body slam his ass. AB then can start to trample on everybody laying on the floor !!!!
Has a strategy of fronting Pau and Bynum been discussed? I don't think the Lakers practice against it the way the Rockets do. And because the Rockets practice against it with Yao, shouldn't they be able to incorporate it into their defense pretty seamlessly? I think this would completely surprise the Lakers, and I think it would frustrate them and ultimately turn them into a Kobe-only team because he doesn't really trust anyone on his roster besides Pau and maybe Odom.
Interesting idea, but the biggest problem I have with your suggestion is defense. I really think Scola being able to guard Ariza has been a major advantage for us. He's often been giving Ariza the perimeter and basically forcing him to be a spot-up shooter. Meanwhile his size has kept Ariza from easily driving into the paint and finding an offensive rhythm. Bringing Wafer in and having him guard Ariza takes this advantage away. Also, Battier and Artest are veteran guys and my gut tells me they will step up when the pressure is on. With Brooks and Scola drawing the Lakers' attention, there should be plenty of open looks and assist opportunities for both players. The Rockets just need to dig in and remain patient.
I am with you. The OP and you made the thread 5 stars to me. First I understand the lakes will adjust their defense against Scola so luis will not score as easy as the game 6. So it is reasonable to make our own adjustment. But what won us the game? The defense. Putting in Wafer will change the team defense not only the one on one. I also doubt Jackson will start Farmar for the sake of Game 7. I completely agree on Chuck's comments. We have to risk and gamble. One key of today's game is not to jack up shots prematurely. Slow down the rhythm and play the Gundy's style. I hope not to see Artest shoots the 3s without any passes when we have enogh time on the clock, and ends up with fast break by the lakes. By the way I had the same thoughts with the OP on starting hayes not Yao on Game2 when Jackson claims he'll start Odom not Bynum. It is understandable for game 2 as "No broke, no fix". But for game 7, it is a gamble. High risk, high return.
I think Adelman read your r****ded ideas and decided to implement them. No feeding Scola in the post until we were hopelessly behind. r****ded.
Go back and look at the video mate. They would have had even more turnovers if they had tried to force it into Scola.
