Just trying to get a handle on what Rudy's strategies might be given our current roster.. As we all know, when Rudy is dealing from a full deck, he loves to play the matchup game. He's a great coach when it comes to exploiting mismatches when he sees we have an advantage. Last year, of course, with the roster so unstable, the only lineup mismatches in our favor occurred when we played 'small ball', but that was heavily dependent upon our shooting well, and we sucked too badly for that to work very well. So, assuming our roster does not change, and assuming that, for once, our players remain healthy, what do you see as possible different lineups Rudy might use at a given time, depending on the matchups? Say like the small-ball lineup again - Eg @ 5, MoT @ 4, Cat @ 3, Steve @ 2, and Mooch @ 1 ... or maybe MoT playing some spot 5, EG @ 4, and maybe leaving Steve and Cat at their original spots and having Nachbar in at 3? How bout a 'Big' lineup.. Ming @ 5, (is it even possible to consider the possibility that Cato could log minutes at the 4?), EG @ 3, Steve and Cat or Steve and Nachbar? How about the best defensive unit? The best offensive unit? Just wondering what people think, given Rudy's history of in-game coaching... Ciao
Given the relative lack of size in the Leastern Conference, our (healthy) Rockets should beat up on those teams as they did season before last. In many situations, you could put Yao, Cato, Mo, or EG at the center spot, and same with the 4, adding Kenny to that list. You could even swing Rice at the 4 occasionally. Against the West we have less lee-way, but we have good depth now, again, barring injuries, so we won't have to rely as much on gimmicky-looking lineups (although we might see a Mooch-Steve-Cat-EG-Yao lineup, a mixed "big-small" group). So, fingers crossed, no migraines, no plantar fascitis, no torn Achilles, etc., and we should have lots of looks to throw at opposing teams. Of course, the one I like the most is one we should see plenty of: 5. Ming the Merciless, 4. Eddie Block Party Griffin, 3. Noki, 2. Cat, 1. Franchise. Hmn, "Block Party", not bad. Maybe we should get a new billboard up, with Yao, Eddie, and maybe even the untradeable Cato: WHO'S UP FOR A BLOCK PARTY? ROCKETS 2002-03
really and truley the way rudy loves boki i think he will be seeing plenty of time this season. If we don't get lewis boki will be one of the main guys rudy wants to develope wanna know why. Becasue he is a 3. And has potential to be better than peja imho.
