I said this before Scola and Bud on the floor together is not good. Bud can come off the bench and still contribute but I don't feel that for Scola. So I guess if I had to pick between Scola and Budinger I would pick starting Lee over Bud. But make not mistake about it Scola almost cost us the game tonight. It was a great win but no question down the stretch Scola made some stupid plays. And this is not a first. He has definitely hurt us for stretches in the clutch situations before. It's why Landry used to be there in the 4th quarter and why I would love to give Patterson that job now. THe problem is we still this slim almost inmpossible shot at making it in and it might not be the time to experiment.
Lee redeemed himself for those two missed FTs which cost Rockets the win in their first game against Spurs.
Lee being 6'4 will defend someone 6'9 way better than Bud would anyday any given time. You quote Lees game against Carter, like that hasnt happened to Bud on a nightly basis against dudes he guards. Bud did not hold Jefferson to 5 poitns. RJ held himself to 5 points. Its not like RJ was looking to score all the time and Bud prevented him from getting inside the paint for layups or Bud changed his shots or Bud even challenging his shots. Jefferson isnt the 20+ PPG players he used to be in New Jersey. Look at his last couple of games, he hardly gets double digits anymore. Just because Bud and RJ play SF and RJ got 5 points does not account/equate to Bud being the reason for that. Good defending isnt just about trying to stay with him, you need to guard him in such a way that prevents dudes from getting him the ball, make it harder to pass it to hm by being all over him. Then when he does get the ball, using your foot speed to stay infront of him, using your arms to to get in the way of the ball being bounced or passed, using timing and reaction for challenging shots in the air. Making it hard for him to make a play, make him pass it rather than shoot it. Then you have to manage getting past screens as well. BUD has none of these skills - ZERO. He cant deny a pass, he cant stay infront of dudes, he cant use his arms to force turnovers or get steals, he can never play enough D to force a guy to pass it rather then shoot it, he doesnt have the necessary timing or reaction to challenge or chage a guys shot in the air. Lee can do those things, he has those skill sets. Thats why you may have noticed he has a reputation amongst experts for being a good defender. He has PROVEN that in Oralndo under PLAOYFF games. He might not have the SF size, but for the simple fact of him having the ability and Bud NOT having the ability negates any size advantage Bud may have on him. Therefore he will do a better of defending guys bigger then him compared to Bud defending guys his own size. Bud being 6'8 wouldnt be able to guard his opponent any better then Brooks defending SG/SF players. Lee has not been given the steady and consistant minutes that Bud has recieved. Yet Lee still impresses. He would only impress further if his minutes were increased and became consitant. I would rather see Lee on LeBron, Melo, Durant, Granger, and those types anytime rather than Bud. There is no question or doubt that Lee would slow down those guys better then Bud. Its silly to think Bud could even get a hand on those guys.
As long as Budinger continues to play passable defense, I'd want Lee to come off the bench. That allows Lee to sub in for either Martin or Bud, which gives Adelman a lot more flexibility in terms of matchups and foul problems. Plus, Lee has been the anchor of the second unit for months now. Besides his hot shooting, his ballhandling/passing skills have taken some pressure off Dragic from trying to do too much, and have allowed Adelman to wean the team off Brad Miller from his "point center" role. Lastly, Budinger has been struggling with consistency all season, but he's been playing with a ton of confidence and focus since being named a starter. You wouldn't want to risk shaking his confidence again by sending him back to the bench, especially since he's playing so well.
Lee could be good from the start but he is also great coming in when the other team is tired. Lee is that much more effective when he is fresh and the other team is tired. How Adelman plays him is clever, really.
One more thing is that Budinger plays way better when he has Lowry setting him up for his shots. Being the more consistent player, Lee relies on Lowry less for his offense. Good point. Right now Lee is like the shooting guard version of Lowry last season: the energizer off the bench.
Only if Hill isn't coming off the bench with him. The Hill and Scola frontcourt has been a defensive disaster.
Kevin Martin is comprised 40% Papier-mâché and 60% marshmallow LOOOL I want to put this as my signature if only someone could show me how.
The Rockets are playing very well right now considering what they have been through during the season. Maybe it is good to leave the lineup and rotation as is right now. Too much change, sometimes, can be a bad thing. Moreover, they have had their share of changes already. Bud has improved greatly from his rookie year. He is now defending relatively well, driving more to the basket, and his passing is really remarkable. His shooting is pretty reliable too lately, so, if it were up to me, I would let the future hall of famer coach do what he thinks is best.
Budinger is excellent for the offense. He plays solid defense, maybe not stellar - but Chase isn't chopped liver. Also Chase is a very smart player and he is involved everywhere on the stat sheet. He is a good passer, shoots well, finishes well, gets rebounds. So in the last 17 games Chase has averaged: 14.65 points per game 2.4 assists per game 3.89 rebounds per game FG % = 43.3% 3PT = 40.8% FT = 88% Chase has become quite a solid NBA starter. Very good numbers and plays smart.
Lee is an incredible asset when he responds instinctively... and it works out. 30 games ago, our guy had some problems getting into the spirit of the game (my total 0.02 there) - back then, he'd fail with his instincts, and his game, oh my goodness it'd look pretty ham-fisted at times. But lately... give him enough minutes out there - let his heart rate get into the damn game - and yeah, he's good for it. At least, that's my stance moving forward. I think guy deserves every minute RA gives him. As for tonight - steal to layup to "oooooh yeah mass hysteria..." - thanks C. Lee for helping to put a big Rockets Red clown nose on the Spurs tonight.
On the other hand in the same span of time - IN regards to Lee and his productions. With stellar defense. Lee is averaging: 10.39 points per game 1.5 assists 2.28 rebounds 48% = FG 43% = 3-PT 77.4% = FT In 27 1/2 minutes per game. Chase has posted his averages in 32 1/2 minutes. I think both guys are playing great.
You're obviously drunk on the euphoria generated by this win. If you truly think Lee can guard SFs 20-30 lbs larger than he is there is no use arguing with you since you are insane. COURTNEY LEE IS A SHOOTING GUARD! Courtney Lee guarding anyone other than a 1 or 2 is simply a stopgap to spell someone else. You would think people who have witnessed a superb defensive specialist like Chuck get dominated by lesser players simply because they were taller, longer, bigger than him would understand: Sometimes you just need to be BIG. No amount of defense or mental equity is going to compensate for Lee's lack of BIGNESS. Orlando and New Jersey never asked Lee to guard SF's he got his reputation from guarding SG's and PG's. There is a reason Adelman rarely puts Lee on LeBron, Melo, Durant, Gerald Wallace and would rather put Kevin Martin (the worst defender on Earth and Mars) and our undersized PFs on them: They are BIGGER! LONGER! than Lee (pause). Courtney is great, a Starting SG on any team, but he cannot be expected to guard SF's for long periods of time; It's foolish. To say Bud isn't playing defense, his man just doesn't want to score anymore is ridiculous and not fair at all. It diminishes what he has accomplished from the start of the season. If you cant see the huge jump in his defensive play and play making (passing in the PNR) since his abysmal start to the season... there's really nothing I can tell you. I want to make this clear: Lee is better than Bud. Just because he is a better player than Bud doesn't mean that he should be inserted into the starting lineup. Some lineups work better than others; sometimes you need your best guys coming off the bench (see Thaddeus young, Jason Terry, etc.)
