Well since we're not going to solve our problems through free agency, it seems trade might be in the air... The "new and totally different starting lineup" could also mean just replacing EG by Taylor at the 4! Who knows... ALA
I think that's the worst bunch of shooters since Denver. The opposing defense would just zone us to death.
Rudy played Cato and Yao last year a couple times. Cato was awful!!!! Awful I tell you. He can't dribble or shoot. His best asset is defensing the basket which puts him too often out of place at the 4. Cato at 4 is a bad idea.
OK, but who plays back up 5? All the firepower is on the bench - Rice, Cat, MoT. The blends don't feel right. But, if JVG can make it work I give him my 'ok'.
Isn't it better to start with a defensive-oriented team? You can bring your Instant Offense off the bench better than you can try and slow down a team with confidence and momentum on offense by bringing in a defensive stopper, I would think.
I guess we will try to start games with 1st quarter scores of 18 to 14 Coming off the bench Mobley, Taylor, Nachbar, Rice, Moochie, Hawkins, ????? The 1st four are mainly offense [mobley plays good D] We need a better mic of Defense and Offense Rocket River I'll wait and see
That would explain why Tmo was let go. The lineup has possibilties but I see no need to make a lineup change. I would use that lineup from time to time but not full time.
Francis/Hawkins/Posey/Taylor/Yao This could be a pretty decent starting lineup with Mobley and Griffin the main ones off the bench. This gives us two players who can post up and pass in Taylor and Yao, and good D coming from Hawkins, Posey, and Yao. Not a bad spread. Mobley comes in and concentrates on D and shooting lights out for the time he's in there and Griffin can be experimented with as a focal point of the second team's offense. Keep Cato as backup center, he does so well at it. And there's the 8 man rotation.
I feel sorry for Cuttino, it looks clear to me that he's on his way out. But Griffin at the three is terrible, i mean this guy can't create his own shot, can't dribble the ball and he's not you man-man defender. He's a 4 and he should be used as a 4 ,nless we want to get bigger in some games.
With Cat playing the 6th.man he will come in and take over the game, he will be the big spark off the bench. As a starter and one that needs the ball in his hands Cat plays a selfish game,he doesnt include others in his game. With JVG stressing the Team Game,Cat wont need to be under as much stress as the starters.
I like it. I proposed a similar line up before last season. Only I had Mobley at the 2 since we did not have Posey. This is a very good lineup for a zone defense. Yao can play the high post and be a lot more involved on offense.
It could work. The only problem would be the backup C spot and that teams will double Steve and Yao even more unless other players step up. I could also see Steve split time between the 1 & 2. Posey plays 2 & 3. EG plays 3 & 4. Cato plays 4 & 5. Cat comes off the bench is also a nice luxury.
This is the best lineup for us. POSEY IS A SF! Earlier reports have already said that Griff will not be shooting any 3's this year so why would you ever have hin at SF, he is abackup PF nothing more. I would have Mo T first off the bench for either 4 or 5 and and move Cato to C when Yao is out. Boki is a joke so Rice is our only true backup SF. I was a Griff fan but I still think that we could have Richard Jefferson and it sickens me!
Richard Jeffereson entered the NBA at 21, so we'll see how Griff does at that age next year. I would hold off making a judgement until Griffin has at least had the opportunity to play in NBA as a 21 year old. Griffin has done great so far playing as a minor and I think once his body starts to mature and he gets the experience he needs, bear in mind he only had one season at SH before coming to the NBA. He got good experience last year and I think he will be twice the player next year. People don't like Cato in PF position but I would like to see it tried. He doesn't have great quickness in the legs but JVG will design great zones for him to work in. And griff is quick enough to be a 3. The lineup has fire power - Yao and Steve. But I don't see Cat coming off the bench anymore until he is 34. Posey will likely backup at both the two and three. I would like to see this line-up tried SF CM EG KC YM With Posey backing up the two and three, Taylor backing up the four and five, and I guess Mooch backing up the one as little as possible. Hopefully we can sign either Piatkowsky or Daniels and use them as the primary third guard.
There has been a lot of talk about the rockets needing a tough, bruising power forward to play next to Yao Ming. Not necessarily an offensive player, but more of a bodyguard. I've been thinking about who in the NBA could fill that role. Antonio Davis' name came to mind. Maybe Brian Grant. But, after reading this...it makes total sense. Cato is already on the roster, and who is bigger than that dude? It's a perfect situation for him. People also talk about having only one ball to satisfy 5 guys. The same people are worried about Cuttino Mobley being on the floor and hoisting up shots. This offense would go through Yao, and Franchise would still get his 22-26 per game. JVG's theme is defense, and it's not a bad idea.
Francis 36/Moochie 12 Mobley 36/Posey 12/Hawkins 0 Posey 30/Rice 18/Nachbar 0 Cato 9???/Griffin 17/Taylor 22 Yao 36/Cato 12 I don't see how the heck that will work. It wouldn't be bad at all. There's just not enough playing time for everyone... Our starting lineup doesn't have to be the same every game. It would be nice to determine our starters depending on who we are facing. If we are facing the Mavericks....we can put all defenders..if we are facing the Pistons...we can put all scorers. It's not that simple...but I like Cato as a power forward. 9 player rotation... In order to make it an 8 player rotation...we trade EG and GR + rights to Kyle Hill for SAR!!! Great idea! Francis 36/Moochie 12 Posey 12/Mobley 36 Shareef 30/Posey 18 Cato 12/Taylor 30/Shareef 6 Yao 36/Cato 12 GREAT! Rice + Griffin + rights to Kyle Hill for Shareef Abdur Rahim...I would do it. I don't think Atlanta would...who knows! Or Taylor + Griffin + signed Kyle Hill for SAR. They either want cap relief or an inside scorer. With both Taylor and Griffin gone...it would be even better! I'm not sure if SAR is a power forward or small forward though...
if francis and yao can't but the ball in the hole then they are the problem. Its a great idea to have cato and yao in at the same time. Cato has become a really good defensive player and with him, yao, and griffen on the floor, that sounds like we could be playing some zone
Exactly. Cato at PF is a disaster people. Rudy tried it last season. Do you remember that? No? That's because it was so bad that he couldn't keep them in there together for long. Cato... is too slow to guard most 4's can't dribble can't shoot past 3 ft has no lateral movement has always played 5 (he's no mental giant. Do you think he has the brains to play out of position?) And doing so ALWAYS means the defense can double off Cato to guard Yao or even freakin Moochie. I like Cato as a backup 5. He's doing well. But you are dreaming if you think he can move to 4. I'd sooner put Yao at 4 but why on earth would you want a 7'5" guy to do that? Also, you'd never start a defensive team if you have offensrive options. Doing so means you'd nearly always be digging yourself out of a hole. Your starters are your scorers...period. The only reason a "defensive specialist" is a starter is because they can hit the open J or the team doesn't have a better scorer behind them.
I think it's exciting as hell. First: You need an offensive spark off the bench, Cat did that well when Dickerson was here. Cat is wild, like Cassell, wild guys make great sparks. Mo Taylor also has shown that he is a great spark. Instant offense. Second: Cato gives us the muscle Yao needs next to him. He doesn't have to score, just pick up Yao's seconds, which I think is perfect for him. Third: All this talk about Mo Taylor being a backup center is silly. Mo will back up the 4, or Eddie will. Cato will back up the 5. Yao should not need much time on the bench... Fourth: Eddie at the 3. This allows Eddie to play arond the arc, which we all know he's going to do anyway. It has our three best shot blockers in at once! Remember, Eddie was drafted as a three. At this point in his career, he just doesn't have the muscle to play 4, not in the west anyway. And 3s are getting taller every day out here. Fifth: Posey at the 2. Finally! I've been begging for this all along. Posey is the most athletic player we have. He is the glue. If we are going to win consistently, it is going to be Yao and Steve scoring most of the points. This lineup builds around them. It defends for them, passes to them, etc. I don't want my other three guys looking to take over the game. I want them looking to get the ball to Steve and Yao, then looking to punish teams for doubling them. When they are not getting it done, you bring in Cat, Rice, MoT for instant offense. Give the guys that want to score all the points, but aren't really good enough, limited time. Rudy barely tried Cato at the 4, or Cat off the bench (since his rookie year) it's high time somebody did.
