Just a random trivial note... Off the top of my head, the Suns ran a Kidd, KJ, Nash lineup sometimes a few years ago... Not that this has anything to do with the Rockets, but it has at least been done before to run a 3 point lineup.... Not that it necessarily caused the Suns to break out or anything... ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Charles Barkley agrees with me. When asked what the Rockets needs were, he said...BIG PEOPLE !!!!! He said Kenny Thomas has a chance, but that Cato can not score. I wonder if Charles read my post?...HEY CHUCK...ONE MORE YEAR !!! DaDakota
I wouldn't be too eager to have Chuck agree with me. We don't need everyone to be over 6' 6". Clearly height is needed, but only talented height. Utah languished for years with Mark "Jaws" Eaton. Tallest dork ever to don sneakers. The Spurs won with Avery Johnson and two extremely athletic big guys (let's not forget Super Mario). We won with unarguably the best big man at the time plus Smith and Cassell.
Dermarr Johnson will in all likelihood not come out. So people stop using a freshman as a possible solution to our problems. He may have a better shot than McGrady. But he's not as good of an athlete, ball handler, or defender. I don't remember Detroit beating Boston in it's heyday. Detroit starting beating Boston in 88, 89 and 90, which was about 4 years before the big 3 eventually retired. So Bird, McHale, and Parish were already at the tail end of their careers. Of course, Detroit had some good big men, who were great interior defenders back then. Phoenix doesn't really use small ball anymore. But when they did use it full force, they were always crushed by San Antonio. Didn't they get swept in the 1st round in Duncan's rookie year? That was just a horrible matchup for them that they couldn't overcome. If you are looking for guys with equal talent with a difference in height, I would probably compare Tim Hardaway in his day and Gary Payton. Tim Hardaway, the 6 foot guard with a streaky outside shot, great dish and penetration, and solid post play at times. Gary Payton, the 6'4" guard with a streaky outside shot, great dish and penetration abilities, and solid post play. The height is what separated Tim Hardaway from achieving Payton's level. Tim Hardaway said it best when he was asked of the only difference between him and Payton....4 inches. Went on to say if he had his height, he would be able to do all the things Payton does. Another guy would be Rodney Rogers. If he was 6'10", instead of 6'7", he could be a Derrick Coleman in his prime,which was damn good. Both lefties with an outside shot, an ability to put the ball on the floor, and a very good post game. Jeff Hornacek and Chris Mullin. If Horny was 6'7", instead of 6'4", he might have averaged over 25 ppg in a span of 5 years like Chris. Same type of skills and talent. Both have sweet jumpers, good passing skills, good ability to finish, and great at working off screens. Mugsey Bogues and Avery Johnson. If Mugsey was 8 inches taller, he could be a quality starter on a contending team. Both of those guys have very similar skills, yet the height issue separates them and relegates Bogues to being just a serviceable back up.
Da Man, I agree, what the Rockets need is talented BIG people. They have all their talent, or most of it, in the guards. Small lineups go NOWHERE in the playoffs...oh wait a minute, yes they do, they go HOME. DaDakota
http://www.sportingnews.com/magazine/articles/20000307/221178.html Michael Bradley, contributing writer for TSN "Professional coaches always are screaming for big men, but the college game is all about the shorter guys. Don't believe us? Well, just try playing a three-guard lineup in the NBA. The good news is that you'll be in the lottery drawing. Every year." You need interior presence to win in the NBA. 3-guard lineups usually spells doom for NBA teams.
I'd like to see the 3 guard line up with Shandon at SF, Cat as SG and Francis at the point. This keeps Shandon happy (the only reason he signed with the Rockets was to become a starter in the NBA). Match these three up with Dream and Kenny Thomas, with Drew, Cato, Bullard, 'Los and Moochie coming off the bench. In any case, Walt has lost his starting position in my mind. That guy hasn't shown the ability to hit the broad side of a barn, let along the 15-18 foot jumper.
Actually driver8, he (Shandon) would have had the starting spot (over Hornacek)... he chose the Rockets b/c he felt that all of the jello parties weren't satisfying his lifestyle requirements.
