In terms of roles, I think we should see these trios: - Brooks/Martin/Ariza or - Lowry/Martin/Buddinger These combinations provide two capable scorers and one primary defender to round it out. I think the Lowry/Martin/Buddinger combo will prove to be one of the most efficient. As posted earlier, Martin/Buddinger balance the floor well and Lowry would be great at running that show. Also, we will see the Brooks/Lowry combo because it is devastatingly quick.
It depends on how good Cbud develops. Ariza would look a lot better if he doesn't have to create too much. With Yao/Martin/Lowry, he doesn't have to.
For those that have an issue with Chase's defense, what are you basing your oppinions on? Some pre-draft scouting analysis last year? Chase's defense has been the biggest nice suprise all year. No he is not as strong as Ron Artest but he always gives effort and he is rarely out of position. He challenges shots on the perimeter and players don't just cross him over and blow by him. Chase is going to be a very good defender IMO for years to come.
Budinger isn't a bad defender on the perimeter. He usually stays in front of his man and has the length to bother the shot. He still does show some problems when teams try to post him up. I remember a few plays in yesterday's game when this happened, and I get the sense that teams would try to exploit it more in playoff games. But overall, he had a good game against Orlando. Made a few errant passes, including a cross-court that went into the stands, but shot well and played with good energy. It seems like he's been trying to do more with Lowry out and Landry traded, and for the most part, his contributions have been positive.
When Lowry and Martin attack the basket, you need a shooter for the kick-out. Ariza ain't it. If Battier could hit anything except the 3 in the corner, I'd say him. Scola's effective, but a different position. In defensive terms, though, Ariza helps a lot. Chase seems pretty logical.
Lets say when it became the Rockets time to draft Evan Turner was on the board. Would anyone be willing to trade Battier, Scola and Evan Turner and the 2012 or 2011 pick to Toronto in exhange for Bosh? Of course Scola would have to go via a sign and trade. Would Toronto see this as a good deal? If the Rockets could get Evan Turner in the draft would they be willing to trade him? Would they be willing to trade him AND another possible high lottery pick even for Bosh?
Greg Monroe <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/chHFtIDfPDo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/chHFtIDfPDo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Budinger is a lot better when paired with Kyle Lowry. If Lowry is not in your starting line-up, neither should Budinger. Ariza may actually be better at the SF position with Yao at C because, while he ordinarily sucks at 3-pointers, he's a pretty good spot-up shooter. If he's not moving when he catches the ball and simply has to fire, he can knock it down (see: playoffs when playing with Kobe Bryant). If we did pick up Bosh, a starting line of Yao/Bosh/Ariza/Martin/Brooks with Lowry/Budinger/others off the bench would probably be better. It's all debatable, as we don't even know if Martin will play better with Yao/Lowry or not (I would assume so). If Martin does mesh better with Lowry than Brooks, which seems like a possibility, Brooks/Ariza may be quite beneficial off the bench with Lowry/Budinger starting. We need to see all these combinations in action before we can really assume which is better, but don't forget that our bench must be effective as well.
Yes.... this is what I'm thinkin'! We need Chase next year to start, Ariza to walk in a trade and for us to bring in Bosh or some strong Power Foward type. (I'm looking at you Jordan Hill... but not expecting it to happen.) Then we just need a back up for Yao that could carry his weight even somewhat... aka height, shot blocking etc.
With where we are located at this point in the draft I would think he would be a possibility. Certainly I think we have the chance to draft a player this year and maybe even next year that could turn out to be the best player on the team.
ahh Ariza was doing that on a championship team. chase can't defend so now you have 3 bad defenders on the floor at the same time. seems illogical to me.
I love Greg Monroe and I would even give up an asset to move up a few spots to get him (we may not have to though) I like him more than Favors, but Favors is also a stud. I think those 2 guys can contribute a good amount next year. Wherever they play.
I feel that Ariza can be a solid contributor on a championship team (he already was) But lets be real, Brickshot will never be deadly from the 3 pt line to anybody except: 1) People within range of a richoet (sp) 2) The rim itself.
Heres a good look at the future. Stop waiting and hoping that Yao will save us. We actually have all of the pieces now.
Of all the bigs that I think will be available at our position (I immediately exclude Favors and Cousins) I like Whiteside, Sanders and Monroe. Patterson and Ed Davis IMO or both Carl landry lites not much size but nowhere near Carls skills. Of those left that I like I doubt whiteside will be available. He just keeps improving has too much upside and already he is probably a top ten pick and may become a top 5 before it's over. So for me what remains is 2 guys Monroe and Sanders of those two I pick Sanders. Yes Monroe has a solid work performance so he may be gone as well. But for me that would be a blessing if means Sanders is available. He has as much athleticism and explosiveness and desire as any other big currently available in the draft. People talk about you got to Jordan Hill time he didn't start playing organized ball until he was in the 9th grade. The kid is raw but he is blessed. I've watched every piece of youtube video I could find on him and he is going to be a player in this league. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e0t3iKQCkzY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e0t3iKQCkzY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> CBS Article But Sanders turned in a solid freshman season (4.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game) and then flourished as a sophomore (11.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game). That was enough to earn an invitation to this prestigious event, where he banged bodies with Cole Aldrich (Kansas), and Jerome Jordan (Tulsa) and looked very much like he belonged. Which reminds me of Jason Thompson. Thompson, like Sanders, was a relative unknown to casual college basketball fans when he received an invitation to the LeBron James Skills Academy following his sophomore season at Rider. I remember watching the pickup games two summers ago, seeing Thompson perform well and hearing coaches from the Big East, Big Ten and every other power conference joke about whether Thompson would consider transferring before the start of classes. He entered as a question mark and left with a name. Eleven months later, he was a lottery pick. And while it's probably a stretch to predict that same path for Sanders, it should be noted that DraftExpress.com projects the 6-foot-10 forward to go 25th in the 2010 NBA Draft. Meantime, Aldrich is slotted fourth and Jordan 20th. But two different NBA scouts who attended the LeBron James Skills Academy this week told CBSSports.com that they would absolutely take Sanders over Jordan. The consensus seemed to be that Sanders' development is remarkable given that he didn't start playing basketball until his high school coach spotted him walking down the hallway and pleaded with him to join the team. Why didn't Sanders play earlier? "I was 6-6 and I couldn't dribble or shoot," he said. "I didn't like it." And now? "I love it," Sanders answered with a smile. "The harder I work, the better I get." Gotta love the attitude. If it comes down to Monroe or Sanders I pick Sanders everyday. I just hope he slows down a bit so he doesn't go higher than other bigs already projected ahead of him.
