A guy I've been thinking will be available in the offseason, and might be an ideal 3 for our team is...ugh, I hate to say it, as I hate this guy...Wally World.
Billups is an excellent example. Can't believe I didn't think of him. Lewis is also ideal. Jamison less so, as he's more of an inside out guy. He is a system player, though. Boozer more than Sheed. Sheed would be great, as would Brand, Amare, Bosh, etc. Just not the prototype I was aiming for.
Defense? JVG=Defense Otherwise, I think he'd be alright. He thinks he's better than he is though considering he wanted a MAX contract.
PG: B. Barry SG: R. Allan SF: Posey PF: Sheed C: Yao There is your lineup that can shoot, pass, run, defend, and rebound.
Our PG should be catch outlet passes 30 ft down the court going the other way with Yao's vision and passing ability. I think efficiency on the break is crucial, just look at the way failed 2-on-1's and 3-on-2's kill this team.
Gucci, great list. Macbeth, great post. I think with those players you could pair complementary forwards. Jamison with Sheed. Rashard with Boozer. Physical guy (relative to position) + Skill guy (relative to position)
Thank you for the post. I have been trying to build this type of team in trade posts, and making my arguments there. My target "gets" Hinrich, Barry Allen, Carter Harpring, D. Marshall Troy Murphy, V. Radmanovic, B. Cardinal adequate backup for Yao - Jerome James, Greg Foster Yes, I know you don't get them all. You get as close as you can at each spot, overloading on talent at the 2. That's the place where Yao can have optimum room to operate, and star # 2 has optimum room to direct, neatly dividing the court strong and weak side, inside and outside, where we always have an advantage. I'm going to hedge on the forwards a bit. I think the three spot is very important - more important than the 4 spot. The three will determine if the ball goes to Yao or to the 2-shooter. The three needs to corral rebounds and help Yao, as Yao has that tipping style. The three needs to be able to strech the defense with his shot. The three sees over the defense, and reads the court. The 1 must see through the defense, be able to direct traffic, but the three can make something happen after the initial pass. We don't want them packing it in down low on Yao, without a credible threat with size. That's also why I've looked at forwards that can shoot from outside, not just short range. Thoughts?
In general....any PG should be able to run a fast break...Yao doesn't need to be a part of it, but he shuts down the middle thus opening up the fast break opportunities. Both of our guards are horrible at running a break...HORRIBLE !! DD
Can anyone start compiling a list of "get-ability" factors for these players? We trade-cast and project, but how available are some of these guys? For example, Hinrich has been throwing up triple-doubles for the Bulls as a rookie PG... he's probably the least available player on that team... not untouchable because the Bulls are atrocious, but least available of their players. On the positive side, big names - Allen and Mcgrady may be free agents after next year. That must increase their availability, a lot of big names get moved in their last contract year. Etc...
Well, hell..... as long as we're dreaming..... PG Hinrich & Snow SG R.Allen & Kobe SF Peja & A.Jamison PF B.Wallace & T.Duncan C Yao & Shaq
What's this damn obssesion with Hinrich and his triple double? He hasn't been throwing em up, he just had ONE, and it was a BAD shooting night for him. Didn't Francis have one or two in his rookie season, accompanied with a handful of near triple doubles? Not denying he's a wonderful player, just wondering why his triple-double is making so much noise. Macbeth, I think it's important to include that tehre has to be at least one incredible pure shooter in the starting line-up, regardless of position. You said that the backcourt should be consistent, but ideally, a team with Yao also has a player who makes a living out of long range and mid range shots, I.E., Mike Bibby, Michael Redd, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Allan Houston, Peja, and to some extent, Paul Pierce and Vince Carter can fill this role. Van Horn would be good if we were in the East, but that's another story on its own. Also, a Yao-Centric team should have a leader, someone who can get Yao fired up when needed. For example, if Charles Oakley were the PF, he could fill the role at PF which you mentioned as well as the motivator/leader role. A young Charles Oakley would be a beautiful fit. Kenyon Martin may be expensive, but he may be a good player to have near Yao. Many say he can't survive in the West, but I think he would be able to do it playing beside Yao.
I did mean to convey the idea that one of the 2-3's should be a prime time shooter/scorer. As far as leaders, that's another ball o' wax. I am unsure how Oak would mesh with Yao. There are different kinds of leadership; for example, a recent survey found that the player most thought to be a leader/respected among NBA players is Michael Curry, who isn't an Oak type of firebrand. I think he might be a better fit with Yao than a loose cannon, although I see the benefits you are looking for. But who is the firebrand leader on the Spurs, whose temperment might be the best example for a Yao centric Rockets team?
my ideal Yao-centric team taking in mind team play and the such. C-Yao Ming, Kelvin Cato PF-Brad Miller, Jason Collins SF-Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell SG-Michael Redd, Antonio Daniels PG-Carlos Arroyo, Derek Fisher
C Yao Ming/Kelvin Cato PF Magloirre? Okur? RASHARD LEWIS? Rasheed Wallace? Troy Murphy? KMart? I wish..../Mo Taylor/Weatherspoon SF POSEY would have been a nice fit../Jimmy Jackson/Scott Padgett/Bostjan Nachbar SG Ray Allen..Brent Barry..Cuttino Mobley..Desmond Mason..Michael Redd..Paul Pierce! PG Steve Francis.. I want good players!!
Yao-centiric with players likely to be available -- Brent Barry Alvin Williams Rashard Lewis Pierce/LaFrentz (for SF and Cat? that would work for me). Q Richardson Tyson Chandler
Sounds good! Lets make it happen! Anything is better than what we have now... I especially like the way you mix player types together. They strengthen each others weaknesses. These are some of my favorite players to put around Yao... PG - Hinchrich/Terry SG - TMac/Mobley/Red SF - Rashard Lewis/JJ/Corey Magette PF - Sheed/Carlos Boozer/K-Mart C - Yao/Cato
I'd like to add my 2 cents on this. If we're going to make a team based on Yao running the offense, I'd like to see these changes (i'll make them realistic enough so that they're actually achievable, IMO) PG - Antonio Daniels or Brent Barry ("big" Guards who can handle and dish, with the midsent of a true PG) SG - Franchise (Stevie's just regressed because the presence of a true big man on the squad has exposed his biggest weakness as a PG, that he doesn't contain the mindset of a PG, plus his passing skills, outside of the alley oop lob, arent that good. I think SF can go for 21 ppg, 5 ast, and 6 reb a game if he got moved off the ball) SF - JJ (he's doing fine in the 3 spot, leave him there) PF - Boozer (He obvioulsy rebounds well and has a decent mid range shot. I'd like to see him on the team, plus I think his contract is up soon since he was a second rounder) C - Yao Bench: MoT, Cat, Cato, and A.Griff, as your main options off the bench, htough one of thes eguys will probbaly have to be moved for saar cap puposes if we even want to think about bringing in a guy like Boozer who will command in my estimates, a salary closer to MoT's current contract. I think all the guys I mentioned above are guys who can be "had", and that would fit into the ROckets slow tempo offense/defensive schemes. I am a huge Franchise fan and would like to see ihm develop into the special kind of player that AI is once the ball handling responsibilities are taken off his shoulders.
