Man the similarities are uncanny Riley - Van Gundy (both defensive minded coaches, Master vs Apprentice) Shaq - Yao (no explanation, the only true dominating centers left) Wade - T-Mac (both are unreal talents and arguably top 5 players) Walker - Wells (great 3rd options, it remains to be seen what Bonzi becomes Posey - Battier (defensive specialist who can hit the outside shot) J Will - Skip (incredible handles, and above average point guards who know how to distribute) Zo - Deke (past their prime big men who are still very effective) If your going to emulate a formula, it might as well be a Championship one. I have my opinions on what matchups I think we have an advantage on and the bench remains to be seen but right now I like the Rockets ON PAPER over the Heat. The best part is all of our studs are in or entering their prime while the Heat are in or exiting (with the exception of Wade). I think anyone will agree, a Heat Rockets final would be awesome! Anyway what are your opinions
That is an awesome comparison. I think you hit everything right on with the exception of Deke and Zo. I love Deke, but Zo is still a better all around player than Deke is in this stage of his career. Who knows what Hayes will do this year though, he could be an undersized sleeper. Like you said though, it's all good on paper. I'm not trying to be a downer or anything, I just have to watch them all play together. I think that this team will amaze us all this year, I think they will be great. I second the Heat Rox finals, that would be a great series. I could just see all the advantages as even, except for Yao being an advantage. Thanks for the great post.
I will give you the experience, but you have to start somewhere. I have seen many times where inexperienced players beat out the vets. I would take talent over experience as long as T-MAC and YAO are out there on the court any day.
eh, no. i can already tell that this team's chemistry and hustle will be much better than the Miami Heat of last season. I understand that they won the title...and yada yada yada...but that team imho was probably the worse championship team in the last 30 or so years. It's like they have no identity at all. How they managed to still win a ring is testimonial to Shaq's flat out presense (even though he averaged like 13 and 10 in the Finals).
Bench is the difference. The Heat's bench is way better than ours, though ours may become great this season. Right now we're not really like the Heat or any other recent championship team, but we have a lot of pieces that could share a lot of similarites with a multitude of past champions.
i'd like to add hayes vs haslem to the comparison. we may be 12 deep this season, but the 8 players they use are better. if we get to the second round this year i'll be happy. our bench is young and hopefully by next season or the season after that (assuming we keep them all ) they should be developed enough to win the whole thing.
Riley - Van Gundy Shaq < Yao Wade = T-Mac if healthy... Walker < Wells Posey < Battier J Will > Skip unproved Zo > Deke Haslam > Hayes Let's hope our rookies, esp. Novak, Bill develop well. We have Head too...
Actually anybody envision a final between Roxs and Heats? When JVG brings up the Hack-a-Shaq tactics, man, Pat will be so mad as he can not do the same to Yao.
the similarities continue: "None of the Heat's young point guards particularly distinguished themselves in Tuesday's exhibition opener. And though coach Pat Riley said there ''are no plans to make any roster moves right now,'' he also reiterated Thursday that the search for veteran depth at point guard continues." - Miami Herald link
You are really off with the J-Will and Skip comparison. Skip, the point that can't shoot 3's and chokes in the final minutes of games.
I didn't compare their skills individually I was looking at the overall picture. Sure we can say that Shaq can't shoot free throws and Yao can. I purposly left those open to discussion. Notice I did not say one is better than the other. On the same note J-will gets hot and cold, he has been known to lose games because he keeps jacking it up even when its clear hes off. Albeit not as much since hes been in Miami, however for a general point guard mold I find them very similar.
