I like Budinger, but a lineup of Brooks, Martin, Budinger, Scola, and Yao will struggle defensively. Defense is a big focus for the team this year. Yao helps a lot, but you can't put 4 subpar defenders next to him and expect the team defense to be any good.
I'm not 100% sure that Bud is ready to be a started, and I like having him off the bench. I agree that Battier isn't the player he was, and I am open to exploring options, but Battier isn't a scrub that should be cast aside.
In game two, in 37 minutes, Luis Scola had 36 pts on 14-24 shooting, 16 rebounds, a steal, a block, and zero turnovers. His +/- was -10. The worst on the team.
even though Ariza was taking too many contested shots because Morey brainwashed him in thinking he was the second coming of MJ, I think he would have flourished in a more limited role like being the 5th option on offense
