With all this Ward, Sura and, Mutumbo stuff, it seems Boki has been lost. He's not showing up on any of your depth charts. Does the signing of Sura mean another garbage time year for Boki???
JVG has already stated that he expects Boki to continue to improve and have a much bigger spot in the rotation. I see Sura as primarily a point and shooting guard that can play the 3 if needed but Jackson and Boki are still 1 and 2 on the depth chart for the 3.
i think sura was brought in for depth at the 1 and 2 more than anything; having the ability to play at the 3 is a bonus. Heaven forbid Boki doesn't live up to his potential, at least we have someone behind JJ. Boki, you better perform well because alot of people want you to succeed
Boki is getting a chance with these roster moves. When they get rid of Pike and AG, there won't be anybody behind him, except Sura in a pinch, or Tmac slotting up. They are depending on him stepping up. That's the best scenario. And why not? He's got the tools, he's got the size, he's got the length, he's got the experience with Yao to contribute and do all the little things we need from the small forward opposite our stars. He just has to stop choking. Less spastic panic, more steady flow. I hope Boki took a big step forward with his 5 minutes of fury. He showed he can stand up for himself, he's a team guy, he can help. Now, he just has to knock down a shot, or cut strong to the hole. On the other hand, if he doesn't step up, he's history. I'd like to have Tmo as insurance.
This is his make or break year. He'd better find his missing jumpshot fast or it's exile to JVG's dungeon until they release him.
Nachbar said it himself: he could lose time if the Rockets signed another SG, which they did with Sura. Now, that means we may run more minutes with Ward/Lue at PG, Sura at SG and McGrady sliding over to SF.
For some reason i think they are going to pull a Hubbie and even out the minutes so more ppl are utilized........not including T-mac and Yao who should of course get major minutes. I don't know, i just have a feeling that Jeff finally got his guys and will give them all an even go at it. I think Boki should be fine and will fairly evenly split time with JJ, who we "over used" last season. I agree that it seems like Lue and Gaines have more to worry about.
I think Boki will get a few more minutes this year at sf, but even though it'd be great if he was able to develop, I don't think he'll ever see big minutes in JVG's ultratight rotation. I figure that JVG and his staff will be taking a good hard look at Boki in camp and during the preseason. He'll get his shot, but his shots are probably running out.
Key word is guards not small forwards. Boki IMO is still number 2 on the depth chart at small forward. Slim Shady is mainly a 1 and 2. Ward is never a 3.
Anybody got that quote from Van Gundy handy? The one about how 2s and 3s have pretty much the same role in his system?
yeah, I think Boki will average around 10 minutes a game. We have to also take the injury bug into account. Our team was pretty lucky last year in not being hampered by injuries. If this year is like any other normal year, someone is bound to get injured and boki will get his opportunities. Small Forward: JJ - 38 minutes Boki - 10 minutes Shooting Guard: Tmac - 43 minutes Sura - 5 minutes Point Guard: Ward - 23 minutes Sura - 15 minutes Lue - 10 minutes JVG tends to use a very short bench as the season goes on.. So Lue may not even get playing time after Christmas.
this is how i see the minutes being distributed: yao-36 jh-30 tmac-42 jj-30 ward-24 ======== lue-24 sura-18 boki-8 mo-18 C-12 jeff doesnt like to use more that 8 players....9 tops. so i can see how boki may not get a chance this year either.
i think boki will be about to get about 13-15 minutes a game (he played about 11.5 last season). tmac has never averaged more than 40 minutes a game, even at orlando. i think bobby will get more minutes from the pgs position and boki will play more at the 2 and 3...or maybe i just want to see more of boki...
Boki may have lost a couple of minutes because of the signings but not that many. Boki was going to have to play anytime TMAC or JJ went to the bench but now he doesn't.
Next season has to be the season that Boki breaks into the rotation. He needs to get all of the backup minutes at small forward. In the backcourt, there should be a 3-guard rotation of Mcgrady, Lue, and Sura with Ward playing only during garbage time. JJ should play about 30 minutes at small forward with Boki getting the remaining 18 minutes. If by Preseason Boki doesn't impress Van Gundy enough to give him a chance, they might as well just cut him off the team then and there. If he can't be a contributor next season, he's never going to be a contributor.
