Can Juwan back up the Center Stop?

I'd rather have Chuck Hayes play the backup 5 in a small lineup rather than Juwan, Hayes played center for Kentucky so he knows how to play the position. Don't underestimate Deke, his game was never based on athleticism anyway, he will be motivated for his swan song year so I don't see a problem him playing 10 minutes a game. There will be a big hole next year though.

 

If they play Howard at 5it could only be on the rare occasion it suits our match ups.

He would be owned playing centre in most circumstances.

For the most part he's gonna be there to shoot the little open J and that's about the end of the positives.

 

I can see Howard at the 5 depending on who his opponent is. Yes, we need a quality 4/5 player. I have a feeling that it's not going to happen until mid season.

 

Lets compare:

Dallas: Dampier 6-11, 265 (probably not ...too strong for Juwan)
Denver: Camby 6-11, 230 (yes)
Warriors: Foyle 6-11, 270 (out muscled but Foyle isn't going to drop 20 on you)
Clips: Kayman 7-0, 265 (Kayman beats you by hustle ...not talent. Juwan just needs to box him out to be effective)
Lakers: Kwame 6-11, 270 (Clearly too quick and big.)
Griz: Jake Tsakalidis 7-2, 290 (No)
Wolves: Mark Blount 7-0, 270 (A tough cover for Juwan but 5 min wouldn't kill us)
NO/OK: Chandler 7-1, 235 (Avg 7 ppg, he isn't going to kill you.)
Suns: Amare Stoudemire 6-10, 245 (No)
Blazers: Jamaal Magloire 6-11, 259 (Could play a few minutes against him)
Sac: Brad Miller 7-0, 265 (Not an inside threat anyway)
Spurs: Francisco Elson 7-0, 235 (Only true center on their roster ...not sure who this is. But avg <5ppg, I think Juwan would be fine)
Seattle: Chris Wilcox 6-10, 235 (I don't think Juwan would fair well against Wilcox as he avg 14.1 ppg in Seattle last season)
Utah: Mehmet Okur 6-11, 245 (Not a chance. 18 ppg last season)

Now granted, these are the starters. Even looking at this bunch, at least half of this bunch Juwan could log 5-10 minutes a game without automatically throwing the game.

If you felt like comparing Juwan to 2nd or 3rd stringers, which is more realistic, then I'd say Juwan could log some minutes to give Yao a breather.

Put it this way, Juwan matches up better with these guys than Deke as Deke is waaayyyyyyyy to slow to keep up with 6-10 guys.

The correct answer is we need a new backup center. I still like the idea of getting Cato for a min contract. He could definately handle 5-10 minutes a game.

 

The weakest position in the NBA is backup center. That is where Juwan should be playing. Because if he isn't, that means he is on the floor WITH YAO.

Yao and Juwan on the floor together is TERRIBLE.

 

The maker of this Forum thread must be kidding!! Howard is hardly able to play his own position of Power Forward, never mind being a substitute Center.I realize that Mutombo is on his last legs and Yao Ming is going to be abused
[ playing time] if we don't make a move before the season starts but don't think of Howard as a reliable contributor in any position. Anything that the coach can get out of Howard will be a fortunate plus.

 

He's likely to get torched by 4's and 5's. But since you are requesting names of guys playing the 5 here's a few -

Duncan, Nene, Brad Miller, Okur, Chandler

even bloody Dampier or Foyle!!

He can make them all look awesome.

If my grandmother was 2 feet taller, and had the use of both legs, she could score 10 and grab a few boards on Howard.

 

In 5 minutes?

DEFINATELY not ideal but Juwan could play 5 minutes a half at center against backups.

Here's our options:

1. Yao plays 48 minutes.
2. Deke plays (which we know he can't keep up with smaller guys)
3. Howard gives Yao some rest for 5 minutes a half against the 2nd unit.

 

let see how much points are we going to give up in 5 minutes

assuming

-opponents are going to abuse juwan everytime they attack
-both sides are going to use up the shot clock
-no timeouts taken
-juwan playing against a decent center (50% FG%)

5 minutes = 300 seconds = aroudn 7 posessions, which half of those are opponents which makes it 3.5 posessions. Assuming all FGs are 2s and the center gets 50% of it in. its 3.5 pts we are giving up whenever he plays 5 mins

lots of uncertainty but on the surface it looks OK

 

O btw Juwan was never a defensive specialist. No point playing center if there is no D. All i've seen is juwan flopping

 

Hell no!

 

Deke is still 30-40 blocks away from breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of blocks, so he'll be hanging around, still being a defensive presence for the team. But offensively.........I'd rather have Juwan taking the offensive game when it comes to him and Deke, no offense Mutombo.

 

The only way I would rotate Juwan at backup center would be when he started to block shots, rebound at a high clip, and suddenly aquire some semblance of athletic ability. I'll hold my breath. He wouldn't even be required to score, just do some of the above and I would think about it.

I still think the rockets need an enforcer like Cato as a backup 5 or go another direction with a Steven Hunter or a Chris Mihm.

 

Juwan Howard is already undersized at the 4, can't rebound, nor block shots, so I wouldn't like to see him as a backup 5. To me JHo is a tweener. He's too slow and unathletic to guard 3s and not strong or physical enough to stop 4s.

 

Backup Center is the LEAST important position on this team, because if Yao is out for any significant amount of time, it is over for us anyways. We could get a minimum salaried player to fill that designated spot and be just fine. In fact, when Deke retires next year, I fully expect us to get another 7 foot stiff that will accept minimum salary and minimum minutes. When Yao is out of the game, I would expect us to go smaller playing Battier and another future 4/3 that we will be acquiring in the future.

Juwan is TOO SLOW to play any position on the floor besides center. Juwan should only be on the floor when Yao is off the floor and then he is going to have to be surrounded by 4 quicker, athletic players. It all adds up to backup center. Until we trade him.

 

Nice analysis. Juwan playing 5 minutes at center is not that big a deal esp. if the opposing center isn't all that good ...which is most teams.

 

sura faints

 

i dont think its ridiculous to think that howard can (and will) fill in spot minutes at center, but of course it depends on matchups as well.

 

And at least Hayes can rebound, even if he's shorter than Clutch the Bear.