[Chron] Feigen makes case for retaining starting lineup

Thats why the rockets need to make a trade and ease the glut in the guard position. I think the remaining players outside of Rafer would play better once that happens.

 

I'm ok with Scola coming off the bench.

The reason why Scola isn't starting is because he hasn't been consistent, and, what if he picks up two quick ones early on?

Then the Rockets would have to bring in Hayes, who's not really known for his offense.

Scola provides energy and some scoring off the bench, which is what this Rockets team needs. Bench points.

 

I disagree about Scola. He should be playing 30 minutes-plus a game, and he's not doing that now. I'd much rather have him play the majority of the minutes at the 4 spot and have Chuck come in when Scola gets a breather or moves to the 5 when Yao sits. Then he plays with Luis, depending on matchups.

 

You sure about that?
It seems Ofer's only job is to bring the ball into the front court then pass to Tmac or Yao. That's it. He usually doesn't penetrate, doesn't create space for others, cannot slow down even follow his opponents...He does miss wide open 3's and layups.

 

I don't know what everyone else thinks, but I don't remember our starting lineup to be the problem last year at all. I believe the fact that our bench was badly outplayed by Utah's bench was the main reason we couldn't advance in the playoffs. The lineup is fine, we'll win games as long as we get some bench players to step up each and every night, like Bonzi and Scola did last night. Maybe next game, it'll be Francis or James.

 

Feigen's main job seems to be straight news reporting, and the blog is an extension of that. So there's not much point in criticizing him for not bringing the hammer on the Rockets' decisions. It's not really his job, and if he did so he'd probably piss off his sources.

Read Fran for opinion. Or better yet, read this site.

 

I'd take Fran with a major grain of salt. A little bit of Fran goes a long way. I prefer Feigan over Fran, easily, but that isn't saying a great deal. As Clutch pointed out, he's a great beat reporter, but that's pretty much it. What the Chronicle really needs is more Rockets coverage and a columnist that write regularly about them, and writes well. That's something the rag currently doesn't have, and hasn't had in like forever.

 

HA what a laugh. The next time Feigen delivers a straight report will be the first. Feigen's articles at best are sugarcoated horse manuer and at worst are smelly sentences bunched into stinky paragraphs filled with BS. Feigen writes as if the next bad article will be his last. As for his blog, if he is not going to give us any insight into what is really happening behind the scenes on a more personal off the record kind of feel then don't waste the readers time. I won't say he always is stale but for most part he appears to be regurgitationg the company line as if the Rockets are paying his salary. Aha, now that's something to look into.

 

Rafer looks good in practice only, the game lights come on and we see the real rafer who is able to run the offense. However, the more intelligent coaches are sagging off Rafer and using the PG to double Yao, Tmac or anyone else without the ball. This also goes for Chuck who cannot make a bucket outside of 10 feet. We need scorers early in the game to prevent us from playing from a deficit every night.

Say Yes to starting
francis
tmac
yao
scola
battier (this will help his game tremendously)

Bench
MJ or Rafer (shooting basically the same/plus bonehead plays)
Kirk at 3
Bonzi at 2 to score like Tmac
Chuck pure hustle plays
Luther, only if his defense in the post improves

DNP
Rafer - I think they are trying to move this guy, why showcase him all of those minutes
Deke

 

i really think we'd be better off with Hayes starting the rest of the year and Scola off the bench. Splitting time, and Scola getting backup 5 mins to total around 30. Similar to Ginobili off the bench.. it allows a lesser player to play with better players and succeed while Scola still gets his time and will be in at the end of games if he's playing well enough (unless we need Chuck's D that badly)

As for Rafer.. I'll be happy with that going either way. Francis still needs to get in better shape to play starter's minutes, but I'm sure he'll get there soon enough. I very much question if he can stay in front of the quicker guys even as much as Rafer does without using his hands (i.e. quick foul trouble). But if he can, he should get in the lineup soon. If not...I'd stick with Rafer.

For as much crap as he gets about his D, he's not bad against the quick guards. He did a solid job on Nash.. did decent against Damon, Lowry, etc. Whenever Francis and Rafer are in together, Rafer is on the quicker guy.

 

1 thing right, 1 thing wrong with this article.

+/- numbers are certainly better for rafer because he gets more minutes, and I don't doubt for a second that James/Francis can have the same assist numbers if all they did was throw it into Yao. You get 1 less steal/game, but you gain 10-15points with rafer's misses.

you need chuck hayes in the lineup right now, not because of what he does, but what he doesn't do. Which is score. The rockets have enough trouble splitting baskets with Yao and Tmac as it is, you would rather have scorers like Bonzi/Scola/James coming off the bench anyways. Lakers won with Mark Madsen, Dennis Rodman wasn't that great at offense either. Hayes is no Rodman, but you need the Jerome James, the Charles Oakley's, the "bangers".

 

I disagree with you here, because yes you do need a PF who is offensively coherent to keep the defense honest, and any team relying on only two players to do all of the scoring will always fail miserably.

You should know that yourself by looking at last years playoffs, or the dallas series when nobody but Yao and Tmac could score.

 

We can't continue to have 3 sub-par offensive players in the starting lineup. I think Scola has to come off the bench because he backs up both the 4 and the 5. He should still get 30+ mins per game though.

Battier deserves to stay in the starting lineup considering his shot will start falling and he fits in very well with the rest of the starting lineup. Using Battier off the bench means he would have to contribute a lot more offense, and that is something he cannot do.

As for the PG situation, as soon as Francis can play 30+ mins consistently without passing out on the floor he should start. Mike James is not working out. He is a black hole on offense. Even if he is hitting his shot at around 44% he is not good for the team. His +/- numbers are horrible. He needs to be packaged with someone (like Snyder or Head) for another PG. That new PG could either start instead of Francis or back him up. We need to consolidate some of our depth at that position.

Starters:
Francis
TMac
Battier
Hayes
Yao

Bench:
Scola
New PG
Bonzi

 

This team will only go as far as the McGrady/ Yao Ming tandem takes them!
This team will only go far when the coach believes and insists that Yao become the top scorer on our team, no more periods where he. while on the court. removes himself from the action.

 

The starting lineup not named Yao or TMac is fine if you like mediocrity.

 

I think it would help Scola and Francis to start them. That would, in turn, help the team as a whole. We want them to end up playing 30+ minutes.

If Francis regains his starting role, it is a good story. Scola is a good story. They can get more respect from the refs - ie - more leeway to guard and a greater likelihood to draw fouls - as media stars. Give them the role and the stage and the media will write it up. They will get that extra benefit of the doubt. Steve already has that as one of his weapons, allowing him to drive, making him a consistent threat.

On top of that, they are more talented and a better mix with Yao and Tmac. Then we just have Battier as the weak link, which should keep the defense honest.

Sub in Chuck, Bonzi, Alston and James as needed. Never all at once. That would keep the defense on their heels and things moving.

 

I agree. Except I still say Yao, TMac, Bonzi, Francis, and Scola is our best lineup. I also like James and Francis or Francis and Alston playing together. Whatever happens, Francis, Alston, and James should split minutes evenly unless one or the other is on fire. Our current lineup is extremely vulnerable. Opponents can double all over the court without paying a price. The only reason any one is close to Hayes is because they are rebounding. They are leaving Alston wide open without consequence.

 

I think his right though, its Francis's job to lose or get the starting job. Rafer does a good job, James clearly isn't playing point, at least not last game anyway. James is like backing up Mcgrady with Bonzi backing up Shane. Its working out fairly well at the moment if you ask me.

 

Yao gets doubled a lot and having someone beside him in the frontcourt that can take advantage of that can be crucial. Last game we had Bonzi and Scola punish the defense again and again. Hayes just cant do the same. His presence allows the defense to key in on Yao and frustrate the crap out of him.

Yes i appreciate Chuck's defense and his hustle but there are just better alternatives. Getting Yao off to a good start should be a very high priority. Playing alongside a scoring pf gives him the best chance.