Didn't see this posted. If it has been, please lock up. http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2006/09/for_starters.html As much as I've enjoyed the debate about whether Bonzi Wells should start, I thought I'd add a few more issues to consider. Wells' greatest value to the Rockets -- assuming as always that the Rockets remain healthy -- is that he is different from the other guards they have collected. He is a strong scorer from the free throw line in, but he is not a deep shooter. With that in mind, a starting backcourt of Rafer Alston and Bonzi Wells does not seem ideal around Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. The Rockets might choose to play Wells with 3-point shooters, taking advantage of Wells' strength inside and potential to draw double teams, especially if John Lucas III gets minutes as a backup point. You might see Wells, Shane Battier and Kirk Snyder log minutes together with Battier working at the four. If Luther Head is a consistent shooter and an improved defender, Wells could pick up the backup three minutes next to Head. The Rockets do have options with Wells bringing a different sort of guard. Whether he starts or not might not really matter. He will get the minutes of a starter, anyway. But since that discussion has taken off, the answer might not depend on Wells. It might depend on who pans out at the other perimeter positions, returning to the Rockets' summer guard haul of potential and uncertainty.
Bonzi is not the greatest fit for the Rox, a 6'5" Mike James type would be a better fit for the Rox. Watching last season, we lost so many games because we could not convert those outside kickouts from Yao. When we made them we won, when we didn't we lost. Though Bonzi is not the greatest deep threat he still brings to the table his ability to create, rebounding and defense, things that Wesley could not do at the two last year so considering those skills and the fact that Bonzi is the best two we have, I think he starts. I am not sure that Battier is a better PF than JH so I see Battier coming off the bench as our sixth man splitting time with Juwan and then spelling T-Mac to get him on the floor 30 minutes a game.
How good of a midrange jumper does Wells have? If indeed we go with Battier to start at the PF, he certainly has more range than Howard. Bonzi doesn't really have to park himself at the 3 point line to properly space the floor. I think Wells deserves to be in the starting lineup simply for his defense. The best opposing wing player will always start. And I'd want Wells on him rather than T-Mac, Battier, or whoever replaces Bonzi in the starting lineup. We finally got some good defensive players to cover up for Yao's foul trouble, and we should use them. It's not hard to come up with a subsitution pattern so that Wells will always be in the lineup when T-Mac and/or Yao take their breathers. He's going to be a 30 minute+ player.
The best part about having Wells is we don't have to play TMac 40mpg. If we can get Yao to 35-39mpg, then Yao can be our horse. Then TMac and Wells each split time hopefully keeping TMac to, say, <35mpg during the regular season.
Exactly. This one move will help keep T-Mac fairly fresh going into the playoffs and it will give him some strong 4th quarter legs during regular season games.
Shane Battier is a career .381 shooter from 3-point range. I'm not going to cry about having a 2 who can go inside when we have a 3/4 who can go outside.
Battier is no 6th man. His D, shooting range and hustle is his forte, not necessarily instant offense. Battier skills are maximized with him on the floor w/Yao & McGrady. He is a starter. Rafer may not fit in the starting rotation. A PG who can D and hit the 3 is better suited for this team. Either Rockets accelerate KillBill's learning curve, or they get another starting PG. A guy like Steve Blake. Blake started for Portland, but I don't see him starting over Mo Williams. Blake would start for the Rockets.
Maybe, but do you see the rockets trading for a new starting point when Bonzi is most likely a 1 year rental? Also, we're already looking at two new starters. Adding a third would almost guarantee a slow start.
I think the rotations should work out so that Bonzi and Shane get a good chunk of minutes with Yao (but without Tracy). Remember, they played together for 2 seasons in Memphis so they have to be at least somewhat used to playing off of each other, and I suppose that playing off of Yao down low wouldn't be too different than playing off of Gasol. It'd put them in a situation that may be more comfortable for them and might allow them to get acclamated to the system a little more smoothly. Furthermore, Rafer has similar style/size to Jason Williams, who both guys played with in Memphis. On top of that, VSpan's game may not be too terribly different from Bobby Jackson, who Battier played with last season. Just a thought.
3 new starters is nothing new on this team. JVG is not shy about adding new pieces to the starting lineup. Whether due to injury or inefficiency. How many starting lineups has he had since he's been here? His second year he traded away 3 starters - Francis, Mobley, Cato. That year Yao played with a whole different team. He also traded away key players in mid season - losing Jackson/MoTay while adding Sura, Wesley, James. Last offseason he got rid of James for Rafe and signed Stro. JVG is all about change. He has a very short leash and this team is used to juggling personnel as well as lineups. Rockets will have growing pains anyway - spacing the floor on O and playing better perimeter & help D - so why not earlier rather than later? A slow start in the regular season is much more preferable to an early finish in the post season. I have hope for Rafe, but Blake is the better fit.
Everyone has always complained about lack of athleticism and length for our 2 guard so I dont see how this isnt a good fit. How many 6'5" Mike James types are out there? Anyways, I would be pissed off if Bonzi is not starting this season. I like the idea of forcing the Spurs to go small and start Duncan at center.
I'd say that its better suited to bring Bonzi off the bench when you rest either Yao or T-Mac. He stands a good chance at 6th man of the year honors if he can fill it up off the bench. That way you always have at least two solid scorers on the floor at any given time. If any of the other guys happen to fill it up then its just a bonus to the team. And Mike James is not 6'-5" tall. He is listed at 6'-2" and is probably more like 6'-1" or so.
