Adelman has got to go with a different starting lineup for this game. Mark my word - it is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY we can beat this Suns team on the road with the current starting line-up. Nope. Nada. Not gonna happen. No way we can balance their explosive scoring attack with Chuck Hayes and Skip. We gotta start Scola to take advantage of the quick double teams on Yao, and Skip can't hit an outside shot consistently; unless he goes to the basket when the D rotates quickly when he gets the ball, we should be down double digits in the first quarter. And even if he goes to the basket, he's gotta take it strong, and not even think about trying that 15% tear drop of his. This is the perfect game to tinker with the rotation/starting lineup. We've already proven to ourselves that we cannot matchup with them whatsover with the current linep. Start Francis, play Brooks, play Snyder.... just do something to counter their strategy.
We havent played a game with the projected starting line up this year because Tmac was out. Rafer hasn't shot well, but Francis, James and Bonzi all have worse FG%. All our guards need to shoot better. Scola looked great on the offensive end during the first Pheonix game, but he was guarding Stoudemire who didn't miss a shot going 8-8 for 21 points. He has to improve defensively and cut down on fouls to get more play time. I expect both Francis and Scola to get opportunities to make major contributions, but I doubt the starting line up changes. Yao is the one who really needs to step up though after going 4-17 with 6 turn overs in the first game.
Hmmm, I recall JVG "tinkering" with the rotation last November in Phoenix as well. He used Novak instead of Hayes in the starting lineup. It didn't turn out too great. While Scola provides more scoring punch, against a team like Phoenix Hayes is far better defensively. Phoenix runs a ton of pick and rolls with Nash, and you need a PF who defends that well, gets back quickly in transition, and is versatile defensively.
I spoke with Steve today and he expects to make a big contribution tonight. He told me the only way to slow Steve Nash down is to attack him. It should be a great contest.
agree 100%. unless scola is going to give you 30 and 10, then we can't afford to compromise any more on defense. starting scola would probably cost our team 10-16 points in score difference. note: last game +/-, scola was -9 after 20 pts 11 reb 4 ast. think about it.
well duh? if steve is in there w/ tmac, battier/bonzi, yao, scola, we have scorers galore. now if they put nash on steve, i say we just iso that ALL the time steve is in there like we did tmac. if nash moves to battier, post him up. when he's on the offensive, force him to score and exert his energy to score.
Hopefully RA agrees with him and give him a chance to play, or else Rafer's going to be abused by Nash the whole night
It funny how we are always arguing about who should start or get the majority of the minutes at our guard positions..........1st it was steve..........and now everybody wants aaron brooks to get minutes. come on now this guy is rookie and we want him to go up against the 2 time MVP........next thing thats gonna be suggested is that Head should get back on the court, luther is garbage he cant create nothing for himself
Diaw's actually a very good post defender. Amare is ...his help D is very good, though, blocks a ton of shots that way.
Given that we have phoenix tonight and the BIG BAD GOLDEN STATE tommorow I have a feeling the rookies will come out to play more these two games. We can beat phoenix to me the suns are fools gold and are never gonna win a championship with there current style. We should play small and run with them while focusing on transition defense.(easier said than done lol) Golden State on the other hand is a different story to me they are much tougher and explosive and you all saw how they beat the crap out of phoenix yesterday AT THERE OWN GAME!!!!
