Good post. As the OP said, lots of option on the perimeter, but only a few in the frontcourt. Adelman's got to figure out which new bigs can help and get them in the rotation soon. Not an easy task to do on the fly and without practice time, which is probably why he's been looking a little cranky lately.
I wish you were in charge of this: rotations appear to be a weakness in Adelman's game. Obviously, he is a Hall of Fame coach, great in many ways, but his substitution patterns baffle many fans and that goes back to Kings days, even Blazer days.
I agree, but if Hill is anything close or better than Kevin Duckworth was, than i can see Hayes/Hill/Budinger/Martin/Brooks as well. I think this 5 man combination will be better suited to out run the bigger and larger front courts while providing 3 scorers into the mix. You have a defensive anchor and enforcer up front who can play active and aggressive on defense which can prove very useful.
I like your lineups except for the closing one You should close with Lowry/Brooks/Martin/Battier/Hayes; Lowry must be our closer. Jeffries shouldn't close since he is just offensively challenged as Chuck Hayes.
If Hill is anything close or better than Kevin Duckworth was, than i can see Hayes/Hill/Budinger/Martin/Brooks as well. I think this 5 man combination will be better suited to out run the bigger and larger front courts while providing 3 scorers into the mix. You have a defensive anchor and enforcer up front who can play active and aggressive on defense which can prove very useful. Also, when Lowry returns you want Brooks/Lowry to continue to get some burn together. They are the most productive and efficient backcourt 1-2 duo in the league. I think Ariza/Budinger/Hill/Hayes will be very active and can help bring to the team a specific match-up strength that helps with the current philosophy of up-tempo. Hill needs to understand to just do what he does, but remember it's going to be at a much faster pace. Scola/Andersen can see some burn. When you have Scola working the paint you need to stretch the floor with Andersen to create more dribble penetration for Brooks/Lowry and space Scola to work down low. Andersen's ability to stretch the floor helps the team attack the glass for extra possessions. Securing a rebound on offense, because the extra 4 and 5 man will be away from the basket. Battier is useless, unless Yao is on the floor and he is not. Battier needs to rest untill the playoffs in a reduced role. Yao/Scola/Hayes/Battier can play together. Battier's role is defending the other teams best wing player and to stretch the floor providing a post player room to operate. You need grey hounds out there and Battier is not. Scola/Jeffries should never see the floor together. Jeffries/Andersen and Hill/Andersen should not either. I do agree with the Ariza/Battier tandem. They are productive againt a team like Boston and L.A, but there is not enough depth without Yao upfront to run that inefficient tandem for long stretches. They are relunctant on offense, because neither is very good at creating for themselevs or others and really look bad at trying to attack and put the ball on the floor.
David Andersen... *sigh* I think it was a mistake by Morey to sign his guy. Dorsey looked so much better than him in the little time he played with us this year. Much rather have a guy that can get on the boards like JD and give us more toughness in the post and blocks. not one that misses open dunks. They say Jordan Hill can run the floor, rebound very well, and has very good potential on defense. I wanna see him play.
Ariza is a full court defender Battier is a half court defender Playing them together makes them relunctant without a true inside presence. Yao/Battier/Hayes - original defensive core/ pound the ball, box out, space the floor, protect the paint. JVG Hill/Ariza/Scola - new players/ run the floor, fight for loose balls, pound the glass. Adelman You have to go with what works and what they know. Brooks/Martin - Adelman: Giving them the most shots using the pieces above. With these 2 and Lowry you can go with speed. Hill/Hayes/Ariza full court - up-tempo: run the floor, pound the glass, protect the paint, box out. Up-tempo defense. Add Yao/Battier to Brooks/Martin with either Scola or Hayes: Pound the ball, space the floor, protect the paint, box out or fight for loose balls. This is the playoff combination. Adelman will use Scola/Ariza more once Yao returns adding a new demention of replacing fundamentals with more athleticism. My whole thing with Battier is he has a useless role when Yao is out and he is only a useful player when he's on the floor subtracting an offensive player from the other team.
