Could Motiejunas and Jones both move out of the rotation?

Posted this in another thread, but felt like it should be noted here properly. Not sure if Bill's interview was podcast-ed or not but wanted to pass along what he said as it seemed relevant.

 

When were either of them in the rotation?

 

http://www.sports790.com/media/podc...lemen/thursday-november-7th-2013-3-23942502/]

Starting at 8:30.

To me, it seems like that the team is keeping the rotation tight to stat the season so that the top 8 guys can get some chemistry going. Dwight is new, Casspi is new, Garcia and Beverley are semi-new, the Asik-Howard combo is new, and Harden, Parson and Lin have to get used to playing with Dwight and in different combinations. The time to work the likes of Motiejunas and Jones into either the regular rotation or at least some semi-regular spot minutes will come when the Rockets feel comfortable with how the top 8 guys can play in different 5 man combinations. Right now, things are still a bit funky even for the regulars (especially with Beverley having sat out a few games).

Trying too many different guys and different combinations right now would like just make the minutes and lineups so fragmented that nobody really gets enough experience playing with the guys they are trying to get familiar with.

Eventually, though, I would love to see that the team being good enough that they can afford to experiment with giving the 9th, 10th or maybe even 11th and 12th guys some minutes and give the heavy minutes guys a break here or there. Maybe not quite Popovich style mass vacation but would be nice if Harden and Howard don't have to wear themselves out.

 

put DMo in with Dwight to start the game and Asik, Casspi, Lin with the second unit.

 

Tonight Lakers showed that a deep bench can do.

10, 11 players

 

Are you kidding? We have major holes. We had problems against the Bobcats, Utah, Clips and the Lakers.
We sure won some but we have major holes, miscommunication, chemistry. Winning can only cure so much.

 

It could be more evident through 6 games that asik-howard doesn't work offensively or defensively. I'm 42,and remember the problems the rockets had with tom chambers-xavier-ellis on both ends. Even as skilled and as mobile as ralph and dream were,they had a centers mindset. So when seattle would run those double down screen for ellis or flex off that and chambers would iso,the rockets gave up great looks at the rim. We can even look at the 90s team vs rockets again and brikoski and perkins would have great looks because dream wasn't going out there.

Fast forward to these 2, one is a mobile guy vs asik who is not as much on the perimter and we see wide open looks by guys. 2 guy who really don't want to leave the paint by nature. Not only that, its killing the offense. No driving lanes, perimter guys can stay closer to the line and contest shots. Until they trade for a quality 4 or play one of the younger guys,this team is going to have trouble beating quality teams.

 

Dmo should be starting, and on a short leash, his passing and movement off the ball compliments Howard.

DD

 

It was just preseason, but that starting lineup moved the ball better than any other lineup i have seen this year, and had great flow to it. Does McHale have the marbles to go back to this lineup again???… I personally would have given it another couple tries rather than trying to force the issue with Asik, or at least tried Jones back in the starting lineup as well.

If they truly are experimenting you need to get an accurate take on ALL your options. I don't feel like D-Mo and Jones are really given a chance right now because of this Asik situation. The sooner they can trade him, or suck it up and move him to the bench full time, the better off this team will be in the long run. This will not only continue to get them off to horrible starts, it will also hurt team chemistry they are trying to build which is about the worst thing you can do to start off the season with a new star like Howard.

 

Dmo needs to start with Dwight!!!!

 

Agreed ASAP. sick of the bad starts. Still think they come out every game believing their own hype. Come out in the 3rd when they realize they can't just show up and win games regardless of line up.

 

I actually agree that D-Mo should start at this point. But that doesn't mean he should get a lot of minutes. His offensive versatility (post game, outside shooting, passing) make him best suited to start and to help Dwight get his offense going early. That said, I still think his minutes should only be ninth on the team.

 

It all depends on who the starting PG is.
Lin should be on with Jones and Bev with D-Mo. Either one would be better than the "Twin Towers" wannabe line-up.
McHale won't figure it out until playoffs like he did with Lin and Bev last season.

 

The starting PG does not matter, Dmo should be starting, he has major holes in his game but they are all covered by Dwight and playing time.

He is good off the ball and moving the ball to let rust on the bench.

Asik is just not a good fit now that we have a much better version of him.

DD

 

Jones and Dmo need playing time

 

PUT D-MO IN ALREADY AT THE STARTING 5.

 

I say give em both minutes... since defenses will be focused on D12 and haren (no d), they will get easy buckets, look great, and increase their trade value to package for a stud pf....maybe pull an Asik/DMo trade (and keep Lin...)