Does the organization feel entitled to Battier and Hayes

As mentioned before on these boards. Having Hayes, Battier, and Ariza out on the court at the same time has dragged down the offense. But I think now with Ariza at the SF spot and not playing the 2, he is going to start playing better with Martin. But I find it odd that all the big names that were traded started for their teams in first game, but not here. Martin didn't start and he had more familiarity with the system. I ask the question was this for Battier. I love Battier and Hayes. But if we are going to play a 6'6 center, I don't want our #3 playing now in the PF spot. Battier is still a good defender, but not as good in the past. Him and Chuck are the locker room glue for this team. But to be honest, I think we will not take a step forward until we alter the rotation. Brooks and Martin in the backcourt are defensive liability, but that is ok because we overcome there deficiency if we play a bigger 5 to help have the guards back. You can't get away with poor guard defense and not have a shot blocking presence. Ariza will be fine at the 3, Scola is a good offensive 4, but his best defense is taking charges. So if we are heading in this direction it is time to play either Hill, Armstrong, or even Jefferies at the 5. I think we feel we owe alot to Shane and Chuck, and feel obligated to play them. If you think about this and ask yourself this question, of all the other teams in the league, what team would Chuck start on. We will get killed in the first round by a Laker team that has Bynum and Gasol with this. At least Landry gave you post toughness on defense and could block shots. I don't understand, I know Hayes is an anchor and you can't move him, but instead like Hibbert did tonight, they can just shoot over him. Also if you don't develop someone else, he gets in foul trouble like the playoff last year and tonight. We played Cook, never understood should have gave Dorsey a look, but I digress. Now we are playing Anderson. I actually like Anderson in spurts to spell Scola, not Battier. Battier should play more minutes in situations when we are guarding a Kobe or LeBron, but under other circumstances when there isn't that type of player, He should spell Ariza for about 8 mins a game. Chase should spell Martin. Also now with Martin, if we are thinking about next year, we complained about McGrady coming back and stunning Chase's growth, well if we feel that we can't hurt Shane's feelings, then where is Chase going to get minutes. It looks like they will give him his minutes by playing Shane at the 4 spot. I would be ok with that, if we would start a 6'10 player at the Center spot. I just feel that while Hayes and Shane are still here, the organization has the upmost respect, and so do I for them, but if we are thinking next year, we need to get experience for Hill, and let Armstrong audition. Chuck, has good hands and can't be backed down, but he is not a shot blocking presence and he is too small, and he is an offensive liability on top of that. So now is the time for the Orlando game after they get a few practices if they are serious going forward to next year:

Brooks/Lowry
Martin/Chase
Ariza/Shane
Scola/Andersen
Armstrong/Hill

Shane gets about 15 mins, this keeps Ariza fresh. You give Shane more minutes in the Kobe matchup. Chase gets 12 mins, keeps Martin fresh, especially since he likes contact. Anderson gets 8 mins to give Scola a break. And you split the mins of the 2 6'10 players. I actually like Hayes over Andersen against the better PF where he can come in a cause problems for Dirk and Boozer types. I just feel it is time for the one dimensional players like Shane and Hayes to not have a big as role, and to just provide steady leadership. Anyone else feel like Adelman and Morey feel like we owe Shane and Chuck a bigger role then they deserve. To me, I just thought what I saw defensively was pitiful tonight, and with AB, Martin and Scola you need there offense, so your going to need a shot alter and shot blocker to play with them.

 

Oh and before someone jumps me, I see I mispelled Anderson(Andersen). My point above relates to how much Hakeem helped Smith and Cassell defensive defensive problems when they would flush there man in, they had a shot blocker. We have seen Yao alter shots. There are way to many layups now against us.

 

Cardpire, I think Shane still has value for sure and could start in some places. But for our setup, he shouldn't be starting. If Ariza wasn't here, then I would say Shane would be fine at the SF. I often wonder if we knew how solid Chase was going to be, would we have done the Ariza deal. We could have just played Shane and Chase. I must admit, I have not been a fan of Ariza, but I got to give him credit, he has really been playing well, and doing so with an injury. Hayes is not a 5, I want him on the team still, but down further on the bench and used as a specialist. Not a starter.

 

Yes, Fish, only entitled to pay them, not start them.

 

Besides, Armstrong is in a contract year, so he has incentive to play well you would think and an opportunity to receive interest. He is needed on this team, we all talk about how we would have beat the Lakers with Yao last year, you know what, I think we would have beat the Lakers with Deke. We gave them a run with the uptempo style which they weren't prepared for, now teams have the book on us. We got to get some size, I vomited in my mouth watching the lane wide open and like spread apart, no defense. We had 3 6'10 guys just sitting. Just like them trying to play Landry at the 3 spot, it didn't work, and neither is Shane at the 4.