I agree. I don't think we can keep both guys long term. They don't play well with each other. And they won't be happy playing backup. I am also leaning toward keeping Moteijunas over Jones. I think they are about equal overall. But it's easier to find a guy like Jones than a guy like DMo.
Well, that's one argument. Another argument would be who's going to provide the biggest impact while our window of championship contending with Harden/Dwight is still open? DMo is quite inconsistent, while Jones basically stuffs the statsheet on a nightly basis.
Good objective post OMG. Jones has more overall impact on the game at the moment and Dmo has superior low post scoring skills and a good BBall IQ.
You can't really go wrong with either player. Jones or DMo are good starting caliber players in this league. I'm more concerned about keeping Brewer. He seems to play well with Harden and Ariza. KEEP BREWER PLEASE!!!
Josh smith won't be here forever. Do you guys think having a three big rotation of Dwight Tj and dmo would be too expensive?
D-Mo's passing has always been solid, but the last month or so it seems to have taken a step up. Over the last 12 games he has averaged 2.9 assists. That doesn't sound like a big number, but for a big man who doesn't really play in the high post it's a pretty huge number. He's only averaging 1.6 TO's in that stretch. His post game is back in form, after the league adjusted to him, he seems to be adjusting back. His defense is night an day at the 4. Everything about the way he plays is so much better suited with a rim protector behind him. He really is exceptional handling screens and rotations. He obviously needs to be more physical fighting for rebounds, but aside from that he doesn't have many flaws. With another year of confidence and experience I think he's gonna be an exceptional starter.
So frustrating that both TJ can play with D-Mo together, while D-Mo shrinks with him in the line-up. Both do better as starters and both do worse as bench players. Big question going forward: who do you keep since it's obvious we cannot keep both unless you want to stunt either's growth and not reach their full potential since both will not accept a lesser role, since they know they play better with the starters. This year, it's probably going to be TJ off the bench since he's injured now. Let's hope he can bring it off the bench alongside Josh.
I'm tired of hearing this. If Jones and D-mo are playing together it means D-mo is playing the 5. That means D-mo is the one being forced out of position. We've established D-mo is overmatched at the 5, an not suited for long stints at the position. Jones would suck at the 5 too, but he's rarely asked to play it, therefore he's never asked to change his game.
Alot of arguing back and forth about whether or not D-Mo is a 5 or not, blah blah. Natural position doesn't really matter as it relates the Rockets future, and the ability for the Rockets to eventually have D-Mo and Jones on the floor and maybe starting together long term if Dwight can't stay healthy, be retained, or if he declines. You gotta work with the talent you have. D-Mo and Jones are the talent for the future they have to work with. Its actually really important for the Rockets future that either way D-Mo and Jones figure out how to play together. Natural 4, undersized 5.. whatever. It doesn't matter. If Horford/Millsap, Bosh/Haslem, etc. can protect the paint and provide paint presence so can D-Mo and Jones eventually. This year it was asking alot of both guys so its no surprise that they had their moments of allowing a layup line to the rim, and how they couldn't box out a flea. But eventually those two guys have to figure it out and get better. I'm not worried about it this year though. The past couple weeks just gave us more insight as to what they need to work on this Summer to solidify the future frontline with the best young talent to support Harden with or without Dwight. Lets hope its a 3 big rotation with Dwight long term so it's not as big of a deal right now this year.
Here's interview with D-mo. About the Rockets and upcoming Eurobasket: http://www.fibaeurope.com/nfID_2135.coid_l4IbTgCCHoYKt,BPXGB9a0.articleMode_on.html
I wouldn't go that far. DMo is a good player who is very, very good on the offensive end, good on the defensive end, and below average on the boards. I do think we saw last night the offensive pecking order being clearly established. Even though Dwight is just back for the first time, it's obvious that DMo is the man offensively down low. Dwight faded weakside and gave him space and allowed Harden and DMo to operate. DMo is our best offensive interior big and it's not even close. His post-up moves, his passing ability, his ability to step out and shoot the 3, his ability to quickly finish the pick-and-rolls, HIS OVERALL OFFENSIVE VERSATILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS makes him our best offensive big. Playing next to Dwight offsets DMo's biggest weakness. Just the few minutes Dwight played last night pushed us over the top on the glass. (And that was playing against 3 very large bigs, all 3 of them larger than both Dwight and DMo.) And the threat of Dwight backside created space for DMo to take Davis/Ajinca/Asik one-on-one. The Pels other big had to be aware of Dwight weakside and couldn't help off Dwight. Dwight is a superior finisher and rebounder to even Terrence. That gives DMo just a little more space on the interior, enough to take his man. DMo is your starting 4 for the remainder of the season and playoffs unless something happens to Dwight again or unless DMo goes down with injury himself.
Bravo, finally a sensible post. I like TJ and DMo both and think that they can go far in this league, yet I still think DMo deserves to finish the season as starting 4 since he and Dwight make a great 4 and 5. Not bashing on TJ anyhow, TJ and DMo are very different players and wish them both luck.
great to see him back in his groove, and Trevor for that matter. Gonna be fun in the playoffs. Lets go Rockets!
I can't wait to see everyone healthy. We have one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Terrence jones ,josh smith and brewer coming off the bench together is insane.
Yeah, exactly. People need to stop comparing and trashing this team for no legit reasons.. Rockets has great depth and talent, so fans should not underestimate or undervalue that.
I altogether agree with that. Their defense and ability to generate turnovers and runouts playing against the opponents second units is off the charts. And they have to do that to be successful because if they don't they'll get murdered in a half court contest.
My question is will Mchale utilize the depth in the playoffs? Or mistakenly shrink the rotation once again? Pablo or Bev/Terry Harden/Terry Ariza/Brewer DMo/TJones/Smith DHo/DMo That's basically a 9 man rotation.
