i'd prefer Swift in the starting lineup and Anderson off bench. Yao Stro T-Mac DWes Skip Anderson can backup both SF & SG position dependents on match-up; Wesley & Swift are better compliments to Yao/T-Mac.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3426992 Rockets Summary Rotation revealed Coach Jeff Van Gundy revealed his planned rotation for Wednesday's regular-season opener, in which he will start Rafer Alston and Derek Anderson at guard, Juwan Howard and Tracy McGrady at forward and Yao Ming at center. David Wesley, Jon Barry, Stromile Swift and Dikembe Mutombo will come off the bench, Van Gundy said, with Ryan Bowen playing against quick power forwards or post-up small forwards. That rotation offers the same frontcourt that started much of last season but a different starting backcourt, with Bob Sura out and Anderson starting rather than David Wesley. That was not much of a surprise, however, with Anderson having started seven of the eight preseason games. "That's how we're going to start," Van Gundy said. "How we're going to end we'll figure out. "I don't know what it gives us off the bench, and I don't know what our starters will do. I just think it gives us the best chance to play well right away. Everybody in that nine-man group is going to play with each other. It's not two separate units. It's how we're going to start the game and how we're going to start the third quarter. But those nine are going to play on most nights with everybody else. It's not Derek Anderson plays better with Rafer Alston or Juwan Howard plays better with Yao." With that rotation, either guard Moochie Norris, guard Luther Head or forward/center Lonny Baxter would join Sura and Dion Glover on the inactive list. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Luther Head is not in our regular rotation. Who's going to be our back up PG, T-mac or Wesley?
Hmm...in that case, I could see Wesley plummeting even farther down the play list if his shot doesn't come around. I know Van Gundy is hesitant to play rookies significant minutes, but since it took one preseason for Anderson to leapfrog Wesley at starting SG, it may not take long for Head to jump over Wesley on the depth chart during the first part of the season.
For Swift to take Howard spot will be great for the Rockets. That to me shows he is committed to being better.
It's a political decision. 3 new comers vs 2 veterans on the court = rebellion. 3 veterans vs 2 new comers = chemistry. It's all about balance of power. JVG is a politically sensitive dude.
Swift may be the more athletic player but Howard is solid and has a lot more experience on the court. Maybe some of you are forgetting how well he was playing last year before the two health problems. I'd certainly settle for that level of play from our starting PF again. And, there is something to be said for having a change of momentum in reserve. If one of the many great PF's in the west starts a game on fire, won't it be great to bring in Swift to change his match-up. Instant defense? (as well as making the other PF run and get tired out) I know Wesley has been clanking so far but if he gets his legs and his shot returns he could be a great instant offense option too. The way I would like to see the team set up.. .Solid starters, a defensive stopper to shut down an opponent that is in the zone, a dead-eye shooter to change the feel of a cold shootng night and a tempo changer to make a team that is beating you in the half court run (Head? Bowen?)
Ahhhh, and as I've been saying all along, JHoward will be our starter...at least in 2005. I don't know why everybody assumed Swift would start. JVG doesn't like "knuckleheads." He wants KNOWN commodities on the court and that is what Howard provides. No way in HELL does Swift start over Howard...initially. Perhaps later if we are tanking or Swift turns into a man possessed will Swift step in but not to start the season. As much as I like Wesley, I like DA starting. He's bigger and faster with all other things being about equal.
I see DA as a starter because he and Yao seem to have some good chemistry and DA has really looked to get Yao the ball. Not only that, but he has been ABLE to get Yao the ball consistently, as has Rafer.
Not too much of a surprise. I think we could see the Anderson in the lineup coming the last few games. Anderson seems to play well with Yao, and is a good passer. I guess his defense has improved enough in JVG standards that he can get the start over Wesley. Wesley looked pretty good off the bench too the last few games. I see Yao, Howard and Swift all rotating at the 4/5 with Deke in there at spot times. But I think those 3 will get the lions share of the 4/5 minutes. In the Hornets game, Yao played the entire 1st Q and 2 minutes into the 2nd Q. Howard came out at the 2 minute mark of the 1st with Swift in. And then When Yao came out at the 10 minute mark of the 2nd, Howard came back in. I think JVG was experimenting to see if he could go with Yao all the way through the 1st quarter. I think he will try, with only foul problems busting up that rotation. And that's where we will see Deke at times. I am not too surprised to see Howard start over Swift. Howard has had a great pre-season and his mid-range jumper has been excellent. I think he really spaces the floor for Yao. I think JVG likes Swift off the bench to bring the energy. I think Swift's energy though doesn't last that long. So he is better in "spurts", at least initially. Swift still might get more minutes than Howard as the season progresses, though, but Howard seems to be a better stabalizing influence at the starting spot for this team. Really, it's all up to Swift to become more consistant over the course of the game. As for the guards, I see Wesley coming in for Alston or Anderson and where if Alston is out, Anderson is the defacto PG with Wesley guarding PGs on defense. And Barry will take the backup 3 minutes (and also play defacto PG on offense). Wesley, Barry and Swift will be our main bench guys I think. Deke will see action if we are hampered with foul problems or if the opposing team has a real big center. I dont think we see much of Luther Head until the second half of the season or god forbid there are anymore injuries that would force him into the rotation.
It's amazing how many people just want Stromile to start over JH. I don't get it. Everyone (including me) is in love with his athleticism and spectacular plays, but it's all about winning games. We had some good debates early in the summer about what the team needed to do. I feel like crowing because the team ended up doing just what I wanted: Replacing our backcourt starters and adding depth at PF. It's a good thing we didn't stand pat like some suggested because creaky old Sura & Wesley couldn't have done it this year, even if Sura had started the year healthy. If Stromile ever earns his way into the starting lineup, great. That is a big question mark. This team is poised for a run. We have come such a long way from last year's opening day squad. Great job CD & JVG. Now it's on JVG to mold the new members into the system. Like last year, the system may need adjusting also.
this is how i see it. this this starting lineup we would have beaten the mavs last season for sure, and even braught the suns to a game 7. WHO WILL SCORE AGAINST OUR BENCH? DEKE, STRO, BOWEN, WESLEY, HEAD
I like this starting 5. Im just plum freakin giddy about Wed night. Biggest season since 97 folks, its on the horizon.
IMO, the biggest beneficiary of this starting lineup is Yao. Why? Look at this way: he has four above average passers on the court at the same time. Rafer is an excellent passer and with time will learn where Yao wants the ball and when; T-Mac is one of the sharpest passers in the league at any position, bar none; DA has shown a keen sense of knowing how and when to get the ball to Yao, and some might argue that he was the best passer to Yao througout the preseason; Howard is a savvy veteran who knows how to space out and make that mid-range shot to keep defenders honest and relieve some pressure off Yao, give him space to operate, and can pass pretty well for big man. IMO, this lineup might be the best 'chemistry' lineup to start off the season with. Obviously, no one should be expecting things to be smooth anytime soon, since all these guys are still learning how to play with one another. However, a few months in and I bet we will be all happy with what we see. Oh, btw, just because someone is starting doesn't mean that they will get the majority of the minutes. JVG is still experimenting and won't settle down on a lineup anytime soon (and he shouldn't until he tests various pieces in the games that actually count to see how they play).
Is this a form of showcasing JuWann? Is this a tip of the hat to his failures as a benchie behind Mo G(one)? How versatilely positioned will JuHo and/or SS be? Any 3 or 5 minutes? What will the 4Q PT look like for JuHo/SS...DA/DW? Go Rox. Start fast, finish faster!!!
Deciding between Howard and Swift is hard because one complement Yao offensively while the other complement him defensively. If Swift develops offensively, then he should definately start.
Last year's opening day lineup with Yao and T-Mac included Charlie Ward, Jim Jackson and Mo Taylor. This year's team is younger, faster and more athletic, just as promised. Juwon has done an amazing job in recoving from a serious knee injury and a career-threatening heart condition. Watching him in the pre-season, he looks like the same player he was in the spring. You can't respond to that type of rehabilitation effort by taking away his starting job. Swift will be the starter eventually, whether it's this year, next year or beyond. An Alston-Wesly backcourt would have concerned me because of its lack of size. Anderson offers a better matchup against bigger guards. But all the guards have a shot at considerable playing time if they're playing well.
