I agree with everyone who says that Bullard and Hamilton shouldn't be starting. Bullard is a specialist who's good for like 10 minutes a game; but come on, starting against Scottie Pippen? Hamilton is flat out horrible. Francis was starting to ball in the 3rd. He should've been pissed for getting taken out of the game. Rogers too. I've always said that Rudy is a good coach but his rotation has always sucked. This however is getting rediculous. Hmmmm....maybe this is Rudy's way of tanking the season.
Great post, heypartner. Why not go ahead and start that thread about what new things you see Rudy doing. That sounds smart and constructive.
So basically lets play five on three the rest of the year for half of the first and second quarters. I mean thats what it looks like out there with Bulard and Hamilton. If Cato doesnt want to start then thats too bad. Have him start and leave him out there, because he's the best center we have right now. I also noticed Francis was pissed for being benched for three minutes in the fourth. Francis couldn't of been tired because the play before he was running about 100mph down the court. So why in the hell does Rudy put Drew in. Was it because Bryce's dad at the game. No that couldn't be because Rudy does this evey game. A coach must start his five best players and If Bullard and Hamilton are two of our best players then the Rockets are in deep ****. PG Francis SG Mobley/Drew/Anderson C Cato/Rogers/Hamilton SF Anderson/Grey PF Rogers/Thomas/Grey
Rocketbooster: Bullard and Hamilton didn't get any 2nd quarter minutes that I saw. They started the 3rd. They probably both would have ended up with 14 minutes each had Rudy not needed Bullard's three's to answer Pippen's and Smith's in the last 4 minutes. Back-up everyone. The coach's job is to outscore the opponents. Lately we own the game from 8 minutes into the 1st through to the 4th...from what I've seen. We own this period of the game mainly because we've got the fast team out there. Let's not discuss the 4th q in this thread cause that has little to do with Hamilton, but you must agree that our favorite players: francis mobley anderson cato rogers all get 30+ now. Rudy has chosen to focus on attacking the other team's late 1st and 2nd quarter subs and attack in the 3rd. I believe the voids outside those periods will be filled by the Dream and TMass. We are devasted by injuries. Playing our Fab 5 40+ minutes is not the answer, plus it could cause fatigue-related unfocused play, if not further injuries. With 3 missing front court players, what can we do regarding player substitutions other than continue to work on the packages we intend to use when dream comes back and next year. When Cato started, he got in foul trouble, and he was not able to play with Mobley as much. Mobley, with no fresh big man, is easier to defend. Rudy seems to want to match Mobley with a fresh energy big man, with Rogers and Cato starting (and Cato getting into foul trouble against the starters), the Mobley substitution is not has much an advantage for us.
TDS99, As talented as the Sonics? Position for position they are fairly close. The Rockets youth (inexperience) is probably the biggest difference. If Rudy likes KT so much, why doesn't he start: Cato or Hamilton Rogers KT SA Francis Both KT and Rogers seem to be 3 -4 'tweeners. Bull is a specialist and to have him starting the game is bizarre. Without CB4 or Dream to pull the defense in, the defense does not drop off Bull as much as they used to. The Rockets might decide to move KT or Rogers because of the 'tweener factor and the game experience and exposure/showcasing should hopefully give them a bit more bargaining power. Mango
