I said he TOUCHES the ball not shoots the ball on every possession. Our success in the playoffs depends on how much of a factor Yao becomes. The offense must run through him. I still remember the series against the Jazz where Yao went on for long stretches with even touching the ball. I have been preaching this for a long time now that and have cited example of the Shaq-Kobe Lakers as exhibit A. If you can remember back in time, the rift between Kobe and Shaq occurred because Phil Jackson constantly urged the team to run the offense through Shaq. He would always get the ball and then decide if he wants to attack the defense or dish out the ball to his shooter Fisher, Horry or Fox. Kobe always took that as a insult to his abilities and despised playing sidekick. At times he was right because he dedicated entire summers to get back in top form and improve so many areas of his game but come time to play, an out of shape and lazy Shaq would show up to play and still get all the attention. Yeah Shaq would be ready by season's end but that took a toll on Kobe's fragile ego. Anyway in order to win a championship, we must always hold true to this strategy of running the offense through Yao even when he is struggling or someone else is having a hot night.
you're comparing yao to shaq. shaq can handle all of that. yao probably would get injured by mid-season. yao is not shaq; he's just not that type of guy. you also do remember yao got 17 shots and 10 fts a game in 07 v. the jazz. so he got plenty of touches. we got artest now. scola has now matured enough to be a legit threat. let's have a balanced offense and attack at all positions.
Yao C Scola PF Artest SF Tmac SG Alston PG Mutumbo/Dorsey C Battier SF Barry/Head SG Brooks/Francis PG Hayes/Landry PF
First of all, I would definitely make sure MYao and TMac has more then enough rest. I would try to keep their minutes down to 32 or less and even once in a while give them the game off (low threat teams?). I'd like to try having Artest on the bench but still playing about 36-38 minutes. He would be a stronger offensive power then Battier and provide the same defense if not more. Most likely bringing him in when Yao or Mac comes out (maybe both). Rafer I would implement in his head to pass pass pass. If he isn't averaging 10+ plus assist a game something is wrong. While Brooks is young I would try to implement that into his game as well. If Steve is doing better this year then then it could only be good news. I see Barry getting more time in the fourth and clutch times. Other then that I don't foresee giving him much time trying to make sure his aging body is ready for the playoffs as well. If Brooks or Francis don't work out then his minutes will increase. Battier would continue to start as long as Artest off the bench was doing as well as hoped. He would be logging about 36 minutes as well (same as last year as well). Battier and Artest would take turns gluing the main opponents scorer. Hayes would be my defensive PF when needed. Landry my offensive ofcourse. But Scola would be main PF logging 36. Scola and Artest would be sharing 3rd man and 4th man scoring options. Dorsey would be Yao's main back up getting around 12-14 with Deke getting about a minute or two just to keep him active (honestly though I wish Deke would retire). Dorsey can handle the back up. Can always use Hayes or Landry as well. If Dorsey does well, his minutes will increase and with Landry's permission he would be traded for another pick (Landry traded...not Dorsey) I would be hoping to trade Head for a low 2nd round pick or even cash considerations. Rafer (32-36) Tmac (32) Battier (36) Scola (34) Yao (32) (mvp nomination) Brooks and/or Francis (16-20) Barry (6-10) Artest (36) (sixth man award!) Hayes and Landry (14) Dorsey (16) Strawberry (IR) (camp?) Hmmm....undecided for 14 minimum.
I like this assessment. If nothing else changes between now and the start of the season, other than signing Landry and either Deke or another backup C, I think this is pretty much how it will be.
I think getting TMac and Yao's minutes down is the most important thing RA should be working on. If we can get their minutes down so they aren't dead come playoff time we will get past the first round and make some serious noise.
Adelman had a tough time early last season with substitutions and PT. Then came the injuries and it became a fairly short rotation. He will have more problems than ever this year with the wealth of rotations available to him. I am probably glad I am not him, but I'd rather be him than say, Marc Iavaroni.
I would imagine that is the sort of problem he doesn't mind dealing with. If he had a bunch of hot head on the team then time on the court would be a problem. But most of the guys are "for the team" types. So they aren't going to complain if they don't get enough PT when we are winning.
If I were Adelman, I would play a 10 man rotation and implement more of my offensive strategy this year. He has enough talent now that he can substitue a bona fide player at each position without playing players out of their strongest position, with the extreme exception of some very difficult matchups. I would play to our strengths instead and MAKE teams try to match up to us. Through out an entire game, because of our depth, teams that don't try to match up to us and instead try to make us match up to them, will find their players too tired to be strong in the fourth quarter against our strength. Playing players in only ONE position would mean that they learn where they are to be on the court at all times better and the offense will flow more smoothly. When players have to learn two or three positions sometimes, many times they forget where they are supposed to be on the offensive or defensive rotations and assignments. And of course, if I were him, I would use the substitution patterns and minutes in my signature, the only exceptions being injuries, foul trouble, or extreme matchup problems in rare occasions.
Great. Now your going to be following me all over the place. Can I expect to wake up and find you staring at me standing at the end of my bed?
A-Ha. I always get you and Brooksball confused. Which one of you is the girl? I might fly over there one day soon...Im single now...and I can afford it. If your a girl (and clearly a Rockets fan) then im flying over to Ohio - soon after we will relocate to Houston (hopefully in time for season 08/09) and buy season tickets together. Ah, internet love...
Yes I would be the female. And I am feeling guilty for derailing this thread. On Adelman: He's not going to make his rotation any bigger than he has in the past. The guy has a specific style. So that means some players may not get to play when everyone is healthy. Dems' the breaks.
If i were rick i would unleash the hounds on the nba. I would just cross my legs and drink some of rudy t's soda
Agree with you on this one, free throw shooting and getting to the line was one of our weakest areas as far as I've seen in the Rockets' games I watched last season. All of our players have been very inconsistent in free throw line, which is a factor of our low total team scoring output. Great teams have very solid TEAM free throw shooting. Also, I'd have to get a Defensive-minded backup C to be mentored by Deke and Yao (Standing at least 6'11) and an athletic and average shooting guard/SF that will replace Luther once he is eventually traded. Starting lineup: PG - Rafer/Steve(if he's healthy) SG - TMAC SF - Ron PF - Luis C - Yao Backups PG - DJ (if he proves to be a good defender in this position)/Aaron SG - Brent SF - Shane PF - Carl (if he re-signs) / Joey C - FA big man/Deke
if im adelman i would actually bench mcgrady because he can make play for the 2nd unit so out 2nd unit will be able to score more points, for our starting lineup insert artest in place of mcgrady, and give yao more touches.
