They also have to be able to shoot, which is unfortunately the area we're most lacking in. An Eddie Johnson-type would be hugely beneficial.
Hmm...I don't think how much a player makes is a factor in how much he plays...he has to earn his playing time! I still think Mobley will start though. The good thing about our roster is that it is very deep and we can have various lineups and rotations....substitutions...Mobley just doesn't seem to fit. If he can be like Richard Hamilton...then it'll be fine..or 2nd team. Francis 36/Moochie or Wilks 12 (whoever is playing better) Mobley 36/Our 4 guys share 50 minutes 4 guys share 50 minutes...Piatkowski, Jackson, AGriffin, and Boki Griffin 20/Taylor 20/Cato 8 Yao 36/Cato 12/Amaechi ZERO This is my projection of how many minutes each player will play. Since we need shooting the most...I like Piatkowski starting because he would be good with Yao and all these athletic guys around him. But he isn't a great defender...so when we play the Cavaliers or Suns or Kings or Hornets or Sonics...we can play Adrian Griffin or Jim Jackson. Nachbar could get some playing time too...seems to be more accustomed now. We are deep...but the only consistent shooter is Francis and Piatkowski. Mobley can shoot when he is in rhythm. Nachbar may be the guy that we are looking for! He is pretty tall too...
Actually, Pike and Jim Jackson are well known for their ability to shoot. That's my point - when we have other players who can shoot and play smart, relegating Cuttino to this role is a waste of some of his talents. I wonder what Cat would say if JVG asked him whether he would rather be a complementary option as a starter or a first option as a 6th man.
Mobley should get his minutes, but he has no lock on the starting job. 1. JVG will not coddle his players. He will play the combinations that work best. Screw their egos. 2. It is clear that Yao and Francis work well with Jackson. The two games against SAC demonstrate that. Jackson knows how to move without the ball, plays a great two man game with Yao, will not waive off Yao when he is in the low block, and readily moves the ball. Everything has flowed well. Jackson's shots will start to fall. Jackson makes great decisions. The game and offense is just much easier when he has been on the floor (as compared to last year and the little we have seen with Mobley this year). 3. JVG is not afraid to have a squad on the floor that is all hustle, if little talent, particularly for scoring. The creates an opportunity for him to use Mobley as the primary scoring threat of the hustle, defensive minded 2nd wave. 4. If Mobley whines, he may find himself shipped off in a Griffin deal, for a real PF. We have Jackson and Pike to fill the 2 guard, and JVG is not afraid to go small and use SF at the 2 guard. I am very encouraged by what I have seen in the last 2 games. We're not there yet, but I see marked improvement in ball movement, selflessness, hustle, cohesion, a little fast breaking executed well . . .all the things that we have been screaming for in the last few years. Francis appears to be coming around as well. JVG has been careful to say that Francis and Yao are the best players. So long as things are structured around those two, Francis will be fine. Once Francis buys in completely to JVG's system, the Rockets will (no pun intended) take off. This offseason has been quite successful in terms of getting JVG players and pieces that he can use to create the right mix on the court.
I really like Mobley. Him and Francis have good chemistry and I definitely don't want to see him traded, but I do think bringing him off the bench for a while would motivate him to play better (just like what happened with Cato). If Cat can play within the system though, I'd love for him to keep his starting spot, because he really is a valuable player when he's at his best. Especially considering what a steal he was in the draft, and what a cheap price we're getting him for right now.
But you didn't include it in your analysis . Unfortunately, I'm not sure I'm in total agreement. Neither of those players is exactly the deadly sharpshooter they need. Jackson is a good shooter, not great. Pike is actually excellent, but has a lot of other liabilities. I'm not sold on him as a real solution to this problem. Glad we have him, but not sure he fills the "lethal shooting to keep the defense honest" so much as the "guy who can fill in the 3's off the bench."
Mobley will be a great 6th man and help us out a long with Francis or Yao on the bench but the facts remain that this outstanding athlete has done nothing wrong to result in losing his starting spot regardless of what JVG's quote(s) says. So I will predict that our starting line-up Thursday from now against Denver will be; Steve Mobley Boki Cato Yao subs Eddie, Jackson, Piatkowski, Taylor, Mooch, Mech. I am afraid Adrian Griffin will only see spot minutes based on match-ups against teams (that like to go small atimes) like Dallas, NJ, Philly, Olando etc.
I think it's better for Mobley to come off the bench, not because he sucks, in fact i think he's the 3rd best player on the Rockets. But i think he's too small to guard the PG in the west and got burned easily. I think it's best to have Jim Jackson at the 2 because he can shut the guards down. A. Griffin or Boki play the 3 or something. OR Pikowski. But none of them can guard someone like Peja though, so i don't know. Maybe move Jim Jackson back to 3 when we play the Kings..so he can guard and shut down Peja.
They are good friends, but that does not necessarily translate to good chemistry. Remember in the All Star Weekend Fandango subchapter Slam Dunk competition when Mobley couldn't pass to Francis when there was nobody else on the court. I think Mobley is a decent player (great relative to his salary and draft position, but that dosen't make him a better or worse player) but what he brings is basically similar to Steve's game. I think that is one of our problems. To many players who handle the ball, drive and shoot. Not enough pick setters, passers and rotation defenders.
FRANCIS *AND* YAO FRANCIS *AND* YAO FRANCIS *AND* YAO FRANCIS *AND* YAO FRANCIS *AND* YAO FRANCIS *AND* YAO FRANCIS *AND* YAO FRANCIS *AND* YAO
I think it'd be great if Mobley comes off the bench. He's our third best creator with theb all, but we don't need that to start. I just kept thinking about NVE last year. When he comes off, he takes some of the worst looking shot but no one bashes him that much why? If he doesn't hit, he sits. If he does, it's such a good boost for the ofense. We can do that with mobes, he can shoot as much and and kind of shot he want, but his min will be determine by how muchhe hits.
