I heard from somewhere that Artest joined Rox with six additional balls. That should be enough to go around.
Coach 'A' will have to sort this one out, as neither Ron or Tracy are efficient shooters and if this team is to be successful they must become efficient. No more low percentage shots because of ones immage, the ball must be kept moving to reach the open man with a high percentage shot. Never again in the regular season do I want to see Yao taking only 7 shots. Battier can be used most effectivly in the starting five, he has a high basketball IQ and will facilitate the open scorer where ever possible or even occasionally be that man himself.
I sort of want to see Ron on the court with TMac and Yao. I don't know about you guys, but I still want to see how any team try to double Tracy and/or Yao while Ron is on the court.
I think we should play him just like the Popavich plays Manu. Have him be the first off the bench, coming in about 4 minutes into the first quarter. He'll play with Yao and Tracy for a good amount of minutes, then he will lead the bench players. You can do both. Ron will play starter minutes, but he'll come off the bench. That's what I'd like to happen.
Start Battier. Play them both together at times. Minutes: PG: Alston (24), Brooks (12), Barry (10), Francis (2) SG: McGrady (32), Barry (8), Artest (8) SF: Battier (24), Artest (24) PF: Scola (24), Landry (18), Hayes (6) C: Yao Ming (32), [Mutombo] (8), Scola (4), Dorsey(4)
I guess it would depend on matchups. But I'd like to see them stay consistent to start the year, with Yao-Scola-Battier-McGrady-Alston starting. It seems like a good, balanced lineup that has proven successful. Then Artest could come off the bench and be more of a focal point when T-Mac or Yao is on the bench. It seems like it would be easier to transistion smoothly into this year by keeping the same group of starters. But I haven't seen any of the preseason games, so I don't know which combinations have looked good and which haven't worked so well. It does seem like Artest would bring great energy and scoring off the bench.
I wonder why posey isn't starting eventhough he's better than mo? If it was close as to who was the better player, then I might agree, but its not close. Not to mention teams don't even guard shane. Who cares if yao gets 7 shots or scola was euro mvp, this is about rings. The Laker were unbeatable until malone got hurt. So they can have 4 hof and yet there aren't enough balls for this rox team. Gimme a break. I guess maxwell should have kept his job over clyde and harrington should have stated instead of chuck. Start ur best, stomp a hole in teams and rest up.
Have your guys observed Tmac, Artest and Yao body language when they were on the floor at the same time? Yao know that he needs to get his amount of shots. Tracy knows it is all on him and he definitely needs to get his shots or he will get pissed off. Artest does tend be selfish and clears out everyone so he can get his shots. It's like going to war, your not gonna have your generals, lieutenants, and sergeants on the front line, while have the ground troops as your second line of defense. Must be a mixture of both. And I hope Artest doesn't get pissed off not being able to play with Yao or McGrady for most of the game.
I like the analogy but it's not the right one. Why? Because if you are going to war with 5 on 5 you do need your top dogs at the front line. You will have to come with a few more reinforcements but guess what, so will your enemy. Also, we're talking about a battle that last just 48 minutes too, not a few hours, not a day, not a year, just 48 minutes, so again, you go with your top dogs, balls to walls, and take no prisoners from the beginning till the end. So to do that your best players should start and have the opportunity to finish as well and let the chips fall where they may.
