Assuming there are no further changes and until further notice, what do you think will the minute distribution between the players look like, now that we have retained Scola and Lowry and our roster seems to be pretty much set. Projected minute distribution as I could see it, unless the younger players really start to establish themselves and start earning more minutes: Brooks (26)/Lowry (22), 3rd string PG (0) Martin (34)/Brooks (8)/Ariza (6)/Taylor (0) Ariza (24)/Battier (14)/Budinger (10) Scola (34)/Battier (10)/Hayes (4)/Patterson (0)/Jeffries (0) Yao(24)/B. Miller [assuming he gets signed] (16)/Hayes (8)/Hill (0) Obviously, because of injuries, the players who now show with 0 minutes will also get some playing time. But this is how I would currently see it. Brooks' minutes at the SG position would come when Lowry is in, they both play well together for stretches. My main thing there is that we will probably have to find a way to get Budinger more minutes. I wouldn't really have a problem with Miller not signing on, I think we might as well give those minutes to Hayes, Patterson, Hill and even Jeffries. I would be ready to go to war with that team. Unless Chris Paul becomes available and the team sees him as a potential major upgrade, I cannot think of a trade that would really improve the team much further. IF everyone stays healthy and Yao comes back at 100 %, I think we are not only a playoff team, but actually a contender - big IF, I know.
Those look pretty good but hopefully Shane doesn't see time at the 4. I'd replace his minutes with Hill because he can definitely keep up with the fast pace squad.
I think they shoe horn in a 10 man rotation..... Brooks (26)/Lowry (22) Martin (32)/Brooks (6)/Budinger(10) Ariza (26)/Battier (14)/Budinger(8) Scola (32)/Hill(10)/Battier(6) Yao(26)/B. Miller (16)/Hill(6) That is just too many folks....either Battier or Trevor should be dropped from the rotation..... What I would like to see is this: PG Brooks 26 Lowry 22 SG Martin 34 Brooks 8 Budinger 6 SF Ariza 32 Budinger 16 PF Scola 34 Hill 14 C Yao 26 Miller 20 Hill or Scola (2) A solid 9 man rotation......with situational substitutions of Battier/Hayes & Andersen. DD
You have to remember that these are the averages. There are a lot of teams against which Shane would never see time at the 4, but there are some teams where he can, and I'm guessing Adelman will take advantage of that to get Shane's leadership on the floor, because minutes at the 2/3 spots will be crunched. Here's my guess, for November rotation only, assuming no major trades. Obviously this will change if/when Yao gets bumped higher than 25 mpg, and when injuries happen. Brooks (26)/ Lowry (22) Martin (32) /Brooks (8) / Budinger (8) Ariza (24) / Battier (14) / Budinger (10) Scola (32) / Battier (8) / Hill (8) Yao (25) / B. Miller [assuming he gets signed] (20) / Hill (3) It's not that Hayes and Jeffries won't play, but they'll be more situation/foul trouble guys until injuries play a role. Patterson, as Morey said, likely goes to the back of the line. That gives you a 10-man rotation, which is great for a team with injury concerns and great for the development of young guys. It's not great for the playoffs, but I have a suspicion the Rockets will have a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 trade come the winter that will even that out. Basically, you have Brooks, Martin and Scola as your 30 minutes plus guys, with Yao, Ariza, Lowry and Battier clearly in the 21-30 range. Budinger and your backup center (Miller) are in the 15-20 periphery, while Hill gets the mop-up minutes up front.
This I will only add one thing, I think it is important to give rookies playing time, even if it is only occasionally You can call me crazy, But I think a 2nd unit of Hill Paterson C Bud Taylor Lowry Can be the best 2nd unit in the league, with a crazy change of pace, and scoring machines, that will have to learn to play D, if they want to ever be starters, but as a 2nd unit that is not as big of a problem I think Hill with Paterson alongside him, can definitely play the C, if you saw the few games he did with us last year, you saw a guy that was not pushed around, as he did in Summer league, people have to differentiate thinks When in the NBA players give 110%, and Hill will put muscle in, and I would like to see this 2nd unit play mins alongside each other. Miler Battier Jeffires and Hayes will play mins, with our 2nd unit, and will have a very important role making our young guns more prepared come Playoff time Yao (Best C in the league) Scola (very solid, the Heart) Ariza (will continue the learning curve, and prove the Haters wrong) Martin (breakout year, I will not be surprised if this guy is top 10 scoring this year) AB (will continue to shoot like a stud, and work on his D) This is what "we" think it will happen, of course , Morey with possible trades happening, will dictate who plays more and who plays less PeAcE
Brooks PG/SG (32) / Lowry PG/SG (18) Martin SG (30) / Budinger SG/SF (14) / Taylor SG (12) Ariza SF (34) / Budinger SG/SF (20) / Battier SF (12) Scola PF (32) / Patterson PF (14) Ming C (30) / Hill PF/C (10) / Hayes PF/C (Coach's decision day to day)
If Hill's minutes stay down. Will his trade value follow suit? Would other teams look at is as second year, second team where he can't get minutes?
Brooks (24) Lowry (24) - I really think these guys will basically split the time at the point because they really shake up opposing defenses with their different styles. Martin (35) Brooks (8) Budinger (4) Taylor (1) - I'd much rather have Budinger back up the two than Ariza. Budinger perhaps loses his PT here is Taylor continues to improve. Ariza (24) Battier (14) Budinger (10) - If Budinger continues to improve, I'm not sure who loses minutes here. Tough tough battle. Bud brings so much more offense but Ariza's and Battier's defense are of utmost importance when Brooks and Martin are on the floor. Scola (32) Hill (7) Hayes (5) Patterson (4) - Patterson maybe eats into Hayes' minutes here if he really shows that he is capable of playing in this league similar to Hill's slow breakthrough last year. Yao (26) ??? (22) - If we get Brad Miller, the question of who gets those minutes is answers: Miller with around 16-20 and Hayes with 2-6 minutes. If we don't get Miller, it will probably be Hayes with 12-14, Hill with 3-5, and Scola with 3-7 minutes depending on matchups.
We have too many quality SFs........ Trevor Shane CBud Jeffries All are rotational type players. Something has to give, you just can not play them all. DD
Am guessing Morey has a plan for a trade since Battier and Jeffries contract expires after next season
But for whom or what? I mean it would almost be better if he did the trade BEFORE the season, maybe something like: Jeffries and Battier for Beidrens or something. Just clear out some space...for a quality big. If not there could be some barking going on behind the scenes....having too much talent can cause problems.... DD
Assuming no Brad Miller or trades and looking at last years minutes: AB 35.6 minutes (remained in high 30s even after Martin came aboard_ Scola 32.6 minutes Ariza 36.5 minutes Lowry 24.3 minutes Martin 35.8 minutes With the return of Yao, even for 25 minutes, this will remove the need for scoring from the other positions as players who can score off of a Yao double team will get more minutes. I see Brooks and Martin minutes dipping a bit, especially since they are minus defenders. With that in mind, here's my minutes breakdown: Yao (25)/Hayes (15)/Hill (8) Scola (32)/Jeffries (12)/Hill (4) Ariza (32)/Battier (12)/Bud (4) Martin (32)/Lowry (8)/Bud (8) Brooks (32)/Lowry (16) Total Minute Breakdown: Scola/Martin/Brooks (32) Yao (25) Lowry (24) Hayes (15) Battier, Jeffries, Hill, Bud (12) So, there are not enough minutes for Battier, we could use a better backup C, Patterson and Taylor better play their asses off if they want any minutes and David Anderson is trade filler. Anderson could actually be useful as a floor spacer if he could consistently hit the 3 ball.
Brooks (28)/Lowry (20) Martin (34) /Ariza (5)/Taylor (9) Ariza (22) /Battier (12) / Budinger (14) Scola (30)/Battier (4) / Patterson (12) Yao(24)/ Hayes (8) / Hill (6) i really hope patterson/budinger/taylor get alot of playing time. Our roster is sooooo deep!!!
9 man rotation in not particular order. AB(36) Lowry(24) Martin(34) Ariza(33) Battier(22) Budinger(17) Yao(28) Hill(13) Scola(35)
Rotation changes each game. 5\ Yao (18/24/30), Hayes (0/12/18/24), Jeffries (0/12/18), 4\ Scola (24/30/36), Hill (0/12/18/24), Patterson (0/6/12) 3\ Ariza (18/24/30/36), Battier (18/24/30/36) 2\ Martin (24/30/36), Budinger (12/18/24), Taylor (0/12/18) 1\ AB (18/24/30/36), Lowry (18/24/30)
All you folks are underestimating the importance of Battier for Yao. we need to regain our defensive identity and the best way is to play more Battier and Ariza, and less Buddinger. Ariza and Battier fit well with yao b/c they are able to spot up and shoot, and don't need to create. They are our best wing defenders and the offense functions with them with Yao. Budd is an up tempo piece to run w Lowry, but people are underestimating how we need Battier on the floor. We'll have enough offense. It's the defense that is the issue. It's clear that we have a logjam at the SG/SF position. But that's temporary b/c Battier/Jefferies are coming off the books. That gives Buddinger one additional year to improve his defense, so that he can backup Ariza and Martin. Until then, Battier needs to play. Keep in mind last year was to develop players like Buddinger. But also, we need more offense. Not so if Yao and Martin are around.
