Rockets Hot Topic #2: Who Will Be Our Primary Small Forward?

I voted for Rice, but I changed my mind.

I think that Mobley/Yao/Francis NEED their shots, while MoT and Rice also demand their touches. I really can't see how all 5 of them can be on the court at the same time.

Griffin will start simply because we signed him AFTER Van Gundy joined the Rockets, meaning he was most probably HIS choice. Also, this would allow some more shots for our other scorers.

Ofcourse, this is assuming we don't make any moves.

 

It's a hard question to sort out because it seems our offense won't have a typical three-spot. (I'm using "seems" based on Team Rocket personnel.) My guess is that AGee will spend the most time defending opponents' threes.

 

I voted for "some yet to be aquired player". It's not a slam at AGriff or Pike, I just think there will be a move.

AG and Piatkowski are great rotation players, but I think Pike is going to be taking some of Cat's minutes as a 2, with some 3 in the right matchups. AG looks to be used more at the 3, but I see him as a great second unit guy, like Piatkowski... not as a starter.

Rice? He may surprise us, but (sorry for the overused cliche') he's cooked. I'll be shocked, at this point, if Boki is anywhere but the end of the bench. And that's the opposite of what I thought at this time last year. EG?? You gotta be kidding. In the right scheme, he can switch and guard some of the 3's, but he has no handles. The guy is a 4.

So that leaves me with thinking we make a move. It may be after JVG sees how they do before the deadline, and how Yao seems to be holding up, but I'm becoming more convinced that Cato is going to be used in a trade.

 

IMHO there is absolutely no way A.G starts for the Rox. He is not starter quality, but rather your prototypical role player. He was able to start briefly in Dallas because they are an offensive juggernaut that could cover for his lack of scoring talent. That hardly applies to the Rockets, as there were times last season when we couldn't thow it in the ocean for countless stretches.
Given the offense I expect will be run by JVG, we will need to have a deadeye shooter on the floor to keep defenses honest and allow for proper spacing to allow Yao (post play) and Steve (slashing) to do what they do best.
That being said, I think G. Rice will start but Pike will edge him in total minutes played.

 

Rice will probly start at the beginning of the season with Griffin as the main backup and Pike primarily backing up the 2, but spotting at the 3.. occasionally. Later on though, either because of his age or injuries, Rice will have to step down as starter and Griffin or Nachbar (depending how he does, he should get some minutes this season to show his stuff) will be the starter.

 

Agreed. Glen Rice isn't dead. Until he is you start the veteran out of respect.

 

Pike, most likely, with A Griff coming in to a defensive boost.

 

Got another vote for Voltron here...

 

Adrian will start, Glen will sub and be the primary SF. Doesn't really matter, all players at the "3" will be role players on the team, except when JVG will let Glen post up down low.
Pike is a back-up. Boki needs more NBA game experience. I can see them phasing in Boki in the mix closer to mid-season. Lets see what JVG can do with him.