"It gives more room for Yao." There's your story right there. This is how Van Gundy will make decisions about who plays and who doesn't, when Yao is on the court.
No way. If Padgett starts, then Yao HAS to guard Shaq. If Cato starts, then he can be the primary defender on Shaq. What this does is wears Shaq out on both ends of the court. Maybe I'd consider starting Padgett against a team like Dallas, but definitely not LA.
Agree. We finally know our opponent. LA has Malone and Shaq in the frontcourt. We need size down low.
. . . I think PADGE and CATO should log most of the minutes PADGE IMO *IS* MO T with a 3 pt shot Can someone tell me what EXACTLY Mo does better than PADGE? Cato is a better defender/maybe rebounder Rocket River
How about posting up? How about facing up and driving and pulling up midrange? How about finishing better? He's one of the better skilled offensive PF's in this league. IMO even though he's had some lazy spells from time to time on D, he's a much tougher defender than Padge. Padgent is not consistent enough of a 3 point shooter to be playing alot. He only deserve spot minutes on special situations only.
I'll give u the post up . . but do we need PADGE to post I thought that was YAO's Domain We need padge to post up at the 3 pt line entry pass and rebound I don't think is better at D Maybe driving but i have not seen much of Padge driving becuase again . . isn't driving the issue we have with SF and Cat? Rocket RIver
Whenever Padgett goes up against athletic fours, he has zero effectiveness in the rebounding department, and for that reason he will forever be a bench player. FOURS MUST REBOUND. PERIOD.
Then, we are in agreement that Padgett shouldn't start, which is what this thread is about. Yes, I agree with you that Padgett should play more during the season, but that's JVG's decision, and he is known for ONLY trusting people from the Knicks. There is a reason why Padgett has never been a starter in this league. Don't you think all the coaches know better about him from the games & practices with him?
Padgett against Malone would be a joke, plain and simple. Malone would just blow through him. MoT is a bigger body and he uses it well. Say what you will about Mo's D, he knows how to get in the right spot to defend the play. The charges he takes is just one result of that. He forces defenders to take tough shots over him and always stays in front of his man. His help defense, on the other hand, is shall we say a little lacking. I don't trust Padgett's defense worth a flip. The only thing he does is create more space inside by spotting up behind the 3-point line. It's kind of like an "Air" Bullard type roll. The pro's is that he gives Yao more room to roam, and clears out the lane better for our slashers. That trade-off probably doesn't even make up for the pick & roll Steve & Mo work very effectively. I'll take Mo over Padgett in almost any situation. With exceptions when we're playing teams like Seattle, Dallas, etc.
