a. Play T-Mac and Yao their normal minutes b. Play T-Mac and Yao limited minutes - around 20 mintes each c. T-Mac and Yao in street street clothes
Limited minutes. I say play them the first half like you normally would, then sit them for most if not all of the second half. Let Moochie put up 20 shots just for kicks.
Why even bother. What the hell is the difference between 25 minutes and 39 minutes - not much. What's the point. Just put them in street clothes and get ready for the playoffs. This is TMac and Yao's all-star break - the one they never had. All we need is a freak injury or someone to bump McGrady and have him strain his hip or have Yao trip over someone's ankle or get hacked.
I say just rest them and so that they will have plenty of rest going into the playoffs. I dont think having them miss a game will affect their performances in game 1 of the playoffs. Also limit the minutes of Sura and Wesley (neither should play more than 25).
Giving them the night off would mean 5 or 6 days between games. Bad idea. Play them 15-20 minutes and sit them down. R2K, I bet you have a hard time find worthwhile highlights from this game. As far as I'm concerned, YOU have earned the night off in preparation for the playoffs. Take a break m'man and show us your playoff form.
we don't want them rusty. let them play 20 minutes. knowing JVG, tomorrows practice will be geared towards the mavs anyway.
JVG will probably play them limited minutes. He did it last year in our finale against Dallas where our position was set. He sat Cat and Steve to nurse borderline injuries and only played Yao like 20 minutes. If T-Mac's tendinitis is anything to worry over, then he might sit. Otherwise I'm sure he'll go with preseason minutes.
It would be unfair for whoever buy ticket to see that game to rest Yao & TMac though, as a fan, I say put in Braggs, Moochie etc.
One thing this game may finally prove is whether Vin Baker's tank is truly empty. If he doesn't get off the bench this game, can we finally write him off and agree he is not "worth a try?" There may be other issues involved that we don't know about. I mean, Torray Braggs has even played a few minutes as the 3rd string PF!
They shouldn't be rested unless the outcome of the game is clear. Why mess up a good routine and lose? Losing begets Losing. There's no such thing as a meaningless game. You didn't see the 72-10 Bulls team say, hey, we got home court advantage clinched, let's take it easy until the playoffs. They should go for the win and blow the Sonics out if the Sonics rest their starters.
You might have a point there...but still, I think the Rockets should just try to keep winning and stay focused on that.
if they are healthy i just say play normal minutes so they can maintain their rhythm and feel for all the role players on the court. the playoffs at earliest start on saturday which would give them at least 2 full days rest and its not like they have to fly somewhere far for the game. if there are injuries to any of the players that would be helped by an extra day of rest then by all means rest them otherwise i dont see the need to start moochie,braggs,bowen,padgett and james
It never fails to amaze me how many ppl dont pay attention to the news aroudn here... Vin was put on the injured list when they activated Mooch a game ago....he would not be allowed back off for 5 games...
Not true. The 5 games apply to regular season games, they don't carry into the playoffs. If they think he can help them, he'll be on the playoff roster. He's just another big body for practice, I doubt he'll see any time.
Ive never seen that particular loophole...so Il lreserve judgement on that until I see different... It is a moot point actually....my point was that he is on IL...adn as such can not comeoff the bench against SEA as the poster I quoted suggested.....I highly doubt he plays in the playoffs een if he is able... His problem isnt some fake injuury like plantar fascitis...he has a heart arrythmia(sp?)..adn the article that stated he was put on IL made it sound like he would not know if he could play anymore this season.(playoffs or otherwise) I predict he remans on IL for the remainder.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3141855 ... Baker given thumbs up Rockets forward/center Vin Baker on Monday was given the go-ahead by doctors to resume workouts after going on the injured list last week with heart palpitations. The Rockets could activate Baker from the injured list Thursday, in time to be included on the postseason roster. ...
if you have to play them, then no more than 15 to 20 minutes. i do not wanna see an injury to yao or tmac in a meaningless game. they won't be rusty for the playoffs b/c they get a little rest. and everyone else will be resting guys, too. as for losing begets losing, we lost 3 in a row to end 94-95 and that turned out well. i think the 96-97 bulls went 1-3 at the end and still won a title. and the 95-96 bulls had to keep going to get to 70 (of course they did manage to ruin a chance at a perfect home season by going from 37-0 to not even tying the celtics record of 40-1 by losing 2 of their last 4).
