It even doesn't matter,but I would love to see Mike James as starting PG. That's that spot that is undefined but sure we don't lack players and we're in better position than last year.We're fully covered and tanked on every position so starting doesn't mind,as you can easily contribute from the bench.
it don't matter who starts its how the rockets finish and thats is something the rockets are notorious for!
Yeah I'm thinking its going to be Yao, Chuck, battier, tmac, rafer.....chucks proved that he can play and he makes things happen with his hustle, but I'm not saying he'll stay a started for long. Maybe after the first few games scola will prove to be a better starter? And I agree with most are saying Yao + chuck = good....deke + chuck = no offense and tmac hurting his back trying to hard.
Do not start Rafer!!! I really appreciate his good attitude and impressive performance after this offseason, but he cannot start for us. It's only a matter of time before opposing teams catch on and play off him completely. Fans love how he runs the offense now, but Rafer WILL be exposed again. Starting lineup: MJ Tmac Shane Scola Yao
I don't think the position's undefined. James' great, but i just find it hard for rafer to lose his starting spot. If he could play like he did in the preseason thru out the season, we r going to be unstoppable. The truth is, even if he still shoots bricks like he did last year in some games, i still dont' think james can get the starting job easily from rafer's hands, cuz rafer's got great hands at passing and running the offense, but as u said, james' great, the starting spot won't matter how much he'll contribute, he'll get the minutes he deserves.
I have to second the thread starter's excitement. I honestly haven't been this hyped for a Rockets season since we picked up Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells last year and that in itself had been a long time coming dating back to the excitement I felt when we picked up Stromile Swift and Derek Anderson to round out our starting 5 the summer before.
The ROX starters had the biggest plus/minus advantage in the league last year. Why on earth would you change that combination? Our problem last year was lack of scoring off the bench. The second unit of Scola, Wells and James provide that this year. Switching Scola and Hayes in the first unit defeats the whole purpose of having a strong, scoring second unit. Hayes needs to start. We need his defense help.
What just struck me was, Hayes/Battier banging on our opponents scorers saves TMac's/Yao's energy on the defensive end. Granted Yao on the help D/interior D. The smaller guys matched up with Yao SAT night really put a body on him, I think the reason for his offensive inefficiency.
Because we have not been in the playoffs for the last 10 years. As I said before, we need to have our best 5 starting and taking big leads to start the game. If we don't have our best five to start, teams will double on Yao. With Scola starting, they won't be able to leave him alone. Scola demands somebody to be defending him. Be real. Hayes is a role player and when he is on the field, his defender has the luxury to be roaming around.
Yah I guess I should have been more excited about the T-mac trade or the Yao pick, but I haven't thought we would win it all since we had Barkley, Pippen, and Clyde on the same team. Why, does that make me a troll? My guess is that you are a pecker head.
If James passes the ball first I will agree. He's better than skip as a scorer, shooter, but skip's probably is better as a playmaker
Huh? I don't have a problem with Scola and/or Mike James starting, to be honest. But let's get something clear. You say we need starting group that can jump out to big leads. That's exactly what we had last year with Rafer and Chuck starting.
I think Rafer start just because he initiate the fastbreak better than anyone else on this team. This type of offense FITS him perfectly...his speed, his passing skills, dribbling, and decision making is like non other. I think he creates more easy scoring opportunities for his teammates than James or Francis. Now don't get me wrong...i LOVE to start James as well...with his aggressive mentality attacking the basket ect., but i think if THIS IS still the JEFF Van GUNDY's offense....i definitely 100% favor James over Rafer even if Rafer play well...why?? Because Jeff's offense don't really do any fastbreak or required someone with tremendous passing skills...you just got to pass to Yao and watch from the 3pts line and this clearly fit James than Rafer because now you have someone that can penetrate as well. But with Adelman's system...it requires a BIBBYs' PG to play that position. Now if Rafer struggles and James excel..then i will favor James over Rafer.
Because we are a better team when Scola replaces Chuck. Scola moves just as much without the ball and he finishes around the rim 10x better than Chuck. When he gets the ball on the wing, he can put it on the floor and successfully attack the basket or drill a jumper if he isn't contested. To date, Scola is also a better rebounder than I expected. With Bonzi coming off the bench and either Tracy or Yao still in the game, the notion of channeling scoring at PF to the 2nd unit is misguided. At PG, it will become obvious going forward that MJ is better than Rafer. Put that one in the bank. If Rafer continues his stellar shooting percentage, fine. If he becomes a sinkhole again, bench him and improve the team! Just because our starting 5 last year was good as a unit doesn't mean we should stand pat. Chuck and Rafer were by far the weakest links of our starters and that's where we must look to improve. Chuck and Rafer have a 2 year head start over MJ, Scola and SF in their familiarity with Yao and Tracy. That gap will narrow. Some of you act like the entire starting unit will be leaving the game at the same time. Not so. We will have an 8 1/2 player rotation with players usually coming in one at a time in the 1st half. Closely watch the substitution pattern with Yao and Tracy. We will not lack firepower on the floor.
I don't know exactly who will start. Right now it seems like it'll be Rafer Tracy Shane Hayes/Scola (?) Yao But perhaps, what's more important, is what team will most likely be finishing the games? I'd say this is the most probable: James Tracy Shane/Bonzi (just depends on the night) Scola Yao
We made the efoort to finda Power Forward who would compliment Yao Ming and generally take away the extra defence played on both Tracy and Yao! So why would be not have him starting with Yao & Tracy? Chuck causes the opposite to happen. If Chuck starts then Coach 'A' is saying one thing but doing the opposite! Scola plays best with the best, not with the second wave! Battier play much better offensively when he plays with the second wave
I think you make a good point. Also look at who may play better with Deke. Deke is not the top of the lane type of passing center we need, so does Hayes fit better there? Deke playes in the middle and clogs the lane. Hayes may be a better fit for a higher energy D role too.
Judging from the preseason, I think it'll be Alston McGrady Battier Hayes Yao They've been awesome so far, killing everyone right out of the gate. The first subs off the bench will be Scola for Yao and Wells for McGrady. Yao will then come in for Scola, moving him over to power forward. James will eventually come in for Rafer, McGrady will slide down to small forward eventually and either Wells or Head or Francis will get minutes at the two. Right now it looks like Francis and maybe Head are the odd men out. James and Wells will get most of the minutes off the bench at the guard spots. For nostalgic reasons, I'm a fan of Francis so I hope he starts to figure more prominently into our offense. Also, I think Scola will eventually average more minutes than Hayes. Hayes might eventually come off the bench, or he might just be the nominal starter with Scola getting the lion's share of the minutes. I Don't think we'll see Mutumbo every game, almost never see Butler or Brooks, and everyone else we will never see at all unless there are injuries. I agree with previous posters though: Far more interesting than who will start, is who will end. I honestly have no idea.
I liked what I saw in Seattle when this lineup was on the court: PG - James SG - T-Mac SF - Shane PF - Scola C - Yao They were so potent offensively, and their defense wasn't anything to scoff at. MJ seems to be good at pressure D, T-Mac can defend almost anyone because of his length, Scola and Battier discourage guys to drive because of their positioning skills, and Yao looms large behind them all.
