Now i posted most of this yesterday, but stuff up the title, now for three games in row Mooch has started at the 1 and Steve at the 2 and Shandon at the 3. I understand why the line-up changed against the Small ball Mavs line-up but the maybe it has stuck, and thus has bigger implications. Now i hear a whole pile of users on BBSs going WOO HOO with the news that Shandons moves to the starting 3 is permanent, great news and maybe just soon Rudy will actually play him in the forth aswell and nail Walt to the bench permantly and also play Langhi. But for me the more significant move is Mooch starting and Steve to the 2. From the first day Steve arrived here in Htown, debates have raged on CC.net BBS over whether Steve should play at the 1 or the 2, so does Rudy' decision to start Mooch instead of Cat, mean Rudy is also coming to the realisation that the Rockets will get more value from Steve at the 2. Maybe Cat's elbow injury has something to do with it, but then why is he shooting so much, so then why is a guy who was playing CBA last year now the Rockets starting PG. This is a bit a slap in the face for Cat i reckon. I know Rudy loves the spark Cat delivers off the bench but surely Steve at the 1, Cat at the 2 and Shandy at the 3 is a much better starting line-up than what we have seen the last two games or is Rudy sneakily making the change in Steve's position that we have debated over for years. Smeg ------------------ "What is it with this girl, has she got beer flavoured nipples??" - Heath Ledger in 10 things I hate about you
So now would you draft Jason Williams to run point? ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
technically he starts as the SG. but he really doenst play like one. he still is setting up teammates. i look at steve as a "combo guard" now. ------------------ --TEX
Couldnt agree more Texas salsa. IF you watch the games you'll see that Steve and Moochie both bring the ball up the court, not just mooch. I like this lineup ALOT. Shandon is now shining as a small forward and it limits the time Wiz is on the floor which is a good thing. I would still bring in Bull though because he's a killer out there and at least with his size he can at least contest the shot when he's posted up. I dont think this is at all a slap in the face of Cuttino, I just think Rudy's thinkin if it aint broke dont fix it. Also his substitution pattern has been bring in cat for MOOCH then bring in walt usually for shandon then bring back in mooch for steve. Basically I'm trying to say Steve starting at the 2 isnt taking away from cuttino's minutes.Jason Collier is gonna have a nice time riding the pine when he gets back because carlos went and stole his spot from him ------------------
Jason Collier is gonna have a nice time riding the pine when he gets back Not true necessarily, Collier is still an important part of the team. He's a "true" center, and his size and perimeter shot is going to come in handy against big men like Shaq, Robinson, and the like. I love Carlos but I doubt he goes out and plays like this regularly. He is just to undersized to hang with the big men on a consistent basis. Collier will still get the time and looks he did before he left, which shouldn't cut into Carlos time all that much anyway. . . ------------------ Rocks2000/2001 in disguise! [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited January 02, 2001).]
Salsa is right. Technically, with this line-up, Moochie is the starting two. Francis may line up defensively against the two guard because of his size but he is still the point guard on offense. Moochie doesn't set up the plays or run the offense, Francis does. If the Rockets get a SF in the draft, you can bet, if Anderson is still here, he moves back to the two and Stevie goes back to the one. ------------------ The way to use life is to do nothing through acting, The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu
With Rudy T it's always been about who finishes, not who starts, and unless I'm mistaken, Mobely has been on the floor at the end of every game this year. j ------------------
Yea Mobes has been on the floor at the end of games but if you notice our past few wins so has Shandon. I would rather have Shan in there at the end of the games than Mooch ------------------
It's not a slap in Cat's face. I don't think everyone on this board realizes how important Cat's role is on the team. Having someone with the ability to score when the starters leave is HUGE, and Mobley is ideally suited for it-far more than anyone else on the team. Who else would be that spark off the bench? Anderson? He can play D, but he's never going to be a terrific go-to guy. Bullard? Please. how about KT? I love him, but NO. Mobley FLOURISHES in this role: he can be a ball hog, and plays against a diminished defense. STOP worring about respect and other crap like that, and think about what strategies are the most beneficial to the team as a whole. Then if you feel like it, coem back and explain how Cat starting benefits the ROCKETS as a whole. ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
Lil Francis How about Joe Johnson? They could share the the Point and SG duties, plus we'd gain some height in the backcourt.
IMHO, to have a 6'3 or lower shooting guard you need your point guard to be at least 6'5. A younger Ron Harper would be a perfect match for Iverson(snow defends the two's pretty well at 6'4 but is much more comfortable defending the 1. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
I dont view this as anything permanent but more as something to get the team going temporarily. The team was in such a rut and this lineup played well against Dallas so that prompted Rudy to stick with it. I dont think this is any kind of signal that the Rockets plan on drafting a point guard or anything like that; I just dont see anyone like Jason Williams or Jamaal Tinsley coming on board. Joe Johnson tho is an intriguing prospect who I hope to get a good look at this yr. He's compared to players like Lamar Odom and Jalen Rose b/c he is a ball handling, multi faceted 6-9 player. He could potentially develop into the multi dimensional small forward this team seeks. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net [This message has been edited by MManal (edited January 03, 2001).]
