I don't know if this has been discussed anywhere else but why not? I know Battier's position is as a SF but does he have to start every game? I also realize that last years starting rotation has the most chemistry right now but later on in the season is it really the best team? I'm sure Adelman will figure this all out but if it were me I'd have the line up be: PG - Alston/SF3/Brooks SG - Bonzi/MJ/Head SF - T-Mac/Battier/Snyder - I would have preferred Harris but w/e. PF - Hayes/Scola/Landry C - Yao/Deke/Butler There can be a lot of mixing and matching depending on who the Rockets are playing. For e.g. when there's an elite sg/sf on the opposite team, Battier can start. Otherwise we should have Bonzi in the starting lineup, alongside T-Mac and Yao. He brings another dimension to the offense that will turnout to be invaluable this season. In my opinion, Mike James will flourish as the 6th man. The second unit will have plenty of firepower, MJ, Francis, Head, and Scola. This way there will be more minutes for the PG/SG spot. T-Mac can always slide back into SG but I think he can be just as valuable at SF while opening up the floor for a smaller and perhaps more versatile lineup. I don't know, just some idle thoughts. What do y'all say?
There's no chance that Bonzi will start over Battier. Battier's the perfect complement to Yao and T-Mac, as his shooting complements Yao on the post, and his defense allows T-Mac to guard the weaker swingman. He also doesn't need the ball, which is always good when T-Mac and Yao are on the floor. Bonzi is the perfect bench player. He can be the primary low post player when Yao's out, and his lack of range won't be much of a problem if he doesn't have to spread the floor.
Adelman has already assumed Battier is going to play large portion of minutes. Its basically telling us how highly he thinks of him. I doubt he will play from the bench behind someone like T-mac. your basically suggusting his going to get 10 minutes a game!!!
Good critical analysis! I don't see Bonzi starting over Battier with Tmac and Yao also in the game. To me that's like having SF3/James together at the same time. However I would like to have Bonzi be the primary player at the 2 after Tmac and MJ at the 1 once we go to the second unit. That would be some crazy defense in our back court.
Bonzi over Battier? You have to be kidding, right? I'm not interested in seeing the opponent's best 2/3 player shredding us for 30 a night.
It doesn't really matter if Adelman puts T-Mac as a 3 or a 2, becuase what is the point is what player the opposing coach sends to defend T-Mac, and it could range from a quick PF (Marion or Kirilenko) to those pesky little SGs (Bowen, Giricek, Kobe)
