Which is all you really need off the bench if you have a top 5 NBA player and perhaps a top 10 NBA player in your starting lineup.
I'm surprised that there's been little discussion about running twin towers on the floor every once in a while. NO ONE would be able to get a shot off in the paint with Yao AND Mutombo patrolling the lane. With Yao's shooting ability and smarts, I think he could handle the 4 spot. I know he isn't the most mobile big man, but it would only be in spot minutes. It worked for Dream and Sampson... Dream: C - 7'-0" Ralph: PF - 7'-4"
im not a dream expert but wasn't he 6'10" and very agile/quick? Mutombo is NOT agile or quick. he is the opposite. Yao is agile for his size, but not quick. They would get burned on Offense every trip down the floor. Foul trouble would be killer
Like I said, it would only be in spot minutes. And the reason I suggested that Yao play the 4 is EXACTLY because Mutombo is neither agile nor quick and can only play the 5. It was brought up in another thread that Mutombo could be the 4 if they were both on the floor, but we know that is pretty much impossible.
The comparrison to Dream and Ralph was really only in height, since the PF has a few inches on the C, Which is pretty rare.
I think most of us realize a Mutombo Yao combo wouldn't even work in spot minutes. Mutombo would have to be a rebounder on the weak side (which he seems to frown upon) or Yao would have to be a spot-up on the weakside, which would be dumb.. And like someone pointed out, anyone could run a delayed fast break even and kill us.. Ralph/Dream? EACH was more agile than either of today's "pair".
Mark, Bobby Jackson, Jamison, and SAR have combined for 0 NBA championships, as far as I recall. A bench is not determined by its starpower individually but rather by it's ability to work together as a unit and prevent a drop-off while the starters get rest.
The Pistons are in the East, and the Lakers had Shaq and Kobe. If the Tracy and Yao dynamic duo becomes as dominant as Shaq and Kobe, then who cares who is on our bench.......Until then, HELLO PEOPLE!!!!!.....How can you honestly say we have a deep bench with Ward as our starting PG? You know why he's our starter? Because he's all we have. What happens when Ward gets hurt? Lue and Wilks? Yeah, that's quality depth. And what is the obsession with Nachbar? The guy is young, and may be a descent player one day, but what has he shown to make anyone believe he is quality depth? He punks Malone in the playoffs, and all of a sudden he could be cracking our starting lineup? He's going into his third year, and has done NOTHING in his first two. Motumbo is 38. Granted, I'm all for this move, but will he stay healthy and be able to provide 10-12 minutes off the bench? Sura....nice pick up. Good versatality. MoT, no doubt the best bench player on the team. Quality at the 4. All in all I call this average depth. Maybe I'm just pointing out the negatives, and being pessimistic, but the Astros taught me alot this year. I'm just trying to be realistic by not getting my hopes up until I see this TOTALLY different Rockets team on the court tearing up the West. But hey, the Rockets are my team, I hope I'm wrong.
Moonnumack, I totally agree, but none of us have seen this team play yet, how do you know they will work together? How can we say this is a deep bench when half our roster was overhauled. Two weeks ago people were panicing because CD hadn't signed anyone, then we get Ward and Sura and it's all good? In the East maybe, but not in the West. I'm not saying the Rockets won't make the playoffs, they will. I just don't see a championship contender, or a top 3 seed until they get someone to man the PG posistion other than Ward and Lue. Hell....this offseason isn't over yet.
