If were talking playoffs, with a more developed Ming and a healthy squad, then my rotation looks more like 1.Ming 2.Griff 3.Francis 4.Mobes 5.Rice 6. KT 7. Mo T 8. Nachbar with Mooch and Cato on the outside looking in unless foul trouble sets in or we have to play matchups with a small team(Dallas), big team(???) or have to throw Cato out there to foul shaq. TMo shouldn't be getting any minutes at all in the playoffs. When you the season is on the line, you make sure you put your best players on the floor for as long as possible.
Sofine, Chad Ford put it just right when he evaluated the rockets post-draft needs. He said the rockets are all set. I have alot of respect for Chad who is infinitely more informed about each team than Walton is. In theory the suggestion of power is a good thing, in isolation; but when you look at the makeup of our team and where the league is going, I think the power thing should not be treated as a major need on our part. As far as what to do with KT, I would hold on to him. Why? First MoT can get the same injury on the other foot, so you need insurance. Second, EG could get injured and if he is not, he is still developing. Third, KT is under contract for one more year and we have the best chance to retain him if you go based on history. If at that time he is that good, we could then decide to keep him over MoT and trade MoT. Fourth, worst case scenario, we get some value back by doing a sign and trade. We may need that value then more than we need that value today seeing that the team is overload. Earlier in the tread I proposed the minute allocation which shows relatively low minutes for Rice, MoT who are injured and Eg, Ming, Cato and KT, which is a reflection of the talent on the team in the frontcourt. To keep players from getting upset I would work them more in practice and require more of them in games, per minute, than we did last year. Nothing I would like more than to have only one possession in ten where the ball is walked up the court, if you follow my drift.
oh, and outlaw is not a "banger". He's a hustle tweener player with no O. We have a better player in KT.
I like that assiment, first off I think that Yao will devlop faster than Griff, I may be wrong, and I hope Iam. But we do need an insurance...and your arugement is the best I have heard for keeping KT
Sofine, I happen to like our SG situation. Why? If I am told that for 48 minutes at that spot I can easily play, Mobley, Francis, Torres, Rice and potentially Nachbar, in a pinch, let say, I would say great I am all set. When you get a chance show me a potential rotation at sg in the league that would significantly outclass this one. I do not need to get Russell or anyone else. This thing about a sg only just came up recently after the draft. If we were dying so much for a shooting guard we would have drafted one in the second round. If push come to shove I would even play Brown 10 minutes at pg and shift Francis over to sg for 10 minutes. How many defenses you know look forward to playing 48 minutes of Francis, Mobley, Moochie, Brown, and Torres or Rice.
Actually sub Mooch into the rotation for Rice, unless Glenn has a great season, then for Nachbar instead.
Thanks Sofin. Crisco, why would you leave off Moochie? These guy need some rest and need to be sharp. It is not like Moochie cannot hold his own. I do expect Wink minutes to go up in the playoffs but removing Moochie is not advisable. I do not see how you could leave out Cato. His shooting percentage, rebounding, defense, size and bulk are too much to give up completely. To put all of this in perspective, Collier is as good as the Bucks starting center.
DearRock, yeah that's what I find too about playoff contraction. As for your rotation synopsis, remember, I'm personally talking about looking forward to post-Rice years. I'm talking about looking at our trade bait now with eyes to the future. With eyes to the future, I believe we only have 1 SF, and I believe we have no need for Cato in playoff games beyond 4 minutes or so. I see no big PF logjam, even when Griffin starts demanding 36-38 mpg. If he reaches that peak, he'll be getting 6-8 of those minutes at a secondary position (most likely center), leaving 18 minutes for another PF. Nachbar might only be worth 25 mpg if he sucks at defense, leaving 42 minutes total time to fill at SF/PF. You can fill that with 3-guard rotations and/or multi-purpose PFs, who are fast enough to use at SF. Eventually, we might trade a spare PF for something other than another big man, but I just don't know which one to trade right now, and I see no big reason to rush the decision. I don't see us needing a backup SG (Francis is that), and I don't see a need for another SF right now, since Griffin can play that if called up.
Crisco, it seems the limit is based on a notion rather than justification. Okay so you put in Moochie but why take out somebody? You cannot take out Rice because he will be specifically saved for the playoffs. As far as Nachbar is concerned we do not know how his transition will go but if you go based on what Jefferson did last year having been picked at #13, I would not be surprised if Nachbar is in.
how do you know Rice will be "saved" for the postseason? How do you know if he is even half the player he once was? If he has his shot falling he could play some spot minutes for us as a shooter during the playoffs. Maybe a bigger role if he really comes back into form. We'll find out during the season. Cato? Only if Ming isn't ready to bring it. I'd rather have Griff and Mo getting the leftover minutes at C, unless it's against Shaq or a team big team like New Orleans mebbe. I still only see 9 or 10 players at the max deserving of regular playing time in the playoffs on this roster, and only if they prove it during the reg season. Tmo? NO. Tierre? NO. Torres? NO.
HP, you have to go a little slow with me. There are somethings you are saying matter of factly that I would like us to go over. For instance when you say we only have 1Sf post Rice, who is that? Is that Nachbar? If it is, please tell me why KT and Tmo do not fit the bill as SF's. I am asking you that because for me to decide whether they are or not I look at what other teams are doing or using. I have just taken a look at the SF's of the Pacific Division and I still cannot see the inadequacies of our boys.
Crisco, I think we have agreement on ten and we can update that as the season goes along. I would not be so fast to give MoT Cato's minutes. First, Cato maybe even better this year and if MoT does not improve his rebounding numbers he will be in trouble. Remember Cato's game is above the rim and the more dominant Steve and Moochie are the more point Cato score above the rim. That added with a more Ben Wallace game you will still see Cato. In fact you may see both Cato and Ming together.
Crisco, I think we have agreement on ten and we can update that as the season goes along. I would not be so fast to give MoT Cato's minutes. First, Cato maybe even better this year and if MoT does not improve his rebounding numbers he will be in trouble. Remember Cato's game is above the rim and the more dominant Steve and Moochie are the more points Cato scores above the rim. That added with a more Ben Wallace game rebounding/shotblocking/ control of the paint) you will still see Cato. In fact you may see both Cato and Ming together.
Oh, I was talking about players right now considered SFs by the BBS. I'm saying we can and should use versatile PFs to help at SF, Kenny being one of them. Post Rice: go with Nach and power at the SF position. I look at it that Cato's lack of any offense makes Steve work harder for his points. Cato hampers our ability to play fancier offenses. Cato is trade bait as Griffin gets stronger.
Hey HP I get you. I am one of those looking forward to the fancier offenses but EG would have to be shooting above 50% before Cato should be trade bait. I would say that Francis has to work harder because of Cato's limitation. At least he should be. Cato should set some serious picks, rebound the ball, block shots and assist with raising the team's FG%. HP, to be honest with you, I cannot see a weakness on the team. In addition CD has such a deliberate and highly effective style that I really do not worry about the future too much. In addition, I tend to want to hold on to my players. That is why I am uneasy about Dan Langhi going and I fear the same could happen to Tmo. Tell me, HP, why wouldn't you include Tmo as a power at SF?
With EG having a three point shot in his arsenal, a shooting percentage above 50% will be near impossible to attain. Mango
Mango, I totally agree. I guess the point I was making is that Cato's shooting percentage is one of the best in the league. The fact that Francis works hard for that is certainly not as hard as him finding a shot for Mobley. We need exactly what Cato does for balance. I would not be too much in a rush to move that aspect of our game. The benefits to Cato go beyond the dunk. He sets better picks after that, rebounds with more purpose and plays better defense. I think we will use up much more of Phil Jackson's attention if he has to prepare for Ming, Eg and Cato rather than just Ming and EG. I am saying this even if EG and Ming are both playing like all stars. Do you know what it mean if a team try to take Cato out of the game?
Dear Rock. . . .I like your insight. . but I think I'm much more positive on Kenny Thomas. . . .In my opinion he hasn't peaked . . . and has a lot of upside. . .I think in the beginning I'd start: Cato Taylor Thomas Mobley Francis off the bench or 2nd unit Ming Rice Griffin Nachbar Moochie and I don't want to say we should ignore a great pick-up (like a Rashard Lewis maybe). . . .but I'd like to see what this team could do healthy. . . and I agree that reducing playing time for Francis. . . .could pehaps help his injury problem. . . . But I really see Rice playing the part of Bullard. . . .with a bit more playing time. . . come in and hit the 3's . . .if he can't. . . .he'd be the one I'd trade. . .with his salary be difficult, however. This team has so many unknowns. . . Is Francis going to be over migraines. . . .will Rice be able to play. . . .where is Ming going to fall in all of this. . . .How much better this year will Griffin be? Is Taylor going to be a force. . .or a bust? What about Nachbar. . . .I think it is going to be a great year. . . .and I hope we play the hand we have.
If Ming starts the first game. . . .we will be awesome. . . .Rudy is very conservative with his rookies. . and if Ming starts. . it will be a sign that he is so very very good. . .that Rudy felt compelled to start him. . . . Cato has been a shot blocker. .Griffin is and Ming is supposed to be. . . .wonder how that is going to play out. . . By the way. . Cato holds the Rocket Career record for shooting percentage. . . .as hard to believe as Swoops holding the WNBA career record for triple doubles. . . . .she has the only one. . .
