What is the starting lineup?

Don't be surprised if Hayes is starting to begin the season instead of Andersen.

And McGrady could join the team in November, potentially giving us this starting lineup:

Brooks - McGrady - Ariza - Scola - Hayes

 

I don't think Battier will be the starting shooting guard. We need a better ballhandling lineup on the floor. I'm sure Ariza and Battier will spend time on the court together, but I doubt they both start.

Whether or not some people believe Lowry should start at point guard over Brooks is irrelevant. It is clear based on last year's playoffs who the Rockets have the most faith in. Brooks will be the starting point guard. The combination of Brooks and Lowry as starters is going to be difficult, like you say, for defensive reasons.

I haven't seen Budinger play yet, so I don't know what his game is like, other than what I have read on the board. I would think that Taylor, Budinger, or a player still to be aquired will be starting until McGrady returns.

Until McGrady comes back, I think the Rockets will start a reasonably sized lineup and quickly go to a small lineup depending on the game.

 

Nice lineup. Our great length at the wings would somewhat assist in covering up our size issues in our frontcourt. We'd be bound to at least have one mismatch, on the wings.

 

If Chase can stay in front of his man and close out on shooters, I think he has a Chance to start a few games if Ariza or Battier miss any time. Trevor has had foot problems in the past and will now be playing more minutes then he ever has his whole career.

That is bound to have some effect on how his body feels.

With the lack of depth we have at the 2 with tmac out I would not be surprised if we saw alot of Brooks playing of the ball at the 2 and Lowry playing some 1. It wont be a staple but it could give some teams some match up problems from time to time.

 

It is possible for Scola to play center with Landry playing PF. Till Anderson prove he is worthy of starters minutes.

 

Hayes happens to be our best passer at the 4/5 position from the high post. He can't shoot, but saying he literally gives us nothing offensively with him out there isn't true.

We give up a lot offensively with Hayes instead of Yao. We also will be giving up a lot defensively with Andersen instead of (probably) anybody else. That's just how it is, unfortunately.



Edit: ^^ I didn't consider that, but its an option as well. Scola and Landry together in the starting lineup. I think that will depend on how much better Landry has gotten defensively.

 

many will disagree but...

brooks
budinger
ariza
scola
hayes

 

Hays will be starting before Landry
Landry will always be a spark of the bench on this Rocket team.

 

i think battier deserves to start over budinger...for many reasons

 

Brooks
Ariza
Battier
Scola
Andersen

Or we could start Landry and Scola at the five. Pops could play Landry role off the bench.

 

I don't care who starts. I'd like to see how this group does:

AB
Budinger
Ariza
Scola
Andersen

This above group has four dudes who can slash, move without the ball, and knock down threes; and Scola, who just flat-out hustles. Of course, I'm assuming Andersen's as advertised. IMIT.

Then (or first) I'd like to see this more defense-oriented group:
KL
JT/T-Mac(when ready)
Battier
Landry/Mesah-Bonsu
Chuckster

When I think of the different players working together, I start to hope they'll actually run Adelman's high-post, motion offense. Princeton Tigers, baby!

 

To start the season

Brooks
Ariza
Battier
Scola
Hayes

At the end of the season

Brooks
McGrady
Battier
Scola
Andersen

Battier has to start even if that means moving Ariza to the bench. Its no like he is a go-to guy or anything, he's just a role player. Shane starting is important imo

 

Change Anderson for HAyesm and that's my proposed lineup.

Please keep in mind that neither Scola, Anderson or Landry are known for their post-defense. The starting lineup needs post-defense, which is why Hayes MUST start. Who cares if he can't score. We have Brooks and Scola to do that.

As Anderson plays more games, he may become a starter, but he needs to prove he can defend. One of the main reason we took the Lakers to 7 was because of Hayes' hustle and defense in the starting lineup.

 

As it stands right know......
Roster (not including Cook or Barry)
A.Brooks/ K. Lowry
T.McGrady/ J. Taylor/ C. Burdinger
T.Ariza / S. Battier/ J. White
L.Scola/ C. Landry/ P. Mesah Bonsu
D.Andersen/ C. Hayes/ J. Dorsey/ Yao Ming*

I for one think we need to trade Battier & Taylor for Outlaw & Fernandez......

(Possible) Roster (not including Cook or Barry)
A. Brooks/ K. Lowry
T.McGrady/ R. Fernandez/C. Budinger
T. Ariza/ T. Outlaw/ J. White
L. Scola/ C.Landry/ P. Mesah Bonsu
D. Andersen/ C. Hayes/ J. Dorsey/ Yao Ming*

-rocketblaze

 

Starting Ariza and Battier together isn't going to work. Neither guy can take ball-handling duties over for the PG if the defense starts trapping in the back court. Unless Tmac comes back quick and looks decent this team is in deep, deep trouble at SG (as in they don't have one).

 

Huh? I thought this was a thread about starting lineups, NOT a battier trade thread.

Seriously, why would you include that lineup with Rudy and Outlaw in a realistic thread liek this? Keep your post for a hypothetical trade thread. If you want to talk hypothetically, then I'll propose this lineup:

Brooks
T-Mac
Ariza
Stoudemire
Yao.

Yes, hypothetically, we could trade for Amare and Yao could miraculously heal himself over 2 months. HAHA!

 

Seeing the overwhelming majority here with Anderson in their starting lineup reminds me of the same assumption Scola's rookie year. It's funny how little respect Chuck Hayes gets on this board. I would be absolutely shocked if its not Brooks/Battier/Ariza/Scola/Hayes.

As far as Battier and Ariza, I don't think Rick cares enough about the ball-handling issue enough to bench the undisputed leader of his team, especially taking into consideration that there is no viable alternative.

 

Everything that I have heard from the rockets org. so far says that Budinger is doing alot better the Taylor. I think Budinger is higher on the depth chart, with his size and play making ability he can log meaning full time at the 2 and the 3.