Hey guys, I know this game doesn't mean much aside from curing our summer long "basketball jones", but who do you think will see minutes tonight and how do you think we matchup with Dallas? I'm not sure about Dallas' rotation (maybe someone could help me out), but here's my thought... Point Gaurd: Houston-Francis\Norris Dallas-Eisley\Nash Advantage: Houston (too much Francis) Shooting Gaurd: Houston-Anderson\Mobley Dallas-Finley\Davis Advantage: Slightly to Dallas (too much Finley) Small Foward: Houston-Wizard\Langhi Dallas-Nowitzki\Harvey Advantage: Dallas (Nowitzki has skills, I guess this also depends on how Langhi turns out) Power Foward: Houston-Taylor\Thomas Dallas-Trent\Laetner\Thomas (Etan) Advantage: Houston(Neither Laetner nor Trent have ever impressed me much) Center: Houston-Olajuwon\Cato\Collier Dallas-Bradley\Laetner Advantage-Houston (After Bradley Dallas is undersized at this position. Though Nowitzki is 7ft I don't really see him as an affective center). Again I may be off somewhat on the rotations, but I think we match-up well with Dallas. In any event I think that this game and others during the season will be great to watch. What do ya' think?
Dude, here is my fearless prediction- Langhi is going to be Nowitski's worst nightmare in the next couple of years. Dan is as long as Dirk, but much quicker. Just my humble opinion. ------------------ What a slam dunk!!
TB, I agree Langhi's physical attributes make him a great match for Nowitzki, and I must admit that what I saw of Langhi at the RMR has me really excited about his potential. But in all fairness to Nowitzki he too tore it up in the summer leagues and has proven himself to be a solid player in the regular season. Langhi has skills, but I just want to wait until he throws down his first monster dunk on someone in a NBA game before I give him all of his props.
I think Collier, Langhi, and Thomas will get more minutes than anyone.....Olajuwan will play 10 miutes and gradually increase his playing time, until he's playing 18 miutes on the last pre-season game.....Francis will Get a lot of minutes, Cuttino and Shandon won't play a lot at the same time....U know? I think we should start: Francis Anderson(for Finley) Walt MO Olajuwan and end up playing mostly like this: Moochie/Francis Mobley Langhi Thomas Collier/Cato the rookies need to develop, and Kenny needs to regain some lost confidence.... ------------------
MoTay should get big minutes this and every pre-season game. He needs to learn the system and his new teammates. If KT needs to get his confidence back, he should have worked hard in the off-season, which doesn't seem to be the case. Someone please enlighten me if I'm wrong. ------------------
Odiggidy, I like Dirk as a player, because his skills and height make him a tough matchup for everybody EXCEPT a tall, long, quick small forward. Dirk's got some of the slowest feet in professional sports, and Mo, Dan, and Carlos can stay with him. ------------------ What a slam dunk!!
Even if not for the confidence, if he's gonna start being pissed all the time, let him show what he's got, so his value can go up....it can't possibly go down.....The way I see it, the whole west is pretty much stacked up at PF, so someone in the East might want him....I think he needs to know he's good enough though, when we signed Mo he probably lost any beleif in his abilities... ------------------
So, you're saying that it's more important for KT to play to increase his trade value than for MoTay to play to mesh with the team by the time the regular season starts? ------------------
No, i don't think we should let mo play more than 20 minutes a night.....Our starting line-up (except SG) is fragile....injuries will tear this team...there's another reason....Mo can Mesh in 20 minutes a night...we have like 9 pre-season games?? that's enough for him to mesh....Gradually, Sure, mo should end up playing more....But early on, KT should get 20-25 minutes...If we ARE keeping him, he should develop, if we aren't, his value is near squat, so he needs to play some.... ------------------
http://transfer.go.com/cgi/transfer.pl?name=3543&SOURCE=3543&srvc=sz&goto=http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/hughes/801675.html This article is about how the Mavs are headed for the lottery. I happen to agree. ------------------ What a slam dunk!!
Pretty decent article. I tend to agree with the writer in that for all of the talk about Dallas this offseason they really haven't accomplished much in the way of improving their team. Nash was definitely a let down for Dallas last year, but Howard Eisley is not an upgrade in anyway. I definitely share his sentiments on Laetner. No way is Dallas having a better finish than us this season.
Odiggidy, Decent breakdown. One thing though. Donnell Harvey is in no way a SF. He's got no shooting skills and no dribble. He's basically just an undersized, athletic rebounding PF. ------------------
To get this back on topic, I think the Langhi-Nowitzki matchup is going to be pretty interesting. Nowitzki and Langhi are alot alike in someways,like many of you have pointed out, however I think that Langhi may be a more mature player than Dirk even though this is Langhi's first season. An hour and a half left!! Gotta get home! ------------------ Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the mother****** upside the head!
Launch, donnel is 6'9 220. so hes really not undersized. 220 is a tiny tiny bit underweight, but i think he'll make up for that in athleticism. Over the years i think he well get a better jump shot and make a jump to small forward. He already has an ok drive.
