It's a tough call. What if we get Ming, does he start over Cato despite his lack of experience? What if we get Lewis/Odom, and still have Rice. Who starts? What about the PF position? Out of KT, Mo and Griff, who gets to start? In those 3 mentioned situations, who do you think will start based on Rudy's judgement? I think Cato over Ming. Ming will be in foul trouble and very tired due to the fast game. Plus, if we just hand him the job, Cato's tiny bit of confidence will be shattered and production goes to zero. Lewis would never sit ont he bench not with his ego, but Rice would probably understand, so I think Lewis. But Odom would sit and backup all 5 positions for us, while still playing more than starter minutes. Out of the 3, I'd like Mo T to start, backed up by Griff. Then Mo T can also slide over to C, and Griff can play along side him. KT doesn't have a spot, I think, so we're better off getting rid of him and getting a hard worker who won't mind playing few minutes. Don Reid? Moiso maybe? How about a 2nd round pick? Thoughts?
I agree our starting line doesn't change: Cato Taylor Rice Mobley Francis But I hope our bench would be: Amare S. (trade K. Thomas and #15) E. Griffin Q. Woods (our top pick) O. Torres M. Norris Reserves: K. Willis T. Morris T. Brown With a couple of years of experience and this could be a tough team to beat.
You guys break me up! Start Cato over a guy who is big as Gonzilla, and is hardly a rookie. If Ming is not good enough to start, he should not be the number pick in the draft, period. If next years starting lineup includes Cato and Rice, I will not be following the Rockets. I simply don't love punishment that much.
I know Rudy has the tedency to not let players lose their jobs to injury. However, if Griffin has improved himself (i.e. gotten bigger and stronger and developed a post game) then it should be a competition in training camp to see who gets the starting nod. Up until he hit the rookie wall, Griffin looked and played like a starter. If Mo Taylor just waltzes back in and gets his job back, then thats mistake number one. Hopefully Rudy will devise a couple of offensive plays for Griffin, other than shooting behind the three-point arc. The Starters: PG- Francis SG- Mobley SF- Whomever the Rockets trade for PF- Griffin (hopefully he wins out in training camp) C- Cato (God willing they find someone else or some kind of miracle occurs) Bench: Torres Norris Morris Draft pick (1st rounder) Draft pick (2nd rounder) Brown MCE Free Agent IR: Collier Williams (if he is retained for league minimum)
You might be applying that period too quickly. Kwame Brown is hardly starter material. There is nothing wrong with starting out with Ming on the bench. You have no idea how he will adjust to the NBA game. Cato is older, has more NBA experience, and is getting paid to be our starter. Ming does not have to be the starter as a rookie to be the number one pick. It's all based on potential, and some people simply don't live up to it(Joe Smith).
hopefully: cato taylor odom mobley francis bench- moochie, griffin, etc. 2nd option: cato taylor rice mobley francis bench- ming, griffin, moochie, kt, etc.
Solid, KG wasn't good enough to start. Neither was Kobe. Eddy Curry. Chris Mihm. Baron Davis. He's basically a rookie. Even worse. Which is the worst between the Euro leagues, the NCAA, and the Chinese Basketball Association? I thought so. Ming will need to adjust to the pace, the speed, the roughness, and the minutes. The earliest I see him as starter, is after the All Star Break, MAYBE. That's only if Cato goes back to his old ways. If Cato continues to show the same fire, then we'll continue bringing Ming off the bench for 25 minutes. Then when the seaosn's done, we'll trade Cato, who won't be so untradeab;e since he'll have put in 2 good seasons for us. I'm in fact hoping for this: Cato/Ming Griff Odom Cat Francis Anything and anyone outside of that, I don't care. If you have that team, you're everyone's dream. Imagine, Lamar Odom the last offensive option. 4 players can go outside. 4 players rebound big. Our shotblocking would be tremendous. Defense? Excellent in the frontcourt, though it can and hopefully will be better than it currently is. I don't care if we trade picks from the next 5 years. Who needs picks or big-name FA's when you have THAT?
Sane, I like the Odom idea, and Ming is a very unlikely addition anyway, but, fundamentally, this board is divided along the lines of "this team will mature, stand pat, couldn't overcome the many injuries, we love Steve, Cato will come around, etc." group and the "cut our losses, let's wheel and deal, Steve may not be the future, start over if necessary, Rice is done, let's move on" crowd. I belong to the latter. I have been a Rocket's fan since Rudy was playing, and, without a doubt this is the most boring, frustrating, and utterly uninteresting Rockets team ever. I don't like their system, I don't like the way they run it, they are not entertaining, they are simply not fun to watch. I am really enjoying watching the Mavericks in the playoffs. Right now, they are the most exciting team in basketball. I want the Rockets to play like that. Without, big changes, not going to happen. (In fact, we were promised that brand of basketball last summer; remember the "run and gun," "young guns," "nobody will be able to outscore us," "we will shoot the lights out" talk. How many fast breaks did you see!?)
I understand, I really do. I'm sure everyone does. But do we really need big changes? We CAN run n' gun, why we aren't doing it is the question. Whether it's RUdy's system, or the players not doing what they're told, I don't know. But really, we need big changes? Steve Francis Cuttino Mobley Odom Griffin Cato Tell me, who can run better that team? It's not just the speed either, it's a perfectly built, very skillful team. They can do it all. All we need? A solid veteran 4/5 off the bench, and a 2/3 type spot up shooter. If we bring in Odom, that automatically will increase ball movement, will improve our team big time.
Houston doesn't force turnovers and other teams shoot a high % against our awesome defense that is the reason the Rockets don't Run'n'Gun
Sane, thanks for the thoughtful response. I see your point, and I hope you are right. I will reveal a deep concern: I think Steve, who is an incredible raw talent, may have more problems than he can overcome. Some young men simply can't overcome the temptations of the " nba player lifestyle." I am not sure I could have at his age. I could be more specific, but I believe you get my drift. Your line-up is physically, well a group of race horses. Mentally, it is another story. If that group all become sober, in top shape, righteous and focused players, all our dreams could come true. The Rocket's problems are complex, but the Mind-Body Nexus is fundamental. Some players have never become masters of themselves and their potential was never realized. The Rockets MUST put a much improved product on the floor next season. They are in a really tough place; critical decisions MUST and will be made. We are simply fantasizing about what those decisions should be.
What I would like to see it look like (I doubt it will though): PG- Franchise SG- Cat SF- Kenny PF- Griff C- Taylor
Solid, Mentally, you're right. But my personal opinion is that, Rudy doesn't help that. A young team needs discipline, and Rudy isn't that type of coach. Know what I mean? It's the same logic as why Ike Austin did very well in Miami but never did well anywhere else. It's because you do what RIley tells you. He knows what you can do, and he'll show you the easy way. Also, the same as how Hakeem stopped yapping when Rudy arrived. Because Rudy takes it easy on you, and lets you do it your way. Unfortunately, young players shouldn't be elft to play "their way". That's why I think a change of coach is in order. Not a better one. A more suitable one.
1st day of training depth chart: 5) Cato / Collier 4) MoT / KT / EG 3) Rice / EG / TMo *** 2) Cat / OT 1) SF / Moochie Posssible draft picks/MCE's: 5) Borchardt / Boumtje-Boumtje / Jerome James 4) Wilcox / Ely / Marcus Haislip 3) Woods / Butler / Nachbar / Lee Nailon 2/1) Roger Mason / Jeri Welsch *** And 2002-2003 6th Man Winner (in spite of heavy minutes off the bench), LAMAR ODOM.
Kind of off-topic, but why couldn't Mo Taylor have gotten the Rockets physicians to declare him healthy at the end of last year, so he could've served his five-game suspension then. He could've been on the active roster without actually having to play...
