I like the idea of Scola being the 6th man, in that Manu/Barbosa way (playing more minutes than the starter and finishing games). I look for Scola and Francis to kinda be co-6th me to starting line-up of James-Tmac-Battier-Hayes-Yao. If Francis plays as well as we hope Head might just get squezzed to another team. But their is no guarantee Francis is still a good NBA player and can shoot nearly as well as Head, contrary to expectations. Brooks and Wells can be in there too but they are even bigger wild cards. Really unpredictable. Francis off an injury and getting rejected from two teams. Wells being injured and unproductive and quitting. Snyder continuing his up and down and coach irritating young career. Scola never playing in the NBA at all, ditto for Brooks--but both with great promise. James coming off a little down year but at least solid numbers in a full NBA year (and getting aged). Head being productive until the playoffs (but still young). Rafer possibly being in the picture. Too many unknowns, but the nice part is we really only need about half to work out.
i like scola coming off the bench, but the 6th man should be someone who can add a spark offensively and provide instant offense - i don't know if scola can provide that. i see mike james filling in that role, i just don't know if you want the pg jacking up so many shots instead of just running the offense.
That is why James is a much better prospect at starting PG than Francis. Compared to Francis, James is disciplined and restrained.
I hope you're right but based off of his performance from last year he gives you little reason for hope. You might think he's going to play motivated under his old coach but remember that everybody thought he was going to play motivated last year after getting "slighted" in free agency and we all know how that turned out.
he has motivation this year, he is playing for a new contract hoping to recoup the 35 million he lost to the kings.
Is that squeezed like .... "POP" goes the pimple or squeezed like "Ooohhhhh!" Seriously, why would you want to waste Scola as a sixth man? Hayes, for all of his heart and energy, is a foul machine that needs to be unleashed on second stringers to maximize his effectiveness.
Notice in that video, Bonzi isn't fat. Big difference from that and when he was with the rockets. I'd have to see him first before I can say he'll do anything this year. I choose Luther. Remember he was averaging 11 ppg with JVG, now he's with Adalmen.
Only way he plays is if francis plays 2 gaurd. Meaning Luther is screwed, but i can't see Brooks playing much this season.
due to rafer's unprofessionalism, morey may have to sweeten a trade to get rid of him by adding luther in the deal. we shall see.
bonzi will be playing hard this year because he will be motivated to play well so he can get a good free agent contract.
I could see this starting line up MJ, TMAC, BAT, COLA, YAO I see 6th man either Francis or Bonzi And I would love to see this second unit AB, SF, LH, BONZ, HAYES
I remember reading an Adelman article but not sure where the link is anymore. He thought that James could play the two and Francis the point.
PG: Francis SG: Wells SF: Tmac PF: Hayes C: Yao This starting lineup is VERY good at rebounding AND scoring. bring in Mike James, Battier, and Scola off the bench. Scola and James would add the scoring punch and Battier would add the hustle.
If we see this as the starting lineup then Bonzi will be playing very well, which I want to see. I still see Scola starting, though.
We still need to wait and see what version of Bonzi we're getting. If he's anything like last year the thought of him guarding the Kobe's of the world is utterly sickening. It would be like Deke trying to guard Steve Nash.
I don't see Bonzi in the starting lineup because of Yao's post game and hopefully t-mac's penetration, but 6th mean of the yr....oooo yea.
