I disagree. JJ is starting at the 2 only because MOBLEY is out. Otherwise it would be Mobes at the 2 and JJ at the 3. When Mobley was healthy and playing what was the starting lineup? Francis, Mobley, JJ, Griffin, Yao. I think JVG will go with the veterans (meaning JJ at teh 3) to begin the season. Nachbar will get time, but he wont start at the 3 unless there are injuries that warrant it.
Deuce - JVG is on record that the only 2 starters are Francis and Yao and all other minutes are subject to fitting in with the Big 2, productivity and hustle. Assuming equal amounts of hustle and "fit", if Nachbar contines to shoot better than either Mobley or JJax, he's getting minutes IMO.
I have really enjoyed watching Boki improve but he has to get consistant on offense and defense without all these minutes. A Griffin, Pike, JJ, these guys are gonna play and Mobley is going to be getting most of the minutes at the 2 so that leaves the 3 spot to divide among these guys. Nachbar has to really step up if he is going to take minutes from these vets. The one thing Boki has going is hustle and JVG likes it... So do I. I'll take a marginal tallent that busts his a$$ like Boki over a talented slacker like Eggie any day.
I agree that Jackson is a better player than Boki at this point. But JJ is more of a 2 than a 3. I see that the most ideal case is for Mobley and JJ to share the SG spot with JJ doing some SF duties. The SF spot is really a toss up. AG is not an offensive player. As JVG said, if you are a perimeter player and you can't shoot, then you can't play. So AG is probably used as defensive specialist rather than a starter. That leaves Pike and Boki. Pike will doubtless get lots of PT. But he has never been a fulltime starter his whole career. I'm not sure if he will be one at this point of his career. He seems to fit the mode of a "sharp shooter off the bench" kind. It does look like Boki has a chance to be the starter IF (a big one) he can be consistent at his shooting. I did not see the game. Contrary to TheHorns' assessment, most posters seem to be impressed by Boki's defensive effort. And I'm sure he'll learn some defensive skills under JVG. So the only big hurdle remains for him appears to be shooting. If he can't shoot consistently, he won't see the floor very much, let alone being the starting SF. If Boki doesn't work out, then we'll have no choice but to start JJ at the 3 and have him and Pike backup Mobley at the 2.
Oh, I agree with that totally. If Nachbar is shooting better than Mobley and JJ then he will get more time then them. No question, and I never said otherwise. But I believe that JJ will START for the team at SF this season. At least at the outset. No question that Yao and Francis are locks to start. But baring injuries I think you can reasonably pencil in Mobley and JJ. The only question now is does Cato or Taylor start at PF? It might depend on how healthy Taylor is at the time. Again, this lineup is the lineup I think he will start with...perhaps later in the hear he will juggle it a bit.
Although I haven't seen the preseason games, just from what I've read and looking at his numbers now, he sure seems to be improving. If I'm not mistaken, what we know about Boki is that he moves great off the ball, and that he rebounds well. He also gives 100% of his ability on defense, whatever that amounts to right now. He also apparently has a good handle on the ball for his size, and is a good passer. If those things are IN FACT true...and he's hitting the wide open shots he's getting from around the perimeter, whether 3-pters or long jumpers....then who can deny him major minutes really? IMO, if Boki continues to look good in limited minutes playing alongside Steve and Yao, and gets more comfortable with the pace of the NBA....then we're more likely to trade Mobley and Griffin for a good PF than sit Boki on the bench. Another plus is that if he is indeed a better than average rebounder at SF, that would make up for Taylor's lack of rebounding skills. Having Steve at the 1, Boki at the 3 and Yao at C is 3 above average rebounders, with Cato coming off the bench. If you ask me, all Boki has to do is stay consistent with his shot, and I'd be very very comfortable trading Mobley and Griffin for a GOOD PF.
i don't even know how to respond to that question. i admit i did not see the game last night. i also admit that anyone can have one good preseason game. anyone can light it up in practice and during the pregame shootaround. to me, boki has proven to be a poor man's dan langhi. by the way, he will not be getting much regular season time.
No Way Boki can play PF. If he can keep gaining confidence he may get a few minutes though. But Pike's gonna be in front of him when he gets healthy. I just would LIKE TO THANK GERALD WALLACE FOR WAKING BOKI UP with that Nasty Dunk. Looks like thats what it took for Boki to get it going.
or if he is afraid to put his money where his mouth is, maybe a good old fashioned moniker bet. Ex: If Boki gets over 10 minutes a game, he has to change to *seriously dumb* or *serious loser* or something... Since he claims Ms Cleo style assurances that Boki will not see time...he should not object to those terms.
No I don't want to bet anything on it, thanks though. Listen, I hope Boki works out. I have nothing personal against him. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong. I just don't understand why so many on this board have continued to defend him while he has continued to disappoint. (This is not counting the game that he recently had, which I did not see, my problem is with people defending him all last year and calling him the 3 of the future for no reason that I can grasp save his being a fairly high draft pick). I do not doubt that he had a good preseason game. Lots of people have had good preseason games. But I really do want him to do well. I want all the Rockets to do well. I want Eddie to work out all he needs to work out. I want Pike's ankle to get better. I want Moochie's new haircut to inspire him and Ameachi to play worthy of their contracts. I want Cato to hustle in the regular season the way he hustles in the preseason and I want Boki to play worthy of his fan club's praise. peace.
