I think they should experiment with the lineup.. but they should only put cato and willis at the same time for tall-heavy teams like san antonio, but then griff can defend duncan, so who knows.. they could also maybe double team shaq.. does anyone know how willis goes against shaq? i cant imagine him rackin up the same kinda figures he does now on him..
Willis will win 6th man award if he comes off the bench. We already have our starters for the next few years, we need role players which Willis is one of. Cato and Thomas are still coming into their own as starters, you can't make a change based on 4 games which we have won 3 of. Trust Rudy T....
Phoenix proves it again. Willis should be there to open the game and set the tempo. Rest him in the middle of the game for spurts, although, from what he's shown, he is in 20 something year old shape. Definately get him in there at the end.
Last night wasn't a good example though because KT carried the team early, and finished with 16 points 8 rebounds.
I dont post much I usually just read. But I do agree with ricerocket on Willis starting...You dont necessarilly have to have such a huge spark off the bench when the tone of the game is set early. And with Willis starting and the team plays like they do in crunch time when he is in the game we should have a good chance of winning the game without having to come from behind.
Jiggadi, My point exactly. Let Thomas supply the spark, with Willis sliding over to spell Cato. Then Bring Cato back in for Willis and let Grffin sub some for Thomas while Willis or Cato is at center. Starting the game off with Willis and Cato really locks up the inside more, we don't lose any scoring punch, and the shots are more available for Steve, Cat and Rice...
I'm not following this part. How are the shots and driving more available for the guards by playing two centers who can't shoot past 10 feet. I love Willis. I won't argue with anyone who wants to start him over Cato...but playing Willis and Cato together looks like it will rarely happen this year...and my bet is Rudy won't do it much if at all for exactly the opposite point you are making about Steve, Cat and Rice. Neither Willis nor Cato have a Robinson 18'er or a Dream one....or even an Antoine Carr jumper...Longley or anything. Nor will Willis and Cato draw double teams away from the perimeter. You want to help Steve and Mobley...clear out the lane, then!! You may not like Kenny, and even hate his defense, but he can score away from the basket more than our centers via drives and 15-18' shots....this helps clear the lane. The stronger argument about Willis and Cato together is a defense and rebounding argument. Make that argument. It is a perfectly fine argument. But I just don't buy the argument that Willis helps clear the lane on offense. If he does, then are you saying he is a better shooter than Kenny...a better driver...a better passer. Are you saying he can run low post plays to warrant running the offense through him to find Francis, Rice and Mobley open? Is the defense going to cheat on him and sag off of Francis, Rice and Mobley?
Crispee: 1. Inside presence for offensive boards. Willis can hit a 10-15 footer and Cato seems improved in that area somewhat. Kenny has been getting far more shots and touches out of the chute than Willis would ask for... on to your other points; 2. I was envisioning none of that from these two together. 3. This is more of what I see as their strong point out the gate. Defense, defensive and offensive rebounding and a one-two punch if their players leave them to help on Steve, Cat or Rice. Steve, Cat and Rice offer plenty of punch on the offensive end. Beyond that, I should also qualify it with my opinion that you wouldn't leave them in together for long periods of time unless it is just working to perfection. I look at it as a jump start with your best 5 out there, then quickly move the rotation to get Kenny and Griff into the mix as well.
I say start Cato, but end with Willis if necessary. People may argue that it isn't relevant, but I think Cato's ego does need to be mollycoddled, and if you give Willis the start, he's going to go lifeless again. On a different note, if Willis continues to perform the way he's been the rest of the season, I bet he'll get that contract extension he was looking for. Wouldn't you have killed for a Willis ten years younger? I bet he'd be perfect complementing Eddie Griffin at center.
You know, I really am waffling on this whole "can we play twin towers" argument for defense and boards. Maybe Francis, Mobley and Rice/Walt can play so well eventually, that we should go with twin towers for defense. All I'm saying is it does sacrifice something on offense. It is not a win-win proposition on offense and defense. We won't be able to spread the defense out. And that, beyond anything else (like more offensive rebounds) is our offensive game plan. Changing that plan better produce a significant difference on defense. ricerocket....I really don't see this 10-15' range from Willis. But sure, he has something...I'll give it to you. Point is that to clear the lane you need more than that. You really do. There is a threshold distance, beyond which you *do* change the defense. Like a guard spotting up for 18'ers does nothing...he needs to spot up and make a 22-23'er. A spot-up shooting center threatening a 10-15'er does nothing, because he can be guarded without leaving the lane. They have to threaten an 18'er to pull someone out. my point is all based on the effect the twin towers have on Francis and Mobley. I don't really even mean to debate Willis' offense vs Kenny, other than to point out that Kenny plays from the perimeter-in like Mo', which helps clear the lane.
I think we are on the same page. I realize the compromises both ways too. I totally agree with your KT outside in assessment, and it is this method of play that I think is more important off the bench than with Rice, Cat and Steve (who also play that way) to start. I'm not saying it isn't good, I prefer it after the start.
Apologies for the two post in a row but tonight's game against Denver illustrates my position... Would the Rocks be playing smarter by taxing KT and having him start against the 6' 10" Scot Williams, himself a inside rebounding machine, or let Willis take him on at first and have Kenny matched up with their first sub off the bench at power forward? I think Willis is the obvious choice. Griffin might even be the smarter first substitute off the bench if Williams stays in for Denver. If Williams stays in, let Kenny sub for Glen (instead of Walt). Griifin and Kenny together have shown enough offensive intensity that spelling Glen/Walt with Kenny wouldn't lose too much. Unfortunately, KT is a power forward in a small forward's body, and he's trying playing power forward somewhat like a 3, like Crispee says, outside in. He's a good sub betweener...
