While Juwan has played well this preseason, we brought in Stromile to guard Yao's flank and keep the big guy out of foul trouble. Yao has the mobility of a phone booth. Stromile will keep defenses from being able to always take it at Yao. The lineup, as I see it: 1. Alston, Head, Mooch 2. Anderson, Wesley, Barry 3. T-Mac, Bowen 4. Stromile, Howard, Baxter 5. Yao, Deke Sura? We'll have to wait.
I will like to start SS with Yao, So we can have enough rebounding at one period. Then, we will team up JH with Deke, so JH can enhance Deke's weakness on scoring. Also, SS seems to provide a very strong blocking skill inside, It's another category where Yao isn't as good as Deke.
How about we start Howard AND Swift. Maybe Alston DWes Tmac Howard Swift or Alston DA Swift Howard Yao
I agree... Plus, having Stro come off the bench will be a big boost till he works his way into the starting rotation.
Assuming his conditioning is up to par, I'd much rather have Stro alongside Yao in the starting lineup...hes the perfect weakside defender that we need, and he's also capable of playing the other team's best big man, which would keep Yao out of foul trouble...and DA/Deke/J-How/and Barry off the bench would be a nice offensive lineup full of energy and versatility...Plus Stro would be perfect in the running game alongside Rafer and TMac... Either way, no matter who starts, we'll be perfectly fine...atleast we have two healthy, legit PFs who are capable of playing significant minutes and contributing nice numbers...thats more than what we had last year
Maybe Swift will play a lot of minutes as a backup 4 AND a backup 5. Deke may be relegated down in minutes this season. Even if Swift doesn't start, his minutes could be high. I'd rather Swift start next to Yao. Juwon and Yao both have post game. It would be a waste of low post talent to have them both on the floor at the same time.
Think like a coach in reverse. Do I really wany Deke and Swift on the court at the same time? Where's the compliment? Do I really want Yao and Howard on the court at the same time? Again no compliment. Both Fowards will get playing time, more so whoever is hot that particular night so why not put the logical pair on the floor at the same time?
I love Juwan Howard's play. Very smart, good shooter, passer. However, Stromile will give us something we lack last season, that defensive presence and the athleticism to fast break with anyone. I think Stromile will make Yao's life much easier too by getting some boards and helping him out on defense. With the athleticism of Stromile and the passing skill of Yao, I expect to see a lot of good big man pass underneath for dunks play. It's not a question who should start, we all know eventually Stromile will become the starting PF, the looks of things in preason, I think Stromile can become familiar with our guys sooner than I expect, and will start pretty soon.
This team has added athleticism and depth at four positions to go with the veteran savvy we had last year. As long as these guys play Van Gundy team D like last year we will play with anyone. if T-Mac stays healthy, we win 60 easy. If not we still get 50 plus. We should get 25/10/3 from the 4, 25/10/3 from the 5 and depending on where T-Mac plays, 30/8/5 from the 3, 20/7/5 from the 2 and 15/5/10. Really, we should score 115 pts against most teams most nights. we should now be able to match up against most styles of teams everynight. The only teams that have and advantage are the one's with tall 4's and we did pretty good against the Spurs and Dallas's and Minnesota's of the league last year. We should have a track meet most nights with us scoring over 110 most of the time. that is what this team looks like to me with the added speed and depth we have. All that said it does not matter who starts athe 4. VG should go with matchups on a game to game basis. We found out last year that Howard was a bit more than the throw-in that everyone though he was from Orlando and this year he is healthy and more used to VG's system. If Swift benefits the way others have from coming here and realizes his oft heralded potential then we are the best team in the league.
Juwan first, then Stro after 15 games or so in order for him to adjust fully to JVG's system... By then Stro's true firepower will be unleashed!
I would start Howard for the same reason Rudy T started Kenny Smith over the more talented Sam Cassell. Swift will get the minutes, but let the vetern have the leadership in starting, at least until it's clear that Swift fullfills on his potential.
Just finished watching the full game against Seattle. At this point, I doubt very much Swift is ready to start by Nov 2nd. He's just not there yet. Some of the dunks he made against the Sonics were amazing. On another play with about 5 minutes left in the game, he was posted on the right baseline, got the ball and spun to the basket. He had the ball curled on his forearm and was going to do a vicious reverse slam but there was traffic. He flicked a perfect pass to Bowen who was fouled on the way up. He had another solid interior pass to Bowen a couple of minutes later. Swift has a power-post game that I was unaware of. His spin move is very quick and he knows how to hook without fouling. Facing the basket, his first step is quick enough to get by the defender and he knows how to initiate contact and draw the foul. Seems like he almost always either hits the shot or gets fouled. One thing I don't see from Swift is blocking out and rebounding. It took JH half the season to finally start crashing the boards last year. Rebounding could be our achilles heel. SS also needs to foul less. When Swift gets in shape, learns the offensive&defensive sets&rotations better and develops chemistry with Yao, he will easily get the bulk of playing time at PF. I want to see him and Yao on the floor together for a couple of games. If they mesh well, JH may end up the starter for a while but Swift will get the most minutes very quickly. But let's be real: He won't be ready to start by Nov 2nd and JH has picked up right where he left off last year. His jumper is sizzling and he's rebounding well. We could start the season pretty strong even with the tough schedule.
Swift should start, only because he is a better compliment player to have next to yao. and howard can provide a quick offense off the bench. plus Swift is the futuer.
I have to agree with rvpals. Stromile will eventually start at the PF spot Juwan's mid-range shot is sizzling right now and he has picked up where he left off from last season. It may be best for us to start Juwan for the tough schedule we have starting off. I don't know who to choose!
Juwan has played extremely well this preseason, he seems very refreshed out there on the court. As much as I want to see Swift start, we have a nice rotation going on right now.
living in new york I saw van gundy bench camby the whole regular season. even when ewing was having injury problems, wasnt until playoffs against miami heat the number 1 seed that year that he gave camby minutes . I see a similar frontlines he started larry johnson over camby even though knicks needed more size and defence on the court spree larry johnson ewing I predict van gundy will start howard over swift just like when he started larry johnson over camby regardless of needs of the team they had a 6-5 foward duo and were not winning they had trouble defending and were weak rebounding team they were the #8 seed that year. I would sacrifice a few regular season games for yao swift to get there chemistry. Come playoff time we will need them to play at there best together I dont think we need home court advantage in the playoffs doesnt seem like that suns and heat last season the pacers and spurs the year before the spurs and pistons three seasons ago were all top seeds and didnt win titles.
