M.James/Stevie/Skip TMac/Bonzi/L.Head Shane/Snyder Scola/Hayes Yao/Butler There is a distributor on the floor in TMac The biggest problem last year was getting the guys around him to hit open shots....Skip failed to be the answer If it is a fair competition for starter I think M.James wins easily.
PG: Alston SG: McGrady SF: Shane Battier PF: Scola C: Yao I wouldn't mind Battier playing point forward if Alston was traded.
<div class="quote_poster">tmacyaokobe01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">PG: Alston SG: McGrady SF: Shane Battier PF: Scola C: Yao I wouldn't mind Battier playing point forward if Alston was traded.</div> Battier a point forward? As if it wasn't enough to have four point guards outside of Alston, you guys have to play a natural post player at the point?
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Battier a point forward? As if it wasn't enough to have four point guards outside of Alston, you guys have to play a natural post player at the point?</div> If Alston gets traded I would like it if Battier became a point forward. Battier would be a pass-first player and create for others something i want for both T-Mac and Yao.
<div class="quote_poster">tmacyaokobe01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If Alston gets traded I would like it if Battier became a point forward. Battier would be a pass-first player and create for others something i want for both T-Mac and Yao.</div> Battier is a below average ball-handler, so that's not happening.
Stevie or Mikey? That seems to be the main question here. Stevie has better starting experience and is a past allstar though on this current lineup, James possibly suits better as out starter since he is a better shooter. I was at first thinkn we don't need a slasher like Stevie since we have TMac, but Tracy shoots more these days. So I think the beauty of a Stevie Mikey combo is the fact that TMac can fill in our pg's weaknesses. Alston HAS to go. At the moment, equal minutes between Fran and James is suitable unless one of them proves he can really be a benefit to us if given more minutes. I'll say that Brooks should be our 3rs string PG. He's too talented to just dump in the D-League.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Battier is a below average ball-handler, so that's not happening.</div> hes actually pretty average but i'm just saying i wouldn't mind it. Since Houston has never tried it before.
<div class="quote_poster">tmacyaokobe01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">hes actually pretty average but i'm just saying i wouldn't mind it. Since Houston has never tried it before. </div> Why would you want that though? I don't get your infatuation with the whole 'point forward' thing, but if anything Battier is better suited for standing in the corners and shooting open threes. That, along with his defense, are his greatest abilities and passing isn't one of them. Sure he's got an eye for passing but so does Yao. Does that enable Yao to become a "point center"? With six point guards on the roster, why would you want Battier to handle the ball?
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Why would you want that though? I don't get your infatuation with the whole 'point forward' thing, but if anything Battier is better suited for standing in the corners and shooting open threes. That, along with his defense, are his greatest abilities and passing isn't one of them. Sure he's got an eye for passing but so does Yao. Does that enable Yao to become a "point center"? With six point guards on the roster, why would you want Battier to handle the ball?</div> well i'm just saying if Alston is traded i would want Battier being the one setting up Yao and T-Mac. Mike James and Francis are shoot-first point guards. The rockets would need someone to create for others thats one of the reasons why i would like Alston to stay but it is just an idea.
<div class="quote_poster">tmacyaokobe01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Mike James and Francis are shoot-first point guards. The rockets would need someone to create for others thats one of the reasons why i would like Alston to stay but it is just an idea.</div> Battier is a good "system" passer. Excellent post entry passer, and he swings the ball to the open man well. But he doesn't create shots for others. How often did you see him pass off the dribble last year? Both Francis and James are much better at doing that.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Battier is a good "system" passer. Excellent post entry passer, and he swings the ball to the open man well. But he doesn't create shots for others. How often did you see him pass off the dribble last year? Both Francis and James are much better at doing that.</div> thats why i'd like to give him a chance but i really doubt this is gonna happen. I also think that Alston might stay as a rocket hopefully.
<div class="quote_poster">tmacyaokobe01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">well i'm just saying if Alston is traded i would want Battier being the one setting up Yao and T-Mac. Mike James and Francis are shoot-first point guards. The rockets would need someone to create for others thats one of the reasons why i would like Alston to stay but it is just an idea.</div> Well if you just want someone to get the ball to Yao or TMac in pre-set plays then Battier doesn't need to be a point-forward to do so. Just because you dump the ball inside to Yao doesn't make you a "point" anything. Now, say if Battier does assume that role, I won't trust him at all if three defenders swarm to him. He can't dribble his way out of it. Francis or James would have a better shot at that. I hope that your reasoning behind liking Alston as a passer isn't because he was the one to initiate all the set plays last season.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well if you just want someone to get the ball to Yao or TMac in pre-set plays then Battier doesn't need to be a point-forward to do so. Just because you dump the ball inside to Yao doesn't make you a "point" anything. Now, say if Battier does assume that role, I won't trust him at all if three defenders swarm to him. He can't dribble his way out of it. Francis or James would have a better shot at that. I hope that your reasoning behind liking Alston as a passer isn't because he was the one to initiate all the set plays last season.</div> I don't get what you said there. Alston is a pass-first PG and i would want Battier being the point forward if Alston leaves. I want someone created for others.
<div class="quote_poster">tmacyaokobe01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't get what you said there. Alston is a pass-first PG and i would want Battier being the point forward if Alston leaves. I want someone created for others.</div> The one creating for others was mostly TMac. Alston mainly dribbled the ball upcourt then handed it to either TMac or dumped it to Yao. Battier can't just stand at the top of the key and wait for someone to flash open; he's not "creating for others" per se. A best definition of "creating for others" would be using dribble-penetration to draw the defense and in turn create open shot opportunities. Battier won't do that nearly as well as Francis or James.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The one creating for others was mostly TMac. Alston mainly dribbled the ball upcourt then handed it to either TMac or dumped it to Yao. Battier can't just stand at the top of the key and wait for someone to flash open; he's not "creating for others" per se. A best definition of "creating for others" would be using dribble-penetration to draw the defense and in turn create open shot opportunities. Battier won't do that nearly as well as Francis or James.</div> Yao also created for others as well in the post.
<div class="quote_poster">tmacyaokobe01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yao also created for others as well in the post.</div> He "created" for others because defenders were swarming to double him once he got the ball in the post. No team will double Battier. Also, Yao's "creating" was also dependent on teammates cutting to the right spots on the offensive end. In essence, others made those open opportunities happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He "created" for others because defenders were swarming to double him once he got the ball in the post. No team will double Battier. Also, Yao's "creating" was also dependent on teammates cutting to the right spots on the offensive end. In essence, others made those open opportunities happen.</div> well you don't have to be doubled in order to be a playmaker. Like Alston and Andre Miller.
^Point is Battier is not a point forward. He doesn't have great court vision, or is a great ball handler. T-Mac is, LeBron, Kobe, Carter. Those guys can do that, but Battier is a SF/PF who gets open looks and is solid defensively. You want a true Point-Forward, Magic Johnson.
