Since Bayless isn't quite ready and Blake is playing attrocious defense why not let Roy play PG at least for a good chunk of the games. This also allows Rudy more playing time at his natural position. If the experiment works we no longer need a PG. Blake is either traded or let his contract run out. Sergio gets some back up minutes at PG and Bayless is back up SG.
On offense, that works for me. If Sergio gets the full backup minutes. Rudy clearly adds a lot of value, and 20 mpg is not enough. Roy should not be sitting. And Sergio needs more PT as well. iWatas
Portland has already run a Rudy/Roy back court, and I really don't remember it getting exposed much. We weren't doing a great job of containing point guards, but it was against Tony Parker and Steve Nash, so it's not like people ever really contain those two. On offense, I have yet to see that pair effectively trapped in the back court. Roy just never gets trapped. Rudy's not a great ball handler, but he's smart enough to see the trap coming a mile away and he passes it out. I'll be very surprised if we're still talking about any other PG a month from now. Of course, the big problem is the bench. That leaves our three best bench guards as Rodriguez, Blake and Bayless. Two point guards and an undersized 2.
I would say no. Asking him to defend PGs is putting a lot of pressure on him. Having him handle the ball more? Sure. Or if Rudy can guard PGs? Put them together and I'd be happy. But Roy running the offense AND guarding smaller, quicker guys is going to wear him out and isn't using him optimally IMO. Ed O.
That's my concern to but we need to figure out a way to get Rudy on the floor as much as possible and has to be in at the end of games. Roy is more versatile so he'll likely either guard the PG or SF position. I'm less concerned about Roy wearing out during games now that we have Rudy to help take some of the offensive pressure off of him. Last year I would have said no way, we can't afford to lose his offensive production but IMO we need a long term solution to keep Rudy and Roy on the court as much as possible. They are our best playmakers and both need 30-35 minutes a game. The only way to accomplish that is to move Roy over to either PG or SF.
This may sound crazy, but it just might work. Start Roy, Rudy and Batum. On offense, Roy is the PG, Rudy the SG and Batun the SF. Seems like a good fit for their skill sets. On defense, Batum guards the other team's PG, Rudy guards the SG and Roy guards the SF. Roy would be an undersized SF, but he has shown the ability to guard taller players like Carmelo Anthony. Batum has the best lateral quickness and long, active arms to deny the passing lanes. Or, just play a zone. BNM
I don't think positional titles matter much with a Roy/Rudy back court. Either guy organizes the offense, and either guy brings the ball up. On defense the key is to let Batum take on the toughest cover of the three opposing players, and then have Roy and Rudy manage the second and third best player. Could be we play a lot of zone defense, too, as BNM suggests. Given that Batum and Rudy are products of Europe, zone might be a natural fit.
Roy at PG is Jarrett Jack minus the TO's. He's way too slow getting up court for Rudy to wait for, and seems unwilling to pass downcourt. Rudy is way too effective on the fly to make him wait for Roy's preferred halfcourt game.
Ok. I didn't read through mook's and BNM's thoughts. Maybe this could work. Roy and Rudy could share the duty of bringing the ball up the court. And depending on the match ups any of our perimeter defenders could defend any of the opposition's perimeter offenders. But let's analyze the actual match ups come the fourth quarter against the top tier Western Conference teams. Jazz - It's not going to work because of how big they are. Rudy would be left guarding either Williams or Brewer and isn't that a recipe for disaster? Lakers - It could work. Rudy or Roy on Fisher or Bryant. Batum on Radmanovic. Suns - It could work. Roy on Barnes. Rudy on Bell. Batum on Nash. Mavs - Could work. Roy on Stackhouse. Rudy on Kidd. Batum on Howard. Rockets - No. Batum guards McGrady. Roy guards Artest (ugh). And Rudy on Alston. Don't like this. Artest pummels Roy. Alston runs circles around Rudy. Hornets - Nope. Batum guards Peja. Rudy on Paul. Roy on Peterson. Paul would blow by Rudy. Spurs - It would work. Batum on Parker. Roy or Rudy on Bowen or Finley.
Nate is not a coach that is going to let this team run on a regular basis. Period. Whether Roy is well-suited to run and gun at the offensive PG spot is therefore irrelevant. Ed O.