The League's going small, battier at the 4 won't be much of a problem. We all know how a dominant duo do. They win. If Tmac and Yao stay healthy and they get solid contribution from their role players then there's no reason why they can't go all the way.Two dominant players+good role players=championship
Damnit, I was hoping we could land him. Anywho, great signing for the Rockets. They finally have a legit third go to guy after Yao and T-Mac. They have the potential to go very deep in the playoffs now, health permitting of course.
I like this deal since my favorite team is Houston. However, I'm hoping that Head won't get traded. Maybe he won't though since Sura's chances of returning are slim, now. I wouldn't mind seeing him start off, but I don't like Battier starting at the PF spot. He'll use all of his energy defending opposing teams' big men.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DaSadGirl @ Sep 28 2006, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like this deal since my favorite team is Houston. However, I'm hoping that Head won't get traded. Maybe he won't though since Sura's chances of returning are slim, now. I wouldn't mind seeing him start off, but I don't like Battier starting at the PF spot. He'll use all of his energy defending opposing teams' big men.</div> Shane Battlier will not be playing PF, I don't know why people are penciling him there.
This is really a plus for the Rockets. The problem is that someone will be out of position because they really don't have very good big men and their PG's aren't the greatest but if they can play well together and stay healthy there may be another contender in the West, or at least a very dangerous team, sort of like the Clippers.There could really be a big upset in the West playoffs to one the top 3 teams with how deep this conference is.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Battier is no 4. No way no how. The Rockets have 1 big man on their team: Yao. They're worse than the Suns in that regard. Unless they trade for another big man to play the 4, they're dumped.</div>Yao more than makes up for being the only true big man on his team.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Shane Battlier will not be playing PF, I don't know why people are penciling him there.</div>You hear that?.....That's the winds of change....Seriously, teams like the Mavs and Suns and whoever are really small now. Two years ago, in the playoffs, the Rockets were playing with Yao, and four perimeter players. At that point, it was T-Mac playing the four (and guarding Dirk). This time, it can be either T-Mac again, or Bonzi, or Battier. Our team is truly loaded.
its not a good deal for Wells if he wants to start.they have a good line up already,he could be a pretty good candidate for 6th Man though if he plays like he wants it.the Rockets line-up isPG Alston or Luthor Head maybeSG T-MacSF BattierPF Juwan HowardC YaoBench(key players)Bob Sura is BackBonzi WellsMutomboKirk Snyderthey might make a little noise if T-Mac and Yao Stay healthy.But if T-Mac or Battier gets injured Bonzi Wells should be a great fill in.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>its not a good deal for Wells if he wants to start.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2605639<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"This isn't about the money, this is about being in the right place," said Wells' agent, Merle Scott of BDA Sports.</div>
from the artice above<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"Bonzi doesn't care about starting," Scott said. "He just wants to be some place he can contribute."</div> so he could be a devastating six man
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hang Eleven @ Sep 29 2006, 04:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yao more than makes up for being the only true big man on his team.You hear that?.....That's the winds of change....Seriously, teams like the Mavs and Suns and whoever are really small now. Two years ago, in the playoffs, the Rockets were playing with Yao, and four perimeter players. At that point, it was T-Mac playing the four (and guarding Dirk). This time, it can be either T-Mac again, or Bonzi, or Battier. Our team is truly loaded.</div>Tell me how the Mavs are playing small, genius. Also note the Rockets lost first round 2 years ago.
Look, it really doesn't matter who starts the game, but who is in the game at the end. Look at the Mavs, Diop started for the majority of the season, but Dampier played major minutes in the 4th when it mattered the most. As I see it, it all depends on how well Howard plays starting and how well he plays off the bench. We all know that Wells can play coming off the bench very effectively, it really doesn't matter if he starts or not with him, he'll play well either way. Now if Howard plays and gets a better feel for the game starting, I'd start him and bring Wells off the bench. Now if Howard plays better off the bench, then start Wells. Everyone should know that Wells will get major minutes in the 4th, not Howard. Like I said before, in Dallas Dampier played like sh*t when he started since he got into foul trouble and what not. Now when he came off the bench, he started playing more up to par. It'll be the same thing here with Howard and Wells in my opinion. All that matters is that Wells is going to get 4th quarter minutes while Howard won't.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Sep 29 2006, 03:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Tell me how the Mavs are playing small, genius. Also note the Rockets lost first round 2 years ago.</div> The Mavs are playing small...you know...with Dirk Nowitzki...DeSagana Diop...and Erick Dampier.
A lot of times the Mavs play big, but there were a lot of times we didn't, specifically against the Suns, obviously. Diop was alright against the Suns, but Erick couldn't keep up. It just depends on the opponent and what AJ wants to do.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Tell me how the Mavs are playing small, genius. Also note the Rockets lost first round 2 years ago.</div>Did you, by any chance, watch the Mavs vs. Spurs series? They small-balled Tim Duncan to death. They also did the same to the Rockets two years ago.And please tell me how a playoff loss two years ago relates to what I'm saying.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hang Eleven @ Sep 29 2006, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Did you, by any chance, watch the Mavs vs. Spurs series? They small-balled Tim Duncan to death. They also did the same to the Rockets two years ago.And please tell me how a playoff loss two years ago relates to what I'm saying.</div>Because you mentioned the rockets strategy from 2 years ago. I was saying that doesn't even matter because it's old and irrelevent, not to mention it didn't work.
Battier at PF wouldn't work because it would allow Dirk to guard Battier rather than Dirk having no one to guard like 2 years ago. Dirk had no one to guard so he was forced to play center which eventually allowed the mavs to win that series.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Because you mentioned the rockets strategy from 2 years ago. I was saying that doesn't even matter because it's old and irrelevent, not to mention it didn't work.</div>Did you even read my post. I said after that, "This time, it can be either T-Mac again, or Bonzi, or Battier. Our team is truly loaded."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hang Eleven @ Sep 30 2006, 01:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Did you even read my post. I said after that, "This time, it can be either T-Mac again, or Bonzi, or Battier. Our team is truly loaded."</div>Your team has no quality point guard or bench. A floor leader is crucial to a teams success along with depth. The suns got Nash and he is the one that makes that small ball effective. They are better but not better than the Mavs, Suns, or Spurs.
I wouldn't necessarily call what Mavs used "smallball" in a way. The only thing small was their use of a two pgs in the backcourt but in truth, Terry is really a shooting guard anyways. And with the league being built around perimeter oriented players. It benefited. But the frontcourt of Howard, Dirk and Damp/Diop is actually big. Same goes for Houston imo as well. Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo and Juwan Howard aren't small. And I think they can get away with Battier at pf. I mean especially against Dallas as Battier has guarded Dirk in the past. Like pj said, the 5 best players are going to be on the floor when it counts. And look for all three wings in Tmac, Battier and Wells to be on the floor.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Your team has no quality point guard or bench. A floor leader is crucial to a teams success along with depth. The suns got Nash and he is the one that makes that small ball effective.</div>It's not even that small of a lineup, one person is basically mismatched size wise on the court(Battier).
The rockers were playing small 2 seasons ago. They had 4 perimeter players surround Yao ming in the playoffs. They can't do that however when the opposition has an actual Power foward. You don't want a battier or a tmac guarding Tim duncan in the low post.
