<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">i think lue is good, ward looks to be struggling more</div> Lue is okay, but not as good as Ward in starting wise. Lue apparently works well with Dikembe Mutumbo while Ward works well with Yao, who is our obvious starting center. Still, Lue has not put up a great game yet and instead has alot of bad passes and turnovers. He's best suited for the bench since he brings high energy that sparks up the game. Ward struggling more? Probably just some bad nights maybe, he had some clutch performances for us before like those two consecutive 3's in the one game.
Thought I'd update the point differential per 5-man units periodically through the season. It's been 2 games since the last stats were posted. After the Clippers and Blazers game, here's where we're at: Currently: Ward, McGrady, Jackson, Taylor, Yao ........ +31 over 164 minutes .... +9.1/48min Ward, McGrady, Jackson, Taylor, Mutombo . +13 over 26 minutes ....... +24.0/48min Lue, Nachbar, Jackson, Howard, Mutombo .. -11 over 25 minutes ...... -21.12/48min Lue, McGrady, Nachbar, Howard, Mutombo . +5 over 23 minutes ....... +10.4/48min Lue, McGrady, Nachbar, Howard, Yao .... -16 over 18 minutes ...... -42.7/48min Lue, Mcgrady, Jackson, Taylor, Yao ....... -10 over 20 minutes ........ -24.0/48min Ward, McGrady, Jackson, Taylor, Yao ........ +31 over 164 minutes .... +9.1/48min Last time: Ward, McGrady, Jackson, Taylor, Yao ........ +40 over 140 minutes .... +13.7/48min Ward, McGrady, Jackson, Taylor, Mutombo . +2 over 15 minutes ....... +6.4/48min Lue, Nachbar, Jackson, Howard, Mutombo .. -11 over 25 minutes ...... -21.12/48min Lue, McGrady, Nachbar, Howard, Mutombo . +5 over 17 minutes ....... +14.12/48min Lue, McGrady, Nachbar, Howard, Yao .... -13 over 12 minutes ...... -52/48min Lue, Mcgrady, Jackson, Taylor, Yao ....... -5 over 11 minutes ........ -21.8/48min Ward, McGrady, Jackson, Taylor, Yao ........ +40 over 140 minutes .... +13.7/48min As you can see, the starting lineup struggled the last few games. In 24 additional minutes together on the floor, they were -9. The combination of Lue and Yao (in bold) continues to perform poorly. In 15 minutes when they were both on the floor the last few games, they were -8. Mutombo got some more time than usual with the other starters, and the team did well with him on the court.
Lue can't start with Yao. So really, it's either, drop Yao, get Lue, or the other way around. It seems Ward is gonna be starting for a while.. I was looking around, and heard that Courtney Alexander was waived (from ESPN.). So, I checked this guy out, and saw that in the 2000-2001 season, he averaged 17 points, as well as 37% form the 3. Now, I don't expect him to average that many points, but he is a shooting guard, and can give a solid number of points. A good backup for McGrady. And since I hate Ward so much, I think this guy can play point, yes, I said he could play point.. Why? Well, what does Charlie Ward do that Jim Jackson, or Tracy McGrady CAN'T do? Bring the ball up the court without turning it over (which he has done a few times), hit the open jumper. McGrady can bring the ball up the court, all we need is a guy that will hit the open jumper, and dish out a few passes. BUT, he is not a passer, only averaging 1 assist per game his ENTIRE CAREER. He went from a selfish player, to a fitted role player. This is pure optimism on my part, but I sincerley think that we need a new point guard, unless Charlie Ward can somehow, take this team to the Finals. I think when Lue is the line-up, it should look like this: PG: Lue SG: T-mac SF: Boki PF: J Howard C: Spoon/Deke We got some scoring, 3 point shooting, and pure hustle in that line-up. All can run the floor (with the exception of Weatherspoon :mrgreen: ). I like the trading off Yao and Tracy deal, during the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but we still have to find the supporting cast that will hit the open jumper. I think a guy like Kareem Rush, or Joe Johnson (both of their options weren't picked up, from what I heard, correct me if I am wrong.) would be great. Both shoot well, and provide energy. Just my 2 cents.
Alexander is not a good defender, and has not played in a year and a half I think, which was actually why the Kings waived him. They did not want to wait on him anymore. I think we should have gone for Shandon Anderson when his contract was bought out. He was formerly in Houston and knows JVG's system; not to mention his defense. Right now, the best option we can have is probably Kendall Gill, but I'm not too sure about his physical status either.
