Houston Rockets starting line ups

[ClutchCityReturns]

Originally Posted by albertpujols

Battier does not play PF.

He definitely will. Van Gundy was on the radio yesterday and made that very clear.

Also, I agree with SuBz3r0 on Chuck Hayes. JVG secretly loves the guy, despite the fact that he was an undrafted rookie. He even recently listed him as one of the few players on the team that has "proven himself" worthy of minutes. Again, coming from Van Gundy that's quite an endorsement. He'll get his minutes for sure.

Personally, here is how I see the starting lineup on MOST nights.

Alston
Snyder
McGrady
Battier
Yao

on some nights, this next lineup will definitely be seen

Alston
McGrady
Battier
Howard
Yao

As far as an overall depth chart...

Alston/Spanoulis/Lucas III (size will hurt him defensively, that's why he's 3rd)
Snyder/McGrady/Head/Spanoulis/Battier
McGrady/Battier/Snyder/Novak/Bowen
Battier/Howard/Hayes/Novak/Bowen
Yao/Mutombo/Howard (sadly, it's the only choice right now)

Sura and Azubuike are not included, because I don't think Sura will play (at least not the entire season) and I don't think Azubuike will make it past training camp.

I'm very upset that we didn't pick up Scot Pollard as a backup PF/C, who was recently signed by Cleveland. He could have really rounded out the frontcourt nicely for now, because let's face it...we're not landing a starting-caliber PF at this point in time.

[kangaroostew]

I'm very upset that we didn't pick up Scot Pollard as a backup PF/C, who was recently signed by Cleveland. He could have really rounded out the frontcourt nicely for now, because let's face it...we're not landing a starting-caliber PF at this point in time.

You are so right. He could have filled valuable minutes at center and at PF as well as being an insurance policy at center. So far, this is the one gaping hole in the Rockets roster. PG & PF are not great, but it is asking too much of Yao and *** to cover 48 minutes night in and night out. Maybe they still hope for a trade, but the Rockets do not have much to offer for a quality PF/C backup at this point.

[EB4life!!]

no doubt there they haave a nice line up!!!

[Hot Shot Rox]

Rafer/Sura/Head/JL3
Vspan/Snyder/Azabuike
Tmac/Novak/Bowen
Battier/Howard/Hayes
Yao/Deke/Haryasz

Thats how i look at it...although we have more players than the 15 man roster, we will have to make some moves since casey jacobsen is coming and lampe is still with us.

[GoDuke]

does Snyder play defense?

[Rabs_One]

did i see someone say to put battier as a center? lol

[butch mcrae]

I wish the rockets could somehow steal delonte and zaza...somehow

[kangaroostew]

Originally Posted by Hot Shot Rox

Rafer/Sura/Head/JL3
Vspan/Snyder/Azabuike
Tmac/Novak/Bowen
Battier/Howard/Hayes
Yao/Deke/Haryasz

Thats how i look at it...although we have more players than the 15 man roster, we will have to make some moves since casey jacobsen is coming and lampe is still with us.

From the FIBA Championships, VSpan played more as a PG than SG.

PG Alston/VSpan/Head/JL3 Sura is unlikely to return.
SG TMac/Snyder/Jacobsen/Head/VSpan Azabuike unlikely to make team
SF Battier/TMac/Novak Bowen is injured at present
PF Howard/Hayes/Battier/TMac/Haryasz
C Yao/Deke/Haryasz Lampe is not on the roster

Alston probably gets 24+ mpg average with VSpan and Head splitting the rest depending on who is distributing well.
TMac probably gets 36 mpg with 24+ at SG. Snyder probably plays 16+ mpg with Jacobsen sharpshooting a few minutes.
Battier probably gets 32 mpg with TMac getting 12- and Novak firing away for the rest. Basic idea, have either Novak at SF or Jacobsen at SG when TMac is on the bench just to keep a scoring threat on the perimeter.
Hard to read PF minutes, but Howard gets 24-32 with Hayes getting 8+, Haryasz getting a taste, and Battier/TMac taking the rest when necessary or when they can be spared from the wings.
Yao gets 32 mpg with Deke and Haryasz splitting the rest. Yao can get his touches, points, and boards in 32 while staying fresh enough to be effective on a regular basis. Look at past stats, this is about as much as really big centers play without their production per minute declining sharply.

[HTOWNMIKE]

I know saying Novac to the center spot is stupid...
BUT ITS MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN THAN RAFER STARTING EVERY GAME!!
Foul trouble Yao... Seior citizen Dek... and some guy we signed for training camp........ thats not a lot of depth on the center spot... Talent yes... but depth.. no... and the next guy to play center would be who... Chuck Hayes???...
anyways...
HAS ANYONE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE REAL STARTING PG...
THE GREEK GUY (i refuse to attempt to spell his name)...
his nickname is KILL BILL...

you got yao holding the middle...
chuck hayes, shane, grabbing all the rebounds and scrap plays..
Tmac doing his thang'
and Kill bill being our own special manu ginnobli..

[Quiksurfin33]

I agree..........they way I see it for starting lineups if all goes well......

PG/Bob Sura
SG/Tracy Mcgrady
SF/Shane Battier
PF/Juwan Howard
C/Yao Ming

^ These guys have veteran leadership and good shooting throughout there careers. Like I said, if all goes well then Sura SHOULD be starting. Others will have to prove themselves pertaining to which one will back up and contribute. And for all you Alston fans, I still think he has potential, but I just dont see him fitting in the Rockets system. I think we should make perhaps a trade or last minute trade for someone else.

[tplay]

starting novak might be a good idea

pg: alston

novak battier mcgrady

center: yao

and just have novak guard the worst of the 3 middle positions
(for example against the spurs he would guard bowen)


the purest shooter around ... Effortless release on his shot ... Has a lifetime free throw and 3 point shooting percentage higher than JJ Redick ... His range extends easily out to NBA 3 ... A player that cannot be left open ... Only missed 18 free throws over his entire college career ... Could fit a role as a specialty shooter on the next level ... Very crafty player ... Competitive, good decision maker ... Has good size and length which helps him to get shots off ... Gets the most of his abilities ... Steps up in big games, put up 41 points and grabbed 16 rebounds leading Marquette to a win over UConn

i mean come on 41 points 16 rebounds
It's not like this guy played division cinco basquetbol en ecuador
there were 3 first round picks in UConn's front court that got messed up

fat bodies desagana diop and mike sweetney frequently start so arguably better teammates erick dampier and tyson chandler can play against 2nd string opponents why can't we do the same for juwan howard

juwan howard is a crafty scorer and average rebounder
that will go to waste if he shares the ball with the above starters and continues to play against top tier opponents

he can go from one of the worst starting power forwards
to 6th man of the year candidate

what is juwan going to do against tim duncan or shawn marion: nothing
but he can do a lot against robert horry or jumaine jones

[Rocketeer]

PG - Ball Handler Alston
SG - SuperStar TMac
SF - Defence Master Battier
PF - Old Man Howard
C - Yao The Great Wall of China

[Trade]

PG - Alston
SG - Wells
SF - T-Mac
PF - Battier
C- Yao

[j-rocket]

if we can have sura play this season.. that will be great.
he is the rockets bonus player if he can go!!!

[HTOWNMIKE]

Center---- Yao/dek/ Whomever Can Bulk Up To Be The Third Center

Powerforward---juwan.. Then Chuck Hayes, Shane Is Depth, Also Novak, Also Padgett..... Pure Depth At Forward Spot

Small Forward--- Tmac/shane/ Bonzi And Im Sure A Tall Two Can Fit Here

Shooting Guard-- Tmac/ Snyder?? Span??? Who Else??? Lol;

Point... Hopefully Span Can Fit In Here, Along With Raf-alt (new Nickname) And Who Else??? John Lucas.......

Our Starting Lineup Probably Will Be Set For The Whole Season.... Although We Will Be Subbing Like Crazy