Should Artest Start?

[ShaY]

So what do you think , should he start or come off the bench?

The logic says that we have enough scoring with Yao and T-Mac in the starting lineup and Ron should be the primary scorer off the bench.

IMO this is wrong and he should start , our offense is not good , it's average at best.

We need Artest to start so teams will have trouble guarding us.
If Artest starts the other teams' weaker defender will be on him or on T-Mac , Artest is a guy who draws double teams and he will eat weak defenders alive.

Also if Artest starts the other teams' star wing won't be able to rest on defense because he will have to guard T-Mac or Artest.

So what do you guys think should he start or come off the bench?

[jove9]

So what do you think , should he start or come off the bench?

The logic says that we have enough scoring with Yao and T-Mac in the starting lineup and Ron should be the primary scorer off the bench.

IMO this is wrong and he should start , our offense is not good , it's average at best.

We need Artest to start so teams will have trouble guarding us.
If Artest starts the other teams' weaker defender will be on him or on T-Mac , Artest is a guy who draws double teams and he will eat weak defenders alive.

Also if Artest starts the other teams' star wing won't be able to rest on defense because he will have to guard T-Mac or Artest.

So what do you guys think should he start or come off the bench?

Both sides are logical, and we've debated this since the day the Artest trade was announced. Here's my own opinion on the matter though, for what it's worth:

Since Artest would eat up weak defenders, wouldn't it make sense to have him come off the bench, take advantage of the other team's weaker players, and provide us with an offensive spark? This way we'll constantly get production from the wing; our offense won't take a dip when T-Mac rests.

I really think that this is what Adelman will do. Artest said that he's willing to come off the bench right now. Why not take advantage of that good will while it lasts?

In the future, Artest MAY end up starting, but it makes sense to keep the starting lineup that worked for us the last half of the season (plus Yao). Artest will definitely play starters' minutes anyway, so it won't really make that much of a difference.

[franchise73]

Since Artest would eat up weak defenders, wouldn't it make sense to have him come off the bench, take advantage of the other team's weaker players, and provide us with an offensive spark? This way we'll constantly get production from the wing; our offense won't take a dip when T-Mac rests.

Artest can also eat up strong defenders, the man is a beast, it makes more sense for him to go against the best with T-Mac. He will help Tracy on defence because Tracy doesnt have to guard the best player (something that Shane did also) but unlike Shane, Artest will help spread the court and leave Yao and Tracy with Single coverage instead of double and triple teams. Thats something Shane could not do.

but it makes sense to keep the starting lineup that worked for us the last half of the season (plus Yao).

Actually that starting line up didnt work for us with or without Yao (in the playoffs). It makes sense for the best overall player to start. Artest = Shane+Offence. Thats a proven formula. This is an argument any team would LOVE to have btw so its all good .....either way it will work out for the Rockets god willing.

[tisbee]

Adelman should be trying to talk Ron into being 6th Man of Yr. To out-Ginobili Ginobili.
The reason is offense. Who on the Rocket bench can get their own shot? The Rockets have had no offensive weapon off the bench for yrs. They tried getting it thru scoring-PGs(James,Francis,Brooks,Jackson),but when your PG is jacking up shots the rest of the team stands around and the offense stagnates into futility. Ron offers the hope of being a first-option type scorer off the bench.
Remember how Adelman substituted last yr? McGrady,Alston,Scola played the entire 1Q and 3Q and sat out first 5-7 minutes of 2Q and 4Q. Assume he does something like that this yr,I'd expect to see Ron replace Battier/Yao @ 6-7min mark in 1,3Qs and stay on floor while T-Mac's out. Then he prob gets 3min rest and comes back to close out 2,4Qs.

I can easily see Adelman's "normal" rotation as being something like this:
Alston,Tracy,Battier,Scola,Yao start 1,3Qs.
About 6-7min mark Ron replaces Yao.
@9-10min mark Yao comes back and Battier goes out.
2,4Q start sees Brooks,Barry,Artest and some combo of Hayes/Dorsey/Landry/big to be obtained.
@3-4min in Yao returns.
@6-7min in McGrady,Alston,Battier return,Yao,Artest,Brooks out.
@9min in Rockets finish 2,4Q w/Alston,McGrady,Battier,Artest,Yao.(Scola for Battier/Ron if needing another big.)
Note this is limiting Rafer,Ron,Shane,Yao to about 30 minutes in a "normal"game. W/more depth,starter minutes should go down.,,keeping them fresher and hopefully healthier.

[YoungMoney23]

Start Artest, it will take pressure off T-Mac as a team cant double team two all star caliber players at the same time. The rest of the starting line up will eat them alive if they do

[KiDdFrESh]

Both sides are logical but I think it would greatly help ease the pressure of T-Mac and Yao offensively if he were to start the game. How are opposing defenses going to defend that? I'd be open to him playing a Manu role. Come off the bench after the first 6-7 minutes into the game, play starting minutes, and close the games.

[skbucks1985]

How about both. Like others, I see the logic in both sides. But I'm of the belief that what this team needs is some scoring punch off the bench to spell T-Mac so I come down on the 6th man side. But when I look at the West, I see a lot of opportunities to play him at PF. Against LAL, against SAS against Phoenix its probably not a good idea. But against Dallas, against NO, against Utah, against GS. I'd be perfectly comftorable putting Artest against those teams' PF.

[ShaY]

Seriously btoh arguments make A LOT of sense , maybe we should switch Battier and Artest in and out of the starting lineup beased on needs , Artest will play about 35mpg doesn't matter if off the bench or starting.

[King Roosk]

I think he needs to start. Sometimes we rely on our 3 pt shot too much in the early going, and as a result we get off to slow starts. I think we'll be solid bringing Shane and Brent off the bench, and hopefully Landry.

[A.J.]

Yeah he needs to start. We needed a 3rd scorer coming into the season, and Artest wuldnt make sense coming off the bench to provide that. Battier is more suited to coming off the bench anyways, but for situational matchups I wouldnt mind Artest coming off the bench.