logjam at the forward position

[PGG334]

I have been putting together possible rotations for the Rockets this coming season and it made me think that I would really not like to be in Kevin McHale's shoes this season, while he has very few really established players on his team, there is a lot of young talent that need to play. At point guard you have Jeremy Lin, he will be backed up by Toney Douglas or someone else; at shooting guard you have Kevin Martin, he will be backed up by Jeremy Lamb; at Small Forward you have Chandler Parsons, he will be backed up by Carlos Delfino. Then comes the Power Forward position; the Rockets have Patrick Patterson along with 4 mid first round picks in Motie, White, Morris, and Terrence Jones. Only 2 of those 5 guys can get minutes; and thats a stretch considering that that would mean a ten man rotation when you factor in Asik starting at center.

So my question is, among Motie, White, Morris, Patterson, and Terrence Jones, who plays??? You can only pick 2. I hate the thought of promising young talent wasting away on the bench.

[houstonredox93]

the starting frontline will likely be Ppat and Asik, with Motie and either Morris or Jones. White and the odd man out of Morris and Jones will be sent to the Vipers.

[Guy986]

the starting frontline will likely be Ppat and Asik, with Motie and either Morris or Jones. White and the odd man out of Morris and Jones will be sent to the Vipers.

Thats what im thinking too.

[TheMan44]

Well, you're probably looking at the following rotation on the frontline - going 1 thru 3 deep on this chart:

SF = Parsons, Delfino, Morris
PF = Patterson, Jones, White
C = Asik, Motiejunas, Brockman*

(or Smith as 3rd string center if Brockman waived)

[houstonredox93]

I would for sure rather have Smith over Brockman.

[Mr. E]

I think that beyond a small set of players on the roster we should not be looking at putting players into "positions."

Asik is our Center, Lamb & Martin are 2 guards, Parsons is a 3 and Lin & Machado are PG's. After that expect a lot of fluidity.

Motie will be the primary backup at 4, but will likely also see minutes at center. I think that our starting PF, Patterson, will also see minutes at the 5. (I also think Motie will end the season as starter, but that's another thread).

Royce White will see minutes at small forward as well as power forward. Same with Jones.

I even think that we might see lineups where Lin may be playing the 2.

I think that people are too hung up over this perceived glut at one position. It is more important to have flexible players and lineups in today's NBA.

[inquisitive]

someone posted this on spurs website...more likely no truth to it, but thought i would share with you guys anyway:

so i saw this from the HoopsHype forum. some poster, known as rumorhasit, believes he has a good source from the Rockets FO and says there is a trade in the works where the Spurs would get Patterson. he also says that this trade will not go down til August 27 because of a contract clause of a Rocket player that would be involved. the poster did put an update on the blog about the deal being a potential 3-team trade, and who would be all in the deal. he said the closer deal being agreed upon would be like this:

Spurs get: Patrick Patterson and Shaun Livingston
Rockets get: Gary Neal and an unguaranteed contract
Raptors get: DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner

he also said draft picks and/or player rights would also be involved.

a lot to see in this one fanshot, i know. i, for one, am not going to believe this unless actual sources come up sometime before August 27. Patterson is a nice young big that could have potential, though

[spolgar]

Gary Neal is an awesome pick up that bolsters a thin back court.

2010–11 San Antonio 80 1 21.1 .451 .419 .808 2.5 1.2 .3 .1 9.8
2011–12 San Antonio 56 7 21.5 .436 .419 .781 2.1 2.1 .5 .0 9.9

Not bad numbers for 20 minutes, especially playing with four plus options in front of him.

[TMACFORMVP]

Not sure about how legit that might be - but count me in as a Neal fan as well. He's a very good shooter, and can score off the dribble as well.