Time for a new starting lineup?

[Baller 24]

It seems like we start out games struggling, and we're often found chasing the other team from behind. In the first quarter there is a lot more chucking, and we have no true inside presence. Possibly bench Arzia and Scola?

Brooks/Budinger/Battier/Landry/Hayes can start out the game a lot better. You've got a true inside presence and a legitimate go-to guy, a more effective player coming off screens and hitting jumpers (Bud), unlike Ariza, and with Scola coming in with the second unit, you still don't lose that big of a beat offensively speaking.

[Rendezvous]

Yup Its time.

I agree with benching Ariza and Scola.

[Guy986]

No.

You dont bench Ariza. Its not going to happen.
The starting 5 of Brooks/Ariza/Battier/Scola/Hayes is fine.

[bballmaniac27]

Benching Ariza is a must. The guy is just a detriment to this team.

It's not really a big deal whether Scola starts or comes off the bench. Him and Landry are going to be getting starter minutes either way. I think it's worth a try though.

[YaoZaii]

i don't like to see ariza and battier on the court at the same time... we seem to play badly most of the time when they are on together.

[Baller 24]

Battier doesn't bother me as much, since he knows his role, and exactly what he's capable of offensively speaking. Arzia however doesn't know that, and he'll continue to take shots if they're given. I mean he's the worst offensive player in the league with the amount of shots he's taking, right now it seems like we're playing the game "How low can you go" regarding his FG%.

[Guy986]

i don't like to see ariza and battier on the court at the same time... we seem to play badly most of the time when they are on together.

That's because They're both small forwards. Ideally i'll like to trade Tmac for a 2 and a backup 5. But we gotta roll with what we have.

[Baller 24]

Ron Artest and Shane Battier were two small forwards, but that seemed to work out pretty well...The thing is, I'd rather have Arzia come in with the second unit, because we can't afford to just chuck away shots in the first quarter the way we do (or the way Arzia does), it's not smart, and I'd much rather have someone more effective start playing.

[Guy986]

Ron Artest and Shane Battier were two small forwards, but that seemed to work out pretty well...The thing is, I'd rather have Arzia come in with the second unit, because we can't afford to just chuck away shots in the first quarter the way we do (or the way Arzia does), it's not smart, and I'd much rather have someone more effective start playing.

Ariza doesn't need to chuck. He was an efficient player with the Lakers. He's chucking because Morey and Adelman wants him to chuck. I'll like him to remain in the starting 5 but reduce his offensive role. Give his half his shots to Brooks.

[Baller 24]

Ariza doesn't need to chuck. He was an efficient player with the Lakers. He's chucking because Morey and Adelman wants him to chuck. I'll like him to remain in the starting 5 but reduce his offensive role. Give his half his shots to Brooks.

Yes, but the thing is, we all know that isn't going to happen, cause just a couple of games ago Adelman stated it was a "process" for Arzia to learn all of this lololol.

[KiDdFrESh]

Idk... I like our starting lineup. We have a good balance. Our bench is deadly. If you insert Carl in the starting lineup and we start a game flat. Who is going to bail us out off the bench? Are you ready to depend on Ariza for that role? I think not. I suggest shortening his minutes. Dude is fatigued and I think that is why he is shooting at such an awful %. He's playing twice as many mpg as he did last year with the Lakers. He needs just over 600 minutes to eclip his total minute log in 82 games last season with LA. And we are only 34 games into the season.

I'm torn on Ariza. I like him and he fits with the core of the team. I think its too soon to write him off. Truth is that he is still adjusting to the role. It may take all year for him to come around.

I just wish we could get Mike Miller here. If we have to trade T-Mac for him then fine. Mike Miller would make our offense a hellova alot better. The lineup would remain the same until Miller learns the offense which shouldn't take long and then we trot out.

PG: Brooks, Lowry
SG: Miller, Budinger
C: Hayes, Andersen
SF: Ariza, Battier
PF: Scola, Landry

[Guy986]

Ariza doesn't need to chuck. He was an efficient player with the Lakers. He's chucking because Morey and Adelman wants him to chuck. I'll like him to remain in the starting 5 but reduce his offensive role. Give his half his shots to Brooks.

Yes, but the thing is, we all know that isn't going to happen, cause just a couple of games ago Adelman stated it was a "process" for Arzia to learn all of this lololol.

Adelman is not an idiot. He's one of the best coach in basketball. If he believes that Ariza need this "process" to become a better offensive player. I say let him chuck to his hearts content. But eventually Adelman will realize that this isn't gonna work.

[TMACFORMVP]

It's either benching Ariza or Battier at this point. We all know Ariza won't really get his minutes reduced with the "bond," he's reached with Adelman, but with those two in the lineup, the offense just doesn't work. Budinger is VERY good at coming off screens and playing off the ball, he can finish in transition and shoot from distance. Like Baller said, that's bound to improve our starts.

[Teckon]

The key thing is Budinger to start. Remember the game where he started due to Ariza being supsended then? The offensive flow was very good.

Brooks
Budinger
Battier/Ariza (either one start depending on opponent's winger player)
Scola
Hayes

This line up will have 3 offensive threats with 2 defensive anchors and more balance than the current starting lineup.

[tisbee]

If the Rockets had a scoring SG to come off bench I think Bud would move into starting lineup in place of Shane. Chase has shown he can feed the bigs,spaces the floor and runs the court. In the Rocket future thread I said I believe Chase may well be the future starting SG,so may as well see in this rebuild/re-tool/developement yr if he can handle it.
Von Wafer supposedly just took another physical,Harris waived to make roster room perhaps. If-and a big honking if-if Wafer is brought back,I'd have a hard time seeing Adelman going w/two primarily defensive players starting and two primarily offensive players coming off bench. I could see Adelman going w/a pair of more balanced units-Ariza/Budinger and Battier/Wafer. This would help keep Shane-and Ariza-fresh for Playoffs.

[MaxRider]

bench battier, you can't start 2 players with no offense

[HoustonRockets]

C-Scola
PF-Landry
SF-Battier
SG-Budinger
PG-Lowry

This combination of players would allow the best chance of getting off to a great start...

[rocketsballin]

ariza and landyr off the bench, replace ariza w/ cbud ,ariza cannot start anymore. if the team does do a big trade, ariza has to be benhed. he is NOT A STARTER!

[Young_Star11]

We're a team where being a starter doesn't have to mean a lot; i.e. starters play 30+, bench players lucky to play 20 etc.

Budinger could work in a starting role, he's a rhythm shooter and we can get him fresh.

I am liking the production from the bench, the high energy that Lowry/Landry bring to the table. Yesterday's start was laughable - to fall down 21-5.

[TheMan44]

1. Well, Ariza was pretty solid as a bench Laker 6th man. I see no reason why he cannot excel in the same role here.

2. Budinger should start at SG. You can interchange Ariza/Battier at SF and Scola/Landry at PF. Don't matter who starts.

3. I'd definitely sign Mikki Moore as a backup center to Hayes. He is a free agent right now.


My lineup would look like this:

G Brooks/Lowry
G Chase/Taylor
F Battier/Ariza
F Landry/Scola
C Hayes/Moore


Whatcha think???