Do we need a starting/backup C?

[TMU]

As of today our frontcourt looks like the following:

C: Yao
PF: Scola/Landry/Hayes
SF: Battier/Novak

I left out Mutombo because I don't think he'll get any PT this year due to his age and other considerations. And I have seen Scola and Landry playing backup C couple of times, and while they have done a fairly decent job, they aren't your typical Cs. Hence, it appears to me that this leaves our C rotation very thin.

We haven't realized this because we have been playing well and we still have the winning streak going. However, with the schedule of March and the playoffs approaching, I am having doubts to whether Scola and Landry can keep up against some of the backup centers of the West.

Do we need to sign a backup center? If so, who?

EDIT: now that Yao Ming is out for the rest of the season, we need to figure out whether Scola can hold the C position. I highly doubt this, and we need to find Yao's replacement NOW.

[Texas Longhorns]

No, we have no SPACE, unless we waive Novak or send him to the D-League for the rest of the season. I doubt we will sign a center, especially not Magloire.

[texasholdem]

No, we have no SPACE, unless we waive Novak or send him to the D-League for the rest of the season. I doubt we will sign a center, especially not Magloire.

we don't have brent barry yet
so if he says no then i think we go for chris andersen

[TMU]

No, we have no SPACE, unless we waive Novak or send him to the D-League for the rest of the season. I doubt we will sign a center, especially not Magloire.

There's a guy by the name of Adam Haluska on our team. We can WAIVE him to make roster space.

[Texas Longhorns]

We waived him. LOL, where have you been? We waived him to make space for Bobby Jones. It said on the Chronicle, so you look for it.

[moofs]

I am having doubts to whether Scola and Landry can keep up against some of the backup centers of the West.

I was wondering that myself. Really though, we're considering backup centers. I suspect that Scola can handle a lot of starting "centers" (considering how weak the position generally is right now). My question isn't a matter of whether he can handle them or not (to date, we've seen Chuck Hayes as the other backup rather than Landry, far as I know), but rather one of "if Scola goes down to injury or something knock on wood, now we're out both starting power forward AND first backup center". That's where I wonder if we don't need another PF/C, or if Chuck Hayes would fill in well enough for Scola/Landry if something happened (he WAS our fairly effective starter for quite a while after all) that we don't need to worry about it. I kinda think we're ok?

[RaoulDuke79]

So is Dikembe strictly a cheerleader now? Granted he makes one hell of a sexy beast of a cheerleader but I'm pretty sure he's still capable of a few more finger wags at his old age, in limited minutes of course. I don't see why he and Hayes can't fill that need should it come to that.

The Chris Anderson idea is...interesting. He's eligible to come back isn't he? You can never have too many dopers on your team I always say. I suppose between him and Magloire it's an obvious choice...


...damn, where's Cato when you need him!

[texasholdem]

We waived him. LOL, where have you been? We waived him to make space for Bobby Jones. It said on the Chronicle, so you look for it.

we havent signed jones yet, i'm guessing till BB gives us his decision

[TMU]

-= original quote snipped =-



I was wondering that myself. Really though, we're considering backup centers. I suspect that Scola can handle a lot of starting "centers" (considering how weak the position generally is right now). My question isn't a matter of whether he can handle them or not (to date, we've seen Chuck Hayes as the other backup rather than Landry, far as I know), but rather one of "if Scola goes down to injury or something knock on wood, now we're out both starting power forward AND first backup center". That's where I wonder if we don't need another PF/C, or if Chuck Hayes would fill in well enough for Scola/Landry if something happened (he WAS our fairly effective starter for quite a while after all) that we don't need to worry about it. I kinda think we're ok?

Then let's bring that into discussion as well. Certainly my presented scenario isn't the only issue here. We can consider other factors such as, what if Yao goes to foul trouble (when his defensive assignment will be guarding players like Duncan/Gasol/Shaq)? I mean there's a very good chance that we'll play such teams with a prominent C if we make the playoffs.

[tosweet68]

We waived him. LOL, where have you been? We waived him to make space for Bobby Jones. It said on the Chronicle, so you look for it.

I have not found this anywhere. I know we are likely going to waive him but on the Chronicle website, these are the Rockets latest transactions.

Date Player Transactions
2/21/2008 B. Jackson Traded seven-player, three-team deal
2/21/2008 A. Haluska Traded seven-player, three-team deal
2/21/2008 G. Green Traded for G Kirk Snyder, future considerations
11/1/2007 L. Head Contract Extended Signed through the 2008-09 season
10/29/2007 B. Sura Waived
10/29/2007 J. Lucas Waived
10/29/2007 J. Butler Waived
10/29/2007 J. Reed Waived
10/22/2007 M. Harris Waived
10/1/2007 D. Mutombo Signed as Free Agent One-year contract

[jove9]

Deke is our man for guarding prominent backup centers. For everyone else, there's Landry and Scola.

I wouldn't worry too much; there aren't any real centers in the league anymore, much less real backup centers. Scola, Landry, and occasionally Mutombo more than fill the slot.

[jove9]

[quote="tosweet68"][/quote]

Strange, I remember reading the article about him getting waived, but Haluska is still listed on the team roster.

http://www.nba.com/rockets/roster/
(If this changes in the next hour, it's not my fault)

I also remember reading about HOU offering Bobby Jones a 10 day. They must be delaying the waiver until Barry decides what he'll do.

[dontel]

having a backup C wouldnt hurt right? so i guess its a win-win situation. How bout justin williams? that guy is a freakin offensive rebounding monster

[Alex_De_Large]

I'am sure MUTOMBO will play in the playoffs.

[moofs]

Then let's bring that into discussion as well. Certainly my presented scenario isn't the only issue here. We can consider other factors such as, what if Yao goes to foul trouble (when his defensive assignment will be guarding players like Duncan/Gasol/Shaq)? I mean there's a very good chance that we'll play such teams with a prominent C if we make the playoffs.

Scola has already been matching up with Gasol and Duncan and picking up backup C duty with Yao in foul trouble, so that's no biggie. As far as Shaq goes, I'm about as concerned with him and the post-trade Suns as I am of being viciously mauled by the ghost of the Easter Bunny in an abandoned New York subway tunnel.

Now if you're talking about Scola AND Yao being in foul trouble against the Lakers with Bynum and Gasol both in the game? Well. Probably go ahead and chalk the L, but I think we, and everyone else, are gonna have trouble matching up with them regardless. So um. Bring in Mutombo/Hayes and Landry? Mutty is pretty much around for emergencies at this point, and I'd trust him more than Magloire if we had to push him onto the court in a gurney.

[tisbee]

For now Adelman is using first Scola,then Hayes as Yao's backups. But Motumbo is still on active roster every game,just in case. I expect at end of season Motumbo will get some meaningful minutes to get himself ready for playoffs. Just as Adelman has said Hayes is his best defender at PF and will prob use him more in Playoffs than now.

[moofs]

I guess the question changes to "Do we need a starting C?"



****

[CuttingEdge]

We should have kept Butler somehow. He would have been a nice backup C. Butler where the heck are ya? Come back!!!

[RaoulDuke79]

Oh, THE IRONY!

[Guy986]

I guess the question changes to "Do we need a starting C?"



****