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JBB The Man like Sam
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As Nets Fans know our to all-stars Kenyon Martin & Jason Kidd returned to the lineup last night(thank goodness). Last night they came off the bench.And played 21 minutes. But as we all know our all-stars will be back into the starting lineup in a game or 2. So now we have a few question that we can discuss about our lineup. One question that comes to mind is should we or better yet can we get away with starting a small frontline?
By that I mean can we put Jason Collins on the bench? And start K-Mart at the Center spot, so Rodney Rodgers can stay in the starting lineup as the power forward.
I know Rodney Rodgers has been an excellent 6 man over his career with other teams Clippers, Suns, Celtics. But he has not worked off the bench his 2 seasons with the Nets. But He has played very well everytime he has been asked to fill in as a starter. So maybe he needs to stay in the starting lineup.
Sometimes as players get older they need to be in the linup earlier to get lose inorder to be productive. Maybe that is what is happening to Debo as he gets older. But what ever the case maybe the Nets will need major production from RR, if they are going to win the East again. So we need to do what ever it takes to keep his confidence & shooting touch going.
I know saying or asking if Martin should play Center might seem crazy at first.
But lets remember that this is the EASTwe are talking about. Which means we wont have to play to many overpowering bigmen in the playoffs. Lets take a look at our road thru the Eastern Conference playoffs IF all the higher seeds win in the 1st round etc.
In the 1st round we would play either the Knicks or Celtics.
Knicks start Nazr Mohammod at center. He has good size but he doesnt really use it on the offense end. He isnt an overpowering type of Low post player. Kenyon Martin can more that handle him on both ends of the court. And the Knicks start Kurt Thomas at power forward. Kurt Thomas is a scoring threat but not really in the low block. He is more of a mid-range bigman. He is good on the board. But Rodney did a good job when matched up with him last week. He had 20pts and 7 rebs. He took Thomas to the 3pt line where Kurt couldnt handle him. So both players would have their advantages in that type of matchup.
Celtics, They start Mark Blount at the center. He is really a 7-0 power forward playing center. Good rebounder. So Martin would have to work to keep him off the boards since he would be giving away some size to Blount.
But Martin often gives up alot of size on the boards, yet he still fins away to dominate the rebounding matchups. Boston has been starting Brandon Hunter at PF lately, he is a 6-7 wide body. He gets by more on body wieght & strenght then height similiar to Rodney Rodgers(minus Rodney's shooting range.
So neither Boston or the Knicks who have an edge in the piant if we went with a smaller lineup. The Knicks have Mutombo off the bench but when he comes in we can insert JC or Aaron Williams.
2nd Round: Would likely be the Pistons.
Now this is where we might give up something. Ben Wallace isnt a scoring threat but top notch rebounder. Playing an undersized frontline might allow him to control the backboards. But then again he would control the boards even with JC at the center. So if Kenyon can just at least match Ben Wallace's intensity on the boards the Nets should be ok. Both players rebound more off of positioning then they do hieght.
The matchup that would cost us would be at the PF spot. Rasheed can take Debo in the low block anytime he wants.And shoot over the top of him. So against the Pistons Iam thinking we start the game with Rodney on Ben Wallace. And hope that he can use his wide body to keep him off the boards. And let K-Mart deal with Rasheed.
One advantage that I see of starting Rodney over JC against the Wallace boys, is that Rodney shooting range will take one of the Wallace out of the paint on the offense end of the court. Rodney shooting willl stretch their defense. With Collins in the lineup, both Ben & Rasheed will both be able to hold down the paint. But with Rodney they will have to respect his shooting touch from the outside. Which means K-mart will get space to operate down low. There will be more driving lanes for RJ & Kidd. Having Rodney knocking down jumpers from that PF spot could disrrupt their defense.
The jury is still out on whether playing K-mart & Rodney together against the Pistons because of what we could possibly give up on the boards. It has its advantages & disadvantages.
Eastern Conference Finals: Would be the Pacers
one matchup would be K-mart vs JOneal. Well that usually the matchup the Nets always go to anyway. And K-mart has done an excellent job on him over the years. Jeff Foster is at the other bigman position. He is a solid rebounder at over 7rbg. But he is more or less a scrappy type of player. Rodney should be able to contain him.
So what do you guys think. Can we get away with playing such an undersized frontline in the playoffs?
Out of all our possible playoff matchups the Pistons are the only team that will give us match problems. But they are going to give us problems no matter who we play on our frontline. So we have to find away to create a few problems againt them. And maybe Rodney making 3's as a power forward can cause them some problems.
Opions Nets Fans
By that I mean can we put Jason Collins on the bench? And start K-Mart at the Center spot, so Rodney Rodgers can stay in the starting lineup as the power forward.
I know Rodney Rodgers has been an excellent 6 man over his career with other teams Clippers, Suns, Celtics. But he has not worked off the bench his 2 seasons with the Nets. But He has played very well everytime he has been asked to fill in as a starter. So maybe he needs to stay in the starting lineup.
Sometimes as players get older they need to be in the linup earlier to get lose inorder to be productive. Maybe that is what is happening to Debo as he gets older. But what ever the case maybe the Nets will need major production from RR, if they are going to win the East again. So we need to do what ever it takes to keep his confidence & shooting touch going.
I know saying or asking if Martin should play Center might seem crazy at first.
But lets remember that this is the EASTwe are talking about. Which means we wont have to play to many overpowering bigmen in the playoffs. Lets take a look at our road thru the Eastern Conference playoffs IF all the higher seeds win in the 1st round etc.
In the 1st round we would play either the Knicks or Celtics.
Knicks start Nazr Mohammod at center. He has good size but he doesnt really use it on the offense end. He isnt an overpowering type of Low post player. Kenyon Martin can more that handle him on both ends of the court. And the Knicks start Kurt Thomas at power forward. Kurt Thomas is a scoring threat but not really in the low block. He is more of a mid-range bigman. He is good on the board. But Rodney did a good job when matched up with him last week. He had 20pts and 7 rebs. He took Thomas to the 3pt line where Kurt couldnt handle him. So both players would have their advantages in that type of matchup.
Celtics, They start Mark Blount at the center. He is really a 7-0 power forward playing center. Good rebounder. So Martin would have to work to keep him off the boards since he would be giving away some size to Blount.
But Martin often gives up alot of size on the boards, yet he still fins away to dominate the rebounding matchups. Boston has been starting Brandon Hunter at PF lately, he is a 6-7 wide body. He gets by more on body wieght & strenght then height similiar to Rodney Rodgers(minus Rodney's shooting range.
So neither Boston or the Knicks who have an edge in the piant if we went with a smaller lineup. The Knicks have Mutombo off the bench but when he comes in we can insert JC or Aaron Williams.
2nd Round: Would likely be the Pistons.
Now this is where we might give up something. Ben Wallace isnt a scoring threat but top notch rebounder. Playing an undersized frontline might allow him to control the backboards. But then again he would control the boards even with JC at the center. So if Kenyon can just at least match Ben Wallace's intensity on the boards the Nets should be ok. Both players rebound more off of positioning then they do hieght.
The matchup that would cost us would be at the PF spot. Rasheed can take Debo in the low block anytime he wants.And shoot over the top of him. So against the Pistons Iam thinking we start the game with Rodney on Ben Wallace. And hope that he can use his wide body to keep him off the boards. And let K-Mart deal with Rasheed.
One advantage that I see of starting Rodney over JC against the Wallace boys, is that Rodney shooting range will take one of the Wallace out of the paint on the offense end of the court. Rodney shooting willl stretch their defense. With Collins in the lineup, both Ben & Rasheed will both be able to hold down the paint. But with Rodney they will have to respect his shooting touch from the outside. Which means K-mart will get space to operate down low. There will be more driving lanes for RJ & Kidd. Having Rodney knocking down jumpers from that PF spot could disrrupt their defense.
The jury is still out on whether playing K-mart & Rodney together against the Pistons because of what we could possibly give up on the boards. It has its advantages & disadvantages.
Eastern Conference Finals: Would be the Pacers
one matchup would be K-mart vs JOneal. Well that usually the matchup the Nets always go to anyway. And K-mart has done an excellent job on him over the years. Jeff Foster is at the other bigman position. He is a solid rebounder at over 7rbg. But he is more or less a scrappy type of player. Rodney should be able to contain him.
So what do you guys think. Can we get away with playing such an undersized frontline in the playoffs?
Out of all our possible playoff matchups the Pistons are the only team that will give us match problems. But they are going to give us problems no matter who we play on our frontline. So we have to find away to create a few problems againt them. And maybe Rodney making 3's as a power forward can cause them some problems.
Opions Nets Fans
