Layups: Mid-Sized Players
Posted by Neil Paine on August 25, 2009
At TrueHoop yesterday, it was pointed out that Houston has 11 players on its roster between 6'6" and 6'9":
"TrueHoop reader Terry: 'Do you realize that the Rockets will have 11 players between 6-6 and 6-9? And their 6-6 player is Chuck Hayes ... what is the plan here? Trevor Ariza 6-8, Brent Barry 6-7, Shane Battier 6-8, Chase Budinger 6-7, Brian Cook 6-9, Joey Dorsey 6-8, Chuck Hayes 6-6, Carl Landry 6-9, Tracy McGrady 6-8, Luis Scola 6-9, James White 6-7.'"
They'll probably challenge the all-time record for most mid-sized players (78-81 in.) in pro basketball history this season, barring some roster shakeup:
Year Team #MdSz --------------------- 2004 CHI 13 1969 NYA 13 2006 NYK 12 1997 DAL 12 1982 CLE 12 2009 CHA 11 2008 MIA 11 2008 SAS 11 2007 MEM 11 2000 GSW 11 2000 ORL 11 1998 TOR 11 1997 PHO 11 1993 SAS 11 1992 GSW 11 1989 SAS 11 1978 BOS 11 1977 NYN 11 1969 MNP 11
August 25th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
To answer True Hoop's question, the Rockets' plan is to grab, hold and foul a lot, with some flopping thrown in for good measure (looking at you, Scola).
August 25th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I see no championship teams in that list...
In fact, how many of those teams even made the playoffs?
August 26th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
It would be interesting to see not just the number of players on a team in that specific range of heights, but rather the minutes that were played relative to the team total. The 2008 Spurs are on that list however two of the top 3 players by minutes were Duncan and Parker which are not in that range. In fact, 4 of the players on that team (Jeremy Richardson, DerMarr Johnson, Bobby Jones, and Marcus Williams) only played a combined 79 minutes during the season.
The rockets team is rather unique in that many of those players are going to be the starters or play significant minutes. If Yao is out for the whole season then the front-line be Scola and Landry (both 6-9) with Cook and Hawes (both on the list) as back-ups. The SF/SG rotation will likely be combinations of Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier, Tracy McGrady, and Brent Barry (all on the list).
The ONLY Rocket players not on the list that will likely get minutes are Aaron Brooks and Von Wafer and Aaron is the only starter. I would think using minutes as the basis and not just number of players that the Rockets have to be one of if not the top team on the list.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Von Wafer's not getting minutes for the Rockets next year.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Time was the Lakers played Worthy, Green, & Magic -- all 6'9" -- heavy minutes. That trio plus Michael Cooper, who paradoxically could play both bigger & smaller than his 6'7" height, made LA one of the taller midsizer-dominated successful teams ever. The midsizer movement was heralded by Billy C's MVP of 1973 -- an award the post-'64 NBA wouldn't see a non-Center win until Doc did in 1981. After Billy we had McGinnis & Erving win MVPs, & '75 Rick Barry show the NBA that he was its best player (altho McAdoo was given the award in a make-up call for not winning in '74).
CBS & Chevrolet gave their Player of the Year award to George Gervin in 1978; had DT scored a few more points that season he'd've likely copped the award over IceMan.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
They're also the first team in NBA history to have 8 guys with wingspans over 68".
And I don't remember any team ever that employed four left-handed power forwards.
(Who the hell cares?)
August 27th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
You should care because it means the rockets are undersized and will again have to play on effort to win.
it's going to be a tough year for the rockets. no lie. they probably will be horrible.
August 28th, 2009 at 10:09 am
von wafer isnt even on the rockets anymore
August 28th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Some players play bigger than their height though. I wonder if wingspan isn't a better determinant than height of how 'tall' people play. Or perhaps an average of the two?
August 29th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Keith Ellis,
You're absolutely correct about the that Laker team of Pat Riley's being heavily reliant on outstanding players in that size range.
In fact, Riles is the first NBA head coach I can remeber hearing speak about his desire to coach a team where all the players in his principal rotation were that exact size, and how effective they would actually be, as a group, in terms of handling and creating mis-matches for their opponents.
Unfortunately for the Rockets they don't have players with the talent of Magic, Worthy, Coop and Green to draw upon.