We've been trying to understand rotation minutes based on salaries and stats.

A resonable apporach to be sure. But we also know it's about the call, the moment, the headline. For that we need names, great names for each rotation pair. These names will foster a sense of team & togetherness & marketing cool, worth more that a rebound or two.

So where does this take us ....

• Gregzilla at center: an obvious winner.
• Stevio at point, I could go for that.
• Roynandez  at two. That has flair.

However we're all screwed up at small forward

• Nickel ? Seems cheap. I guess I could see some sort of nickel and dimed headline

It's even worse at power forward:

•  Travidge? Aldye? Outing? Nope.
  

So I predict a trade at PF. Forget the trade machine, send in your names.

I'm wondering when a team will develop a game plan for our zone. Oh yes and practice it and execute it, and bust our zone. I mean not just win, but break our defense open. (Sort of like 3 lob dunks in a row, but more)

I suspect the zone novelty currently gives us an edge, and teams perhaps didn't think we were worth the effort of a developing an new custom game plan.

Still my bet's on Utah Dec 31st. Is Sloane really going to let 3 games get by him? Plus we play them again on Jan 5th. What do you think?

Then of course we rebuild it, even better.

ESPN's Adande was asked

"I want to follow the NBA, should I pick a team?"

The answer was "Yes". As to which team, after a couple of paragraphs eliminating others, Adande narrows it to Portland and Houston.

Scroll down to second quarter to read it all for yourself
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=FourQuarters-071113  

--- extract -----------
Houston and Portland are the two best choices. They'll be on ABC, ESPN and TNT another 13 times each this season, by my unofficial count.

Portland has a rich owner and a savvy GM and has to wash away years of image-reducing incidents, so you have to think the Blazers will do whatever it takes to get better except adding knuckleheads to the roster. They'll have a nucleus of Greg Oden, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. The only bad thing for Peter is they'll be playing most of their games in the Pacific time zone, which means he'll have to stay up late to watch his squad.

Houston's in his Central time zone and has the personality of Yao, the excitement of McGrady and the finger wagging of Dikembe Mutombo. The Rockets have won championships more recently, so you at least can say they've had success in your lifetime. I'll warn you that this team comes with underachieving Rick Adelman at coach. That means there are potential side effects with this pick, such as yelling at your TV in frustration.

Good luck with whatever team you choose, Peter

--- end extract -------------

Can't disagree. Welcome, one and all.

Cheers, Alistair