Starting at center for your Charlotte Bobcats: Ryan Hollins

[ziggy]

unless we pick up another veteran big man then thats what the public address announcer will be calling out on opening day.

from the Observer

"At the current time, with the roster we have, he's in that starting spot," Vincent said. "And he's done a good job. He has some real nice athletic abilities that allow him to do some things that some (centers) can't. Like any player, he's got some weaknesses. We're just trying to accentuate his strengths."

If that happens, how do you think ryan will do in the starting center spot?
I imagine that its going to take him a good portion of the season to learn how to play without constantly getting into foul trouble.

[Dead_Real]

I haven't heard much but I sure as hell hope he's put on some weight (muscle) over the offseason couldn't really tell during summer games.

[timang]

our frontcourt is in a big blunder i dare say... :-\
if that ever hapens, it should be his time to show us what he's actually got, having significant minutes for him to play this season.

[x2pacalypse]

i have a feeling he's gonna be like bynum...not enough strength and get pushed around everywhere

[ALong13]

I think he'll be able to move better than Brezec...he look good in Summer league, but that doesn't mean much, hopefully he can do well in training camp and prove he needs to start...I agree though, hopefully he's gained some muscle...

[Mustachio]

as of right now... hes better than Primoz so you gotta think he will be ok.

i mean we did well with Oak at PF and Primoz at Center.


its not Ideal... but it could be worse.

[davcbow]

I like Hollins, I hope he can do a good job and play with the same fire the others do because now we really need him to step it up and Primoz too..... :g:

[dav7z]

I like Hollins, I hope he can do a good job and play with the same fire the others do because now we really need him to step it up and Primoz too..... :g:



I agree but hes not ready to be a starting center. A back up mabe yes starter no, We got to find a way to get a quility center. I just don't see Johnson digging into his pocket any more this season. I personally would rather see Oakafor start at center than any other guy we got on the team now. Let Herrmann and Dudley , and Wallace mabe even Davidson play the four.

[kjk2241]

IMO from what Vicent has been saying, he wants to keep Okafor out of foul trouble. When Oakfor is playing Center, he picks up more fouls bc he is being aggresive. The fouls will go to Hollins. I think we all know that come fourth quarter Hollins will not be in the game as much considering how clutch Hermann is. Well at least that is what I am thinking

[timang]

IMO from what Vicent has been saying, he wants to keep Okafor out of foul trouble. When Oakfor is playing Center, he picks up more fouls bc he is being aggresive. The fouls will go to Hollins. I think we all know that come fourth quarter Hollins will not be in the game as much considering how clutch Hermann is. Well at least that is what I am thinking


good point. 8)

he sure looks a better C than primoz these days

[dvdbumpus]

I'm still kinda for having Marc Jackson take the Voskhul role.....

[Dunk]

There are ways to be successful with him -- it's a matter of what style you play. If we're going to run a lot and play small and quick then maybe this will be a better fit than a 1/2 court game like some of the other teams play.

This situation kind of stinks after all the optimism we had early on. But I think we've got some good guys and the right kind of system can accentuate a lot of our strengths (youth, speed, aggressiveness) so this might not be as bad as we think.

[123together]

i sure hope not.

i would go with j-rich at shooting guard, morrison at small forward, wallace at power forward and okafor at center. there is no way ryan hollins is a starting center in this league, however he can give good energy off the bench. but i can't imagine him putting in 30-35minutes a game.

[ALong13]

Gerald Wallace mentioned that he'd prefer not to go back tp PF, but would if needed, I don't see him playing much there this year...I'm fine with Hollins, he'll be able to get up the floor very well, and while he's not a physical center, I think he'll be able to get some nice rebounds, and get a block her and there....

IMO Hollins as a starting Center

11 ppg 9 rpg 1.1 bpg

[aznjustice14]

i personally think thats asking too much for hollins...thats near double double and he's doubtfully that good. i'd say 9ppg and 7rpg or something along the lines of a oberto on the spurs...like a role player that just helps out every now and then where the majority is on the other 4

[Slam]

as of right now... hes better than Primoz so you gotta think he will be ok.

i mean we did well with Oak at PF and Primoz at Center.


its not Ideal... but it could be worse.




I 100% agree with this. End of the day, Twiggy is far from the perfect solution, but if I had to choose between Pimoz and Twiggy I would have my feet firmly planted in the Twiggy camp. He's athletic as hell and can really get up and down the court which will help with our supposed switch to an up tempo team.

As far as projected stats go:

11 ppg 9 rpg 1.1 bpg is WAY too much. If was hitting those numbers it wouldn't matter if Primoz was here or not!! Hekc, it might not matter if McMay wasn't fat.

I'm thinking more like 6, 6 and 1 (Stephen Hunter type numbers)

[Slam]

I haven't heard much but I sure as hell hope he's put on some weight (muscle) over the offseason couldn't really tell during summer games.




P.S. They are saying he's added 10lbs of muscle - which is a start. Keep in mind that guy's like Camby, Moore, Bosh etc are only 220-240lbs

[Wallace15]

I like the idea of him starting. With our other starting 4 he won't have to do much. Couple of put back baskets, 5-6 rebounds, a block a game and just run the floor well sounds good to me.

[Mustachio]

I like the idea of him starting. With our other starting 4 he won't have to do much. Couple of put back baskets, 5-6 rebounds, a block a game and just run the floor well sounds good to me.


thats exactly how i see it. While May going down does hurt us a lot in the depth department... I really think a strong starting 4 and an average Hollins will more than get us by and may even suprise us at how good it matches up.

regardless, id like to see a big brought in.. on the cheap at least that can come in after injury. Its impossible for us to stay healthy for every game this season with the big men. So when Mek goes down for a 5 game stretch.. were in trouble.

[Slam]

hopefully if Twiggy can develop and get his confidence then if/when EO50 does go down, we might have a back up shot blocker?

Then injuect Primoz or Davdison into the line up and we might not fair too badly.

All in all (and maybe I'm seeing the glass half full?) I'm very supportive of Twiggy starting and getting some experince.

Keep in mind Twiggy did average 12, 10 and 2 in 30mpg in the D last year. I know it's the D, but it shows he isn't a complete Slay..........I mean scrub.

Besides, if the choice is continually wait to see if McMay will get less fat and play more than 12 games a year, I'll take the known factor in Twiggy.

[Mustachio]

agreed ^

[kjk2241]

I see him in the same mold as a Tyson Chandler. He will mostly score on put backs and have great energy and shot blocking ability. Before anybody starts... I am talking about the young Tyson Chandler from the time he was with the Bulls. Lots of potential but not doing anything for a few years. We should be happy with if he can achieve 4ppg, 6rpg and 1 block in about 20 minutes per game.

Keep in mind if he does start it doesnt mean he will play a ton. I still think Hermann and sometimes Carrol and Morrison will have more minutes coming off the bench than Hollins does starting.

[dav7z]

2241 HAVEN'T WELCOMED YOU TO THE BOARD WELCOME. I agree and i hope coach V plays Herrmann a lot to at the four depending on match ups.

[ICE MAN]

Hollins was challenged, to say the least, in a slow paced, body bang’n type of game. He just doesn’t have the girth to body-up to the wide bodies in the league.

However, the simple fact that Hollins will be down the floor at fast-break pace is huge. Primoz doesn’t have that kinda of speed. In fact, few big men in the league can run like that. It just too hard on their body.

In an up-tempo structure, Hollins will add a nice compliment to the other 4 horsemen. Put-backs and blocks are a significant factor in up-tempo play. And don’t forget “Ale-oops”. If the guard can get the timing down, it will be hard to stop the high-flying, pass-slams. He has great energy abd that’s needed in this style of play.

We need to see the Bobcats in action before we bench Hollins. Give him a few games to get his timing down.

[dav7z]

ICE MAN welcome to the board. So far you have made the best case for Hollins i've heard.[ REP IT UP] I don't know i agree with ya but i hope you right instead of me. He could be a big plus for the team.

[timang]

welcome to the board iceman! good point i should say.


since i haven't seen him play really significant minutes, what exactly are the downsides in his game? inexperience would be one problem that i've thought of. :g:

[bizzlecatz]

Coach V, want to play his players to their strength's, we all think Mek play better as a 5,but he is a 4, Twiggy is a 5, and in my opinion he is ready to take a step forward, he's confident, and the team is supporting him. What more can you ask for. I'm ready for the season to start. :bowdown:

[Keetch]

I've been a strong advocate of Okafor at Center, particularly when the alternative is Brezac there.

I'm not sold yet, because I think Ok50 is a natural shot-blocker who's best skills are maximized at the center position.

Having said that (again), I've been wondering since summer league whether Coach V would more seriously try Hollins at Center and Okafor at PF in a pure speed / match-up game. It sounds very exciting.

I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing how this develops; not just Hollins in the paint, but Okafor at PF in a running offense with Wallace and JRich on the wings.

O My I think I just wet myself.

[bizzlecatz]

I've been a strong advocate of Okafor at Center, particularly when the alternative is Brezac there.

I'm not sold yet, because I think Ok50 is a natural shot-blocker who's best skills are maximized at the center position.

Having said that (again), I've been wondering since summer league whether Coach V would more seriously try Hollins at Center and Okafor at PF in a pure speed / match-up game. It sounds very exciting.

I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing how this develops; not just Hollins in the paint, but Okafor at PF in a running offense with Wallace and JRich on the wings.

O My I think I just wet myself.
Keech, we are going to have a block party, EO50, and Twiggy, Crash and JRich(he really need a cool nickname) JRich is soooo West Coast.

In coach V's system, we are going to run defences in the ground.

[Slam]

JRich should be called "Money"

[Mustachio]

I've been a strong advocate of Okafor at Center, particularly when the alternative is Brezac there.

I'm not sold yet, because I think Ok50 is a natural shot-blocker who's best skills are maximized at the center position.

Having said that (again), I've been wondering since summer league whether Coach V would more seriously try Hollins at Center and Okafor at PF in a pure speed / match-up game. It sounds very exciting.

I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing how this develops; not just Hollins in the paint, but Okafor at PF in a running offense with Wallace and JRich on the wings.

O My I think I just wet myself.


weve always agreed that Okafor is more potent at center due to mismatches and his defensive abilities. but Hollins is severely worse than Okafor on offense (which is saying a lot!) So i see Okafor running PF on offense and guarding the Center on the other end of the floor.

That puts your more atheletic, longer, quicker player Hollins on the opposing teams PF spot... and matches up Okafor against a typically slower center.

nothing wrong with that is there?

[Jonathanmartin7]

That sounds reasonable. Hollins is quick enough to get out on guys away from the basket, and we put oak 50 gurading the C.

[Slam]

I can't wait to hear Twiggy let out his primal screams as he dunks on the break with aggression!!

I dig that kid!

[Mustachio]

I can't wait to hear Twiggy let out his primal screams as he dunks on the break with aggression!!

I dig that kid!


i know !!!

theres nothing like watching him swat at everything. no one plays harder than ryan hollins.

and the kid lives to dunk on you. this could be a blessing in disguise... gettin him some minutes.

[Wallace15]

Crash+JRich+Twiggy=A LOT OF DUNKS AND ALLEY OOOOOPS! 8)

[davcbow]

Going to be a exciting and fun game to watch..... :g:

Go Bobcats!!!