Mobley deferring to Yao is yet to happen. Mobley is an overachieving guard with progress being made based on absolute confidence in himself. His confidence is too big to let him think and act like a role player. Notice that Mobley always talked about his "co-leader with Steve of the team" status in the media when Francis was clearly better than him. He wants to be one of the team leaders. Not role players. He's not supporting Yao to be the sole ROY shows that fully promoting Yao is not desirable. If Mobes regards Yao as the second option already then what does it hurt to fully promote Yao instead of pushing for someone else to share the ROY honor? Mobley is still in transition and it's gonna be hard for him.
Yeah, I agree with this. I think the fact that Mobley was a second-rounder and has really exceeded the expectations of most GMs, it's hard for him to dial his game down. Of course that's just too damn bad! If he can't accept a role behind Yao, Francis he can be the star he feels he is on another team. In another thread I also brought up the fact that when Francis was out or "iffy" last season with injuries Mobley had to be the #1 option and that was perhaps the worst thing that could've happened to HOU (except of course we got Yao). With a healthy Stevie and an emerging Yao, maybe he feels like he would be taking "one step forward, two steps back?" One thing I also found troubling, in that game when Francis was out this season (v. MEM) Mobley took over the scoring load. And in a post-game interview he said (not word-for-word, but very close), "That's what has to happen when Steve's out; I have to take over the offensive responsibility." To me, in a situation like that, Yao should have been even more the focal point. Sure we won the game, and I'll take Ws any way the Rox can get 'em, but I still found what he said a little odd. But see, that's Mobley's mentality. No matter how many times he hears that the Rox best players are Yao and Francis, he will feel that he is @ their level. One last thing that's not such a big deal -- I was watching ESPNews and they showed highlights of the HOU-SEA game. They got to a play in which Mobley made a tough shot and as the play was going on the TV-personality said, "Cuttino Mobley says he wants to be a superstar. There he makes a superstar play." Not as bg an issue with me, but still worth noting.
This is something I would also like to see, perhaps next season. Maybe Mobley for a 1st rounder. Or package him with Cato & Rice to the Nuggets for Hilario and Savovic. Sign Gary Payton while we are at it. I would rather have Payton as the 3rd option then Mobley.
