I agree SirCharlesFan. I see bashing at a maximum despite the face we are above .500 for the first time since the lockout season. I'm tired of seeing all the negative threads. Despite all the flaws people are finding in our players, the Rockets must be doing something right. We're not 2-10 like last year. You cannot say that being over .500 is not a huge step for a team that was lottery bound the year before. Look at the Bulls and Warriors. They have been rebuilding for awhile. How successful are they this season thus far? The Rocks may not be a perfect team right now, but at least they are doing well. People should give credit as well as constructive criticism. What's up with all this whining? Who could we have picked up in the offseason that is better than Mo Taylor for that price? Where would the Rockets be without Mobley? Collier is getting more confident. 7 footers with an outside shot are rare. Good post SirCharles. ------------------
As far as Mo Taylor, I don't think it's a matter of him sucking, it' more a matter of his skills not fitting the Rocket's needs. The fact is that our biggest needs are rebounding, low post defense, low post scoring and shot blocking. We could get by without one of those, but not all of them. Unfortunately, Taylor provides none of those. His strengths duplicate our other strengths. It's the same reason that we didn't draft Alexander. He's had skills, it's just that his skills duplicated what we already had. Stick Taylor on the same front line as Mutumbo, Shaq or Mourning and he'd be fine. He just doesn't provide the skills that we need. ------------------
I think he fits our team very well. IMO he does have low post scoring, and he does have good low post defense. And with Hakeem and Cato, shot blocking is not needed. We could use a few more rebounds in the coming years, but for now with Hakeem at center he can do an excellent job on the boards. I do believe as time goes by he will learn more and more about positioning, etc. and be a 7-8 rebound per game guy. Personally, for the future I think he's exactly what we need. Like I said in a post last week, I can think of maybe 8 PFs in the entire NBA I'd rather have, and pretty much all of them are max guys that are unattainable. I'm very happy long-term with Mo. ------------------ President of the Jason Collier fan club! Looking for next year's Jason Collier or Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Let's see...Stevie, Cat, Collier, Mo, Cato, Moochie...have i left anyone out? And who's next on the bashing list? Stay kool and stay peaceful ------------------
IMO he does have low post scoring Where is the low post scoring? He almost never even attempts to post up, let alone post up and score. The guy is averaging 11 pts/game. He scores an average of 5 baskets a game and easily more than half of those are off of jumpers. So, if he got no easy dunks on dishes from the guards, then he'd have at most 2 post up baskets a game (which is more than he really gets). Sorry, but I'd hardly call that a post up threat. And with Hakeem and Cato, shot blocking is not needed Uhh...you do realize that there are only two teams in the entire NBA that have blocked fewer shots than us. And, now that Mutumbo is back in the Atlanta lineup, we'll most likely fall to next to last. but for now with Hakeem at center he can do an excellent job on the boards Then why doesn't he? Like I said in a post last week, I can think of maybe 8 PFs in the entire NBA I'd rather have Well, I'd have to say that Brand, B.Grant,Duncan,Garnett,Webber, Wallace, Malone, McDyess, Nowitzki, Ratliff, C. Robinson, V. Baker, J. O'Neil, Fortson, A. Davis, A. Jamison, A. Mason amd D.Davis are all currently better. I'd also rather have K. Martin or S. Swift on potential alone. I'd even make an argument for Othella or Alan Houston over Taylor. ------------------
Allan Houston isn't a PF, he's a SF/SG. ------------------ "There are two players carrying the Rockets right now. Hakeem and Olajuwon." Isiah Thomas
Aelliott, We're missing Cato, our leading shot-blocker from last year. That might have something to do with it. And the he I was referring to was Hakeem. When Mo goes down into the post, I've seen a good array of moves from him, including a fadeaway, faceup jumper, hook shot, etc. It's not his fault Rudy currently isn't utilizing him there a lot. As for your list, I would take Duncan, KG, Webber, Malone, Brand, McDyess, Wallace, and possibly Grant over Taylor. That's it. ------------------ President of the Jason Collier fan club! Looking for next year's Jason Collier or Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Allan Houston isn't a PF, he's a SF/SG. Yeah, that was a typo, I meant Alan Henderson. ------------------
The Cat, And the he I was referring to was Hakeem I don't know if you noticed or not, but Hakeem hasn't hardly scored anything on post up moves this year. His points have come off catch and shoot jumpers from 15 to 17 feet and a few dish off layups from the guards. We're missing Cato, our leading shot-blocker from last year Well, if you're intending to get post up scoring from Hakeem, then that means that Cato will be sitting on the bench. As for your list, I would take Duncan, KG, Webber, Malone, Brand, McDyess,Wallace, and possibly Grant over Taylor. That's it Maybe Brian Grant? I'm glad you're not our GM. Just out of curiosity what does Maurice Taylor do better than Cliff Robinson? ------------------
I made that comment about Hakeem in reference to Hakeem doing the lions share of rebounding this year, not post up play. I think Taylor rebounds better than Cliff, has a better post up game than Cliff, and is a better defender. ------------------ President of the Jason Collier fan club! Looking for next year's Jason Collier or Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
I made that comment about Hakeem in reference to Hakeem doing the lions share of rebounding this year, not post up play. Since when is 6.3 reb/game, the lion share of anything? If that's suppose to be picking up the slack for Taylor, then we're in real trouble. I think Taylor rebounds better than Cliff, has a better post up game than Cliff, and is a better defender Neither Cliff Robinson or Maurice Taylor rebound. Neither one post up much. Robinson however shoots the ball much better and he's light years ahead of Taylor defensively. You do realize that Cliff Robinson was named to the NBA All Defensive 2nd team last year? Also, Robinson is a better assist man, has more blocks and steals. ------------------
For the minutes Hakeem gets 6.3 is very good. And Taylor mostly plays alongside Hakeem. You also need to realize Cliff Robinson played most of last season at the SF spot while Googs played the PF spot. Defending quick perimeter players is a lot different than defending the Webber's of the world down low. It's that that PF's do, and it's there I think Mo is better. Mo is a better post up player, and he can rebound better than Cliff. You can't just throw those out the window. ------------------ President of the Jason Collier fan club! Looking for next year's Jason Collier or Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Ok we have a winning record , you know what that means , WE ARE GREEDY , WE DONT WANT A WINNING RECORD , WE WANT A PREFECT RECORD!!! I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU PEOPLE BUT 6-5 LOOKS PRETTY DAMN GOOD TO ME!!! ------------------ And Florida's 25 electoral votes go to ...Ralph Nader
Adding to Aelliot vs Cat: Also, Mo's a lot younger w/ mo potential than Robinson. C-Rob will only get worse, and Mo will only get mo better. ------------------ da ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence - alaskanSnowman
You also need to realize Cliff Robinson played most of last season at the SF spot while Googs played the PF spot Actually, Robinson played as much center last year as he did SF. Marrion was playing 28 minutes/game at the SF. Even when Googs was playing, Robinson always guarded the better offensive forward. In the past, when the Suns matched up with the Rockets, Robinson would guard Barkley. Since the Western Conference is loaded with quality PFs, Robinson spent the bulk of his minutes guarding the opposing PF. Mo is a better post up player, and he can rebound better than Cliff Neither guy posts up, so why is that a significant stat? Was Spud Webb a better post up player than Mugsy Bogues? Take a look at the current rebounding stats, Robinson is out rebounding Taylor. Also, Mo's a lot younger w/ mo potential than Robinson. C-Rob will only get worse, and Mo will only get mo better. Yes, same for Karl Malone, but Cat didn't have any problem listing him as being better than Taylor. ------------------ [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited November 19, 2000).]
Maybe if Cuttino would pass the ball to Taylor with more than 3 seconds left on the shot clock, he would score more. ------------------ 2000-2001 Rockets Game Formulas: End of 1st quarter: "They're playing so well!" 2nd: "What a great game!" 3rd: "Theres no way they can lose now!" 4th: "What the ******* **** happened?!!" Revote! Revote! Revote!...... Rocket's Championship 2001!!
Taylor does post up a little, and he definitely has the ability, so I do think that matters. Taylor outrebounded Cliff last year when they both played about the same minutes. Seeing as how Cliff is averaging 10 more minutes per game this year than Mo, he should be ahead. But it won't be for long. ------------------ President of the Jason Collier fan club! Looking for next year's Jason Collier or Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Taylor does post up a little, and he definitely has the ability, so I do think that matters. Ok, let's look at this from another angle. If Taylor has such a good post up game, then why doesn't his field goal percentage reflect that? Last year Taylor and Robinson shot an identical percentage of .464. The difference is that Robinson had 324 3point attempts to Taylor's 8. ------------------
WOW!!! ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know.
How many more threads are we gonna have about Taylor's SUCKINESS?! PLSE people, lets get off it. Taylor is a good PF with nice offensive and defensive abilities. He just needs work with rebounding. There, it;s said and done. Can we move onto somethin else now? ------------------
