Although Mo Taylor got off to a bad start last night. Watching him play against the Lakers forwards it looked as though they could not stop him. The Lakers weakness in past years has been the PF position, their PFs have had to match up against Webber, Nowitski, Duncan, Garnett in past years. This year they went out and got Karl Malone to strengthen that spot up. However, Karla is hurt and Mo looked like he could score at will on him. I really think that we should look to Mo when he's in the game and exploit the matchup vs. Karla or Medavenkolfsdjklfjsdlk.
I agree totally Munco. There is no way Malone can guard Mo without help. Mo down low should be a staple of our playoff offense. He made Malone look pretty old last night.
Karl Malone's best defensive move is to swipe downward at the ball ("strip" the ball) from the offensive player. Mo T seldom brings the ball down to his waist for his low post or face up moves. Big advantage to Mo T.
I agree. Malone is old and gimpy....and... MoT seem to always presented match-up problems for the Lakers offensively. Sorta like Mobley has always caused Kobe problems.
This statement is 100% incorrect. Taylor's first foul was on Shaq when no one boxed him off a missed FT. A possession or two later, Taylor fouled Malone in the high post. Taylor's 3rd foul was at 38.2 in Q1 when Mobley made a errant entry pass and Malone fell to the floor as he tripped over his own or Kobe's feet. For whatever reasons, Taylor fell onto Malone. Malone's floppinesshad little to do with Taylor's first three fouls
He's better than great. Stupendous flopper. The man is, what?, 6'9", 260 pounds, all muscle, but if Boki brushed past him on the way to the basket, Malone would fly ten feet in the other direction, yelling, and I quote, "Aaaaargh!!!!" And the official would give him the call. And after the game, Malone would sign an autograph for the ref to give his grandson: "There you go. I better not see that on e-bay." (they laugh)
I am still PISSED at Mo Taylor for fading to the background on Kobe's airball. Watch the replay of it, he and Yao have Shaq boxed in, and as soon as Kobe shoots, Mo fades to the other side of Yao, and allows Shaq an easy rebound. Where the HECK is Mo T going on that shot? Mo is a good offensive player, but he is softer than a babies butt. DD
Whoever Malone is guarding should get the ball, for the reason that Malone can not keep up the D because he just have bad ankle. Cato and MoT should come up big and the key for the Rockets to win.
I'm expecting JJ to do more. Way more. We NEED him to do more. I'm not sure Mailman, at this age, can dominate the PF matchup with Cato giving him some trouble.
I think Mo is an advantage for the Lakers. The Lakers probably want Mo to continue to think that he's an All-Star, and will allow him to hoist 20 ft jumpers from iso.
I saw that too and was confused at first. But Malone was on the other side of the basket with no one around him. Had the ball hit the rim (which Kobe usually does 99%), Malone would have had an easy board and put back, which would be MoT's fault. Rebounding air-balls is probably the hardest thing to do in the NBA. You're not thinking its an airball first of all, and everyone is staring at the ball (not moving), so its all about being at the right time at the right place.
