I would not be surprised if he proves to be effective as a 2, but it is certainly not his natural position. 1. He was a mostly back to the basket 4 in college. If he can play 2 it will take major transitioning. He is not used to playing facing the basket. 2. He is not a proficient ballhandler for a 2. To get shots in the halfcourt set as a 2 (not that the rox need him to shoot much), he will have to post up smaller (read: virtually all) 2s, or spot up. 3. He will have problems defending quick 2s. Despite his wingspan and aptitude for defense, and despite the fact that speed can in some sense be taught, this will be an issue. 4. Losses from not playing him at the three: a certain amount of rebounds, probably, and more effective defense. Also, the ability to outquick some threes and beat them off the dribble. Advantages (creating matchup problems on offense, having the rebound advantage at that position on defense) do not outweight these losses, IMO. I know that not playing tmo@2 might mean not playing at all (some would add ever to that, for those who think langhi is the 3 of the future), but it will be a challenge to make the transition and may not be the most effective use of his talents. While he may be fine as a 2, I think he can fluorish as a 3.
I actually heard that Morris has good dribbling skillz for his size. Also that he is really quick. I would like to see TMO playing some 2, that would be great cuz someone got to cover the Kobes, TMacs, and Vinces of the world.
Give me examples of 6'9 220 guys or thereabouts and i will tell you if he can handle the ball relative to them.
TMo: Glen Rice, James Worthy, Larry Bird, Walt Williams, Robert Horry, Paul Pierce, Glen Robinson, Tim Thomas, Detlef Shrempf, Derrick McKey, Rashard Lewis, Steve Smith, Keith Van Horn, Thurl Bailey....
Morris is the 3rd best shotblocker on the rocket team behind Cato and Griffin. He is also our best rebounding small forward cause I don't even remotely consider Griffin a small forward. Why would the rockets have Morris defending 2 guards out on the perimeter. I think when its all said and done he will be backing up Rice at the 3, Langhi is more suited to play the 2 because of all of the above. Morris is probably the rockets best all around defender now that Dream and Anderson are gone. Can't wait to see Francis and Morris reunited.
Rice-Rice, fair margin Worthy-Worthy, small margin Bird-Bird, fair margin Williams-Williams, fair margin (he was a pg in college) Horry-tmo, small margin Pierce-Pierce, small margin Robinson-Robinson, small margin Thomas-tmo, small margin (by the way, tmo dominated this one way back when) Shrempf-wash McKey-tmo (but has mckey EVER actually dribbled) Lewis-can't comment Smith-Smith, small margin Van Horn-Van Horn, small margin Thurl Bailey-tmo, HUGE margin A lot of this may have less to do with having the right kind of coordination and more to do with just not handling the ball that much, and certainly not in regulation games. I know there are some, but 6'9'' 2s are still more the exception than the rule.
heres a reason, Cuttino, our starting 2 played 42 mins a game as a startet last season. you can count on him being one of the leagues minutes leaders. so that leaves only 6 minutes left for fillers. so for every minute that francis plays at 2, thats even less for backups. the only minutes that neither cat nor steve will be at the 2 is when they are GARBAGE minutes, or one or both are injured. if ya dont belive me vheck cat at ESPN, season splits. PEACE
