What happens when Mo Taylor comes back?

i say we trade him or kt. one of the two gotta go. we have a nice big lineup with griff cato(yes i said cato) willis and either kt or motay... i really don't think we need both...

 

Eddie Griffin would have taken over his job.

Taylor will sit on the bench, and watch how to rebound and block shots.

Better... he gets traded.

 

Now we're getting somewhere, its not just me from draft night. Anyone who said Griffin would "complement" Taylor was lost from the get go especially when the Rockets didn't pursue Webber in the off season after drafting "a small forward". When a uses a lottery pick, a high lottery pick on a player who plays your position, you're days are numbers. The telling fact was when they traded for Rice and drafted Morris too. Why would you overload the 3 position like that and not go after one of the top 10 players if you didn't think you had a future star at that position? I understand that the Rockets signed Taylor to a long term contract, but it was just to cover their ass for maybe a few yrs in case it took time for him to develop, but with Taylor's injury and Thomas is mainly a bench player, everything is going to go quicker than most think.


Thomas will be signed to a longer term deal probably this summer because he may be more willing to play a bench role than Taylor which sets up this scenario: Steve gets the max deal this summer, we open our new building for the 2003 season, by then the Spurs will be done and Duncan will be ready to walk. The Spurs know he's going to walk and being the gentleman he is he says I'm going somewhere i have a chance to win a ring. Although Houston has no cap room, they have 2 players that make basically what he'll be asking for 14mil per with Taylor and Cato. Although the Spurs don't want to make a team in their division a contender, they are going to be desperate for something in return. Orlando is another option, but they can't part with Hill or McGrady and Miller won't be able to get max money by then, so who else would they have to trade? We could Taylor and Cato plus maybe draft choices and both will still be fairly young. Some may think it sounds crazy, but watch it unfold.

 

If we were content with a small line-up, I think Taylor might end up as the center. Taylor's outside shooting would create space in the middle for the guards. If the opposing center came out to cover him, Taylor could put the ball on the floor and head for the basket. Defensively however, he would need a lot of help or someone other than the center to cover. As long as we were successfully running the ball, this might be made to work.

Now pardon me while I don my most flame-resistant attire.

 

Maurice Taylor and Griffin would compliment themselves perfectly. Nobody was lost Rudy SAID this. The Rockets picked up Rice because they had to get something for Shandon, and it allows Griffin to come off the bench. Griffin is looking good, but Griffin WILL NOT start for another year or 2. He has to bulk up. Just because he had one good game doesn't mean he's ready to go full time agains the NBA beasts for an 82 game season. I'm suspecting that Mo will get his starting job back for at least 1 year.

<b>I understand that the Rockets signed Taylor to a long term contract, but it was just to cover their ass for maybe a few yrs in case it took time for him to develop, but with Taylor's injury and Thomas is mainly a bench player, everything is going to go quicker than most think. </b>

Everything IS NOT going quicker then thought. The Rockets expected this. Griffin will have flashes of good to great games but physically, he isn't ready to be full-time. He'll be a key kog off the bench for a few years like Kobe, and then he'll be starting, possibly in a 1-2 frontcourt punch with Mo.

 

Eh? Kobe was a key member on the bench for one year, if I remember correctly. Griffin already has a year of college, which Kobe did not.

That year Kobe spent on the bench? That would be this year for Griffin. I'm not saying Griffin's as talented, but I don't think a 12/8/2 season is out of the question.

And if he can do that, Taylor shouldn't be starting over him. Sorry, the extra 3 points just isn't worth less rebounding and (joy) blocked shots.

 

Ed G is impressive, and still growing. I could see him and Mo T, T Mo, Cat and Steve on the court together in the near future. The next step in the Evolution of NBA Hoops. I believe Rudy saw it on draft day. No need for Webber and his $$$$$$ contract. Oscar, Moochie and Kenny for depth, Walt, Rice and Willis (glad he is back) are here for the transition, Cato, Jason and Dan have to step up this year or be replaced.

Ed G has talent that you can't compare to Kobe's. Has Kobe ever blocked 6 shots in a NBA game, preseason or not? And Ed G hasn't developed all of his talent yet. He is younger than some of the Highschool players drafted this year. The Rockets are IMHO, the best team for him to grow and develop with, as a player and a person.

 

I know it's a hypothetical question, but I think it is too far away to even think about it. We don't know how well Griffin will do and we don't know who else might be injured by then. If everyone is healthy and Griffin by then averages something like 12 pts, 8 rebs, 2 blocks, 1 steal, I would consider trading Taylor.

 

Question is how much does EG have to bulk up? Is he already close to Kevin Garnet's size? Wont adding alot of bulk (and weight), effect his timing on blocking? Just curious?

How big was Duncan compared to EG when Duncan came into the league? Since everybody was comparing TMorris to Duncan and school, and everybody was comparing EG to TMorris a few years ago, does that mean everybody would be comparing EG to Duncan? Kind of confusing?

 

I don't think it's Mo Taylor who has to worry about his starting position. I think "Stone Hands" Cato is the one who has to worry. Cato is showing he wants to play (thank you Kelvin), but he will be challenged by the Griffin. I can't wait to see a starting lineup of Steve (PG), Cat (SG), T-Mo (SF), Mo-T (PF) and the Griffin (C) with a backup crew of Cato (C), Collier (PF), Rice (SF), Torres (SG) and Moochie (PG) to devastate opposing second strings. Sorry, that just brings a tear to my eye.

IMO, the Griffin will add the weight and, even if he only grows another half inch, will be tall enough. Like Hakeem, I see him creating his own version of center. No, he won't push Shaq out of the paint, but the Griffin will force Shaq to chase him all over the court. That extra running will help negate Shaq's strengths.


Now, Win14me, please loan me that flame-resistant suit.

 

Two things:

Mo fits this team well, at least offensively. He's a hard worker, willing to learn, wants to win, and Rudy loves him. That's why they signed him. Because as a front court option, he's great, and still is, regardless of how good Griffin is.

Griffin is a 4/5, not a 3 as we originally thought. Agreed. And yes, if you had to peg either of these players to a position, it would both be PF, and they're both (or Eddie will soon be) ready and deserving to start.

But the beauty of their games (or at least Eddie's) is that they're versatile and you're not restricted to playing them in single-dimensional roles. Both Eddie and Mo T can score inside and outside effectively. And Eddie's interior defense and rebounding abilities make up for Mo T's (yes, this reflects poorly on Mo T, but he said as much, when Eddie was drafted). Unlike Hakeem and Charles, who both had to have the ball fed to them in the low post on the left block, Mo T's and Eddie's offensive games do (will) not get in the way of each other. They can totally co-exist on the floor at the two power positions, and will kick @ss too.

I don't know how the lineup will be specifically when Mo comes back. It depends on when Mo comes back, how well he's playing, how well EG's playing, how well we need his game, etc. But expect Eddie and Mo T out on the floormanning the power positions together (Eddie playing the '5', if you insist) at periods of the game when Rudy thinks that lineup is the most effective (and don't be surprised if it's it's the 4th quarter). But also expect rotations where Eddie and Mo T each play with Cato (if he's still around) and Willis or what-have-you, sort of like Steve, Cuttino, and Mooch. The most effective combo of the trio of Cato, Eddie and Mo T will start, but if Cato is doing a decent job, and Mo T's game is back to where he can start, I'd expect Griffin coming off the bench since he's young and knows he's the new new kid on the team and in the league. Don't forget; he's only 19. Eddie knew coming in he was behind Mo T on the depth chart, and although he anticipated playing on the floor with Maurice, Eddie knew he'd be playing behind him as well. Starting isn't as important when you're a young player as long as you're getting the minutes (a la Cuttino).

Now are Eddie and Mo the most effective frontcourt tandem we can put together in a couple years? Maybe, maybe not. I certainly won't contest the possibility of Mo being traded a few years down the line, but I don't think it's likely at this point. I think both Eddie and Mo T can not only play together but would kick @ass together. And furthermore, I think each would be willing to come off the bench as long as each had a significant role in the offense with significant minutes, if not the satisfaction of being unequivocally the #1 big man or PF on the team. But a lineup with Eddie and Mo T at the power positions would still be more effective than any we've put at those positions in recent years. The future of this team is bright.

 

Even if Mo Taylor doesn't get back into the rotation this season, we will still need him next season when KW's contract is done. If Griffin continues to thrive at the PF spot (and that's what we all anticipate), then this team is going to be a playoff contender.

If Mo comes back this season, he is surely going to worked into the lineup slowly, hence, coming off the bench. Not sure if he would be a better option than KT at that time since Mo would be just returning from injury. I wouldn't worry about lineup conflicts/playing time too much.

The odd men out seem to be Langhi, Collier, and to some extent, Williams. Williams has to compete with the likes of Glen Rice and Terence Morris and that is no easy feat.

Back to the original subject, no need to worry about Mo coming back. If he does, then he'll be coming off the bench at first anyway. Let's watch EG and Tmo thrive.

 

Ah, don't think I forgot Willis and Langhi. Willis will be a key player this year. Next year he will be just as ready to beat the (heck) out of other teams with his cane. Yes, IMO we will need a confident Langhi to match up against those really tall SFs like Gasol and Nowitzski.

 

You guys are so damn structured it's ridiculous. Who says there has to be one power forward? One small forward? One center? Lineups can vary greatly. Why on earth would the Rockets sign Mo to a 48 million dollar, 6 year deal if they wanted to trade him after Griffin grew into his spot? Did they really think Griffin would take 6 years to develop? I highly doubt that. If they wanted to cover themselves just in case Griffin took longer to develop, wouldn't KT be a reasonable and cheap alternative? I have never seen a team give a 48 million 6 year deal to a player as a fallback plan. I can't think of any teams in the league that would've payed Mo over 5 or 6 million this summer, and if the Rockets intended to trade him, why wouldn't they just play hardball and get him for cheaper? It probably would've worked, but with giving him the big deal it diminishes his trade value greatly.

You guys say Mo plays like a small forward at times, right? Imho, that very well may be the Rockets plan on the offensive end. Give Eddie the touches down low, give Mo the chance to create from the outside. On defense, EG is probably quicker than Mo, so you could have him defend the perimeter, and Mo defend on the inside. EG on this end would serve a similar role to what Shareef did when he played SF for the Grizzlies.

I'd like for someone eo explan how this wouldn't work out. One forward has a brilliant interior game, including scoring and rebounding, and can block shots like crazy. The other is brilliant at creating for himself and teammates from the perimeter, can pass well, and can shoot from the outside. How can these two players not compliment each other? There's no rule that says that one person has to be a complete and full PF, and another has to be completely a SF. All you need is two forwards that compliment each other well. We have that now. Why is anyone complaining? If anyone was brought in to not rush EG's development, it was Glen Rice. He's the one that is 34 years old. He has about 2-3 very productive seasons left, before he probably needs to be relegated to a bench role. That coincides exactly with when Griffin should be ready to come into his own.

By the way, on another note, have any of you thought of some of the people playing center? Marcus Camby, Jermaine O'Neal, Raef Lafrentz, Calvin Booth, Cliff Robinson, and Dale Davis to name a few. Who's to say EG can't put on a few more pounds and play in the middle?

 

Kevin Garnet plays the SF position but during the game he some times plays PF and C. When Taylors on the floor EG will play SF and Cato C. EG is a great shot blocker and can do this from any position. Probally best as helping D. He is quick and long enough to guard smaller SF. EG is still a unknown as to how he will grow, taller and/or bigger. Rice is unhealthy enough to be a long term awnser. Thats why Rudy loves versitle players remember he's the king of match ups. But this is just my opinion

 

Interesting, Cat, that you see EG and Mo T manning the forward positions as opposed to the 4 and 5. I don't see Eddie defending the perimeter whatsoever. He's been training as a big man, and as far as I'm concerned, he's the best interior defender we've got. In my opinion, TMo will take Rice's place, if anyone, when he retires, but I don't think that necessarily means that either Eddie or Mo T would be relegated to the bench (although I still assert that it doesn't really matter if Eddie comes off the bench as long as he's in there for significant minutes and when it counts.)

The question is, will an interior defense of Eddie and Mo T do a good enough job on the elite frontcourts of the West to get us to the finals? I don't know, but if the rules don't go back to illegal defense, I think the Rockets are committed for the next few years to relying on Eddie for most of that interior defense, supplemented by a couple big men (preferably bruisers like Willis), but primarily a whole lot of help defense, like what we saw last night. I don't see Cato in there when it counts. His limited range hinders the full power of the offense (however slight) and his hands just suck. However, I think we can go far defensively, with Eddie and Mo in the interior, backed up by guys like Cato and Willis and swarming help defense a la Seattle. Morris is perfect for that and helps our perimeter defense tremendously (or will). But even if all of these things clicked, I don't think our defense would really dominate in the West or anything, but it just might be solid enough to permit our offensive power to blaze a path to the finals in a few years. We'll have to wait and see. It's too premature to tell now.

 

Either I haven't paying attention, or The Cat is back! As you alluded, Rudy is a great match up kind of guy who doesn't think in a single dimension as most of us do. As I said earlier, the Griffin, Mo-T and T-Mo will make a dynamic front court because of their speed and skills rather than weight alone.

 

Didn't we all already discuss this way back? You know, that Taylor and Griffin will be in the starting lineup at the same time! While Griffin defends Taylor's man and Taylor defends Griffin's man. They don't have to have a true position on the floor, just two forwards that's it. Problem solved...