I agree. Mooch is definately being hurt by the zone. But then again, so are the other Rockets. We have the talent to rip up the zone...but we are just too stubborn to try a different approach.
If you look at his stats from last year, he got off to a slow start then too. He's just taking time for everyone to jell together and not trying to rush anything.
So, seven games into the season, and the guy's a total waste of money? If that's the case then the whole team is a waste of money. Their offense has been absolutely horrible, and they have only been winning because the other teams they've played have been even worse. I fully expect the team as a whole to start clicking on offense at some point, just as I fully expect Moochie to both click on offense (with the rest of the team) and get used to the new offense; this is a different team than we had last year, and it should be expected that Moochie and Steve - as the guys who run the offense - will take a little while to get used to the new players and system. Hopefully not too long... Seven games into the season is probably not enough to judge the other 75 games by. For anyone on the team.
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See, I don't feel like cutting him any slack for that. He missed camp because he freaking HELD OUT. If you're going to hold out for more money, you better damn well freaking show us why you thought you deserved it!
I agree with THE FREAK, these guys are not pick up players, they are professionals who make millions of dollars. They can condition and prepare, play hunderds of hours of basketball during off season. I have to perform every day to keep my job, and I don't make millions of dollars. It is true that Norris may need more time to "get in the flow," but if he would not have missed training camp, he may be doing much better. I wish I had a long term contract for millions that did not require me to meet expectations. What a deal!
Francis isn't always making plays out there... but when Moochie's on the floor, the team looks completely lost. Sorry, Francis doesn't seem to have as many problems as Moochie. Part of that, of course, is because Francis, when in a pinch, can just attack the bucket better. But last year Moochie seemed like a better PURE point. That's just not the case this year.
Moochie's always been overrated. Everytime people would start talking a lot of smack about him, he'd hit a game winner or go off in the fourth quarter... He's just not consistent, which is something I think you need from a backup point guard simply because he's usually in there to keep the team afloat while the starters recoup. Mooch sucks. He's overpaid. I have NO idea why the Rockets would fork over so much cash for a guy no other team really wanted (and if they did, then let them have him!).
I said it then, and I'll repeat it now. Moochie is often times instrumental in LEADING the Rockets to victory. Moochie entered the 2nd quarter of the Blazers game with the score tied at 15 all. He leaves the second quarter with 7 assists and he gets Williams and Willis involved in the offense and the score changes to Rockets 41, Blazers 25. Moochie also played well late in the 4th quarter when we needed ball handling to control the clock at the end of the game. Moochie is the energizer bunny we all remember from last year, and he sparked our offense with his drives to the hoop and excellent passing. IMO, Moochie is the perfect compliment to Steve Francis. A little inconsistent from game to game yeah mabey, but a great fit on this team who often times gives us that spark we need to win a game.
I thought about this alot. Even though Moochie is getting paid alot he will work on his game and make it good enough to be a backup. Steve, Mooch, and Cat work on their game too much for it to be a bad move. He will never be a consistent player but should get the job done. Rudy T needs to realize when Mooch sux and keep him on the bench, I actually think Rudy has used Mooch well, if he is bad in a game that is close, he goes to the bench.
The new zone defense league rules have changed KILLED moochie's limited game of hesistate right and go left. Teams now zone up and force moochie right and he is ineffective and shoots ill-advised shots. In addition, he pounds the rock into the ground and dribbles out the shot clock. He has had several turnovers while jumping in the air to bounce pass across his body. I could go on!
Let's just face the facts. Moochie sucks. He was good last year but only in one on one situations. We should trade Moochie and Cato for Potapenko and Eric Strickland.
As I said before in an earlier thread - Moochie had a contract drive to end the season last year. We will never see the same production as he had last year ever again. He did have 8 assists last night, but they were all in the first half.
I love how Moochie is a great help to the team last year, but the guy gets a pay raise and now he sucks. He's coming out of the gate struggling, so is half the league, including guys on our team, adjusting to the new rules. Even Francis and Mobes aren't quite right. But he gets a pay raise and people won't cut the guy slack. People are either ticked off because they felt the money should have went to Dream, or they think the money is going to screw up the cap (which it isn't), they think it's to long (what?), or people want to pile on him. If not for Moochie running the point against the Blazers we lose because Francis and Mobes couldn't do jack the other night. He missed training camp, yeah he held out, but he still missed training camp and is re-adjusting to the team. People act like they're the ones paying the guy the money. Relax, and let the team come together and build chemistry. By the way, the majority of players are overpaid in the league, Moochie's contract is nothing compared to some of the guys on the bench doing nothing. I knew this would happen. Moochie is making chump change compared to other players last year and people love it. Now he gets rewarded for helping the team for the last 2 years and people can't see past the money. Forget the money, just let the players have fun and improve.
