At first, last year I really liked what Moochie brought to the table. This year, however, he has really sucked. I don't like the flow of the offense when he's in there. People keep saying he's the best pure point guard on the team, but from the looks of his play this year, I don't think he's NBA material.
At this stage I have to agree with pooh and solid. I didn't see much of Mooch last year because I lived in a market that NEVER had the Rockets on tv. Given the new contract, and the talk on the bbs, I was looking forward to seeing him play. But he looks worse than Tierre right now. He doesn't push the ball, rarely finds an open spot on the floor, etc. It's like he has no idea where his teammates like to receive the ball. IMO, a little less shake, and a lot more bake, and he'll be fine. Right now his minutes are in jeopardy.
Mooch of last year and Mooch of this year are two totally different players. The thing that is lacking the most this season is him driving and breaking down the defense. IMO the zone doesn't matter here, because it will collapse on him and he should be able to find an open man. He did it a couple times tonight, but not enough to keep the defense honest.
Mooch is not able to improvise or react to a defense quickly. There have been countless times where Mooch does get to the rack, has an open layup, the proceeds to pass the ball to a guy who's covered. It appears that once Mooch drives, he assumes that he will have to kick it out, or dish to Willis for a dunk. The guy just cannot read a defense at all.
what destroys moochie's game, IMO, is his inability to shoot the ball. his indecision often comes during times where the normal shooter (ahem, mahmoud) would pull up for an easy, automatic 2 points. instead, mooch tries the damn jedi mind trick on the defender: Defender: "mooch, i know you aren't going to shoot the ball, so bring on that same damn right-to-left crossover" Mooch: "watch the hair! watch the hair! i just might pull up and shoot! you are getting very sleepy watching me dribble the ball, aren't you? you are getting very...very...sleepy" Defender: "damnit mooch, there's 3 seconds on the clock. i guess i'll go for the steal." Mooch: "cool, i'll just cross over right-to-left, drive to the basket, then kick it out to glen or walt for an open 3 with 1/2 second left on the shot clock!" Defender: "i'd take those odds in vegas!" Rudy: "mooooooch! shoot the ball!!!!" Tierre: "coach T! i only have one move, too. but at least the whole freaking nba hasn't found out about it yet! can i get some pt?" Rudy: "learn from dan, tierre. learn from dan. see ya on the IR!"
Its not fair to dis the mooch because he didnt magically blossom from his BACKUP role and take over the team in Stevie's abscence....He is not the best PG or the best anything.....he is.....a backup.....he starts now yet his numbers match his as a BACKUP....he does exactly what he is paid to do and he does it very well......back off....no one is going anywhere we need to keep who we have get who we have back and maybe add a few players....ok definitely add some players
Unfortunately, I must disagree... Mooch: "Damn my fro bobble much better drivin into tha defender tryin to git to tha hoop....F#$K all dese M%##$F#$ers...my fro don't bobble one inch shootin dat J....Ima drive dis **** fo sure...dis here fro tha key to my shoe deal one sweet day"
Actually, Moochie seems to be a pretty solid spot-up shooter (as does the whole team), but we don't get to see enough of it because he dominates the ball. He's really not bad (neither are his teammates) when he plays off the ball and spots-up for jumpers. (Actually, its become quite obvious that the Rocks are a team of spot-up shooters, but wants to create its offense with the dribble rather than the pass. No mystery why they're among the worst in the NBA in offense, and all the more reason for more motion in the offense.) My $0.02!
Yo B, it like dis.....your very own ignorance be leadin you to label certain lingos on a particular race cuz you out in suburbiaville livin tha good life thinkin everyone out in tha ghetto be one color and ****....you needs to check yoself and stop monitorin me like you 5-0 yo.
that was classic. perpetuating racial stereotypes by accusing another poster of perpetuating a racial stereotype, even though PDG never mentioned anything about color... good job, PDG... ********************************************************** RocketFan4Ever, mooch will not - and cannot - be held to a backup poing guard's standards because he is not being paid like a backup point guard. backup point guards don't get contracts of that type of money or that type of length. mooch is expected to be more than a backup pg, he is expected to be a "3rd guard" in a 3 guard lineup. he is expected to be a steadying hand when steve is on the bench. yet, he hasn't even been a decent backup point guard at this point. he's been inconsistent, poor shooting, indecisive, and larcenous with his paycheck. someone should arrest mooch, throw him to the cba, and give back the money he stole. or just give 1/10 of it to mahmoud. dude would take $500K per year. he did last year! and he could at least hit a jumper!
maybe so, but even as a 3 guard...his numbers wouldnt change because Stevie would be in there....think of it as a totem pole...stevie being the bottom piece...u can lose any of the pieces above him and still operate and functio...maybe half ass but you still have foundation.....you lose that bottom piece of the pole without an addequate or exact replace ment, all the pieces fall and you r left with Rudy doing everything he can to rebuild it...fast b4 ....well u drop 11 in a row with no light at the end of the tunnel......I know this is a terrible analogy, but u get my point
So I come out of a productive bout of studying to read the bbs, and I end up lmao. Great conversation verse!!!
I think Mooch will mature with age. I am comfortable with him a as a back-up right now. I still think the Rockets gave him too much $ however.
I am just excited that someone quoted one of my posts. I feel like accepted! Crispee quoted me the other day; it's like being voted prom queen!
Next to Charlie ward and Howard eisley, I bet we have the most expensive backup poing guard in the league. With guys like G. Anthony, Jacqu Vaugn, even E. Davis, we over paid for this guy.
