I was watching that Lakers/Mavs game in LA a few days ago and remember seeing Horry hit those big 3-point shots to help the Lakers win. If the Rockets suddenly start improving in 2 or 3 seasons, they should consider bringing him back as a critical role player. I think an underrated ability in a player's game is how he performs under pressure. Horry performs outstanding under pressure and i think he is one of the best clutch players in NBA history. I mean, look back at the 1995 playoffs/finals, 2000 playoffs/finals (had a big role in Game 7 vs Portland) and finally last years West Finals when he locked up Tim Duncan. Containing Barkley in 1995 is one thing, but doing it to Duncan is that much more impressive because of height, and that i think Duncan is better than Barkley. Then in the 2001 Finals, he made crucial shots in Philly. I think it was Game 3 or 4 were he had the big three in the left corner. Which leads me to Moochie Norris. Yeah he gets bashed alot, but he has a mental skill that only superstars and Robert Horry have, making big shots in crunch time. Moochie is a perfect role player on a good team. I think he would have fit in very well on the Rockets titile teams. No wonder why the Mavs had an interest in him this previous summer. The Indiana game last year was a classic. Talk about cold blooded. What I am saying is that Moochie would be even better if/when the Rockets get a go-to man who does not make mistakes all the time like Francis and Mobley do. Why has Moochie been ineffective of late? Because Francis hasn't hit a perimeter shot in a week. Where has his jumper gone? I glad the Rockets gave Moochie a long term extension. His clutch ability is a precious commodity. There are very few players in this league that can do what moochis has shown to do, hit big jumpers in crucial moments...well, when he doesn't dribble to create a shot. But, when did Robert Horry ever do that?
Nick Van Exel makes those shots too. The more of those clutch shots you take, the more you make and you only have to worry about when you make them making you look good.
I agree that we should keep Moochie. He is a good player who wants to get better. If you watch him recently, he doesn't dribble the clock down much anymore. Signs of improvement. Plus he is definitely a clutch player. Clutch doesn't only mean last second shots. It means hitting big shots when the game is on the line. Might be 5 minutes left. So the comment that "the more you take...the more you hit" is ridiculous. You can't dispute that Nick is clutch. I'll agree he's not a good locker room influence but he is clutch. The reason I don't like Horry is cause he only plays the last 1/4 of the season and playoffs. The rest of the time, he's absent.
Keep him. I like Moochie. I like Bob too, but if there was only some way we could add him too the roster come playoff time... (Next season, of course)
Concerning Horry, I'm pretty sure I remember reading that he WANTED to return to Houston? Doesn't he still have family or possibly a house here? When's his contract up?
JBIIRockets we think the same way bro, I just started a thread about Moochie, and then I notice yours is almost saying the same damn thing. As far as Horry goes... man is that guy underrated. I mean only people in Orlando, Houston, Philly, and LA respect the guy. He always plays good D, can pop the trey regardless of the situation, is a good slasher, good passer, and rarely makes the mental mistakes that Rockets fans are accustomed to. I wish he were still a Rocket...
The thing with Horry is that he had/has a daughter in Houston who has/had health concerns. Horry was a FA last summer, but re-signed with LA. Horry did express some interest in coming back, but we never offered. I don't know how good Horry will be 2-3 years down the road, he will be like 33-35 years old by then. But for now, he's one hell of a role player who provides clutch play, and solid defense.
i'm with you!! it's easy to appear to be a clutch player when you're extremely talented but you're only willing to put those talents to work in the postseason. nothing like paying good money to watch this guy walk up and down the court!
uh....always is a bit too much for me. i was a rockets season ticket holder back when he was here...i couldn't stand him walking around...i was really upset with him when, after falling to 3-0 to the Sonics in 96, he came out in the paper before game 4 to say, "oh, well...we'll get 'em next year." ummmm...excuse me bob...there's still a game left to be played...we all plunked down an assload of money to watch you play, and Mr. Alexander plunked down a lot more to have you play. so why don't you drop the next year crap, play hard, and see what can happen. instead he came out and gave a half-ass effort while his team busted butt to try to keep up with the sonics...they ultimately got beat in overtime...robert horry never played another game in a rockets uniform. the end.
MadMax-Funny you mention that Game 4 in 96, because if I'm not mistaken Horry scored something like 20 points in that game. The only thing I remember from that miserable game was that Horry couldn't miss from downtown, when we made our comeback. http://www.dfw.net/~patricia/nba-daily/older/95-96/scores5-12.txt
Good call, Horry hit something like 4-5 3's in that 4th Q alone to help send the game to overtime. He was at his incredibly clutch self. The guy is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and is a bigtime winner. Losing Horry's defense and intangibles was a devastating blow to the Rockets.
Last time I checked, Horry was the starter. He was contributing so much that the coach couldn't afford to keep him on the bench.
The Lakers always need a power forward. Maybe we can dump Mo T's contract on them in exchange for Horry plus fodder. Horry could start at the 3 for us, and we would clear up the logjam at 4, while keeping KT, the better power forward. Imagine the shots a frontline of Horry, EG and Cato would block.
There is no reason for LA to trade Horry and change for Mo. Horry is a good fit with LA, in the sense that he provides defense as well as being a hustler. Mo would be in Phil's doghouse from Day 1. If you haven't noticed, Phil likes to have stellar man-to-man defenders not named Kobe (though Kobe is a great defender) or Shaq. Fox, Hunter, Fisher, Horry, etc. Phil knows the importance of defense, and would not trade defense for offense. Moreover, Mo would be just another ego/guy who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. Kobe and Shaq dominate the ball enough to the point where Mo would be ineffective.
Just thought this thread about Horry should be jumped back up. The guy is to clutch as Pippen is to choke. If the Rockets can gets some big people or when Horry's contract runs out in 2 years, the Rockets should sign him.
He was thinking of coming back last summer because of his daughter's illness and how much easier it would be for him to stay in H-town full time, but decided to ride out the Lakers Dynasty until it ends.
Horry wanted to come back but no one would pay him the money they were paying him in LA so he did not opt out of his contract.
