Fringe Players: TMo, Torres, etc

TMo IMO is a player that could turn into an all star player SF if he could develope a consistant outside shot. He plays good devense, rebounds, blocks shots, has good moves to the basket and passes the ball well. On top of all that he does not demamd the ball.

If he does not develope a consistant outside shot then he is doomed to be a bench player for the remainder of his career.

 

The only two players I see still with the team next season is Terrence Morris and Oscar Torres. Some of the others might be on the injured list.

 

Crash, as one of Tmo's biggest backers, I agree with you that Morris could possibly turn into an All Star Small Forward. I don't think it will be as easy him developing his outside shot. The other crucial thing for him to develop would be a greater competetive fire and maybe a little arrogance. And these 2 things are not something you can easily teach.

I think if he can develop a good 3pt shot, he becomes a very solid player, but one that may make the All Star team on his best year.

I also think people are giving up on Morris a little too early, I'm the first to admit he has holes in his game. But he's played in one season, lets see what he can do with another year to develop. He may just surprise everyone.

If he does get his outside shot to fall with consistancy, I'd have to think the search for a Small Forward is a moot point. Other than shooting what problems do people have with Morris' game?

 

For a rookie, Terence wasn't too bad at anything other than shooting (he was one of 15 rookies with 2 or more double doubles, and the lone second rounder of the bunch). Somebody needs to grab him by the shoulders and let him know that 500 jumpshots a day this summer and he will make enough money over the next 5 years to never have to work again.

He HAS been spotted playing a few times a week at the open gym at Frederick Community College. The guy always enjoyed playing--one time when he was in college I ran into him at a county fair (near where the turtles were racing under the heat lamp) and the first thing he asked was if we wanted to play pickup the next day. I don't think he was ever one for drills, but now he needs to be.

 

AllStar.........don't exactly seeing it happen....maybe he can prove me wrong.

I do see him becoming an Horry type player......maybe better depending on how committed he is.

 

Tmo has a contract for 2002-2003.

Tierre is likely gone unless Mooch is moved as part of a deal for Odom. TB is also less valuable if the Rockets draft a combo guard like Jeri Welsh.

OT will most likely return but again, the drafting of Jeri Welsh may impact him as well.

If the Rocks draft and keep Yao Ming, Willis is an excellent mentor but then we have 4 centers. If KT and/or Collier are moved, Willis seems like a sure thing. Anyone recall if Willis has any form of Bird Rights? That way we won't need to eat into the MCE.

The Rocks are over the cap so I doubt there is a big push to renounce contracts (Langhi).

 

LMAO!!! That is some funny stuff. Tmo is not even close to being a starter for the Rockets much less an Western Confrence All-Star. I think he is a good back for our team at best.

 

This is my hope:

Unit 1 - Cato Taylor Thomas Francis Mobley
Unit 2 - Ming Griffin Morris Moochie Rice
Unit 3 -Collier Stoudamire Langhi Brown Torres

 

Let's do a little comparison of our rookies last year:

<pre><font size="3"> Griffin Morris
MPG 26.0 16.3
SPG 9.1 4.2
FG % 36.6 38.4
3PT % 33.0 19.2
Rebs 5.7 3.1
Ast 0.7 0.9
Stl 0.2 0.3
Blk 1.8 0.4
TO 0.6 0.7
PPG 8.8 3.8
</font></pre>
Say Morris played an equal number of minutes to Griffin. Their stats head to head would be:

<pre><font size="3"> Griffin Morris
MPG 26.0 26.0
SPG 9.1 6.7
FG % 36.6 38.4
3PT % 33.0 19.2
Rebs 5.7 4.9
Ast 0.7 1.4
Stl 0.2 0.5
Blk 1.8 0.6
TO 0.6 1.1
PPG 8.8 6.1
</font></pre>
Everyone seems to think Griffin's going to be a stud but most of the people here think that TMo is hardly worthy of a roster spot. I'm not saying that TMo will be as good as Griffin but once these two adjust to the level of the NBA and start hitting their shots with more consistency, we'll have two very good players on our hands. Right now, EG's the better shot blocker and TMo is the better passer. Other than that, it's pretty even. Don't give up on Terence!

 

Good point. They are highly talented players with alot of potential. That is why I do not want a whole lot of changes to derail their development.

 

Greg, thanks for the enlarged font, first go around was tough After TRock's soph year was when his value was sky high at Maryland, Terence subsequently injured his foot during a pickup game. Once he was able to play again, his skills decreased significantly going into his junior year. I think that was a big turning point, confidence-wise not to mention skill-wise. If one looks at his stats at Maryland, they were not bad especially since he now ranks in the top 5-10 in many career categories, but his senior year took a slight dip. The dip was no where like this past year. If you look at his last two months of Rocket stats, it was a big, big improvement over his initial Rocket start. If anything, his great teamwork may be a big weakness to a point. He needs to get a "little selfish", I say a little. At Maryland he became tentative playing for Gary Williams, would be hesitant to shoot the open jumper, would overpass. If Rudy T can get him to shoot more inside and out, I think Terence will greatly improve his shooting which could not get any worst during the first half of the season. Terence's game flourishes under optimum teamwork since he is a Red Auerbach type player, the Celtic trademark for many years. I heard Red Auerbach say at a banquet, "during our dynasty years, we did not have the best players, but we knew how to play better together". Fredterp

 

I don't know if TMo is capable of being a an all-star or not. I do know he was talked about quite a bit as a lottery pick the year before he came out, when he contemplated entering the draft.

It seems to me that some people believe that spots 1-12 should all be occupied by all-star caliber players. If you have three or four guys who are capable of scoring in double digits every night, I don't see why it hurts to have one or two guys on the team who still believe the alphabet has 26 letters, and that the letter "D" is one of them. I wouldn't mind someone at SF who can at least slow down his man. Even if we draft someone capable of doing that, is there a law against having another one on the bench?

 

I think the Rockets need to strive for some consistancy and keeping good role players who have another years working under the same system (flawed as it may be) is a step in the right direction. Keep Tmo, OT, KT, EG and then try and unload some of the other bench players.

 

Well My only prayer is that they get rid of Dan Langhi that guy has no game.

He hasnt been able to play since day one. I know I may be alone in my thinking but its true anyway.


That guy is RMR star and NOMORE! get rid of DAN

 

Yeah, Langhi is only a RMR stud, but on the court this season he proved more than TMo. It doesn't matter though because Langhi is almost gone for sure. TMo probably has more upside and another year could help to see if he'll actually turn out or not. I think Torres got rattled when he started coming off the bench and couldn't get into rhythm as much. He definitely could be a good backup if he could get used to it, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was gone also. I hope they don't cut Tierre, but we'll see.

 

Fredterp, sorry about the font earlier, I was trying to get the pre tag to work correctly. You're input on Maryland players is always appreciated. I agree that he is a bit too unselfish but I think very highly of the guy. He has a bit of everything in his game and some more guidance from the coaching staff would do wonders. The team doesn't need a stud at SF, they need somebody who plays team oriented ball and isn't bashful to take the open shot. I'd love to pair him up with Artest or Chris Jeffries.