Chron: Full house & Missing season hard for Taylor Oct. 1, 2002, 10:53PM REPAIRED ROCKET Missing season hard for Taylor By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle AUSTIN -- The pain, even the uncertainty, was gone weeks ago, along with almost 50 excess pounds of comfort food that never quite comforted him. But for Maurice Taylor, last season had not ended. It didn't end on Tuesday either, not with a brief scare that forced him to leave practice early and not with a five-game suspension, as a result of a failed drug test last season, still to serve. But finally, the end was in sight. As the Rockets opened training camp, the 6-9 forward was back on a court, competing in a NBA practice for the first time in almost a year and a half. There was still rust to shed, timing to pick up. Taylor didn't have to feel quite right, but he felt good. "Being out a whole year was tough," Taylor said. "I really missed it. I knew there was a part of me that would want to be here, just to be back at training camp." Taylor said he was starting over, with the injury and his rehabilitation in the past. But midway through Tuesday's second practice session, Taylor stepped on the back of Kenny Thomas' foot. He felt a pop and then a burn, and he flashed back to the day he ruptured his right Achilles tendon playing pickup ball in the summer of 2001. "When it happened, it didn't feel like it did the first time," Taylor said. "I just tweaked it. Sometimes, I downplay the surgery like, `Yeah, I can do what I want to do.' But when stuff like that happens, it messes with me mentally." The gym went silent. Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said his heart skipped a beat. But Taylor never went down. He walked off on his own. "He just aggravated the Achilles, but that's going to happen," Rockets trainer Keith Jones said. "I told him, `You're going to get that a few more times. It's scar tissue. You have to break that up. But he'll probably be back in the morning." "I will be back tomorrow," Taylor promised. "I did miss it a whole lot." But last season, the Rockets missed Taylor. But besides failed Twinkie-therapy, Taylor had to carry the weight of expectations not met and the embarrassment of having to admit violating the league's drug policy. "When you get a contract like that, the first thing you want to do is come in and prove that you're worth it," Taylor said of his six-year, $48 million reward that at the time was the Rockets' largest contract. "Getting injured right after signing a contract, it plays with you mentally. You want to be out there. You wonder, `What is everybody thinking about me,' when you sign a contract like that then you can't play." But when he had to call a news conference to announce he had "abused mar1juana" he had a pretty good idea what people were thinking. "The suspension made that year that much worse," he said. "It's definitely hanging over me because I was injured last year. I'm healthy now, but I'm going to have to miss five more games because of the suspension. "It just topped off that whole bad year for me." In addition to the frustration of the injury and the embarrassment of the failed test, Taylor had the added indignity of getting out of shape. But when the season ended, Taylor embraced in tough love. Strength and conditioning coach Anthony Falsone and new assistant strength coach David Macha pushed him hard. Taylor (down to 262 pounds) took that prodding as a sign that he was still wanted. "It was pretty much a full-court press this summer," he said. "It makes you feel good though, because the organization was on my back. If they're not talking to you, you should be worried." For now, Taylor received the lesson that was shared around the NBA by rookies and veterans coming back from injuries on Tuesday. Players can spend their summers going from the weight room to the StairMaster to the pool, they can drop the equivalent of an end table from their gut, but nothing can prepare an athlete to play NBA basketball like playing NBA basketball. "You don't get in NBA shape until you've played back-to-back games and flown three hours to your next destination," Taylor said. "That takes time." By next week, when preseason games begin, Taylor said he hoped to get a full dose of work. He said he will covet chances to play in the sort of games that are mundane to most veterans, and has already lobbied for all the time Tomjanovich will allow. "We already talked about that," Taylor said. "I'm going to play my preseason games like they're regular-season games. I was talking to Rudy earlier: `Give me as many minutes as possible.' "I'm definitely ready to play," Taylor said. "I just want to go through training camp with no setbacks, no soreness, no taking any time off. I want to do as much as I possibly can to get myself into NBA shape." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1599711
Just don't hurt yourself after all this time and just getting back into to playing shape. You don't have to make it all up in two weeks, MO
Man, I sure didn't like reading that he "felt a pop and then a burn"! I kind of wish he wouldn't push it so hard in training camp. We need him this season and I don't want to see him to work himself into an injury.
For all his statistical flaws and limitations, I can't help but root for MoT. I can't think of any other player who's responded to a drug suspension with as much honesty and embarassment. He's the true definition of a stand-up guy. Also, last year whenever I heard some putz talking about how much KT was an equal replacement for MoT based on statistical similarities, I immediately placed the idiot in my 'doesn't really know anything about basketball' file. I hope it was obvious to anybody who watched the games how much more of a natural complimentary player MoT was with his 15' jumper, as opposed to Kenny's need for the ISO to score. The fact that the guy can't rebound or (based on his lack of physical attributes) be a shutdown defender is a big deal, something that I never thought I'd be able to accept, but I've come to realise how important he was as a complimentary player, and how much an enthusiastic personality like his brings to the team. All things considered, I feel compelled to root for MoT, even thought I'd have never signed him to the Rockets in the first place, if I'd examined only the cursory ephemera.
couldn't agree more. he truely wants to play here and live up to his contract plus he always has positive support for his teammates. seems like a good person.
leehuang: Don't just injure your brain on the first read. You've got to keep trying. Read the rest of the article tomorrow. I know what it's like, it's hard sometimes, but you just gotta keep reading. An extremely small contingency of Rockets fans are counting on you. Read on man, read on!
RocketsPimp, Why wasn't this "scar tissue" worked off already? I thought he was playing hard all summer. Apparently not. This frustrates me. I mean, let's be positive and all like the trainer is trying to be, but I much rather would have had Mo experience these "pops" in July when he was supposed to be working hard. Apparently, he was just working hard to lose weight. This is why the weight gain sucked. Ottomaton, Kenny is complementary for his defense, as well. I do agree with the importance of MoT's 18-20' range (KT has solid 15' range), but that is a Francis game and with Ming, bruising frontliners to "protect" Ming are important as well. Despite perceptions from KT hatas (not meaning you), KT has passing instincts...both him and MoT look pretty good; we just need a new offense. We very well may be moving to more a defensive mindset with more standard low post PF play. Ming can hit that 18-20' that Mo hits, so actually Mo is duplicate Ming, not complementing him. The complementary PF will play the low block, imo. Also, MoT had ISO after ISO in the 1st Q 2 yrs ago. Just because he shoots more than drives, it is still most definitely the very same play run for KT. They just approach it differently. They are both keepers, in there own way. btw: the "pop and burn" by Maurice (that we were hoping was out of his system by now, given we had reports of him going full speed at Westside), this "pop" should be all there is needed to stopping talk of trading Kenny.
KT is beyond an Equal Replacement IMO. Mo's so called DEADLY 15 foot Jumper is *NOT* a CATCH AND SHOOT it *IS* off a ISO for him . . . From what I seen of his jumper he holds the ball for a few seconds then pops it. I guess complimentary means disappearing for 3 quarters Rocket River nnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaa . . . I don't really know anything about Basketball. . . but I am very Observent. BTW - I don't hate Mo . .. but IMO KT is just as good with twice the heart
<blockquote><hr><i>Originally posted by RocketsPimp</i> Mo's so called DEADLY 15 foot Jumper is *NOT* a CATCH AND SHOOT it *IS* off a ISO for him . . . <hr></blockquote> in the words of Ottomaton, anyone who didn't believe or doesn't remember that Mo scored most all his points off of a series of ISOs in the 1st Q and 3rd Q go into my 'doesn't really know anything about the Rockets' file. He also disappeared because of foul trouble. I mean, he averaged 3 fouls per game on 28 minutes in 2001, while KT was at 2.7 on 35 minutes. Here's Mo's Clipper stats 21mpg = 3.1 fouls 33mpg = 3.9 fouls 36mpg = 3.5 fouls btw: that 3.9 would have made him 2nd in the league this year, behind Kurt Thomas and tied with Ron Artest. Mo doesn't even play a tough game, and he gets that many fouls. This can only be a perfect example of how sucky he is on defense. For a guy who does not rebound, and shoots from the perimeter on offense (few offensive fouls), these foul numbers are testimony of what we all witnessed...Mo does lazy matador swiping defense and gets called for it.
HP, Maybe MT did experience some pain and soreness, but didn't hyperextend it like he did stepping on KT's foot. The whole place went silent? How much do you think all those guys are rooting for MT, and how much they know he will be a big factor this year?
MoT's high post iso's involved him facing up and passing. or shooting. In that way, he enables them to run someone like Cato out there who can't move more than 3 feet from the basket. By complimentary, I mean that he enables them to run their spread offense more effectively. KT's best skills are his first step and his footwork around the basket. I think that you are giving KT's jumper too much credit. He has several technical flaws with his elbow, his forearm, and his hands that make his jumper erratic. Much in the same way that NFL teams can have a decent passing game with an average quarterback if they are able to run the ball and use play action, KT's jumpshots come because people have to respect his ability to drive. This, therefore, dictates spacing requirements involving opening a pathway to the basket. MoT, on the otherhand, is more like the West Coast offense. He works jumper first, and he can get it off pretty much against everyone. He creates a different dynamic when it comes to the floor spread. I didn't intend to antagonise anyone. I was specificaly thinking of Charlie Pallio, who last year often put forth the arguement that because KT's numbers and MoT's numbers were the same, they obviously didn't miss him. MoT's presence on the floor creates a very different offensive dynamic than KT's did. Whenever I go back and watch the few tapes that I have, it seems to me that MoT seems better suited to the other personel that the rockets have. Of course, Ming would seem to add many of the same things that MoT did, and this may change the dynamic again. Finally, I really believe that if Kenny ever fixed the flaws in his jumper he could be a Cuttino Mobley type scorer, which is something that I could never see from MoT, but despite his great effort on the defensive end, he still remains a bit of a tweener, and in some ways this enables the other team to dictate how you play him. I would like to remind people that, despite the fact that he's not a superior defender, MoT does have legitimate size, and does play decent position D. He was actualy passable at points defending against centers, something that I can never imagine from Kenny.
How do you lose 50 pounds in a few months?...Do you gain weight so you can smoke weed or smoke weed so you can lose weight?
We really missed those 6-10 points Mo would always start out with. It helped get the offense going, even though he usually went quiet in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Let me know if I am remembering wrong. Anyway. GO MO! Also, While Mo is serving his suspension how hard do you think Kenny and Griff will be playing? I bet those two are going to be like mad dogs fighting for a bone.
<blockQUOTE>Originally posted by Ottomaton MoT's high post iso's involved him facing up and passing. or shooting.In that way, he enables them to run someone like Cato out there who can't move more than 3 feet from the basket. By complimentary, I mean that he enables them to run their spread offense more effectively.</blockQUOTE> I am really and truly not following this. The ISOs are the same play. KT and MoT ran the same play. It is an ISO, if you get doubled, which KT and MoT rarely did, you pass it. If you don't get doubled, well. well... it is an iso. so... they called your name for ISO to do something, and passing it back without a double team is not an option, unless you don't want ISOs called for you, again. imo, you are speaking to a begone era, at best. How is MoT's jumper complementary to Ming when we want Ming running a high post where the wing ISO jumper is no longer available. We want MoT in the low post. At this point, we don't know if MoT or KT is a better complementary low post man/defender/rebounder to Ming.
You don't know much about weed do you. You gain weight AFTER you smoke weed. It's called the munchies! Anyone who smokes weed in order to help with weight loss is an idiot.
Yea, I don't know too much about it ZRB. Just talking smack for a reaction. Seriously I am happy that Mo is gonna show up ready to go, on time, mentally ready, physically ready...This is only good news for me and the Rockets!
