really i'd hate to see mobley go he got alot of heart even if they miss the playoffs mobleys gets another year to find his niche with the rockets and i think he could play a big factor..he plays good d and with yao's established presence in the league he'll get alot of open shots i think he'll come around its just takes time for teams to gel sometimes.. if they need help anywhere its the 3 and 4 spots i dont see how he could be tradeable i mean u can just see his potential he wants to be part of somethin big
Mobley is very talented. Problem is, his maturity doesn't even begin to compare to that talent...which equals problems on the court. Now his feelings are hurt because he isn't the second best player anymore. I love the guy, but he is hurting the team right now. Many teams would be happy to have him...I think he'd do great on a team with someone who can grab his misses more often than Yao or Steve. He seems like the kind of player who needs an enforcer type playing next to him. Like I said, I love the guy, he has heart from here to Beijing, but the NBA is a business, and he's not producing. I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone in the near future.
I'm almost sure it's because Steve called himself and Yao the new Batman and Robin. Isn't it obvious? The minute I read the Batman and Robin quote, I knew this would happen. Steve needs to bring Cat INTO his group. Make him Batgirl, but a guy. Because he may be traded, and he may not, but while he's here we need him to be that scoring threat that takes pressure off Ming and Steve while playing good D. That's what he was doing, and that's what we want from him.
I've been saying forever now that a contending team would not have Mobley starting. He's a 6th man all the way. Mobley should not be a focal part of the offense now that we have Yao. His bricks take away from Yao opportunities bigtime. Mobley's ego is an issue at this point because his head has been filled with comments, mainly by the coach, that he's one of the better players in the league, which is ridiculous. I truly believe Mobley thinks it's still him and Francis' team and he can't except the fact he just a glorified role player at this point. Bottom line is, Mobley is a bad fit for this team. It would be good for him to chop his inflated ego down and realise his place on this team, but I don't see it happening. It will probably be best to see Mobley go. What this team really needs in Mobley's place is a consistent shooter.
About two weeks ago I asked what was up with Cat. He was not acting Cat-like, upbeat with the hop in his step. His demeanor towards refs, other players was clearly off. So, it has been noticed for a while by some. Does it mean he's being traded or been put into place by coaches or whatever? I doubt it. It may occur but, if so, coincidence I'd believe.
I'm sure the Cat reads this board. The unremitting aspersions here added to possible trade deadline machinations piled on top of Steve saying he would love to play SG and heaped on a poor shooting spell and injured feet may have something to do with Cat's funk. The Cat is one those players that make the Rockets the Rockets. I would not like seeing him leave, but I would like to see Cat in the Sixth Man role for his heart and offensive firepower.
Since Jeff has stated that RT keeps a tight lid on trades, I wonder if the prospect of being the 6th man (first off the bench but with major minutes) was proposed and Cat didn't like it. Byron Scott and James Worthy didn't have a problem with Magic and Kareem...Robert Parrish didn't have a problem with McHale and Bird...c'mon Cat, re-invent yourself!
Mobley is a very good NBA player. He will excel on most other teams. He is a leader on a team that has a leader already. He would be a great sixth man. Here he is redundant. He is probably more valuable for what he can bring in trade. If the reports were true that he hired a publicist to help him get All Star votes then he must be amazingly disappointed with the outcome. He had foot problems earlier in the year. He has been taking a hammering in the BBS's. He may not like having to give up shots to The Dynasty. In all fairness though he seems to be getiing the ball inside more and even seems to be benfitting form Yao's passes in return. All of these things could have an affect on a guy with his bravado. If he is being shopped then they should be playing his replacement ( Posey, Maddox, Norris) more.
I know Rudy normally doesn't say anything about trades but....the deadline is fast approaching.....maybe he did speak with Cutino and Cutino's agent ....it will probably happen
Here's ths shake up this team needs: Bench Mobley, start MoT, go like this: Yao Ming Mo Taylor Glen Rice (as soon as he's back) Posey Francis Bench: Cato, Griffin, Mobley That's it, 8-man rotation playoff push. Bring Mo in to start, and Mobley can be the go to guy for the second unit, and support the starting unit when we need it. Rice brings a long range threat, and Posey can misfire all he wants as long as he locks up other SG's, not SF's. I think we can get into the playoffs with this. Forget everyone else. Obviously, our defense is a product of effort and Yao Ming. That will still be there with this starting line-up, and we'll have a killer bench with LOADS of energy. Thoughts?
BTW, I'd also like to add that Posey, Rice and MoT are the best three entry-passers on our team, so Yao would be more involved. If MoT and Rice can get their midrange shot going, we can do lots of damage.
There might be something said about Cat distancing himself away from the team a little bit. Maybe all is not well with Cat and Steve. I was in Vegas last weekend and guess who I saw saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Casino? I saw Cuttino talking to Howard Eisley in the Casino lobby with 2 other people. Then later that evening, saw Cat at the nightclub LIGHT at the Bellagio hotel. I thought it was interesting to see him in Vegas during ALL-STAR weekend. Wouldn't you think he'd be in Atlanta with his best friend Steve?
if there is something wrong with him, you would never know it from watching the end of the last two games. Against the Cavs and again against the Jazz, Mobley was the one with the ball in his hands taking the last shot to try and tie the game. He missed both, Rockets lose both. Simple as that. You gotta know that other teams aren't going to let Francis and Yao beat them down the stretch. Someone has to step up late in games when other teams take away our primary options. It was nice to see Moochie hit a jumper in the fourth quarter last night. It was good to see T-Mo rebound from three horrible shots late in the game with two clutch threes in OT. As a group, the Rockets have to grow up and step up.
Trade rumors don't have to come from the rockets Some teams maybe inquiring about Mobley .. . and the rockets are saying . . .what you offering? as oppose to . . NOT INTERESTED [which maybe what they said last year] His AGENT may hear from orgs. . . not the rockets Esp if one of HIS agent's clients maybe thrown in I think you will see a market increase in Mobley's game after the deadline Rocket River
So what is it. Is he sulking, not communicating with teammates, not trying, or is the pain of losses and is the frustration of not knowing what to do to stop it catching up with this team co-captain. I'm sure someone will chime in to say "quit apologizing for him." This is not an apology. I'm saying there is no way he would have any clue about a trade, and there is no way Mobley would sulk like Kelvin Cato. The guy loves to play waaay more than that. He is a gym rat and plays basketball in the summer to the point of having bad ankles the last two pre-seasons...guys that love basketball that much do not sulk when the ball is in play. You really think so, Jeff? Or is the frustration of losing and not being able to stop it showing on his face. I mean, there have been several posts regarding Mobley, Francis and Moochie celebrating a little too much on the court. People hate it when those three b**** to refs and fly around complaining. If it is finally beginning to sink in (and we have many quotes regarding "focus" and "mental" problems from Francis and Mobley's mouths) that they have to think more on the court and take the game much more seriously, then it translates to sulking like Cato of yesteryear. I don't see it. I still see Mobley talking to his teammates on the court. Most definitely. And I can most certainly deal with all the other Mobley mannerism going out the door and call that taking the game more seriously.
