I apologize if this was posted before... <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/features/2000/si_preview/rockets/">CNNSI Houston Rockets Season Preview</a> What I found interesting is below -- "An opposing team's scout sizes up the Rockets" "Here's how much this team has changed: It doesn't make sense to double-team Hakeem right off the bat anymore. The more shots he takes, the fewer that Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley get, and that's the way an opponent wants it. This is the little guys' team now.... Maurice Taylor is soft for a power forward. He won't get you the tough rebounds, but he's a scorer and he'll have to be double-teamed in the low post, which opens things up for Francis and Mobley on the weak side.... Francis isn't Allen Iverson , a shooter who will never really be comfortable at point guard. Francis is being asked to score now, but he has great vision and anticipation, and he's willing and able to create for other people. He's a franchise player.... Some say Shandon Anderso n hasn't been as good as he was in Utah, but his role has changed. He isn't asked to score as much and he's become more of a defensive stopper.... I'm not big on Jason Collier , the first-round pick. He's soft for a guy his size, a high-post passer instead of a low-post banger." ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
how many agree that Mo.T. is soft? ------------------ I'ma need more than 6 and a half rebounds a game from the PF
That article pretty well sums it up for me. As far as MoTay goes, I think he will be a lot less "soft" than anticipated. This reviewer must have based this on his limited action in the first couple of preseason games. I think Taylor will bang with the best inside. He may not be as successful in the banging department, but he will make himself felt. He definitely does not lack rebounding skills or desire. A knock that he carried from previous seasons in Clipperville. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oeilpere (edited October 25, 2000).]
What I don't get is, how can they say that we're the 12th best team in the West but would be a darkhorse to go to the Finals in the East? What would that make the Warriors (who SI ranks 10th in the West)? The favorite in the East? Just seems like an odd juxtaposition of a compliment and a diss in the same preview. It's almost like one writer wrote the Rockets preview and a totally different writer put together the conference rankings ... ------------------
LOL HP, keep bangin away MO needs to prove he can bang with the big boys and that being soft doesn't stop you from banging. ------------------ www.NOPostCount.com
What I don't get is the line about Anderson, "not being required to score as much" I'm sick of these idiots who look at Shandon and say "oh... he's been a disappointment" - if we check his numbers, they are ALL up on his previous years. His FG% included. AND his Ppg is up by like 4 points over his last few years in Utah, did people expect him to come to Houston and be an all-star? What did he do wrong? ------------------
Dr. N, what Shandon did wrong was act like a team player, who took advantage of the opportunities that his opponents provided. Reporters today are so used to the egotistical and trash talking athletes like Iverson, Marbury, and Jason Williams that they have forgotten to praise selfless team play. Just my opinion. ------------------ http://home.swbell.net/rkb3/hr.html = Live Rockets Chat
He may not be as successful in the banging department, but he will make himself felt. Ooo...kinky...And if that doesn't work, he can always feel himself, instead of banging people. <font size="1">sorry, oeilpere, I got I little giggle on that one. Now back to the real topic.</font> I haven't exactly seen Mo opening things up on the weakside for Mobley/Francis as the scout suggests. I don't think I like that idea anyhow. I have better plans for Mo. We will feel his bang. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited October 25, 2000).]
Doesn't seem like such a great preview. 12th in the west?? I know that Houston had a bad season last year, but how can expectations be this low? So far, no previews have ranked us in the Top 8. ------------------ 2000-2001 Rockets Game Formulas: End of 1st quarter: "They're playing so well!" 2nd: "What a great game!" 3rd: "Theres no way they can lose now!" 4th: "What the ******* **** happened?!!" Vote Gore to keep our planet green! Rocket's Championship 2001!!
TB3 - True.......True! ------------------ Miggidy Markell says: 1. Eastcoast is da sh*t 2. Rockets rule 3. Hip/Hop is dope 4. Buy the new Ruff Ryders album! Miggidy Markell is watching Stay STRAPPED & WATCH ya back or be Assimilated.
