Could it be for stability sake? We have Yao, JJ and MoTay from last season, they should all know the system. Now we are just incorporating TMac and CWard into the lineup. What is surprising is that this is not a good rebounding starting lineup. The best rebounder is probably TMac, unless Yao just goes crazy. I wonder what is up with Howard? JVG likes Spoon's rebounding off the bench. Could there be a deal? I would think so. But is it Mo Taylor or J Howard? I think we are about to make a trade for some outside shooting.
Preseason statistics- Minutes per game: Howard 23 minutes Taylor 23.7 minutes Who cares? It doesn't matter. They're both going to see similar playing time depending on who matches up well and who kicks more butt that night. Wake up, guys. VG has stated multiple times to the press that they're both great and he'll go with whomever is rolling that night. Which is the same thing he said about our point guards: Lue 21.7 minutes per game Ward 22.5 minutes per game The preferred PF & PG won't necessarily be the ones starting the game. It will be the ones playing the 4th quarter. Just like Cassell and Kenny, remember? For now, Juwon will ironically be playing Mo's role as offense spark when Ming is off the floor. However, it's innaccurate to say that Mo really plays the low post- he starts with the ball from the wing, elbow, or high post. Juwon really plays in the low post, which will provide offensive continuity when Ming's not there.
Well said...he's a scoring PF, weak rebounder, not a bad passer, but not very willing when the opportunity presents itself. Howard, is a set shooter (10-18ft). Also has post-skills (back to the basket) and has a jumphook. Now, if he's not doing those things, he blocking out and trying to rebound. He's more active/tougher in the paint and more active on man-to-man defense (not a shot blocker, though). He's also a very good FT shooter (80%). MoT usually faces up and drives like a guard. Weak rebouder. Post moves seem non-existent. Not a willing passer. Overall a very good outside shooter (18ft). Decent FT% at 73%. Howard is just a better PF.
Ben Wallace will not be able to roam freely in this first game like he would have against Cato. MoT or Howard are capeable of knocking down the open 10-15 footer.
count me in the it doesn't really matter crowd because both will end up with similar minutes. mo was great as a come off the bench instant offense guy last year but maybe jvg sees juwon with a similar ability. mo's the better shooter and with yao and t-mac this has to give you a little more spacing. i was surprised when cato became the starting 4 over mo last year but it turned out well and i don't think this is even as big of a deal.
For those that said Cato starter last year because we needed defense and rebounding, i agree. And we still do. And since JHo is the better defender and rebounder, thats why i said it was a showcase move for Mo to start. However, it may be that Juwan is a better lowpost scorer, and in general a better player, so we bring him and Deke in to replace Ming and maintain continuity like someone said. I can buy that. Last year Mo was a better lowpost scorer than Cato, so he came in to replace Ming's scoring. This year Howard is a better lowpost scorer than Mo, so he comes in to replace Mings scoring. Ok.
The one thing i been saying about Mo is he's just not fundamental. His game sucks period!! Yea he shoots great and has range...but that's about all he got. He lacks basketball IQ on the court and he force and ballhog everytime u give him the ball...that's the reason i don't like him. Even in those China games...he still show the same damm characteristics on the court. Just not a smart player man....! With that said, if JVG put him in the lineup...and if Mo don't change the way he play the game (that mean don't ballhogging and know when to pass when double team), i wouldn't be surprised if JVG go back to Howard quickly.
Disagree with these two assessments. MoT has that baby hook and does take advantage of guys with his back when he has a mismatch, but usually his best option is facing up with his range and handles imo. And like some other poster said, he is a willing passer, just doesn't really have the capability to do it all that well, kinda like SF. I would say Mo and Ju's d is a wash, and their rebounding numbers probably aren't too far off either on a mpg basis. Mo is better or equal to Ju on just about every facet of the scoring one on one, and Ju is probably a slightly better passer. Also, Mo is a krispy creme eating pothead while Ju has herpes.
Well, I just don't see that baby hook very often. Most of the time he just faces up. So, ok, non-existent maybe too harsh. I just don't see him as post-player. About his passing. The black-hole stigma was for this reason. I was trying to think about what m_cable said about his passing ability... The way I see MoT passing is like this...As soon as he gets the ball in the post...he rarely passes it. Almost like Mobley. He just faces up, drives and shoots. So, his passing accuracy/ability I just don't see was the problem. He doesn't turn the ball over very much (1.99 per 27 MIN). And when he does pass it, it's usually for a re-post for the ball again, not for someone else to score. Willingness or ability? It's hard to tell. I just think he likes to score more than pass. Also, I don't see the passing mistakes from MoT like SF. That's why I said it was more about willingness. He just likes to shoot. Maybe he could pass better...if he tried. Especially off those drives he does. Howard seems to want to do both.
Rebounding is going to be a nightmare unless Yao steps up to the plate in a big way. Mo Taylor is a decent powerforward but he doesn't compliment Yao in any way other than the fact he can shoot the middle range jumper.
I think this was just done because Mo complements Yao better than Howard. Howards a good interior passer, but he's more fomfortable in the low post area whereas Taylor likes to operate at the elbows for dribble drives and jumpers. Howard will do most of the low post scoring when Yao needs a rest. J.Ho's really not that much better than Taylor on the boards. I don't think it makes a big difference who starts. Taylor will probably be the one playing in the 4th Q, his clutch shooting really seems to go unnoticed on this board.
I know it doesn't seem like much. But the slightly better rebounding from Howard does make a bigger difference than you might think. I do think he can get 8RPG this year with Yao and McGrady taking most of the shots. Here's a run down on Taylor/Howard rebounds... Taylor career rebounds: 5.0 Howard career rebounds: 7.4 Taylor's best rebound production was 6.50 w/35.9 MIN (1999-2000: for the Clippers) Howard's best rebound production was 8.4 w/36 MIN (1994-1995: for Bullets/Wizards) Taylor has played between 20-35 MIN per game (up and down depending on starter vs bench). Howard has recently played about 35 MIN per game (37 career). Last years REG-SEASON rebound stats for Howard/Taylor... Taylor: 5.1 w/27.7 MIN Howard: 7.0 w/35.5 MIN This years PRE-SEASON rebound stats for Howard/Taylor.... Taylor: 3.2 w/23.7 MIN Howard: 6.2 w/23 MIN
how is juwon a better rebounder then mo?didn't taylor come of the bench and juwon started?I never have liked juwon, but he is a lil better then I thought he was from watching the preseason. juwon hasn't proved nothing on this team ,but mo has so how is it that people are surprised on this board? I was so anti mo 2 seasons ago the first half of the year when came back from his leg injury,but then mo started proving to me tht he could make a diffrence I think it was the cleveland game when he scored like 25 and kept us in the game.all iam saying is let's really see how juwon plays when it really matters for the rockets.
