Cognizance of limitations vs delusions of grandeur

Two types of players exist on the Rockets--those who play within their limitations in a team-oriented setting, and those who believe they're more than they are and/or don't play to their strengths.

Players who know their limitations


Eddie Griffin- Far and away the best player at combining an awareness of what he can't do and a confidence in what he can do. He doesn't force shots, but he doesn't hesitate to shoot an open shot. In other words, he's the antithesis of Moochie Norris.

He knows he's a very poor dribbler, but at the same time he's aware of the fact teams have picked up on his penchant for the 3-pointer, and are more inclined to close out on him when he recieves the ball on the arc.

So what does he do? He doesn't take a crash-course in dribbling and hope for the best; he works on the one to two dribble step in shot to offset any pressure that may come off of a defensive rotation by the opponent.


Oscar Torres- Another play who thrives in a team oriented set and knows his limitations. He can dribble the ball fairly well when on the receiving end of a fast break outlet pass, but in a half-court set, if he can't turn the corner coming off a pick and roll, he'll always pick up the dribble to reset the offense. He doesn't try to create when there is nothing there.

Like Griffin, he also will shoot the open shot when it's given to him, which is more than I can say for Walt. I realize that Walt's driving ability is God's gift to basketball, and that seeing him in action is like watching "Grace personified", but can anyone give me a BASKETBALL related reason as to why Walt is still starting?

His play hasn't justified a continued starting role, and I find it hard to believe that Walt is beating out Morris/Torres in practice, both of whom I would prefer over Walt, who's scoring is nearly off-set by his sieve-like defense every game.

Kenny Thomas- Kenny doesn't ad-lib on the offensive end; he simply does the best he can when called upon to score in the post. He doesn't shoot fadeaways or jack up 3's, like last season. He plays to his strengths, using the angles to his advantage when going to a conventional post-up move (ie: shot off the glass), and finds the seam using his first-step when he faces up.

He's one of the smartest players on the team, and though people have been getting on him about his willingness to pass of late, unlike the guards, he's wise enough to know you're likely to cough up the ball when passing in close proximity to the basket.


Delusions of Grandeur/Players who don't play to their strengths


Steve Francis- Consummate team player, but has yet to realize what he's good at, which is the mid-range game. Any shot beyond 18 feet that's not a 3 point shot is not a good shot. Unfortunately, that's precisely the range he likes to shoot it from.
15-18 feet should be where the majority of his shot are coming from.

His in the lane passing needs to improve as well. You can only throw so many botched alley-hoop attempts to Cato before some of the culpability lies on your shoulders for throwing it in the first place.

Cuttino Mobley- Probably the biggest culprit of falling victim to his weaknesses and not utilizing his strengths enough.

The problem is, he possesses so much talent that he'll hit a couple of wild shots, a pseudo-confidence begins to form in his mind about his ability shooting said shot, and he integrates it into his offensive arsenal to the detriment of the team.

Case in point: the pull up 3 pointer on the break. I really don't even mind him taking this shot, since he hits them at a pretty good clip; but I'm not going to dismiss the fact that it, in reality, is a bad shot. This line of thinking is also applicable to Francis' post ups last year. He started posting up smaller players last year, and was fairly successful. Does that make it a good shot though? No.

Honestly, a majority of the blame falls on Rudy and the coaching staff for Mobley's stagnancy decision-making wise though. It's become clear to me that Rudy has a 'philosophy' when it comes to the game of basketball that isn't easily conveyed on the court with the personell currently on the team. Mobley could be utilized much more efficiently by simply using him as a weakside threat, running Walt like down screens for him, etc.. He shouldn't have to create his own shot every time.

If Mobley shot a fadeaway over two guys, I imagine the next timeout would involve Rudy talking about 'passing the ball' and 'play the game like we know how to', instead of "Cuttino, do NOT shoot a fadeaway while moving to your left again."

He's not direct enough with his players, and imo, needs to be a little more authoritative when a player makes a mistake, because it's obvious that change is not going to be self-induced by some players on this team.

Moochie Norris- You hate him one minute and love him the next. He's overcome his early season timidness on his shot, but still elects to drive into the trees hoping to convert on a circus shot in the lane more times than not.

More than anything else, he needs to have confidence in his teammates in crunch time. Throughout the course of a game he's pretty charitable in passing the ball, but his clock management down the stretch is scary in its ineptness, and its this ineptness that leads to a lot of 'one and done' possessions for the Rockets.

Lastly, I beg you Moochie:

You vs ANYBODY one on one < Griffin on Shammond Williams/Jamal Tinsley/Earl Boykins.

Post him up when he works for position.


Prognosis

Even with the injuries this team has had, many games could have been won down the stretch if they played in a team oriented offense the entire game, including the fourth, playing to win as opposed to playing not to lose.