Taylor was interviewed by Murphy and Worrell after the game and said he had a talk with Rudy and coach told him to just play his game and not worry about pissing anyone off. He said to be agressive and not worry about fouling or hitting shots. Just go to the basket strong and good things will happen. Good advice. He also said that he had been worried that since he was the new guy he didn't want to take away from anyone else's game with his own. He said that after he spoke to Rudy, he felt much better and just wanted to go out and be agressive. Guess it worked. Calvin kept repeating over and over to him, "There's no going backwards," and Mo kept saying, "No, you can only go forward." I hope he heeds his advice because he played like the guy we expected tonight. ------------------ Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.
Worrell made a hilarious comment during the interview. When Calvin said Mo had his game face on and wasn't smiling Bill said it must have been because he saw the Michigan vs Duke score. ------------------ www.truebballfansite.homestead.com
Nice game for Mo tonight,hopefully just a glimpse at whats to come! And man what a dunk over Ewing,wow! ------------------ President of the why in the Hell isnt Langhi playing club!!!
Mo was good tonight, but more rebounds would be a very big plus. He needs to take a lesson from a proven hall of famer. Hakeem is the best true basketball player on the team, and I think Mo, Kenny, Cato, Steve and the others need to learn from him. Hakeem is a truly valuable weapon for the Rockets and without him we wouldn't be winning. ------------------
I saw the interview and liked what he said, I also think Calvin was trying hard to make his point...not very subtle. Mo has the tools, it is his choice to use them, or not to use them. If he plays hard every night, and gets a bit nastier on the glass, he may yet turn it around in Houston. I just don't think he has the inner fire that we need. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from Monkeys and Apes, then why are there still Monkeys and apes?
DaDakota I think what doesn't impress me the most about Mo is. . He doesn't [nor does KT enough] GOTO THE BASKET . . . get fouled [though KT would be called for an O foul] HE said Rudy told him to drive more he said he was taking jumpers over people he should not have been taking jumpers over and rudy had been told him to stop that sh*t and drive and tonite he listened SCORE ONE FOR RUDY!!! Rocket River f*ck ya'll I'm still in the KT fan club *grin* *smile* ------------------
It is amazing to me when professionals need to be told this, like I wasn't told that in 7th grade and every year after.
Feel the Love ------------------ When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
francis3 is a gay b*****, he doesnt know how to play basketball!!!!!!!!!!..i beat him 1-on-1 b4!! whooped him 10-5 ------------------ Ummmmm..........let me guess...???..
Wow we really have a Psycho on Clutchcity.net - Can someone ban him? Motaylor2- Go learn how to speak english. ------------------ Vice President of the Jason Collier fan club!
HeyP, It's obvious you don't like Taylor. I don't like him when he's playing soft, but you know the game well enought to know that this kid has skills. His personality may not be that of a born leader but please don't minimize the possibility that he was trying to defer to other players on the team. Let's face it, if he started making comments like he wasn't getting touches like Dream did, everyone would be calling him a distraction. Give the guy a chance to fit in and play. It's a long season. We need what he brings to the table. ------------------
How did I come off sounding like a don't like Taylor? Go to the "Bash Mo Here" thread by Bob Finn*, and see that I didn't really even respond to that. Mo's fine. I am just always amazed when a pro says to the media that coach told him to get more aggressive. Cato has to be told and apparently Mo does, too. I couldn't imagine Rudy ever having to tell KT that. KT doesn't get his due on this board. Mo is being defending quite well by draftsource.net and several other posters. If I sound like I don't like Mo, it is probably because I love KT with only oeilpere to slap hands with. Mo can do it. Is that better?
"My View" When guys join a new team, especially when they were possession respected "go-to" guy by their previous club, they either become reticent, hold back their game and generally wait for the rest of team to give them the ball. Or, they go full guns (a la McGrady) because they were told by the coach that THEY are the "go-to" guy here also. In Rocket town RT just lets them find their own level. RT rarely sets pregame "go-to" status on anyone. He may discuss obvious match ups advantages but never "let's get Mo the ball a lot this half" sort of thing. He looks at them as talented professionals who must find the game within the game on their own. If Joe Blow is hot, then the professional should know he is the guy that should get the ball, etc... Each player learning to blend with the team, and success being measured by what works during the game. "Finding your Game = Playing within Yourself" Moe was searching for his game. There are several other Rockets still searching for their game. It is amazing ... but, if someone were to ask me for a list of the Rockets who know what they can bring to the court consistently, who know how to play within themselves, who know how to offer their game against opponents ... that by doing so would bring team success ... well, that list would be short .... Shandon, Bullard, KT and Moochie are the only four who consistently do this. (Hakeem, Carlos and Pig Miller(last year) are awfully close too.) The rest struggle every night. I am not talking about putting the numbers up, or getting interviews or making the ESPN cut. I mean the guys who play a particular style of game that compliments the team, and they can be consistently relied on to do that when in the game. Chamionship teams are founded on the superstars learning and excercising tha abilitty. Hakeem has been showing signs of getting back to that form, where he can be relied on for consistent effort in particular areas. His postioning is getting better, he looks much less "lost" out there in the motion. Francis and Mobes are not there yet. Mobes comes the closest with an agressive, high-energy "unstoppable" offensive threat. That he appears to turn on and off at will. But he too tries too hard and flounders at times. Especially when he becomes predictable. Francis likewise tries too often to jam that proverbial round peg into a square hole when there is a easier shot waiting three feet away. Note: Francis has made leaps and bounds in this department comparted to the first ten games this year. I expect even more before he makes my list. I thought he did well against Payton, eventhough Gary got 30+. I thought simply by ignoring Payton's taunts and staying within his game, Steve did an admirable job. "Back to Maurice" Back to Mo. Struggling and trying to be more than what he was, trying to be less demnanding than what he was .... trying to fit in and yet contribiute, just made him extremely frustrated and even less effective. I don't think RT told him anything new. I just think Maurice finally believed Rudy when he said go get it, get aggressive, forget worrying about hurting someone's feelings about getting the ball, forget about being pigeon-holed. Just take the ball and do what you want. Interesting Scenes I Witnessed Two Interesting excerts from the game the other night: First one that jumps out at me, Francis carries it over center, top of the key waves Mo off to swing to the left, Mo looks right at him and shakes his head "No", Francis pulls to right, p-[asses it to Shandon, then gets it right back, SAteve moves to his left and center waves him again, Mo doesn't swing-off but puts hands out front as if to say "give me the ball". He gets it in a snap pass leading him to the center. He snags it. Little deek againsy his defender ... and Mo swished it! Second occasion, Mo is up high and starts to back in without the ball, looks like a post, he puts his hands up and asks for the ball, Francis looks at him then turns to the wing, Mo immediately yells again and puts his hands out front and shakes them like, "gimme the damn ball". Francis turns, comes back and lobs him the ball. Swish! On both occasions, they smile at one another going back to defend. I think Mo has found two keys to fitting in at Rocketland. 1. Demanding quality passes (where he wants it) when he is in a quality (opportunistic) set. 2. Reading it well enough to deliver quality points off the demand. I'll still reserve judgement until I start to see consistent efforts, but it looks like he took a giant step on this team against the Sonics. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oeilpere (edited December 11, 2000).]
oeilpere, What games were you talking about where Francis fails to wave off Mo? As an aside, I'm particularly interested in your take on Dream and Mobley that you mention. Save that for another thread, I guess.
Maybe SHandon will learn to tell Steve and CUT GIMMIE THE ROCK!!! Great post oeilpere I'll look for the Waving off thing more this game. Rocket River what exactly does Oeilpere mean again ------------------
I would have to say he went backwards. ------------------ When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Can we start a Mo Bash forum, already. Bobfinn you can be the administrator of it. So finn Dakota, Mango, Francis3, and any others who enjoys bashin' Mo after every Rockets victorys can bash till the cows come home. Maybe it can be entitled Blinberrys hangout, or something of that nature. ...oh, and maybe have some cartoon characters of these boys all scratchin' Blinberrys ass. ------------------ [This message has been edited by ROCKETBOOSTER (edited December 12, 2000).]
