Starting to look that way. As HP likes to say, "Show me the quotes." These are the most overt quotes I've seen about who's is playing what when Thomas and EG are on the floor together. It's all about the mismatches for Rudy, and the KT at small forward/Griff at power forward pairing puts the coach in hog heaven. Potentially, Griffin pulls an opposing team's big man out of the lane just like Collier was supposed to. If we can't get a jump shooting center or three point shooting small forward (Rice and Walt weren't the answer), why not a power forward that shoots 40% from downtown? And what's better than having that power forward also be able to patrol the lane for 2.5 blocks a game and 8 - 10 boards? We're talking about a 6'10" guy who could develop a shot like Toni Kukoc and play defense like Marcus Camby. Since he can't dribble, where the hell else are you going to play him? Power forward. When Mo comes back, you start them both together and post up Mo against the Rick Foxes and Pejas of the world. EG cleans up the boards, plays free safety in the lane, and starts the fast break with an outlet pass. Everyone's happy. Thomas gets back in lab Suspension over, experiment with Griffin resumes By NEIL HOHLFELD Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle After an interruption of three games, the Rockets will resume an experiment tonight that, if successful, could reshape their frontcourt. Kenny Thomas, who was suspended for three games by the NBA for his part in a fight with Atlanta's Shareef Abdul-Rahim on Jan. 21, will return when the Rockets play Golden State at Compaq Center. As he did in the three games before the suspension, Thomas will play small forward, with rookie Eddie Griffin starting at power forward. Though Thomas (6-7, 245 pounds) has played mainly at power forward this season, the shift is intriguing for several reasons. For one, it presents a role-reversal the Rockets believe could give them an advantage. Griffin (6-10, 220) draws an opponent's bigger forward on defense as he positions himself down low. Often, that player doesn't like to stray too far from underneath the basket. Griffin, however, has been an excellent 3-point shooter during his rookie season (39.1 percent). Thomas will attract the opponent's small forward, and the bulky Thomas is capable of playing with his back to the basket and using his size to work inside. "Eddie's a great shooter from outside, and I think sometimes a big man guarding him will forget that he can go out and make those jump shots," said Rockets center Kelvin Cato. "They'll focus more on Kenny on his great post game. There's so much the two of them can do together that they can make a great tandem." When Griffin goes outside, the theory is he'll either have an open shot if the defender stays inside or clear out one big body from the paint if the defender chases him outside. If the forward chases Griffin, that could open a lane for point guard Steve Francis to slash to the basket. "It can make a big difference," said Griffin. "When Kenny gets down in the blocks, that opens things up outside. With Kenny down low, they've got to respect his post game. If they double him, he can find the open man." Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said the shift still remains only an experiment. Before an ankle injury to small forward Walt Williams in mid-January, the Rockets had been starting Thomas at power forward and bringing Griffin off the bench as either the power forward or center. Williams' injury allows the Rockets to determine if the upside of having Griffin at power forward and Thomas at small forward outweighs having what appears to be two players out of position. "That's what we're trying to find out," said Tomjanovich. This move allows both Griffin and Thomas to be in the starting lineup. Griffin has made 12 starts this season, and as the 19-year-old matures, the Rockets believe he will be one of their dominant players. When he started at power forward three times earlier this month, Griffin more than held his own. Griffin had a double double against Boston on Jan. 18, with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Against New Jersey the next night, he had six points and eight rebounds. Against Atlanta, Griffin had 16 points and nine rebounds. In those three games, he was 5-of-12 from 3-point range. Counting the game against Atlanta in which he was ejected for fighting during the third quarter, Thomas had some interesting numbers in the early stages of the switch with Griffin. Against Boston, Thomas had eight points and no rebounds in 26 minutes. At New Jersey, he had a double double, pairing 21 points with 10 rebounds. In Atlanta, Thomas had 11 points and no rebounds in 28 minutes before he was kicked out. Considering Thomas is averaging career highs with 13.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, the Rockets likely can't afford to have him be shut out on the boards while playing small forward. "I liked it," Thomas said of the switch. "The whole thing is to have an opportunity to play a lot of minutes. I liked playing the three (small forward). I didn't have any problems (making the adjustment). I jumped right in." Thomas will be content merely to get back on the court tonight. He said having to sit three games was difficult, but he would not be drawn into commenting Monday on his fight with Abdul-Rahim, his suspension or comments from the Hawks about what happened that day. Each time he was asked a question along those lines, Thomas' quick reply was: "Things happen." Tomjanovich also will be glad to have Thomas back in the mix tonight against Golden State, which leads the league with 47.5 rebounds per game. "He's coming back against the right team," said Tomjanovich. "They're a tough rebounding team. I can't wait to get Kenny back in the swing of things the way he's been playing."
Correct me if I am wrong, but that seems like the first time to me that I have seen Cato make positive statements about his teammates. Is he actually starting to care after all??
I think against Golden State, we're gonna get a big boost from our 'experiment'. Golden State play with Fortson, Jamison and Dampier. Griffin, KT, and Cato are a good match for those guys. Our backcourt will tear them up, no doubt. Watch Francis, if he plays, destroy Larry Hughes. Jason Richardson versus Mobley? Undecided....
What do you mean undecided? Jason Richardson scores 11 pts per game and only shoots 39% from the field. Mobley averages 20 ppg, shoots 42% from the field, and 43% from the 3pt. Man, how can I keep defending Mobley if some people can't even figure out he's better than Jason Richardson? Sheesh. Does that clear it up? Besides, I can't recall one game where Mobley played bad, that it could be attributed to the defense of the guy who was guarding him. As far as I can tell there has never been anyone who has been able to stop Mobley, he just has bad games when he takes stupid shots and doesn't use his head. Its really just Mobley vs. Mobley. His inconsistency is so frustrating, because he could easily be one the best offensive players in the league. As far as pure offensive basketball skills go, I might be able to name five other NBA players who are better. When Mobley is on, Francis isn't even a better scorer.
Jason Richardson would be better than mobley he is also taller,younger and a better athlete than mobley right now .Mobley is a better scorer but thats about it . I could only dream about trading Mobley for Jason Richardson .
I think I've said it a billion times. When Taylor comes back , he'll play, but Eddie is clearly the best option at the 4 spot. The experiment they have now i hope it works, but judging from the way Pierce did us, I don't think it will.Pierce is a top player in this league, but its some pretty quick and rangy 3's in the west and i don't think we have anyone on our roster capable of matching up. Kt can probably post most of them up, but its not like he's bigger than any of them either. In the end, we'll have to solve that position in the lineup. Taylor nor Thomas will work at that spot, but we know who will man that other spot for yrs.
I tend to look at players actual, you know, basketball skills when comparing players. I usually don't base it on which player can jump higher. Maybe thats just me.
OK, this thread is seriously being hijacked. Leebigez makes a good point about our own matchup problems against the quicker, smalle forwards. The whole point of putting EG at the 4 is so he can get his 2.5 blocks a game and not for him to be on the perimeter chasing the Paul Pierces and Michael Finleys of the world. Neither KT nor Mo are fast enough to guard those guys either. Assuming the Griff at power forward "experiment" is successful (and I think it's almost a done deal), do we have a logjam with KT and Mo and EG? Is slow and achy Rice our 3 next year? Or can Tmo develop into a defensive role player off the bench?
Being beaten one on one by a quicker players is not so much of an advantage in this era of ZONE defenses. You can funnel your man to our 2 shotblockers thus LET him beat you to the middle and we have 2 erasers there to stop the drive. KT at the 3 could work. DaDakota
The experiment will become the norm real soon. It is pure politics that they are calling it an experiment. Walt did them a favour when he got injured. I guess there are four sides to a coin based on the article. It covered two sides: 1. KT's low post game and 2. EG's outside game. However. left unexplained in the article is 3. EG's low post game and 4. KT's outside game. I have seen EG's improvement with his low post game, with turnaround jumpers and mid-range bank shots, and ball handling skills with upfakes. For KT he does not have the same range but he clearly has serious range to cause simpler damage if left open. Despite the quotes, I still think we should get away from the labels since both players are increasingly versatile and should, on a game by game basis, play the matchups. Also, Lee, why would you bring up the issue of Pierce? KT has as good a chance against him as any other rocket, with the possible exception of Tmo. There are no SF's that we should be scared of to the point to let us go away from the "experiment".
So what happens when Taylor comes back. Should are front line consist of: a.) Kenny, Taylor, and Griffin b.) Kenny, Griffin, and Cato c.) Taylor, Griffin, and Cato I can't decide. The first choice would be best for offense, the second choice would be best for defense, and the third choice is kind of a middle ground. Its hard to say, but I would probably go with the first choice. Call me crazy, but I'm still hoping Mo will come around and become a physical player? At least so he can semi-hold his ground against some of the big centers in the league, allowing Eddie to sneak over and change their shot. Since our guards are such good rebounders, it kind of makes up for the lack of rebounding provided by Taylor. I'm really anxious for Mo to get back so I can see how he and Griffin play together.
This is not a competition to see who is more cute. We should only play EG or Mo at 5 if we do not have a better than serviceable 5. The way Cato is playing and the fact that Collier has to show up some time, I do not expect us to get cute and put a non 5 to play the 5. EG is unquestionably the 4, the experiment which is about to come the norm. So Mo and KT would have to jocky for the next "forward" spot. By the time this season is finished, it will be clear that KT and Mo are equals and who gets the starting job next year would be based on conditioning, chemistry and stats. If it was up to me all three should be on the roster with the loser jockying with Rice for 6th man. The second team could be the loser plus Collier/Willis, Rice/tmo, OT and Moochie. Hard to find a better 10 man rotation.
Gawd, this is the most tired debate ever since "Less filling vs. Tastes great". 3? 4? Does it matter? This is basketball, not a freakin' math problem. Just put him out on the floor and let him do his thing. We should be thankful that we have a player as versatile as Griffin, not trying to label him and confine him to one position
I hope that's not how Rudy announces it to the guy during the game. "hey 'the loser', get in their with the second unit." And A-Train, I don't think anyone's arguing where EG should play. We all want him at the 4. It's all about what the hell to do with the other guy's whose best position is also the 4. You can't just throw out position labels if the competition's 3 is tearing up a should be 4.
Kelvin Cato thinks Kenny has a great post game! Heck, I'll bet Cato thinks Steve Kerr has a great post game.
Rock- Didn't Pierce foul out Thomas and Morris and hung 38 on them both? What about Peja,Dirk,Lewis,Marion and guys like that? Do you think we have anyone that can at least slow them down? When given the chance, see how those guys scorch us as well. Then we move to Robinson,McGrady, Carter, and guys like that. The 3 is loaded and we don't have anyone and it gets worse when we go small because now Mobley has to shoot over taller players. It just don't seem logical, but Martin and Van Horn play together, so it might work.
I don't know bout yall, but I'm looking forward to the game and new experiment. I think it's great. I hope it will work out well,...and I think it gives us the best of both worlds with KT and Griffin on the floor together... Maybe, just maybe KT will pass to Griffin....hmmm
