I know he hit that game winning shot the other day... but... the offense looked pretty stagnant when he was running the offense tonight. Last year, it seemed like he'd provide a great change of pace and sometimes out-perform Francis in terms of distributing. This last game the team was settling for the deep jumpers with Moochie running the show. He wasn't getting the same penetration Francis or Mobley did... and he just didn't seem to create anything. In the end, he had to take a couple of not-completely-open 3's even to get a decent shot. I don't expect Moochie to be the same sort of dynamic threat as Francis. I do expect him to get everyone involved and make some passes that lead to easy buckets. He didn't do that today... and the perimeter shots weren't falling. Our lead really shrunk, as a consequence, while he was in. Now, this is the first game I've seen... but I've heard other people complaining about this. I was a fan of his contract... but now I'm rethinking that. Hopefully it was just a bad game (or couple of games).
What in the hell have you been watching? He's had the cornrolls. He's had the 'fro. What else do you want from the guy? Jeez.
Except for a few shots this season, Moochie has just plain sucked!!! He has shown no consistency in court version, and spends to much time running the clock out and forcing the bad pass.
What ya gotta realize is that moochie is gettin in the flow things again. he's adjusting to new plays and he wasn't there in the offseason to learn.... well i say we give him time and i think as soon as rice gets his three's you'll see alot of plays with the fro and rice. Just give him time and he'll be making you moochie unbelievers into believers. GOOO AFRO THUNDER
He is way overpaid. Tierre Brown would outplay him right now... I am watching all these rookie point guards that would run circles around him. Speedy Claxton, Tony Parker, Jamal Tinsley, those guys can play and all were lower 1st round picks. I can't believe we fell for the hold out... and now he is stale stale stale.... I do like his FRO however, he gives the ROX personality....
I agree, also Tierre Brown looked good out there in that preseason game. If you stood outside the Compaq center and were to take a step forward for every good play/shot that Moochie makes, then step backwards for every bad pass, running down the clock to force a bad shot, or simply turn over the ball ---- you would end up in Mexico, before you would make it into the Compaq Center!!!
That was my problem with Tierre. He looked good in this particular game, but all other I saw him in he generally just looked lost. He did not run the offense well, and had several passes picked off. Moochie may be overpaid now, but at least he gives us a little more of a chance to score when he is running the offense.
Man I am one of the biggest Mooch supporters, and I must admit that the dude looks a little lethargic out there. During the Sixers game, he dribbled WAY too much and took all of those ill advised 3 point shots. I think its just a little funk he may be in, and will hopefully snap out of soon. Good luck and keep the faith Mooch!! DD
I think when there's movement, the offense is a joy to watch but when they stand around and dribble ( take your pick of any of Steve, Cuttino or Norris ) it's boring as hell and not nearly as effective as when everyone's involved. Based on talent alone, they score sometimes but it looks like a lot of work for the occasional break down of the other team's D or a floater in the lane. We go back to the one on one stuff and then when they miss, no one's around to get a rebound.
He has regressed. The fat contract he got might prove to be Maloney-like over time... He had 1 decent year as a backup, and now he's getting paid like a starter. He is not the spark on offense that he was last year. He is an example of a player who isn't much with the new defensive rules.
I have been posting for weeks now, without any responses, that Norris aka "the little dribbler" looks nothing like he did last year. Then he was a spark off the bench, he made things happen, picked up the pace, made key passes, and made key shots. Now that he is the 20+ million dollar man, he looks clueless. He dribbles around, wasting the clock, until he forces the bad pass or the bad shot. I am glad someone else finally noticed. He is a very expensive bench player and is becoming a very expensive non-productive bench player. I never thought they should have signed him for the kind of money was asking for, and now we all know why.:
I don't think he has regressed, I think the flat footed offense and the hybrid zone has as much to do with his lack of production as it do Francis shooting sub 40%.
Moochie game has never progressed, teams have started watching film and know Moochie's only move, hesistate fake right and go back left. If you don't allow him to penetrate his game and jumper stalls. His D was non-existent and with the trend of going big, our small lineup with Steve, Cat, and Moochie will not work consistently against a taller team
Another case of Cato- itis. He signed a big contract and didn't want to contribute. But Cato is sorta willing to contribute, Moochie will probably do the same after a year because he's enjoying his money.
Moochie played really great in the 4th quarter come-back win against Phoenix running the 3 man game with Walt Wiliams and Kevin Willis to perfection. He embarrased Shawn Marion on a nifty crossover move to the hoop just like last year. He played the entire 4th quarter against Denver at home earlier this season scoring all 9 points (including the game winner at the buzzer). Moochie is a competitor, and he has had at least as many fantastic moments as times where he hasn't given us a spark. Half of our current squad of 12 players is different from last year, and Moochie missed all of our training camp. Give him some time to get used to the new defensive schemes we are facing and get some chemistry developed with all our new players. I still very firmly believe in the Mooch. He has been very instrumental in at least two of our 5 wins so far. Give him some credit.
