28 points and 8 rebounds from the PF position tonight against the Hornets. I think with Mo and KT the Rockets have a good young PF combo, they both play differntly, and this will cause matchup problems with other teams PF's. Both of them are nice passers, and can create for themselves and others. I look for Houston to really have a nice season from the PF position for once. Now if we can just get Langhi some playing time. DaDakota ------------------ All you MO-FO's better stop ripping off my lines !!
I knew this would happen because KT and Maurice bring different aspects to the game. KT is a much better rebounder and plays d a little bit better. Maurice is much better offensively and is better guarding the much taller power forwards. I always thought that KT was pretty good, but not very effective starting. Now if Hakeem remains in good condition throughout the year, then our only weak spot on the team will be back up small forward. Hopefully Langhi will be able to change that as he gets used to the league.
My main concern with our PFs is defensively. I have been disgusted with KT's inability to hold ground on defense and giving up way too much position (I dont care if he had a good game against Tim Duncan). I have had defensive issues with Mo in the past which is part of the reason I was not too excited when the Rockets signed him. Apparently, according to observations I heard, Mo showed improved defense tonight? Is this true? If so, then that could mean he worked on his defense in the offseason. I could not see the game here in Austin as League only shows 3 games a night in the preseason, and the Rockets turn was a couple of nights ago against Dallas. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
I don't think Hakeem is likely to stay healthy this year. Everytime I read about him it seems that he struggles to live through each game. I would love to see Hakeem all of a sudden come out and have a good season and surprise everyone. ------------------
Comment to the above posts: 1. Hakeem looks pretty good out there. He is not huffing and puffing as much as last year, and he looks like he is having a comfortable and happy experience., More importantly to us, he seems to be comfortable with his role. He looked a lot quicker in Charlotte's game. Real quick in some spots! 2. I though KT played one of the better games I have seen him in since April-May of last year. Admittedly the knock on him is his size. He gets banged out of there (not as easily as some have said, but banged nonetheless), and does not recover well when pushed from his spot. However,what we teach players is to use what you have to overcome this. Last night he showed some signs of doing kjust that. He was quicker. He used his height or lack of it, to carry the ball lower when confronted with taller guys, and off-side and firm on the drive. But his best moves are when he uses his feet to spin and dodge away from the larger defeners, or to quickly reposition when he is defending. In effect denying them their size advanatge. I loved his game last night. 3. I agree with my friend DD. This is a nice PF combo. I know KT is more than a little miffed about losing time (and attention from the coaching staff) with the aquisition of MoTay, but last night the whole team spent a great deal of time working KT, feeding him, pumping him, and he responds with a ghood effort and actually GRINNED three times. But I digress. DD hit it with the matchup proiblems that opponents have. Let me tell you, a KT - MoTay combo could be deadly. Real deadly. 4. MoTay was impressive last night. Again, as I posted after the first game ... he is involved. In every play. He is pumped. He shares the ball. He is aware of other players. He is almost the complete antithesis of his previous bad press. 5. Two gamnes in a row, and Walt played some very credible defense. A couple of glaring mistakes, too. But Walt is showing something. Could it be promise of a season actually worth his salary? This may make me sick!
"Both of them are nice passers." Last night, they were much better than "nice". They are instinctive,,,very good. KT definitely looks like he intends to keep himself in the lineup. KT and Mo are both helping Rudy introduce some high post in the offense. With instinctive, interior passers like KT and Mo, you open up a lot of new playbook. MManal...KT last night showed some good (if not great) positioning. He is showing excellent lateral movement on defense. He has definitely lost some of that extra posterior movement he had. I think he has gotten faster. I'll withhold judgement on his defense against "backing-it-in" that you fault, but I'd like to see you withhold judgement on preventing people from going around him. If he wasn't so short, I would be near calling him a good defender. Did I say he is showing excellent footwork? For both DaDakota and MManal...Fizer will impress me only if he shows speed and passing like KT. I prefer speed and passing for our team, and I don't believe you can proclaim Fizer better on either right now. I'll definitely give him a look. And give me your reports as well, when you see him play. Keep your eye on KT's passing, though, and his picking for that matter. Mobley and KT are running picks out of the 2 Shakes.
I love KT's versatility, and I think we will see him at the SF some this year as well. When we play Chicago (Fizer), Miami (Mason), Milwaukee (Thomas), and Indiana (Croshere), a front line of Dream/Cato, MoT, and KT will serve us well. ------------------ What a slam dunk!!
I've got a question: Shouldn't KT be able to hold his position well with his size? Yes, he's shorter than most everyone he guards, but shouldn't the fact that he has a lower center of gravity help him not get pushed around? That in addition to his bulk should be a plus, shouldn't it? The reason I say this is because that's the only advantage I have when playing basketball. I'm about 5'10" and, shall we say, portly--certainly not skinny. I do my best interpretation of a door stop: I wedge myself under the taller guys and keep them from getting into position. I'm by no means a basketball expert, but would something like that work for KT--keeping guys out of position? ------------------
KT should be able hold his position against most PF's, but suprisingly was easily handled by OT at the end of the game. I have no problem chalking up some of that to experience, but it is something that KT and his teammates are going to have to work on. Overall I was impressed with him. Mo' is living up to every expectation I had of him last year when I thought the Clips would trade him to get something for him. As for his passing, it looks good and crisp for the most part. HP, Opie, how did you like the behind the head pass??? ------------------ Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the mother****** upside the head!
I heard OT was shooting jumpers from 18 feet. That is exactly what I would WANT him to do, he usually misses from there. DaDakota ------------------ All you MO-FO's better stop ripping off my lines !!
Did anyone see KT accidentally get matched up defensively on Nowitski for a play in the Dallas game? Nowitski could NOT get by him. He had the ball way out top, and made several moves to try to get past KT, and was cut off every time. That's good quickness. ------------------ "Democrats want to give people fish. Republicans would rather teach people how to fish." -Charles Barkley
Well Bill and Calvin did say last night that over the offseason, Kenny hired a personal trainer. They also said he is a lot quicker, stronger, and quicker off his feet for a jump. So far, everything Kt has done seems to indicate that Bill and Calvin were right. ------------------ president of the dan langhi fan club.
Come to think of it, it may have even been Finley or a guard trying to get by KT on that play, I can't even remember now. It was definitely a perimeter player. ------------------ "Democrats want to give people fish. Republicans would rather teach people how to fish." -Charles Barkley
IMO, Kenny's play is really demanding PT this year. With Mo's obvious need for minutes and KT's relative height problem at the 4 anyway, why don't they just make Kenny into a 3 already. I saw Kenny guard Nowitzi on that play, and if Nowitzi is quick enough to start at the 3, then Kenny certainly shouldn't be that overmatched quickness wise out there..at least most of the time. Plus, he should be able to take the smaller SF's inside Corliss Williamson style with his bulk and moves. Maybe he could get some of the better SF's we face in foul trouble with this strategy. In some situations, I think an inside-out frontline of KT, Mo, and Collier/Olajuwan would create a lot of matchup problems. That lineup would also give you 3 great pick-and-roll big men with very good hands and passing abilities. A nice fit with Francis, Moochie, or Mobes. I'd like to see Rudy try it. ------------------
Imagine trying to play strategy against the Rockets.... Rockets are on a roll with a lineup of Moochie-Steve-Cuttino-Shandon-Cato. The opposing coach puts in a pair of 7 footers, and other "big" guys to try to outpower Houston. Off the bench come Hakeem, Mo, and KT in for Moochie, Cuttino, and Cato. Steve-Shandon-KT-Mo-Hakeem suddenly isn't going to be knocked around too much. ----------------- On offense, Mo and KT are fitting in very well. Defensively, both could use some work. If Cato can be a plug, he could possibly make up for their shortcomings. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
Nike- hell, if you want size, put Cato in at the 4 next to Hakeem. That is exactly where he enjoyed his enormous success last preseason (when Bark had his first injury.) Switching from 4 to 3 involves a lot more running than one would guess. Just ask Carlos Rogers, who tried it last year. Playing 3 involves a lot of chasing guys through picks on defense, way different from banging in the post and vying for position with a 4. I don't think KT will see much time at the 3 unless suddenly his long bomb has become very consistent and he's much, much faster. Don't forget Rudy likes the big men with long range to play the 4 (bull and Wiz have both played extensive minutes at the 4 with the 3 guard lineup) to pull the opposing big man out of the paint. ------------------
Oat's...KT is NOT going to be chasing around the SF's of the league....NEVER. ------------------ Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the mother****** upside the head!
Thats good to hear HP. I wish I couldve seen the game last night, but if KT can indeed start holding his position on defense, then this could work out. The coaching staff must have worked with him on this recently, b/c last season and in summer league competition, he was giving up a lot of position on defense. I really dont ask a lot of our PFs on defense. I would be happy if both KT and Mo Taylor can hold their ground and keep the opponents out of their sweet spots on the floor. Brian Grant and Karl Malone are very good at this. I dont expect them to be huge shotblockers or anything like that, just hold their position. Both KT and Mo Taylor are very gifted on the offensive end of the floor and fit this system really well for reasons already discussed in this thread by HP; the key will be their defense and rebounding. On a side note, how was Francis and Mobley's defense in the Charlotte game? I was very impressed with the improvement I saw in the Dallas game from last yr. Much improved anticipation, quicker hands and staying in front of the opponent. The area that was lacking in the Dallas game was the pick and roll defense, but that will require communication between the guards and big men. The problem was that Mo wasnt "flashing" to slow down the opposing PG, mostly Steve Nash. Thus, Nash would just pull up and drain the mid range shot. I think this should be developed over time, its more a communication problem than anything. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
HP I got up to do something in the kitchen a couple of times last night. When I came back I saw on the TV screen (several feet farther away than usual), this taller?, slimmer? Rocket-jerseyed player. I flipped up the volume because I did not recognize him. Bill and Calvin were talking about KT. KT? I looked closer, turned up the volume louder. Yep. That was Kenny. He does look taller. Taller? He does look slimmer. Mmmmmmm. Could explain a couple of his moves being quicker than last year. Even at his peak.
