THere are some things that they got wrong or not so right but for the most part they were paying attention. HOUSTON ROCKETS PF: Mo Taylor vs. Kenny Thomas vs. Eddie Griffin An injury to Thomas (fractured right thumb) and a slow start by Taylor (9.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg) has opened the door for Griffin and he's been impressive. He leads the team in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and blocks (3.9 bpg) and has that lethal inside outside offensive game that coaches covet. Taylor may be pulling down the bigger dollars and Thomas may be more consistent, but Griffin's potential may prove to be too tantalizing for coach Rudy Tomjanovich. To alleviate some of the jam, look for Thomas to get big minutes at small forward behind Glen Rice. Rookie Bostjan Nachbar is being brought along slowly and Thomas has proved he can play the position. Taylor and Griffin will share time at the four. C: Yao Ming vs. Kelvin Cato Either Yao hasn't seen many NBA games or we're all in big trouble. When Yao claimed he wanted to be like Cato, even Cato himself was a bit stunned. After two games, we're not ready to proclaim him the next Wilt Chamberlin, but he isn't Kelvin Cato either. Two preseason games aren't much to go on, but Yao can play. It's just a matter of time. Don't be surprised in Cato is in the starting lineup on opening night. Coach Rudy T wants to bring Yao along slowly until he gets accustomed to the Rockets' system. But by the All-Star break, look for Cato to be Yao's towel boy. Projected Starting 5: PG: Steve Francis SG: Cuttino Mobley SF: Glen Rice PF: Eddie Griffin C: Kelvin Cato
The clock is ticking inexorably toward 5 p.m. Who will be cut: TBrown, TMaddox, PMickeal, or JHawkins? JHawk seems safe but not totally safe. Who? Who? Who?
I didn't hear anything about Mickeal playing last night and he is supposedly injured. He might be the one. For Sure: Cat Steve Cato EG Rice Mooch MT KT Boki Yao Ming My picks based on reports/viewing: Collier Hawkins IL or gone: TMo (he's a lock) Edited after post Mickeal Tito Brown
Good question??? I really haven't been impressed with either Brown or Maddox but I know one of them will stay. Hawkins looks to have the nod right now getting the minutes in the last two games. But I thought OT was playing well before he got the cut...
Actually, I was just gigging you. We all know you had already counted T-Mo in. The big question is who will be counted out.
I can't see Tierre being content on the IL with so many teams needing PG's. Rudy may pull a Damon Jones on that one and give Tierre a chance to latch on a 12 man roster. Tito is probably an IL lock. So maybe it's TMo, Tito and Mickeal on IL.
RudyT is a master at getting second line role players to contribute,and if Pete makes this team, Rudy has seen something. But I cant see him on the IL ...if activated, I dont see a role Pete couldplay, that wouldnt be better addressed by a more seasoned back=up.
I don't think Mickeal has a rats ass chance if everybody is healthy. That rarely happens all season long. But I wouldn't have kept Tito either from what I've seen. Obviously they think they can groom him.
That doesn't mean much. His salary is so small (by NBA standards ) that RT can pick and choose among the aforementioned players.
