But you responded with in response to Francis' arrest for DWI. Yeah, Francis showed a lot of respect to the sport and was giving his all to try and win as a team player. It is very dumb to try and drive after you have had some drinks, much less when you are also on medication. In fact, it is illegal to do so, as it is illegal to smoke pot. Why the NBA doesn't have a mandatory 5 game suspension for that is beyond me. If you want to classify him as lazy or dumb, do so because of his play on the court, or take a similar approach with all players - ie, Francis must be lazy and dumb, Rudy must be lazy and dumb, etc.
Jay.... Francis is INNOCENT until proven guilty. MO T...got caught with THC in his blood....there is a MASSIVE difference between a couple of drinks and smoking an ILLEGAL substance. DaDakota
Also, Who was TAKING Mo Ts rebounds away from him when he was a Clipper? He had 3 years to establish himself as a premier POWER FORWARD. He didn't, PERIOD !!! Mo T may be good, and I am rooting for him, but actions speak louder then words, and most of you are forgetting that he has NEVER played up to his level of talent...NEVER !!! DaDakota
I'd have to agree with everything BGM wrote. Propping up KT and dissing Mo mostly for a smidge advantage in rebounds is just silly.
Crisco, Using the word Smidge is silly too !!! I just think KT plays better defense and with more heart then Mo T. That does not mean I want MO T to fail...I would love to be wrong, but in my world a person is defined by their actions, and MO T has had 4 years to prove himself in the NBA, and that has not happened as of yet. DaDakota
That's cool Dak, I definitely understand from that vantage point. I really like KT's hustle and d. I just happen to think that KT is close to his ceiling, while Mo has the "potential" to be more. Yeah, yeah, the p-word is what got us Cato's contract, but I really think if Mo can get healty that he will be an awesome offensive threat, and a decent rebounder to boot. I can understand if others don't think he will be that, but NEITHER will be great rebounding or defensive pfs imo. Good thing we got Griff for that
First off, good thread. It is not getting too far off path, like all Mobley-props threads seem to do. Time for another 1,000 word response to a great topic and good discussion. Time for some <B>Raging Bull</b> Shot Analysis. But, please, I want to here want others think. Quit sending me emails, or I'm just going to flood your box with QuickTime movies of Mobley hitting that unstoppable step-back J ala Dennis Johnson/Larry Bird Tell me what you think of K9's moves, here, not via email. Oh, I won't be going for any "smidge advantage." But I won't be really "dissing Mo," either. This is all about the glorification of the better player! I think JayZ750's analysis of improvement is dated to KT circa Dec 2001, imo. I would have agreed with his statements then, because KT wasn't really showing more than what JayZ said. However, improvement dated to Reging Bull circa March 2002 includes a new ability to hit a spin move from 6ft' going left or right. Just because it doesn't always start with an entry in the block, doesn't mean it is any less characterized as a low post spin move than Barkley backing in with his butt slowing before making his fast spin move. If a guy like KT can dive to his left or right from a wing entry, turn and back his man one step, and execute a spin move for a great baby hook left or right, the guy has a low post spin move regardless of entry. Just because he doesn't get that low post entry point to start does not mean Maurice has better low post than Kenny. besides, he in fact did back Karl Malone at will and shot hooks left and right around him. He can do this, because Kenny is very strong. He can take any entry, imo, and the wing one takes advantage of his speed and his spin move. Why would he want to start lower in the post . . . just to satisfy one's criteria for "Low Post Move?" Why do we pigeonhole Kenny as a penetrator only? Does KT have an awesome penetration move....arguably the best at the PF position in the NBA? Did MO have a good penetration move...Yes, but he did it without zones? Did Mo often make a one-dribble dive then spin and back in his guy to go baseline or back to the lane for a jump hook. Yes. Is that a low post move despite the fact it started at Mo's jumper wing position. I consider it one. Does JayZ750's statement imply that KT does not have such a move. Yes. Are we polarizing KT by saying his game is all penetration with no low spin moves or low in hook shots. I think so. <b>Characterizing the Improvement of KT based on Defenses Adjustments</b> The improvement of KT is well beyond his jump shot and ability to finish. You want some basketball logic to prove this?...if Kenny's improvement was limiting to shooting and penetrating on this lousy-ass team we have, NBA defenses would have caught up with him by now. They haven't. Matter of fact, he is playing his best ever since he learned that NBA PFs "Stars" are punch-and-run p*****s. I never like to say a player has this or that move or shot ability or has improved this or that until they sustain it long enough for NBA teams to study video tape on the player, consider him a viable threat, and practice help defenses against him. That has happened. THe help defense is coming at Kenny. Defenses are being designed to stop Kenny's penetration...and they haven't contained it. One-on-one with interior help is not getting it done, because Kenny added the reverse direction hook from 4-6'. He is also backing guys in for the hook. We you continue your progress against different defenses, this is a sign of real improvement. please don't stereotype KT as a penetrator only. Just because his is arguably the fastest penetrating PF in the game, that doen't mean he has no low post move. imo, he has superior low post moves than Mo' . . . merely because his spin is faster and he can shoot the hook left and right; Mo can't do that. He is superior in everyone phase of the game except pure jumper, and that is getting much better now. <b>At this point, Mo must beat out KT, not the other way around.</b> Let's see. Who here thinks Mo has played any competitive basketball in 7 months. Raise your hands. Who here thinks Mo will play any great amounts of competitive basketball before Fall camp, giving what happened to him last time he tried. Maybe so. But maybe he just tries to get in the best shape of his life and practices shooting mostly. Who here thinks Kenny is going to play fullcourt nearly every day this Summer? Has Kenny peaked? Don't answer these questions, they are merely rhetorical. The point is that going into camp Kenny is the one more likely to improve between now and then, and he is already stronger, faster, and more versatile going left and right on spin moves. Mo has no chance to be handed his starting role back. Dude is going to have to beat Kenny in camp. Kenny is going to waste him. How exactly do you think the coaches are going to judge this? They are going to make them guard each other on 5 on 5. Do you think Mo can guard Kenny? Do you think Kenny can guard Mo? Kenny is going to waste him. Maurice should be are 6th man shooter. He will tear up second stringers. And he'll play major minutes in the 4th. I suspect Kenny, Mo and Griffin will see time together. But, KT gets the nod over Mo next camp. Hell, don't listen to me, that is exactly what Calvin and Bill said last night to the "Fan Question of the Game," which ironically was "With Mo coming back, will Kenny still maintain his starting role?" Bill said, "Yes" immediately. And Calvin did the longer analysis confirmation. The consensus was Kenny is playing better than Mo did last year, and Kenny has also shown the ability to play SF in certain match-ups (ie, being more flexible). I never make predications and usually just stick to scouting players. I reported after 4 pre-season games and the Rockets first game that KT was significantly improved and will quickly become the most underrated Rocket. I didn't consider that a prediction. I also didn't think KT would continue his drastic improvement to include this reverse direction jump hook. So, I'm willing to make this prediction...because I do not believe it is a prediction. KT is ahead of Mo on the depth chart. Mo' will have to beat him out at camp....good luck Maurice; I like you, but I don't think you have a chance until you show improvement over last year, and quit getting two early fouls.
I agree. KT should be up for Most Improved, no doubt. His only real comp, from what I've heard might be Jermaine O'Neal. PPG: 7.1 to 14.4
I agree. KT should be up for Most Improved, no doubt. His only real comp, from what I've heard might be Jermaine O'Neal. PPG: 7.1 to 14.4 RPG: 5.6 to 7.1 APG: 1.O to 2.0 The stats say it all.
crispee Probably the best Analysis I've seen in months. Keep it up Rocket River Pres of the KT Fan Club
see, this is what I mean. I need no props. You can't prop up a twice-cooked crispee critter. They are still going to lay flat on the ground, smouldering because puedlfor will not even acknowledge dead meat anymore. I am no Raging Bull. Raging Bulls need props, so they can bust right through them and improve faster than any props we can give them. (pun intended, again). But if you tell us what *you* really think about Kenny's moves, maybe the discussion will continue. We need *more* shot analysis!! yeah buddy. GO RAGING BULL!
Cp, if you ever, EVER, put me in silly quotations again I'm gonna thrash you a new one Pollyanna style. Bottom line is KT isn't really a post up pf. He is mainly a face-up penetrating pf. Nothing wrong with that. He's not going to beat you continually that often by posting up. That's not to say he has no post moves, or he can't score from in there, but he is better driving. He's outmuscled and outsized, but uses his speed to his advantage, which is what smart players do. It is great to have to have guys that can collapse the d, but we need shooters out there too. And Rudy needs to make sure the penetrators pass it to the open men when the d collapses. The beauty of Mo's game was his ability to make defenses pay for playing man on him, and hitting the open jumper off of Francis penetration. Wouldn't that make an awesome pick and roll combination? I definitely agree that KT is the better player right now, I mean, Mo is injured and hasn't even been on the court for quite some time. And yeah, better than Mo last year as well. I know it's conjecture, but I thought after the transition of last year, Mo was poised to have a breakout season himself. I don't think Mo would have been the same player he was last year, much like KT isn't the same he was last year. Regafdless, Mo should have to earn back his spot. But I don't think KT is leaps and bounds better than a healthy Mo. And I do think Mo can leapfrog KT in the rotation at some point, just not after coming off major surgery. hoppity hoppity.
You're probably a drinker, a pill-popper, a masturbator, a DRUNK DRIVER!!! My sister got killed by a damn drunk driver, if only that muthaf*cka had enough respect for life to be a pot smoker instead of a worthless drunk like half the world! People die from things most people see as socially acceptable, but Maurice Taylor inflicts no harm on a single soul but his own and he's no good. People like you disgust me.
The Kings announcers aren't giving KT any credit. They said in the 2nd quarter he was questionable tonight because of lack of talent, not injury.
u serious? wtf is that? I hate stupid announcers who don't know ****. If they want to dog a Rocket, dog Cato or Collier. dumbasses.
Lets keep both power forwards. People say we have a glut - but we've all seen how injuries can decimate a team - I say get as much talent as possible, we need it. Also, look at the team, how many jump shooting complementary players do we have on this team? One - Mo. I think you underestimate the impact having a player who can kill you with a spot up jumper will have on this team's offense. I also believe that a starter shouldn't lose his job to injury, they should be beaten on the court. Therefore, Maurice Taylor should be the starting PF, until Kenny Thomas or Eddie Griffin wrest the job from him on the court. It might happen, it might not, but lets throw them all down and let them fight each other for it. Competition is good. BTW, Maurice was a mid-first round draft pick - he's a starter who averages double digit scoring, I think he's lived up to his talent.
Agreed. Except for full-season injuries. Unfortunately Mo, but you lost your job. You must beat out Kenny now.
Sorry about your sister, but a person who is high and driving is just as bad as a drunk driver, and pot stays in your system FAR longer then alcohol, plus it is illegal. You people that say Pot is not as bad as approved drugs are simply burying your head in the sand. DaDakota
I think the argument is that Maurice Taylor was not caught driving while high, and driving while drunk, no matter how you want to spin it, is much much worse than chilling at your house and being high.
