I keep hearing that Mo is plotting to come back following the All-Star break. I know he has to serve his suspension immediately upon coming back, but is this true? I keep hearing this from the rumor mill and I seem to rmember hearing Mo himself say that he planned on coming back. Is this possible? And if so, do you think he'll be in good enough shape to make an impact? On a side note, who's been playing backup center since Willis minutes seem to have dropped. I don't get to see hardly any games. I assume that Thomas has been playing backup. Can anyone help me out on this stuff? Thanks in advance.
Griff was typically moving over to play 5 in early January. The last few games, Willis has re-emerged and is taking the minutes. MoT has been itching to come back this season based on two half-time interviews I've seen. He is running in practice now. I wouldn't be surprised if they activate him in the next month or two. First, they need to get that suspension out of the way this season. Next, it would be nice to see Griff and MoT play a little together. But that's about it. He won't play many minutes.
I recently heard from someone that Mo is really REALLY working hard to get back. He is desperate to play but that any coming back may very well premature on his part. The Rockets are absolutely NOT going to rush him and will only let him play when he is 100% ready, especially considering their struggles this season. Mo may have to wait longer than he wants but it will probably be for his own good.
I think we should sit David Robinson so we can get a high pick and maybe take that Duncan kid. This is funny, I was actually just wondering how Taylor was doing since the allstar break is in sight and that was his target date. Personally I'd like to see him come back as soon as possible but not until he's really ready and since the playoffs are a serious longshot... It would be ideal to get him back for the last month or so. Work out some kinks for next year and serve his suspension. Thanks for the update guys!
Mo has a five game suspension, right? If he is not going to be able to come back this season, and the rockets know it, can they take him off the IR for the last 5 games of the season? Meaning that he would be serving his suspension during games that he wouldn't be playing anyway. It seems like such an easy way to beat the system, I was just wondering if there was anything that would prevent them from doing such a thing.
The type of injury that MoTay had requires a long and gentle appraoch to rehab. Unseating the achilles tendon again during rehab is certainly a possibility and so the watch words will be "extreme caution" (hazardous to a player's and a team's health if reinjured) ". He is very eager. He really wants in. He is working very hard 7 days a week, and they are attempting (with all their strength and persuasion) to hold him back, because of the dangers involved. His surgery was 100% successful, his rehab is gentle and progressing, his mental health shows positive and cheerful reaction to the long lay-off. He is on the court at all home games and has travelled with the team on ( I am pretty sure ) about three trips so far. The problems are: 1. The severe penalty if he re-ruptures any tissues while rehabing. 2. There is no advantage for the team to take any risk with him coming back early. But then the team also wants to show they would get him in there if he is 100% rehabed (which he is not presently) to help him blend with the core of the team. The Rockets franchise also wants to assure everyone he is not being held back (a la Spurs, Bulls, etc.. ) to favor a draft. This is a legitimate precautionary tone. 3. The third problem area is that everyone in the league is watching this type of thing. Medical deferrals and medical exemptions are given because the preponderance of evidence is that the player will not return that season. By returning early a team is shoving it down the (NBA) League's throat. The league can then justify it's "hardball" stance on future medical exempts. It may even make them consider doing away with it altogether. I happen to agree with the clause and it's implication - i.e. giving some relief to a team which has been faced with catastrophic roster changes due to unforseen injury or loss. PS: A team that will bring a player off the IR, - that the league has already given concessions for and ruled as a season-ending injury - simply to have him serve a drug suspension early and to thwart the league rule technically - will not only risk the ire of the league office, but they will also be inviting the league to rule against that team in future "close" or "tight" decisions regarding player personnel. Believe it. Incidentally, the ruling for MoTay from the league office stated that he will serve this suspension at the "start of the (following) season". There was not only a persumption that he would be out until then, but the ruling would have to be re-addressed and restudied if he returned earlier. IMHO: Better just to leave a sleeping bear alone and stop picking at him with a stick.
I'm curious to know how Mo would get his minutes. Griffin averaged 16 points and 8 boards along with nearly 3 blocks as a starter. Looks like he might *already* be better than Taylor. Do you: 1. Start Taylor - don't bench someone because of injury 2. Start Griffin - he's already the best front court player the Rockets have 3. Start both of them and bench Cato or 4. Start both of them and bench whatever 3 we're using on any given night.
Earlier in the season, during a discussion about the injured list, someone stated that putting uninjured players on the reserve is morally wrong due to the fact that the league verifies the existence of the injury with the player each day. Consequently, players would then be urged to lie about whether or not they are truly injured if they are merely on the IL in a reserve role as many are suspected to be. The prospect of bringing Maurice Taylor back five games prior to an estimated date of recovery would be folly. If the league does check on the status of players on the injured list, they should be able to verify that a player on the active roster is indeed capable of playing. I am certain that an investigation into the matter would be conducted and would easily be found out through examination of medical records and interviews with persons involved.
"PS: A team that will bring a player off the IR, - that the league has already given concessions for and ruled as a season-ending injury - simply to have him serve a drug suspension early and to thwart the league rule technically - will not only risk the ire of the league office, but they will also be inviting the league to rule against that team in future "close" or "tight" decisions regarding player personnel. Believe it. " Kenny Thomas' 3 games - It's not like they are giving us any reasonable rulings at present. Frankly, I couldn't give a rat's a$$ what the league office thinks. The NBA brass is right at the top when it comes to management ignorance when compared to any organization, be it public, private, governmental, or non-profit (which the NBA will one day evolve into). David Stern gets far too much hyped credit for the popularity of the game that was created by great players and not his greedy a$$. If anything, he has sickly exploited the game for maximum profit while molding it's every facet to his cookie cutter perception of what it should be - a clean, cut entertainment outing for corporate dealmaking free of plebian no-no's such as fighting, trashtalking, and baggy shorts (watch him propose no headbands for next season). Financial would-be's on this board may believe David Stern and his gang are saviours of the league and should be credited with creating a multi-billion dollar empire from nothing. I say this organization is a house of cards. I've crunched the numbers and they paint a very gloomy picture on the horizon. All their revenue projections are predicated on the notion the arenas will be filled to the brim w/ $200 tickets and fans will be ponying up big bucks for their crappy merchandise for the next 10years. They need to think again. There is a reason why NBC and Nike, the two premier organization in their respective markets, are moving away from the NBA. ABC and Reebok are the dregs Stern has to choose from with the financial situation going forward. Most teams will be posting ridiculous losses in coming years, while holding insane salary obligations. And saddest thing is that ignorant fans and media will point to the players/employees as the greedy culprits of this pyramid scheme. When in fact it is the league office that made it all about $$$$ instead of just hoopin. Sorry for my rant - I hope MoT comes back!
Pimp, that was quite a rant. The Rocks are positioning this perfectly for an early return to clear the suspension this season. Team says progress is good but will be cautious. MoT says he feels great and can't wait to get back. So the Rocks will activate him w/ one month left. Plus I'm sure Rudy would like to see, even if it's just 10 minutes, Griff @ 4, MoT @ 3 and Cato @ 5. BTW, that's on the offensive end. Depending on the matchups defensively, MoT may slide over to play the 4, if we needed bulk.
Francis Cat EG MoT Cato Very good starting line-up. Cato and EG play very well together. KT goes to the bench.
