http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/40858.htm INSIDE ADDITION By MARC BERMAN TAYLOR TIME: Since joining Knicks, Maurice Taylor has give team much-needed scoring presence in low post, and netted 15 points in victory over Warriors Sunday. March 8, 2005 -- Following the Feb. 24 trade that brought Maurice Taylor to the Knicks, Herb Williams placed a call to Rockets assistant Patrick Ewing. Williams wanted to find out why Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy banished Taylor to the injured list for more than a month, but never got an answer. "I talked to Pat and he said the one thing he [Taylor] could do is score," Williams said. "Pat said nobody can stop him in practice. "I knew we needed a guy who can score in the post. When you get a guy with his skill level who can score in the post, he can make it look easy. "Ask any coach in this league — to win consistently, you have to have a presence in the paint." The Knicks, who host the Wizards tonight, are different now, and not just because they're winning. Since the two trade-deadline deals, the Knicks are evolving from a jump-shooting, pick-and-roll club to a team that can score in the low post with a proficiency not seen since the "Big Fella" himself left five years ago. They are 4-1 since the trades, four games behind the slumping eighth-seeded Pacers in the Eastern Conference. Taylor had his bust-out game as a Knick Sunday against the Warriors, pouring in 15 points in 21 minutes, making seven of eight shots. Taylor's big second half followed the 9-for-9 first quarter of Michael Sweetney. Taylor, the former Michigan star, is forcing the league to change the Knicks' scouting report. Malik Rose has given them grit and Taylor gives another low-post presence alongside Sweetney and Tim Thomas. Meanwhile, the Spurs have shut down center Nazr Mohammed because of his lingering groin injury. "They were more of a jump-shooting team and pick-and-roll team," Taylor said. "When we played against them, you had to prepare for Steph [Stephon Marbury] and Kurt [Thomas]. "The pick and roll was their bread and butter. When the trade happened, Isiah [Thomas] told me he wanted me to coexist with Kurt. "With me taking up space in the post, it will free him up for easier shots. If I can get a double team, everybody else will get easy shots." Taylor was on the injured list since Jan. 18 when the trades went down. "I was sitting for a month," Taylor said. "Basketball-wise, I was very excited." Van Gundy deemed Scott Padgett more effective. A defensive fanatic, Van Gundy had no more use for Taylor's lax rebounding and low defensive intensity, according to sources. Taylor asked for a trade. In taking back non-entities Vin Baker and Moochie Norris, the Rockets were happy dumping Taylor's salary. "Me and Jeff never had any blowups or cursing matches," Taylor said. "But I think if you know Jeff, he's a creature of habit. When I went out with the flu, they had won five, six in a row. It was the team he chose to go with. "When we were having discussions, I told him if that was the case, I would want to be moved. "I actually liked Jeff. I know it's hard to believe that some players would like him but I actually had a good time with him." Williams hasn't noticed Taylor slacking on defense. "I know the knock is his defense, but I don't have a problem with it," Williams said. The Knicks have five power forwards, but Williams has done a masterful juggling act, getting them time. Taylor will command major minutes if he continues to score inside. "They just want a presence in the post," Taylor said. "When you get in games like (Sunday) when it's a jump-shooting contest, Coach put me in and told me just get in the post. "If you score, we'll keep coming to you until they start doubling."
we all knew that Taylor can score. He is a good offensive player. i wasn't that happy JVG banished him to the bench. i think we could have gotten more for him if he would have gotten more playing time this year. on the other hand. He is overpaid. And he cannot rebound. So he wasn't a good fit for houston. And JVG would never let him play anymore. Good luck taylor in New York
Interesting to see that he asked to be moved. Not all that surprising, but I hadn't heard that yet. If you have a second guy in the post that can cover for Mo, you can get away with having him on the floor for big minutes. When he played alongside Cato, we did fine. Unfortunately, Yao isn't quite there yet with his help defense, especially if the guy abusing Taylor is a quicker guy like Amare or Jermaine O'Neal. Hopefully things work out for Mo. Evan
I was never a big MoTaylor fan because of his deficiencies but his low post game gives him alot of value to teams that really don't have big men who can score with their backs to the basket. Kurt Thomas is an all around better player but he is a a jump shooter. Mo, when hot, will open up space for the perimeter players more than Thomas could. Orlando could have used Mo's post play. While having an impressive rookie year, Howard does not have a back the basket game yet. All around the league its becoming a lost art which really increases Mo's value.
Mo used to be mostly an outside shooter, he's really opened up his post game in the last few years. And he was never a poor defender, he was never exceptional either, but he was adequate. His real deficiency, which requires covering up at other positions, is rebounding.
If these are the regular comments from MoT he is showing a lot of class. MoT won more than a few games for the Rockets. It isn't his fault we layed that contract on him. Sounds like a win-win for MoT to move on, nice to hear. I hope we can get something out of Vin for the playoffs if we need a 4 with more of a presence than Pagdet or Spoon.
Well he is not the most honest guy. Doc reported the shouting match between him and JVG @practice. So much for never getting in fights.
That pretty much summarizes the trade. Dumping salary by taking back non-entities, LOL. I agree that putting him on the IL really dimished his already poor trade value. I don't blame Williams for wondering why anyone would banish a scorer like Mo to the IL. I am not saying that basketball-wise that was a bad move on JVG's part. Howard can do everything Mo can and better. Padgett and Spoon have different skills to be complimentary. So there was no reason for Mo to occupy an active roster spot. But if he were just suited up on the bench rather than on the IL, we might get something more than two "non-entities" back.
I always liked MoT. I remember when we first got him, he would be the first option opening up the game. He would score like 6pts in a row and then opened up for Cat and Stevie. His performance last year in Game 1 vs. the Lakers was memorable. He was clutch during the last 5 mins of the game and if we wouldve won it, I wouldve gave credit to him and NOT JJ. It was hard to see him go but then again, it freed up money to resign Yao, so I hope he does good in the Big Apple.
Mo, with an MLE contract, would have maxed out his value. He has talent, can score but play does stop when he gets the ball. If he's hitting, OK (so long as his 'mates stay awake) but when he's not there is nothing redemptive about Mo. I don't believe Mo is a class guy. I believe he's a guy with no bad class. He's ok.
Everybody knew Mo could score points. Unfortunately that's all he can do, and is all he is doing so far in NYC. From the Knicks perspective he is still clearly being overpaid, but they are fortunate in that their other post players - Thomas, Rose, etc. - are efficient at doing the other things.
The thing people forget about Mo is that he HASN'T scored for the Rockets this season. The guy shot a horrible 43.5% with us, w/o shooting 3s, and never go the line. Absolutely unexcusable for PF who can't do anything else. Scott Padgett was more of an offensive threat than Mo this year. And Juwan Howard has always been a better offensive player. That's why Taylor's out.
A team WILL regret the Mo Taylor to the Knicks trade but it won't be Houston and it won't be New York ... New Jersey - you hear me calling don't you ? the Nets had a HUGE trade exception - and could have probably had MO for a 2nd round. He would have been GREAT scoring post presence with Kidd, Carter and Jefferson (now I know there are salary issues) - but what did the Nets do use the expection on Campbell (just to keep the Piston's from getting him back) - then they buy him out money wasted ... now they are fading from the playoff race in the worse division in the league... oh yeah - and they have two "all stars" idiots anyway, good for Mo if he plays well - now that he is a Knick, maybe someday JVG will learn to love him again
Very true Willis. Cliff was a good pickup but not better than Motay. Interesting, NJ is still in the playoffs race - can you imagine where they would have been with a legit 3rd option like Motay since late January? He could have really complimented Vince and Kidd + Jefferson coming back next month. They could have made some noise......but Rod Thorn decided otherwise. Maybe they were scared away by the money but what difference was it going to make anyway? it is not like they will be players in FA market anytime soon.
Knicks 5-1 since the all-star break and Trades. If they make the playoffs, and get a few players in the first round next year, they can make some noise in the Atlantic... Still, Its Isaiah, he'll find a way to f*** it up.
I followed MT since the dreary Clipper days. While not a great player, he generally added more to the team than the regular journeymen. I wish him well.
Isn't it interesting, tho, how losing seems to follow him around? He, and his teams, can reach a modicum of success -- but that appears to be his max? All that, the man can score. But he cannot win.
