I guess it could still be weed, but it's seeming less and less likely. First, 10 games is not the normal suspension for weed. Second, if it was weed would the union be arguing that he'd been wronged? The speculation about anti-inflammatories seems like a smart bet. Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part, but it still seems most feasible. If he was just taking medication for his injury, even six games seems pretty harsh to me. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2209410 Rockets hitched up wrong horses By DALE ROBERTSON Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Not so long ago, the Rockets had three power forwards, which was about one "four" too many. Everyone agreed: Somebody had to go. But who? Eddie Griffin was a likable enough, somewhat-shy kid with superb athletic skills, but he was clearly undermotivated and immature, on and off the court. Maurice Taylor, who was downright affable, had a lazy, self-indulgent streak. Yet, as with Griffin, his ability stood out for all to see. Then there was Kenny Thomas, a tough, no-nonsense, self-made player who could be a real sourpuss. Jeff Van Gundy would have loved Thomas, Kenny's dark side notwithstanding. Unfortunately, he plays for Philadelphia these days, while the other two guys won't be playing for anybody, the Rockets included, any time soon. The Rockets stuck with Griffin and Taylor, concluding you can't teach talent. But the Rockets made a terrible mistake, because you can't teach character, either. True, there's a chance, perhaps even a good chance, that Taylor will beat the latest rap for violating the NBA's substance-abuse policy. His union seems to think he has been sorely wronged and has already filed an expedited appeal on his behalf. Could he have accidentally taken a banned anti-inflammatory medicine to help his dislocated shoulder heal? It's possible. But, we must also ask, how could he have been so careless? When Taylor tested positive for pot two years ago, he stood before us confessing his bad behavior, contritely promising to shape up. With a red flag planted by his name, he shouldn't have been tempted to ingest anything remotely suspicious. The previously guilty have a much harder time proving their innocence. The coach who co-signed off on trading Thomas, Rudy Tomjanovich, is gone from the scene. The general manager who consummated the deal, Carroll Dawson, was left to stand alone before a small gaggle of media on the Rockets' shiny new practice court in the Toyota Center Friday evening. Oh what a feeling it wasn't. Dawson looked shaken, as he should have. An hour earlier, he'd received what he accurately labeled "very disturbing" news from the NBA's home office. Taylor had been suspended for at least 10 games. That number could be reduced to as few as six, if he wins his appeal. C.D. said such a "disruption" could never be well-timed but conceded it's particularly disconcerting with the Rockets trying to sell both a new building and a new coach to a once-rabid fan base turned blasé by four seasons without a sniff of playoff excitement. "We've made a lot of progress," Dawson lamented. "What we'd been seeing was very encouraging." Most recently, the Rockets scored road victories on consecutive nights in Chicago and New Jersey, only the fourth such sweep in 35 tries dating to the end of their last playoff season. Taylor played a pivotal role against the Nets with his first strong effort on Van Gundy's behalf. Dawson was unaware of the particulars of Taylor's bust. Explanations are dispensed by the NBA "on a need-to-know basis," the GM said, "and they just don't feel we need to know." But, while he didn't fess up publicly, of this much Dawson must know: He traded the wrong power forward to Philly. And his boss, owner Leslie Alexander, surely realizes it as well. Having just given Dawson a two-year contract extension, however, Alexander is unlikely to punish C.D. for bad judgment. That is unless you believe being made to endure the endless harangues of talk-radio callers demanding your firing is worse than actually being fired. Taylor's banishment by the league in tandem with the Rockets' decision to remove Griffin from their roster indefinitely has the makings of a disaster for a once-proud franchise desperate to shed a negative image. Best case, it will turn out to be merely a minor catastrophe. Either way, it's not the way to win back old friends by selling them expensive new tickets. Good thing Van Gundy had the vision to look at backup center Kelvin Cato as a power forward. That move has turned out surprisingly well despite Cato's own recalcitrance at the outset. But Cato can't go the full 48 minutes, meaning Torraye Braggs, who played in Greece and Israel last season and barely survived the final cuts, will be asked to fill a role that exceeds his capabilities. "I'll meet with Jeff and the coaches (today) to see who's out there and what we need to do," Dawson said. They're always free to invite Griffin back, of course, but that would hardly serve either his or the team's interests before he has completed treatment at an undisclosed location for emotional problems. Further, Griffin appears a virtual lock to be charged in connection with a shooting that occurred outside his home, with the only question being whether the alleged crime is called a misdemeanor or a felony. The particulars of his predicament are more worrisome than Taylor's, which could prove to be nothing at all. But Mo and Eddie together constitute a serious migraine headache, one that could have been so easily prevented.
Also, if Feigen's right that the union only gets two expedited appeals per season and if Robertson's right that they've already used one on Mo, it seems very unlikely that they'd do so for a repeat pot smoker or a steroid case. If there's any chance this was an honest (albeit possibly dumb) mistake, I think it's a bum deal that the league wouldn't look at it til he'd already missed six games.
Doesn't matter. From what I hear, EG is all but certain to be charged in that shooting incident at his house.
Perhaps this will be a golden opportunity to convince Cuttino that being the sixth man would be best for the team. Move Nachbar to the starting three until Pike is ready, JJ to the two, and have Cat be a scoring machine (which we all know he would love to have the freedom to be anyway) as the sixth man off the bench. Use Braggs and/or Padgett at the back up four spot depending on matchups. We might be able to salvage something positive from this.
I didn't know that anti-inflammatories were part of the no-no substances under the CBA. I think you're right about the weed, the union would likely be raising holy hell about it. I agree that if he were taking medication for an injury, why would that be a big deal? I would speculate maybe he was using some performance-enhancing substance, like ephedra (is that a no-no substance?). In any case, he has really put the Rox in a bad spot.
This is from the Dale Robertson article above: "True, there's a chance, perhaps even a good chance, that Taylor will beat the latest rap for violating the NBA's substance-abuse policy. His union seems to think he has been sorely wronged and has already filed an expedited appeal on his behalf. Could he have accidentally taken a banned anti-inflammatory medicine to help his dislocated shoulder heal? It's possible. But, we must also ask, how could he have been so careless?" I agree that he's put the Rockets in a bad spot, but there's a possibility it was inadvertant. I don't know what sort of medication Robertson might be referring to. Codeine's banned and it's in some prescription cough syrups. I'm not saying that's what he took -- only that it could be an honest, if careless, mistake.
I don't think the whole rotation needs to be shifted around to change the 7-8 minutes that Cat is not in the game. The rest of the team should be able to manage without him for about 4 minutes at the ends of the second and third quarters.
No $hit Sherlocks! Off with his incompetent head!!!!!!! Looks like they might pursue the option of putting MoT on the suspended list so they can sign someone else temporarily. Charles Oakley anyone? It'll probably be for a 10-day contract, since that about coincides with MoT's 6-game (assuming appeal is successful) suspension. I hope that this was all an honest (or otherwise) mistake. If so, hope MoT gets back soon. And if so, I think some of us owe Mo an apology. Also, 6 game suspension for a (possible) mistake (by the league) is ridiculous, and they have to review that policy. But deep down, I think we all know that MoT is still lighting up. As long he keeps it on the DL, and it doesn't affect his performace, it's aaaall goooood.
THG anyone? Kidding, but anyway...this really blows. Hope it doesn't affect our team TOO much. Come on Braggs!
Can we sign 10 day contracts right now? I think I remember reading we couldn't til later in the season. Maybe I'm wrong about that. The only reason to think Mo's still smoking is that he'd been busted. If he wasn't busted for that, and it was an honest mistake, there's no reason to assume he's still smoking. And, if that's the case, you're right that a lot of us owe him an apology (including me).
The financial penalty for smoking weed has to be higher. If the rule is that for every game suspended due to this reason, 5% of annual salary is cut, I believe there will be fewer violation. Unions among professional players should be banned! These rich stupid players have too much protection! I hope Yao and Cato will stay out of foul trouble in the next few weeks. Damn, who is going to score in our secondary? Is Pike ready to play?
Just when I thought I was gonna see Mo T play in person next week (DAL) this happens... When I lived in H-Town and went he was injured. Oh, well... I still get to see Yao and the boys (barring any other freaky crap happening!)
Channel 51 will have to find a replacement for when they use the filler "who are your heros". I thought it was getting old anyway. That will be funny during this evening's game if they show idiot Taylor with his "I'm so smart and you're so stupid" attitude when he talks about "doing right by your family" and "doing right by your church". How 2 faced can you get? Whatever happened to the "doing right by your teammates, coaches, owner, fans, city" attitude? I don't remember the exact incident last year, but really lost respect for Taylor when he got into it with a younger player who is still on a rookie contract, and Taylor said to him "hey, I got my contract!" With that attitude sounds to me like he played long and hard enough just to get the contract signed. Even without this latest incident, I thought Taylor should be shipped out. He obviously thinks his **** doesn't stink. He is the biggest hole on this team. There are other power forwards we could get that would be much more team orriented, cheaper, doesn't have the "me,me,me,me,me,mo,me,me,mo,me" attitude. Maybe Utah could help us out....they took Rice off our hands! We could take someone they are trying to get rid of and maybe get a trade exception worth about 10 mil. THey must have 1 or 2 losers at the end of the bench they would trade for Mo. Mo would be very happy in Utah. I would be very happy with Mo in Utah.
there's a chance, perhaps even a good chance, that Taylor will beat the latest rap for violating the NBA's substance-abuse policy. His union seems to think he has been sorely wronged and has filed an expedited appeal on his behalf. Could he have accidentally taken a banned anti-inflammatory medicine to help his dislocated shoulder heal? - Dale Robertson
Knew what he was doing? Or got 'bum' lucky? Were all the players not re-signed druggies? For that matter, is MoT a druggie? I hope he really is an accidental victim.
