I agree. For me, it's not the offense that I care so much about from Mo', it's his piss-poor rebounding ability -- or LACK of rebounding ability. There's really NO REASON he shouldn't average 10+ boards a game; even is per 48 minutes are less than 10...and I HATE to use that stat b/c it's misleading a lot of times (not in Taylor's case). If Troy Murphy can be a double-double guy so can Taylor.
DD - What aspects would you like me to break out? Defensive boards? Blocks and steals are already there... what is a reasonable method for comparison? I could go look at all of the boxscores but how do I know the data was head-to-head? My point to xiki was/is that the Rox get enough collective productivity from Griffin and Taylor that they alone should not be singled out for the Rockets not making the playoffs. Posters can't have it both ways....Griffin's not any good but if we package him with Mobley, we can get Elton Brand. You are smart enough to know that the Rockets are just not going to have an All Star at every position. Neither of us believes Elton Brand or Rasheed Wallace or Chris Webber or Tim Duncan will be a Rocket anytime soon. C'mon...give me something reasonable and I'll take the "EG + MoT aren't good enough for the Rox to make the WC playoffs" challenge. Or just click on the link http://www.nba.com/games/20030323/HOUSAC/boxscore.html
Gater, i got your point, but Daks point was that their defense is worse than Stinky, individually, between them or even if we were aloud to play a 6 player line-up with 2 PFs they still couldn't stop the oppositon PF. Smeg
Have you noticed the 6ers? Not that DC is suddenly 'reborn' (free agency a factor? Gee, funny that) but that the 6ers added two OK, role playing 4s during the season who have given them production AT ZERO COST FOR THIS SEASON, only their down the road obligation to Nugs. Rox may not need an All Star times 5 positions but that the Rox need to cancel out where they are weakest and dominate where they are strongest. EG + MoT have NOT cancelled out the West's 4s and that is why they are over matched by almost all in the mean West. Many nights Cat did negate super 2s, with O and with D. Many nights Rice + JPo did negate the 3s, with raining 3s and tough D. Very rarely did the 4s. I am dumb enough to believe that Antoine Walker or even Raef could be effective with these Rox, or Kurt Thomas or even Brian Grant (not for his contract, but for his style of play). I am even dumber enough to believe that EG could (be) develop(ed) into the answer at the 4 if, like in Phillyland, they are put into a situation they can handle.
DC is playing C with MacCulloch out and Ty Hill is essentially his back-up Kenny and KVH are playing the forward spots, and becoming very good at exploiting mismatches, whoever has the 3 guarding them posts up and whoever has the big 4 takes them outside, which is working very well. Something i think the rockets were trying to do, except no 4s were ever guarding Eddie to give Kenny the 3 on him. Btw Brown has asked Kenny to work further on his speed to guard more perimeter players, 2 and 3s. The difference with the Philly players, even Skinner and Hill is they are very solid defensively and at the other end take what the opposition defense gives them.
I agree with Smeggy. There was a big cost this year in losing MacCullough. Hill would not be on the team if Mac didn't lose his career, and Hill is in no way a longterm solution. The 76ers took advantage of Denver in the Kenny trade. But they didn't really make two moves, in sum.
especially when DC was actually backing up Todd before he was lost, and whining about his minutes. Dc moved up a slot and then brought in Hill to replace him. long term that have a big gap at C
Gooden is good. Griffin may be more athletic if you want to believe that. But it's more about attitude then... Gooden is very very aggressive and actually has a touch and isn't afraid. And he's a rookie. Griffin has been in the league 2 years already......and still hangs out around the 3 point line. He can't dribble. Gooden can't shoot. Anyways. We need a veteran, big, strong, good rebounding power forward.
