The current rockets may have one of the best back court rotations in the league but our frontcourt is ****house, and until we have some playing personnel that dominate and intimidate the keyway we will never get to the playoffs or at best past the first round. Lets break it down <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font color="#66FFFF"><font size=+2>Rebounding</font></font></font> This what the big basketball players are supposed to do after a shot is missed. The back court nearly out rebounded the frontcourt last year and so what does the front office go and do draft to soft tall shooters and sign Mo cry baby Taylor, wow the rebounding problem is solved. We will never win enough games when opposition team continously get multiple shots on every offense and keep us to only on shot, get on the boards boys NOW <font face="CG Omega"><font color="#FFCC00"><font size=+2>Blocks</font></font></font> Cato tries and if he didn't foul on most attempts or miss and let them have an easy shot would easily lead the league (maybe they could start a new stats category Attempted Blocks), big IF though. Can dream actually jump off the floor? As for The SF crew, bryce drew and mooch probably have more blocks. Taylor doesn't play defense so no chance with him. <font face="Impact"><font color="#FF6666"><font size=+2>Scoring</font></font></font> Cato can't catch so scoring could be bit of a problem, tip in might save him. Kenny loves the 3 way too much for a guy supposedly playing the 4 spot. Dream struggles having to carry that respiratory around with him. The SF crew are way too streaky for their own good and have never actually been in the keyway, can you say nailed to the 3pt line. Taylor can score, pity thats the only thing he can do. <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color="#009900"><font size=+2>Defense</font></font></font> Apparently police have filed missing person reports on the players when it comes to defense. Thomas is ok, and Cato tries for highlight reel swats but after that it is non existent and people think we can win some games, what a joke. <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font color="#66FF99"><font size=+2>Passing</font></font></font> Do they know there is a statistical category called assists, no only are their offensive games so poor they don't merit double teams they are terrible passers aswell. These so called shooting SFs in Walt, Langhi and Bull wouldn't know when to pass if they were quadruple teamed. Same goes for Taylor and Thomas, Dream used to be able to pass, so who knows and as for Cato, he can't catch so how can he pass. <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font color="#CC66CC"><font size=+2>Intimidation</font></font></font> These guys could barely scare a small kid, Collier and Langhi should put on black suits and go door to door selling religon and they would scare people. Cato tries but for everytime he intimidates with one block he gives away 4 open shots and 3 fouls. Thomas might be our only hope cause actually tries to play defense. Opposition players will however be nice to Dream cause he reminds them of their grandfathers, so that should be a positive. And as for Taylor who is going to be intimidated by a guy who sat and cried on the bus when a game needed to be played. Overall <font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+2>OUR FRONTCOURT IS PATHETIC</font></font></font> ------------------ Discombobulation Imminent
Reality bites.... Here Smeg, here is a tissue. We can cry together! ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Smeg: I often agree with your posts, but this one is way overdone. Rebounding: The Rockets were actually one of the better rebounding teams last year. Thomas isn't bad at all. He'll only be better next year. Cato has few skills in this department, but he's so athletic that his per minute #'s weren't awful. Blocks: Despite limited minutes, Cato still had quite a few blocks. These will increase this year, in all probability. Scoring: Why do we need our front court to score? The backcourt is worth at least 50-55 pts for Houston. Besides, Taylor can score very well, and both Williams and Langhi can shoot *very* well. I suspect that Williams is neither as good nor as bad as he seemed at times last year. He should score adequately. Defense: If Cato can stop fouling, he'll be fine. Taylor receives too much criticism for his defense. Sure, it wasn't great... but he wasn't the blackhole that some of you portray him as. Williams was, admittedly, pretty bad. Thomas may be short, but he's smart defensively. Passing: Thomas is actually an extremely good passing big man. Williams passes fairly well himself. Cato... well, not much I can say about that. I'm not sure about Mo... he did play for the Clips, after all. Intimidation: Who cares about our front court, when they're about to piss in their pants in fear of being in an ESPN highlight reel on a Stevie Franchise dunk. ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001. [This message has been edited by haven (edited September 22, 2000).]
One more thing to note...Rebounding is slightly over-rated...important but not the end all, cure all. We won championships being one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. Since we were one of the best rebounding teams last year, it can only get better. Cato being improved(hopefully), a healthy Dream, a motivated Taylor, and a year older Thomas should be a good addition to our rebounding backcourt. ------------------ Houston Rockets Forever!! In Rudy We Trust
Is it me, or is Smeg whining??? Smeg of Whine and Cheese!!! ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
No - its you. Smeg is analyzing a part of the rocket's game that he perceives as a weakness. Why don't you help him out? Smeg, I agree that the addition of Collier and Taylor has done very little to solidify an weak front court. I think that is why we need to hang on to Pig Miller -at least he has a physical presence that can suck up some fouls against other centers. For me, the key will be Cato. If he comes out consitioned and motivated, we could potentially turn a weakness into a strength. ------------------ Current Rocket's Salary & Contract Info
Oh, I know we are a bit weak in the frontcourt....I will admit. But we are not as bad as Smeg seems to think. I think this stems from his dislike of Mo Taylor? Seriously, we got better in the offseason regardless. We are going to have a better record than last year, I would bet the ranch on it. Maurice Taylor may not be a mnster on the boards, but he can play. He will improve our frontcourt quite a bit. It takes time to get the pieces to the puzzle together. This year we added a key piece and some lesser pieces as well. ALL IN DUE TIME!! ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Jason: "What happened Chris?" Chris: "He blocked me with his IQ." ------------------ Forget regrets or life is yours to miss.
That was a different time. The competition has improved. The two Houston championship teams had a dominant frontcourt player to attract opposing frontcourt players to double-team -- allowing our then-athletic SG and SF to get some weak-side rebounds. ------------------ Forget regrets or life is yours to miss.
That was a different time. The competition has improved. The two Houston championship teams had a dominant frontcourt player to attract opposing frontcourt players to double-team -- allowing our then-athletic SG and SF to get some weak-side rebounds. ------------------ The prettier the rose, the sharper the thorns.
No, the Rockets backcourt isn't the best on the planet but I think we have to reserve judgement here just a bit. Both Cato and Taylor are just babies. They are still learning how to do things like rebound.and play defense. Last year was the first year Cato played more than 4 or 5 minutes per game and the minutes weren't in garbage time. Taylor has been stuck on the worst team in professional sports for three years. Until we see what they can do in a better situation with more playing time and better players, we can't really make judgements. If they still suck in two years, then we can all start calling for their heads. As it stands, it is way to early to call. As for the SF, that won't be solved with our current crop of players anyway. Williams is not a long-term solution and Langhi will make a great Matt Bullard replacement. Until we land a legitimate starting three through a trade or the draft, we will struggle at that spot on the floor. ------------------ Save Our Rockets and Comets SaveOurRockets.com
You can take this one of two ways. Our front court is weak compared to most of the Western Conference teams. Look around and you see many dominating big men that we can't match up with (Shaq, Duncan, Sheed, Garnett, C-webb). Good news is noone can stop these guys either. My real point is (and sometimes it work and sometimes it doesn't) sometimes to be the best you have to do things differently that the current leader. I hope we build the same type of advantages with our guards as they have with their big men. Will it work, I don't know but we'll at least try! ------------------
Just wait and see.....The Rox are going to surprise alot of people this year. Sure the west is tough, but with speed, talent and superb coaching, we will out play more teams than is predicted. The Rockets Rule!!!! ------------------ "...Do you hear 'em? They're everywhere!!! AAAHHH!!!" That's what the other teams will be saying after being shellshocked by Steve Francis and Co.
The Knicks have been a bad rebounding team and they have done pretty well the past 2 seasons. Bad rebounding can be negated by good defense. Last year we had a lot of steals from Francis, Mobley and Anderson. Also factor in the blocks that we will be getting from Dream and Cato. Like Dennis2112 said, "...rebounding is slightly over-rated...." ------------------ RocketFuel is dead!
Rebounding may be over-rated, but it is still a part of the game. Our front court couldn't put the ball in the basket enough last season. That should improve dramatically this year with the addition of Taylor, so I can understand that rebounding may not be as serious as it would be without him. ------------------ Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and b****-slap the motherfuc@er upside the head!
I do agree some of are front court players could improve on thier defense,actually defense is something you always try to improve on every year.I dont see where anyone can complain at all about Kenny,when we drafted him I believed he would be 11 or 12 man material,he has already exceded my expectations and he is going to get better and I think become a key bench player.Cato has excellent defense from the weak side but he does need to improve his 1on1 and learn to stay in front of his man.It is very easy to get Cato in the air,he goes after everything and I think in some part that is the reason it seems like he misses on a lot of block shots,because he does.As for Mo I think his play this year will speak for itself,I think he is going to have a big year and the Taylor bashers will be hushed!I actually think Mo will come close to doubling his rebound numbers this year from last year!!!Although I do think we are lacking an enforcer or intimidator,but are team is like family if you jump on 1 you better watch out for the rest,forget the no coming off the bench rule. ------------------
Smeg, I think you're being a tad bit oversensitve. While numbers show that individually these players to be a little porus, collectivelly I think they'll work out fine. What Rudy did on the defensive end last year was instead of sending two players to the board, he'ld send three or four. To me, that make up for the lack of individual mistakes. I think the key to anything is boxing out. This is a fundemental that has seemed to have gotten lost in the NBA. If every player would but a body on a body, a lot of those second a third chances would be eliminated. Whenever you have young players playing together, fundementals need to be stressed. These are the things that will win games that are close to the end. While I agree that on paper things don't look that great, I also see them as being not that bad. I see players who want to get better and prove that they deserve the minutes they get. We all know that if you don't produce in the time given, you will be out of a job. With such a young team, they know that only two roster spots won't be touched, and those are Dream's and Steve's. In this league, everyone is expendable. CD and Rudy won't hesitate to pull the trigger if things don't improve. Believe that!!! ------------------
One more thing, some of you guys need to give Mo a break. I really wonder how many of you would be motivated playing for the Clippers. Seriously, no one wants to play for a loser. Not just one or two games. We're talking about a franchise that consistantly loses year after year. That is demoralizing. I play sports on the weekends trying to relive past glory days and I will tell you that I refuse to play with guys who don't have the desire to compete. If I want exersise I run and lift weights. Sports are about competing to be the best. Not that I don't lose, but give me 11 people that are not that talented but are trying their hardest to win and I go to war with them because they have heart. Give me an extremely talented team whose main goal is stats and I'll quit. I think that's what Mo has been gaced with over the last few seasons. Teammates whose objective is to put up their own numbers and could care less about winning. i coud be wrong and if so, then I'm big enough to take the heat. But if I right, can some oof you. I've stood by Mo since I said that he was thinking aobut coming to H-town and I stand by him now. Let him go out and do his thing. Many of you might be suprised by what you see. Peace. ------------------
Smegster-I agree that our frontcourt is below average. But let's not totally write it off. Walt=not part of the future Last year, our post up game absolutely sucked. Technically, it couldn't even suck, as it didn't exist. Mo Taylor is a legit threat. At the VERY least, our offense improves by having the all important post up option. MoTay claims he can play D and hit the boards, we'll see on that one. CD said he was an excellent passer, and he seems to be friends with Stevie and Cuttino, so those are positives. Mo is a good ball handler and unlike our big men last year (cough Kenny Thomas who's no longer the starter!) Our guards rebound above average. The way I see it, we're stuck with Cato for better or for worse. IF he worked out, he worked on a post game, rebounding and improving shot blocking timing/defensive positioning. An improved Cato helps us big time. Lanky will be a good guy off the bench, and possibly even starting in the future at 3, and next year's draft happens to be loaded with good 3s (Battier and Morris of which who both seem EXACTLY like a Rocket prototype), conveniently a year where the Rockets should have 2 picks in the top 15 or so. I hope Collier evolves into a rotational big man (ideally 1st or 2nd big man off the bench in a few years). We should be in solid position. If not, Bryce Drew will play center. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated. [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited September 22, 2000).]
