[QUESTION FOR OLDER POSTERS] How good was Moses Malone?

He practiced how to miss layups so he could get more offensive rebounds. That's why his FG% is so unimpressive but his rebounding is off the chart. About 40% of his rebounds were offensive.

 

He would throw the ball to himself off the backboard to get better position to score. That's why his FG% wasn't high but his offensive rebounds were. But, regardless, extremely effective way for him to score.

 

Moe was sick, a pure franchise player -- too bad we couldn't hold on to him.

 

We could if we wanted to. We were tanking for Sampson.

 

Nope

 

Moses is possibly the most under rated player in NBA history. He is the best rebounding center I have ever seen. He was very quick off the ground, extremely physical, relentless and had enormous hands.

He was a very good offensive player as well, often scoring off offensive rebounds and putbacks. He was so physical and active that he went to the line at an elite level. He never had the polished offensive game of Olajuwon or Ewing, but was more like a far better version of Elton Brand.

Defensively he didn't get steals or blocks like Dream, but he was still a good defender because he was so strong and active and was just so mean. He had no problem punching a guy for driving the lane.

He would destroy Dwight Howard with his activeness, competitiveness and fist.

 

As others have said, Moses was relentless. He never stopped coming at you. I get exhausted just thinking about him! Malone could be the Poster Boy for Insanely Good. That's what he was. Were he in the league today, the dudes posing as centers, with a few exceptions, would need Depends. They'd wet their shorts just thinking about going up against Moses.

 

The other thing about Moses is he sweat so much, no one wanted to guard him.

Have you ever been in a pick-up game guarding a big who was pouring sweat on you. Not fun.

 

LOL. That's true. I could imagine how he must have smelled in game. "Beast" is a good word to describe Moses. His game wasn't pretty, but extremely effective. Nobody wanted to play against him.

I remember before the '81 Finals, he said he could get any 4 kids from his Virginia home town and beat the Celtics with them. And when Bird heard that, he said, "**** Malone."

 

A lot of good comments about Moses in this thread. It does seem as if he is the forgotten HOF superstar center at times. When people start talking about the great centers, he seldom comes up it seems. I think the fact Bird, and Magic, and Barkley, and Jorden all became superstars durings the 80's pulled some of attention away from Moses. Moses was not the flashy superstar, he was just the hardest working superstar.

I would like to see all of the great big men that have played for the Rockets be honored at a game. The big E, Moses, Ralph, Hakeem, Mutombo, and Yao. It would be fun to see all those guys together.

 

Barkley always said that Moses was the biggest influence on his basketball career. He said during his first training camp Moses got in his ass and told him if he didn't get serious and get in shape he wouldn't be around long.

 

Yes he did.

I think it was something like "You can come in here and bust your ass - and things still may not happen for you. But, I guarantee you, if you DON'T bust your ass, they won't".

 

As other have said - he was relentless.

And as others have alluded to - a typical Malone sequence might go like this:

- shoot, miss, get own rebound,
- shoot again and miss, get own rebound again,
- shoot and make it.

 

Loved moses. I noticed no mentionof him being a black hole,lol. Moses was so good, he made dr. Jthe 2nd player on the team.

 

I would like to see all of the great big men that have played for the Rockets be honored at a game. The big E, Moses, Ralph, Hakeem, Mutombo, and Yao. It would be fun to see all those guys together.[/QUOTE]

I would also like to see the above listed players honored at a game. When you watched Moses play you knew he was going to give you all he had.