HOUSTON- Are we Dreaming? I think that watching the young guns in Houston last year has a lot of fans hyped about this season (relax Bill you got a long way to go) Steve Francis is a point machine, and clearly he sees a scoring title in his future. It's going to be hard to keep Steve in check. Shandon Anderson proved stable at best, and did have some nice games. The real stud of the bunch was Big Cat (Cuttino Mobley) He will get a serious role, in the offense that actually has plays, not just isolations. With so many injuries the Rockets simply iso'd players on virtually every possession. This year they come in knowing what each guy can do, and there will be schemes and crossing screens that help get guys cleanly open, and get easy buckets. The real question is Maurice Taylor and his motivations. If Big Mo comes in and does what's asked, Houston will likely reward him with a decent free agent deal. If he comes in and tries to battle for points, he's gonna lose to Francis who the team loves, and he's gonna lose minute to Kenny Thomas, who justly deserves to start. But his name ain't Mo, and he does not drop 20 a night---but trust me Kenny can if you gave him the touches Mo gets. Thomas is a much better team player, he boards with more efficiency that Taylor and he is relentless in his ability to take a back seat to the star guards in Houston. Mo may fit, or he may not. Its been made pretty clear that this will be Hakeem's last year in Houston. He has been working himself out this summer, and those that know say he feels good. The Dream won't have the role he is used to, and he clearly isn't likely to get mountains of minutes, but being one of the few big men to give Shaq problems, Hakeem holds marquee value and experience for the young guys. It might be painful to watch, and he clearly won't be the best guy on the floor, but remember. The difference between some games, is simply one or two points, and even at his age Hakeem can give you a solid 10 points and a solid 10 boards, even in limited minutes. http://www.bskball.com/Next.htm ------------------ "Instinctly u recognize things,now take advantage of what u just recognized!".. Hakeem..
I started taking this lightly when they called Mobley "Big Cat." Obviously not someone who follows the Rockets closely. Cuttino ain't Andres Galaragga ------------------ [This message has been edited by NewGuy (edited September 05, 2000).]
True, I did not notice that. I guess with all the talk with Big Mo here in Houston, Cat got some of that love. ------------------ "Instinctly u recognize things,now take advantage of what u just recognized!".. Hakeem..
