With Morris starting at PF, Morey is recalling D-Mo to take over Morris's backup SF duties! Finally, the start of the Motiejunas epoch! I'm going to start calling Durant "the Poor Man's Motiejunas" now.
D-Mo is a floor spacing 4 and will complement Smith/Asik. Not a fan of starting Morris at the PF spot though. Morris at backup SF makes more sense. I would like to see either DMo or TJ given more opportunities while Patterson is out.
The Rockets are at home for the 6 days, and then leading into Christmas day when they play in Chicago. Thats at least 5 days of practice with the team, and I assume one of those days will be when they are all celebrating Christmas with their local friends and family. That's why I assume D-Mo is back in Houston.
Good thing we have 12 PFs for the rotation. These rooks need a chance to grow, they need some game time. I don't wish anything bad on Pitty Pat but let's get Tjones and Dmo some burn. We aren't winning a championship this year anyway. These RGV-Rockets must be tired of the routine by now: "My agent said they'd keep doing this s***...."
Man, watching D-Mo in D-League, he can't guard NBA 4s, but he sure as heck will be a matchup nightmare posting up on opposing 3s! Just do what the Thunders do with Durant on defense, concede the outside jumper to the opposing SF. Oughta work fine as long as you aren't facing LeBron.
He can't guard NBA 5's either. Which is the position McHale keeps plugging him into. DMo sucks at D period. But he is a very polished offensive player and can shoot over or around most 3's, 4's and even 5's. He is a better rebounder than 2Pat as well.
Vipers have a game on the 20th and 21st. And then they won't have another one till the 29th. It would make more sense to let D-Mo play out those 2 games before bringing him back up to the team. After all, the Rockets have a game tomorrow anyways. Jones has struggled quite a bit lately whenever he was on the court, so maybe they are trying D-Mo out. Patterson could be out for the season after all, and we don't exactly have a proper backup PF other than Morris and Smith once in a while. I think they are looking to expand the roles of our rookie PFs.
Be ready to see them sit on the bench, then get subbed in after the 2:00 mark in the 4th Don't set yourself up for disappointment
I wished they get garbage time. Insert dmo randomly in 2 or 3 quarter for 3 minutes. Dmo is surprised, doesn't know the system and is sent back to the dleague instantly.
Morris,Lin, and Smith are pretty much Rookies. I never understood why alot of people say this. Most of our guys are rookies. None of our starting 5 were ever starters before this season. Lin and Smith and Morris in particular have not even played a full NBA season.
I have watched every minute of Jones "burn" this season and it does not look like he is near NBA ready. Despite setting the D-League on fire.
I think the way Morey and the Rockets are using the DLeague is as a means of giving their bench the ability to play starter like minutes but keeping them familiar with team dynamics/surroundings etc...The carousel will continue the rest of the season...They most likely believe that it is this way they will have to develop their younger players...