Regardless of a win tonight or not, I am sick of seeing the guards dribbling the ball going absolutely nowhere. The only time that the Rockets are scoring efficiently is when they get into a set and run a play. This going through the legs and behind the back is fine when you actually make a move toward the goal, but otherwise it's totally non productive. I want to see the ball go into the post more where we can establish more balance in the offense. I know I'm rambling but this is really frustrating and this is going to be a long season. Believe it or not. I know it's just game number 4 but the core of this team has been together long enough to have a bit more continuity than I'm currently seeing. ------------------
The only thing disturbing me is how many free throws the Rocks missed and how many layups they missed. It's like they need to practice fundamentals. ------------------
I'm also frustrated, but who do you want them to post up? Hakeem doesn't appear to be able to do much on a consistent basis, Taylor doesn't like to post up and Rogers and Thomas aren't going to give you much as post up players. Unfortunately, we don't have many choices unless we want to post up Francis or Anderson. ------------------
Ummmm........MO!!! ------------------ Miggidy Markell says: 1. Eastcoast is da sh*t 2. Rockets rule 3. Hip/Hop is dope 4. Buy the new Ruff Ryders album! Miggidy Markell is watching Stay STRAPPED & WATCH ya back or be Assimilated.
Sure maurice taylor has a broken (injured) finger... but get him integrated and let's figure these things out before we take on the Lakers in 2 days. Is it true we scored more points off their turnovers than they scored of ours? I agree about the missed FT's.. Mobley missed 4 himself. he would have scored 31 points if he had hit them. He's been a 90% ft shooter, so he needs to go and get that back. Accomplish that, and get Maurice comfortable, and the rockets can come out with a "W" instead of a "L" 1-3. Let's turn it around NOW. -Elie17 ------------------ Oh.. so this is how you add a signature huh? coo coo.
They have someone. They went and got him in the summer. It's Taylor. The first two plays the second half were run through him and he scored both times. If we are not going to use him, why bother. He cannot be effective without the ball. Everyone knows he is not a defensive presence or a great rebounder. We need him to keep the opposing defenses honest. I don't know if its going to take a 2 and 10 start to see this or what. I do know this, I am getting real tired of losing when we shouldn't be. ------------------
Aelliot, It doesn't matter if he makes a low post move or not. He needs to receive the ball at or around the low block like every other team is doing with there alleged post players and creating from there. He is simply not touching the ball enough and his opposing player is scoring like gang busters. Cliff Robinson is slightly an above average player but not heads and shoulders above Mo T. I realize Mo had foul trouble but you have to get him in the position to start making guys like Robinson play D too. That's Rudy's job. He wanted Mo and spoke so highly of him, well now is the time to do something with him. ------------------
Mo Taylor isn't a strong post up player. His game is to face up outside and either shoot the jumper or take his man off the dribble. Taylor only had one post up basket tonight and that was when Rodney Rogers (6'7") was guarding him. The only other real post up basket that I can recall from Mo so far this year was against Darvin Ham (who's 6'5"). ------------------
Very true. If the Rocks didn't sign Mo to score in the paint, then what the hell did they get him for? D? no. Rebounding? Jumpshots? NO thank you. Taylor has yet to show a serviceable "return" on the Rockets investment. ------------------ There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, lies, and heypeeisms. -DrofDunkingDonuts
We signed Mo Taylor, because he came cheap, he had potential, we only had to make a one year committment and we didn't really have any other options. Our biggest needs were a shot blocker/defensive precense in the middle and a post up threat on offense. The fact is Taylor doesn't really fill any of those roles. He does have other positive attributes, but the problem is that if we keep Taylor past this season, then we'll have to find a center that fills all those roles (highly unlikely). ------------------
I'm going to say this again. It does not matter rather Taylor receives the ball on the low block and backs his man down or not. It matters that he is scoring inside the painted area. If he drives as you say and he did on more than one occasion tonight he is scoring in the painted area. If he consistently receives the ball in that area and even if he turns and faces the basket he is eventually going to require a double team which is what I am driving at. Right now every team in the freaking league knows the Rockets want to penetrate with the guards and kick the ball out to a shooter. They are clogging the middle and rotating out to the shooters quickly. Besides that a three pointer which is the shot that they end up getting often is a low percentage shot. A 12 to 15 ft jumpshot is a lot higher percentage shot and a layup from a big man is even better. Mo Taylor has shown in limited touches relative to what he should get that he can score. I simply want to see him score. Teams are not going to let Cuttino and Francis beat us. If you know anything about the game and the league, you know that every team will scout want you like to do and take it away from you. Teams are not letting the Rockets do what they want to do and the Rockets have yet to make an adjustment. We dont have the dominant player like Dream anymore so we need to mix it up. Perimeter game that starts and ends with the guards is not going to win many games let along championships. Trust me. ------------------
Aelliot, It doesn't matter if he makes a low post move or not. He needs to receive the ball at or around the low block like every other team is doing with there alleged post players and creating from there If Taylor's not going to make low post moves, then why do you want the ball to go into him in the post? After tonights game, he's got a total of two assist for the season. As far as Robinson, that comparision is meaningless to me. Phoenix isn't ever going to go anywhere until they get a post up player. They're pretty much stuck in the same situation as us, they're just a little older. We need a player that can score in the low post for a couple of reasons. One, we need somebody that can consistently get us a high percentage shot in crunch time. Two, we need somebody to be enough of a post up threat to open up the outside for the perimeter players. ------------------
I bet MoTay is regretting signing with us after playing in this innovative offense. His lack of defensive skills (foul prone) is also keeping him from being on the court. Wouldn't it make sense to run pick n rolls instead of these ridiculous iso's? An iso is fine...if you have MJ. We don't have him. Like Murphy said, teams are making adjustments on Mobley. Now, Mobley will have to make adjustments to those adjustments. The first half, Francis penetrated and dished to the open shot on the wing. Not once in the second half did they do this. Why? This team is young, they should be running making cuts, passing the ball around. Not standing around watching one guy dribble and throw up a shot. ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know.
If he consistently receives the ball in that area and even if he turns and faces the basket he is eventually going to require a double team which is what I am driving at. I understand what you're saying but I disagree with your logic. When Taylor is scoring, he's not catching the ball in the paint and then facing up. He's scoring when he's catching the ball on the perimeter and then taking the man off the dribble. It really no different than what Mobley and Francis are doing. The problem is that with last year's rule changes, a defense can clog the lane pretty easily and keep him from consistently penetrating. There's really no reason for the opposition to double him, he's going to take the ball right into the teeth of their defense. Most teams will simply back off and dare him to beat them from the outside. ------------------
Aelliot, do you consider Karl Malone a post player? If you do, then if memory serves me, he catches the ball in the low post area and will shoot a fade away jumper, or he will turn and face the basket and drive or shoot a runner in the lane. That is all I want the Rockets to do with Taylor. He is not being used effectively when we need a basket high percentage shot. We are living and dying with isolations with little guards. ------------------
Aelliot, do you consider Karl Malone a post player? If you do, then if memory serves me, he catches the ball in the low post area and will shoot a fade away jumper, or he will turn and face the basket and drive or shoot a runner in the lane. That is all I want the Rockets to do with Taylor That's an accurate description of Malone's game, but it's not an accurate description of Taylor's. Malone does indeed catch the ball in the post and either fade away or drive the ball to the hoop. Taylor, doesn't like to catch the ball in the paint and he doesn't have a fadeaway jumper. He's never been a guy to go down and consistently set up in the lane. He didn't do it with the Clippers and he didn't do it with Michigan. I think the difference here is that you're stating what you'd like to see Taylor do and I'm talking about how he's actually played every place he's been. I agree that it would be great if he could play a Karl Malone type game, but that's simply not his forte. ------------------
On the MO situation: Taylor seems to much prefer facing up and either driving or shootin over his man. But I think Taylor still has a good post game. From the limited times that he has posted up, he's been able to make some pretty sweet moves... even if they haven't all gone in, they will soon enough. on the Rockets overall: I watched the postgame show with Mike Newlin. He said that this was NOT the same team as last year, and that people like Mo Taylor are still discovering their roles. I think that he's makin a really good point. It takes lots of time to develop plays, chemistry, and test those plays out durin the games. Now, Mo is the only difference to this team from last year, but he is a major difference. It will take a while to get him fully integrated into the offense. Remember how long it took for Shandon last year? It's the same case scenario except I think Mo will get accustomed faster due to his ability to create for himself. Once Mo is more accustomed to the offense(as well as everyone else), I think there'll be less isos. I don't really like the isos too much becuz everyone is left standin around. And the way Cuttino wastes the clock, there's no time to do anythin if indeed a pass does come. I'd much rather the team get involved and say Shandon score, than have Cuttino score 29. But again, this will take some time. Newlin also said to look for this team to come around December. And Kelvin Cato's absence is really hurtin us I think. Without him, teams are just drivin on us like nothing. And he was also very good at cutting to the basket and finishing STRONGLY. Overall, I think and hope that this is just a combination of it being the first week + injuries. But, the Rox do have some serious talent. They always manage to turn it on in the final minutes to come back and make it a close one... once they find out how to turn it on at the beginning of the game, then we'll be ok. ------------------ president of the dan langhi fan club. [This message has been edited by alaskansnowman (edited November 05, 2000).]
Its sad when Francis and Mobley are the best centers,fowards,and guards on the whole damn team. At the rate we are going we will be lottery bound by Christmas. Its gonna be a long year....... COLLIER YOU SUCK!
Stupid posters trying to blame players who hardly played for a loss that was due to poor team play by everyone suck. ------------------ President of the Jason Collier police! Looking for next year's Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
