Who let the dog out!!

Alston seems to still be in it, but congrats to Norris for escaping it.

Sure wish we actually had a pg though :\.

Maybe a trade will bring this about and signs of rain.

 

I've hated Moochie for like 5 years now but I have to admit that he made some real nice plays against the Sonics. I may have to downgrade to disliking him.

 

He played hard and makes the most of the time he's in there.

 

1. Alston's in a doghouse? He's hurt. He's been hurt. He didn't even make the road trip to rehab. That's not a "doghouse".

2. Moochie only got out to go pee. Once DA comes back, he's back in.

 

Good game for Mooch. It helps that Ridnour is about his size.

 

No, I literally meant he was in a doghouse.

 

he plays better when he's bald.. that afro was too much pressure on top of him.

 

An upgrade from a cardboard box under the freeway, I s'pose.

 

Doug Collins was like how the heck sonics could allow Norris to put on a moochie show after he scored 5 pts straight as if it was robbery. That shows the respect the league has for Moochie. The moochie comet is going to light 5 years later here I predict.

 

Yeah. But he still dribbles the ball way too much. He hasn't learned a damn thing. I was jumping up and down on my couch -- pass the freaking ball.

 

Honest question here, why so much hate against Moochie. he did have a bad year after his contract year, but did something happen behind the scenes to warrant so much haterism?

 

Hey evey dog has his day! I had to do a double take after he made several good plays in a row.

 

I don't think anyone 'hates' Moochie -- he was the lovable Rocket that brings joy to everyone. I think people are just pissed that he's getting $4+ mil to do literally nothing, but for the most part I think people are just indifferent to him.

Mooch is just a bad, bad player, can't really blame him for the money he's getting though, it was Rudy T that was handing out those blank checks, and Moochie isn't going to say no.

 

Nothing? NOTHING!?!?! He had the whole table rolling while shooting craps at the Holiday party. If an hour's worth of fake gambling and crowd pleasing isn't worth $4 million I don't know what is...

 

It's kind of funny how quickly Moochie went from being everyone's favorite player to public enemy #1 on this BBS. In general, I think the casual Rockets fan in Houston still loves the guy. Do you remember how he got a pretty big ovation when he first got back in a game at the TC after his return? I mean, honestly, have you EVER seen another reaction like that for a 12th man.

People really enjoyed Moochie when he got here because he plays with energy and heart. He was a rags to riches story, he once got cut from an NBA roster for freaking insomnia, and here there he was playing decent enough to finally stay in the NBA. Plus everyone loved the 'fro. He was an energy guy on some bad teams. Once the quality of the Rockets roster improved, his lack of talent really started to show. However, most of the hatred easily comes because of the deal he signed. I know it wont ever show up on any sportswriters worst contract lists because it's not massive, but I honestly think Moochie's deal might be the worst in the history of the NBA. Well, right behind Matt Maloney's. How the hell Moochie freakin' Norris got a multi-year, multi-million per year deal is absolutely beyond me. If I were the owner of the Rockets and my GM came to me to sign off on that deal for Moochie, I would have fired him on the spot.

 

If a player isn't an all-star, then people hate them. Even if a player IS an all-star, people will still find ways to bash them. Take Yao. That being said:

Moochie had respectable stats and played with heart and emotion IN HIS CONTRACT YEAR. Then he held out in negotiations basically forcing the Rocket's hand until they gave in on his excessive contract demands. Then Moochie got fat and played like crap the next year. A year in which Steve Francis and Moochie "perfected" their dribble penetration ISO offense so everybody hated both of them (even though that was Rudy's game plan). Now regardless of what Moochie does, people here have blind hatred of him.

 

I hate Moochie because he was the personification of the Dribblemania era. He could always, ALWAYS be counted on to bounce the ball off his foot (or freaking CHEST) and get a turnover or dribble out the shot clock. You see, I really subconciously was frustrated with Steve Francis for the same reasons, but I LIKED Steve and really, really wanted him to do well. I defended him. He was the Rockets' best player and Moochie was the worst, therefor Moochie became the target of all my pent-up frustration. The day Van Gundy managed to trade Moochie was the day I officially got in JVG's corner. When he returned as part of the Mo Taylor deal, I was pissed. Even today, when Dribblemania has been cured and Moochie really isn't doing half as bad as he used to, I have trouble shaking my ill feelings towards him.

That said, apart from basketball, all indications are that Moochie is a terrific guy and someone you'd definitely want to hang out with. I just wish he could go back to the role he was born for, that of #1 Rockets Cheerleader.

 

Exactly right. That is totally accurate.

His contract year, he was a prototypical backup PG. Running the offense, distributing the ball, hustling, everything you wanted from a backup PG.

I think after he got his contract, he tried to mold his game around Stevie's game, which was a HUGE mistake because he wasn't nearly as talented as Francis. I still think he can contribute this year if he plays like he did his contract year.

 

The Mooch was affected moreso by the rule changes. The zone defenses made it impossible for the 6-1 guard to get to the rim as he did in his first year with Houston. But Mooch has been clutch for us innumerable times.