When you weigh out the pluses and minuses, there is not a large difference. Mo is the better offensive player, passer, and a slightly better man to man defender. Eddie is the better help side defender/shot blocker and a slightly better rebounder. I give the nod to Mo because of his apparent rapport with Yao. They played well together and Mo's shooting touch fits well with Yao's post presence (and vice versa). If Mo could improve his rebounding to maybe 8 rpg or better, I would take our front two over any in the league, save for maybe L.A.
Right now, I think Mo is the better overall player. However, the chances are WAY better that EG will become a good offensive player than the chances of MoT becoming a better rebounder/shotblocker. As it stands, Griffin makes a very good percentage of his shots close to the basket. What brings his % down is the rushed shots in the first Q, and all the 3-pters. JVG sounds llike he will eliminate those from his game, so I'm hoping that a bulked up EG will come to camp, and show us maybe one new move which will earn him the starter's spot for most of the season. Ofcourse, that's unless Mo comes into camp in supreme form, down to a better playing weight, and with the same toughenss he showed last season. We've seen him do the mid-range game thing with the sweet jumpers (his first season), and we've seen him do the inside power game with hook shots and post ups (last season)...Now if we can get him to combine the 2, he may very well rise to become one of the better players in the league.
I believe that EG will benefit greatly from the defensive schemes that JVG will install, increasing his block numbers. In addition, I look for TML (The Missing Link, Ewing) to help Eddie with rebounding, positioning, and low block play. Eddie's numbers will improve dramatically as he will play closer to the basket this year, increasing his offensive boards and putbacks. I like EG to start for the year, have a breakout season, and justify a Mobley-like salary. MoT is one of those guys that needs the ball to score. Playing with SF, CM, and Yao will not afford him many opportunities to have the ball in his hands, which is the reason I like him as firepower off the bench. If he comes into camp in shape and ready to go, I think he has the potential for a 6th Man of the Year award. If there is to be a new acquisition at 4, I think it will happen during the season and probably just before the trade deadline. JVG needs to evaluate the team as it is before making any moves. We also need to let some teams figure out that they are going nowhere so that they will be willing to trade a good player for cap space next year (Rice).
I voted Eddie for a number of reasons, most of them already mentioned. I think this situation is a lot like our SF situation in that we kinda have to choose offense or defense because we don't have any one guy that brings both. Given that choice, and considering you have Steve/Cat/Yao out there already, I take defense. Put Eddie out there with the starting unit, let him get some putbacks and weakside blocks and if the offense is sputtering bring in Mo.
I say trade for some one. Ming is not a 10-12 rpg kind of player. we need some one at the 4 who can bang for boards and defend. Ming can be the scorer in side. I just do not like having power forward than get out rebound by the point guard. if we go the entire season with 2 PF that COMBINE for less than 10 rpg we are in trouble. Now if Ming was a 10-12 rpg and 3 blocks/g player both player would be a good fit.
Eddie Griffin, we'll have enough offense from Steve, Mobley and Yao. Mo should come off the bench to make up for Yao's offense when Yao is out.
Sorry Macbeth, I didn't mean to. I just thought it would be more suitable since our conference is stacked with 4's and there aren't many 3's that I would say we would need to specifically find ways to negate them
Taylor of course. He´s a talented player, and that´s what makes you win games. More talent, more victories. Simply. He can be dangerous at the high post, and that could be grat for Yao and the Rockets. Eddie is a good and complete player, but the offensive game of Mo is better. Eddie could be better like Mo's backup. Mo needs his 25-30 minutes always to show well his game. Eddie's game doesn't need that. And of course I continue saying: "Mo is a good defender"
