why does everybody think Griffin should be a star this season?

Kind of like a Transformer, but using human parts instead of plastic.

Mo T is a natural 4.

 

After the draft last year, Rudy was asked if he was excited about a Griffin/ Morris frontcourt - he didn't comment on it because MoT hadn't yet signed (commenting may have been seen as tampering...) - another reporter said the two seemed to have complimentary skills - Rudy agreed and laughed.

I think a big part of our success last year was thanks to Mo's midrange game and ability to provide a 'post threat' from 12 feet out (Mo shot 49% from memory) - I think that Mo and Griffin slide in together brilliantly as our frontcourt on offense, defensively could be the only problem - but having said that I don't think that having Griffin or Mo guard a small forward could possibly be any worse than having Rice guard them.

Will Rice be the 'odd man out' in the forward spots next season?

 

Kevin Garnett.

 

I love Eddie and all, but he's nowhere near the all-around athlete that Garnett is, but he might be more skilled at the same age...

 

No, BTM said Eddie would be a lot like Rahim, Haven then quoted him and added with significantly better defense. Rahim with better defense(And some added to his offense and rebounding) is a lot like Garnett.

 

Eddie's a natural 4 with tremendous range. That's it.

If he bulks up enough, he can play 5 (he can do it now with some matchups). He also has natural defensive/shotblocking instincts...

But a 4 who can shoot the 3 consistently... That is a nightmare for opposing defenses. Don't try and make him into something he is not - a versatile 3.

Build on strength.

 

Is Shareef really that bad defensively? I know he's not first team all defence but come on...

 

I'm not saying the Rockets should make Eddie a three, but if the Rockets aren't able to acquire a good, true small forward next season, which lineup would you rather have?

Francis, Mobley, Griffin, Taylor, Cato
or
Francis, Mobley, Rice, Griffin or Taylor, Cato

Personally, I think the first lineup would be a lot more productive, and the defense would probably be better. I really would like Taylor to start, just so the Rockets can have at least one player who actually can receive the ball in the post.

 

Griffin ain't a 3. He's way too exploitable at this stage of his career. Terrible ballhandling and not quick enough to guard people. Sure he can score in the post against people but will they really work that matchup?

 

Drewdog,

Eddie got his OPPORTUNITY to start because of injuries. He has EARNED the role of starter because of the way he has played defense once given that opportunity.

Eddie can't win the game by himself. To say that Eddie Griffin is no good simply because the Rockets aren't winning is a stupid thing to say. How many games did Mo Taylor win for us?

Mo is an overrated loser. Look at his stats. Look at the way he plays defense. There is no way in hell, he is worth the money we pay him. He has been a TOTAL BUST ever since we picked him up.

 

Griffin is a 4. What are his 2 greatest talents? Blocking and rebounding. If he plays the 3, he won't have much opportunity to use those talents. He'll be spending his time out on the perimeter chasing speedy small forwards. Eddie is a lock at the 4. As far as I'm concerned that's the only position we have locked up.

Mo Taylor can either play off the bench or we can trade him. But no way we move Eddie Griffin to accomodate that piece of crap Mo Taylor.

Rudy needs to change with the times. Kevin Garnett is a great player today because of the minutes he got to play early in his career. If we were contending for a championship, maybe we would sit the rookie out this year. But since we're not, and he's our future, he needs to stay in the starting lineup. If we don't do that we are fools.

 

Well, Mo hasn't exactly been a total bust. He's got great offensive skills and is a high percentage shooter. I think he could be a 15ppg/7rpg/50%FG player with the Rockets. I'm just curious to see how Rudy is going to divy out the playing time with Taylor and Griffin. I would at least hope that Rudy "experiments" by playing both of them at the same time, just to see how it works.

By the way, is Mo really going to try to play this season?

 

Piece of crap?? What a brilliant statement. Why the Mo bashing?

Mo Taylor was a starter in 2000-2001, and IMO made a big impact on the Rockets winning 45 games. He is a veteran player, while Eddie is still a youngin learning the NBA game. I dont see the problem bringing Eddie off the bench getting 15-20. The kid is 19 and will get his time. Let him learn first.

 

I forgot to mention that I don't think Rudy necessarily did the wrong thing by starting Kenny over Sam.

Kenny was a good 3-point shooter who really fit the inside-out attack we were running in those days. Hakeem would draw the double-team in the post, kick it out to Kenny, and Kenny would drain the three. That would spread the defense and make it easier for Horry or Maxwell to penetrate.

The team would always get off to a great start, but then the energy level would drop off. At that point, you bring in Cassell who was like a spark plug coming off the bench. He and Elie would bring an intensity to the game at the right time. Cassell's ability to penetrate was something that the Rockets really needed at the time.

I don't necessarily feel that starters are more important than the bench guys. We were lucky that Cassell was humble enough to accept his role off the bench, because it worked for us.

 

Its amazing because you are getting more brilliant in every post.

I never said that Eddie Griffin is no good, but thanks for putting words in my mouth. I think the kid has great potential on this team, but in my mind Mo T should start. He is a veteran.

How the hell is Mo a "TOTAL BUST"?? Give me some concrete evidence, dont just make a blanket statement. I guess being the 3rd leading scorer on your team last year would qualify......
What a loser.......

 

I notice you like to use that "brilliant statement" line a lot. It's real annoying.

3 years from now Eddie Griffin will be the best player on our team. At 19 years old, he is already our best defender. He has a real talent for shot blocking (his timing is perfect) and isn't a bad rebounder.

Who cares if Mo is a veteran? Our team plays no defense and Mo Taylor is part of the problem. Mo is an inferior defender. Why in the hell should Eddie Griffin have his minutes cut to 15 mpg? What would be the benefit in doing that? Do you think he will learn more by WATCHING the game than by actually PLAYING it? He shouldn't have been sitting out this long and you want to put him back on the bench.

 

I would start them both....but no way you do not give Griffen 30+ mnutes a night, he has earned that with his play.

Griffin is already better then Mo at many things, and will be a LOT better then Mo at everything soon.

Mo is a competent player, but EG will be a Star.

Mo has to earn his job back, because right now, it is EGs.

DaDakota

 

Its not bashing its mostly the truth. I want to know the last great offensive player to avg 15pts. I think he's ok, but I don't feel the same way about Taylor as many other people. Keeping Eddie on the bench will only let guys like Gasol,Richardson and others distance themselves from him. He's not a qb and the only way for him to learn this game is to play not watch. If its some way Rudy can squeeze Taylor into the games without really cutting into Eddies game, then OK.

Taylor has been in the league since 97 and a starter since then, so I thinks its fair to say we pretty much se what he's capable of. He's a slow and horrible defender and rebounder,but has a nice face up jumper to about 15ft. he also seems to be afraid of contact even though he has "the body" to take punishment if he went to the hole. If you feel confortable battling in the west with that, then go for it because I'm not. I would rather have Griffin, although he plays finesse also right now, but he rebounds and blocks shots which is what seperates the two. Thomas is really a mix of the two and probably the best 4 we have in terms of skill level, but he's small and the other 4's shoots uncontested shots over him.

I'm really anxious to see where we finish the season and what spot we get in the lotto. I really think that if its around 5-10, we should trade that plus someone for either Odom or Lewis. Combine one of those two with Griffin,Francis and Mobley, now you have a gun instead of a knife. Griffin has the talent and skill level to be a force, something I don't think Taylor or Thomas has.

 

Really?? I think Steve Francis might have something to say about that.

And why again is Mo Taylor a "TOTAL BUST"?? You never really answered my question, besides the fact that he is a "inferior defender".

Was Kobe starting for the Lakers when he was 19? Did that stunt his growth?

 

Hmm..."brilliant"...where have I heard that before? No one will ever accuse you of being original.

Mo Taylor was the 3rd highest scorer on a team full of Kelvin Catos and Jason Colliers. 13 PPG? I'm not impressed. 13 PPG for a guy who was averaging 28.6 minutes per game? Is that why his defense sucked so bad, because he was so busy giving us that big 13 PPG?

Eddie Griffin is a skinny teenager. He has never played against NBA talent before. He has only started 18 games in his whole NBA career and his blocks per game are already 3.5 times better than Mo's. And his rebounds per game are already higher than Mo's too. Hell, our point guard has more rebounds per game than Mo. Even our shooting guard has comparable numbers to Mo in rebounds per game.

There is no way in hell Eddie should be sitting behind Mo in the depth chart.