Why does the thought of trading Cat make some happy?

I am critical of both because I felt both failed to show leadership when most needed. Both misunderstand the term "leadership." You say "leadership" and they hear "lead by scoring."

Cat is most likely to be traded because we do have Pike and Adrian. If Cat would bring us a starting small forward, that might be a deal.

10 Moochie
41 Francis
19 Adrian
28 Pike
36 Artest
10 Rice


I'm content to see what Cat, Steve and Moochie will do. Trading Steve doesn't make sense, Moochie isn't tradeable for value, and Cat can only be traded if it improves us at starting forward.

 

It's really stupid. Show the Cat some love.

 

I would only trade Mobley if it meant we were getting a power forward like Elton Brand . Since that will probably never happen , I think Cuttino is here to stay for a long while, at least until his contract runs out. I don't think we could trade mobley for equal value, so there would be no reason in trading him. The only player we really need to get rid of is Moochie Norris.

I think Cuttino Mobley's main problem is passing. When he gets the ball , there's about a 95% chance he'll try to score. But I guess thats what you want out of your shooting guard. Maybe Mobley's touches need to come down, though I'm not sure how many he even gets.

Mobley is a very talented player . He probably has the best first step in basketall . when he's on fire he can take over a game and when he plays defense he can shut people down. Whatever Mobley's faults are, I think he makes up for them in his heart and hustle.

With his talent , relatively cheap contract , and just pure love for the game I don't know why anyone would really want to get rid of Cuttino Mobley.

 

I started hating him when word came out that he wanted more shots, he wanted to be more involved, and he thought he was a star and therefore should be traded to another team where he'd get all of this.

 

Why do I have a feeling this is some unsubstantiated BS that some "hater(s)" came up with.

 

hello Cuttino!

Best first step in basketball? Huh? Ever hear of Allen Iverson? What about Stephon Marbury? Baron Davis? All plays who seems more explosive than Cat on the first step. I mean, it is a good one. Probably even elite. But it's not the best.

Shut people down? Please. Three years ago, he was a pitiful defender. Since then, his defense has risen to merely average. He's quick and tries hard, at times. But he's small (which is a huge liability in a SG defensively... ), lacks a good positioning sense, and goes for teh steal too often.

I have seen him take over games. But unfortunately, even when he takes them over, he seldom gets other people involved. And the rest of the team begins to ball watch. Watch when someone like T-Mac or Kobe goes on fire. They get the ball every possession, sure. But they also create more for the rest of the team.

And no, heart and hustle have never made up for the liabilities players bring. If they did, Scott Brooks would have been a great player.

I think Mobley is a good player... and believe the Rockets are better off with him, than without him. But psychologically, he drives me crazy. He's selfish, stupid basketball-wise, and seems to have a weird kind of arrogance mixed with an inferiority complex. Cat seems to think that if he doesn't score, everyone is going to forget he exists. And that doesn't fit in with his perception of Cuttino Mobley's place in the universe (at the top, at the right hand of Steve Almighty). So he'll force bad plays, out of the flow of the offense. Give the ball back, Cat. There's a good chance they'll try to find you later when you've got a better opportunity.

Cat is one of the most frustrating players to ever play for Houston, imo. At times, he takes your breath away. You can see how he tries, so heard... and you want him to succeed. Occasionally, he'll put in a performance that's truly game-winning. But then he'll throw up airballs from fadeaways in the corner with a hand in his face when there are open men on the court... and you throw the remote across the room. IMO, he does the latter more than the former.

I'd only want to trade him if we got something good. And I'd be sad, because Mobley, more than any other player, has probably defined the Rockets in recent seasons.

 

Some people have doubted these "insiders", but personally I believe them. It's up to each person to believe these people or not. They've been wrong and they've ben right. The chances of a faker being right more than once is almost zero, however, the chances that an insider insight on some trade breaks down is VERY HIGH. That's why I choose to believe them.

 

As maddening and frustrating as Cat can be, I'm not ready to trade him unless I see no changes/improvements under a JVG regime. The only exception might be if we got an overwhelming trade offer for him.

Looking back, remember he was annointed point guard as a rooke with Michael Dickerson at the two spot. Rudy gave him free reign and he often dominated the ball, and was asked to break down the defense as an offense "starter." I don't recall his assist/TO ratio, but he was all we had then other than stiffs like Matt Maloney.

Then along comes SF, and our "wild thing" is shifted to the two spot. I'll give him credit where credit is due: he is a warrior, giving everything, and doesn't mind playing hurt. And he is a much improved one-on-one defender. And, depending on matchups, can spot at the 3 position. But what continues to gall me is his penchant to continue to jack up ill advised shots and turn the ball over at inopportune times, too often down the stretch. And his ignoring Yao time and time again last year was excuseless and hurt the team.

Cat can be a dominating offensive force, and on occasion can literally take over a game. He wants the ball at crunch time. Not too many in the league can do that. And he is a decent defender. As you all know, I have not been a RT fan over the last several years and have to lay some of Cat's lack of discipline and good decision making at Rudy's feet..."inmates running the asylum." So, before jettisoning Cat, let's see if JVG can mold him into the kind of team player he has the potential to be.

D R

 

Hi !

I said he probably has the best first step. I also said when he plays defense he can shut people down. I don't think Mobley is the greatest player to ever live, but I don't think we should trade him for garbage either.

A lot of the criticism Mobley gets is warranted , but the hatred towards him is not. If a good trade came along where we would get a solid player in return (not a "potentially" good player , or low draft picks) I would be all for it. If you're looking to attack a Cuttino lover who finds no faults in his game, you came to the wrong person.

 

Because many see that after four years of a Guard oriented Team and only individual Stats to talk about,now most Fans and Management realise that Team success is what matters. To this end and not a moment too soon there is 'hope', a new Coach, a potential dominent Center, a new stadium and uniforms. Francis and Mobley are not hated by fans. Fans want Francis and Mobley to be all that they can be but not at the expence of the Team Game. Both Guards have great potential and it is hoped that JVG will redirect their efforts to the Team Game and Team success. I am not expecting any trades but JVG might get surprised at the size of the task that lies before him and by mid season might consider another direction for the Team.

 

i think that's YOUR list.. i think your the only one who hates steve with that much passion..

 

r u kidding? cuttino is a selfish ball hog, and when u got 2 ballhogger guards, yao ming aint gonna score...and we dont win games. that's exactly what happend last season. how many times did u see cat and SF force up shots and blow layaways and wide open looks? it was really frustrating to watch, i think they had their eyes closed too. add to the fact they are both inconsistent, complain, and can't win under pressure..the only plus they have is they r both explosive on the break, but no half court game at all...and defense? cat is quick, but i'd rather have artest who can size up against kobe, christie and finley. can't wait to see how both will flow in the JVG system. that's y so many peeps here wann c cat go. we need a playmaker, not a chokemaker.

 

I THINK ANYONE WHO DISLIKES STEVE IS INSANE. cuttino on the other hand is just one of those players who doesnt realize he is a wonderful "role" player. he has too much pride and thinks of himself as an allstar along the lines of t-mac, a.i, and kobe. i think he is exactly what the rockets need, just not where the rockets need him. if he were to come off the bench as the 6th man, it would be utterly dominant. he would surpass what bobby jackson was to the kings, and even what nick was to the mavs. that instant, isolation offense cat strives on is not good for a starting lineup b/c it gets everyone else off sync. if he were to come off the bench and do it, who could stop our scoring? steve on the other hand is the exact opposite. he plays way to unselfish, but rather choses his time to score a few points when he really doesnt have to. i think he tries to help cat showcase his skills way too much, and also tries to please everyone else. if he would just realize that he is a G and that ming is the only partner in crime that will get him to the promise land, we would be undefeatable. he has the ability to set up plays like kidd and score like a.i. i think he needs to learn a lot more, perhaps by watching tapes of kidd playing, b/c kidd looks to set everyone up, but still tries to score whenever possible, which is often b/c the defense is more cautious of his playmaking ability. kidd could score thirty points a night along with his 10 assists, its just that he cant shoot worth a lick. now steve can. and if he were to play that style, God only knows what could happen.

 

cuttino is just another shooting guard doing his job...but not well and steve need to start acting like a point guard(pass first, score second)

 

I believe Cat improved last year...

Steve, on the other hand regressed in his decision making. When he first came to Rockets, he gave the ball (to Cat, Shandon)...There was a point in time where we were really rolling with Steve,Cat, Mo, and Shandon....
Fans and coaches screamed that he should shoot more...last year he did just that.

There is a right balance and that wasn't reached last year...especially early on.

The perfect scoring point guard I'd like Steve to model ioffensively is Kevin Johnson...he was among the league leaders in assists...and man was he unstoppable when the team **needed** him to score. As the point guard, one's goal should be to ensure that the team wins. That may mean directing the offense...passing to your weakest player...yelling at teammates who are unfocused...playing D...scoring when needed to...hacking strategically when you get beat

All in all the point guard should make the engine runs. There is nothing wrong with scoring 30...just make sure it's an efficient 30 and teammates are involved. ANY player should not bring up the ball and shoot an outside bomb the first 3 quarters...unless you're down and really hot...The person bringing the ball down should make sure others are involved. If a player wants multiple shot attempts, let another player set him up. I hope Steve understands this..

My preference is for Steve to remain the PG...I really think he can do it...my one request would be that he be in the mindset of a winner. Just win. It doesn't matter what you score. If winning requires that he score 40 one night, then do it, but above all just do what it takes to win.

 

substitue "francis" for "mobley" and "steve" for "cuttino" and i totally agree.

 

The point guard position is the most important position too me, because the point basically sets up everything...steve needs to work on his defense..he gots the quick feet to stop people, and getting 7 to 8 assist a night wouldn't hurt either.