Timing, when was Mo supposed to beat EG out for a starting spot? The year he was injured and didn't play a single game or the year that Eddie had already been designated the future and Mo was coming back from injury? He beat Eddie out by the end of the year because he played harder and with more passion. I'm not getting dragged into this Mo vs. Kenny debate. I love Kenny, mostly for the reasons you cited. Nobody worked harder than he did and he played above his talent. He's my favorite kind of player. This stuff about Mo slacking after his contract is total crap though and I'm sick of hearing it. He got injured virtually right after he signed. Of course he gained freaking weight. And we've been down the weed road before. We don't need to argue it again. I think it's less of a deal than him getting busted for drinking beer or cocktails (which are worse for you and worse for conditioning), so if we disagree on that we just do. Bottom line for me is we have not yet seen the top of what Mo Taylor can do for this team. He didn't pull down any more boards last year than he had before but the ones he got he yanked down with a new hunger. Am I the only one who noticed this? His man to man was hungrier too. Not saying it was good, but it was hungry and passionate and it said to me that he's still trying to grow as a player. And, of course, he benefits tremendously from the zone. His money shot last year was new too. And it was damn reliable. Contrast that with Eddie who got worse (and less passionate) from his rookie season to his second one and I'll take Mo every time. Was he worth 48 million? Probably not. But if I get to go back in time and take back his contract or trading three high picks for EG, well... I think you know what I'd do.
I guess I'll just agree to disagree on Mo. I hope we get more out of him and I think the fact that he was unable to move EG from the starting spot until he basically fell flat on his face for a long period time (we're talking about EG, a player who's demonstrated seemingly nothing in terms of hard work, passion, and dedication whie with the team) just indicates to me that MoT's not the player some envision him being now or in the future. I hope he turns it around under JVG but every time I hear Van Gundy talk about what's wrong with this team I think he's talking directly to Steve, Cat, and Mo Taylor. The time is now for these three if they're ever going to do anything in this league. The fact that neither of these three showed up for voluntary workouts or apparently declined to work out with JVG during the summer just reinforces my opinion that they'll do as little as they have to in order to get by in this league.
Taylor is one of several wild cards for the Rockets this season. If the guy comes into camp with as much poundage off as we've seen him carry once or twice (the few times he's appeared in real shape when he wasn't coming off an injury, etc.) and commits himself to JVG's system and going 100% from the start of the season... that will be huge for the Rocks. We've all seen flashes of what he can do. Maybe this year he can put it together. If he doesn't, he's apt to get himself shipped out. It might have happened already if there weren't the uncertainties surrounding the achilles. If Van Gundy has shown nothing else, so far, these latest moves have given Mo and the others notice that it's time to show what you've got and buy into what he's doing. I just hope we end up liking what Van Gundy does. I can't wait to watch it all play out.
Mo is one of the most talented big men in the league. I'd say as far as skills...no worse than top ten. Sometimes watching him offensively can be a thing of beauty. I was at the Wizards game in DC last year, the one where Mo single-handedly brought the Rockets back from a huge deficit and sent the game into overtime; Wizards fans around me were in awe. He was taking 8 feet hook shots that weren't even touching net, splashing 12-15 foot jumpers like they were nothing. There's not many players in the entire league who could do some of the things he was doing on their best day! Hell, most guards don't have anything on Mo when it comes to a soft outside touch...much less big men. Obviously, there's weakness in Mo's game, but his strengths are so and rare that he's not some player you just give up on. I think it would be a whole different story for Mo if that foresaken injury never happend. He was primed for a breakout season. Anyways, there's no way he should come off the bench behind Griffin this year.
Because while he does have some scoring punch, he is a pathetic rebounder and you do not need a pathetic rebounder at the 4. He also is seriously overpaid.
Shoots 43%? Yeah...way to use the one year he's coming off an injury. He's been around a 50% shooter every year of his career, and one of the best mid-range shooters in the league. You saying good mid-range shooters are plentiful? Yes, maybe it wasn't rare fifteen years ago, but you don't see many big men in the NBA these days with the offensive skills and shooting touch Mo has.
I think MoT is one of the most underrated players on this team. He showed his potential in the game against Sacramento when he destroyed Chis Webber - even Webber was in awe. Many would prefer to have KT here instead, but Philly can keep the boy with his out-of-control moves and broke-ass shot. I look forward to seeing more of the MoTown-Shanghai connection. I think they could look better together than Vlade and Webber did for Sacramento.
Yeah...I remember that sad game. We should have won...but since we were in Washington, MJ got all these calls just because he's MJ and the game was close...and Hawkins was doing great to me but made a few mistakes..got played by Jordan. Hehe..I remember Jordan going underneath the basket and around a pick and then pulling up at the high post to shoot a jumper. It seemed like he was going to repeat the same exact thing so Hawkins decided to not go around and try to get through the pick but just go behind and wait for Jordan to come around. LOL...Jordan is pretty tricky...Hawkins left him wide open next to the basket. And Mo Taylor! He's like on fire a bunch of games! He is a great scorer and I think he plays with Yao very well...but doesn't really get the chance. I think he and Jim Jackson should become good friends or associates or teammates and play well together on the court. Mo Taylor and Glen Rice were working as a wonderful 2nd unit. His shot is pretty good too. Now he looks more fit and ready to play. He's not fat...I still think he has potential to be a pretty good power forward. Not awesome or great though. His rebounding still isn't that good to me, but this year, we have more depth which I think will help. The only thing I dislike about Mo is his 8 million a year. Other than that, I love his attitude most of the time and his play. I wish it was consistent. I also like his brother or cousin who always went to home games and sat behind Bill and Calvin. Mo can handle many power forwards...except for Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett mainly. He had some great feuds this year. He and Jim Jackson had a nice bout going on last season. I love Mo! Mos Bros fan club!
Oct. 2, 2003, 10:56PM Rockets summary Trim enough Of all the things Maurice Taylor can expect to hear from Jeff Van Gundy, on Wednesday he heard something he never expected. "He told me not to lose any more weight," Taylor said. Taylor would not say how much weight he lost, but guessed he would weigh in at 254 pounds, at least 25 pounds less than the weight he was proud to have reduced to before last season. "I haven't been 254," he said, "since Krispy Kreme franchised."
1) Eddie sounds like he's ready to play big this year 2) Moochie chops the fro and commits himself to the gym this summer. 3) Mo Tay comes to camp looking trim and ready for the season! --> I like Mo and Cato...I just wish that Rox players werent rewarded with huge contracts after playing well for half of a season. Mo will be solid. Our bench is one of the best in league.(Did anyone else notice how shallow Sac-Town's bench is now?) It sounds to me like the Rockets mean business. Not making the playoffs would be unacceptable. I just hope that these guys can work together. This year is gonna be great.
Wow, that's better than we could have hoped for, if true. It should have a major impact, obviously, by improving his quickness and hops. Perhaps it'll help his rebounding and defense. You would think it could. Can't hurt, that's for sure.
I'll second what Batman put so well. And I will say that I am surprised how fast and far he's come from that injury. Stay well and play well Mo.
Considering JVG wants hiim to not lose anymore weight than he already has...no on the first part.. I agree with the second. Unless the new and lighter Mo shows us something new like D and rebounding, then I will have no problem with his pay.
Wow, I've stayed away from these boards because it's always the same people with the same point-of-views writing out the same lengthy arguments over and over. I guess nothing's really changed. Why don't we archive why Mo sucks, Cato sucks, Cuttino sucks, Steve is not a PG and is immature, I love Yao and not the Rockets, Eddie Griffin sucks, Nachbar should get more PT, Moochie sucks, etc. Mo is a little overpaid, yes. He's not way overpaid. Guess what, many players in the NBA are overpaid. It's not exactly like we're the New York Knicks here. What do you want to do with him. Trade him? For who? He's was a better option than KT. Yes, KT hustled and got rebounds. KT also had two post moves, and once any competent defender realized this, he was stuck to bricking mid-range jumpers. KT was also a black hole and never passed the ball. KT also had a crappy attitude and didn't fit in well with team chemistry. He hardly ever cheered for the team on the bench, showed any emotion, and was always down trying to convince himself he's better than Mo. Mo doesn't rebound so great, Mo's defense isn't amazing. Guess what? Other than Yao in the future, there aren't any great defenders on the team. Cat is an underrated defender and Steve is as poor as advertised. BUT JVG strongly emphasizes D, so let's not harp on that point and move on. People forget what Mo has done. They want to focus on him gaining weight after a serious injury that can be recurring and take a long time to recover from. If you only knew, Mo's work ethic is not poor, his attitude is not bad, and his chemistry with others is not bad. Mo single-handedly kept us in many games last year. He has very good offensive skills. If JVG is remotely more creative than Rudy with his handful of plays, you all will see this. I'm not saying Mo is the greatest player, but he's not as bad as you all make him out to be. It's amazing how negative this board was years ago and still is today. Same old crap. I don't think there's any player that isn't hated on except Yao, and I won't be surprised if people are complaining about something or another with him soon enough.
