PrintFive Minutes with Daryl Morey
Rockets GM talks Dikembe Mutombo, T-Mac and Thanksgiving
Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer
Houston - Every couple weeks, Rockets.com sits down with general manager Daryl Morey to get his thoughts on everything Rockets-related. If you've got a question for the GM, send it to us (email link at bottom) and we'll try to get it answered next time.
JCF: Five days ago, a lot of fans and media members felt as if the sky were falling - Yao was hurt, Ron and Tracy were hobbled, too, and then that Dallas debacle just seemed to throw everyone into a deep depression. Two big road wins later, all (or at least much) is right with the world again.
So I'm curious: How do you handle the emotional roller-coaster that is the 82-game regular season?
DM: I think you just have to make sure every decision is based on the big picture, even though, emotionally, I get caught up in the day-to-day like everyone else.
JCF: One of the big hot-button topics so far this season has been the team's supposed need for more size behind Yao. Now of course in an ideal world, I know you'd love to have a roster filled with nothing but long, athletic players at every position, but I think it's also worth noting that the group which has been the most consistent for you this season has been the second unit - the exact group which gets called-out for being "undersized."
Do you see it similarly?
DM: Yeah, we've had great success this year and in the past playing with Luis, Carl and Chuck, as opposed to having a 7-footer on the floor. Barring a trade, it's for sure that there's no player we can pick up who we could play that would be better than that group against any opponent.
That said, we do think that if we take an injury, then that may be an acquisition that makes sense. Or if we free up room at some point this year, then we might add someone for very small, situational match-ups. But, overall, we feel pretty good about where we're at.
JCF: So of course that leads to the obligatory Dikembe Mutombo update.
DM: Yeah, if we free up room, then I think there's a very good chance that we'll feel like he's the best acquisition to make. But we don't know what our injury situation will be and we don't know what our roster situation will be, so we can't say for sure.
JCF: What about Battier? What's the latest with Shane?
DM: He's been going through full practices and shootarounds when we've had them. I think he continues to advance and get close to being back on the floor.
JCF: So he probably won't be playing tonight then?
DM: I don't believe so, but it's not been ruled out.
JCF: What about T-Mac's comments the other night when he said he felt compelled to play because of the tough schedule and the fact Battier has been out, but when Shane comes back it might be best for him to sit out a little while himself?
DM: I think that's his emotional response. You know he's not feeling right and anyone who's not feeling right is going to continue to question what's the best way to come back. Our doctors have felt like the best way for him to come back is to play through it, maybe in limited minutes. But we continue to evaluate it as well as Tracy.
JCF: To the best of your ability, describe your exact feelings the moment Yao dunked on JaVale McGee.
DM: Yeah, I just felt like that was a match-up Yao should dominate. Early I think he and everyone were disappointed with how it was going, but late he showed why he's an All-Star.
JCF: That's so terribly understated. I'm shocked that you wouldn't have a more emphatic response. Or was the actual response not fit for print?
DM: (laughs) Hey, we won the game - if we lose tonight, you'll get a much more emotional response, trust me.
JCF: So should I just postpone this interview and resume it tomorrow then?
DM: (laughs). Umm, no.
JCF: OK, couple random questions before I let you go. I've heard whispers that your dark side shows a bit when you're playing hoops. Are you the Bill Laimbeer of pick-up basketball?
DM: I'm extremely dirty, yes. And they probably tolerate playing with me only because of my position.
JCF: Good to know. Finally, I've got to ask the obligatory Thanksgiving question: What are you most thankful for this holiday season?
DM: (extremely long pause)...
JCF: Absolutely nothing???
DM: (laughs) No, no. I'm thankful for everything. I can't single anything out. All is good.
JCF: I don't even believe that for a second, but thanks for humoring me.
DM: (laughs) One of my friends says every day he's thankful that he's not dead because then everything is upside from there, so...
JCF: Wow. How hopelessly optimistic of you, Daryl.
DM: (laughs) Exactly. That's me.
Got a question for Rockets.com? Send it to Jason Friedman.
