Francis is better than "not terrible" at defense. His defense over recent years has probably been the most underrated part of his game. Steve is both a good 1-on-1 defender, and a good team defender. His biggest problem, if anything, is that he's a bit too aggressive away from the basket sometimes and picks up fouls too quickly.
Well, the truthest truth is this league can still be dominated by truely dominating big man. See Dwight Howard and Orlando.
No you are missing the point, the college game is about guards and small forwards more than the big man. Who also has penetrating players around him. DD
You must not have watched Steve when he was here last. Do you not remember how opposing PG blowing by him? Do you not remember his matador's defense at times? He was bad at team defense also. Failure to double and help or drift off his man and fail to get back ... ? Stevie underrated at defense?!! Even his biggest supporters did not claim that!
Landry is about the same level as a Sheldon Williams. We'd all take Sheldon Williams in a heartbeat. Landry is good!
See the 3PT%'s of Rashard Lewis (39.2%) and Hedo Turkoglu (37.9%). You either need some great perimeter shooting or solid slashing. You can't have neither.
I've gotta say DD, I think this is spot-on. And on top of that, I think we have all the confirmation we need that Daryl Morey agrees with you because A) he took the best available PG in the draft this year and B) he overloaded our roster with guards, hoping that one of them fits the bill of what the NBA is all about now. In my opinion, you can get by with an insufficient center (see Spurs, Mavs, Pistons, Jazz) or an insufficient SG (see Jazz, Suns, Cavs, etc..), or even an insufficient PF....but there is no way you can expect to go far without a consumate PG. Every team that has had any kind of success after 2002 (minus the Heat, which had its 'ship handed to it) has had an optimal PG. Spurs (TP), Suns (SN), Mavs (DH/JT), Warriors (BD), Cavs (LBJ), Jazz (DW), Celtics (RR is really establishing himself), Pistons (CB), Hornets (CP) are all teams that are showing/have showed success, and they all have good/great PGs. I think as long as we continue to run Alston/James out there as our main PG combo, we're always going to be on the outside looking in. I also think that this is going to be the main reason why the Nuggets don't fulfill the expectations everyone has for them either. They don't have a PG that can facilitate the offense for them. They'll win 50+ games and get into the playoffs, but they will never be able to dethrone the main Western powers.
Like I said, I was talking about his last few years. I know he didn't play much defense his first three or maybe four seasons in the NBA.
and he still doesnt play defense now. hes actually worse because he's slower laterally. adelman said in the paper that rafer and james were both much better than francis defensively.
JJ is shooting better than 50% this year and is just now in the rotation after coming off of some back pain. Reddick is coming on.... And V-Span could have still developed into exactly what this team is missing with some solid PT. And I would take both of them on the Rockets this year....LOL Yes, that is true, one thing I noticed the last time Steve was on the Rockets is that he sneaks peaks at the ball a LOT, and when he does his man often moves and he loses track of him. It is a bad habit he needs to break. His overall D is not great but it is probably more than offset by the offensive firepower he brings over the other options at PG. DD
DD, Next week you'll be complaining that Adelman needs to give Luther more minutes and that his shooting is "exactly what we need" from the point. The week after that you'll be claiming that starting Brooks is the solution we've searched for all along. Then the week after that, since you've been on an anti-Bonzi campaign lately, you'll be telling us of the need for Bonzi to start and how he's such a great third piece. Then the week after that.......
I did ask if Luther could run the point as we do need his shooting and he has been the best cutter we have, but after watching Rick Adelman try him there, it is clear that he CAN'T run the point, I am now in favor of including him in a trade to help him and the Rockets out. Not unless Francis & James fail over an extended period of time, if situation A does not work you move on to situation B, and C if necessary. Nah, I have never liked Bonzi all that much and even said he didn't fit last year, and this year, wow I have not seen a lazier player on defense in forever, just trade him NOW while he has some value, I think Mike Harris would be a much better player for the Rockets than Bonzi.....this year and going forward. I will still be a fan searching for solution to my beloved team and discussing it with the best BBS community on the planet. BOOOYAHHH !!! DD
So true. At this time Francis is the most likely. In the Phoenix game, that sastifying victory that seems like more than 3 days ago, we saw this. The other thing is I think the other guy who can create must be a starter. I don't think you can't just go with the old and present starting lineup and hope to plug in that other cretor when it inevitably stalls out into to the Tracy and Yao game.
Ripping on DD for pimping Langhi is understandable. Ripping on him for stating the obvious...well, to the extent it's the obvious, I guess that's okay, but if you are going to complain, at least complain about our actual problems, which DaDa is doing. - My position on Scola hasn't changed. He should be starting. - My position on Rafer hasn't changed. He shouldn't be starting. - My position on Boniz is unclear. Is he good? Is he bad? More bad than good thus far, I think, but his problems seem easily fix-able. Make layups, stop farting around complaining to refs. - My position on Mike James HAS changed. He has not been what I expected to date thus far (maybe more consistent minutes would help). - My position on Steve Francis HAS COMPLETELY changed. He should be starting. - My position on Shane Battier HAS OUT OF THE BLUE SO UNSURPRISINGLY CHANGED. He shouldn't be struggling this much. What happened to his d? Where did his corner shot disappear to? Start Francis. Start Scola. Reduce Bonzi's minutes. Trade Battier and Rafer.
