Really? Cuz last I checked, I coulda sworn we had one of the best 3pt-shooting teams in the league... Francis also used to be an absolutely terriffic shooter. Spot up J's or jumpers off the dribble used to be where he got most of his offense. I don't know where his shot has gone this year, though... I don't know if anyone really has a legitimate explanation.
What this team REALLY needs is to be swept in the playoffs by Dallas. That will be a good kick in the head for the players and CD as well. There will be changes, absolutely no doubt in my mind.
If CD needs a quick exit in the first round of playoffs to see the light, we are in serious serious sh*t. I don't think there is a quick fix for this Rox team. There are just too many holes to fill. I say let's play out this season and then let's blow this team up. I am sick and tired of losing games like this one.
Usually I just read these posts for the humor...sort of like the morbid fascination of a car wreck...but that has got to be one of the most ignorant posts I have ever seen. Yao might need to get stronger...but he wasn't to weak to out play Shaq, Cat is not garbage..he needs somone to continue to define his role and make him stick to it...but he is not garbage, JJ is one of the most unselfish players we have and while probably being asked to play more minutes than he should...Cato is not embarrising. The only thing you said even close to accurate is that Steve has no brain....though I suspect he is smart enough...just not mature enough or team oriented.
We have painted ourselves in a corner: Steve does need to go. For him and the Rockets. He is losing value because he is having a horrible season. Because of his reputation we may still hood wink some team and get something of value for him. The Rockets better cut their losses and get the best they can for Steve this offseason. Yao will never be like Hakeem. He will not carry the team, but he will be very good and help us win if we can get the other pieces. We do need another legit #1 scoring option to go with Yao. Maybe in a couple years Yao will have the stamina, drive and aggressiveness to carry a team. Right now he has the talent to be a 17/9 player which is great. But that won't carry a team to a ring. Steve just has too many fundemental weaknesses that didn't show as badly when you are running an ISO game (before the zone.) Steve is not a zone breaker and he is not a good passer and he doesn't score well driving to the basket (he is better if he gets the foul call) He is not a spot up shooter. I would compare him to the situation with Daryll Dawkins: At the center position Dawkins had all the athleticism you could ask for and when given a dunk he was awesome to watch. But could he carry a team? I predict Steve will have about the same career impact that Dawkins did. Good players Highlight players- Hall of Famers? Nope.
The Rockets should be number 1 or 2 in the league with Yao attracting so much attention down low. Francis shoots horrible from 3 point land and JJ's shooting is hot and cold; mobley seems to be our only consistent shooter. In addition, our ball movement around the perimeter is very weak.
First, Stevie is 27, not 28. Secondly, Yao could be 27 also. Most of Chinese atheles make up their ages, actually, it is a government thing. I remember going to these under-14 sports events in China and only found out all the players were already 17 or 18. Wang ZHIZHI is born in 1977? I watched this guy play professional basktball when I was in high school and he is definitely older than I am. Yeah, I am closer to 30. ) If Rockets really make Yao the Franchise, this team is doomed.
I'm glad we're on the same page, DD. It is frustrating to see this team, even after a win. Something is just not gelling. It sucks to show w/ this much talent on this team, that we're 5th in our own division (7th overall) w/ Denver only 2 1/2 games behind. Hope JVG can find a solution for all this...
AMEN! It is all about consistancy. This team needs to add another CONSISTANT player. That is why they need to move Francis this offseason for another AllStar such as a Ray Allen who can put up more consistant numbers in our current Rockets offensive system. Like you said, right now we have 2 pretenders and that is what is causing us to be so up and down.
I completely agree with everything you have said DaDakota!...I knew the day we drafted Yao that Steve was never going to be the same player for us. He simply is not a smart NBA basketball player. I know that we could be one of the top 5 teams in the NBA if we had a smart, mistake-free point guard. Heck, I would take Jason Williams straight up for francis. Atleast he knows how to run a fast break...But we definitely need a completely new back court next season, or I think i will be done with the Rockets for a while. Which is a shame because I have been a fan since I was 12.
People laughed when I said I would prefer Andre Miller over Steve.... That laughter is subsiding these days. DD
Hi, I agree with your points. Rockets now having games so ugly. Even win make me feel hard to watch. Outside shooters simply can not made the shots even they got wide opens. SF has to take the heat. He can not distribute balls to his teammates in the right place and right time.
seriously, a lot of the nuggets success comes from miller and his ability to make carmelo look like an allstar
Btw, did anyone else notice Vlad Rad had a good game? I think he'd work pretty darn well as a shooting forward with Yao. I'd love to do an offseason deal with a sign-and-trade for Brent Barry and Vlad Rad for Mo Taylor or the TE. That'd be a good start toward remaking the team with smart players that can shoot. Add Francis for whatever he brings - it'll be pretty good. Trade Cato for something. Bring back a tall support 3 like Tmo. Move the ball around to smart shooters outside or inside to Yao. Much better. Yeah, with Brent Barry shooting an astounding adjusted fg % of +52% for his career, that's a guy you really want out there. Plus he can really pass and plays smart. We can keep some of the bench guys like AG or JJ, but the starters have to support Yao. SF3, Taylor, Cato, and Cat, too. Cuttino's not a better fit than a guy like Barry or Allen; he's probably not more valuable to a new Yao + team than what he could bring in trade. You could keep him as super sub 6th man, though. He'd excel at that, of course. He's just never going to pass and shoot as well as a guy like Barry or Allen. If we kept Cat, we're not getting the most out of Yao.
DD -- How many times can you make the same exact post? I'm losing count. Just add on to your many other whine-n-b**** posts that litter this board instead of making new ones.
I see Francis improving in alot of areas but if his shot isnt falling we will lose alot of games.iam one of his biggest fans but he cannot shot loke that every game or we will be in the lottery agian this year.would you think our player would try to help stevie get his shot back ,calvin murphy, someone,or find him a sweet spot on the court and run a play for him to go there like sac do bibby
