I'll agree that Mookie most likley is not in the Rockets plans (save defending him bit better next time they see him), but perhaps I didn't make myself clear concerning pertinence to this forum. It is very difficult to achieve a triple double to begin with - and most likley more so from the PG position than any other - and in no way do I want to detract from the milestone being achieved. However, I believe closer inspection of the effort brings some other issues to mind. 1) Steve took 20 shots - by far the most of any Rocket (Pig and Shandon were next with 14 each). In addition, he had 15 free throw attempts. Regardless of any other thoughts on shot attempt numbers (PG, etc.), 20 FGA and 15 FTA should guarantee you double digit scoring, regardless of how poorly you might shoot. 2) While certainly a 14 assist performance is stellar, this may be somewhat tempered by the 5 turnovers he committed as well. But, regardless, 14 assists is quite commendable and I'll just leave it at that. 3) It is the rebounds more than any other area which I believe may be somewhat problematic. A 17 rebound performance is great, and he led the team. However, if you must rely on your PG for rebounds and allow him to collapse on the offensive boards (7 ORs for Steve), then you almost certainly are going to concede some ground on the defensive end. It is here where I believe more than anywhere else that Mookie's numbers tie in directly to Steve's. It is far easier for a PG to produce offensively if his defender is taking chances under the offensive boards and coming up short at times. Finally, while I know some of you will disgaree me here, ultimately the only stat. that counts is points scored. And I think it is notable that Mookie led his 8-32 team to a victory over the Rockets at the Compaq Center. Individual performances aside, we lost the game at home to one of the worst teams in the league, and the opposing PG had a very nice game. Certainly, this would have produced a flood of "Opponents PG Burns Us Again" posts in years past. So perhaps while the performances haven't changed, it is only the focus of the posts that have. -Paul.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/443033 Caught off-guard Steve Francis got 17 rebounds on Thursday. But the tape he and the Rockets watched Friday was of the one that got away. Francis gambled that he could get to the offensive boards in the last minute with the Rockets holding a two-point lead. When the Warriors grabbed the rebound, Mookie Blaylock was allowed to go down court to hit a key 3-pointer. The play demonstrated the potential and peril that comes with a point guard capable of grabbing 17 rebounds in a game. If Francis goes to the boards, his teammates on the perimeter must cover for him defensively. Cuttino Mobley and Shandon Anderson had chances to pick up Blaylock. Francis, meanwhile, must evaluate what he can and cannot do. "We talked about that a lot," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "He usually does it on drives. Either he shoots or passes off, but he's already down there and if there's a miss, he can get it. On those, we should be back automatically."
