Arn't leaders suppose to make players around him better off? NOT worse off? Francis and Marbury are two identical players. they play almost exactly the same. both are lightning quick, can shoot, penetrate, and take it to the hoop. both are great one-on-one players, can put up MONSTER #s , and both are shoot first and pass last type of guards. Both never led their teams to the playoffs, Marbury played in the playoffs once or twice when he was under the Garnette-led T-Wolves, but I don't think he's good enough to lead a team to the playoffs by himself. what is that? boy, he's a ball hog, and when he plays, he can make an Olajuwon looks like a Todd macollough. BAD BAD BAD team chemistry.. when he's playing, his team-mates are just VIP audiences who get to watch the match from the floor... playing with players like Marbury / or francis, Todd Macollough looks like a Todd macollough, but when playing w/ Kidd, Kidd makes him looks like an all-star... END result? nets w/ marbury = didn't make the playoffs suns w/ Kidd = playoff contenders after TRADE: nets w/ Kidd = #1 in the east suns w/ marbury = didn't even make the playoffs.. come on, basketball is an art.. the beauty of it is sharing... Michael Jordan started his career as a hog, but ONLY AFTER he learned the importance of getting his team-mates involved, he earned 6 championships.... rox players gotta remember that bkb is a team sport. 5 players against 5 players... not 1 against 5...
Trust me. I know what you are talking about. But, we'll see how Francis does in his 7th and 8th years in the league (not his 4th). I can't stand this one-on-one bull crap! Note: Kidd, early in his career, was all passing and no shot. He didn't develop a shot until his 6th year in the league, which was his 3 year with Phoenix. Plus, his FT% was atrocious! Today, his shot is respectable (40%+, but at least he's a threat). His FT% is awesome!
well, you gotta face the ugly truth... rox w/ francis is an one-on-one team. pretty soon francis will get tired.. physically and emotionally. and the team will go down with him. i'd be surprised... really surprised if rox could be over 500 after nov, the way they are playing now, and considering the tough schedule ahead. 7 out of next 10 games on the road. 7 of the next 10 games against elite teams.
Dude, you don't have to talk "ugly truth" to me because it's things I already know. But, so what if we are only a .500 team. Then, we start over next year. But, the fact remains that we will improve each year. By the way, you missed my comments about Kidd above.
well, I've seen Kidd played many times on tv. he's a pretty CLUTCH player, one time he saved the team from a 12 pts deficit under 5 min, was it aginst the grizzlies? I forgot. Kidd is a TEAM PLAYER, and a true leader. he makes players around him BETTER!! period.
Yes. Kidd is a leader. Francis must aspire to be like that. He's NOT now. Not in terms of "making his team better." But one day he will (3 years from now).
i think if rox still couldn't make the playoffs this season. fransis may demand a trade next yr. so there is no 3 years to give.. anyhow, we'll see
Ha ha ha! With a six year 80 mil contract!? You're funny! Dude, you messing with the wrong guy....troll.
i read the first sentence. u ******* should never compare franchies w. murbuy!! that murbury **** can only shoot 40% from the field. and plus, he cant even dunk!!!(tonite's game, a layup w/ no one guarding~)
Francis is a leader, and I don't think even Kidd could have been more of a leader than Francis was against Portland the other night. The Suns game wasn't the best. The Nets and Kidd play poorly sometimes too. By the way Jason Kidd put up Francis type numbers last night with 36 points and just 6 assists. The first quarter almost all Steve did was pass. The suns were pressuring Steve as he brought up the ball, and when that happened he passed before he even crossed midcourt. Steve wasn't forcing it. He still has much growing as point guard to do, but the improvement is showing, and his leadership is definitely there.
My guess is that Kerry Kittles, Keith Van Horn, and Kenyon Martin being healthy for the first time in years had a lot to do with the Nets turnaround. Also, the additions of Todd Maccullough and Richard Jefferson helped too. The Nets didn't turn into the top team in the East only because of Jason Kidd. They've always had that kind of talent... it was just never healthy before.
There's a MAJOR flaw in these arguments in that everyone thinks that there must be ONE PROTOTYPE point guard: assists, points, TO's, steals etc. IMHO the great players have redefined the position according to their strengths and the players surrounding them. Their one common denominator is WINNING. No, Steve is not the leader Jason Kidd is YET, but he also does not have the experience that Kidd has. I watched Kidd in Dallas early in his career and, despite incredible skills, it just didn't come together for him. It's gonna take Francis some time to figure it out but I love his heart, and his skills are world class. He is always going to score a ton of points and get a ton of rebounds, and maybe he'll redefine the position much like Cal Ripken redefined the role of a shortstop. Marbury is good, really good, but not nearly the player Francis is and will be. Dallas Rocket
One non-phenomenal game and the negative posts begin... I, who am not a Francis worshipper and have been critical in the past, can see the kid is playing his best ball ever and that has included involving his teammates... Come on we had 6 players in double figures last night. But because he didn't win the game for us he know rates as an also ran point guard with no leadership skills... Right now Steve Francis is playing as good as anyone in the league period, and he is winning games for us... But great players can also have off nights... And perhaps after a serious fall against Portland (a fall that would have put most players on the injured list) he comes back still feeling sore and is not exactly up to top form. Give the guy a break he is playing phenomenal basketball and phenomenal basketball players win games as he has for us... In time he will be the best guard in the NBA period and this year he will lead us to the playoffs. And that is the true sign of a leader in sports can he lead his team to victories... But of course like most turtles you won't be posting that information because you just stick your head out of your shell just to post crap...
Lets please learn how to put together cohesive understandable questions, Timmy. Oh yeah, Dunk=2 points Layup=2 points
Yes, but Marbury is better at getting his teammates involved. I don't think he's as good a player as Francis, but he's a better PG.
Mabury also isn't really a shoot first PG, it is just a label he can't get rid off from hsi NJ days. When Marbury was in NJ the starting lineup was something like Evan Eschmeyer, Aaron Williams, Johnny Newman and Lucious Harris. No Todd MacCulloch (He NEVER played with Marbury), Kenyon Martin a rookie and injury problems, no Richard Jefferson, no Jason Collins, an injured Keith Van Horn, no Kerry Kittles. Also Kidd isn't clutch really. In his Phoenix days the last play to win the game often had Kidd passing up on the open shot until the clock expired and he had to throw up a prayer. Marbury is struggling from the field this season, but usually he shoots a higher percentage than Steve and improved his % every single year. Also i think it is funny that you say the Garnett lead Wolves, at that time Marbury and Garnett were a duo, and Marbury the go to guy in crunch time. Steve Francis is only ONE DAY younger than Steph. PS: Steph can dunk. He had 1 of the best dunks ever for a PG back in NJ when he reverse slammed an alley oop with one hand flying to the hoop. Steph isn't dunking right now because he plays the last season and this season on bad ankles and there is no need to dunk it when you can lay it in.
Someone changes this guy's username to "turtlehead". Somehow seems apt for the quality of posts/threds he is producing.
Exactly! We know they'll work towards their strengths. But, my point was that Kidd was a great passer his rookie season, but his shot suxed... It took him a while to develop a balanced game. Same with Steve. He's not that good a passer, but has a good shot. One of these days he'll develop some good passing skills, but not at the same level as Kidd. Just like Kidd will never be as good a shooter as Francis.
