The one aspect of Baron's game that I really think he stepped up this year is defense. I don't know how many points he holds his opponents to or anything like that, but before this year, his career best in steals was 2.1. This year: 2.89. Pretty good for "Pudgy Francis." And looking at his NBA.com bio (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/baron_davis/index.html?nav=page), he ranks in the top 10 in almost every single statistical category known to man (except FT %, what is that about?). Baron is definitely "more matured" than Francis, but give Stevie a few more years, he can achieve that level as well.
I'm waiting for the angry thread about how stupid the front office was for not trading for Davis when he was drafted.
you're right... but if he doesnt step up soon, he's gonna lose fans, like me. I voted for him on the all star ballot, but i regretted now...
Yeah, it's funny, 'cause I remember last pre-season when SF was being praised as a potential MVP candidate. And now here we are a handful of games into this season, and Baron Davis is being praised as a potential MVP candidate.
Steve Francis 15.4 FGA/G FG% 42 Baron Davis 22.2 FGA/G FG% 39.6 I said it before this season, Steve stats will be lower this season but the team will be better for it. Unlike the past few years, the offense IS NOT RUNNING THROUGH STEVE. Watch the games, he's deferring to his teamates and let them make the play. Posting Yao up doesn't get assists, posting Mo up doest get assists. Letting Mobley Iso doesn't get assists. Letting JJ Iso doesn't get assists. And not shooting does not get points. If we can run the offense completely through Steve, and let him penetrate then kick (very much like what Baron Davis is doing and what Steve did in our 45 wins season), we'll get our all star back.
Forgot to add, that's not the way we should be playing, we see how it doesn't work and the team is very too reliant on Steve's performance. We are spreading the ball around this season, I wish Steve can take over more, but it doesn't seem he has it in him to do that night in and night so he's playing the best he can to help the team win. That includes SACRIFISING HIS STATS.
in my humble opinion, stevie is a more gifted player than Baron Davis... except for one area. Baron knows how to create space on the court, for himself & for his teammates.
well most people will agree that steve si athletic and and talented, but that is not the only trait needed to be the better player.
wizkid83, The reasons that Francis is SACRIFICING his game is because he HAS to. It's about him adapting to the situation, be it a matchup, or defenseive scheme, or whatever. He has to figure out how to "win" without always having (or thinking that he does) "take over a game." The other reason is that, Francis is not the type of player than can just "take over a game" just because he *wants* to. Again, it's about matchups or teams that we play agaisnt. Sometimes he can, sometimes he can't. But when he can't take over a game, he has to figure out a way to get the win other ways.
Another note... If Francis was to go back to his old way of play, sure, his "assist" would go up. But his turnovers would be the same (or worse), and the teams' offense would become stagnate and predictable. So, just "going through Francis more," isn't necessarily the best way to think about the situation. That scheme comes with a lot of baggage. If Francis's had a better ability to *create* for his teammates or better decision making, or less turnovers, then yes. Maybe we could go through Steve more often. But he just doesn't have that skill.
DavidS, in his first three seasons, most posters on this board agreed that he can "create" for his team. He can pretty much get by any defender guarding him and almost always draws a second defender. This frees up a player and believe or not he does make the pass (usually a kick out to the 3 or a the Cato ally hoop). The problem is that a lot of our players back then can't knock down an open shot. And yes, He took over games on regular bases. Then last year we drafted Yao and Steve started changing his game, and now he's stuck. He's doesn't seem to be able to play like a pass first guard and he doesn't seem to have the confidence/mentality to take over games any mroe. This to me is his real problem, he was force to become something he's not, and because of that, lost what made him special.
What you call "create" (in the past), I call just a bailout pass. He was actually just passing out of necessity because he put himself into a position that he could not score. Passing by getting your "lesser" role players easier shots is what I call "create." He did not do that in the past. Today, due to JVG system, the opportunities for easier passing are available more. And what you call "taking over games" I call ISO at the detriment of the TEAM. He's not Jordan. He's not even Iverson. "Taking over games" does not have to mean scoring 40. He just doesn't have that ability to do that consistently AND get his team a win. And 45 win season isn't my idea of "taking over games on a regular basis." Francis needs better players around him than Hakeem did to achieve the same level of team play. Also, the problem wasn't that he's lost "confidence." It's not a problem. He's HUMBLED himself. In the past Rudy gave him the "keys to the house" and that made Francis believe that he was better than he really was. Now days, he's more realistic about his abilities. And he KNOWS his LIMITATIONS. This is not a lack of confidence. He's learning more about himself. That's maturity. Sure, there are times that he can score 30+. And the team will lean on him more. But not always. Not like the past.
I think as scorers, Baron and Francis are twins. They're both out of the same mold. Both have terrific outside shots and can rebound. I may give a slight edge to Steve for the ability to finish a drive and draw a foul. On the other hand, Baron is a demon on defense and terrific at playing the passing lanes. I think Steve has the potential to play great defense and he's shown flashes of that this year. The only aspect I see Baron being clearly better right now is in court vision. Baron seems to see the floor better and seems to be able to make the accurate and quick pass during his drives to the basket. I guess this can be said about Marbury too.
we know you would i think the big difference between francis and davis this year is that the offense of NO is baron davis, just like the offense of houston the last couple of years was steve francis. so does davis has better stats? Yes off course. is davis having a great year? yes. is steve havig trouble adapting to our new offense? Yes davis is more a power player. he is very strong. steve is more athletic. i like the game of both very much. But if you put steve in NO he would have about the same numbers as davis has now. And if you put davis on the rockets he would have the numbers steve has now. i think they are about the same. the last couple of years everybody thought steve was better.now everybody thinks davis is better. i think they are about the same. just like marbury. let steve adapt to the new system. and then let watch him playing great again. it are just 17 games. IMHO i would not trade both players. i have seen what francis can do to his opponents if he is givin freedom. he has dominated games.i like both players alot. but i want to keep francis as a rocket.
