Van Gundy may not be trying to make Steve into a passing point guard, but I think the role is definitely different from what Steve was doing in Rudy T's offense. Steve is being asked to think and make decisions quickly in order. Thinking creates uncertainty. This is partly responsible for the increase in turnovers. He doesn't know what to do out there. Confusion and chaos reigns. Get a good passer in here who works with Van Gundy to basically have an extension of the coach on the floor. Let the passer do the thinking. If Steve gets the ball, his only thought should be to score. I believe this will increase his proficicency dramatically.
JVG wants the same shots with less dribbling. So was it all the crossover BS that gave Francis a shooting rhythm? If the dribbling has anything to do with it at all, the Francis to SG crowd back take a step back and contemplate Francis (ala Reggie Miller) coming off of screens in a catch and shoot situation. IMO, catch and shoot would be required with any other PG than the Mooch. I found this small JVG comment very revealing and interesting.
Maybe Yao can be a passer that can get the ball to Steve so he can shoot off screens set by someone like Cato. Yao is a better passer than Moochie. I see Cuttino operating best in the Reggie Miller-type plays.
I don't think Steve's shooting struggles can be considered just a slump at this point. It's been going on almost the entire season. And I'm tired of hearing this crap about how he's simply adjusting to Van Gundy's new system. Yao, Mobley, Mo, and Cato are doing just fine out there. And new guys like Pike and Padgett have been able to fit in. Hell, even Boki was contributing before Pike took his playing time. The only key rotation guys besides Steve who are struggling are JJ and Moochie(and that's to be expected from the worst player in the NBA). The truth is Steve isn't in a slump. He's just performing like the player he truly is. He's a terrible passer in the half-court. He's indecisive with the ball. He can't run a fast break to save his life. And he's a lousy defender. He's been this way for four years, and this season's been no different. About the only thing he's been good at in his career is scoring, and even that's a negative now with his low shooting numbers. With Yao's improvement in his 2nd season and Cat having his finest year ever, the guy's expendable.
Here's my thought for whats its worth. I've called Randolph a star before he was one as well as other predictions that have came true. This has been in the think tank for a minute so here it goes. Francis will not be a Rocket at the beginning of next season! This may not be stunning news to some, but for some it is. The next thing is ,who will he be traded for? Try this one on for size: Francis and Cato for Howard and McGrady. Why will this happen? Even after a playoff run, the Rockets will realize Francis will never be capable of being a good decision maker at the pg or sg spot. Orlando will look and see what happened with Shaq and will not want the same to happen with McGrady and the end of the 04-05 season. It makes sense for really both team because they get a all star and we get one back in return. The also get a big man in Cato to play with Drew Gooden to make them a better team in the east. The Rockets get a star in McGrady who can coexist with Ming and also can make plays at the end of ball games. Mobley moves back over to the psuedo pg like his rookie season and will defend the pg much better than what Francis does. I'm not saying I'm Ms Cleo, but while most was on this board amazed at the range of Eddie Griffin, I said the Randolph kid would make Wallace exepndable.
McGrady for Francis would be awesome. I doubt its going to happen..but that would put seats in the TC.
Move SF to the SG and everything is going to be just fine, after that we just need a true PG and are good the playoffs.
I can see the posts two weeks after trading for TMac. "We need to get someone in here who will pass to Yao. How many times have I seen Yao get position and have TMac ignore him." If you think TMac is going to come here and dump the ball down to Yao you're nuts.. TMac will dominate the ball and do most of the scoring just like he is in Orlando. The only center in the league that TMac would defer to is Shaq.
My how the mighty have fallen. The once cornerstone of our Franchise is they player that most everyone wants to get rid of. 117 Trade him 86 Don't trade I think the fans might be on to something. We should look at moving him.
If McGrady makes a bunch of noise about opting out after next season, I could see this happening. Stevie will play as the 1st and only option as TMac has been for several years. I think Tracy is getting tired of that role. His back is killing him.
That is probably the most telling poll regarding Franchise...I know he isn't off to his best start, but damn, please do something... I love Franchise, but in JVG's system, I'm not sure he'll thrive...
I've sided with Steve in these debates from day one, in part because I'm not a bandwagon jumper. I'm pretty patient, and I know it takes 6-7 years for a PG to reach his prime in the NBA. I still think it's too early to jump on, but I'm running alongside with a grappling hook. My reasoning is that it's usually the point guard's fault when the team shoots badly. I wrote off last year's collapse as the result of the arrest of Griffin, the chronic injuries to Mobley, and the Rudy T shocker, but in truth we could have made the playoffs by playing harder and shooting better. The point guard should be making guys play hard and setting them up to shoot well with crisp, on-time, on-target passes to players in their range or in the paint. So what has happened this year? We bring in a new coach and surround Yao and Steve with outstanding shooters. The result? We still don't shoot well. It's beginning to look like the constant is Steve. I haven't completely given up yet -- there's been a big adjustment to make in new personnel and the Eddie G fiasco -- but I'm definitely having my doubts and I'm starting to like the fantasy trade crash5179 made in the thread Example of a trades I'd like to see.
What about this trade: Houston trades: PG Steve Francis (17.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.2 apg in 38.9 minutes) Houston receives: PF Marcus Fizer (7.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.7 apg in 15.1 minutes) PG Kirk Hinrich (8.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.1 apg in 29.2 minutes) PF Tyson Chandler (13.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.0 apg in 28.6 minutes) Change in team outlook: +12.1 ppg, +11.3 rpg, and +1.6 apg. Chicago trades: PF Marcus Fizer (7.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.7 apg in 15.1 minutes) PG Kirk Hinrich (8.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.1 apg in 29.2 minutes) PF Tyson Chandler (13.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.0 apg in 28.6 minutes) Chicago receives: PG Steve Francis (17.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.2 apg in 26 games) Change in team outlook: -12.1 ppg, -11.3 rpg, and -1.6 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Yao/Cato Chandler/MoT JJ/Fizer?/Boki Mobley/Pike/JJ Hinrich/Mooch Then we could trade Cato for a small forward.
I'd do that trade in a heartbeat bman. I would love to get Chandler, and adding in Hinrich and Fizer to sweeten the deal just makes the trade all the easier. We would probably need to throw in a draft pick or two to get the Bulls to bite though.
I'm beginning to hate these two words when used in conjunction and especially when thy are posted in all caps. REAL GM SUCKS
The Bulls won't trade Tyson Chandler. Besides, if JVG is looking for a shooter, Kirk Hinrich wouldn't be it (although you gotta like the kid) nor would Jamal Crawford (although Crawford has some size at the 1/2 spot and can fastbreak). Now, if Steve could get you Crawford and Fizer and, uh, whomever, and you could turn Jamal and Fizer into Rashard Lewis (Jamal = hometown Seattle and Rashard = should have been drafted by us in the first place and can shoot lights out), then I say, yes.
