Watching the game toight, I really think Francis getting it after Wilks plays a couple of game. Francis played the first quarter, Rocket led by one. Wilks came in for eight minutes or so, the lead grew to nine while he personally scored only a couple of FT. Francis came back in the second quarter and the lead shrinked to nine. Francis played the whole third quarter and took seven shots. Even though he played well (from his viewpoint) and hit five of those shots, the lead grew by only one. When Wilks came back momentarily, the lead was extended by three even though Wilks failed to score. But the defence was brilliant. When Francis came back, he looked like a different player. He passed the ball and control tempo well. He did his job in defence. He took only two shots and made one of them. But his teamates was greatly benefited from his leadership and defence. The whole team follows the intensity and tempo. Francis looks like Wilks with better shooting and skill out there. Our lead was extended by ten when Francis was on the court in this quarter. Before you say Jass was tired in the fourth quarter after playing last night, I really hope and think that will be the future Rocket. And Francis will persist his improvement this direction after Moochie is history.
Yes, finally it seems as if Francis is getting it, although he's been on this improvement for the past two weeks or so. he's focusing more on getting his teammates involved while knowing when/when not to look for his own offense. He is also showing vast improvement on the defensive end. And Wilks is proving to be the ideal backup, someone who can change the tempo of the game and knows who to get the ball to while providing end-to-end pressure defense. I smell a huge winning streak coming on.
Yes, that's certainly a factor. I wish I have time to check out what is the difference in +/- between Moochie and Wilks. Wilks is plus 12 in both games. I guess Moochie must be - on his average. At least, that was the case in the New York game last night. I thought he turned the game around in the opposite direction for New York. Poor Moochie.
Yes, Charvo also mentioned a very good point too. Wilks provides healthy competition to the PG position. So, Francis has to raise his game, just like Cato does.
I've read other posts on this board about Francis possibly getting it only to blunder those hopes the following game with 2 assits and 6 TO while jacking up 20+ shots. I'm glad he's playing good basketball right now, but until he plays consistently well like a PG for atleast 20 games straight then I'll hold my hopes about him getting "it."
The following site says Wilks is a +24 (best on team) vs. -8 for Mooch (worst on team) http://www.82games.com/0304HOU.HTM
Thanks good post. I agree! I hope he is getting it! He had a well-balanced game it seems like..17 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds..but how many turnovers? At least we won! Wilks...he missed like all 4 shots he took today..but he's got to make one! He did make his 2 free throws..in warmups before the game, he makes the majority of his shots..which NBA players should be able to do. Wilks just seems like a backup! At least Lopez didn't go crazy on us this time..
Pointless to speculate about this. People have probably made 100+ posts with similar thread titles during the past few seasons. They've always been false hopes before. Maybe this time it's true - but the evidence is no better than it has been in the past.
I definitely think that SF is getting it, but he is in the transition of getting it done. He's been really trying to get his teamates involved more, but that might come with some mistakes (TOs). But overall, I think SF has been trying really hard to get into JVGs system, it might take some more time, but I think he is really coming around.
Best thing to happen to this team was Moochie going away. I think it really become a crutch for Steve. Steve was seen as being way more important with Moochie being the backup. It's still early, but Wilks is much better than Moochie as far as controlling tempo and giving the Rocket players the ball when the want it. The point differential is just insane when Wilks comes in the game especially when Yao is in at the same time.
I have seem the team moving much better when Wilks is playing. I still don't understand why he does not get more minutes. SF has been playing too many minutes and it would be good to give him some rest. I also would like to see from time to time Wilks and SF playing together on the backcourt and check how SF can do at sg.
Wilks is playing with minor injury right now. That affects his shooting. And that was probably why he played only a few but increasing minutes per game.
I am glad that we have been playing well and winning, but I cannot say that I agree with the way that JVG is using Steve and Cat. With the defense that we now play and the old offense we ran last year we would have a much better record. This team is only a game or two better than at this point last year yet our defense is tremendous. What once was our strength (scoring) is now a weakness. We had two players that put in 20 a game that now are getting fewer shots. Yao is getting the rock more, but he is not shooting much more and his game has lost many dimensions by just sitting him in the post. Back to Steve though, Steve Francis is an outstanding offensive player. The man can get 30 a night on almost any defender yet he has been forced to sacrifice his offense and I think the team good to be the point guard that JVG wants. If Steve were defering to Yao or Cat that would be one thing, but JVG has turned Steve Francis into a player who brings the ball down passes and is frozen out of the offense. Something has got to change in Rocketland, we are wasting a true talent.
The team is not as talented as last year's team. Both EG and Posey are starters. Rice can always shoot the 3s. K. Thomas also hustles more.
Do you really think so? I think that JJ is much more of an accomlished offensive player than Posey or Rice was last year. MoT and Cato are playing much better, as is Yao, so the absence of EG isn't that great. There is no reason that we should have offensive problems like this.
