IM seriously starting tio doubt Steve Francis' ability to lead a team and be a star player. There is no confusion about his athletic ability, as he is one of a kind, but after looking at tonights preformance and stat line Im beginning to see the same trends. People have made the case that his scoring numbers are down this year because he is playing more of the team game. I think that is all HOGWASH! If you look at his assists they are actually DOWN from last year. Take a look at a comparison from last year to this year: Year PPG APG 2003 21.0 6.2 2004 16.8 5.9 His points are way down, and we have seen NO improvement in assists. It is evident here that he is not cutting it as a PG. Tonight he played 38 minutes and had 6 asssists, while Mark Jackson played a 11 minutes and had 3 assists. Watching Mark Jackson has helped me to realize that its not just the system, its the player. Mark makes great passes in the flow the game and Stevie seems to struggle to get assists. The fact is that Stevie is not such a great shooter either and Im seriously thinking he is not a Franchise type player like his nickname suggests. Do you remember when Hakeem and Clyde used to take over games in the Clutch and we would be in awe. I have yet to see that type of ability from Steve and he isnt a young player anymore.. he is a 5 year veteran! Im just looking at the facts and the production, but what do you guys think?
we lose a game and bring on the steve bashers, or the yao bashers, or the mobley bashers. its always somebodys fault. were not going to win every single game in a season, so it would do you some good to settle down and relax after a loss like this. it's not steve's game to lose anyway, if a team loses it's a team effort. so when we lose try not to pin the blame on one single player. its true that steves production has been down this year but thats only because hes playing the way van gundy wants him too, and while steves personal stats have gone down the team has gotten better. ill take that any day.
Steve has talents no doubt about it. But he IS NOT FUNDAMENTAL!! That's the problem. He reminds me of Jason Williams from the Kings several years ago. He plays well within the flow of the game and just not good if the game is slowing down...when the game is erratic..he plays well under that type of game. But JVG's system is all about slowing down though so that hurts his game. He fits on other systems like the Kings' and Mavs system, but obviously not the JVG's system. He's a PG wannabe cuz he can't pass and he needs the ball. He's a SG, not a PG period..because a PG's instinct is to pass first and shoot second. Steve's instinct is shoot first and pass later. He doesn't have a PG's mentality which is what JVG's system need. There is a reason he turnovers the ball 4 times a game....cuz he ain't a true PG and has difficult playing that position.
Are you real YaoMing??? I can not believe real Yao Ming would say so. Please do not destroy Yao Ming`s fame!!!
Steve has been the best player on a good team (2001). He's a great scorer. Good jump shot, can drive, great athleticism. Hard working. Can create for another player. He just doesn't make the right decision enough. Which means that unless he's The Man on a team, there's too great a chance of him screwing up. Everything was fine until Yao entered the picture. But now, there's too many calculations he has to perform. He's Allen Iverson... but just a shade now as good... and in the West. But to say he's just not good isn't fair.
I'm so happy to hear an unbiased view on the "trade steve" topic I mean seriously, you dont think he can score 25 plus any give night... If you give anyone the green light, they will put up many many more points.
You guys are being such tools. Yaoming: guess what bro, steve's diminished fg% has been discussed ad nauseum on this board. Thanks for the info, but seriously, get out from under the rock you have been living under and chill for a second. Pasox2: good observation, you are rapidly crossing the line which divides Rockets fan from straigh up troll/loser. I hope you enjoy it, it's quite a fun little existence you go there. yawn...time for bed.
I don't think anyone is saying Steve is not a good player. However, he is a guard similar to Baron Davis and Stephon Marbury. He's no good in the Western Conference which demand great outside shooting from its point guards. Steve's jumpshooting is by far the worst of the premiere point guards in the Western Conference.
Of course, so could Cedric Ceballos . How many someone can score is irrelevant. It's how much someoen could score effectively. I agree with you that the original poster was biased. However, so is your view.
I doubt Ced could even get 10 points nowadays, but thats besides the point. What I am saying is that Steve has been asked not to go off from the start and start scoring, which everyone knows he can do. He has been asked to get others involved, which, while isnt the greatest stuff, its not exactly crap. You have to give himt he props for changing the way he has played for a good 10 years of his life, and tuning it to JVG style. Now just give him some time to deliver better. I mean the amount of slack that YAO gets for coming from China isnt even close to the amount of **** that Steve gets for not getting the ball in the right place. Now, dont reply saying.. O im a YAo only basher, its just an example I am using YAO and CHina as an analogy
The guy's entire point was not only is he not scoring like he used to, but he is NOT being more of a team player - I certainly don't see it on the floor and the numbers don't reflect it. Does it take some time to adjust...sure, but not for a professional, and not for a professional PG being asked to play like one should. The answer is simple...Steve is not a PG (this is clear, anyone who thinks otherwise is not watching, in denial, or both) and should be put in a position where his talents can be takend advanteg of more, and Steve will not get better. Will he improve...sure, because he has absolutely blown this year given his talent level, but will he improve like we all would like him too...NEVER. He will never turn into an all around playmaker - these are things that even the leagues biggest ballhogs (Kobe, TMac, Iverson, etc.) have grasped... Forget about the Dallas loss tonight and concentrate on the prior 4 seasons of losing (non-playoffs = losing - beating up on Eastern Conference opponents when they all suck anyway does not make you a good team). Just my opinion, but I would have preffered to traded him before the deadline because the sooner you can change your style and mindset the sooner you can accomplish your goal = championship. That said, if Steve isn't move this summer (regardless of whether or not we make the playoffs in a year where two teams who have each been there for 15+ straight seasons or so - Jazz/Trailblazers - will finally be on the outside looking in), Rocket's management has no idea what they are doing. Does anybody believe Steve has led this team anywhere? Does anybody believe he will? And we're just now doubting his ability?
Why do people bother to repeat the same thread over and over again after each loss? It's getting old! --daoshi
Hey,YaoMing. Your User Name with such a ridiculous topic--IM seriously starting tio doubt Steve Francis' ability... give me a break! Use your head before start a post like this please!!!
