Amazing, I still havn't seen him defend steve without bashing yao say what you want you fake ass rocket fan but dont be blinded. How many times do you see steve initiate a proper fast break? thats right not many. JVG wanting francis to slow it down is the exact OPPISITE of what he wants him to do, I mean if you actually watch games you will always see JVG calling for our guards to push the ball and fast break it.
Wait a sec amed... doesn't Steve jog upcourt whether or not Yao's already there? But you can't be bothered with facts can you?
These are the games when we find Yao Ming wandering and going out to the three point line. he looks lost because of the non inclusion as a significant contributor to the game. This is just what we don't want!We dont need Steve to have big games we need him to involve all his team and make them better. Its his job-Point Guard.
Answers to Quiz :- a] 51 wins b] YM, CM, Mo Tay c] OK but still needs a lot of work and development 51 wins.
Looks like your valid questions have been derailed... wasn't going to add my two cents but now I will. 1. I don't think we are as talented as some people believe. We are not more talented than the top five teams in the West. Number six is Memphis, I firmly believe we have more talent that they do. But hey sometimes people can take less talent and make it a good team. Under our current philosophy, with our current players, we got as many wins as we should have. 2. Francis isn't good as re-posting when Yao kicks out or is he good at delivering from all angles. Also he turns it over by over-dribbling, and is not good in the transition offense, or leading a fast break. So who is he hurting? --Yao. It not like Yao would improve greatly into the league of KG. But he would get a couple more shots a game. So he would be 20-10. But also Yao is improving himself. So next year he may be 22-11, hopefully. --Himself. Bad decisions with the ball costs himself opportunities to score, as does bad execution on fast breaks. It's the system and his adaptation that hurts him though, not really anything within his own control. But say he could improve his decision making, francis could be 20-7 assists. 3. Yao is good. Second team all NBA good. When he learns to stay out of foul trouble and adapt to fouls better on the whole he'll already be able to take a huge step up. Next comes the endurance to play more minutes, more agressively without being flagged with fouls. My NBA comparison to Yao at his peak might be a late Kareem Abdul Jabbar, something like 28 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks. But he has a ways to go to get there. In my opinion, the lack of committment to the inside out offense after it worked earlier in the game, and/or bad decision making in the end of games cost us 5-6 games this year. Of course they weren't all Steve's fault. So maybe we'd have 3 more wins? Not really enough to move to the 6th spot.
1. I've predicted 47 wins. I'll be wrong. I believe we have better players this year than last year. 2. When you have a PG who doesn't make timely passes and doesn't know how to lead a break, the whole team is held back. I think this is the biggest beef for most people who want Francis gone. Some people think that Francis doesn't give Yao enough touches. But that's not true. He has enough touches. But having touches is not the same as getting the ball when he should get it. I've said it many times in many similar threads. Entry passing is not as simple as just dump it down to the big guy. Timing is everything. Fast decision is a must for a good PG. Steve's biggest problem, imo, is his inability to make timely decision. While Yao is the most glaring one, everyone's game would be improved if we had a play-maker who can make timely pass to everyone. 3. Yao cannot carry the team. If we had better outside shooting, he'd be freed up more from double teams. He has shown that he can score at will against any straight up defense. His biggest weakness is rebounding and defensive positioning. The latter can be corrected through experience and coaching. The former is not as easily fixed. Some techniques can be learned to improved. I'm sure he will. But some of rebounding skills such as explosiveness and the instinct of knowing where the ball is is inborn. A PF who can board and hit the midrange jumper should be perfect. In other words, if we can combine Cato and Taylor's strength into one guy, that would be a great running mate for Yao.
I dont think Yao is not aggressive. The problem is that he still doesn't know how to be aggressive ie to play aggressively and also stay out of foul troubles. I have seen game after game that he was very aggressive at the beginning of the game, then became passive and timid after picking up two quick fouls. I dont know what's the best way to fix the problem. Experience will definitely help. But officiating is an x-factor which no one can control except the man with the whistle.
1. we did better against the west last year i think . . .why is this year different? 3. I still think the inside outside game with 'good spacing' is dead esp in a zone league. . . You ever watch the great Seattle v Rockets games when Hakeem was in his heyday . . . They zone and stole alot of passes. Rocket River
