Steve's play in these playoffs has been establishing who the Rockets leader/best player really is. The first half of game 1 aside, he has raised the level of his play. And his intensity as well.
Like I said before, everyone wants a Jason Kidd type point guard. Steve put up Jason Kidd type numbers tonight and we still lost. Maybe its time we look at other factors now. I agree that one game doesnt make up for an entire season, but would anyone disagree that one good playoff game makes up for 10 bad regular season games? Does anyone disagree that one bad playoff game cancels out 10 good regular season games. Sure we can win about 4 or 5 more regular season games by trading Steve (which I still doubt), but we will get swept out of the playoff for the next 10 years because our dynasty doesnt come to play. Steve came to play. I attribute the first half of game one to nervousness. I attribute the last 6 quarters to heart and competetiveness.I actually felt bad for Steve, to see that he was playing his heart out, hitting 3's, doing everything all of you say he doesnt, and the team wasnt there to help him. What makes it even worse is that most of you didnt see that.
how generous. .. . had he had a bad nite you would have just blamed steve or the ambiguous 'THE GUARDS' [SEE COMMENTS AFTER GAME ONE] Rocket River
this is the clutch BBS.... lots of ppl here when they are Steve haters they would not change..... even lots of them say they will wait and see hows his performance in playoffs... when he is performing well, they would say this is a team lost, steve still can't carry this team...... wonder where is 'wonder YAO' in this series on offense..... he has yet to show me his determination on offense.... but I have to say, Yao did a superb job on defense on Shaq.... kudos to Yao on that
He was hard to find out there on the court since he was in the middle of scoring a team high 21 last night.
The problem with Steve is for every good thing he brings you he has a flaw that negates it. His bad decisions, poor ball handling, and out of control play disrupt the offense at key times, cause turnovers and work against us. He does have alot of athleticism, talent and potential and he can make some insane shots, but he provides no stabilizing leadership and he takes away as much as he gives. What magnifies it is he is our franchise player and he can't be counted on to lead us or take the team on his back. When we win it is because we overcome our turnovers and stupid decisions. Another problem we have is Yao has not developed yet into a go to player. And the players do not continue to feed him. Either one or the other has to give. He has to be given his touches even when he is off and let him develop. Or we continue to go away from him when he struggles. I sure don't know the answer for that one. But I do believe he will improve over the next couple of seasons and become a go to franchise type player. I don't know if Steve is going or staying, but I am sure what you see is what you get.
So you say we live by Yao die by Yao? We still have to ry to win games, and Yao has to want the ball. Hes has to get position on the block and demand it. I watched the majority of the games this season and half the time Steve swings the ball to the wings as soon as he passes half court. The wings wait 15 seconds for Yao to get postion, dont pass to him, give Steve the ball with 3 seconds left on the clock, and he is faulted for taking a bad shot. Im not saying thats what happened all the time, because i have seen Steve on many occasions take shots over 3 defenders with 20 seconds left on the clock......... But on the same token, when they DO give him the ball, he has to go at the basket and shoot it. The idea of getting him the ball in game 2 was to get shaq in foul trouble. Someone PLEASE tell me why he was fading away and rolling to the 3 point line off of high screen and rolls. We have to give Steve time just as we have to give Yao time. Youre the same people that will want to tradeDavid Carr if we dont win the Super Bowl next year. Be patient.
I haven't watch Game 2 yet.... but I am referring to game 1 where I dun see him post much on shaq at all.... keep on setting high picks just not wat Yao should be doing.... but maybe that is JVG's decision......
jlobabydaddy- I'm not saying live and die by Yao... He is not ready for that and we would be worse off. I am saying that Yao will improve faster the more touches he gets, the more he learns and that will take time. If we go away from him then we take him out of the game. If we go to him more we must be prepared to endure his faults- which is primarily inexperience as a franchise NBA player. I am fine with is current development. As long as he improves as much next year as he did this year. Steve brings good and bad. He is not like Kobe or Shaq or KG or Duncan. Those players have very few weak spots (for the big guys it would be their free throw shooting) Steve has plenty of weak spots in his game that often negate his tremendous upside. He is a great talent.
Eight of the 21 points came at the garbage time. Sure you can find him shooting over Brian Cook or Luke Walton. He also grabbed 4 rebounds, had one block and turned it over four times.
When Yao is not shooting well, we can not afford to continue forcing him the ball. It is not regular season anymore. It is playoff and every game counts. Yao should have worked hard on boards/block and picked up better positions to get the shots. He was guarded by a 40-year old who gives alomost 1 foot to him, for crying loud. Yao was 5-16 before the garbage time. Most of time he just picked up the ball and shot. He was way off target last night. There was no reason to foce him the ball.
its like francis doesnt want to play no more, cause he not gettin the ball more. he didnt want to go to vancouver b/c bibby was a pg already. wat makes yall think that it will turn overnight, not gonna happen until franics learn how to use and play with yao. it doesnt matter bout stats. he can still ave 15 point 8 reb. 7 ast 3 to a game . now that productive. stop dribblin the ball and go no where
I agree with you, but I totally disagree with you when you say that everyone will luv him. The hatred for SF3 by some people on this board is so great that if he has a bad game he will forever be roasted, and if he plays well then he will be roasted for auditioning for the next And1 Mix tape and showing off.
Last night was only what Steve should of been giving the whole season. He play was just what was needed but does not in any way effect the need for a starting Playmaker Point Guard, a taller Small Forward that can play defence and shoot the three, a Power Forward that exudes POWER, SPEED and BASKETBALL SKILLS.
