One camp says, get Webber, the more stars the better. The other camp says, we need role players now or else we will have problems keeping everyone happy with "touches". Here is the question now to consider on this topic: It is Stevie's job to run an offense that gets everyone involved, no? He is Mr. Unselfish, no? It is his job to feed the hot hand, in a winning (thus fair) manner, no? Surrounded by stars, Stevie will get easy looks merely by first establishing his stars, no need to force action, no? Who thinks Stevie can't do this? Who here worries about Stevie's stats? Who here thinks Stevie worries about stats? Stevie can simply score off what the defense gives him. Mobley is a better penetrator/go-to guy anyhow for forcing the action, when needed. Griffin likely can be groomed as a low post go-to, and Mo in the high post. Stevie can make this team better by grooming those 3 guys to improve their complementary roles. It is his job to do so. The only way touches becomes a problem, is if Stevie forces his own scoring at the expense of developing his other 3 stars (4 including Dream for a year).
Since when are newbies allowed to start so many new threads? ------------------ Rockets' offseason tasks in order of priority: Get rid of Cato under any circumstances. Sign Chris Webber. Re-Sign Hakeem. Re-Sign Moochie and AirBullard. Pick up the Langhi option for another year. Trade for Bo Outlaw and Raef LaFrentz. .....-'-. ../`.....|__ /`....--`-,-` '-|`...o.'<-....[] ..\....._\__).\=` ...C_..`....,_/ .....|.;----' come back with your original name...now that everyone is changing their screen names anyway
Most of Cat's points came from driving the lane or shooting over the top out of iso's last year. It's going to be harder to drive the lane this year. Especially with less iso's. Imo, Cat doesn't create near as much as he could. Too often, I saw him drive to the lane, force a double team and still try to finish himself. I know he's looking for contact but it's tough to call a foul when 2 or 3 defenders are contesting his shot. Imo, he had no business putting up the shot in the first place. Cat has got to learn that he is not the show in order for us to succeed. The potential chemestry problem that I see with bringing C-Webb in would be as a result of Cat trying to do too much. My perfect role for Cat would be 15ppg and his assists go up. ------------------
Which would you rather have: 24-8-6 or 21-10-6 When Francis can learn to dish 10 times a game, we are going to the finals. ------------------ "Chucky who? I thought we were talking about basketball?" Charles Barkley
Francis needs to be more aggressive in my opinion. He needs to make the other teams think that he is shooting first, and passing second (unless there is a set play being run through another player). The reason Allen Iverson has so many assists in big games is that he forces the defense to collaspe on him, and he is dishing off intelligently. When Stevie decides that he is the man, and the Rockets are his team to lead, the needed aggression should come naturally (I hope). So, to stay on the topic of the thread, I think that a. Stevie needs to force the action, but only take what the defense gives him. b. I am not worried about stats c. Steve is not worried about stats ------------------
Watching Cuttino sit on the 3pt line dribbling in iso mode is almost as boring as watching golf. He's going to have to pass more....thank god. ------------------
I should have clarified for you. By "options", I mean number of shots per game. By your definition, Mo Taylor is the 1st option since he always gets the ball first in games, and I can see how you would think my logic was flawed because of that, but it isn't. IMO, Mobley should get the most shots, followed closely by Francis, Taylor, then Griffin. I agree that Francis' shots will come easier if he first establishes the other players, however, I don't agree with what you were saying about "forcing" it. The entire Rockets' offense, except motion plays run for Shandon, was based on forcing it. You could make a case that 24 high wasn't forcing it, but I didn't see any of our guards use the midrange jumper the majority of the time off that play, so I consider that play a "forcing" it play, since more times than not they attacked the hole. ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited July 05, 2001).]
Cuttino doesn't shoot enough. Francis and Cuttino attacking the basket with dribble penetration should be our primary offensive weapon. ------------------ "So, is there still a big rivalry between North Carolina and Duke?" Craig Sager - Proving the only thing bright about him is his shirt.
Without sounding overly simplistic, I think Francis should shoot the ball WAY more. We all know he's just as talented (and a better athlete) than AI. We all know he is capable of scoring between 20 to 25 but he should dominate and score 30. I'd like tosee him enter the top ten in scoring. Rudy should have the same chat with Steve as he did with Robert Horry during the 93-94 season. Shoot More Dammit! ------------------ Mr. President. No man thinks more highly than I of three legged cows. They deserve to live. On my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of reason. Cows with three legs are good. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth : three-legged cows are better. They are better because the meat on them is better. The steaks are more tender. Three-legged cows tend not to wander as much. These cows could be the symbol of our country. The world would look upon us with great respect. They will want our cows and pay good money for them. The cows could symbolize freedom and hard work and three legs are better than four. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other.
Cuttino doesn't shoot enough. Francis and Cuttino attacking the basket with dribble penetration should be our primary offensive weapon. Agreed. I don't think either of them shoot enough, and with their quickness and playmaking skills, they should have the defense at their mercy next year if they can perfect their midrange games. Just create space, and POP! ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists
The thought of Cat shooting more is very depressing. The thought of him being our first option makes me want to be a Jazz fan (well, not really). C'mon guys. He's a great penetrating 2 guard that benefitted from Rudy's iso plays. Let's not get confused here. ------------------
Bigman, I don't expect Mobley to neccesarily shoot that much more next season, but I do feel his shots will come easier, which means he should become a more efficient scorer, and therefore, his ppg will increase. If anything, the rest of the team benefited from Mobley's double teams, not Cuttino. I really don't expect that many ISO's next year. ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists
bigman, Cuttino ran an increasingly efficient pick and role, even against the smothering traps. That will only get better with more threats on the court. (btw: Francis or Mobley getting by man on man d to penetrate into a collapsing d in the lane, is not called dribbling into a double team; it is called penetrating, as simple as that). Calling Mobley significantly more of an iso player than Francis is ignoring the majority of this season. When Mo's scoring started going up due to improved team chemistry and movement, Mobley's was still going up. Mobley and Francis are both excellent weakside threats and playmakers. One will not be made less effective than the other due to the zone, imo. My point is that with the addition of Griffin, Mobley could easily realize more advantageous this year than Francis. My point is Mobley will finally be guarded exclusively by SGs (no more best defender between the SG/SF stuff he faced last year), and traps will not be as effective with more threats (ie they can't slack off on a Shandon anymore). The same goes for trapping Francis, but Stevie will face the same defenders as always, whereas Mobley finally can't be guarded by sleak, long-armed SFs anymore. [This message has been edited by crispee (edited July 05, 2001).]
another thing for those who question Mobley. Rudy has ignored Mobley as a weakside option since Barkley went down. Rudy used Mobley exclusively as a playmaker or puts him weakside in the far corner. With less Walt minutes, Mobley's weakside importance will increase significantly. You all seem to cling to the idea that zone will diminish Mobley's role, and Rudy won't look to exploit him otherwise. What? you don't think Mobley could make an excellent Shandon slasher from the weakside wing? You don't think Mobley coming around two weakside picks ala Walt is an effective play to get him open behind the free throw line? Especially when Francis and Mo are threatening a strongside attack at the same time. Rockets Fact: Rudy will continue to exploit Mobley as a scoring threat! He can do this simply by placing him in Shandon and Walt's roles on the weakside rather than in the far corner. Mobley's strongside role could be damaged by the zone, just like Francis, but he has never been exploited on the weakside. And I look for that much more now that we have Griffin to replace Shandon.
Steve is a great team player. He's the kind of guy that will do whatever it takes to win. If his team mates are having an off night, he will carry the load, offensively. If the rest of the team is hot, he will pass the ball around and get his shots in the flow of the offense. From day one Steve has expressed a desire to get everyone involved, and only score when necessary. I would like to see him take a few more shots, but it is good to know that he is an unselfish player. ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea... Keep the ???? alive!
oh brother, now we got people talking about mobley needing to SHOOT more? i don't know what to say about that! he shoots every time he gets the ball! how can you shoot more than that? have you ever seen a rockets game? they're like freakin shakespearian tragedies. mobley is the protagonist and his fatal flaw is that he doesn't know he has teammates. sometimes when watching the games i would wonder if maybe he was drugged by the opposing team's coach! crispee said something about traps not being as effective because "they can't slack off on a shandon anymore"... since when did mobley let something as insignificant as an open teammate stop him from forcing up a shot? i'm sorry, but i would suggest that cato should eat an entire box of krispy kremes every morning for breakfast before i would suggest that cuttino shoot more... ------------------
huh?? Every time Mobley was in iso and the opposing team sent a double team to meet him, Mobley passed out of it. It is a myth to say Mobley attacks double teams. Or you actually believe that a penetrator like Isiah who goes into the trees is attacking a double team...good grief...it is called *penetrating*. Mobley and Francis got trapped more often *because* we didn't have enough other threats on the court. and buffalospeedway, are you really going to tell me that Mobley does not run a pick n roll that again is trapped mercilessly because the roller can be guarded from a weakside rover since they have the luxury of leaving SHANDON! and buffalospeedway, are you really going to tell me that Francis did not run too many ISOs, too. How many times did you see him wave off a pnr play by dribbling baseline. Rocket Fact #2: Francis likely ran the leagues most ISOs for a PG. Afterall, he has the leagues worst Ast/TO ratio for PGs. Not meaning to dis Francis, simply putting Mobley ISO criticism into perspective with Francis, which I think is hypocritical when claiming Francis is Mr. Pass1stShoot2nd. and buffalospeedway, have you ever considered the only reason it looks like Mobley is attacking the trees more than Francis is because Francis does not have that blazing first step to get to the rim like Mobley. new Mobley bashers. This stuff is getting old. You all will learn soon enough that Mobley ALWAYS improves every year. And Mobley is the true fire of this team (witness getting his tooth cap pulled at halftime with no anesthetic and scoring 24pts after medieval oral surgery whistling pain through his mouth whenever he sucked air). Rudy considers Mobley the most talented go-to man on the team, because of that speed and fearlessness. Francis is a mere posing celebrity when standing next to Mobley's drive and fearlessness. Rudy will exploit Mobley. Mobley's shots will go up and so will his efficiency. You poor, poor Mobley bashers, are missing the full glory of being a Rockets fan...Bowing down to Rudy's talent scouting. [This message has been edited by crispee (edited July 05, 2001).]
ugh...newbie mistake double post again. [This message has been edited by crispee (edited July 05, 2001).]
I'm laughing (or crying) with you BuffSpdwy. TPL & Crispee: Both great points. I'm not quite sold but maybe a little more at ease. If Mobley can execute that role and not stray outside the offense then everything should be perfect. He is a great scoring guard. But there were so many plays, fastbreaks included, where he would pass up open guys and put up shots. He'd make his share in traffic, but it just looks very selfish. I wonder how good he can be without the ball in his hands, slashing and spotting up. He has the skills, that's for sure. But can he not be the man? He's always forced his issue. ------------------
