thinks the offense will come around, thinks they are good defensively and rebounding, when offense comes around, will be really good
"dominating defense still"... rockets offense still to "come around". lu head not playing as much... "best perimeter player in the fourth quarter"... on 3s in the 4th. "rafer's got to make..." changes to "mike james will make"... rafer not going to shoot as well playing less minutes. this year team defending 3 better...
JVG hit the nail on the head, chanting "we want Steve" is EMBARASSING to Steve..."he's not the 12th man mascot".
He actually said it last night during the game. He said that playing less minutes takes away some of Rafer's confidence and that since he would play more in the second half his shot would improve a bit. I paraphrased, but you get the drift. JVG thinks its all psychological. I don't know that I agree with that. Some people just don't jump shoot as well as others... but part of the current slump may be confidence issues.
He is right, but we have seen enough of Skip to know that he is just one big old basket of mush in the head. DD
Shoot, Rafer just doesn't jump shoot well, at all. And confidence? It is bred by - success (which Rafe spells with a 'k').
I think it should be embarassing to Steve!! "That is right!" Everyone wants him here (Fans, Owner, Himself, GM, Yao Ming, and in the offseason the coach). But, then coach Adleman slapped Steve in the face by stating "It was Steve Francis' starting job to lose" And he lost is so bad, that now he is relegated to riding the bench. Steve is not playing for a reason. Out of shape, not getting the plays right, doing his own thing, doing stupid mistakes, I DON'T KNOW!!! I'm not the coach, but he isn't playing for a reason. A valid reason! Heart gets you fans, but it doesn't get you preferential treatment by coaches in favor of someone else who is doing what they have to be doing. Bruce Bowen is the ultimate heart guy who didn't have the talent - if he'd have some basketball skills "NBA - Styl" Bowen would have been a cornerstone player. Hayes is more the "Heart" guy with success - Listens to the coach and follows it to a "T". In the past I heard this criticism a lot. Steve and Cuttino just did their own thing. They never really had plays. They would never run the plays that Rudy T would set for them. They were athletic and talented basketball players; but they were never franchise caliber. And I would really want to see Steve get playing time. Have some pride man! Get on the floor, follow the directions from Rick Adleman. A cooperative Steve is the difference!!! Yao and McGrady to lead the way. Francis and Wells to lead the bench guys. Fine Formula.
So how come the harsh critique doesnt apply to Cuttino now? The only thing he changed was add more catch-and-shoot to his game. Its cuz Francis was the All Star, most visible, big contract, primary ballhandler, had higher than deserved ranking that people wanted to knock down. Cuttino being 2nd fiddle actually HELPED him - not as much expectation, just keeps plugging along applying his role team to team. Meanwhile Francis has completely "lost" it, though he's younger than Mobley? That said, I dont get the guys that wont expand their role, the "i'ma POINT guard" "I NEED the ball in my hands" types. If sliding over to the 2 helps your team out who CARES how it feels to you, just do it especially if you have the talent to handle the position. Its not like Francis came in as a point guard now he has to play left tackle.
THAT is why Rafer has been getting lot of minutes for last couple of years. The HOPE! Unfortunately, it usually turns into the law of diminishing returns when it concerns the team. With dwindling minutes, Rafer's FG % takes a dive into low 30s or even 20s. With increased minutes, Rafer's shooting finds the asymptote at near mid 30%. I don't know what to make of that curve. It's downright brutal, anyway you look at it.
