I just thought it was very stupid basketball for the Rockets to start trying to make the fancy pass while not taking the open shot late in the first half. I like ball movement but not when you give up easy shots trying to make the spectacular shot. Calvin says it over and over…stop and pop! Nash does that beautifully while the Rockets continue to drive the ball into the trees trying to draw a foul or make the spectacular shot. Speaking of Steve Nash, I am starting to think that he is a better team basketball player than Steve Francis. He is not as talented or as athletic and he is certainly not as good of a one on one player but he has more court savvy and makes more intelligent court decisions than Francis. I hate to say that but it is true…at least for tonight. How much of that fall on the design of the offense and how much on Steve’s ability to run a team oriented offense I don’t know. I certainly don’t blame Francis for being a selfish player but his decisions sometime leave a bit to be desired. Anyway back to the original topic. The Rockets appeared like a team trying to look like the Harlem Globetrotters at the end of the first half but played more like the Keystone Cops.
Kelvin Cato is the worst help defender on the pick and roll that I have ever witnessed. He is indirectly responsible for so many open shots that I've lost count. Morris and Griffin are the only two big men that ever show on the pick and roll.
Hey I'm a Maverick fan, but I'm telling you don't down play Steve Francis. He is awesome. Nash is great and should be an all-star, but Francis isn't any worse than Nash. Team mates help. Nash is Francis but he has a Dirk to play with. Francis would be better (as long as it's not about showing off) if he had someone like Dirk. Man ya'll must be way happy with Eddie Griffin. He has a huge upside. Gratz on a great game. You (the Rockets) always play the Mavs great.
nash is definitely a smarter basketball player than francis at this point. But lets not forget that this is also his 6th season, and he really didn't start to blossom until last year. francis has all the tools nash has plus more but is still making the game more difficult than it has to be. this is mainly because he is such a freak athletically he still wants to jump over everybody. when he learns to let the game come to him and shoot that friggin mid-range jumper more often then we'll be serious contenders.
Just to clarify tonight...Francis and Mobley 7 assists and 7 turnovers between them..now THAT is making your teamates better...no wait...scratch that...ARGH !!! Francis is talented, but is not that good a passer, and does not understand the concept of team basketball, and moving without the ball. Give me a Nash style PG and the Rockets record would be better...guaranteed. DD
