I'm going to say this at the risk of starting an onslaught of negative feedback, but here goes: It is pretty apparent to me that Steve and Cuttino have gotten caught up in the hype of them being the dynamic duo. I have no problem with the fire and enthusiasm they have on the court, however, Cuttino has to realize that he must pass the ball out of double teams earlier and not force crazy shots. Steve must get someone else involved besides Cuttino in games. Case in point, last night I saw Shandon open on the wing on a fast break and Steve didn't look his direction to make the pass. I saw Shandon do the same thing. Shandon is not doing any less now than he has in previous games. He is not a scorer. Personally, I'm not a big fan of his outside game. He is a slasher,much like Cuttino, however, he does have above average ability to post up and score around the basket. No plays have been run for him in terms of post ups and if they have the ball has not gone to him. Steve controls the ball, therefore the ball goes to who he wants to give it to. I don't want to admit what I'm seeing but the fact is, there is a problem. Rudy has always tried to keep these type of issues quiet and out of the media which is fine. Personally I don't have confidence in him firmly addressing Steve or Cuttino on this. Everyone has to remember, these two guys are kids playing a kids game. It is very difficult to remain humble when everyone is telling you that you're great. I hope for all of our sake that Steve and Cuttino become a bit more grounded and realize that they will not win a championship by themselves. They may be what is considered the cornerstones of the team, but they better realize that they can't stand on their own without some help. Sorry for the ranting. ------------------
I totally agree, these guys are taking it too far....Mobley more than Francis..... ------------------
I think part of the reason Shandon didnt get the ball on that play(or any other play) was because he's in the "Rockets' doghouse" as the article said. I think Steve does intend to pass the ball around. Everything he's said(like on the Jim Rome show) indicates that he wants to be a team player. He had 8 assists yesterday, and I don't think all of them were to Cuttino. As far as Cuttino, I completely agree with you. He needs to understand that the purpose of the iso is not always for HIM to score. If there's a double team, pass it around to someone else. In order to do this, he's got to quit wasting so much damn time and drive it straight up. That way, if the defense collapses on him well or whatever, there'll actually be some time for a few more passes. I hope things get back on track with Shandon. If he gets on a roll like he was the first 3 games(17 per game), then we'll be hard to beat. ------------------ da ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence - alaskanSnowman
It's pretty apparent to me that we're winning ballgames over some of the best teams in the NBA. I was extremely impressed with Steve and Cat last night. If they play like that we can beat anyone. Anyone. ------------------ President of the Jason Collier fan club! Looking for next year's Jason Collier or Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Francis/Mobley are one of the most dangerous combos in the NBA and I think they prove it night end and night out and Shanndon should realize that he can't take as many shots as they do. With this being said I think Anderson is a lock to bolt this offseason.
Winning ball games is not the point I'm making. We have also lost to two of the best teams in the league and lost to a perennially bad team. You don't shoot off your nose to spite your face. My point is that the ball needs to be shared. I love Francis and Mobley. I think they will prove to be a awesome backcourt tandem if they continue to mature. The key is maturing. Hyothetically speaking, what if Cuttino and Francis get into it off the court as friends sometimes do. How will they handle it. Will Steve freeze Cuttino out with the ball because he's pissed at him? That shouldn't happen then and it shouldn't happen now. If the rockets are going to win they have to win together. They do not have enough talent to overpower any of the elite teams with just Francis and Mobley doing the scoring. That was my original point. Please don't oversimplifly the point and say that winning makes everything okay. ------------------
If Steve is such a team leader, then why not pass to Shandon when he's open for a slice? I don't mean to knock Steve - he's doing great - but if your starting SG is having problems scoring, you try to help him. Shandon's problems are entirely mental. He's had a rough couple of months. Getting him back in the flow would be the best thing Steve could do for him. Steve wants assists (his recent play dictates that he's going for assists, not points), so why not look for Shandon whenever possible? I'm baffled by this. If Steve wants to be the "general", then he should look to his first "captain" whenever possible. Cat will score on his own - he's a scoring machine (and NOT a PG - it is not his job to make anyone else happy). Steve's job is, by his own mind, to make the rest of the team happy enough that they play well... Why is he giving SA the cold shoulder? And what does Rudy think of that? Neither answer would be inspiring, I suspect. This pisses me off. ------------------
Since75, ranting is fine. alaskansnowman is right. Francis's assists do not go to Mobley. And Mobley does what he does because Rudy tells him to. Blame Rudy for Mobley. But inventing these chemistry problems that don't exist is the most unexpected thing I could imagine people seeing in this team. Do we really believe there are chemistry problems? Especially with our 3 great guards...I don't. Shandon is a leader. In practice I bet his value is stressed a great deal by Rudy. Rudy is a defensive coach afterall. Just because Shandon's ppg go down does not mean there is a problem. Mo's presence is definitely going to take scoring away from Shandon.
Alaska, my point was not that all of Steve's 8 assists went to Mobley. Obviously he passed the ball to other players as well and they were in a position to score. My point was that it APPEARS that he is freezing Shandon out with the ball. Obviously the other players on the team that gave him an assist are not in the so called Dog House. Steve does not have the right to put anyone in a doghouse. Rudy is the coach and the decision maker for the team. Heypartner, I believe I did blame Rudy in my post. I'm not trying to start a chemistry argument. I spoke on an individual play or plays that I saw. You know the game of basketball and you know that the ball gets up the floor faster via a pass than by dribbling. The play I was speaking about involved Steve's refusal or inability to make a pass down court in transition to Shandon. This is the type of situation where Shandon in the past shined brightest. You actually eluded to this very thing in another post. I agree with you whole heartedly, but please do not dismiss my point as a blown out of proportion chemistry problem, or dismissing the possibility that our point guard may be getting the ball to who he wants to arbitrarily. Don't underestimate the human side of people and Steve is a kid as I mentioned as well. Maturity is the key for him and Cuttino. By the way, thanks for telling me it was ok to rant. I can't help it. ------------------
