I am tired of seeing Franchise getting burned all the time by some scrubb PG. Have ya'll noticed that almost every PG in the league seems to have their career day against us. Didn't some 5'10" street baller light francis up for 50 points during summer leagues. It seems like he isn't even trying to play D. I see his guy under the basket and he isn't even on the TV screen. Don't get me wrong, I love Franchise but he needs to learn to play some D. When he does the rockets will be able to contend. ------------------
Your wrong. Francis is a good defender who moves his feet well, but he hasn't learned how to play the picks and that is why he is getting burned by some of the other teams point guards. Once he learns how to defend the pick and roll he will be fine. As for Curtis Smith the streetballer you speak of, he scored those points against moochie, steve, and everybody on francis' summer league team in the kenner league. I mean Vince Carter and Steph Marbury get burned by players in those tournaments ------------------ www.truebballfansite.homestead.com
Whats so hard to understand about "go over the pick"[/b]? I've been asking that question all friggin year and still can't figure out what why Stevie doesn't do it. If he would do that one thing, he could keep the pressure on his man and open up his offense by being the first one down court on a fast break if his man misses the shot or turns the ball over. ------------------ Five to one baby, one in five...no one here gets, out alive.
I agree he should always go over the pick instead of under it but another thing is out big men are horrible at stepping out and putting some pressure on the player recieving the pick ------------------ www.truebballfansite.homestead.com
I don't think there's really any right or wrong here. I think Francis posseses the intangibles to be a pretty good defender, but the opposing PG's are putting up some big numbers on him. Now, I don't think that this is totally Francis' fault. A lot of the plays I see him getting "burned" on seem to be the result of bad team defense. For example, a lot of times I see Francis over playing his man to force him to one side. When the opposing PG takes the bait and goes to that side, there is often times no help. Francis might be playing D like that on his own, but usually when you see people playing defense like that, it's part of a team defensive scheme (to force traps, etc.). Also, there's the fact that the Rockets defend the pick and roll worse than most other teams that I've seen (although they have improved leaps and bounds since the Kenny Smith years). Anyways, to sum up...Francis should shoulder some of the responsibility, but I think the more important thing we need to focus on is team defense. ------------------
5 in 1 baby, 1 in 5, that is how the song goes. Anyway, the Rockets have always asked their point guards to go under the pick. The philosphy is to keep the guards out of the lane so the Rocket big men don't get into foul trouble, and make the opposing point guard beat the Rockets over the top. ------------------
I'm right there with ya tacoma and I was going to write that, but the thing is he never goes over the pick so the big men don't get a chance to step out! OK, I'm exagerrating a little because Francis will occasionally go over the pick and Mo', KT or Dream always step out to support him. I guess I'm just tired of hearing Calvin scream "Go over the pick, over the pick!" and Stevie not doing it. ------------------ Five to one baby, one in five...no one here gets, out alive.
OK, just so I can settle this with you and Moochie, here is a link to the lyrics to the song "Five To One" byt the Doors. http://www.thedoors.com/gamma/sound_content.html#waiting ------------------ Five to one baby, one in five...no one here gets, out alive.
Aren't you using the wrong UID? ------------------ The $14 mil is back pay. Give me a break - Dream earned his salary this year, years ago. He deserves it. SamCassell in the Rockets 2000 : Game Action & Roster Moves forum
Over or Under the screen who cares, either way Steve still doesn't play any Defense ------------------ In 1993-94 Mugsy Bogues averaged more boards for the season than Mo is this season!!
Actually, in defense of Steve, I think that the coaches either instruct their guards to go under the pick or don't simply don't teach their guards to go over the pick. Kenny and Sam also went behind picks, too. This goes back to the days of playing Utah every year in the WC finals. It seems that the Rockets' gameplan was to make Stockton shot the ball on the pick-and-roll instead of passing it to Malone or Hornacek, which went against Utah's gameplan. True, Stockton is a GREAT and underrated shooter, but you always try to take away a team's strength, that being Stockton QBing the team while Malone scores the points. Take away their strengths and your throw off their rhythm, or so the logic goes. Problem is, not every team is Utah , so why not adjust the way you play the pick on a per team basis? ------------------ "We make a lot, but we spend a lot." Patrick Ewing, alumnus, Georgetown University
