I was playing a pick up game over the weekend. The teams were kinda unfair (partly due to my lack of D) and we switched off players. This guy was a complete pg. All he did was pass and he wouldn't pass or shoot until we started making a heartful attempt to cut. Give and go's and pick and rolls all the way to the hoop. This made me realize something about Steve Francis. We can't fault Steve for not having too many assists because there is absolutely no "good" cutting invovled in our offense. We have a point guard in a system that allows only iso's. We should be so lucky to have a pg that averages 6 assists with whats going on. Sometimes Eddie will set up a half assed pick and just roll to the bucket not looking at the hoop or the ball only to go cross court and sit up the 3 point line. We have other players would like to just sit and wait out the 3 point line and clear out the lane for Steve or Cat. But heres the catch. Is the lack of cutting when the ball is in Steve's hands cause nobody is confident that they might even see the ball if they cut with some intelligence? Is it known that Steve is gunna bypass the movement with some fancy dribbling, then a J or drive to the hoop? We can't blame his shortcommings only Steve alone. Maybe if Cat came off some screens and shoot the J (a la Reggie Miller). We could have a nice give and go that would be truly beneficial cause we've got a great passing center. We could utilize both Stevie's athleticism and Yao's passing. Maybe Eddie or Mo could set a screen for Yao to get free. We gotta have Cat coming off some screens to make it easier for him. Most of all we need to have competent shooters not bricking the passes that Stevie gives up. I can see why sometimes he doesn't pass cause our team desperately needs some touch outside of Yao, Cat, Steve, and sometimes Mo. Maybe the cutting will increase everybodies confidence in shooting with some easy buckets or what have you. All in all, if I have waste your time with my Essay, please call my secretary and I will full reimburse you.
I've always been the biggest Stevie supporter in the world. He doesn't have the pure stroke of Cuttino or Glen, can't rebound like Mo or Cato, and 6.3 rebounds is pathetic for a pg, but, at times, I think he's underrated. His assist numbers may be low because the frontcourt guys don't move without the ball, and the best offensive player (Cuttino) creates his own shot. The second best offensive player is in the post. You don't get assists throwing it in the post. I'm also typing this in the nude.
I think its a little of everything including his lack of instincts while running the pg spot. The iso oriented offense doesn't bode well for assist, but delivering the ball late doesn't either. He's not really overrated or underrated just like he's neither a superstar nor slouch. Francis is really in between when talking about players. He can be a very good pg or he can be very avg. His defense and ability to read the floor is whats keeping him from really being a KJ type of pg. I don't ever expect him o be J Kidd,Payton or even Marbury for that matter, just run the offense as good as Nick or Cassell and I'd be happy. Get players the ball when they're open, score when given the chance. I just would really like to see improvement in the mental aspects with him.
Actually, I was hoping for more information. Why nude, why not panties or something? Do you always type nude? Why did you feel it necessary to let us know? Is that "water glistenin' all over your body"? When do you plan to put clothes back on? Keep up the good nudity work! and let us know more.... I demand satisfaction.
I didn't mean nude, I meant nekkid, nekkid is what we say on the street. The reason I am nekkid, is because I don't have a washer or dryer, therefore (another street term) I am nekkid. When you say you want more information (big SAT word), what you mean fool? I'll put my clothes on as soon as Stevie boy averages 7 assists a game.
Payton has always played with guys that move without the ball or that can catch an alley oop, or with spot up shooters, and it was easier to alleyoop to Kemp than Griffin or Cato. Jkidd played with Mashburn, Jim Jackson when he could actually take guys off the dribble, long armed finishers who don't post up (K mart). guys who move w/o the ball (Jefferson). etc. When you say Nick, do you mean Van Exel? I'm gonna have to look up his Denver rosters before I comment furtherr. As for Cassell, he was lucky that Hakeem didn't gouge his eyes out when he was here. While in Milwaukee, he played with two guys who can shoot (Robinson, Allen) and guys that can finish around the basket (Thomas, Allen, Robinson, Ervin Johnson, etc.). Let me see some comparative rosters. Don't bring up Dre Miller in Cleveland. His performance in LA should disprove any superiority to Francis. Mi-balz-iz-zhairi.
I don't want Steve to be a "pass-first" PG because that would eliminate his most potent stregnth. We saw some of that last season when Steve would concentrate on getting others involved in the 1st half. Then the Rox would would fall behind and Steve couldn't get it going enough to turn things around. So given that, ideally moving Steve to SG may be worthwhile. But I like what they did last season and that is put Cat on the bench 1st, bring in Mooch and slide Steve to the 2 for a few minutes. Only weakness there is Mooch. But also I'm hoping JVG will instill a new sense of urgency is Steve's game. So if Steve can grow an new/improved skill this season, and I think he can, then he may elevate to that superstar status.
If Steve can improve his 3-pt shot tremendously, that would make him a superstar. As it is, quick/short PG's give him lots of trouble by staying a few steps back and opening their arms up. If Steve can be especially good at hitting that open 3-pter, he'll have more opportunities to get by his man. Make no mistake about it though, with Yao and a hopefully bulked up Griffin playing more and more minutes with more experience, as well as the arrival of JVG, Steve Francis will improve tremendously on defense. His quickness/speed will allow him to stay in front of his man and funnel him towards our erasers.
I've thought about this as well and I really think that is it. It would have been a total waste of energy and looked foolish to have movement in the offense - guys cutting, coming off screens etc. - with Steve Francis as the initiator, running the offense. Rudy probably knew this.
Let's say you meet a girl, and you ask her, where are you live? She says that she'll tell you, if you give her your last box of cereal. That's a catch 22.
Catch 22 is somewhat like that. Catch 22 is like your are at war and the only way to get out of the war is if you act like you're Crazy. But if you act like your crazy to get out of a war, then that must mean u are completely sane.
