can we just let SF play?? yeah he doesn't hit every shot, and he doesn't always make the best passing decisions. Keep in mind, he is still young(somewhat) and he is in a fairly new situation. And my favorite thing: Alan Houston and Latrell Spreewell didn't click till the opening round of the playoffs as the 8 seed beating Miami. I know Spree A-Hous aint SF/Yao, but I am saying that they may still be getting gelling yet. Maybe the first round, they will start gellin like a fellon................................hopefully........
No, please not "hopefully." Now, Kobe, on the other hand, may well be jellin' like a felon this time next year.
After thinking over this subject for a while now, I'm starting to think that SF and Yao might work. Where as before, I would've thought that the offseason would be a disaster if SF isn't traded. I think the most important factor isn't the passing, but rather shooting. Steve needs to add the following shots to his repretorie. 1. A set 3 point shot. Probably the most important. If SF can shoot 38-40% on his treys, he'll make the inside-out offense much more potent. 2. A mid-range jumper off the pick. We run a lot of pick-and-rolls, which usually gives Steve the opportunity for an open 18ft shot. Stockton and Hornacek made a living off this shot. If Francis can do the same(and make his 3s), our half court offense will be unstoppable. 3. A runner on the fast break. Honestly, many of SF's TOs comes from botched fast breaks due to a charge or a terrible pass. Well, this solves the problem. Just have him pull up for a short jumper. It might be a lower % shot, but you don't have the hassles of the shot getting blocked or getting a charge. This shot isn't used often in the NBA today, which is strange. Because it's deadly on the break. I'm of the opinion that SF should work on his shot because it's likely much easier for him. I'm already resigned to the idea that SF will never be the PG that most here want him to be. But in our offense, we really don't NEED a Jason Kidd type of a PG. We just need players who as a group can execute the inside-out game. And shooting is much more important than great passing in such a system.
I think you hit the nail on the head here. SF is not nearly as good a shooting PG as Bibby, Nash, Cassell or even Parker. He needs to spend the offseason developing a 3 point and mid-range game. He will be making MAX money staring next year so he might as well dedicate himself to earning it.
