Steve's problem is primarily cerebral. We don't need Dr. Phil, MJ or the US government to tell us that.
Steve has tried and has adjusted to the JVG Rockets. But he is definately not fundementally skilled to be successfull at the inside out , pass for a good shot game. That is not anywhere near his strengths. Plus the zone defense rules have greatly affected his game. He is a iso, playground type player. He thrived much better attacking more man for man defensive schemes. Plus the transitions he has tried to make this year have affected his shooting and the expectations are a little high (making smart passes and executing the inside-out half court offense) for his skill set. Again Steve does not have good fundementals. He makes fast breaks look difficult instead of easy baskets. He doesn't always have good handles, thats why he always dribbled so much. He was fighting the ball. I love Steve, Yao and JVG but as much as Steve is trying and Yao is improving and as hard as JVG is working. We must realize it may not work. It isn't working now. Sorry but our 2 best players don't work well together right now. Of those 3 one may have to go. I am voting for Steve. I love him, he has been a leader this year, He has done what's asked of him most of the time. But I don't think we should build the team around his strengths. I wouldn't give up the potential I see in Yao and JVG for that. So please unless there is a miracle and the Rockets come together and go a couple rounds into the playoffs. Let Steve go. Get what we can, wish him well. Now if he starts shooting 55% the rest of the way. Forget everything I said.
Again I don't think Steve, Yao or Van Gundy are bad, they are all very good. In the right situation be very successful. But they are not a good fit together. That ought to be obvious so far. We are in a position for the future were we probably improve by subtraction. So one has to go. Who do we not build around?
No one needs Francis to be Magic,Isiah or even Marbury, just be effecient. That 2nd jumper in the 4th qt Ming missed, he was open 4 dribbles earlier, but instead of making the pass, he dribbled down further thus giving the rotating teammate time to recover. The kick ball on Shaq, the refs missed the call, but in jr high they always teach you to go on the outside shoulder of a possible double. Had Francis went to his right and on the outside of Shaq left shoulder, he would have been up the court and the Rockets would have had a chance at a easy bucket because Shaq was hanging around the backcourt. Francis tried to split Shaq and Slavo got the ball kicked which the refs missed and gave up a easy dunk. Out of all the pg's in the league, Francis is probably one of the few that would have tried that. I've heard him talk about all those last second shot clock shots he takes. When watching the games, how many are because he's dribbling the spaulding off the ball instead of moving it and then getting it back?If he doesn't have his main option, go to the 2nd, if thats closed, pass the ball to someone else. Once his athletic ability starts to wind down, he's through as a player much like Iverson is starting to slip.
What really get's me about Steve is he seems to think he's just going to beat everybody off the dribble.Why else would he hold the ball almost for the entire possesion.I do believe that he is a true 2 guard though.
