Houston's defense shut down the main Davis thrust and NO's offense sputtered. Steve played as well or in fact better. I still think Davis is playing better than Steve overall - right now.. But he has to on NO. They really need another scoring threat.
Steve and Baron both had limited offense last night, and like Bill and Calvin were saying, they kind of shut each other down. It was another night where Steve played an all-star level PG and didn't try to take over all by himself. Can we please put that rumor to bed now?
First on the "bail out" pass, if you can get your teammate an open shot, it's a good pass and a good play no matter what. I really don't think it was all Steve's lack of vision that hindered him the most, it was that fact that we didn't have enough people in a postion in which he can help him score. And remeber how much people on this board complained about players missing layups off passes from Steve in the first 3 years? I think if the players around him could've finish and get to the right spots for the pass, his assist numbers in the first three season would've been a lot better and the team would've been more successful. Look at the alley hoop passes he used to be able to give to Cato, those do need a quick correct judgment with accurate passing, he was able to do that. As far as taking over games and the 45 wins season, let me ask you this, what was the most wins in a season the Bulls had during Jordan's first 3 years? How many season with Hakeems did the Rockets win less than 45 games? It's just that the west is really stacked in recent years rather than steves inabillity to lead us to wins. Finally, yeah he's learning his limitations. And as I said, he is SACRIFISING HIS STATS
First on the "bail out" pass, if you can get your teammate an open shot, it's a good pass and a good play no matter what. I really don't think it was all Steve's lack of vision that hindered him the most, it was that fact that we didn't have enough people in a postion in which he can help him score. And remeber how much people on this board complained about players missing layups off passes from Steve in the first 3 years? I think if the players around him could've finish and get to the right spots for the pass, his assist numbers in the first three season would've been a lot better and the team would've been more successful. Look at the alley hoop passes he used to be able to give to Cato, those do need a quick correct judgment with accurate passing, he was able to do that. As far as taking over games and the 45 wins season, let me ask you this, what was the most wins in a season the Bulls had during Jordan's first 4 years? So there's not a season with Hakeems did the Rockets win less than 45 games? It's just that the west is really stacked in recent years rather than steves inabillity to lead us to wins. Finally, yeah he's learning his limitations. And as I said, he is SACRIFISING HIS STATS to try and help the team win. That's great in my opionion. What I hate is all the Steve haters that complain that about how he used to play, saying how we shouldn't judge him based on his stas because he's a bad player despite of stats and stats are represenative etc etc .... Now they are using his stats to say he's regressing, he sucks and he should traded. That's just crap and hypocritical in my opion. I'd be the first to admit that Steve had a long way to go before he gets to a point where the fans of this team would be satisfied, but don't bash him because he's trying to do what the fans are asking him to do.
Francis would never have come here if it had been up to me, and I have often critiqued his game, BUT, I am actually starting to FEEL SORRY FOR HIM. He is so OUT OF PLACE in JVG's system. Actually, since Ming arrived he doesn't fit what the Rocket's are trying to do. His present role exposes his weaknesses and doesn't really utilize his strengths. Please Rockets, STOP THE PAIN for him and for the fans, give him a different role or move him to a team where he can shine. Francis' game is actually declining. He is learning to play defense, but he can never be the play-maker that the current scheme requires. Francis appears to be a "first option" player ONLY, and really struggles to be anything else.
FB, I usually only skim through your posts, because you have always seemed to be a knee-jerk Francis defender. I personally have never liked Francis' game. I'm too old school. However, I have to really agree with your post here. I think Steve concentrated on defending Davis, and except for a few occasions, don't think he forced things too much on offense. I sincerely hope Steve takes to heart from this game, that the team can beat a quality opponent when Steve concentrates on defense and doesn't have to put up big scoring numbers. There will be other games where they need his scoring, but if he can recognize better on a game to game basis, rather than just trying to take over every game offensively, it would help the team tremendously. Good game, Steve.
I have a question regarding Steve's passing. Has he ever successfully connected on one of his overly difficult over the shoulder passes? He tried it again to Cato, who was moving towards the basket when steve expected him to stay outside for some reason. He always tries this and i cannot remember one time that it worked and resulted in an easy basket.
Sure its a "good pass." Any basic PG ballplayer can drive down the lane on a good pick and throw it out to the 3 point line shooter. But don't confuse that with "court vision" or "creativity." That's different. That's about deception and court awareness. And the ability to do it efficiently (low turnovers). It's not about speed or quickness. That's just a bonus, if you are lucky enough to have it. There's no doubt that Rudy's ISO system (and bad shooting teammates) hurt Francis's game. But Rudy was the type of coach that let his "stars" run without direction. So, what you had (Francis) is what you get (immature player). Rudy liked to just let the "stars" do it. He never liked to mentor, or teach technique. For whatever reason, Francis never picked up anything new. He needed guidance that he never got. The system was just wrong for his talent. So, some of the blame goes to Rudy too. Yes, better teammates help your team. But, it's his job to make easy shots for his lesser teammates. See, Francis is not a PG. He's shooting guard playing the PG position. The only way that Francis can get the green light is if two things happen. One, we get a true PG that can run the team (which means that Francis can concentrate on the things that he's good at). And two, Francis somehow starts to lessen his turnovers (regardless of what position he plays). If either of those things happen, then Francis can start "taking over games" more. But again. Not at the expense of the team. If he continues to turn the ball over (unforced), dribble the air out of the ball, and run down the shot clock (all things he's done in the past, not recently). Then, he'll never get full responsibility back. I was talking about your suggestion that the "old" Francis could lead us by "taking over games" all the time. It's NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. You are comparing apples to oranges. Francis is NOT Jordan. He's not Hakeem. He can't do the things that those players did. So, he can't have the "green light" the to the same degree that those player had. Did you know that in Jordan's 5th year he averaged 32ppg, 8apg, 9rpg, at 3.5 tpg. That's freaky for shooting guard. True, the Bulls record was bad. But there were a lot of reasons that this didn't work. Bad players and a bad system for Jordan. A few years later, when Phil Jackson joined, he did have SOME effect on the successes and failures of the team. But just because Jordan and Hakeem had the green light, doesn't mean that Francis will have the same level of responsibility. He just doesn't have the same level of talent (physically or mentally). Not yet, anyways. Maybe someday. But not now...he has to prove it. Even with bad players. If you need 3 or 4 more all-stars around you to make your game better...Well maybe it it YOU that is NOT the All-star. Leaders should make their teammates better. Period. No excuses. So, this new system is better for Francis, at this moment in his career. And if he doesn't change. Well, like I said, we'll have to bring in a PG and move Francis to the SG. When it's all said and done...here's what you want, wizkid83: You want Francis to be our exclusive SHOOTING GUARD. I agree. But he still wont have the same free reign that Hakeem or Jordan did. P.S. I can't bleive that you put some much stock into what a players stats say. Who cares!? Its' about what he does on the court and how he leads his team.
hm.. funny i see the opposite. This was the first time I saw steve miss one of those, and all the times hes done that it worked.
An insightful and honest accessment. Francis did get 11 assists tonight, but still has more to prove for the playmaker label. He continues to lose his cool and make soooo many mistakes. When Francis is dribbling the ball, the time clock seems to run at warp speed. He creates "frantic" shots for himself and others. I am still convinced that he thinks you get bonus points for "degree of difficulty."
Most point guard don't have the ability to get the second defender to commit to free up a open player. An open shot or layup isn't a easy shot? Those were the shots they were missing in his 3 years. I think it's questionable if he has that level of talent. I think for the most part, until last season, most fans on this board thought he could become that type of player. I think his weaknesses really weren't brought into scrutiny until Yao came on. But I think for the long term success of the team and himself, it might be better for Steve to go through that transition. Read my freaking post, I can care less about what Steve's stats says. What I do care about is when some one is using the fact Steve's stats this year are down to bash him. I for one see him holding on to the ball a lot less now and try to work in the team concept. I know his stats are lowered, I'm fine with that because I see his effort in changing the games, but I'm not fine with people using the stats against him.
You don't have to be extra ordinary atheltic ablity to get a 2nd player to commit. You just need to be able to "sell" the drive or run a good pick and roll, or execute a good back door cut...there are many ways. Not just driving by someone on sheer speed. The speed part was Francis's strength. But the other skills were lacking. One is brute force the other is not. Francis is learning the other skills this year. Yes, the arrival of Yao made Francis's fauls that much more apparent. wizkid wrote: "Forgot to add, that's not the way we should be playing, we see how it doesn't work and the team is very too reliant on Steve's performance. We are spreading the ball around this season, I wish Steve can take over more, but it doesn't seem he has it in him to do that night in and night so he's playing the best he can to help the team win. That includes SACRIFISING HIS STATS..." Sorry, I misread your post... I LOVE THE ROLE Francis playing this year. The poster that is using his stats against Francis were doing it to bash for the sake of bashing. But what they don't understand is that he's improved this year because he has relinquished his game to the team concept. By the way, I think we lost the essence of the debate along the way. Because I still do think that Barron is a much more mature basketball player than Francis (regardless of what the stats say). Francis has to prove it; consistently. I think that's where my debate was opposed to yours. You were defending him on all fronts. I was defending him on the reduced stats issue only.
Right now, I don't really care about how Steve compares to other PG's. At the moment, it's quite obvious that he's dropped afew notches. GP, Baron, Kidd, and Marbury are all playing better. What I'd like to see from Steve is less turnovers and more assists (passes to Cato, Nachbar, and Pike). I like his overall numbers, although his FG% could be slightly higher with such a great post presence. Otherwise, I like his effort, his defense, his intensity, and especially his commitment. Once the different mentality becomes automatic and natural to him, I think he'll then be able to get more creative with it, and begin to improve his numbers by exploiting the defense for doubling Yao. I'd really like to see us trade for a Kevin Ollie or Eric Snow, just to play a good 20 minutes off the bench. Having Pike and Ollie (just for example) off the bench would REALLY ease the pressure on our starters, and would allow us to sub comfortably when teams' defensive pressure begins bothering Steve or Cat. It doesn't help our situation that we go from Steve, erratic passer, to Moochie, ineffective passer.
Passes to Cato Nachbar and Pike? Cato only on an oop because someone left him for Yao. Pike, only kickin' it back out on a drive. Nachbar at the beginning of time outs so he can hold the ball and practice catching for the Euro league...
Awesome game by Steve!!! He didn't score much, but he helped the team immesureably by distributing the ball and shutting down Billups. I've been a big critic of Steve's game in the past. If you can't give him props for the Detroit game, you're not being objective.
